NationStates Jolt Archive

She reaches up to touch his hand, and looks into his eyes. "Are you all right?"

He looked back at her, confusement furrowing his brow slightly,"Why? Something feel wrong?"

She shakes her head. "Just checking."

He raised an eyebrow slightly, but then it returned to its normal position, and he smiled,"To answer the question, I'm fine"

Good. I'd been worried.

He looked at her,"About what?"

About you.

He sighed softly, and turned to her,"Alright, I'm not fine. But I'm better than I was twenty four hours ago, much better. It's going to take a little time, but trust me, I'll survive.2

She nods.

He smiled, and kissed her softly once more, as if to reassure her. It also carried a message,I'm not going anywhere

She kisses him back, feeling slightly more relieved. Afterwards, she rests her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about the past few days."

What's to be sorry for? You were angry and upset. I understand

Liar

Shut up! I've managed to get this back, and I'm not losing it again

No, you really don't...no matter, I suppose, though.

Exactly. At least, for the most part, it's all said and done

She nods.

"It doesn't look like the mid-afternoon sleep did either of us any good though"

Not as much as it could have. *She laughs* I'm getting used to this. I didn't sleep that much in a month before we were married.

I noticed, more than somewhat. Still, if you'd kept up the old routine, I wouldn't see you that much at all

That's true.

He pulled her a little closer,"And would you honestly want that?"

No...I enjoy spending time with you...most of the time, anyway. *She smiles.*

He smiled back,"Same"

She kisses him and cuddles in closer.

He closed his eyes, and laid his head on hers, happy in the peace

She closes her eyes as well.

After a time, he felt himself actually begin to go to sleep. It was still quite early, but his body just wanted him to sleep. Nothing else for the moment, just sleep, and the closer to her the better

She isn't moving away.

He smiled slightly, and muttered,"Must sleep. Have no choice"

She looks at him, slightly confused, sligthly amused. "Then sleep."

He felt her confusion, and chuckled slightly as he lay down,"I told you I was in an odd mood"

She laid next to him. "Yes, you did."

He smiled, and kissed her gently,"Gd'night Rhenna"

She kissed him back. "Good night."

He closed his eyes, comfortable where he was, and within minutes was sounds asleep

*A few hours later*
His eyes snapped open, a cold sweat running down his face. He blinked once, trying to regain his nightvision. it would take some time, but he wasn't going to sleep again in a hurry

His movement wakes Rhenna. Propping her head on her hand, she looks at him.

"What happened?"

He rolled onto his back, and stared at the ceiling,"I can't get it out of my head"

She takes his hand and stays where she is, listening, for when he's ready to talk.

He squeezed her hand tightly,"It's always the same thing. Over and over again"

Your father?

The same words. I have no son

It's got to hurt...especially when you worked so hard to do what you thought would make him proud.

It does hurt, but I don't understand why he did it

Not everything is understandable, James.

Maybe not, but it's a safety net

She nods.

i just read about 30 min. of this stuff and i'm yet to understand any of it... is there something i have been missing?

i just read about 30 min. of this stuff and i'm yet to understand any of it... is there something i have been missing?

To answer your question...yes.

She nods.

He turned to look at her,"Thanks Rhenna. You don't have to put up with this"

I have to put up with you...and this is a part of it.

He laughed slightly, but it was humourless,"Just put up with me? Now I feel loved"

She smiles, moving closer. "Put up with you, take care of you, make sure you don't get yourself killed..." She kisses him. "I wouldn't do that if I didn't love you."

He kissed her back, savouring the moment,"I know you wouldn't. I try my best to do the same as you, but more often than not it's the other way around"

Yes...well, I'm sure there will be times you get your chance.

Maybe... one day

She rests her head on his chest.

He stroked his hand through her silky hair

It appears...that your past has released you.

What does that mean?

Not much, I guess.

He frowned, trying to decipher what she had said'your past has released you. Then it hit him, and he smiled,"It feels like it has released me"

That's a good thing, my love.

He smiled as she called him 'love', and was tempted to respond in kind, but thought better of it,"I know it is. I can really start to live... dear"

And what do plans for your real life include?

Enjoying my marriage is top of the list, followed swiftly by mastering the Flame, and other such ideas of a twenty seven year old human

She nods. "Sounds like a plan."

I'm glad you agree*kisses her*

She kisses him back.

He continued the kiss, his hand finding hers as he did so

Her fingers curl around his as his hand finds hers.

OOC: We'll assume the kiss lasts however long it lasts. ;)

OOC: :D

IC: He felt her fingers curl around his, and did the same with the other hand...

*Sometime later*
He kissed her softly,"I've missed you"

Shes' laying beside him, eyes half closed. "Have you?"

"Of course I have, what sort of question is that?"

She grins and kisses him. "The same kind as when you asked me what I saw in you."

He thought about this,"So, in esscense, a stupid question". He said it in a teasing tone

Pretty much.

Love was in the air all over the place. It was almost sickening. There was great joy among the Slivers, and the followers of Warfare, he was getting married. They could be seen sitting on a cloud, drifting lazily accross Hoeth.

"Where should we have it?"
"Kaymiril?"
"No, too many mortals, it would interupt daily life for weeks due to the events."
"Then Snake Eater Prime is out as well?"
"Yes."
"What about Riptide, or Mirroden?"
"To densly wild, and to metalic. We want our guests to be able comfortable, without the fear of some wildthing creeping up on them."
"There will be several Gods there, I don't think there would be any fear of that. And don't even start on services, The slivers can handle most anything, plus, Gods could whip up anything needed in under five minuets."
"No. Period. End of Sentence."
"Okay, hey, Paradise?"
"Paradise? why there?"
"Its perfect, nice open plain, no one to interupt us, the Eternal City is close by. No pain, no suffering, Gods are a common everyday occurance."
"Maybe."
"Maybe? Maybe?! You would turn down the oppurtunity to get married in paradise?"
"Yes."
"Where did you have in mind then?"
"I didn't, that's why I was asking you."
"Fine then, Paradise. Why were you turning down suggestions then?"
"Just pointing out possibilities, that's all."
"Wait, Gods can get there, but what about Mortals?"
"I'm sure if we asked the right parties, invited the right people, we could get the others to be able come."
"Alright, then paradise it is, but only if we can get everyone there. I'm pretty sure some people would never be happy with us if they were not able to come."
*Kiss*
*Kiss*
Things continued along in this vein for long awhile.
It is worth noting that the fireworks had long since subsided, however the cloud was heart shaped, and yes, it was pink, and looked fluffy. Warfare made it.
**********************************************************
A fat bald man in black robes looked up from his thick book.

"It would appear, that if we managed to gather certain items, and present them to Kajeenith's true statue in his last temple as an offering, we can ressurrect him." The Man said.

"Really, and what Items would those be?" A blond woman asked.

"I'm not sure, but one of them is a Noble's goblet filled with the blood of 1000 war generals." The man said.

"That's easy enough, Wars are happening all the time throughout time. I'll send out our suppliers. I think a drop a general should do it. The Suppliers ply up and down the timestream all the time anyways, what's another stop?" The Blond woman said.

An innocent enough phone was picked up, an average everyday number called, and in code, the items were requested. Anyone listening in would hear only household items being ordered by a woman of no particualr notice, and aggreeing to a price and supplying a card and number. Both of which were real, and would be traced to a safe location where no one would suspect the truth of the matter.

Pretty much.
He laughed, and kissed her again

**********************************************************
*A few days later, after Grahf is defeated*
Leviathan was walking through Paradise, slowly coming to grips with his powers once more. Being one of the few gods whose domain was a mystery, even to himself, he entertained himself in his own manner. The buzz of Warfare getting married permeated everything in some odd manner, and Leviathan found himself reminiscing on his own marriage, all that time ago when he was still a mortal. He sat on a cloud, staring at the multiverse pass him by and occasionally sending out jets of Black Flame that could most likely be seen from many places, including Kaymiril and Snake Eater Prime. Inevitably, he found himself missing his old wife. He had long kept the thin gold band that was his wedding ring around his neck on a chain to remind him of what had happened in his past. But at the same time, he felt a growing darkness in the world. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew it was out there...

*Rendelmar*
Having finally satisfied all the main clerics via hologram conferencing that Leviathan was alright, James Cougar emerged from the room with his throat sore and gasping for a drink, which he quickly managed with a shot of whisky, feeling that he deserved something for what he had done. In his hand was also a notice from Lord Barbarossa:


James,

As I am sure you are aware, Crown Princess Anna is to be coronated within the next few days. As Snake Eaters appears, for the moment, to be their staunchest ally, I have been invited to attend. I also requested that you be permitted, and this request was granted. Word is that you are allowed a guest, but I believe that Rhenmet has already been 'invited' as it where, given her position within her class of mage. Other people attending are of course the Kaymirilan Royal Family, and also facets of the Royal Family from Newtdom, with whom we have begun to have some dealings with. There is more, but here is not the place. Dress for the day for you is full dress uniform, along with peaked cap, not beret. Also... do not come armed if you can help it. I know it is in your nature to do so, but for once I believe you can do without. Your Gunblade is also highly ceremonial, so I believe you could get away with that. I expect to see you in a few days, and I will be returning the Dauntless to you at the same time.

Jacius Barbarossa

He smiled having read this letter, and brought out his parade shoes, which needed a good shining before the day

Renor had spoken to Anna. He, Vedt, and Rhenna would be posing as Kaymirilian aristocrats...something would have to be done about Rhenna's scales...but other than that, it was easy enough.

******************************************
Rhenna's sitting at a desk, getting some work done. She lets James get started on his shoes before speaking.

"All clerics answered to their satisfaction?"

He looked up, and smiled, saying quietly so as not to strain his throat,"As far as I can tell. Diplomacy is really not my thing"

True enough. And whiskey isn't any gentler for a strained voice, James. *She tosses him something. It looks something like a peppermint...but not.* You haven't gotten out those in a while. *Tilting head toward the shoes*

He smiled, popping the mint-like object into his mouth, sucking on it gently. The relief was instant, and he found his throat clearing... but not completey. He smiled,"No, I haven't... our wedding was the last time I got them out. I take it you're going?"

To the coronation? Of course not, James. When you're Black Class, you don't tend to get invited to big events like this.

*She smiles.* Speaking of weddings...Warfare seems more excited about his than we were about ours.

His face fell slightly at her first words, but he smiled nonetheless,"We were more nervous than he was. Marriage was new ground for both of us, but he's done it all before"

True. *She smiles* Although I don't know why you'd be nervous. It wasn't like you were planning on going out and getting shot.

And in a similar vein, I don't see why you were nervous. And I don't PLAN on getting shot... it just happens

I wasn't as nervous as you were...well, save for the fact that there has only ever been one married couple living within Rendelmar walls, and they were gone within a year.

I doubt anyone was as nervous as me... and we've beaten their record. Eighteen months, and counting

Warfare and Arianna drifted by on that same cloud. They drifted into paradise, and found Leviathan playing eith the black flame again.

"Hey, Leviathan old buddy! I have a question for you!" Warfare called as they floated closer.

"I was wondering if you would be my best man at my impending marriage to this beautiful young lady here." Warfare asked.

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

The blood was delivered, and for a hefty price. It was worth it.
The Old man had informed the woman that now, they needed a sword forged in the heat of battle. The woman had told this to her suppliers as well, before their departure.

Level 1069 of The Infinite Layers of the Abyss, Kajeenith's temple.

Dust, dust was everywhere. A brave explorer crept forward towards the gold statue of the ancient God. It was worth Millions, possibly even Billions.

"DO YOU HAVE THE OFFERINGS?"

A voice from nowhere asked.

"N,n,n,n-no. What Offerings?" The terrified man asked.

"THEN BEGONE INSOLENT FOOL. ONLY THE ONE WHO BRINGS ME A NOBLE'S GOBLET, FILLED WITH THE BLOOD OF 1000 WAR GENERALS, A SWORD FORGED IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, A CLOAK WORN BY 500 BRILLIANT TACTICIANS, THE KISS OF A WOMAN, DEVOTED TO HER IDEALS ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND FINALLY, THE POWER OF A STAR,SHALL KNOW MY POWERS, AND RULE CREATION WITH ME." The voice said.

The explorer fled in terror at the terrible voice.

OOC: until tomorrow.

She smiles. "Eighteen months? Felt shorter."

Leviathan started where he was, and looked at the happy couple, then at Warfare in particular,"Of course I will be your best man, my friend"

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

It did, didn't it.

Then again, there were some really long days...

Warfare shook Leviathan's hands, gave him a giant candy bar, and drifted off.

He laid the polish down for a moment, thinking,"Yes... some of them seemed like they would never end"

She nods, and for a moment, the only sound made was the constant scritch-scritch of her pen.

He smiled, and returned to polishing his shoes. After sometime, he held them up to the light, and smiled,"Perfect"

She looks at him and smiles. "Those are probably the most reflective objects in this entire room, if not the entire city."

"I doubt it somehow. They can only be so shiny, but that's enough for now, they should hold up well enough"

He smiled, and took his dress uniform out, checking it,"Did I ever mention how much I hate wearing this?"

Once or twice.

He laughed,"And I've got to greet the bugger in it as well. He's bringing the Dauntless though, so it's good in one way"

Yes...you've missed it, haven't you?

Missed the ship? In a manner, but at least it's prevented me from going anywhere. My Interceptor would need an overhaul after nearly a year out of service, too much bother. I'll wait until the Chimera comes by next week, and get some of her guys to check it

Rhenna nods. On her cheek, a new scale is beginning to grow in to replace one that had been recently lost.

He stood up, and walked over to her, brushing his hand against her cheek,"Looks like they are coming back"

They're starting to. I'll be glad when they're finally back in.

He kissed her cheek,"I bet you will"

She reaches up to touch his cheek, holding him there a moment.

He smiled, brushing his fingers lightly over the back of her hand"Why thank you"

She smiles at him, then kisses his cheek. "You'll have to tell me about the coronation. From what I have heard...it is a sight to be seen."

Private: Which I suspect you'll see anyway, but I'm not allowed to know
He smiled again,"I'll make sure to create a custom show. Hell, could record the whole thing with my mind"

That's a very odd thing that your technology can do.

He shrugged slightly,"Technology can do amazing things, as can magick. The two aren't mutually exclusive, as I think I've proven. Still... there are a few things that technology can do that could be considered fairly odd."

I just hope my implants never malfunction

True.

It has it's uses though. Storing precious memories is one thing

She smiles.

"And which of those precious memories is your favorite?"

Oh, theres quite a few... but the most clear one, is about eighteen months old. That, and sometime after. Memories worth preserving, by any means *brings photo out of pocket*

She smiles. "It certainly was an occasion to remember."

Yes, for all concerned

She smiles again, then stands and kisses him. "And whatever you say...you looked good in your dress uniform."

"If you say I did, then maybe it's true."

Kaymiril, upper atmosphere.

The cloud Warfare and Arianna were on was drifting aimlessly over Kaymiril. More conversation could be heard by anyone who could hear up there.

"So, who should be the priest?"
"Renor?"
"No, as powerful as he is, I think a God should marry us."
"Zeus?"
"No, to flashy, what with all the thunder and lightning."
"Odin?"
"No, he has a dishonest streak in him a mile wide."
"What about Ra?"
"Ra? The Egyptian Sun God? No, he's too much of a stranger. Besides, all the Egyptian Gods of note are half-animale in some way."
"Leviathan?"
"He's the best man, he can't be Best Man and Priest at the same time. Not even with an Avatar."
"Hmm, tricky tricky tricky."
"No Tricky Tricky Tricky can't marry us either, Tricky Tricky Tricky doesn't exist. I do not want a non-existant preacher."
"Beldragos?"
"Hmm, now that could work, a bit of a recluse at times, but he is the guardian of the multi-verse. It just might work."
"Now, what about a Bridesmaid."
"I don't know of any Light Goddess who would be qualified. We really don't know any of them well enough to ask."
"Rhenna?"
"I think she would rather be with Cougar during the ceremony."
"Aras, current Mistress of Death?"
"Hmm, why not? No black robe though. As loved as she is, No black robe."
"Why don't we go ask?"

The cloud goes away, Warfare and Arianna walk up to the Temple of Death.
"Death! Death? We have a question to ask you." Warfare calls out.

"Congratulations" Cerberus says with a Growl.
"Why thank you" Arianna says with a smile. She gives him a scratch behind all three sets of ears. Cereberus's tail wags furiously.

"Come on, lets go, I bet She's in her throne room." Warfare says. They head to the throne room to find Death/Aras.

Death was in her throne room, but as her mortal habits hadn't/probably wouldn't ever leave her, she was working. She looked up.

"Hello Warfare...Adrianna, I recently saw that your life thread had become divine, congratulations...and congratualtions on your engagement. What can I do for you?"

She stands and walks towards them. The age that had been apparent in her step before her death was gone, and she was walking like a young woman again.

*************************************
Rn -- Would I lie to you, James?

"Actually, I was hoping you would be my Bridesmaid." Arianna said, slightly nervous at meeting the Real Death face to Face.

"And thank you, on both accounts." Arianna said.

Death raises her eyebrows.

"A bridesmaid? An odd request, to be certain...in the history of Death, this has never been done. I accept, should you wish it."

She then looks over at Warfare.

"And you, what were you and Leviathan doing so close to Styx the other day? If not for Jalron and Anna, you might have crossed my borders...and your mother is not a diety to be able to come in and bring you back."

Warfare tells Death the whole story of Grahf, The destroyer. His insane rant, his history, his goal of defeating both death and God, everything, no detail is left out.

"I know it was stupid of me to go without being cautious, but I thought:
'Hey, Crazy powerless man, what could he do?'"Warfare said.

OOC: Don't worry, I have the other part of this storyline figured out exactly. An event of great joy, and an event of great evil will happen at the exact same time.

IC:
The sword had been found. It was a masterwork sword, and a black smith had forged it during the hundred years war. The Fat bald man next discovered that a Cloak, worn by 500 brilliant tacticans was needed. That was easy enough to find, and within 12 hours, they had it, after some research was done. The items gathered thus far were put into a very special bag.

Kajeenith could sense it, the itmes were gathering, someone wanted him to come back. with what little power he had, stored there by the many Cult worshippers over the years, Kajeenith called out to the man and Woman.

"Come to me, have the woman kiss me, and bring me the power of a star, the younger the better. Come to me, and I will make you the richest of the rich, the most powerful of the most powerful, and second, only to me. But you must bring me the offerings first. Hurry, before the other side finds out, and attempts to stop you." Kajeenith called.

Death was in her throne room, but as her mortal habits hadn't/probably wouldn't ever leave her, she was working. She looked up.

"Hello Warfare...Adrianna, I recently saw that your life thread had become divine, congratulations...and congratualtions on your engagement. What can I do for you?"

She stands and walks towards them. The age that had been apparent in her step before her death was gone, and she was walking like a young woman again.

*************************************
Rn -- Would I lie to you, James?

Private: To keep me safe from myself? Definatley

He smiled,"No. Not that I can think of"

She smiles back. "Then don't doubt that you looked good on our wedding day."

"I like to doubt about some things. It's got me out of trouble a few times"

Warfare tells Death the whole story of Grahf, The destroyer. His insane rant, his history, his goal of defeating both death and God, everything, no detail is left out.

"I know it was stupid of me to go without being cautious, but I thought:
'Hey, Crazy powerless man, what could he do?'"Warfare said.
Yes, I heard roughly that story from him, but more garbled. I trust that next time you will display a better sense of caution...if I know Anna at all, you will definitely wish to.

"I like to doubt about some things. It's got me out of trouble a few times"
"Don't doubt everything, Cougar...that only leads to misery."

He smiled,"I don't doubt everything. If I did that, I wouldn't be here right now"

"Oh, I will, definatly." Warfare says.

Arianna, not really brave enough to outright ask Death to not wear the classic black robe, speaks up.

"Umm, is there ah, anything you had in mind for wearing to the wedding? Something not worn often? something other than the classic Death Robe?" Arianna asks.

That's true enough.

That's true enough.

He kissed her on the cheek,"There you go then"

She smiles and kisses him. "How long before you leave?"

About a day and a half, I'm going slightly early to meet Barbarossa and get aquainted, but when it comes to sleeping arrangements, I'll be teleporting back and forth

She nods. "I won't be here...I leave tomorrow and the mission could feasibly last three or four days. It's big, too...Vedt's coming with me."

He thought about this for a brief moment, and nodded,"Fair enough. I can see that. Good thing I'm going away as well then"

"At least it means you won't be lonely."

He couldn't surpress a laugh,"Only at night... I might just stay there at this rate"

"You can. You'll probably have never stayed anywhere nicer."

Never been a big one for comfort myself, you know that. I sleep in my chair alot of the time

"And I really don't see why."

He laughed,"You'll figure it out, one day. Hell, even I don't know exactly, that's what makes it interesting"

She shakes her head. "Someday you'll be comfortable with sleeping in your own bed. When, I don't know...but it will be someday."

He took her face in his hands, and looked at her,"You know that I'm comfortable in our bed. I don't have one of my own anymore"

She smiles at him. "It's yours when I'm not here."

It's still technically ours, and you know that

True enough.

He laughed softly,"That's my girl"

She raises an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Your girl?"

Hey, you married me. *kisses her*

*Kisses him back* Yes, I did.

He smiled,"There you go then"

She hugs him, laying her head on his shoulder.

He smiled, wrapping his arms back around her in kind

That was unexpected... but not unwelcome

She stays there, comfortably.

Someone looks content

She nods. "I remind you...I'm a reptile. Halfway, at least."

Well... I've never noticed your cold-bloodedness. I warm you up, so I don't notice it that much

She smiles. "That's the good thing about being a reptile...I warm up fast."

He held her a little closer,"Not complaining"

Her eyes close halfway. "I didn't think so."

He moved backwards slightly, sitting down on the bed, taking her with him,"More comfy now?"

"I can't say for sure...I was pretty comfortable back there, too."

He smiled, kissing her cheek,"Either is good"

She nods. "True enough."

He smiled, and kissed her once more

She kissed him back, and cuddled in closer.

He smiled through the kiss, so she would be able to feel it, and holding her slightly closer than before

She lets the kiss linger for a while before breaking it.

"What time is it, James?"

He checked his watch,"Getting on for eleven"

We'd better be getting to sleep then...I have to be up at four.

He smiled, kissing her again,"All right." He lay down on his side, and waited for her

She lays down next to him, cuddling close and closing her eyes.

He smiled, putting his arms around her, although she could easily get away in the morning without waking him,"Good night Rhenna. I doubt I'll see you in the morning, so good luck on whatever it is you're doing... not that you need it"

She looks up at him and smiles. "Thank you...and I should be fine." She kisses him again. "Sleep well, James."

He kissed her back,"You too". With that, he closed his eyes, and within ten minutes was fast asleep, with a smile on his face

She was asleep at about the same time he was, and she gets up in the morning, gives him a kiss, and leaves.

He stirred slightly, but didn't wake.

*A few days later*
He finished getting dressed, and stood back to admire the uniform in the full lenght mirror,"She was right... I do look good in this stuff. Now... Gunblade"

He checked the magazine was empty, and then clasped the sheath to his stable belt, before pocketing his wedding photo and teleporting out to go and meet Barbarossa...

"Oh, I will, definatly." Warfare says.

Arianna, not really brave enough to outright ask Death to not wear the classic black robe, speaks up.

"Umm, is there ah, anything you had in mind for wearing to the wedding? Something not worn often? something other than the classic Death Robe?" Arianna asks.
OOC: Sorry, just saw this, lol.

IC:
Yes...black is not really a proper color for a bridesmaid, is it now? H'mm...I do not believe I have anything currently...but I do believe something could be made in time for the wedding.

"Well, I'm going for classic white. The wedding is in Paradise. Warfare is wearing his Armor, though he's modifying it to look more ceremonial." Arianna said.

"I am?" warfare asked, unaware of this fact.

"Yes, yes you are." Arianna said.

"I didn't know that, wish someone would've informed me." Warfare complained.

"I just did." Arianna said.

"Gee, thanks." Warfare said sarcasticly.

"Your welcome, anyways, we have to go make some more preperations. We're getting Beldragos to marry us, if we could just nail down a date. You know he can be a bit of a recluse, or so Warfare tells me." Arianna said.

The two turned and left, and threw Cerberus another big tasty steak. Cerberus grinned at it maliciously, then all three heads attacked it and chewed on the bone afterwards.

Death sat, musing.

In human tradition, the bride alone wears white, in Drow, neither white nor black is used. And the gods do their own thing. I've been in gray or black so long...I suppose a pastel blue would be appropriate.

Death sent for some good tailors to have the dress fitted.

The Fat man and the blond woman finally had all the necessary Offerings. The Power of a Star was hard to obtain, but a newborn star was selected and its power taken. They posed as common everyday travelers.

Kajeenith's spirit was stirring, he was going to be ressurected.
"Come to me, in the Infinite Layers of the Abyss, layer 1069. Find the Train of Doom, it shall take you close." Kajeenith said to them in their minds.

"The Train of Doom? The legendary Doomtrain? It exists?" The fat bald man asked wonderously.

"Yes yes, I rode on it once, when a Drow princess was ridding it, she caused a disturbance with the train itself. We could all hear the train speak, it called her a summoner, whatever that is. He chased her off anyways. Come on, I know where a station is." The Blond woman said.

They went to a nearby station, and payed fare to layer 500 of The Infinite Layers of The Abyss. When they got there, the looked around, wondering how to progress. The Blond woman used her intuition, and they headed off.

OOC: He's coming, and he's going to be similar, but completly diffrent to past villians. Do you think your ready for Kajeenith?

OOC: I know some details, so I'm almost ready. Time to shift up another power level I think

OOC: Bring him ON!

OOC: Bring him ON!
OOC: That's the spirit!

OOC: That's the spirit!
I'll squash him. *Smacks fist against palm* Come on...

OOC:All in good time my dear. Playtime is over. The time has come for more serious things. The time of childhood is over, thus I have put away childish things. Now is the time of adulthood. No more holding back on ideas, no more waiting, no more of what you once knew. The change is coming, and nothing shall be the same afterwards. You have helped grow and change. The time soon comes, for the results.

OOC: And this is your way of saying,"I'm a REAL man now!"

OOC:We shall see snake, we shall see. :D :p

OOC: Now I can bring out the big guns, then.

OOC:This is gonna be one hell of a year.

OOC: *Cackles maniacally*

Warfare and Arianna had seperated for now. They both subscribed to the old tradition that the bride and groom should not see each other before they get married. Their thoughts were the same.

"I need a ring, but what kind would be apropriate? I know, I'll put the heart of my soul, my basic most essence, that which makes me, me, in to a common diamond, set on a band of White Gold of the highest value. That should be an apropriate enough gift." They thought.

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

The Man and the woman were struggling through layer 750. Large numbers of monsters of all kinds seemed to be pouring in from nowhere. They were fighting their way towards Layer 751. Their progress was slow going. Fortunatly, Both the man and the woman had grown powerful during their decent into the Abyss. Still Kajeenith waited. Still Kajeenith watched. Both with Anticipation.

*The Valshanth*

T'puuli and Plak'la were in the room they were sharing for Anna's coronation. T'puuli was meditating quietly, when suddenly her eyes snapped open, and the space around her shut itself. Plak'la reached backwards through time a little to shake her.

"Ikara...what is it?"

T'puuli shakes herself and looks at her husband. "A premonition...very vague...something very bad is going to happen. The path has already been set."

P -- "Do you know where or when?"

T -- "Where? The Abyssal Plane. But the reaction will not be limited to there...it will affect us all. When...soon. That's all I know. It could be next week or next month, but I do not know."

Costh continued his rigerous training, pushing himself harder than ever before, raising his skill and control as he pushed himself for the time when he would undergo the ascension ritual.

Galvenor continued exploring his newly gained immortality.

He was curious........

Warfare concentrated on makeing his armor as ornate and ceremonial as possible, while still being functional. He was in an uncharted section of Riptide. He had a bad feeling rising. Something was about to happen, soon. One of his minor abilities was prophecy. He had always tried to have someone around when he gave one, but sometimes, there was none around. He felt one coming one, he had started to summon someone, but failed entirely because he went into a state off prophecy.


Beware, beware the return of the Dark God, for with him shall come the gathering of the darkness, and a great war shall be fought between the darkness, and the light, and to the victor, shall come the ruling of a great empire.



Warfare had no recollection of what he had said. He knew he would not remeber, so he shrugged it off, and went back to work.

OOC: Balrogga! You're back!

OOC:*Throws a little party for Balrogga*

Of all the people that made up Warfare's followers, only one had no students. Only one was the master of something no one else wanted to Master. He wasn't quite a wizard, but he was a master of Sonic Energy, more to the point, he was a Bard. He wore a fanciful outfit, and always seemed to be happy. He sang for anybody, for a price, he was a storyteller, and would regale the children at night with fanciful stories about alot of things. When a battle broke out, as sometimes happened, between two or sometimes more of Warfare's followers, his greater talents would come into play, and he would play in such a manner, that the sonic energy of the song would bind them up quick, and the could not escape, after all, it was just a soundwave, and very few people were prepared to fight sound. This time however, he wandered Kaymiril, going from place to place, singing for whoever would listen. He was trying to make his way into the Valshanth, to sing for Princess Anna's coronation. The news of it buzzed over Warhaven, and quite naturally, he went to see if he could put his talents to good use. At the time though, The Bard was in a small town somewhere, simply trying to make it too Valshanth, let alone get in.

It seems like a quaint little town...there are children playing ball in the street, and a little market square, with Drow going about their daily lives. Children would stop to look at the man's outfit.

The Bard picked up his lute, it was strapped to his back, and sang a song about an imaginary world made out of candy. He sang it to please and entertain the children. As he sang it, anyone listening could almost see what The Bard sang, the ground made up of a giant pepperment, the flowing rivers of Lemonaid and soda-pop. The clouds made out of cottoncandy ETC. His voice was light and airy, and as the last strains of the song faded away, all those listening were brought back to reality.

"Please, could someone possibly help me get a town, or city closer to Valshanth?" The Bard asked, his no longer light and airy, but normal, like that of any other human. His was of a medium range, and now it carried a tone of seriousness.

A woman approaches him. By some miracle, she speaks Common.

"The Valshanth is about six hundred miles north of here. Why do you wish to go?"

"I seek to go, to sing for Princess Anna's Coronation, or at least try to, if they do not let me in, well, I can say I tried. I am a very skilled Master Bard. I do believe Princess Anna, would be most appreciative of my talents." The Bard said.


OOC: Kay, Snake, Balrogga, Take a look at Establishment of The Wizards Council thread, I bumped it, and got a response.

"I could take you...it would be very hard to get in without prior authorization, though."

"Oh, I don't mind the difficulty." The Bard said.

"Ssussun, ulu uns'aa."

A swan-like glider floated down, then assumed the travelling shape. The woman stepped on.

"Well, come on. It's about an hour's journey."

The Bard strapped his Lute back on. Then he stepped on. He had never seen a machine quite like this before.

"I must admit, I have never seen machinery quite like this before, how does it work?" The Bard asked. He shifted his Gold mask around a bit to where it was a little more comfortable.

OOC: did you see what I was talking about in the Other thread?

OOC: Yes.

IC:
It's called a Swan, for obvious reasons. How it works? ...I'm not a mage, or a technician...I couldn't tell you.

"Oh, are they terribly expensive?" The Bard asked.

OOC: Do you agree? Or did I go to far or too short on my offer to Sharina?

OOC: A touch too far, and the mana bullets powers as you claimed them were borderline GM

IC:
Somewhat. I'm Arel, by the way. What are you called by in your land?

EDIT OOC: I gtg. Good night.

"I am known far and wide simply as, The Bard. Although, I am also known as Roy, but only to a few. Most others usually call me Bard, Master Bard, or some other variation there of. Its kinda sorta my title, kinda like the Master mages of your country, like Mith, or Phish. I've never met them myself, but Bards pick up a bit of knowledge here and there in their travels." The Bard, also known as Roy said.

I see. We have a class of bard...they only number a few hundred, and you're lucky to find one ever.

"Bards are, or at least I am, Masters of Sonic Energy." Roy said.

Sound travels in waves, therefore it is an extension of kinetic energy. Just not kinetic energy that you can see.

"This is true. It is also true that there are many forms of energy. Bards are not very powerful mages. we can do enough to get by and survive, but our greater talent is always in our entertainment. We are not common musicans. A musican can only play music, nothing else. When I play, I can cause the sonic energy to take shape, and interact with the environment. Yet all it takes to take a bards powers out is a mere silence spell. Doesn't mean I couldn't slice somebody to ribbons, only that my powers are gone."

"You yourself said bards are entertainers. The common wandering entertainer does stunts, not just sings, or even manipulates the sound waves."

OOC: MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! You have gotten into a music/entertainment argument with a girl who is both a musician and active in theater!

"You have proved my point with your own statement. You yourself said that they do not manipulate sonic energy. Bards specialize in that. While its true that any mage can manipulate it, Bards specialize in it. Any mage that does specialize in it is a Bard. It is an inescapeable loop of Logic." Roy said.

You don't juggle knives or torches? You aren't acrobatic? All you do is sing and then manipulate the sound waves? I dunno...sounds more like a half-bard to me. Unless you're blind...which you aren't, are you?

"Just because all I did was sing a song back at the village doesn't mean that that's the only thing I can do. I can do just about everything in the world of entertainment, except juggle seven balls at once, working on it though, I'm up six and a half." Roy says.

I can get up to ten objects...hard to stop, though.

"Oh well, as the cliche goes, Practice makes perfect." Roy said with a sigh.

"Repetition is the mother of all skill." So my father said.

Diffrent sayings, same logic. I remember having my old master keep me up for hours on end practicing over and over and over again unceasingly to attain perfection in it, and yet still I continue practicing to attain further perfection.

That's how it goes. My father said that I should continue adding things to juggle until I reached thirty. He could get twenty-five, before he died. Then again, he was just amazing.

"I, I never knew my parents. I was found abandoned on a Roadside for dead. Master found me and raised me as his own. Master is the only family I knew." Roy said. A tear fell from beneath the mask.

"Master..." Roy said with great love and emotion for his teacher, remembering his childhood.

I am sorry...my family is spread across Kaymiril, but we are still very close. What was your master like?

"He was, a very great man, always helping others, always had a kind word to say, always had a skill to help teach. And he was full of stories. He told me a story one time of a Bard King.
'The Bard King was a legendary figure' he said, ' That always went around telling stories for money. He spun great myths and legends. Eventually he angered the Gods by telling a story about the false prophecy of the Triumph of Darkness, and how everything changed. "He should not encourage others towards Darkness." They said in a great council. "We will hunt down the Bard King and make him pay for casting us in a bad light." The good gods gathered together to hunt down the Bard King, the Dark Gods meanwhile, took this as a threat and consolidated their powers and stood against the Gods of light. War raged across the lands for ages and ended with the defeat of all the Gods except a single weak and weary Dark God, thus fullfilling a prophecy that otherwise could never come true.' The Moral of the story was to be careful about what you say, and sing, for your actions could be the small pebble in the still pond that causes waves throughout the pond." Roy said.

"Now adays he sits on my mantle in a jar, cold and silent like most cremated bodies." Roy said after a minute.

"All must come to an end. The best story, the perfect dance, the most enchanting song...only, with time, must come to its logical conclusion...and that is death, on the path of mortality."

"This is True" Roy said.

OOC: My last post was depressing...esp. so b/c I came home from school to find my fish dead.

IC:
"There it is." She took her glider down, to the Valshanth gates, and spoke with the guards briefly, then turned back to Roy.

"They say that this is not the proper occasion for people of our profession...if it were, they'd have probably called my elder sister."

"I tried, so, you and your sister both are Bards then?" Roy asked.
OOC: sorry about your fish. :(

Arel lifts off again.

"All my family are...my parents both were, and all of my siblings followed that path...my elder brother, my elder sister, myself, and my younger sister. My elder sister is just so amazingly talented that she's extremely renowned throughout Kaymiril."

Roy would feel something gripping his feet to the glider before it did an abrupt barrel roll and flipped into a loop-the-loop.

"Weeeee!" Roy shouted like a little kid. He grabbed at his Loot, and began strumming it. He knew low level magic, as most bards did, and cast a coloring spell on Sonic energy. He then began strumming a merry little tune. Each speed of play, and each section of song had its own unique color. Its effects were mesmorizing.

OOC: Lute

IC:
Arel laughed, and at the crest of the loop, she dropped from her glider, spreading her arms as if to fly herself. As the glider continued the loop, it changed shape, giving itself a more pointed nose. As she came within a few feet of the supposed trough of the loop, she did an aerial spin and flip, landing on the tip of the glider's outstretched nose.

OOC: Well, I thought Lute, I guess my fingers were loot.

IC: Roy grinned. He changed his tune. It was a song about flight, and made listeners feel as though they could fly, and infact, for exactly five minuets they could. Roy jumped off and flew along side the craft playing furiously. Five minuets later he landed on the Glider again.

Arel continued pulling aerial stunts, making up lyrics to Roy's tunes.

When it stopped, she laughed. "You're fun to play with."

The fat man and the blond woman had made it to layer 1,000. They were having a hard time of it, as this level manifested as signs pointing the way to go. Often times there were barriers in the way to get passed, but they could not go around them, for when they did, reality rippled and they were back at the start again. Eventually they made it though, and decended, to layer 1,001...

As are you. I do not believe I ever had this much fun since I traveled for a time with Bartleby's flying circus.

Arel grinned, then took a seat on one of the wings, pulling out her lyre. It was an old instrument, and badly needed restrung, so she started on that.

"Tell me...what was the worst accident you've ever had, during practice or preformance?"

Roy took out his juggling balls and played with them. They were big and magnetic, all seven of them. He began to juggle all seven of them.

"Hey, I got it!" Roy said.

Magnetic juggling balls? Well, aside from the fact that the extra weight makes it more difficult to acheive the required velocity, that's such a cheat!

"Accident, well, one time I accidently caused a Sonic Knife to fly at an old lady. Fortunatly, there was enough Sonic energy around for me to erect a barrier. I passed it off as part f the show, grew really popular because of it. No one but you knows it was an accident though, the first time.

"Not when I put on these here gloves" Roy said. He dropped the balls into his hat. The gloves were gold, and repelled the balls, making it harder. Roy made it up to four balls, and stayed there. When your balls ran from you, you had to work harder to catch them.

Ah. Mine...I was juggling assorted objects...it was during practice, and I then learned that you shouldn't juggle lit torches and silk scarves at the same time...

Anyway, anywhere in particular you want to go?

Well, if you could take me back to the town we started from, I would be happy to continue my travels from there.

"I could do that."

The glider takes a sharp dip and turn, and plummets down and around, coming down to a stop in the square.

"Thank you, in all your knowledge, have you ever heard of the Potion of Rhyos?" Roy asked.