The Mighty Pen
Kashira Lavellan - Open Mouth, Insert Foot
The rebukes of the others burned at Kashira like wasp stings. As the flood of anger subsided, it left shame in its wake. Though he had no way of knowing it, Theron's remark cut particularly deep. Wonderful! The greatest elf in the world thinks you're ready to start lashing out with the world-shattering artifact! How many times will it take for me to learn? Think! Think before you act! Stay reasonable or everyone will see you for the headstrong idiot you clearly are!
She raised her staff, its fire too waning to no bigger than a torch, planting one end on the ground in front of her, and took a deep breath. There would be a reckoning. But it would not come like this, not when, thank the gods, there were others who shared her concerns.
"I apologize," she said, and if the words tasted like ashes, at least she spoke them loudly and meant them. "When I saw people on the brink of destroying everything, I acted as I had to. I don't regret that. But I'm sorry if it seems I want a fight. I don't. I never have. I just want us to do right by the people of this world and their sacred relics that you're holding. The ones you stole and took by force."
It seemed Reimu, although refusing to commit to a stance, at least was thinking clearly and she had put their choice before them well. The blind magician she did not know, but she recognized Claw standing beside him, and the sea officer had proven his own worth by standing against Kosmos and D.Va's madness and adding his voice to the call for peace and sanity.
"Then we stay and help," she said to the gathered Climbers. "That's the only choice worth making. Whatever you've done, whatever mistakes you've made or lies you've told to me or anyone, do this, and you can start to make it right. You can be better." Blackwall, Theron, is this what your job was like? Forgiving the worst criminals of Thedas? Offering them purpose and honor? I don't envy you.
"Too many are dead," she went on, unable to stop once the feeling swept her up, passion filling her every word and gesture. "But so many more are alive! We can save all of them and all you have to do is wait, talk, and listen! We can save this world and get what we need!"
Another deep breath. She couldn't get too carried away again. If they defied all logic and decency, then it would be time for statements of lethal intent. Not before. She turned to D.Va.
"You fight to win. Do this so everyone else can share in your victory. You fight for your patrons. Do this and they will sing your praises to the ends of this world and the next."
Kosmos.
"You would have preferred a peaceful resolution? Here it is."
And finally, to every once once again.
"No one of us, especially not me, can be trusted with the power of the Swords. But if we work together with this mage guiding us, we can bear this weight."
edited 5th Dec '16 2:22:31 AM by RedCedar
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao Tzu
Stop Killing My Titles
Claw
For a moment it seemed like they would come to blows. D'va's little threat did little to quench the situation. Thankfully, the shrine maiden had half a mind to consult the magician after all. With a grunt, Claw holstered his pistols. "Aye. We shall stay and fix what can be fixed." He murmured.
"And you, you do something about that infernal contraption of yours before it does kill us all." He made an effort to growl at the mech pilot, but there was little anger in it, mostly a tired attempt at sounding authoritative. True, in other circumstances he would probably shoot her on the spot.
"Speaking of things to fix..." Pirate's attention turned to Aligels. "This town, Port Ismenia, used to be a prosperous community of people who wished to do no wrong to either you or your brother. The lot of them deserve to be able to come back to their homes and set their lives straight again now that the war is over."
edited 5th Dec '16 3:39:28 AM by FergardStratoavis
grah
The Battlefield
King Aligels looked confused for a moment, both at being addressed by a talking cat as well as the contents of Claw's words. Finally, an officer bent down to whisper something in his ear, and realization dawned.
"Yes, of course, it will be as you say," the king slowly seemed to come to his senses, and he spoke to Claw with no small amount of respect. "With my brother dead, we will be moving south into the former Kingdom of Shadows to restore peace to these lands. I shall send messengers to the rest of the army at once. The people of Port Ismenia should be able to move back and resume their lives in peace immediately, and you have my word that I shall not move soldiers there to make war again."
Seeing the situation winding down, Reimu walked past Kashira to approach KOS-MOS. Myrdin also walked closer, though he kept a respectful distance from swordbearers and glowing mecha both.
"If you prefer," Reimu said to KOS-MOS amicably. "we could wield the power of one sword each. If we work together, that should uphold the balance of the opposing deities and we can use their power safely."
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
Battlefield
-The situation no longer calling for hitting everyone with rocks until they calm down, Toph releases her hold on the earth. One of the non-Climbers called Murdin seems to know a bit more than the others, and is staying a good distance away from the swords.-
So quick question... What happens if those swords are destroyed or made unuseable?
"We already have the quest objectives," D.Va said. "If we don't use the swords to leave right now, that's just asking for a cutscene to happen where one of the swords gets lost and we have to start a forced quest. There are other planets waiting for us to help them right now. If we spend days here on side quests, people could be getting murdered at the place where we're supposed to be going next because we're not around to help fight off the next army we're getting set against. Just use the swords to take us back to the gate, and use the leftover magic to make piles of corn before we use them to activate the key."
The Tower
Meanwhile, in the large stone hall of the Tower, a new group of Climbers would be waking up to find themselves in a world between worlds, a construct where the ordinary laws of physics do not apply. The walls are built by grey stone, and they fit together so neatly that there seems to be no speck of mortar to bind them. The walls and the great domed ceiling are bare, and even in the flickering light of torches, there are no objects to make the shadows dance.
The plain stone walls only accentuate the otherworldly nature of the other elements of the room. A grand portal along one side, its stone frame containing a pair of black and gold gates of a metal unknown to all present and enchanted with powerful magic. And on a different end of the room, a massive stone door. The portal and the door are spaced apart such that it infers the location of a third opening in the walls, but there is nothing there to complete the trifecta.
Around them, each Climber would find people similar but still very different to themselves. People of all shapes and sizes and in clothing and equipment that might strike the others as unusual. The one thing they would have in common is that while they were resting in their home world, they were spirited away and brought to the Tower in their sleep.
In front of the door, there sits a man dressed in ragged grey. He is a wretched sight, a tired and haggard man of indeterminate age. Plucking at his traveller's cloak, he sits mending the tattered cloth with a curious item as the new Climbers arrive one by one into the tower. Slowly, he rises to greet the newcomers. He had not been expecting more Climbers this soon after the last group. Perhaps it was a sign that the previous group had made progress in attaining the Keys hidden in this world...or that they were already all dead. Grunting, the Locksmith rises to his feet and adresses the newcomers, once they are all awakened.
"Greetings, new Climbers," he says in a steady voice. "This is the Tower. A Tower of the gods, some call it, or the Tower of Worlds. You have all been summoned here by the Ruler who sits at the summit of this Tower, challenged to climb its floors and reach the top. Before you reach the very top, you may not return to your homes. But should you reach the summit, you will be granted riches and treasures of your wildest desire, including a way home should you wish for it.”
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
Many have, over the eons, theorized about what lies beyond our world. Man has always looked to the stars, even as they wallow in their own filth and slaughter each other over meaningless squabbles. For much of my lives up to this point, I gave the question little thought, considering the act a waste of even my unlimited time. Yet it was at this point in my life, in the year 1592, that I would come to unexpectedly learn the answer to this question. But, I get ahead of myself. As I begin this new volume of my biography, I must briefly reintroduce myself to any who are picking this up in the middle. My name is Zasalamel, and I am an immortal who has lived for countless lives. Whenever or not you believe this is truth or mere fiction is immaterial to me, but it is vital you understand this. Although my body will age like any other and is just as able to be killed as any other man, when I die, I will be reborn in another body, memories completely intact. Through this, I have lived through all of recorded history, and some unrecorded history.
Yet while this will undoubtedly sound like a boon to the common man, the truth is much harsher. It is a difficult thing to convey without having experienced the ages firsthand, but in short, I had seen the many follies of man repeat time and time again, watched as man strove to find new ways to destroy each other while they continued to allow themselves to stagnate. On top of that, my immortality had an unfortunate side effect. I cannot say way, perhaps it is an effect of the magic requiring more and more power, perhaps it is simple punishment for the perversion of the natural cycle, but each time I died, the pain of rebirth grew more and more. By the time of the late 16th century, I had spent the past 300 years attempting to lift this curse without success. I had been in a clock tower when it happened, the constant ticking of this particular clock tower had always put me at ease, and so I ventured there when I needed to think. The details of the plan I had begun to plot are irrelevant, as I never had a chance to put much of it into action. I had fallen asleep during that time, only to awaken in a different location.
Right away, one could tell this was not a place shaped by mortal hands. I found myself in a colossal room, made of stone putt together so neatly that one could not even see the mortar holding it together, if there even was any. The walls and ceiling had nothing at all furnishing them. Two things stand out in this room. First, a large black and gold metal gate, made of a metal unknown to me. Second, a massive stone door. They were placed in a triangle formation, implying the presence of something in the third “corner”. Yet naught stood there but bare wall.
Others were in the room as well, presumably having come through methods similar to my own, but I paid them no heed as our host stepped forward to explain. A curious man, dressed in tattered robes that once may have spoken of wealth, promise, prestige, but now was in no better condition than any common beggars robe. He began to explain. We had been taken, one and all, to climb a tower, challenged by its ruler to reach the top, with wealth and fame or some such nonsense as the prize. And it seemed that simply leaving was not an option. But I had, at that point in time, had important plans I wished to commence, and I had not been in the mood for being suddenly forced to play along with such nonsense, and so I held my scythe behind me as I began to approach this tattered man.
"I have no interest in gold or treasure." I said. "Such passing, fleeting things hold no value to one such as me. I seek only one thing, and it is not something one can buy, or I would have attained it long ago. I happen to be pressed for time, the pieces are in motion and I must act, so I will skip the formalities. You will release me from this tower at once, or I will strike you down and find the way out myself."
As I said, it had been a very poor time to interrupt me, and I had not at the time bothered to stop and fully consider the situation.
edited 6th Dec '16 12:58:18 PM by Meanken
You know, after I and Skaarl woke up when we were just taking a nice, long bath in the sun of the noxian plains, even though that surely isn't healthy at all, if you were to ask me what I thought of my current environments, even though I wasn't in a building last time I remembered, it would be...
Boring.
This is what I basically would describe the weird place I'm on right now. Yeah, boring. Boring of Borington. I don't know who were those damn humans who brought me here, but it's like they took lessons from the most boring humans in existence, the Demacians.
....Or was it the Ionians? OH WHO CARES, they're both boring either way. Anyways, there's this weird human, looking like he came out of the Noxian Gutters and took one, nice looooooooooong bath in there. He started mysteriously talking about some kind of riches and desires we could get if get to the end of this tower...you know, if these humans wanted us to be motivated about this, they'll get some paintjob in this place.
Like some blood...or mushroom around there, then he could refill his mushroom juice after all.
"Greefrglarg?" The dumb lizard growls to me, looking at me with it's eyes, and then looking to the other humans around here. Seriously?! It's Philosophizing here, when for all they could know the brain weasels could had followed them to this place, and be watching their every move, and reading their minds?!
"SHUT your mouth hole!"
I slowly leaned near Skaarl...which is kind of hard when you are standing on it's back, looking at it straight to the eye. "Them badgers are listening...you don't want them reading your mind do you?"
“Greef…rglarg?”
I don't know what she said...atleast, I assumed Skaarl is a she, it could be a boy for all I care, but I'll take that as a yes anyways.
With me and Skaarl facing the Noxian Gutters human, I ask the most important question.
"I have one important question for you, sewer man" I say to him, about to ask the most important question of all. "Would the riches and treasures include tacos in the list? Hopefully they do. Otherwise," I point to the weird looking white hooded guy over there. "I'll have to agree with fancy-pants plan over there."
Yeahhhhhh.
Taacooosssss.
Always good in a nutritive diet.
edited 6th Dec '16 5:03:34 PM by Darkomega245
Heavy - Teufort, RED Base
This mission was a long one. His team had to escort the CEO of a powerful conglomerate called Builders League United, Blutarch Mann to Hell while trying to prevent the mercenaries of BLU from doing the same to Mann's brother and the CEO of Reliable Excavation and Demolition, Redmond. It went on for hours, almost days despite either side being within spitting distance and even when one of them made it, both brothers were being sent to Hell along with their mercenaries. As soon as the two can now bicker at each other endlessly in another plane of existence, they went home to rest. At least Gray, the third of the brothers Mann, was amused at the spectacle (via a Spy robot) long enough to not launch a siege. At least not for tonight.
When the mercenaries decided it was time to hit the sack, the large man with a gatling gun had went his quarters and rested his eyes, hoping this time he will have his pay from that long, arduous mission. But some outside force had other plans...
Heavy - The Tower Hall
When he was awake, he was in a completely different area. He was in a massive hallway with walls of cobblestone. The stone was almost, if not completely seamless and in the end of the hallway were two gates. One exit had an ornate decoration of black and gold metals, if Heavy cared to guess, similar to that of Australium, yet somehow not, and a massive portal. The other containing an equally massive stone doorway. Heavy looked around to see other people in a similar situation, yet they were even more diverse than his team, which didn't really faze him as much as the hall due to the insanity that they, including him, put out on a regular basis.
Then, he looked to see an old, ragged man introducing them to "The Tower," explaining where they were and what they should do. He started to come to the conclusion that it was some sort of a game created by Marasmus, the "great and powerful" wizard and Soldier's ex-roommate. He then approached the old man with a stern demeanor, "Are you friend of wizard?"
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
The Mighty Pen
Kashira Lavellan - Point/Counterpoint
Kashira spared a grateful smile in Claw's direction. She had thought to wait until they had actually used the Swords and helped this world to ask for a reward like that, but his gamble had paid off. And it was probably better that he had asked rather than her. After her outburst, they might not have listened to her. Toph's question, on the other hand, earned the earthbender a pointed frown.
"Don't even think about it," she said. "We need the aid of those Swords to get home, or have you forgotten?"
And D.Va's insistence on moving on made it hard to keep her temper from flaring again. Though some of the words she used were strange, the meaning was clear enough. It was with great effort that Kashira spoke to the mecha pilot in a calm, if intense voice.
"I've been adventuring a long time. There will always be other battles to fight, other quests to take up, other enemies to face. Somewhere in the world, terrible things are always happening that you don't know about. But you can only act based on what you know. We don't know a thing about these other worlds. Maybe they need help. Maybe they're doing just fine. But we do know this world needs our help right now. Be patient and finish the job right before moving on. Winning isn't just about you, or us. Victory must be for everyone, or it means nothing."
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao Tzu
Stop Killing My Titles
Claw
"Appreciated, Your Majesty." Claw replied with a nod. "You're pretty much the first king I've ever talked to, so I hope I am not mistaken in trusting you on restoring peace, preferably with no repercussions for any would-be supporters of your brother." A brief pause. "Provided they won't stir trouble, of course."
Now, onto D.va. Of course, he was aware that she held absolutely not an ounce of respect for his words - unless it would be praise, but he was not going to praise that brat anytime soon - but he felt like repeating himself anyway. Crankiness of a middle-aged sea cat, if you will. "If we left now, I would bet my whiskers that you would say the exact same thing in the second world. And the third, and so on." Claw grunted, folding his arms. "Mission accomplished, and onto the next one. And the next one. You're in here just for the thrills and showed little proof that I'm mistaken."
"Normally, I would perhaps be inclined to agree with you, but there's quite a few things here that shouldn't be left unattended." If only because he wasn't entirely trusting of Aligels' agenda. He didn't bother with Toph's question, giving Kashira a grateful nod that she took care of that issue.
grah
sess10n status: l0st
The Tower
Iria woke up with no idea where she was. It certainly wasn't home and it certainly wasn't friendly-looking at all. Even with no grasp of the situation at hand, she leapt from her resting position and up to face the man speaking.
Even as she listened to his words, she struggled to comprehend the other occupants of the room. The large bald man spoke in a broken English and there seemed to be some sort of furry something talking nonsense to a large lizard.
Realized with some relief that she had a white-knuckled grip on her own rifle, Iria was thankful that her cloak thankfully covered it up with its shape. She made no mention of it and instead turned her focus to the old man.
"And why should we listen to you? What is this? If this is a joke it's a terrible one!"
[forum cryptid: it/it's]
Another of the newest climbers crossed the massive stone hall to confront their host. This one looked to be an old man, silver haired and bearded, clad in layers of heavy, dark robes.
He walked straight and tall despite looking to be in his eighties, turning his head to take in the black-and-gold gates and the stone door. His eyes had the white, atrophied hue of a blind man, yet nothing about his manner or movements suggested he could not see.
The sorcerer known as Xardas listened to the ragged Locksmith's explanation in silence, mulling over this bizarre predicament. When he spoke his voice was gruff and curt, his pale eyes fixing their captor with a look of cold appraisal as he questioned the wretched-looking man.
"Tower of the gods? I can't say I have much patience for the whims of gods. What possible reason is there for dragging me here? With such a reward on offer, could this Ruler of yours not find willing volunteers for this nonsense?"
Odd enough that he wakes up in a new building, surrounded by slightly different dull grey bricks that were lit slightly differently than they were just a few moments ago. Really, this place was quite familiar to him, like it was a much roomier version of his humble abode from the last few weeks. Perhaps it's been far more than a few moments since he slept...Bah! Unlikely, the entire Shrine would've have to been uprooted and hollowed out if they wanted to change it like this, time wouldn't have passed him that easily.
Odder still, if someone wanted him to travel up a tower, they apparently kidnapped him with his entire store in tow. Whatever was left from a certain someone's buying spree was arranged around him just like he left it, things in bags all displayed on the same tattered mat he carried around. Always got to keep a man with his gear, smart, but someone thought it was important to keep this bag of old bird down and bones on his person...
Actually, that was a bit hypocritical, he was the one who gathered the rubbish at first. Makes for good pillow stuffing, it does.
So, Patches got himself up and inspected the rest of the people around him, who also all seemed to have been spirited away. Just at a glance, and his estimations were usually spot on, they all seemed like reasonably sane people.
Maybe not the rat...
Patches didn't particularly mind being whisked away, because not like he'd have much business after what was about to happen, and treasure certainly seemed like a good incentive, no matter what this brute with a scythe wanted. Though, ever being the inquisitive and intelligent man he is, he had questions. He walked up alongside the old lout in the robe and added his two bits in.
"I can't say I'm much for the will of the Gods either. Though, I can't say I've ever heard of them offering anything to us mortals either," he said, a hint of suspicion in his otherwise jovial tone. He looked toward the older, more loutish man in rags and said, "How are we supposed to know you didn't bring us 'ere just to kill us? You hardly look like a servant to any kind of religion, if you don't mind me saying."
One of the newcomers continued to lay still while everyone else was working up a fuss, looking for all the world like an effeminate and oddly enough, red-haired Japanese teenager clad in silken clothes from the Orient. The only sign that the boy was awake was probably the fact that his breathing was far too smooth to be naturally asleep, for even the eyes had not the slightest quiver and the body was as relaxed as could be.
And yet it was with the most attentive of ears and wiliest of minds that Kurama was listening in on the conversation, youki drifting about in trace amounts to feed sensory details directly into the former youkai's head. Various body shapes, some that looked like they came from the demon world Makai popped into his mind's eye and the overall power level was rather low for the most part save for that human in the seeming peak of his life and the old man that couldn't be quantified by his standards, meaning he was either too weak or too strong to be felt out.
To be honest, this wasn't the first time the former kitsune had found himself forced to do a service for others against his will nor would it be the last, so the redhead suspected. The reasoning however was a bit intriguing in that there was a potential reward to be had, a far cry from the other such things where he had to bet his life on the line simply for continued survival. Here, there would still be such a risk but he would be able to come out of it with much more... The ex-thief in him burbled up, past days of glory rushing past his mind.
Honestly it was tempting and if words were to be believed... well, his family would be able to have all they wanted if he succeeded. It was perhaps a load of poppycock, but the power to take him, an S-Rank into an alternate dimension not the Spirit World or Makai while suppressing his great powers... well, that gave him a bit of belief in what the man was saying. There was so much that could be gained if he just played along... and who wasn't to say there wouldn't be the possibility of revenge later, a price to be exacted? Pragmatism won out and energy would be saved by going with the flow for now.
"You have a willing pawn for now, Senior. Keep in mind that any such leash has the possibility to come off sooner or later though." A soft spoken sentence emanated out from the hybrid as he let down his facade, casually sitting up before languidly standing on two feet to adopt a posture that seemed entirely too affable and calm for someone in such a situation, the friendliest smile ever on his face as though the part time Spirit Detective was having a spot of tea with his best of friends.
edited 6th Dec '16 8:04:46 PM by Makaioh
Battlefield
"I play to win!" D.Va said to Kashira and Claw. "I don't know what the next world is going to be, or the one after that. But I do know what the last world is going to be - mine. And yours. All the time we spend here doing sidequests is time that our worlds have to live without us. Every day that that we're here trying to kill 10 bears so that some villagers can have pelts is another day that the Omnics are attacking my world. Every week we spend cutting down trees so they can make fences here is another day that the great one in the ocean is repairing himself so he can attack my country again."She put her hands on her hips. "So maybe you don't care about your world anymore, maybe you're not important enough for them to miss you and they can get along just fine while you waste your time doing manual labor in the countryside, but I have to get back to my adoring fans."
Balling her hand into a fist, she pressed it into the palm of her hand. "Plus," she continued in a more knowledgeable tone than before. "The side quests in the starting area are always going to give you barely any experience and the rewards are pretty lame. You're not going to get the good loot until you're in the third or fourth mission of the main quest, and even then it's not like it's a big improvement over your starting gear. They're mostly just good for getting information about the setting, learning about the lore, and finding out who the important NPCs are, but now that we've already gotten the swords we're going to leave this place forever so we don't need to do anything else."
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
KOS-MOS - Hepatica Two
As the arguing wore on and began drifting to slightly broader questions of the Climbers' overall purpose and intent, the silent and sidelined KOS-MOS closed her eyes for a few moments, perhaps to think. When she opened them again, they were a clear and brilliant blue
◊.
The robot(?) woman inclined her head to Claw in thanks for his own handling of matters she had been wavering over confronting herself. He was proving himself to be an insightful and trustworthy companion, she supposed, even if he did look like that. Truly it must be an abominable curse for a gentleman such as he to bear.
Pivoting without a word, she nodded once more, this time to Reimu, and held forth the Sword of Light. Once the pair had successfully combined their powers, the shrine maiden would hear something transmitted across their newly-forged, if temporary, spiritual connection.
Please forgive me. I doubted that you possessed the necessary experience, but I should have believed in your competence, Reimu. Two wills directing two forces in concert is certainly better than one alone, and perhaps it will set a good example for the elves... Beyond the obvious matters of Eione and Ialdir, I wish to ensure Aligels sustains no lasting damage, lest the kingdom suffer a succession crisis so soon after our departure. Also, I have left a considerable cache of supplies in the care of the priest of the Swordmaster God in Ismenia, whom I promised to show the blades to once we obtained them.
At that same moment, a soft, disembodied voice would sound in Kashira's ear, though its owner turning marginally toward her with a tender smile would make the source obvious. There is no need to be ashamed of your earlier reaction, Kashira. We simply have not known each other for long, and it is only natural that seeing such things overwhelms and leaves one shocked, or angry, or sad. If we truly had been attempting to destroy the world, your standing up to us would amount to the height of selflessness and bravery. It is a privilege and a great reassurance to be journeying by your side.
edited 6th Dec '16 9:29:58 PM by darksidevoid
GM of AGOG S4: Frontiers RP; Sub-GM of TABA, SOTR, & UUA RPs
The Mighty Pen
Kashira Lavellan - Sera 2.0
Kashira suppressed a sigh. Was she really not paying attention when we were first brought here? Of course not. I'm surprised she has friends with that kind of attitude.
"The Locksmith told us that should we succeed in reaching the top of the Tower, we could return to the same point in time and the same place that we left," she reminded D.Va. "We quite literally have all the time in the world. And it isn't going to take that long. As soon as we figure out what to do, it should be a matter of moments, hours at most, and figuring it out shouldn't take long either. You think the rest of us aren't worried about our friends and our worlds? We are. I am. But I know what they would want me to do and that's help as best I can. Stop. Breathe. And relax. There's no need to be afraid. Stay with us, help us, and we'll help you."
She was surprised to hear another voice in her head. Sabrina's mind-shout had been strange enough, this was another thing entirely, but not unwelcome, given what it was saying and, judging by the smile on Kosmos' features, who it appeared to be. The other woman, whatever she may be, could be reasoned with. Kashira bowed slightly, and mouthed the words, thank you. If Kosmos didn't want to speak out loud, well, she couldn't imitate that trick. It was the most she could do for now.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. -Lao Tzu
The Tower - Questions that need answers
"I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability," the old man said as the first wave of questions started to calm.
"First, who am I and why should you listen to anything I say. You can call me the Locksmith. A long time ago, I was summoned to climb this Tower. But I cheated, and made it to one of the topmost floors without getting the keys. I received my reward of immortality, but was also cursed to guide Climbers such as yourselves for an eternity. I have no say in your destiny before or after you enter the tower; it is simply my role to explain how the Tower functions and identify the key or keys you require to ascend to the next floor. And I have known many wizards through the aeons, though I count none among my living friends at present."
"Second, the reward that awaits. At the summit of this tower lies the very treasures of the Ruler who created this Tower between worlds, the machinations and divine instruments that mold the fabric of worlds at will, to which time, space and magic are but as threads in a loom. Whatever is your heart's deepest desire can be granted, be it an infinite supply of your favorite food or to manipulate the cycle of life and death."
"Third, for what reason have you been chosen and taken by force. That is a question I can not answer in full, I am afraid. The Ruler of this Tower seems to always be testing the Climbers, in groups at a time, ever and ever bringing in new challengers. A few times Climbers have entered here willingly, having searched for the Tower in their world, but as a rule the Ruler chooses the Climbers. Possibly it is based on the potential the Climbers carry within them to brave the challenges ahead."
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
I listened to the Gutters man's explanation. Yeah, he's called the Locksmith, but honestly, Gutters man was the better option, if you asked for my opinion. Not only would me and Skaarl get tacos for life, we could get a territory without any tresspassers at all to deal with....ORRRRR maybe destroy the brain weasels and badgers once and for all!
I let out a laugh that would surely make others think I'm crazy, but honestly, why should I care about the thoughts of them humans? Besides, I prefer the term Differently Rational than insane.
"Hear that, Skaarl?! We'll get one big land much larger than the sixty gazillion acres we once had before, WITH NO TRESPASSERS, get all the tacos we want, and you can also get all the human meat you want!"
"Greefrglarg?!" He looks at me with horror in it's eyes, oh what's she complaining about now?! She loves eating humans, the disgusted and terrified reactions it showed when I attempted to give it human meat back in Noxus confirms it!
...Atleast, I think so.
Anyways, about this tower......How the fuck do I get out of here?
"So, uh...how exactly do we get the hell out of here and we start climbing this thing, again?" I ask the Gutters Man, tapping my axe to the ground periodically, all while Skaarl looks around and gives them humans around here that dumb stupid smile he usually does.
edited 7th Dec '16 6:00:26 AM by Darkomega245
I stopped dead in my tracks as the man, who identified himself as the Locksmith, claimed that he too was an immortal, cursed to lurk in these halls for eternity as punishment for his hubris and attempts to bypass these gates. At first I was skeptical. It could have been a trick to try to make me feel sorry for him and let my guard down for all I know. Then I got a good look into his eyes. It is a.....difficult thing to convey into words, but one can tell a lot about someone based on the look in their eye. And suffice it to say, when I looked into his eyes, I could recognize a look not unlike my own, the look of a man who has lived for countless eons, the look of one who was tired, who had seen everything, yet was cursed to continue living.
And then he clarified something, claimed that this "Ruler" was able to alter the cycle of life and death. He did not come right out and say it, but the implication was there. This....being had the power to bring an end to my curse once and for all. Of course, this was secondhand information from a single man who happened to share my curse. But still, the circumstances around my appearance here were remarkable enough that I was willing to accept his words for the moment.
My eye was briefly drawn to the side as one of the others who had come with me ranted about the reward he wanted, purely mortal passing that I had long since lost interest in. However, it was the thing's appearance that made me raise an eyebrow. Yes, I say thing, because whatever it was, it was not a man. The best comparison I can make is that of a cat, able to stand on its hind legs, with much larger teeth, and clothed in something that resembled Japanese Samurai armor in a way. I shook the shock off as I turned back to the locksmith. I had another question.
"If what you say is true, I will play the game. But be warned, if it turns out you are wasting my time or deceiving me, then your soul will suffer for eternity. Before I depart, I would ask one question, In my world, there is a legend of a man known as Algol, the hero king, the only man known to have been able to wield the cursed sword Soul Edge without succumbing to its powers, and who forged its opposite, Soul Calibur. Suffice it to say, had he truly existed, he would have been a man of immense power, not unlike this ruler you keep mentioning. And he was said to reside in a tower as well, one that vanished when he did, and was never seen again. Tell me then, is it he who lurks at the top of the tower?"
Vampire Hunter
Sabrina, Battlefield
"If I may add something to request..." Sabrina walked over to King Aligels to address him. "If you are to become king of a united kingdom, you need to show mercy to those of the former Kingdom of Shadows willing to accept your rule. I know you do not want something like what has led to this war to happen again."
Wizard Needs Food Badly
Stop Killing My Titles
Claw, Discussing Diplomacy
"That much goes without saying, Miss Sabrina." Claw nodded as he glanced over at the girl, before looking back to Aligels. "I expect no less from a man with so much responsibility put upon his shoulders. Subjugators usually get their just desserts in time, history says as much."
Back to D.va. At this point, he couldn't help but ponder if he was enjoying this little argument even if there was absolutely no progress despite his and Kashira's best efforts. "Four words in a sentence and I see three errors already." He huffed. "You? No, you're not on your own and that is a boon as much as a responsibility. Play? Show some respect to the fallen, unless back home playing with lives is a popular past-time. If so, such world deserves what's coming to it."
"To win? Sure, I suppose we need that in the end, but not like this." He stressed, gesturing to what used to be a field of battle not a moment ago. "Have some moral decency. This man just lost a brother, enemies they might have been." He gestured to Aligels briefly. "And countless others lost their loved ones in this battle. Making little of their price is nothing short of abhorrent." That I'm beginning to think the D.va group started anyway, he thought. "And by God" There was one more issue to address, and one that irked him for a while, judging by how he squeezed the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "if you don't start speaking English for once instead of your little language, no one can be held responsible if someone somewhere shoots you."
edited 7th Dec '16 10:23:43 PM by FergardStratoavis
grah
The Battlefield
At first, King Aligels seemed ready to protest at the requests coming from Sabrina and Claw, but an adviser hurriedly caught his ear. After a long whispered instruction, the king nodded slowly.
"...very well," he said. "I will forgive any elf who swore to follow my brother, if they choose to lay down their arms and peacefully join me in unifying these lands. Messengers will be chosen and sent out to all the cities and towns that were under my brother's rule and proclaim my amnesty."
"But then I must also ask something of you, Outlanders. When you now set out on your final quest, to right the wrongs that plague this world, please do not forget the source of this very conflict. The Lightspring can no longer supply waters of immortality to all elvenkind, and once the dark elves realize that my brother can not offer them an alternative, I fear there will be dissension and conflict. Please, swordbearers, for the sake of this world's peace, find a way to mend this problem."
Reimu was listening to the king with half an ear as she prepared to draw the Sword of Darkness, when KOS-MOS' words rang in her head. She entered into the spiritual link with ease, then attempted to reply back in kind.
No, it was the same with me. I've seen too many underestimate the powers of the gods in past, so at first I didn't trust you with the swords either. This world has been pushed to the extremes and suffered for it. With the blades united, lets reinstate a balance between light and darkness, and bring stability.
Myrdin, seeing the two swordbearers getting ready, stepped forward to talk to them.
"Ah, you are ready? Good, good. Now, once you release the blades from their sheathes, the power of the two gods should start rushing out as each try to assert dominance of the surrounding area. The two conflicting powers should neutralize each other, giving you the chance to wrest control of the combined magic energy and direct it according to your will. Be steadfast, because the gods will try to resist your control, so you must be strong or else you will surely destroy everyone present and quite possibly break the world itself."
"To begin with, try only to unsheathe a portion of each blade and focus on transporting us all east and south of here. In the marshes south of the mountains lies a temple, and the first issue I suggest we handle."
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!
The Battlefield
Reimu gave Claw's guns a withering look. Firearms were rare in Gensokyo, but she recognized a weapon when she saw them.
"Put those down, Claw, before someone gets hurt," she said calmly. "Now who is this magician you speak of?"
"Ah, that would be me."
The blindfolded Myrdin stepped forward, stepping around the glowing mech. This caused a slight stir in the light elves, who had been watching the Climbers' discussion with no small amount of nervousness. A protest came from King Aligels, who was being helped to his feet.
"Archmage Myrdin, you traitor! It was not enough that you would ally with my mad brother, but you would assist these...thieves as well?!"
The former archmage simply shrugged, not even turning to face the king.
"I am but a researcher in the mystical arts, my liege. I followed King Letrael at his request, to study the Sword of Darkness, but he threw me out of his kingdom but a few years ago because he did not like my objections. Right now I have no allegiance but to magic itself and the well-being of all elves."
"A proper magician, huh?" Reimu commented. "Would you truly help us "fix everything", as some of us want to do before we leave? I'll tell you right away, I am not letting you use these swords."
"Perish the thought," Myrdin replied. "I have barely the power to wield one of the blades safely, let alone both in concert. But if you wish it, I can be of assistance, yes. I have my theories about what is causing many of the problems of this world, and I would gladly guide you if you would wield the Twin Blades for the sake of this world."
"So we have two choices," Reimu summed it up for her team-mates. "Either return to the Tower immediately and leave this world, or stay behind and use the two swords to try to help these people before we leave."
Reimu did not say which option she'd prefer; she'd leave that debate to those more passionate about the subject. These were not her people to help, and she had a feeling that the world could be healed even without the two artefacts. At the same time, there was little doubt that if they chose to help, then the two swords united would go a long way in fixing whatever was wrong in this world.
Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!