NationStates Jolt Archive

Warfare had heard about him through Rumors, a man named Grahf that had survived the destruction of Ephseus. Warfare and Arianna went to talk to him, but Warfare found his powers gone, drained and stolen by Grahf, and Warfare was crucified. Arianna escaped in the nick of time. Left, to warn the Wizards Council about Grahf.

OOC: Vague I know, but I intend to reveal details as we go along. Remember Snake, you said I could have Leviathan's powers stolen by Grahf.

Leviathan shuddered in spite of himself, knocking the flask over,"Goddammit," he cursed, not taking any notice of his unintendded pun,"Warfare, what the hell happened?"

He sought out Arianna, having had centuries to track people like this, he found her in Mithdelmar, in Kaymiril. He teleported himself there, and squatted in front of her,"Arianna, tell me what happened"

A new man appeared in paradise. This man had a mask on, and wore a loose brown suit. Brown suede shoes were on his feet. He walked with a steady determined pace. He was looking, for Leviathan.

OOC: Too late, I'm outta there

"A man named who calls himself Grahf the Destroyer, he stole Warfare's powers saying that due to the pain and suffering Warfare has caused, he is no longer worther to bear them. All he did was touch Warfare, but he stole ALL of Warfare's powers without mercy, leaving Warfare helpless. I left to come back and get help. You gotta help me stop him, Grahf is determined to destroy all of the Gods, and magic as well." Arianna said in an absolute terrified panic.

A scroll appeared in front of Anna, and she unrolled it. "Ephesus...Arianna, I'm going to be back...Bahamut used to live on Ephesus."

She teleports out and activates Glider, then blazes off for Bahamut's cave.

"A man named who calls himself Grahf the Destroyer, he stole Warfare's powers saying that due to the pain and suffering Warfare has caused, he is no longer worther to bear them. All he did was touch Warfare, but he stole ALL of Warfare's powers without mercy, leaving Warfare helpless. I left to come back and get help. You gotta help me stop him, Grahf is determined to destroy all of the Gods, and magic as well." Arianna said in an absolute terrified panic.

Arianna, calm down, you're hysterical. Now, show me where Warfare is, and I'll go there. You are to stay here, understand? A goddess of peace is not going to do much to stop something like this, currently

Bahamut looked pleasantly surprised to see Anna, a Gold Dragon lumbers off on some errand.
"Princess Anna, what ever can I do for you this day?" Bahamut asks.

Anna steps off of Glider as soon as it came near enough to the ground.

"What do you know of a man named Graphf?"

Arianna pulls out a great big giant map with a spell. All of space can be seen from the topside. The camera zooms in, ever closer to one of the remaining chunks of Epseus. A lake and a fortress rest on this chunk.

"There." Arianna says, somewhat calmer.

Leviathan memorised the map, changed into his armour, and teleported out, not before laying a hand on her shoulder, as if to say I'll find him. Don't worry

"Grahf, just that he was obsessive with justice. I once flew by his fortress, and he was having someone whipped because they had an early lunch. Appearently, your not supposed to have early lunches, its wrong somehow someway." Bahamut said. he cracked his great neck and continued.

"The man is powerless, and poses no real threat to anyone except his own servants, but they abandoned him ages ago. The only way he could become a real threat is if he found some way of gaining some, like with a wish or something. But no one, not even the Dark Gods would grant him any wishes. Maybe he found a shard of something with a wish stored in it, if he's become enough of a threat to bring you here." Bahamut said.

Grahf is standing there, waiting for him, as if he knew Leviathan were coming.

"You. You dare to tresspass on MY property?" Grahf said.

Anna would have paled if she could have, and her knees collapsed from under her.

"The Mirari..." tears gathered in her eyes and began to fall. "He got a Mirari shard...that's the only explanation."

Grahf is standing there, waiting for him, as if he knew Leviathan were coming.

"You. You dare to tresspass on MY property?" Grahf said.

Your property? Your property, Grahf, is nothing more than rubble. Look at it, you cling to it as if it were still whole. It's gone, why not let it go?

Bahamut gave a shudder that caused his wings to expand fully and contract.

"There now, I heard of the Mirari, and I also heard it twists the wishes of those who use it. All you really have to do, is find out how the wish was twisted, and exploit it." Bahamut said comfortingly.

How? How do I find that out? You don't understand...he killed my son. I know he did...I can feel it.

"BECAUSE ITS MINE!!!" Grahf yelled. The Mirari, it twisted him even further, pushed him over the edge into full out insanity.

"I suppose you'll say next that you would offer to transplant my fortress somewhere, right? All you gods are alike, you all abuse your powers for your own enjoyment." Grahf said.

"Killed, I doubt it, Gods are hard to kill, and a shard could not give him the power to kill Warfare, let alone a lesser deity like Lolth." Bahamut said.

"BECAUSE ITS MINE!!!" Grahf yelled. The Mirari, it twisted him even further, pushed him over the edge into full out insanity.

"I suppose you'll say next that you would offer to transplant my fortress somewhere, right? All you gods are alike, you all abuse your powers for your own enjoyment." Grahf said.

Actually, no. I'd prefer to leave you here to rot for all eternity. I came to get the body of my friend, and I'm going through you.

Grahf leaped on Leviathan, his hands and entire body began glowing oddly red. He began tearing at Leviathan's armor, trying to expose a piece of flesh, for Osmoses.

Leviathan's armour was made of tougher stuff than normal. Adamantium base, with multiple layers of other materials. Coupled with the Black Flame, it made a potent combination,"Don't make me destroy you Grafh. I've no wish to. Let me take my friend, and leave us in peace, and I can guarantee that you won't be bothered again"

OOC: Last one for tonight I think. And spot the Star Wars quote

"Killed, I doubt it, Gods are hard to kill, and a shard could not give him the power to kill Warfare, let alone a lesser deity like Lolth." Bahamut said.
She stands back up and levitates so that she's at eyelevel with the dragon. "I can feel it. I knew when he died...I need to get back to Mithdelmar...Grahf needs to be stopped."

She snaps for Glider, then remembers. "He's able to take their powers. That's how he killed him...but how was it twisted...and how is he stopped?"

She begins to blaze back to Mithdelmar...greatly exceeding the recommended speed for her class of vehicle.

Grahf summons Warfare's stolen powers from deep within, he concentates the destructivness on Leviathan's armor, causing it to rust, rot, fade away, and, in any sense, become brittle enough for Grahf to snap off and find Leviathans flesh.

"You can't kill me, not if you expect Warfare to live. If I die, he dies, and the blood will be on your hands, not mine." Grahf said.

A robed figure floats gently through the halls of Mithdelmar. In a decidedly haunting moan, everyone can hear:
"Princess Anna......Princess Anna.......Princess Anna."

This was the last known location of the princess, thus the robed figure came here. No one can see a face, only a black, empty, void.

Renor, equally cloaked with the man, stands in front of him.

"What do you want with our Princess?"

Leviathan winced as he felt his friends energies attack him against their will,"I will not let you take my powers, Grahf. You cannot wield them anyway. They are me, not born of magick. You can destroy this body, it does not matter. Come, try it! I would kill myself and my friend to prevent a scourge like you taking the universe"

He charged up Black Flame Ultima in such a manner that it would harm Grahf the second he touched Leviathan

OOC: And don't argue Warhaven, because the Black and White Flames are genetic only, cannot be learned etc. So, he can't use them. At all. And that attack is going to hurt him

OOC: I never said they weren't. My intent is to leave Leviathan helpless.

IC: Grahf felt Leviathan charge his powers, but he didn't care. He must destroy them all for their crimes. Even now, Leviathan was committing more by resisting. Finding a chink in the Gods armor, he put his hands on the flesh, and yelled in pain as the Black Flame began to attack. Summoning Warfare's creative powers, he healed himself as best he could, and created a reflective barrier around himself. To Grahf's horror, The Black flame was genetic, and could not be removed. Oh well, that could be gotten around, after crucifixition.

"You are charged with abusing your powers for your own enjoyment. While I cannot take your black flame powers, I will most certainly take your Divine and Mortal powers, for you have lost all right to use them." Grahf decreed. Osmoses began. Leviathan could feel his other powers slipping away. As Grahf gained more and more power from Leviathan, he used Leviathan's own powers to cast a powerful sleep spell on the God.

"Must....Deliver....scroll..." The Robed figure said. Its robe looks like it was made from a pair of Burlap bags.

OOC: SE has to go for the night, Warhaven.

IC:
Anna -- *returning. She'd heard it calling for her* What scroll?

The robed figure hands over the scroll, and then the robe falls to the ground, and no figure can be seen anywhere. The scroll reads:

"By orders of Grahf the Destroyer, you are to stop all usage of magic in your nation, forever. If you do not, I will be forced to Kill Warfare."

Be neath the words is a picture of Warfare, clinging to life, crucified to a cross, pointed down ward. Horrible gashes run the length of his body, as he slowly bleeds on the floor. He is barely clinging to life. The picture is live, and audible. A single sentence escapes Warfare:

"Arianna, save yourself, Arianna, I need you, Arianna, I love you."

A tear drops on the floor.

She looks at the scroll, and then back at the deliverer. "Never, in the nine hells will we comply." Raising her hand, she launches a high-level destructive spell at it.

Anna gives the scroll to Arianna.

"Do not worry...I'll get him back."

She steps outside the room.

"Renor."

"Siyo, Qu'essan?"

She looks at him, and her bright blue eyes are cold.

"Summon the other masters. We go to war."

Renor bows and leaves. Anna goes outside and calls the summons...she doesn't try calling Warfare for his own safety, as much as she wants to call him and bring him safely back home.

When the summons have all arrived, she explains the situation to them.

"We go to war. I will not force any of you to do this...but I ask for your assistance."

"We will help you as much as we can, but remember, Grahf has Warfare's powers, and thus can banish us with a command." Bahamut said, speaking for the entire group, a rare act. Even rarer, Bahamut summons Tiamet, and explains everything to her.

"I might be a Dark Goddess, but I too, will help you, as a summon. The only reason I will, is because I fear for my own necks, and do not wish to be destroyed by this Grahf person." Tiamet says. History was just made with that statement.

Arianna meanwhile looks at the scroll. She hurls it to one side, and leaves Mithdelmar. All feelings of peace fade away. The sky begins to boil with clouds. The Wild life and monsters in Kaymiril and the surrounding countries and areas go stark raving mad. They begin to congregrate in droves to Arianna's location. Fur begins to grow all over Arianna, her mouth and nose elongate to a snout. Long sharp claws extend from her hands, and she hunches over as her ears grow big and pointy. Her eyes glow green with power. Arianna howls the howl of an enraged Werebeast. What exactly she has transformed into is not clear, but it is clear that she is upset. In a Growl she speaks:

"Grahf the destroyer shall know no peace no longer. I will destroy the destroyer for what he has done."

Energy crackles along her body. With a yip she takes off after Anna.

Costh staggered, "I hate teleporting when not prepared."
Seeing the Weresomething as well as a large force of beasts he levitated and speed toward them, hand wrapping around a sword hilt.

The masters of magick are beginning to come.

Anna nods.

"Draeval, Jyzumar, do you know anything about the way the Mirari twisted his wish, and if you don't, can you find out?"

The beasts payed Costh no heed. Arianna, the weresomething, spotted costh and shouted with a Growl:

"Come'on, if you want to save Warfare!"

Costh speed up until he was beside Arianna, "What in blue blazes is going on?" he asked as he relaxed his grip on his blade.

Draeval and Jyzumar left with a bend in space. The reappeared at that exact same moment with yet another bend in space.

"He is insane. He now believes that all Gods are guilty of abusing their powers in some fashion. He believes magic is a meaningless worthless force that must be abolished, worst of all, he has sworn to defeat God, and will destroy and absorb anything in his path." Draeval and Jyzumar said in exact perfect unison, one voice low, one voice high.

Doomtrain looked at the large throng and the weresomething leading them.
"Who, or what, is all that now?" Doomtrain asked.

"Arianna."

A chair builds itself up out of the ground, and Anna takes a seat, lacing her fingers.

Haldosir, Nervim, and Rildorath arrive after the last of the masters.

H -- A thousand years, and that look does not change.

N -- Someone is about to die.

R -- It'll be like old times...only the Princess is not as experienced as her grandmother.

H -- No matter...she is more powerful.

A -- "We have three hours in which to plan. After that, we leave."

A soft, cold glow begins to surround Anna as the Maril armor begins to surround her. A heavily enchanted Jakujou forms beside her chair.

"I want suggestions...and I want them now."

OOC: Gotta go for now.

A) to whip up some suggestions for Anna.

B) Its been a very hard day out here in the desert. :headbang:

C) because of B, I need to step out tonight for some entertainment I do not have to use my head for.

D) I also need to finish up that part with SE. :(

E) There is no E, I just felt posting E. :D

I'll post more tomorrow.

"I don't mean to intrude, but that the heck is going on?" Costh asked

OOC: I never said they weren't. My intent is to leave Leviathan helpless.

IC: Grahf felt Leviathan charge his powers, but he didn't care. He must destroy them all for their crimes. Even now, Leviathan was committing more by resisting. Finding a chink in the Gods armor, he put his hands on the flesh, and yelled in pain as the Black Flame began to attack. Summoning Warfare's creative powers, he healed himself as best he could, and created a reflective barrier around himself. To Grahf's horror, The Black flame was genetic, and could not be removed. Oh well, that could be gotten around, after crucifixition.

"You are charged with abusing your powers for your own enjoyment. While I cannot take your black flame powers, I will most certainly take your Divine and Mortal powers, for you have lost all right to use them." Grahf decreed. Osmoses began. Leviathan could feel his other powers slipping away. As Grahf gained more and more power from Leviathan, he used Leviathan's own powers to cast a powerful sleep spell on the God.

OOC: I have a question. How to get Cougar involved now? It's like the story has moved too far, and once Leviathan loses his power, that's me gone :(

IC: Leviathan struggled against Grahf's power, fighting him every step of the way, but in the end he knew it was futile. No matter, he had denied him the thing he was after, and that gave hime grim satisfaction. He looked at Grahf before the sleep spell hit,"Anna will destroy you, along with everyone else who values Warfare and myself... more him. I gurantee you Grahf, you will die"

He collapsed into a sleep, a deep dreamless sleep...


Cougar, ((Wherever he is now)) felt the power of the Black Flame ebb away from the mulitiverse, and then dissapear entirely."What just happened," he muttered to himself

OOC: Well, that looks like me. Goodbye from posting, but I'll watch, unless he 'finds' something to do

OOC: Bah, Renor and Anna each has the power to bring you in. Renor will return to Rendelmar briefly soon, so you can catch up with him then.

IC:
R -- My first question, your Highness...with respect...what doest he terrain look like that we will be attacking?

OOC: Alright

"I'll show you." Arianna said with a growl. She let out a very menacing growl, meanwhile, the area they were in, fell away, and they found themselves looking at the area Grahf claimed as home. It was a neat well maintained area on a chunk of Ephseus. A nearby lake provided food and water. They could see Grahf carrying Leviathan's limp body inside to be crucified. They could do nothing though, because they were not really there. The scene fell away and they were back.

"I think we might need Col. Cougar since Leviathan has fallen. Warfare told me about him, and his powers." Arianna said.

Grahf smiled at his victory. He carried Leviathan inside, and nailed him to a cross. To prevent Leviathan from waking up too soon, he cut long gashes in the God's body. Those would require all of Leviathan's concentration to heal. He suspended the cross pointed downwards next to Warfare.

"No, leave him alone, I, I'll kill you." Warfare said weakly.
"Hah, with what? Your Rapier wit? I don't know how you woke up so soon, but it doesn't matter. I'll still kill you later." Grahf said.

Warfare was thinking, still nailed to the cross. He thought back to how this had all begun.


[start flashback]
"So, your testing is over Arianna, and it looks like you have Domain over Peace, knowledge, and Nature, and its about time, because all the other nature deities have grown old and tired, and are threatening to stop controling nature." Warfare said.

"So, that was an illusion all along?" Arianna asked.

"Yes." Warfare replied.
thing a
"So, the poor man in Kaymiril, and the massive riot in Snake Eaters, and the elemental storms raviging Theao were all.." Arianna said, and simply left it hanging.

"Illusions. That spell is designed to interact with your powers, and presnt you with situations in the mortal realm, and make you do something. It helps the guiding Deity figure out your domains. In the old days, we would have to find situations, it was really hard. Then Baccob whipped up that handy dandy spell, and we don't need to bother the Mortal realms with our tests." Warfare said.

"Oh."

Hermes walks by. He spots Warfare and walks up.

"Hey, Warfare, you used to live on Ephseus, right? Well, I just heard on the rumor mill that a survivor has been found. He's living on one of the three giant chunks." Hermes said.

"Really? I think I'll go visit him then. What's his name?" Warfare asked.

"Grahf. He is kinda crazy though." Hermese replied.

"No matter, what harm could one crazy man possibly do?" Warfare asked.

Warfare took Arianna's hand, and within seconds they were on Ephseus, chunk number 2.

"Well, this place certainly looks nice." Arianna said.

"Yes, it is." Warfare said.

"WHO ARE YOU, AND WHY ARE YOU ON MY LAWNS?" A voice shouted.

"I'M WARFARE, ELDER GOD OF WAR, AND I SIMPLY CAME TO VISIT YOU SINCE YOU ARE THE SOLE MORTAL SURVIVIOR OF EPHSEUS, NO LETS TALK IN A NORMAL CIVILIZED MANNER PLEASE." Warfare shouted back even louder.

"Sorry. Your Warfare?" The voice asked.

"Yes he is, he wouldn't lie." Arianna said.

A man walked out in a brown suit and a brown mask.

"I don't believe him. I want proof. Restore Ephseus and I'll believe you." The man said.

"Are you Grahf? I won't, it might be in my power, but Ephseus should remain destroyed, least its bloody past come to spread to the rest of creation." Warfare said.

"Yes, I am Grahf. Then your obviously not Warfare, I need his powers." Grahf said.

"Why do you need my powers? You want proof? I'll give you proof." Warfare said. The sky on the chunk went from blue to purple to green to red back to blue again.

"There you go, abusing your powers again. You want to know why I want your powers? because you abuse your powers, you all abuse your powers, you spawn a force that mortals can use to abuse others and the world around them, and in the process none of you give a single care as to its effects." Grahf declared.

"Pardon, but we, abuse, our powers? We, abuse them? How? I don't, I can't think of a single Light God who does. The dark Gods I can certainly understand, but how do the Light Gods abuse their powers?" Warfare challenged.

"How? you dare ask how? When you have an entire diminsional plane for an office inside what is really a 3 FT, by 3 FT, by 3 FT. Cubed room? You, who is the only God, the ONLY GOD, who shows off to mortals on an everyday regular basis, as though they had forgotten in the past five minuets?" Grahf challenged right back.

"Alright, I might be showy, I admit. Fine, you say all Gods abuse their powers? Then fine, tell me how God abuses his powers." Warfare challenged again.

"God? How does He abuse His powers? The most powerful force in creation? Are you blind? Can you not see all the useless things he created, all the emotions he lets run rampant, then he sits back and does nothing claiming "Free Will"? The biggest problem with him is that he doesn't care at all. If he really cared, there would be no hunger, there would be no Death, there would be no unhappiness, no wars, no evil, we would all be living in utopia. Death is just as bad, taking innocent children, taking the unborn before they even have a chance, and then he lets the bad people live forever. No, Niether Death nor God nor satan nor any other Deity is fit to rule. The only guiding force there should be is our own free will to do what we please, but even the mages prevent that, when the Gods aren't busy screwing us over, the mages are right there to keep on going. Telling us we can't do this or that will happen, this area's forbidden, not to lurk by this cave least some "Monster" inside gets loose to destroy us. Sacrificing everything to their Gods, or their own Demonic powers. Magic has to go as well. That's why I need your powers, to collect the powers of ALL the other Gods and the mortal mages, then Death and Satan, to destroy Father God, and recreate Creation as it truely should be. I was granted the ability to accomplish this by a Mirari shard. I'm going to take your powers Warfare, and you cannot stop me." Grahf said. He began to advance on Warfare.

"Grahf, I am going to give you the gift of mercy and kill you, to put you out of your misery." Warfare said. He began tocast the Hand of Death on Grahf. Grahf leaped on Warfare, and stole all of Warfare's powers.

"Arianna, run, warn mother, she's the only one that can stop this now. Your too inexperienced, for your own safety, leave!" Warfare called as Grahf put him to sleep. Arianna teleported away as Grahf began to leap on her. Wheter she made it or not, Warfare didn't know. as he fell asleep, he said:

"Arianna, I love you."

"Oh how sickening, the God has fallen in love. No one needs love, that too, will be destroyed." Grahf said with a sicking wretch, Love really and truely made him ill, the Mirari took away his ability to love and Care.

[End Flashback]

Warfare shed another tear.

"Leviathan, I never meant to get you into this, I'm sorry." Warfare said.

The sleep spell should have been wearing off at that point, so Leviathan may or may not have heard Warfare. The Nails and crosses were all designed by the Mirari to seal any and all powers of whatever being they were in, so thus, Leviathan's Black Flame could not be used to free them.

OOC: Not taken away, simply sealed. When Leviathan gets off the cross, and the nails get taken out of him, he'll be able to use it again.

Arianna simply growled at Costh. Shiva stepped over and explained that a man named Grahf the destroyer has kidnapped Warfare, stolen his powers, stolen Leviathan's powers, save for the black flame, and Grahf's intent to destroy the Gods. Shiva then stepped back.

"I must agree with Arianna, I think Col. Cougar's unique powers would be most helpful in this situation. Can someone summon him and explain the situation to him, so that he's not like, marching in blind or anything? By the way Arianna, I don't think Grahf has an Army, so I think its safe to send the wildlife back home." Bahamut said.

"I don't know how, I'm running on pure instinct at the moment." Arianna replied.

Costh stays by Shiva*, "Does anyone have any idea how he got the power to do so?"

ooc: do you mean the Shiva, the hindu god?

Rildorath nods after he has been shown, and he, Haldosir, and Nervim go a little to the side to discuss it.

Anna guestures to Renor, who teleports away.

Rildorath returns.

"My Princess," He says with a bow, "It seems an easy place to raid...if you wish extra forces, other than the ones you have here...perhaps his paladins and head magi would be the best course to tread?"

A -- "T'puuli, go to Mirroden and tell Rahegalhoff to gather the ArchWizards and whatever paladins he feels best able."

The Silver Master teleports.

A -- "Plak'la...ask the Queen Sliver for two Space and Capital Slivers, as well as a Reactor."

The Gold Master leaves.

Anna looks around. "Now...does anyone else have anything to add?"

********************************
Rendelmar:

Renor teleports in and summons Rhenna and Cougar. He explains the situations.

"Leviathan has fallen to Grahf. Cougar, I know you might want to...and Rhenmet...I would have you go with me."

Rhenna nods.

Rahegalhoff's reaction was less than pleasant.

"That damn fool of a God. He goes gallivanting off to see some nutcase without even first looking to see if he has anything resembleing power? Why when I get my hands on him I'll skin him alive." Rahegalhoff walks off cursing up a storm, a sign that he really was upset. To the outsider, it might seem that he was upset at Warfare, but all of Warfare's followers knew it was really directed at Grahf. The Archmages wander over.

"Don't worry, he'll return shortly. He needs a few minuets to contain himself." El, the Head Archwizard said. The Grand Abbotts walk over. Unlike the three Abbotts that wanted to test Cougar's fighting skills, these men are older, wizer, and far more powerful.

"We too, shall join you. Magic and Truth are great, but remember also, physical might is also needed. Truth can be obscured, magic can be silenced, and true that physical might can be stopped, but without all three, none can stand." The Grand Abbott of the Temple of the Mage fists said.

The Queen was most agreeable. She sent for two space Slivers, two Capitol slivers, and a Reactor Sliver. They all arrived within five minutes.

The Elemental warrior, thinking carefully, spoke up.

"Maybe, was there anything Warfare gave you? a machine, or maybe a coat with some sort of power? Preferably a coat with some sort of power. Such an item would help in locating Warfare in his weakened condition." The warrior said.

Meanwhile, Rahegalhoff rides back to the little group on Starfire.
"Alright, lets go." He says a little grumpy.

Bahamut spoke up.

"It is clear, from an earlier conversation I had, that Grahf found a shard of the Mirari, and wished upon it. The Mirari is an evil thing that twists the wish or the user in some manner once wished. If you ever find one, discard it and forget you ever found it." Bahamut said.

OOC: Shiva, the Ice Goddess from the Final Fantasy series.

Hearing of the Mirari shard, reminded Costh he still had the shard he had found during the Battle of Death, "Are the shards really that dangerous as I've had one since the Battle of Death." Costh remarked

ooc: Ah, never heard of her

"Yes, from what I understand, the entire Space/Time continuum was screwed up when Warfare made a wish of peace while he tried to fix the problem of no Queen Sliver. Who knows what a simple Shard might do. My advise is to through it into a lava pit somewhere and forget about it. I understand Mirroden has excellent Molten Metal Furnaces, perhaps there would be a good place." Bahamut suggested.

"Enh, I'll just keep it in the vault, can't do anything there and it's an interesting momento, it kinda looks like Warfare's head actually. I have no reason or desire to use it so, no problem." Costh replied

"If that is what you wish" Bahamut said.

Warfare was thinking, still nailed to the cross. He thought back to how this had all begun.



"Leviathan, I never meant to get you into this, I'm sorry." Warfare said.

The sleep spell should have been wearing off at that point, so Leviathan may or may not have heard Warfare. The Nails and crosses were all designed by the Mirari to seal any and all powers of whatever being they were in, so thus, Leviathan's Black Flame could not be used to free them.

OOC: Not taken away, simply sealed. When Leviathan gets off the cross, and the nails get taken out of him, he'll be able to use it again.

Leviathan rosed slightly, all his effort focused on healing the wounds Grahf had inflicted upon him. He turned his head, the effort showing all over his face, but still he cracked a smile,"It's not a problem... well, alright it is, but oh well. Anna will destroy him, I feel sure of that... and Arianna will have a hand in it as well. They will come, I know it"

Rendelmar:

Renor teleports in and summons Rhenna and Cougar. He explains the situations.

"Leviathan has fallen to Grahf. Cougar, I know you might want to...and Rhenmet...I would have you go with me."

Rhenna nods.

"The way you phrase that makes it seem that you don't want me there... but anything to stop these messages from the clerics on Snake Eater Prime is good enough for me."

T'puuli and Plak'la teleport themselves and their groups back to Anna.

A -- *To EW* He gave me a gear, and he gave the OmniSliver Coat as a gift to my line. I know where he is...no need to worry about that.

Rildorath looks at the Elemental Warrior. "Come hell or high water, this kid's going to be destroyed. When her ancestor got that sort of look...things tended to die.

********************
Renro teleports the three of them out.

Rahegalhoff looked at the assortment of beings.

"You know, we really are an odd bunch. Anyways, the sooner we get there, the sooner we rescue Warfare, right? Well, lets go then." Rahegalhoff said.

"Just one thing though, If Grahf really has Warfare and Leviathan's powers, then like must defeat like. Physical challenges to physical warriors, magic to magic, Divine powers to Divine powers, and so on and so forth. Cougar, since Your and Leviathan's powers are genetic, and cannot be taken away, your our ace in the hole, our secret weapon, in a manner of speaking." Arianna said.

She turned to the throng of wildthings waiting nearby, and gave a peculiar Growl, the throng of wildthings gave their various calls back, arguing with her. She gave a roar that was so akin to a dragon roar that Tiamet and Bahamut turned to leave, before they realized they weren't subjects of hers and turned back around.

"Nature must be one of your domains, young Goddess." Tiamet said.
"Very forcefull, you have much potential." Bahamut said.

OOC: Back in a few, breakfast.

The White Flame can't be removed, but I suspect he could do damage to my life force if he so chose. Also, I carry Fieros, which would give him an oppurtunity to attack me

"True, but I will be countering Grahf, inexperienced as I am." Arianna said.

"Inexperienced maybe, but Tiamet and I are also Gods remember, We too will be helping you." Bahamut said.

"Thank you, now, how were we going to get there?" Arianna asked Anna.

OOC: Warhaven, I answered a question of yours, continue with it.

IC:
H -- Haste will lose this battle, and the lives of both gods.

A -- True. *She had been thinking of something, and then addresses the summons* Warfare's powers cannot banish you. They couldn't in the battle with Death recently...we had to kill you off. There is no reason to believe that he can send you away now, since I have summoned you. In any event, Haldosir, you said you had an idea.

H -- Between the three of us, Rildorath, Nervim, and myself have come up with a strategy.

We attack from all sides. You, Princess, challenge Grahf directly. You can come in either on Bahamut or a Sliver -- it would look impressive, and you could rob him of his powers.

R -- The Sealing Spell.

N -- No...it is a Maril spell...he would never be able to utilize any powers ever again...his ability to use magick, divine or arcane, or anti magick, would be completely gone. ...You do know that spell, do you not, Princess?

A -- Yes. My mother taught it to me.

Rl -- In any event, I go with Rahegalhoff and his forces and attack from the east. Nervim would go with the Princess, and Haldosir, along with a few mages and Cougar would penetrate the castle and take both gods. The rest of the forces will prevent any unfriendly entities from leaving.

Cougar listened, and smiled,"Strike team infiltrates, retrieves the others, and gets out. Sounds like a good plan to me"

A -- In essence. *To Arianna* The Space and Capitol Slivers will be able to carry us all through space. The Reactor Sliver will allow them to fly at faster-than-light speeds.

"So then, lets go." Arianna said. The two capitol Slivers grew to spaceship porportions, 15 KM in diameter, and 30 KM long. Their great wings creating minor sonic booms as they flapped in the atmosphere. Doomtrain opened up for passengers, and Bahamut and Tiamet lowered themselves for riders. Rahegalhoff climbed on Starfire. After everyone was aboard their respective rides, the whole group took off, slowly at first, then quicker as they picked up momentum. As they reached space, The Enterprise, a Sliver ship, picked them up, and took off for Ephseus space at transwarp speeds. Within an hour they were there, and the Enterprise unloaded its cargo. Rahegalhof thanked the slivers for the queens forsight and unspoken contribution, and the group decended upon Ephseus, chunk number two. The Grounds were immaculate. A random man was mowing the lawns. Grahf's fortress stood tall and proud. The doors and gates were wide open.

For a maniac, he sure has a nice place to live... I suppose

OOC: Warhaven, check PMs

"I smell a trap." Rahegalhoff said.



Warfare's eyes opened wide.

"She's here. I can feel Arianna's presence. She must have gotten help, we're saved." Warfare said weakly.

"Hmm, so your whore of a Girlfriend has returned, yes, with help I see. Fine, I will let them all in. The Fortress itself is alive, and will activly work to protect me." Grahf said.

Grahf walked over to a nearby section of wall.

"Gorgoff, destroy the new arrivals." Grahf commanded.

A face appeared on the wall.
"Yes, master." The Face said.

Three cannons rose up upon the roof of the Fortress, they moved to face the groups, and fired three large shells that would explode into large numbers of Shrapnel upon impact with anything.

Renor snapped, causing portals to open in front of the cannonballs. The portals led to nowhere.

Leviathan stirred,"Cougar will not fight a straight battle. They are smart as a group. They will win this fight"

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

Cougar shook his head slightly, his hand resting lightly on his Gunblade,"He doesn't have a clue, does he?"

A -- He has passed the boundaries of insanity. Do the insane ever have 'a clue?'

Sometimes, the insane ones are the only ones telling the truth

Anna turns a frigid glare on Cougar.

"This is not one of those times."

Although visibly he didn't move, Cougar's inner self quailed under the glare she gave him,"With respect, I never said it was"

"Master, they have magic. Shall I release IT?" Gorgoff asked.

"Yes, release the Werething, and its children. They haven't been fed in awhile." Grahf said.

Three gates opened up, and an unidentifiable werebeast, and several smaller werebeasts ran out. The innocent gardner, who was hiding behind a bush in terror, was eaten by a small werebeast. The Were beasts ranout to attack the various groups. Magic crackled along their claws, indicating that these were not your ordinary werebeasts.

Arianna let out a gruesome howl, and took on the largest Werebeast. The large werebeast cast a spell of darkness, and the two were enshrouded by total night. Claws could be seen flashing in the darkness. Howls of pain could be heard. Blood splattered all over the place, claws went flying, and the Werebeasts head landed on the roof of Gorgoff Fortress. The other Werebeasts were attempting to eat everyone else. Bahamut laughed at the little werebeast nibbling furiously on his big toe, the returned the favor and ate it. Tiamet's heads meanwhile, were growling at each other arguing over another werebeast that was going to attack her.

A werebeasts run up to everyone else, and attempt to eat them from the legs up.

Anna's head turned away, and she summoned her Jakujou. She put an atmosphere around herself and teleported out to Bahamut.

"Let's go."

OOC: Please note, I have a new post on the bottom of the last page. Do not respond to this OOC: post, but to my IC post.

Costh, seeing the werebeasties, used a sliver flame rune sending a ball of sliver fire at the werebeast.

Oh fun. I get to sneak, whilst they get to fight. Either ones good though, better than being stuck at home

He rammed his blade home through the carapace of one, and then stood his ground

"Master, they have magic. Shall I release IT?" Gorgoff asked.

"Yes, release the Werething, and its children. They haven't been fed in awhile." Grahf said.

Three gates opened up, and an unidentifiable werebeast, and several smaller werebeasts ran out. The innocent gardner, who was hiding behind a bush in terror, was eaten by a small werebeast. The Were beasts ranout to attack the various groups. Magic crackled along their claws, indicating that these were not your ordinary werebeasts.

Arianna let out a gruesome howl, and took on the largest Werebeast. The large werebeast cast a spell of darkness, and the two were enshrouded by total night. Claws could be seen flashing in the darkness. Howls of pain could be heard. Blood splattered all over the place, claws went flying, and the Werebeasts head landed on the roof of Gorgoff Fortress. The other Werebeasts were attempting to eat everyone else. Bahamut laughed at the little werebeast nibbling furiously on his big toe, the returned the favor and ate it. Tiamet's heads meanwhile, were growling at each other arguing over another werebeast that was going to attack her.

A werebeasts run up to everyone else, and attempt to eat them from the legs up.
Haldosir and Rildorath get out their swords and start hacking, that being their wont, but Nervim shakes his head. "Begone," he says, waving a hand and banishing the creatures to a different plane.

A werebeast on fire is now biting Costh. If costh lets its fangs sink into the bloodstream, Costh will be afflicted with Wererat Lycanthropy.

The maingate opens up, and out strolls a Weredragon.

"You defeated my children, they were only hungry. I will kill all of you for this injustice." The werdragon said.

Bahamut and Tiamet stepped forward.

"You have to go through us first." Tiamet said.

"Come, Rhenmet, you too are of dragonkind. Help us defeat this perversion of nature." Bahamut called.

Tiamet shot a giant iceball at it, whilest bahamut launched an atomic fireball. both hit. The weredragon roared in pain.

As the werebeast pounced on Costh, he caught it and as it was struggling to bite him, he used a rune to elongate his fingernails by three inchs, turning them into claws as well as turning then in to a silver/steel alloy. While he gave himself claws he also coated himself in fire. As the snarling werebeast leaned into bit Costh he jammed the claws from one hand into the eyes, the other into the throat of the beast, the silver claws killing the beast.

Costh has successfully killed the werebeast.

Cougar looked around as werebeasts fought everywhere. He surpressed his magick and fought with blade instead. Much more what he was used to. He slashed through one, and knocked another aside before driving the blade home

Rhenna allowed her tail and wings to grow out, and her scales grew larger and hardened.

With a flick of her wings she was airborne. Tellryon's heart started beating, and energy surrounded her. She raised her hands, charging a spell. It glowed brighter and brighter.

"Kerath nedra sslidus." She launched the spell at the werebeast...if it hit...the spell would attack the creature from the inside, devouring its organs, devouring everything until the moment of the creature's death.

"Now that was unpleasent," Costh said to himself as he reversed the runes he had used on himself, and looked around for the next threat.

"You complain too much for any mage. It is amazing you lasted this long"

The spell hit. Bahamut and Tiamet gave a nod. Tiamet took in a deep breath, and with a slight roar, a giant thunderbolt escaped her. Bahamut took a similar breath, and what looked like a massive blue jet engine flame shot out of him.

Black Energy charged in Rhenna's hands. It began spinning and taking shape -- It was a draconic spell, and manifested as a dragon. She launched it at the creature.

"El."

"How would you like a face full of werebeast drool?" Costh asked as he wiped the drool off and looked for a new target.

T -- If it's anything like having an infant spit up on you, it's nothing too bad. Quit complaining, before something does eat you.

"Costh, I've been in worse, and you know it. You really think drool is going to bother me? I've had a three-headed dog lick me, for gods sake. And you won't find a target you can tackle, unless you're actually stupid enough to try and take on that weredragon

Bahamut and Tiamet reached a silent unspoken agreement. Rhenna's black energy spell swirved and raced around them. Tiament and Bahamut both stood on their hindlegs and began chanting in a very old language. Rhenna's black energy spell grew large. Black energy crackled up and down the bodies of the two Dragon Gods. With a forceful motion, both pointed at the weredragon. The black energy shot out of their bodies, ento Rhenna's spell, split it into exactly one million balls the size of the origanile spell, all of wich shot at the weredragon knocking him skyhigh and killing him.

"Thank you for the oppurtunity to do that. Three way spells are always deadlier than a single caster spell. The credit for this victory is yours, we simply added muscle to the attack." Bahamut said.

Meanwhile, Gorgoff Fortress flashed, and a giant sheild covered it, blocking off all entry.

"Ya I know you've been licked by Cerberus, doesn't mean you enjoyed it." Costh replied while watching the dragons fight.

Cougar resisted the urge to applaud Rhenna, Tiamet and Bahumat, and then looked at the fortress,"An energy shield... interesting"

Anna's eyes flash in kind.

"Fool." Adjusting her grip on her weapon, she strides up to the shield, then slams the crescent against it. Energies ripple around the points as she casts, trying to break through.

"Only the top layer Cougar. Beneath the distortions, I can see metal, rock, and finally wood." Arianna said.

Everyone could hear Doomtrain revving to higher gears.

"Stand back, I'm a gonna ram it." Doomtrain said.

After giving everyone a few minuets to stand aside, doomtrain released the breaks, and ramed the energysheild. The shock was great. Doomtrain wobbled off to rest, and the energy sheild fell.

"Well, it looks like its up to us to crack this, but why does it resemble a Giant bell?" The grand Abbot of Strength asked.

"No matter, I shall use my ultimate technique and break the sheilds." The Grand abbott of the Mage Fists said.

He walked up to the bell, and Renor would be able to feel the ultima spell coursing through the Grand Abbotts body. Suddenly his fist shot forward, and punched the sheilds with the force of an Ultima spell. The sheild rang like a bell, crumbled, along with the othersheilds and Gorgoff fortress. The sound rang down through the underground level, into Grahf's chamber, dealing massive sonic damage to grahf, Leviathan, and Warfare.

Grahf and Warfare screamed in pain.

Everyone could see a single staircase leading down.

Leviathan didn't so much scream as collapse from the pain. His injuries were healing, but the sound had reopened them, and his blood dripped onto the floor

A -- Those that are able to come through this, come. Those who are not, remain. T'puuli.

*The Silver Mage casts an obscurance spell on any that come with them.*

Cougar sheathed his blade, and instead replaced it with his combat knife and pistol, which contained Mana rounds. He followed Anna into the hole

Bahamut, Tiamet, Doomtrain, and the slivers stay up there. The staircase is winding. When Anna and the others set foot on the first of the three lower levels, they feel all power sealed away.

"Welcome to the first floor. Are you physically strong enough to make it past this floor without Magic? We'll see. Defeat all the creatures on this floor, and the way to the next shall reveal itself." Grahf's voice rang out from nowhere.

There had to be atleast 50 monsters on that floor.

The monks and Rahegalhoff cracked their knuckles.

"Well, Elemental Warrior, Col. Cougar, will you join us? I know the Archwizards are not good at physical fighting, but I also know you two are well suited for physical combat." Rahegalhoff asked as he drew his sword. Starfire was upstairs with the Dragons.

"My pleasure." EW said.

Costh followed after Cougar, blade in hand.

Anna lowers the visor on her helmet and brings her Jakujou around. "They'll all die."

Rildorath and Haldosir get out their weapons and stand on either side of the Princess, prepared to charge out with her.

OOC: Check PM's warhaven

Cougar looked at Rahegalhof,"I'll join you. Nothing like a good fight. But in this case, I fight unarmed"

Costh took the blade in both hands, ready to attack or defend as necessary.

Rhenna looked at Cougar. Unarmed? Why?

I'm essentially unarmed anyway. Also, my blade is too large to use here, and restricts my movement. I've got my knife if I need it

Then carry the knife.

He smiled,All right, I'll carry the knife in my hand, and my pistol in the other. That should be enough

She nods.

Rahegalhoff and the monks wade in to battle. The monsters are tough, but their determination is tougher. EW, having really good skills in running, ran up onto the wall and off at the other end of the floor. Claws turned to strike at everybody.


OOC: Dice roll No. One to find out the secret I told Snake about in a PM.

Anna spies a lever midway down the hall on the rightside of the floor, a crack is next to it, a little too straight to be a regular crack...

Cougar just went for what he knew best in this situation, his CQC skills serving him well. His pistol spat rounds occasionally, blood flecks evident on his cheek. His knife flashed, and his body moved in a blur

OOC: This is not an f*ing DnD game. Do you want me to start rolling YOUR chances? B/c I will...

IC:
Anna lashed out at some of them, and shouted to Nervim in Drow to check out the crack in the wall, and the lever.

The mage, spotting it, goes over and casts a spell to determine what is on the other side.

Costh went after any beasties that tried to get around the rest of the group, decapitating a few of the beasts.

ooc: Kay, remember no magic on this floor

OOC: I couldn't decide okay?

IC: Nevrim finds a staircase leading down.

The crack was big enough for someone to peek through.

He looks through.

OOC: This is not the week to tick me off. There are three letters for it, and they make men cringe.

Cougar jammed his pistol in the mouth of his final monster, and pulled the trigger. The ichor splattered on the floor, and he took a moment to check it, before turning,"Well... that was interesting"

The battle ends quickly. The Grand abbotts are rubbing their knuckles, not used to having their powers sealed, which usually softened the blows for them. The seal lifts, power returns, the lever turns several colors, flips, and the crack widens to a doorway. Downstairs, they run accross an upside down floor. Their on the ceiling, but gravity is reversed for everything else. Chairs and various other furniture sit on the ceiling. water flows nowhere. It seems like a regular house one might find on earth. A doorway leads North? while another leads West? Direction is uncertain.

"So which way? Or are we going to split up?" Costh asked

Anna directs one half of the forces to take the north door, and half to the west.

Cougar looked around,"I think we could go with the original plan from here on"

We don't know what lies ahead. I'm splitting us into two forces of equal strength, so that one is not overwhelmed.

Through the north door, they find a large fireplace in the form of a really big dragon head. It is carved from Bronze. A fire quietly roars in the ceiling fireplace. A butler stands there.

"Oh, hello, how may I be of service? The master of Gorgoff Mansion is currently occupied, but I am sure he will be free shortly." The butler said.

"What is he doing?" Rahegalhoff asked.

"I do not know Sir." The butler replied.

"Your lying. Don't try to lie to me, it won't work. I am a paladin, and all paladins can discern truth from lies. Now, If I have to, I'll place you in a zone of truth and make you tell me the truth that way." Rahegalhoff said.

"Oh very well. He's in the basement." The butler said.

"That's more like it. Now, where is the basement?" Rahegalhoff asked.

"Beneath me, and above you. This mansion was built in this manner. You came up from what is really roof. Direction is inverted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have duties to attend to." The butler said. He walked off.

Through the west door, the group discovers the west wing, filled with bedrooms and other rooms. A large gold button sits quite plainly on what is really the top of a bookcase.

"What group should I go with?" Costh asked

ooc: will be gone for about 2-2.5 hours

Cougar nodded,"I think the orginal strike team, as I seemingly have dubbed them, should go north. The remainder go west"

((Think Rahegalhoff was in the team))

Cougar looked at Rahegalhoff,"You really trust his word?"

Nervim, the Abbots, and all the Kaymirilian mages except for Mith and Renor went with Rahegalhoff.

West went everyone else with Anna (unless there's someone who'd rather go north).

A -- Renor...hit that.

The black class mage touches the button, and the Kaymirilan forces prepared for whatever was coming.

"It is a part of my powers. All paladins can discern truth from lies. It is as natural to me, as using the white flame is to you. The only diffrence is, I have fifty years of experience being a paladin. I have learned to trust my powers and tke care of them, in turn my powers trust in me and take care of me when I need them. This mansion, it seems old fashioned, maybe the basement is hidden in a secret passage or something, or at least a way to uninvert gravity." Rahegalhoff said. He levitated to the ceiling/floor, and began twisting things, pushing this, pulling that, all to no avail.

It's a simple matter of thinking in opposites. Everthing we see, is inverted to what it should be

The mages and everyone fall to the ceiling which is now the floor. the carpet is soft and plush, as everything in the western hall has been uninverted. Now that their eye level with the books, they can see such fascinating titles as
"War and Peace", "Moby Dick", Greed, "War of the worlds, "The Time Machine."

Arianna peaks into a room.
"Wow, how lovely." She remarks.

A -- What is it?

"true." Rahegalhoff agrees. He finds a loose Cobblestone next to the fireplace. Beneath it is another gold button. The fall is short for Rahegalhoff, but everyone else goes falling to the floor. The stone floor is cold and rough. Phish lands infront of the Fireplace. A cinder pops and lands on his Robes.

Cougar rolled with the impact, and was instantly back on his feet. He brushed himself down, and smiled,"Well, best get used to doing that"

He bends down to pick it up, since fire, being his element, doesn't really hurt him.

"A large bubble of Energy is trapped in this room. Its really pretty to watch it glow all those colors." Arianna said.

The cinder is just a common cinder.

"True, lets see what's behind door number two." Rahegalhoff says.

He opens a nearby closet. A pair of skeletons are in there. They leapout at the group.

"I've heard of having skeletons in the closet, but that's just wrong." Rahegalhoff says.

One skelton goes to strike the Grand obbott of strength. He simply hits it on the head really hard. The skeleton crumbles. Another goes to strike Phish with a sword.

P -- Oh...you look cold. Let me warm you up. *He blows on the cinder, and flames leap from it, engulfing the skeleton. The flames are hot enough to melt metal.*
***********************
Anna moves in closer, then nods to Rildorath, who opens the door.

Cougar frowned,"This guy has one sick sense of humour. Talking about Grahf here, not Phish"

The flames are still going from Phish's hand. "Glad that you disapprove." A grin is evident in his voice.

"You're a strange guy Phish... I like that in a person"

He chuckles. "I'm told I'm strange often...by various other mages."

Try being the only-human mage, married to the only halfbreed mage. Now, that is cause for people to call you odd

Pretty much, yeah.

He laughed,"At last, I've found a mage who thinks in a similar manner to myself"

The door Rildorath is connected to the same room Arianna is looking at. A trap is sprang, the energy bubble explodes. The explosen can be heard in the central chamber where The strike team is at.

Arianna throws up a sheild. The energy incinerates all the books on the shelf and the bookshelf itself. The onlything remaining, is a metal Doorway, and a lever connected to the book "greed".

"What was that?" The Grand Abbotts asked in unison.

"Sounded like an explosen. Don't worry, the other group can take care of themselves." Raheagalhoff says. He opens another doorway. The Kitchens are visible beyond, as well as the large dining hall. A very large, very fat ghost is dining on a never ending pudding, as servant ghosts keep refilling the pudding.

"Well, shall we progress?" Rahegalhoff asked.

By a strange feat of physics, the skeleton still stands, though it is nothing more than ash. It is also thoroughly defeated.

Anna reaches and pulls the lever-book

Cougar stepped cautiously into the kitchen, his pistol raised in his hands, sweeping the room. In his expierence, it paid to be cautious

The door squeaks open with a groan. Anna's team finds a long dark hallway. At the otherend though, lies mountains of glittering gold and treasure. Oddly enough, there is absolutly no dust or anything in this chamber, even though no one has been in here for ages.

OOC: Gtg, bbl.

The chefs all raise their hands.

"Don't kill us, we'll make you what ever you want to eat, just don't kill us, please." The head chef begs.

Cougar didn't lower the weapon, but simply barked,"Get down, on the floor, and stay down"

The chefs oblige. The Ghost's pudding meanwhile, has run out.

"MORE FOOD. NOW!" It yells.

When the servants don't bring back more, it gets up, goes to the kitchen, spies cougar, and the rest of the gang, and yells at Cougar:

"DON'T JUST STAND THERE, BRING ME MORE FOOD!"

Cougar looked the ghost up and down, then began to laugh heartily,"Get your own food, you look like you could do with the exercise"

The ghost yells things that can't quite be heard, then, full of Netherworldly rage, it attacks Cougar's with a vampire attack, draining his health.
Raheaglahoff and the monks jump in and attack it, interupting his attack. It blows everyone against the walls and lunges for cougar, attempting to possess him and then take his Life.

Cougar stemmed his own blood flow, and, knowing he couldn't attack the ghost physically, brought up the White Flame,"Stop right there, or I'll destroy you."

The ghost continues to lunge for Cougar. It starts its vampire attack again.

He sighed, and increased the power even further. Anything trying to penetrate it would get annihilated. His eyes burned white, his skin was dark, and his hair was shining

The ghost gets annialated. The cooks fade away to nothing, having been extensions of the ghosts mind. A great set of double doors is at the other end of the hall, on the otherside of the delicous smelling feast all laid out on the table.

Cougar let the power drain away from him,"Remind me not to do that again today. And I wouldn't touch that food anyone, I've an odd feeling it's enchanted or something like that"

OOC: How in the hell did you know that? the food was enchanted with a high level sleep spell it would of taken mith's powers to remove. That's all right.

IC:Rahegalhoff opens the doors at the end. spies the eastren hallway, and a set of stairs down.

"Hey, I found the stairwell down." Rahegalhoff calls.

He steps into the eastren hall, and falls to the ceiling.

"Ow." Is all that you here from him.

OOC: It's a cliche Warhaven, that's why.

IC: Cougar called softly,"You alright? Want us to come down... or up as the case may be?"

Silence.

"Maybe he got knocked unconcious." The grand abbott of strength suggested. He wandered on down, looked up, walked back, and said:

"Or maybe its because he's being strangled to death by an assassine vine." He ran back, the other three abbotts followed, and leaped towards the ceiling and began attacking the vine as it began to strangle them too.
The Mage fist was most effective because he kept using Flaming punches. There was too much vine for the three of them though, it would take awhile to defeat.

"Just what is it with this guy?" muttered Cougar, taking out his Gunblade, which rippled with White Flame along its entire length, before jumping down and beginning to hack away at the vine

The Vinetendrils reach up and slowly wrap themselves around Cougar, and tighten, and squeeze, and begin constricting him to death. The Grand abbotts are quite busy freeing themselves. The Grand Abbott of the Self goes intangible. the vines fall to the ground. He goes back to the fireplace, and brings back several burning logs. He throws them on the vines. The entire plant shrinks back in pain. freeing everybody in the process. Rahegalhoff wakes up, heals his neck, draws his sword, and begins chopping up the plant as it respreads. The abbotts continue ripping, except for the Mage Fist, he continues using flaming punches un the Vine. A vine begins to act as a whip, and whips at Cougar.

Cougar slashed the vine, severing it, before pulling the trigger three times in quick succession, firing three Fieros rounds into the heart of the vine

The Fieros spreads accross the entire plant. It whethers. A shiny Gold buttoncan be seen. part of the plant collapses on it, and presses it. Plant, and people go crashing to the ground and are buried by the Plant. Rahegalhoff slashes everybody free.



OOC: Do you want to go to the last floor without Kay? The last floor is a giant empty space with everyones favorite Phsyco standing in the center.

OOC: no, we'll wait for Kay. I mite have to go before she comes back though

OOC: Alright, she has something to playwith in the Vault. I was really hoping someone would catch the Adams family refrence. Ohwell, after she's done in the vault, a second secret passage will open directly to the stairwell, both groups will be able to merge back into one. Meanwhile, I'm going to take a break and cause trouble offline.

OOC: Lol, you go do that

OOC: I haven't seen the Adam's family since I was a kid...

IC:
A -- Come on everyone...but don't touch the gold...and keep on alert.

**************************
Phish had incinerated some of the Plant, Uuthli frozen some, and Olath'yukin had stopped its growth.

OOC: Church on Sundays...I'd still be gone if my little sis hadn't felt sick.

Costh followed Anna, and while he enjoyed looking at the gold, he heeded the warning and avoided it.

When they all step in, the door closes. Light comes from Arianna, as she glows to light the way. The hallway closes, and black pudding pours from the walls, grows on itself, and becomes a colossol black pudding. It bubbles menacingly, and slams Arianna into a wall.

"Hey, that puddings acidic." She says. she summons a giant block of dry ice, and throws it at the pudding. it shivers and slows.

Anna stretches out her hand, and a bluish looking liquid washes over the "pudding." It's a base, and according to the reactions, she'll make it weaker or stronger.

OOC: It's supposed to neutralize in the end.

The pudding shakes, and gives Anna a really hard slam attack. Shiva, who went with Anna, began charging for her ultimate attack, Diamond dust.

Arianna meanwhile, throws more Dry Ice at it.

While Anna used her bluish liquid spell, Costh commented mostly to himself "To bad that isn't edible, I'd enjoy a nice bowl of pudding."

Anna is slammed back, but not harmed due to her armor.

Rhenna, familiar with acid and its properties, casts soem sort of anti-acidic goo.

Renor and Mith deal with some in the way they best know how.

While Anna used her bluish liquid spell, Costh commented mostly to himself "To bad that isn't edible, I'd enjoy a nice bowl of pudding."
Rildorath, unable to do anything about the acid, glares at Costh.

"What are you? A failed court jester? Certainly not a mage."

"Yes, I am a mage, what of it?" Costh asked

The Pudding is none-acidic now. It absorbs the Gold, and Slams everybody at once. Shiva appears almost ready for Diamond Dust.

"Cold, Ice, Freezing spells. It is weak against my Element. Warrior, use your powers of Cold." Shiva says kinda strained.

The warrior turns his sword into an Ice sword, and slices the Pudding to ribbons. It slowly reforms.

Nervim, Haldosir, Anna, Renor, Mith, and Rhenna simultaneously cast different cold-element spells.

Rl to Costh -- Then start acting like it.

"Unfortunately my knowledge of acids is nil, I'd as likely help that thing than hurt it." Costh replied

It seems almost dead. Shiva glows brilliantly blow. The temperature lowers to the freezing point. She leaps to a corner, and uses the Diamond Dust Ultimate attack.Layers upon layers of snow bury the room, and coalse into a giant block of ice. Shiva cracks her neck, and snaps her fingers. The Ice shatters to nothingness, taking the dead pudding with it. A section of wall opens up nearby. They can see the eastren hallway, and the stairs leading down...

Anna leads the way down. Rather, she would lead the way down, but Haldosir insists on taking point.

Rahegalhoff leads his group down after them. The bottom floor is a vast empty space. In the center, stands Grahf.Nailed to Crucifixes behind him like trophies are Leviathan and Warfare.

"Hey, you came for me." Warfare says to the now large group. A weak smile crosses his lips.

"Shut up." Grahf says. He backhands Warfare. The cross falls. For the fun of it, he does the same to Leviathan the cross falls as well.

"Soon, they will die, and their powers will be mine forever. It was so nice of you to bring yourselves to me as an offering. I'll make sure to make your deaths quick and painless. you powers will greatly increase my own. Soon, I will be able to defeat Father God. You cannot stand against me, not when I have the powers of two Gods and a Bard. Lets not talk any longer, this will only take a second. I promise." Grahf said. He tleported the two helpless Gods to the far side of the vast empty space. A great sheild came up between them.

"When I die, the sheild will fall. But I won't die." Grahf said.

Arianna let out a fearsome growl that made all three normally reserved monks jump.

"Come here dog, I want your powers first." Grahf challenged.

With a Howl, Arianna leaped at Grahf.


OOC: I'll be back, Dinner.

Anna reaches out and grabs Arianna by the scruff of her neck, restraining her.

She looks at Grahf through her visor, her cold blue eyes cutting like twin laser beams.

"Give me back my son, and I might let you live."

"Ahah, you want me, to release your son? *Delivers tremdously painful shock to both Gods.* Your son? *another Shock* That means your his mother, and therefore respnsible for allowing this unjust God to live? *shock* I mean this in the most insulting way possible, Get fucked Bitch." Grahf says with a sneer. *Shock*

Grahf's eyes snap wide open.

"It is time, let the great sacrifices, begin!" Grahf yells. Reality begins shimmering and rippling. He uses his powers to merge all three chunks into one grand temple. Leviathan and Warfare are at the top, tied down.

"For your crimes, I sentence both of you to eternal death." Grahf decrees. He brings the knives down, but gets knocked off and into a nice large flat piece by Arianna who had struggled free of Anna's grasp.

"I'm going to rip you to shreds." Arianna says. She uses her long claws, and rips gashes into his sides.

OOC: Forgive the couse language, I do not normally use it. Feel free to beat the the hell out of Grahf.

Anna teleports Grahf away from Arianna, and puts her hand to her forehead.

First, she casts a spell locating and severing the tie between Warfare's life and Grahf's.

Second, she casts a spell to seal and eliminate all his powers forever. Her eyes glow milky blue, and the energy around her soars to intolerable levels.

The Kaymirilian Mages, meanwhile, are throwing everything they have at the barrier, trying to take it down.

"HAH!, my powers might be sealed, nut I have Warfare and Leviathan's." Grahf yells. He pulls out the Twinblade, Warfare's sword of Creation and destruction, and goes to slice Anna with it. The barrier meanwhile, is nonexistent as Grahf took it down when he altered reality and made all three large chunks of Ephseus become his grand temple of sacrifice. Warfare's trying his best to dodge the spells, and free himself. Arianna comes right back and waylays into grahf with now poisonus claws.

Renor, Phish, Aeros, and Plak'la get Leviathan and Warfare down, and Mith pours Wizard's Potions down their throats. It tastes mildly sweet at first, with a bitter aftertaste.

Anna brings up her Jakujou to block, and her eyes are still glowing with deadly power.

She thrusts her hand forward at Grahf, launching out a spell of agony. It would simultaneously make him feel too hot, too cold, and fire off every pain receptor in his body.

"You think that's pain? try this!" Grahf roars back. An area illusion spell is cast. Everything glows bright white then everything fades to black. Anna and everyone else, wake up in their seperate places. No memory of Grahf exists. Its as though it had never happened.

Warfare is walking down the halls of Valshanth, a determined look on his face. He finds Anna in her usual place, her office filling out what else, seemingly endless paperwork.

"Mother, put down the paperwork, summon the masters, this is all a lie, an illusion. This isn't reality. A Horrible man named Grahf stole all my powers, crucified me, and is currently summoning a very powerful something to aid him in your destruction. Please, believe me." Warfare said. He wasn't sure if she would believe him or not, The illusion spell was very powerful. Fortunatly, Warfare was at the bare edges of it, and thus not all the way trapped in it.

Anna looks at the paperwork, then grins malevolently and puts it down.

"Of course it's an illusion...first off...I've never worked on the economy in Common...and I've never done paperwork in my armor. Take a seat...this ends now."

Anna holds a hand in front of her face and starts casting a spell. It is designed to tear away illusions...some had said there was no illusion that could stand up to it.

The Illusion was torn to pieces. Everyone looked up to see a wormhole opening up. The essence of pain drifted out, and settled upon the entire temple.

Pain afflicted everyone. Warfare struggled to his feet. Lurched over to Grahf, put his hand on Grahf's shoulder and said:

"Pardon, but that's my sword your carrying, and My powers your using, I would like them back, if you don't mind, and if you do, tough." Warfare said. One thing that was genetic to every being with power, was the ability to reclaim that stolen power. With the act of putting his hand to Grahf's check, he took all of his powers back, and stole Leviathan's along with it. He wrenched his sword back from Grahf's grip, and turned to go to Leviathan. Arianna resumed her normal form, and helped Warfare up the steps. Warfare took and gave Leviathan his powers back, but it would still be sometime before they were usable again.

"Someone do me a favor, kill Grahf." Warfare said.

Anna starts walking up to Grahf, pain irrelevant. Her Jakujou begins to twirl in a mesmerizing dance as she moves closer.

When she gets in range, she lashes out with the flat part, then spins the weapon around and stabs the points of the crescent into him, one point directed for his heart.

She gives it a sharp twist, then pulls it out.

Grahf falls to pieces, literally. The slivers fly off to the enterprise, which in turn teleports everyone up.

"Destroy that garbage." Arianna says.

"yes Milady." The slivers reply. five shots later, its destroyed beyond repair. A team of essence slivers take Warfare and Leviathan to the fully equiped sick bay, and herd Mith along with them, to help them out. Both Leviathan and Warfare have their powers back, and are on the mend, but it will be a few days before their powers return. The Slivers Take off.

Anna goes to visit Warfare as soon as she's able. She pulls up a chair next to him.

"Feeling better, dalharuk?"

"You try being nailed to a cross, suspended upside down for a few days, and then ripped off and strapped to a sacrificial alter and then tell me if after an hour your okay. All in all, yeah, I feel great. nothing like a world of pain first thing in the morning." Warfare says.

Arianna steps into the room.

"Are you feeling okay?" Arianna asks.

Warfare repeats for her what he told Anna.

"Be nice now." Arianna repremands him.

"I could have stayed away you know, just went on my way, and cut my losses." Arianna told him.

You just be glad there were people willing and able to go through all of that to save your hide, Warfare. Do it again, and I might just let them kill you, for all the foresight you show.

*She stands*

I'm going home. Mith should have you fairly well back to normal in a few days.

*She teleports out and back to the Valshanth, where preparations are still ongoing for her upcoming coronation.*

"huhh, no one understands my sarcasim." Warfare said.

"We're only angry because we care." Arianna said.

"We" care? Tell me, why didn't you just cut your losses and leave?" Warfare asked.

"Why? WHY? I'll tell you why, because out of all the people I met after I got my powers, you were the first who didn't want them for yourself. You were the first person I met who genuinly cared enough to help begin to learn to use them. Your the first person ever who has shown intrest in me as a person and not some trophy. Why didn't I leave, because I, I, Damnit all, above all else I've fallen in love with you." Arianna says.

"I-I, I love you too Arianna." Warfare says. With the little bit of his powers that have returned, he makes a little black velvet box appear. He opens it up, inside, is an Emerald, on a ring of White Gold.

"Well you Marry me then, and be by my side forever?" Warfare asks.

As an answer, Arianna simply takes the ring puts it on, and envelops him in a deep passionite kiss. Fireworks explode outside of the ship.

Warfare gets up, wlaks with renewed vigor over to Leviathan's room.

"Hey Leviathan, I'm getting married!" Warfare shouts with Glee.

he runs to Mith.
"Mith, I'm getting married!" He shouts with Glee.

He runs all throught the ship.

"Costh, I'm getting married!" He says as he darts by. Flowers begin to trail in his wake.

"Cougar, I'm getting married!" He says to cougar as he runs by.

"Renor, I'm getting Married!" He says as he runs by.

"Rahegalhoff, I'm getting married!" He shouts srom a distance. Soon everyone on board knows. He teleports to the valshanth, right infront of Anna. He freezes time for a second, leaving only Anna unaffected.

"Hey mother, Guess what!" Warfare says. He can barely contain himself. A wingle white rose grows just above Anna's left Ear. Its bloom is big and Healthy. Little fireworks are shooting away from Warfare's body.

It is quite obvious he has something he considers exciting to tell her. He reached her before any news could possibly reach her. He stopped only long enough to tell the Queen Sliver.

Anna's sitting in a window (one of those big bay windows with cushions) with a thick sheaf of paperwork in her hands. She looks up and considers for a moment.

"You asked that young goddess to marry you."

"And she said yes! I'm so excited and happy. Why I haven't been this happy since.... *thinking really really hard.* Ever." Warfare's just bubbling over with happiness. Its extremly infectious. It spreads accross the local area. a grand fireworks display sets itself up above the castle. Fortunatly, no one can see it because time is frozen.

She smiles. "I am happy for you, dalharuk." She scratches the bridge of her nose with the tip of her quill. "I only wish I could be as happy about my impending wedding."

"Your getting married too?!" Warfare asks.

"Three days after I'm crowned...makes it five days away. Not to someone I'd like to marry...he was the one I hated the least out of the final three candidates."

The happiness subsides a little.

"Nothing more than breeding stock, if you will, then?" Warfare asks.

"That exactly. Go on, dalhar. Enjoy your own engagement...and don't even think about my soon to be husband. Whatever children I have...don't have a father. Oh...your aunt Dora' is getting married soon, as well."

Aunt Dora's getting married to? Another case of breeding stock? Or is it someone she's genuinly intrested in?

"She's more interested in her fiance than I am in mine. This actually started as she went to a foreign country to maybe see if she and their crown prince might be interested in each other, but primarily to create an alliance. It turns out that there was an interest. I don't know when she will be marrying, though."

"ahh. Well. I must be on my way. See you later." Warfare said as he left. He shot up to the sky. A giant firecracker exploaded into the words:

"I can't believe I'm this happy!"

He took Arianna's hand, and went to Paradise to spread the good news.


**********************************************************
Elsewhere.

"So, you say Kajeenith's temple is on the 1069'th layer of the infinite abyss?" The woman said. She had common blond hair. She had Eyes of blue, she was really pretty.

"Yes. Kajeenith's last remaining temple. I think we might be able to resurrect him. Just let me study the ancient myths." A fat bald man said.


OOC: Don't worry about that last part. All well become clear in time. I promise...

Anna shakes her head, smiling. "Bwael ap'zen, ussta dalharuk."


OOC: It's a Sunday, and I've gone through more than 100 posts.

The enterprise landed. It teleported the masters back to their various cities, except for Renor, Rhenna and Cougar. It teleported them to Mithdelmar along with Leviathan and Mith until Mith decided Leviathan was well enough to leave. It then turned, and went to Riptide, where it let everyone else out. Bahamut and Tiamet were of course, teleported back at Kaymiril. The summons all went their seprerate ways. The threat of Grahf the destroyer, was over.

OOC: And thus this thread is hereby concluded. Please return to the white tower thread, where throughout the week, I will be leading up to next weekends thread: The Marriage of Warfare and Arianna/The resurecction of Kajeenith.

This has been story time with Warhaven, thank you and good night.