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Idea master
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 Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:43 am Post subject: The Asylum For Story-less Characters - Round 5, fight 2! |
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"Hmm, well, I see you've listed the types of security you offer to keep some characters confined, but I'm not sure that this place is best for our old ones."
King Key placed the pamphlets back on the desk and looked back at Dr. Crooked, the insufferable large, toothy grin of the man staring back at him. The doctor was dressed in a large white lab coat and had long gray hair falling to his shoulders. Dr. Crooked removed his glasses, polished them, and replaced them on his face.
"My dear King," The doctor said, "We understand. And many of the characters that are sent our way who have shown they are reasonably sane continue to lead healthy lives here on Grimmore Island. Our most notable achievement is the successful treatment of several of the Grimm characters. Puss in Boots runs our security department."
"Yes, well, some of our old ones most assuredly are not sane or safe to be near. How would you handle them?"
The doctor pushed a button, revealing a man in green sitting in a cell, tied up, whispering something about 'The rats, the rats...'
"This was the Pied Piper. Ordinarily, he'd be doing pest control. However, he showed that his kidnapping children streak still ran strong in him, and as such, we couldn't rehabilitate him. Eventually, as more restrictions slammed down around him, he broke, and we were forced to contain him. We have several facilities for draining magic from people and keeping them in check. Indeed, allowing him near any sort of wind instrument would prove most unwise."
The King nodded and got up. "Well Dr. Crooked, you've shown me all I need to see. Good day."
Dr. Crooked nodded and pushed a red button. Two lumbering security men walked into the room. "Please follow these two to the front door, there is a bit of a problem in one of the wings. And I most certainly wouldn't want you to walk into it when it is at such a delicate state."
The King nodded again and wobbled out of the room. When the door had closed behind him with a soft click, Doctor Crooked said "Well?"
A magus in fine blue robes walked out from a dark corner of the room. "He bought it. It will take time for him to agree to give you our old characters, but when he does, I'll see to it that some new ones are sent your way as well. Maybe some of the original authors."
From another dark corner of the room, there was another person revealing themselves. He was just as round and portly as the King, but far more smooth and white. "I don't like this arrangement, Dr. Crooked. It's far too convenient for me. This man shows up with all this knowledge, and he hasn't asked for anything in return. It stinks of trouble."
The magus chuckled. "My dear, dear Mr. Dumpty. I only want one thing, and you all will learn of it in due time, believe me. Now then, good doctor."
Dr. Crooked looked at the magus. "Hmm?"
"I do believe that I will be needing some way to let the populace at our city know of this place. I was thinking a tournament announcement. I will be needing to know when the first boats will arrive at our city."
The doctor smiled. "Ten days from now, we'll send our boats to your city. For those characters that are genuinely supposed to be here, we'll escort them right here to the Asylum so that they may be studied and treated. But for those that you lure here...They shall be free to roam."
The magus grinned. "Through forest and wasteland, through gorge and bluffs, over wall and over moat, eh?"
The doctor kept smiling. "Indeed. And should any find their way into the asylum...the chance of them ever leaving is rather small."
The magus smiled as well. "Dear doctor, I'd have it no other way. I'll get our first victims ready now."
The magus vanished, leaving Humpty Dumpty and Dr. Crooked alone. The doctor merely said, "Well?"
"He bought it."
-----
Ready for the tournament of your life?
At Grimmore Island, all sorts of characters from the old great stories can be found in various states of rehabilitation. And they'd like to duel YOU!
This is merely to test your skills, and any and all contestants may leave at any point in time. There is no chance for fatalities, but they won't go easy on you. Come prepared to win!
If you are interested in joining this tournament, please take one map from below.
1. The Asylum - Everafter is a monument to either genius or mania in terms of its design, combining the practical banality of a medical institution with the grandeur of gothic architecture. This includes all the standard parts of any given asylum, kitchens, inmate corridors, administrative offices, laundry, medical wings, etc. Feasibly, your character could spend every match in here. It’s quite big.
2. Misty Woods - Most of the island is covered in thick forested areas, with crisp, cool fog blanketing what areas trees don’t possess. Visibility is quite poor.
3. The Moat - As if cells, reinforced doors, armed guards and gigantic walls weren’t enough, the heads of the asylum thought it best if they dig a tremendous moat around the perimeter of the asylum. That’s cold.
4. Craggy Canyon - The canyon is basically a big rocky area with a chasm running a length of a ways through, with rough, uneven footing.
5. The Bluffs - The cliff area outside the great walls don’t lead to very much, outside of a couple hundred feet drop into the ocean. But then that’s one way to defeat an opponent..
6. The Faculty Residence - Being on a remote island for work either means you get yourself a dormitory, or face a four to five hour commute coming and going. Most of Everafter’s grunts, nurses, janitors and such have a tiny housing area to call their own when they aren’t mopping up limbs or sedating gibbering flesh-eating youths.
7. The Labs - A large compound for experimental medicine, research and technology, as well as an animal stockyard. Surrounded by a giant protective fence on all sides.
8. The Wall - The perimeter of the island is dominated by gargantuan walls, stuck together quite haphazardly like great fused sheets of metal.
9. The Control Tower - If a tornado managed to pick up about four dozen gothic cathedrals and slammed them all together, it’d look like the Control Tower. This is where the most esteemed of the asylum’s faculty remain, making sure things stay honky dory in the asylum from afar. It is the tallest establishment on the island, a tapering spire reaching far into the overcast sky.
10. The Port - For public relation purposes, the asylum holds tours now and then to display their technological prowess and good intentions. And most nobles from the mainland don’t like traveling Air Big Bad, so a port suffices.
THE RULES:
All players must notify me within ten days of this announcement if they'd like to partake.
All characters must start at the port.
Every round shall be a match against your fellow men, or if you're in the Asylum, against Grimm characters.
Every round requires that both sides write a story of the encounter, to be PM'd to me for posting.
You are not to say which character is yours.
Every round shall be decided by the voting public.
There will be five days between rounds. During that time, your character may travel to any location. If there is nobody there but you, you have an 'off' this time around. If there is one other person there, then you must fight them. If there are a multitude of characters there, then I shall decide who fights who.
Almost all character applications are accepted. You must have the following:
Name
Background
Detailed description
Definition of their strengths
Definition of their limitations
All of that shall be sent to me via PM, along with a small 5 Fable fee.
Characters may team up together after rounds conclude. Keep in mind that this makes you more of a target.
...I think those rules are comprehensive enough.
The winner shall receive my entire fortune. Yes, you got that right. EVERYTHING.
Let the games...BEGIN!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
Last edited by Idea master on Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:47 pm; edited 21 times in total
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NeverNeverGirl
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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oh ME! ME i want to play! YAYYAYYAYYYAYY
So its a totally original new character we create then? Strike that - i just reread the rules.. 
*waits tensely*
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shy_blu_eyes
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Sounds interesting.
I'm In.
_________________
A Mysterious Witch, A Bloodthirsty Noble, A Druid with one personality too many, and An Assassin with a price on his head...
and those are the "Good Guys".
Welcome, to the Barony of Wyndshire!
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shy_blu_eyes
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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deleted
Last edited by shy_blu_eyes on Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:00 am; edited 1 time in total
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Alegria
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Uhhhh, Shy, you're supposed to PM that to IM so we don't know which char you are....
I'm so in!!!!!
*goes off to work on Character*
_________________
A writer doesn't solve problems. He allows them to emerge.
-Friedrich Dürrenmatt
 
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scissorkitty
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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This is a great idea! I don't think I'm going to play this one, but I look forward to reading the adventures!
_________________
......back and forth.....
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Idea master
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Aw, come on, you lot. It's very cheap.
Could you at least spread news of this via word-of-mouth?
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in. Although, i don't think i saw this in the rules; if it was, I apologize for my mistake:
DOES your character have to be from an old story, or can it be completely new?
_________________
When the dead walk, the living run.
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Phantomfan
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Count me in!
_________________
I've been pulled back from oblivion to lurk about the City once more. Though the music of the night always beckons...
Here's some stuff I started writing a long time ago. Orb. Nexus.
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Warsor
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm spreading the word of this around by word of mouth. It looks like it'll be a lot of fun to watch.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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@ Deadmanwalking: Either / or. I have no real preference.
And now, an interlude! Titled:
What's IM up to on that island?
Deep in the Asylum's depths, there was a huge orb.
Inside that orb was nothing less than raw Imagination, drained directly from the characters the Asylum was treating. Power. Raw, unbridled power.
Atop that orb was a huge, shadowy creature. It might have once been anything, but it was impossible to tell now. It was slowly draining the power of the orb unto itself.
And standing in front of that orb was the magus in blue. "So this is their secret."
The creature laughed. It was a chilling, distorted laugh. It was almost as though it wasn't really one thing or quite another.
What are you here for, child?
The magus grinned. "I'm just wondering how much power you have. I can see that you've got the market cornered on Imagination, but what you may not understand is that I am the Idea Master. The realm of thought, dreams, and imagination is my playground."
The beast laughed again. I cannot be stopped, not even by the likes of you.
The magus kept smiling. "Oh, I didn't want to stop you. If anything, I'm here to help you."
The beast fell silent.
"You see," IM continued. "I could probably stop you. Oh, I know you're a Grimm and that you were well made, but if I put my mind to it, there's very little I can't do. However, it would be foolish to get rid of an entity of so much power."
An alliance? With you? What are you that you think I would degrade myself thus?
"I just told you, I am the MASTER of Ideas. And I would dearly love to try a few things out. You see, I've brought quite a few things with me, and I want to see how they react with you."
IM reached into his robes and pulled out a few spelled bags. He reached into one and pulled out a dull gray rock. The rock was placed close to the creature, and it howled. What is that? It burns!
IM smiled. "Thought so. That's a metal from my home, and it sucks up inspiration, and, as we just found out, Imagination, which comprises a good bit of your bulk. And if I reverse it..."
The dull rock was replaced in the bag, and IM brought out a shining blue crystal. The creature laughed. What is that? It is so tasty...
IM smiled again. "That's a different metal, and it enhances ideas. So, a treaty? I'll give you the ability to leave this island forever. In return...you're mine."
The creature laughed again. Why would I want to leave? There's so much here for me to do yet!
"And with that second metal, you'd have the power to do it all. Without me, you're limited to what little energy you can sap from the systems. And while I imagine other Grimms' energy is particularly tasty, wouldn't you love to go out there and sap everyone? I can give you that, but you'd have to agree to work for me."
The creature was silent a while. I am bound to this island. It will not let me leave. Not for long, anyway.
IM hmmed for a moment. "I'll have to create a diagram, invoke the right words, and channel power into the land if I'm to counter whatever's keeping you here. It will be tough, but I'll manage. Maybe if I give those that are to come a crystal each, I'll have enough to do this. They that fail...I'll take their crystals and start to prepare. Yes, I can get you free. But you still haven't answered my question."
I would be indebted to you if you did that.
"Good. Now it falls to you to make the contestants battle each other."
The creature laughed once more. I'm quite good at that. No worries.
"Then we have an accord. I'll get to work right away."
IM simply vanished from the depths of the Asylum, and reappeared outside the moat. "Best start locating where the focus of this binding spell is. It could be anywhere..."
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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NeverNeverGirl
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| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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WHoooaaa nice Interlude there IM (seems to be the buzzword of the moment huh?)
Idearium??
bring it on!
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tramp in a storm
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| Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:07 am Post subject: |
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I've PMed ya with the donation and info!
Nens, Idearium is what we're drinking in our If water. It gives us ideas for stories.
_________________
Did you know: If you plug speakers into your ears, your thoughts will be heard out loud 
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:00 am Post subject: |
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That's six *actual* entries so far. If I got a few more in, I wouldn't be worried.
Of course, there's no law saying that I can't throw in a few characters of my own just to mix things up a little...and to keep you all on your toes. I think I have a few that could do with retirement...
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Idea master
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Joined: 10 May 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:39 am Post subject: |
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Round one, START!
A welcome to Grimmore Island
IM was waiting near the docks. So far, he counted six characters holding the tell-tale Idearium crystal. Only six, though. However, six was better than nothing. He clapped his hands twice and hovered about ten feet off the ground. All heads, including those of the local nobility, turned towards him.
"Attention! Attention please! Could all those who have recently come from the City of IF please follow me? Thank you!"
The six with the crystals followed IM as he hovered to a nearby vacant lot that he had purchased for just this purpose. It did help to have a place to educate your helpers, after all.
"Welcome, one and all. Welcome to Grimmore island, home to the EverAfter Asylum for the Fantastically Traumatized, EverAfter for short. They that run the place have graciously allowed me to run this tournament on it. My name is Idea Master, IM for short. Now, I see you all have your crystals. Good! Very good indeed! Now, here is a letter for each of you containing the details of the tournament."
With but a gesture, IM conjured six letters for the contestants. Each one had a wax seal holding it shut.
"They serve another purpose than just educating you, naturally. That seal will show they that work here that you are a contestant. Afterwards, they'll try to aid you without disrupting their schedules. The rules for the tournament are naturally inside, as well as a spelled bit of parchment detailing how many contestants besides yourself are in the vicinity and how many others are left. You have some time before the first round starts, so spread out and get ready. Anywhere on the island is fair game for you to go..."
Except off.
-----
RULES IN EFFECT!
Those that signed on before NOW have five days to go to any location on the map. Those that have NOT yet signed on, but have expressed interest in joining, now have to pay a 10 fable fee as opposed to the original 5, but only have a 72 hour period to do so. They that do not wish to join at all must do nothing. However, since I can't keep track of who did want to join and who didn't, you all can TRY to get in even if you originally didn't want to.
To leave the island, you must be the last character standing.
Interfering with the normal schedule of the Institute is grounds for immediate disqualification.
Losing your letter or Idearium crystal is also grounds for disqualification.
Not PM'ing me as to where you'd like to go for round one is also grounds for disqualification, and I'll have one of my characters show up and kill you.
You may go anywhere, but you start at the PORT. It is very feasible that in five days of walking, you could end up in the Asylum itself, which is on the far side of the island.
Those that enter now must PM me not only their character and their fee, but where they'd like to go as well. Otherwise, disqualified.
Ready? Five days, starting from...
NOW!!!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:15 am Post subject: |
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Round one, FIGHT!
Mikeal vs. Aeger at the Asylum
Liathel vs. Edward at Central Control Tower
Liane vs. Rathier in the forest
Spike Spiegel vs. Blitz at the labs
Ratfink McGee is disqualified...at the end of the day.
Participants shall be PM'd their opponent's list of strengths and weaknesses. All participants must write up their version of events and PM them to me for posting within five days time once they receive their PM.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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tramp in a storm
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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So do we write the fight between our charcter and our oponent and say what our oponent does too?
_________________
Did you know: If you plug speakers into your ears, your thoughts will be heard out loud
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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That would be the idea, yes.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 1:11 am Post subject: |
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Everafter?
Heh... Would be funny to see lil' red popping into this...
One question: wouldn't the asylum be inhabitated by the various workers and paitients? And, wouldn't these various workers and paitients get in the way or directly interfere with battles on the premises?
Although it would be funny if a hundred or so nurses and maintenance guys got sliced and blasted into bits... like what happens in Everafter...
~Holds Breath~
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:48 am Post subject: |
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*thwacks Meany*
Oops! I thought it was Bob! I swear - Tramps' sig had me confused!
Anyway, IM, what'll your role in this actually be? Will you just be doing a short introduction to each chapter, or edit the inidividual fights into a proper chapter?
_________________
Tea Cures All.
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Crunchyfrog
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| Whilst taking part looks far too complex for my old braincells to get around, I'll be cheering from the sidelines.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:38 am Post subject: |
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I'm the one keeping it all anonymous. I'm the one that posts the chapters that get sent my way. You lot decide which one you like better and then the person who wrote it wins, and that chapter becomes part of continuity.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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*Rubs head and elbows Whitey in the face*
Wait... So we get to read 2 chapters every 1 chapter and decide which we want to be the one chapter?
Wouldn't this be the target of much biase-ness and one-sidedness? Although we get that quite a lot here in IF.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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tramp in a storm
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:39 am Post subject: |
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I think that's the point of not telling anyone who your character is.
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Did you know: If you plug speakers into your ears, your thoughts will be heard out loud
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Idea master
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Round one, fight one! Spike VS. Blitz. Spike's series of events are as follows:
Spike Spiegel opened a door into yet another laboratory. He peered in and checked out the room. The track lights that lit the lab were either flickering to a rhythm or completely out. Some were smashed and the glass lay shattered on the cold floor. It wasn’t a particularly large room. There were a few work surfaces, all sorts of sharp, rusty equipment lay about on them. There was a computer in the centre with different gadgets linked up to it and a power cable plugged into a socket in the floor.
Spike entered. He rested, confidently by the door, his laid back, lanky figure giving the impression of a flimsy, frail young man who really would rather be somewhere else. Yet, no matter where he was, or what he was doing, Spike could never be “bothered with this”. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He then put his other hand in his other pocket to fish about for a lighter.
“Oh great...” He said, sarcastically to himself. Then he looked about him for something he could use to light his fag.
“Need a light?” A voice came from behind him and he jumped. He dived behind a work table to take cover. The voice cackled. The laughter filled the room and echoed off the walls. The lights overhead brightened to their limit and exploded from the overload of electricity! Spike covered his face and cursed aloud.
He didn’t bother to ask “what the hell was that”! In an instant his gun was in his hand and he was firing shots at the person that had entered from…where? How come he hadn’t seen him? Or heard him? How could anyone sneak up on Spike Spiegel like that? The shots fired, smashing bottles of chemicals that lined the cabinet behind the enemy, until the bullets ran out. Then there was almost silence. Only the fizzing sound remained, of the chemicals that were reacting as they mixed after spilling.
“Heh. You missed.” Spike turned behind him to face the man. “The name’s Blitz. And you are…?” Spike was stunned!
Spike quickly reached for his second gun. “What the hell?” was the only thing going over in his mind! He took aim at Blitz and fired. Why hadn’t he done anything while Spike reached for his second gun? Spike was fast on the draw, but he still gave the enemy a clear opening and a chance he should have at least tried to take!
“You really are slow on the trigger, aren’t you?” Spike turned again, this time to his right to face Blitz.
“My aiming’s fine!” Spike reloaded his empty gun and held one in either hand. He held them out directly infront of him and fired. As he fired he moved his arms outwards so that he fired in the two directions that Blitz was most likely to run! And indeed Blitz ran to Spike’s left. He ran so fast that Spike could not even see him, but… Blitz didn’t notice a stray stool which was in his way. He smashed int– through it and lost his balance. He reached out his hands to protect his almost comical, shocked, momentarily terrified expression from colliding with the rough floor of the lab. Spike smiled, aimed again. This would be the last bullet he would need to use. He fired.
As Blitz was falling he knew that this was Spike’s plan all along and that there would be a bullet burrowing into his back before would be able to get up. He also knew that at this speed his had a big momentum and making contact with the floor would be more than just extremely painful!
Blitz turned in midair as the bullet left Spike’s gun with a loud bang that echoed through the lab. He arched his back and swung his arms backwards into a back-flip motion. At the same time that he swung his arms back he pointed one finger at the bullet and shot a bolt of electricity at it!
Blitz back-flipped and slid into another cabinet, the bullet crashed to the floor with a metal ting as Spike stared with disbelief. That was not the last bullet he would need, after all. He fired another as quickly as he could but he fired so fast that he didn’t take enough time to aim well. He missed his target which had been the heart and instead the bullet buried itself into Blit’s shoulder. Blitz yelled with agony!
Spike took aim again! Blitz moved quickly out the way, this time he made sure that he had a clear path ahead of him first. Spike shot again and Blitz moved out the way again.
“You’re getting better!” He panted, blood gushing from his shoulder. He held his hand to it, putting pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding.
“You’re getting slower!” Spike laughed back as he shot and Blitz dodged.
“But you still don’t have aim as good as mine!” Blitz smiled as he stopped behind Spike. Just as Spike was turning to face his enemy, Blitz pointed a finger at him and shot a bolt of electricity at Spike!
Spike was forced backwards and he crashed into the computer. His once dark green, fluffy hair now looked like a crispy hedgehog! And Blitz cackled another laugh. This time the computer turned on as electricity surged through it. But the power was too strong and it exploded, pieces of it hit Spike.
“I’d love to see you dodge one of these babies, Hedgehog boy!”
“Heh.” Spike’s voice crackled as he slowly and painfully pushed himself to his feet. He stood, shaking slightly mostly from the shock but partly from fear. When he was younger he had not been afraid of dying. But as his life went on he had adventures, met a woman and realised how much more was still ahead of him, how much he would miss if he died here, now. “I’m still alive.” He croaked and accidentally stumbled forwards a couple of steps.
Blitz was slightly surprised that Spike had survived the shock. He wanted to end this fast and get out of there! But obviously he hadn’t shocked him as hard as he had intended… “Oh no…not now…” he though. This was the wrong time for his powers to go haywire! “Concentrate” He whispered to himself. He could feel it in his gut; he knew that his powers were starting to mess up again. He breathed slightly heavier than normal and his heart beat a little bit faster to pump more oxygen to his muscles. He needed a large supply of oxygen and physical strength in order to be able to use his abilities. Especially his super speed!
Spike dropped his guns. They had run out of bullets and were useless now. Blitz saw this as a sign that he had the bigger advantage – his enemy was weaponless and he didn’t seem to have any magical abilities. And his second guess was true.
Spike noticed the slight newly found overconfidence in his opponent. This was his chance. He reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand weakly round a glass, sealed bottle. He stared at Blitz in the eyes and Blitz stared back.
The two stared at each other. Spike knew that this was his last chance. Blitz knew that if he didn’t kill his enemy with the next shot of electricity, his powers would be too weak for the next battle.
Two men, two final chances, only one survivor.
Blitz blinked, Spike pulled out the chemical and swung his arm out, Blitz’s eyes opened, the sealed bottle smashed on his forehead, between his eyes. Blitz blindly shot a bolt of electricity in Spike’s general direction, but Spike had already moved out of the way ducking and picking up his gun. He hadn’t used up all of his bullets at all. He took one last aim and fired.
The gunshot rang out through the labs. The lights that had been flickering in the lab lost their rhythm. The ringing from the gunshot died out. There was total darkness. And total silence. Only to be broken by the sound of Spike collapsing to the floor next to his dead enemy. He breathed heavily, yet relieved that this was over and he was still alive. This was his chance to rest before having to fight another opponent.
“My aiming might not be perfect” He whispered, his voice heavy. “But my luck is pretty damn good.”
And Blitz's series of events are as follows!
Blitz was sitting atop one of the buildings in the 'Labs' sector, casting his mind out like his mentors had instructed him. Focus, They had said, and be aware of everything. That is the easy part. The hard part is understanding every bit of information that is passed to you.
Of course, their strengths were different than his, so he couldn't quite match their power. All he could understand was the information that the electrical signals conveyed. The computers here provided him with a wealth of knowledge, but trying to link to the Asylum from this distance was proving...troublesome.
A familiar pattern of electrical signals entered the area. Human, he thought with disdain, and a violent one too. Best be careful around him...
Blitz got up from his mediative pose and looked over the edge of the roof. There was his opponent, walking down the streets below. "Hmmm...I wonder..."
Blitz jumped down onto a windowsill, and then onto another, and finally onto a protruding light. Spike had continued walking on, looking for something.
Blitz jumped down onto the street and looked up. Why was the light on? They had photogenic senors so that they'd only come on when it was dark...And then he saw the storm clouds. Blitz grinned. This was gonna be good.
"Now normally," Blitz said while Spike turned around, "I'd just attack and go back to what I was doing, but this tournament thing has rules. Are you..." Blitz pulled out his letter and looked at it, "Spike Spiegal?"
Spike grunted. "I assume you're Blitz, then?"
Blitz nodded. "Yup, that's me. To business, then!"
And with that, Spike pulled out two guns and began firing. Blitz jumped back onto the protruding light, and when Spike turned his aim there, Blitz began jumping onto windowsills, having to go higher and higher. Spike eventually had to reload, and Blitz looked down, gauging the jump properly.
Spike slammed two more clips home, and looked up just in time to get a face full of shoe. Blitz had used him as a mid-jump pole, and so while he didn't put his full weight on Spike, Spike still got hit with a ton of force as Blitz jumped to the other side of the street. Spike fell to the street, and Blitz jumped back down to the ground. Blitz turned to look at his floored opponent. "Well, this was very easy!"
"No, it's about to get a lot harder, boy," grunted Spike as he picked himself up and took aim at Blitz again.
"Oh, that again? You know I'll dodge it somehow."
Spike grinned. "True, but I have to wonder how good you are at that game." And both guns started to fire again.
This time Blitz crouched, and his eyes went from hazel to yellow. He was using a little more of his powers. He could see the bullets as they fired and traveled through the air, and moved to dodge using superhuman speed.
Spike was already on it, firing in more directions than one, and Blitz was forced into doing a myriad of moves that would look like a very awkward dance. Finally he finished, and to show off, he spun around, leaving his back open to Spike.
There was another gunshot. Blitz, in his haste, had neglected to count the bullets. Pain blossomed in his left shoulder. He rotated his head and saw a very gory scene: His shoulder had been ripped into, with bits of meat and flesh hanging off.
Blitz tried to ignore the pain as he turned to face his opponent again. "You humans are all alike. You honestly think that's going to stop me? I won't let it!"
There was a rumbling noise from the clouds up above, and Spike realized going for a non-lethal shot was not a good idea. He looked frantically for two more clips.
"I've trained for so long to try and reach the same level of mastery as my mentors did before they left, and I'm not about to let it all go to waste!"
The clouds had gotten a lot closer. Spike had found his clips and was beginning to load them.
"I ought to strike you down where you stand!"
And then the lightning struck Blitz. It didn't harm him, seeing as his powers over electricity protected him, but the overload would be painful at the very least if he didn't get rid of it quickly. Blitz screamed as the lightning exited his body in both directions down the street. Spike screamed as it passed through him, burning off his hair and starting to feel his limbs go numb.
Finally, the energy flow stopped, and Blitz fell to his knees, panting.
Spike fell as well, smelling a lot like burning hair. There were holes in his clothes, and Blitz realized he could not feel the electric pulse that signified his heart was beating.
I could revive him, but why should I? He tried to kill...no, he didn't. He wanted me to surrender without a fuss, and I got mad. He deserves a second chance. And I could use someone to watch my back.
Blitz reached out with one hand, and an electric bolt jumped into Spike's chest, restarting his heart. Spike opened his eyes and gasped, feeling numbness in every limb. Blitz slowly walked over and turned Spike onto his back. Spike looked up with...well, Blitz couldn't pin the emotion on Spike's face.
"So, yeah, sorry about that. I had to get rid of that excess energy. And maybe you aren't as bad as I thought you were. I'm just looking for my mentors, and I thought maybe they were here. If you're willing to help, I'll get rid of the paralyzing effect the electricity left in you. Otherwise I could just leave you here."
Spike looked up and grunted, probably because he was trying to move his limbs, and then panted. Finally he looked at Blitz again. "All right, I call a truce already. Now help me up."
Blitz put a hand over Spike and small bolts of electricity reached down to Spike, helping to restart the nerves in his arms and legs. Spike grunted and sat up. "Maybe you're not so useless after all, kid."
Blitz grinned. "You should see my brother. He's way more deadly than I am."
The choice you readers have to make is which chapter is better than the other and deserves to be part of continuity? Four days of voting! Starting right after I edit my post at the top!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Warsor
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Ooooh the first battle is up? They look like two great entries. It's going to be really hard to decide which to vote for.
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Black Hawk
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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very hard to decide but finally decided to vote for the two to team up
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-Will Rodgers
Michael Crichton one of the greatest writers of his time 1942-2008 rest in peace
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice entries, whoever you two are. I voted for Spike, because (my) logic says anyone with spiegal as a last name and dual wields guns is awesome.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Phantomfan
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Just a quick question- how long will the voting go on for each chapter?
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I've been pulled back from oblivion to lurk about the City once more. Though the music of the night always beckons...
Here's some stuff I started writing a long time ago. Orb. Nexus.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Voting closes tomorrow, actually!
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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It's kinda tied, IM. How are you gonna get out of this mess?
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Simple: The first person who hasn't voted already that wanders in here and says which side they would have voted for will be my tie-breaker.
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...No plans yet.
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Sabriel
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| Yay! I wasn't too late!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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All right, Blitz and Spike are teaming up then! And now for fight two!
Aeger VS. Mikael
Aeger's version of events are as follows:
Aeger walked quickly through the halls of the Asylum, past gibbering maniacs and busily bustling medical professionals, absorbed in his own problems. Five days wasted. Five days with no training, dedicated purely to traveling over this island.
Aeger rounded a corner, almost bumping into what appeared to have once been a man. It did not appear to notice him, as its gaunt face muttered urgently.
“Need energy…. Haven’t fed in since I got to this island,” it held its shaking hands up to the light, watching as the trembled. “Gotta find someone. But if I take one of the nurses, I’ll be kicked out. And in the cells are the madmen, they won’t want me going in there. That might break the rules. Can’t break the rules, or I get kicked out. Can’t get kicked out or I can’t win. And I need to win, or the world won’t hear Mikael’s name. But I need to feed.”
Aeger cocked his head and backed up slowly. Looked like one of the madmen had escaped from their cells. Only this… thing talked about the contest. Did that mean it was one of the contestants? Should he attack? What if he was wrong?
The choice was taken out of his hands. Or hand.
The thing looked up, and its eyes lit with a desperate hunger.
“You’ll do!”
Aeger jumped back as the thing started seizure-like spasms, as what looked like a scorpion’s tail grew from its back. Needles appeared in his hand, thrown towards the neck, but the spasms made things hard. Several scored the thing’s back, and chest, and one came close to the thing’s eye, drawing lines of blood on its body. It snarled, more angry than hurt, but the tail continued to grow. Aeger concentrated, as fire coursed through his veins. The black tattoos circling his body swirled like living things, the green and blue lines slowly becoming overwhelmed by the red, as they slithered and leapt around and under the black lines, so that they converged on his left arm. His hand burst into flame.
Just as the scorpion tail grew, its dark red surface glistening in the antiseptic lights of the mental ward. It darted toward Aeger’s shoulder, its razor sharp point penetrating the skin just as his hand darted to catch it. They both screamed together, Aeger’s hand grabbing around the tail. Where it touched the flames, the shell of the tail turned black and shriveled. And where the tail pierced the skin, his skin turned pale white, the point of the tail glowing an unearthly color and pulsing. The pulsing color crept up the tail, ending at where his hand met it. That spot became a war between life and death, each pulse healing the blackened site, each second burning more away. Aeger felt the energy draining from his body, and he saw his opponent’s hunger increasing with every passing second.
It was time to end this standoff. Aeger squeezed on the tail. Or tried to. His body would not respond! Aeger tried to move, tried to do anything, to kick, to headbutt, or even to bite, but he couldn’t move a muscle. Why wasn’t that thing taking advantage. His eyes roamed the beast before him, taking in the grimace of concentration, the desperate focus in its eyes. It was trying to drain his energy with a fearful single-mindedness.
Again. Time to end this standoff. The black lines on his body started to ring the wound, closing in and becoming finer and finer. They weave themselves together with a spider’s intricacy, making of web of black lines, which slowly tinge more and more red. The pulsing slowed, and then stopped. A fireball erupted from the shoulder, dancing up the tail as fire raced to meet it from Aeger’s frozen fist, leaving only ash.
The thing roared in pain, recoiling away from Aeger. It snarled, and the tail slowly started to grow back in preparation for another chance to strike. Aeger didn’t give it that chance. His flames around his hand died out, and the red ink on his shoulder wove its way over and under the black lines, flowing around the wound, ending up at his neck, where it became multiple collars of red.
Aeger breathed in, filling his mouth with air. Then he blew out flames, the fire racing through the air to bathe the thing in flames.
It gave a scream, an unearthly sonoration, as its skin became ash under those flames. But it survived, whimpering.
It stumbled, one of its knees giving way as the flames stopped, falling to the ground. It levered itself up with a hand, the stub of a scorpion tail starting to grow again.
Aeger frowned, and spit in his hand. The red rings faded into his normal skin, and all the black rings on his arm became a deep blue. Every single line crossed at the exact point of the moisture on his hand. He walked up to the writhing burned husk, and placed his hand on its forehead. He closed his eyes.
All the moisture left in the thing’s body froze in a single instant.
Water is unique among all the materials of the world in that it will actually expand when frozen. And most beings are made almost entirely of water. So thus, if much of a body expands to several times its normal size in a single second, the result is often pretty violent. And messy. Also rather colorful.
Aeger used fire to turn the remains into a fine ash, before sweeping it into a corner with his hand. The rules did state that it was against the rules to interfere with the schedule, and it was almost time for lunch. He didn’t want anyone to slip.
And Mikael's version of events!
The dark hallways of the asylum were like a maze to Mikael, his footsteps echoing softly across the stone floor. It seemed like days had pasted but time held little meaning for him, only the hunt and the reward. Of all the places he could have chosen to go on the island he had picked the asylum, seeking the heart of the dark mystery that surrounded the island like a fog. It wasn’t long until he found his way to an inner courtyard, a garden that perhaps the inmates were occasionally allowed to frequent.
An uncanny silence hung in the air causing Mikael to halt in his tracks. His head slowly moved back and forth, looking for something that was not right here. Numerous vines and stunted trees spread themselves around the garden, branches outstretched like crooked fingers frozen in place by some evil spell. He shook his head; it must have been his imagination. This body he now wore like a glove could be a bit unreliable at times. He took another few steps toward the far end of the courtyard when suddenly roots shot up from the ground encircling his foot. Nearly tripping forward Mikael let out a cry of surprise as another root sprung up to wrap itself around his legs. Struggling against his ensnarement he barely had time to register the rustling in the brush behind him as a flight of razor sharp needles whizzed toward his back. Unable to dodge Mikael twisted his body sideways and held his arms up to shield himself the best he could. Even so half of the needles planted themselves into his side.
Pain shot through him like an icy dagger, and while the needles could not kill a creature such as himself they would weaken him in great enough numbers. He let out a deep throaty growl as his arms lowered and looked toward the man that emerged from the bushes behind him. Aeger, the stranger, had pure blue eyes and worn loose trousers with a plain white shirt. One of his hands was missing but he quickly drew four more needles from a pouch at his side in his free one.
"So you’re the one that’s come to take my head boy? You'll need more then these roots and some needles to kill me. It’s a coward's tactic to stand back and wait until I've bled all my strength away." Aeger’s eyes narrowed in anger and Mikael returned the look with condescending calmness. Two more roots sprouted up shackling his wrists as Mikael continued struggling like an animal caught in a trap, which was exactly what he was. Gritting his teeth Mikael's mind raced as the one handed man threw more needles into his body, determined to take no risks.
Then their eyes locked and Aeger froze for a moment, for what he saw in that instant was not human. The roots loosened for a moment and Aeger's eyes suddenly widened as Mikael's body shifted. An orange furred tabby cat leapt from the center of the roots even as the desperately tried to contain the animal. Its paws hit the ground running as Aeger swung his arms franticly through the air, twisting and drawing forth more roots as fast as he could from the ground but he could not grow them quickly enough. Mikael began to shift again, only this time his shape was black, exoskeleton like an insect. His eyes turned to pools of black while a scorpion-like tail tore itself free of his spine. Aeger released his control over the roots and lashed out with a last desperate attempt to keep Mikael from reaching him with the vines that hung like rope from the trees nearby. Whipping out like snakes they snapped around Mikael's arm holding him on a leash even as he continued his horrific metamorphosis. The vines wrapped double and thick around the arm squeezing tighter and tighter to ensure no more escape. Aeger's lips turned in a smile which was cut all too short by a wet popping and ripping noise.
Suddenly Mikael was flying toward him again his arm torn from his shoulder to escape the vine trap. Black viscous fluid squirted out from the stump but Mikael lunged forward slamming into Aeger with such force that then both went down upon the ground. Unnaturally heavy blows rained down upon Aeger as the men fought. Aeger pressed his feet under Mikael's stomach and thrust him backward with all the strength he could muster. Falling back for a moment Mikael righted himself with his remaining arm even as his tail weaved back and forth behind him. Before he could strike a wave of heat washed over him. Only his experience saved him as a blast of flame hit the ground where he had crouched moments before. Panting heavily Aeger whirled toward the circling shape of the necromorph and let loose another blast of flame. Cursing Mikael threw himself aside at the last moment, rolling across the ground. Aeger quickly regained his feet and thrust both hand and stump this time toward Mikael doubling the size of the fire blast. To Mikael's dismay the flames seemed to spread out into an ever growing cone leaving him no escape.
The flames washed over the spot Mikael stood obscuring everything from view. Tree caught fire and bushes burned to a crisp. The flames continued onward carving through the garden until they hit the wall of the asylum, leaving a blacken scorch mark from the ashes of all that it carried with it. Finally the mighty blast died away leaving only the fading sound of rushing air and the crackling of burning wood. The destruction of Mikael was complete, leaving nothing aside from a few ashes on a scorched wall.
Sweating profusely Aeger stumbled to a tree and leaned against it. That had been tougher then he had expected but he had won. The creature he had fought had been too bloodthirsty, too reckless. But in the end it was the winner who got to go home and the loser whose ashes lay on the earth. He crossed the garden to the scorched wall and reached out with his one good hand, closing his eyes in a moment of silence for the fallen.
His eyes jerked open, his body shuddering suddenly as a cold chill pierced his heart. Trembling he looked down and saw the tip of a spiked tail protruding from his chest. The cold was spreading now but he forced his head to turn, looking back in disbelief at the black inhuman figure standing there. Aeger tried to move his lips but already the paralyzing poison was affecting him.
"H-h-how?" He managed to say forgetting his vow of silence in the last moments as he knew his death was upon him.
"You gave me my escape with your careless tearing up roots in the ground. I simply assumed a smaller shape and dug in." The missing arm was already beginning to scab and shift as it slowly regenerated, the life drained out of Aeger restoring him. The last thing Aeger saw was the cold and calculating eyes of his killer as his life snuffed out.
Wow, these two are bloodthirsty! So, who walks away whole and intact from this one, loyal readers? The one-man elementalist, or the necromorph? Choose!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Warsor
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Two most excellent entries. I had a real hard time picking between them.
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NeverNeverGirl
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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wow. so far so good.
does one assume that as there are similar points in the first set of stories that you give them 'reference points' for each fight?
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Ouuuch. Whoever wrote Mikael must be pretty disappointed.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:35 am Post subject: |
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Yeowch, Aeger wins by a landslide. Sorry Mikeal!
Fight three is now underway at the control tower! Edward VS. Liathel! Liathel's version of events are as follows:
Liathel glanced at his opponents and smirked. This would be too easy. As soon as the group was given the go ahead, he sauntered off, confident in his victory. He kept his amethyst eyes on his destination - the tallest structure on the island - the control tower. He walked up to the doors and slipped inside. He stared at the gothic carvings and paintings for only a moment, and then made his way to the nearest stairs he could find.
He climbed up and up for what seemed an eternity. He felt the buildup of lactic acids in his calves, but he ignored it with a smile. He had been through much, much worse in his life. If he could survive the death of his entire people, he could certainly survive a walk up a couple thousand stairs. He didn’t even think about using his harp to play a spell to ease the pain. That would be weak and wasteful. If there was one thing his past had taught him it was never to waste and never to show weakness- no matter the cost.
Suddenly, his keen elven ears caught a slight rustling sound. Thinking it was a bird of some sort, he glanced up to the roof of the tower. He only had a few flights to go, and the stairwell, where it once had been broad, was now quite a bit narrower. There was a problem, though, the birds, which sat at the top of the tower, were still and silent, looking down.
Liathel took out his harp. It was dark and in a place like this, he didn’t want to risk being caught in the dark by some winged creature. That would be stupid. The third rule of his life- besides never showing weakness or being wasteful- was to never be stupid. He played a single note. The note resounded, echoed, reverberated across the stairwell, up and down, filling the space with a single, sweet, dominating note. A small globe of light started to flicker in front of him, then another, and another, until eight orbs of light revolved about his head in a halo of sorts. They cast eerie shadows on the walls, created demons with malevolent eyes to stalk him in the darkness, but at least no one could sneak up on him. Anyway they approached from they would cast a shadow. Liathel would e ready to strike, too. He looked to his twin silver swords in his scabbards. They glowed a little, the way they did only when something magical or supernatural approached.
The rustling was getting louder. It was fighting the note for dominance. It was close. A shadow cast itself upon Liathel’s face. He looked at the intruder.
It was just some kid with wings and tattered jeans. The wings were pretty and colorful, to be sure, but they were nothing special except proof that the kid was on some quest from God.
Liathel didn’t want to be stuck on some stairwell with some flying kid threatening him; that was stupid. As quick as a flash his fingers flew over his harp and his voice rose and fell with the music. Two iridescent wings flowed out from his back and he took off quickly towards the top of the tower. The kid just stared at him, then started to give chase.
Liathel drew his swords and spun around, blades flashing, but he didn’t strike. He had to concentrate on keeping this spell active, or he would fall to his death. He only had 15 seconds left of flight even when he did pay attention. He beat the wings as hard as he could and flattened his body to become aerodynamic. The kid did the same.
Liathel had 10 seconds left. He wasn’t going to make it.
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3…2….
Liathel grabbed the handle of the door and pulled it open just in time. The wings flickered and died, leaving his hanging over the abyss of the stairwell with the kid flying after him. He painfully pulled himself up and climbed onto the roof. Somewhere in the frantic flight his pony tail had come undone and now his hair was in his eyes. He pushed it out of the way and rushed away from the opening just before the kid burst through the door. He did a flip in midair and landed on the roof. The blue infinity stretched overhead. The kid’s platinum hair gleamed in the sunlight, as did Liathel’s alabaster skin. They stood there shining and panting for a moment.
Suddenly, Liathel played a note. The orbs of light about his head scattered and launched themselves towards the kid. He took off quickly and barely avoided the explosion the orbs caused.
Liathel smiled. “I’m Liathel, by the way.”
The kid smiled and nodded. “Edward.”
Liathel sent a jet of flame towards Edward. A trick he had learned back home, reading in the library… As Liathel ruminated over his idealistic childhood Edward dodged again and hurled his body towards Liathel. He hit Liathel full force, knocking his breath out. A trickle of blood snaked down from Liathel’s mouth. Liathel sang again and a net spread over Edward’s wings and they both fell to the roof with a thud.
Edward was up again in a flash and coming towards Liathel with a look of holy insanity in his eyes. Liathel drew his swords, magic wasn’t working.
They began a deadly dance, Liathel spinning for a time like a top, Edward backing away, Edward aiming a fist for the head, Liathel ducking and countering. Edward shot divine magic, Liathel quickly strummed up boulders to fall upon his opponent. Liathel used his swords like scissors right at Edward’s legs, Edward jumped and avoided. They fought for a time, bobbing, weaving, spinning, leaping, and suddenly Edward had grabbed one of Liathel’s own swords and had it to his throat. Liathel stopped moving, stopped breathing, and rolled his eyes to his opponent.
Edward looked at Liathel as if for the first time. “You don’t have a demon.”
Liathel glared at him. “And you don’t have a brain.”
Edward suddenly slumped down. He seemed diminished and exhausted. The sword came away from Liathel’s throat. The almost-killed elf stared.
“Well aren’t you going to kill me?” A little part of Liathel wanted to die, wanted to leave this world of pain.
Edward squeezed his eyes shut. “No, I need more caffine.”
Liathel smirked. How pathetic. He grabbed Edward’s wrist and forced the sword out. “I would kill you, but I won’t strike someone helpless. Goodbye Edward. Thank you for the practice.
Liathel strummed another song on his harp, the wings came again, and he dived off the tower, landing softly on the ground.
Quick and simple, eh? And here's Edward's version!
Liathel walked through the lower halls of the control tower, looking for an easy way to the top. As he passed through the halls, looking for stairs or an elevator, whichever came first, he heard an odd noise. It sounded like someone...singing.
Better check it out, he thought, and followed the noise. It wound through many hallways and sometimes he was only following an echo, but in the end, Liathel found the source of the voice in a break room. It was a boy going through the frig. A boy whose shirt was ripped in back.
"We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow- Aha! There you are! I knew there was some coffee in here!"
The boy held up a small package and turned towards the coffee maker. He also turned towards Liathel. "Oh! Didn't see you there. Hello, I'm Edward. You are?"
"Liathel. What are you doing here, Edward?"
The boy moved to the coffee maker and inserted way too much coffee. "Well, do you mean here in this room, here on this island, or here on this earth? I could give you the explanation for all three if you'd like."
Liathel made himself comfortable. "Well, I've not much else to do right now. Please, explain away."
Edward began looking through other cabinets and withdrawing random things. "Well, I'm here on this earth to spread the Lord's love and wisdom and smite demons that would stop me from doing otherwise. I'm on this island because I prayed to the Lord, and he said back to me that there was a source of great evil here, and that I was the only available agent of His to go smite it."
Liathel waited patiently, and then said, "And why are you here in this room?"
Edward smiled. "D'oh, forgot that one, sorry. I'm here because I need a caffeine boost, my energy levels are running kinda low. Can't be all holy without my coffee!"
The pot dinged, and Edward removed the pot from the holder, poured a travel mug full, and then added the other ingredients that he'd found. Edward stirred violently for a few seconds, and then tested his concoction. "Yep! That's the stuff."
As Edward drank deeply of the mug, Liathel began to think on what he had been told. "Umm, but how did you get here? Are you a contestant?"
Edward lowered the mug. "Yeah, had to enter to get in, and it's one of my greater fears that I'll be defeated and forced to leave the island before I do my Lord's work. But so long as I live and outmaneuver whatever they throw at me, I'll be fine. I hope."
Liathel cast another gaze at the boy. "You don't seem like much of a fighter."
Edward grinned. "Look again."
Liathel did as instructed. "What am I looking fo-"
He caught a flash of color out of the corner of his eye. Slowly he traced it and found that there was a wing on the boy's right side. Turning his gaze to the left, he saw a wing there too. "You're an angel?"
Edward smiled. "Pretty sweet deal, huh? I've a few of the strengths of an Angel, but I'm still mortal. I'll get the full set of gear once I've passed on. Usually you have to be in tune with the spiritual to see the wings, but if I'm all caffeinated and you're capable of using magic, then you can see it as well."
Just then, Edward's eyes blazed in a flash of holy power. Liathel waved his hands in front of Edward's face. "Edward? Boy? Hello?"
No answer.
"Huh. Well, I suppose I'll just go and..."
Edward's neck cracked as he looked at Liathel. His mouth opened, and he spoke with an authority that wasn't there earlier. "You have sinned and not sought forgiveness, you have done evil and not repented for it...as the Lord's agent on this earth, I now pass JUDGEMENT."
And that is my exit cue!
Liathel ran, singing to help alleviate the pain of running. Hopefully one of the boy's strengths wasn't super-speed, otherwise he'd have to change his song!
Liathel tore out of the tower's base and looked around for cover. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide...wait, the tower itself! Liathel looked up. Yes, there were gargoyles. Maybe this plot could work! He sang and flew up to where there was a gargoyle missing, barely making it.
Edward burst out of the tower's base, casting his eyes around, and finding only animals. He glanced upwards, knowing that this was the only place left for anyone to hide. Slowly, his wings flapped, and he began to circle the tower, looking for signs of life.
Liathel played his harp, creating the silent image of another gargoyle in his place and also canceling out the noise of him playing. It wouldn't be a very effective illusion if people could hear him playing, and he'd learned that trick a while ago.
Edward passed by, noticing that there was nothing out of place, and that was about when the holy insanity that had seized him wore off. "Oh my, but this is going to hurt..."
Liathel watched the boy plummet, wings no longer visible, and he bounced limply off the ground. Yeowch, poor boy. Well, I could look after him until he's healed, but after that I must be on my way. He likes that coffee stuff he makes quite a bit...
Edward came to in the break room, with Liathel watching over him. Edward moved and felt stiffness all up his side. "Ow, what happened? Can't remember a thing."
Liathel was dumbfounded. "Um, flying accident. Here." He passed Edward a cup of coffee that he'd managed to create after recalling how Edward made his.
Edward sipped it and grimaced. "Not bad. Not excellent, but not bad. So why are you here?"
Liathel shrugged. "I dunno, I was just hoping to get some training in."
Edward brightened. "Then how about going with me? I'm sure that finding whatever source of massive evil lurks here isn't going to be easy, and I could use a friend!"
Liathel scratched his head. "You really don't remember anything, do ya, kid?"
Edward shook his head. "Sorry, had memory problems since I was young. If it happened just before I fell asleep, I'm not likely to remember it. I don't remember a lot of important things."
Liathel sighed. "I suppose..."
Man, Edward is a nice guy. Almost TOO nice.
So who wins, my friends? Neither one of them killed the other, but they were still interesting chapters. Right?
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Voted for coffee-addicted little freak. Not a fan of coffee myself (I've never even tried it) but this was quite well written and I found it quite funny. Same for Liathel's author, too!
Although, in terms of well-writtenness, I'd have to say Liathel's side was better. Edward needs a bit more description in his.
I chose Edward's side because in the end, his result left more plot-possibilities...
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Alegria
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| Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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hmmmmm. We've already had two people pair up, why don't we leave some seperated????
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A writer doesn't solve problems. He allows them to emerge.
-Friedrich Dürrenmatt
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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We most likely will, Leggy. There are still most contestants to go.
And leaving the first pair as the only team is kind of unfair, if you ask me. They'd have it too easy.
As of this moment, the poll is...
Edward: 3
Liathel: 3
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:51 am Post subject: |
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Liathel barely won, but it was good enough. So Edward has lost...but you never know, he might show up again. He wasn't killed, after all!
Fight four at the canyon! Ratfink McGee VS. Blaze! Ratfink's description of events are as follows:
Ratfink emerged running at full pelt from the trees above the gorge, pulling himself up barely in time to stop himself from plummeting over the edge. As it was, his arms flailed comically in windmills until he collapsed back onto his hunches breathing heavily. He deftly stroked the back of his hand across his forehead then wiped the last traces of sweat away with his sleeve.
Phew, Ratfink exhaled, missing that ferry to the Island almost cost me the lot. Lucky that Ol’ Terence at the fish docks owed me that favour..
He had had to convince the guards that the Administration had known he would be late and they had given him his missive. He’d also had to hot foot it to get to his rendezvous point on time..
Staring down into the gorge it wasn’t long before he could make out movement. The figure below was (he glanced again at his note) Blaze. He looked to be about Ratfink’s own size but seemed to have a sort of weird aura around him, almost shimmering in the air like a haze of heat.
The red outfit and pale complexion were a stark contrast to Ratfinks own swarthy features and attire. Looking down at himself Ratfink took in his own well worn and much faded pinstripe pants, vest mottled with stains and his now yellowing suit shirt – he had slung his trencher over his shoulder when he had began to run and the length of the thing was covered in a layer of muck and the original colour was indistinguishable.
Least you got some style Ratty me boy, he thought to himself. Pulling a deck of playing cards from his pocket and slowly beginning to shuffle them, Ratfink pulled the shadows around him like a cloak and descended down the path towards his opponent.
When he reached the canyon floor Ratfink paused just behind and to the side of Blaze. The youth was muttering distractedly to himself and kept clicking his fingers together, causing sparks to fly in all directions. Blaze’s power didn’t seem anything to write home about – in fact it seemed a bit, nay a lot, useless.
Rat moved up behind him and laying a hand on Blaze’s shoulder removed his shroud of shadows.
Immediately the youth turned, eyes blazing fiercely, insanity glowing from their depths. An inhuman snarl issued forth from his lips and his whole person seemed to glow white hot. Ratfink had barely blinked before a rather large fireball had been summoned from the youths fingertips, taking it all in during that split second between life and death Ratfink noticed the flints attached to Blazes’ fingertips.
Pulling away quickly Rat threw his cards into his opponents face, stepping deftly to one side as they were inhaled by the fireball Ratfink wrapped himself once again in shadows.
Stone the Flamin’ Crows, this kid is all tip and no blade! He beat a quick retreat to the rockface where he could take a moment.
Blaze was glaring angrily around the gorge, eyes shifting from point to point in quick succession, fireballs hurling themselves non-discriminatly from place to place consuming everything they touched.
Ratfink struck on an idea.
Old Son you have got a Good Noggin’ on ya... shall We see then shall We?
Waiting until Blaze was facing in the opposite direction Rat moved from outcrop to outcrop, boulder to boulder, ever closer to his prey. Stretching his trench coat between his hands he paused, once again just behind Blaze, picking his moment.
Jump! Tackle!
Ratfink found he had managed to pinion Blaze to the ground, the youth squirming face down in the dirt, livid and cursing with rage – the fury of a beast trapped.
With the deft hands of a pickpocket Rat removed the flints from the flailing arm and pulled himself and his quarry into Shadow. Pushng backwards further than he had ever dared, into that dark empty nothing. It sucked the oxygen from his lungs and the pressure on his chest was unbearable. Rising the depths that he normally only ever stuck to the fringes of, Ratfink McGee held himself and the youth there until he could no longer stand the pain.
They arose as if drowning fighting free from the briny deep, crying out loud. Rat held his position on Blaze’s back, the youth lay still the only movement his heaving chest, the only sound his gasping.
With eyes devoid of fire, lacked of the oxygen that it so required, quenched of even the dullest spark, his gift extinguished like a hearth wetted – Blaze stared up at a pale Ratfink who had finally remembered to pull out his knife.
‘You Give then Son?’
And if you wish to know why Blaze lost his mind, then just read below!
Practice. Become better. Become the best. That was what he had to do. He had to be capable of creating flames so hot they could melt boulders. His talents were important. They always were. The only things that mattered were practicing his gift...and his new friend.
They'd met in a dream when he slept the first time on this island. His friend had pointed him to a gorge and said that when he could melt the very stone, he was ready. It had unnerved him at the time to be taking orders from a shadow beast, but the information had panned out, and he was lacking a quiet place for meditation.
The second night had borne another dream, showing him his past, what humans had done to him. They'd altered him and other innocents into horrible, twisted defilements of life. Him and his brother had been lucky to live, along with their mentors. And so the second day he had his anger rekindled, and boulders glowed cherry-red.
The third night was what broke him. His friend had returned, showing him that Blitz had made a human friend.
A human!
The traitor!
Blaze used his anger to fuel his power, making boulders glow white-hot, but could get no farther. I need to be able to melt boulders! When I can, I'll be ready for anything!
He was keeping a small belt of sparks around him, so that he couldn't be caught unawares. And while he was consumed with hatred and focusing on melting things, he was not so brainless to stop monitoring the heat signatures of those around him.
A human...nearby... vengeance will be mine, in the name of all those that were destroyed and changed!
Ratfink McGee was looking down into the canyon. "Coo, that's a way down. I don't know what he's doin' in there...Wonder if I should have a look?"
A fireball rapidly grew in size and Ratfink got the idea he should dodge about three seconds before it flew through the space his head had previously occupied. The fireball impacted into a nearby tree and started burning it and the neighboring trees.
"Guess he wants his privacy, then. I suppose I'll be off now."
And then the flames jumped to the grass and started to move with a purpose towards Ratfink.
"Oy! Get away from me, you lot!" Ratfink backed up towards the canyon onto a ledge of stone where the flames couldn't get him. Or so he thought. The ledge was actually supported by a pillar of stone that reached all the way to the bottom of the canyon. And Blaze was already working on melting the support...
There was a crack. Ratfink had heard many types of cracking noises in his profession of choice, and he was able to easily identify this one as a 'You really should move now' type of noise. But the only places he could go were on fire. He hesitated for a little bit longer than he should have. As a result, the ground fell out from under him, and Ratfink began to plummet nearly half a mile straight down.
How did I wind up in this mess, I wonder? If I time it right, I might survive still, but how do I deal with that boy?
Blaze watched with grim satisfaction as the stone turned over and over and Ratfink fell under it. The previously-supporting pillar landed atop it, and Blaze looked at the point where he'd focused his attack. The stone had been blasted clean through. He'd finally melted stone. I'm ready...for what?
The question answered itself as he saw Ratfink pull himself out of the shadows. Ah, I know what it means. I'm ready for him.
Ratfink coughed a few times to get the dust out of his lungs, and saw Blaze approaching. He could hear Blaze say something, but couldn't make it out. "Speak up boy, I've still got dust in me ears."
Blaze did just that. "I said, as a representative of all life that has been twisted and depraved by humanity, I now execute you for your crimes!"
Ratfink, if it was possible, turned even paler. "Oy! What did I ever do to you?!"
That phrase cut Blaze to the core.
Oy! What did I ever do to you?!
It undid the hate.
Oy!
It made his concentration...slip.
And all the carefully-compressed fireballs he wore around his waist went up. There was no time to stop it from happening, Ratfink was cremated. But Blaze kept thinking.
I...I was thinking of them as all being the same. Not all humans are responsible for what happened to me...I shouldn't be just a tool of unthinking hatred...I should focus it against those truly responsible. And I know where they reside: Not here. So I have to get off. And to get off, I have to win...
Blaze looked at where Ratfink had been standing, and noted the pile of ashes.
One down, who knows how many to go?
Well, it appears that we've got another few battle-ready people for you lot! And yes, I said Ratfink would be disqualified. I had, however, forgotten that the person controlling Ratfink would not be able to reach a compy for some time. So some concessions were made, but only the once! So now, if you lot will please vote...once I tame a poll to help us!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Ouch! I feel sorry for ol' McGee. He was well written, too.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Yup. We just all love spontaneous explosions too much.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: |
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I apologize. My life has been rather hectic as of late.
So! Ratfink was turned to ash. Sorry, Ratfink! But now, on to the final match of round 1.
Fight 5! Rathier the gem mage VS. Liane in the forest! Rathier's version of events are as follows:
Rathier wasn't sure why he'd decided to come to this island. The chance for finding any gems at all here was very low. Then again, this place was a mid-way point between worlds. If what he was looking for wasn't here, then he'd be able to go somewhere else to find it.
Rathier kept trudging through the forest, hoping to find at least something interesting. If not, then he'd go towards the Asylum itself later.
There was a snapping noise behind him, the sound of a twig breaking. Rathier turned around, his right hand already going for a gem, and his left raising to point at whatever was behind him.
A figure dropped from the trees, one that was armored and had a blue cape. The figure landed on the forest floor and then stood up, looking at Rathier with green eyes. Rathier spared a glance at the gem he'd managed to pick out of his robes and noted with some disdain that it was not an emerald, but a ruby. This could get dangerous real fast.
Rathier looked back at the figure, noting now that it was female and roughly the same height as himself, with white-blonde hair and purple eyes.
Wait. Purple? Weren't they green a second ago? This could be the result of many things, but not all of them would be pleasant for him. "Who are you?" Rathier queried.
The figure bowed slightly. "Liane. And you?"
Rathier noted the pouch around her neck when she bowed. Carefully, his left hand made its way to his Idearium crystal that he'd been given. "I'm Rathier," he said moments before his hand contacted his crystal. And now for a simple spell. Like call to like, gem call to gem...
The pouch around Liane's neck glowed bright blue. Rathier grinned. "You're a contestant, aren't you? Well, if I'm to get anywhere in this tournament...you'll have to go."
Laine's eyes widened and Rathier raised the ruby high, commanding the power contained therein to leave. And leave it did, in the form of a fireball going right at Liane!
Liane's eyes widened and went from purple to green. Somehow possessing more athletic skill than she did a moment ago, Liane jumped backwards, out of range of the fireball. Rathier was already looking for another sort of gem when he heard a buzzing sound. Two arrows had implanted themselves in his right shoulder, causing the ruby to be jostled around quite a bit. Carefully, Rathier put the gem back in the pouch, and used both hands to find the gems he needed, keeping an eye on the trees.
Eventually he found a diamond and a topaz, which would have to do for now. Rathier raised the diamond high and called to the power contained therein...
Liane jumped from the trees, her eyes a muddy brown now. She seemed fixated on the gems and was coming even closer...
And then she ran smack into a wall of ice, knocking herself out cold. Rathier smiled at his handiwork before dropping the diamond with a scream. It had suddenly grown too hot to hold on to! Rathier watched as the diamond turned into a shiny, goopy puddle, and sank into the forest floor.
I used up the power it held...it returns from whence it came...and yet I've still got a problem here! Maybe, if I use that gem...
Rathier pulled out a dark black gem and held it up, intoning a spell of such power that the trees themselves shuddered.
Oh lords of the dead, hear me and answer...this one is tormented by spirits not under her control. Please remove them, and let her live her own life...
The moment the spell was finished, the dark gem melted away as well. Rathier went over to the knocked-out girl and removed the pouch from around her neck and went onwards, looking to replace his gems. Before he got ten feet, the girl moaned. Liane then asked with horror in her voice, "They're gone. All three are gone. What did you do to me?!"
Rathier stopped for a second, and then sighed. "I set you free."
Well, it looks like Rathier successfully removed his opponent's capacity for battle. And if you'd like their side of the story, read on!
Liane cautiously made her way through the trees occasionally stumbling over tree roots. It would have been rather peaceful had her sisters not been constantly bickering with each other.
The mist that surrounded the forest swirled around her, obscuring her vision and causing her to catch her foot on a protruding rock, sending her tumbling to the mossy leaf covered ground. She lay there, eyes closed, using the few seconds of her horizontal position to try and gather her thoughts.
Shut up, Liane said heavily. Please just shut up.
Excuse me? Karakel replied furiously. We’ve been wandering around this island for five days. You’d think we could have done something by now.
Or at least seen someone else, Ria commented quietly. It’s been awfully quiet…
Liane frowned. Ria was right. She knew there were at least five other people on this island, but the fact that she hadn’t seen anyone was a little worrying. With that thought, a slight crackle sounded to her left, like someone had stepped on a dry leaf.
Silently, she sat up. Neve, what do you see?
Her sister stirred, and she felt her eyes turning bright green as Neve took control of her body. After a couple seconds of silent scrutinizing, the reply came. A man, surrounded by a kind of aura I’ve never seen before. Another second of silence as Neve pinpointed his position. He is off to our left, behind a tree, just out of our line of sight.
Liane felt Karakel growing restless, anxious to kill. She sternly silenced her bloodthirsty sister, saying Perhaps he doesn’t even know we’re here.
Ria snorted. Oh, he knows alright, doesn’t he, Neve?
In all probability Liane, he does. I would suggest leaving now. He has a powerful stench of magic about him. Neve returned control to Liane, who shuddered as her eyes returned to normal purple.
Hoping the man really did not know she was there, Liane slowly stood up, making sure to leave her back facing the spot Neve had mentioned. As she stepped forward, there was a bright green flash in the corner of her eye. She froze, but when no flash followed the first, continued to walk forward, only to find herself unable to move either leg. Hand leaping to her dagger, she glanced down, startled. Twining around her legs and growing higher were vines, tethering her to the ground. Letting out a wild curse, Liane whipped out her dagger and began hacking at the vines.
“Desist,” a low voice sounded behind her. Liane yanked her head around, eyes narrowing as she saw her attacker. A middle-aged man, dressed in long, flowing robes covered with strange symbols Liane recognized. Around his waist was a belt with innumerable pockets, all glowing slightly different colors.
A gem mage… murmured Ria. Interesting. Liane ignored her sister, instead concentrating on the gem the man held in his hand, a rather large emerald. Ria also noted this. Look at the size of that… imagine what that could be worth!
He’s using that emerald to control the plants. Neve quickly overrode her sister’s greedy thoughts.
“I,” continued the man, “am Rathier, all powerful gem mage and soon to be victor of this tournament. But first,” he grinned. “I need to get rid of everyone else.”
The plants around her legs tightened, and shot up even higher with the intent of enveloping her entirely. Liane felt Karakel try to take over, only managing to quell her with difficulty. As this internal struggle went on, the vines continued to climb up to her shoulders.
Bloody hell, Liane. Move over!
The man, already gloating over this absurdly easy victory, watched the girl struggle fruitlessly with the vines. As he watched, the girl shuddered slightly, then froze, eyes closed. The plants continued growing over her now motionless body, though she made no attempt to stop them. Slightly confused, he stepped forward. She made no move. There, hanging around her neck, was a small pouch, undoubtedly holding her crystal and letter. He hesitated before reaching out to grab it- instead replacing the emerald back in its pouch and drawing out a large ruby. The plants stopped moving, and a small fireball appeared to hover next to his hand, ready to be thrown at the girl should she make any sudden movements.
Satisfied, he slowly reached out his free hand to grab the pouch. Suddenly, the girl’s eyelids snapped open, revealing eyes of pure silver. Before he had a chance to react, the girl had ripped the hand holding her dagger free from the entwining plants.
The blade whipped through the air, slicing open his hand before thunking into the tree trunk behind him. The man cried out in pain and surprise, dropping the ruby he had been clutching. The fireball that had been hovering immediately vanished, and the man hurriedly knelt, frantically patting the ground to find his lost gem. After a few seconds, he located it and grasped it in his uninjured hand, calling forth a dozen fireballs to strike at the spot where the girl stood--- had stood. Now there was only mist, and a tangle of vines.
Liane felt Karakel’s fierce joy at being in control of her body again, and it unnerved her. The speed and ease with which she had torn those vines with astounded Liane, who had rarely seen such a display of strength from her oldest sister. While the man had looked for his fallen gem, she had been able to regain control and dive behind a tree and out of sight. Karakel was putting up a huge fight at having been repressed once again, and Liane was just barely able to keep her at bay. Grimacing slightly from the effort, she poked her head out from behind the tree to watch the man. Upon noticing her disappearance, he had stood stock still, most likely waiting for any small sound to give her away. She pulled her head back behind the tree and considered her options.
He’s going to attack again no matter what, Ria reasoned. Why not attack first?
Yes! Karakel agreed. You have the advantage of surprise; take it while you still have the chance.
Liane knew her older sisters spoke truthfully, but how to attack… Arrow would be best, don’t you think Neve?
I thought you’d never ask.
She felt Neve take control, eyes returning to a bright green. Silently, swiftly, she reached for her bow and an arrow, knocking it but not drawing it tight just yet. She concentrated, and the arrow burst into green flame with a sharp hiss. Hearing this, the man whirled around and sent two fireballs flying towards Liane’s tree, only to hear a loud “twang” of an arrow being fired. Liane dropped to the floor, fireballs passing over her head, and heard a loud yell as Neve’s arrow found its mark. She looked up and saw the man desperately trying to beat out the green flames that spread through his robes, arrow shaft protruding from his shoulder. As he hopped around wildly, Liane crept up behind him, hand on the hilt of her sword. Then with a sudden flourish, the man pulled out two new gems, a topaz and a sapphire. He made a motion, and out of nowhere appeared a towering wave of water that crashed down upon them both. The force of the water pushed Liane to her knees where she struggled to regain her breath, coughing violently. The water disappeared, leaving her soaking and gasping for breath. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Liane glanced up to see the man standing over her, with a large charred hole around his shoulder. He was scowling, and holding the topaz up with his uninjured hand.
Move! Karakel shouted at her. He’s going to hit us with something big!
Liane stumbled to her feel, glaring at the man furiously. He noticed this, and lowered the gem.
“You could just make this easy for yourself,” he said quietly, tossing the gem from hand to hand. “Just give me your crystal, and I won’t have to kill you.” Silent, Liane shook her head from side to side. The man shrugged. “Have it your way then.”
He raised the topaz again, and a bolt of lightening burst down to strike Liane- but she was already diving out of the way. Another followed the first, though once again striking just behind Liane’s feet as she crashed through the trees. The man followed, though at a much more leisurely pace. The sound of her fleeing stopped, and he laughed- the girl must be hiding somewhere, but she would be easy to find. A trail of trampled plants and cracked branches would lead him right to her.
“Come out, come out where ever you are!” He called mockingly, energy crackling with every step he took. He peered behind trees, sending bolts of lightening off in random directions at any slight noise. “We gem mages are much harder to kill then it seems. That puny arrow of yours? No harm whatsoever.” He spread his arms out wide. “So come on, hit me with your best sh-” His voice petered out with a kind of half-strangled scream. Slowly, in shock, he looked down to see a long, dark blade protruding from his chest. The hand clutching the topaz went limp, falling like the first drop of rain in a downpour. Slowly, ever so slowly, the man’s eyes glazed over in the throes of death, and he fell forward to land face-down in the leaves. Standing over him was a girl, silver eyes glowing with fury.
As her eyes faded from silver to purple, her expression changed from one of anger and triumph to one of revulsion, and even pity. She reached out and grasped the hilt of her sword sticking out of the man’s back, sliding it out with a sharp ‘snick’. She looked at the black, rune-etched blade, and watched the man’s lifeblood sink into it, making it glow with a kind of inner light.
Beautiful… murmured Karakel.
Liane sheathed her sword, and walked back to the place where she had dropped her dagger. Locating it quickly, she picked it up and replaced it in its sheath, before looking in the direction of where the body lay one last time. She turned around and resumed walking into the forest’s depths, the mist swirling and eddying behind her.
And there we have it! So does Rathier win, or does Liane? I leave it to you lot!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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Tiebreaker!~ Wooo hooo!
Rathier seemed an interesting character... but he was simply too short. But he still has a chance, it seems, and 2 votes will put him in the lead!
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Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:18 am Post subject: |
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It was short, but it's far more interesting to leave a character sans les pouvoirs than just to leave them dead. And I found Liane's split personality thing a tad confusing. There's more chance of that being explained when she's reflecting on their loss than if she's still in her comfort zone.
In conclusion, Meany's wrong. Vote Rathier!
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NeverNeverGirl
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| The White Blacksmith wrote: | It was short, but it's far more interesting to leave a character sans les pouvoirs than just to leave them dead. And I found Liane's split personality thing a tad confusing. There's more chance of that being explained when she's reflecting on their loss than if she's still in her comfort zone.
In conclusion, Meany's wrong. Vote Rathier! |
Was totally going to vote Liana - the combo of the sisters and their dynamic had my attention from the first... but Whitie swayed me the other way.
Bring on the nullified Liane...
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Black Hawk
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Rathier leads by one point but for how long?
P.S. I voted Rathier
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Michael Crichton one of the greatest writers of his time 1942-2008 rest in peace
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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But since he nullified her combat prowess, as he said, if Rathier wins, Liane won't be writing another story.
So you guys are kinda being counterproductive.
Bet you wish you could take back your vote now, don't you?
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Sabriel
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Like dmw said- it seems that Liane basically got kicked off. She lost her crystal and letter, so doesn't that mean that she can't continue fighting?
I think if you want to see more of her, she'd have to win this round.
Then again, I could be completely wrong.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:42 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting. I wonder who'll win this time?
As of this moment:
Liane: 4
Rathier: 4
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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NeverNeverGirl
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
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can you clarify that for us IM?
If he took her powers but didnt kill her is she still in the competition or is she out regardless?
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: |
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I've no idea, he didn't clarify what the heck he was doing, and I've no idea how Liane's writer will react to this. I do know that if Liane doesn't follow her crystal, she'll be out regardless!
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:32 am Post subject: |
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Hum. Well, Liane's winning, but I still think seeing a powerless character try to retrieve her crystal would be interesting.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, so round one has concluded. The survivors are:
Team Blitz and Spike
Blaze
Aeger
Liathel
Liane
The victims:
Ratfink: Incinerated.
Rathier: Sword in chest
Mikeal: Also incinerated.
And the free radicals:
Edward: Lost his match, but hasn't been forced to leave yet. When we've invented jetpacks, he'll be forced off.
The survivors have five days, starting from now, to tell me where they'd like to go to next. In the meantime, here's an interlude.
The Wheels of Fate are ever-turning...
IM sat deep in the basement of the Asylum, looking at the screen he'd conjured. "Ouch, I feel sorry for my brethren. Right through the chest. Had to be unpleasant."
Why did you not bring ALL the crystals here, mage? Like you did before?
IM looked up at the shadowy beast. "A few reasons. Firstly, those wards on this room didn't mind me teleporting the crystal the first time so long as I brought the counterpart to cancel it out. If I were to bring all the crystals, I would have to bring large quantities of their counterpart as well, and that much is dangerous to me. And if I were to simply walk in with those crystals, the dear Dr. Crooked would KNOW something is up. So these shmucks are doing my work for me. It also gives me time to lay down my runes."
IM looked back at the floor, where glittering blue dust lay in intricate patterns, covering almost the entire surface area. "It's part Wiccan, part Celtic, and part of my own design. Some parts are no bigger than a human hair, and all of it needs to be powered up. You don't mind me using one of these orbs, do you?"
Actually, yes I-
"Perfect. This won't take long..."
The runework flashed white, and then sunk into the ground, still glowing bright blue. The beast was noticeably upset.
I told you not to!
IM stood in one circle. "And here is where I'll stand, and around me the crystals will gather. Afterwards, I'll break the wards, and then...I'll grant you freedom from your addiction to this power. Freedom from this place."
And then I shall reward you.
Both grinned.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
Last edited by Idea master on Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:16 pm; edited 1 time in total
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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*Gasp*
Naughty IM! Stop playing with the evil thingy!
Glad to finally see something other than just action. Short and sweet.
I wonder why you're trying to release this thing, though... Surely nothing can call for such dire measures.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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Only one fight this round, by my decree.
Round Two! Liathel VS. Liane in the forest.
They know what to do. So get to it!
Dawn of the first day. 120 hours remain.*
*Bonus point to whoever knows where that was blatantly stolen from!
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry that it took so long, but my life has been a wee bit topsy-turvy. Anyway, round two!
Liathel VS. Liane
The following is Liathel's version of events:
Liathel sprinted towards the forest, weaving in and out of the trees. Little shafts of green light swam lazily over his tall figure. He jumped, weaved, ducked, dove through and over and under the trees and vines and little tendrils of vegetation scattered throughout the forest. Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks. He had heard something. He looked to his blades. They weren’t glowing, so it was nothing supernatural or divine per say, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
He looked around. It could just be an animal somewhere in the forest, but Liathel doubted the asylum staff would allow many animals to continue living on the island. He had seen some of them working and he could tell that they weren’t exactly the peace and love type you’d expect to take care of ailing Grimms…
He saw nothing and decided to continue on. He started to walk slowly, calmly. His feet made no sound in the brush. Musing on how the quiet sounds of the forest reminded him of home, the elf hardly noticed when he stepped into a clearing. The sun shone warmly, and the heavy smell of the air in the forest made him want to sleep. He wanted to sleep…
Snap out of it, you idiot, he yelled at himself. He played a note for alertness, for energy. The note reverberated through the clearing, but, oddly, the trees seemed to soak the note up like a sponge. Liathel blinked. This had never happened before. Suddenly the trees looked menacing; the air seemed stale with the taste of the note that didn’t echo as it should have.
The forest had taken on the very same aspect the woods had taken on when his parents died.
In an instant, he found himself that little child again. His people had died that day. His parents had died that day. His world had died that day.
Suddenly, Liathel heard the sound again. His head snapped in the direction of the sound, then back to the front. He started to sprint with all his might. He had to get out of this forest! He flew through the trees, reckless. There was a good chance he would hit a tree or trip, but he kept going. He breathed heavily. Suddenly, he stopped. This was stupid, and what was one of his three rules? Don’t be stupid. Stupid only gets you killed, or worse. He took a deep breath and continued to walk through the woods.
Suddenly, he encountered a bank of fog. It rolled over him. Liathel cursed under his breath. Now he couldn’t see anything but silhouettes. He strummed a chord for light on his harp, but the light didn’t illuminate much. He rolled his eyes and sat down on the nearest fallen log he could find.
He faintly heard someone swear. “Damn fog, I can’t see anything.”
His fingers suddenly flew over the strings and he raised his voice. The fog swirled and cleared, and standing before him was a woman with long hair. He silently grabbed his swords and stood up. Her eyes suddenly changed colors. They changed from serene violet to shiny silver. The woman drew a longsword and approached.
Liathel backed himself up against a tree, placed his feet properly, and launched himself in the air, right towards the woman. He became a missile. She ducked and swung around to swing her sword. She missed. He landed in the grass and tucked his body into itself, rolling on the ground. He sprung up and their swords crashed. He sang and lightning crashed from the sky, hitting a tree. He swore as the bolt missed its target. Suddenly there was fire everywhere, flames licking the centuries-old trees. Smoke clogged his vision, choked his lungs. He hummed and the smoke swam away from him. He could see her again, and she was coming right for his head! He parried and ducked away from her. She grinned. The fire cast little shadows all about her body. Suddenly she looked like a soldier from an army that Liathel had seen before, and army that destroyed people and parents and worlds.
He set loose a savage yell and swung with all of his might. She raised her sword to block the blow. The swords clanged as they met, but with a different tone. Shrapnel flew all over the burning forest as the woman’s sword broke.
The woman stopped, but Liathel did not. He did not see her pained look, he did not see her shock; all he saw was a soldier that had once brought unspeakable pain to his life. The stabbed the soldier in the chest. Blood flowed out as pained spirits flew out of the sword fragments around them. The woman’s eyes turned violet again, and she slumped over on the sword.
Liathel drew his sword from her body and wept.
Golly, you all seem to be getting steadily more bloodthirsty as time goes on. And here's Liane's version:
Liane sat atop the tree branch, eyes closed and feet dangling, letting the brief sunlight and warmth wash over her. It had not been her choice to stay in the forest- rather it had been Neve who had made the decision, preferring the trees to the scraggly cliffs Liane had in mind.
So. Now what? Ria prompted, impatient.
Liane sighed, reaching into the pouch around her neck and pulling out her letter. She squinted at it briefly.
It says… Liathel is our next opponent.
Liathel, eh? That’s a strange name. Neve mused quietly.
It’s probably elven. That means he’s obscenely good at magic, archery or swordplay. Ria stated, her usual cold calculating self.
And for our sake, I hope it’s not all three. Liane replied. She studied the letter before replacing it back in her pouch, but remained sitting on the branch, reluctant to part with the sparse warmth.
Well? Shall we go meet this elf or what? Karakel asked, eager at the prospect of another fight.
Liane sighed again and looked down towards the ground, noting how far away it was. Neve, mind getting us down from here?
Her eyes faded to green and Neve skillfully clambered down from the tree- finding holds in the thinnest cracks possible. Ten feet or so away from the ground, Neve simply let go of the tree and pushed herself away, dropping to the ground and rolling as she landed. She stood up slowly and took a quick glance around before returning control to Liane, who mechanically checked her sisters’ weapons, making sure all were present. Satisfied, she began walking through the forest once again.
As she walked, she began to hear faint strains of a melody. Curious, she paused, listening intently. It grew louder and clearer until it filled her mind entirely, blocking everything else out-including her sisters. Liane was floating there in a dark, endless void, alone. Memories began to resurface; her sisters’ death, her confusion at finding them with her, her parents’ grief and fear at what she had become… depressing memory after depressing memory assaulted her psyche, wave after wave pounding at her already aching mind.
Then the melody itself seemed to whisper enticingly, “Wouldn’t it be easier to end it all right now?”
Yes, Liane thought. Yes, it would.
“Then go on!” It sighed, plucking at her hands and pulling them towards the sword at her side. “No more restless nights, no more guilt, no more pain!”
No more pain… no more responsibility… no more secrets…how easy it would be. Karakel’s sword, Soulstealer, was suddenly in her hands and she gazed at it through clouded eyes. As she tightened her grip, a new voice entered her mind. This one spoke not of release, but of anger and death, an eternity trapped in dark steel- the murmuring of the souls trapped in the dark blade. As Liane listened to these new whispers, her eyes cleared and she dropped the sword, horrified at what she had almost done. The music paused, then resumed- but faster and much more wild then before. She clapped her hands over her ears in an attempt to block it out, but the notes bored their way through her fingers into her ears, sending her thoughts whirling about in a frightfully confusing dance, instilling a pained confusion the likes of which she had never felt. Unable to withstand it any longer, she dropped to her knees and four voices screamed wordlessly.
The sound of four different people screaming in agony cut through the wild song, which stopped instantly. Liane opened her eyes and stumbled to her feet quickly, gasping for breath. The terrible feeling of isolation was still with her until she heard her sisters’ speak.
What in blazes was that? Karakel asked, furiously.
I think it was… him. Neve replied, hesitantly.
A tall, slender man jumped down from a nearby tree, a harp in hand and two swords strapped to his sides.
“I am Liathel,” he said, his voice low and musical. “You must be Liane. Though I must say, I did not expect any… companions with you.”
Companions? She thought, confused.
He means us, Neve replied. He can sense us somehow.
Karakel snorted. I’m sure that scream didn’t help at all.
Liane ignored her impatient sister. “Companions? I’m afraid you must be mistaken. I am alone here,” she gestured towards the silent trees surrounding them- “Just as you were a few moments ago.”
Liathel chuckled. “Oh, but you must not mistake me for having the normal ignorance of a mortal.” He tilted his head, studying her with piercing amethyst eyes. “You are not alone, nor judging by your extreme reaction to my music-“ he lifted his harp. “are you ever alone.” He smiled slightly. “However, I shall not pry if you do not wish to share.”
Blushing furiously at the condescending tone in his voice, Liane reached down towards Soulstealer, dropped earlier, grasping the hilt and dropping into a defensive position.
Liathel sighed. “And I had so hoped we would be able to hold a civilized conversation rather then turning immediately to violence. But…” He shrugged. “If you insist.”
He strummed out a quick melody on his harp, two iridescent wings flowing out of his back. He launched himself into the air, leaving Liane on the ground. Before he could get out of reach however, Liane’s eyes flashed silver and she jumped forward, sword swinging. With a ‘thunk’, the flat of the blade struck Liathel in the foot. His eyes widened in surprise and he dropped a few feet before regaining altitude. He narrowed his eyes at Soulstealer.
“That is elvish make- the likes of which I haven’t seen for many years. You have no right to wield it!” He played a few notes on his harp, voice rising and falling with the music. Liane’s sword was jerked from her hands, soaring through the air with such force that it went almost all the way through a tree under Liathel.
Karakel shrieked with fury, causing Liane to wince. What did he do with my sword?
Liane reached for the dagger instead, but hesitated.
Let me do it. Ria spoke calmly.
But-
No buts! It’s my dagger- let me give him what he deserves!
Still unsure, Liane submitted control to Ria, eyes turning a muddy brown. As Ria grew accustomed to being in control once again, Liathel played a single note. Eight orbs of light appeared and hovered next to his head.
The harp! shouted Neve. Get the harp!
With a single, calculating glance, Ria drew her dagger and hurled it at the floating Liathel. It flew with such speed and accuracy that he had no time to duck, and it buried itself into his stomach. His eyes clouded with shack, and in his pain, his hands flew to his stomach, dropping the harp. Ria ran forward and caught it, brown eyes fading to silver as Karakel fought her way to control. Eyes glistening with fury and hatred, she raised the harp above her head and brought it down across her knee. The wooden sides splintered, as it snapped in half, strings uncurling with a discordant screech.
“No!” Liathel shouted, melodious voice cracking and reaching a nearly unintelligible pitch. The wings and orbs shimmered once before disappearing, sending him tumbling to the ground with a sickening crunch. Grimacing with pain, he pulled himself up, hilt of Ria’s dagger protruding from his stomach and left arm limp and dangling. He drew one of his twin swords with his single functioning arm and glared at Liane, who was quickly nocking an arrow and pulling it tight, eyes bright green. With inhuman speed, Liathel threw the sword at Liane, silver blade glistening as it sliced open her left forearm as she dropped the bow and arrow and dove to the ground to avoid impalement.
Pain cut Liane’s thoughts asunder, and she felt her sisters’ concentration being whipped away as well. Her arm was on fire… she looked at the wound, wincing when she saw how bad it was. She caught a glimpse of white bone… she could feel herself slowly falling into shock.
We’re not going to be able to fire any arrows for a while… Ria stated, ever coldly calculating.
So what do we do now? Neve asked, worried.
Liane struggled to maintain her concentration. I don’t know… we’re out of weapons, but so is he.
The only other weapon we have is what we stabbed him with, Karakel said. So, we go after that.
Fighting without any weapons was stupid, Liane knew. Without any other idea of what to do, Liane did the only thing she could think of.
With a scream of fury, she threw herself at Liathel, tackling him around his waist. Eyes screwed shut in concentration, her one good arm scrabbled to the hilt of her dagger as she felt him stagger backwards in surprise, falling into the tree trunk behind him. Liane felt him shudder and heard a slight screech of pain before he went limp. She opened her eyes and froze. The dark blade of Soulstealer grew from Liathel’s chest, blood running down the blade, directly next to her ear. She stepped away from the now lifeless body, almost stumbling over a tree root. A few feet away, she fell to her knees, clutching her left arm, still staring at the upright body. Liathel’s once piercing eyes stared, open in astonishment and glazed over with death. Her eyes dropped to the black blade. It began glowing blackly as it absorbed the elf’s lifeblood, leaving it as clean and sharp as before, if not darker.
Liane continued looking at the dead elf long after his last breath. I…really didn’t think… we would be that… lucky…
Ria smirked. I did.
Well he’s dead now, Karakel said, quiet for once.
Aye, he is. Neve replied. So you can rest…. For a little while, at least...
But what about…your weapons? Liane asked, sleep already creeping up on her, mixing with pain and dulling her thoughts.
You can worry about that later. Neve said sternly. Now, however, you need to sleep.
Else you’ll never be able to fight the other remaining contestants. Ria chimed in.
With a long, heavy sigh, Liane collapsed on the ground, falling into the arms of deep, dreamless sleep.
Leaves dropped from the trees until they lay over her like a blanket. The sun rose and fell across the sky, the mist swirling around Liane’s body, obscuring her from view.
So who lives...and who dies? CHOOSE!
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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huh.
Both are solid stories.
Although the first is a bit short.
She attacks, he attacks, he breaks her sword, she gets stabbed, he starts crying.
Doesn't really talk about her at all.
And Liane seems to be such an interesting character too.
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Alegria
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know. I'd like to see where both go with their characters. They both seem complex with interesting backstories...
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Sabriel
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know- the multiple personalities thing is a bit more interesting and dynamic, to quote Nene.
Not that Lithael isn't well writtten- just that Liane's seems to be a bit more detailed.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, fudgesticks! Those two names are so similar, I voted for the wrong one!
I intended to vote for Liane, by the way.
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Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, right, result thing.
Liane is the victor, and Lithael is slain.
And here is an interlude for you all.
Breakout at the Asylum
Deep in the Asylum, there was a holding cell.
In that holding cell, was a man.
And that man was gibbering madly.
He is unimportant.
Next door to him, however, another man in another cell was sitting in a meditative pose. Around his neck was a pouch.
Inside the pouch was a crystal and a letter.
The door beeped five times, and a nurse with a syringe stepped in, flanked by two armed guards.
The man opened his eyes. The time had come.
"Mr. Xavier, it is time for your medication."
The nurse drew close to Xavier. And then she found herself being used as a meat shield. The guards opened fire instantly, and the nurse slumped forward, bullets thumping into her now-lifeless body.
Xavier, however, had grabbed the syringe from her and was advancing on the guards. When they paused to reload, he tossed the corpse at number one, used the syringe on number two, and then dealt a fatal blow to number one's ribcage, neck, and head.
Xavier rushed out the still-open door and panted a little. Nothing like a little exercise. Those idiots down at the dock had mistaken him for one who needed confinement. He was a contestant. And he was not here to play.
He was here to kill.
Contestants, you have five days again. And with this new addition, things really start to move!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Round Three has two matches, both occurring in the Canyon, but neither one allowed to interfere with the other.
Match one!
Aeger VS. Xavier
Match two!
Liane VS. Team Blitz and Spike
Contestants shall receive their PM's shortly. From that point, they have five days to write.
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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huh.
So just to keep it straight, there's never going to be one big super battle with like seven people?
or is that a possibility?
because that'd be AWESOME.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe at the end. If you lot ever decide to go to the depths of the Asylum.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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So he's practically telling the brave or the insane out of you lot to charge straight to the depths of the Asylum. At least, at the end, anyway.
Come on, I don't think it can get any blunter than that.
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Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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How will team battle work? I'm a little confused on the concept....
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Quite simple: The two characters are actually being written by the same author. Namely, Blitz's author controls both characters, due to A) Him 'winning' the battle that determined if he would die or team up with Spike, and B) Spike's author being way too busy.
But I have assurances from Blitz's author that he will do all in his power to kill, not capture or team up with, Liane. So once more, good luck!
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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WHOA!
just by seeing the list of character you control from the competition, I can conclude that there are
ONLY TWO NON-IM CONTESTANTS LEFT!!!!!
Aeger and Liane.
GO THEM!
EDIT: And i just noticed that those were the only two who were fighting this round. One of them is being teamed up on, and the other is fighting a character newly created (possibly just for him)
That's not good.
Is IM trying to knock them out of this fight as quickly as possible?
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| Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Meany, Meany, Meany. Wouldn't it be slightly unethical of me to knock BOTH of the remaining competitors out of the competition? Especially when I promised them my ENTIRE fortune if they won?
But I will be recalling the characters I control from the island after this round and I will open up Round Four and after to ALL COMERS.
You got that right. For a mere 25 fable fee*, ALL CHARACTERS from ANYONE will be accepted. I will, of course, require a bit of definition in the realms of, say, their Name, Appearance, History (Not applicable to all characters, I realize this), Strengths, and Weaknesses.
For those that get those characters in before Round Three concludes, I will offer a 15-fable DISCOUNT. I must be going MAD!
Oh, no, wait, I was already there.
All applications must be sent by PM, preferably with the fables attached.
*Along with your soul, your future income, and your firstborn.
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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huh...
but isn't that mean to the people who have managed to survive thus far?
Would it not make more sense to conclude this tournament, end it with the being escaping or something, give perhaps a smaller reward for the winner than you had originally promised, and THEN start a new round open to all comers?
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Meany. I'm an evil mastermind. I can work it out. Trust me.
Well, okay, don't trust me. But do believe that this will work out.
Round three, FIGHT! This is Aeger's version of events.
He had been a hero once.
Aeger sat cross legged before the campfire, his eyes tracing the lines of the flames flickering in the wind that swept from the cruel heights, whistling through the sheer sides of the canyon below. His short brown hair quivered under the onslaught, but remained firmly plastered to his scalp by sweat.
He had been loved once.
He remembered a time when he walked through the streets and people called out in joy, who named him “Hero” and “Savior” and he was almost as holy as the priests in their robes. He remembered when he dined with kings of all lands. He remembered when he could end droughts with a spoken word and a waved hand, when he could lower floods with a different word. He remembered when he could call lightnings from the sky with a twitch of a finger.
He remembered the last time he called lightnings from the sky.
Aeger tore his gaze away from the flames, seeking to forget. He refused to remember, filling his mind with only the restoration of his lost power. The past was the past, and the future was what lay in wait for him. He looked down to letter and the crystal held in his hands, and read the parchment for his next fight.
Xavier
Aeger hadn’t seen this contestant on the parchment before, for some reason. Perhaps he’d only just noticed him.
Aeger returned to staring into the flames, trying to imagine what his next opponent would be like.
But, as always, thoughts drifted back to the Battle of Fonsflammae Pass. Or the Battle of Exitium Caeli, as it became known later. Exitium Caeli. Sky’s ruin.
He remembered standing alone at the mouth of the pass, Mt. Vulcan to his left and the waters of the Inland Sea to his right. He remembered looking across the volcanic plain, seeing the hordes that gathered.
He remembered a certain boy, one too young to fight a war, with nothing to lose but his life.
He remembered the eyes of that boy.
Aeger again wrenched his thoughts away from his past, sending his mind instead into the depths of the sandy earth around him.
The tattoos of his skin faded, his entire skin turning brown, the color of mud at the bottom of a water hole.
He was tired, and this was even more tiring. But he no longer thought of that battle, instead of the pulsing veins of earth, his mind riding on currents of stone.
Footsteps, vibrating down into the cool depths.
His mind sprang back to his body.
Aeger reflexively threw himself away from the fire, his tattoos reappearing, his crystal and letter forgotten near the campfire. He rolled, turned, saw a white-haired man with a younger face walk into the firelight, his eyes glittering.
Those eyes.
Those eyes were sparkling, dancing lights, above a grin that would grow as he slaughtered your friends. Those eyes whirled and jigged to their own private tune, watching the world in wonder as the hands they saw ripped and tore the flesh.
The man noticed the crystal and parchment and spoke,
“So you ARE a contestant. What a lucky day for me. Hmmm… Which one are you though? You aren’t the Nutcase with the Sisters, or the Sparkplug.”
He snapped his fingers.
“You’re the Cripple! Really, what luck! Just the man I was hoping to find.”
Those eyes danced back to the crystal, before leaping back to Aeger, a grin growing underneath.
“You seem to have lost your crystal. That is against the rules you know. As a fellow contestant, I’ll probably have to report this. But it seems like such an unsporting way to beat you; I mean it really wouldn’t be any fun.”
His grin widened even more.
“Let’s play a game shall we? If you can touch your crystal, I won’t report you. Then we have to really fight. But if you give up, I get to report you!”
He cocked his head, waiting for an answer, but received only silence.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
He simply stood there, waiting for Aeger to make the first move.
Aeger hesitated. He had trained almost the whole part of the last ten days. He was in no shape to fight.
But he was just standing there.
Aeger flicked a needle through the air, testing the reflexes of this smiling madman.
He moved his head, too slowly, a line of blood just missing his left eye.
He touched the blood, looked at it.
“That was a mean trick.”
Aeger threw two other needles, one after the other, both at the madman’s face.
He ducked, his eyes going down for a second to avoid the needles.
Aeger leapt forward, his left hand ringed with red and flickering with flames, taking advantage of his opponent’s mistake, intending to end it as quickly as poss-
The man’s hand blurred, and Aeger heard a crack, felt ribs breaking, felt himself hit the ground several yards away.
He coughed up blood.
“Well you’re going to have to try harder than that. And try not to be so gullible. I want this game to be interesting.”
Aeger staggered to his feet, touched one of the low plant that grew around the canyon like weeds. He concentrated, and his hand glowed green, before the plant withered and died. He felt his ribs healing some, enough that they would hold for a while.
“Hey! That’s the way to do it. Just keep on coming back. Just like a punching bag!”
Aeger looked up and concentrated on the fire behind the man. It roared up, engulfing the spot where the white-haired man had been.
Had been.
The man was already next to Aeger, raining punches and kicks.
“Way too obvious. C’mon! Make this interesting!”
Aeger stumbled backwards, shielding his face with his arms. He heard his ribs crack again.
Aeger suddenly dropped underneath a punch sweeping his legs across where the man’s legs were. Or had been.
The man simply skipped over them, stepping down hard on his Achilles heel as it passed under.
Aeger was back up in an instant, ignoring the pain in his ankle and ribs, pressing the attack.
The man dodged every single one, ducking weaving.
“Come on. I could fend this off with one hand behind my back.”
And then the lunatic put his left hand behind his back and took a fighting stance, his eyes dancing still.
Aeger attacked.
The man spoke.
“Downward chop to the right shoulder” He hit Aeger’s elbow as it was coming down.
“Sidekick” He simply stepped aside as Aeger’s foot went past.
“Close-range needle.” He caught the needle, his hand in place even before Aeger threw.
“Open-Palm Thrust” He moved the same hand, the needle piercing into Aeger’s palm.
“Another leg sweep” He simply did a backflip backwards, his eyes still glittering, his mouth still grinning.
Aeger had broken ribs, a bleeding hand and a hurt ankle, and he hadn’t even landed a blow besides the first. And that one had been given to him.
What was going on?
Then it clicked, and Aeger’s eyes widened.
He had been predicting the moves before they had happened. But then he could dodge everything!
The Man laughed, his head thrown back.
“So you finally get it. I am Xavier, Reader of Souls. And you’re about to die.”
Aeger took a deep breath, ignoring the pain of his cracked ribs. He concentrated, and his skin turned red.
Xavier’s eyes widened and he leapt through the air an instant too late.
Aeger’s skin burst into flames, creating a shield that would stop anyone from touching him.
Xavier simply stood helpless.
Aeger simply walked past, back to his crystal and letter. He would get those back first, then he could deal with Xavier.
He bent to pick up the scroll, near the precipice of the canyon. The Flames retreated from his fingers as they reached towards the parchment.
Suddenly Xavier was there, his foot crushing Aeger’s fingers against the ground in front of the letter, then darted up to break his nose, moving so fast that it simply wasn’t in the fire enough to be hurt.
Aeger stumbled back, the flames fading.
“It’s so fun to watch you lowly mortals thinking you can win. I love to see the hope in your eyes, just extinguish.”
Aeger panted, his face a mess.
Xavier’s predatory eyes still danced in the firelight.
Aeger saw himself in those eyes, saw the reflections of his own eyes in them.
A young boy, with nothing to lose but his life, charging at a man who threw the lightning and the waves around like pets.
Aeger remembered seeing himself through the desperate eyes of the boy, saw a terrifying monster with the sky’s power dancing on his fingertips that through lightning that burned the skin off of hundreds of farmers calling themselves an army.
He had faltered, and with a desperate swing, the boy had taken off his hand.
He had lost control off the waves, and the waters of the Inland Sea swept away thousands, but thousands continued down the pass to ravage the Imperial Cities, and no longer was he called “Hero” or “Savior”. No longer would the lightnings dance on his tongue or the clouds come to his call.
He had sworn an oath of silence, until he could finally regain what he had lost.
And always, he remembered the eyes of the young soldier as the lightnings danced along his flesh and the chain-mail melted into his skin.
He saw those same desperate eyes right now, reflected in the laughing eyes of the madman before him.
Xavier saw his despair and laughed again.
Then Aeger made his decision and Xavier’s eyes widened and he tried to move out of the way.
Aeger tackled him, sending them both off the brink of the Canyon.
They fell, next to each other, both searching for something to grab hold of.
Aeger looked down at the ground rushing towards him. He concentrated, and fifty feet down a plant wormed its way out of the wall, growing faster and faster, ready to catch-
Xavier pummeled him with fist and foot, the grin gone, the eyes no longer dancing, hitting him like a whirlwind, breaking his concentration.
As they neared the tree, Xavier grabbed at it, brushed the upper branches with his fingertips.
Then it burned like a bonfire, suddenly, and Xavier turned with a snarl and kicked Aeger again, sending him tumbling away.
Xavier brushed the canyon wall with his fingertips, the contact causing his fingers to bleed and his body to spin, tumbling down the steep wall at almost a vertical angle, seeking a handhold in the sheer side.
Aeger saw the ground before him, and closed his eyes.
His tattoos faded, and his skin turned to brown. He cast his mind out to the earth, became one with it, wove his being into the song and currents of the metals and stones.
Xavier hit the ground hard, almost his entire body pulverized into pulp against the harsh ground. By a fluke, his head survived untouched, the mouth no longer grinning and the eyes no longer dancing.
Aeger’s body hit the ground and sank.
He returned to his body, floating in the dark stone like it were water, his breathing labored and his ribs cracked, his lung punctured, his nose broken, his ankle shattered, his Achilles tendon snapped.
He concentrated, looked out with his mind at what remained of Xavier, then fell into a deep and healing sleep.
-----
And this is Xavier's.
Death.
That was all on Xavier's mind.
Killing things.
Just to eliminate the souls that he could see.
When all others were finally gone, he could relax, as there would be no more souls for him to see. Finally, the spirit world would leave him alone.
It was such a burden, such a curse, to be capable of seeing the souls of men. Not only could he see what they intended to do, but he could see all their deeds laid bare.
And it sickened him.
He would start here, with this contestant. He glanced at his letter, which read Aeger.
Who the hell names their kid Aeger? The kid won't be able to say it until he's at least five.
Xavier walked into a clearing, where there was evidence of a human once inhabiting this place. Xavier grinned. His Soul Sight only ran forward, but anyone could look at the evidence of the past and see where people where. He would follow the trampled underbrush to wherever it led.
A few hours later, Xavier found himself looking into a steep canyon. The tracks he'd been following were gone now that there was no underbrush. He looked around, checking to see if the man was nearby with his Soul Sight. Nothing glimmered, so Xavier turned around. Maybe he'd missed something.
And that was when he saw it.
People often asked him what it was like seeing things with Soul Sight. He never answered them, but he knew all the same. It was like seeing a series of ghosts of the same person, each one doing one specific action.
Thus, he was surprised to see a ghost jumping at him from the forest, bum-rushing him, and then plummeting to the canyon floor.
Fortunately, the person to whom the ghost responded to hadn't acted on it yet. Xavier figured if he turned around again, the person would try his supposed sneak attack.
Xavier looked at the distance between him and the trees and estimated it to be about twenty feet. A person could run that in about five seconds. Give it another five for whoever was in the bushes to be lulled into a false sense of security...so if he turned back around, he should count to nine and sidestep.
Xavier turned. One, two, three...
There was a small snapping noise. Whoever it was had left the underbrush...three, four, NOW!
Xavier dodged to the side and watched as the one-armed man plummeted into the canyon, a look of surprise painted on his face. Xavier grinned. "Too easy."
Xavier watched all the same, to ensure that this person was dead. He was pleasantly surprised when whoever it was sunk into the very earth and reappeared further down, none the worse for wear.
"A physical adept! This should prove interesting!"
Xavier nimbly picked his route down, carefully avoiding setting off any landslides or falling himself. It wouldn't do to die before the battle, after all.
Xavier finally reached his opponent and bowed slightly. He could see that the man would attempt to use a needle to do him in quickly, and as such, as soon as his bow was completed, he moved his head one foot to the right. The man seemed surprised when the needled whizzed harmlessly into the cliff face.
"Going to have to try harder than that."
The man looked worried for a second. Xavier took this chance to pull out his letter. "You wouldn't happen to be Aeger, would you?"
The man, still confused, nodded once. Xavier grinned. "Oh, well then, let's spar a bit, shall we? I wonder how good you are."
The man shook his head a little, obviously pulling himself together. The two opponents faced one another. One was a previous master of the elements, now working to regain what he had lost the day he'd lost his hand. The other still possessed both of his hands, as well as an ability to see into the realm of the spiritual.
The fight was very-one sided.
Aeger opened up with a fireball thrown at his foe, which Xavier neatly sidestepped. Xavier then moved in and performed a kick at Aeger's right knee. Aeger nearly cried out in pain and collapsed, trying to figure out how this man could have possibly dodged not only the needle, but the fireball as well. There was no way, unless...
Xavier began talking. "You know, a lot opens up to you when you can see into the spiritual. The paths people want to take, the things they've done. Everything is laid bare, it's almost maddening."
Aeger took in these words while looking at his foe. In those eyes, he saw an insanity that none could rival. That face of glee...this man had killed before, and enjoyed it. He had killed for no other reason than the feeling of the kill itself. And if what he was saying was true, then there was almost no way to stop him, unless...
For the first time in his life, Xavier cried out. He was nearly blind. The man before him was prepared to do ANYTHING. The paths the ghosts were taking were everywhere at once. The overlapping all merged into a bright white. Thus, he was unprepared for the fist to the solar plexus when it happened. Nor did he know about the chop to the neck.
However, when the kick to the ribs was about to happen, he had prepared himself, and for the first time, put up a defensive. Xavier grabbed Aeger's foot and threw the one-handed man down the slope, away from himself.
Aeger grunted as he slid down the slope, eventually landing in the river below. He panted slightly. His right leg still hurt a bit, but now, he could rest a moment while he gathered his thoughts. As he suspected, when he cast his mind out and tossed aside all plans, his foe was unable to predict what was to happen, and could not dodge. It also seemed to blind him a bit...Perhaps if he did it again?
Xavier groaned, slowly gaining back his sight. The first thing that he saw was that Aeger was now in a river, and there was a slight shimmer in the air. Aeger was using the same trick to try and catch him unawares again. There was one way to stop that...
Aeger called upon the water, and for the first time since that day, it answered him again like it had before. It was painful and draining, but it was like it had been. He commanded the small river up the slope, to surround and pull back the white-haired man, to pull him to the depths. To drown him.
Xavier had found what he was looking for. A pile of stone as old as the island itself, carefully kept on the slope by the fact that none had dared disturb it. Xavier moved to the back and the one thing no sane thing would try.
Xavier disturbed the stone.
It moved slowly, picking up speed as it went, until finally, fifty tons of rock moved with the fury of a beast disturbed. And it was moving towards Aeger.
The stream and the rock intercepted each other. But the stream could not win. The stone had gravity on its side, and the stream was not as large as the oceans Aeger had once commanded. The strain began to show as Aeger slowly collapsed, putting more and more of his energy into fighting the stone.
He failed.
The river fell back into its bed, and the stone followed. Aeger tried desperately to become one with the rock again. He may not have enough time.
There was a thud, and dust billowed while water splashed. Xavier grinned. "He was the first one in a while to figure out how to get around me. Maybe this island isn't a waste of time after all."
Xavier briefly considered checking if Aeger had managed to pull his trick of melding with stone again, but it was getting late, and he had an appointment elsewhere, it seemed. The letter's text shifted again.
Big Bad Wolf in the Asylum.
Slowly, the wheels of fate turn...But who will survive the crushing gears? It is up to you!
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Phantomfan
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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These two were really great. Very well detailed...
I still have to say I liked Aeger's better though. The flashbacks were pretty cool- they added a sense of character that Xavier didn't quite have.
_________________
I've been pulled back from oblivion to lurk about the City once more. Though the music of the night always beckons...
Here's some stuff I started writing a long time ago. Orb. Nexus.
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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wow.
We aren't getting very many votes for this round, are we?
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When the dead walk, the living run.
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:52 am Post subject: |
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When I last checked this, I couldn't seem to vote.
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Tea Cures All.
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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*pokes this topic*
*looks at the date*
*looks at the poll*
Why are there only four votes?
Who survives?
Aeger?
75%
75% [ 3 ]
Or Xavier?
25%
25% [ 1 ]
_________________
When the dead walk, the living run.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Apologies.
Writer's block.
Next fight will be up by Friday.
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Black Hawk
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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I can't vote but if I could I'd vote for Aeger
_________________
"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts."
-Will Rodgers
Michael Crichton one of the greatest writers of his time 1942-2008 rest in peace
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:39 am Post subject: |
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Apologies for the lateness, but when writer's block strikes, it strikes HARD. Fortunately, with the aid of my muse, my iPod, and a jackhammer, I managed to smash it into tiny pieces. And may I present...
Round three, fight 2! Team Blitz and Spike versus Liane!
The following is Blitz and Spike's version of events.
The two had made camp in the forest for the second round. Spike was performing essential weapons care for most of it, along with taking inventory of what he had left. Hmm, he thought to himself. Ten clips, and the guns are still mostly clean. Along with a little bit of a med pack after I patched up the kid's shoulder. I wonder if we'll manage to survive this madness?
Blitz, on the other hand, merely meditated. It was essential to his powers that he exercise his mind, cast out with his electricity, see what there was to see. It was mostly plant life, and what few animals were left quickly became dinner.
Spike and Blitz were enjoying some deer across a campfire (Blitz had provided a small lightning bolt to get the fire started) when Spike decided to break the ice.
"So, Blitz. What's your story? Why are you here?"
Blitz cast his eyes up, and recited a poem.
"In darkness, in brightness,
In day, in night.
In shadow, in sun,
In dimness, in light.
We seek them here, we seek them there,
We seek them everywhere."
Spike was silent for a moment. Finally, he inquired, "Who?"
Blitz sighed. "Our mentors. My brother and I come from a land where humans have mastered the stuff of life itself. They studied, and cut, and studied some more. When they found the part of the genetic code that seemed to dictate the soul...they did what humans do best. They defiled it, twisted it, and turned it to their purposes. They created an entire new race of beings. Some died before they were born. Some died shortly afterwards due to massive organ failure. Some still sleep. Some live as their slaves. And a few...a blessed few...managed to escape with their lives, only to be shunned by humanity. Superior though we are, we are few in number, and we are still mortal. Some of us, anyway."
Spike was silent for a moment. "I knew you weren't an ordinary human, and you're defiantly better than average, what with the whole lightning thing, I'll give you that. But superior? Isn't that kinda, y'know, arrogant?"
Blitz laughed. "How else would you define me? 'Better than average' doesn't quite cover it."
Spike mulled it over for a second. "True. But what was it about your mentors from earlier?"
Blitz sighed again. "They taught us how to find and use our powers. They taught us how to harness the strength of our own minds. And they gave us understanding and patience towards the human race. I absorbed that lesson better than my brother did, sadly. They also gave us a final set of orders before..."
Spike waited a moment, and then prodded the conversation along. "Before?"
Blitz looked like he was trying to form something out of the very air while he explained. "Okay, maybe you should understand their powers first. They were captured and experimented on long ago, and during their incarceration, their souls were dragged through Heaven and Hell. After which, their souls and minds were melded together. They were as one being in two separate bodies. One had powers over the light, and the other over the very shadow. It turns out, though, that their powers were different from mine. My powers are bound to me. It uses strength from my body to produce lightning, and I will get physically weaker the more I use it. Resting will help, yada yada. Our mentors, however, were bound to their powers. So other way around as compared to me. They were merely the vessel for vast power, and no matter what, so long as they thought ahead and had sufficient strength of mind, they could do anything."
Spike looked awed. "Two beings with that much power? Wow. The age of wonders is not dead yet. But what happened to them? You never finished."
"Ah." Blitz was more upset each time he was asked. "Well, they gave me and my brother a final set of orders one day, and then...they vanished. Gone. Became one with their respective elements. We figured they have to still be around somewhere in this world, so we're looking everywhere. We came here because this island is a sort of in-between place. If our mentors are not in this world, there are a myriad of other worlds we can go to."
Spike leaned back. "Wow. That's an impressive tale."
Blitz sat down cross-legged next to the fire. "And you?"
"Eh? Oh, my tale?" Spike waved a hand. "Eh. I'll keep it short. I'm from the future and from Mars. I'm not supposed to go into the details because I might create a paradox. Came here from the future to escape the foes I have there, and so my girlfriend and I could have some peace. How's your shoulder holding up?"
Blitz flexed his arm. "It's fine, but I coulda done it myself. I keep a few batteries on me for such occasions."
Spike sat bolt upright. "You're kidding me. You mean to tell me that you could create a whole new shoulder out of the charge of some batteries?"
Blitz shook his head. "Nah. I could make a bandage, though. Watch!"
A small orb of electricity hovered in front of Blitz, and he shaped and molded it into a mostly flat shape. Blitz carefully removed the bandage already on his shoulder and slapped his electric one onto it. The thing stuck like Velcro and molded itself to the shoulder.
Spike was in awe. "That is so cool."
Blitz grinned. "Yeah, electricity is like my clay. I can mold it into anything I might need. To hold it there only takes my attention for like one minute every hour. It's kinda like saying the word 'Strawberries' for a solid minute. Hopefully when we get to the Asylum, they'll have something that's better than a bandage for my arm."
Spike waved with both hands. "Wait a second. I thought we were going to the canyon. Why mention the Asylum? And which one are we headed to?"
Blitz sighed. "We'll make a quick stop at the canyon. I saw my brother head that way when we separated to search the island faster. If he's not there, then we agreed that round four would be the Asylum itself. We want to search it from top to bottom, and if our mentors are indeed not here, we'll separate to search the infinite worlds."
Spike whistled. "Tall order, kid."
Blitz looked Spike dead in the eyes. "We will not rest. We will not stop. We will keep searching until they are found or until someone finally kills us. We have sworn to do just that."
The two went to sleep that night with mostly uneventful dreams.
On the morn of the next day, the two arrived at the canyon. Blitz looked down into the deep chasm of earth. "I don't like this, but it looks like it might be empty. Still, I'd better check. I'll go down to the bottom, and if you could watch my back, that'd be great. I'll be a bit busy and might not always be scanning for other competitors."
Spike nodded. "How you getting down, though? Handholds seem few and far between..."
A globe of electricity was in front of Blitz again, and it was rapidly shaped into the form of a small square. It hovered about one inch off the ground, crackling and zapping the foliage. Blitz carefully placed one foot, and then the other onto it. Satisfied it would hold his weight, Blitz exhaled. "I can only do this for about two minutes, which should be more than enough to get to the bottom. I should be back once my survey is completed. Keep a sharp eye out!"
Spike watched as Blitz rode his platform of electricity to the bottom of the canyon until Blitz was smaller than a grain of sand. "There goes one of the most powerful kids I've ever seen. I wonder if it would work for-"
There was a snap behind him. Someone was in the forest nearby. Spike raised both guns at the foliage, scanning the area quickly for imminent threats. "I heard that, whoever you are. Come out and I might not kill you."
A larger rustling, right in front of him. It grew progressively louder, until finally, a slightly tall woman in silver armor with a blue cape walked out of the forest, wielding a bow. Her hair was blonde, her eyes green. And Spike got the odd sensation that she was in fact a contestant, here to do one thing. She wanted to progress, and that meant killing people off.
Spike looked at her. "So I'm not alone. Mind showing me proof you're a part of this madness? That way, if you decide to attack, I'll feel justified in defending myself."
The lady reached for her belt, and Spike gestured with one of his guns. "Ah ah. Slow."
The woman hesitated, her eyes flicking around as though she were looking at something not quite here, before her attention finally returned to moving her hands, slowly this time, to a pouch on her belt. She pulled out a letter and a glowing blue crystal for one second before returning them to where they came from.
"All right, good. Now, how much did you hear?"
She smiled. "Enough to know you aren't alone, but my letter told me that already. You're up here watching for people while your partner is looking for something down below. I was hoping to send him a gift...of your head."
Her eyes had somehow changed color from green to silver, and the bow had been discarded in favor of a huge sword. Spike pointed his guns at her head. "Do you know what these are?"
The woman hesitated for a moment. "At a guess, a weapon of sorts."
Spike grinned. "These two could send small pellets of metal through your head before you could blink. And all I have to do is pull the trigger. One messy death. Now throw the sword away and get back in the forest. Don't make me kill you, and I won't."
The woman hesitated, and then the sword was also discarded. She slowly backed into the forest until she was hidden from view. Spike breathed again. "Well, that wasn't so difficul-"
There was a swish noise, and a thump from the chest region. Spike looked down to see a handle protruding from his gut. He carefully pulled on it to reveal a dagger slicked in his blood, with more seeping out. The only thing he could think to say was "Oh."
He looked up to find the woman back in his face with her sword again. "Oh indeed."
Another swish, a thump, and a few discreet kicks saw what was left of Spike Speigel tumble down into the canyon towards his partner.
The woman looked at the falling corpse and sighed. "And I forgot about the dagger."
Blitz, meanwhile, was examining unusual rock formations. "They appear to have been blasted with something powerful, but what could force a rock into liquid form? The only thing I know that can melt rock is molten rock, but that is in short supply. Unless...my brother could have done it, but it would have taken him ages to do this with his level of power. He might have been training on these rocks..."
Blitz looked around and saw a small, bloodstained Idearium crystal sitting in a pile of ashes. Blitz knew then exactly how things must have played out. "Blaze...was training here on these rocks, so as to avoid potential forest fires...someone...interrupted his training...and he...destroyed them. I thought we had sworn off killing..."
There was a distinct THUMP from behind Blitz. Blitz turned to see a small pile of assorted organs and meat, but most importantly, the shirt of Spike Spegiel wrapped around what was left of his torso, a dagger still piercing it. Blitz gasped and weeped for a moment, mourning his newest friend.
His tears dried quickly, his rage replacing his sorrow. Blitz cast his mind out, searching with his strength for the one who had destroyed his friend. It wasn't hard to find the electrical patterns he was looking for, seeing as the canyon was a mostly desolate place anyways. Halfway down the wall and descending was a pattern that was constant with humans.
I'll get you, Blitz vowed. Quickly, Blitz choked back his nausea so that he could search what was left of Spike's body. The guns and ammo were intact, along with the backpack they were carried in. Blitz also took the dagger and stuck it between his belt and pants. Finally, he grabbed the letter and crystal Spike had been issued and then he looked for a cave to hide in. While in there, he removed the electrical bandage and replaced it with the one Spike had used for him earlier. He had just finished up when he sensed that the person had finally arrived on the canyon floor.
It's a quick job, but it'll hold for now. I can fix it after this fight. If I hurry, it won't be any trouble at all.
Blitz stepped out of his hiding cave, holding Spike's guns, mostly for the symbolism. He glared at the lady now examining his friend's corpse. She was looking for something, most likely the dagger. Blitz pointed Spike's guns at the woman.
"Did you kill him?"
The woman whirled around fast, already holding a sword. She was obviously startled by the sudden realization that she wasn't alone, but she was ready nonetheless.
"Do you have-"
"DID YOU KILL HIM?!"
Blitz overrode the woman's question with his own. She was a little stunned by this, but set her face sternly.
"Yes. Do you have my dagger?"
"Yes. Did he explain how these work?"
"Yes. Are you prepared to die?"
"No. I don't plan to. I am far superior than you are in almost every way. Are YOU prepared to die?"
"No, I also don't plan to. I guess one of is going to, though. Ready?"
"Yes. You, however, couldn't be less ready for me."
"I doubt that. Will you toss the weapons aside?"
"And give you the advantage? I hardly think so."
The two stared at each other a moment longer. Blitz was having some difficulty convincing himself to pull the trigger.
It's just a gun just pull the trigger and all your problems will disappear no need to worry and HOLY SHE'S COMING AT ME!
It seemed like the woman had finally gotten fed up with waiting and advanced. Blitz pulled the triggers quickly, trying to hit her, but she had raised her sword to block the path of the bullets. He tried to move, but couldn't do it fast enough to get cleanly away. The woman sliced, and all she managed to get were the guns. They both fell to the ground, large gashes on the side of them, Blitz now off to one side, obviously scared out of his mind.
"Another question, if you don't mind!" Blitz was busy dodging and still somehow found the time for banter while dealing with a madwoman.
"Oh? What's that?"
"Why? Why do you do what you do? Don't you have a reason? A purpose?"
The lady halted for a moment. "I...I..."
Blitz took this as a chance to use his improvised 'Throw her dagger back at her' attack. In a split second, while this lady was still contemplating the question, Blitz managed to get her in the shoulder with her own dagger. She cried out and dropped her sword from the pain, and Blitz took this as another chance. He crouched and activated his super-speed. Moving faster than the eye could see, Blitz grabbed both sword and dagger, wrenching the latter from his target's shoulder, and placing both of them in the nearby cave. He then returned to in front of the woman, who was now looking around for the missing weaponry.
"I am Blitz, master of the electric. And you are going to die."
The woman grimaced as she reached behind her with her good arm, quickly drawing her bow and nocking an arrow. "I'll put an arrow through your heart, boy, and roast it for my dinner if I have to. You'll not get the better of me!"
Blitz sighed. "On the contrary. You've killed my friend. You're delaying me from finding my brother and completing this tournament. And you're ready to kill me too. Worst of all, you don't have a why, a reason for it all. I think I'm about to do unto you what you have done unto him."
Blitz reached out with one hand, forming a spear of electric power. Hoisting it over his head, he quickly threw it through the lady. It passed through her, frying her hair, disintegrating the bow...and stopping her heart.
Blitz turned his back on her once she fell to the ground. He then picked up the guns and checked them over. Just a really big ding...doesn't seem to effect their function at all. Should pick up that sword and dagger as well...along with her crystal and letter, so that management knows who to send a 'We're sorry, but your offspring has died' letter to.
Blitz looked up at the top of the Canyon. Once that climb was over, he knew where to go next.
The Asylum itself.
His brother was waiting.
-----
The following is Liane's versions of events.
The sun beat down upon the canyon with such force that one could almost see the waves of heat rebounding off the ground. The large rocks shimmered with heat, creating a rather glaring effect.
Liane sat slumped next to a pile of rocks, panting with exhaustion. The walk had tired her out, not to mention the excessive heat and distinct lack of water. Her sisters were bickering, as usual.
‘Let’s go to the canyons!’ Brilliant choice, Liane. Really fantastic. Karakel said, sarcastically.
Aye, Neve agreed. ‘We were in a beautiful, cool forest with plenty of things to eat and see…
Not to mention things to hide behind, Ria added. This is such an open space…
Yes, well, not all of us are comfortable being surrounded by trees all the time Neve, Liane said wearily, fed up with the constant arguing. And Ria- you’ll just have to get used to openness.
But it’s not a good thing, for thieves like me-
“There is no more ‘like you’, Ria! There is only us!” Liane shouted out loud, unable to contain her annoyance any longer. She took a deep, calming breath. Look, already we’ve nearly been killed twice. We were lucky to get out of that last one with only a bad arm. We need to work together in this if we’re going to stay alive.
There was a brief silence.
Aye, Liane is right. We do need to work as one to survive. After all, we are one. Neve murmured.
I suppose… Ria grumbled reluctantly.
So. Who’s next? Karakel asked, rather cheerfully.
Liane sighed and pulled out her letter wincing as she bent her injured arm.
Spike Spiegel and Blitz. They’re putting us against a team, it seems.
I’m starting to really not like this Idea Master guy- he seems to be very intent on killing us all off. Ria muttered.
Yes, well, that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Liane shot back. After all you’re the one who got us into this thing in the first place.
And now I’m rather regretting it.
Karakel intervened. Can we please just get on with the fight?
Fine, Liane replied, calming down. Ria, would you mind getting us around quietly?
My pleasure. Ria took control, eyes darkening to a muddy brown. She bent down low, stepping quickly and silently, as a thief would in the dark of night. She walked along the edge of the deep chasm, picking her way silently among the rough and uneven ground. Suddenly, she stopped.
Neve, do you hear something?
Eyes now green, Neve listened closely. Yes. There are two people- most likely male, over there. She pointed directly ahead of them. Behind that pile and down below.
Liane took control once again. Alright then, let’s see if we can do this. She walked forwards slowly, careful not to make a sound, until she reached the pile of rocks Neve had pointed towards. She cautiously peered around it. Yes, there they were, talking quietly with each other.
One was blonde and rather tall, with a kind of shining aura around him. The other… the other was strange. His hair was a kind of dark green, and he had something round and smoking dangling from his lips. Around his hips were… Liane edged forwards, trying to discern the strange objects. As she did, a lone pebble dislodged itself and clattered down the edge of the cliff. Both men stopped talking immediately and looked towards the source of the noise. Liane yanked her head back around the pile and stood there, praying they hadn’t seen her.
Great, go ahead and give away our element of surprise, why don’t you. Karakel said, sourly.
Liane ignored her sister and strained her ears intently to try and hear what the men were doing. She vaguely heard one say “I got this one.”
He’s coming! Liane said urgently. What do we do?
Neve took control and grabbed her bow and arrows. She knocked one and edged around the pile- only to find the weird man sitting alone in the middle of the canyon.
Wait… where’s the other one? Liane asked, confused.
“Hello.” A voice sounded directly behind her. Neve spun around, drawing the bow tight and wincing at the pain in her arm. There was the man, a few feet behind her. He looked at the bow and tutted. “Can’t have that, I’m afraid. He leaned forward and became a blur. Neve’s bow and arrow was yanked from her hands, only to appear again atop another rock pile, over thirty feet away. The man appeared again, panting slightly. “I’m Blitz, by the way.”
Neve blinked, bright green eyes filled with surprise. Did he just… how-?
“Well don’t just stand there,” Blitz said, sounding annoyed. “Do something! Make this entertaining!”
Liane’s eyes changed back to a purple, and she stayed stock still- unsure of how to react to this.
The man leaned back slightly. “Mmmm… why did your eyes just change?”
Liane remained silent.
He sighed with exasperation. “You humans are all the same. Lazy, stupid, and rude. Well, if you won’t tell me…” he grinned and raised his hands. “I suppose I can make do.” His eyes began to glow yellow, and his hands were suddenly surrounded by a crackling, blue-white aura of energy.
A bolt of power shot towards Liane’s head, and she only just managed to duck in time. Another one came, and another, and another. Liane was forced to jump and duck continuously, and began running pell-mell away from this crazy Blitz guy. She ducked behind another rock and looked back. No Blitz. She turned around and shrieked.
There he was, grinning maniacly. “Hello again!”
He’s got some sort of power over electricity! Ria said, breathlessly. That’s how he can run so fast- and he’s shooting at us with pure energy.
Well then how in the bloody hell can we get rid of him? Liane replied, frantic.
One could almost hear the grin in Karakel’s voice. Let me.
Liane’s eyes faded to a silver gleaming with bloodlust, and she drew her sword. Blitz frowned.
“There you go again, with that weird eye changing thing. Why do you do that?”
The only response Karakel gave was slicing at his chest. He ducked out of the way almost quicker then the sisters could see. “Naughty naughty- no stabbing Uncle Blitz now.”
Karakel cut at him again, and he ducked out of the way- reappearing directly behind her. “Stop it.” She whirled around, and Blitz placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, creating a bridge of energy pouring into her body.
Fire, flames, burning, pain… the smell of burning hair filled the air, and Liane was struck rigid as the electricity ran through her body. Her arms wouldn’t move. She strained even harder, barely able to focus as the power rattled her brain. She pushed as hard as she could- and suddenly, her eyes turned a bright, pure blue. The four sisters all pushed their arm with the sword forward- directly into the neck of Blitz.
Eyes wide, the yellow power faded from them and he fell backwards onto the ground, a golden kind of liquid pouring from his wound. Released from the hold of the electricity, Liane slumped forwards- eyes a purple dull with pain and fatigue.
What on earth was that? She gasped.
I think… I think we managed to all take control at the same time… Neve said, wonderingly.
Well it certaintly worked, Ria said.
That’s one down, only one more to go. Karakel commented, happily. Let’s get him!
Liane stood slowly, stumbling back slightly with exhaustion.
Wait, don’t step back- Her sisters cried as one.
Liane’s foot slipped over the edge of the canyon, sending her tumbling down into the abyss with a loud scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liane opened her eyes slowly. A dull ache filled her body, with an especially sharp pain in her left leg. She sat up slowly, wincing, eyes slowly adjusting to the bright light in the canyon. In front of her stood the weird, green haired man.
“You need a hand?” He asked, reaching one out. She accepted it and pulled herself to her feet, grimacing with pain. Her ankle was most definitely sprained, if not broken.
“You’re Liane, right?” She nodded. “I’m Spike, Blitz’s partner. So, as much as I would like to get all chummy with you and become friends, I have a tournoment to win. And in order to do that, I’m going to have to get rid of you.” He looked up to the mouth of the canyon. “Blitz? Blitz, come on down buddy. I got her!”
Liane shook her head. “Dead,” she croaked.
Spike jolted in surprise. “Dead? Blitz is dead? How on Mars… well, never mind that, I suppose. I guess it’s just me versus you then.”
Her eyes changed from purple to green, brown, then silver as her sisters took control in quick succession, just long enough for Spike to notice them. He jumped back. “Creepy… well then, seeing as you’re hurt, it doesn’t seem fair for me to just go right out and shoot you.” He drew a gun and turned it over in his hands as he spoke. “I’ll give you a fifteen second head start. How does that sound?”
Confused, Liane opened her mouth to ask something. “Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen.”
She turned around and began hobbling away as fast as she could. Well, that’s pretty much it, isn’t it. We’re doomed.
No- look! Neve replied urgently. There’s a small turn over to your left- perhaps you can hide in there!
Liane limped as fast as she could around the corner- and skidded to a stop.
Dead end… commented Ria, coolly.
Yes, thank you for stating the obvious! Liane replied furiously. The end of the chasm ended in a sheer, almost directly vertical sheet of rock. She was stuck in a small pathway that was completely cut off from the view of everywhere else. Spike’s running footsteps sounded closer and closer. Frantic, she looked around for someway to escape. What to do, what to do…. There was no way she could scale the wall in time even with the help of her sisters, and there was only one small overhang…. She whirled around, unwilling to give Spike the easy target of her back. As she gazed at the pathway, waiting and despairing for what came next, something caught her eye above it. A plan suddenly formulated in her mind.
I’ll do it, Neve said quietly.
Are you sure you’ll be able to? Liane asked, concerned. We don’t have a bow-
I’ll use Ria’s dagger. Neve replied, more insistent. Trust me, it’ll work.
Liane turned control over to Neve, eyes turning a bright green. Neve unsheathed Ria’s dagger and twirled it, crouched slightly and ready to move.
Spike paused before rounding the corner. He couldn’t hear her footsteps any more… either she got away, or she was waiting in ambush. He slowly and silently poked his head around the corner. He couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw her predicament. Dead-end, eh? Just my luck I suppose. But where- Ahhhh, there she was, glaring defiantly towards him with bright green eyes and dagger twirling between her fingers.
He pulled his head back around the corner with a slight shiver. There was something about the way her eyes changed color that creeped him out. She had managed to kill Blaze too- something he hadn’t deemed possible. Better to kill her now. Spike stepped entirely around the corner, guns up and ready to fire. Before he could pull the trigger however, the girl threw the dagger with such speed that he could barely see it. With his own inhuman speed he dropped to the ground, only to watch the dagger soar far above him, towards the top of the canyon. He laughed. His luck had held up once again.
Still chuckling slightly, he got to his feet to face his now-weaponless opponent. He raised his gun and pointed it at her head, ready to fire. The girl, however, was not looking at him at all. Rather, her now purple eyes were still fixated towards the place she had thrown the dagger. Confused, Spike glanced up.
Directly above him sat a small rock. This rock had been there since the first small river had run through the canyon. Over time, larger rocks had fallen atop of it- thanks to earthquakes and other erosion occurrences. It had balanced this weight atop of itself for over three hundred years- until a sharp, shiny object had flown out of nowhere and knocked it free. With a groan, it finally released its heavy, deadly load--- onto the head of the green-haired man below.
When the dust finally settled, Liane was standing in the center of the clearing, facing the large mound of boulders. A hand was sticking out from under the heap, unmoving.
Hm, she thought. That went pretty well, compared to the other ones.
Aye, it sure did. Karakel agreed.
Now we just have to get out of here. Ria said.
Good point… Liane mused.
Neve laughed slightly. Those rocks serve not only as a weapon, but also as an escape route.
Liane looked up. The pile of rocks nearly touched the top of the edge of the canyon. Ah, they do. She glanced at the hand once again, then stepped towards the boulders and sighed. Well then… shall we?
Her eyes turned a bright green, and she began working her way up the mound.
-----
One shall live. But which one?
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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Liane wins, Blitz dies.
Round four: Aeger the elementalist VS. Liane in the Asylum. Winner will go on to face the Big Bad.
Also, the new blood, Henry Chatfield, will go up against Edward, the roaming angel, in the forest.
In the meantime, another interlude!
This is risky, Mage.
IM looked back at the beast from the edge of the chamber. "Yes, but required. I gave them life, and I may require them to give it back to me."
IM then turned his attention back to the tank of viscous liquid. Inside were the remains of Blitz, gathered freshly after his last battle. IM had to use an illusion spell and pretend to be a nurse to get them. Sitting next to it was another tank, this one holding the floating body of Rathier, and beside that, the meaty chunks of Xavier were slowly bobbing up and down.
Not all of them, Mage. Not all of them. Some are NOT yours.
IM grinned. "And it's because of that fact that they are so important. You will see why."
A few tanks further down held ashy remains, all that was left of Mikeal and Ratfink. Small spots of blood left on their crystals had provided samples of DNA. A little ways down, Spike Spegiel and Liathel floated serenely.
"I was skeptical at first when you said this facility had means to bring the dead back, but now that I know, I think I'm going to enjoy it! This means that my plan can be altered and succeed on a more drastic scale!"
I fail to see how, Mage.
"Think on it for a moment. These are Characters. They have a link to their Authors, whoever or wherever they may be. I'm the Idea Master. I can find and trace that link. In what way is being able to invade Author's minds NOT a good thing?"
The beast laughed. They will be yours? How delightful. This whole thing was a trap after all.
"Indeed. And the best part is that they won't be able to see it coming until it's far too late. The fights were fun and all, but now, it's time for the real prize. Control and domination over my homeland, and from there, with your aid, EVERY land."
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:22 am Post subject: |
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Ooh! Twisty and Turny plot time!
So what, this is going to be an If-tale?
_________________
Tea Cures All.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Well, well, what do we have here? You intend to seize IF?
And some newby blood to shed too. 
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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DeadManWalking
Duke of the Mostly Dead
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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does this mean the authors of the characters will make entrances?
As mind-zombies or something.
_________________
When the dead walk, the living run.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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Well that's the secret, isn't it? Whichever of the two that live can TRY to stop me and the Big Bad from our dastardly plan.
If they fail, then it will fall to Henry Chatfield.
And if HE fails...you're all in a heap of trouble.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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no chance of any of the characters deciding he/she/they want in on the plan?
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When the dead walk, the living run.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:32 am Post subject: |
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I'm evil that way.
They're only useful so I can find their Authors.
So no, not really.
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The White Blacksmith
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Surely if the location moves to If, other Ifians will have a chance of stopping them?
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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But I doubt IM would be willing to make his move on IF before assuring himself of the location of the authors of the competitors, double, and triple checking. Not to mention it will probably take some time for the Big Bad to reach IF, or even get off the island. I trust that IM won't be mobilising without it's help.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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Well, your first fight this round is a bit of a disappointment. It seems- wait, getting ahead of myself. I'll let you look.
Round four, fight one! Aeger VS. Liane. The following is Aeger's series of events.
Aeger limped towards the ominously looming fortress of the Asylum. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t actually a very tall structure, but it just had that quintessential feel of loominess, that surpassed its diminutive size.
Aeger winced as he foot hit an unseen rock. Despite three day’s of restive slumber, not all of his injuries had healed.
He leaned on a makeshift shaft, feeling the rain from the storm that only added to the ominous feel of the night around. Only the bright lights of the Asylum kept the world from complete darkness.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and Aeger looked up to the skies, feeling the air currents that towered to form a massive thunderstorm more ominous than any human creation.
Lightning flashed again, and Aeger reached out and… tweaked. The lightning struck the ground beneath his feet, and the mud sizzled as the world turned a sudden blinding white.
Aeger almost laughed in exhilaration. The last twenty days on this island, hellish as they had been, had put him leaps and bounds closer to what he had once been.
Thunder rolled.
Aeger walked forward towards the squat buildings of the Asylum, almost slipping in the mud. He looked up at the winds and the storms, and frowned, concentrating. Then his mind left his body, and he was one with the winds, soaring up higher and higher. He hovered there, a wisp of thought, watching the patterns of the sky and the storm. Then he started to reach out, to tweak the clouds, so that the moon could shine down and the rains would stop.
He almost didn’t sense it. If it had been a second later, he probably wouldn’t have, complicated as the winds were.
But his ears heard a slight whistling, and his mind sensed a parting of the air, and he tore his mind away from the silky sky and back to his body and he leapt backwards, abandoning the makeshift staff, felt a line of fire slash across his chest, and tumbled into the shadows carved into the world by the lights of the Asylum.
Lightning flashed, and he caught the outline of a figure with a bow. It walked forward, an arrow at the ready, green eyes peering into the darkness.
Aeger concentrated, his palm touching the ground as green ink became a mass of writhing vines that slid across his skin, and the staff he had abandoned flowered and bloomed, growing branches that creaked oakily as they grabbed for the figure.
It must have heard the creaking, or it may have simply sensed danger, but it leaped away, turning with a black sword suddenly in hand, so quickly drawn it seemed to appear from the night around it. The figure didn’t jump quickly enough, however, as the bow now stood wrapped in solid fingers.
The figure whirled around again, scanning the woods like a starved tiger, silver eyes gleaming despite the lack of light, ignoring the mud and the rain.
Aeger snuck around the side, moving slowly, trying to synchronize his sounds with that of the rain and of nocturnal animals. He must have succeeded, for the figure didn’t turn. He waited for the figure to turn to scan the darkness opposite, then he charged, red tattoos on his hand bursting into flames.
Lightning flashed. Aeger noticed his opponent was a woman, tall, with a long braid. His eyes saw the picture and saved it, and the world was moving in slow motion, because the tip of the woman’s black sword was up and he couldn’t dodge it, and his mind had jumped into hyperdrive. The silver-eyed woman was grinning, her eyes gleaming with a predatory light, and he was about to skewer himself on the sword, and he was moving too fast to stop….
He tripped over a branch hidden in the mud, and he tumbled into her and the glistening black point went over his head and then they both tumbled to the ground struggling. He had hold of her arm, but she was wearing armor which refused to give. Thin trickles of metal were running down in rivulets away from his burning palm, and he got a glimpse of bared teeth….
Then he saw stars as her other hand hit the side of his head, and he rolled away over the mud.
His vision cleared and he stood, facing the black sword and its silver-eyed wielder, watching as she licked her lips and sent the sword tip weaving and bobbing slowly, waiting for him to crack.
Aeger pointed his hand forwards and concentrated, his eyes closing for a mere moment. He found the power of the sky building, waited for it to stab down towards the ground, and about a hundred feet before he hit the ground, he deflected it, sending it towards where the woman stood.
He probably shouldn’t have closed his eyes, because when he opened them to the roar of thunder and the crash of lightning hitting the ground before him, he also saw the lightning silhouetting a sword leaping towards his throat. He leaped backwards, out of reach of the sword, ducking and weaving to avoid the black metal. But the woman kept on coming, her silver eyes smiling. He was driven back through the mud, unable to do anything useful, for if his attention wavered at all he surely would have been skewered by the sword that blended in so well with the surrounding night.
His back hit something, and he ducked, and heard a thunk where his head had been. He looked up to see the sword stuck deep into a tree.
This was his chance.
The flames on his hands extinguished themselves, and the red flickering tattoos became deeper, more solid, and a dark brown color, though it looked black in the darkness.
He swung his rigid hand forward, using the new weight to his advantage and his petrified hand hit the armor, denting it and sending the woman flying backwards.
He got up, returning his hand to flesh, and walked to the woman lying in the mud, her silver eyes closed. Her black sword lay next to her, and-
Wait. The sword had been stuck in the tre-
Her leg shot out and caught him in the knee, and he fell backwards, his fall cushioned by the mud. But before he could scramble to his feet, she was standing there, her sword at his throat.
She laughed a laugh with a predatory edge that spoke of enjoyment and savagery.
She pulled the sword back for the killing thrust, her silver eyes laughing along with her voice. The sword came forward….
Then her eyes seemed to flicker purple for the briefest moment, and her sword hand twitched, and instead of entering his heart it entered his stomach, and the pain was like a red hot lance.
Horrified purple eyes looked out at him from the woman’s face, replaced quickly by brown eyes that looked disdainfully at his slowly dying body, before crouching down to go through his pockets expertly. She searched his pockets, missing the dark brown pouch he wore around his neck.
His thoughts roamed as he laid there, his blood mixing with the mud as the rain pattered down.
Incoherent thoughts rambled through his head, as his mind seized on everything but the blood soaked up by that dark hungry blade.
The clouds, the rain, the trees, the woman.
This woman was curious. Her eyes….
He had seen four different people in those eyes, each with a different color. Green, silver, purple, and brown. And each had been a different person. He hadn’t seen the face of the green-eyed one, but with the other three…. In the same way that men can look at clouds and suddenly see prancing horses, her face had changed. Nothing had really shifted as such, but a predatory face suddenly became that of a timid teenager, then a cold-eyed thief.
They each had remarkable personalities, he thought, as the brown-eyed figure started checking his boots. It reminded him of…. What was that game? He had used to play it all the time, back before that battle. It had been a way to hone his mind, and every gentlemen had needed to know how to play.
The green-eyed one was like the Hawk, a piece that floated around the board, scurrying around. It was piece mainly used in the defense of the Royal Pieces, neatly slicing out the heart of enemy movements.
The silver one was like the Wolf, an aggressive piece that could move in all directions. It was a piece often used as sacrificial, but skilled players could defend it simply by using it to destroy all the threats before they could attack. Like the Wolf, the silver-eyed one kept death away from herself by dealing death to others.
The brown-eyed one was like the Minister, or, as Eastern Versions called it, the Spider. It was a piece that didn’t have that much use as a single piece, but its move style meant that it was used in almost all of the most complex strategies. Only the simplest strategies didn’t use the Minister as a support piece.
And the purple one…. The purple woman was a mystery. Only a glimpse of her, but she had showed mercy. When the sword had stabbed down, she must have shifted the sword away from his heart. Much good that had done. Perhaps she was like the Prince, or the Princess, as some called it instead, a piece of little use, unless you got it across the board, where it could become a third member of the Royal Family.
His thoughts turned inward as the Spider, as he now thought of her, gave a grunt of disgust.
What was he, exactly? He used to see himself as the Emperor. But that was before he lost his hand, he used to play all the time. But since then…. He hadn’t had the time.
He should play sometime.
Oh, right. His mind was brought back to his condition as the Spider flipped him onto his face, to search for pockets there.
As his nostrils began to fill with mud, he remembered a piece that he had never really used. The Torch Bearer. Or the Worm. Those who used it had always used it almost independently, and, in the style of the fables of poor palace stable boys and such who had risen to great heights, it shared a similar pattern with the Princess. When it reached the end, it would become a Knight, or the Dragon in the Eastern cultures, a piece almost of the Royal Family, but not quite. To summon the Knight, one had to sacrifice every other piece on their side. Anyone who got a Knight could almost certainly win the game, even if they had lost all of their Royalty, even despite the other handicaps. Since the Knight had so much power and was such a versatile piece, the rules stated that anyone with the Knight would have to destroy every piece of the other side, instead of simply the Royal Family.
He heard another grunt of disgust, then felt a foot kick him over.
The Spider gave another grunt and started to go through his blood-soaked pockets again.
The pain was excruciating, but it halted his incoherent thoughts for a second, and he heard…voices.
Whispering voices, insane voices, that talked of death and dying, or previous lives, whispering over and over and never stopping, hundreds of voices, which came from… from the Sword.
Hundreds of voices, all talking about death.
He was going to die. He, the hero of so many battles, the advisor to so many kings and emperors, the ruler of the elements, was going to die.
And all he could do was lay there and wait.
His vision was blurring now. He could barely see the stars.
His eyes closed, and his breathing slowed.
NO!
Some hidden fragment, a coal banked, roared into flame and refused to die. The part of him that had sworn his oath of silence, that had decided that he WOULD return to his former self rebelled against the thought of entering the dark divide, and he reached out his hand…
And caught the Spider’s ankle, and his arm glowed with a mishmash of strange lights, and life was pouring into him like a waterfall.
Then, the figure kicked out, and his fingers separated from her ankle, and he still lay in the mud, a broken man. Except he wasn’t as broken as before.
His hand grasped the whispering sword, and he pulled it out, and the skin below it became unbroken, and pale. He noticed it, clean and black, then threw it aside.
He tossed the sword aside, staggering as pain from his torn organs hit him. Healed skin was the limit.
The Spider drew a long dagger, a small blue stone set in the pommel. It twirled expertly between her fingers, flying from hand to hand under the hands of the experienced hands of a street brawler. But her brown eyes, cold and calculating as they had been before, were nervous now, and he saw her lick her lips.
Still, her fingers remained firm,
He concentrated and flames sprouted from his hand, coiling up his arm and around his back, to end with a reptilian head, a dragon of flame. Raindrops sizzled as they hit the serpent’s head, creating steam that surrounded him in a shimmering veil.
He walked forward, and the Dragon belched out a tongue of flame, that lanced through the rain towards the Spider. Flames obscured the area totally, tree branches catching aflame in that inferno.
Then, a flicker of movement off to the left, and the Dragon turned its head, sweeping the flames across the clearing in front of the Asylum.
But the Spider was faster, keeping ahead of the flames, running in a tighter and tighter spiral until she was almost on him, then....
The Dragon lunged from behind his head, its fiery jaws opening wide to reveal flickering teeth.
The brown eyes widened in terror, the dagger coming up to meet the Dragon’s teeth.
Where that icy blade was, flames simply winked out extinguished by tendrils of frozen air, and the blade simply cut away the top half of the Dragon’s head.
The Spider saw a hole in the cage.
But then the Dragon grew two heads from the severed jaw, and the hole shrank.
Both heads were smaller, but they roared with the same furor of the old, and the struck like serpents, driving the Spider back.
Then, the Spider’s hand snapped back, then forward, and the icy of sliver of metal whizzed towards his slowly healing stomach. The dragons snapped at the dagger, but simply extinguished themselves, only to grow to four heads, then….
Aeger grasped the dagger in his hand, wincing as the icy blade ate into his tattooed hand. He had tried to grip the handle, but he had misjudged the speed.
He felt frozen tendrils wrap themselves around his fingers, numbing them, then an arrow whizzed through the air and hit him in the shoulder.
He stumbled back, looking up towards the Hawk, who held her now freed bow nocked with another arrow.
He snarled with effort, and the arrow in his shoulder started to burn. But instead of the fountain of flame he had hoped for, it was a pathetic smoldering.
Icy tendrils wrapped themselves farther up his arm.
He couldn’t feel his arm anymore. Flickering flames of ink gathered around the arm, fighting the ice, but inch by inch they were pushed back.
The Hawk hesitated, arrow aimed for his face.
Again he saw the dark divide, and he took a risk to avoid death.
The world went negative for a second, at least for him. He saw the white Asylum with its dark windows, and he saw the Hawk’s green eyes turn orange. Black was white, dark was light, the world was spinning, but….
Red was blue.
The world snapped back to the way it was, except that the flaming tattoos on his body were now a delicate snowflake pattern, in a frozen blue, and the icy tendrils had become a Dragon of Ice, a slithering gleaming clear serpent that nevertheless felt warm against his skin, and he dropped the dagger, the blood dripping from his hand freezing.
Then the Dragon, again one-headed, shot ice shards from its mouth, a withering blizzard of razor hail that could strip a body faster than a pool of piranhas.
And the Hawk fell under the storm; he saw her take cover behind what had been his staff, and was now a flourishing tree, as ice dug furrows into the wood.
The Dragon closed its jaws, and Aeger stepped forward, a sword of frozen water extending from his hand.
He walked forward through the mud and the rain, walking around the tree to find the Princess, the purple-eyed one, with a spear of ice in her leg, glaring at him defiantly.
He raised the sword, the fire that remained in him roaring for blood.
Then, he remembered the purple glint in the silver eyes before the sword had gone off course, then the horrified stare as she saw what had happened, and the icy blade evaporated, mist rising as the rain came down. He looked to the Dragon, which also evaporated into mist, but held its form for a moment, slithering between the raindrops up into the air, before becoming simply evaporated water.
Perhaps he was not so much like the Dragon after all.
He almost laughed for a second, as an amusing thought strikes him. Of all the people he has fought so far in this tournament, the woman below him, with four persons in one body, is the most sane.
He held out his hand, complete with blood dripping, for the woman to take.
She hesitated, then grasped it, his blood staining her armor.
He hoisted her up.
She winced at the pain in her leg, but stood straight despite it.
They both were silent for a second, before she spoke.
“Well I guess I should give you these then….”
She reached into a pocket of her armor and produced the crystal and the scroll.
He reached out to take it, but then the adrenalin evaporated and the world turned black.
The woman tries to catch the one-handed man as he falls, but her leg crumples as she catches him and she falls to one knee. The purple-eyed woman lowers him gently to the ground, then listens for a heartbeat. Satisfied with what she hears, she collects her weapons, sheathing first the sword, then placing the bow in her quiver. As she picks up the bloody dagger of ice, she hesitates, glancing at the prone figure of her opponent. She doesn’t move for almost a minute, arguing within, before wiping the dagger and returning it to its sheath. She returns to the man, hoisting him up with her arm, leg quivering under the strain, then turns to the lights of the Asylum and enters.
-----
The following is Liane's series of events.
Liane stepped noiselessly through the bright corridors, purple eyes flicking back and forth warily. The cleanness and sterility of the white walls unnerved her and her sisters, who were used to forestry and darkness.
So… who are we looking for again? Ria asked, in an attempt to take everyone’s mind off of the uneasy contrast between their own dirtiness and the walls cleanliness.
Aeger.
The name resounded in Liane’s mind as her sisters echoed it after her. Aeger… a name that sounded full of power and fire…
What do you guys think? Liane asked quietly. Do we have a chance?
Well, Karakel replied. We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?
Aye, Ria said calmly. But so has he.
Silence followed this statement as the sisters considered this. Their earlier fights had ended well for them, though this was partly due to luck.
I think we’ll just have to se what happens… and fight till we no longer can. Neve said slowly, still concentrating on walking silently through the asylum.
Still talking with her sisters, Liane rounded a corner and found herself in a wide, rectangular room with glass walls. As she stepped forward cautiously, a shrill scream laced with pain and hatred shattered the silence. Instinctively Liane unsheathed her sword and fell to a defensive stance, looking around wildly for the disturbance. There- to her left- a contorted face pressed to the glass wall of what she now saw to be a kind of cage. The mouth of the creature was wide open with the force of the scream, showing brown and broken teeth.
This… thing was once a man! Liane thought, too shocked to do anything but stand there gaping.
Another scream joined the first as another face pressed against the window of the cage to her right. This one had the vague shape of a woman, but it was all wrong; sharp and angular where there should have been curves, and her eyes… there was no sense of humanity in them. They were filled only with fear and dementedness, one that seemed extremely familiar..
Liane took one look at the things eyes, then turned around and ran. The eyes were just like hers had been, eight years ago. That fear, that confusion- memories rose unbidden to the surface of her mind. She ran blindly through the seemingly endless maze of corridors, trying to put those horrible eyes behind her, out of her mind. Her sisters were silent for once- stunned at the familiar sight.
She rounded another corner running full out- and was sent sprawling backwards. Bewildered, she looked up, unsure of what she had run into. Directly in front of her stood a man, clothed in loose trousers and a white shirt. All along his body ran a swirling tattoo, covering his arms in intricate patterns of blues, reds and greens. He was, however, missing his right hand. The man’s startled expression told her that he was just as surprised at the interruption as she was.
Neve took control for a brief second, just long enough to analyze the man as thoroughly as only a tracker could.
An aura surrounds him- filled with the magic of the elements, she said quickly. There is an especially strong aura in a pouch around his neck- most likely the crystal. I think this is definitely the Aeger guy we are supposed to fight.
Well then, Karakel said. Let’s get started. Liane could almost hear the grin in her voice.
Wait- she exclaimed silently, straining to keep Karakel from taking over. He might not know we’re a contestant-
There was a slight whistling sound followed by sudden pain in her shoulder. Liane looked over to see a golden needle quivering, impaled in the small place between her armor. The man was crouched in front of her, another needle in hand and ready to throw.
He knows, all right. Ria said.
Liane shuddered slightly as Neve took control, announcing her presence with bright green eyes, ever the same. She bent backwards and pushed herself up into the air, landing the back spring perfectly with Karakel’s sword in hand, the dark metal glistening eagerly in the bright light. The man’s eyes widened, but he remained silent. He seemed to concentrate for a second, tattoos seeming to glow a fiery red. His right hand burst into flame, and he looked up at Liane with a smile on his face. Before she could react, he leaped forward, blazing hand out and reaching for her throat. Neve sliced wildly at the man’s arm, forcing him to pull himself out of the way. He stepped backwards slightly, then raised his hand to a vertical position, the flames growing larger and larger.
Liane was filled with fear as she realized what this Aeger person was planning. Neve- run! She cried silently.
Neve took a single glance at Aeger, then turned tail and began running down the corridor, all thoughts of being quiet dispelled. A great wall of fire followed her down the hall, filling it with heat and the crackling of flames. Neve grimaced and bent her head, sprinting as fast as she could, just barely staying ahead of the flames. There- an open door. Neve leapt through it, somersaulting as she hit the ground, sword falling out of her grip and skidding across the floor. The fire passed the open doorway, continuing down the hall before dissipating.
Panting, Liane lay on the ground. Her eyes were flickering between green and purple as Neve lost the capability to stay in control. Footsteps resounded in the hall, getting closer and closer.
Liane cursed under her breath.
Well that was just swell, she muttered.
Interesting… Ria mused. Another fighter with control over the elements.
Aye, like the first one, Neve said, coughing. Except this one doesn’t use any visible way of controlling them, so we can’t cut him off from them.
As her sisters bickered, Liane clambered to her feet, reaching for her sword. She looked up, and froze.
The room was filled with the same glass cages as she had seen earlier, but there were only two large one\s, on either side of her. They were filled with the same creatures as before, their dead eyes fixed on Liane’s every movement. She stood in the middle of the room, sword hanging loose in her hand. Another small whistle- Liane ducked quickly and watched three or four needles fly over her head, impaling themselves in the far wall. She spun around to face Aeger where he stood in the doorway, his single hand now dark brown- almost black. Before she could attack, the man stepped forwards and swung his arm, hitting her in the stomach with a hand that felt like a rock. Winded, Liane stumbled backwards, bent nearly double and gasping for breath. Her thoughts seemed to disappear, save for one voice.
My turn, Karakel said, that maddening grin in her voice again. Unable to stop her, Liane felt her eyes change to a shining silver as her oldest sister gained control.
Karakel straightened and stood still for a single moment, enjoying the brief sense of control. She grinned and whirled around, sword lashing out and biting into Aeger’s side. He fell backwards, catching himself with a hand on the doorway. Karakel struck again, this time slicing his shoulder. She pulled her sword back, and stabbed at his heart- only to find her sword unmovable. Surprised, Karakel looked at Aeger. He was grimacing with pain, but he had caught the shining blade before it had reached his chest. Closing his eyes, he gripped tighter, and flames began leaping down the blade towards her hands.
With a wild curse, Karakel let go of the sword and leaped backwards. She drew her dagger and twirled it between her fingers, glaring furiously at Aeger. He glanced at her, then hurled the sword at her. She ducked, the sword flying over her head and burying itself in the wall behind her, cutting off a few stray hairs en-route. Enraged, Karakel stabbed at Aeger with the dagger, only to trip over his outstretched foot. She fell forwards, smacking into the glass wall. The dagger in her hand had made a deep scratch in the glass- a scratch all the creatures inside were looking at intently. Karakel glanced at them, then at the dagger, then back to the glass, silver eyes glinting.
Without a single word, she began gouging at the glass wall. The creatures followed her dagger, hungrily. More and more deep scratches appeared in the thick glass.
What… what are you doing? Liane stammered.
Karakel didn’t reply- focusing her energy on pushing the dagger as far into the glass as she could. There was a bright color in the corner of her eye- Karakel ducked and rolled away, grabbing at something as a punch from a flaming fist soared over her head, smacking directly into the deepest crack. Time seemed to stand still for a single moment; all the creatures pressed against the glass, Karakel on her knees a safe distance away, Aeger’s crystal in hand and triumphant look on her face, Aeger looking at the glass, a horrified expression on his face. Then, with the sound of an iceberg breaking away from a glacier, the glass shattered.
A bright light shone in the eyes of the creatures. A strange man stood in front of them, the feeling of fear around him. The bonds that they had none since infancy were gone. What was there left to do but ---
Fight.
As one, the creatures leaped out into the room, tackling Aeger and screaming like wild animals. Karakel ran over to the other side of the room and drove her dagger the glass wall, shattering it in a single blow. A second group of creatures joined the bloodthirsty mob of the first, burying Aeger under a screaming pile of murderous animals.
Eyes once again a pained purple, Liane looked at the crystal in her hand.
Just leave him, Liane. Ria said quietly. Now that we’ve got his crystal, he’s of no use to us. Better for him just to die.
Aye… Liane looked back towards the wild melee of squirming bodies. A flaming hand covered with familiar tattoos pushed it’s way through the mass, only to be covered once again by another three creatures.
It’s not like we’re the ones that are responsible for this, Karakel said, sullenly. I mean, it’s not our fault if he can’t fight his way through a bunch of measly-
“Oh, for the love of Marayna!” She yelled exasperatedly, both inside and out. She ran over to the wall where her sword was embedded and yanked it out with a tremendous effort. With a single cry, she ran towards the bloody, screaming pile of creatures and began hacking her way through. Clawed hands grabbed at her legs, but were unable to pierce the small plates of armor. They quickly lost interest in her, allowing her to cut her path more easily. Through the tangled mass of body parts, Liane glimpsed an arm covered in blood, underneath she could just barely see a black pattern. She threw her sword aside and grasped the arm with both hands. Grimacing as the blood stained her hands, Liane stepped out of the melee carefully, pulling the body of Aeger with her. The creatures didn’t seem to be interested in either her or Aeger, preferring to rip each other apart. Liane dragged the body out of the room, leaving a path of smeared blood behind her.
When they were finally out of the room and back in the corridor, Liane dropped the arm and fell against the door, slamming it shut. She slid her back down it, falling into a sitting position, purple eyes gazing at nothing.
Her sisters, who had been silent from shock through this entire time, now exploded with fury.
Are you out of your MIND? Karakel yelled, livid. This is an enemy! Not someone to just go and save!
We don’t even know if he’s alive or not, Neve pointed out.
If he is alive, he may actually be of some use later, Ria said thoughtfully.
But-
Aeger’s eyes cracked open, stopping the sisters’ arguments. He blinked once, revealing eyes of pure blue, then seemed to focus on Liane. She matched his stare, to exhausted to do anything but look. After a long moment, the edges of Aeger’s mouth twitched upwards in a sort of smile. Liane started, then smiled back. Aeger suddenly twitched, eyes rolling back into his head as he collapsed, unconscious. Liane grabbed his wrist, feeling for a pulse. Satisfied with what she felt, she replaced the arm on the floor and leaned backwards, resting against the door.
What comes will come, she whispered to her sisters. Any help we can get… She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
-----
Welp, it doesn't look like much of a poll this time around - Aeger and Liane are teaming up no matter which way you vote! So there won't be one, sadly. In two day's time, the fight between Henry and Edward shall be up, and that one will have a poll.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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These two are smart. They figured the only way to stand a chance against the Big Bad was to team up on him.
But how in the world will you figure out who's writing the battle with the Big Bad without a poll? Unless they're both written by the same author, it seems rather impossible. Have you arranged them to meet and discuss their new round, perhaps?
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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DeadManWalking
Duke of the Mostly Dead
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| Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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i liked them both.
Except that the first had the weird game references and didn't actually take place inside the Asylum.
And the second references his right hand bursting into flame (i thought he only had a left hand?) and also the whole breaking teh crazies out of prison.
But besides those nitpicky things, both were pretty cool.
And I also wish to F5 Meanie's question.
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When the dead walk, the living run.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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I will figure it out. Trust me.
Well, okay fine, don't trust me, but trust that I have a plan. Because I do.
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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BlackAmaranth
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| Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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Ooh, tricky, tricky, you two  I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes...
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"Well, here I am...in the towers of an insane asylum...wearing a straitjacket...talking to myself..."
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: |
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All right, guys and gals, here's round 4, fight 2! Henry Chatfield VS. Edward the Angel! The following is Edward's series of events:
Edward roamed through the forest, looking for something. He wasn't sure what just yet, but he knew something important was here. He could feel it. It was like someone was playing 'Hot-cold' with him. Every time he turned away from the direction the thing was, he got colder. Every time he was pointed in the right direction, he got warmer. There was this tingling anticipation all over, like ants were crawling on his skin. Whatever it was, he was close now...
And then Edward saw that it was not a thing he was looking for...but a man. A human, by the look of him. One that appeared to have stepped out of the middle ages. As Edward drew closer to this strange person, the tingling anticipation, along with the warmth, returned, and Edward now knew what they meant.
The man had not seen Edward yet, so he decided to introduce himself. "Hello there! Who might you be?"
The man turned to face Edward, and Edward saw that this man was probably only slightly older than himself, if that, by the lack of lines on the man's face. The man looked over Edward, probably making similar observations. It was only at this point in time that Edward noticed the man had a sword strapped to his belt. Normally that would be something you look for right off, but Edward was more interested in the things about this man that could have both attracted and repulsed his Angelic nature.
Edward snapped back to himself when he realized the man was speaking. "I'm Henry Chatfield. Who might you be?"
"Edward. Are you new here? I didn't see your name on the roster when this started."
"I just signed on. This place attracts all sorts of interesting people, I was hoping to find someone like myself."
"Oh?" Edward inquired. "And what might you be? I'm quite interested, myself."
Henry looked back and forth, scanning the environment, for what, Edward wasn't sure. Finally, he looked back at Edward and answered the question. "I'm sort of a mixture. I started human, but was turned into a vampire, and through weird happenstance events, also have the blood of an Angel. It makes for an interesting life, I'll tell you that much."
Edward hmmed a bit. "Holy, unholy, and in-between. I must admit, it does explain a few things. Like why the parts of me that are Angelic were both drawn here and repulsed from you. Why I feel a kinship with you, and why you don't seem to be beset by vampire hunters. Now let me explain a few things about myself."
Edward began climbing a tree, and while he was doing so, he talked to Henry. "My life was the ordinary, dull gray everyone has. Grow up, get educated, find a way to make a living, produce the next generation, grow old, and die. However, I was more of a thinker than the world had planned for. When I had time to myself, I would contemplate the nature of the world, life, and everything."
By this time, Edward had found a sturdy branch and was hanging upside down. "I eventually found the secret to being happy. I tried to share it with people, but they dismissed it as being stupid, and me with it. I grew more frustrated, and then turned to God. He heard my pleas, and molded me into an Angel, giving me the sight to see the spiritual. I saw that there were demons on the people, keeping them ignorant of the simple truths that I had found, and I swore that I would kill them all and spread the word wherever I went."
Edward swung back and forth on his branch, looking at Henry. Henry looked like he was taking this sudden rush of information in a bit slowly. "So you're here because there are demons here?"
Edward sighed. "If only. No, I'm here because God sent me here to destroy a source of great evil. I know that it's in the Asylum itself, but I need another crystal to open the door. Who or whatever is running this installed a security system recently, and those without two crystals can't get in to the depths. And since you've told me you're a contestant..."
Edward dropped from his branch and landed in front of Henry.
"I'll have yours."
Edward raised his coffee mug to his lips and gulped audibly, draining it dry and looking at Henry. Edward's eyes were alight with holy power, and his wings unfurled behind him. Edward casually tossed the mug aside and charged at Henry, his fists clenched and blazing with power. Henry managed to dodge Edward's attack, but only just.
"Look, if you'll wait for just one minute-!"
Edward didn't wait. It was no longer in his nature. He had one objective: Get the crystal, so he could get into the depths of the Asylum, so he could complete his mission that God had given him. There was no longer any reason, just the thought of doing what he had to do.
Henry didn't want to have to hurt the kid. "Gah! This isn't working! And the rules state I can't lose my crystal without being disqualified! There has to be a way..."
He was then struck by an idea. One that probably would work in his favor. Henry turned to the Asylum just barely visible in the distance, and ran. Due to his somewhat unique heritage, he could run farther and longer than any human. Edward would have to work to keep up with him, and hopefully, by the time he got to the Asylum, Edward would be willing to listen to reason. Maybe then they could form a truce and see what was in the depths of this place.
Time would tell.
-----
The following is Henry's version of events:
Fiddling absent-mindedly with my scarf, I looked over the letter again… Edward, eh? This competition was really something… They give you the name of your opponent, and leave you at that. Thank goodness it wasn’t being held in a populated area, or I’d never find-
My train of thought was broken by yet another obtruding root in my path. Stumbling and then quickly regaining my balance, I swore and kicked the offending plant. Even my heightened senses weren’t of much use in this area… What use was superior vision when there were about fifty trees blocking your line of sight at any time? And the fog… don’t even get me started on the fog. Luckily, when you’re in the woods, you’re mostly protected from it… mostly. There’s still enough to obscure the countless, absolutely endless amount of branches and other similar objects that I always seem to trip over.
I sighed, and continued my sluggishly slow walk. It wasn’t only the poor visibility, either. These woods… heck, the entire island… It gave off a feeling, a stench, of secrecy. It was almost as if every single inhabitant or visitor here had some hugely horrible secret they would take with them to the grave. Shivering, I put my hand on my trusty Comet’s hilt for comfort.
Just then, I heard a voice somewhere close by. I focused on it, and realized that it was some sort of song, albeit a horribly off-tune and childish one.
“We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine!”
It seemed to be getting closer, but very, very slowly. It looks (or, rather, sounds) like whoever was coming has the same problems as I did when it comes to tripping over things.
Turning to face the direction of the song, I squinted. There was what appeared to be an old forest track extending out before me, and about fifty or so metres in front, was a kid (well, closer to teen, but you know what I mean), whose clothes were, to say the least, tattered. He didn’t seem to be much of a threat to me, except maybe destroying my sense of hearing, so I relaxed and walked forward to greet him.
“Hey there,” I called out, trying to sound friendly. I figured anyone would want a companion in a place like this. I certainly did.
The boy stopped his singing (Thank God!) and looked at me with a sort of peculiar expression.
Then he grinned in a rather disturbing, but non-threatening way, and was about to say something, when all of a sudden, he froze. His eyes probed me with extreme concentration. That piercing gaze felt like it was staring to the very depths of my soul. A strange, nostalgic emotion came over me, and I realized I’d been looked at like this before.
Elizabeth’s mother was like this, too… I thought, This is an angel.
“Excuse me,” he said, his expression now something halfway between confusion and curiosity, “For not replying right away. Are you Henry Chatfield?”
“Yes,” I replied, trying hard to look him back in the eyes (and failing), “You would be Edward, then.”
He quickly retrieved a metallic-looking container, which I presumed to hold some sort of beverage, from his person.
“Before we start, I think I’ll ask you something,” he said, eyes warily watching my sword, “What are you? You feel holy, but at the same time, you feel like a sinner, or evil of some sort.”
I was only mildly surprised, and even then I shouldn’t have been. My various meetings with angels (or, specifically one angel and a half-angel) had familiarized me with some of their lower powers, and this rather keen perception is no exception.
“You’re right,” I replied after a pause, “I guess the simplest way to explain is to tell you that I’m part vampire, and part angel.” I hesitated, and then added “Part human too.”
“Do you come here to do His will?”
This rather abrupt question startled me. “No,” I replied, “I’d heard that there were some peculiar people coming to this competition, and I wanted to know if any of them were vampires. If there are any, I guess I’d try to convince them to go back with me…”
“Can’t you just give me your crystal? You’re angelic, at least in part, so I don’t want to be killing you, now.”
Nor do I want to kill you, I thought.
“No,” I answered after a lengthy think, “I don’t think I will. If there’s something important enough here to dispatch an angel for it, I’d like to take a look, too.”
“How’d you know what I am,” he asked, looking for like he was just in a casual conversation with some sort of passerby, “Well, who cares. I’ll try not to kill you too badly.
With practiced ease, I drew Comet and held it in a position where it would be easier to parry any of my adversary’s attacks.
“Whoa, hold up!” he cried, lifting his mug to his mouth, “I haven’t had my coffee yet!”
He drained the contents of the strange looking mug, sighed contentedly, and stared at me with insane eyes.
FOOLISH MORTAL! YOU HAVE DEFIED THE WILL OF GOD AND WILL NOW BE PUNISHED!
Angelic wings sprouted from behind him, unfurling to their full glorious length. He swiftly raised a hand, and shot glowing bolts at me.
With years of experience of having things flung at me, I dodged to the side and took cover behind a tree. If it weren’t for my increased reflexes and physical ability, though, I would’ve been toast. Well, maybe not toast, since I’m rather resilient to holy attacks, but I’d still be slightly warm bread.
I heard his wings flap, and immediately I could tell that he had taken flight. That was definitely not good for me, because I could never outrun a flying person, and because, since I couldn’t fly myself, it was almost impossible to attack him.
He flew unimaginably quickly around to my side of the tree, and shot some more divine energy at me. I dodged to the side again, the ball of energy missing me by a hair’s breadth. Instead, it hit the tree, and smashed a large section of the trunk where it hit.
No longer able to take its own weight, the remaining wood cracked, and the tree began to fall towards Edward. Unfortunately he was able to dodge it with ease, but now it looked like I had a method of retaliation!
Taking cover behind another of the huge plants, I waited for him to fly around.
“You must be stupid! How can you think I would fall for a trick like that?”
He and his glowing wings flew around again, but this time he flew in a sharper curve, and was charging in from my right side, rather than my front.
Oh Cr-
A strong blast hit me in the flank and propelled me a number of metres away, where I lay on my back, gasping for breath. It wasn’t the divine force of the blast that bothered me; I could deal with that. It was the sheer impact of it. It didn’t seem to have broken any ribs, but it had burned into my clothing and my flesh. This kid must really be something!
I couldn’t just lay flat on the ground and admire his powers, though. I got up as quickly as my wound would allow, and picked up Comet, which lay beside me, with my left hand. With my right, I covered my wound with my coat.
“No more playtime!” I roared. To be honest, I sounded far more menacing than I felt.
After narrowly dodging two of this maniac’s attacks, a taking one in the side, I’d gotten slightly more used to his attack pattern. He was doing some relatively low flying, and only using his wings to boost his speed rather than his height. That gave me a tiny opening right when he does his straight charge at me, right before he fires his bolts. I figured it was worth trying, but it would probably only work once before he knew what I was trying to do.
Once again Edward did another of his fly-bys, swooping in a curving arc around me, whilst wildly blasting off golden balls of energy at me. I ran parallel to him for the most part, jumping over and ducking under his shots. Then there was a sudden change in his movements, as he prepared to close in on me.
That’s my cue.
Instead of dodging to the side like I did before, I ran forward to meet his attack. He didn’t seem awfully surprised at this, much to my disappointment, and he held out a hand to intercept me with a projectile.
In this, however, he was wrong. Previously, while I had been trying very hard to avoid his attacks, I never really did run, opting for rolling and similar movements to dodge his ranged attacks. This boy had been counting on an ordinary pace for my run (not to mention not being able to jump high enough), and if I was human and how somehow survived all his other attacks, I’d probably had been fried.
But I’m not human. I’m… well, a vampire-angel-human thing.
I had gotten close enough to him as he was preparing to shoot me, and so I jumped. I ducked my head under his outstretched arm, pointed the tip of my blade to his heart, and thrust.
I’m not exactly sure if what happened next was a blessing or a curse, but at the time, it seemed a whole lot like a curse. To be specific, Comet stopped moving.
I felt my sword stop within an inch of his breast, and now instead of running him through and then impaling him on a tree, I couldn’t stop my momentum, and did a rather awkward full-body tackle, knocking Edward out of the air.
As you might well imagine this was by no means comfortable for either of us. He landed a couple of metres away, quite winded, and struggled to recover. I, while probably better off than he, had only just gotten back on my feet, and was trying to figure out just why Comet didn’t pierce him. Could it be that my holy blade refused to kill the holy?
I limped over to the boy, still lying on the ground. His wings were actually giving him trouble this time round, being rather unwieldy, what with them being all outstretched and him being sprawled on the ground and all.
I raised my blade, and stabbed downwards. Seeing his danger, Edward flinched, and tried to roll to his side. This movement was also impeded by his wings.
Much to his surprise, and my despair, Comet once again stopped. I’m deprived of my only weapon whilst fighting an angel, I thought, Great. Just great!
And, as I stood there lamenting my poor fortune, the little freak folded his wings, sprang up, and tore Comet from my hands. As soon as I realized what happened, he was attacking. He started with a horizontal slash from his right (badly pulled off, too), which I ducked, and followed up with a thrust, which I neatly sidestepped. His movements were slower, now, which encouraged me to no end. At least I knew he was getting tired too.
I still didn’t hold the advantage, however, as he was the one trying to cut me up with a sword, and I was the poor unarmed person trying to not get cut up. Fortune smiled on me, though, as this boy was a poor swordsman (compared to me. No, this is not blatant boasting), and I could avoid his slashes and stabs with ease.
“What’s the matter, squirt?” I said, trying my hand at a bit of goading, “Caffeine running low on you?”
It certainly had a larger effect than I ever dreamed of. I’m not sure whether he took offence at this, or I’d simply hit the bulls eye, but he attack with renewed vigor and a roar. At this rate, I couldn’t outlast him.
I saw my chance to turn the tables when he tried to decapitate me with a vicious overhead swing, which I once again sidestepped. I didn’t give him another chance to follow up, though; I grabbed his wrist, and with my foot I hooked his leg which made him fall rather comically to the ground. I retrieved my sword despite its complete uselessness in this situation, and crouched next to his fallen body, with the idea of knocking him out in mind.
I’d completely forgotten about his bolts, though, and it was at this moment that he reached out a hand, which glowed with the power he was putting into his attack. The air practically vibrated with the intense concentration of energy.
I was shocked at the sheer strength of the imminent blow, and when the realization came that I should run, it was too late. Edward’s palm glowed like a shining, bright aurora, and it looked like I was a goner.
Before he could shoot me, though, he gave a groan, and passed out.
I couldn’t believe my luck. The kid ran out of power at the last moment.
Heart still pounding from the unbelievably dangerous situation, I began my search for Edward’s crystal. I found it in a few seconds, as there weren’t really that many places to hide it on his person. At the same time, I found his letter, too, which I decided I should pocket as well.
I was just rising to leave, but it felt a bit unethical to leave the poor kid, with all his tattered clothes, on the ground. I wrapped my scarf around his neck, which was more charity than I thought he deserved. Whilst doing so I saw his coffee-container laying on the ground in rather poor shape some metres away.
I kicked it viciously for all the trouble it gave me, and set off with my first victory. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I realized it wasn’t such a good idea to give him the scarf.
Elizabeth is going to KILL me!
-----
No death, but who goes on? I leave it to you.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:35 am Post subject: |
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I like Edward's background info, but his part is a bit shorter than what he used to have.
Would Aeger, Liane, and the survivors (well, that's not quite right. Made-it-out-of-there-ers, shall we say?) of this fight meet in the Asylum? I understand its a rather big and weird building and all, but since their all going to the same place.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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DeadManWalking
Duke of the Mostly Dead
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| Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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huh
Edward seems reluctant to actually have a real battle.
I kinda liked Henry's version of this; i couldn't help but noticing, tho, that he seems to have the only first person perspective in this competition so far.
_________________
When the dead walk, the living run.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Well, if IM isn't going to say it, I might as well do it.
*Steals wizardly clothes and pointy hat*
The poll is closed, and the winner has been decided!
Edward wins and moves on to the Asylum's round (although, in accordance to his story, Henry will be the one leading him... confusing).
*Takes off old and dusty mage clothing*
Kinda regretting not voting in this one now.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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True, true. I was waiting for the poll to close on its lonesome.
Anyways, now for an interlude! Titled:
Something old, something new
IM sat in the depths of the Asylum as usual, contemplating the rune patterns. Hmm. This one like so...had he made an error? The patterns would do the job, yes, but maybe they could do it more efficiently...
There was a woosh noise from behind, and IM knew what it was. "Ah. Come to see your brother, have you?"
Blaze walked into the room, a bit confused at the sight before him. "How did you know it was me?"
IM turned around and smiled. "Because, dear boy, I made you. With these hands, I piled the materials needed. With this mind, I gave you form from my innermost madness. You are but a Character, and I...I am your Author."
Blaze reeled as if struck. "No. No, that can't be true! I have a mission, a life, a purpose!"
IM waved a hand. "I planted those in your mind to give you a greater sense of self. Not all Characters are as lucky, you know. I took great pains to make sure you were mostly complete. But all I have to do is say one thing to make your mind shatter."
IM glared at Blaze. Just as he was about to open his mouth and deliver the final words, Blaze fired off a fireball at IM's head. IM easily dodged the flames. The flames continued to travel and puncture one of the chamber's many orbs. This would later be regarded as the point when everything changed.
The Grimm Characters are unique in that they have a sort of energy that no other Character possess. It is this energy which makes them respected and feared. It has been appropriately labeled 'Grimm' and, when extracted, becomes a sort of blackish ooze. When exposed to air, the Grimm gives off a black mist that slowly rises. This energy is what has fed the Big Bad Wolf for the past centuries.
When Blaze punctured the orb, he unwittingly opened a point for Grimm to escape, which it did. It also leaked into the runes in the floor, changing them from a pure white to dark black. The black coloring quickly spread, racing towards IM. The moment the Grimm reached IM, he knew what it was. It was old power from the realm of Idea, tainted and twisted by the Grimms long ago, and left to ferment like wine. And just like wine, it had grown more powerful with time.
IM absorbed the power of the Grimm, and laughed. The evil energy had upset his already fragile mind, causing him to fall into madness.
"Heheh. So, my creation fights for his non-existent life, eh? Well, since I'm in a good mood, I'll share with you a little secret about life I learned a while ago."
IM charged up a spell behind his back, letting Blaze see the growing black of the runes in the floor. Blaze suddenly realized that this was a Bad Thing, and moved to run.
IM, however, was done with his spell, and pointed one hand at Blaze. "The secret is...LIFE! IS! PAIN!"
A bolt of dark energy slammed into Blaze, knocking him into the distant wall and binding him there with more darkness. The Big Bad Wolf laughed his distorted laugh at this turn of events, and IM walked up to the bound Blaze.
"I'm in no mood to deal with you, but you're not just going to give up, are you? So I figure, I'm going to kill two birds with one stone. YOU'RE going to go out and stop one group from getting to me right away, while I deal with the other one. This way, I'm not overwhelmed. And it really doesn't matter to me if you live or die, so for me, it's a win-win! Now hold still..."
IM looked up at the Big Bad Wolf and nodded. The Big Bad laughed and cast one hand at Blaze, small chunks of the dark beast breaking off and sinking into Blaze's head. IM quickly cast a spell on Blaze, one that almost any Author could do. It was a spell of Character Domination, and it was used to make the Character do exactly as directed in the story.
"You will go to the entrance of the Asylum and stop the two of Angel blood from entering. Confirm."
"I will go to the entrance of the Asylum and stop the two of Angel blood from entering. Confirmed."
"Good. Execute."
IM snapped his fingers, and the bonds of darkness dissipated. Blaze fell to the floor, and when he looked up again, IM was very pleased. Blaze's eyes had been replaced by blackness from the Big Bad. Blaze stood still for a moment, and then he turned and left the way he came in, looking for the entrance to the Asylum so he could take up his post.
IM smiled to himself. "Now the only ones to worry about are..."
There was another Woosh noise. Another door had opened, and Aeger and Liane were behind this one.
IM turned to them and smiled. "Ah yes. You."
Round Five! It's getting to the endgame!
Aeger and Liane VS. The Big Bad and IM!
Henry Chatfield and Edward VS. Blaze!
Due to the circumstances, I will inform the Authors of Aeger and Liane who the other one is. This way, they can write a chapter together that might, conceivably, be capable of stopping my plans.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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You don't sound terribly convinced that they can beat you.
Anywho, best of luck to Aeger and Liane in their fight against the Big Bad and IM.
::EDIT::
100th reply to this thread. I feel specialz.
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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Idea master
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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...Due to...unforeseen delays, Henry Chatfield will lead Edward in a battle against Blaze. Soon.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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Masterweaver
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| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| Whilst thou create another asylum?
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BlackAmaranth
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| Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Ooh, that'd be fun, I didn't have a chance to enter this one...
_________________
"Well, here I am...in the towers of an insane asylum...wearing a straitjacket...talking to myself..."
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, right. Story thing. Sorry.
Round Five, Fight 1! Henry Chatfield and Edward VS. Blaze!
Why yes, I AM putting off the Big Bad fight until later, however did you guess?
The following is Blaze's series of events:
Darkness.
All that was left was darkness.
He could see his body perform, but he was no longer in control.
In a small, dark corner of his mind, all that was left of his will and sanity was curled up and sobbing to itself. There had been a time for fighting, but that time was past.
Now, he could do nothing, nothing to stop himself, nothing to stop the creature that had taken control of his mind.
He was as a puppet on a string.
-----
Henry and Edward had finally worn themselves out by the time they actually reached the Asylum proper.
"Hah...haaaah...Now will you listen to me?"
Edward, lying about three feet away from Henry, twitched his arms a little.
"You're just...lucky I can't...reach you..."
Henry groaned and propped himself up, casting his gaze onto Edward.
"So I suppose...You'll have to listen, then?"
Edward turned his head in Henry's direction.
"I suppose...so..."
Henry managed to prop himself up against a tree, and looked down on the exhausted adolescent.
"Now...whoever or whatever is behind those doors you mentioned earlier, it's a safe bet that they're a dangerous foe. I'd rather meet it with a friend than alone. So, shall we call it off and be partners for the time being?"
Edward tried to look furious, but couldn't pull it off, and merely sighed.
"I suppose. Now, if you'll kindly drag me inside to the nearest source of caffeine, I'll be of greater aid than as I am."
Henry grabbed Edward's upper torso and started to drag the young angel inside.
"You'll have to point it out for me, though, as I've no idea what it looks like."
-----
A few hours later, Edward put a mug of warm coffee to his lips, drank a little, and sighed.
"That is exactly what I needed. Now for more."
Edward finished off his cup, and then proceeded to drain the entire pot dry. Henry looked on, wondering if this was safe.
"Are you sure that you're going to be all right? That's an awful lot of coffee..."
Edward wiped his mouth on his sleeve, leaving a very large brown stain on his otherwise white clothes.
"I've drunk more than this before and lived. Now, if I recall correctly, the door into the depths should be in this direction..."
Edward got up from his chair and began going through the halls of the Asylum, tracing a path that would put a lab rat to shame. All the while he was muttering directions to himself, probably so that he wouldn't get lost. After ten minutes of walking, Edward and Henry stood before a set of doors that were roughly twenty feet high. On either side was a small hole, about the size of the Idearium crystal Henry still carried.
"Well, you got us here. What was your plan for getting us IN, though?"
Edward shot a dirty look at Henry, and gave a curt 'Working on it' as he turned back to the door. Just as he was about to resort to 'Plan B for Blast', there was a rapport of 'clicks' from the door. Edward and Henry looked at each other, and slowly backed up.
A wise move.
Two seconds later, the massive doors ground open, and standing on the other side was a young man, clothed in red with fiery hair to match. He was looking at the ground in front of him very intently, but when Henry and Edward attempted to draw closer, his head snapped up. That was when his eyes became apparent, for they were not normal human eyes, but holes into darkness.
"My master," the boy hissed, "Bids thee welcome. I am your doom."
The boy clenched both arms, and fire appeared, dancing over his skin, but not consuming him.
Edward and Henry looked at each other. And, in unison, they assessed the situation.
"Not good."
-----
Blaze raged against the intruder in his mind again. "You can't make me do this! No! NO!"
The creature laughed. I made you for this purpose, Blaze, and you will fulfill it! I will have you fight them until you or they die. Rest assured, even if you win, you will die anyway, by my command! Enjoy your last few moments of life, for only now shall I unlock your TRUE potential!
Inside his mind, the last scrap of his free will and identity that was left of him became a puppet, and the creature that had taken it over had become the sadistic puppet master. And all the while, the creature laughed and laughed.
-----
Edward and Henry had enacted plan C, which was now being creatively labeled. The action, however, remained the same: RUN AWAY.
It didn't help that they were being followed by a sentient firestorm intent on their destruction and capable of reading heat-patterns.
"We've got to do something! He's too fast to run away from, even for us!" Edward's only advantage were his wings and caffeine high, and both were capable of fading.
Henry had his inhuman strength and speed, but even he recognized the futility of the situation. "Like what? What could we possibly do?"
Edward attempted to shrug his shoulders and nearly tripped. "I dunno, let's split up and see if he chooses one of us over the other. Maybe the person he doesn't go for can sneak up behind him and try to catch him off-guard? If that happens, I've got a few tricks I can pull that might snap him out of it!"
"Snap him out of what? What are you blathering on about?" Henry was, at the very least, confused.
"Didn't you see his eyes? They were black, which, I think you'll agree, is not normal for humans. It is normal for possessed people to have differently colored eyes, since 'eyes are the window to the soul'. I've normally only dealt with red eyes before, but hopefully black ones indicate a weaker demon than I'm used to."
The two fleeing angelic entities were coming up on an intersection.
"Okay, fine kid, you've got a point. I'll go right, you go left. Hopefully he can't come after both of us at the same time. With my luck, it's a very real possibility."
The two angelic entities split up, and Blaze was forced to stop and look down both hallways. Down one, he sensed the same life-sign he'd been tracking, whereas down the other...nothing.
And so, Blaze went running after Edward, an avalanche of flames following closely behind.
Henry looked behind him at the receding firestorm. "Well, I guess that means I better sneak up behind the bugger and surprise him so the kid can do his thing."
-----
In Blaze's mind, the little puppet that symbolized all that was left of him smiled. "Hah! I knew it! You were tricked!"
Impossible, child. I used your abilities to find them, and I shall use your abilities to END them.
"You forgot, I can read heat signatures, but that only applies to things that are alive."
The being that had taken Blaze's mind was befuddled for a moment. But...then that would mean...
"I clearly saw two beings in the hallway, and I clearly saw them split up. Maybe you should take better inventory, huh?"
The thing controlling Blaze let out a howl, and all was black again.
-----
Edward kept running. Hopefully he would be able to find a big enough room, or one with something in it for him to hide behind. This firestorm couldn't follow him forever!
Edward ran into a room with huge tanks of green fluid. Hopefully this would make a good place to hide from the inferno-causing kid, and maybe he'd be able to perform the exorcism without backup. It was unlikely, but he should at least read the rites, in case help wasn't coming.
Edward peeked out from behind one of the tanks and saw the flames enter the room, carrying the boy with them. Slowly, they died out, and the boy cast his gaze around. Even as those eyes fell on him, Edward shuddered, for it felt like they had pierced his very soul. Edward began reciting the rites of exorcism, all the while wondering where Henry was.
"I know you're in here. I'm just looking for your friend. Don't get any illusions that I could be caught unawares by anything you could do. Your friend is another matter. Apparently, I can't track the dead, but when I find him, I will burn him to ash."
At that point in time, Blaze got clonked upside the head with the flat of Henry's sword. The fire-wielding kid turned around to face the hybrid, and growled. It was at that time that Edward jumped out from behind the tanks of green fluid and cast his exorcism at the fired-up youth.
Edward did NOT expect the result of his spell to drag him into the young one's mind. Usually, the demon was just cast out, and the person was whole again, and afterwards, there was much rejoicing. More difficult ones made him physically exhausted. To be able to drag him in meant that he was fighting a very powerful demon.
And what's worse, I'm not prepared for it!
-----
Suddenly, within Blaze's mind, there was a light to pierce the darkness. It seemed to stem from a new person, one with wings. Blaze tried to move closer to whoever it was, but found himself incapable. So he'd have to resort to talking to get this person's attention.
"Whoever you are, help me! I can't control myself anymore! I'm just this thing's puppet!"
Edward groaned and got up, looking about for the voice. There, at the edge of his vision, was a puppet very much resembling the boy he was fighting. Whoever or whatever had possessed this boy had almost completely subjugated him to its will. It was therefor his duty to save this boy and cast out the evil spirit.
As Edward drew closer to the boy, he noticed some of the puppet-like traits vanishing. His joints reappeared, and he wasn't as wooden or stiff. Finally, the strings burst into flame, dropping a human boy to the ground. Edward was pleased with his work for a moment.
Then he heard something above him shift and growl. Edward looked up. He did not like what he saw.
Somewhere between the ceiling and the floor was a magus in blue robes. He was holding the other end of the strings that had been attached to the young man. However, that was not what troubled Edward.
What troubled him was that the ceiling was made of darkness, and in the darkness were two eyes and a mouth. And protruding from the darkness were long, thin strands of more blackness. And they were attached to the magus in much the same way the strings had been attached to the boy.
Who's controlling who? Edward thought. And then the magus spoke.
"I made the both of you, I can control you or unmake you at my will! YOU WILL OBEY!" The magus reached down one hand to pick up the boy, only to be blocked by the light Edward radiated.
"Even if you created me, you do not control me. I am my own person, by the truths I have found and by my faith in God, and I tell you now to leave this child alone! BEGONE, DEMONS!"
The light pulsed and expanded rapidly, forcing the darkness and the magus to leave the mind of the fire-hurling youth. Edward knelt by the young boy and tried to wake him up. With a few slaps and assorted groaning, the youth sat up and looked at Edward.
"You saved me?" Blaze was, at the very least, stunned.
"Yes, but from now on, you'll have to save yourself."
"I can't. He's too powerful. He has a gateway here at any time."
"No, he doesn't!" Edward grabbed the young man's head. "No man has the freedom to enter your head without your approval. You let him in, unknowingly. You can keep him out. Whenever he tried to take control, just repeat this simple truth: I am my own person. I am me. No matter who or what I sprung from, it does not control me. Keep on that tack, and he'll be forced out every time."
Blaze smiled, and then everything faded out.
-----
Edward groaned and woke up, seeing that Henry was sitting nearby. "Did it work?"
Henry nearly jumped out of his skin when Edward spoke, but quickly calmed down. "Yes, it worked. He fell unconscious, and I dragged both of your sorry behinds to a nearby break room. After a few minutes, the darkness left his eyes, but other than that, he's still been asleep, doing not much of anything."
Edward groaned and sat up. "Well, he just had a demon or some such exorcised from him, give him time to recover!"
"I have."
This time, BOTH angelic beings jumped as they watched the young man sit up. He turned to the two of them and smiled.
"My name is Blaze, and the person at the bottom of this place holds my brother hostage. If I could join you and put an end to him, I would be greatly honored."
The two angels looked at each other, then at Blaze, then back at each other again. Finally, each one stuck a hand on one of his shoulders, and announced their verdict together.
"Deal."
----------
The following is Henry Chatfield's series of events:
Just a little more!
Even whilst running at a flat out pace, Henry was finding it hard to shake off Edward’s pursuit. Not that it was his plan to shake him off in the first place, but it would’ve been nice if there was a brief respite from the constant barrage of holiness.
By his reckoning, and from what he remembered of the crude map he’d seen at the dock, Henry figured that he should be very close to the Asylum. Clearings in the forest were now getting larger and more comfortable (less branches and roots), and even as he was running he passed through a space which, with a fire, might even prove hospitable. Now would be a good time to rest up before entering the depths of the gloomy building.
That is, if there wasn’t a crazy angel following him!
Edward was hot on Henry’s heels, his wings more than making up for the difference in athletic prowess. Projectiles of a holy and powerful nature flew from his outstretched palms, but Henry managed to dodge these and continue on his way. If Edward wasn’t in a caffeine-induced craze, then he probably would’ve been irritated.
Abandoning attempts at trying to hurt his hybrid opponent at a distance, Edward put on a burst on speed to close the gap between them. He succeeded in doing so, and crashed into Henry’s back, forcing the both of them into a scrap on the ground, Edward on top and Henry on the bottom.
Edward threw a punch laden with holy power, which Henry barely caught. The attack from the angel was then replied with a savage kick aimed at his side, which Edward batted aside with his other arm. The brawl continued with similar movements, as well as many underhanded attacks from both sides which also failed to reach their targets.
By a stroke of luck, Henry’s foot ended up in front of Edward’s chest in all the commotion, and with a vicious thrust of his leg he propelled the insane boy into the air and away from him.
Before Henry could feel relieved, however, a ball of fire flew through the place where the angel had previously occupied, and landed a ways away from the vampire on the ground.
Henry gulped. Edward, now hovering with his wings quite high in the air, looked around for the source of the flames.
He didn’t have to look for long, as the source of the fireball walked out calmly into view. Their assailant was young man, wearing a bright red jacket with an equally red shirt underneath. His trousers too were red, but appear to be worse for wear; dust and all manner of untidy things clung to them, presumably originating from the depths of the Asylum. Many compressed fireballs floated around him, both threatening and yet strangely, disconcertingly peaceful.
Just as calmly as he had revealed himself, he proceeded to fire two more balls of flame out, one upwards to Edward, and one to where Henry lay on ground.
Both dodged; Edward threw himself to the side with a flick of his wings, and turned towards the newcomer in a dive; meanwhile Henry rolled to his right and flipped back up, pushing against the ground with his arm, whilst drawing his sword in the same fluid action.
The flame-wielder focused his attack on the rapidly approaching Edward, and threw ball after ball of fire at the Child Angel. Balls of compressed holy energy were fired in retaliation, and soon the area was alight with flames and auroras of energy.
Henry took advantage of the new enemy’s diverted attention, and dashed in, intending to turn the tables with close-quarters combat. He got up close enough seemingly without being noticed, and swung in a wide horizontal arc.
To his shock, the assailant ducked under his sword. That face, now turned to face him, still held that same expression of apparent tranquility, but his eyes, that Henry saw properly for the first time, were pitch black, filled with years of cunning and malice.
A hand aimed at him by the stranger before Henry could even finish his swing, and a ball of flickering flames shot out and exploded, throwing him a fair distance away. He lay sprawled on the ground.
In the few seconds that it took for the battle, if the one-sided clash deserved such a title, Edward had been gathering almost all his holy power in front of him. The result was a much larger orb of crackling energy, which shone with an intense light.
By the time it was noticed, Edward had already launched it. The great orb almost seemed to warp the air around it with its furious energy. It sped towards their opponent, forcing him onto his knees with immense pressure.
With the same nonchalance as before, he dealt with the incoming projectile the only way he could: by meeting it with his own fireballs.
Every spark floating around him suddenly ignited into brilliant, flickering balls of flame. They were sent simultaneously onto a crash course with the crackling sphere of holy energy, morphing into a giant inferno when they met on their intersecting paths.
The two conflicting forces met and seemed as if to stop for a moment, their energies pushing at each other’s forms. No more than a few seconds could have passed during the short contest of power, but it seemed to last forever.
Then, abruptly, the balance between the two collapsed, and the inferno dissipated before the might of the holy powers. Now freed from its struggle with the conflagration, the shining orb, although somewhat diminished continued on its intended path towards the flame-wielder.
Thoroughly unfazed by the defeat of his mighty attack, he instead began to aim and throw more fireballs at the threat. One after another they took to the air, much inferior to the blazing inferno before, but still fearsome to behold if one were a normal human.
It was in vain, however; the sphere of energy was not to be stopped. Its glowing form reached Edward’s adversary and exploded in a storm of outwardly-expanding forces, blowing its target into a nearby tree.
Both his legs had been blasted clean off in the explosion, and now his lifeblood leaked profusely from the two stumps that remained. What was left of his clothes now covered his wounded body in rags.
Silently, slowly, Edward moved in for the kill. He loomed over the fallen opponent, raised his arm to deliver the final blow…
… And fell over backwards, unconscious.
Even at the brink of death, something drove the now-legless pyromancer to continue what he started. Something forced him, even in his pitiful situation, to lift his arm, to snap his fingers to ignite a spark.
Something was driving him to kill.
The fire crackled weakly on his palm. It flickered, almost died out, but slowly began to grow in strength. The last of the dying man’s life energy, imbued into the flames… to snuff out Edward’s own life…
The ball of fire was aimed. Unconscious and powerless as he was, Edward would not be able to dodge or withstand this attack.
A booted foot was brought down, stomping on the flame-wielder’s wrist with an audible crack, and causing the flames to burn out with a whoosh.
Henry’s face showed only pity as he lifted his good arm (His other one was injured by the fireball), his sword held in hand.
He brought his arm down.
The first human he’d killed. It was exactly the same as the first time he’d killed a vampire; nauseating and sad. No matter what the race, if you could help it, you should never kill.
This time was one of the few times he couldn’t help it.
A groan behind him notified him to the awakening of the coffee-addict.
“Uh… Where am-” Edward noticed Henry, but didn’t seem terribly concerned, “Oh, right, it’s you.”
“You…” Henry gasped as his wounds hindered his breathing, “…you don’t seem terribly… affected to see a person you were just trying to kill.”
“I’m just surprised you’re not actually dead,” replied the Child Angel in a frustratingly calm voice. He took a glance at something red he spotted behind the swordsman, and stuck out his tongue in disgust.
“Ewwwww! Did you do that?”
“You took off the legs… but yes,” Henry replied, head down, perhaps in shame, “I killed him.”
“Awkward.”
After a brief silence, Henry continued the conversation.
“Anyway… as I was saying before you started trying to murder me,” this remark was accompanied by a vehement glare which was ignored by Edward, “We should team up, to fight whatever’s down there.”
“I don’t know,” said Edward, dubiously, “you look like a bit of a useless ally at the moment. You know, wounded to the point of being trash and all.”
“Why you little… I wouldn’t be like this if not for you! I even saved your life while you were unconscious, you ungrateful brat!”
“Besides,” continued Edward, who completely ignored Henry, “Are you sure you want me to come with you? I’m out of coffee, you know.”
Henry helped Edward get back up. “I’m sure there’ll be some at the Asylum.”
The vampiric angel reached out a hand towards his former angelic opponent.
“Partners?”
Edward looked at the outstretched arm. He grinned.
“Partners.”
-----
So does Blaze live to challenge what lurks in the basement? Or does he get killed off? YOU DECIDE!
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
Last edited by Idea master on Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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erm...
poll?
EDIT: nvr mind.
I think i somehow managed to access teh page after the fight but before the poll was put up.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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It DOES take time to put the poll up.
It just means you were lightning-fast!
That, or the stars have aligned. If it's the latter, then I'm going to need to get my demon-summoning components ready.
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...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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Now THAT was very unexpected. A team of three?
It seems IM made a mistake when he was creating Edward... Does that small scene in Blaze's mind, incidentally, mean IM < Edward?
If the three of them team up, they're sure to win!...
Right...?
Well, I think I'll put off voting for either of them until I've made sure it isn't IM's evil scheme!
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
Last edited by The Meaning Of Fear on Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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i believe IM controls both Blaze and Edward.
I may be wrong about that tho.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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Well, my vote won't make much of a difference anymore, will it?
Good luck to Aeger and Liane during their fight with IM and the Big Bad, whenever that may be!
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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if Aeger and Liane theoretically defeat Big Bad, would they have to fight this team of three next?
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Idea master
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| Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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That is the way it would work, yes.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:34 am Post subject: |
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Apologies.
I've fallen out of the realm of sanity.
Next chapter up by Tuesday, sanity permitting.
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Idea master
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| Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, it's late, but at least it is HERE, finally. Oh, and before I forget: Blaze, Edward, and Henry will all team up to fight the survivor of this match, whoever it turns out to be.
Round 5, fight 2. IM and the Big Bad VS. Liane and Aeger. Liane and Aeger's series of events are as follows:
The rain fell upon the dark night, pounding the dirt below to a muddy pulp. Liane stumbled blindly through the darkness, dragging the prone body of Aeger along with her. She headed towards the bright lights in the Asylum, constantly slipping in invisible mud puddles and nearly bent over with the weight of Aeger on her back.
Why are we lugging this lump around? Ria muttered. I still don’t see why we don’t just slit his throat, grab his crystal and leave.
Aye. That’s what he would have done, Karakel added.
Perhaps you didn’t notice, Liane replied sharply. He could have very well done so, but he didn’t.
Her sisters were silent. Liane continued walking, occasionally stopping to pull Aeger up to a more comfortable position.
Old stumpy needs to lose a few pounds, Karakel grumbled during one of these stops. She brightened. Maybe if we cut off his other hand, he’d be a bit lighter-
That’s not funny, Liane said sternly.
Yes it is, Ria replied, grinning.
What we need to do, Neve said, barely stifling a giggle, is wake him up.
Liane glanced around wearily, trying to decipher her surroundings from the vague shadows. A flash of lighting- and she saw what she needed. Injured leg trembling violently under the weight, she stumbled over to the left of the Asylum’s walls. With a gigantic heave, she threw Aeger off of her back- and directly into the barrel placed at the bottom of the drainpipe to collect rainwater.
~~~
A cold shock woke Aeger from his blood loss-induced slumber. He was very very wet.
And cold. And let’s not forget wet.
He was upside-down, his senses told him, but it was completely dark. Looking up, or down, as it seemed to him, revealed a glimmer towards the top of the body of water he rested in. His hand scrabbled for the top of the barrel, but his strength fled as he grasped the rim, and he was unable to pull himself up.
Aeger felt his lungs start to burn as his breath began to run out.
He needed energy, but he was stuck in this construct of dead wood and metal.
He reached up, now with his mind, found the winds he had rode earlier, and pulled, a desperate struggle for a last chance.
The lightnings in the sky flickered and leaped, striking the metal drainpipe above the water barrel and dancing down its length, to collide with the metal and water of the barrel, causing the water to evaporate and the barrel to literally explode apart.
Aeger lay on the singed ground, coughing like a fish out of water, his clothes dried instantly from the heat of the strike
“Was that really necessary?” A cold voice asked.
Brown eyes stared icily out of the woman who had dragged him over here. Her cape was singed by the lightning, and her stance was like that of a cat after an unexpected bath.
Aeger stood, the excess energy from the electricity crackling along his skin before surging to his wounds, healing them. Not all the way though. It would take a lot more energy for that.
He caught the Spider’s eyes and shrugged expressively.
Sixty years without speaking lends itself to a rather expressive shrug.
~~~~
Ria narrowed her brown eyes, glaring at Aeger. “I did ask you a question. It is polite to answer.”
Aeger just matched her stare.
Why doesn’t he just speak? Karakel asked, angrily. The silence is getting really annoying.
Liane took control again, eyes shifting to purple. Shush- and be nice.
“Are you alright?” she shouted over the pounding rain, just barely managing to stand up straight.
Aeger shrugged again, then nodded.
“Good. Then let’s get inside.”
Liane turned around and walked over to the stairs, not even bothering to look and see if Aeger was following her. She stomped up the stairs and opened the heavy door. A wave of light, heat and sterilness immediately enveloped her as she stepped inside, followed closely by Aeger.
By Marayna… she whispered, awe struck.
The whiteness and cleanness of the walls and floors immediately made her feel self-conscious, with her soaking, mud and blood-splattered armor.
A female voice sounded behind her. “Excuse me, but are you competitors?”
Liane whirled around, hand reaching for her sword. There, in front of her, stood a nurse dressed in a very tight and very white dress. Liane dropped her hand and nodded. “Aye, that we are.”
The nurse looked at Aeger, who was not quite as wet as Liane was. He also nodded.
“Then follow me please,” she said with a sweet smile. There seemed to be a kind of darkness behind that smile… Liane shook her head. Nerves are really shot tonight…
Neve grinned apologetically. Aye- sorry about that. She had been the one that had managed to get them out of the way of the lightening just in time- and who had also completely flooded their body with adrenaline.
The nurse led the pair through the maze of hallways, twisting and turning, until they came to a white door that was just like all the others, except for the small golden cross at the top. She opened the door and motioned the two into a room with actual color- a wooden table, and two cots on each side of the room.
“In here you will find everything you need to refresh until tomorrow,” the nurse continued in her bright voice. “There is going to be an awards ceremony for the two of you tomorrow, downstairs.” She turned to leave, then paused and turned back around. “In that decanter-“ she gestured to the black flask on the table- “-is something that may help you keep up your spirits.”
She gave that smile again, and Liane could have sworn it looked like a skull’s smile- then shut the door. Liane could hear her footsteps as she walked away, fading and fading away until there was silence. She turned to face Aeger, who was staring at her. She matched his gaze.
What does he want? Liane asked after a minute or two, starting to get creeped out by the staring.
Talking, perhaps, Neve replied. Say something.
Say something? Like what?
Silence.
Liane sighed. Unsure of what else to do, she stuck her hand out. “I don’t believe we’ve ever formally met, but I’m Liane.”
Aeger raised his eyebrows, but grasped her hand with his and shook it.
Our turns! Neve said happily.
Wait- no! Liane protested- but she could already feel her eyes turning green as she lost control of her sisters.
One by one they introduced themselves- Neve in her warm, quiet voice, Ria in her cold and icy one, and Karakel in her deep and throaty tones. Aeger seemed rather calm as they all introduced themselves, but the small glint of surprise in his eyes showed that he hadn’t expected them to be so… individual.
At least he didn’t run away screaming like the others did, Liane muttered, slightly embarrassed by her sisters. She regained control, only to find Aeger looking at her with a question in his eyes.
“They’re my sisters,” she said shortly.
~~~
Aeger looked at Liane, raising an eyebrow. Liane just shrugged and unclasped the hook fastening her cape around her neck. Aeger turned to the table, picking up the decanter and giving it a sniff, hoping for alcohol. It had been a rough twenty days.
He didn’t smell anything, but he gave a mental shrug and searched for something to pour it into.
Aeger couldn’t find anything, so he gestured with a snowflake-patterned hand, a delicate goblet of ice as clear as the finest glass forming in his hand.
He poured out a gold liquid from the bottle, which, when settled, bubbled slowly. The bubbles, strangely enough, were red.
Liane looked at the glass and raised an eyebrow, as if to ask if he really was going to drink that.
He shrugged and raised the goblet to his lips.
The potion tasted like liquid fire, except that it didn’t burn. As it traveled through his body, it simply warmed, sending energy into tired cells that felt burned out and worn. He could feel the tissues of his injury start to knit back together, and could almost feel the leftover water steaming off him.
He blinked, surprised, and lowered the goblet, feeling, as it lowered, almost gray as the stream of liquid fire ceased. Still, he felt better than he had in a long time.
“Any good?”
Liane must have caught his surprised features, for she began to look for a cup.
Aeger put his goblet down on the table, and created another, placing it in front of her before handing her the carafe.
She poured some of the golden liquid, then drank. Her surprised gasp told Aeger she enjoyed it as much as he had.
A slight smile appeared on his face as he reached for an apple from the fruit bowl beside his glass.
He bit into it, flopping backwards onto his bed as he did so. He was so tired he almost didn’t remember to put down the apple before sleep claimed him.
~~~~~
Liane blinked. The strange liquid had spread a healing warmth through her body, knitting her leg wound back together and quelling her jittery nerves, leaving a feeling of temporary peace. She placed the goblet back on the table and grabbed a blood-orange, sitting back onto her cot and peeling it slowly.
Looks like old stumpy was tired, Karakel said with a grin.
Liane glanced up to see Aeger fast asleep on his cot, still clutching an apple in his hand. Aren’t we all? She wanted nothing more then to just lean back and close her eyes.
Yes, but we do need to eat, Neve gently reminded her.
With a sigh, Liane popped a half of the orange into her mouth, almost to tired to chew. She placed the rest of the orange on the table. None of her sisters protested. She leaned back and closed her eyes- and within seconds, she was asleep.
~~~~~~
Aeger woke, uncomfortably aware of the lack of sunlight. He was used to sleeping outdoors. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, noticing as he did that he still had the apple clutched in hand.
He smiled, and bit into it.
He saw Liane still sleeping peacefully, armor arranged neatly beside her bed. He walked towards the door of the room, stretching as he did.
He finished the apple as he closed the door behind him, looked for somewhere to throw it away.
He didn’t see anywhere, so he decided to plant it. He was heading outside for a morning stroll anyways, and it wouldn’t take long.
Plus, he had destroyed several trees last night, and he was starting to feel guilty now that the fight was over.
Aeger walked along the corridors, retracing their path last night. He took several wrong turns, as he had been tired and not thinking completely clearly.
The corridors were curiously deserted.
On the way out, Aeger stumbled along a corner that looked familiar. He wondered why, then noticed a speck of ash on the ground.
This was where he had faced Mikael.
Aeger frowned.
He hadn’t passed this placed last night.
He continued to wander, looking for the outer doors.
~~~~~
Liane woke with a start.
Wow… she thought, staring at the ceiling. I don’t even remember falling asleep.
Aye, Ria said with a yawn. We were all really tired. It’s been a taxing twenty days.
She sat up and looked around the room. Aeger’s cot was empty. She stood up and grabbed the rest of the orange, finishing it as she strapped her armor back on. Done, Liane straightened back up.
Where’d he go? She thought, starting to get a bit worried.
Maybe he left. Ria said.
Good riddance, Karakel added. Stumpy’d just slow us down.
Will you stop calling him Stumpy? Liane said, frustrated. His name is Aeger.
No. She answered, a wide grin in her voice. It suits him.
Liane threw her arms up in exasperation. Fine. Just don’t let him hear that- we can’t afford to loose his help. She walked over to the door, thinking. Maybe we should go look for him.
Why? Karakel snorted. If he left, then that’s all good for him.
Yes, but we owe him our crystal.
WHAT? Ria shrieked.
“Ahh!” Liane fell to her knees, clutching her head in pain as Ria started on a very loud, very indignant rant about how they deserved the crystal, and Stumpy had absolutely no right to it.
When Ria was finally silent, leaving Liane feeling rather rattled, she stood back up and opened the door, checking to make sure she had all her weapons. Satisfied, she began walking down the hallways in search for Aeger, explaining her reasons to all her sisters.
As she tried to find her way through the maze of rooms, she suddenly noticed that they were completely deserted.
Where is everyone? She said, confused. Last night, there had been doctors swarming the place…
I’m getting a rather bad feeling about this place, Neve murmured.
Aye… Let’s find Stumpy- Karakel stopped, then sighed. -AEGER, and get out of here.
Liane began running through the rooms, looking around for a familiar hallway, but everything was white and identical to the room before it. Turning a corner, she skidded to a halt. Aeger was walking towards the big doors apple core in hand.
“Wait!” Liane called, running towards him and fumbling for her crystal.
Aeger turned, surprised.
Crystal in hand, Liane stopped directly in front of Aeger and held the crystal out. “I forgot to give this to you last night.”
He looked at the crystal, then looked at her.
“You won,” she said, motioning for him to take the crystal.
Aeger blinked, then raised an eyebrow, as if saying “Who ended up carrying who?”
Liane sighed. “Just take it.”
Aeger hesitated, then reached out tentatively and took the crystal in between two fingers, shuffling the apple core away as he brought it to his neck pouch.
Hold on, Ria said suddenly. I want to say something to this guy.
Unsure of what she wanted, Liane hesitated before giving her strangely angry sister control.
Eyes a cold, muddy, yet clear brown, Ria locked eyes with Aeger. "Normally I wouldn't stoop to threatening anyone, let alone a cripple, but I REALLY want that cash. So if you walk out, I WILL hunt you down and cut off your other hand. Got it?"
~~~~~~
Aeger took a step back, a bit surprised. He had expected Karakel to be the threatener.
Brown eyes brightened to purple, and Liane groaned. “Sorry about that. My sisters can be somewhat… willful.”
Aeger smiled to show he wasn’t angry.
He turned, twirling the apple core between his fingers to free his thumb and reached for the handle.
It didn’t turn.
He frowned, and tried again.
Why were they locked in?
He rattled the doorknob, then gave up.
“It’s locked?
He nodded, stepped away from the door.
Liane frowned and tried the doorknob. As she rattled it, her eyes gradually faded to silver, and she grunted frustratedly. She stopped, violently, a snarl on her face.
“Why would they locked the doors?” she growled. “We’re caught like rats in a trap. Where’s that nurse?”
She paced angrily, calming slowly. As she calmed down, her eyes returned to purple.
Liane turned to Aeger, took a deep breath. “Did you see anyone on your way here?”
Aeger shook his head.
“Damn. I didn’t either. Well they talked about an awards ceremony right? So I guess we should head down. We can ask someone down there.”
Aeger nodded and stood up. He looked around for something to do with the apple core. He finally shrugged, catching Liane’s impatient glances, and incinerated the core.
They walked down the staircase, Aeger leading, as it spiraled, or would have, if it had not had so many sharp turns. As they got deeper, the light changed, the antiseptic fluorescent lights of the upper floors replaced by flickering torchlight.
As they arrived at the end of the stairway, Aeger caught a faint noise, a labored gasping, then a shattering of glass.
He explored ahead cautiously, following the noise.
He arrived at a door, checked the handle. It was unlocked.
He opened it slowly, and behind him he heard Liane gasp.
~~~~~
Liane shuddered with revulsion. The room was full with the bodies of nurses and doctors- or things that had once been doctors and nurses. They were all… old. Ancient. Their eyes were sunken back into their sockets, their hair had fallen out, and Liane could barely discern the face from the shriveled and wrinkled skin. It almost seemed as if something had sucked all the life- and moisture- out of their desiccated bodies.
Aeger stepped inside the room, seemingly looking for something. Liane followed him, and nudged one of the bodies with her toe. It crumbled into fine dust at her touch, floating up into the air and making her cough. She looked out of watering eyes to see Aeger motioning frantically for her to come over. Still coughing, she walked through the cloud of dust, careful not to touch any more of the poor bodies.
He was kneeling in front of what had once been a doctor- but this one’s chest was moving. Liane knelt down as well, unsure of what to do. The man’s eyes were open, staring at nothing, but staring intently. He was mumbling- lips barely moving and a mere low drone was the only thing coming out from between his lips. Aeger gently lifted the man’s head.
The doctor gasped, then began mumbling audibly, seemingly unaware of Liane and Aeger. “What have I done. We shouldn't have continued- He told me. Over and over. But I thought it would be different. He told me not but I didn’t listen. Now it doesn't matter what I thought it’s too late what have I done….”
As he mumbled, Liane could almost see years add themselves to his face as he became more and more wrinkled, more and more… old.
What do we do? She asked, nearly panicking.
We can’t really do anything, Ria said coolly. He’s dying from an unknown source. It’s leaching the life from him bit by bit.
Unknown…
Liane reached out and gripped one of the man’s arms. “What happened?” she asked him, praying he still retained at least some semblance of conscious thought. “Where?”
The man blinked, then seemed to focus on her. “Down darkness cold no sun no light below-“ his voice faded away until it was merely a whisper. Then his eyes burned with a sudden brightness, and he collapsed, crumbling into dust like the others.
Liane bowed her head, then stood up, hastily wiping a tear away.
…You’re crying? Karakel said, stunned. A bit of a wimp, are we?
Shut up! Liane yelled, working to keep her tears at bay. It wasn’t fair that an innocent just had to die…
Aye, but judging from what he said earlier, Ria added, reading her thoughts, he wasn’t all that innocent.
Liane took a deep, calming breath before looking at Aeger, who also had his head bowed. “He said down and darkness,” she said, voice steadying as she continued. “He could have meant underground.”
Aeger thought for a second, then nodded. He began walking to the door, stepping over the bodies as he did so. Liane remained in the middle of the room, looking at the dust. She glanced up to see Aeger motion towards the door. With a sigh, she quickly wiped her eyes again, then began walking towards him and down the hall.
~~~~~
Aeger tried something new.
Whatever was going on, there were now more opponents to fight. It was lucky they had drank the healing potion before.
His mind rode upon the air, like he had done before with the storm, except this was much harder. There was no breeze to ride down in the depths, and he was enclosed. Still, his mind forced its way through the stagnant air of the lower levels, searching for a way to go even lower.
He found it.
He nodded, and began walking towards the door, stepping over bodies as he did. He glanced back towards Liane, standing in the middle of the room. Her eyes were curiously bright in the flickering torchlight. He gestured towards the door, and, once she started to follow, followed the route he had found down.
They walked until they found another set of stairs, steeper now, and not as polished as the last. These were made of rough stone, and dust covered their surface.
Here and there Aeger could see the remains of footprints. They walked down, until the came to a door. There was conversation behind it, but the door was thick enough that it muffled their voices. Still, Aeger recognized one of them. Idea Master. The man who had started this whole thing in the first place.
Also, from the sudden sinister laughter that floated from behind the thick door, the killer of all those people.
The door slid open suddenly, and the Idea Master turned towards them.
“Ah yes. You. You two are two of the last competitors for this contest. Congratulations on surviving thus far. Now if you’ll just hand me your crystals, I’ll be giving you your reward.”
Something was different. There was a different note in Idea Master’s voice, a menacing quality that contrasted his appearance of a kindly man.
A movement off to the side caught Aeger’s attention. A… thing perched atop a orb of swirling blue. It seemed made of darkness, the boundaries of its being shifting constantly. The only things that remained constant were two eyes of a black that made the darkness look like the blinding light of noon and a mouth of grinning white teeth.
“You get the demon, I’ll take IM!” Liane shouted, purple eyes shining with determination.
Demon? You really believe I am JUST a demon? The black creature slithered from its perch, coming to rest in front of the two competitors. It seemed to grow darker, as if gaining strength from the darkness around it.
I am no petty demon.
I am the darkness that bumps in the nights.
I am the monster lurking under the bed.
I am the voice that, as you stand on the heights,
Whispers “Jump” inside your empty head.
I am the wolf that lies in all sheep,
The murderer in every man, buried down deep.
I am the Big Bad Wolf.
The thing cracked a smile with bright white teeth, laughing.
His eyes stared into those of the two competitors, growing bigger and deeper every second.
~~~~
When the thing dropped in front of the two, Liane quickly drew her sword and dropped into a defensive position. She looked up, ready to defend against any attacks that it would throw at her- then froze. Those eyes were like holes, leading to nothing but darkness and fear. As she looked at them, they seemed to… pull her in, away from her sisters, away from the fight, away from everything but blackness.
~~~~
Liane? Liane! Karakel yelled.
What just happened? Ria asked wildly.
She’s gone! Neve said, shocked. She’s just… gone…
This was different then anything they had felt before. When one of the four had fallen unconscious or slept, they were still there. Now there was just an empty hole where Liane had once been- an emptiness that all the sisters felt.
~~~~~~
The Wolf’s dark eyes expanded to fill the world. Aeger sank through dark depths, tumbling dreamily through vast expanses of unfilled night, until….
He was standing in a foggy place. It spread so thick he couldn’t even see the ground, but it extended only to waist level, allowing Aeger to see in every direction.
Aeger looked, and his eyes widened in shock.
There was no horizon.
Where the horizon should have been was simply a continuation, like a child’s drawing of the world. Totally flat, with no end.
He spun, looking for something real, an end to the vast expanse, but there was none.
An evil laugh echoed from nowhere, tinged with a beastlike growl.
Aeger looked up to see a face, with dark eyes like midnight pools.
It smiled, showing teeth the gleamed, and laughed again, a laugh that echoed in his bones and resonated in some hidden part of him, flipping some switch that told his knees to quiver and his stomach to drop.
Aeger snarled, ignored the signal, and called forth an orb of fire, flinging it up towards the dark creature that awaited him on the heights.
The bright fireball rose, higher and higher, but each foot it rose it shed a layer of fire, as if slowly consumed by the darkness that made up the sky. Layer upon layer of flame was peeled away, dissipating under the midnight stare of the creature. Finally, it became a kernel of light, which slowed its ascent before finally guttering out.
The creature spoke.
Do you REALLY believe that will do anything? This is MY realm, my sandbox. No matter what you do, I control the world. I can blow you out as easily as that poor attempt at a fireball.
As if to demonstrate, Aeger felt a twisting, and his view suddenly spun as he was extended and twirled like a rubber band.
An invisible hand released him, and he snapped back to normal, staggering back a pace.
His foot didn’t land.
The fog dropped away as he did, revealing the wall he had been standing atop.
He fell through the air, his hands and feet scrabbling along the side of the sheer face, as the voice boomed.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
And no horses, no soldiers, no magical men
Could find the way to put him together again.
Can you? Wait too long, and we’ll never find out!
Aeger hit the ground as the mist swirled away to show it, but instead of being smashed into a pulp, he…
Shattered.
It was a very strange sensation; each part of his body in a different place, sending weird mixed up signals. Instead of being separated piece by piece, or organ by organ, he had simply come apart, as if he had been hollow inside, as piece of himself settled to the ground like so many shattered eggshells.
The part of his brain that told him where everything was going haywire.
His eyes roved, sending mixed signals to a brain he couldn’t find as his left eye saw his right and a piece of his nose, and his right saw only the inside of his mouth.
The laugh echoed again, but this time his knees didn’t shake.
His left eye caught some movement in the distance, and his mouth tried to drop open as the endless vastness started to curve upwards, making… a sphere.
A giant taloned hand, dark as a desert at new moon, grasped the crystal ball, gave it a shake.
A hideous face, eyes black voids of nothingness, leered into the ball as eggshell-like fragments bounced and clattered.
A finger moved forward, like a worm, trying to find its fellows before time ran out.
~~~~~
Liane opened her eyes. Where was she…? She was sitting in the corner of a room with stone floor. It was dark and foggy… The wall she was staring at was made of bars.
She blinked. Was she in a prison?
The fog grew thicker, until she could barely see anything. She attempted to stand up, only to fall back down as her stomach seemed to explode in pain. She looked down to see a hand coming out from her stomach, pulling an entire body out with it. Stunned, Liane watched the person straighten and walk over to the wall with bars as another arm pushed its way out of her stomach. After a minute of pain and shock, three figures were lined up at the wall, facing her.
“How is it, finally being by your lonesome, useless self?” a voice taunted, strangely familiar and frightening.
At those words, the fog dissipated, and Liane could see all of the figures clearly. She gasped.
Standing in front of her were her sisters, how they were before the accident. Karakel, standing tall with long white blonde hair, eyes shining a silver that hungered for blood, long, black sword in hand. Ria, ebony hair cropped short, blue eyes glinting coldly, dagger catching and throwing the small light beams like an icicle. Neve, chestnut hair pulled back, bright green eyes distant and calm, bow dangling in her hand and quiver on her back. They were all looking at her with disdain, like a king looks to a pig wallowing in the mud.
Liane attempted to stand up, to move her arms, her hands, anything- but she couldn’t move.
Ria grinned. “So now you see how useless you really are.”
“Aye. We are the ones actually doing all the work,” Karakel said. “You are merely the shell.”
“After all,” Neve said quietly. “What on earth have you done that has been helpful?”
“You are nothing without us.”
Nothing… nothing without us…
The words echoed in Liane’s head, spinning, unburying old fears and memories. Nothing without us… how true. That was why the accident had happened, wasn’t it? Liane had nothing to show for herself, nothing to make her an individual, so her father decided to help by transferring some of her sisters’ powers to her. But then it had all gone wrong, hadn’t it. All of a sudden, they were gone, but they weren’t gone. They were there, panicking, scared, fear, confusion...
Liane looked at her sisters helplessly, unable to match the ferocity of their stares, unable to even move. It was true, she was helpless, useless. The three began walking away, towards the bars. Karakel swung her sword, and the bars were split in half like a twig. She kicked them over and stepped through the hole, followed by Ria and Neve. They turned around and looked at Liane one more time, and burst out into laughter at the pathetic sight before them.
“Let’s give her a fair chance to get out, shall we?” Karakel mocked.
Karakel stepped back inside and drove the sword into the stone wall directly next to Liane’s ear, cutting her slightly and drawing blood. Ria threw her icy dagger, impaling a lock of hair next to her other ear. Neve drew an arrow and concentrated until orange flames spurted from it. She shot it at Liane, hitting directly above her head. They all turned around as one, and walked away, leaving Liane in the cell alone, surrounded by her sisters’ weapons but unable to get out.
Liane closed her eyes, trying to rid her mind of that picture. Her sisters walking away. Silver, blue, and green eyes glinting with hate and disgust… Liane’s eyes snapped open. Wait. Blue eyes… Ria’s eyes were brown. She glanced up at the flames licking the arrow. Neve’s arrows were green. The sword next to her… was bloody. Karakel’s sword was never bloodstained.
So that meant…
It’s not real, Liane thought. It’s all not real…
I am not nothing.
She closed her eyes, drawing upon all the strength she had. Her hand- moved. Yes! She was in control again! With a great effort, Liane managed to push herself to her feet.
I am not useless.
Liane straightened, then staggered over to the bars.
I am Me.
She pulled herself through the hole, finding herself in a swirl of mist. She pushed her way through, heading towards a vague point of light. With a final effort, she finally reached it- and began falling again, back to her own mind.
As she fell, a dark voice, the same as the one that had caught her, shrieked. No!
Then- light.
~~~~
The sisters were in a panic, fighting over control. One of their flesh, blood and mind was gone without a trace, leaving nothing but a huge hole.
What do we do? Neve asked, worried. She quickly took control and looked around for Aeger. There- there he was. But he was standing still, not moving at all, his eyes empty.
I say we go directly for the demon, Karakel answered shortly, knocking Neve out of control and back to the sidelines.
Are you mad? Ria yelled, fighting for control. When are you going to realize that brute force doesn’t solve everything?
They all began hurling insults at each other, each attempting to take control of Liane’s body. As they wrestled for authority, they accidentally sent the body stumbling away from the demon and around the room, eyes green, then silver, then brown, back to silver, arm twitching towards the sword at her side, then the dagger, then to the quiver on her back.
We’ve fought our way out of stuff like this before! Karakel snapped. Why can’t we now?
We need Liane, Neve realized. She’s the one who keeps us balanced, in control. Sure of ourselves.
Without her, we’re…
Useless.
~~~~~
Liane felt a sudden resettlement into a comfortable, perfectly shaped space. Noise barraged her mind, but it was a reassuring feeling, letting her know she was back where she belonged. Then- a short silence.
Wait- she’s back! Neve cried.
Liane! Ria exclaimed, normally cold and calm voice quivering with emotion.
Don’t you ever do that again, Karakel said in low tones.
Back in control, Liane smiled. Ever the same. Yes, I’m back, she said quietly. Is everyone alright?
Neve broke in. We are, but I don’t think Aeger is.
Liane opened her eyes, reluctant to take in the scene surrounding her. Aeger? Where is he?
Then she spotted him. He almost seemed to be under some sort of spell. He was standing rigid, blank eyes reflecting nothing. The demon was standing directly in front of him, chucking darkly to itself. Suddenly Aeger’s body twitched, and he collapsed. Seemingly satisfied with whatever mental damage it had inflicted upon Aeger, the demon reached out a dark, shapeless tentacle, muttering to itself.
It’s here somewhere- I can taste the aura. Where is it? It seemed to have completely forgotten about Liane.
Liane drew her sword silently. Karakel? She asked.
Aye. Karakel took control, and Liane felt her eyes fade to a shining silver.
Whatever you do, Liane warned quickly. Don’t look into its eyes.
There will be no need to, Karakel answered, licking her lips.
She leapt forwards, sword slicing through the mound of darkness. As soon as the blade touched the mass, the creature recoiled, screaming, body flowing like liquid away from the blade. Taking this as an advantage, Karakel began attacking viciously, the dark blade slicing and glistening thirstily in the light. The dark creature dodged every attack, flowing around the sword and making it impossible to hit.
Then suddenly- the dark mass attacked. It ducked around behind her and struck- Karakel whirling around and blocking just in time. Dark tendrils attacking, the dark blade barely managing to keep the reaching arms at bay. And then- Karakel missed a parry. The demon smacked her wrist, forcing her to let go of the sword, sending it flying across the room. She fell over backwards, the mass towering over her, reaching an arm out to envelop them entirely.
The thing laughed, a deep, dark, rolling sound that sent shivers down the sisters’ spine- a laugh that was suddenly choked off with another piercing scream. A dark blade, shining with bloodlust, protruded from the creature’s midriff. Still screaming, the creature began collapsing in on itself, getting smaller and smaller, darker and darker-
What is it doing? Liane asked, confused.
It’s being sucked into the sword- Karakel breathed, slightly shocked. It must be made entirely of… souls.
With a final shriek, the creature completely disappeared, leaving a shadow holding the sword shining with a newfound, deeper darkness. The person behind the sword stepped into the light, throwing the sword at Liane’s feet.
“Pity,” Idea Master said with a sigh. “I was truly hoping you’d kill it for me.”
~~~~~
Suddenly he was whole again. The mist and the pieces evaporated to become less than a dream, and he settled back into his old body, back together.
He twitched, groaned.
“It was close.”
He heard a voice, speaking. Total insanity tinged that voice.
“So close. You ALMOST had him. And I was rooting for you the whole time. Then I wouldn’t have had to do it myself. I mean, he may have been my ally for now, but he absorbed enough energy to have made him powerful later. I mean, this power is GREAT! Just the stuff in one of those tanks, and I feel… ALIVE!!!!!!”
Mad cackling filled the air.
Aeger pushed himself off the ground, slowly gaining awareness of what was going on. He was underground, and before him stood Liane, and… IM. Or what used to be IM.
He didn’t look that different exactly. But to Aeger’s senses, he radiated a dark aura, a feel of the creeping night radiating from his person. His eyes looked out, void-like holes in the universe, swallowing all light and hope.
Aeger looked away, having learned his lesson the first time.
“You were doing well there for a second too! But then you HAD to lose the sword.
IM sighed. Oh well. He’s dead now. But now I have to take care of you two. I was hoping he’d take at least one of you down.
Liane looked surprisedly at Aeger as he stood, not having notice his return.
He snapped his fingers, his entire left arm bursting into flames, the light flaring brightly for moment, before becoming pallid and pale in the underground darkness.
IM chuckled. Such pathetic little parlor tricks. Might as well have a hat and a rabbit as well.
IM snapped HIS fingers, and his arm grew. Black muscle ripped out of his sleeve, and claws grew from his fingers.
He casually cleaned his nails.
Aeger threw a fireball.
IM caught it casually with the dark hand, then closed his fists, wisps of smoke leaking out from between his fingers.
As I said, or was I about to say it? Anyways, you stand as much chance of fighting me as Frosty has in Hawaii.
Liane picked up her sword, eyes a gleaming silver.
IM gestured. Chunks of darkness flowed from that arm of his, sinking themselves first into Liane, then Aeger. He heard her scream, but he might have been screaming himself, so he wasn’t sure.
He fell to the ground, his eyes unseeing, struggling against the blackness that filled his mind.
IM spoke. Now this is a spell that I, as an author, can do that you can’t. It’s called Character Domination. And, while I normally wouldn’t be able to use this on you two, since I didn’t create you, these are special circumstances.
You see, remember that healing potion? I took the liberty of slipping a little something extra into that. Poor Rathier. He’ll always be with us in spirit, even if his body was powdered and mixed into a rejuvenation potion. And you have no idea how long it took me to stop Rathier from being healed by it too. Real pain in the ass.
But anyways, back to the whole spell business. In a few seconds, you’ll be doing whatever I say. I don’t even know why I’m explaining this all to you. Must be the storyteller gene in me.
IM inspected their writhing bodes, and grunted.
This is taking longer than I expected. Must be because you two aren’t technically my characters. Ah well. I don’t have anything planned for the rest of the day, so I can wait. But while I’m waiting, let’s have those crystals of yours.
Aeger struggled further against the darkness, barely keeping his own mind through sheer willpower. But he wouldn’t last much longer. Every second the darkness grew darker, more concentrated.
He placed his left hand over his chest, breathed.
His hand glowed a pure blue light, unfettered by the darkness surrounding.
He pulled his hand away from his chest, and, like moths drawn to a flame, a haze of blood and a black powder followed it.
It hurt like hell, but the darkness receded.
Aeger lay there, exhausted.
Not bad, magician. Not bad. I probably shouldn’t have rambled on as I did. But ah well. I indulge myself too much. I guess I’ll just have to kill you then. A pity. Your author is such an… interesting character.
He stepped over Aeger, the dark hand erupting into flames not unlike those Aeger had thrown, except they were a pale white with a heart of crimson red.
Aeger tried to get up, but black runes leaped from the floor, letters that held him to the ground.
IM stood over him, black flames in hand.
~~~~~
Liane blinked, finding herself suddenly back in control and on the floor, head pounding as if she had just gotten punched.
Karakel? She asked, pulling herself off the floor and picking up her sword again.
Her sister was silent.
I… think he tried to- what did he call it? Neve said hesitantly. Character dominate? –us, but he only got Karakel.
Liane shook her head, trying to clear it of the thick cotton that seemed to fill it. She sheathed the sword and looked around the room, jolting as she saw Aeger stuck on the floor, with IM towering over him.
Before Liane could say a word, Ria took control, sharp brown eyes glinting as she pulled out her dagger and began advancing silently towards him, staying in the shadows. Just as he was about to deliver a killing blow to Aeger, Ria leaped forwards and stabbed him in the side, dagger freezing the blood as soon as it left the body.
IM stumbled backwards in shock. You? But I thought I got rid of you!
Liane took control again, eyes returning to purple and glaring at IM.
His eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter. Why, that’s brilliant! He cried, still laughing. Multiple spirits in one body! Harder to defeat and harder to control!
He stopped laughing, eyes growing colder and narrow. I won’t make that mistake again.
With a gesture of his hand, a black haze filled the room. Liane started choking as little particles wormed their way down her throat. Eyes watering, she fell to her knees, gasping for breath- and then
Blackness.
~~~~~
Aeger sent his mind along the winds again, trying to find a way to call the lightnings into this room. He couldn’t, but he found he could call the winds.
It was better than nothing.
He set the pattern, then started the process, making sure that the wind would hit IM only.
The winds started their rush along the corridors of the Asylum, gaining power for every second they traveled.
Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. His mind returned to his body as he gasped for air.
He fell to his knees, fighting the obscuring haze that filled the room, saw Liane on the ground as well.
The wind reached the end of the stairs, and Aeger saw a way out.
He… tweaked the patterns he had set up previously, destroyed the pathway the air would have taken and made a new one.
Then he grabbed ahold of some piping along the wall.
The wind was weaker spread out as it was in the new path than it had been focused, but it did the job.
The haze was blown away almost instantly, swept away by a wall of air. Liane tumbled across the floor bouncing.
But Idea Master was blown backwards only a few steps, before he gestured and the air parted before him like a river around the rocks of rapids.
Again, not bad magician. A working solution, if uninnovative. But did you really believe that the haze was only a haze?
Chunks of darkness separated themselves from Idea Master, and this time, Aeger saw what was coming.
Aeger created a wall with the leftover traces of the wave of air, but the darkness simply went through and sank into his skull.
The darkness again.
Aeger struggled, brought his hand up to his chest to purge his body again of the ashes of whatever contestant the haze had once been, but his hand didn’t seem to move.
The darkness was much stronger this time.
Slowly, fighting for every inch, his hand moved up towards his chest. He heard a snarl of effort from Idea Master, and his booming voice.
You may not be my characters, but this is my story and you will do as you are told!
The darkness strengthened, but with a final burst of effort Aeger managed to again pull out the ashes that allowed Idea Master to use his spell.
He staggered up, and forward, left arm again bursting into flame.
Idea Master’s face was serious now, focused with the single-minded determination that only insanity brings.
Then his face lightened, and he laughed.
Well, even if I didn’t get you that time, that ploy wasn’t completely worthless.
Aeger paused, not understanding, then….
He whirled around, looking for Liane, only to find her behind him with that sword raised.
He ducked, threw up a wall of flame the flickered and danced and reached to the ceiling, thin enough to be transparent in places but still hot enough to burn any questing hand.
He moved away from the wall, aware that the black sword could still reach through.
Idea Master threw the ball of black flame, still in his hand.
Aeger threw his own fireball, watched as they met….
And watched as his orange flames were consumed completely by the small ball of black fire.
Aeger dodged the black flame, only to find another behind it, and another.
Soon, there were so many balls of black flame that Aeger could no longer dodge.
Instead, he tried to block them with patches of hardened air.
The air only fed the flames.
Which gave him an idea.
He called the wind again, quicker this time, for a smaller gust, blowing the black flames back as they fed on the rush of air.
Idea Master laughed, Not bad for a no talent. At least you’re smart about how you use it.
Idea Master gestured. Walls of darkness appeared on either side of them, closing them in a corridor of night.
On one end was the Idea Master, darkness behind him and within growing. On the other, Aeger stood, the wall of flame bringing a small light into the dark room.
No more dodging was possible in that narrow corridor.
Suddenly an arrow zipped through the wall of fire, alight with green and orange flames. It buried itself deep into the back of Aeger’s shoulder, who cried out in pain and stumbled forward.
I hate to be the one to destroy a dramatic moment, but I felt you needed to be reminded of how horrible your situation really is. I’m giving you one last chance to hand over those crystals. I know you have them; Liane over there is telling me that they’re in your neck pouch right now.
Now, you should understand that no matter what happens, you are dead. You’re dead, and she’s dead, and nothing’s going to change that. Also, pain will probably factor somewhere into this equation as well.
The question for you is, is pain going to be a big part of this equation, or a smaller part?
The wizard tossed a glowing black nexus of energy down the corridor, bouncing it off the walls in random unpredictable directions.
Aeger ducked it, felt it brushed his injured right arm, and screamed as agony hit him.
Then, a second later, he heard a louder scream, a pure sonoration of torturous pain from behind the wall.
He also couldn’t dodge because Liane was behind him.
He ran down the passageway, his arm metamorphosing as he did into a thing of stone, a shield which would hopefully offer a little protection.
Aeger wasn’t that optimistic.
Several more arrows whizzed out from the fiery end of the corridor, by pure chance missing him.
As they soared towards the wizard, he simply stopped them in midair, ignoring them as they then dropped to the floor with a clatter.
Idea Master gestured, and spears of darkness appeared.
They zoomed towards Aeger, one of the lead ones piercing his earthen shield.
He looked back, saw green flamed arrows awaiting him.
No escape.
No dodging.
No time.
Aeger ran forward, determined to try nevertheless.
Then, as he ran towards the spears of darkness, arrows bounced off the dark walls around him and hit every single one of the spears, the green flame eating away at the heart of the darkness.
Aeger glanced back, saw green eyes in one of the flickering transparent patches.
Idea Master did not even have time to show surprise before Aeger’s fist, now glowing with a flame so bright the very air around it sparked and trailed fiery ribbons, a flame with every ounce of his remaining strength poured into it, melted through the darkness and through his chest.
As his flesh burned to ash, Idea Master coughed out his final words.
Why? used… double strength… Domination?
But there were four sisters, Aeger thought.
Exactly how many times had he gotten himself saved by this woman?
The Idea Master, now ash, settled to the ground in a fine dust.
The darkness receded.
~~~~~~~
A jet of cold water hit her face. Liane jerked awake, gasping in surprise.. She was laying down in the middle of the floor, head and side throbbing painfully. She blinked, forcing her surroundings to focus.
There was Aeger, kneeling over her, a concerned look on his face. His hand was wet- probably from the cojurance of water he had used to wake her up. The room was dark, but not the abnormal, unending dark it had been before. Idea Master was nowhere to be seen.
Liane sat up and closed her eyes, casting about for her sisters- ah, there they were. Karakel and Ria were asleep, but Neve was there.
What in Marayna’s name happened? She asked, wonderingly.
Neve spoke, sounding rather worn out. Idea Master managed to take control of you and Ria, but he only got me halfway. As she explained how Aeger had killed IM, the rest of her sisters were slowly waking up
Wait, Karakel said when Neve was finished explaining what had happened. That means we’ve saved Stumpy’s life three times.
No, it’s only been two, Ria replied. Dragging him around outside doesn’t count.
Yes it does! The two began arguing loudly, causing Liane to wince as they aggravated her already painful headache.
She reopened her eyes to see a hand covered in swirling tattoos extended in front of her. Liane smiled and grasped the hand, and Aeger helped pull her back up to her feet. She looked around and gathered her sisters’ weapons, the dagger from a small pile of ashes, some arrows from the floor scorched by fire.
Sisters still arguing, she turned to Aeger, who nodded. The two of them walked out of the room, walking back up the stairs, and back into the sunshine.
As they left, they did not cast a second look at the ashes of Idea Master. If they had, they might have noticed them swirling slightly and grouping together, almost as if stirred by a breeze.
But there was no breeze in the dark room.
That concludes their rather long version of events. Now it's my turn!
The two contestants stood there, taking in the vastness of the room. IM grinned wider. They had done exactly as they were meant to do.
"Welcome, contestants. I don't suppose you'd be willing to hand over your crystals as proof of your victory thus far?"
The only response IM got was a tightening of hands on sword grips. IM faked a sigh - he had secretly hoped it came to a fight.
"Ah well. I thought not. Big Bad, if you'd care to distract them while I finish up this spell?"
The Big Bad Wolf grinned and jumped from its pose atop an orb, landing right in front of the contestants. Liane sliced at it quickly, and the Big Bad retreated.
"Back, foul demon! I've not come this far to lose to the likes of you!"
The Big Bad laughed its distorted laugh. I am no mere demon!
I am the monster under your bed,
The little voice inside your head.
I am the evil in all men's hearts,
I am that which tore the Three Pigs apart!
I relish in pain, I love discontent,
I laugh like a madman when life is spent.
I have terrorized the dreams of girls and boys,
I swallow their dreams, all their joys!
I am the Big Bad Wolf, entity of fear!
And now, I'm afraid, it's your turn, my dear!
The Big Bad laughed and laughed, spreading his form across one half of the room, casting it into darkness and fear, giving IM the precious time he needed away from prying eyes to modify his spell ever so slightly.
"There, it will be done, and now, the crystals!"
IM reached into his robes and found the crystals that he'd managed to acquire from the slain characters. Inserting them carefully into the ground, IM tutted. "It looks like I'm two short. Well, I can solve this problem. Big Bad, release them! We require their crystals yet, and I want to have a bit of fun while we retrieve them!"
The Big Bad laughed again, and reformed into his more beastly form atop the shattered orb, leaving the two contestants wandering around dazed. They had obviously not prepared for the sudden shift in light values, nor were they prepared for the assault on their minds. Then again, IM had been planning this sort of fight for some time now.
"Ahem! If you two will kindly snap out if it, we may continue."
The contestants actually ran into one another and fell on the ground. Not the sort of challenge IM was expecting from two of the greatest contestants. IM sighed again, and actually waited for them to get up. It took them longer than he planned, but at least he didn't have to break out the deck of cards and start playing solitaire. Finally, the two were battle-ready again, and IM feigned a yawn.
"Oh, finally. Well, now if you are ready, we shall proceed. Let me make a long story short: I'm going to get your crystals. If you're lucky, you're going to live through it! Ready? Let's go!"
With that, IM flew to a smaller, non-shattered orb in the room, and grinned manically. IM raised his hands above his head, and they seemed to gain a stone-like quality. With a sickening CRUNCH, the orb shattered as he brought his hands down.
There was instantly a burst of raw power from the orb, which IM greedily absorbed, along with the leaking Grimm energy. At this point, Liane and Aeger were charging him, the first with her sword, the second with flames.
It was nowhere near enough. IM brought his head up, and at that moment, Liane and Aeger could see that, instead of normal eyes, IM had black flames leaping from his face where his eyes used to be.
IM was drunk on power. And he liked it.
Liane made a jump, hoping to catch IM off-guard. IM saw the move coming, and Liane actually slowed down, stopping a hair before she contacted with IM. He laughed as she was held in place by his newfound magic.
"Pitiful! Get some more training!"
With a slight push, IM threw her back across the room, making a dent in the opposite wall, dust billowing out to hide the severity of the damage. Being stopped by magic was one thing, but being thrown across the room with the force of a troll doing it was quite another. IM noticed a glow out of the corner of his eye and saw Aeger launching a fireball. IM laughed again, reached out a hand, and caught the incoming flames.
"A fireball? No, this is a fireball!"
The flames grew...and grew...and grew. The fireball became a raging inferno, and the orange faded into black. A face similar to the Big Bad's appeared on the surface, and IM launched his modified inferno at Aeger.
The elementalist dodged it, or rather, tried to. When the inferno impacted, it exploded outwards violently, damaging almost everything in the room.
Everything but what IM had reached out and shielded, that is. Which, funnily enough, included not only the orbs of power left in the room and the Big Bad, but he'd also reached out and prevented anything worse than a singe to the contestants. At least, on the outside.
The Big Bad had indeed reached into the fireball while it was forming, and he'd imparted a bit of his essence into it. At the intensity IM had launched it, it was only a matter of time...
"Now while you two are fighting for your minds, I figure it's time for a little history lesson. You see, the Brothers Grimm were talented Authors centuries past. When they died, their Author powers went to their characters, that they could write their own happy endings. It's how such things usually work."
Aeger and Liane were screaming in agony, darkness flickering around them, pulsing in their veins.
"However, Big Bad here realized what he had was a means not only to end his story, but others as well. He used and abused his power to take the power his fellow characters had, draining them dry, or, in some cases, consuming them. It's how Red Riding Hood lost her mind, after all."
The two contestants were writhing in agony on the floor, fighting furiously with the darkness that was trying to take their bodies from them.
"Humpty Dumpty set up this facility as barter for the Big Bad. So long as this facility is operational, then supposedly, the Big Bad won't suck Humpty dry as well. But then the Big Bad's power grew to the point where he could infect characters that were NOT Grimm-made, and corrupt them to his own ends, granting him a greater store of potential food. This is also how he's enslaving your minds as I speak."
The contestants had finally stopped screaming and writhing, and pushed themselves up. IM drew closer to look them over, and was pleased. Instead of eyes, they had voids, complete blackness. They were gone, and all that was left was the Big Bad's will.
"Give me your crystals."
Both contestants reached into their pouches, pulled out their crystal, and held it in front of them. IM took them and grinned. The materials were prepared, the runes ready. The ritual would be completed soon, and it would unbind the Big Bad from this place.
If you're done with them?...
"Oh, yes, but don't kill them, stick them in some stasis tubes. We don't want any more characters dying now, it'd be a waste. No, wait for the ideal moment. Then you can feed on them."
IM sat and sighed. Soon, it would all come together. Now, he would just wait for the last loose end to come along...
And that's my version of how things should go. So! Who wins? Me...Or Aeger and Liane? Choose, but choose wisely.
_________________
...So I've been summoned back from beyond the veil.
...No plans yet.
Last edited by Idea master on Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:54 pm; edited 2 times in total
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DeadManWalking
Duke of the Mostly Dead
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:35 am Post subject: |
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...
The writers for Aeger and Liane really wrote an epic, didn't they?
I think both of them were pretty good, although they both came with rather similar poems.
I kinda liked Aeger and liane's although it was a bit long.
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When the dead walk, the living run.
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Phantomfan
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: |
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Both were well written. Liane's and Aeger's seemed really realllllly long- but it definately made all the characters look really good- evil or not.
IM's version just seemed to make fun of them.
_________________
I've been pulled back from oblivion to lurk about the City once more. Though the music of the night always beckons...
Here's some stuff I started writing a long time ago. Orb. Nexus.
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The Meaning Of Fear
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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I agree that Aeger and Liane's recount was well written, but it was uncomfortably long. There were also a few noticeable errors that repeated themselves throughout the passage, such as "lightnings". I personally also think that the Big Bad should've put up just as much, if not significantly more, resistance as IM. I liked the way they left it off, though, because if they'd killed him just like that it would've been seriously anticlimatic.
On the other hand, IM's was downright short. Phan's observation is right, too; he is indeed making fun of them. After all, is it not an IM thing to do? IM's description of his powers seem more fitting, though. I think I'll reserve judgement on who should this one... for now.
And now, on to some plot analysis! Being the evil, schemeing bast... *cough* individual that he is, one would have to expect him to have more than one back-up plan. If one thought about it carefully, this, while not exactly a win-win situation, is pretty good, at least in the short run, to IM. Since he lives either way, he has a chance to make a comeback. If Aeger and Liane win, then they would likely have to fight the three-man team next, which would effectively eliminate one set of enemies for IM should they not team up (which, IMO, would be really messed up, not to mention that they wouldn't have much prize money split between them).
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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DeadManWalking
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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*coughs*
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The Meaning Of Fear
Respected Citizen
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| Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Bad Deady! If you want to bump a thread, at least try to hide the fact! 
IM's been missing a while now. Anyone in contact with him one way or another know where he's gone?
_________________
Cherish all your memories, even the bad ones, for they are what makes you who you are.
Doors to the truth, an SG where a boy is propelled into worlds he is unfamiliar with. He crosses many worlds, and sees many things that force him to throw away his innocence, once, and for all. Fourth Chapter, out for viewing!
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| Who wins? |
| Aeger and Liane? |
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75% |
[ 3 ] |
| Or IM and the Big Bad? |
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25% |
[ 1 ] |
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| Total Votes : 4 |
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