Atrocitus looked towards Ermac. "Yours is a strange case," the Red Lantern admitted. "As an individual, you are guilty. But as you literally are, it depends on the individual soul. Your circumstance it is very easy for you to change your course, to gain redemption. You have it easy. Some are forever stuck on the path they have paved for themselves........"
..........................
A beat.
Jack leaned forward a bit and noticed Ermac. "And you are?" the Chaser asked, a bit annoyed by the sudden intrusion.
DAMMIT MARK, STOP HITTING HELPY!!"Ermac," we said simply to the Chaser. "I was one of the first to show up on the magic side."
To Atrocitus, we said, "But I'm made of hundreds of souls all in one humanoid form. Does that make me hundreds of times guiltier or hundreds of times more able to redeem?"
edited 27th Apr '12 8:47:24 PM by TestYourMight
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!"Quantity is never an issue," Atrocitus said. "Don't ever think that. As I said, you are a special case. Though a few of those that make up who are you are deserving of punishment, they are not enough to define you as an individual. Ultimately, it is the total whole of a person which is to be judged, not the sum."
A beat.
"Yeah, whatever," Jack said to Ermac. "I'm getting kind confused here with you and all, and quite frankly, I think this conversation getting into non-public territory. We're kinda distracting from the show......."
Indeed, a small group of the audience in the back began to actually notice the conversation the three of them were having.
DAMMIT MARK, STOP HITTING HELPY!!"I'll shut up now," we said. We left the area to go consider what to do.
We ducked into a secluded area where there was no one watching and decided to use a method we hadn't really considered until now. That method was having our souls counsel on what to do. We made it appear we were meditating so no one would disturb our council. We closed our eyes...
What should we do?
I know! We should talk like this again.
And make it even more obvious we're not human! By the Netherrealm, no!
Our souls continued to argue, until finally one "shouted," ENOUGH! All the other souls immediately were silent. I shall take the role of our new voice. Our cover will be that we are part of a clan, and this is our traditional battle armor. We will say that another of the clan Ermac signed up, but fell ill, and that we are his replacement.
All in favor, please say 'aye' in your normal speaking voice.
Aye!
All opposed?
Nay!
Division!
Division has been called, but not recognized. We shall let another soul take over our voice.
We opened our eyes again and decided to test our new voice.
"I am of the clan Ermac," we said to ourselves. The voice was surprisingly human. "I am replacing a comrade-in-arms who signed up, but fell ill." We nodded and started on our way back to the show.
edited 28th Apr '12 9:42:51 AM by TestYourMight
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!As soon as Ermac left, Jack and Atrocitus could hear the sounds of some audience members going "oh!", "oh my!" as the slim figure of Crocker walked through them, sticking the magic detector right on their faces, and cursing when the detector didn't give him a positive result:
"I'm going to find you, FAIRIES! And when I do, I'll have everything I ever wanted!"
Upon seeing Crocker again, Atrocitus merely face palmed. "For the love of the Butcher," he quietly groaned.
"I got this," Jack said confidently. The Chaser then quietly went to the raving school teacher, grabbed by the scruff of his shirt, and carried him away from the show. He brought Crocker into a secluded alleyway and got ready to spank him again. "You have the memory of a goldfish, boy!" Jack said to Crocker in an authoritive tone of voice. "What did I tell you about ranting and raving about fairies in public places?!"
DAMMIT MARK, STOP HITTING HELPY!!Sam had managed to calm himself down after his argument with Crocker, but had managed to get himself in the process. He didn't mind though, he was content to not be fighting for once, to just be able to watch the world go by. Sure he was worried about his team, but doing so wouldn't help them in the end. He leaned back on his bench and relaxed.
That is, until his stomach growled. Sighing, he got to his feet, the bench creaking underneath his weight, as he searched over the crowd for something to eat. Spotting a store that seemed to be selling food Sam made his way toward it, the crowd parting around him. It seemed to be selling a variety of strange foods, probably snacks.
"Alright, wadda want?" The man behind the counter asked.
"Uh, what do you have?"
"Well, we got popcorn, hotdogs, drinks. Take ya pick."
Sam didn't know what any of those were, besides the drink of course. "Uh, popcorn?"
"Ya asking or telling?"
"Popcorn, thanks."
"Yeah, alright coming right up." The man turned to the area behind him and began scooping the food into a paper bag. "Here ya go."
Sam turned to walk away with the food when the man called out.
"Hey, where do ya think ya going?"
Sam turned back, confused, as the man held his hand out. "You gunna pay or what?"
"Pay?"
"You know, with money. You got money don't ya?"
"Uh..."
The man began laughing, his stomach wobbling from the effort. The shop owner addressed the man running the store next to him. "Hey, man. Check this guy out! He doesn't know what money is."
"Really? Ahahaha!"
Sam was becoming angry again. "Hey! I do know what money is civilian! How the hell am I supposed to have money for here when I come from a completely different universe?!"
Thankfully before that statement could register with the shopkeeper, a handful of money was tossed at him as an unfamiliar voice berated him. "Hey, heres your money you fat coot. Now push off and leave him alone."
The voice beloned to a woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties with short-cropped brown hair and clothing similar to those of the rest of the crowd. The way she held herself, however, was much different. She had the look of a fighter, and a good one at that.
"Come on, lets go before I'm tempted to punch his face in."
Sam silently followed the girl, curious about her actions towards him. She lead him through the crowd and to a clearing in the crowd. Leaning against a wall, she faced him silently.
"...Uh, thanks?"
"You're not from around here are you?"
Sam blinked, he wasn't sure how to react to this. What would her reaction be to being told he was from another universe, he almost slipped up with the shop owner. He should probably play it safe for now.
"No, I'm from...far away."
She smirked at him. "You're not a very good liar you know. But hey, everyones got secrets, I won't pry. Name is Triar"
"Thanks. I'm Sam."
"So Sam, what's with the fancy outfit? It's certainly...unique." As she said this, she looked up and down his body. "And judging by that knife, you know how to fight. So, you joining the tournament?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Pssh, of course. Here's hoping I won't be up against you. You look like you could snap someone in half with your bare hands."
Sam laughed, she had no idea how right she was. Triar pushed off the wall and began to walk off. "Well, we better get going. They'll be calling us soon, should be at our tent before then, take a look at the competition."
"Wait, why'd you help me?"
She looked at him and winked. "You looked interesting. And cute. Bye."
With that she strode off into the crowd and disappeared. sam scratched his head and smiled, then remembered he was still lost. Groaning, he set off in the same direction as Triar.
edited 29th Apr '12 4:17:07 AM by Alleydodger
A gong rand out across the Fair, warning the entrants that the Tournament was to begin in 10 minutes. Shantotto sighed, collected her winnings from betting on that race (no-one noticed the gusts of wind she'd been blowing into the eyes of some of the racers), and started moving towards the tents again.
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.Leanbow was already near the tournament ring, sitting with his sword next to him and a dozen kids listening to his story.
"And that's when I took this sword and cleaved the troll in half and won the girl of my dreams... I wonder how the ol' gal's doing in my absence..." Leanbow said.
edited 29th Apr '12 6:29:10 PM by Psyga315
Kribnefka, finished with the show for a bit, had listened to Leanbow's story as well.
"So what happened when the troll regenerated?"
edited 29th Apr '12 6:56:18 PM by Krautman
...and that's terrible.We walked towards the source of the gong, prepared to test our might. We knew we were in the South division. We wondered if this meant we represented the land south of this place, like how kombatants in Mortal Kombat tournaments represented their realms. Or perhaps it was just a convenient way to name the different sections of the bracket. We wouldn't know until we got there.
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!Jack looked up, hearing the gong. "Welp, time to get the show on the road," Jack said. He then looked down on Crocker. "We'll continued this later, son," he said to the school teacher, giving the man and good hard spank before dropping him on the floor as he got up. He walked in the direction of the tents, soon joining Atrocitus on the way there.
"I wish you the best of luck in coming battles," the Red Lantern said to Jack, mostly out of politeness.
"Thanks," Jack responded. "But let me tell you this, though. I don't care whether if I don't make it to the top, or if my group wins the prize, I'm happy just as long as I get to beat you're ass in the ring......."
The Ryutian could not help but raise an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
"Huh," the Chaser grunted. "Its because you're just like me," he said, a devilish smirk rising on his features, "a cold blooded, stone hard killer. We're the same in every way, except you need some philosophical fluff for justification."
"No, we are not," Atrocitus insisted. "My reasons are sound. Unlike you, I do not derive pleasure from the act of killing. The only pleasure I have is knowing I have avenged for the suffering victims who are too fearful and too weak is carry out their revenge, and to prevent them from becoming a monster such as me."
"Please, you make it sound like a community service," Jack countered mockingly.
"I do what I must to cleanse the universe of its most blatant filth."
"Whatever, Mr. High and Mighty."
Soon the two of them entered the Western tent of the tournament along with the rest of the combatants.
DAMMIT MARK, STOP HITTING HELPY!!Kane finally tore his gaze away from the display of Middle Age history, scowling once more at it, before turning and heading for his tent, still looking rather perturbed about something. Anyone who walked by him might notice that he seemed to be running unusually hot, perhaps feverish, but that was all they would pick up on.
Easing back into life one step at a timeUrza had been waiting around at where his section of the tournament was to take place, and thus, upon hearing the gong, did not have far at all to walk. He continued waiting in one corner of the tent, observing each of the combatants as they entered.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao TzuCrocker screamed when he got spanked again, and, while still on the ground, said:
"Sorry, mommy!"
He then raised his head, noticing the gong, and smiled:
"Uh, I think this calls for a.... GETTING READY MONTAGE!"
He pulled out his fairy catcher and cocked it, strapping it to his back. He pulled out his magic reflector and cocked it, also strapping it to his back. He pulled out a wooden stick and cocked it, but this time, he preferred to throw it on the ground. The teacher began to laugh maniacally as he approached the tents.
Kribnefka was with Shantotto outside the tent.
"Now, Shannon, you know I don't want you fighting in this. But I know there's no stopping you, so I'm going to give you some things for luck."
Kribnefka handed her a belt and some bracers, and cast sending.
A belt of Giant's Strength +6, and Gloves of Dexterity +6. You'll be much harder to hit. I'll cast buffs as needed. Good luck, Doctor.
...and that's terrible.Of course, Sheik was already in the Northern Tent. Having been there for the last twenty minutes, the warrior was now in the process of surveying the various gathered combatants with a cool eye, her delicate fingers sending a gentle, flowing harp melody through the air.
If any of the other contestants were feeling annoyed at this woman, they certainly did not show it, for although the music was scarcely audible over all the noise, it was still proving to be rather soothing.
Very soothing.
edited 1st May '12 5:38:58 AM by troydenite
So, +6 counts as a single word? Sounds kinda odd, but okay.
"Thanks! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine!"
Just don’t forget to watch the other divisions. Those of us that make it to the finals could use any intelligence that you can gather.
Forgoing her usual Verbal Tic, in the first case for character and the in second for practicality, Shantotto walked into the East tent in time to hear the announcements.
Those who were to compete in the preliminary rounds gathered in their tents, where they were given an introductory speech. The speeches were, of course, delivered by different people and were therefore slightly different in content, but they all contained an overview of the rules:
1) You can win the match by forcing your opponent to acknowledge defeat, rendering him unable to continue fighting, or forcing him to touch the ground outside of the arena.
2) However, killing your opponent will disqualify you.
3) The use of any weapons or other tools is prohibited, and will result in disqualification.
4) For the preliminary rounds, a match will last no longer than 3 minutes. If a match lasts for longer than that, the judge will call it. There will be no such time restriction in the tournament proper.
After this, the brackets were put on display for all to see, and 8 miniature arenas were set up in each tent for the battles.
Feel free to begin fighting. Just as a reminder, Urza and Ermac aren't in the first round. Everyone else has an NPC opponent, who is entirely yours.
"That one? 50 GP." said Melchior. A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.

"So what happens," we said, approaching Atrocitus, "when a monster realizes he is a monster and decides to change his ways? I was created with no free will by a soul-stealing sorcerer and a megalomaniacal tyrant. I killed hundreds of innocents. Outworlders, Tartaka, Edenians, Vampires, the occasional Shokan and Centaur. Eventually, I was released from my bondage by a champion of Earth and joined the side of light. But I remember every atrocity I committed before I saw the light. Every limb I shattered, every skull I crushed, every head I punched or chopped off, every defenseless foe I slammed into hard surfaces until their bodies fell apart. And though I had no choice in the matter, I regret every single one. So under your code, am I guilty?"
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!