NationStates Jolt Archive

"Well, if we cannot get in, why do we not go back so I may tell my friends, and we can go have some good wine or something, if Rimoru does not mind or find out. I certainly will not tell anyone." Karasu told the guards.

"Now now, Cadeyrn," Relthor replied stepping back slightly, worry showing on his face. "We never said anything about killing...we just wanted to let you know that...Rimoru may not be on our side..."

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"You knew Rimoru as a kid?"

"Was she as sexy as she is now?"

"Was she always flirtatious?

"Are you available?"

"Shut up, John, she's mine!"

"Wait, the shredders!"

"Ohhhh..." they both finally agreed as they looked at the portraits. Finally one walked up to a frowning clown, pushed his hands onto the clown's lips, curling it into a smile. "Sugar snaps!"

Suddenly he brought his hands out and a passageway opened, revealing a portrait of the illustrious Rimoru.

"Aha! Told you there was a picture of Rimoru!"

"You nincompoop, you meant before!"

"You dolt, I never said before!"

"Once we get to the shredders, I'm gonna dump you in with them!"

"Not if I shoot you first with the steam rifle!"

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"Silence," the gnome snapped as he looked at the scope. "Strange indeed...Apparently this was some sort of spy glass...a telescope...something like that..."

(OOC: In case you're wondering, yes, Blastit gave me permission to read Rimoru's mind)

Fearing he may push too far, Maverion limited how much of Rimoru's mind he read. The information he did find, however, was almost priceless. Information on the other group of guests and some of the things they were capable of. He shared this information with Rothargot and Teralynn as they reached the entrance to the library.

Teralynn was already forming a plan, but decided not to do anything yet, as they were about to get the book and she did not want to endanger that in any way. She did, however, say, "Perhaps, my lady, if anyone asks, Rothargot and I are visitors from the Imperium of Justice. I heard that there was a major gladiatorial fight recently there, and that many heads of states were invited. Were you there? If so, then perhaps that was where we met; at the games. And then Maverion here could be one of your guards assigned to our protection."

Karasu could barely contain herself from laughing hysterically at the two guards arguing.

"Wow, this is an intricate entrance!" She said.

"You know what?" Karasu looked at them seductively and continued, "Neither of you have told me your names. I do not even know whose company I am enjoying so much!" She gave them a solicitous smile.

"Oh, certainly Tera. Sounds fine! However...my bodyguard may not fall for it...he's a cutey, and he rarely left my side..." replied Rimoru as she finally approached the doors to the Library. Inzikai was already waiting, his whole body in shadows.

"About time," he growled as he approached them.

"Quiet you. We were having fun," Rimoru smiled as she held Rothargot a little tighter.

"Rothargot? What happened to you? Why are you wearing such...bad clothing?" Inzikai asked as he scanned over the elf.

"Let's not talk about it..."

"Aww, I think he looks cute! Plus, it shows off his luscious muscles," Rimoru giggled as she rubbed her hand over his abs. Rothargot twitching slightly, his lips curling up. Rimoru laughed as she continued, before Rothargot held her hand.

"Rimoru, no more. The book please. It's in the restricted section..."

"Of course Rothy," she replied as she let them up the steps.

Koryl frowned, but did not respond. He was used to grumpy scholars.

~~~~~~~
Valerith continued watching the two intruders, and wondered what the guards were going to do about them.

"What exactly is our side anyway, and why would Rimoru unleash Valtrox if it would bring doom to everything?" He said bending into an attack stance in case the dragon tried anything.

Karasu helped me, is that enough to go on? Everyone seems to have their own motives when all I want is to sleep, eat, and get paid. She was talking to some nefarious characters earlier.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm on no one's side until I see some evidence, but I'll follow you only because I don't know the way." Cadeyrn said easing out of his stance.

Now that I think about it, Rimoru has exluded me with these new guests. Would she actually betray me? If anyone even tries to put us and Marlene in danger I'll cut them in two.

"So what are your names, sweeties?" Karasu asked again, just to make conversation.

"Ah," came Teralynn. Must be the Cadeyrn that Maverion just told her about. Yet, he left the arena with the others. But how would she mention that without making it obvious she knew more than she let on? The pain in her body was drastically shortening her fuse, and she was getting impatient, but knew that she had to keep her cool at least until the book was in their possession.

"Your guard never left you? Not even for a little while?"

The two continued following behind the others.

Relthor sighed in relief as Cadeyrn dropped his stance. "Cadeyrn...none of us have done anything against you. I am merely saying that Rimoru may or may not be siding with us...We are just on guard since she has let Valtrox's minions enter the Library..."

"I would not know if Rimoru herself is aiding in freeing Valtrox, but I have the belief that she does not know what she is doing. She always disliked working for the gods, and always was a free spirit. She may think they're getting a history book or something....Plus, Rimoru would have killed us now if she was with Valtrox, would she not?"

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"What? Are you going to stand there and be useless?" growled Mebbiwik. "Get me a book on ancient Iskani cultures over there. Maybe it has more inscriptions about it..."

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"Oh, I'm John, your beautifulness!" stammered one, as they both tried to bow to her and ruin the other's bow at the same time.

"And I'm Bjorn, your sexiness!"

"That's not appropriate!" shouted John, nuding Bjorn.

"So? It's on par with Beautifulness!" replied Bjorn, pushing John.

"Well, that's what she is!"

"Aye! And she's sexy too!"

"Shut up so I can spend time with her!"

"You shut up! She wants to sleep with me!"

"Wait...let's show her the shredders, then we fight over this..."

"Of course!"

Bjorn and John smiled at Karasu before turning towards the portrait.

"Freedom over tyranny. Love over hate. Rimoru over all."

Suddenly the painting of Rimoru knelt down and blew a kiss at the guards, who sighed longingly as they wished it were for real.

"Follow me, toots!"

"Don't call her that!"

"Sorry!"

They both walked into the painting, immediately being blasted by the incredible heat. The massive room was dimly lit, Red lights seeming to eminate from far off in the distance. Smoke filled the skies, as well as steam. They appeared on a catwalk overlooking the giant arachnid mechanisms.

"'Ere they are, your sexiness!"

"Hey! That's what I said!"

"So why don't we go get that gnome if he's in the other room, instead of you eating more food." Lorathin suggested

"Nice to meet you John and Bjorn! I must say you flatter me so much." Karasu feigned a bit of shyness. "You are both so handsome, if you do not mind me saying so." She said with a seductive look.

After the grand entrance into the room, she spoke to the two men.

"Wow! What an entrance! And what a room!" She grinned. "Rimmy always was elaborate!" Karasu giggled.

"Thank you both for being kind enough to bring me here to see this. Quite unique..."

Koryl carefully brought over the indicated book. Getting this information would be well worth putting up with the gnome's behavior.

Both Bjorn and John blushed as she said how handsome they were.

"I'm naturally the handsome one," replied Bjorn.

"No, but you're naturally the stupid one!"

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!"

"Wait, the shredders!"

"Oh yeah!"

"There they are, darling, in all their inactive glory!" shouted Bjorn as he pointed to the unmoving statues.

Each Shredder stood on sharp arachnid legs, deadly blades at the ends of them. Sitting on top of the leg mechanisms, was a squarelike body, symbols placed carelessly on it's torso. The head was a strange small half-oval.

"Kinda ugly, but if you see one in action, they are unstoppable! Blades moving every second, nearly a blur. And if someone tries to take it apart from the top, they get blasted by steam hot enough to melt the flesh from your bones!"

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"I ain't eating anything!" growled Kalzog. "The gnome is talking about some strange artifact..."

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"Well...he did actually...to fight in the Arena," replied Rimoru dreamily. "Was quite a show!"

"Inzikai, why don't you show us your gift?" Rothargot asked, nudging Teralynn.

"This is how you may end up," he whispered as Inzikai let out an angry growl.

The Lord of the Cult slowly pulled off his cloak, revealing large muscles, dark red skin, peeling green skin, and large sharp teeth. On his head rose three pointy horns.

Rimoru gasped, somewhat in fear, somewhat in shock. "Inzi...what-?"

"I don't know anymore, I feel as if I am out of my own control. All I know is when I see those minions I'm going to break them." He snarled growing frustrated with this situation. "Whatever we do we should make our move soon."

The warrior unseathed his massive blade while the silver runes and the edge glowed brightly.

"Gods are pathetic." He mused approaching Relthor. "Let's put a stop to them."

"Give it here!" Mebbiwik said as he took hold of the large book. He placed it next to the spyglass and flipped through it hurridly.

He took hold of the spyglass and felt along it. "Strange...nothing useful in this book..."

Suddenly, the gnome jumped, nearly falling off his books. "It moved!"

Sure enough, the spyglass began to extend as Mebbiwik held his finger over a strange symbol that looked like bird.

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Relthor stepped back, unsure if Cadeyrn was still aiming to get rid of him.

"But, I dunno wha-where-anything about them! We should round up the others, lest we find outselves in a deadly fight..."

Teralynn bit down on her teeth to keep from letting out a sound of pain, as her flesh was already starting to become tender. Mentally, however, she thought to Rothargot, Ow! That hurts!

When she saw Inzikai, however, she was not too particularly pleased. She wanted the power, but not the look. Granted, Inzikai would probably look a little better once the transformation was done, but it was still not a look she cared for. But she did not let it affect her too much, as she still intended on using her powers to negate the ugly looks.

Maverion, too, was not pleased, but not because of the look. This was only slowing down their progress when they were so close to the book. "We should keep moving, my lords and lady," he said. "Perhaps to a more discreet locale." Which would hopefully be where the book was.

"What kind of artefact?" Lorathin asked

"I think I understand now, what it is that makes us so strong." He added putting a hand on Relthor's shoulder. "We'll round up others and prepare for our fight against a god and his minions! Anyone who gets in our way will join their precious idol in the next world."

Koryl thought he heard an angry voice outside the room, but he was distracted by the sudden change in the artifact.

"Oh my..."

To his unusual eyes, the lines of power flowing across it from the symbol were clearly visible.

"Agreed," replied Rothargot as he gently pushed Rimoru towards the entrance.

Rimoru was still staring at Inzikai, her mouth wide open. "My Inzi..." she whispered before turning away, a small tear on her face.

They walked up many steps before coming to a massive door, made of oak and reeking of magic. Rimoru lifted her hands and flicked them in opposite directions, the doors opening up wide enough for them to go through. As they all walked in, the doors shut behind them, leaving them into a pitch black room.

Suddenly, someone snapped their fingers, most likely Rimoru, and torches were lit along the room. That was when they all realized how large the Library really was. It was a city of books, shelves everywhere, carring the smallest books to the largest books. To the most minor thing to the important subjects of the world. A labyrinth of books....

"Stay close," Rimoru said as she walked past all the bookshelves.

"A Spyglass?" Kalzog whispered as he had his ear against the door. "Where's the elf? She should be doing this!"

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Relthor nodded, relieved that Cadeyrn meant no harm. "Do you think Marlene will be safe here?"

**********************************************************

The gnome smiled as he put his eye to the eyepiece. "Just like any eyeglass..." he said as he pointed it towards Koryl. "Anything happening on the outside?"

Maverion looked all around at the shelves and shelves of books, soaring up so high that he had to crane his neck back to take the tops of them into view. So many books... He could spend a lifetime reading all these and still not be able to finish them.

They continued following closely behind Rimoru. They were so very close to their goal.

Cadeyrn paused for a moment before walking into Marlene's room and shutting the door. There was some talking and a little yelling before a blue flash shot from the cracks of the door. The mercenary emerged smiling.

"She's returned home. Now let us kill some demons." He said waving his gigatic sword around skimming the walls.

"Wow! I have never seen anything like it! I assume Rimmy designed it. She always comes up with something clever. We are childhood friends, you know." Karasu smiled at the guards. "I do not think I would want to see it work, however!" She giggled playfully.

She turned to them "John and Bjorn, my handsome companions, shall we go get some wine?

"I have to admit, I am gloating a bit. Any women we pass in the halls are going to be so jealous seeing me with such handsome men! Now don't you go running off with any other women we run into!" She smiled seductively at both of them.

"I think some wine would be wonderful... loosen us up. What do you say?" Karasu ran her fingers down both men's cheeks.

"I can see that the magic is activating, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything yet."

"She's likely doing elfy buisness." He replied quitely while wondering why the gnome wanted a spyglass.

"So, Rimoru, is it true that you have read every one of these books?" Inzikai asked, breaking the silence. His voice echoed through the chambers.

"Every last one," she replied with a cocky grin.

"Fascinating," Rothargot said as he let his eyes wander around the massive building.

Suddenly, Rimoru stopped near a wall, opposite the side they came from. She looked thoughtfully at the nearest bookshelf. She scrunched her face up before finally finding a book she was looking for. It was a blank book, no cover, no title, nothing on the pages. Except for one sentence.

"Let the Path to Knowledge be known," Rimoru said before closing the book and setting it back on the shelf. Sure enough, the wall opened up revealing another giant room. Mirrors were everywhere, making it near impossible to find out where exactly one was going. Yet Rimoru continued on her way, passing the mirrors and stopping in front of one.

"This may hurt," she whispered as she passed through the mirror, coming out the other end.

Rothargot stared at the Rimoru in the mirror. "Fancy..." he said before stepping in. He felt as though thousands of pins were pricking his body, before coming out the other end.

ooc: Last post for a bit

"Oh, no Ma'am. Rimoru helped build it, and gave the ideas for the magical protection, however Mebbiwik is the genius behind them. He's the head of the College of Steam and Mekaniks. The steam rifles were his first inventions and work decently, until they explode or backfire."

"Oh, wine would be grand...beautiful," both guards smiled as she ran her hand down their cheeks. Both nearly buckled.

"Let's hurry!" they shouted as they ran to the portrait.

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"Oh? What'd you do?" Relthor asked Cadeyrn, as he began to walk down the halls.

**********************************************************

This time, the gnome did fall off his seat. "Whoa! It...amplifies sound! Amazing! The ultimate spy glass!"


**********************************************************

"I dunno...I don't think it's his...it's his friend in there..." replied Kalzog.

She had ready every book in here? Lucky. Maverion could only dream of reading all those books.

He paid careful attention to all the things Rimoru did in going through the library, in case there would be any reason for him to come back here in the future. When they entered the room of mirrors, things were immediately disorienting. Mave closed his eyes and used his mind to map out the path they were following so as to avoid the visual confusione, trying to commit as much of it to memory as possible.

When Teralynn heard that stepping through the mirror would hurt, she rolled her eyes. Yet another source of pain. This was not a good day. She braced herself as she went through, trying her best not to succumb to the increased pain she felt, which was made all the worse by her tender skin.

"Do you think you and Ar'mai can deal with this yourselves?" Lorathin asked

Rimoru and the others found themselves in a large room, confronted by thousands of shredders, each activated and their blades spinning at impossible speeds.

"Halt. Revert." Rimoru said sternly as one blade barely touched Rimoru's small nose. The shredders moved backwards, their blades retracting back into their squarish bodies.

Rothargot suddenly realized why the aisles were so wide. The shredders could effeciently walk down the aisle, leaving no space for someone to escape, while touching none of the books.

"Welcome to the restricted section!" smiled Rimoru as she twirled around, her arms spread apart, her revealing clothes revealing nearly all her beautiful form.

Rothargot could barely keep his eyes off the Empress, whom obviously noticed this for she fell into Rothargot's arms. "Happy now, Rothy?" she asked seductively.

"Of course," he replied smiling, kissing her passionately.

"Wait a sec...since when did Rothargot know how to love?" growled Inzikai, growing angry as Rothargot kissed his former fiance.

"It was a transportation stone, a gift from Lorathin, she's back with the other children now." He said smiling although something didn't seem right. "We should really hurry, I've got a bad feeling."

Cadeyrn pulled a bolt on his mechanical arm as his wrist slung open.

"I think I know a shortcut." The mercenary said grinning.

"Here contact Rimoru using this stone and tell her exactly what she's doing." Cadeyrn said tossing Relthor a pale blue stone. "Say your name and say hers to activate it, if she doesn't say anything I'm blasting a path to the library."

Ah, so these were the shredders Teralynn spoke of. Maverion was glad he did not had to fight through these. It could get messy.

My lord, Maverion thought to Inzikai, quickly trying to diffuse the situation that was about to go bad. He is pretending in order to get on Empress Rimoru's good side. It was under this condition alone that she would allow us in here. I assure you, it is just an act that he would put aside once we leave here with the book.

To Rothargot, he thought, Lord Rothargot, please restrain yourself until we have the book. After we get the book, then anything goes.

"A Spyglass?" Kalzog whispered as he had his ear against the door. "Where's the elf? She should be doing this!"

"I am... if you would keep from making such an infernal racket," Ar'mai said quietly as she remained motionless, her ear turned towards the door and listening intently.

Relief spread through Karasu as they passed through the picture back into the hallway. She wondered how many more of these Shredders there were in the palace and where they were.

Karasu really wanted to speak with Cadey and Relthor about what she had seen. I hope I run into them in the hall and they take me away from these two guards who are expecting more than they are going to get. I suppose I could knock them out with a small potion and empty wine bottles all around them so when they wake up they think they got too drunk. I have too much to do to spend time with two men who expect me to sleep with them!

Then she thought of an idea... a dangerous idea.

Karasu gave the two guards a seductive look. "You told me there were other secret rooms and interesting places. I have heard that Rimmy's library is amazing! I have not seen it since we were kids. It must be huge by now! I am an avid reader. Is there any way you could show me around the library?" She fluttered her eyelashes.

Please let me run into someone from my party!

"I want to thank you for going out of your way to show me the Shredders." Karasu smiled at the guards. "That was very kind of you, and I appreciate it. It is true, I have never seen such a thing!" She exclaimed.

"Perhaps we could get some wine and we could continue our tour? I am enjoying this very much. Just the crazy entrance into that room is sooo Rimmy! She always was lots of fun." Karasu decided to start some conversation.

"So... John and Bjorn, how is it that you began to work for Rimmy?" Karasu asked.

She then almost kicked herself. I have telepathy with other dragons! Why have I not used it!

Relthor! She spoke telepathically. They showed me the Shredders... holy shit! I feel this is going to be far worse than we may expect. she explained the Shredders and how they worked.

Now my problem is getting away from these two horny bastards! They expect me to get drunk and sleep with them!

Karasu told Relthor where she was located. If you and Cadey could show up and tell me that I have pressing business and take me away, that would be a great help. I did ask them to show me around some more... the library particularly, however I believe there to be traps, hidden doorways, and areas only Rimmy can get into. I also think she brought the V-Man's minions there. They will have the book soon enough, I fear. If these two lugs brought me to the library, I would know where it was, however I believe we would be restricted from going where we need to be. Relthor, I wonder if Rimmy has fallen for one of them. That elf's clothes did not look like his own.

Karasu sighed.

Please meet me in the direction I am going. I will update you as I move. By the way, I love you, darling. She smiled to herself.

Cadeyrn heard a jumbled message in his mind, he couldn't make out what it was, but he knew who it was from. Immediately he grabbed Relthor by the sleeve and dragged him back down towards Karasu.

Stairs upon stairs through an almost endless amount of corridors finally revealed the prize at the end of the maze. Two guards were practically grabbing at Karasu.

"Hello gentlemen." The large mercenary said grabbing and slamming their heads together. Cadeyrn eyed the spider like statues for a moment, examining every crevice for a weakness. Cocking his sword back he swung it with full force decimating the inactive shredder. Oil and mechanical gears decorated the room in a shower of robotic slaughter.

"These things are tough as hell, I can't imagine one of them active. However, the top of these things is an especially weak point." He said picking up and studying each little gear. "Marlene would have a field day on one of these things with a wrench."

He turned to Karasu wiping the oil off his face. "You ok Kara?" He asked surprised by his own casual behavior.

"I'm fine! I just did not want to sleep with them! They expected us to get drunk and have a wild night." Karasu laughed. "Of course I led them to believe that so I could see the war machines. They shred people with them, but of you try to attack from the top, hot steam boils you. There is an entire room devoted to these for just that purpose. The way to get in is amazing. Only something Rimmy would devise." She chuckled.

"Speaking of which, they are in the library by now I am sure. It was immediately when I ran into those guards that they told me she was taking Valtrox's party to the library."

Karasu sighed and rolled her eyes. "I bet she fell for one of them, and I think I know which one... I mean, she was engaged to Inzi... she has no allegiance to us, and I could tell she was lying when I asked where she was going. I bet you could too Relthor. We both know her well enough.

"Thank you for rescuing me! I did not know how I was going to get out of my night with them, but I would have transformed and burned them before going to bed with them!

"I have an idea. I proposed to them that we continue the tour while drinking wine. Why don't we leave some empty bottles around. Maybe they will believe they got drunk and passed out, and if I see them again, I will tell them they were mumbling nonsense about men and a sword and that they passed out. Besides, they will not tell Rimmy they took a guest to a forbidden area, so I am sure we are all safe."

Karasu looked at the two of them. "Well, what now?"

"Steam won't do much to me aside from piss me off no matter how hot it is." He bragged as steam began emitting from his hand. "As far as I'm concerned she had better have an army of these things if she plans on letting Valpox out."

Those things are pretty well designed; my blade didn't even cut clean through. I pretty much had to smash through with a diamond edge. Not to mention it wasn't even moving, 3 or 4 of those at once could spell trouble if they get around me. Besides Rimoru wouldn't sick one of those on us anyway.

"God or not, I hope they do let him out, that way I can have the pleasure of seeing the look on his face when I best him." Cadeyrn bragged again pointing his sword to the door ahead.

"Cadey, I do not believe anyone on this world has a chance against Valtrox. And Rimmy does have an army of these things. It's in a Shredder room full of them and who knows where else in this palace they are." Karasu informed him.

"Relthor, Cadey, thank you for getting me out of that situation!" She grinned. "I was beginning to worry!"

"You clearly overestimate the strength of gods, they are really quite pathetic." Cadeyrn said grinning. "Gods are cowards, they hide behind the protection of their immortality assured that their word is law. They have never experienced pain or suffering, only the pleasures of being king over a people who never had a say in the matter. Truly they are figures of a pathetic form, so much power and they so often unleash their fury on us insignifigant mortals."

He kicked in the door at the end of the hallway and turned back to the dragons. "She better have an army, cause it will take more than that to stop me from tearing Valtrox's throat out!"

"Do you think you and Ar'mai can deal with this yourselves?" Lorathin asked

"Sure..." Ar'mai replied. "He's only a little gnome..."

"Cadey, do not be so hasty. Our biggest worry now is how to get to the library, and we have a bunch of demons and, most likely, shredders to deal with.

"With this book in their hands, they will revive Valtrox. I believe Rimmy has sided with them... well, obviously, as she brought them to the library and lied to Relthor and I. I think we may not be friends anymore, or she would not do this, however if it is between a man and I, she will choose the man every time. It is so pathetic and she has no self esteem." Karasu rolled her eyes.
"You saw the jealous rage when she found out about the Patriarch... which reminds me... has anyone seen Sarik?"

"Cadeyrn, don't get too cocky...I fear which demon this could be..." Relthor warned quietly as he looked out towards a large building. "And Valtrox has entered this world once before. He is not afraid to fight, not afraid to flaunt his powers on mortals...His demons will show us all soon, mark my words..."

"Karasu, I think Rimoru is indeed helping the others, but she has no idea what she's getting herself into. Despite being extremely old, she is still very childish and naive..."

"And she was holding hands with that Red eyed elf. I would not doubt she fell in love with him," Relthor replied, putting his arm around Karasu.

"Sarik...good question, where did he go?"

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Sarik had noticed Inzikai sprinting through the gardens, revealing a reddish skin under his dark cloak. What are you running for? he thought to himself as he followed behind.

For many long minutes, after they had reached a massive building, nearly as large as the Palace, Inzikai wandered around, talked to the guards, and leaned against the wall.

He eyed Sarik's hiding spot several times, before noticing others. Sarik took careful note of each one. Rimoru herself had her arm looped around a tall elf's arm.

Several minutes after they walked inside, Sarik turned his robe inside out, now wearing a grey robe, and unfolded the hood over his face, covering most of it. He casually walked to the door and told the guards "I'm with Lord Inzikai and the others...I was required to stay behind as a sentry until they got in."

The guards eyed him suspiciously before opening a much smaller door than the one Rimoru used.

This proved to be a better choice, since it brought Sarik several bookshelves down from the others.

The paladin nimbly followed their voices until they stopped. He listened closely as Rimoru muttered some sort of password, barely getting the words.

The door opened and through the book shelf, Sarik noticed thousands of mirrors, surrounding the walls. Sarik cautiously walked out of the aisle, to the mirror room. He was able to catch a glimpse of the last member step inside, before taking cover again. This place is full of traps...I should leave and warn the others... he thought as he nearly dashed through the aisles, and casually walking out, nodding to the guards again.

"I was ordered to keep watch in the palace again..." he mumbled as he held himself from running to the others.

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"And where will you go, mage? Back to sleep?" Kalzog asked as he continued to listen through.

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An Act? It had better be, for all out sakes, Maverion Thought Inzikai as he sneered at the demi-god.

Maverion, Transmit this order to everyone: We're searching for a book titled The Valtroxian Struggle. It holds the words needed to release Valtrox into this pitiful plane. Inzikai thought to Maverion as he had already walked down an aisle to search for the book.


You mortals have so much fun, Rothargot thought back as he slowly lifted his lips from Rimoru, who was breathing heavily, eyeing him silently with wide blue eyes. She moaned softly as Rothargot kissed up her nearly bare chest to her lips. "Last one, my love. Duty calls," he whispered quietly.

"No...I...need you," Rimoru gasped quietly.

"Another time, Rimmy, another time," Rothargot replied as he straightened Rimoru up. He had truly fallen for the near goddess. She was strong, beautiful, energetic, powerful...and always looking for a good time. She had indeed loosened up Rothargot...

Rimoru wrapped her arms around the demi-god, who returned his own embrace, picking her up slightly.

Suddenly, Rothargot felt a terrible pain all over his body. His skin stretched slightly and Rothargot fell away from the embrace.

"Rothy? Are you alright?" Rimoru whispered, a look of worry in her face.

"Stay Back, Rimmy...Stay...-" Rothargot spat out some blood.

Your sole dedication should be to me, Rothargot. Not to some mortal wench! For this, you have been punished to experience a death of a mortal. Valtrox's voice boomed in the minds of all those that worshipped him.

"Rothy!" Rimoru screamed as the demi-god doubled over, losing his lunch, as well as a great deal of blood.

The sickening sight brought tears down Rimoru's face, as Rothargot's skin ripped to shreds, leaving the demi-gods former demon form standing where Rimoru's lover had been.

"Rimoru...I must remain devoted to Valtrox..." Rothargot whispered sadly to Rimoru.

"It may seem like all I do is sleep, but I have something that must be done." Lorathin replied as he headed down to where they'd been in the wine celler. Finding a bottle of wine of the kind and location he'd been looking for, he headed to the kitchen and larder to get some of the rest of the things he needed.

"You two sound almost afraid and you are dragons." Cadeyrn growled while grinding his fingers into the leather hilt of his blade. "All I am is a pathetic little human with a big ass sword and a bad temper. Neither of you are prepared for a battle of this magnitude if you show such hesitation!"

Can I really rely on them when we're facing demons and a god? Even if it's impossible, we're still going to fight, so we might as well fight decently.

"Can we trust such a vast wealth of power and information in the hands of someone like Rimoru?" He added drawing a sly grin

"Perhaps it is you, Cadey, who do not realize the gravity of the situation. We do not even know where this library is, and they may have the book already. Rimoru likely has fallen for one of them, however, she may or may not know the consequences. She was engaged to Inzi, remember." Karasu stated.

"Now what?" She looked at Relthor. "Do you know where the library is? And before we go anywhere, I am changing from this kimono to my leather. Why do you two not talk it over and wait here while I go and change. It should take me just a few minutes." Karasu suggested.

I am sure the rest are in the library already and we do not know where it is or what the name of the damned book is!? Well, it is a given that they will have the book prior to us. Karasu mused as she walked up the outside wall into their room and changed, the same way she did last time.

"I know all too well what is going on. We're the good guys and they're the bad guys; what are we to do other than stop them?" He replied granting a warm smile.

Leaning against the nearby wall Cadeyrn studied the pieces of the shredder that littered the floor in a magnificent fashion.

"Hey Relthor, don't you know where the library is? Hell, you 'tutored' Rimoru so it should follow you know where the text books are." The slightly frustrated mercenary bellowed while tossing a slimy sprocket back and forth between his hands.

Karasu arrived downstairs in her leather with her cape covering her weapons.

"So, have we got a plan yet?" She asked Cadey and Relthor.

"I do know where the Library is," Relthor finally replied, beginning to pace around. "But I cannot get us to the restricted section...There's far too many traps and dangers. However, someone high up, such as Rimoru or even Mebbiwik the inventor can get us through, at least I would think so."

"I suggest we hurry...time is of the essence!"

**********************************************************

Rimoru stared teary eyed at Rothargot who had slowly moved away from her in search of the book.

With a stiffled cry, the empress ran out pass the waiting shredders, through the mirrors and out the front door. As she got out, she let out her sad cries as the ran to her palace, only wanting to get to her room.

**********************************************************
"Yeah...I bet he's sleeping...after eating..." laughed Kalzog as he listened through the door. "A spy glass that can amplify sound? Strange..."

Someone's crying could be heard nearby and Kalzog narrowed his eyes as he took his ear away from the door. "Hey, shut up over there!" he shouted before realizing it was the empress.

Rimoru stopped and looked at Kalzog. "That's no way to talk to a goddess!" she replied, poison in her voice. Suddenly, Kalzog was slammed into the doorway, breaking through and smashing into a book case.

Rimoru looked at Ar'mai as if debating what to do with her, before continuing her path to her room.

"Well, Rimoru has brought the others to the library, so we cannot get in that way... with all the traps, I suggest we do not just go barging in. We would not know where to look anyway. We could only get in with Rimmy, probably."
Karasu sighed.

"Looks like we are stuck." Karasu said, as she put her arm around Relthor and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She whispered to him "I felt the baby move!"

Relthor looked at her surprised. "The child!? I did not even notice you showing!" he said excitedly. "My love, perhaps all this fighting won't be good for us...I do not want to lose our child."

Suddenly, a panting skizzarish ran up the stairs.

"I'm glad I found you guys," Sarik gasped as he held onto the stairs. "I have...followed them...into the Library...know...code...know...way."

Relthor looked at Karasu and Cadeyrn, eyes wide.

"Well, I am not showing yet, but I felt something!" Karasu said excitedly.

Suddenly Sarik came running up the stairs saying he knew how to get us into the library and the area we need to be in.

"Do you think we should follow Sarik?" Karasu asked Cadey and Relthor.

"Relthor, I do not think the fighting should be a problem. If our child were to grow up in a world run by Valtrox... you know what I am saying." She looked into his eyes.

"So everyone?"

"I understand my love," Relthor replied with a smile, kissing Karasu on the cheek.

"No...us four won't do much against them...need rest of group," Sarik gasped as he looked at the three.

"Must...hurry...." Sarik said. "Meet at lobby...I need...my...armor...." he gasped as he once again bolted towards his room.

**********************************************************

"Infernal ogre!" growled Mebbiwik as Kalzog slammed into his bookcase, smashing through the machine on the floor. "Nosey fiends! Where's my control remote?"

The gnome jumped onto his desk and began to search for something under the piles of papers and books.

"I guess we go to the lobby then. I hope Sarik knows where the others are, because I sure do not." Karasu stated. "Ready?"

"I'm not sure where they are...I think we should go find them, split up and search the palace," Relthor replied. "Karasu, you search downstairs near the lobby, Cadeyrn, you search the other hallway. You're one of Rimoru's personal bodyguards so you may be allowed around there. I'll search this hallway."

"Sounds good. I am on my way." Karasu kissed Relthor and headed toward the lobby area.

"My love, I'll meet you within several minutes. This hallway doesn't take long to traverse," Relthor laughed at Karasu. "I can't wait until this is all over. We will live together, raise our child...it will be paradise."

With that, Relthor began to search the rooms.

**********************************************************

Rimoru was still crying as she looked up her stairs. Her old friend, her bodyguard, her old teacher.

Just ignore them, came a little voice in her head. Her conscience. Rimoru nodded sadly.

"Sounds wonderful Relthor! I will wait for you in the lobby." Karasu looked at Relthor lovingly, thinking of their child and the wonderful family they would have.

Rimoru passed Karasu on the staircase without even a glance in her direction. She turned the corner and stomped to her room.

Relthor was already halfway down the corridor when he noticed Rimoru sobbing like no other.

Relthor sighed as Rimoru came his way. "Rimmy, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.

"Relthor...I...I" Rimoru responded before throwing her arms around Relthor and buring her head in his chest.

"N-Now Rimoru, none of this now," Relthor replied as he patted Rimoru on the back. Oh...I hope Karasu isn't around... he thought worriedly as he scanned the area.
**********************************************************

"Get out!" growled Mebbiwik as he was still shuffling with the papers on his desk.

"Fine then," growled Kalzog as he got up. He put his hand on the gnomes desk as if for support, before grabbing the machine and bolting out the door.

"Infernal ogre!"

Karasu saw Rimoru pass her without a word, crying... She followed her around the corner, only to see her in Relthor's arms.

Karasu was furious. *ahem* She said. "What is this may I ask?"

She was tapping her foot on the floor glaring at them.

"Only...comforting the empress," Relthor replied quietly, not making eye contact.

Rimoru just remained with her head buried in Relthor's chest, his robes getting increasingly wet.

Get rid of Karasu...she is no friend of yours, came her conscience again. Images of Karasu and Rimoru playing together filled her mind.

How could I think such a thing? Karasu is the best friend I have ever had... she thought to herself sadly.

Karasu just stood there and stared at them... This is inappropriate Relthor... She thought.

Relthor shrugged and looked at Rimoru as if saying "She just came to me".

Rimoru's sobbing slowed down slightly.

If Karasu's your friend, why is she now with your original love Relthor? Why did she love the Patriarch? Isn't it a bit convenient how she left you to make love with the one that you couldn't get? She's spiting you, spite her back! came the voice again.

Rimoru looked up at Relthor, tears still in her eyes, before looking at Karasu, as if not quite sure what to do.

"Relthor... we are in the middle of something... or do you not remember." Karasu said, glaring at him.

So Rimmy's sad... well, she has been lying to us and helping evil demons! I cannot say I feel Relthor needs to 'comfort' her for any reason!

Cadeyrn agreed to Relthor's command and proceeded down the second hallway. It looked exactly like every other hallway in the place only adding to the labyrnith's difficulty.

"Hey! Riiiimmmooorruuu! Guuaaards! Somebody tell me me where you aarree!" He yelled as his voice echoed down the passage.

Demons, dragons, and gods. I knew I shouldn't have taken this job.

Relthor backed away from Rimoru.

"I'm sorry Rimmy, I have something to do," he replied quietly.

Rimoru nodded her head in understanding. "Yes, we all have something to do..."

Suddenly, she pushed against Relthor, wrapping her arms around him again. Relthor hit the wall somewhat hard as he felt Rimoru's full lips push against his.

Relthor tried to pull away, but he was trapped between Rimoru and a wall. He looked at Karasu for help, when he noticed Rimoru glanced at Karasu from the corner of her eyes. Her lips curled up in a wicked smile and Relthor looked puzzled as Rimoru took a breath.

"Karasu! Help!" shouted Relthor before Rimoru once again pushed herself to into Relthor's lips, standing on her toes. She was still smiling as a bright white light enveloped both Relthor and Rimoru.

As the white light settled, neither Rimoru nor Relthor were where they were...


**********************************************************

"'Ey! You! Keep it down," growled a guard to Cadeyrn. "Rimoru took her guests to the Library. You should know that..."

Lorathin, this time carrying a couple strangely bubbling brews, returned to see, or rather hear Relthor call for help, see a flash of light, and Karasu standing there. "What happened?"

"Well where exactly is the library, personally I find it troubling that the person I'm protecting left me behind. The group of people she was with weren't exactly kind and gentle either." Cadeyrn replied while approaching the guard.

"You bitch Rimmy~! What is wrong with you?! You're miserable so you have to make everyone else miserable! Fuckin' A!" Karasu yelled as they vanished.

"Cadey," Karasu yelled. "I am going to my room. I am not coming back until Rimoru releases Relthor!"

She is going to seduce him... I know it! The mother of his child... he's going to cheat on me!

Karasu walked outside up the wall and locked herself in her room crying.

Lorathin peiced the happenings together and cast a spell. It would send a message to Rimoru, even throught anything intervening. "Rimoru, please come here, I'd like to speak with you."

Rimoru and Relthor reappeared in Rimoru's room. Or, a version of Rimoru's room.

The glittering jewels that once adorned all her furiniture were gone. In fact, the room seemed to be quite dark. In fact, one small corner of her room was even darker...

Rimoru pulled away from Relthor, her grin still having that wicked look to it.

"Rimoru! Why did you do it? You know that I'm already with Karasu!" growled Relthor as he began to head towards the door.

"You're not leaving me that easily, Relthor," Rimoru chuckled as the door suddenly disappeared. "Do you remember that neither of us can be contacted? This room in itself is another realm...no telepathy, no banging on the wall, no nothing, can be heard..."

"Rimoru, no more games. We know what you're doing. Do you know what will happen if they get to the book?"

"For all I know, they're grabbing the History of Valtrox or something like that," Rimoru replied as she seductively walked towards Relthor, who slid against the wall, trying to walk away from her. He kept his eyes averted to a place where she was not.

I won't fall to her. My devotion is to Karasu and my mate if she is alive... thought Relthor.

"Oh Relthor, remember those days, two rebellious youths, making sweet love outside after you were trying to read me that boring textbook?" she giggled as she pressed herself against Relthor.

"Rimoru, they're getting a book to-"

Rimoru kissed Relthor passionately again, stopping him in midsentence.

Relthor's knees nearly buckled before he pushed Rimoru away.

"Rimoru! Stop!" he ordered. "Let me out! The future of the world is at-"

Suddenly, chains erupted from the wall, wrapping themselves around Relthor's wrists and ankles, and pulling him hard against the wall.

"No! Relthor, we were supposed to be together! We were supposed to love each other for all eternity! And now I find you with that...that...Karasu!" she growled as several vases exploded nearby.

"Rimoru, we were not allowed to love! Us dragons were banned from-"

"Shut up Relthor!" she boomed, a small table nearby began to crunch together as it imploded into a small wooden ball. She ran up to the chained dragon and kissed him ferociously.

"Rimoru, stop this! This is not you! I-I don't know who it is!" Relthor shouted.

**********************************************************

In the underworld, Habdebza smiled to himself. "Master, the Empress is way to easy to manipulate with these kinds of things..."

So it seems...Yet she would not kill her friends.

"Atleast she got rid of the Ageless one...If Sarik leads the others to the Library, they're doomed..." the demon chuckled.

**********************************************************

The guard cocked an eyebrow at Cadeyrn. "Well, if she left without you, maybe she didn't want you to tag along," he said matter-of-factly.

"Perhaps she was being coerced or under duress. Regardless if she didn't want me to tag along she would have ordered it so, not just disappear with a strange group without telling her personal bodyguard." Caderyn replied gritting his teeth.

"I doubt anything would threaten Rimoru, warrior. She is a god, you should know that. The dragons fear her, the gods fear her, the world fears her."

"Personal bodyguard? Not anymore it seems...did you do something to faulter her trust in you? Since you're not with her right now...she's either in bed with another, or you've been replaced," replied the guard to Cadeyrn, a cocky smile on his face.

"I don't think you understand the levity of the situation guard." Cadeyrn said wrapping his metal fingers around his neck and pushing him into the wall. "Do you understand what demons are fool? If you don't tell me where the library is I'll do things to ya that'll make you useless to a woman."

Cadeyrn's short fuse finally snapped between the dragons being vulnerable, Beau, and now this. He was ready to burn everything in his path.

"Now tell me or I'll burn you from the inside out." He growled as his body began heating up threatening to detonate the shell he forgot he had loaded in his arm.

The guards eyes were wide in terror as he slowly nodded. "You want me to tell you...or show you?" he gasped as he clawed at the metal fingers around his neck.

Lorathin felt the spell fizzle as Rimoru was no longer within it's range, which encompassed a massive portion of the prime plane. That meant that she had to have gone to another plane. That would mean more extreme measures were needed.

Heading to a door, he placed his hands on the frame as eldrich light danced across the door before it twisted into a formless hole. Unless Rimoru was being very paranoid, it should link to wherever she was.

"Show me please." Cadeyrn said with a sly grin as he relinquished the guard's throat. "Try anything, and the small cannon that is my arm will see to it you will become a fraction of what you are now."

The guard rubbed his neck and walked down the stairs, glancing at Cadeyrn every once in a while. "You know that Rimoru will kill you for this, if she finds out her ex-guard is threatening palace personnel. Cause that's what you are...a jealous ex-guard who has no life..." muttered the guard as he walked out of the palace towards a massive building.

**********************************************************

"Lorathin..." Rimoru said quietly as she felt along the wall.

Don't let him interfere...he denied you his love...another pawn of Karasu...

Immediately, Rimoru's face hardened and she changed the plane of her room, sending annoying shocks into Lorathin's doorway, to be felt by whomever walks into it.

"Rimmy...listen to me, please..." muttered Relthor as he attempted to free himself from the chains. "I do not know what has gotten over you. Tell me, what's wrong!"

Rimoru teleported to Relthor's side with a nasty look on her face. "You want to know what's wrong? Everything! My newest love has told me the same excuse everyone else has. 'Devotion to their Religion' or 'Beliefs'! What about my belief's what about me? I have feelings too! I'm not the goddess with no feelings! I don't want to be worshipped! I want to be loved, Relthor! Loved!"

Rimoru was crying again as she slumpted down on the ground. "Is love too much to ask?"

"Rimmy, I cannot love you. I already have my own loves that I have devoted myself to. The Patriarch...has an image to keep..."

"But he sleeps with Karasu?" Rimoru growled, floating to her feet.

Something is doing this to Rimoru...She does get jealous like this, yes, but I feel something else is pulling her strings Relthor thought with worry as more furniture was slammed into the walls, crumbling to dust.

"Damnation." Lorathin cursed as the door, it's frame and a good portion of the surrounding wall was torn apart by the interaction of the two spells, the backblast sending him flying.

"Let's try this again, if it doesn't work, no ones going to be happy." He muttered darkly, a scowl on his face. Heading down the corridor to another door, a good distance away from the first, he recast the spell, sending it again searching for Rimoru, this time with an analytic component which would try and get a reading on Rimoru's aura and general emotional and mental state, thought with her power, it was a chancy attempt for an accurate reading in the first place.

"Then let her kill me, she'll be safe and my job will be done." Cadeyrn replied before backhanding the guard with his metal hand. "There, now she can kill me for assaulting the palace 'guard' too."

The mercenary kept about a foot distance behind the guard and kept a close eye on his every movement. Also he was watching for any traps the guard might get brave enough to activate.

"I am no ex-bodyguard, if anything, call me a mad warrior who wants to settle some things. Also if you want to stick around there's going to be some demons to fight since you're in such a battling mood." He mused while nudging the guard forward with his cannon.

Sarik walked out of his door, in full plate armor, as he heard an explosion nearby.

"What's going on out here?" Sarik growled as he saw the burns along the door, along with Lorathin doing something to the door next to him. "What are you doing? Let's go, we gotta stop the others from getting the book!"

**********************************************************

Lorathin is trying to meddle with your mind...kill him...

Rimoru was in tears as she felt powerless, she once again slumpt to the floor. "No..." she whispered to herself as she remembered Lorathin's friendliness...

Why am I thinking this? What's happening to me? she thought sadly as she looked at the chained Relthor.

You are realizing how neglected you are. You should not be leader of a country of nomadic tribes and useless peasants...you should be leader of a world...you are a goddess...

Rimoru looked up to Relthor, who returned with a worried expression.

The Empress slowly got up and buried her head in his chest again. "Oh Relthor...I don't know what I'm doing..." she cried as her mind felt as though it had split in two.

She felt herself build up mental barriers to prevent any thorough search of her mind, however, despite her angry conscience, she did not build up the most protective ones...

"You dispicable," muttered the guard to the hulking bodyguard next to him as they stopped at the steps of the Library. Two other guards stood at attention near the doors.

"Here it is...don't expect me to get you any farther...I've never been in there...And I ain't going to be fighting any demons..."

"Well then go back and tell the empress what I've done if you find her. You might wanna put some ice on that lump to bring down the swelling." Cadeyrn added while walking up to the other guards with a grim look on his face.

"Guards, Rimoru is in danger, I need emergency access to the library." Cadeyrn barked while keeping a hand on the sword seathed on his back.

Lorathin frowned, Rimoru was blocking mental probing but that left the aura open, but there was something off about her aural state. While he was working on reminding his aural training, he sent a message throught the draining but open portal, a message sent tinged with love, and unconditional acceptance.

Rimoru, please come talk to me.

There was a bit of sweat running down his brow as he shot Sarik a look that said, I'm busy here.

The guards stood at attention, however did not open the door. "Do you have anything to prove either the fact that the Empress is in danger or your significance to her?"

"I'm afraid that only with her can certain areas be accessed..."

Habdebza smiled cruelly as Lorathin's message went through...

**********************************************************

Rimoru, please die for me came Lorathin's voice in her mind, tinged with a mocking tone of love.

Rimoru cried even harder as the message went through her mind.

The cruel laughing engulfed her mind, sending her sprawling to the ground. Images of her nightmare appeared in her vision.

The empress let out a terrible scream as she held onto her head.

"As if the metal arm and giant blade weren't proof enough." Cadeyrn grunted as he realized things might get needlessly violent again.

What about the stone?

He began digging through his pockets turning up empty as he remembered he had given it to Relthor earlier.

"You'll have to take my word for it." He said defeatedly.

"Well, did Rimoru ever tell you a secret?" asked one of the guards as they remained at attention.

Koryl was about to comment on Mebbiwik's discovery when Kalzog came crashing through the door. He turned swiftly to face the intruder, his sword flashing into his hand, then sheathed it when the oger showed no sign of attacking.

Then Kalzog picked up a machine and ran.
"Hey! Put that down!" Koryl called after him. "You want me to try to get it back from him?"

"What are you braindead! Of course get me my machine!" growled Mebbiwik as he continued shuffling through the papers. "I'll have shredders all over his back once I find my remote!"

The messing with his message was Habdebza first mis-step when dealing with Lorathin. While he may not have been able to discern the taint in Rimoru's aura, he could most certainly detect tainting in his own spells. The scarring over his left eye blazed incandesent.

"You just screwed up big time demon." Lorathin said, or at least that's how the message came across in an implacable voice, sending the message directly into Habdebza's mind, "Now do you want to come here, or do you want me to drag you here."

Cadeyrn began scratching his head as head thought back over their short time spent around each other. Scanning every memory for small insignifigant meaning and subtleties.

"Nothing too personal other than her affair with Relthor and her friendship with miss Karasu." He paused for a moment before slapping his forehead.

He dug into his back pocket and revealed a long torn parchment.

"I have this contract verifying my services in the name of the empress." He said smiling proudly.

The sad thing is he was guessing on most of the words...Cadeyrn could barely read.

Koryl raced off in pursuit of the oger. Though Kalzog had considerably longer legs, Koryl was surprisingly fast.

"Put that down, I said!"

ooc: It would not be a good idea by bringing Habdebza to the mortal plane...lol 1. He's nearly invincible (even Kalzog wouldn't stand a chance) 2. I don't have a bio for him yet...LOL...He's going to come up in the next installment of the trilogy.

Oh you would do me an honor by bringing me there...And of course my master... Realize that you will also kill the Empress in doing so... laughed Habdebza.

Sarik noticed Lorathin's scarring beginning to shine. "Lorathin, Let's go!" he said, staring at the mage's scars.

Suddenly Kalzog bolted up the stairs. "Time to go!" he shouted as he took hold of Lorathin and ran back down the stairs, out the doors, and towards the Library.

Sarik knocked on the Karasu's door. "Please Karasu, come with us! Time is of the essence!"

The guards snatched the parchment and unravled it as best they could.

"Ah, Cadeyrn...Rimoru spoke much of you when you were away..." one of the guards said.

"Unfortunately, we have heard of terrible traps in there. Where we stand right now is as close as we'll ever get."

"There is a way of getting in there, however...Since rumors have it that Rimoru was quite forgetful as a child and a teenager, her parents and herself created books with clues as to how to get in."

"So if you're in trouble-"

"Look into the books."

"Good luck, Cadeyrn," both guards said at the same time as they gave the bodyguard his parchment back.

Hurrying closely behiind Kalzog, Koryl almost crashed into Sarik. At the last moment, he managed to dodge around the paladin.
EDIT: Wait, back down the stairs... so Kalzog turned around, then?

Give me gods to fight, dragons to serve, and demons to slay; anything but reading!

"Thanks." He said with obviously fake enthusiasm proceeding forward and taking his contract back. "I should be back soon enough."

ooc: LoL kind of. He ran down the hallway to grab Lorathin, before running back to the stairs and running down it.

Sarik looked towards the chase and turned to Karasu again. "Karasu, if this is about earlier, I'm deeply sorry! I acted childish...however...this is not a good time for it! Please hurry!"

The guards bowed and a small door next to the giant grand doors opened.

Cadeyrn quickly entered and was considering just blasting a path through the library.

"This is just great Cade, as soon as you take the bookworm home this happens." He muttered to himself.

Karasu decided that saving the good people of the planet was more important than whatever Rimmy and Relthor were doing... and she knew what.

With tears in her eyes, she nearly flew to the library entrance to see Sarik, Cadey, Lorathin with two guards.

As she was running she yelled, "I do not care what that spoiled brat does." Karasu looked at the two guards. "I am actually Rimmy's best friend. She betrayed me. We have been friends since we were children."

"What is up? We need to find a book to get in, I suppose." Her eyes turned solid black and she looked at the guards. "I take it you are not illiterate," she spat out with venom in her voice. "You will help, or I will take you apart right now. If you do not believe me, try me. Rimmy would never kill me. Betray me yes, kill me; no. She has no idea she has been used by demons who she led into the private parts of the library."

Karasu was so angry at Rimmy, and was becoming furious with Relthor for not leaving, and knowing he would not resist her. Looks like he will never see his child. She mused.

Her anger was being taken out on the guards, and good thing. She grabbed two books... "Here, each of you look through one. We are trusted friends of Rimmy even if it does not appear so. She may have spoken of her best friend: her childhood friend Karasu. That is me.... Now READ!" She yelled.

While Koryl was distracted by his near-collision with Sarik, Kalzog thundered past going in the opposite direction.
How on Earth did something that big turn around that quickly? Koryl wondered, while racing after the ogre again.

Sarik chased after the rampaging Karasu. Apparently now everyone was running about the palace.

The guards looked at each other and back at Karasu. They opened their mouths to say something when books were shoved into their hands.

"Ma'am...we..."

"No! Wait!" shouted Sarik as he finally got there. "This way! I know the way!"

The paladin darted through the book shelves until he reached a seemingly dead end. "One of these books...I know it! Look for a blank book with only one sentence in it. Then read that sentence out loud!"

Kalzog growled as he pulled out a book and held it, unknowingly upside down. "You elves, humans, skizzarish and all you others sure change your writing many times..."

"Will do Sarik! Everyone watch for traps! The shredders are not easy to destroy, despite the fact that Cadey did it to one." Karasu said, as she rummaged through the books.

She yelled back at the guards, "What are you waiting for!? Get over here and help! Put it this way, if we do not get through here, the entire earth may be destroyed! I hope that is some incentive. Rimmy in her selfishness never considered the fact." Karasu said with disdain.

Karasu felt she ruined everything Sarik believed in. As they were going through books, she walked over to him.

"Sarik, please do not let the fact that the Patriarch and I were in love affect your opinion of him. Let it make you trust him more. He is capable of such true love, I cannot describe it in words. His kindness is beyond what is imaginable." Karasu continued. "He was a virgin until we fell in love. He never wanted anyone to know after that, as he did not women trying to seduce him. My guess is I may be his only love, however that does not matter. You must know he is more loving and kinder than you believe. I know so." She implored Sarik to take in this fact.

"Karasu, I wish I didn't succumb to my anger earlier. My outburst was uncalled for...Please, let us talk about this at a different time," Sarik said as he took hold of another book.

The guards were searching around the area. "Hey, I think I found a clue!" shouted one of them.

"It says 'Past one's reflection lies the teeth of one's protection..."

"We're looking for a blank book," replied the other.

"No, wait! Keep that one!" shouted Sarik as he took the book from the guard, setting it down on it's pages. "Keep looking!"

Maverion sent the name of the book to the other two and began searching when the gruesome thing happened to Rothargot. He did not know what to do, but after a while, the demon seemed to be fine again.

Teralynn merely watched on. What Rothargot was going through could not possibly compare to what she was going through, or so she thought.

After Rimoru ran out the room, Mave wondered whether he should follow after her or not. Getting her to find the book for them would be much more efficient, after all. But realizing that she was inconsolable, he went back to looking for the book. Scanning the library with his mind, he hoped to find some kind of energy signature that would indicate the book he was looking for. However, many of those books were emitting some sort of strange and undecipherable energy, which did not help. However, one section of books seemed to radiate more of that strange energy than the others. He went in that direction and started looking through them. Trying to figure out the pattern of the library system, he looked for alphabetization of titles, book type or category, and the likes until he narrowed down to the shelf where he figured the book may be.

Then, right in front of him sat a thick tome. I've found it, he sent to the others before reaching out with a hand for it.

"OK Sarik... I just do not want my relationship with him to ruin your faith in him."

Karasu grabbed more books, but had an idea that the one Sarik was looking at was the one they needed.

"Remember to watch for odd traps when we get into the restricted area!" Karasu repeated. "I cannot stress this enough."

At the same time, she was so upset about Relthor and Rimmy that she had physical pain in her chest. She still could not believe that her love and their family was now destroyed by Rimmy. That fucking bitch. I will never forgive her!

Koryl followed the others into the library, still hurrying. As he drew near the area where they were searching, though, he began to move more quietly. There were clearly a lot of people present, and he wanted to know a bit more about the group before stepping right into the middle of it.

Cadeyrn sat and began shuffling through the books looking for a blank one. He would catch words that he knew or recognized from before, but overall the books may have well been written in Hellspeak to him.

ooc: Wow Rhinara...I was just thinking to myself "I hope Rhinara comes on soon!" and bam! You're here!

Inzikai pushed Maverion out of the way. "Excellent...the book. Let's get out of here," he growled as he took hold of the dark tome.

**********************************************************

Kalzog pulled out a grey book with no title. "Heh...my kind of book," he chuckled as he flipped through the blank pages.

"Let the path to Knowledge be k-noun?" Kalzog said quietly. "Oh wait, known! Known!"

The wall opened up, revealing a room full of mirrors.

"Oh...so theres the reflections..."

"Then the teeth of one's protection...bodyguards?"

"Shredders..."

Sarik shivered at the idea. "Follow me, I think I know which mirror is the right one."

Cadeyrn followed smiling.

"Shredders shouldn't be a problem with Kalzog and I here." He said approaching the room.

Karasu followed Sarik immediately, keeping an eye on the shredders. She did not know if they would activate or not, but she did not intend for her and her child to be shredded.

"Cadey, I likely have the same strength as you. I saw an entire room of these things. Kalzog would be torn to shreds and you will not last long with only a sword. Alternate plans should be running through your head right now! Everyone is underestimating them based on the one Cadey smashed. Well that was tiny and slow compared to the ones I saw." Karasu informed them.

"OK, where to Sarik."

(OOC: That's cause I'm psycho, Blastit. Err, I mean, psychic! Psychic!)

Maverion released the book and started to head back out, but being the paranoid guy that he was, he sent his mind in front of them to search for possible dangers, even though they came through without much incident earlier. This time, it paid off, as he found several people roaming around in the main section of the library.

"Wait," he told the others. There are other people out there. They're not Rimoru or her guards. I think they're the people you, Lord Inzikai, came with.

Teralynn rolled her eyes. She hoped these people were not looking for a fight, as she was not in the mood for one, given her condition. But chances were, if these people were also here to take the book, that a fight was on its way.

Maverion grabbed a few of the tomes that were adjacent to the one they wanted and held them out for Inzikai to take. This will confuse them as to which book it is, unless they already know the name of the book, my lord.

"I think it's this mirror..." Sarik said as he poked one of his daggers through it. It slid cleanly through.

"Don't insult me, Karasu! I'm invincible!" chuckled Kalzog as he patted the dragon queen on the back, rather roughly, however what is rough to others, is quite soft to Kalzog.

"Yup, that's it!" he said as he pulled out the dagger, immediately frowning as he saw cracks in the dagger, before it fell apart.

"I suppose not...Then it's this one."

Again, Sarik tested the mirror with his dagger and pulled it out. Nothing seemed wrong with the dagger. "Excellent! I think it's this one!"

**********************************************************

Inzikai nodded at Maverion as he recieved his book. "This plan had better work, Maverion," he growled as he fiddled through the book. It was apparantly a cookbook.

Suddenly, the shredders activated, blades spinning in every possible area on the deadly machine as they slowly marched towards the lonely mirror.

Koryl peered carefully around a line of bookshelves, looking for the ogre.

"Do you hear that?" Karasu asked. "There is some noise on the other side and I recognize it... the shredders have been activated... and if we can hear them from here...."

Mave moved over to Inzikai to protect him in case the shredders should attack him, but the machines did not appear to be interested in that Skizzarish.

Sending his thoughts to the vampire, he said, Valerith, how are things going out there? We may need you in here soon.

Teralynn made herself and the carpet she was on disappear. Then a Teralynn reappeared standing near Inzikai and Maverion, ready to do battle should battle come.

"Only a sword? You forget I have the cannon at my disposal as well, not to mention, other talents." He said unseathing his massive blade. "Besides, I have a plan."

He turned his head as the heard the whirling coming from nearby.

"Sounds like it's funtime." Cadeyrn said grinning.

"Well Cadey... I sure hope you have a plan..."

In the back of her mind, Karasu was wondering what Rimmy and Relthor were doing.

ooc: I am just going to say that Ar'mai was with them the whole time.

Sarik tensed as he walked back slightly, pulling out his sword. "Will they come out here?"

"Most shredders in the palace are only designated to remain in certain areas...I doubt these are any different, however some, especially battlefield Shredders, are allowed to roam wherever there's an enemy...but I doubt they'd fit in a mirror like that," replied one of the guards.

The guards looked at each other and bowed to Karasu and the others. "It was nice to know you, however we must...take our leave," they said together.

**********************************************************

Rothargot looked at the others and smiled, before his form seemed to disentigrate into the floor.

Inzikai growled as Rothargot disappeared. "What are we going to do with these books? Clobber them to death?"

Inzikai tossed his book on the ground and pulled out his falchion, and twirled it around with extreme efficiency. "Books..." he muttered as he glared at Maverion and Teralynn.

"Where'd your carpet go?" he asked Tera when he noticed it disappeared.

-It seems to be a stalemate. The intruders aren't moving, and neither are the guards. I'm on my way.-
Valerith, still keeping an eye on Harlin and Minos, floated down toward the library.

With the slight shrug of one of her shoulders, Teralynn said, "I sent it off. Rugs do not fare very well in battles."

Maverion stayed quiet on the matter, and instead sent his mind out in search of Rothargot.

To Valerith, How did the intruders get in to the library? I'm guessing they didn't walk through the front door.

If that way was still a viable exit, Mave would suggest slipping out through there instead of fighting their way out through the front door.

Karasu did her best to try not to think of Rimmy and Relthor, but it was difficult.

"So, are we going to fight for the book, or follow them when they leave? Anyone have a plan?"

"Fight," Kalzog growled as he walked into the mirror. His tattoos shined brightly as his skin tingled slightly. Suddenly, he found himself in a room filled with Shredders.

"Wow...never expected such a welcome," he chuckled as shredders were approaching.
**********************************************************

Inzikai could see the big ogre over the gaps between the shredders. Although he would feel someone badly once the ogre was 'shredded', it was all for his master.

"I can already smell victory," Inzikai sneered.

"Kalzog, they are not that easy to deal with!!! Careful!" Karasu yelled.

Now that Kalzog walked in, it seemed they would have to fight. Karasu sighed. She should have assumed Kalzog would have been so impulsive.

Sarik sighed as he jumped in to join the ogre...

Only to nearly get his legs sliced off. Luckily, two large hands pulled him upwards onto a book shelf.

"They won't touch the books...nor can we...they have many spells on them," he growled as he sat impatiently watching the shredders.

Karasu jumped onto the bookshelf as well.

"Now... how do we get the book?" Karasu was getting tired... unfortunately other things had her preoccupied.

While the people coming through the mirror were busy with the shredders, Maverion began reading their minds as best he could, one by one.

"We get passed them," Kalzog growled as he pointed to the shredders. " And beyond that...your best friend, Inzikai."

Sure enough, Inzikai along with two others were with him. Yet, no sign of the elf.
**********************************************************

Inzikai smiled as he noticed Karasu sitting atop the bookshelf. "Someone throw stuff at them...try to knock them into the shredders."

-There's a skylight that opens. They used that to get out, and I assume that's how they got in.-
Valerith was heading for the skylight himself - it looked like the most convenient entrance.

Cadeyrn sprinted towards Kalzog with his massive blade dragging across the floor slowly emitting flames. Before hitting the pile of shredders he cocked the bolt in his metal arm and firing an explosive shell into the closest one.

In the dense smoke and debris he scaled one of their backs and awaited it's self defense.

"Then we just have to jump from bookshelf to book shelf. Easy enough." Karasu began bounding and flipping over the shredders faster than they could emit steam, and landed on each bookshelf going toward Inzi.

"Ha! Inzi! I was right about you all along! You could hardly disguise you were working for the V-Man... Oh... and you have a group of friends... that we also knew about. Your stealth needs some work."

Karasu looked at the giant elf. "Oh, I believe you destroyed Rimoru, by the way. I hope you are happy with yourself." Karasu knew the elf had some feelings for her.

She continued toward them.

Three blades came swinging out of it's back, along with the constant vertical rotation of it's side blades. If Cadeyrn reached its head, it would emit blasts of steam at the large warrior.

Karasu saw the shredder Cadey was dealing with, and split her nihonto in half while spinning and tripple flipping over it so fast, cracking the blades, it could not respond with steam in time before she was on the next bookshelf. This was her 'gymnastic style'. It had a name, but it was handed down from her family.

My lord, Maverion thought to Inzikai. There is a skylight that some thieves went through when they tried to steal the book - people from that group, no doubt. We can exit through that on the carpet and leave here with the book immediately.

He then focused on the one that was making the most progress toward them: Karasu. She seemed to be talking to no one, since Rothargot was no longer there, making Maverion wonder about her mental stability. Regardless, an invisible force came seemingly out of nowhere to slam Karasu into a group of shredders waiting below her as she was busy with Cadeyrn's shredder.

Teralynn moved forward a little bit, her metal fans clutched in her hands. The other Teralynn, absent from sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, slowly picked up the book that Inzikai had dropped behind him and had stopped paying attention to. Once she picked up the book, it would disappear from all senses as well.

ooc: Hyper, Rothargot is no longer the 6 foot elf. He's in his demon form again. Also, he disappeared from sight, so he is no where around ;)

Inzikai only smiled at Karasu.

"What? You knew my ruse all along? Oh dear! What am I going to do?" he mocked surprise and hopelessness.

"It's to late, you worthless sack of rubbish! Once we're out of here, the world is ours! And nothing any of you can do will save you!" he laughed as he swung his sword around, taunting the assassin.

Kalzog leapt from bookshelf to bookshelf, attempting to follow Karasu. "Now that's no way to talk to a lady!" he growled.

"Oh? I'm surprised to see an ogre in a Library..."

Kalzog only snarled at the comment.

Sarik looked from bookshelf to bookshelf. "Uh...plate mail...isn't quite jumping material..." he said.

A gyser of skin melting steam sprayed the warrior directly in the face. However, the mercenary just drew a smile as his skin only turned a bright red from the heat. With it's overhead blade's out of whack and the steam a non factor Cadeyrn grabbed a hold and began swatting at the other shredders from atop the one.

"It's like riding a bike Karasu!" He exclaimed whacking his massive blade against the metal shredders.

Just hope to god they don't decide to take thier friend apart.

The warrior's blade smacked against their armor and sent hollow thuds ringing throughout the area.

ooc: oops... let's just say she never said that!

Karasu spun with her blades and when she destroyed the shredder she was thrown into, she threw her scythe on a chain over the skylight and swung up to it and onto the roof, looking down at the others.

She began to throw Kunai at Inzi, while trying to use the scythe to hook the book. Karasu continued the brutal assault against the asshole.

"You are such an ugly motherfucker! And you call me names?"

She then pulled out some poison tipped kunai and sent them in droves toward the enemies.

Lorathin cursed as he was hijacked by Kalzog, but not before shooting one last message to the demon, "You'd have been dead had I not gotten interrupted, and possibly even your stinking boss."

"Put me down, I've got to get that damn demon out of Rimoru's head." Lorathin shouted at Kalzog as he was carried to the library and dropped, which knocked the wind out of him.

As the others duked it out, Lorathin got his breath back and began looking for an opening, difficult considering they were intermixed, making targetting the baddies difficult at best.

ooc: Lorathin had a plan(and theoretically it could have gotten rid of Val as well)

"Now now, Karasu, you're the one in trouble," Inzikai said as he moved his large falchion into the path of the deadly projectiles, deflecting them away. "Perhaps when you're in a position to actually start talking back to me...which will be never," he laughed again as he continued to taunt Karasu.

"How'd you know about that skylight?" he asked Maverion as he kept his eye on Karasu.

"Does anyone else want a lift to the roof?" Karasu asked her comrades as she continued her assault and her attempt at the book.

ooc: He theoreticically should have done it! :p

The book disappeared out of all five senses, aided by the fact that everyone was so busy fighting.

Valerith, Mave thought to the vampire. Get the woman on the roof, by the skylight. He then stepped behind a bookshelf that blocked the incoming kunai's.

Next, with an incredible invisible force, he pulled Sarik down into the awaiting shredders from a distance.

"Uh... if you're talking to me... I can SEE it, you dope!" Karasu replied.

As Inzi flung the kunai back, she grasped each one and flung them at his comrades.

Several times she had hooked the book, but failed to bring it up, tearing it in the process. If she could destroy it, perhaps they did not need it.

Karasu began assaulting the book with knives and the scythe.

ooc: It may have annoyed both of them, but it certainly would not have gotten rid of any of them ;)

"Karasu! Try to get me!" Sarik shouted as he rolled himself away from the shredders barrage

"Yes Karasu! Where's your Relthor now?" he cackled as he pulled out several objects from his cloak.

One of Lord Rothargot's followers, a vampire, watched as the thieves when it happened, Maverion explained to Inzikai. He should be coming here to aid us any moment now.

Tell him to wound the annoyance on the roof, but not kill her...I want to do that myself Inzikai thought back as he paced around.

"Surely you can do better, assassin? You certainly show nothing of what you have been bragging about...top notch assassin? Myrlings can do better than that!" Inzikai shouted, clearly enjoying this as he could finally taunt Karasu.

Lorathin smiled as he saw what the shredders were made of. He began casting spells, pointing a finger at each shredder, a rust coloured beam lancing out to strike the metal. Hopefully they'd begin rusting from the point the beam hit them.

ooc: He got interrupted by the Ogre's abduction, otherwise he would have.

The visible Teralynn tried to get the cookbook out of the way of Karasu's weapons as it was being torn asunder. She quickly kicked it behind a bookshelf that would make it out of view from the skylight while dodging the poisoned projectiles.

Yes, my lord, Mave told Inzikai.

Yet, this request would make an already difficult situation more dangerous. So, to Valerith, Mave thought, Kill her as quickly as possible.

Valerith dove suddenly past Minos & Harlin and through the skylight. He was moving as fast as he could, now, and would reach the fight in moments. When he reached the room, the vampire headed straight for Karasu.

Karasu swung the scythe down and yelled to Sarik, "Grab the chain part!" and swung him up.

"Inzi, you are not worth even speaking with. Predictable, as I said."

Like a large hammer, another invisible force came out of nowhere to try to bash Sarik back down to pin him to the ground for a shredder to make short work of him.

ooc: It is nye impossible to get rid of a god, and just as hard with something as powerful as Habdebza. By the end of this trilogy, I doubt Valtrox would even be dead

Lorathin's beam fizzled out as it struck an invisible forcefield around the shredder. Although the shredders were invented by Mebbiwik, certain types, especially the Library ones, were imbued with enchantments by Rimoru and the heads of the Magic Colleges nearby.
**********************************************************

"Whatever you say, Karasu," Inzikai laughed as he casually flung a wicked looking knife into Sarik's arm, causing him to lose the already battered skizzarish to lose grip and crash to the ground, with help from Maverion's telekinetic powers.

Ar'mai was the last of the group to step through the mirror and into the fray. Looking around briefly to analyze the situation, she unhooked her bow from her back and began notching arrows. With two simple spells in mind, each arrow she fired was enchanted.

Each arrow she fired miraculously split into three arrows of the same size as the original. When the arrows came in contact with anything at all, they would release a strong electrical charge (capable of burning, frying, zapping, etc.). Hail after hail of arrows were fired and soared across the room at various targets...

Karasu swung the scythe and yelled for Sarik to grab the chain with his other arm. As she did so, she nailed Inzi in the arm he was about to use to throw another knife at Sarik. "Bingo".

Sarik swung up easily with Inzi busy removing the knife.

"Crud." Lorathin commented as he saw the spell fail. He chuckled and decided to try another approach.

He cast a spell to that would hopefully pit the shredders against each other rather than the people inside the library.

ooc: Hence the theoretical part. It could work, but likely wouldn't unless Valtox was not paying attention at all(more likely to zap the demon as they're much less powerful). It's also an exceptionally dangerous spell to use, if you want more info will tg, otherwise we'll leave it as that, as I'd doubt Lorathin would get another chance to try it.

Inzikai noticed Ar'mai suddenly appear. Immediately, his face softened until arrows came carrening towards them. With a mighty spell, Inzikai summoned a death field around him. Anything to pass through it would immediately disintigrate into ash. Yet this powerful spell drained the powerful lord as he walked into in between two shelves to regain his strength.

Behind Ar'mai, in the shadows, two Red orbs formed as the mammoth demon Rothargot appeared behind her. As he was about to grab the elf, the massive Ogre leaped into the demi-god, sending both sprawling across the floor, the massive demon creating sparks as he went.

"Run!" Kalzog shouted to Ar'mai as Rothargot roared, shaking the very Library.

"Run!" Kalzog shouted to Ar'mai as Rothargot roared, shaking the very Library.

Ar'mai didn't need to be told twice. While she was a very able close quarters fighter, she was nothing compared to those who specialized in it. And with two hulking figures battling it out, she didn't want to be anywhere close...

She dashed nimbly off to the side and ducked behind a row of bookshelves. Every couple of seconds one of her magical arrows would shoot out from an odd space in the bookshelves and fly towards their targets.

Valerith swooped toward Karasu, scanning her weapons for holy symbols and other possible threats. His hands were out-stretched and talon-like, and his eyes blazed crimson.

"Ar'mai! Grab the chain!" Karasu yelled from the roof, thinking she could shoot easier from above.

Karasu saw Inzi between the bookshelves, and started chucking throwing knives at him. Even if they did disintigrate, the obviously weakened him.

"Sarik, we need to find a way to tip over the shelves... at least some of them... then we can mangle that book up some more and maybe crush Inzi."

Karasu saw the being coming at her and slashed it with a scissors move using two kodachi. Her eyes turned solid black as her anger rose. She was getting sick of this. She was ready for his next assault, should there be one.

"Sarik! Help me with this vampire thingy!" She yelled.

The visible Teralynn was busy keeping the likewise visible cookbook out of reach of Karasu and the others.

Maverion ducked behind another bookshelf as he noticed arrowed coming in his direction. One of those arrows slammed into the shelf and released an electrical charge into the surrounding area. Standing near the fringe of that area, one small bolt zapped Maverion in the hand.

Since the zap was small, it more surprised him than it did hurt. Clutching his electrified hand with the other, he moved down the shelves to avoid coming close enough to these strange arrows that he would be hit full on by its electrical discharge.

As Karasu was busy with Inzikai and attacked by Valerith, the other Teralynn thought to Mave, Quick, get me out of here.

She, the book, and the carpet she was riding on were made to be undetectable to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. They flew to the skylight without so much as a passing breeze or a shadow.

Maverion then renewed his effort to crush Sarik into the ground. While the Skizzarish paladin was not so easily crushable, the invisible force Mave exerted would still be challenge for Sarik to even get off the ground.

Again, the Lorathin's spell fizzled against the shredder.

Sarik noticed this attempt as he got up, pulling out the dagger in his arm. The serrated weapon was very dangerous to take off, as it may take out more muscle than Sarik would like.

"Azrael, try to smash them together! Then they'll shred each other apart!"

**********************************************************

Rothargot tossed the ogre away ten feet away and rosed to his feet.

Kalzog rolled to avoid a shredder's blade before coming to his feet in front of the demon. He scanned the massive demon and smiled. "No big..." he laughed wickedly as he got into a stance to handle the big demon.

Rothargot extended his wings, letting the fire emanate from them. "Ar'mai is to die, mortal...don't get in my way..."

"Oh, a talking one? Let's see how well you talk when you're through with me!"

Kalzog charged at the demon, throwing a punch into the demi-god's chest, barely having an effect. It only crumbled the demon's rock hard skin slightly.

With a deep laugh, Rothargot took hold of Kalzog's arm and sent surges of terrible heat at the ogre. Before tossing him off into a bookshelf, knocking it over.

**********************************************************

"Karasu...I'm..having...my own trouble...I'm afraid," Sarik gasped as the pressure mounted.

Lorathin frowned, the mechanical monstrocities were annoyingly resistant. He decided to follow Sarik's suggestion, but take it to the next level.

Casting a draining spell, it was intended to cause large(about the size of the base of a shredder) to begin tossing the shredders into the air at each other where they could clash and then go after each other with a vengence.

He dropped to a knee, which just saved him from being clobbered by the flying ogre.

Valerith stopped suddenly, the two blades hissing past mere inches from his chest. He retreated slightly, looking around to see if his target's call for help would be answered. Hearing Sarik's reply, he advanced carefully...

Rothargot grinned sinisterly as he stomped towards Lorathin and the Ogre, his feet cracking the marble floor, as well as charring it.

"Azrael, get outta the way!" growled Kalzog as he pulled out his club.

Meanwhile, Koryl was searching the area outside the room of mirrors for the machine Kalzog had made of with. If the ogre had set it down out here, perhaps he could find it.

Lorathin nodded and moved out of the way as the two titans(so to speak) clashed with each other.

And so Teralynn slipped out unnoticed with the book in her arms, flying away from the library and the fighting, where the fake Teralynn and the decoy book were. Remaining as undetectable as possible, she wondered how to get in contact with Valtrox. Rothargot seemed to be able to get in touch with the god on a whim. Perhaps she could as well with her newly given powers.

The problem was how she was to do it, as she was never taught that skill. So she simply spoke in her mind, Lord Valtrox.

Valerith swooped toward Karasu, scanning her weapons for holy symbols and other possible threats. His hands were out-stretched and talon-like, and his eyes blazed crimson.

Harlin saw the creeping shadow, and called out to Karasu, "Quick, scratch a cross into your blade!"

He turned back to Minos, "So much for escaping, we've got to fight now!"

Minos smiled, and the air rumbled his response, "Aye."

Harlin flung himself off of the air mass he had shared with Minos, and dropped three stories to land almost catlike on the field of battle. To take care of that vampire... Harlin drew one of his throwing knives, this one made of silver, and inscribed with runic symbols in gold filligree. As he ran across, he unleashed it at the shadowing figure stalking up behind Karasu, hoping his aim was true.

He didn't wait to see if it had been.

I must retrieve the book, before Rothargot does! He turned down the aisle that Bilden Ston had taken him to earlier, and examined the book once more. Damn it all to hell, he thought, What's the trick?

Kalzog roared as he slammed his mighty club into Rothargot's side, the rock formation that was his chest deforming slightly before coming back together. Rothargot let out a pained grunt.

The ogre looked surprised for a second before slamming his club again, with the same affect. Again, Kalzog set to smashing his club into Rothargot, only to have it grasped within his hands.

Rothargot pulled the club roughly, sliding the ogre into his fist.

**********************************************************

Teralynn...the wonder mortal, came Valtrox's voice, in a gleeful tone. You are quite sneaky, however somewhat cowardly.

Nonetheless, you have my book, right?

Teralynn was almost surprised at how easy it was to get in touch with Valtrox, though the cowardice remark was not taken too greatly. She did not make that noticeable, though. I do whatever it takes to fulfill your desire, my Lord Valtrox, she replied. And yes, I have the book with me. What do you wish of me to do with it?

***

While keeping his push on Sarik, Maverion looked up to see the situation above. Seeing the knife thrown at the vampire, Mave quickly used his mind to alter its course slightly, thus making it fly toward Karasu instead of Valerith.

In the meanwhile, his force on Sarik lightened just slightly as he split his focus between the two tasks, but as soon as he sent the knife after Karasu, he went back to trying to crush Sarik.

Minos, remained floating in the air, and was disturbed by what it told him. The white brilliance in his eyes shone bright as the sun, and flashed like lightning through the air.

The air rumbled again, "Woman, you believe that you can sneak past me? My percipience tells me far more than you know. Perhaps you would like to give me the book now, and spare yourself the pain of me wresting it from you."

Meanwhile, a whisper of a breeze in Harlin's ear told him that the book was a fake, and a quick touch to it proved the fact, he was not propelled into the opposite bookshelf this time. Damn them... he thought before pulling his scimitars from their scabbards, and charging into battle.

Quiet though Harlin's landing was, Valerith did not miss it. He turned quickly at the sound, just in time to see a dagger flashing towards him. With no time to examine the blade, he dodged frantically to one side. He was barely swift enough; if the throw had been slightly better centered, it would still have hit him solidly. As it was, the knife grazed his side. Silver did nothing to him, but hte weapon held enough holy power to make it a serious blow. Valerith hissed in pain, staggering, then headed after Harlin with a snarl. This injury would take a long time to heal, but it shouldn't slow him down too much.

"You die for that!"

OOC: The book's gone already.

Just realized that lol... tried to make up for it w/ my last post...

Harlin heard the threat, and stopped, turning to the vampire. He noticed the wound his blade had left, and smiled.

"More likely it will be you who dies tonight." He pulled a small vial from his studed leather vest, and pour its contents onto one of his scimitars. It seemed to emit a small amount of light now. I'm glad that Shara gave me this water, blessed by the High Mother of the Sisterhood of the White Rose...

*****************************************************

Shara had woken to an empty bed, and an open window, and drew the only conclusion. He could have at least told me where he was going... she thought. She stood, and donned her armor, and left through the door, and headed off in the only logical direction: to the Library.

OOC: Ah, yes... so you did. Anything special about those scimitars?
EDIT: Nevermind, I see the answer.

"That is possible." the vampire admitted, watching the Holy Water drenched blade warily. "I've died before..."

He advanced carefully, ready to dodge if Harlin swung.

Kalzog grunted as he was thrown into another bookshelf. He spat out some blood as he examined his burnt arm. The tattoos glowed fiercly as Kalzog cursed under his breath. "Why aren't you working?" he growled at them.

Suddenly, Rothargot kicked the ogre in the stomach, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"Pathetic...my master told me to be aware of a demi-god hunter...that cannot be you," growled the demi-god. Kalzog roared as he sprung up and charged into the demi-god, slamming the surprised Rothargot into a bookshelf.

Kalzog began to cast a deadly spell few knew of until he felt faint. He knelt down on one knee. "Curse you Rimoru..." Her wards were not working to Kalzog's favor.

Rothargot laughed as he took hold of the ogre and took to the sky, slamming the ogre through the roof.

Kalzog landed next to Karasu as Rothargot landed across from the two of them.
**********************************************************

Meanwhile, the Shredders fell back to the floor. Several of the shredders had been destroyed, however, many still remained. As they got back to their feet, their blades once again began to whirl around them as they headed for Lorathin.

"Oh crud." Lorathin commented as the whirling blades made their way at him. As they neared, he cast a spell to plunge himself into the ground so the shredders would shred each other rather than him.

Despite being a very apt swordsman, Harlin fell for Valerith's feint, and swung down at him with both blades.

****************************************

As Shara neared the Library, she began to hear quite a commotion. She drew her sword, and strapped her buckler to her arm. She would be ready if danger presented itself. If it knew better, she thought, it would stay away.

Rimoru had been crying to herself for well over an hour, muttering strange things to herself, rocking herself slowly.

"Rimmy...listen to me...we are all in grave danger...I was about to head to the Library-"

"Relthor...why don't you love me? Why don't you love me?" she cried mournfully as she got up and walked slowly to Relthor.

"I do, Rimmy...well I don't but...no I do, just not in that way! My love is to Karasu and my mate...Karasu even holds my child."

Rimoru's bloodshot eyes got slightly wider. "Child? Oh Relthor..." she returned to her weeping self.

"Rimmy, listen, I was on my way to the Library to stop those you lead to the restricted section. They wish to raise Valtrox into the mortal plane...he'll destroy us all! In fact, I'm sure the battle has already begun!"

"Relthor...you don't get it, do you?" Rimoru said sadly as she looked at her former love. "Karasu will never let you into her sights again...she'll believe you slept with me...I'm sorry Relthor...I'm sorry...my conscience told me to do it..."

Relthor's eyes widened in realization. Karasu has been stubborn before, leaving Relthor in the dust before returning in battle. "Rimoru...I...I don't know if I can ever forgive you," he said angrily.

Rimoru nodded her head. "Don't try," she sobbed as the chains retracted into the wall, freeing the imprisoned dragon. "Does she know you're a dragon?"

Relthor rubbed his wrists and nodded.

"You cannot go to the Library...the shredders have probably already ripped your friends apart, if not Karasu...besides, my traps won't let you through," she whispered.

Relthor nodded before walking out the newly summoned door.

Rimoru watched him close the door and sadly bowed her head.

Life is no longer worth living... came her conscience.

She stretched out her hand and an ornate dagger floated towards her, landing in her palm.

Put it all behind you.

Rimoru closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Be where you belong...an angel of the heavens

A short scream could be heard down the hallways...

From atop his bucking shredder Cade could see the battle between Kalzog and the demon. So much battle to examine. He lept from his mounted shredder before driving the massive blade through it. In a feat of impressive strength he lifted his sword with the mechanical monster still attached and watched as it and the blade bathed in flames. Fully engulfed he threw the shredder into the approaching ones and smiled as he admired the slight bang.

By now he had hundreds of cuts and slices that pierced straight through his armor and he was begininning to bleed through as his armor was decorated with crimosn streams.

"Hey Kalzog, you look like you need some help!" He yelled over the commotion of the battle. The silver runes and diamond edge of his sword began shining brightly as he carefully approached Kalzog's better.

ooc:Luporem, they are currently on the roof;)

"Stay back!" Kalzog shouted angrily as he got to his feet, fiddling with something in his pocket.

Rothargot turned towards the newcomer. "Fresh meat..." he rumbled.

Meanwhile, Inzikai smiled wickedly as he crept behind Cadyrn, ready to strike his backside.

Karasu caught the knife redirected to her and flung it at the vampire in a move nearly invisible.

Karasu rolled out of the way of Rothergart, Harlin, and especially Kalzog.

"Thanks Harlin! Harlin, can I use some of that water?" she asked.

After he gave her the vial, she poured some on her hands so all her weapons would be tainted, then she took a mouthful and threw the vial back at Harlin with a nod.

She turned toward the vampire when it was coming at her, raised her sais... this was a ruse. Karasu let the vampire get inches from her and then spit holy water all over the vampire's body. That did a number on him.

"Not very ladylike!" she yelled at Harlin, but it works.

Now to see to Lorathin, who sunk beneath the floor. OK then, Rothergart.

Karasu pulled out handfulls of what looked like accupuncture needles, which she kept between each finger, dipped them in acid, and flung eight at a time at Rothergart. They were so tiny and sharp as to get through the tiniest hole, crack... anything. Some seemed to hit the mark, allowing Kalzog to get his bearings.

She found Inzi and when he was not looking, nailed him right in the eyes with the poison needles, then rolled over away from the skylight.

Still no sight of Lorathin. As soon as she saw him, she was going to try to pull him up.

And what of Ar'mai? Karasu had not seen her for a while and did not know where she was hiding.

As it stood, Sarik and Karasu were nearly shredding up the vampire.

Karasu's thin needles were nothing against the demi-god's substantial heat. They melted before they got close, only suceeding in getting Rothargot's attention.

Rothargot smiled at Karasu, and with a quick spin, whipped her away with his heavy tail.

Inzikai only smiled as the poison projectile cracked againts Inzikai's hardend scales.

So do I do it now? Karasu thought. I do not know if I have any other choice.

This is useless, thought Karasu. I cannot help anyone anyway. I have no magic, no runes, no nothing. I should just go back to my room. I am in the way. She thought, dejectedly. But it was true. She could not do shit to help here at all.

Everyone else was bigger, or could control some type of magic or magical item. Karasu had nothing. Aside from that, this fight seemed to be going no where.

Shit! I am useless here! Not to mention pregnant!

Lorathin moved through the sub-surface, until he surfaced, incidentally near Karasu. "That was not pleasent." He commented to himself as he just barely avoided the shredders.

ooc: doh.

Cadeyrn smiled as he heard a twitch moving behind him. The warrior burst into an intense flame attempting to drive the attacker back without taking his eyes off the demon.

"In any other circumstances I'd be glad to let you die Kalzog, but because this demon is getting my way." He sneered as he flung his massive blade backwards into fighting positon, if Inzikai didn't move that probably would have taken the rat bastard's head off. "Come demon, show me how powerful you are."

The blade became engulfed in a beautiful white flame as the mercenary loaded a full metal slug into the cannon.

"Let this be a learning experience for you." He mocked while flicking his metal wrist back into position.

After spitting holy water all over the vampire, she left him in Sarik's capable hands.

"I think you can handle him now Sarik!" And gave him a salute and grin.

Karasu saw Cadey going at Inzi. Inzi, that motherfucker... I am going to help. I want that one 86'd!

Karasu jumped from the skylight, twirling with slightly longer than usual double bladed nihontos. She jumped to the side of the shredder to avoid the steam and she made scrap of the side she jumped into, causing the shredder to fall over, useless. It also blocked the other shredders from moving past it.

"Cadey, I will give you a hand with that stupid fuck!" She yelled.

Karasu went airborne and spun with her blades hitting his shield, thus weakening him more.

"Infernal human!" shouted Kalzog as Rothargot turned to Cadeyrn.

The demon leapt down, taking no effort to slow his fall. His feet slammed into the ground, making small smoldering holes.

"Fire is my skill, motal," he rumbled, sucking the fire right out of Caderyn. With a deep laugh, he watched the ice form around him.

Inzikai smiled wickedly at Karasu as he got into a stance.

"Well well, the assassin has come to play," Inzikai sneered, flourishing his weapon. "I'm more than happy to kill you."

Karasu flipped up and sliced at Inzi's head... most likely he would have to put up a barrier against these. Now close up, she began to stab him with sais... all over his body as she flipped over him with a speed nearly unable to be seen, and not predicted as she was all over the place on him.

"Just die already, you bastard!" She yelled at Inzi. "You are a waste of space!"

ooc: He took off his death barrier ;)

Inzikai was surprisingly agile, especially with his falchion. He sneered as he continued to twirl and spin his sword, deflecting every blow Karasu attempted.

"Surely you can do better, my dear sweet Karasu?" he snarled as he flourished again. "Being the Patriarch's prostitute, I'd have thought he taught you something..."

Again Valerith dodged the knife, this time receiving a scratch on one shoulder. He was really getting tired of that weapon.
~~~~
When Harlin struck, Valerith dodged backwards to avoid the blades. A drop of Holy Water splashed off of one of the scimitars, striking Valerith and adding another burn to his growing collection of injuries. The vampire flung himself backwards into a roll. coming back to his feet with a long fragment of blade from one of the smashed Shredders in his hand.

While he was rolling, Harlin threw the flask to Karasu. Valerith saw her return it, however, and knew that she was also a threat. Hoping to remove one danger, he rushed her - and got a mouthfull of Holy Water for his efforts ((There's no way he would get within inches of an enemy in the middle of a battle; he would attack as soon as he got within reach.)) There wasn't enough of the stuff to finish him off, but he got a severe burn on his sword arm and was forced to retreat.

ooc: What's a falchion?

Karasu was getting nowhere. "You are the bitch, Inzi... always were... V-man's bitch." She laughed mockingly.

Suddenly when she was in front of him, she stabbed him straight in the eye with one of her knives. She took this time to slash at him when he was not moving so quickly.

Man, he's ugly. she thought. Then her mind trailed off to Relthor and her heart sunk, but she would not let it interfere with her fight.

Karasu was going for his neck in a scissors move. She was doing everything she could think of.

OOC: Falchion: a type of sword, with a broad blade, slightly curved on one side. Here's an example. (www.museumreplicas.com/imagelib/0500204_L_000.jpg)

ooc: Mix between an axe and a sword http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falchion

Inzikai only laughed as he perried Karasu's thrust to his eyes, yet before he could react in time, he realized it was a distraction. She sliced across his waist, leaving a long thin trail of blood.

With a growl, he pushed her blades out of his way and brought his hilt to her face. "You've gotten clever...but not good enough," he growled.

ooc: Blastit, are you going to answer my TG?

Karasu crossed her swords in front of her face, flat, avoiding a smashing blow, however she was still pushed over.

She took her swords and slashed at his groin area, rolled out of the way and double hand springed back from his reach.

Karasu was trying to think of ways to attack him, but there just did not seem to be any.

As the ice climbed up Cadeyrn's body he lined up and fired a slug into the massive demon.

Hopefully this diversion buys Kalzog enough time to do whatever he is planning to do.

There wasn't much energy left in the mercenary's body to draw anymore fire, just enough to weaken the ice enough to break free. Charging the monster he spun and lopped his massive blade in the demon's side.

"I have beaten larger than you!" Cade growled. "Now show me what darkness truly is!"

I stand no chance, the sword failed to even slow the ice or save my fire. Rimoru better pay me extra for this!

"Karasu, keep that rat Inzikai off my back, I'll handle this one." He yelled while trying to remove his sword from the beast's side.

"Rat is right!" Karasu yelled as she ran straight at him, but at the last minute flipped over him and slashed him in the back.

For crying out loud, let this have hit! I am running out of energy. I think he may kill me, and my baby. My son!

Suddenly she got a rush of energy, the rush of a mother saving her child in peril, and her speed increased as well as the strength of her blows on Inzi. She all out assaulted him, trying her best to force him to perry with his blade, while she slashed with the other.

ooc: LoL whoops! I looked at it but forgot to answer ;) Will do so now

Rothargot growled slightly as the sword bit into his side. He put his hands onto the blade and pulled it out, but also began to pull Cadeyrn closer.

"I have beaten bigger than me as well, warrior," Rothargot hissed as he crouched. Once Cadeyrn was close enough, the demon was going to snap off Cadeyrn's head with his deadly teeth. "But I can assure you...you'll never defeat me.

**********************************************************

Inzikai yelped slightly as he sprung backwards to avoid Karasu's groin shot. "Karasu, Karasu, Karasu...I'm going to have so much fun killing you," he laughed as she sliced at his back, easily deflected with a quick spin on his blade.

Spinning around speedily, he was caught on surprise as Karasu quickened her blade. He had gone into the defense at this new burst of speed. Catching her blades in a lock, he snarled at her. "What gave you that adrenaline, assassin?"

omgosh I hit Relthor? :p

"Defeat is a vague term, I prefer the word annhilation." Cadeyrn grunted while struggling to pull his blade back. His eyes grew in terror as the beast lurched forward for the kill. He thrust his metal arm into the monster's mouth and unloaded 26 silver bolts from the crossbow attachment.

I won't die here, if Beau couldn't kill me then this son of a bitch won't

The mercenary's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he drew a wide smile. "You're better than this demon, stop messing around before you make a mistake." He growled while still contending to draw his blade back. "This is the anger that has killed thousands of innocents and slayed a demi-god."

The berzerker's strength nearly tripled as he unleashed his anger. However, he would only be concious for a another minute or so.

Rothargot crunched down on the arrows with a growl. "Annhilation will work as well," he growled as he picked up the sword by it's blade and swung it at a nearby bookshelf, trying to smash Cadeyrn into it.

Kalzog finally found what he was looking for. He pulled out a large pinkish orb with his name scratched into it. Smiling he began to aim it at the demi-god. "Keep steady, demon..." he muttered to himself as he tracked the demi-gods movements.

Karasu flipped over the shelf and switched to a nihonto and a kodachi. Kodachis, being shorter were much faster and better for defense, and the nihonto for offense.

She stabbed at Inzi through the book shelf jumping and stabbing at various heights, knocking books off their shelves.

One book opened and a white light came out of it. Karasu flipped over another two shelves to get away from it. She did not know what the white light was.

Lorathin frowned, he was suffering from three problems. The first were the infernal shredders that both wished to puree him and the fact that they were annoyingly resistant, the second problem, and possible the most serious was his reserves were drained more than they should have been due to the incident with Rimoru and the demon and the fact that everyone was intermeshed made blasting away next to impossible.

He rested against a bookshelf as he tried to recover.

Cadeyrn smashed into the bookself breaking cracking his spine through his armor. Standing he felt the sharp pain, nearly paralyzing as he fell back to the ground.

"You're lucky I'm only a human." He grolwed while his bones slowly realigned.

Several shredders began to march towards the resting Lorathin.

Sarik began to crawl towards Maverion as the pressure in his chest hasn't changed yet.

Inzikai dodged the blades as they came out of the book shelf, but couldn't avoid one book, which opened up as it smashed into Inzikai's chest. With an immense boom, he was thrown several feet backwards, smashing into a table and several chairs.

"You'll regret that," Inzikai growled as he slowly got back up, retrieving his weapon.

**********************************************************

Rothargot smiled at the human. "I would kill you in any form...even your wolfman form," he growled as he took the diamond blade and threw it with expert precision past Cadeyrn, lodging itself into a wall.

The demon was able to learn about Cadeyrn and all the others thanks to Inzikai and his little act. Unfortunately, it was not much...

Rothargot began to toss chairs and tables out of the way when he heard a slight wistling sound from behind. With incredible speed, he picked up a table with his tail and batted away the incoming orb.

He smiled as he noticed the Ogre's look of shock.

Harlin rolled to a stop and stood. He dusted off his shoulders, and smiled.

"Having fun yet Valerith?"

AFter seeing what the book did to Inzi, Karasu stabbed a pile of books all at once and flung them over at Inzi. She continued to throw books at him.

Karasu flipped over to one shelf away from Inzi and stabbed at him, then threw more books.

She did not know how much longer she could keep this up. Being thrown earlier had injured her further than she anticipated and her strength was waining.

Inzikai was dodging books and attacks more than he wished. He was an offensive character, disliking the idea of being on the defense...and he has been on the defense for far too long.

"Come out and fight Karasu...quit being a coward behind the bookshelves!" he growled in between book volleys.

"Or do you admit that you are no match for me?" he laughed wickedly. "Where is your man slave? To cowardly to fight? To pathetic and weak to even come to his master's defense? Or is he with Rimoru?"

"Nice try, but I do not fall for trash talk!" Karasu laughed at Inzi and continued pelting him with torrents of books, and stabbing when she could.

She continued moving behind the shelves to different areas and heights, so Inzi could not predict the direction the books were coming from.

This is not so bad, however, I do not know how long I can keep this up.

"Damn you persistant pests, can't you let a man rest in peace?" Lorathin cursed at the machines as he began heading between two bookshelves to put more distance between himself and the infernal shredders.

Ar'mai, like the elf she was, had been sneaking around in the shadows of the library, preparing to unleash her power and then ducking away again.

At one point, her peering eyes noticed the figure of Lorathin leaning heavily on a bookcase. He seemed to be tired and out of energy, so Ar'mai left him a little present. At his feet lied a small flask of warm, bubbly liquid: an ether with the potential to restore a slight bit of his energy - if nothing else, it would make him feel better.

"Oh, yes.." the vampire snarled, with smoke still rising from his injuries. "Barrels of fun!"

He switched the chunk of blade to his left and and squeezed, bending the metal at the end to form a handle. Holding the weapon clumsily, Valerith stalked toward Harlin.

Harlin grinned, and dropped into a defensive stance, and prepared for the vampire's attack.

"Bring it on."

Inzikai snarled as he leapt nimbly on the book case. "Valtrox's gift has given me so many abilities, Karasu...perhaps you should admit your weakness and join us..." he scowled as he leapt from book case to book case, searching for the hidden assassin.

Lorathin caught sight of a flash at his feet, a bottle of bubbly liquid. Grabbing it on the run, he dashed behind a shelf, in the hope of putting the shredders off.

Valerith charged, opening the fight with a straightforward thrust.

Kalzog looked at Valerith and Harlin deciding that Lorathin seemed more in need...plus the demi-god was down there.

With a mighty jump, Kalzog leapt from the roof down onto a shredder, crushing it with his great weight. Yet there were still plenty more approaching.

"This battle doesn't look too good," Kalzog growled as he searched the floor for the pink orb. "Someone find the orb...if it get's in the wrong hands, we could all be doomed..."

Deciding that the machine would not be found out there, Koryl slipped quietly into the room where the battle was taking place.

Besides, he was curious about the noise...

Valerith charged, opening the fight with a straightforward thrust.

Harlin parried with his now blessed blade, and water splashed from the impact. Meanwhile, he brought his other sword to bear on the vampire's already injured arm.

OOC: I was expecting the other way around...

More droplets struck the vampire, threads of smoke rising through the wet spots on his clothing. He twisted to catch the other sword with his right hand, squeezing the blade between his fingers as hard as he could in an attempt to keep the edge from reaching his hand. Valerith was very strong, but the injury to his arm was weaking his grip, and he wasn't sure how long he could hold it.

It was critical to keep Harlin's blessed scimitar on the defensive. Valerith spun his own blade into a slash at the man's belly.

OOC: I was expecting the other way around...

More droplets struck the vampire, threads of smoke rising through the wet spots on his clothing. He twisted to catch the other sword with his right hand, squeezing the blade between his fingers as hard as he could in an attempt to keep the edge from reaching his hand. Valerith was very strong, but the injury to his arm was weaking his grip, and he wasn't sure how long he could hold it.

It was critical to keep Harlin's blessed scimitar on the defensive. Valerith spun his own blade into a slash at the man's belly.

Harlin twisted his weight around the fulcrum of the blade held by Valerith, and thus flung himself into the air, dodging the blow at his stomach.

"Close, but no cigar!," Harlin laughed as he landed behind the vampire and swung his blessed blade in for the finishing blow.

Valerith flung himself to the side in an attempt to avoid the blow, but, with the injuries he had already sustained, he wasn't quite fast enough. The blessed scimitar sliced deep into his side, and before he could recover from the pain enough to react, a second blow found his heart. With a scream of agony that seemed to recede rapidly into the distance, the vampire collapsed into fine gray dust.

Wiping the dust from his blade, Harlin sheath both of them, and walked over to retrieve his throwing knife. He stood and surveyed the battle once more, looking for anywhere where his talents might be needed. It appeared that everyone had their own personal situation handled relatively well, so Harlin sat down to catch his breath. He waited for an opening either in Inzikai's or Maverion's defenses.

Lorathin decided to take a small sip of the drink, and when he felt the mild restorative, finished it off. "Where'd you lose it?" He asked Kalzog, as it seemed the shredders had lost interest in him and he could go looking for the orb in, relative, safety.

"I don't know!" Kalzog growled. "I'm guessing somewhere over there!" He pointed to the back of the Library's restricted section, noticably darker than the rest of it, as the torches were not yet lit.

Rothargot had noticed the Ogre and had already begun to close the distance.

"This bugger is harder than I expected..." Kalzog growled quietly.

"Don't let the demon pound you, while I go look." Lorathin called back as he began making his way to the darker area, being cautious as he looked for the orb.

Though not close enough to hear the conversation, Koryl did see Kalzog point into the back of the room. Wondering what the ogre might be pointing at, he slipped quietly around the edge of the chamber, trying to avoid the fighting.

While Inzi hopped from bookshelf to bookshelf, she had made moves so she was a few shelves away. Noting the area he kept landing, prior to him getting too close, she sliced at the bottom of the shelf and up through to all but the top shelf, careful not to mess up the books.

Karasu then hopped up and flipped over two more shelves.

"Pretty slow there, Inzi? Is that all the V-Man gave you? Aside from nausea to others produced by your astounding aesthetic issues?" She taunted him.

She continued to flip back and then quickly landed, then Inzi landed on the shelf she turned into a trap and it collapsed immediately.

Karasu nearly flew from above and started hacking at him.

Cadeyrn smiled as the demon had foolishly given his blade back to him.

"So arrogant." He growled standing and ripping his blade from the shelf. He noticed Inzikai searching for Karasu. His last shell found its way to just in front of the traitor's feet sending books and wooden splinters flying.

The demon was becoming more interested in Kalzog and had turned its back to him. Cadeyrn went to run the beast through the back when a shredder had blind sided him tearing his right side of pieces. His chestplate came off and landed with a dull thud as his metal hand had been fairly disabled.

With his left hand alone he slashed the shredder in two. Bleeding greatly he leaned against a book shelf and slid to the ground.

Inzikai howled as several large splinters punctured his skin, cutting right through and poking out the other side. As he fell through the bookshelf, several of the books opened, sending shards and Inzikai himself through the air to land several feet away.

But the power of Valtrox coursed in his veins, the power of rage...

Inzikai ignored the wounds as he rolled away as Karasu hacked the ground he had been at. As she landed, he kicked his feet at hers, hoping to knock them right out from under her.

**********************************************************

Kalzog looked at Lorathin, then back at Rothargot. "Hurry, you idiot!" he shouted as he crouched low.

The demon sprung into action, lunging towards Kalzog, who sidestepped the attack and slammed his elbow down on the demon's back as it slid into a bookcase, knocking it over.

Unfortunately, what would have broken the back of any mortal, had no affect on the demon. With his tail, he whipped Kalzog, before wrapping it around his leg, tripping him.

"Kalzog!" Cadeyrn yelled tossing his massive blade to the ogre, who would make more use of its excellence that him at the moment.

His entire side was cut wide open, every breath felt as if it would push his intestines out. Cadeyrn twisted his metal hand off stuffing it into his pocket. Slowly he fell asleep against the shelf.

Karasu's feet were knocked from under her and she fell. Both of them were on the ground. Her first instinct was to grab as many books as possible and throw them on top of Inzikai as she got up, flipped the other way over the rubble and threw knives at him from the top of another bookshelf.

When Karasu saw the Restricted Section, she decided to give it a shot... She ran with godlike speed to that section, skewered as many books as she could and as she ran back, pelted Inzi with the Restricted books.

If they are in that section, they must do something. She mused.

Karasu felt like she could not go on. Because of the energy she put into her failed assault on Inzi, she landed hard when he kicked her feet. The only thing keeping her going was thoughts of her child.

Lorathin continued searching, but had to avoid the occasional falling book as well. After a little more searching, he tripped on a book, and fell with a thud which knocked another book away, revealing the orb.

"Over here." He called to the ogre, not knowing if he could toss it to him and not wanting to take the chance.

Shara rushed into the Library, and surveyed the damage. Holes pocked the ceiling and floor, and there were scorch marks and books everywhere. She was suprised by the destruction, but received more suprise when she saw Cadeyrn lying injured against the shelf.

She ran to him, and removed the light plate gauntlets from her hands. Holding them over the wound, she uttered the prayer taught to her by the High Mother. White light surrounded her upper arms and hands, and began to move slowly move into the wound. As it passed through, it knitted the skin back together, and when it had finished, the only remaining trace of the wound was a dark purplish scar.

Shara smiled at the work she had done, and put her gauntlets back on. She tapped the sleeping Cadeyrn to rouse him, and gently inquired, "Does that feel better?"

Kalzog wrapped his hands around the glittering hilt. Truly a marvelous weapon... he thought he rolled out of the way of Rothargot's tail.

Springing up, he swung at Rothargot, missing him, but getting the feeling for the weapon.

I'm more used to clubs...however the weight is smilar to a club...

Kalzog roared as he swung again, however Rothargot only smiled as he slammed the blade between his two hands. "Your fate will be like his," the demon said, moving his chin in Cadeyrn's direction.

Kalzog narrowed his eyes at the demi-god. "I eat your kind for breakfast," he growled as he pushed with all his might, the sword sparking across the demon's tough hands as it slid into the demon.

Kalzog's leg muscles bulged as he dove the blade deeper into Rothargot's chest, smashing him up against the wall and even digging into it.

Rothargot's fire died down as he hung limply from the wall, his wings drooping slightly.

Kalzog smiled to himself and grunted, inspecting the burns on his arms.

Suddenly, the demon's deep laugh emanated from the demon's body. Rothargot placed his hands on the hand guard and pushed outwards, the sword sliding out of his body, showering Kalzog with sparks.

Kalzog growled as the hole disappeared as the demon's body healed itself over the wound. The ogre charged at the demon, throwing a punch at the healing wound but doing little to stop or even hurt Rothargot.

As he threw another punch, Rothargot caught it with his hand, and began to swing Kalzog around until he let him go, sending him down the aisle, deeper into the darker area...

Kalzog heard a distant voice...Lorathin. "Azrael, don't throw it at anything! Bring it to me!" he shouted rolling out of the way of a thrown table.

**********************************************************

Inzikai got up and growled, pulling the large splinters out of his body as blackish blood dropped onto the floor.

As he walked after Karasu, his robes eerily flapping behind him, he found Shara and Cadeyrn nearby...

With a wicked smile, Inzikai walked towards them and licked his lips.

Watching the paladin inching his way closer, Maverion pulled his sword out of its sheath for the first time in this battle. He swung it in a circle once to loosen his wrist before clutching the wodao in both hands.

Chances were that the crawling Skizzarish would try to grab him or whip him with his tail or somesuch, so Maverion did not want to get within range of such attacks. Fortunately, the wodao was a cavalry sword, designed to be extra long.

Keeping sight of Sarik's appendages, Mave swiped his sword down to dismember the lizard.

***

Teralynn was zipping through the air on the carpet when she heard another disembodied voice. The high speed of the flying carpet has taken her such a great distance already that the palace was just a small dot in the horizon.

"Who's there?" she called out.

Lorathin tore a strip from his shirt, wide enought to carry the orb in. Using the cloth to pick up the pink ball, he headed over toward Kalzog, only to get smacked in the gut by a leg that had broken off the thrown table.

With a grunt he got back to his feet, a bruise already forming as he continued to deliver Kalzog's magick sphere back to him.

"Get to your feet boy, your comrads are counting on you!"

Opprimus?

"Come on needle noggen get to your feet!"

Suddenly Cadeyrn stood boldly dripping with blood from many wounds. The vacany of his right arm suddenly materialized into a fiery hand, the shape was more of a dragon's mouth than a hand. It flashed from bright orange, to blue, to pure white.

The warrior hadn't even opened his eyes when the fiery hand shot out and grabbed Inzikai by the throat pinning him against a bookshelf and lifting him into the air.

Wings of flames formed behind his back as he glided into the air face to face with the traitorous rat. However, he still seemed very much unconcious.

Teralynn was zipping through the air on the carpet when she heard another disembodied voice. The high speed of the flying carpet has taken her such a great distance already that the palace was just a small dot in the horizon.

"Who's there?" she called out.

Minos laughed lightly, and the air rumbled with it. It began to tighten around the carpet and its rider, forming an invisible fist of air, as it pulled them both back to the palace.

"It is only the wind," Minos rumbled through the air, "and its master."

********************************

Harlin saw that things were beginning to go badly for his friends. He saw Maverion advancing on Sarik with a menacing blade in hand, and Shara standing while Caderyn strangled Inzikai. Serves the bastard right, thought Harlin.

Returning his view to Sarik, he made his move. He entered the Shadowfold, and ran in the dimension free of the normal constraints of time and space, until he was right behind Maverion, who he quickly knocked hard on the head with the hilt of his sword.

Inzikai was caught off guard by Cadeyrn's move.

"What now, warrior?" Inzikai gurgled. "You waste your time on me instead of getting the book..."

Suddenly, Inzikai opened a book, thrusting the trap filled pages at Cadeyrn's face.
***

"Azrael! throw it at him!" Kalzog shouted, dodging another projectile.

The book exploded in his face sending the mercenary fly through the air where he quickly corrected himself.

As soon as his eyes opened he fell to the floor with a thud and the divine fire that protected him faded away. Quickly he drew his smaller throwing sword and lined up against Inzikai.

"Not sure I can without risking hitting you or someone else." Lorathin called back.

Inzikai smiled wickedly at Cadeyrn.

"You're on the wrong side...Valtrox may still be able to accept you..." said Inzikai as he flourished his weapon.

***

"Blast it, mage!" cursed Kalzog as he dove at Lorathin, narrowly avoiding another projectile.

Lorathin decided to try an old trick, that frequently worked. "Rothargot, catch." He called out as he tossed the ball in an easy underhand in the demon's general direction.

Cadeyrn lowered his weapon and raised an eyebrow.

"At the cost of destroying the earth, it hardly seems worth it." He said hesitantly noticing what Valtrox's power had done for Inzikai.