NationStates Jolt Archive

Nearly all the Shadow Ops soldiers were engaged in close quarters combat, abandoning rifles and grenades for swords and knives. Decapitation and rendering the living dead immobile was the key, to drop them and make sure they stay down. As the second wave of warrior undead spilled from the building the air rang with the sound of metal smashing together as the kitsune soldiers fought the dark samurai in swordfight. The servants and beast had fallen quickly, but these would take more work. The Emperor waded into the middle, dispatching the last few of thefirst wave and was caught up between two dead Novans as they both tried to stab him. Ducking and dodging, he parried and ran the first though, knocking the thing onto it's back and smoothly slicing it's head from it's shoulders. The second swung at him and the Emperor was forced back several steps before he disarmed the samurai with the Force and cut him apart.

(OOC: Nova's motherboard has malfunctioned, and she asked me to sit in until it's repaired-any mistakes are mine-Ordo Drakul)
The Divine One sat back on a low divan, one of his many slaves fanning him as another popped grapes into his mouth. His serenity (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vCfYoAk-A04) made complete by the abject submission and obedience of his servants. He observed the goings on about his island through a viewing globe, highly amused by the whole affair. "Such bloodlust, such pain-our Demon Lord of Shadows shall be drawn and most pleased by it all."
A messenger abased himself, contesting:"Your Divinity, the Sleepers are being decimated by the Xiscapians."
Miffed, the Divine One set the fool ablaze with a thought. "Don't belabor the obvious-I have eyes. Can you not see that the time spent fighting the Sleepers is time not spent searching out the location of our sacrifice? It is troublesome they attacked so early, before they were at full power, but these kitsune have been most amusing. The destruction on the mainland to stop reinforcements-I should not have thought they could have tracked me, much less assembled such a force and plan in so short a time. Remarkable creatures, who will serve me well, once they are knowing minions...but you're just an ash, what would you know?" The Divine One eyed the flaming pile distastefully before ordering:"Have the maid beaten for allowing this garbage in my presence."
"I believe You had the maid executed an hour ago over the status of Your Bedroom, Your Holiness." The vizier had served the Divine One for centuries, and knew his moods. "Should You like her corpse beaten?"
His Holiness laughed. "What good would punishing a corpse do? Have her replacement beaten."
"You must forgive our foolishness, Your Divinity, but You have not deigned to select a replacement yet."
The Divine One brushed aside this statement boredly. "Very well-select a volunteer and have them beaten. Within an inch of their life, to mark My Displeasure-but that last inch is Mine, and I shall drive a yard of it into the incompetent who takes it from Me."
A true ruler must be stern but fair...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile...
The scouts returned with no information-either this outbuilding had been abandoned, or the Novan Emperor had better hidden troops than even a muri could find, so the scouting party traversed the entire building, setting in traps and securing what they could.
In the upper levels, they found infants, sealed in golden spheres and manacled in such a way as to force movement, their lips fed ground meat-paste through tubes, their fussing stilled by strange lights and a curious droning.
--An alarm system, you think?--one of the scouts offered.--Any attempt to interfere would cause them to cry in discomfort...--
--Possible, but look-that one's arm's off.--the commander wasted no time in snapping the manacles, shredding the cage, and freeing the infant.--Free them all, and take pictures--he ordered, hefting the one-armed babe and chanting spells of healing over it's stump.--This abomination must be known. Forget the radio silence-send a bolongo to the Sisters (OOC:to the Zorak Zorani, the Ordo Xiola Umbari-the healers-are "the Sisters") and tell them we need them, now. This one--here, the commander hefted the babe, holding him tight against his shaggy chest--is mine, claimed by right. I will tend him myself. You will see to it no more are maimed nor injured-and stop that damned light. This atrocity will be paid for, I will see to it myself.--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The samurai yelled, "Bring forth the harridan, and all will live-refuse and all..."
His demands were cut short by a flaming bolt through his skull, and a mocking voice from the woods:"HA! I have counted coup on you--now, come and meet whatever gods you worship!"
A small team was sent into the woods-Imperial forces still held a numeric advantage, and the stand-off continued, but the underlings of the samurai did debate who would carry his honor...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Shadow Ops fought bravely, and well, abd the Undead soon were greatly reduced in number, but the horde of armored creatures was joined from the rear with rotting corpses in tattered finery, the nobles of the Old Courts, now bound in service after life. These gibbered and chanted, Force flowing freely about them, as the samurai pressed forward...
(OOC:I think I covered everything but Gerrak and Indigo, who will be in a later post, as I've been awake twenty hours now. Let me know if I forgot anything else.)

OOC: I got NN's TG, so I know about that. I probably won't be on all that much either, though. Finals are coming.
IC:
By this point blasters and explosives were useless, rendered so by the amount of Force radiating from the undead. If you keep shooting it and it won't stop moving, then cutting at it has as a good chance as any of working. The troopers still alive drew their katanas and knives, the last of the servant and beast corpses being struck down. Now it was them against the samurai and their noble lords. For being dead, they were amazingly fast and strong, obviously infused by whatever power that was holding their rotting bags of bone together. Force moves were bloacked and even countered, so the battle became pure sword-to-sword. Black, shadow armor melded with the rusting, red or gray armor of the samurai as the Novans and the Xiscapians battled. In the middle the Emperor fought in the disorganization only the clashing of two groups with bladed weapons can bring, ducking and slicing and dodging and stabbing.
This is taking too long. If we don't get to Jade in time, all will be lost. I need to get through them, a faster road, a swifter vehicle.
Foxfire Rose approached the line of nobles, almost absentmindedly sweeping aside a screaming, entropying samurai with a sword slash. He raised his blade, dripping with the blood of the monsters before, dry now because of the lack of blood in those he slayed, towards them. No expression of sadness or fierce glee crossed his face, but the fire in his eyes betrayed his true emotion.

OOC: I actually managed to get on ( via another computer so my access is Very limited), some ones looking out for me!

Novaria followed her new father watching with glee as he handily dug a series of quick and inventive traps. She rubbed her hands together, sending a blessing of warmth to him, to keep his joints from stiffening up. Memories from many life times ago reminded her that the Muri had lost their immunity to cold, and as the snow continued to fall, and the temperature to plummet, she didn't want him taking chill.

In the open grounds between the retirement community and the small town, where the elderly residents and the towns people had set their defensive works the rebellious cheered as the leader of the Imperia's forces fell so publicly, and some one unknown challenged said forces.

"HA! I have counted coup on you--now, come and meet whatever gods you worship!"

The squad that entered to copse of trees however weren't as vigilant as they should have been and fell prey to a cunning series of traps the first being a hastily dug tiger pit style trap that a bolongo had been suspended over - then they were led ever deeper into the woods by the image of a small girl beckoning them onward. They never noticed that their commos had utterly failed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tetsuko closed Robbie's eyes, but she didn't have time for tears. She'd done a quick search of the would be assassin's corpse but had found nothing to tie him with any specific faction. His tong mark she had recognized, but she also knew that they practiced no politics save that of the highest bidder.

Growling under her breath, she moved on searching out more of the enemy. Part of her wished that she was the one to face the Divine One, but she knew that part had to be played through by Indigo. Putting wishes aside she listened carefully to the aether then grinned in savage. That has to be to be, she moved in carefully and surveyed the installation she'd found. Yes! she exulted, but her thoughts were also filled with disgust. The complex she had found was the base for the psi ships that had aided and abetted in the abduction of the Xiscapian Empress. And they're preparing to launch! I can't let them get off though

She reached out with her mind, contacting Lord Harkano aboard the Kuro Kaze. I need a full salvo spread of Photon Torps these coordinates. Immediately Tetsuko ordered, uncaring that she had called down fire directly upon herself. She would wait till the last second though before being elsewhere.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those that had been accompanying the Xiscapian Kitsune had returned to them and were helping battle the undead as best they could - which was surprisingly effective. Fade sounded a deep ululation and several of the richly clad corpses near Foxfire Rose burst into flame "ZZing metal zzold, but never zzaid wezz cou'n't mnnnipulate fire" He said smugly before giving forth another resonant wave of energies.

The orbs of the muri had done their work, filling all planetary channels with the muri transmission (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CHw5TWtU_MU), but this became interrupted by the message from the Zorak Zorani to the Ordo Xiola Umbar-infants poked and prodded by steel rods and manacles, manipulated within golden gyroscopes and fed a diet of ground cadavers.
The "nursery" became the headquarters for the Death Lords-full five thousand muri had lead six times their number into the tunnel, all to meet their doom when the tunnel collapsed under muri explosives. The names of the valiant muri are recorded on the great monolith erected in Doraddi, for those with an interest in such things.
The soldiers immediately bonded with the unfortunate younglings-while the muri often deride the separation required by the Zorak Zorani, those separated from their families so completely feel the loss they create new families of those they can tend almost instinctively. The spider riders converged, but swept out to engage the area...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gorlakk could see his breath-he made it a point to breathe through his nostrils, to reduce that possible trace. These troops were disorganized, falling into his traps almost by rote. Still. he should have been colder than he felt-he hadn't invoked Lodril yet, for fear the additional warmth would draw infrared sensors, but he felt quite cozy. He watched as a handful of Imperials fell to a simple logfall, then sent flame bolts at the survivors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Imperial Court (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vCfYoAk-A04)
"Your Divinity, we have taken the exile-she is being brought here."
"Aahh-excellent. Her bodyguard is still shaking Reality like a snowglobe, so he's otherwise occupied, and she may be a valuable trump card." The Divine One was beside himself with glee. "She is so foolish, probably coming with no more than her aide-but let us be sure. Grinner, head along the route from her to me, and see to it none of her friends from the Academy are here to disturb me, will you? "
The Grinner bowed--his lower lip had been removed for his turning State's Evidence against the tong that raised him, but he had been schooled in the Divine One's service since, and was the Divine One's favored assassin-bearing a perpetual smile, his expression when strangling a miscreant to the Divine One's pleasure was truly breathtaking. Lean and athirst, he raced down the labyrinthine tunnels where Indigo's allies must surely lay...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The undead lumbered forth, hungry for flesh or pain to heal themselves, when darkness parted near Firefox Rose, allowing a lean, otter built troll to step into his presence. A stone mask hanging from it's staff intoned solemnly:"I have spotted an arrow, fired from the Bow of Rakhir the Red--I can Gate five there, and need volunteers. Perhaps if you asked?"

OOC: Music to mood by (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mw5vGaZHFg)

Elsewhere...

The Anubi had had great success against the Mecha of the Regiment of Janissaries stationed in the Court, their vast skill with arcane energies serving them well. Most of the fearsome instruments of destruction stood abandoned, their pilots forced to face the invaders without their heaviest armor and weapons. But that did not mean that the Janissaries were helpless - far from it. As the deaths they inflicted upon the Imperial’s allies proved most bloodily.

And while nearly thirty thousand had died at one blow at the hands of the Muri the others, more than fifty thousand strong still remained. And over ten thousand had surrounded a group of Prince Thoth's warrior mages, cutting them off from the main group of Anubi. And help would not reach the the group that had been acting as a rear guard in time.

Not when those of main Anubian war band were facing the concerted efforts of fully a six hundred - the largest concentration of such - of the Courts most skilled practitioners. Prince Thoth himself was in the center of a protective ring as he summoned the energies needed to overcome the Court's summoning.

The Gate their efforts had ripped open in the fabric of reality was spewing forth a tide of indescribable ever shifting Chaos entities - and those were broadcasting images of destruction and horror that not even the Muri's broad spectrum jamming could completely over ride. And it reached across the planet, causing madness and death even upon the far side of O'Kuni...

On the low mound, it’s top one single massive boulder, where the encircled Anubians had retreated to, one by one they fell before the continuous, vicious onslaught. They slew countless, the bodies piling up into mounds that had to be clambered over by their foes – but that did not make the Chaos touched hesitate in the slightest – though the Anubain war mages were slaughtering them in numbers fully a dozen to one, but the end was inevitable.

The bright glows of their lives dimming one by one, until only two were left, the youngest of all those who had volunteered. Their Bonding has been celebrated only a month ago. Each bore dire wounds, though they ignored them, as they looked at one another, dark eyes alight with love. They touched noses for one last time, then turned so that they were back to back, supporting each other. As they would have done in the fullness of years that now would never come.

As one they looked to the heavens, their hearts calling out… And as they sundered their ankh topped staves they were answered. Love, the emotion that Chaos will never know and can barely counterfit, Love and Sacrifice ...

The Purifying Glory of Ra, the shaft of purest sun light lent to his son, Ienpw - Known to the Greeks as Anubis - Guardian God of the Dead, flashed down from the clotted, crowded night sky, dispersing the heavy cloud cover completely and splashing liquidly against the rock. Consuming the Anubian couple completely the Light spread forth like ripples in a pond washing over the forces surrounding the knoll -which would later become the greatest Anubian shrine beyond their nation’s borders And as it passed, ripping ever outward; All that were of Chaos were naught but dust in that solar wind.
Fully five miles out it spread, taking over twenty thousand of the forces of Chaos into final dissolution.

The Prince Thoth and the Anubi with him lifted their muzzles to that light, their howls mingled triumph and joy filled loss. Then they turned back to the effort of sealing the breach.

"I have spotted an arrow, fired from the Bow of Rakhir the Red--I can Gate five there, and need volunteers. Perhaps if you asked?"
"And polite words open the door to the Forgotten Realms," the Emperor said. Signaling, four warriors cut a path though the undead to him, by sword and gun. A tiny oasis of calm surronded them, and eye in the storm. Around the group the Shadow Ops battled the zombies, assisted by the Heavenly creatures and spirits. Corpse after corpse fell, finally dead, never to rise again, burned or sliced n' diced. Foxfire Rose nodded. "Let's go,"

--Well, that seems to have bought them some time--the Death Lords were in communion, drawn to discuss whether the Anubi was a signal or not.
--More Jannissaries are coming, and soon--one offered.--The tunnels worked well, but they still crawl like vermin across the island--
--Those soft-hearted louts who broke radio silence are broadcasting in the native tongue. This will yet blow up in our faces, and I do not relish explaining this to the Voivode...--
--Please--another, wiser voice-that of Death Lord Korth-interjected.--They don't know the native tongue, and further, not a one of us could even say what the natives speak of a certainty. Someone wants the inhabitants to know what goes on here, someone capable of interrupting our frequencies and providing a translation. The matter is done and cannot be undone, so focus on the present. Our allies are drawing a force of Jannissaries to them-troops WE were supposed to counter. Our shame is great, and our penance greater-mobilize the spiders, and save those brave folk. No ally dies due to our negligence, and we will draw a price to make them envy Pyrrhus--
This was not an observation, but a command, and across the island, secreted spider cavalry was mobilized and sent to protect the Anubi...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the caverns, the elders convened. Miyoko, their sharp-tongued leader, spoke to them softly. "The soldiers have not moved on us, and their numbers dwindle. They are not calling for aid-our monitoring of transmissions have only gathered great shaggy beasts removing children from torture devices and requesting medical advice-and that damned threatening song.
"One of our sentries claimed he heard the soldiers screaming, and saw one of the brutes attacking. The beast is utterly ruthless-it threw a corpse at three soldiers to foil their aim before it pounced upon them, and the woods have echoed with the cries of a lone soldier, only to be followed by the screams of many. The Imperials seem on the verge of breaking ranks-which is good, because it's getting colder, even here."
"Impossible! These caverns are constant and unchanging..."
She stilled the protest with a brisk closing of her fan, and gestured with it. "Don't believe me, you senile old fart! Look at the goddamned thermostat. Kwannon has bought us an opportunity, and by striking now, with our numbers as they are, may yet see our salvation."
The oldster sneered. "Kwannon? Why would the Blessed One send monsters?"
"What better to fight monsters?" came the response. "And why should we receive this broadcast showing them capable of such tenderness had She not done so? Who else among the Celestial Bureaucracy should care about our grandchildren and great-grandchildren? We alone among the villages near the Imperial Compound have been untouched by any save our own Imperial troops-but the refugees who arrived told us these great beasts torched their villages, slaughtered the soldiers-but left them be, and in some cases pulled them from burning buildings before sending them on their way.
"Only Kwannon would care so for the innocent, and thus, these things are Her Army-the Lady of Mercy has declared War on the corruption in our society, and She has enlisted the darkest oni of Yomi to enact Her will. The creatures do not slay randomly-the innocent are spared. What alien invader or Celestial Bureaucrat would behave so?"
"We must aid our protector, then present ourselves for judgement." She tapped her withered lips with the end of her fan before opening it and hiding all but her eyes, black and keen with insight. "The Goddess tests us-let us pass this test, and show Her we are brave and worthy of Her Kindness."
In silent agreement, the retirees put on their well-maintained armor, and prepared to meet their destinies...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gerrak loped down labyrinthine corridors-the compound had been built by a very cunning, very paranoid mind, and secret tunnels ran throughout. He could hear the heartbeat of an individual headed for him, smell the sweat evaporating of his skin-the man was running, but at a casual pace-he was familiar with the layout, and held a length of fine wire in his hands.
His intention was to strike from behind, Gerrak figured from his weapon and the route he was taking...the stranger knew the troll was there, and circling around him...

The blow that had rendered Indigo unconscious would have been fatal had not the Paladin Armor, that invisible mesh composed of billions of Matrix crystals each no larger than a fleck of dust, protected her, but she spent a considerable time unconscious. It was not until the Divine One's hand had fully closed, and the wide filigree collar had sealed it ‘self about her neck that she became semiconscious of her surroundings. The golden collar glimmered in the light, looking as fine and fragile as hand knotted lace, a mere decoration, but that was the last thing it was. A matching gold chain ran from the arm of the massive throne to where Indigo's nude body lay sprawled. It's purpose to sap her will and render her powere unreachable. Indigo couldn't seem to move, her thoughts muddled and scattered, her body unwilling to respond to her will. Spangles still flashed in front of her eyes, and merely attempting to turn her head whisked her once again from awareness...

How long it was this time she was again uncertain, though her thoughts seemed clearer, but there was a weight on her, A heaviness...

The scents and sounds of the Court filled her senses, but so too did the feeling of rough hands and sharp claws running themselves over her bare breasts. Indigo looked up into the eyes of nothing sane and a startled scream of terror was involuntarily wrenched from her. The being grinned, its fang filled mouth releasing a rope of frothy drool to land on her cheek. Indigo struggled furiously, instinctive disgust and revulsion wanting nothing less than her far from the naked, rampant being crouched atop her. But her writhing was futile - seeming just to please the Warpling further - as many other clawed hands had her firmly in their grasp - her wrists seemed bound together at the small of her back, and more of the deformed creatures, the Warplings, held her shoulders, knees and ankles. The one with both knees on her abdomen gabbled something unintelligible to the others and despite her frantic efforts her legs were spread and he slipped between her thighs. But before the rape could truly begin the Warpling was gone, its lifeless body thrown nearly fifty feet across the vast throne room by the wrath of the Divine One. Those holding her down scrambled away, falling over one another in their haste to distance themselves.

His face was thunderous, His eyes snapping with ebon flames. "I leave to attend to matters and this is what I find?" The corpse burst into flame where it lay and the others cringed, abasing themselves as fully as possible "My Daughter is far too fine a prize for the likes of you. If you touch her you will die more slowly than your leader did. Take her to My baths, have her cleaned and gowned appropriately." With His own hands the Divine One lifted Indigo gently to her feet, and with a gesture her bonds fell from her bruised wrists. He brought forth a fine silk cloth to wipe the stinking spittle off her face. He soothed her hair for a second, smiling down at her. "Yes child you are My Daughter, despite the lies you have been told. Why do you think you were exiled instead of executed?"

Indigo was barely coherent, her body shivering uncontrollably. Her thoughts were reeling and chaotic as He clapped his hands and slaves rushed forth to escort her to the baths. Indigo moved slowly her head still pounding, and she wasn't sure if for a moment or two she passed out while walking, the luxurious baths seemed to open before her far too quickly.

The Divine One experienced the thrill of slight tremors as he watched the slaves escort Indigo to the baths. She was a fine specimen of womanhood, and he had to remind himself she shared a bed with one of the great shaggy beasts that now ravaged his island. Somehow, that thrilled him rather than repulsed, and he questioned the vagaries of his tastes briefly before realizing it was time to check on the sacrifice.
Good help is so hard to find.He observed. It seems I must see to every niggling detail of the Apocalypse on my own...
The High Priest was honing his flaying knife as instructed, where the Xiscapian Empress could see what he was doing. She noticed the Divine One, and caustically hissed:"I was wondering when we'd get around to this."
"The time of the sacrifice is not yet." The Divine One replied. "You will be rendered much more...receptive first-Toro, here, will take off that confining skin that your every nerve is exposed to air, and your pain will provide sweet balm to the soul of My Patron."
"I hope I'm not bored to death before then." Jade remarked, "This 'plan' of yours has been done by most psychopaths throughout history-probably to make up for the same inadequacies." Her eyes punctuated this statement, and she yawned. "Or is there more to this 'plan' of yours?"
He smiled, imperturbable. "I do not have a plan, youngling-I have many plans, that one may catch a failed stratagem and yet bring Me success. Wheels within wheels, all grinding to My Inexorable Goal. I am the black heart that pumps it's bile and vitriol throughout Known Space, infiltrating every realm with My Essence, incorporating it into My Spiritual 'Body'.
"The civil war on Skaro has seen one faction mutate itself beyond recognition, wholly dependent on their polycarbide casings-all to My Pleasure. Volta's pirates renew their aging fleet through maintenance satellites I have oh-so-thoughtfully provided, awaiting the moment your people are lax enough for a strike. Every act of darkness empowers me, every inhumanity Man performs on his fellows adds to My Glory. Black Lotus flows through those societies as do not acknowledge the Wonder I am, and the refuse there awaits but My Will to rise up and turn on their fellows in a cannibal frenzy...
"But these marvels are not for you, My Sweet-your role in My Ascension is much, much simpler. Since your husband has seen fit to come here, I see no reason to leave him out of the proceedings.
"He will witness as you are released from that sheath of skin, then you will have the Glory of being Mine-first and last, I shall savor you, with all My Court betwixt, then we shall toss you to the Demon Lord of Shadows."
"Don't demons go for virgin sacrifices, Cueball?" she spat at him in defiance. "I'm sure your 'patron' will love sloppy seconds."
"The sacrifice requires an Imperial kitsune, unknown to Man." The Divine One's smile reflected a serene madness. "My Patron informs me kitsune do not qualify as Men, and your status was acceptable, though you are only an Imperial kitsune by marriage. Provided your husband did not experiment in college, he will fit the requirements nicely. You are merely an appetizer, though your husband's misery and despair at your fate will please My Patron greatly.
"You have until he is ready to contemplate your future, or the stars are ripe-your husband is disquieting in his interruptions to the Cosmic Flow, and he may be late just to spite me."
The Divine One turned and strode to other matters, leaving Jade to watch as the High Priest lovingly honed his blade to a razor edge.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Humbaba watched as the teeming throng of undead massed on the vast plain. He'd never have the time to open a Gate, much less hold it for the five kitsune, with them about.--Jhor, how did they overcome the carrion beetles? Perhaps I can...--
"D'OH!" Jhor's expression went from a sudden wince to one of utter sheepishness, and he raised his head in a long howl. So soft as to be felt rather than heard, it reverberated through the earth, dissembling matter and reshaping it into fist-sized beetles, their tiny skittering legs bearing vicious mandibles that tore quarter-inch chunks of flesh from their prey as they swarmed over all in the field.
A blanket of the voracious insects coated enemy and ally alike in a writhing mass of near-pure hunger. "They're eating my men!" Firefox Rose heard his voice cry, and his katana was in his hand, his mind debating whether killing the troll who saved him, sparing his men, or killing the treacher who ordered this abomination, avenging them, would be the better course, when he realized he-and they-were likewise coated in the squirming mass.
Jhor continued his low howl, while a happy munching came from the pile that had been Humbaba, as the mask depending from his staff spoke:"Only the dead ones-carrion beetles won't so much as nibble living tissue, and they're delicious, besides-might as well try some if you're not going to brush them off."

Jade eyed the blade as sparks flew from the rapidly sharper edge, but her mind was not on her looming fate. So he's provided the Korr with maintenance satellites? That explains how they were able to keep their fleet running for so long. Fortunatly, the Head Admiral won't have a problem with them, however well-mantained their ships are.
She smiled grimly, though, at his ending comment. Rosy never was one for "Cosmic Balance..."

---------------------------

Foxfire Rose blinked and scraped several of the beetles off onto a severed hand, watching in something approaching amusement as they devoured the crawling, gray thing. On Xiscapia these were the equivilent of scarab beetles, nasty little buggers that crawled inside skin, feeding on flesh to multiply at a such a rapid rate that the host would explode with new beetles born of his or her flesh a mere half minute after the first entered. His four accompanying soldiers were likewise covered, though none could have eaten any without removing their helmets, he thought he saw one or two stick a few inside pockets of their armor for later.
Don't knock it until you've tried it.
"Aye, well then," the Emperor shrugged, dislodging a few more beetles into the mass, "shall we go?"

Kannon, sometimes known as Quan Shi Yin, Quan Yin, and many other names over the Years and Light Years, smilled. In the metaphysical sense that is as the deity whom was Compassion made manifest, had no real form -for the people were remembering as they had forgotten for most of the last three thouaswnd years.

A group of the most respected healers found themselves stealing a hover craft and making the journey across the wide waters that lay about the Divine One's Court. The children that had been found needed them, and not even the growing awareness that the Court was in the hands of unknown alien invaders did not deter them.

Around the whole of O'Kuni, the temples of Kannon were filling as the Novans sought aid in blocking the horrific images the demons were releasing upon the populace. Joss sticks burned, the sounds of chanting rose, and the building shield of meditation reinforced serenity grew apace. Though there were many who died under the onslaught - it was but a scant hand full of what had been desired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Among the Anubi...

The ougter ring of protectors had fallen by the time Prince Thoth had completeed the crafting of his spell. It had been slow in the growing, but he had counted the time well spent despite the losses his warriors - volunteers one and all - were suffering. Once again the Anubian Prince checked the energies barely held in check by his will.

Then with a faint glow of satisfaction he released it and watched the gate and those who'd creted it fail, close, and dissolve as if it - and they- had never existed.

Then he spun, and a smil wrinkled his muzzel, the calvery was cresting the hill. "Give them Hell My People!" His howl reached all of the remaining warriors and their exhaustion suddenly lifted and they struck their foes with renewed vigor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harkano blinked back teas as he watched the main view screen go from the white of overload to normal. Just seconds ago Finnegans Wrath had, her weapons destroyed - trailing air and other, more stomach wrenching debris- had taken out the last Orbital Fortress that could have fired directly on O'Kuni by the only method left to her.

"Glory never dies" He murmured and turned back to the work at hand...

His weapons officer had never looked up form her console, but tears too streamed down her face as flying fingers changed the missile load out, taking the new data into account.

At the caverns, the elderly, mostly peasants or retired bushi, poured out of the cave, prepared to face their foes one last time.
The Imperial camp was oddly silent, save for the sounds of battle coming from the Command Tent, near the rear of the temporary encampment, and cautiously, the aged warriors crept forward, to observe as the horrible oni sent by Kwannon Herself dispatched the last of the Imperial officers. It snarled as it turned to them, weapon held ready...
"No!" An old bushi held out a hand in warding, lighting a joss stick."We know you were sent by Kwannon to save us from ourselves, oni."
Gorlakk tilted his head in confusion-his bolongo lay in the tent, so he grabbed it up, his body crying out as his wounds renewed their protests, and held it before him:"You are armed and armored, but bear not the insignia of these." he prodded a corpse with great gaping chunks bitten out of it. "You are the ancients of the cave?"
The bushi nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes--you have saved us, oni."
Gorlakk tried to laugh, but only spat up blood. "There is a girl in the woods...I left her there with supplies and food...find her, tend her needs if you would thank me...I have much to do here yet."
"There are no more soldiers, oni." The old man was confused. "Does Kwannon ask you to judge us as you have these?"
Gorlakk was confused-"Kwannon" was a name, but not a name he knew-though his bolongo tied that name to Xiola Umbar while stating it was not the Sacred Ancestress. "She does not judge-she forgives and sustains. I am Gorlakk Yazeeda of the Order of Zorak Zoran-He judges. I am injured, and shall require much meat to heal. A few cowards have run off-they will return with more troops, and it would be best I were in shape to meet them. Help me find my Novita and I shall protect you from the soldiers to come."
This great black beast, covered in slashes and gouges from his battles, could barely stand, but his concern for this girl touched the old man's heart. "I shall bring her myself, Yazeeda-san."
Little Novita-her parents had named her Joy, but the muri had called her Novita and she found she much preferred that name, ran to her father. "You're injured.." she began, only to have her protector scowl at her.
"And you are not with the supplies, Novita." he chided, hrooning her as he scooped her up in his arms. "You are not injured, either, but I did tell you to stay and not wander where you could be hurt."
She blushed and cast her face down. "I'm sorry, but I didn't want you hurt, where I'd be alone again."
He raised her face gently, with one blood-covered claw, and chuckled, the effort renewing the screaming of his nerves. "This shell I wear may stop serving me one day, Novita-but I will never leave you. My soul will cling to you as it would my own flesh, and we trolls are never more dangerous than when we're dead. Now, go with this nice man, and show him where the supplies are-Daddy's got some cleaning to do and preparations for some guests."
As she reluctantly lead the old man to the supply cache, Gorlakk pulled himself up, and looked about. He would need meat to heal rapidly, and he'd left quite a bit of it laying about...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Anubi were surrounded, the Mechs closing in, when their leader gave the order:
"Give them Hell My People!"
The Jannissaries laughed at the ragtag band giving such a brave front, when whistling from behind them betrayed a volley of bolas flying towards them from their flank, where giant spiders poured over the hills, each bearing a grim monstrous rider. One reared up and cried, "Hell izz heer!"
As the bolas entangled the great armored suits, their weighted orbs shattered, releasing a diabolical compound of the muri. Under chemical coaxing, the advanced ceramics began to heat, melting rubber and fine delicate mechanisms within the armor. The internal atmosphere controls compensated until their finer components were fouled by the intense heat, and the armor began to cook it's occupants, until the heat ignited the ammunition the suits bore, setting off the suits like a string of firecrackers.
The Anubi rallied, and the two forces ground the Jannissaries between them...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Commander Davrak was of the Enraged, the stratum in the Ordo Zorak Zorani above the Angry Ones, but below the Death Lords,though no one would guess his rank seeing his one-armed charge scrabbling happily over him, pulling itself up by his fur to crawl over the massive troll. The infant had adjusted to life outside it's sphere readily, though it had an inordinate propensity for shoving everything in it's mouth. While this would give no troll child concern, these Novan children lacked the rock stomach that gave muri parents little worry about toxins, and Davrak found himself in a perpetual state of removing things the child could not safely devour, to the extent that all possible toxic items were ordered placed five feet from the floor or securely locked.
He scooped the young one up in one claw while the other held a viewing crystal he could scan the horizon with, watching the progress of a hovercraft.--No weapons, but it's big enough for a troop carrier-what's that insignia on the side?--
His aide, Korath, who'd been watching the babe scale it's guardian with some amusement, pulled out a crystal sphere and asked. --Symbol of the goddess Kwannon-portfolio here is Mercy and Healing-hospital ship, you think?--
--We could use it-send a scout to direct them through the minefield--
--Could be a Trojan Horse--
--Perhaps, but without Compassion and Mercy, how do we differentiate ourselves from the lowest beasts?--
--We could start cooking our food--the aide suggested.
Davrak glared at his assistant.--That's disgusting. I should transfer you to Aerial Assault Specialist.--
--We haven't any fliers, Sir-the Sultan decided against them--
--We do have catapults, and once their ammo is depleted, you could begin your new duties--Davrak snarled--If there were some truly odious duty I could saddle you with...--
Davrak's sensitive nose informed him his charge had supplied his guardian with precisely what he desired, and he handed Korath the child with a leer.--Little poop machine just like clockwork-Zorak Zoran himself must supply him with foulness from the Raging Hell in his bowels. Change and bathe him, I'll check out that transport.--
Korath winced as he accepted the child.--Think it's a defense to stop predators from eating them?--
No answer came, for Davrak was on his spider and riding to the hovercraft. Even if it were filled with soldiers, that was preferable to being present as the little one was unwrapped...

"He doesn't want me to see him eat them. He needs to heal.” Novita confided in a serious voice to the elder as she lead him to where the supplies had been stashed by Gorlakk "and he's not an Oni,… those are yuckie…nasty!" She declared "He's a Muri, called friends long, long ago, before the Wandering."

The elder did not question how the girl child knew this, for he saw that she made no tracks in the snow, and did not feel the bitter and still deepening cold one bit. He remembered the origins of the phrase 'kami born and blessed of the kami' had come from, though he had not heard of any kami born out side the highest of the Court in generations. Though at one time the kami had been born where they chose, to commoner, samurai and noble alike.

The old Novan had at first been shocked by the notion of eating the fallen - but then he remembered something his great grandmother had spoken of when he'd been a youth, over four hundred and eighty years ago. "I remember hearing that we used to eat our dead, in a way. We would cook them with a special ceremony, cook their flesh down in a broth, and all in the family would share, to keep our ancestors with us, within us. But we haven't done that in a very long time."

"And we've forgotten our ancestors mostly." Novita nodded sadly as she helped him gather up the parcels. "But he needs to strop drawing power or he's going to hurt O’Kuni beyond repair. I hope she remembers soon."

Despite his questioning as they returned to the encampment she refused to answer his questions about her last words. Saying only "No, it's her place to do this."

However when they returned to the camp, she went directly to where her father feed and healed "Father, we need to get all the people deep in the caves. It's getting even colder."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indigo crossed the threshold into the baths and a massive lance of pain threw her to her hands and knees, then a second spike sent her to her belly almost unable to breathe, her body convulsing wildly. Her spasms sent the slaves screaming in every direction, calling for an overseer. She lay there sobbing for breath, unable to do more than writhe in the grasp of the torment. Eventually, with seemingly glacial slowness, the pain receded and Indigo found that, yes she actually could draw a breath that did not send her into screaming agony. She curled on her side tears rolling down her filthy cheeks, drawing in on herself, while the slaves fussed about her about her like noxious fowl.

Managing to ignore them she strove to calm herself and find her center, and though it felt like it took a virtual eternity, Indigo recovered quickly. And with that centering, her thoughts were far less muddled -though she did not have anything resembling her usual clarity and her they were oddly slow to assemble and present themselves for inspection. However she did remember what she had been about and she ground her teeth in angry frustration.

The sudden bloom of more pain, this time though localized on her back and side brought her eyes flying wide. The overseers barbed lash landed again as he roared "Get up you worthless slut!" Indigo bit her lip, drawing blood, to keep from giving him the satisfaction of hearing her whimper

With the nine barbed tails landing continuously upon her, blood splattering about with every strike, she managed to roll slowly first to her hands and knees then - though she was barely able to keep her feet - Indigo managed to stand. The porcine man grunted and let the lash fall to his side, blood dripping freely from the numerous sharp barbs. “You will be bathed, groomed and made presentable, though I don’t have high hopes for you.” He looked her over and shook his head in disgust, before ordering the slaves to begin attending her at once.

Indigo did look a fright - leaves, twigs, and blood matting her hair, and the many deep claw gouges into her thighs and breasts were still trickling blood as well. She was already sporting bruises along her upper arms and ankles as well from the Warplings hold on her and she had the beginnings of a black eye.

"Father, we need to get all the people deep in the caves. It's getting even colder."

Gorlakk looked up from his meal at the child. Now glutted, his system was rapidly replenishing itself, and every movement was no longer agony. "So, this is not natural to this world. I remember the Fimbul Winter, but it was so long ago..." he shook his head. "The caves will have a more constant temperature, and I may call one of the children of Amastan, though that may not be enough.
"Do you think there is a place in those caves which has not known light? Perhaps I could petition Dehore for aid, or at least Asrelia-her consciousness resides in all the Deep Earth." He cast his gaze outwards, towards the woods. "I believe I saw some rather large black and white creatures eating bamboo in a grove off that way. I could use the white fur for camouflage when the snows begin, and the meat would be welcome-about three would do it."
He rose up, lifting the child in his arms. "But you are right-our first priority should be getting everyone where it's warm and they may have some degree of comfort, then we can worry about gathering food and wood.
"On the world we call the Heart of Chaos, there was a very wise man named Siddartha Gautama who said 'Before Enlightenment, chopping wood and gathering water-after Enlightenment, chopping wood and gathering water.' One must keep one's soul nourished, but the needs of the body must always be attended as well-let's get these people to relative safety, Novita."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prince Thoth looked about the battlefield. The muri were devouring the dead, singing the Anubi and their own fallen to Wonderhome as they did. "Such terrible, terrible losses." he mourned.
"They lost more than we did." Death Lord Korth informed him, belching loudly. "All you can really ask in a war. We'd best get underway-the nursery's going to need guards, since those idiots told everyone where they are."
"Nursery?"
"What we're calling it, since we discovered the orphans of O'Kuni there-didn't you catch the broadcast?"
"With your shock and awe propaganda squeezing everything out, we just turned ours off."
"It's still being sent-and not by us. Someone wants the populace to know, and we've no idea who, but the transmission can't be shut off, and we need to protect the nursery until we can move everyone somewhere safer-not that we're getting much time for such niceties."
Prince Thoth looked over his men-the muri had brought them more proper fare and water, but these battles were wearing on them, warriors though they were. "War stifles the soul, and makes beasts of us all. Are your men eating the armor, also?"
"No evidence-best the enemy not know what to expect." Korth offered the Anubi ruler a hand onto his spider, replying:"Come on, we'll shore up our defenses, maybe play with the kids a bit before the fighting starts-nothing revitalizes the spirit like a bit of fun with the innocent."
"Games? In the middle of warfare?"
"What better time? May be our last chance to do so." Korth spurred his spider to action. "If the gods have been good enough to give us this gift, it's only good manners to accept it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Davrak reared up on his spider before the hovercraft, howling at it to stop. A hatch opened, and a white piece of cloth was waved out before a wizened head slowly peered outwards. "We come in peace-we're healers, and have brought medicine and food for the children."
"Zzo yu zay-led me zee inzidezez, zearch yu craft."
"Certainly-all we ask is safe passage, and to be permitted to aid those poor children."
Davrak thrust his shaggy head in the hatch, sniffing suspiciously, but other than frightening the occupants, nothing was accomplished-hrooning revealed crates of food and medical supplies, but nothing dangerous, so he addressed the one who'd spoken:"Follow me-diz miyned and danj'ruzz-yu follow klozz."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Pamaltela, there is a massive volcano called Lodril's Mount by the muri, for it is the place where Moorgarki and the Burning God reside. A singular traveller, bent with more years than she cared to recall, made slow progress there, leaning heavily on her cane.
Asrelia was the Grandmother of the Tribe of Earth, her own children devoured by Chaos in the Godswar, their destruction so complete their names survived only in her heart. The humans who worshipped her locked her in this aged form, and when the muri remembered her, they remembered her as envisioned by the humans, so she was bent and white-haired, her joints aching from the exertions she could have accomplished so easily if only the trolls saw her as one of their own.
Moorgarki greeted her as she walked into the vast mouth of the volcano. "Mother!" he hugged her warmly. "Why didn't you come up by your stair?"
"My interfering grandson always wonders what I'm doing on the Surface, and Zorak Zoran's being cagey...again. He's kept everyone but Subere, Annilla, and myself out of the loop, but Xiola Umbar's about to find out, and you know she'll run right to Mother." She pursed her lips distastefully.
Moorgarki tilted his head in confusion, but when one is raised by the Keeper of the Mysteries of the Deep Earth, one grows accustomed to not following a conversation. "I am still happy to see you, even if this isn't purely social. What do you want?"
"I need to borrow your husband for a bit, Son."
"Whatever for?"
"One of your children is going to call on me for a favor, soon, and I intend to grant it." She noted his confusion, and explained:"When you're my age, you find eavesdropping whenever your name's mentioned passes the time Judge Alex isn't on. The dear boy is facing a Fimbul Winter, and he'll need Lodril's aid-and that lump will have to be coached carefully to prevent his cooking all concerned. Since heat isn't one of my aspects, I need time to see to it he performs properly."
"Fimbul Winter?" Moorgarki snarled, "I'll get my spear..."
"You'll do no such thing, boy!" She snapped, and her adopted son immediately assumed a meek and submissive posture. "The mortals have to do this without our interference-at least in the main bits. We can help, but if any of us takes to the field, all of us have to. Chaos needs the mortals to lay it low, just so It knows they can. The demoralizing of this defeat will aid us all in the long run. Be prepared to take arms if they fail, but not until then..."

One must keep one's soul nourished, but the needs of the body must always be attended as well-let's get these people to relative safety, Novita."

She looked up at him, her face very serious "My first mommy and daddy loved me very much, but they needed to go be reborn, and you got sent to find me.Thank you for being my new daddy. I knew they'd make sure I got a ver special daddy." She said as she hugged his leg, though she was unable to get her arms all the way around his massive thigh.

"Muri -Sama, yes there are very deep part of the cave, not all of it has been mapped, it stretches deep, deep into O'Kuni's bones. We have kept the cave stocked with some supplies, a tradition since the time of Wandering. Though we never thought to see your kind again. We also wish to apologise for misnaming you. We named you Oni and we should not have. Our only explaination is that images of your people are no longer known within the Imperia. It is not easy to touch our ancestors memories any more, as if something has drawn a darkness across the shining path." He spoke as he led them into the caves, showing them the upper caves and the branchings that led into the uncharted depths of the planet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If the gods have been good enough to give us this gift, it's only good manners to accept it."

The Anubian Prince gave a bark of laughter "Agreed friend Korth, agreed." With that he sent an Eye of Horus up and searching out any dangers that might lie ahead. It was a seeing that nothing could escape.

"Though that Circle we managed to flatten...I think we got their varsity. They were good, damnably good, and it's an utter shame that such ability was twisted." The anubian sighed heavily "This weill put a crimp in Chaos for sometime I hope.

A flash of light and the feeling of stumbling rapidly later, Foxfire Rose and his four soldiers had been Gated though. They were at the Palace, now, but exactly where Foxfire Rose could not pinpoint. He suddenly wished he had a map, or better, a guide, but the bouncing ball had been saftly tucked away into his armor, duty done, having led them to the correct place. Now he would need to locate the Empress, fighting off whatever came his way, getting to her before the time was right for the sacrifice. The Emperor didn't know how much time there was left, but it couldn't be much. They appeared to be in a hall, surronded by stone pillars stretching so tall that they rose far upward into the gloom, the ceiling too high to see. Nor could they see any walls, just endless rows upon rows of pillars and floor.

Gorlakk looked over the map curious. "Our first priorities will be food and water-we have provisions, but they may not be enough. Do the caves have their own source of water, or must we fetch it from the lake? If the latter, we may find ourselves hacking out ice to bring here, hoping some unfortunate fish is frozen within.
"Begin by sorting the food-meats may be eaten as needed, but grains must be spared for the animals. Our survival depends upon theirs, and we may be leaving out food as the cold worsens. When you gather wood for your fires, take only dead wood-leave the living plants for the creatures of the forest. I shall hunt them as I lay traps for the troops-thinning their numbers now will allow the rest a better chance at foraging. You all may grow weary of preserved meats, but they will sustain you as our other provisions sustain the food animals. Those of your people as are skilled in skinning and preserving furs will have much to do, for we are many, and all will need warm clothing." He scanned the faces around him, seeing only resignation and fierce determination in each wizened visage. "I have been through a Fimbul Winter before-even the humans were forced to cannibalism to survive, but we were unprepared, then-we will not be this time. Move your weaker folk to the deeper recesses of the caves-the temperature will stay more constant there, but if you're to have fire, make sure the air circulates, or the fire will suffocate you all. I can summon a salamander-a fire elemental, but my people do not call on the treacherous air, and I cannot ensure it will stay in quantities enough to keep you well, much less alive. If you have lore of sylphs, set them to keep the air flowing, and I will see to it the salamander keeps that air warm. Keep everyone active, busy with preparations and we will survive. I will go to the lower caves, see if there's food there, and petition my gods for aid before I go hunting. Let your people know that they may not fear, and begin assigning tasks, that fear may not take hold as they contemplate this thing.
"We will need each other as never before, and our strength is that of our weakest member. Remember the lessons of your Kwannon and let them guide you." He held Novita close, whispering, "They are good people, little one-We will see them through this."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The flash of light from the Gate brought a sudden hiss from Jhor.--What just happened?--
--While the main shield is down, this "Divine One" doesn't want anyone getting too close-a Warding deflected the Gate, though they are closer now, and likely to find their prey if they are careful.--
--That Emperor fellow better live-he owes me.--Jhor growled deep in his chest.
The pair waited on the plain, surrounded only by the munching of the carrion beetles, when a thin, reedy piping wound it's mournful tones through the insects' feeding.--I was wondering when they would show up.--Humbaba raised his staff, sending waves of Darkness to conceal all.--Are you ready?--
--They know nothing of the ways of Man, brother...let us teach them Regret.--
The pair vanished into the night, their prey unaware two muri stalked it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prince Horus screamed, "The sky! They're eating their way through the sky!"
Korth grabbed the Anubi prince and shook him.
"Shut down the Eye of Horus, Prince Thoth-these things have learned to warp the perceptions of the Court of Light far too well. If you perceive them, you will try to understand-and that way lies madness. Don't make me strike you..."
Having a growling Death Lord threaten one has a way of drawing attention away from other matters, for which Prince Thoth was grateful. "What-what were those things?" he gasped, slowly regaining his composure.
"Servitors." Korth spat. "They always come when one of their fell masters approaches-they aid the translation into this Reality, and placate the beast long enough for it to accept offerings. If we can kill them, the Great Old One will have only the Divine One's artifice and it's own power to bring it-and without the Servitors, it won't be happy if it can manifest at all. The shamans of Gorakikki will try to lure them to the mukade, who need not see to strike. The stars are approaching prime, and our foes must be drawn away from the place of sacrifice-our foes are the remaining Jannissaries, and we must bring them far from where our brethren face the True Enemy.
"The war on Chaos may be fought one soul at a time, but our duty is to keep the reinforcements tied up." Korth spurred his steed, racing for the nursery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Grinner skulked quietly from shadow to shadow, creeping up behind his prey. The muri warrior was still, head tilted forward, straining to hear even a single hint of his stalker's location, when the Grinner fell upon him, fine wire slipping over the great head, and tightening on the throat.
A throat that did not yield as flesh would, as the silver wire completed a contact, and the muri's body exploded in a shower of razor-sharp ceramic shards.
The Grinner lay stunned and mutilated, small stone shrapnel permeating his form, when the great hulking muri seemed to materialize from the darkness. "Weyr yu mazz-ter?" it asked, leaning over the Grinner's broken form. "We haff biz-nezz, him and me."
The Grinner gasped, his open mouth revealing his tongue had been cleft long ago, and he was incapable of speech. Gerrak's claw closed on his throat. "Yu zzent guide me-dankzez mush."
With one swift motion, a loud crack sounded, and Gerrak was alone in the tunnels. Without so much as a glance at the ruined oni statue he'd mined, he began tracking the Grinner's scent to the one he called Master...

Indigo had no idea how long she had been in the baths being tended to with every concieveable luxury by attentive but completely silent slaves. If she hadn't the memory of them screaming when the seizure claimed her, she would have thought them mute. A healer had been brought to tend her wounds and with the applicaion of various nano rich salves the black eye and other bruises had disappeared and the deep rents in her flesh from the Warplings claws were pink and almost completely hearled.

Her thought were no clearer though in fact slowly and very insidiously the collar was reasserting itself - it was no mere 'one trick collar' - but the headache had mostly vanished. It felt good to lie in a near stupor and let them pamper her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They are good people, little one-We will see them through this."

They had been able to inform Gorlakk of several benefits - yes the cave 'breathed', there was pure, fast flowing water at hand and among their stores were many 'hot rocks' -Novan space heaters of a sort - when activated the produced a set amount of heat for many hours before needing a solar exposure to recharge.

"Each of them is able to keep a twenty by twenty area at a comfortable temperature for us" The group's spokesperson advised, "and the stores of 'shelter foods' - prepacked meals and other survival type foods - is suffecient to feed three hundred for three hundred days. The old standard"

"However you are quite correct that we should bring everything possible in here and every one as well. I have set some already to sorting throught the supplies,and will send more to strip the village.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:"Follow me-diz miyned and danj'ruzz-yu follow klozz."

The physicians, healers, and other medical personell did as Davrak instructed and shortly they arrived at the nursery, setting themselves quickly about tending to the children. Though they too had noted the unusual and ever deepeningtemperatures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The stars are approaching prime, and our foes must be drawn away from the place of sacrifice-our foes are the remaining Jannissaries, and we must bring them far from where our brethren face the True Enemy. The war on Chaos may be fought one soul at a time, but our duty is to keep the reinforcements tied up."

As the giant spider bolted for the nursery Prince Thoth still shuddered from the horror the Eye of Horus had shown him. "Death Lord, one of our greatest arts is bringing illusion to nearly undetectable from life. What would be the most irristable to our foes do you think? What would be the best lure. My warriors are tired but still strong enough to power a very convincing prey for the Jannissaries. but the more imput I have, the more detail given the better."

Gorlakk excused himself and rummaged through his pack, finding the small stone bowl that symbolized Asrelia among the other fetishes, and fetching three ripe peaches from the trees above, finding some flying rowan as well. Plucking a few sprigs, he considered the find a good omen.
Having collected up the things he felt the Earth Witch would find pleasing, he made his way to the depths of the caverns. Dehore could be contacted here, but only deeper in the system-the humans had brought light as they explored, and Gorlakk did not have time to properly commune with the Primal Darkness which had ultimately spawned his people.
Asrelia was closer, and present in all the Deep Earth. She had wandered Wonderhome in the Perfect Age, and been the finest of Subere's students in that happy time. Her children had all fallen in the Age of Chaos, save her adopted son, Gorlakk's ancestor Moorgarki, and Gorlakk hoped his tenuous familial claim would be enough to attract her attention.
Gorlakk was an Angry One, one of the berserks dedicated to Zorak Zoran, but he was also muri-and by default, a member of the Order of Moorgarki. In his youth, the sisters had invoked Asrelia to protect the caverns where the young were to be sheltered, and the words of invocation came to his lips now, almost unbidden, as he placed the pears in the bowl, as well as the rowan sprigs-Asrelia was the source of Wealth, and self-sufficient, but she appreciated gifts from the surface as she could not easily obtain herself. Please, Grandmother. he thought, kneeling before the bowl.
The pears and rowan were gone, now, and Gorlakk could taste magma. The caverns were warming, ever so slowly, as if some updraft from a magma vent seeped upwards, to the places where the elderly now grouped.
He approached the woman who ruled here, and let his bolongo speak:"There is a bowl further in the tunnels-if you could place a few tidbits from above in it from time to time, or scrolls of knowledge as you have kept to yourselves, it would be appreciated. I will accompany the looters for protection, perhaps return with some prey. If there is one skilled in herb lore, have them speak to the bowl from time to time-she cherishes new knowledge, and it is well to give thanks when one can.
"When I return, I shall lead a group into the tunnels, show them how to harvest and collect there. Soon, you will all be expert tunnel-dwellers, and our time here will pass in relative comfort. The walls below are rich with fungi, and I smell water-with luck, there will be pools of fish or crabs to collect."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I shouldn't worry about luring them, Prince Thoth. The transmission requesting medical aid for the young ones we found is doing that-all that delays them is the blocking of transmissions. Forcing them to rely on runners and smoke signals has hampered them nicely." Korth laughed, the deep belly-shaking boom of satiation. "However, if your people are as skilled in illusion as you say, you might consider getting the civilians and children to safety while we occupy the Jannissaries. Having to use the mukade to deal with the Servitors has cut our tunneling capacity, so slipping them out underground is not a possibility anymore.
"Our scouts are watching carefully-they are massing, and will march soon-in their arrogance, it's practically a parade, and pinprick raids are being set up along their route, but they are still many, and our numbers dwindle."
"Attrition warfare is never pleasant when reinforcements are so far off."
"Attrition? Most of our troops are tending children whose parents couldn't be located in our mainland raids. The Sultan has imposed a moral standard that hamstrings our operations-he's a Good Son, if naive. We're probably about 15,000 strong-about 7,000 dead, and the rest wandering the countryside tending war orphans and those abandoned in the haste to leave. I believe our people have actually taken up residence in a few of the abandoned villages-I have noted fires hastily extinguished in a few of the empty-appearing villages, which indicates our presence-especially in this weather. This planet's winters are subtler than I'd have expected, and the hunting here produces little suitable fare for the children."

The baths that Indigo had been brought within were no mere bathing rooms, but the very structure of the edifice was a resonace chamber, an amplifier for the Divine One's will power - And that power was nearly incalcuable, especially as it was bolstered by his Patronus's support. And like the collar it worked with utmost subtleness - but oh so effectively

Indigo remembered with each second less and less of the memories she had just a short time before when she had crossed the threshold and the collar had nearly ruptured. The information Tetsuko had given her, the reawson behind the rebellion were fading into a dreamlike fog...

No now she worried that she might displease her father, who had troubled himself to rescue her, to call her his precious daughter, had held her and shown a father's all encompassing love. Something she had wanted all her lonely childhood...something she had not gotten from Tetsuko, something she had not felt from her supposed mother...

Ever cautious, the Emperor's four guards spread out around him in a diamond formation, trying to peer though the gloom, rifles pointed ahead to blast anything that tried to attack though the fog. The Emperor himself had long abandoned his rifle and had his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his katana, walking forward along what seemed to be the main path though the eternal pillars. Every so often the guards would swivel wildly, swearing to themselves they could have seen a shadow or the whisper of a voice, but there was never anything there.

The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins.
It always wins because it is everywhere.
It is in the wood that burns on your hearth, and in the kettle on the fire; it is under your chair and under your table and under the sheets on your bed. Walk in the midday sun and the dark is with you, attached to the soles of your feet.
The brightest light casts the darkest shadow.
OOC: Glorified bump.

The Divine One was most pleased-the kitsune had finally gotten back on schedule, his Jannissaries as were not protecting his enclave were massing to crush the damnable oni who had oh-so-foolishly broadcast their location to the world, and even Indigo seemed ripe for the plucking.
"Her faith that her bodyguard-that wretched kami of War-shall save her must be done away with." he hissed, to no one in particular. "The question is how?"
"Perhaps if you feigned his death, Divinity..." the speaker received a backhand that drew blood.
"That was rhetorical, idiot! I can answer My Questions Myself." The Divine One adjusted his robes and composure, adding:"I always answer My Questions Myself.
"You-" he pointed at one of the lesser kami that flocked his Court, fell representations of what Chaos intended for Nature, now. "Take the form of that fellow who went off to challenge Kai."
As his servant complied, the Divine One reached out, talon-like hand plucking at the threads of Reality, binding the two cosmic combatants into realms not accessible to O'Kuni. When this work was complete, he observed the handiwork of his minion. "The form seems right-bring Me wine, and a cheroot, and swiftly, lest My Infinite Patience ebb and I feed you to My Warplings."
As the servants rushed to the hasty completion of their duties, the Divine One studied his servant carefully-the disguise was perfect in every detail, save one the Divine One noted as he accepted his cheroot. Exhaling a plume of blue smoke, he observed, "Nice--but hardly the sort of thing that speaks of a battle with that one. Warplings, tear him up a bit-don't be sparing, as the kami of War would not be, either."
As the Divine One contemplated the vicious attacks leveled on his servant by his warplings, he rose the glass of wine to his lips, and noted:"White wine? I'm not beating a fish, imbecile-this should be red-red as the blood pouring from yon doppelganger-and from you, as well."
As the servant gaped shocked, the Divine One signaled his warplings to stop their actions. "I'll go over that, now-this oaf is unworthy of burning, so you may sate your desires."
"All praise and glory to the Divine One." the warplings offered a prayer of thanksgiving as they fell upon the transgressing servant. His cries were ignored, as were the less wholesome sounds produced by his attackers, as the Divine One looked over his ordered work.
"*sigh*-have you no concept of the beating Kai should offer? He's far too intact. Now, blacken that eye-it should be deepest plum, with a greenish-yellow border, and swollen shut, not merely purpling and puffed up. That shoulder should be broken, not merely dislocated. And pluck out that kneecap-I doubt Kai would do so, but the flow is much more harmonious with it torn away...
"His weapon hand-I don't know, Toro...should it be crushed and missing three fingers or burnt off entirely?"
Toro looked up from his blade and leered-he had served the Court far too long to directly address the Divine One, even if directly asked but once.
The Divine One smiled. "Of course-lightning seared! Ah, you are a great joy to Me, Toro." Lightning flashed from the Divine One's hand to burn away the flesh of the servant's weapon hand.
Surveying the servant, the Divine One observed the bottle of wine brought to him. "Idiocy or not, this is far too good a year to let waste. Bring in some live fish-I must coach this moron in the proper actions to take before my beloved daughter. After her bath, she should prove most conducive to the revelation her guardian and protector has perished..."

The Xiscapian Emperor and his much reduced guard force would find the edifice seemingly empty. No one, no thing, appearing to bar their way as they moved through the labyrinthine structure. Though occassionally odors reached them though they could never be certain where they originated, for one breath might bring the scent of a spring time garden yet a breath later it was the corruption of a charnel pit.

Shadows too attended therm as they searched for the Empress, shadows that moved when noting else did, and seemed to whipser among themselvs though no conversation was discernable. Sounds faint and echoing from indiscernable origins -even by those with the most sensitive hearing among them- reached them intermittently.

And the communications gear built into the Xiscapians's armor seemed incapable of reaching past visual limits...Slowly as they moved deeper into the massive construct all the sensors incorporated within the armor failed one by one. And all of them could sense the interplay of immense Force workings though they could not discern what the workings were accomplishing.

"They are the foxes, the little foxes, that steal our grapes." The static over the communications was a crisp clear voice speaking the common language."Best to set my own foxes out."
Strange laughter echoed through the chamber, and the guards saw weaving among the pillars several shadows, most lurking and hidden, but one strong determined pair-waltzing in and out of the pillars.
"Is that...?"
"No, can't be..."
"Sir, I believe we've found the Empress-but who's that she's dancing with?"
The Divine One spun, his Empress in his arms, exchanging a passionate kiss as they whirled, peals of laughter hiding the sounds of the warplings moving...

The Emperor stared at the sight, feeling his mouth open slightly. One thought thundered though his mind:
Oh NO you just did not!
Shortly followed by another, smaller thought riding on the coattails of the last:
It's not real.
It was a trap, pitifully, pathetically obvious.
And the Emperor, in his rage, fell right in.
Despite the protests of his Guard he charged, threading between the pillars, sword out, chasing shadows. The other four followed more cautiously behind, watchful for anything to try and sneak attack their Lord. The Emperor kept his eyes on Jade's laughing face, moving around or smashing aside the great pillars of stone, heedless of the destruction he was causing. Running after that mane of purple hair...

The Divine One spun the Empress, pulling her back against his torso, his hand drifting from her knee up to places only suitable for a matrimonial chamber, and she sighed and shuddered. Just like-no,THIS CANNOT BE! Firefox Rose had his weapon in hand, his men flanking to protect their liege.
"Did I ever thank You for saving me from mediocrity?" Jade huskily breathed upwards.
"We'll be a fairy tale couple, you and I." the Divine One promised. "Like Beauty and the Beast-of course, if anyone else calls you 'beast', I'll have them eviscerated."
The Emperor's rage was white-hot as skittering figures surged at him, their flesh oozing like shaped tallow, their forms continually creating and absorbing multiple limbs and organs randomly. A hand bearing a kitsune-yellow eye and barbed claws rushed at one soldier, while another exhaled a line of fire between the Emperor and his cuckold...

The claw-hand was seperated from it's owner in a invisible slash of a knife, the blade coming out, connecting, and retreating back into the armor too quickly for the eye to follow. The severed limb bounced to the floor, blood splattering, and the Guard took his sword in hand and stabbed forward at where he thought was the center of the thing. The Shadow Ops sought to keep the little imp-things off the back of their Lord, to give them other things to worry about. Like cold cortosis metal sharpened to take the head from shoulders in a single blow.
The Emperor leaped over the fire, flames reaching for him, lightly burning him, but he went though, landing on the other side of the flames and racing for the imposter Divine One and his mate, sword flashing in the firelight as he struck, not at the Novan Emperor, but at the false image of his wife.

She twisted and bobbed away, and Foxfire Rose could not be certain he'd struck, but for a thin red line at her throat. "Oh, Rosey," she growled, the name seeming a curse in her rasping voice. "Is this your way of avoiding a divorce?"
The line widened, as her head lolled forward, then shot forth, trailing heart, lungs, stomach, and entrails as it's snapping fangs lunged for Firefox Rose, spraying blood and fluids on him.
The Divine One rolled his eyes. "This isn't the plan. We're-ah, Hell-it's too late now."
He roared, and split out of his skin, revealing something like a black shaggy beast that reeked of carrion, it's backward-bending claws whistling as they shred the air, moving in deadly arcs intended to rend flash and expose marrow...

Foxfire Rose met the beast that had dared imitate his mate head-on, slicing downward to cleave the thing in half. The fangs and claws and assortment of limbs and organs all actively trying to kill him threw off his aim somewhat, so instead of being cut in half, the monster impaled partially on his sword. He swung the blade, singing though the air with the crazed screams of the demon on the end, into the other beast. The impaled Jade-imitator went flying into the attack of the great black shaggy one, not to mention the tip that was on a horizontal course with it's stomach...or what could have been it's belly, considering the strange, ever-changing anatomy.

A length of intestine whipped out, snagging a pillar and sending the foul mass of organs and it's topmost fanged head hurtling around and behind the pillar, sending the vile thing once more at Foxfire.
"This chamber was made for me, Rosey!" it shrieked. "Once he's eaten your men, I will feed him your bloodless corpse!"
The Black Guard were engaging the warplings, finding their oozing forms regenerated unless a death strike were immediate, and they adjusted their styles accordingly, waiting until an instant kill could be registered, causing the fell creatures to dissolve in a fetid bubbling mass.
The black beast roared, shaking the room, it's goggling eyes taking in the scene as it gnashed it's great tusks. "I shall devour you all, now-make your arrangements with your gods." it instructed, leaping an immense distance to close with a guard, it's vicious claws reaching out...

Foxfire Rose severed the intestine from it's pillar and ducked the thing, turning as it flew past and tried to connect to another pillar, and slashed furiously as it at a rate of half a dozen strikes per second.
The Guard finished off a warpling and turned in time to see the beast launch itself towards him. Calculating it's flight trajectory, he reached out with the Force the pulled. His attacker was given a extra second in the air longer than it had anticipated, and during that time eight shuirkens, five throwing knives and a grenade went flying at it, controlled with an aftertouch-like Force bond with the one who'd thrown it, to ensure it hit it's target and was not deflected, or worse, send back at it's owner. The Guards spread themselves out even as they threw their weapons, darting in and out between the pillars, making it hard to be tracked and targeted.

THe Black Guard who'd grabbed the beast telekinetically had an odd sensation, a lurching deep in his gut, and he saw his body fall from above, as if he were floating near the ceiling.
Looking down, he could see the great beast clearly, but his comrades and Emperor were vague and indistinct, as if peered through fine silk or cheesecloth. The weapons impacted the beast's hide with no visible effect, when the grenade went off, surrounding the thing in obscuring smoke...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The explosion sent out ripples, knocking those not braced off their feet. Five-man tactics being a common training program, the explosion was expected by the Black Guard, though the Emperor himself was knocked aside along with his attacker. The head chattered and yammered, clacking it's fangs as it regathered it's intestinal mass for another leap.
Firefox was on his feet and ready, blade held in warding, and he noticed that the thing wearing his wife's face had largely ignored his attacks, but the grenade had stunned it and burned part of it's body, but it bubbled and popped, renewing itself as it readied for a new attack...

OOC: Sheesh I'm out with surgery and you all start posting like crazy...but I'm back now. And snickers on the monster OD is using. Haven't seen one of those brought into play in a loooong time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere

Tetsuko nodded to her second in command as a medic bound the gash across her ribs. It had taken far to many of her limited troops to stop the reincirfement of the Court, but they had leaving the Muri and others to deal with only the remainder of the Regiment that had been based on the island.

"No, leave that broadcast going, and if you can get though and send it upstairs, I was as much of the Imperia as possible to know."

"But, what do we do about him"

Tetsuko looked at her father. "Father I knew you had compromised yourself, but I had no idea to this extent. I ought to execute you were you stand, or follow the example I once read of and make sure your feet are well planet in the earth. You were supposed to preotect our people. You failed."

"Send the prearranged broadcast as well. I am now Shogun and all of the opposing forces will cease fire and surrender, or face the wrath of the Imperia as traitors. No quarter unless surrender is given.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the Nursery...

"Commander Davrak, the cloning chamber is ready. Give us a few hours and we'll have a new arm for your son. And he's young enough that he'll probably not remember not having one or a time." Nurse Tam Luck said happily as she finished making sure the chamber would operate to her specifications. She was a short sturdy individual, that the trolls had leasrned quickly not to cross. She had stared down werewolves in her time, the Muri were childs play for her. But then the best one could do when dealing with some one who had been reborn 37 times - and all of them to be a nurse, was to give her exactly what she wanted. And Nurse Luck really didn't want much, just the absolute best care for the younsters - a very reasonable order when you thought about it.

OOC:Whatever do you mean? It's the star of one of Thailand's most popular soap operas, and even doing commercials (http://youtube.com/watch?v=XRFPf0dgfSg) these days.
IC:
The Nursery (http://youtube.com/watch?v=PAHyQgybEE8)
"Have we time?" Gavrak was anxious, as preparations were underway for the arrival of the Jannisary Regiment heading for them. "An, how yu git roun' de markers in yu genes fur age? No wan' de boy dealin' wid withered limb when him old."
Tam sighed. The muri deferred to her and the other nurses much more than their male counterparts, but they were all overprotective and at times hostile in the defense of their charges.

OOC: It's also a variation of a Japanese Vampire sub type. Or I may be misremembering the nationality, it's been ages, but the head and internal organs detactch and that is what flies around hunting for blood, not the entire body...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery

"You fight, keep those brainwashed idiots out of my hospital. I heal. Equitable distribution of energy." Nurse Luck said firmly

"And it's old, old technology. Sound and safe. Why my right foot, which is about to go on your buttocks had to be regrown after an accident." She pointed her chin down at ther foot where a fine whikle line could be seen at about ankle level "We'll use his own cells, reset them as stem cells, then tell them need an arm, left, one each, they grow into arm. We use micro- surgery to reattach and provide physical therapy to catch up to other arm. Or if we can get a psi healer in here we can have them graft it. I'd prefer that way but psi healers not common and not one here in the Court that I'd trust right now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baths...

Indigo stood looking at her image in the mirror. "Are you certain these are what my father sent" Like all Novans, she was as comfortable without clothes as with, but these felt wrong, like she was a prize on display. With a lot of her on display.

The slave nodded again, never lifting her eyes.

Perplexedm but unwilling to disappoint the father that had treated her so well, she pushed her doubts aside and attended to her make up. She wanted to look flawless for him.


Once she was done she ran the brush through her glossy ebon hair one last time, and carefully applied just a touch of perfume. "Lead me back to my Fathers presence" she commanded, though a tiny portion of her screamed. The rest of her didn't, couldn't, hear it, drowned out by the music of the Divine Ones making.

OOC: Wow...that was probably the best commercial I've ever seen...can't stop laughing...:p
IC:
The Guard looked down from his viewpoint into the smoke that rolled over the beast below him. Though the concealing gas he saw a shining, silvery marker on the back of the thing:
Uddo
He recognized the word. It meant "wood." It was like the ancient tales of dragons: Invulnerable to all attacks except for a single unscaled portion somewhere on the body, which striking with a sword or shooting with an arrow would kill the dragon instantly. Except in this case, an element had to be used. But it would take his other three brothers-in-arms to help him summon the way to kill the beast, and to tell them of his plan he had to return to his body.

Straining, the Guard made swimming motions towards his body with no effect. Hovering for a moment, he concentrated on going down, back to his body. The kitsune's consciousness shot down, passing his body and going into the floor, appearing out of the ceiling in the room below. He blinked, or at least his spirit did, and slowly edged back up to rejoin his body and soul once more. Becoming animated, he quickly used his telepathic link to his comrades to inform them of what he had seen and what he planned to do.

The Emperor, now that the demon had stopped moving, was able to get his first good look at it. The thing looked like a head suspended over dangling organs and innards, without legs or arms.
Ah...
These things were said to be demons of women who had been in love, but their love was taken from them, though death or abandonment. What remained of their bodies took on form in the physical world, and they hunted young men as beautiful women, killing and devouring the poor soul once he was in the fiends clutches. It was said the one true way to incapacitate it was a swift, solid strike to the torso.
And here was the perfect chance.
The Emperor sprinted away from the reforming demon, and dove like he was tackling a football player, sword extended to cut apart the torso seperated from the body.

United against the beast, the guards began to chant softly, dodging from pillar to pillar and avoiding the thing even as they did so, soft, almost discernible but just out of hearings reach incantations. After about fifteen seconds they stopped, weaving silently around the hall. There was a great rumble beneath their feet and suddenly the floor on the main path though the pillars was split apart, rubble flying as something extended though it. A massive, redwood-like tree had sprouted from under the Palace, pushing it's way with the inevitable patience of a plant though solid rock and floors and ceilings below and magical protection, even overloading shields and blasting apart any unlucky enough to be caught in it's way. The trunk ended in the pillared room, branches growing off of it around the pillars, several stopping exactly where the four Shadow Ops soldiers were standing. Each broke off a limb of the tree, placing their hands over the breaks and sealing them with sap created from their own fingers, murmuring apologies as the sticks shaped into deadly javelins.

On the trunk facing the beast, which had separated it from the kitsune warriors, a symbol (http://www.basehead.org/files/shots/1-yin_yang.jpg) glowed a soft blue on once before fading to be a mere carving into the wood. At the same time the four soldiers gave around the trunk, two to each side. One on each side held a javelin, his partner a spear. In perfect synchronization they lifted and threw their shafts of sharpened wood with enough force to impale a human, directly at the great shaggy monster.

OOC:the abandoned torso of the penanguran-to give the Japanese name-has been blasted across the room by the Black Guard's grenade-it is not connected to the beast the Emperor fights, but something quite apart, and in a chamber of pillars I need a bit more convincing as to it's (the torso's) accessibility.
This creature is pandemic throughout Asia, NN-although you're probably most familiar with it through D&D's Fiend Folio, it is based on a mythic beast with multiple names-my first encounter was in Seabury Quinn's short story "The Malay Horror", which gave me a leg-up when our DM decided to use one.
While I'm OOC, is the Nursery theme music acceptable?
Oh, and beware the Jackfruit ghost...
IC:
The great beast ignored the fallen Black Guard and raced towards the nearest upright member of it's foes, roaring:"You have the honor of being second kill!"
As it traversed the distance, the Guard began to chant, and it took a spear raised by it's intended target through the whale-like hid of it's chest.
"How could you?" it protested, "I performed the tupas..." and it sagged, bringing sudden weight to the impromptu spears of the Black Guard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery
"Me mean no diz'peck, but de Jann'zareees kommin'-yu haff tiym, or yu do later. Me want zend yu and yung far off wiyl kan be dun."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gerrak scented the air-there were more of these creatures lurking, fell things that had to be handed their deaths in one blow. He was aware of them early on, and their stench was filling his nostrils as he attacked- here one held a blade in any of several limbs forming and reforming out of it's bulk, there one wove subtle patterns, to be disrupted when it's head was severed-on the eighth try. Indigo was gone, possibly dead, and he would seek his vengeance's satiation on the hide of her killer....

OOC: LOL yes it's just what I expect them to be playing and thanks for the name, I couldn't remember it for anything, and yep it had to be fiend folio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Me mean no diz'peck, but de Jann'zareees kommin'-yu haff tiym, or yu do later. Me want zend yu and yung far off wiyl kan be dun."


'Yes I know they're coming Gavrak, and how are you getting us out of here?" Tam said gently "You maybe not know, but Novan's, real Novans don't run...and if we die? We get reborn, and don't worry your son will remember you. You go keep us safe, We'll heal these children and any of your injured" And stretching up on tiptoes, while pulling his head down so she could barely reach it she kissed the Muri on his nose. " and be their defense if it should come to that. We are all Samurai, we all know how to fight, maybe not as good as you, but not half bad either."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere
All over Okuni the temperatures dropped even further, and even the most tropical regions were seeing snowfalls - save of course on the island that comprised the Divine One's Court, and more an more of the population used the jammed communication systems, and odd happenings to take local matters in their own hands. Solving injustices and abuses in rough and ready fashion. They may have turned blind eyes for long, too long, and guilt can be a powerful motivator. Kannon's temples had filled with those seeking shelter and calm, others filled with filled with Novans asking for pennance for their follies...

"Azzrel-ya zay-yu go deep, yu be protekh, mukade komm, tayk yu zayff-no fiyt-yu zoornd'rr-no fiyt, me zzonn mor importan' yu honor." Gavrak's attitude was that of a martinet, but his body language had him barely on his knees."Jan-zrees kommin'-yu no giff liyf, zay we mayk yu zlaayff-no let kill zonn-yu fayl. me zhou wot troll liyk out uv grayv..."
(OOC translation:Asrelia say you go deep, you be protected, mukade come, take you safe. No fight, you surrender-no fight, my son more important (than) your honor. Jannisaries coming, you not give life, say we make you slaves. Don't let them kill my son. If you fail, I will show you what a troll's like out of the grave..)
He thrust the squirming burden into her arms. "Me zon die, yu will pray it, me zurffiffe."
(OOC:translation:If my son dies, you will pray for it, if I survive)
Nurse Tam Luck accepted the child, stone-faced, as if she would offer the child up to it's prior raising. "Mukade are coming?"
"Anodder part of war-de Zer'torzez gon-mukade on way-yu tayk yung to zayf playz"
(OOC translation:Another part of the war-the Servitors are gone, the mulade on their way-you take young to safe place)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elsewhere
It was perhaps impertinent for such a young earth goddess to speak up, but this one did, nonetheleaa:
"This is intolerable! Her command of Earth does not extend so close to the surface!"
The court shifted-it had been long since a protest had been launched, much longer than could be imagined. Only the Emperor could still the outcry...
"She is matron of your sphere, oh best beloved--are you certain?"
The word of the Omikami could be questioned,but not denied.
"I am certain this cannot be-our revered ancestor is acting outside her proper boundaries."
"Then let her be brought here for questioning..."
Suddenly, she was there-a haggard crone, hardly dressed for the Court, but her credentials proceeded her. "You have need of me?"
Her failure to acknowledge the Supreme Seat was acceptable-only barely-for she was an Elder Power.
"You are accused of acting outside your boundaries-an Extreme Offense-would you have chaos enter this Court?"
"Oh, piss off," she replied. laughing as the guards approached with chains`dangling. "You will let the Man have this war, or be forever figments-my Chaos-infested granddaughter is here to testify, and if sworn to honesty, will doubtless fall into a puddle of goo, screaming "What a world, what a world..."
She laughed then, heartedly, for even if she were ordered to nonintervention, the acts were Lodril's, not hers-she would play out the Court for as much time as it took...

The Nursery

Tam started to argue with him, for she flat out wasn't afraid of him, but his intentness touched her deeply. Sighing she cast her mind to the winds seeking the one she had long ago bound her fate with...seeking consultation as to the dictates of mnhei'sahe...

Then she reopened her eyes and frowned at Gavrak "Don't you dare die on me Muri! I've never had to reincarnate one of you. Call me Jar'rael, daughter of Kannon." It was seldom that one of the Lucks gave any one their inner name. Or their luck but this time the Eldest Luck had chosen too.

The other doctors and nurses gathered about her with their charges in hand, waiting for the mukade to come. They were as unhappy as she was but one didn't question a Luck.

The Hugh Planes OF Heaven, the Heavenly Court

The OmiKami nodded benevolently to the Elder Power, acknowledging the crone's words as valid, and waving away - for the moment the guards with their chains. He would be interested in who else spoke up...and what such words might portend.

For had the OmiKami not given godhood where the OmiKami chose, and even now two of the newest of gods were endangered - though facing that danger was the why of their creation

The Throne Room

“Father, do I look more suitable now?” Indigo asked trying to hide her anxiety; she wanted so much to please him. She pirouetted before the Divine One as he sat on his magnificent throne, displaying the outfit (http://www.atddm.com/indigo1a.jpg) that she’d been told he’d chosen for her, Her unbound locks trailed almost to her knees and the perfume she wore was enticing..

Her eyes passed over the pile of weapons and the Paladin armor that had been stripped from her and thrown aside, for her sole focus, all her mind could acknowledge was the Divine One. The gracefull collar about her neck and her time in the Baths made sure of that; just as the chemicals in the perfume worked to make her pliant and receptive to his attentions.

The demon died abruptly when the Emperor slashed the torso, or at least appeared to: He was not sure if that had permanently killed it, or merely immobilized it for a time. The beast reeled from the shafts of wood sticking out of it, falling almost gracefully to the floor. For a moment there was silence, and then the Emperor came around from the other side of the tree, running a hand along it's trunk as he walked towards his guard. "Shall we continue?" he asked, not really to them, but more to the galaxy in general, mocking asking it if it would allow him passage away from this place and that much closer to Jade.

A sphere of blue-white flame arose in their midst, and mocking laughter sounded from it: "A little exercise and we're off to be in the war, are we?" it giggled madly," Come, come-we've other guests and introductions to be made-come."
It soared through the pillars, it's hysterical chortling without humor, but like the paean of a mad hyeana.
"The Force is strong and mad here." one of the Black Guards said, as they picked up their weapons and prepared to follow their Emperor."Damn the Dark Side, anyway."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery
"Den, Jar'rael of de Kwannon Clan, taykezez me zon to zayftee. De lower leffels be zayf, an' de mukade komm dere fur yu. Tayk yung and go!" Gavrak told her. "Me no die if kan help it, but me haff many tu kill."
The babe in Nurse Luck's hands groped with it's single arm toward the shaggy troll, crying. Gavrak placed one giant claw in the child's head. "Liddel poop maschin-me zee yu lader tuday-yu go wid Lay-dee."
Nurse Luck knew something passed between the two, something that calmed the infant, but knew not what. The muri were readying for war, and the civilians and children were being herded into the sub-basements of the complex. Several of the older boys, almost men, were clinging to muri warriors, tearfully begging to stay and kill Jannisarries alongside their uncles.
None were allowed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The High Court of Heaven
"I get enough deference to my age from the muri." Asrelia replied softly, "And they're civil enough to bring me a cushion to sit on."
She tried to keep from laughing as guards stumbled over themselves to fetch her a seat. This was most serious, and the Court was unused to aliens in their midst. Asrelia was the Deep Earth, mother of the Tribe of Earth, and renowned for her wisdom and perspicacity, but she was not Annilla, her knowledge fallible and her mind intact. She would need to testify carefully, to draw in those members of the Court the Divine One would call upon before he did call, or the Court would be drawn into a war against their own worshipers.
"I suppose this trouble starts with the Ascension of the Divine One, but it goes back further than that...."
Long rambling stories are the province of the old, and Asrelia was old as any here...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Divine One turned from his viewing sphere to survey his daughter. "Splendid, my dearest, simply splendid!"
Indigo flushed, bowing her head demurely, eyes upon the viewing sphere, where Gerrak fought fiercely with a horde of warplings. His projectiles spewed a variety of alchemical nastiness on his foes as he leaped and dodged among them.
"Oreichalcheim," the Divine One explained. "How these beasts managed to keep the secret...well, it's the maid's problem now. Polishing that floor will take days."
A kami entered the Hall, limping as it bled from a thousand wounds. With a start, Indigo recognized the kami that had joined battle with Kai, the pair leving to realms beyond where they could fully vent their ire upon each other.
Gracelessly, he fell to his remaining knee, and pressed his battered head to the floor. "Divinity, I have brought Victory to you."
Indigo raised a dainty fist to her mouth and gasped. If this one were alive, it could only mean...
"You're bleeding on My Floor." the Divine One's tone was cold as stone.

Indigo could not take her eyes of the images in the orb...and her voice was hesitant, unsure as something stirred within her, straining against invisible bonds...She half reached out to the hovering sphere "Father?...Father...Can you not help him.." Her voice wavered more, and was barely audible..."He, he was kind to...me, he protected me when ..." Her voice trailed off into baffled silence as she sought to remember

"You're bleeding on My Floor."

It was too much, and her psyche too battered, she fought but the floor tilted beneath her, slick as frictionelss shields, a coldness that pressed in from all sides...

"No" Indigo felt herself swaying, her vision starting to go black around the edges, then strong arms caught her and her father pulled her to him, setteling her safely upon his lap. Allowing her to rest against him as she tried to recover from the shock.

Her cheeks flamed with anger as she forced herself to sit up and look long and hard at the disgusting kami. "Father, this one attacked the protector that you yourself had to have sent me. He was an Imperia Wratih and only you order the Wraiths, and this ...this traitor to your will slew him, He must be punished" She demanded angrily, looking up at the Divine One with imploring eyes...

"Damn the Dark Side, anyway."
"Unfortunately, the Dark Side is just a piece of a larger world," Foxfire Rose muttered as he strode away, though the pillared hall. The mist that had wrapped itself around them so thoroughly before seemed to have lifted somewhat, and they could see several yards before them now. All had long since abandoned or put away their blasters, and the Shadow Ops had their katana's sheathed, but hands on the hilts, ready. The Emperor kept his out, but in a defensive posture to combat whatever horror from beyond the Void decided to leap out next.

The Divine One gently took her hand and applied his lips to the back of it. "Of course, child, of course-it IS the law." He fixed his gaze on the kami who knelt before him. "He IS a traitor, and the law defines the Death of 10,000 Cuts for traitors..."
The Imperial Scribe selected one of many scrolls and unrolled it to begin reading the law-for such was his duty in these cases-when the scroll exploded into scraps of paper that whirled to the Divine One's will, forming a miniature cyclone about the kami, the edges of the scraps leaving fine cuts over him, each piece removing it's due in flesh, whittling the form of the kami down to bones, then dust. The screams of the kami indicated this was not merely physical, but a grinding away at his essence, locked into his form by the Divine One's will...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gerrak had but a few special ammunition spheres left, and he was saving them for the Divine One, instead sending fire bolts into his foes as he scrabbled over them if they were too far off to claw.
He leaped over their heads, avoiding their attacks, though his hide showed signs he was not so successful in this as he'd hoped. As he avoided a spray of acid from the mouth of one whose face he burned away with a flame bolt, he spun, landing with catlike grace on a floor that pivoted, dropping him down a shaft.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indigo screamed, the sound not breaking the Divine One's revelry as he enacted Novan Law, but her sobbing caused him to take his will off the transgressing kami's bloody remnants.
"What is is, My Dear?" his attention went to the viewing sphere. "Oh My-that shaft leads to the kumo dens. Nothing to be done for that-even I may only barter with them, not command them. The beast is dead."
The beast is dead...
The kumo were horrors-goblin spiders strong in magics Man was not meant to know. According to an ancient treaty, they would act as mercenaries for the Divine One so long as their place beneath the Palace was assured and they were fed. Fine cattle and the condemned were tossed to them, for they were meat-eaters and voracious, and even the Divine One had to barter their services. None survived more than scant seconds in their lairs save the Divine One, and even he had to bring meat and such as they would desire above him. The kumo were ancient, powerful, and controlled only by the Treaty, which ceded all in their lairs to them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And I bet you thought I forgot the Emperor...
The Emperor and his Black Guard crept forward. They gave up on the concept this place would bow to the laws of physics long ago-the Novans had somehow stretched the palace into realms Beyond, or toyed with the laws as to create conditions pleasing to the Divine One-the tesseract chamber had doubtless been created as a party amusement, for it was as beautiful as it was confusing.
The warplings dogged them at every turn, lead by a bobbing sphere of emerald flame that shouted instructions as they fell to the blades of the kitsune.
"Good help is so hard to find." it cursed as the last warpling fell. "Well, I would be remiss as a host if I didn't show you all the wonders My Palace has to offer. Come, come-I have such sights to show you...."

Indigo flinched at the terrible death of the Kami began. She hadn't indended that, not really. She had wanted him hurt yes, for despite all the Divine One's efforts it rent her terribly to hear that Kai had fallen.

She turned her head away, seeking something other to help her block the terrible screams. The combat displayed in the orb cause a scream wrenched from her throat to echo, if but faintly, those coming from the kami...

"Oh My-that shaft leads to the kumo dens. Nothing to be done for that-even I may only barter with them, not command them. The beast is dead."


Indigo mastered her sobs ruthlessly she had to , for hse had to convince her father..."Please father, won't you try. He was kind to me, he is my..." The shackles on her mind bore down on her tightening, filling her with pain till she could nearly not think... "Friend...."

Any more coherent speech was lost as she tried to express her next thought and I love him...the overload through her neural systems sent her into a seizure, her back bowing in an muscle tearing arc as collar punished her...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Nursery

When the tunnels opened up within the nursery Nurse Luck effeciently shuttled all the non combatants down them, appointing one to lead and taking rear guard as they went ever deeper into the earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere

"I don't care if it is experimental. I want it prepped and ready for me Now!" Tetsuko thuindered as she looked at the LAM that hunkered there like some great shadow beast awaiting it's chance to strike. It shimmered faintly, slightly out of phase with reality.

"But Lady, it's psi linked, it could take you over."

The new Shogun grinned ferally "I'd like to see it try. NOW!"

OOC: NN, what is a LAM?
IC:
"Well, I would be remiss as a host if I didn't show you all the wonders My Palace has to offer. Come, come-I have such sights to show you...."
"Despite your efforts you have failed in your hospitality, as you have offered us not food nor drink or even bedding," replied the Emperor calmly, "and your servants are most rude. Really, this is all quite substandard for one of my prestige..."
Dozens of corpses of warplings, many appearing to have been decapitated, drawn, quartered and generally mutilated with katana swords. Still others have knives or shurikens, throw with deadly accuracy, sticking out of their heads, necks or chests. No matter what form it took, a good blade properly inserted generally brought it down.

The Divine One watched as Indigo writhed with undisguised lust, her agony stimulating him further. She must be in love, which means...Leaping from his throne, he snatched up her skirt and explored with his other hand. "How could she be resisting so? She is intact, and that brute would not have left her so..." his mind worked furiously. "Well, it's dead now, and soon forgotten, and I may even celebrate My Ascension by fathering the new rulers of O'Kuni upon her."
"Oh, yeah-inbreeding's a real gateway to success." Jade mocked from her place on the altar. "Gonna teach them banjo while they's fetching Daddy his whoopin' stick?"
The Divine One wheeled, snarling. "Toro, shave her tail."
Indigo seemed recovering, so he returned to her. "Dear, dear child-I am most sorry, but the beast has been digested by now-the kumo are most efficient. They inject a venom that reduces the internal organs to a fluid they can lap up. It's very fast-acting, and irreversible. Come, child-compose yourself for Our Guests."

OOC the First - Consider that hand as gone - cause if Gerrak doesn't take it Indigo most assurely will...
OOC the Second; LAM - Land Air Mech
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indigo's seizure ended leaving every muscle aching, with irregular spots pulseing in her vision. Coherent thought was nearly impossible and it was all she could to do nod weakly at the Divine One's solicitous

Come, child-compose yourself for Our Guests."

"Yes..father" She murmured, lost in waves of wretchedness. Slowly the vertigo and nausea receeded leaving her drained and wrapped in a debilitating sorrow.

Indigo did not object as the Divine One gathered her up and placed her once again on his lap. She leaned against his chest, letting herself be comforted by the strong steady beat of his heart.

Music to Stand by... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KcYnEd_-tA)

OmiKami this thing is a monster!Tetsuko's thoughts were shocked, her mind reeling form the sheer power of the mindlink, like none she'd ever known. And who'd ever begun the imprinting of the protomind, her shudder was no mild disgust trembling but a soul deep loathing. ...but they hadn't been Kami, they hadn't been the next best thing to a full god...and she was.

It was time she could ill afford to spend, even if it was but mere minutes, as she slowly but surely gained ascendancy, the new born sentience morphing, changeing, bit by bit it became her, her alterego, a sisterself...being born is always painful.

When it ws done she felt as spent as if she'd run a gauntlet, and every cell in her body ached. But she would whimper in pain later - though she'd already bitten through her lower lip.

About her the remainder of her decimated forces waited, their conventional mechs, reserve mecha intended for the Regiment of the Damned, were piwered up. They were ready to take on the Jannissaries closing in about the Muri forces holding the nursery.

She raised her hand...or did the mech body she now 'wore' as if it were her own flesh and blood, and moved out the others, barely two hundred now, falling in about her.

Really Elsewhere

Robbworth sat up slowly, his hand going to his temple, gently exploring the discolored swelling there "Boss, I think I took a good one." He muttered groggily. He managed to make it to his knees without falling over, something he was very greateful for. He really disliked looking like a clumsy oaf infront of the Lady Captain. Asd his head cleared a little bit and he could look about without the movement of his head spreading vertigo through out he he released that he wasn't in the last place he remembered. More than a little apprehension swelled. "Boss?! Captain?" He called out not liking the formlesss grey mist that surrounded him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Airspace above the Court

"What the ..." Tetsuko's wingman - there had been only three LAM's among the reserve mechs and they had split into pairs but this was something they ahd never seen before...save as mythological beings in a temples creation drama...Faint at first then ever stronger pricklings of fear, spine chilling rasing every hair along the backs of their necks, then their entire bodies. Their eyes fought not to look at what the soothingly normal mechs escorted...

"I don't have the faintest idea" Came her teeth clenched reply "but the mechs with it are common enough. Jazareal, Kumo, Mile take the escorts and the gunship. That would blow the Court it'self to the High Planes of Heaven if it gets within range. Don't let it" She ordered as she banked away from the others, gaining altitude to try and get a better look at what the corrupted Samurai manning the mechs and gunship hovered protectively about.

Really Elsewhere

Robbworth sat up slowly, his hand going to his temple, gently exploring the discolored swelling there "Boss, I think I took a good one." He muttered groggily. He managed to make it to his knees without falling over, something he was very grateful for. He really disliked looking like a clumsy oaf in front of the Lady Captain. As his head cleared a little bit and he could look about without the movement of his head spreading vertigo through out he he released that he wasn't in the last place he remembered. More than a little apprehension swelled. "Boss?! Captain?" He called out not liking the formless gray mist that surrounded him.
Figures and shapes grew slowly distinct-a knee-high mist swirled about, but up ahead he could see a tabletop set for two bearing a traditional meal-rice, sushi, tea, and a serving bowl of hot and sour soup.
"Please-eat, drink, and leave a bit of the joy you have brought." Robbworth spun at the ready, to see a massive figure in the robes of a daimyo, it's horselike skull bearing a carnivore's fangs and scars of a fire long ago-flakes of scab tissue fell like petals as it spoke.
"Do I know you?"
"You will." the figure removed it's scabbarded sword and placed it, sheathed, on a stand Robbworth knew hadn't been there before. "We're going to get to know each other rather well.
"But please-" It gestured at the tabletop. "Let us refresh ourselves, and I'll call up the doings on O'Kuni. We can chat as we watch..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery
The muri sealed the sub-basement. The mukade would come in from a wall, but the Janissaries would try to blast in, to find the warriors waiting.
The fields had been carefully mined, and the muri had dug pits they filled with carrion beetles or their ceramic-heating chemical. Great catapults were cunningly disguised and loaded, ready to fire when triggered. Gorlak was somewhat upset he didn't have crew enough to maintain, protect, and reload all of the devices-raining chemical death down on the enemy always lightened a dull afternoon, but only those catapults within the compound would be good for more than one volley-the rest were diversions.
--We've a handful of salamander nests scattered through their approach, Sir!-- his second saluted smartly, to receive a cuff on the side of the head.
--Tell the nice snipers who our officers are, dumbass!--he snarled--Hope these Janissary guys come in that way--
--They will, Sir--the second saluted a hated rival for the benefit of any snipers--We've closed off several other roads, and storms are cutting down on fliers. Chaos sure can be cooperative.--
--Well, let's gear up and prepare--Gorlak grunted--Lots of guests coming, and I want party favors for all.--

Music to kill by... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlRfPQP4uhA)

In the skies above...

Tetsuko had lost sight of the other LAM's but it didn't matter, all that mattered was the swirling, viscious combat she was engaged in. The experimental LAM was grotesquely over powered, bloated with weapondry and yet the Shogun was growing more and more certain that it wasn't enough.

Oh, she'd hurt the creature, slowed it and harried it to it's most vocal frustration, but nothing significant. And she'd taken some hurt in the process, but it was nothing that seemingly would stop the Mech or even hinder it severly.

She flipped the mech into a tight belly roll, darting away from a lightening quick slash of something her mind saw as razor edged claws and her own 'katana ' of energy darted in in an even quicker reposte, as a leg lanced out impacting the creature's knee.. Though part of her knew that it wasn't a knee but merely a construct of her mind.

Though as she dide so a beam of ravenout green energy seared for the froma a balled fist and struck her hard in the chest, tossing the LAM back as if it were lighter than a feather...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let us refresh ourselves, and I'll call up the doings on O'Kuni. We can chat as we watch..."

Robbs looked around uneasily, something was terribly wrong but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Where's the Lady Captain. I should be... I should be with her. It's not over yet."

The food, the pain that still jangled though his head, the vast weariness...was so tempting though, may be just... He shook that off. He was Samurai and duty, duty called to him, his chosen mountain.

"Please I have promises to keep" He didn't know why he spoke of such private things...

"Tetsuko?" the creature tilted it's head oddly."Oh, the new Shogun! Let's see..."
He gestured, causing a gout of flame to rise up, it's flickering illuminating the Lady in her sky battle. "Ah, yes! Seems we've gotten in at the good point, Lord Robbworth-this fight will be most amusing. I appreciate your promises, dear boy, but I'm afraid my feather trumps your mountain. Now, have some soup to calm your nerves, and we'll watch your Captain. If you're polite and well-mannered, I may even let you help her-a bit, but not too much. This is a clandestine operation."
The figure knelt at the table and served Robbworth and itself. "You won't mind if I monitor a few other things, will you? The Blue Moon has performed most admirably-but distraction, sabotage, and alogoi are their specialties, after all. Sadly, their obsession with secrecy makes them hold back a bit too much-an operation's flawed if they are suspected of activity, at least to them.
"Fortunately, my people have undertaken a few extracurricular patrols in key areas. You and I have a common interest in this affair, Lord Robbworth, and you may serve your Captain best, now, by aiding me in coordinating efforts. Try a bit of the crab-fished it out of Big Skyfall myself, and I think it's from your world."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asrelia's tale kept the rapt attention of the Omikami. Here, in this timeless place, a tale of three thousand years could be told in the blink of an eye, but Asrelia was too wise to tell all-just enough to pique the Omikami's interest, and drive him to question his own people as to the accuracy of her accusations. She did not truly know, after all, but the secrets of the Deep Earth were hers, and she could guess. The caverns of O'Kuni held nothing from her, and they spoke in volumes if one knew how to listen.
In the Castle of Lead, she would have simply enacted her justice on the erring granddaughter, but this was not the Castle of Lead. She had to prove her case and trust the Omikami's justice. Fortunately, the nymphs of the Divine One's island bore her out, and she seemed to have guessed right based on the corroborations she was receiving from the dragons of the waters surrounding the isle.
She sat silently and listened, waiting anxiously as the Omikami summoned others to testify-exactly the ones she wanted, those who'd received sacrifices in the Old Rites from the Divine One and most likely to aid him, her granddaughter included, spirit of the island itself. If that one perjures herself, the Omikami's justice will be superfluous, she swore, eyes narrowing. The Earth may lie to others, but she would know, and knowing would act...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jannisaries mobilized slowly, transmissions forcing them to rely on flags and smoke to coordinate, further complicated by continual ambushes and insults in semaphore leading them to horribly mutilated corpses of their fellows in arms.
Reinforcements from the mainland were not coming, that much became obvious, as the mainland burned and the Tunnel had been collapsed, but scouts reported the oni had fallen back to the Nursery, collecting to face their deaths as a group. It made no sense, but the beasts lurked in small numbers, using pinprick raids to harry their gathering.
That was over now-the Jannisaries were ready, and began to move, rolling implacably towards the Nursery where their foes now hid. The Commander smiled without humor-his foes would be herded to their hiding place, then the Time of Vengeance would be the Jannisaries' balm to their injured pride...

Robbs was young but he kew what the being ment. He closed his eyes for a long second, sorrowing for the life he'd left behind, for the loves he's not hold again.

I am sorry my beloveds. Grieve for a bit if you must, then find happiness, don't tie yourself to the dead. I love you both and always will. He didn't know if the message would reach them, he could only hope.

Try a bit of the crab-fished it out of Big Skyfall myself, and I think it's from your world."

Robb knelt across from his host and looked at the dish, though he now wasn't very hungry.. "It looks like it sir." He said politely "Our crabs are a major luxury export." He took a small serving and slowly ate it, distracting himself from thoughts of the twins who had been his betrotheds by watching the aerial combat.

"I've never seen that style mech before. It's a lot more agile that one would think though" He observed as Lady Tetsuko whipped the LAM aside, barely avoiding a sever clawing by her opponets energy weapons.

"But I ..what is she fighting. My eyes keep seeing things that don't make sense" he frowned. "First I see claws and then it looks like..." He was at a lost for words and looked at his host with puzzeled eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tetsuko hissed in pain as her opponet scored hard against her, her shields failing locally and she felt the LAMs damage as an injury to herself. She dodn't know how much more the two fo them could take. The experimental mech was well made and against anything other - than the whatever from Chaos she was fighting - would have prevailed by now. She danced aside, slipping over and behind the creature to score at it's back - but could have howeld in frustration herself as her weapons seemed to have little effect...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One came without needing to be summoned. A vertiable storm flowered into being then coallesed into an image of a human with massive injuries.

"Damn it you make one of ours a god and birthed another then keep both from the true essences and abilites they should have. Those that all others here have ...and you send them down to stop Chaos in iit's tracks and expect them to succeed?"

Kai was a very unhappy deity at the moment, and while he seldom was at odds with the OmiKami, he also believed that the High Planes of Heaven had withdrawn too far. He had defeated his turncoat brother but knew that without the Omikami's judgement that such a defeat was only temporary.

He bowed deeply to Asrelia and waited for the Omikami to come to his senses.

Pursing her lips, Asrelia pulled a gourd from her skirts and pressed it into Kai's hand with a gentle chiding,"Didn't Torg make you a fine suit of armor for these occasions? Even an arrow-catcher, too, if I recall correctly. I should take you there straightaway by the ear and let him admonish you personally-and don't think I can't counter all your wiles long enough for Torg's chastisement, boy." She used "boy" in the trollish sense, and Kai winced shamefully. "Now, drink up-as much as I appreciate your flair for the dramatic, this is neither the Time nor Place-though this is neither Time nor Place."
She turned then to the Omikami, and kowtowed, her withered forehead dipping in a puddle of Kai's blood. "Forgive me, Most Exalted, but my nature is healer as well as keeper of secrets and Mother of the Tribe of Earth, and this one's pain has touched me.
"My own granddaughter has partaken in the Old Rites-the blood offered up by the Divine One is still on her lips, and she has warped the trees and gardens of the Divine One to his liking for this consideration."
Asrelia rose then, this scene a figure of popular art, the blood of War dripping down her face, her form taut with the need for justice as she petitioned:"The Divine One has made a mockery of this Court, and must be severed from it, and my granddaughter must pay for her participation. I beg you, Most Exalted, to show the wisdom for which you are renowned."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Raging Hell...
"That mech is new-an experimental prototype, I think. My nephew Gadblad could explain it better than I." the burnt figure observed. "She is taking quite a risk-if it burns out, she's ruined her entire nervous system, dragon or not. I think her foe is a shoggoth, though I've never seen one that size-of course, a lot of it's mass is spread out into this cloud form it wears, so it may actually be a bit smaller-about the size of a locomotive in solid form. Try not to make out too many details-they change too much to worry about, anyway.
"Now, because you've been such a well-behaved little man, I shall permit you to aid your Captain. Draw forth my sword-bear in mind, it has been with me since before Time, and I expect full manners from you regarding it. You are samurai, and you will show me what that means, NOW.
"I will not permit your Captain's death-it is well within my power. You will show me the proper etiquette of the sword-for no sword is so revered as mine-and I shall permit you to aid her. She shall not prevail without your aid, and she shall never know of your assistance, but during this test, you will show me proper actions and proper respect, or my gifts are denied you.
"Please, show me your mettle..." the figure gestured at the sheathed sword on it's well-tended rack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery (http://youtube.com/watch?v=PAHyQgybEE8)
The Janissaries were wroth with vengeance. Traversing the distance to the Nursery had taken it's toll-half their number lost to traps and sudden assaults, with the muri blending into the shadows as swiftly as they appeared.
It was nerve-wracking, the sudden darkness heralding a volley of liquid death then the darkness would lift, revealing the damage wrought in a moment's time, the Janissaries often firing upon phantasms wrung from their nightmares as they were cut down.
"This is no clean way-they're carving us up bit by bit." a lieutenant complained. "Why won't they just stand and fight?"
"Attrition warfare-no war can last long enough for the defeated nor be ended swiftly enough for the victors." The Commander snarled. "These tactics have whittled down our forces, but we still have a 4:1 advantage in numbers. They want this war ended here, at the Divine One's training center. They've foolishly interrupted their own propaganda to request aid. This softness has given us an underbelly at which to strike, and I will gut them all and lay their hearts at the Divine One's table."
"Provided this isn't a trap, and just where they want us..." the lieutenant was cut off by shrapnel tearing apart his brainpan.
"It is a mistake on their part." The Commander announced clearly, sheathing his smoking firearm. "They have been so careful, so cautious-they've hidden, used traps and guerrilla tactics to tie up reinforcements. Even brought the Tunnel down on those foolish enough to use it. But THIS-they did not intend for us to know of this, and here is their last stand. We will destroy them and scatter their ashes on the wind...."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Caverns
"It's getting colder." One elder huddled in the panda hide so recently made. "We're going to freeze to death for following the oni."
The matriarch glared at him. "I see you wear the furs he brought. He has taught us to harvest the fungus in the lower caves, and these caverns are kept warm by his work. There is food and warmth, and he goes forth daily to bring more."
"Bah! He gives the choicest morsels to that child of his, and while he brings meat, he denies us that, and brings more mouths to feed each day."
"How does that make him different from any of us?" the Matriarch demanded. "We all slip that child little treats, and we are not her father, as he is. He is wise-smoking the meat for preservation, and rationing it out to accept the greater numbers. I've seen him eating rocks to clear more space-don't think he's had meat since revealing himself to us."
"Oh, he's had his fill of meat." the observation came from one of the bushi as had entered the camp of the troops. "Gobbled them soldiers up like candy at the Moon Festival. Probably fattening us up for when the cold gets real bad."
"He has not raised so much as a claw to any of us." the Matriarch asserted.
"He feeds our grain to animals!"
"He said he would from the onset." the Matriarch was growing annoyed. "Look outside-hell, he offers to take any who desire on his hunting trips. The plants are dying, the animals too-his actions are keeping us in meat, he has taught us to harvest fungi-and you begrudge him the grain that keeps our food intact?"
The oldster crossed his arms, obstinately. "Just wait-when they's no meat outside, he'll be hunting inside, if you know what I mean."
All did, and shuddered at the prospect...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come, come-I have such sights to show you..."
"Why are we following this thing? It's lead us into trap and ambush after trap and ambush..."
"This whole place is trap and ambush-a labyrinth of horror."
Firefox knew his men were right, but Lord Morga had told him the Enemy was on a timetable, albeit one the muri could not fathom. He checked the files Morga had prepared, wondering briefly why he would trust the alien. He needed to talk to his men, shore up their discipline. This madhouse was even getting to him, but on one of Morga's timetables, the stars were approaching prime, and he needed to be with Jade before then....

Torg had indeed made him a fine suite of armor - in fact Kai was rather certain that it had been instrumental in keeping him alove. His brother hadn't been fighting for subdual, but for an out and out kill. He'd liked that suit of armor and was indeed a little shamed that he hadn't managed to retain it. He'd have to beg Torg for a second, and endure the chastisement the Muri would place upon him. But he was alive to take that...

The Divine One has made a mockery of this Court, and must be severed from it, and my granddaughter must pay for her participation. I beg you, Most Exalted, to show the wisdom for which you are renowned
He waited at Asrelia's side, his wounds healed, and he was thankful that she was there. None of the High Court could prod the OmiKami to action as an ousider could.

The Omikami, deliberated, face thoughtfully serene and slowly he looked at the errant one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shall not prevail without your aid, and she shall never know of your assistance, but during this test, you will show me proper actions and proper respect, or my gifts are denied you. "Please, show me your mettle..."

Robbs bowed deeply as he knelt. "Yes Lord Zorak" and he laughed "You didn't think I'd recognise you? My Lady Captain is thorough, and as I was her personal aide so it behooved me to be also." Robbsworth might have been the cutest thing on several planest but he hadn't been chosen for his looks. He had been at near the top of his class and had our paced officers twice his age and training.

"But one should never forget that a duty, a gift or aid must never be given with thought of it being known, much less rewarded. Doing what is right is reward enough." He commented softly as he stood and once again bowed ti the Muri god. He found himself in kamisho dress, in fact in the same formal outfit that he had worn on the most joyous day of his life, the deay when he'd been formally betrothed to Liah and Charra.

He storde over to the rack that held the blade and bowed to it with utmost respect. Then, with reverent hands he grasped the sheath firmly but lightly and lifted it free of the sword rack. Robbs pivoted to face Zorak Zorani once again. His eyes took in the scabard and the hilt, and with care he drew an inch. Giving a soft sound of appreciation he looked up, meeting the god's eyes for just a second before dropping them back to the blade. "It is exquisite my lord and I can tell that it balances itself for whomever wieldes it." His voice was reverent.

He was samurai and he trusted the one he had given his mnhei'sahe and thus paid no attention to the battle. His captain would fight her fight. She was kinsai, and all that it meant.

He concentrated on the moment, nothing more, nothing less...

Zorak Zoran kept an eye on Robbworth-the boy had potential, and focus. "Yes, Lord Robbworth-that blade is the very definition of balance. It is what it's weilder requires for it's own purposes. Rather like the Muramasa blades, it has a reputation for destruction. Please, study it further..."
His gaze shifted subtly to the Lady Tetsuko, and he saw with a god's sight her nueroconnection on the right shoulder was about to cost her use of her arm-with a thought, it fizzled and flared bright before dying. "Ooh-looks like the Lady is in trouble..." he observed casually, his real focus on Robbworth and his task...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Divine One watched the kitsune-his beacon was guiding them, but they were far too cautious. Perhaps something to herd them faster was in order...
"Father, why have you done all this?" Indigo was quite demure, her eyes red but her manner sublime.
"My dear, sweet girl...the Cycle of Ages awaits none, and the Sixth Age-the Darkness when the Demon Emperor ascends to the seat of the Omikami-is upon us.
"If we are to survive, if we are to ride the cycle, we must influence this Ascension-the Demon Emperor must be one of our choosing, and his hand in the hand of the Divine One shall guide O'Kuni to it's dominance, that more shall survive as the Ages wind down.
"That is why I am here-that is why you are here-that is why here exists." He kept his gaze on the globe, watching the kitsune inch ever closer. "With this sacrifice, I shall rise to the Celestial Throne, and with you, my child and heir, as Empress, we shall preserve our people and our culture when all else goes down in flames.
"You and I shall work together, save our people, and even these cherished pets of yours will survive, albeit in an altered form to better suit our society..."

I just lost the entire blinking post, but in doing so I happend to find this, so maybe an unanswered prayer...What can I say... (http://www.imeem.com/angusmcghee/music/eG1e_TzT/garth_brooks_ireland/)

The High Planes of Heaven, the assembled Celestial Court...

The OmiKami turned celestial eyes from the pale and shaking daughter, her guilt obvious to all assembled - to obvserve what was occassioning below. Eyes were as the stars in heaven, sun, moon and all in between...Remembering that O'kuni herself had once been actively among them, a live and laughing...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Please, study it further..."

Robb's lips curved in a peaceful smile, letting his ki wash forth and interact with the blade as he drew it out just a little further "I can sense profound change, but a reputation for destruction? A misguided reputation, I feel, but many...many are afraid of death.."

Though he had other guesses to make...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" as Empress, we shall preserve our people and our culture when all else goes down in flames. "You and I shall work together, save our people, and even these cherished pets of yours will survive, albeit in an altered form to better suit our society..."

The Divine One had no idea that he had just made a lethal mistake. Though at first Indigo didn't either as something inside her yawned, stretched and woke.

She'd hidden it deep within her, burried under layers so that none, not even herself, remembered it. And now the layers vanishedwith nary an outward indication...and the anger that had been buidling, also ingored, undealt with, coiled and roused.

Her eyes downcast, face preternaturally placid, her voice gentle as without thought Indigo stood. The various possessions that had been stripped from Indigo's unconscious body had been tossed forgotten and ignored to the side of the Divine Ones throne.

The collar had no warning, it would get none, as it shivered into dust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tetsuko sanrled at hersself as her arm locked up, weakness wasn't an option...or oh yes it was... She still had no idea of exactly what it was she was fighting, she'd never faced anything like it. But ..as she began setting up a flurry of disturbing attacks and parries that laid out every weakeness .., of hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they screamed their battle cry

"Nova!"

And the stolen mechs fell upon the massing Jannissaries from behind. They weren't even a tithe of the remaining Janassaries but they were somthing that the troops they faced weren'tm and would never have been born as no matter how many times they had been reborn.

They were samurai and even in unfamiliar mechs their first strike was devestating. Fate may have sentenced them to die, but they were Novan, they would be reborn.

Time was running out.
The Emperor stopped in the eternal hall, the tree and corpses of the dead behind them lost in the mist, his guard halting behind him. "My fellows, comrades," murmured the Emperor, turning only his head to face them, "what I and you have faced here has not been seen since the Advent before the Ascent and the Lost Voyage. Together we have fought horrors from the darkest pits of Reality, and then those from the consuming Warp.
These are terrible things.
But have we not fought before? Demons or soldiers, chaos or oppression, the truely evil and the merely dark, how different are they? We fight, not just for freedom, or even for the state or the people any longer. We are fighting for our right to exist, fighting to keep the things not of this universe out of this universe. Remember this: My loyalty lies with the Light, and so does yours. There are many things life teaches us, but among them are that again and again, evil will fall. So come with me, and war a little longer."
It was not, as it were, a great speech. Darkness and Light were relative terms, at best. But the Emperor, at heart, was a soldier, not a politican. What he said was that he was here, with them, and they would get out of this. One way or another, they would survive. One way or another, the kitsune, and ultimatly Light, would win.

OOC:Merely Dark? (http://youtube.com/watch?v=w2srH553fcw)
IC:The Divine One glared at the viewing globe, watching the Emperor Firefox Rose rallying his men. "Insufferable-undoing my subtle sendings to unravel their nerves. Well, the time is nigh, and high times our guests joined us...the Patron will want some hors d'oevres to whet His appetite, and perhaps the battle will please him, and lend some excitement to an otherwise dreary afternoon.
"Time to reel in the fish..."
He willed, and his globe mockingly tormented the kitsune, leading them to the place of sacrifice...

OOC: A gay Captain Morgan?
IC:
The Emperor followed the globe calmly with his guard, sword out in front of him, until he suddenly knew where Jade was. It stretched out, beyond the concealment of Chaos, though the medium of their merged souls as one called out, the other responded. Such was represented in the rose garden far away at the Palace. With a single blow the Emperor smote the orb and began to walk faster, breaking into a run. Mystified, his guard followed their sprinting Lord.

Throne Room...
There was an almighty crash as the doors to the hall were blown off their hinges, flaring brightly in the air before disintegrating into only so much ash and fire. The walls around them cracked and a bit of dust plumed from them as the Emperor strode across the entranceway, sword pointed directly at the Divine One. Without even seeming to look he noted Indigo, Toro, the warplings, assembled servants and, of course, Jade. While his eyes stayed fixed on the Novan Ruler, his sword switched to point at the High Priest.
On the altar Jade grinned even though the pain at the sight of her mate.

"Now," The Emperor announced to the room in general, looking to Toro fully now. "There are two divergent paths we can take: The easy way, and the hard way. If you chose the easy way, you can surrender peacefully, and I will break all of your fingers and toes, then throw you though a wall, then I will gorge out your eyes and break your back before impaling you on a spike. Keeping you alive, I will rip off your testicles and make you eat them before burning you alive. I will then put the ashes out by pissing on them, then grind them into a fine powder for fertilizer for my garden. That's the easy way. Or, you can take the hard way. Your choice."
He looked briefly from the High Priest to the Divine One, wondering how in all the Forgotten Realms he could possibly fight them both at once, even with his guard...

OOC:It's odd how that phrase "gay Captain Morgan" draws the attention of the Young Races. I assume it means color-coordinated with a matching feather boa.
IC:
"Nothing worthwhile is easy, Firefox Rose." the Divine One hissed, his voice filling the room. "We who bear the mantle of Emperor know this all too well. Toro, begin the flaying-warplings, attack."
The minions of the Divine One oozed out of cracks in the floor, seeped from leaks in the ceiling, their bodies forming and dissolving random organs and limbs that clutched at their chosen prey.
They slopped forward with the swiftness of pouring liquid, hunger in their every fluid move...

OOC: He's probably just fabulous...
IC:
"Great Qonn, can we stop with the bloody flying monkeys already?" asked the Emperor, slashing forward and creating a swath of warplings flash-frozen by his strike. His guards deployed their own magics, burning fire and freezing ice and sizzling electricty and plants that grew out of the very stones and wrapped themselves around the bodies of warplings even as they tried to dissolve to get away, enclosing them almost lovingly into a green, life taking snare. Jade lifted her head from the altar to give a sharp-toothed grin at Toro. "Soon..." she growled.

"Soon enough" Toro replied, holding his gleaming razor. "I believe I shall start at your hands-they're difficult, and I usually prefer to wait until death for them, but the Divine One has ordered you must live through this."
He began to cut, his sharp blade barely registering as pain as he cut. "When the Amatory Mass begins, I fully intend those parts of you most involved be at their tenderest..."
(OOC: I hope you don't mind, but I'm assuming the scars the Empress displays in "Brother vs. Brother" are from her flaying-if this is not the case, TG me and I'll edit the post)
The Warplings surged forth almost as a single wave, and the Divine One turned t his servants, "I think I should like some of that Velunian Fireamber for this-it's thrill on My Palate shall go nicely with these events. And some of that delightful Pamaltelan shrimp dipped in chocolate-I could go for some salty chocolate goodness right now. Would you like anything, daughter?"
The servant bowed, and headed out-if Indigo required anything, a second servant would be dispatched...

Flesh rent beneath the lethal claws that scored across her back as Tetsuko stumbled past the being, her response so weak that it failed to parry…
Robbs looked at the glorious blade once more and back at Zorak Zorani, and still in that same gentle voice spoke further. “My Lord I don’t think that you know of one of our most…enduring …rituals, one that the Divine One has known to not even try to disrupt. It is a ritual of our people that is as old as our very existence, from our birth at the beginning of Time. One that has never changed, never faltered.. Few think on what makes a ‘samurai’ – Ashai’a’gard.” He used the old, old Novan word the root language concept “We …chose … from the moments of the coming into being, our creation, to defend, to serve and protect our people – even from themselves if necessary. No chance of birth, no training, attainment of rank or honor can make a samurai, only that …choice… made, that vow taken at creation can do so. We come back again and again because of that..”

Robbs could feel every weariness, every wound of the Lady’s – and every wound of every still living samurai whom had given their selves to her - as if they were his own. And he did as she did, they did … moved past them, through them, accepted them, and did not allow them to affect them…

“Those looking in from the outside mostly don’t understand. They see only facets of the jewel and think it the whole.” He continued the joy in his face transcendent. “They say we say that ‘we are born dead’ and nothing could be further from the truth.”

Tetsuko lost her footing and the massive body she wore slammed in to unyielding ground, shaking the breath from her as ribs gave and some of her hearing vanished as external sensors shattered…
“We are born alive,” And his voice was a paean of joy as he remembered his birth and those hallowed hours “and all our ancestors - those living and those waiting to be reborn gather around us, protect us, comfort us and strengthen us until the First Ceremony” It had no name other than that, it needed none. A new born samurai was presented to the Elements and then the sacred space, the place that held their death was given to them. One Day of Life then the folded square of white Light , transforming Light…with the final matters unrevealed until the Mandate…

“Death truly is lighter than a feather; we do not run from it or to it, do not hide from it. Or seek it. How can we? It lives with us, but not death an end, finality, but a door we go though to return again. Just as Life is -both sacred and profane, necessary the Circle coming round again”

His tranquil gaze remained on Zorak “Though I think we’ve gotten a little to comfortable about living with death. And maybe forgetting that loyalty does not necessarily imply obedience.” He sheathed the blade gently and placed it back on the rack, bowing deeply to the sword once again. Then he moved back to where Zorak stood, and bowed deeply to the Muri God.. “Sire, I think you could have done better than I perhaps. I offer you my undivided loyalty, though I can no more promise you obedience than I could promise Her. Kai guessed you’d be calling and he gave a rather blanket permission” The least understood of aspect of mnhei'sahe, that loyalty could just as much encompass disobedience as obedience.

The massively armored mech went to it’s knees, foul smelling smoke pouring from the damaged scramjet engines, it’s face plate shattered and dark, one arms naught but a shredded ruin.
"You have lifted the feather," Zorak Zoran replied calmly. "Now it is time to shoulder the mountain. You say these things, but are they truth? I bear the scars yet from attempting to devour the Sun, for when I saw it I saw the massacre at Hanroo Fields, the Great Exodus, all the ills that would strike my people because of that nascent power. When Orlanth's servant Humakt stole that weapon from the chambers of Dehore, I followed, and took up the abandoned weapon to master it, for I knew it would be needed, and belonged to the Darkness. When I struck down Flamal, I did so for my people, not just my children. For these things, I am reckoned mad, a berserk rampaging force, a thoughtless mass of wrath and hate. You say you live with Death-I say it touches you lightly and but once, but now it is Death you wield, and while you may wield it wisely, your people will not thank you for it-now strike, and save your Captain."

Rob spun, lighter than a feather and strteched forth his hand. The rack that held the blade was fully a dozen paces from him but the unsheathed blade was in his hand at his desire.

Tetsuko was still on her knees, the hide of the mech fused by the terrible enegries that had washed over it. Smoking, sprks flying from rutpured junctions, fully three quarters of its systems melted and and inoperable. And her opponent had not time to wonder why she was grinning as his beheading stroke bore down upon his fallen foe.

Death slid between one reality and the next diving inextolerably down upong its chosen prey.

And the mech surged upwards, thrusting itself gracelessly inside the onrushing blow

and two blades, one of purest solar light, the other of aphotic nothingness struck one after the other, milliseconds apart.

And the Shuggoth had no chance, none and it was destroyed.

Would you like anything, daughter?"

Her reply was soft, and gentle, in dulcet tones that held no warning..

"Naught save..." As her Honor blade appeared in her hand and in all but the same instant it drew a single crimson drop of bloof from his neck. The tip just scoring the skin. "Your death."

"You see father" Her tone was cold and the word an insult "Every one keeps forgetting one very important thing." Her eyes flashed, then for a heart beat soft silvery white light illuminated her from within. As the Moon's bare feet rose from the floor, her ebon hair flowing outward to halo about her as if it had a life of its own, lifted by in an unseen, unfelt wind "No one has thought to ask what I want."

"I just did!" the Divine One protested, clapping a hand over his injury. "And if you go about stabbing people in the neck just because they ask you what you want, small wonder no one does!"
He examined the blood on his hand, then hurled it at Indigo. The blood expanded into a net, winding about her frail form before constricting tightly about her. "I blame myself, treacherous one. I really should have bought you that pony when you were younger. I bet Karamaneh never stabbed her father in the throat."
He watched gleefully as his blood trapped her, threatening to suffocate her. "Where is that Velunian Fireamber? I'm quite parched, and now I have to see if My Neck leaks..."

"I'm afraid your staff is not quite up to par on your drink order," the Emperor nodded to the servant the Divine One had dispatched for the amber, who had strayed too close to the combat and received a shuriken in the neck for his carelessness. A tray was lying next to him with a shattered bottle, liquid mixing with the various fluids of the dead. Warpling bodies made a oozing carpet on the floor of the Throne Room, and even as they threw themselves forward again and again they fell to the swords of Foxfire Rose and his guard. The Emperor sighed as he decapitated yet another of the impish demons.
Jade grinned as her hands were mutilated under the knife, watching blood fall in droplets to the floor. "For every drop that spills from my body you will pay a thousand years," she rasped.

"That's terribly rude." the Divine One observed sadly. "That bottle was worth more than his pension will cover-I hope he had family to work it off."
He turned to the other servants, snarling,"I'm still thirsty, you know."
They scurried swiftly, avoiding the combat.
"I believe that particular incivility, especially coming from a fellow Emperor, must be addressed." The Divine One rose, and gestured. More warplings oozed towards the five kitsune. "I shall bind you, little fox, and let you watch as I claim your men, body and soul, then your bride. You shall witness the full violation of those who serve you before your own demise-this I decree. When you die, it shall be with full knowledge your people will be rendered beasts, fit only for service to Mine."
Across the Room
"For every drop that spills from my body you will pay a thousand years," she rasped.
"I'll start a tab." Toro bent to his work, cutting artfully along the arm and peeling the skin back.

"I shall bind you, little fox, and let you watch as I claim your men, body and soul, then your bride. You shall witness the full violation of those who serve you before your own demise-this I decree. When you die, it shall be with full knowledge your people will be rendered beasts, fit only for service to Mine."
The Emperor laughed out loud. "Others have tried before, and failed. What makes you think you can possibly be anymore successful than they?" More warplings died in flashs of elemental energy under Foxfire Rose's blade. "I am not even tired yet. Surely you can do better than this? Or are you saving it all? Ah, yes, of course. For some reason men, and I use the term in the loosest manner possible, seem to enjoy spectacule and dramatics. I apologize, but I find most theatre terribly boring." Even as he spoke me moved, not twards the Divine One, but to the altar where the High Priest cut away at Jade, destroying Warplings every step. His Guard held back and formed a half circle, a barrier for the surges of warplings to be crushed upon like waves to upraised rocks.

As Firefox and his men grouped to cross to the altar, the Divine One reached out, his hand unfolding like a flower. Waves of Dark Force rippled-purest rage and hate, the essence of the Dark Side, coupled with bouquet de malades-the distinctive scent of insanity.
The nearest Black Guard shuddered, his armor liquifying and pouring off him in rivulets as his body shook uncontrollably. The Guard fell to all fours, his muscles rippling and expanding as he assumed a quadrupedal stance, becoming a slavering vulpine brute.
The Divine One smiled. "It's not that difficult, dear Firefox-free will? Just another technical difficulty to be overcome. Once My Ascension is complete, that awaits all your people-revel in it, dear boy, for it shall be the last sentient thought of a kitsune!"
The slobbering beast turned on it's nearest fellow, jaws snapping...

Indigo writhed, fighting silently, not wasting any energy on trying to speak or respond to the Enemy’s doings. The virulent blood net drew ever tighter about her, burning against her tender flesh. Burning away the flimsy silken garments tied tautly about her, breast and loins. In a moment the pain was burrowing past her skin, overwhelming her. Indigo’s struggles were futile, as captive within the web the blood branded her, the burns fearsome, fatal wounds.

Then her bones burned, leaving her a cut string puppet, boneless, falling forward at the waist. Sweat soaked, matted hair snaked across her vision, hiding her face and the body left bare by the Divine One's venom. Hanging there, Indigo could barely manage shallow panting breaths that did not bring any respite to the agony. Trying to absorb the pain, and failing her body twitched and shivered. Her thoughts too writhed in torment, unwilling to accept the failure but finding no weapon to wield. Burning, the unnatural fire rippled through her, jangling across her consciousness and seeking to weave searing tendrils deep into her soul.

There, in that solitude, Indigo had no idea of how long she fought, and lost, until there was nothing left save a totality of pain, manifesting in every conceivable form. [i]But pain is and of itself nothing, pain is only what we let it be, what we allow it to be over us...[/u] And with that a great whoopping breath shuddered though her and her spine bowed as her body flexed in agony one last time the pain roared in triumph, surging to fill every fallen part of her but then it was through her and on past her out into nothingness. And in that void Indigo let the mantle of humanity fall away. She had nothing left to lose...

As she floated, her thick mane of hair blown by celestial wind, power grew; a lunar luminescence filled her and spilled forth.

“No you did not ask. You, all of you, just assumed I’d play my part. And you don’t have any idea of what or who I am.” Her voice was calm; his power unable to touch her as she forced open the gates between her and what she was, taking upon herself what she had been created to be…and that wasn’t the Doorstop of Heaven, but something much different…

The net exploded away from, out of her, raining down to puddle viscously on the immaculate flooring and once again the Divine One was forced to turn his attention to her, or lose his head.

And Very Much Elsewhere….

The OmiKami looked at Yama, who was sometimes known as Amida, or simply Kai… and smiled…

“They have to believe it of themselves…”

The Emperor's blade came down swiftly onto the head of the animalized Black Guard, and the kitsune fell. Blood expanded from a wound, matting his hair, but Foxfire Rose had struck with the flat of his blade, rather than the edge. "You underestimate the will of people," said the Emperor calmly, "they-" He was interrupted as a calm but terrible voice spilled across the chamber.
“No you did not ask. You, all of you, just assumed I’d play my part. And you don’t have any idea of what or who I am.”
The Emperor and his remaining Guard shrank away from the Novan, floating in the air as she turned to the Divine One. The warplings were all gone now, only so many corpses and splatters of fluids, but the waves of hatred and dark energy that flowed from the Divine One held them back. Like a man walking in face of heavy winds, the Emperor walked slowly, agonizingly slow, towards the altar, shielding himself as he made his way relentlessly to his mate. The Guards tried to follow, but they were stuck, and it was all they could do to simply mantain their balance. The Emperor looked directly at the High Priest, smiling without warmth.

The Celestial Court of the Omikami
We are in agreement on this, then? Asrelia psent her thought to the Omikami alone, her only outward movement a vague smile playing at withered lips and an almost imperceptible nod.How much time do I play for? I want the mortals to have every opportunity. Summon Qonn-if nothing else, he may amuse us as we wait, and his children are present as well.
The Omikami was serene, nodding gently to his own thoughts...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Raging Hell
"Excellent work, my boy, simply excellent, though I should have revealed a weak point to the Lady personally and let her have the kill. It'll take some doing to explain that without Divine Intervention, but if the Omikami doesn't catch us, it's no harm, no foul."
Robbworth looked at his host oddly. "You act...without the Omikami's blessing?"
"I wield Death-hardly gives me time to deal with any bureaucracy. I sort of go where I'm needed, and do what I must. You'll get the hang of it in no time, since you're to be my liaison among the Novans.
"Anyway, we have some interesting viewing elsewhere-the White Moon has emerged early..."
"White Moon?"
"I may be jumping the gun on that, and Death must always be certain-here, let's watch..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Court of the Divine One
"Oh, sure-can't fall into apotheosis with your Father, but have to do it on your own..." the Divine One seemed truly upset, as his aura of mad rage intensified. "You think you're on a par with me, darling daughter? Well, let's see what you've got..."
(OOC: this is my temptation (http://youtube.com/watch?v=vYyO44U2BQ4), but ignore it if it's a bit much)
A wave of pure evil raged from the Divine One's frame like a shockwave. Firefox Rose found himself hurled headlong towards the altar.
"You'll have to wait your turn." Toro cast a disdainful glance at him. "Can't skin everyone at once...the Omikami knows I've tried..." He bent back to his work....

The Emperor found himself flying though the air to smash into the altar, barely changing his course to avoid breaking his neck. Lying crumpled beside it he felt the blood of Jade soak the back on his armor, and he smiled. Despite the fact that it felt like he had crushed some muscles and maybe fractured bones in that flight, the Empress was still alive. Placing a hand on the altar to push himself up, ignoring the knife plunged into it just behind his ring finger from Toro, he spoke to the Divine One across the room. "You really didn't have to do that...I could have made it fine by myself." Ripping his hand from the altar and tossing the bloodied knife away, the Emperor's katana appeared in his hand, the blade out just above Jade. The High Priest brought his knife down again, but it shattered as it met the sword, halted on it's course for more of Jade's skin. The Emperor smiled.
"Your quarrel is with me now."
The Celestial Court of the Omikami
"Yes, yes, how is everybody doing tonight?" Qonn appeared with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. Instead of the warrior garb he had worn when seeing the soldiers off, he now wore a fancy suit, though several things, such as silver jewelry and face paint remained. A top hat was balanced precariously on his head. "Summons, have you?" He bowed, sweeping the hat off as he did so.

"I may be jumping the gun on that, and Death must always be certain-here, let's watch..."

Robbs just shrugged when Zorak spoke of acting without the OmiKami's blessing. That actually appealed greatly to the rebel hidden under the hide of "what was expected" and he grinned as they watched what unfolded before them. The 'rebel' really never was very far from the surface -that was the Novan’s chosen dilemma...

"We're going to win you know" he commented smugly.

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

"You think you're on a par with me, darling daughter? Well, let's see what you've got..."

The shockwaves stole her breath and tidal waved over her, attempting to engulf her with more pain, to trap her once again.. But she let them roil over her, washing away to leave her untouched as she floated above the ground. Indigo closed her eyes, listening to her inner truths.

The moon a timeless symbol of transition, the eternalness of change and transformation, and so while the Divine One's waves of rage and evil buffeted her, Indigo just shook her head slightly, a small weirding smile upon her face. "No, I'm not as powerful as you." Indigo admitted candidly. And her look became one of stern compassion. One that would not give up love, but would not yield either. "But pure power isn't all the answer, brute force is not always the ultimate arbiter."

And the hues changed as moonlight flooded forth from her illuminating the vast chamber, and greater changes happened. Calm, an almost physical manifestation of peace and serenity filled the Hall - Indigo had taken the rage and evil and transformed it.

The Xiscapian guards found themselves freed, able to move out of the morass that had held them. How ever they were still cut off from reaching and aiding Foxfire Rose and his mate. That fight was his; he had earned the right to his vengeance.

Just as the Divine one found himself walled off from any of his servants.

And Indigo had earned hers.

"Now it is but you and I.”

“Will you trade your karma for my kingdom, daughter?” the Divine One sneered as his own blade manifested in his and. It was hungry, that blade, drinking up light, swallowing it, wanting more wanting lives…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summons, have you?"

Kai nodded pleasantly to Qonn, welcoming him and honoring his people actions and sacrifices.. His had willingly tied their fates to His and he had no concerns as to whom would win. He could not, dared not though count the cost just yet. He had surrendered too many of his powers - willingly but still - in the effort to bring matters to a head...

and speaking of heads...He manifested a small, humble burlap bag, bulging with its contents and dripping ichors. With a bow he threw it to land before the guilty one's feet.

"He can't keep you safe any longer" He turned his look from her back to the OmiKami "and final proof of the truth of my accusations"

Even gods can die... Just not easily.

The Raging Hell
"Of course we're going to win, dear boy." Zorak Zoran grated. "We're just watching in case the mortals need help. It is of primary importance our aid be clandestine, just in case, you see. This victory must be the mortals', so Chaos knows it cannot blame it's failures on the gods-that Man alone can lay it low.
"It is difficult, especially for me-several of those fighting are my children, and I want nothing more than to scoop them up and tear into their attackers, bringing them to safety...but the overall point that my children do not need me to fight Chaos-it is harder for me to accept than Chaos, I'm afraid."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The High Court of Heaven...with interludes
Asrelia's smile at Qonn's appearance twisted into pure rage at Kai's presentation. That her own family would have truck with such doings...
.................................................................................................... ........
The Divine One smiled like a corpse being worked by an adept mortician. "So good of you to isolate us-that I may do this-"he snapped his fingers, and armored guardsmen appeared, their auras dripping with dark power, every one a Sith Lord in his own right. "Deal with the gaijin, but their Imperials are needed alive..."
As one, the dread knights lumbered forward, as the Divine One faced Indigo again. "I couldn't use them without protection-lousy aim, but with us both so shielded, you have done your part-I may even allow enough of you to survive to revel in your part in My Victory..."
.................................................................................................... .........
Asrelia raged, "Oh, Omikami, let me enforce the justice of the Tribe of Earth on her! What more evidence need be presented?"
The Omikami smiled, but said nothing-instead, it gestured for Qonn to speak...
.................................................................................................... .....
The dark minions were of a higher grade than Warplings-energy bounced off their Force-enhanced armor, as did grossly physical weapons. They seemed unstoppable juggernauts, moving inexorably forward, raising weapons high...
When the nearest was taken out by a black chittering form that sailed squarely into it, sweeping both aside.
Cunningly fitted trapdoors slid open, permitting what appeared to be giant wolf spiders to leap out, the venom in their fangs sizzling on the tiles. They were the kumo, ravenous goblin-spiders whose appetites were as insatiable as their hatred of Man. They swarmed the Courtroom engaging their targets...

Toro looked down at his shattered razor. "That was very rude." He said calmly, lashing out with taloned hands.
Firefox dodged backwards suddenly, and saw the carefully lacquered nails of the priest bore more than mere paint, though the exact substance was unknown to him, and he had no desire to see it's effects...
.................................................................................................... .....
Rocks the size of Volkswagons began hailing down on the Imperial Compound, pounding mercilessly on the Field that protected the Sacrificial Area.
--Keep a pace, girls-don't want to wear yourselves out before the big event--Gemilla instructed her Sisterhood.--That bastard has my protege in there, and I want him to know the Justice of Vaneekara!--
--Priestess, is this wise? The Ordo Drakul has not approved this, and the Ordo Zorak Zorani at least has the request of the Sultan...--
the arguments were cut short by Gemilla's foreclaw closing on the young Sister's windpipe.
--And I am a Rightful Daughter-the Voivode has approved my petition to request the Xiscapian Emperor give me a Servant Contest--she snarled--and had Humbaba not let slip where the Emperor is, I may well be wasting my time in line at Rio Casa. Now, do you wish to get your priestess in there so she can get a fine valet, or do you want to slink home and join Karrg's Sons?--
--I think I'll throw some rocks now, if that's okay...--
Curses to wilt a duck's ears flew alongside the rocks, with challenges in Novan:"Come out here and fight like a girl, if you can!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery
The trek to the Nursery had been harrowing, every inch fought against the Sentry That Does Not Sleep-traps cunningly hidden with all the guile of a Stone Age hunter, deadfalls of logs filled with flesh-eating beetles, pits of poisoned spikes that while carved of wood, were sharp enough to pierce even the ceramic armor of the Jannissaries-aided by a chemical compound smeared on them along with dung and filth.
Morale was low, when finally the compound rose into sight-and Victory was at hand. Spirits soared as the Commander rose up for all to see.
"There is our target! There, this ends! We-" A large stone hurled from a catapult crushed him.
"Dizz izz War!" came a cry from the Nursery. "Keep yu hed down, yu wan zee fam'leezez again!"

Karma (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCoQ0Xto3k0)

but the overall point that my children do not need me to fight Chaos-it is harder for me to accept than Chaos, I'm afraid."

Robbs nodded in sudden understanding "Careing, that is so hard. Letting them fly free, in to danger on their own, withtheir own choices" his voice and mein werew sympathetic "And Chaos just doesn't care what happens to its."
_________________

"I am sorry honored mother, but the proof had to be delivered." Kai said softly, swallowing hard to tamp down his own rage. He looked at Qonn, waiting for him to speak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I couldn't use them without protection-lousy aim, but with us both so shielded, you have done your part-I may even allow enough of you to survive to revel in your part in My Victory..."

"My part? No Not yet" She countered her voice barely audible over the clash of battle. But it didn't need to be. Duty binds me. I made that choice long ago; I will not dishonor it now. Just because it’s Giri doesn’t make it any less [i]Right

Indigo had not a moment to spare to observe the multitudes of combat being engaged in about her. Her focus was entirely upon her opponent, for his moves were viscously strong and fast. He’d had three thousand years to perfect them after all. “No I think I am the sacrifice, and the truth of the matter is you kingdom will be mine” Swords shuddering as they met and parted, blades howling one a cry of a soul damned, the other a joyous scream. Sparks flew asa the crystaling blades contested, parting though with the outcome undecided.

He tried to force her backwards, his stength trying to over power her and she was forced to yield. However instead of falling back Indigo slid aside and spun a tight arc, landing a hard small elbow against his chest. Discovering the armor hidden beneath his robes that had her clenching her teeth against a gasp of pain.

He laughed a short, sharp bark that held not the least bit of humor “What darling daughter, think I would not be so cautious as to protect my so very valuable self?” His sword sliced down in an eye blinding feint that she managed to block the full effects of, but was left with a painful and bloody scrape that removed the flesh down to the muscle along her off hand upper arm. “Sacrifices die. foolish girl.” And in his off hand power began to grow

“If that is necessary” She replied calmly flicking one finger out . The black lightening ravened over the sheild she created without doing any damage. But the shield was only temporary and it flared into nothingness.

However the unexpected left the Divine One open for an attack he had not seen coming…

"Ah yes," Qonn smiled, and suddenly there was a brief case and wooden table before him. He opened the brief case, humming to himself as he leafed though a number of papers, finally extracting what seemed to be a holoprojector. All for show of course, but it was not every day one got to testify in a Court of the gods. He cleared his throat then began, projector coming to life to display an image in the air. It showed Xiscapia from orbit, and followed the five Novans under the influence of Chaos as they kidnapped the Empress, three of them dying rather gruesomely in the process. "As you can see, these agents were extremely well equipped and thus well funded. Their ship came from Novan shipyards, which were swarmed with Chaos, which, surprise, points to our friend here.
"Now," Qonn turned and began to walk slowly along the length of the table, "Jade, Empress of Xiscapia and one of my children, has sustained what might be called rather bad injuries. Naturally, this brought her mate and my other ruling child at this time, Emperor Foxfire Rose, out into combat with a small army. From the very beginning there was no question as to the source of the hostilities, only the exact intent, being more percise than general suffering and harm for suffering and harms sake. Now, I ask you, how has Chaos gained a foothold with the Novans? How can it have so deeply penetrated a entire society sworn to fight it? I think we all know the answer to that. The only question that remains," he smiled without humor, "is to the punishment."
Throne Room...
The Shadow Ops soldiers did what protocol demanded: Let two opposing sides duke it out, and wait to finish off the victor. Unfortunatly, there were more wolf spiders than there were Chaos guards, so some of the spiders turned to the kitsune. Ideally the point was to not let these things get close enough to strike with their fangs, and that was what the Xiscapians did. The hall rang with the sound of blaster shots, grenade blasts, the hiss of throwing knifes and poisoned shurikens and the battle cry of the Emperor's Guard as they were forced to engage with their swords.

Sailing back, Foxfire Rose looked at the High Priest's hands. "It's okay to have claws, you know, but those nails look like they may need a trim." He slashed out, two strikes in less that many seconds, one aimed to seperate Toro's hands from his arms, the other to cut him cleanly in half.

As the Black Guard swung at the nearest spider, he was suddenly grabbed from behind by a great black beast, who roared, "Me komm zaffe yu, an' yu 'takk me petzez?"
The Black Guard recognized the troll Gerrak from his time in the Imperial Palace. Although he had stripped off his armor save for a few odd pieces of jewelry, he still looked every inch the warrior, his weapons hanging from his hip. "Leef da zpiderzez 'lone-dey frenzzez."

"Warrrgh!" The Black Guard was bodily lifted into the air, sword which had been posed to strike now only loosely held in his left hand. He looked for all the world like a kitten being chastised by a mother cat, being hung up in Gerrak's massive hand. "Okay, okay," the Guard put his hands out defensively, "friends, right, we got it."
The other Guards turned to attack, but recognizing Gerrak and hearing his words they heeded them and focused their assault on the enemy guardsmen.

"It appears your little beast has taught you to behave like an animal as well, my dear" the Divine One smiled serenely. "It's taming the kumo and bringing them here was unexpected, as was it's effect on you. Quite the ferocious little beastess-a fine Empress for My People once I have tempered your attitude.
"Had you shown this sort of ambition and viciousness, I'd never have permitted your exile..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Firefox began loosening Jade's bonds, careful on the hand and arm already stripped. "Ja-"
He was suddenly grabbed and spun around, to be face to face with Toro. "I have performed a tapas, boy, long long ago-you'll have to do better than that. No weapon may strike me more than once to any effect." The priest leered, exhaling a vile green cloud. "Now, if you'll let me get to my work, I've a sacrifice to attend to..."

"Now, if you'll let me get to my work, I've a sacrifice to attend to..."
"Oh yes?" Foxfire stepped back from the disgusting cloud of gas. "I guess I'll just have to hit you a lot-"
Even as he had begun to unbind his mate, Jade had been working on it herself, and finally they snapped, allowing her to roll from the altar to the floor, knees and palms covered in her own blood. She began to rise next to Toro even as Foxfire unsheathed a knife and moved to cut the thoat of the High Priest...
OOC: TG, OD.

"Leef da zpiderzez 'lone-dey frenzzez."
Her heart soared as she hear that beloved foice, one she had never expected to hear again. Forgive me for doubting you, you are Zorak's well loved son, of course you'd survive

"Had you shown this sort of ambition and viciousness, I'd never have permitted your exile..."

"Oh you have no idea the effect Gerrak has had on me" Indigo's blade wove a sinuous shield of parrys that adeptly blocked every one of the blindingly fast attacks he attempted. None of them got past and any Muri would have been scared limp by the oh so sweetly delighted smile she now wore. Too bad the Divine One wasn't so wise.

Then her next move -another hard sword sparking block then a twisting blind side repost slid -past his pwn defensive reaction and a razor sharp edge - backed by violet hued Power - slid easily though his flesh, cleaving it open in an line that ran along one sharp cheek bone, down fully to that bone it rane with surgical precission. Black blood instantly welling from it running down to drip from his jaw line, smoking and fumeing.

And her smile grew as the Divine One shrieked in rage and agony. His blows rained dwon upon her backed by raged fueled power. She was matching them for the moment, but she was beginning to tire. While she was well trained swordswoman- and even more so after her visit among the Muri - she was not a combat hardened warrior. And all she had been through was beginning to tell on her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Jannissaries final push to the nursery had been brutal indedd, and fully fifteen percent of them had died along the way, falling to the hurried but lethally constructed traps of the Muri. And even if their commanding officer had just lost his head, there werew others now able - by virture of rising to command positions - to show off their skills and loyalties. Their master had always rewarded them well in the past and they were sure - that once they had crushed these upstart beasts - that they would be in the future.

Corrupt they may have been, willing servants of Chaos they may have been, but they werw still Jannissaries of the Celestial Imperia, and without fear they fell upon the Muri and the other forces gathered in the Nursery.

Those in the rear echelons, being atttacked by Tetsuko's rebel forces - such of them as were left - turned to face their ambushers. The first unexpected strike had damanged them badly but like those that faced the Muri they were unafraid. And better armed than the rebels in their liberated mechs.

"Wash kayrful-lotzzez dezze boyzzez not dere" Gerrak said, dropping the Black Guard. Surely, he leaped from Sith Lord to Sith Lord, never spending much time, but revealing several were but illusions, and contacting them would result in a lightning strike. His final leap ended with him face-to-face with the Divine One, with whom he shared a series of blows before landing between the Divine One and Indigo.
"Your blows were less than efficacious, beast-I am intact and unharmed--though what's that beeping?" The Divine One looked down on himself.
"Not important" Gerrak replid. "Juzz' da bomb me plazze in yu robezzez."
He covered Indigo as the explosion unfolded over all...

"Gerrak!" Indigo exclaimed as the bomb detonated, sending her flinching into his arms which allowed her to clearly see the look of incredible pain that wracked his face as the pressure wave of the explosion tore over him. Then her eyes widened in horror as she saw the blade of the Divine One's sword thrust through the Muri's body just above her head, then withdraw. Terribly close to where a Muri's heart lay.

Slowly Gerrak toppled to the side as Indigo frantically tried to hold him, but his great weight was too much for her and they both slipped to the ground, blood gushing forth from the terrible wound, The Divine One's blade fell again and again on Gerrak's limp form. The Muri seemed unconscious, and sobs wracked her body.

She straightened and looked at the Divine One, inchoate anger wracking her.

He looked barely ruffled by the explosion "Now, where were we?" And he turned his sword upon her, eldritch lighting flickering along the length of it. But that was matched by the glow beginning to emanate from her own Honor Blade, it's crystalline length alight.

She was faster than he, rage not blinding her but taking her to a place of cold clarity, and her blade beat his aside to score across his torso. He return left it’;s own bloody mark upon her. Power screamed as they clashed again and again, moving almost to fast for the eyes to follow.

Then it happened as both wavered, blood splattered, and bleeding heavily. Indigo parried and with a shrill keening the Honor blade shattered just above the hilt.

"Now, where were we?"
The Divine One looked at the shattered blade, and laughed. "Ah, yessss-ABJECT HUMILIATION! Know, before you die, you have served Me well, darling daughter. By shattering Imperial Honor so, you have disarmed their last chance of stopping Me. Your rage and hate-born of love, no less-has succeeded where I could not, and destroyed the last weapon that could kill Me. Now, your rage and hate are futile, for they were feeble things born of love, but Mine remains, and My Hate and Rage is borne of Will to Power!
"Now shall the Light fold and the Dark break and Space hang in tatters like an old sock-and it couldn't have happened without you." The Divine One gave a courtly flourish, seeming to bow even as he assumed a Crane stance.
"Pray to the futile gods in your last moments, daughter-I have no further need of you..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He dares mock the Omikami and Celestial Bureaucracy....?" Robbworth leaped up, grasping Death in his hand.
"He does intend to overthrow them." Zorak Zoran seemed almost bored. "Put that away, Robbworth-I have no need of it yet. Please, have some walkatus-the Sisters of Xiola Umbar go on at lengths as to it's restorative properties."
Robbworth wheeled and looked over the banquet. "Which is the walktapus?"
"Why, it's...oh my." Despite his alien visage and horrible scarring, Zorak Zoran managed to look most embarrassed. "I could have sworn it was right here..."

OOC: If you don't mind me using your words, NN, Music for the Mood. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_9GR9kdZ3o)
Across the room...
And even as the Empress rose, the High Priest swung his knife, and it plunged straight though her breast, cutting into her heart. Jade gasped as the cold, sharp metal tore though her, both hands, one scarred and broken, the other clean and whole, grabbing the hilt. For a moment she stood, hands wrapped around the hilt of the blade sunk into her flesh, before gracefully falling back down, facing upwards. Blood gushed around the knife and splattered the floor, warm and almost as enveloping as the darkness that would soon be upon her.
Foxfire Rose did not so much as speak, but he moved. In an instant he was kneeling over his fallen mate, cradling her head in his hands, tears dripping onto her face. She smiled at him one last time, full of understanding and sorrow. "See you...on the other side...Rosy" she rasped, voice no more than a whisper, and Jade died, slumping in the arms of her love.
For a moment Foxfire just knelt where he was, bowing his head, tears glittering as they dropped onto his wife's body. "Jade..." he murmured brokenly, pressing his cheek against her own cooling one. When he finally stood is face was thrown into shadow, and he pointed a single index finger on his right hand at Toro.
The High Priest would feel something move inside of him, and the slightest, smallest pain. This soon blossomed into a all-consuming, ripping torture, and his grunts of pain became screams, high pitched and long as his own internal organs devoured him from the inside out. The man's belly burst and his intestines spilled out, wrapping around his legs, tiny jawed mouths tearing though cloth and armor to eat flesh. Toro, still screaming, began to fall apart even as he tried to stagger away, and his heart was revealed in his chest as a black, insect-legged thing. It tore up his chest though his neck, scaling his face, mandibles plucking out his eyes and claws ripping away his tongue, ceasing the horrible noise.
Moments later the High Priest became entirely inert, a mound of flesh surrounded by a puddle of blood and scattered, lifeless gore. His organs collapsed in on themselves around the horrid mass with a sigh, and it was all still.
The Emperor took up his blade and shuddered, staring across the Chambers but not truly seeing.

"Pray to the futile gods in your last moments, daughter-I have no further need of you..."

"No" And before he could move, even as poised to strike as he was, she was a flicker of an eye. And she moved away leaving a long bloody trail behind her. Her had had brushedf but lightly across the Divine Ones chest.

He screamed at the unexpected pain, for an instant unable to commence his deadly strike against her.

"No, for you see that was a fine and honorable Blade, yes, but it never was the weapon you thought it was. This is" And in her hand, blood filling it now but not covering it, gleamed the tiny crystal claw she has worn about her neck all her life. The one bequeathed to her her mothers death, the one that retruned to Indigo from the funeral pyre.

"No!" His howl crashed across all and his strike was even faster than her had been, and she reeled under the force of his blows. She maanged to defend herself against many, parrying aside the most deadly but she could not evade all of them.

Blood flowed from may small wounds - he was playing with her, toying with her in revenge for the slash that poured blood across the rich robes he wore, stainung his upper torso scarlet. But that revenge proved to be his undooing, for Indigo managed another stroke of her deadly small weapon. And the shockingly pink coils of the Divine One's intestines spilled free, slippong loose to coil steamingly about his bejeweled slippers as he screamed once again in furious agony. He swayed, then sagged to his knees, trying to fumble them back into his gaping abdomen.

Indigo had no thought for him though, as she too went to the floor, unable to stand, with her right leg broken in several places. She was barely able to see out of eyes already swolen and bruising. One cheekbone was shattered, one had seemed paralysed. Clenching her teeth again the pain cresting over her she managed to get to Gerraks side, terribly afraid for him. Her consciousnexs wavered ass she tried to find any signs of life,

"Gerrak,... Beloved" Her voice a whisper meant for no one but her as she slumped over his body, to any appearance herself dead.

Ignored, the Divine One cursed and with short shrill gasps of pain managed to reinter hias intestines, and with a wave of his hands seal his ruptured body. He was the Divine One after all and what good was divinity if ine couldn't use it to heal ones self? Though his breathing was ragged as he stood and with another wave of his hand restored his robes to perfection as well. Exerting his will further he vaporized Toro's violate body, a look of disgusted fury upon his face. Then he turned to Foxfire's vacant eyed form and black iron manacles appeared about the kitsune's wrists. Unbreakable even by a master of the Force.

The battle apparely over servants hurried to attend to their Master. Some removed the bodies of the Xiscapians that had fallen and those of their Sith adverseries.

"I still haven't had my wine" The Divine One exclaimed, his voice deceptively soft as he strode over to the still forms of Gerrak and Indigo. "Move them apart" He ordered and servants fell over themselves to do so. "Now find me that claw" He snarled. But though the servants pried her hands open and checked both of the limp bodies thoroughly they could only shake their heads negatively and cringe. His eyes wide in a glareing stare and nearly frothing at the mouth the Divine One began to curse but a pain inducing clap of thunder stopped him.

He had no more time...

With a deep breath the Divine One calmed himself. What he had to do was complete the ritual himself, as demeaning as that was. Now, with a hard held preternatural calm...

The Divine One was furious, that was readily apparent as a servitor who inadvertently stumbled was incinerated without even so much as a glance from it's Master. "How dare she die on me!" He spun towards the manacled Foxfire Rose and slapped him nearly breaking his neck with the force of the blow, stunning the Xiscapian kitsune into silence.

With short jerky strides He dragged the Xiscapian Emperor by his hair over to the alter and tossed him upon it as if the kitsune weighted nothing, cursing under his breath:"All this work and effort-attempting to bring a little panache to an otherwise unsavory undertaking-and YOU have reduced what would have been a sublime act to merest butchery. When Chaos devours you, I hope enough is stuck in the Patron's teeth to mourn the World That Was, and your part in destroying it." Foxfire didn't even try to stop him, his gaze, and thoughts never leaving Jade's remains. Though, as he landed upon the alter he began to fight, an ingrained reflex but the silver bonds of the alter fastened painfully tight about him despite his efforts at resistance.

The Divine One plucked the razor unceremoniously out of Jade's ribs and raised it over Firefox Rose. "No artistry, no sublime irony-only slaughter and the appeasing of the Demon Lord of Shadows. I hope you're happy, ruining what could have been a beautiful moment. It's not any fun without poetry, you know..."
He began a low chant painful to the ears, and Firefox turned his head, or thought he did. He looked up, his head twisted to expose his throat by the Divine One's hand, and saw IT forming above him. From the corner of his eye, it seemed a large hand with six feathered wings at it's wrist, but hands are meant to grasp and wings to fly, so it is possible his mind filled in the blanks to preserve his sanity. If asked, he could only reply it looked like a welt forming on his eyeball as it suppurated into Existence, Reality itself boiling away from it to avoid contamination. He knew in that moment the meaning of the word "anathema" as the thing swelled like a rapidly forming blister, lowering to receive it's due.
Foxfire Rose had encountered dread Lords of the Sith, masters of the Dark Side of the Force, before, but for all their depravity, they were still products of purely human evil. This had less in common with humanity than a carrot, and was evil of a wholly inhuman nature, a slavering hunger that seemed blind and idiotic, a reservoir of malice expunged from some unholy pit even the maddest human dare not consider. Some small portion of his mind not stunned idly wondered exactly HOW the Divine One had even contacted it...

The oozing of IT into this reality was not an instantaneous thing. Minutes passed as the Divine One chanted tirelessly, his entire attention upon opening the Gateway. He never noticed the arrival of others…

The servants had however and had sensibly, once again fled.

"He's too heavy to move, but it..." The pain of the slap, hard and backed by power, brought Indigo to consciousness.

She gasped as she looked up into her eyes... her face, her...original. And in that instant she knew her entire life had been a lie.

Aiko, the real one, nodded sharply as she saw the realization in Indigo's eyes.

"What is this?" Another voice spun Aiko around and caused Silk to look up from her assessment of Gerraks body with a glad cry.

Tetsuko - Lady of Steel looked at her long thought dead twin sister, Kenoko -Lady of Silk, with baffled, blood shot eyes. One arm hung useless at Tetsuko's side, but one among the many other injuries she had sustained in her earlier battles. Silk flew to Tetsuko's side but stopped short of hugging her, though it was clear to see she wished to.

"Mother!" Aiko exclaimed her voice echoing the joy in Silk's. Leaving Indigo she too hurried to her mother. "He's opened the Gate" She gestured toward the altar "So the sacrifice can be received. The construct failed in her chance to stop him"

"Construct?" Tetsuko interrupted questioningly, her eyes going back and forth between Indigo and Aiko.

"Yes, we made a simulacrum to fool the Court, so that I could finish training Aiko safely." Silk said impatiently as she began using her Powers to heal her sister of her most severe wounds. "It's nothing, some skin cells, some stray moonlight, and memory crystals. But I do do good work" Her tone was gloatingly complacent as she took a moment to look over at the battered Indigo, and frowned slightly. Then she turned back to caring for her sister. "Aiko get your weapons. It's not going to be of any further use, too damaged."

Tetsuko's real daughter nodded and strode over to the kneeling Indigo, and demanded "I need my Honor Blade, the Claw, and my armband" Her voice was harsh with anger as she looked over to where more of the other worldly corruption had formed. She didn’t like being failed, or having to put herself in the dangerous position of fighting that Horror.

They dared not let it come completely into Reality, for then it would be unstoppable.

"The...the Blade broke, it broke in my hands" Indigo bowed her head in shame, unable to meet her owner's eyes. She did not dare to gaze upon one impossibly above her true station. Simulacrums were nothing more than disposable objects. “I know not where the claw or shield bracelet is.” She looked about frantically, though she really didn’t see anything.

“You allowed yourself to be disarmed?” Aiko’s lip turned up in a disgusted sneer.

“Perhaps they are here” Wretched and filled with a abyssal sense of failure and worthlessness Indigo pulled herself slowly over to the abandoned pile of clothing that had been stripped from her when she had first been brought before the Divine One hours ago. Fumbling though it, trying not to stain her Muri made armor and the once fine silks with her blood, she found the melted, misshapen remains of the armband that had so mysteriously appeared on her upper arm back on Pamaltela.

Wordlessly she displayed it to Aiko who snatched it from her with an angry cry. “You were a waste of effort.”

“OH!!” Aiko exclaimed as she looked from Indigo to the altar, the subtlety changed sound of the chant alerting her to times dangerous passing. “He’s almost through”

“Attack the Divine One. Ruin the Sacrifice!” Silk exclaimed before Tetsuko could speak. “Your mother isn’t healed enough”

“With what?” Aiko exclaimed frustrated, then she spied the Divine One's own blade, laying forgotten where he dropped it. Sprinting for it she snatched it ip and then raced across the immensity of the room. If she killed the sacrifice before the Divine One could, that would abort the ritual enough that they would have a fighting chance.

Gerrak heaved himself up laboriously, fresh walktapus on his breath. The words of the women were strange, and he ignored them largely, dragging himself over to Indigo. "Dizz be mebbe year, mebbe tu-" he gasped, willing hard as he called upon Xiola Umbar. "-but no tiym fur fan'ty now."
He poured his soul into a prayer to the goddess of mercy and healing, willing Indigo's leg whole, as he pulled himself upright. "We muzzt zztop him, not de zzeremony..."
He saw what Aiko was attempting, and charged."NOOOOO!" he bellowed, rushing her and slapping the blade from her hand. "Dat komm-pleet zzeremony, not end-zztoo-pid hoo-man."
He turned from Aiko and roared, "Now yu deel wid me, ding uff Kaozz!"
The Divine One barely turned his head, fine eyebrow arching. "Very well" he sighed. "Tell your gods you failed, beast..."
Power built up throughout the Divine One's frame, as the combined Faith of the Novan People rose up to strike down the blasphemer...

Foxfire Rose tried to avoid looking at the warped thing manifesting itself behind the Divine One, instead looking at the man himself...if he could truly be called a man, anymore. Though a sort of fog that was gathering over his being he sensed something in his armor, a noise discernible only to his ears, the tiniest of clinks, and a warm glow felt on his chest even though the fabric and metal.
What...?
Then-
Ah.
For a moment, the Divine One's attention was diverted, the Novan Emperor looking over to where Foxfire could see Gerrak had risen...and brought along some new friends. He saw him slap the sword from one of their hands as she tried to charge across the room, bellowing a challenge at the Divine One. Foxfire bit down on his lip, so hard he drew blood. The coppery taste filled his mouth, and he gathered the crimson liquid up, looked at the manacle binding his right hand to the altar...
And spat.
However powerful the metal was, being imbued with the Dark side, and ultimately Chaos, was it's weakness. The Emperor's blood wasn't noble, but it was pure, and full of Light. On contact the metal disintegrated, dissolving into nothing and freeing his right arm. With this he reached up, grabbed the razor from the fingers of the Divine One, and rolled off the alter as his mate had done, destroying the other manacle and plunging the blade into the Divine One's back, all in a single fluid motion.
On the other side of the altar the Emperor rose. Herein was a problem: Jade was dead at the feet of the Divine One, and Foxfire doubted very much he would just stand still as he attempted his last-ditch plan. Therefore, the Novan needed to be led away from the alter, at least for long enough for his deed to be done.

"Tell your gods you failed, beast..."

Indigo hadn't even tried to push Gerrak's hands aside, she was too stunned, her thoughts whirling confusedly and knowing nothing but abject misery. She had spent her entire life, every second of it believing she was what, whom she wasn't. Her thoughts had no order, nothing for her to grasp on to nothing to steady herself. For everything the Divine One had tried to do, spend untold energies attempting to do - and had ultimately failed at...those who had made her had accomplished effortlessly. She was no one, just a thing, now spent and useless.

She huddled unmoving as her leg was healed though part of her jeered at that waste. Then Gerrak was gone, somehow finding the strength to stop Aiko, and to confront the Divine One again. But some how Indigo could see the shimmering web of power building up in the Divine One; see clearly his warped connection to the energies of the Novan people, channeling it. Destroying, as he did so, not only the planet, but the people themselves consuming their belief and their life forces.

And it was preparing to strike at Gerrak. Without conscious though she was jackknifing to her feet, the paralyzed hand held clumsily across her chest.. Fear lent her stumbling feet wings and then she was between them, and her twisted useless hand whipping out the crystal claw grasped tightly, darting across the Divine One’s face, destroying his eyes as power blazed forth from them, enveloping Indigo completely.

It was a fire, a pain such as she had never known, filling every corner and cranny of her body, and her scream was heart breaking. But the flare of power was too great for her body to block, much less absorb and it spilled passed her, wrapping the Muri in it’s destructive nimbus as well. Indigo was consumed completely; and Gerrak thrown concussively aside. He went flying fully thirty feet before landing heavily and skidding the same distance. His body was burned and bones broken, and he was unmoving, possibly unconscious.

The Divine One swiftly turned from his carnage to see Foxfire Rose had slipped away. "Where are your manners, boy? Doesn't anyone excuse themselves during fell rituals anymore? The lack of grace and etiquette-well, one more reason to ring down the curtain on the tragedy Man and it's hero, the Conqueror Worm.
"Now, get back here-the Patron will be wanting to meat you." he giggled at his pun as tendrils of force reached for Foxfire Rose, and seemed to notice Aiko and Silk. "Ah, new Disciples-good. I seem to be running through quite a few today-probably should have set in a surplus, but hindsight is 20/20. Ai! Ai! Shub-Niggurath!"
His words shook Reality in a low rumble that would not be denied...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well, child-you certainly took long enough."
Indigo rose, the flames surrounding her burning like a pain-blade but not consuming. She recognized that voice..."Lord Zoran? Then I am dead..."
"Don't be foolish, child-the dead feel no pain here." the grisly troll Lord of Death laughed. "I would offer you something to eat, but can't have you staying like Robbie, here." he nodded towards Lord Robbworth.
"It burns!" she cried. "This is torture, Lord Zoran-mercy, please."
"No whining, child-Adversity builds character, and I've barely laid your foundation." Zorak Zoran sounded full of good spirits. "I believe I owe you a boon, and finally can make good on it-so good to settle old debts."
Robbworth looked at her pitiably. "Please, must she suffer so?"
"This is no place for the living, Robbworth." Zorak Zoran replied. "and I only owe her one boon-her life should be enough."
He knelt, then-"Let me perform some service, then-to end her suffering."
"Life is pain, Robbworth-and her suffering continues." Zorak Zoran spoke with finality. "And my boons are not transferable-however, if the Lady would see fit to do me a service, I might douse her flames and allow her some small measure of comfort..."
Indigo gulped-the brutality of the troll god was blunt, and she gasped through breaths of fire. "What must I do?"
"Give back what Gerrak gave you, child-let your ills return than he may heal, and then speak with him for me-let him know you are here, and if he dies, you will be forever apart. He will know what to do, then-he's a Good Son."
"You are cruel and perverse." Robbworth accused.
"Am I? Thanks to your somewhat blatant miracle, the Omikami knows I am meddling-and only so much is permissible. I owed her this boon, but for more I need more-and even the Omikami accepts self-sacrifice. This must all be by the Book, pretty-pretty-the whole of Komor hangs in the Balance." Zorak Zoran leaned down to leer in Indigo's face. "Make your choice, moon-child."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asrelia bit her lip-that damned rogue had alerted the Omikami to the presence of the troll gods with his snatching of the woman, and Qonn may or may not be aware. She had to do something-but what? If the Omikami summoned Zorak Zoran to explain his interference...
However, the Omikami merely smiled, and when she gazed upon Qonn, he winked-she felt helpless and lost now...

Pain washed through her as she never imagined possible, and it was all her will to think clearly enough to speak, but by some grace she managed. What happened to her meant nothing, she wasn’t worth the bother. But if her agony would help Gerrak ... That he shouldn't have even bothered to ask.

"Lord Robbworth, he is correct. Don't waste your compassion on me. All balances out in the end." She ground out from a throat torn and raw. Had she been screaming? She wasn’t certain but guessed she might have been, but simply couldn’t remember. "Take it Zorak."

She sank to the ground, lost in further agony, her pains multiplying as the healing of her leg was unmade. Bright tears of blood mingled with drops from bitten through lips and snot from her nose. Agony is never pretty, and that which claimed her, roared though her past all defenses was the sort that kills of it’s own right, the body shutting down to end the unbearableness of it. Her thoughts whirled, madness threatening to over take her for how long she knew not, for she was lost in terrifying images. Images that were to her real….

After what seemed eons though stumbling lost and blind across a landscape of raw horror she found a ragged and diminished center of selfness, and was dully amazed that she had even that. She managed to scramble within, each breath shuddering through her entire body in the quietude. But slowly Indigo mastered that as well, calming her breathing and collecting herself – embracing the torment, no longer fighting it and some semblance of shaky sanity returned.

“Gerrak…” She tried hard to make sure none of the pain wracking her slipped into her thoughts, nothing that would distract him. “Gerrak,” She paused to make sure she had what she needed to say marshaled- for it was hard to think and she was so tired and unsure. The one thing she was absolutely sure of was that Gerrak was worth any and all efforts and sacrifice “Zorak says I need to tell you that you are a Good Son. You can’t die, you need to live, go on and do great things with your life” She wouldn’t tell him where she was or her condition. That wasn’t important.

The Emperor brushed away the Force reaching out to take him like it was a mere annoyance as the Divine One turned to the others at the end of the room. The Novan Emperor had taken a step away from the altar, and Jade's body was now behind him, although close enough that if he decided to turn, Foxfire would have only a fraction of a second to avoid an attack.
Silently vaulting the altar, he knelt beside the fallen Empress and reached inside the concealed place in his armor. His hand closed around the soft warmth and he withdrew the shining sphere, cupping it in his black gloved hands. With a delicacy and gentleness that may have surprised anyone watching within the past hour or so, he tilted Jade's head back and rolled the ball onto her tongue. Despite the size, the glowing sphere of hope went down her throat easily. Foxfire put his hands to her side, one on her breast over her heart, the other over the deep cut into her ribs.
Please Qonn...he begged silently. Let it work. Please.
And Qonn heard him.

The Divine One cackled like a chicken underwater. "Most excellent, boy-with two of you, no need to spoon-feed." he whistled at the ceiling where IT was still forming. "Time for walkies! Bit of exercise before din-din will keep you from getting fat, eh?"
He turned to Aiko and Silk. "While My Darling One feeds, perhaps a bit of sport...unless you'd have the good grace to amuse Me with a lesbian floor show?"
He laughed, ragged and broken, but still obviously in command, Force and Faith combining about him in an impenetrable field....
“Zorak says I need to tell you that you are a Good Son. You can’t die, you need to live, go on and do great things with your life”
"Oh really-she's with me, and quite alive. I'll give you a few moments in the Raging Hell before returning her to Komor and you to my legions. Of course, if you don't die, your time will be that much longer..."
As Aiko and Silk prepared to face the Divine One, behind him there was movement.
Gerrak pulled himself up with one good arm and began to inch forward, unseen and unnoticed, until he was at the Divine One's feet. Suddenly, he lunched weakly forward, thrusting out his jaws and biting...
The Divine One screamed-for all his love of Pain, his experience was all vicarious, and he had never felt pain like this before...
Gerrak began to chew...
The Divine One screamed and tried to pull away as more and more of his leg vanished down Gerrak's constantly chewing maw. He flailed futilely as more and more of him disappeared in chunks down the throat of the troll, his screaming not ending until his lungs were eaten, and his mouth worked soundlessly as it vanished down the muri's gullet, into the rock gizzard, where it was ground and dumped into the digestive acids of the rock stomach...
Silk spoke then, breaking all from their horrid revelry. "The Patron! It's vulnerable now, and after the Roses!"

OOC: OD's new title : Lord of the Disturbing Descriptive - and how des he know what it sounds like?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Divine One had been shocked past the point of defending himself at first, but he had not become the Divine One all those millennia ago for naught. And though he was weakening rapidly under Gerrak’s assault, long nails honed razor sharp now began to tear at the Muri warrior. Terrible rents in Gerrak’s hide appeared but they were ignored, healing almost as fast as they had been made. In the Raging Hell Indigo had stretched forth her hand touching her image of Gerrak, taking his wounds for him.

However the pain wracking though the Divine One was not too great from him to marshal his powers, he attempting to draw once again upon the belief of the Novan people. But when he tried to reach for them he found his way completely blocked.

A low chanting rose from one of the many archways leading to other parts of the sprawling edifice. And if any had bothered to look they would have seen a double score of of the Court, mostly frail ancients, but a number of younger adults as well. They were the long forgotten of the Court; those who had been semi exile, muired away from the rest of the court and forgotten.

Those who had questioned, or been too noticeable but not powerful enough to warrant assassination, or just powerful enough that such disposal would have caused a notable disturbance. The inconvenient, the incorruptible- the truly Faithful of the Court, now joined together as never in over three thousand years. Half had gone to the nursery but the other half were here, and had raised their powers in unison to block the Divine One. Their wills united to shatter the bond of Novan belief in the Divine One, each voice rose to prove he no longer held the Mandate of Heaven.

As Indigo slumped to the floor of the Raging Hell, now truly unconscious, and the aweful spectacle holding Aiko, Silk and even Tetusko spellbound ended, the Patron slipped fully and easily though the rent in Reality that the Divine One had opened.

Even as the chanting of the Court grew loud, even as the Divine One's cries of pain and anger cut across his ears, even as Foxfire Rose held the limp body of his wife in his arms, Jade opened her eyes. The sound she made, the soft word she said was lost in the thunderous scream of the uproar, but to Foxfire it was the only noise in the universe.
"Rosy?"
Foxfire felt tears rolling down his face as he hugged his mate close to him, blood smearing onto his black armor, burying his face in her chest. "Jade..." he breathed, drawing back slightly, looking into her eyes. She gazed calmly back, solid and unshaken even by her own death, and a gentle smile played across her lips. "It takes more abduction and death to escape our disagreement."
The Emperor looked pained. "Jade, I-"
The Empress put a finger to his lips. "Shh. There is no one who could have taken this role, here and now, but you. So strange that the silencing of our arguments culminates with the very example of my worry, but if it wasn't for your determination I would not have survived."
Foxfire smiled with a bemused sigh. Indeed, Jade's concern of what he called his "personal involvement" in matters of the State, especially that of combat, came to a head here, where he had personally fought though a small army of demons to rescue her. No more, he knew, would be said of their previously heated debates on his "bone-headed, reckless, brazen stupidity", as she had put it.
However, as Foxfire helped Jade up he turned and saw the Divine One disappear into Gerrak's maw like so much garbage down a many-bladed disposal. More pressing, however, was the eerie silence in which the Patron dropped into reality. Foxfire stepped back, trying to herd Jade behind the altar, but the purple-headed kitsune pushed past him. "Excuse me if I'm tired of being jerked around at the discretion of others..." she growled, and her sword materialized in her hand from some place of keeping. Now they stood side by side, the Empress only mildly hindered by her injuries. They looked at the Patron, which neither could seem to hold in their vision for more than a few seconds, constantly shifting and changing to fit their perception of reality, a horrific mass of claws and limps and organs. Then they looked at each other.
"Rush it?" asked Jade, arching an eyebrow.
"It can't be feeling good right now. Slipping though interdimensional rifts must be tiring."
Sure, the thing, whatever it was, scared the living daylights out of both kitsune. By this point, though, they were past caring. Foxfire had battled his way here and many of his soldiers lost their lives, and there was no way any Chaotic monstrosity was going to ruin it now. Jade, well, she was not in the best of moods after having been kidnapped, tortured, humiliated and killed. So, even as the writhing entity of slavering consumption fell into Reality, the Xiscapian Rulers attacked it as one, katanas flashing. Even as both swung their first stroke in perfect unison there was the slightest of shifts in the swords and one could almost swear there was the reflection of a dark, undoubtedly kitsune laughing face in the blades as they sang down to impact.

The dark is generous, and it is patient, and it always wins-but in the heart of it's strength lies weakness: One lone candle is enough to hold it back.
Love is more than a candle.
Love can ignite the stars.

Indigo found herself sprawled on a misty seeming of a floor, grey and cold, almost as grey and cold as she looked and felt. Actually she felt far worse than merely cold. Every part of her ached and countless burns, some going down to the bone, were scattered over her body atop the injuries she had taken in the fight against the Divine One. Shock had her teeth chattering. She had no idea how long she laid there. It could have been hours or just seconds, her mind was blank and cogent thought simply not possible.

Eventually though she became aware of being regarded, though there seemed to be no one else present. But the sensation of being watched observed was too strong to ignore.

“The last thing any of my daughters are is stupid. Think you that I would waste my efforts just to see them set to naught? I don’t hand out brand new souls every day and I don’t make daughters save but every few million millennia. And yet about twenty five years ago I did just that, two souls and two daughters. I couldn’t do just one, twins run in that line and besides this divides everything so the original problem can’t happen again. Though I am going to leave it so that Zorak thinks it’s His idea. ”

Indigo couldn’t discern anything from the voice. It was neither male nor female, yet both, old yet holding the laughing notes of a child’s voice; it engaged her very self, pulling her past the pain, requiring her to listen as it resonated though her.

“But I had a very large problem, a…pandemonium of one, one might say, that had to be misled, and I could not give out both at once or it would alert certain ones that all was not as right as it seemed. So one had to wait until a distraction was needed.” There was a feeling of a helpless shrug as the voice continued. “So yes your sister got to have twenty three years that you didn’t and while yes your body was made out of a few cells and some stray moonlight…well actually a lot of moonlight. You are a lunar goddess after all. It’s a perfectly good body with excellent health, genetics, fertility, longevity, and a number of innate abilities your sister doesn’t have.”

“Now” the voice went smug “I’m going to give Zorak a scare, small payback for his very necessary and anticipated meddling and not put you back. He’s going to simply turn around and find you no longer in his Raging Hell. And you won’t remember this until Gerrak finds you. And yes he will…and by the way Daughter if you don’t drag that male off and do what you both want I’ll disown you. ‘Get up the guff’ indeed. But you do lay a good curse, even all but untrained. Tomasuza is so going to get hers!”

And Indigo vanished from nowhere to land with a thump unconscious again, or may be it was still, is a side room – it surely wouldn’t do to have her die as collateral damage from the massive battle going on in the Great Hall. Besides Gerrak’s having to jump through a few hoops to find her would prove to her how he felt about her. Young goddesses could be so difficult at times. …and old ones could be worse. Now to reassure Asrelia. Though that one was canny and hard to deceive. Qonn was being an excellent sport..

Chaos took such careful handling and had just no sense of humor.

Though still newborn to Reality, the Patron was still a Lord of Chaos-it's touch destroyed conventional material, and it's appearance was as damaging as a red-hot poker in the eye yet-but it was not at full strength and it was hungry as only Chaos could be, and it's promised meal was just below it. It groped blindly, knowing it's food was in reach. delicately pinching it's way downwards, crushing every atom caught in it's grasp...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"She's gone!"
"Of course she is, dear boy-the Omikami has decided I've been unobtrusive long enough." Zorak Zoran sounded bored, now. "I can no longer funnel power to my good son without being blatant-and it would be rude to intrude, now. The Omikami now has this in hand-though I may still observe where my worshipers are, or where Death is a fact of life."
"What do you mean?" Robbworth was confused.
"Something over three thousand years ago, the fellow now known as the Divine One began sacrificing to Chaos-this required Death, but souls lost to Chaos do not die-not in the traditional sense, anyway. Such losses don't tot up properly, and as wielder of Death, I have certain obligations, so I went to the Omikami-privately. He made all manner of assurances, then dropped ideas in my head. His plan was sound, so I agreed. Not that I told him-a troll's mind, like that of a lloigor, is not divided like most sentients', so foreign concepts are easily identified. We're not native to this entelechy, so we do have our secrets.
"My intrusion is now unwelcome, so we will see what comes to pass-the Omikami has a further role for me, and fulfilling it will bring me pleasure-just as training you as psychopomp-the carrot end of our deal. Let us watch, dear boy-if the Patron is laid low, the fun begins..."
"And if not?"
"I'll have to call Mom and we'll destroy Hoag's Object and all within-now, hush."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nursery
The Jannissaries fought well-they seemed on the verge of victory, and the trolls had fallen back to the inner courtyard.
Davrak held a detonator. --For me son.--he spoke, preparing to blow up the entire compound aside from the deeper recesses where the mukade were headed.
The Jannissaries screamed-they had not throughout the warfare, enduring Death as a pleasure, but now they screamed. Elders floated among them, lances of rainbow colors dissipating them at the molecular level-and spiritual levels beyond-they were discorporated, the Chaos torn from them to allow that within to re-enter the Cosmic Flow.
The muri all heard a psychic message as the Elders wreaked their justice-Our apologies-this is not us. The Divine One has had too much free reign, has glutted himself on our ignorance-and our apathy-far too long. This offends us.
--We are saved!--
--Bah!--Davrak sneered.--We are muri! Let these old ones know they are not alone! Destroy them, ladies!--
The muri rallied, and their war faces were dreadful to behold...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The force field wavered under constant bombardment, and the Rightful Daughters jeered their foes loudly.
--Come forth cowards, or we'll come in-and be most upset at your rudeness!--
Gemilla laughed as no one answered the challenge.--Toss a few rocks into the gate, and let's head in! The Emperor owes me a contest, and the Divine One a few moments of agony for discomfitting me!--
The Ordo Vaneekara tossed more boulders before advancing-High Priestess or not, discretion was advisable...

It's first blind gropings missed the Xiscapians attackhng it, but their first attack did only moderate damage, though it screamed at the flensing cuts the kitsune's blades had made. The sound tore at the ears of all who heard it, and killed a few of the weakest servants outright.

As the Kitsunes stumbled backwards something transparent s water, and harder than diamond flashed forward to wrap it'self about the abomination, though inplaces the being seemed cracked and fused "Here let it try it's disruption on me." Tetsuko roared - the Celestial Dragon was no more fromj this Reality that the Chaos Lord was and could not easily be crushed on it's atomic level, though she could still be hurt.

The pair flared as each met the other, and began a combat on the most fundamental of levels.

"Strike now while it is distracted" Aiko had recovered the Divine One's sword and she raced, with Silk hard on her heels to do just that. She may not have had the nicest of people, but she did not lack courage, or the will to see what was necessary though. And she had been trained to a level of skill with the sword that almost matched her mothers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--We are muri! Let these old ones know they are not alone! Destroy them, ladies--

"Excuse me that is a bomb is it not? Might I have it? There is a rather large cluster over there." The wizened elder bowed respectfully to Davrak "I under stand you have a son. He might be of my bloodline so take good care of him" The bomb was snatched from his fearsomely clawed hands and the ancient Novan disappeared, right as Davrak became too busy to chase him down. A dozen Jannissaries closed with him, engaging him in whirling lethal combat.

The combat was chaoticly unfollowable, a vertiable maelstrom of death and horror. For though the Shunned of the Court were using their abilities to the best of their ability, most had little to no training or great power - what they had was their will to take down as many of the chaos creatures as possible. But without the Muri it would not have been any where near enough.

However they did have the Muri and while those of the Court fell to the last one of them, the Muri made sure that the Jannissaries paid in full, to the last non surrendering one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Though Gemillia's Rightful Daughters would find that there some awaiting them, even if they had not answered her challenges. Lightening crackled about the Daughters as the came though the Gate.

"Oh I'm sorry Gemilla, did I mar your fine hide?" Crooned a Daughter of Borlak, beautiful, posionous, and poised with a sneer upon her lips.

Repeled by the fearsome howl of the Patron, Foxfire and Jade retreated, resisting the urge to try and cover their ears. But they were nothing if not persistant, and struck again, and again, and a third time. Both Xiscapians were exhasted from their respective ordeals, and now nothing more than their determination, anger and the power of the Force drove them onwards. The Emperor touched his blade and white fire spread across it, snarling and rippling as he drove it into the Chaotic matter that was the Patron. Jade artfully carved away at her chunk, tearing away bits and making patterns in the mass that vanished as quickly as they appeared.

"Oh I'm sorry Gemilla, did I mar your fine hide?" Crooned a Daughter of Borlak, beautiful, poisonous, and poised with a sneer upon her lips.
--Ay yah!--Gemilla laughed.--Your barren slut of a mistress must be cum-drunk to have sent you here, bitch! I'll take you alive, and once the Ordo Boztakangi have taken your secrets, along with your fingers, toes, teeth, eyes, skin and entrails, I'll march straightaway to that dried-out baby killer and drag her and that sperm-burping fart-knocker she calls "Sonny-boy" straight to the Eye of Ra!
--I want her alive, girls. Use the lariats from the last Momma's Boy who tried to arrest you...--

Silk and Aiko struck at such parts of the Lord of Chaos as they could reach, while trying to avoid the frenzied strikes it flailed out in return.

The Celestial Dragon that was Tetsuko tightened her coils about it, but one could see that the effort - this new battle which was now the one shaking the foundations of Heaven - was taking it's toll. Dark fissures appeared in the gleaming diamond hid, and parts of her being were being compressed almost beyond the limits of her ability to tolerate.


“Iwant her alive, girls. Use the lariats from the last Momma's Boy who tried to arrest you...—

“Oh I am afraid I can’t allow you to do that” The poisonous Beauty crooned dismissively and the lightening lashed out destroying some of the ropes that the Rightful Daughter sought to lariat her with ..and wounding one young priestess terribly. “Is that the best you can do Gemilla? Afraid to face me yourself? Why I might just ought to leave and go capture poor sweet Humbaba…”

The lightening lashed again, and none of the ropes that had managed to slither down over her head remained…

That was when the mech flew at her, complete with unconscious driver.
--How like that sloppy dried-out *expletive deleted*, mistaking an opening move for an attack!--The Daughter whirled, for the voice came from behind her, where a fist capable of crushing marble hurled at her, encased in a glowing field.--Smile, bitch-it's your last chance with those teeth--

The Daughter of Borlak managed to dodge the flying mecha with a slithering grace, and as she did so her form shifted...Stretching, growing, lengthening and losing all semblance of arms and legs.

--Smile, bitch-it's your last chance with those teeth--

Now a monsterous serpent, it's broad wedge shaped head weaving a defensive pattern as it spun to meet the attack from the rear. It's limber swiftness wasn't quite enough to avoid the blow completely, but Gemilla's power encased fist didn't quite strike true either. The serpent hissed angrily and struck with lightening swiftness at the hated priestess....

"Don't you know Gemilla, you're just a pawn in the way, now begone so I may hunt my rightfull prey!"

--A pawn that crosses the board may become a queen, but a puppet is always a puppet--Gemilla snarled, easing into the deadly Typhoon stance-fluid as water, striking as the storm.--I'd worry less about your prey than becoming mine. Your only concern now will be which of the gods will receive you...--

The Dragon roared, a much different sound that the ear paining screams of the Patron, and coiled itself tighter, ignoring the pain as the Patron's destroying claws tore deep rents.

Then Aiko's cry joined in with Tetsuko's as a brilliant azure beam sprang forth from one palm and severed part of the Chaos beings corporal form.

'Now, strike hard, while it is stunned." Her sword had found something vital, but it had taken power, shaped and directed to reach it, to create the gaping wound that would distract it enough that it would be vulnerable to the others attacks.

This gave Foxfire and Jade renewed energies.

--I'd worry less about your prey than becoming mine. Your only concern now will be which of the gods will receive you...--

"You a queen?" The serpent laughed as she managed to evade Gemilla's first attack, though it was a near thing "you can't even catch a male. Your looks frighten them all off" It's head bobbed with laughter and so cost it the bit of attention needed to avoid the Muri Priestess's second attack...

"You a queen?" THe serpent laughed as she managed to evade Gemilla's first attack, though it was a near thing "you can't even catch a male. Your looks firghten them all off" IT's head bobbed with laughter and so cost it the bit of attention needed to avoid the Muri Priestess's second attack...
--And who would want to bear a coward's young?--Gemilla tore into the serpentine form, trusting her force field to ward off the poisons of her foe.--My clan will mount the stars, barren one. What will you do besides lick the spittle from the floor of Borlak's throneroom?--
Gemilla was a fierce combatant, fully occupying her opponent, who did not realize her warriors were moving into position, insulated cables torn from the mechs woven into hasty, makeshift lassoes...

My clan will mount the stars, barren one. What will you do besides lick the spittle from the floor of Borlak's throneroom?--

Gemilla had landed some blows, but not sufficient to do more than slow the muscular and lightening protected viper. She was however able to keep the fangs of her opponent from landing, for a time...

"Only if you knock them senseless first. And bear a cowards young? You aren't going to bear any young." The Daughter laughed as at last one of her strikes connected, fangs lancing deep, delivering a deadly load of poison into Gemilla. Just as the wedged shaped head drew back the improvised lariats landed about it, capturing her. The lightening that wreathed about her flailed against the protected cables uselessly and the serpent hissed with rage, coiling and striking futilely.

While they continued to fight, both Jade and Foxfire grew weary. The Emperor's trek from the landing point to here had been a long one, and Jade had had little respite from her ordeal and near-fatal sacrifice, leaving both quickly draining. The brief energy boon raised both the power, speed and quantity of their strikes, and their spirits. Foxfire had lost all of his more peaceful, human facade, snarling and grunting in satisfaction every time he landed a blow. Jade screamed battle cries as she lit into the monster who had intended to devour her, striking it again and again with all her strength, blade hissing and tearing into what could only pass for flesh because it was on the outside of the beast.

The Rightful Daughters bound their foe tightly, as their Priestess stiffened and fell, the spirit form of a great scorpion hovering above her.
--Cage the beast!--a junior priestess ordered, rushing to Gemilla's side--The priestess commanded it face the Ordo Boztakangi, and who here would deny her this?--
She excised flesh from around the bite and began to suck as shamefaced Daughters drove their spears into a makeshift cage, binding the serpentine form of the Daughter of Borlak tightly as others not in the fray began to sing mechs into their components, altering their melodies to weave a large cage with fine mesh that would seal even a small native insect in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"NO!!!" Robbworth howled, leaping at the image.
"It's just Death, my boy-no need to get upset at your afterlife's work, now." Zorak Zoran casually plucked the sword from Robbworth's hand before returning it to it's home. "Think we'll sheathe you for now-that shoggoth was enough work for one day."
"But she-the Daughter-"
"Tut tut." Zorak Zoran turned to him. "Collateral damage is the base strategy of troll warfare, dear boy. She dies a hero, her image rides the altars of the Ordo Vaneekara as a testimony to the fight against Chaos. If War were without loss, they'd indulge their appetite for it far too much. People have to die, dear boy-Life is Pain, and there is an end to Pain. We-you, I, all the psychopomps-we understand this and have made it our careers. No advancement, the hours are horrid, no vacation-but it does include a wonderful health and dental plan."
"You're heartless." Robbworth pronounced, finally.
"Quite the opposite, dear boy-as you will learn. The mother in a field, impaled on a street sign-I do not take her to enjoy the lamentations of her husband and children, but because her pain is too much. The cancer victim who cannot move, cannot experience the joys of Life due to their pain-do they think me horrid and heartless? I've been greeted with 'What took you so long?' more often than 'Not yet'.
"The only horror I've perpetrated today was not claiming the Divine One until the last of him was in my boy's gullet, and even that was his doing, not mine."

OOC: And besides young psycopomp, there is more than one god at play in the fields...

just cause, Gemilla'd probably hate it... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ2P_-yO3h8)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Sorry Zorak, I’ve been doing all the work while you’ve just meddled” Kai said under his breath “This one is Mine. We’ll discuss it later but for now Gemilla lives. I like her alive too much, besides so does Humbaba and he did win the game after all “

And the junior priestess ministrations proved potent and life saving.

“And Lady Wife"... And that let that cat out of the bag... "if you don’t finish him off I can’t come back” He knew he’d be in the rear of the property canine hut for certain for that one but he didn’t really care he was tired of treading so softly as to not hurt Chaos’s poor little feelings…

He Stepped and in the act of movement there was destruction and in the landing of his foot there was creation.

The earth itself opened and swallowed the remnants of the Janissaries, and the alterations the Divine One had wrought lava well upwards sealing the cracks behind it with the cooling lava acting as rough bandage

Elsewhere the energy that the Divine One had siphoned off, wrenched from their normal flows for his abuse, burst the constraints he had set about it and returned in briefly riotous fashion to their well ordered beds and pools, streams and flows. Around the planet temperatures momentarily spiked then settled down to what they had been hours before the Rebellion had begun.

Tetsuko looked heavenward. She hurt amazingly and her efforts like those of the others seemed to be in vain, but Kai’s words had her digging deep for one last reserve of strength and will.


--And ZZ, you wanted the 'brightest' among us, and I gave him to you gladly, so don't gripe when he tests your patience or questions you. He has the soul of a healer and he is so terribly young.--

“Sorry Zorak, I’ve been doing all the work while you’ve just meddled” Kai said under his breath “This one is Mine. We’ll discuss it later but for now Gemilla lives. I like her alive too much, besides so does Humbaba and he did win the game after all “

Robbworth smiled. "It seems you are not all-powerful, Lord Zorak."
"Am I not?" Zorak Zoran smiled. "I had sheathed Death prior to it claiming Gemilla-she has a role yet to play. True, I did intend for Humbaba to save her, and hasten their eventual union-but Humbaba'a a clever boy and will still win out, though it will be longer now-Kai will find he has a penance for that, but it will be a light one. Humbaba did win their game, after all..."

Then those ranged around the Chaos Lord struck as one, lightening lancing from Silks hand as her sword landed, the same from Aikko, Tetsukos neck twisted sharply and the dragon's powerful jaws closed tight about the things, bearing dwon with all her might. FoxFire and Jade too struck, the keen edges of their force backed katanas plunging straight in to the hilt.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, as if shocked, then the the concussive blast that erupted threw them all away as if little more than a child paper dow facing a gale. Even Tetsukos massive form was lofted up and away, taking damaged that blacked the very diamonds of her scales.

Every one was left unconscious and badly injured. Many of the servants creeping about the adjoining halls were killed outright and part of the complexe's ceilings and walls collapsed violently.

Jade was thrown across the floor by the concussion, sliding on her tail to flip up and land in a pile of rubble, sword being torn away from her grasp to bury itself in the wall beside her as the Xiscapian Empress slumped on top of the debris, ornamental sacrificial dress now little more than immodest rags. She was bleeding from over a dozen places, tail bone broken in two, but unknown to her, the Emperor had taken the brunt of the blast for her, leaving her alive and, despite her previous injuries, relatively unharmed. In her state, anything more would have killed even the strong-willed female kitsune outright.

The Emperor had been catapulted, once again, back to the alter of sacrifice, slamming squarely into it. The stone was instantly destroyed and turned to only so much dust and loose rocks as it met the one hundred sixty pound flying kitsune ruler. He continued on his inevitable trajectory to smash against the wall some five feet above the floor before dropping, upon which the wall and ceiling above promptly collapsed onto him, burying Foxfire completely in wreckage. He was in bad shape: His armor torn and dirty, bones were broken or fractured in several places throughout his body, his right fox ear had been flayed to a matted, bloody chunk of flesh, several ribs had shattered outright, he suffered a serve concussion, and perhaps most disturbing of all was his old war wound. The "X" shaped scar that seemed to hold his right eye in the middle had suddenly reopened, and the entire right side of his face was sticky and wet with crimson blood.
Undead Building...
The fighting had long since abetted as the Shadow Ops soldiers, assisted by the denizens of the High Planes and the Muri, destroyed the zombies. For some time the Battleship Shadow Hunter had sat in orbit, shuttling the wounded and the dead up to it's medical bay and sending down fresh troops and equipment. A small force of twenty-five Shadow Ops troopers set out to the Palace once they saw, both from the ground and from orbit, part of the gigantic building crumble. Those who had been scanning the bio-signs of the Emperor reported him to be in bad shape, and the sensors were entirely screwed-up and unable to peer into the Palace due to all the supernatural forces swirling about it. The Shadow Ops came on hovercraft in groups of four, with the leader in power armor easily keeping ahead on point and four LAM (Light Assault Mecha) escorting. For the safety of the Imperial Family and their comrades, the Thorn Room had to be secured. Still, it would take them several minutes to reach the Palace and get inside.

Some of the automated weapons emplacements still functioned, but they were under the control of their individual cyber systems and the firing was erratic and inaccurate. While having to dodge fire was easy it was time consuming and would add several minutes to the Xiscapian's travel time.

About the Nursery every thing was deathly still, as on silent paws a procession of six legged Aurikki filtered out of the depths of the Court's vast forests. They were led by their youngest war leader, named Fade. Carefully avoiding the remains of the fallen Janissaries and their mechs, they moved in cautiously to see if any of the Muri survived. The seemingly endless waves of the lesser creatures of Chaos that had attacked the various Muri forces had been their primary targets and while the felinid aliens had too suffered losses their foes had fallen to the last.

About the caves on the mainland were many had taken refuge the snow melted and ran in in racing torrents down to the seas below and the sky shown cloudlessly bright.

The night that had seemed to stretch for months was suddenly over, the gelid wrongness that had gripped part of the planet now being scrubbed away amid at though start of spring cleaning.

In orbit above the forces loyal to the new Shogun took the surrender of the opposing forces, and began sending down rescue and recovery teams. This was happening all over the Imperia -The interstellar holdings of the Imperia were vast, spread over many star systems, but the knowledge flew from soul to soul far faster than any formal messenger could have. - Somehow all knowing that the hold of Chaos, the terrible grip of the Divine One had been broken, shattered.

Gerrak stirred slightly. It was a humid, sultry night in Doraddi-the calls of the tzin-tzin sounded that sigmalled they were retiring to their nests as Xentha's cloak settled over his realm. The Death Lord Korth stood over him, with a platter of walktapus-a desert cephalopod from last night's hunt-waiting for him. --Ready, nephew? A new hunt awaits...--
He shook sleep from his head.--I just had the strangest dream-there was the most beautiful woman, and her mad father intent on throwing all of Komor to Chaos...--
Death Lord Korth smiled paternally at him.--No, nephew. This is the dream...you're still laying mangled in the wreckage of the throne room on O'Kuni...
He gave a start, the cackle of his god in his ears...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--Get up, you lazy slugabed--a priestess snarled at him, prodding him in ribs yet tender.--The Priestess would know which of these is the Empress, which are allies, and which are food...--
Gerrak pointed with his snout.--The female kitsune-the one with the skin off her forearm-is the Empress. The fellow atop her is the Emperor,...--
--I should hope so--the preistess Gemilla sat in a palanquin, a few shades darker than she normally would have been.--There were no kitsune blocking our path, sisters. Put that one's skin back on, and be careful. Squishy women have a certain vanity regarding their hides. Someone put the Sultan on the mend, so he can tell us who's on what side--
--What is the Ordo Vaneekara doing here?--Gerrak asked as his head cleared.--You weren't among my mercenaries...--
--Your great-grandfather gave me permission to petition the Xiscapian Empress to hold a contest for a valet.--Gemilla replied.--And it's good we came-you were making quite a muck of this before we cleared it up. Which of these is the Divine One? He allied with a Daughter of Borlak, and I would have words with him--
--I already ate him. Sorry, Priestess--He touched his snout to her rings.
--Well, at least you did something right--Gemilla leered--THE EMPEROR IS DEAD! ALL HAIL THE EMPEROR!--
--ALL HAIL!--the Rightful Daughters echoed, saluting Gerrak before returning to sorting out the injured into allies to be healed and foes to be eaten.
--Where's Indigo?--he asked suddenly, looking about.--Zorak Zoran said she was alive...--
--He'd know--Gemilla shrugged--Can we eat that dragon? Only thing here more than a mouthful...--
--No--Gerrak waved away the priestess forcing him to eat--That's the Lady Tetsuko, Indigo's mother--
--Ah, the new Shogun of O'Kuni--Gemilla nodded.--Of course, that and a buck-fifty gets you a cup of coffee, these days.
--The spiders swarming the Palace Compound are asking about you, Gerrak--Gemilla refused to use his titles, as she was a Rightful Daughter and didn't want anything from him.--It seems you made quite an impression. A man liked so by spiders is quite a catch...--
--Priestess, it is beneath you to wed for gain.--Gerrak joked.--You've always despised me, and a proposal now that I am Emperor as well as Sultan of Doraddi would cast aspersions on your character...--
--The Celestial Imperia would make a fine coronet for a Rightful Daughter--she looked about the room with a sniff--Once we clean it up, anyway--
--I'm giving the Imperia to Indigo--Gerrak snarled--A paltry enough courting gift, but it may convince her my suit has merit. As such, I am her Champion...--he reared up, body screaming in protest, as he could barely stand.
Gemilla laughed--Please..you're weak as a--she reconsidered, for etiquette's sake--I am too injured from my battle with the Borlak revenant to press this, boy-and Indigo is my protege, so consider yourself fortunate I do not show you the affront of a Rightful Daughter. If you can't keep a civil tongue in your head, I shall remove it as a courtesy to my protege. A good husband is an invisible convenience--
She winked then, and Gerrak hooted softly, allowing the priestess to minister him...

Dodging about Muri that roamed though the palace the more intrepid of the servants began doing what cleaning and clearing they could - most of the Court never really realized that the servant served the Palace and not those who sat one it - save as a courtsey to the Palace itself...They began taking away the dead and dying from among their ranks, sorting though those that might live if tended promptly, and throwing the various slaves into holding pens to be sorted out later.

One very elderly but erect female trundled into the the remenants of the the Great hall carting a small black box, about a foot cubed.

But before she could speak the Dragon writhed, changed and became Tetsuko, though she really did want to do nothing more than sleep for a few dozen centuries. However...

"I'll thank you for Not trying to have me as your next meal. Oh goddess, some body kick the next Chaos creature you see on my behalf..." She growled, then stood and tried to stretch but her injuries would not allow it. Tetsuko grimmaced in pain but otherwise ignored them for the moment. She moved quickly over to Aiko and Silk, kneeling by them to check. Both were unconscious, but their injuries were not life threatening.

As she spoke she drew upon her connection to the High Plane of the Heavens, healing herself as much as possible, readying once again for battle. "Gerrak, you and I are going to have a discussion about you being the new Emperor. Because 'just because' you ate him doesn't mean the Imperia is yours. You must have the Mandate of Heaven."

"Dat way troll zzee dizz-me eatzz Emp'ror, me Emp'ror. Far azz Mandayt, hu yu dinkzz zzhow peepel Orff'nij? Me godzzez reddy tu krush Hoag'zz Objek', me peepel bizzee fillin' airwaffezzez wid shok prop'ganda." Gerrak told her. "Doan wurree-me keepzz drone warm fur Indigo-zzhe liff, zzhe Emprezzzz. 'Zzidezz, me reed Proff'zzee-Demon Emp'ror azzend to drone-but Noffan wurd 'demon' alzzo meen 'alien' or 'forinner'. Me dinkzz me haff gud cayzz fur Mandayt."
He signaled the servants."Leef corpzzezez-we eatzz, tayk all Kaos taint wid." With a shrug, they left the bodies to the Ordo Vaneekara, who began to devour the remains. Gerrak turned to Tetsuko. "We getzz yu planet in shayp, findzz Indigo-den we tok.
"Me dinkzz furzzt we mayk announzz to peepel, getzz me men owt uv hidin'. Dem noezz me be Emp'ror if eatzz Emp'ror, noezz Deeffiyn Wun neffer dink uv dizz fur trap. Gadder dem heer, on Eye-lan', where dem du kleen-up. Poorj kompownd, mayk all reddee fur Indigo'zz kornashun.
"Me alzzo dinkzz Taiko needzz tu be brought in, and tree uv uzz mayk planzzez fur new rejeem."

"That may be the troll way, but it is not our way...and you don't think that our Gods aren't watching, and ready to defend us if you attempt any such thing?" With no need for a gesture Tetsuko raised an unbreachable - by any less that a God - sphere of privacy and protection about the two of them and came to sit cross legged in mid air across from Gerrak.

"The Mandate of Heaven is not just a pretty set of words...and sadly I'm the one that currently has it. I don't want it! I am quite happy being Shogun. But Indigo can not take the throne...I ...I don't know if you were conscious, but Indigo is not..isn't..." She had no idea if Gerrak would understand but settled for bluntness " She a simulacrum, a constructed being, usually made by Mages to hold energies, or " Her lips went hard "Pleasure purposes. They aren't 'people', they don't have souls..just the spark of life. I am not an expert on them, but my sister obviously is. Aiko, the real one, is to whom the throne should go, that is what was planned. For her to become the next Divine One."

"Indigo is but a play on the kanji of Aiko's name, and I should have caught that." Tetsuko shook her head in admiration of her sisters machinations "Along with a few other things. But I don't want to fight with you Gerrak. Perhaps you and Aiko will suit."

"My people will fight yours as as invaders untill the last of them die. We have never been conquered, and we will not be. " She gave him a very serious look "And believe me when I say we have the means in place to take out our suns if need, be, sterilized our various systems with novas." There was no threat in her voice, but no bluff either, just an absolute matter of factness. "The Muri from what I have seen are a good people, perhaps even a great one Gerrak, but we will not be conquered. And for you to use this time to attempt such speaks badly of you Gerrak."

"Deezztroy yuzzeff if liyk-me dinkzz yu haff inflated zzenzz of zzelf-ezzteem." Gerrak reached for a chain about his neck and held out a crystal. "Yu godzzez haff put my peepel where dem du mozzt gud, and put me heer, now-dey haff zzpoken. Now yu tush dizz."
Tetsuko cocked an eyebrow, but did as bade to placate the brute. She gasped-the image was Indigo at Crabtown during the Festival of Mokka receiving some award from Cragspider, who ruled Crabtown. There was more, though-trolls captured the emotion of the moment in their crystals, and there was so much here. Indigo was vibrant, thrumming with the power of a nascent moon.
So many emotions flowed in her, the Eternal Moon and all it embodied, Tetsuko was nearly convinced-but then Cragspider turned her head and winked at the Shogun, addressing her directly:"Know."
Tetsuko shuddered as Boundless Time unwove, dropping the stratagem of the Omikami woven over three millenium into her skull.
"Izz dat a zzoulezzzz zzimulakrum, Tetzzuko?" Gerrak asked, oblivious to what had happened."It taykzz a zzoul to generate dozz emozzhunzz. Indigo will be Emprezzzz, and Aiko Deffiyn Wun. De two zzhall be zep'rayt, neffer held by wun agen, or de muri zztay an' yu blow owt all zzunzzez."
He spoke with the same finality as Tetsuko, and purposely sat on the remnants of the throne as he did so. "Now bring me de Taiko-we have a peepel to mend an' an Emprezzzz tu find."

No it was not her sense of self was inflated. She simply knew her people and how they'd react to being told they were being 'conquered'

Then Cragspider winked at her ...

Tetsuko grinned, and then she giggled- and the sight of the normally imperturbable Lady giggling brought things to a screeching halt.

Eventually she wrestled her laughter under control. "Gerrak do you often have the feeling that the gods use us for their amusement?" Tetsuko shot a gimlet glare heavenwards. She then gave to Gerrak the knowledge that had been given her. "I'll be glad to pass the Mandate on to her, that I promise you Gerrak"

"Though I think this laugh is more on my sister than on I. Indigo seemed fully human to me the very few chances I've ever had to meet with her. I thought she was Aiko, never suspected anything...But I thought that the ...the attack on you, the one I saw her intercept, I thought it destroyed her..." She looked about the chaotic remnants room further confused now "or sent her elsewhere.."

Then she shut her eyes for a long second..."Gerrak why don't you find her. You have a loves link to her.I know how to find the Taiko" And there her voice became a dangerous purling growl that would have done any Muri female proud.

"Gerrak do you often have the feeling that the gods use us for their amusement?"
"No-me noezz it." he smiled. "Du not all elderzzez du de zzaym?"
Gerrak why don't you find her. You have a loves link to her.I know how to find the Taiko"
"Zzhe wid Omikami now." Gerrak told her. "Me putzz togedder Imperia furzzt, haff proper courting gift, den me findzz. Omikami dezzerffzz zzweat fur try pull wun offer on me god, an' may haff adviyzz fur her. Me let him dinkzz me tayk drone, be bad Emp'ror. Him playzz gaymzzez, me zzhow him me no roolzzez, tu. Get Taiko, we tok-let godzzez zzweat fur wonzz."
He nodded across the room, to where Vaneekara priestesses bound the wounds on the Xiscapian Imperials while Gemilla spoke-the impermeability of Tetsuko's field working both ways. "Zzhe bezzt be kayrfull-Jayd haff nine taylzzez now."
"What are you talking about?" Tetsuko was perplexed, but she felt the presence of Gerrak's fetch wanting to share with her. Though weakened to her very soul, the spirit reflection of Jade clearly showed nine developing tails-the sign of a divine kitsune, and one of great power...

Despite his massive injuries, the Emperor was the first to become conscious. He had only opened his eyes when he found he could not move, limbs rigid, his form paralyzed except for his eyes and breathing. His stupendous effort he raised his head and saw out of the corner of his eye Jade, and the immature but unmistakable extra eight tails. The shock would have floored him if he hadn't been lying down, and he lowered his head even so, and concentrated on breathing. He was vaguely aware that other things were happening, huge forms moving around him, muted voices sounding but there was no danger. Though his shattered hearing he knew only one voice.
"Rosy..."
Jade was looking at him, and as healing hands passed over him the Emperor sat up, only to be gently but firmly pushed back down. He knew someone was speaking to him, but he heard nothing, having only eyes for Jade and ears for her voice. She smiled and stood, one hand running over the growing tails and the other tenderly brushing away hair and sweat from Foxfire's face. "Don't worry, love, we're alright. The Palace is in our hands now..." she whispered, and nearly on cue some fifteen Shadow Ops soldiers began to pick their way though the rubble, moving for the Imperial Family.

"Zzhe wid Omikami now."
--The Omikami's playing games, boy. You'll have to dig her out--
Gerrak yelped suddenly as if scalded, and charged into the rubble of the Courtroom, sniffing and hurling stones aside.
Tetsuko gasped-the young troll had penetrated it's bubble as if it were nothing, without so much as slowing down. He CAN'T have done that! she thought, Only a God-
A dry hand was felt at the small of her back, gliding softly up to her shoulders, lending her strength and support. The power of a God is nothing to True Love a soft still voice sounded in her skull.You should know that, Tetsuko-but the throne is vacant, now, and it's claimant gone to other matters. NOW is the time to act...

Yes Gerrak's shattering of the shield had Tetsuko gasping, but she also could only half laugh under her breath, it just confirmed that he and Indigo would be well matched...along with a few other things.

"The power of a God is nothing to True Love. You should know that, Tetsuko-but the throne is vacant, now, and it's claimant gone to other matters. NOW is the time to act...

Tetsuko's eyes went soft for a moment. She knew True Love, had found it with Kai, but as to the other ...Tetsuko sighed to herself, shaking her head and muttering "You know I don't even really want to be Shogun, but Giri demands," Her eyes flicked to the throne and she shuddered slightly "and I certainly do Not want that over blown monostrosity. I'll get Gerrak and Indigo new ones, much more comfortable ones, as a wedding present." She absentmindedly collected the shatterd, scattered shards of power back to her, then used the power to shatter the thone into dust "Definitely, New ones needed " Tetsuko was smiling as she began stretching to ease still aching muscles.

Looking skyward she spoke simply "Commander Harkano, I need you and a.." As her keen ears caught the charged hum of her Wraiths as they appeared in a large protective semicircle about her she broke off for a moment before contuinuing her request. Her eyes took them in acknowledging the wounds they had sustained, healing them And equally acknowledging the sobering fact that come of them had nor survived. It was sobering - for it was immensely hard to kill a kami, even minor ones. But then again Chaos had not pulled any punches this night.

With quick mental communication she dispatched some to guard Aiko and Silk - both of whom were being ministered to by Muri Priesteses. And others to apprehend the Taiko. Tetsuko knew that after her destruction of his assassin that he would be in no condition to resist. However should he resist...leave him alive and in condition to talk, but nothing else ...

A few minutes later her second in command and a group of aides and rescue personel transported in and he went to where Tetsuko, Silk and Aiko waited. The Muri priestesses had been marvelously helpful in their ministrations with all the injured. He bowed deeply to the new Shogun and awaited her commands...

They concerned only her sphere - that of the military, and the 'relief of and response to an emergency' order that all of the Three could give.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And on the High Planes of Heaven Kai looked at Asrelia and went to one knee before her, bowing his head "Grandmother I am sorry, I acted hastily and stepped where I should not have presumed to. I humbly ask what may I do to make it right?"

And on the High Planes of Heaven Kai looked at Asrelia and went to one knee before her, bowing his head "Grandmother I am sorry, I acted hastily and stepped where I should not have presumed to. I humbly ask what may I do to make it right?"
Asrelia pursed her lips. "Oh, get up, silly goose-all can be corrected. There will be another war for Chaos to realize Man can lay it low, and Humbaba will be fine despite your efforts. It would have been so romantic had he saved her-" Asrelia's eyes glistened warmly. "If you must make amends, don't pick your nose at the wedding-you'll be giving the bride away..."

Kai bowed again before standing and gave her a respectful, but laughing look "But I was soo hoping to be the Maid of Honor!" then he leaned over I could always engineer another situation where he has to save her..." His voice trailed off as he intercepted a Glance form the OmiKami.

He looked over to see his fallen kinswoman screaming silently, her jaws agape but no sound coming forth, eyes brimming with unimaginable pain but the light of intellegence still gleaming within... as she changed, her shape morphing...

She shall learn to value what she was, and all the gifts she had Came the OmiKami's voice I give her to you Asrelia, so that by your example she may learn.

And the newly made planet and its necessarily accompanying solar system landed neatly in the Asrelias "And thank you for the help dear one" came his voice in her thoughts.

Then he turned his attention to Kai, frowning ominously "And you! I will find something appropriate to do to you for marrying without my approval."

Then he turned his attention to Kai, frowning ominously "And you! I will find something appropriate to do to you for marrying without my approval."
Asrelia turned from her shaping of her errant granddaughter and shook her finger chidingly at the Omikami. "You will do no such thing! We exalt Love, not punish it. The worst you will do to the poor boy for that is stiff him on the wedding gift."
She turned then, suddenly all grandmotherly, and kissed him on the forehead. "You're a lucky god, Kai-and once you hit the bars, you can snicker at the beasts who swear their wives turned to dragons after the wedding. Just not too long, mind-your wife wouldn't approve."
She turned to the Omikami and snapped, "And you-you best give the boy a toaster and congratulate him..."
The Court took in it's collective breath-No one spoke to the Omikami so...

The High Planes of Heaven...

"And you-you best give the boy a toaster and congratulate him..."

The silence was long then the OmiKami's face lit in a smile. "You are right, Asrelia. Love is what matters, though a good party is never amiss. Go, on Son, just be careful how you meddle. And the young Sultan is right; the two positions must be made separate. Aiko is too proud, too full of herself, but she has the right stuff within. Let us hone that. .Asrelia, what do you suggest?

The Earthly Court...

Once Tetsuko had issued the orders that would start setting things to right she turned to where Silk and Aiko sat recovering. In low but firm tones she told them what had been vouchsafed her.

And Aiko erupted into venomous protests, doubting the factuality of it. "No I had no twin! I am Aiko, the Princess Akio. I've spent my life either trapped here at the Court, or in hiding studying with Mother.." She corrected herself heatedly "...Aunt Silk. I...We... made her she's just..." Her face with white with rage as Tetsuko just shook her head. "I won't have my place usurped by some thing. It's not right...She's a thief. I gave her my memories, all the studies I had done, I had worked so hard at. I'm not giving up all I worked for to some slut who's enamored of some monster out of a bad holocinema."

Silk spoke up in modulated tones, her own face rather white "And sister, she had no part in the defeat of that Chaos Lord, nor did the Muri. Though he did eat ..."Her face twisted, uncertain what to call that one..."All Indigo did was keep him from being destroyed. Does that really, honestly give him the throne? He's not Novan, I don't know if he will be accepted.. Yes we owe him greatly for his efforts, and heroic deeds, but Indigo on the throne? She has no training. Yes, Aiko has spent the last nearly three years studying with me, but she has had some lessons in command during that time." All her comments were reasonable, and calmly spoken.

Asrelia, what do you suggest?
The Old Power's eyes lit up, bright as a child's seeing their first Christmas tree. "Ooooh, a Celebration of Love, held in the happy couple's honor.
"We can do up the gardens in the Shogun's colors, with her mon on one side, and Kai's on the other...and a new mon dead-center you can create to show their union.
"There's much to do-gifts to show the couple our beneficence and blessings, musicians, and of course, food...I'd love to see how your golden peaches will go into one of my cobblers..."
Kai coughed embarrassedly. "Grandmother, while this is all nice, I think the Omikami meant about the situation on O'Kuni..."
She looked upon him with complete beneficence and understanding-the look that showed she loved him, but he had no grasp of the situation. "Let the mortals work it out, dear-the Omikami set the resolution of this matter in play long ago, when s/he(?) invited Zorak Zoran in. All we might wish to do is save poor Aiko's life..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm not giving up all I worked for to some slut who's enamored of some monster out of a bad holocinema."
"Your Emperor is busy trying to save the life of one who did all to see this succeed." Gemilla's bolongo carried heavy venom and spite. "Or was it you who gave your life to bring down the Palace defenses? No, that was Indigo.
"Did you bring in mercenaries to end this? Indigo again, though the Lady Tetsuko assisted, while you..." Gemilla glared. "You destroyed the Divine One so the Patron could be stopped? No, that wasn't you either. I don't see you've done anything but piss and moan about your rights and authority, and denigrate the movers and shakers of this event as a 'slut' and a 'monster'. Did we imprison your children in golden gyros for exercise while we programmed them to be cannibal beasts? No, child-that was you.
"Oh, you can squirm and deny it was Chaos, but Chaos only achieved that with your compliance, which was freely given.
"Now, that 'slut' is my protege, and were she here instead of buried under rubble, you'd be in a duel now, and if the 'monster' weren't busy trying to save her, you'd be eaten." Gemilla snarled. "Your words are offensive, especially coming from one who claims to bridge the divide between mortals and the Divine. Perhaps once I send you on to the gods, they'll explain things better to your replacement. Apologize for those words, bitch, or meet me between wands..."

"You destroyed the Divine One so the Patron could be stopped? No, that wasn't you either. I don't see you've done anything but piss and moan about your rights and authority, and denigrate the movers and shakers of this event as a 'slut' and a 'monster'. Did we imprison your children in golden gyros for exercise while we programmed them to be cannibal beasts? No, child-that was you.
"Oh, you can squirm and deny it was Chaos, but Chaos only achieved that with your compliance, which was freely given.
"Now, that 'slut' is my protege, and were she here instead of buried under rubble, you'd be in a duel now, and if the 'monster' weren't busy trying to save her, you'd be eaten." Gemilla snarled. "Your words are offensive, especially coming from one who claims to bridge the divide between mortals and the Divine. Perhaps once I send you on to the gods, they'll explain things better to your replacement. Apologize for those words, bitch, or meet me between wands..."

There was one thing Aiko was not, and that was a coward. She stood and walked to within Gemilla's range, two bright spots of color burning on her cheeks. "I Never claimed to have destroyed the Divine One. No, I honestly never had a chance to even raise a weapon against him... I will never claim what I have not earned. I have studied the Muri a little, I know that you combat for your lands. But here it is different, I could only do my best in my studies, and I did. Indigo didn't exist until we gave her a body. I worked to pass every exam, not her, I worked with my aunt to learn the majic...and it gets given to her free?"

"And as for the children he had, no I did not know they were there. When I was growing up here, I was ostracized from the Court, never allowed to join in save for the annual mandatory rituals. Do you think I would have let children suffer?" Aiko's eyes were wide with anger and horror.

Her chin lifted - and she was indeed Indigo's twin, or Indigo hers - "I may not have done what Indigo has done- But I have done what she has not, so perhaps we are equal. And she... she has had, and gets to have more of a Life than I?"

Silk eased herself bgetween the two, forcing Aiko back, her voice still calm and placating. "Priestess Gemilla, she speaks truly. She is the same age as Indigo believes herself to be, has memories of being - because until shortly before Indigo was exiled from the Court she didn't exist. Those memories are Aiko's. And since the time of the exile Aiko has been with me, hidden away by the kami and devoting herself to further studies. Studies I dare not allow her while under the eye of the Court. I will stand witness that she knew nothing about those children." She looked ill at the thought of the abominations the Divine One had been involved in.

"However" Tetsuko's cool voice interjected "Aiko, I am ashamed of you. Your anger is not worthy of you nor is your rudeness. Your disappointment does not excuse your words. I did not bear you to have a life of leisure and plenty. I bore both of you to serve, and both of you shall, as each of you is best suited for."

Aiko listened coldly, her eyes shuttered. The she bowed low to Gemilla "My humblest apologies Great Lady. I should not have spoken badly of my Honored Sister and our new Emperor" The words left a foul taste in her mouth but she was carefull to let none of it show on her face on in the tone of her voice. She looked inward at her shattered dreams, the life she thought she had earned, and huddled around them, not knowing what to do. She had worked so hard all those years, to earn...nothing.

Gemilla's gaze lost some of it's hardness and she hugged Aiko closely, raising her face to Gemilla's own. "The Lady Indigo has told me of your upbringing-this is an abominable practice, child-sequestering is foolish, especially with those destined to rule. But you are not Indigo-there is not a drop of malice or self-concern to that one. She has no rights, only a terrible, overwhelming obligation. Makes me think the fable of the Skins is more than a tale we tell our allies-your sister is a muri noble to her toeclaws, and you could learn much from her.
"Of course, the tale is old, and we are raised with it-it teaches us to look for similarities in others, and overlook differences." Gemilla leered and winked. "Of course, coming from one large boisterous family also helps.
"One day, when this is behind us, I shall take you to Valind's Glacier, to stay among my cousins-we shall hunt ice basilisks and read the Ancient Rotes that you may glean wisdom from our ancients, then perhaps you will extend the same courtesy to me."

Aiko took heart from Gemilla’s change, and returned the hug "I am truly sorry” It came hard for her to return the hug - few had ever bothered to touch her and Silk, despite her pleasant demeanor, was far to reserved to have ever laid hand on her. The words came hard too but she found they were true. "I think I'd like that, though I've never hunted anything more than paper- mache targets in my little woods." Then a tendril of slime- all those who had been apart of the slaying were liberally coated with it - oozed down her arm and she jumped back to keep from getting it on Gemilla.

And the rotting smell that was beginning to permeate the air, became nearly over powering. "Uggh! I think I must get clean before you all think I am but a midden" She joked feebly. And though her wounds had been healed by the priestesses she was wavering on her feet exhausted..

Silk stepped over to her - she too was gore soaked and stinking. "You need to get cleaned and rest.” She looked at Tetsuko, who too looked the worse for wear, and at Gemilla “I am going to get Aiko cleaned, fed and rested. I think we all need that, though I doubt you’ll rest anytime soon sister. Lady Gemilla if you will excuse us…” She never got to finish.

The wizened servant how had been silently standing in the middle of the remains of the vast hall, unnoticed by all shuffled her way over to where Aiko stood and addressed her in a low tone. “Here you will need this in your meditations”

Aiko looked at her oddly. She didn’t recognize her, but then again, the number I know here can be counted on one hand. “Need what?” She asked suspiciously, suddenly wary and stepped away from the ancient crone, so that her mother, aunt and the Muri priestess could see the bent and crooked spined one and the wrapped box she held.

--Girls, attend the lady--Gemilla barked in Shadowspeech, before turning to Aiko. "My ladies will attend to your cleaning, Lady Aiko. This detritus is laden with the stuff of Chaos, and may seek fertile soil if not disposed of properly. We may not be Boztakangi, but we know the Old Ways, the Old Rites-Chaos will be driven from O'Kuni, and perhaps a strike against it's source may be readied here."
She bowed to the old servant, and muttered in Earth Speech. "Grandmother is always kind."

The crone looked at Gemilla bemusedly, not understanding the language...Then Gemilla would realise where she had seen a much younger version of those features...on every statue of Kuan Yin.

"If she is the Guardian of the Gate of Heaven, should she not have the Gate to Guard?" The elder beamed, her gentle smile encompassing all there, as she slid the heavy silk cloth from about the cube.

The Radiance did not burn any save that which was of Chaos, the remenants reduced to coarse grained ash, then nothing, as every Novan about went to their knees or flat in, full abject prostration.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gerrak would not find Indigo among the rubble of the vast throne room, for she had not be placed there, but the side room where she had been was now empty.

Guided by scent, Gerrak soon retrieved Indigo, her body badly burned, barely conscious, but still alive. Once he'd laid her as comfortably as he could, he mixed some chemicals to form a burn ointment and began applying it, crooning (http://youtube.com/watch?v=zUH6vae0mec) softly to her as he gently rubbed the soothing creme over her.
His motions were sure and professional, though the look in his eyes and emotion in his voice told a different story...

More for the mood, Indigos reply (http://youtube.com/watch?v=iLN_SVtOhDg)

Indigo's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his song, reaching out and enveloping her, soothing her to her soul. For a long second she wanted flinch away, hide her worthlessness from him. Then as she remembered wild sobs shook her battered frame for some time.

When slowly her reaction subsided, cradled safe in Gerrak's strong arms, she looked up at him, her eyes aglow with an eldritch light, her voice fierce. "You are mine Gerrak, as I am yours, and Kygor Litor can try to come down out of the Castle of Lead and say other wise...I'll dump 'ol sparky' on her, if she so much as mutters under her breath." But Indigo could barely keep her eyes open...

"Can we have a bath?"

OOC:What's all this damned forever? What's wrong with lifelong (http://youtube.com/watch?v=R3Zouz5BklQ), after all?
IC:
Gerrak cradled Indigo, whispering. "Dat be niyzz, but me wantzz Zzizzterzzez to look yu offer furzzt-not zzure zzkin can take it yet."

OOC: The one good life time song is already dedicated to another couple...:p
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indigo didn't want any one seeing her in the shape she was currently - especially not Gerrak - she had enough feminine vanity for that, but seeing as he already had…”If you can look at me like that when I’m dirty, bloody, burned, short tempered and starving” She tried to speak bravely, teasingly as he lifted her in his arms. “But do you look at all the ladies you carry off like …ah” She gritted her teeth as he inadvertently touched burns though it was not like he could avoid them; she was mostly covered with them.

Elsewhere…

“Oh get up, it’s just a doorway.” The ancient crone cackled as she hobbled over to Aiko and tugged on the girl's shoulder with perhaps unsurprising strength. “Get up I say and take this. I’ve been hiding it for long enough. Last one of you wanted to give it to you know who, but I was smarter than he. Don’t make me have to come back here and do it again.”

Aiko had responded to the very firm tug on her shoulder in a half daze, looking at the others with easily discerned uncertainly rampant on her face. “Yes..Yes Mother” She took the cube carefully, holding it reverent hands “But what…”

Her voice trailed off as the figure vanished.

“I’ll be sending my son here to help finish things up.” Her voice came one last time “And, Gemilla, be a dear and kick the Borlak Bitches butt will you.”

"Haff no feer." Gemilla bowed to the crone. "Me zzhall zzee to it perzzonally zzhe is ek-zziled den me huntzz her down."
Looking over at Gerrak and Indigo, she barked at a servant:"You got air pads heer? Zzhe'zz burnt bad, mebbe help."
(OOC: Gemilla's talking about burn mattresses, where the victim lies on a cushion of air like an air hockey puck. I'm pretty sure O'Kuni tech has them, just not what they're called)

You got air pads heer? Zzhe'zz burnt bad, mebbe help."

The servant nodded quickly and scurried away.

However Aiko cocked her head and closed her eyes for a moment, as if hearing something far away and was straining to listen.

Slowly she opened her eyes and stepped hesitatntly to where Gerrak held Indigo. Reverently she held the doorway were Indigo could see it. "It...It says that you have every thing within you to heal yourself, but I have to help you open that door within you."

The two sisters locked eyes and something passed between them. While they might never be close there was a profound link between the two. Slowly power gathered, a trickle here, a streamlet there, then the Gates opened and a cascade of power washed over them. It left them both gasping, but at peace....and utterly weary.

Aiko sat down hard, some how managing to keep ahold of the cube, but heavy eyed.

And Indigo healed - fresh, new skin replacing the burns, but she too was barely able to keep her eyes open.

Aiko sat down hard, some how managing to keep ahold of the cube, but heavy eyed.

And Indigo healed - fresh, new skin replacing the burns, but she too was barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Yu zzleep now." Gerrak gently whispered, straightening Indigo's hair. "Wen yu wakezz, yu haff 'nuff on playt.
"Tayk her tu quarterzzez-let zzleep." he barked at a servant, all business now as he turned to the Lady Tetsuko. "Furzzt, weezzez muzzt zzek-yoor kingdom-ezztimayt damajzzez, zzo ford. Zzend yu peepel owt-mayk zzenzzuzz, azzk effer'wun hu wiyzzezzt izz, den zzend wiyzzezt tu me wid local lord. We get mor trood dat way, pluzz effer'wun zzee how dingzzez izz wen dem goezz home.
"We haff zzaying:'De lord knowzz de well hazz water, de peazzant knowzz how long it muzzt be boiled'. We need knowzz bod, pluzz de lordzzez muzzt be checked fur Kaozz. Dizz zzeemzz innocuous enuff tu not kawzz zzuzz-peck. Yu agree?"

We need knowzz bod, pluzz de lordzzez muzzt be checked fur Kaozz. Dizz zzeemzz innocuous enuff tu not kawzz zzuzz-peck. Yu agree?"

The servants, with several of the Wraiths acting as guards, carefully carried off both Indigo and Aiko to sleep in peace.

Tetsuko nodded briskly, in complete accord with Gerraks thoughts. "Here are what orders I have already issued, all with in my authority as Shogun" She handed him over the list printed out by her aides. The printing in a large font to account for Muri vision.

"And yes those that are tainted by Chaos, or are merely inept must be weeded out. Though I would not advise execution for mere ineptness. Trying ones best needs to be taken into account. I hope you will bring in those who are adept as susing out Chaos. I don't know if I have enough skilled people to call upon. I have the sad feeling that Chaos has made targets of them."

Though she too was exhausted, she set to working with Gerrak and the Muri - it could never be said that she shirked her duty.

Gerrak noticed Tetsuko's exhaustion, and indicated a servant."Yu, dere-run an' fetch de Zzhogun a chair. Gemilla, yu run to de pantry and loot us up zzum fud. Lotzzez koffee tu, pleez?"
--As the Imperial Presence commands--she replied with a curtsy that somehow made a mockery of the whole thing before strolling casually off. "Yu-where'zz de pantry?" she casually asked a servant."Bear in mind me grinds de coffee wid me teed and boil wadder wid me rage."
Gerrak shrugged, and turned to Tetsuko's papers, reading each carefully before setting it aside. "Yu no cownt zzum peepel-why?"
As she settled into her chair to respond, the troll slid off her shoes and began massaging her feet, "All haff zzuffered-all muzzt be cownted."

Bear in mind me grinds de coffee wid me teed and boil wadder wid me rage."

The servant giggled softly at Gemilla's comment "Oh then our chef will just adore you. Please most honored Lady, if you will come with me." She led the Muri Priestess to the nearest kitchen, asking concernedly "Let me send for your litter as well, in case you tire.

The kitchens were in a flurry of activity, despite being in as damaged a state as most everything was. But a tiny man, seated in float chair, hovering high above the others and sending forth a steady stream of crisply voiced orders.

"What have you brought me now? That is no pretense of a servant! She looks like she is an army, not feeder of armies." The chair swooped down upon the pair and the little man bowed deeply from where he sat in the immense chair "My eyes are delighted by your most formidable and glorious beauty. How may my humble self provide for thee today? A dish created just to delight you, and named in your honor? A snack suitable for the denizens of Heaven? A feast for hundreds?"


Tetsuko was surprised but thankful for Gerraks consideration. She frowned at his question and tried her best to explain. "I didn't want to be seen as stepping over the traditional boundaries. Even in times of emergency, it is the Taiko's prerogative to order census of all non military. And though I know the Taiko is Chaos's bought and paid" She half snarled half chuckled "Did not want to offend his Mandate."

She sighed and looked about for a servant then back at Gerrak "You aren't much better off than I am. Care for some cha as well ? It will probably get here faster than the food. It seems to appear as if by magic...I know Novan society must look rather strange from the outside." She shrugged "But it works well for us....or it did until the old Emperor set his plan in motion."

"The common folk were happy having the government taking care of what it properly is supposed to, the samurai happy and honorable in their duty, and the Divine One's court providing the illumination for all of us." She shook her head..."I know it sounds trite to say it was a 'golden age', but it was Gerrak."

"We don't live as long as you Muri do, but we have the memories, our races memories, and while I know it's far easier for the kami born like me to access them, it's still available to any of us who wish to take the proper steps."

"But back to a census. I can have a complete military one and a merchant marine one, in minutes, that’s within my powers, but if you want a civilian one, what with the Taiko under 'indictment' so to speak, you will need to authorize one as Indigo's regent. If the rebellion had become a true war then I could have, but since the just past government has toppled - I'm willing to order it, but it would look better coming directly from the Imperial Court, rather than the Shogun's Court."

She was giving him the best advice she could.

The Kitchens
"My eyes are delighted by your most formidable and glorious beauty. How may my humble self provide for thee today? A dish created just to delight you, and named in your honor? A snack suitable for the denizens of Heaven? A feast for hundreds?"

"De Emperor wantzz zznackzzez for him and de Zzhogun, wid lotzzez coffee-gonna be long night." Gemilla suspiciously sniffed around the kitchen, occasionally sampling a tidbit or two before pronouncing it proper fare or dismissing it. She lingered over some moonfish. "Dizz good for burnzzez-giff lotzzez to de Emperor. Him crizzpy as Zorak Zoran. Dat hazz lotzzez energy-dem needzz dat for long work."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Court
Gerrak listened to Tetsuko carefully, before pulling out a bolongo and allowing it to broadcast:"Which of you has the best calligraphy?"
A servant hesitantly stepped forward, "Give him pen and paper, and take this down:
"Nova Nippon are a proud, strong people, who have seen their way through yet another trial. As part of the rebuilding, and bearing in mind the death of the Taiko, a complete census is ordered by the Imperial Throne, that the needs of Our People be met properly."
Here, he was interrupted by samurai bringing in a tightly bound Taiko. "This is intolerable!" he cried out in protest. "Only I may order such a census, and I am not dead!"
Gerrak eyed him, and his bolongo continued:"Due to the injuries sustained by the Taiko in the conflict..."
"I'm not hurt, you ape!"
Gerrak nodded imperceptibly to one of the priestesses of Vaneekara, who returned the nod and moved quietly into position as the bolongo intoned:"For, as the Taiko seemed about to recover, suddenly felt the icy hand of Death upon him..." a muffled thud interrupted his speech.
"Him dead." the priestess smiled, cleaning her mace on the Taiko's robes.
"Further, as numbers cannot tell a full story, The Imperial Throne asks that each settlement send an emissary selected by the people to Our Presence to advise on the state of their regions until the damage done is repaired.
"So let it be written, so let it be done!"
Gerrak winked at the servant. "Clean dat up zzo it zzoundzz Imperial, den let me goezz offer it before zzending it out."
Tetsuko looked at the remains of the Taiko. "He should have gone to trial, you know."
"He wazz interrupting." Gerrak explained. "We'll try him later.
"All prizzonerzzez will be tried fairly, and to enzzure it to the zzatizzfak'zzhun off all, me order tribunalzzez-one O'Kuni magizztrate, one Zzacred Mudder, and one Zzizzkapyan judge-dat meet approffal? Furder, furst trial be me-for killin' de Diffine Won and de Taiko. Let all O'Kuni know no won izz aboff de law-effen de Emperor. De Zzizzkapyanzzez will comply, me truzzt?"

"All prizzonerzzez will be tried fairly, and to enzzure it to the zzatizzfak'zzhun off all, me order tribunalzzez-one O'Kuni magizztrate, one Zzacred Mudder, and one Zzizzkapyan judge-dat meet approffal? Furder, furst trial be me-for killin' de Diffine Won and de Taiko. Let all O'Kuni know no won izz aboff de law-effen de Emperor. De Zzizzkapyanzzez will comply, me truzzt?"

Tetsuko shook her head. "Others might be tried that way, but in all seriousness, the people - all of us of the Celestia Imperia - will not allow such in your case."

"You just sent off to bed the Only two -outside the Tribunal of Heaven itself- that have the right and the power to judge you."

She frowned for a moment, then said slowly. "Gerrak, you did what you did not for any personal profit, yes? You did it to end the hold and infection of Chaos upon the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon, correct - to insure that the Imperial Court - the Court of the Lightning, and the Court of the Word - the Court of the Taiko were cleansed and restored to the state they should be - as the Mandate of Heven demands?"

Her manner was entirely intent aqnd there was an air of waiting far more weighty than the reguard of one woman, Kami and Shogun though she might be. It was as if something vast held it's breath, waiting in stillness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dizz good for burnzzez-giff lotzzez to de Emperor. Him crizzpy as Zorak Zoran. Dat hazz lotzzez energy-dem needzz dat for long work."

The tiny man looked pleased to bursting "Certainly Honored Lady. And might I prepare soemthing for you? It would be an honor to prepare something for you. My ancestors will be spinning in their shrines with envy!"

"Gerrak, you did what you did not for any personal profit, yes? You did it to end the hold and infection of Chaos upon the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon, correct - to insure that the Imperial Court - the Court of the Lightning, and the Court of the Word - the Court of the Taiko were cleansed and restored to the state they should be - as the Mandate of Heaven demands?"
Gerrak looked at her as if she were a child. "Me do deez dingzzez, and more-me make de Imperia a zzayf and prozzperouzz realm, de pride of it'zz zzitizzenzzez-but me do all dizz for Indigo, dat zzhe know me wordy huzzband, and conzzider me suit-wot mor perzzonal den dat, and wot greater profit den zzuch a wiyf?
"But if onlee de Tribunal of Heaffen may try me, den I will zztand before it, dat de peepel know de Emprezzzz Indigo is juzzt and holdzz de Mandayt. I will not giff my intended a realm zzuzz'pishus off her rule.
"Let a playzz be made reddee-wid viewerzzez fur de peepel to zzee, and me zzubmit mezzelf tu de juzztizz of Heaffen-led priezztzzez zzanctify it and offeringzzez made-zzweet flowerzzez and inzzenzze for de pleazzure off de godzzez, and me zzhall wait and fazzt, doing nudding but gofferment work until de Heaffenzzez make dey Judgement clear-den, when de peepelzzez know, zzhall me raizze Indigo up to her proper playzz dat zzhe conzzider me hand in matrimony."

Tetsuko ignored his look but the dragon could not but help throw back her crystaline scaled head and laugh. A belly laugh that chased the clouds away and blew the dust from the vast room ...

"Gerrak, oh my dear Gerrak, you have just pled your case before all. I am not the Word, but I have a Word.."

And the weight of over four billion eyes, hearts and minds - and the countless presences of those of the High Planes of Heaven fell upon Gerrak, as he was weighed, measured, and not found wanting.

And he felt Indigo's kiss, feather light upon his cheek. "Love you Gerrak..and yes I will consider your suit the words were a sleepy soft murmur.

Silk (http://youtube.com/watch?v=v5R5-NVvDMc) watched all silently. She'd been so careful, so painstaking,and yet this barbarian prince was dashing her plans to shreds, aided and abetted not only by the Shogun, but the Heavenly Court and even the people of the Imperia seemed to be eating out of his hand-or foreclaw, as the case may be.
Still, the Novan word for "crisis" was the same as their word for "opportunity", and if her plans were in tatters, she could certainly salvage enough of it to assemble a second. Already, her mind was working. "My Emperor" she bowed low, yet not so low as to abase herself. "I have worked long and hard to bring this about, behind the scenes, and would be part of rebuilding the Imperia, and the bridges destroyed by the Divine One. May I undertake this census as a personal project, that this unworthy one may yet serve her Imperia?"
Gerrak looked at her, considering. He did not know this woman, nor had he reason to trust her, but she was Novan, and apparently of influence...
"Lady Tetsuko, will yu tayk her as an azzzzizztant? De rebuilding heer izz not dree coutrzzez, but de faid off de peepelzzez. Me will truzzt yu judge."

Lady Tetsuko, will yu tayk her as an azzzzizztant? De rebuilding heer izz not dree coutrzzez, but de faid off de peepelzzez. Me will truzzt yu judge."

Tetsuko looked at her long believed dead sister fondly, but consideringly. "My sister would be wasted as my assistant, but if you gave her temporary appointment as temporary overseer to the Taiko's Court, she could use her considerable talents there. She has obviously become a Master Sorcerer, also obviously an excellent organiser. I am sure she could take the census in hand and produce the results we need with all precission and speed."

Silk bowed once again and Tetsuko continued "And if she proved capable of fulfilling the post it could be come a laison between the Imperial and the Taiko's courts - a post which once existed and performed necessary functions. The Samuria will see her as one fo them, by birth right. As aunt to the Empress the Imperial Court will see her as worthy, and as she was not raised in the Shoguns Court, not raised among the Samurai, the common people will see her as sympathetic to them and their needs."

Again all very rational, logical and thoroughly Novan reasons and reasoning.

Gerrak listened, nodding. "Ffery well-Lady Zzilk will conduct dizz zzenzzuzz den, and if her work izz zzatizzfactory, we will appoint her Imperial Liaison."
Silk bowed. "I will not displease, Your Majesty." she said simply, her mind whirring already. This census would permit her to assume greater influence, and from that, she would begin anew...

Tetsuko watched her sister hasten off, she needed to work from facilities not in the middle of a disaster zone. Once Silk had vanished she looked over at Gerrak and frowned.

The servants had brought heaping platters of Moonfish, and other foods - and watched them be thoroughly demolished, along with what had seemed to be gallons of cha and coffee.

"You need to rest young Muri. You look like the loser of a battle, not the victor. Indigo won't thank you for killing yourself - even if it is on her behalf. Emergency Services will run even if you are sleeping. Go, check on Indigo reassure yourself that she is well, and then you sleep for eight hours or so.

"Zzleep if yu muzzt." Gerrak growled, dangerously. "Dere are troopzzez to be called out of war, reportzzez to be read. Dizz war not ended for many on de ground, and War endz wid de warlord. Howeffer, if yu are not de equal off a troll, me underzztandzz..."
Tetsuko looked, and saw Gerrak was ending the shooting in several fronts by declaring victory, and exchanging codes to ensure this was not an enemy ploy. His snide comments notwithstanding, there was more to ending a war than merely defeating an enemy...

And her own orders had gone out during the time that Gerrak had been searching for Indigo. She well knew that ending a war was a multistage effort. She would not have dispatched the repair and restoration Emergency Service crews without having sent out other orders first.

And admittedly she still had a reasonably intact command staff to aide her.

"Gerrak it's not a good idea to insult your future mother in law" was all Tetsuko said mildly. "I have been fighing wars long than you have been alive."

After all she hadn't been suggesting that she sleep - she was doing the Shoguns function - helming the military of the Celestial Imperia, and she probably would not take any extended rest for days, relying on small power naps.

"Fiyting wid de mudder-in-law izz hooman tradition." Gerrak blithely replied. "Me want to fit in, after all..."
He went back to the task at hand, including calling his hiding troops back, and sending a message to the orphanage requesting his troops and the remnants of the Court as had protected them...

Tetsuko laughed, a short bark of sound. "It's a Novan one too, so I guess you're getting it down right."

Then an aid appeared with another pile of data padds, and she turned back to her work.

"Gerrak, you'll want your dead for eating right?"

"Godzzez, yezz-if de zzoul not zzung to Wonderhome and de body eaten, de zzoul will linger and become a horror-de Chaozz troopzzez muzzt be eat too, or dem haunt de planet, breeding more Chaozz." Gerrak nodded vigorously. "Dere are ritualzzez of de Boztakangi-zzome we know, udderzz need de Boztakangi to perform. Me zzend mezzzzaj-call de Boztakangi-de Chaozz troopzzez muzzt be piled in one zzpot, watched careful-men wid netzzez muzzt catch effer inzzect, effer vermin off de corpzzezzez-dezze we burn, but de bodiezzez muzzt be eat after pyoor-fied. Dizz mozzt 'portant."

"I'll order that done immediately. I guessed it be something like that. However for my own troops that fell, we will hold our rituals. And it does involves something like singing them home. We aks that their families, or close friends if they had no family, recite their honors, inscribe them on the walls of memory, and in our Memory then we lite the pyre as the priests and priestess's sing and dance them though the Door to the High Planes of Heaven. So that their souls may rest and when healed, be reborn to us again."

"Would it help in the guarding of the bodies of the Chaos troops if we placed them in stasis fields? So that contamination can not escape? I can order that done instantly, and give your Odrer Boztakangi time to get here."

She shuddered at the thought of further contamination by Chaos. Tetsuko was enjoying working with Gerrak, he was so wonderfully decisive, and direct.

"We can but try-zztazzizz and guardzzez, juzzt in cayzz. Full honorzzez fur you men, including zzurffiffor benefitzzez. Zzome zzort of memorial zzhould be planned, for dey familiezzez and de nay-zzhun-a monolid, dere, where de Diffine Wun fell, bearing de monzzez and namezzez off de fallen. Bring dey familiezzez to de dedicay-zzhun, let dem rezzieff de nay-zzhun'zz dankzzez.
"Let none forget the priyzz off freedom." Gerrak nodded solemnly. "Giff de fallen promozzhunzzez-one rank fur de zzurffiffor benefitzzez."
The servants muttered-a monolith on Imperial ground for the fallen, survivor benefits above the ranks they'd earned? This Emperor was not like the others...

Tetsuko gave the barest nod but her eyes gleamed with approval, and when no one was looking she mouthed to Gerrak, very clearly 'Hearts and Minds"

"If it weren't all but impossible to build a new Imperial Court, I'd turn this whole island into a national preserve for the people, but the immense amount of security already emplaced her, the fact that it is an island and thus far more secureable than any mainland based holdings..."

"The expense alone." Tetsuko shook her head "I had hoped that Indigo would use the old one's treasury to run things for a few years so that we would not have to emplace any taxes beyond what we have now."

The benefits for the survivors and other needs would come from the Shoguns treasury and fortunately it had the funds to cover such, but recovering from the effects of the rebellion would take time. Tetsuko had used every asset she had to fund the Rebellion, and after this nights work the one thing she had left was the Kuro Kaze. Well, she'd already read through the damage reports. The old war horse of a ship was no longer batttle worthy.

"Takzzezzez?" Gerrak looked shocked. "Ekzztor-shun, more liyk. Troll goffernment muzzt zzupport itzzelf, zzame azz efferwun elzze. De Imperial Drone hazz mazzzziff holdingzzez, mozzt zzet azzide for non-productiff dingzzez like dizz island.
"Dere will be a mazzzziff audit, a rezztruc-zzhure. De Imperial cofferzzez will be a zztart, but we will build anew-buzzinezzzzezzez, factoriezzez, road crewzzez.
"De Court will traffel, let de peepel zzee it at work-zzecurity be damned-de peepel will haff dey will, and zzee de Emperor work for dem. Here, me zzhow..." he pulled out a datapad, and began displaying O'Kuni's roads and travelways. "De Imperial Landzzez muzzt be zztudied, dey optimum uzze determined..."
Tetsuko looked. "How did you get this?"
He looked sheepish. "Didn't know how long war would lazzt or where it would go..."

"Yes this island would be considered non productive by some, but it's not truly. The Imperial Court has always grown its own food - all of it's own food from herbs and vegatables. to grains, to meat animals, poultry and fish. And while I am willing to turn it into a reserve, preserved for the people. I am Not willing to turn it into some factory park."

"Most of our manufacturing is done in space, aboard factory habitats. Nor will I strip the Court of what produces the income it uses. The Imperial Court has expenses that can not be removed, and those incomes pay for those expenses.

Also the Government is NOT the Imperial Court. The Government as most people would understand a Government to be is the Taiko's Court."

Tetsuko's voice went very hard and cold "Security will Not Be Damned. The Security of the Emperor and Empress is my responsibility. I am Shogun. I am not bound by the oaths the previous Shogun was forced into. And I Will Fulfill My Duty."

"Gerrak, we are not a Democracy, we have never been a Democracy and we are not going to be one now. I know my daughter, if but a bit. The Empress will want the people to trust her, to see her efforts and know she works on their behalf. But she is not an elected official, and she does Not rule by the will of the people.

And that was fact, unalterable fact. The people of the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon did not want to be a democracy, it wsa not in their natures, and thousanhds of yeawrs of tradition were NOT going to bend to some outsiders will. Even if he was the husband of the Empress.

Gerrak laughed. "Pleazz-dizz island izz too mush of O'Kuni and it'zz wayzz-I'd be lynched in a heartbeat to change it-much. I may make de Compound a Cultural Muzzeum to bring in tourizztzzez and let de peepel zzee dey proud hizztory, to bring here de bezzt Novan Art and Zzcienzz hazz to offer, but dizz playzz izz a zzymbol-a zzymbol of united O'Kuni-and zzymbolzzez are bezzt uzzed, not hidden."
He became conspiratorial. "De trood izz, for a millenium de Imperial Court hazz debazzed itzzelf in ek-zzezzzz, nurtured Chaozz to it'zz bozzom. Deezz dingzzez are Imperial rezzponzzibility, not de Zzhogun'zz, not de Taiko'zz. De landzzez muzzt be ekzzamined and cleaned, and dizz izz de Imperial Court'zz job.
"Do you want de peepel to know Chaozz izz not yet gone, or do you want a good-will tour to promote de new regime? Do you want de hazzzzel off de zzecurity a travelling Court requirezz, or do you want de Imperia at rizzk, waiting for de zzeedzzez planted to grow? Dizz program will be challenged-may come to nuddin', but me will zzee effer holding off de Imperia cleanzzed, and dizz not job for dird party.
"You tell me-what would the Emperor of de Zzelezztial Imperia do in zzuch zzircumzztanzzezzez?"

Life times ago she had been the Emperor for a life, and those memories welled up "Yes a good will tour is worth all the headaches - logistics, security, who not to offend first, last or ever. And yes turning part of the isalnd back into a heritage museum - which it had been before - is a good thing."

"Both Indigo and Aiko will have to work together to reconsecrate the land, to cleanse it. And if the Empress is actually going to Rule, to really govern as they used to, she's going to need you Gerrak, and you good advice. She's going to be a working monarch, and if I know her she will expect every one around her to do so as well."

Tetsuko's voice changed at that. "She's going to need you Gerrak, because I think she will accept the pampering and care from you that she won't accept from me. I remember my life from generations ago, I needed to play just as hard as I worked, and I don't know if Indigo ...Aiko..either was ever taught that. I managed to vette all the books and her tutors but whether she ever learned to vacation?" For a moment a mother looked out of Tetsuko's eyes, and worried for her daughters aloud. "I have been the worst mother in the universe."

The Emperor sat on a toppled pillar, head bowed in thought, Jade leaning against him, dozing lightly. Foxfire's orange-red hair, highlighted with various colors and hues of blood and dust, hung over his face, masking his expression as one of the Shadow Ops soldiers approached. "My Lord," he bowed low, straightening up over his rifle. "My men can detect no more enemies in the area. The Shadow Hunter has come into orbit and is ready to beam on my command."

"So," the Emperor did not so much as raise his head, "instruct them to begin beaming up the dead first, so they may be properly preserved, then the living and the equipment. Our job is finished here." A hand stroked the slumbering Empresses head. "We got what we came for."

"Ah, Your Majesty," the kitsune seemed hesitant. "I'm afraid it is not that easy. Imperial engagement protocol demands we make a full sweep and eradicate any remaining hostiles. It also requires you to ensure the safety and fair trial of any prisoners..."

"I am sure the new leaders are fully able to handle such trivial matters," said the Emperor, his voice dangerously low.
"But the Muri sir! And the Novans!" The soldier seemed distressed. "They are not known for their kind treatment of their enemies, sire. Imperial protocol-"
Foxfire Rose stood suddenly, causing the trooper to take a step back. "I do not care," yellow eyes glowed maliciously from behind their curtain of hair as the voice emitted as a snarl, "what happens to these rebels or their friends. May they burn a thousand centuries for what acts they saw fit to commit. It is, quite literally, a miracle neither I nor Jade or Gerrak or Indigo were killed here today, and a sad fact for the many loyal soldiers who followed us and perished for it that they did not receive the same gift. Nothing I have done so far in this conflict has been per Imperial protocol, and it has worked out well so far!"

The kitsune cowered under his leader's wraith, but Jade stirred, woken, and put a hand on Foxfire's arm. "Rosy," she said softly, "we all know how our political opponents and many citizens are up in arms about what has happened already. We have our own Rebellion on our hands, and things could easily turn against us back home if word reached the media that we allowed prisoners to be slaughtered. I don't have any more compassion for them than you do," she gently turned him to face her, "but for the sake of your position, follow the Protocol for once."

Foxfire seemed torn for an instant, then shook his head. "It's up to the new Emperor to decide whether he wants our involvement." he muttered. "It's his show, now."

Servants had been hovering not wanting to intrude on the Xiscapians weariness, but now they dared intrude." My Lord Emperor, Lady Empress, please might we bring you and yours food? We have been requested to offer you every comfort and aide. I know that the Shogun and Regent Gerrak would want no wish of yours to go unanswered." The senior most bowed deeply.

One of Tetsuko's many officers too noticed the Xiscapians stirring and quickly advised Lord Harkano, who approached the Xiscapians deferentially.” My Lord, My Lady, the Shogun and Regent Emperor Gerrak are there" He indicated a mostly intact side chamber "They wanted to let you rest undisturbed, but will be glad of your input into the over all solution. Might I escort you there?"

"I require nothing," said the Emperor, glancing to his mate. She shook her head, and he waved a hand over to where a group of Xiscapian soldiers were clustered near the entrance of the Hall, technically on guard duty but actually talking in low voices, playing cards and generally not doing much of anything. "My men may require sustenance now, and I am certain they would not reject anything made in a kitchen over MRE packs. Please, attend to them."

Both made weary bows to Lord Harkano, glancing to the side chamber. "If the Shogun and Regent Emperor wish for our presence, then we shall go." said Jade simply. Foxfire nodded, removing his left glove and stuffing it in his belt before taking her by the hand and walking over to the room. The Xiscapian Rulers stood by the entrance, quietly waiting to be recognized. They did not wish to intrude on anything, certainly.

Gerrak noticed them, and stood, walking to the entrance. "Madame Emprezzzz, me glad you feel well enuff to attend-pleezz, tayk me zzeat. Emperor Rozz, let me offer you our hozzpitality, zzuch azz it izz.
"De Lady Tetzzuko and me fighting over de reconzztruk-shun effortzzez. Azz injured partiezzez, you muzzt haff demandzzez for peace and rezztitushunzzez-me owezz you much, and de Imperia azz well.
"Let me zztart by zzaying war crimezzez haff been committed, and we would liyk to zzee Zzizzcapia zzatizzfied in dizz matter..."

With murmured thanks Jade took Gerrak's vacated seat while Foxfire remained standing, though he leaned against the wall.
"Azz injured partiezzez, you muzzt haff demandzzez for peace and rezztitushunzzez-me owezz you much, and de Imperia azz well."
"Our only demands are the successful rebuilding of Nova Nippon, and the small price of the acquisition of technology to prevent future kidnappings, sabotage or assassinations in the same manner that I was kidnapped." said Jade quietly. "If we can help in any way, we would like to."
"Let me zztart by zzaying war crimezzez haff been committed, and we would liyk to zzee Zzizzcapia zzatizzfied in dizz matter..."
"What is the nature of the crimes, and who is the criminal?" asked Foxfire, as if he didn't already suspect the answer.

"What is the nature of the crimes, and who is the criminal?" asked Foxfire, as if he didn't already suspect the answer.
"Well, de mazztermindzzez are beyond Justizz-"Gerrak nodded towards the remnants of the High Priest, "but de Imperia will forgo prozzeedingzzez on de ak-shoo-al kidnapperzzez to deliffer dem to Zzizzkapian courtzzez, wid de caveat dat dey will fayzz Novan juzztizz when you done-dough me dinkzz dey can only die wonzz. Howeffer, me dinkzz me peepel too upzzet, wheder dey Novan or troll, to be imparzzal in de tribunalzzez-could me impozz upon you to zzend Court Obzzerfferzzez to keep dingzzez just radder den vengeful? Dere will be menny, menny zzhrill recriminazzhuns, me fear."
"Our only demands are the successful rebuilding of Nova Nippon, and the small price of the acquisition of technology to prevent future kidnappings, sabotage or assassinations in the same manner that I was kidnapped." said Jade quietly. "If we can help in any way, we would like to."
"Dat would be kwiyt impozzzzible, Yer Imperial Highnezzzz, zzhort off zzealing Zzizzkapia in a zztazzizz field." Gerrak sounded truly apologetic. "Zzome dingzzez you muzzt learn for yourzzelf, dat you may improff upon dem widout retroengineering. Howeffer, me man Morga will train you peepel in Blue Moon counter-intelligenzz and de running of alogoi, and me will zzend zzmidzzez of de Ordo Gadbladdi to aid in upgrayding you defenzzezzez along de linezzez you haff already chozzen. It will not be enuff-cleffer men will haff dey way, but knowing you are not zzayf izz zzometimezz de best defenzz off all."

After welcoming them and making sure they were not needing anything Tetusko let Gerrak speak.

She listened quietly, nodding at the wisdom of asking the Xiscapians to help oversee any trials. Her people would simply be clammoring - quietly - riots or public frenzy was Not the Novan way - but adamantly for the simple execution of those involved with this horror.

It was also a matter of honor. People of the Celestial Imperia - true they poor tortured and altered beings that could no long be called Novan but they had been theirs once and they must answer for their actions -had participated in the kidnapping and torture and near death of Jade. THey needed to pay the price for that, as would those who made them what they had become.

"He's correct, there is no way of abosolutely being beyond danger, and the technologies they used had been forbidden ones. Those we are turning over to the Muri. I don't want them in the Imperia." She said firmly.

"However Gerrak is absolutely correct. "My peopel allowed you and yours to be hurt. And we want to repay you. Not only for that but for your kindness and generosity."

It was at this point that the survivors from the Imperial Nursery - Muri, child and remaining elders - arrived.

Howeffer, me dinkzz me peepel too upzzet, wheder dey Novan or troll, to be imparzzal in de tribunalzzez-could me impozz upon you to zzend Court Obzzerfferzzez to keep dingzzez just radder den vengeful? Dere will be menny, menny zzhrill recriminazzhuns, me fear."
"I am sure that can be arranged," said Foxfire, but he shook his head even as he said the words. "However, I do not believe I can trust any kitsune judges or legal officials to make unbiased rulings. As I understand it, among the crimes that have been committed are those of the murder of innocents and the..." he paused with a sorrow-filled sigh, but Jade broke in, "the torture and violation of myself. Even, and especially, against our own, there is only one punishment for those crimes, and that is execution. No Xiscapian judge could rule anything otherwise and be able to sleep at night."
"We will guard them," said Foxfire, "and we can keep the offenders imprisoned until the day they die, but if we do a trial there is only one way to go. You cannot trust us to be impartial or unbiased: As you said yourself, we are the injured party."
"Zzome dingzzez you muzzt learn for yourzzelf, dat you may improff upon dem widout retroengineering."
"He's correct, there is no way of abosolutely being beyond danger, and the technologies they used had been forbidden ones. Those we are turning over to the Muri. I don't want them in the Imperia."
Nods from both the rulers. "We understand." Jade sighed. Looks like Xiscapia is on it's own here...
"Howeffer, me man Morga will train you peepel in Blue Moon counter-intelligenzz and de running of alogoi, and me will zzend zzmidzzez of de Ordo Gadbladdi to aid in upgrayding you defenzzezzez along de linezzez you haff already chozzen. It will not be enuff-cleffer men will haff dey way, but knowing you are not zzayf izz zzometimezz de best defenzz off all."
...Or maybe not.
"That would be most welcome," said Foxfire. "Already I have encountered too many attempted assassinations, invasions and sabotage to delude myself in thinking our defenses are impenetrable. We need to be ready, and alert, for the next inevitable attack, from whoever it may come."
"However Gerrak is absolutely correct. My people allowed you and yours to be hurt. And we want to repay you. Not only for that but for your kindness and generosity."
Jade smiled while Foxfire spread his hands. "What can you possibly offer us that we can accept in good honor? To myself, this entire battle was all about rescuing Jade, the fact that I and those under my command were killing Chaos and helping to save a nation was simply a bonus."

It was at this point that the survivors from the Imperial Nursery - Muri, child and remaining elders - arrived.
The first sound was the low dirgelike chant (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKhwuBasyWI&feature=related) of the Anubi, marching before the muri and the elders, though the odd song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3UId5lXYbc) of the muri, carried in Shadowspeech by the grumbling voices of the Zorak Zorani berserks and the children they bore on their shoulders, followed.
It was an ancient paean, supposedly written by the Cave Trolls upon their return from the recesses of Dehore's Labyrinth, and traditional upon the defeat of Chaos.
"Me peepel haff arrived." Gerrak said, bowing. "Dizz will haff to wait..."

What can you possibly offer us that we can accept in good honor? To myself, this entire battle was all about rescuing Jade, the fact that I and those under my command were killing Chaos and helping to save a nation was simply a bonus

Tetsuko stood, as did all the Novans, as the mixed group entered, rendering honours. They bowed deeply and held the bow for longer than even that offered to those of the High Planes of Heaven.

Then she straightened and looked at the Xiscapians. "We do have technologies, untaineted technologies, that you don't and we will gladly share those with you. I know that Indigo would also want whatever form of formal alliance between our nations we can devise."

Then she smiled briefly as Crown Prince Thoth of the Anubians joined her. He too bore tended battle wounds. His expression was sober and her smiled faded to match his and they hugged silently. Then they stepped apart and turned their eyes upon Gerrak and his Muri.

"Impressive fighters"

"Imoressive people, and I don't know whether thye're going to welcome him with open arm or outright horror at breaking tradition" Tetsuko replied.

"We do have technologies, untainted technologies, that you don't and we will gladly share those with you. I know that Indigo would also want whatever form of formal alliance between our nations we can devise."
"That is a fine proposition," said Foxfire Rose once he had stood upright from his bow. "Xiscapia would be honored to have an alliance with Nova Nippon. As for the technology, well, we will have to see," he smiled, "what you offer."

Gerrak walked up to Gavrak, noting the one-armed child in his arms. --What is that? Have you looted my lands, and demand reprisals?--
--No, Lord- --
--Emperor, now-I have eaten the last one--
Gavrak smiled--Good for you. This is my son, looted in our war, as is meet and proper--He held the one-armed child up.
Gerrak looked over the child.--This is meet and proper, but what if the child has living relatives among the Novans?--
Gavrak glared, cloistering the child in his foreclaws. --I will fight them all to this child's parent--
--That will not be necessary, Gavrak--Gerrak waved it aside, idly--I'm fairly certain my predecessor made certain they are all dead, but I am Novan Emperor-the claims of my citizens must be heard--
--Why, you pompous, overblown ass-this is my loot, rightfully claimed, and if I name him son, such is my business--He passed the child to an officer, and growled deeply--Claim him, if such is your wont...--
Gerrak slapped him smartly in the face.--I have claimed him, lout-I am Emperor. Now claim him yourself--
They began slapping each other madly, which broke into fighting, then wrestling. The Ordo Vaneekara rushed forth, but only to keep it between the two, as they rolled about, gouging and clawing at each other. Eventually, they stopped...
--You do know, I will see them with their families, don't you?--Gerrak gasped out, leaning on Gavrak.
--He's with family now--Gavrak panted--I sure as hell wouldn't subject him to Imperial treatment--
--Point taken--Gerrak kissed Gavrak fully, their embrace tight and that of brothers--But I am obligated to defend their blood ties--
--Yeah, yeah. Toss it into court, let us raise them, and it won't really matter, will it?--
--You put so much on me--Gerrak sighed, hugging Gavrak tightly--You know what you ask?--
--He's mine-and my men have identical claims. You'll fight us all--
--So be it--Gerrak nodded--These children are loot, rightfully claimed. There will be repercussions, Gavrak, but for your sake...--Gerrak licked his cheek, gently--They are loot, and the men may keep them. If I hear one word...--
--You'll be in line after me--Gavrak replied, licking Gerrak in return--Only one justice will be heard, and mine will be the sooner--
--Very well--Gerrak pulled himself away, and returned to the smaller group of Lady Tetsuko and the Xiscapian Imperials. "Me men claim dezz zzhildren azz loot-yu will haff to fferify dey orphan zztatuzz, and mayk arrangementzzez..." he growled to Tetsuko.

"Me men claim dezz zzhildren azz loot-yu will haff to fferify dey orphan zztatuzz, and mayk arrangementzzez..."

Tam Luck stepped forth from the others. "I will speak for these children. Kuan Yin holds these children as hers, with no parents save those who have chosen them" She looked at each Muri who had claimed a child in turn. "And you think Gavrak or Gerrak will be there first? Just remember that the goddess is always there"

She lookedf at the Muri and shrugged "What? Of course I know how my sister thinks. I haven't been hanging round here for four hundred thirty seven generations for nothing."

"Now excuse me I have wounded to tend. You people are so damn messy." she left, heading for the nearest triage station.

Tetsuko gave Gerrak a wry grin and simply said "I'll set the proper people on it immediately, in your name, Emperor."

"Now excuse me I have wounded to tend. You people are so damn messy." she left, heading for the nearest triage station.
"Nezzt war, we bring maydzzez." Gerrak muttered.

Tetsuko gave Gerrak a wry grin and simply said "I'll set the proper people on it immediately, in your name, Emperor."
"Juzzt get DNA zzamplezzez from dem azz dey checked out, and contact any liffing relatiffezzez." Gerrak instructed calmly. "Me dinkzz when me men meet wid de familiezzez, dingzzez may change..."

His mutter brought a little cats grin to Tetsuko's lips.

The second had her shaking her head "Gerrak, if my suspicions are anywhere near correct, we aren't going to find any relatives for these children. I'm willing to bet good money that genetic scans find nothing closer than five to ten generations back." Her face looked as sick as her heart felt.

"If the Luck says they are Quan Yin's, then they are, and hers entrust to those whom she sees fit."

The Shogun looked over at Gavrak "Now do you want your son to go through life but with one arm, or can we clone grow him a new one?"

"Yezz, but muzzt be done." Gerrak replied. "Me will not haff Indigo accuzzed off zzelling Novan children to de trollzzez fur her drone. Effery attempt will be made to find de familiezzez."
"Dem hazz familiezzez." Gavrak insisted. "Dem part of de Order, now."
"Now do you want your son to go through life but with one arm, or can we clone grow him a new one?"
"Go hedd." Gavrak shrugged. "If no like will bite off and grow nudder wid monster-maker."

Tetsuko held up a placating hand. "We will do a genetic screening, to find their ancestoral lines, if such still exist" She reassured Gerrak, touched by how determined he was to gift Indigo with as perfect a present as possible. So utterly different from Kai....I miss you, love

and I you, heart of my heart Kai's voice was a whisper in her soul and suddenly she felt him wrapped about her.

Then she liftedf an eyebrow at Gavrak's comment about 'mosnter maker', but decided she would ask later. A summons brought one of the medical aides over to take Gavrak and the toddler to a medical center.

Then a delayed chuckle hit her. "Gerrak, it's a custom you might want to take up. Our biggest post emergency, post battle reconstruction contractor company calls itself Molly Maids." Then she lifted her voice so it would caryr to the cluster of staff officers bgusy handling the post rebellion details. "Surely you all have some more reports to deluge me with?"

Then a new thought hit her. "Gerrak, it has always been tradition, and custom, but never quite delineated into mere law. As Shogun all that connect with the military are my perview, mine to deal with so to speak. Any of my offiers who dealt knowingly with Chaos are going to die, and no long, fancy, drawn out trubnals. They will be tested, and if found guilty, executed on the spot, the bodies purefied and creamated."

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"Remoff dem from dey offizzezzez-dey will haff a full trial, before a Zzacred Mudder, a Novan magizztrate, and a Zzizzcapian Obzzerffer-publicly held, wid full media. De peepelzzez muzzt zzee how our Justizz izz zzerffed, and all bad dingzzez blamed on me."
He leaned closer, and whispered, "Me know dizz izz an inconffieninzz, but de peepelzzez muzzt neffer doubt Indigo holdzz de Mandate. Public trialzzez wid Obzzerfferzzez, will conffinzz dem.
"Aldough dizz may limit uzz, remoff all you do not perzzonally truzzt from office-a few innozzentzzez will help de peepel ak-zzept. You will zztand wid dem later-when you zztand trial for treazzon. You did bring troopzzez againzzt de Deffine Wun-foreign troopzzez, and dizz will be zzettled-you will proof de Mandate izz upon you, and dus, upon me, and upon Indigo. Deezz maderzzez will be cleared before you daughter rezztzz on de Drone--Me will not haff de peepel dinking you a puppet, zzet up by me. Indigo will obtain a Drone free off taint."
Tetsuko looked shocked, but the Emperor's voice and demeanor had finality stamped firmly on them.

"I don't give a eta's ass for inconvience, or what the people think." Tetsuko said coldly then took a deep breath to once again try and explain it to the Muri.

"Gerrak, neither I, nor Indigo, care one whit what the people think- Nova Nippon is not a democracy and never has been nor does it wish to be. We do notrule by the will of the people - we rule by the Mandate of Heaven. And we need no trials to prove that. We won and that is our proof. And while you can have all the show trials you want of the Taiko's Court, I will not allow it for my Court. The Shogun's Court will handle the testing of it's own. And That is Final."

Tetsuko looked as unmoving as Gerrak did. He apparently still did not understand what the Novans would and would not accept. The People of the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon weren't human, and didn't think human. They were Novans and bowed only to those they felt like doing so to.

Gerrak sighed. "You dink I do dizz for de peepel, when I do it for all de worldzzez who have zzuffered de Deffine Wun'zz depredazzhunzzez dezze pazzt dree douzzand yearzzez.
"You haff drown de Mandate in my fayzz enough-Me akzzeptzz it azz part and parzzel off dizz world, but when me zzpeakzz from me heart off de rezzpect me hold for de individual, you zzcoff and denownzz.
"Already, in dizz pit of de Enemy, where we know not yet who izz zzerffant off de Palazz and who zzervezz Chaozz, you haff had me reffeal me plan to hunt de Foe where it liezz, when zzimple acquiezzenzz would haff me hunt prey unaware.
"Now, when me zzeezz de future, me zzeezz many zzeedzzez grow to great harffest-and when de Time of Reaping comezz, me want all to know de goffernment is purified and de Diffine Wun dead, hizz influenzz gone, and you, who command de Fayzz he wore mozzt openly to doze who will zzeek vengeanzz, tell me off you rightzzez and priffiledgezzez.
"Me haff neider-me haff dutiezzez and obligazzhunzzez. Me will fight to de Dead and beyond againzzt de Diffine Wun's alliezzez for de Imperia, but not one drop off blood from de lowliezzt eta will I permit in defenzz againzzt hizz ffictimzzez, nor will me pay for wun dizzcharge from a cannon againzzt righteous wrad.
"You have inffoked you rights, and me agree-you haff zztated de Mandate, and me will ak-zzept."
His bolongo spoke next, to the recently appointed scribe:"The Shogun has invoked the rights of that office, and also the Mandate of Heaven. To that end, the Imperial Throne proclaims Amnesty for all of the Shogun's Court, who have served the Mandate under this government as is meet and proper. No recriminations or reprisals shall be brought against them by the Throne, and they shall continue under the Shogun as ever. The military might of the Celestial Imperia is exonerated by the Shogun, and the Throne accepts that worthy's judgement."
Gerrak read it briefly. "Me zzign, den copiezzez zzent drough de uzzual channelzzez, wid wun copy to effery nation wid which the Imperia hazz effer dealt.
"When de inffezztigationzzez of de Tribunalzzez uncofferzzez where de tendrilzzez off Chaozz haff gone, de Drone will hunt, Zzhogun-me would not dizzhonor you by haffing you partake in zzuch uzzelezzzz pageantry. Now, de Drone will occupy itzzelf wid de de-ayter dat borezz you zzo.
"Unlezzzz you need permizzzzionzzez for you work, me haff much elzze to do, and me will zzummon you when dezzired."
He tilted his head, waiting...

Tetsuko took the scroll her face expressionless, bowing exactly as deeply as required. Though none of her officers said anything their faces and attitudes were just as stony.

"Since I am excused" With a glance and a gesture she summoned her officers and seconds later there was not a samurai left in Gerraks sight.

The word of the incident spread as quickly as if an artic wind had swept through the area, and while the servants were nothing short of utterly courteous, there was no hint of any friendliness about them.

Else where ...

Robbs muttered angrily "That was a severe mistake on Gerraks part. He's just completely alienated the Shogunate. Though Tetsuko could have done a better job of explaining" He went on "She may well be dead in six months because of this. By stating aloud his deisre to put her on trial he's stripped her of his support of her, his faith in her, questioned her fitness to be Shogun. He has said that her Mnhei'sahe is not suffecient, that she in incapable and that she IS his puppet. And he's hurt is rule as well."

Robbs muttered angrily "That was a severe mistake on Gerraks part. He's just completely alienated the Shogunate. Though Tetsuko could have done a better job of explaining" He went on "She may well be dead in six months because of this. By stating aloud his desire to put her on trial he's stripped her of his support of her, his faith in her, questioned her fitness to be Shogun. He has said that her Mnhei'sahe is not suffecient, that she in incapable and that she IS his puppet. And he's hurt his rule as well."
"Nothing will happen to the Lady, Robbsworth." Zorak Zoran pronounced. "Even now, the Blue Moon is extending it's protection over her at Gerrak's request, and those who will try to woo her into a coup noted. Her honor makes her unassailable, and anything less than his actions would not be believable.
"There are vast differences between your people and my children, Robbsworth, though outsiders assume they are very similar. The Imperia is a vast civilized empire, which makes it insular, more concerned with it's inner workings than the affairs of it's neighboring nations. The muri are a vast, sprawling Family, run by it's womenfolk, which makes it more concerned with it's neighbors than it's own internal affairs.
"Gerrak's actions are those of a troll-when one errs, one admits the error and corrects it, thereby gaining honor. Imperia honor is satisfied by hiding the error, and providing a facade of flawless perfection. Were this purely an internal matter, Gerrak would give a list to that Morga chap and wait without consulting Tetsuko at all.
"Gerrak knows not what the Divine One has done, only that he's been doing it for three thousand years and using the Shogunate for much of it outside the Imperia. There are wronged parties, and this dog and pony show is for them. Since Gerrak is a troll, he will put himself on trial first, and since he is innocent of any wrongdoing save eating the Divine One, he will be found innocent, and his rule continues, or he will be found guilty, Indigo installed and he will be executed as a war criminal, exonerating her completely.
"Once he or she is cleared, the real hunt for Chaos begins-the public nature of the trials will open diplomatic avenues, and joint efforts between the Imperia and those wronged by the Divine One will eliminate his influence in Known Space, save on those worlds where he backed a winning horse. That this is done with cooperation rather than sub rosa activity is most pleasing to a troll's sensibilities, even as it is hurtful to a Novan's.
"The Lady Tetsuko's demand she be allowed to continue under Novan ways Gerrak sees as detrimental to the Imperia's standing as a nation-the wronged parties must be part of justice to his mind, or they will seek vengeance in it's stead, and quietly dealing with it and applying a coat of whitewash will not satisfy the Divine One's victims. The Imperia will be caught in a million petty wars Gerrak would spare it, all because they have not seen Justice done.
"I am certain that Gerrak's paramour, the Lady Indigo, will explain it to him from the Novan standpoint, and he will correct himself-he IS a troll, and my blood as well as Moorgarki's runs in him.
"Our problem is the Lady Tetsuko-her stubborn pig-headedness coupled with Gerrak's so he saw her as a detriment, and decided to use her as bait for those Chaos forces still extant in the Imperia. Sadly, if I were to move any of my people to intercede, the situation would worsen. Gerrak did not challenge her to a duel only because a troll only kills his wife's mother at the wife's request, and he will protect the Lady because she is Indigo's mother, no matter what his personal feelings.
"So, my fine Lord Robbsworth, we are going to barter, you and I. I offer one night of flesh, spent with your delightful wives-from sundown to sunrise you may visit them as more than a dream, and enjoy what pleasures you may, and lessen their grief, hopefully, by supplying them with children in your image they may dote upon.
"In exchange, I demand one night with the Lord Morga, who must be told of this mistake that he may correct it-he is a servant of Annilla's, thus I may not influence him. He must be moved to explain things to the Lady Tetsuko, and mend the rift between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate.
"That is my offer, my Lord-what is your counter-offer?"

"Even now, the Blue Moon is extending it's protection over her at Gerrak's request, and those who will try to woo her into a coup noted. Her honor makes her unassailable, and anything less than his actions would not be believable.

"It is not wooing her into a coup I have any worries on. Tetsuko would die rather than that. No, she will be continually challenged to duels. There are many who, while they are innocent of the taint of Chaos, will wish her dead, and with the rift - it will say to them that she is vulnerable, that she can be taken down or assassinated. She will scarce be able to do her job for the number of duels she will have to fight - and no matter how good she is there is always 'blind doodah luck' and the fact that...Yes I knew it"

He watched as Tetsuko argued the medic into silence. "Her blood will heal others. Now she's going to weaken herself into a near hospital stay by having them drain as much blood as possible to be used to heal the wounded. And she will never let any one know that their lives come from her."

"And a dog and pony show will just weaken the Imperia's Face, our people will be come suicidal, despondent. It's not white washing it, it's keeping our Face, our honor. Those who breached our honor will die, I can promise the universe that, but they need to die the Novan way, or we will be as destroyed as we were during the time of wandering."

"And untill I know the outcome of this I can't bargain with you Lord Zorak. I refuse to preside over the wholesale suicides of my people.

"Hmmm." Zorak Zoran rested his burnt claw over the handle of his blade. "I could just refuse to take them, but that would offend the Omikami and bring about just what this is supposed to prevent.
"Tell me, Lord Robbsworth, how do we satisfy these opposing, equally valid, desires? Gerrak will not raise his claw against a victim of the Divine One, and they are the ones who must be appeased, as well as brought into the Hunt on their territories. The Novan people are too fragile to bear their shame over this matter, and I really haven't time for collection on that sort of scale while I'm training a new recruit.
"You were a diplomat, and have a mind to envy, so I'm told. Dazzle me, dear boy-tell me how the other, unknown worlds where the Divine One has brought his evil may be befriended in a way that appeases the Novan pride and avoids warfare?"

The Imperial Court
Gerrak watched the stiff processional, glad to be rid of that dreadful harridan who would see the Imperia embroiled in a hundred pointless wars for her foolish pride, when suddenly he was smacked sharply on the snout...
"You insolent young pup!" An elderly servant rebuked him. "You come as a guest, and your folly will see a third of the Imperia destroyed! Ever hear of seppuku, jackass?"
Gerrak looked-other than the old woman and himself, the Court was frozen in place, as if they stood in a garden of statues.
"Which of the gods haff me de honor off addrezzzzing?"
"Shut up, you little fool." she snarled. "Now listen good-the Novans are too tied up in their identity as a people-their government reflects them, to their tiny minds-pack mentality and all.
"Now, someone is going to challenge the Shogun to a duel in the hospital-you best interfere, since your little blow-up caused them to think she has Imperial disfavor and is fair game.
"Once you've eaten the lout, and one or two others who'll be more trouble than they're worth, you're going to make nice and close the tribunals to the public. After that, you'll have the Blue Moon investigate and dispatch diplomats to the injured parties with complete records-nothing public, and don't get on your high horse. Now, hurry, you fool-no time to waste."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The High Court of Heaven
The Omikami looked askance at Asrelia, but that worthy was busily directing the decor for Kai and Tetsuko's wedding. She did risk a wink to the Throne, and the Omikami noted the planet she'd been shaping had vanished temporarily while Time froze...

Robbs let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Grandmother!" He looked over at Zorak, and bowed humbly.

"I'm sorry I just couldn't figture out how to do it. My captain" He sighed "She isn't concerned about her pride, her honor, but yes the Peoples. And for that she will subject herself to the same test that every other Samurai will."

The results would be known - if one was Chaos tainted one simply did not survive. And the test saved those who might have committed seppuko because of presumption of taint from such an end.

The Test had been one of the first things the Old Divine One had done away with, stating from the throne that it was flawed, too severe, too inhumane.

--Gemilla, be a love and see to it this war is ended for the troops, will you?--Gerrak asked contritely.--I'd like to review the hospital quarters and give a pep talk to the troops--
--I'll go straight to Indigo and gird her personally if you kill her mother--
Gerrak sighed--No, not that. Just take over as Emperor until I get back--
--Sure--Gemilla was a seasoned veteran, and knew the difficulties of pulling troops back, especially Zorak Zorani, who lived for battle.--Any specific orders?--
--Don't give up O'Kuni. We fought too hard to get it--He lumbered off towards the hospital section, his gait reflecting he was under unwanted orders from an unknown god....
Gemilla flopped on the remnants of the Imperial Throne casually. "Bring me Powzie!, and lotzzez of it. Ending a war is dirzzty work.
"You, Emprezzzz-want a pillow or zzumzzing? And tell you huzzband me want me contezzt zzoon-need muzzcular liddel kitzzune boy to fetch me drinkzzez."

"I'm fine as I am, but thank you anyway," Jade nodded gratefully from her seat on a fallen pillar. "And I've already spoken to Rosy, he approved for you to hold your contest as you see fit as long as no Xiscapian laws are violated. At the moment," she glanced over to where her mate was holding a quiet conversation with the second-in-command of the surviving Shadow Ops soldiers, "I think he'd agree to nearly anything. It's not every day this sort of thing happens and he gets to take part, and now he just wants to wash his hands of the whole business ans go home. Still," she sighed, "we have our jobs to do, and we knew when we accepted rule that our work would never be done until we died."

"Like it endzz den." Gemilla sighed. "We learned long ago dat rule is a constant chore, always returning to be tended. Me dinkzz dat'zz why de Zzilentium doezz zzo liddel, and de Clanzzez and Tribezzez zzquabble to giff demzzelffzzez zzomeding to make demzzelffzzez feel important.
"If you like, zzend for zzome judgezzez, and haul when dey ship getzz here. Or take advantage off being in a backwadder wid nuddin' going on to get married." Gemilla smiled. "Me knowzz if me had me man in de zztickzzez, he'd be too buzzy to talk to a zzoldier...."

Jade grinned and laughed. "I don't know if any of our judges will come here or not, that appears to be under debate. Incidentally," her eyes slid slowly back to her husband, "we might be here for some time, and I don't know about you but I have the most urgent need for a bath right about now. Do you, acting Empress, know where I and my husband might find the Novan bathhouse here?"

Gemilla flicked her fan open and a priestess approached her. --Prepare a bath for the kitsune Imperials. Rosewater, scented candles, and soft music. I think the Emperor would enjoy a seduction after all this--She intructed the priestess in Shadowspeech, who bowed and left. "When zzhe comezz back, you bad be ready, and you two can relax a bit."

Jade gave a bow from her sitting position. "You are most gracious, thank you." She stood and walked over to where the discussion was now apparently heated, Foxfire using his hands for empathise, waving them in the air and gestulating. His wife leaned against his left shoulder, lips by his ear, and murmured something. The Emperor stopped and, after a moment, nodded and muttered some instructions to the soldier. The trooper, nodded, bowed low and ran off while the kitsune Imperials leaned against each other, Jade softly intoning what she was going to do to him.

"Make sure the Muri get fully half of that, and any left over after our people are treated."

"What?" came an outraged reply. Young, female, outraged – but the subliminal hum of the Wraiths echoed the sentiment.

Tetsuko's firm voice over rode any other words. "They've earned it. They fought for us willingly, and misunderstandings aside, they deserve it. Yes I know the Muri heal on their own but this will accelerate it."

Another voice, older male “You will need to leave and let the Shogun rest.”

As Tetsuko’s newest aide stormed out, the physician looked at the Shogun and shook his grey haired head. “That one is a lot less comfortable to work with than Lord Robbsworth.”

“I know, I know, Jonas. But she’ll either learn or I’ll be training yet another aide.” Her voice held a bone deep exhaustion. “Just do as I say, please” Her voice went faint, and the Wraith's tones reflected their concern over her state.

“You donated too damn much Tetsuko my girl. Sleep now” The older man laid a gentle hand on her head watching her eyes flutter and looking worriedly at the biometrics displayed on the monitor above the bed.

She forced her eyes open “No sleep later. I need to see Harkano, please send for him”

The aide almost walked right into Gerrak, who was entering the hospital. Rage flared across her face, then sank to sullenness. "Your Majesty..." she spat out like a curse, casting her eyes down.
Gerrak gently cradled her chin in his foreclaw and drew her eyes to his. "Me knowzz a ding about contrition, 'cuz me gotzz lotzzez to zzpare." he said. "Neffer hide you hate from me-it izz pleazzing to me god, and to me azz well."
He handed her a data crystal. "Me men zzummoned de Xiola Umbari when dem find de Orphanage-dey zzhipzzez coming to de border zzoon, bearing dese markingzzez. A fool would fire on dem, de wizze would ezzcourt dem to O'Kuni. Zzhortly after, me fleet azz not protecting me merzzhantzzez will come. Dey bring more healerzzez, zzome Zzacred Mudderzzez, and zzhamanzzez of Boztakang-azz well azz troopzzez loyal to me. Act azz you zzee fit."
He hrooned within, sensing the humming of the Wraiths and the Lady Tetsuko's state. "What izz going on here?"
"The Shogun has given blood for the injured." the aide pertly sniffed. "Too much, if you ask me..."
"Me didn't." Gerrak replied. "Me ask doctor."
The aide found a well of courage and violated etiquette. "Half of it is for your-"
Gerrak cut her off. "Me peepel izz rubbing dirt in dey woundzzez now, to haff zzcarzzez to zzhow dey women and, if ambitiouzz, to getzz a zzeat on de Zzilentium.
"You haff dutiezzez-perform dem." He said simply, entering the hospital wing where Tetsuko lay, surrounded by her Wraiths. He was greeted with an angry keening, but gestured through the window for the physician.
"Y-your Majesty..." the doctor seemed flustered. "To what do we owe this honor?"
"Me came to zzee dingzzez mezzelf. What izz de Zzhogun'zz zztate?"

"Her wounds are healing, but she is indisposed." It was nothing but the truth. Though not exactly informative. Tetsuko would want none to know of her weakness or her actions. Both strength and generosity were core tenets of Samurai philosophy, neither was to be made much over, much less advertised.

"Zzhe izz awake, and waiting for zzomewun." Gerrak replied. "Do not lie to me to protek her honor-'indizzpozzed' izz fur de udderzzez. Zzhe would leap tu de drone if I commanded and zzhe were in her grayff."
The doctor nodded, this massive savage, still reaking of blood and offal, yet so calm...
"De Xiola Umbari komm-you haff help den. How de udderzzez-de zzoldierzzez, de zzivilianzzez, de children?"

The doctor looked at him unpreterbed. "I do not lie. She is indisposed, though she is working when in my professional opinion she should not be. And all are doing as well as can be expected. Her blood will help the most injured."

"It goes first to those injured in the battle, but like all samurai they will refuse it, citing the need of those lesser than they, and so it will pass down to the civilian populace, where those who are samurai will also refuse, citing greater need and pass it down to the commoners" He did not even think to add that before any else it would go to any childen that needed it - that was a given.

"Gud." Gerrak snorted. "Izz dere a playzz me kan wait and watch?"
Gemilla sauntered up to him then.--The Claw of Doraddi has arrived--
--Excellent. Get the healers and Boztakang to work--
--Aren't any. Kyger Lytor's calling everyone home--
--But my love...--
--Doesn't matter--Gemilla shrugged--Either renounce your title and stay, then decide if you're a Montague or a Capulet, since you certainly won't be a troll anymore--
Gerrak sighed.--I have given my word to Doraddi-all I have here are intentions. Very well, we'll be off as soon as the troops are aboard--
The two silently made their way to the massive planet killer, and waited. The troops were aboard in short order, and all headed to Pamaltela, to answer the summons of the First Mother.

Tetsuko - and her family - mourned the withdrawl of the Muri greatly - but she would survive, she was Celestial Dragon after all, and would see her daughters on the throne as co- Empresses.

The Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon owes a great debt to the Muri and the Xiscapains and others.

Empress Indigo is not the merry person she once was and her songs are more of grief than joy, but as would be expected she knows and does her duty, a symbol for all Novan's to revere. She is a Lunar Kami and is growing slowly but steadily in her powers.

Empress Aiko has become known for her mastery of the Arcane, and her reverence for the Novanan deities. She provides a strong example for those for those of traditional mindsets.

Lady Tetsuko is an excellent Shogun, and an ardent supporter for the soon to be created Alliance. She has wed Kai and Prince Thoth Hau' Aum Horus, Heir to the Obsidian Throne of the Anubian Empire.

and life goes on in the Celestial Imperia of Nova Nippon.