Official RP Thread

[kovah]

Concept Art Rpg:

Rough Guide:

What is this RPG?
- RPG is short for Role playing game, this is basically a game where you play a character and guide them around a fictious world interacting with other players.

So umm how does it work?
- This particular Rpg is text based – which means simply that you are in essance writing a story from your characters point of view. Except everyone else is doing the same, so you don’t have to think as much.

So what has it got to do with concept art?
-It is basically an oppertunity to improve your illustration skills, using the story as a basis.
-You dont have to take part in the RP do draw and visa versa (you dont have to draw to take part in the storyline)

So how do I start?
- First you must design a character using the following critera (as this is an art based thing you must also DRAW your own character, (using other peoples is not allowed.) and post it in the character creation thread, where it will be accepted or declined – this will be decided on the character mainly, not on artistic skill (though it does help if your character is human and you are capable of drawing humans)

Whats all this lingo i am reading?
- OCC stands for Out of Character Chat - this is for when you need to talk to people as yourself not your character. This is done by using [[ or (( in combination with OCC i.e.
[[OCC: should we take our characters to the tavern?:OCC]]
- NPC - None Person Character: these are passing characters such as bar keepers that part in the rp is so small that it would be silly for someone to create a character sheet for them. Everyone can control these people. There is of course an exception for NPC's that are essential to the plot. In which case someone will be assigned to control them.
-GOD MODDING: is taking control of someone else's character, this is annoying, don't do it.

-
- Name: (self explanitory)
- Gender: (self explanitory but if you are a robot or other species devoid of gender please state it somewhere)
- Race: (self explanitory - if it is a made up species please outline its characteristics here.)
- Description + picture: (you MUST use your own artwork for the picture, description must be at least a paragraph. You can post the character bio before you have a picture ready but before it is entered into the RP there must be a picture to accompany it.)
- Personality: (self explanitory)
- History: (self explanitory)
- Weapons/powers: (self explanitory)
- Misc Info: (this is just for anything that doesn't fit into the other catagories)

Then what?
- Once your character has been approved then you are free to jump into the RP itself. The rules for the Rp is as follows:
- Please be literate – one line replies are hard to reply to. Txt sp3aKe is STRICTLY forbidden. Everyone makes spelling mistakes and typos but try to keep them to a minimum.
- This is not a dating site please keep any sexual themes short and vauge. Violence, Romance and Bad Language are allowed but please be sensible about it.
- The world the Rp is set in will have some parameters that you will need to take notice of. These will be placed somewhere in the World description.
- If you are going to be offline for any amount of time please let someone know and remove your character from immediate contact with the others until you return. So things are not left hanging waiting for you.
- DO NOT GOD MOD – ie controlling someone elses character without their permisson. (the storyteller reserves the right to nudge the Rp in the right direction should it get off track)
- DO NOT KILL OTHER PEOPLES CHARACTERS without their express permisson.
- If you are playing more than one character please post in a different colour .
- No more than 3 characters per person.
- NPC characters are allowed in addition to the 3 characters but please keep their part in the rp short and sweet.
- OCC chats are allowed but please keep it to a minimum.
Edit/Delete Message

- Bit of extra information from the good old wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_playing_games

****

The world you live in:

The cities, vast matropolis's full of blooming technology, sky scrapers line the roads reaching into the heavens, piercing the clouds as the song of monks and nuns rings though the air. They pray to a god to clense the souls of the worthy as robots watch, waiting for the song to end so they may use the same space to worship their own God. The people of the city, go about their daily lives, partly fearing what is on the other side of the wall that marks the perimieter of their great city home. For they do not understand the ways of the people that live in the wilderness, for there is a place of magic, where small communities live in harmony with nature and adept in the casting of spells.

Neither community can win the power struggle, for when a new technology gives the cities an upper hand, nature seems to deal the wilderness with magic to couteract it.

Politics:
In the city there would be:
Parliament that makes laws and rules over the city consisting of a representative from each race, each race also having a number of different 'parties' that are voted in or out of power by other members of their race.

So everyone has more or less equal oppertunities. Obviously like any major city certain area's are more upmarket than others and problems can occur in the bad bit of town

In the wilderness:
Beings live in small tribes with their own cultures/taboo's led more or less by the village/tribe elders. Not all of the tribes get on - and wars will break out on occasion, but this anemity is put aside when the city makes a foray into the wilderness. The tribes will join ranks to proctect themselves.

[kovah]

Aysel silently made her way into the vast booming metropolis where so many creatures resided in harmony. Almost anyway.
The small cat had lived in both the city and the wilderness during her long years on the planet. Watched leaders rise and fall from power and wars be won and lost on both sides of the wall.
If she had to pick her alligience it would probably be to the forest, but she was flexible and as taciturn as any feline. Though her nature was perhaps a little more demonic than her outside apperance let on.

She was a medium sized calico female cat. Her only feature that was perhaps out of the ordinay was her ice blue eyes that seemed to almost pierce the soul of those who looked into them and few seemed to be able to stand up to the scrutiny of her gaze, before looking away and shaking themselves. Reminding themself that she was after all just a cat. Most never found out the truth and that suited Aysel fine.

She meandered along the street, avioding being stepped on by busy feet with a maximum of grace, she was in the lower parts of the city and thus the people that lived her were the workforce and unemployed of the denizens of the city. She kept on the outskirts of this particular part of town, for venturing futher in one only ran into trouble. This she had found out on numerous occasions.

She jumped onto a small wall for a time, watching the people go past, getting the occasional glance from passers-by. Animals were not all that common in the city but there was a sizable cat population due to the infestation of rats and roaches the size of mice that had almost periodical plauges throughout the citys nether-regions. As soon as the denizens of the city realised that pesticides were no longer working, cats seemed to be the answer and it worked resonably well.

[Wolfbane]

Suddently a gust swept by the lower levels of the street, and alongside with it, a stranger dressed in a black, weatherworn cape and a big, but rather fine straw hat. There was little indicating that this man was no other than a commoneer. Yet when you got up close, you would feel a touch of curiousity by his presence. For as you got close, you could see that this was no ordinary man, if a man at all. Yet he walked untamingly through the streets like an average joe, going about his buisness.

He was heading towards a dark alley, as he cought eye contact with a cat, sitting on a nearby fence. She looked at him with a cold, blue gaze, as if she could see straight through him. He stopped for a second, and nodding his hat as a greeting, yet it was just a ordinary pet. Or was it. The shady man knew otherwise. A gently smile could be seen beneath the large hat, as he continued along his path through the dark alley, which ended in a tunnel on the opposit side...

http://i19.tinypic.com/2je5m6w.jpg


((Thought it would be really cool and interesting if we added illustrations to the scenes and enviornments we put our characters in. Also think it will be easier for the readers to get the picture of whats going on, since we RP'ers have a habbit for using difficult and complex language. And what the heck, this is an artist forum right? :P I'll take the pic away if anyone objects, though concider my idea.))

[AbstractPagan]

In the Mech District of the city, Grick had no choice but to be aloft in the shadows; running from place to place in attempts to maintain his freedom. His ‘retribution detonation’ had stirred up quite a bit of animosity with not only the Mech’s divisions of automation security, but had caused blackouts in three other sectors as well. This action made him a marked man. The stress was getting to him. He had scrounged up what was left of his custom made arsenal before they stormed his apartment as he ran to the outskirts of the Mech districts housing.

After several weeks of searching, the Mech Soldiers security force was given the stand down from level 3 searches for him. This by no means gave a sigh of relief, as the level two did random electron diode gamma ray scans over two thirds of the city once a day. With him being one quarter mechanical himself, the electronic resonance of his cyborg quarter could be detected very easily. Each cyborg gives off a very specific frequency, almost like a fingerprint. Luckily, he had an EMP device that could temporarily grant him asylum for about six hours, long enough to run to another sector entirely. But his home was the Mech district, and he often found himself cloaked in isolation at the local ‘watering hole’, called the Rathskeller Passage. Again he only had what few credits were left from his last paycheck, and knew where he was going if he didn’t find a job soon, but matters would only get worse since every job in the city logged employees taxes and serial numbers, undoubtedly he’d get caught for sure.

Over his last one and a half credits; that were sitting on the table in front of him in a glass, he pondered if the city life was worth all the hassle. If running until he was killed, was worth dying for freedom. Getting out of the city would be tricky. He could download the security specifics from his cyborg interface, but security was notorious for keeping patchy records, just incase criminals wanted to escape.

“Just for those like me”, he said sipping down the last bit of his ‘blue concoction’.

He needed someone to help him escape, but aiding a criminal’s escape meant getting recycled and getting caught meant ‘live disassembly’. The thought made him uneasy in the shiny metal chair.

Over in the distance, several worker bots seemed to hover around filling drink requests, some busting tables, and the bar tender an old friend from Grick’s engineering school that always gave Grick a discount on his favorite drink. The Bartender dropped out after he saw what they did to those that didn’t follow exact specifications, and decided the smart way out was to get a job that won’t kill him. Grick had wished he was in the bartender’s job, he’d be a whole human; for one, and he would not be a criminal either. He never once regretted the decision to send the plant a sunder, just that he almost died in the process. Again a slight miscalculation of one too many parts per million of zaragon compound-6, caused the blast to cause nearly three times the explosive blast. This undoubtedly caused the escape route to be compromised.

His plot was discovered after an investigation found blueprints in his locker at the plant’s Mech security division.

“Locker 101453, damn thing.”
He couldn’t get the piece of shit to open, to get the blueprints out. If he had, the explosion would have sealed his alibi of being in the wrong place at the right time. ‘Oh well, better luck next life, I guess’; he thought.

The door to the Rathskeller Passage swung open, and a rustling wind blew tabs around the barroom.

((Will post B&W sometime monday or so))

[kovah]

((I think its a great idea to have pictures, but not making it mandatory because not everyone has the time to do them. i.e me ;) but will try when i get a spare bit of time.))

Aysel watched the man pass by her at first with the same contempt that she afforded the rest of the population and the nod in greeting took her somewhat by suprise, it was a long time since she had, had such a thing from a humanoid life form. The last being that had greeted her like that was a large purple slug on the edge of the wilderness. Apprently he had once been a tribal mage who set a plauge on the village of the woman who scorned him and thus was turned into the slug by the survivors. Anyway her thoughts ran away with her. Aysel got to her paws and silently caught up with the stranger and walked along side. Her keen eyes picking through the darkness that was gathering as they approached the tunnel.

"Not many humanoids greet me in such a way" she said to him, her words were cool and calulating, but strangely seductive. "Which probably makes you worth talking too. Am i right stranger?"

((Will get to how she is ablle to talk to people later on))

[Wolfbane]

... He kept his eyes peeled forward as the cat was following him on his right side. A gentle smirk could be seen, forming beneath the large hat."My name is Chuún", he said with a foreign accent, without looking down at the talking creature. He didn't seem to be surprised that the cute little creature could talk. It was as if he knew it all along. "I'm visiting a friend", he said out of nowhere.it took a while before he turned down at the talking animal and continued. "It's not far, come", he spoke in short and strict sentances.

They were standing in front of a tunnel, which led to a door, further in. The walls were covered in rust and the air was filled with fungus. It didn't seem very inviting at first glance. They approached the door where the stranger stopped, turing towards the cat with the same expression he had before. As if he was waiting for her to respond...

((pic coming up tomorrow, need to go to bed >_> ))

[kovah]

"You may address me as Aysel" she replied, a little surprised that he didn't have a little hissy fit like many of the beings she talked to. Talking moggies were not particulary common. She shook herself a little and followed him into the tunnel grimacing slightly at the dampness all around her in the tunnel.

"Well are you going to open the door, since you have the advantage of oppsable thumbs and and that the door handle is more your height" she said with a hint of annoyance.

[AbstractPagan]

The door let in the blinding multi-colored lights from outside in, telling Grick nighttime was coming soon. The wind came to a crisp hault as the doors' pneumatics hissed closed in a four sectional door designed for security. The tall figure shined in the rooms black lighting above it, was a security drone!

Grick slowly rose from the table as his nerves were getting the best of him. He turned his body around, pulled down his long sleeve covering his cyborg arm, and walked towards the back of the room where the five bathrooms lined up in a row.

He knew there was a long tall window in the humans bathroom, but lacked the conscious choice at the time, of which one it was and opened the Gorlon bathroom. A Female was using the facility and yelled out a shriek catching the drone's attention. The drone came closer as Grick searched for the human shaped door handle. He went over to it on the far left and got inside.

He began to tamper with the windows latching and managed to get it open but he was too big to fit in the window.

"I guess it's time to compromise."

He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the latching. An alarm beeped in his head signaling that a scan was being done by the drone directly outside the bathroom stall.

"Shit!" He pulled out his other pistol, and turned around aimed them both at the door. Another alarm rang off in his head signalling that reinforcements were en route to the rathskeller passage.

"Ok, tin can, time to make an exit song!"

With four shots his pistol blew the door off the bathroom stall knocking the drone on the floor. As the drone began to get up, Grick fired six more shots causing the room to fill with sparks and the smoke from the drones destruction.

"Sorry, Daneckus; have to run, I guess this means the humans bathrooms' out of order. You know how my life is now. I will see you sometime soon, if you need me, you know how to get in contact."

"Aye mate! Off with ya before you traumatize any more of my patrons, I may have to reconfigure the bots to withstand your friggin' arsenal blasts. Its the third time this week."

Grick headed for the door.

((OCC: Is Aysel and Chuun going to Rathskeller passage? P.s. Rathskeller=watering, passage=hole a bit of language fun))

[AbstractPagan]

Here's the city pic rough draft. You can't see it too well, but in the lower left hand corner I have prilims on Aysel and Chuun walking together. Will work on this again tonight at work. I am very pleased with the outcome of the city pic (its the first environment I have done in eons. I never got the depth I like to have when I do these things)

http://aycu10.webshots.com/image/13769/2001231868687829578_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001231868687829578)

Its not hi res now but after a B&W and kicking it up and compressing it it should be very nice.

((The pyramid in the distance was that religious temple Kovah spoke about in his world description, I thought it was a cool concept, any comments or suggestions?))

[Katfayheirti]

(( I'm sorry I didn't post earlier, but I was on a trip this weekend and couldn't make it to a computer. I was going to post just now, but I'm a little confused about something. Are Chuun and Aysel supposed to be going into the bar Grick is in?))

[kovah]

((How about they are just outside a side door to the bar, the tunnel being like a second entrance to it. And they are about to enter it and Grick is about to exit is. Which will of course result in them meeting))

[Katfayheirti]

On the roof of the bar in the slanting slats of evening sun sat a shadowy figure. Her violet eyes squinted against the glare as she surveyed the hustle and bustle of the Great City's ground level below her. This wide rooftop on the edge of the vast metropolis was one of the few places the afternoon sun ever reached anymore. Further into the city the buildings were so tall that the the sunlight never reached the ground there, even at high noon. Mackie shivered. Out here on the edge of the city she felt exposed and vulnerable. It felt somehow unnatural to be without the protective loom of the skyscrapers and the violently orange sky seemed to hang oppressively over her head.

She crawled under an overhang on the roof and lay on her side in the comforting shadow for a moment, hugging her knees to her chest and shivvering. Suddenly she froze. With her ear pressed to the concrete she heard faint vibrations of sound. People shouting! Gunshots! Danger! She quickly sat up and grabbed her gun, KVVL. Years of living in this shadowy world had made survival instinctual and automatic for her. There was trouble in the bar and she didn't want to be caught up in the middle of it. She had to get away from here! As the last rays of the sunset dissolved into faint stars over the flashing city lights she sprang up and ran accross the rooftop, one foot quietly lighting on the concrete after the other. She had done this hundreds of times before. Run. Eat. Sleep. Watch. Avoid. Except...a slight misstep and the solid concrete betrayed her. It crumbled and suddenly she was falling! She hit the hard ground with a harsh "thud" and a few "cracks" and "grumbles" as the concrete chunks hit the ground after her. As the dust slowly settled, she began to realize that she must be in some sort of tunnel on the side of the bar.

[AbstractPagan]

As the smoke began to be filtered by the air conditioning, Grick activated the motion sensors for the door. With a hiss he stood at the exit for a moment to make sure no more Drones were near the door. He looked back at the Drone he had recently destroyed, watching the bussing robots sweep up the scattered parts into their dustpans.

"Where is Chuun? He was supposed to be here an hour ago. Taking his time probably."

He took three jogging steps to the outside as the last beam of sunlight fell behind the Great Temple in the distance. The back tunnel exit always had atleast two beggars, most of the time an alien unaccustomed to the city life, trying to get back on their 'feet'. A tall shadow walked up pacing itself and a smaller shadow walked next to it, heading calmly towards Grick.

Grick raised the pistol in his left hand nervously at the shadows that were approaching.

"Chuun?"

As his words were just finished a crashing sound came from behind him, someone had fallen from the roof through the tunnel ceiling.

((I figured I would fill the blank about why Grick was waiting at the bar, possibly for a contact to get out of the city?))

[kovah]

Aysel's keen eyes pierced the gloom of of the tunnel and surveyed the man in front of them, she looked him up and down from head to toe...a cyborg she thought. Interesting She left Chuún's side and was about to make a closer inspection of the cyborg when a crash behind them resulted in a girl being dropped into the tunnel.

She turned to gaze at the accidental newcomer and slowly padded over, cautious yet confident a the same time. Her tail swishing slightly as she walked stepping delicately over the debris that now entered the tunnel. She climbed onto the girls chest and looked directly into her eyes, her face less than two inches from the humans.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you to always look before you leap?" Aysel said clearly. Ignoring the two men for the moment, she was completely focused on the girl.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick adjusted his cyborg eye and focused on the shadowy figure that was approaching. He was right, it was Chuun. He lowered both his pistols and leaned over slightly looking behind Chuun for any Drones behind him.

"Who's the cat?" he said unsurprised that it spoke, and that Chuun had picked up another seemingly stray animal in his walks about the cityscape.

"Nevermind the cat we have about two minutes to leave here and find the sewer's or somewhere where the Drones aren't going to swamp us in a level 5 lock down of this sector. Chuun, um cat, the name's Grick by the by; I hope I didn't come off too demeaning earlier. We need to go now. Miss? You may not wish to be here either, since the drones are known for their rather unenjoyable interrogations. Let's go!"

As Grick peered around the corner he heard the sirens of the Drone transport heading towards their vicinity. He knew staying there meant a really big mess and he'd prefer not to have to make much noise, since the Drone factory was working full time to rid criminals in the city. They'd implement Lock Down 41 which meant a kind of martial law, cutting off each sector for systematic scans; if things got too messy, that would mean that the sewers were the only escape.

"Chuun, any ideas where we go next, they won't be too long and I think Lockdown 41 isn't something we are truly prepared for yet."

((Anyone hear from .61803? Updated city pic to B&W too))

[Katfayheirti]

107494

Mackie's eyes crossed as she attempted to focus on the feline just inches from her face. "Didn't your mother ever tell you to always look before you leap?" intoned the strange creature, her breath carrying a faint whiff of tumeric and anchovies. Mackie wasn't sure wether the cat was a danger or not, but the animal's sardonic tone definately put her off. She kept a finger on the trigger of her gun, coughed up some dust, and propped herself up on her elbows to survey her surroundings. The dark tunnel was narrow and the cat was not its only occupant.

Between her and freedom stood two strange men. One, tall and mysterious, was cloaked in shadow and his features were obscured by a gigantic hat. The other, a short, lean gnome who's entire left arm appeared to be replaced with some sort of biomachinery appeared agitated and ready to run at any moment. "Miss?" she heard him say "You may not wish to be here either, since the drones are known for their rather unenjoyable interrogations. Let's go!" Mackie mentally cursed. Drones?! Wonderful! She had been trying to avoid the trouble and now it appeared that she had done nothing but land right in the middle of it. As the wails of sirens filled the tunnel she extricated herself from both the cat and the concrete and struggled to her feet. She held her gun at waist level and slowly backed up against the wall. Her boots crunched against the rubble. She was covered in dust and her dark hair was in wild disarray. The two men and the cat didn't appear hostile, but they were the only things blocking her escape, and she wasn't about to let them trap her down here.

[[OK. Left arm. Fixed. :] ]]

[AbstractPagan]

((Oh its his left arm thats mechanical..:^^: ))

"The names Grick and this is Chuun. I see that you're well armed too, good cause it looks like you'll need it."

An alarm sounded in his head alerting him to fifteen drone within 200 sectons. Ten standard security protocol, three Juggernauts and two Cyborg Sergeants, all level 3 armament.

"We have fifteen drones coming our way in a minute or so. Level 3 armament, these guys pack a punch too. I think if we run more will be deployed so we need a strategic advantage point, this tunnel will be like 'shooting trout in a barrell' if we stay here."

[Wolfbane]

"You're very noisy with that gun of yours."

Chuún said firmly facing towards the rather stressed out gnome. He turned around. Looking at the awkward situation. You could hear people shouting and panic spreading out on the main street, as the drones started to clear out the sector.

"Looks like we dragged you into this mess. The drones will not likely be very understanding about your presence."

He turned back to the little cyborg.

"Grick, we need to get going. There's a maintance hatch down to the subterrain sewer network not far from here. It's our best shot."

Even though the difficult sircumstances, his voice remained cool and strict, with a touch of foreign accent. Not until now you could see what was hiding beneath the shady cloak, a random wind gust revealed two old-traditional swords, and set of simple bolt pistols. Chuún quickly covered himself up and stepped towards tunnel exit, in which him and Aysel had arrived from.

((Promised pic from last post, i'll make some more pictures on the upcoming scenes, sorry if they're a bit rushed though!))
http://i9.tinypic.com/437874k.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

"Chuun, lead the way. I think I know where you're speaking of, but hey let the tall guy lead the way==Nudges his upper thigh==, this way if something that likes to chew on small creatures will have to bite on your pretty swords first."

Grick peered over at the corner as another alarm breached into his skull. Vicinity is less that 100 sectons...Incoming scan...detected warning incoming artilery...impact in five...four..

"Run! INCOMING!!!"

Grick runs down to the girl an lands on her blocking the debris, as he activates his Repulsion shield that was original specified for Juggernauts and officers of the security force.

A loud crash is heard as a large chunk of the tunnel reveals the night sky and an Airbot Security drone scanning the opening.

[kovah]

((Meh double post, will edit mine))

((Eee i feel bad for not drawing a picture yet...Will try and get one done later.))


Aysel looked around at humanoids, She had never had a problem with drones they always thought she was just a cat and thus often escaped unscathed from encounters a different being wouldn't have.

"Maintenance hatch... I thought you would have more imagination than that, they will get you before you even reach it. Surely we should make use of the other route out of the tunnel provided by our new friend." she said gesturing up the the new hole in the tunnel roof. A well placed support girder and trash can providing access to it. To prove her point she leapt onto the bin then the girder and out of the hole before peering back down into the gloom of the tunnel.
"There is a place we can go, not far, its got a deflection shield built into the walls. Good for hiding the likes of you." she nodded at Grick "Well are you coming?" Just as she spoke an airbot drone appeared blocking the entrance. Aysel cursed silently and left the hole in the roof and surrupticiously leapt onto its back. It was only just big enough for it to not notice the extra weight and after swiping at it several times managed to hook several wires in her claws, breaking them and bringing the airbot down in a shower of sparks.

((woo finally got mine up))
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/rp-1.jpg

[Wolfbane]

Chuún quickly gains awareness of the situation. With his arms buried within his dark cloak, he seems very vaulnerable and il-prepared. Suddently he throws himself around with incredible speed, equipped with one of his strange swords he instantly slice a security drone, that just appeared around the corner, in half.

In a brief moment of silence he turns around to the crowd, which is still standing behind, recovering from the blast.

"Quick, that was not the only one!"

He is interupted by the sound of running metal. Another handful of drones quickly appear at the end of the dark alley. Without any hesitation, Chuún jumps up in the air, thrusting his sword into one of the security droids. Followed by a series of deadly blows towards the rest of them.

"I'll hold them back! Move for the ceiling!"

As he gets more and more outnumbered he picks up his other sword, slashing them around, doing complicated attacks with high presicion.

http://i17.tinypic.com/2q36n1h.jpg

[Katfayheirti]

((Daaaaaayum, WolfBane! You put my quick sketch to shame.))


Mackie lost her breath as the heavy gnome tackled her. Momentarily unsure of his intentions, she nearly shot him, but held her fire, and then suddenly there was a loud 'crash' and she realized that the roof had fallen in to reveal the night sky. Drones poured in and she watched as the strange man with the hat fell upon them, cutting them down left and right. She struggled free of the gnome's grasp, planted her feet squarely on the ground and took aim at the hoards for Drones that were rapidly outnumbering the swordmaster with the hat. 'well,' she thought 'I'm in this now whether I like it or not,' and opened fire.

107887

The bullets cut through the Drones like butter, but it wasn't enough. More and more of them kept pouring in. A cloud of dust arose from behind the swarm of Drones, and suddenly Mackie realized that she was doing much more than simply killing androids. The tunnel itself was being damaged. She quicky stopped shooting and lowered her weapon. 'The integrity of the tunnel isn't sound!' She wanted to shout. 'We'll have to get out or it'll cave in on us!' but all the came out of her mouth was "Chickenfeet ardent green aerocopter! Hyperbole dusting water sorry!" She bit her lip in frusteration at her inabilty to warn, decided there was nothing she could do about it, and bolted for the hole in the tunnel, scrambling up the wall towards starlight and freedom.

[kovah]

((Wolfbane that is the most awesome picture, makes mine look aweful, Will upload it abit later since the internet connection on the laptop wont let me for some reason.))

Aysel stepped off the downed droid, she hadn't disabled it completely but it was no longer able to fly, and so posed alot less of a threat, she was all too aware though of a large number of droids making their way towards them. Her fur was starting to stand on end as adrenalin started to course through her body. She could feel herself wanting to escape into her true demonic form, and was having to make a concious decision no too.

She poked her head back down the hole as the girl pulled herself out.
"Can we speed things up a little down there." she called over the noise of droids being disassembled. She pulled her head out of the hole, looking around trying to decide on the best way to get to her safe house. Her routes were multiple but haing slow humanoids in tow meant she would have to change her tactics slightly but the Grick and Chu'unn seemed to be taking their time.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick, who was aiming to block several chunks of debris from hitting the seemingly fragile girl, was pushed off into the dust as the girl got up, and laid out a line of fire he only saw in the occassional mobster movie.

The girl stopped in comtemplation, and then began to blurt out some bizzare sentences. He wasn't sure what she was getting at until he looked over at the walls and his cyborg eye noticed the integrity of the tunnel was no longer stable, his eye gave an estimated time of compromise to about 45 seconds.

"Chuun lets go! I will throw a grenade to stave 'em off, get the hell up here the tunnel is going to collaspe!

An alarm rang off in head again stating the the Juggernauts were powering up the main blasters. The were 50 sectons away but had GPS and high range artilery.

"We have Juggernauts, they want to light the place up!

Grick hopped up onto the trash can and leaped up through the hole, almost missing his footing. He looked up and saw several airbot special force drones in pursuit. His eye focused in on them and noted only two were coming, the others we handling another issue over near sector eight the Farming district.

((I will hold off on throwing the grenade, until Wolfsbanes reply, great pic man, I ironically seem to be unable to do simple sketches, not sure why))

[Wolfbane]

"Aye!"

In a split second, Chuún grabs a confused droide and thrusts himself up towards the blown out ceiling. Just in the moment he reaches out for the edge, one of the security drones fire off a shot and successfully penetrates Chuún's exposed back. He bites his lower lip in pain as he grabs the sharp edge of the hole. Unlike the others, he had jumped straight from the ground without the help of neither the pole or the trashcan. The pain in his back causes him to tremble and he starts to lose his grip.

"H-help me!"

...

[Wolfbane]

((going to bed, hopefully i'll have some oppurtunities to paint some cool scenes tomorrow as well ^^ thanks for cool progress so far guys!))

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie turned at the faint cry from the edge of the pit. The swordsman was hurt! Although she had failed to be of any help in warning of the impending collapse, the least she could do was help. She planted her feet firmly on the ground, dropped her weapon, grabbed his hand and pulled.....then slid forward closer to the edge. The swordsman was surprisingly heavy! Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. She was sure that the drones could see her and might fire on her at any moment. She dug her feet into the earth and yanked harder.

(( Am I the only one using the past tense? We really need to get this whole 'tenses' thing worked out ))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick in his smaller stature reached out to the other hand with his left arm. It was his stronger arm and was the most effort he could give. With a hard jerk Chuun was lifted to the top. With a BOOM the Juggernauts blast filled the tunnel with smoke and fire, creating a amazing rush of hot air from the hole in the roof of the tunnel.

The tunnel's support structure began to squeak and crackle as the full moons shined down on the group. Plasma bullets whiz by as the two Airbot special force take shots from 150 sectons away. With a hissing sound and a smell of melted concrete all the shots melt into the side wall of the Rathskeller Passage.

Grick jumps down to the ground and calls on an auto cab to pick them up. The hovering vehicle stops abruptly.

"I need money! Never mind.." Grick's quick thinking made him punch into the city interface and using his left cyborg arm to override the payment zon.

"Thank you for using Metropolis carpool services, you may occupy the vehicle" The vehicles automated voice spoke in its monotone structured language. The roll-away doors opened up and Grick looks up to the tunnel roof as it begins to collapse.

"The rides a-waitin'!" with his right arm he pulls off a grenade and tosses it into the hole. Grick hops into the vehicle and plugs his left arm into the navigation interface on the left side of the vehicle.

((Heh I thought to go out with a bang so to speak, mackie hasn't officially introduced herself so, I will refer to her as girl for the time being;) I think present tense might be better, JMO))

http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/14042/2004771544414365306_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004771544414365306)

[Wolfbane]

"Thank you"

Chuún nods quickly towards his rescuers, before following Grick down on the backstreet and into the new transportation vehicle. He instantly jumps in the passenger seat next to Grick, swearing words in his native tounge, while keeping pressure on the newly formed wound. Chuún rips off his large cloak and tosses it out of the car. He then looks for an exit wound on his flank.

"Damn, the bullet's still inside"

Yet he is gratefull that he got hit by a pistol bolt, rather than a plasma shell, which would inflict much more damage if not treated properly. Chuún still knows that the situation is still very dangerous, so he ends up taking another piece of cloth, dangling from his undershirt and straps it around his lower torso, deciding that the treatment has to wait for now. As Grick tries to highjack the system software, he can hear security stingers approaching behind them.

"Grick, we need to get a move on...!"

[kovah]

Aysel had jumped daintily into the vehicle and pushed her way through the tangle of bodies to the control panel which was buzzing as Grick attempted to override the system. She could hear the drones coming in thick and fast behind them and impatience got the better of her.

She placed her paws on the panel and after concentrating for several seconds pushed out some dark energy, it swirled around her paws like concentrated smoke making her eyes flash red as it reached them, and making the vehicle surge forwards into the automated transport lane and away from the advancing drones for the time being.
"I only made it go...i can't steer it." she said simply hopping onto the dashboard looking at Grick expectantly before continuing
"When you get to the end of this lane go right take the metro highway and then the forth left. Then take the 2nd ally on the right and then stop by the recycle droid."

[AbstractPagan]

((Presuming Mackie will be joining us. Just for the record guys a secton is about ten feet. A Cool sci-fi sounding unit of measurement:) ))

"Don't worry Ms. Kitty I'll do the steering. Overriding the speed controls. Interfacing with navigation arrays. One.. more.. code. DAMN! Security's interfacing remotely! Locking out the source. I need about ten seconds, SHIT!"

As grick struggled to get the last override coding in place, as the hovering car began to get pock marks in its driver side rear from the drones ammuntion. And with a loud clung, something magnetic had hit the roof of the car.

An alarm broke out in Grick's head telling him a tracking beacon was placed on the car.

"GOT THE CODE!"

With a Vroom the hovering cars engine went into overdrive and the vehicle sped off.

"I hate these metro cabs...

Before he could finish the sentence, BOOM! A Plasma blast from one of the Juggernauts hit 10 sectons in front of the vehicle. As the smoke rolled up in front of the vehicle it was apparent that they weren't getting too far.

A vehicle warning states that the road track was damaged. "Warning road track may be compromised please exit the vehicle", as the vehicle came to a complete stop about 200 sectons from the original encounter, the hazard lights began to flash.

Grick had to override the emergency coding and the hazard lights in order to continue driving. Most cars in the metro area were on a track system the city had implemented long ago to remove accidents. Cabs and other transportation from the city were all on this track system. Luckily they made the turn and no drones could be seen.

"Damn track system! Chuun I know your injured, can you lend your sword to remove the track bracketing underneath the car. The emergency code wont crack until its off the track system. I will remove the homing beacon and destroy it."

Grick hit the large round button on the door next to him and it rolled away revealing a not so well lit part of the city, they were off the main road and were in the slums of the residential sector. He stood up in the door way turned around and reached over with his left arm and his mechanical probe turned off the beacon. The magnetics unlocked and it popped off, rolling down to the passenger side of the car.

"Sorry I couldn't catch it. Short arms don't go far..."

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie grabbed her weapon ,leaped into the back of the cab, and waited anxiosly as the gnome fought to override the controls. Suddenly the cab jerked forward and Mackie's head hit the side of the door. She grimaced, shook her head, and stared with wide eyes out the window. The sky was alight with fire from the drones and she could only faintly hear the cat and the gnome arguing over all of the noise. The movement of the cab sickened her; she winced and ducked closer to the floor as the enemy shells and bullets nicked the thin metal envelope of the Carrier Cab. Something wet and sticky dripped on her boot. She reached down, whiped it up with a finger and gazed at the substance in the lurid, green light of the enemy tracer shells. It was blood. Mackie looked up to see that the blood was dripping from the swordsman's chair, then suddenly "BOOM" a plasma blast destroyed the tracks in front of the cab. As the vehicle ground to a halt, Mackie timidly peeked out the back window. They had better get the cab moving again fast! The Airbots were rapidly graining on them and their aim was dastically improving with proximity.

[Wolfbane]

Chuún responds to Grick's call for aid, and opens the right window from an electronic device. The wind was hammering against his face as he stretched out from the door. All of the cities transportation vehicles were designed for extremely high speed. Since most of them were connected to tracks that sprung all around the metropolis, they wouldn't have any problem with accidents.

Chuún closes his eyes as he sticks his body on the outside of the moving car. The hovering cab takes a unforseen turn and almost makes him lose his grip. In a split of a second the large straw hat gets lost in the wind. Chuún curses once again in a strange language. He tries to reach down below the cab as a swarm of Security Stingers approach the hovering car. Equipped with deadly projectiles and sharp drills, these stingers were not good news for Chuún who was already struggling just to hang on the vehicle. Chuún knows that the stingers were sent out to disfunction the car, and would soon land on the weak spots and drill holes where it could disturb the electronics and cut wires. He had to act fast.

Just in the last second, he leaps up on the rapidly moving cab's roof, and reaches for both of his swords. The adrenaline pumping through his body makes him forget about the pulsing pain in his torso. The wind is incredibly strong, and he's almost being thrown off the car as he stand with his legs placed in both directions, to give him better foothold. He lets out a battle cry before slicing through the horde of stingers.

((fUpdated version!))
http://i17.tinypic.com/2zylwye.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

The stingers began to fall one by one as Chuuns precision was amazing. Grick climbed back into the vehicle and closed his door as bullets pelted the side of the vehicle.

"Chuun get in, I got the over-ride! I'll throw out a PEMP that will shut'em down for a while." He looks over at Aysel, who even in all the craziness is calmly kneeding mackies lap.

"Which way Aysel?" as he rolled the door up and tossed out a small disc-like object. It made a clink sound upon the roadway several sectons behind the vehicle.

With a blue electrical flash all the lights that were behind them went dark as they sped off to safety.

"Whoo, that's one hell of a getaway. Chuun you never cease to amaze me. Those blades of yours will need a shapening again I imagine. Miss, I never caught your name, are you okay?"

((I am having a blast with this guys thanks for the great character team-up. I hope I didn't step on any toes with some of the observations Grick had, i.e. kneeding the lap:wink: ))

[kovah]

((heh i dont mind. Just want to let you all know that it will be unlikely that i will get online over the weekend especially saturday with having guests over so i dont mind if you go places without Aysel for a time or simply wait.))

Aysel was feeling rather relaxed in the company of the strange girl, it was almost a long lost feeling to the cat. Despite her outward calm she was often more alert than she let on, she had to be it was how she had survived this long.

She stopped her kneeding for a time and placed her front paws on the dashboard to look out the window.
"Take the 2nd ally on the right after this junction and then stop by the recycle droid." she said "After that there is a small metal panel behind the droid that leads into the safe house." Aysel paused "Be aware though that we may not be the only visitors, i am not the only one that knows about it." she continued before resuming her original position.

((wip dont have my tablet with me so i cant colour it))

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/rpayselgrick.jpg

[Wolfbane]

Chuún dodged the last stinger droid as he watch them being destroyed by the EMP grenade. He takes a sigh of relief and falls down on his knees on the roof. The cab was picking up the pace, he had to get inside again. With an acrobatic movement he swung himself from the roof and into the front seat(just missing Aysel while doing so).

[AbstractPagan]

Grick had followed the direction Aysel had given him, hoping this place was more welcoming than the streets. He knew that while he was a marked man; marked men needed to eat. The ruckus at the Rathskeller passage kept him from getting the free sandwich with the blue concoction he ordered. It was the most daneckus could give him since business was slow and it was the end of the month.

"Aysel there's the recycler."

The alleyway had been home to many lowlife's in the past and Grick was hoping not to make it a residence either, of course maybe some of his companions had some credits. There was four homeless people all sleeping together because it was getting colder out, all of them watching the solar television they charged up, probably from the rooftop.

As Grick and Chuun step out of the car, a loud clung rips through the alley way, as the recycler is activated. It was a Jarring sound and Grick who was on high attention, pulled out his pistol.

An alarm went off in his head. They were going to perform a scan in this area in two minutes he needed to get underground soon. Or it would certainly be round two with the security force, who was already pissed off about his fourth escape this week.

"We'll ditch the car later, everything under the sun will be looking for it. Where next Aysel?"

[kovah]

Aysel stepped out of the vehicle and made her way to the panel, then turned to the droid and pressed the reset button with her paw. The panel swung open with a loud creak and Aysel made her way into the dark tunnel, the human would probably have to crawl to get inside but once they were it was deceptively spacious. There was a small food outlet and some pods for sleeping, one or two other fugitives watched her arrival without comment before turning back to what they were doing.

She sat herself down on one of the chairs that surrounded a small table near the food outlet and looked around. The place had falled into disrepair somewhat and rust appeared to be crawling up some of the walls like the ivy she had seen in the forest. Vermin lurked in the shadows and the clang of the sky train above rattled the entire structure as it passed, she turned her attention the tunnel waiting for the others to appear. They would be safe her for a time, the walls contained certain materials and possibly even wilderness magics that made the security forces of the government pass right over it. They would have to blow a large hole in the wall to know the building was even there.

[AbstractPagan]

As Grick climbed through the tunnel hurriedly attempting to escape the scan heading this way, his knee hit something in the tunnel.

"Shit that hurt!" Grick had bounced his knee off a drain pipe that Aysel avoided without notice time and time again.

He heard Chuun grunting behind him his wound becoming exascirbated by having to crawl because of the tunnel height. Grick got to the end and stood up. Amazingly, it was quite spacious inside atleast a secton high and two deep. Upon further examination he noticed two other individuals in the area as well, he pulled out his pistol in reaction. His eye focused and realized that they were not significantly armed, so he put his pistol away.

He looked around at the walls and realized that it was made of Ultimum composit 139, which has several compound ores within it that dampen and scramble the scans as well. This metal is used in Juggernaut exoskeletons to prevent remote access by other wireless hackers such as Grick. It rusts pretty fast but other ore compounds can keep that from happening.

"Damn! A safe spot. Where's this place been for the last week. Whoo I can get some sleep."

Grick found a cot in the corner and sat down on it lighting his last cigar with his cetyline torch. With a crackle of sound, the flame torched the end of the cigar and a familiar smell of tobacco filled the room. With a popping sound the torch flame extinguished.

"Ah, some R and R." Grick said laying back on the cot with his right arm behind his head.

"Last one, ah they'll be more if i work on the shop in the retail district."

[Katfayheirti]

As the cat kneeded her lap Mackie almost reached down to scratch her head, but then stopped herself. She still had the blood on her hands and didn't want to accidently smear it all over Aysel's fur.

She craned her neck and looked nervously out the window as the swordsman destroyed the stingers, and she tapped at the window locks in the hopes of getting a window open so she could shoot at the bots, but they wouldn't budge and she eventually gave up. When the cab finally pulled up to the she was relieved and immediately leaped out of the vehicle, glanced down the street, then squirmed into the hole after the cat.

The chamber she emerged into was amazingly spacious. The lighting was dim, and there were a few other refugees who had also taken shelter in the , but they payed her no mind and overall the place seemed relatively secure. She sat down near the door with her back to the wall and laid her gun across her lap. Up untill this point she hadn't noticed how absolutely, thoughly exhausted she was. But there was no time to rest yet! This was the first place she had come across in ages with warm food and clean water. She stood up again and padded over to a spigot that stuck out of the wall over a decaying plastic bucket, then loosened the knob and let the water flow out. It sparkled beautifully in the dim light as it drizzled into the bucket and Mackie's dry throat ached with thirst. She clipped a small capsule off off one of her boots, filled it with water, drank, then filled it with water again and fastened it back onto her boot for safekeeping. She rinsed the blood off of her hands, washed her face, then rolled her sleeves up and scrubbed at her arms. As she scrubbed the blood and dirt and filth off of her arms she gazed at the strange sequences of numbers tatooed all up and down them and wondered where they had even come from. There was a lot that she didn't remember and that fact really disturbed her. What was I doing at the edge of the city? What am I running from? Who am I running from? Where did I come from? Unfortunately now was not the time to concern herself with useless questions. She determinedly put them out of her mind, and began to clean and reload her gun.

[[I finally have the picture. It's not pretty, but it'll have to work....
BTW, WolfBane, your lastest pic is kickass!]]

[AbstractPagan]

"So miss, we never caught your name, you some kind of a special ops or somethin'? Interesting tattoos you got there. Nice gun by the way" As she revealed more of her arms Grick was shocked that she had so much of them. Most women in the city were kept out of obligation to get tattoos.

His cyborg eye focused in on the tattoos, since they were taboo for women; and noticed a sequence he recognized at the security drone plant. He got up, puffing on the cigar and walked over to get a closer look.

"I don't suppose you know why you have a security clearance code on your right arm? I used that code to interface with the drones occassionally."

((I thought it a good plot twist for the tattoos, hope you don't mind. :^^: This would be an excellent time for Hookswords to join in by the by))

[Hookswords]

He stood high in the cityscape. As high as he could climb without attracting attention. He focused on the tree tops he could see over the city walls. He could feel the blood in his body pulling towards the waving branches. It was hard to focus. The city is so loud, but that is easily muted, Every movement, every thump of the city, echoed through his arms into his body. Every clash of steel, every tracked transit, every clumsy droid echoed into him.

It was so hard to be alone.

The faint tree limbs in the distance called to him. What is out there? He had never seen another of his kind. He didnt know where in the forest they dwelled. He didnt even know what he would do if he got out there. Smile maybe.

The moon looks so big tonight. He always felt funny during the full moon. The past few years have been the strangest. It mocked him. Screamed at him, demanding worship. Often on these nights he would dream of giant black dogs running through the great forest. His elders told him that what he described were called wolves, and they are a totem of his people. His elders are wise but their knowledge of his people was limited. "Focus on the moment" they taught, "The past is gone...do not mourn it"

Something stirred inside him that they could not teach. The Iron Silence was powerful, but not all knowing. When his arms turned to metal he cried, but they rejoiced. The elements picked you. Metal had not picked a soul in ages. They said it was a gift. Ha, another curse is more like it. Most of his elders were stone warriors, many of his brothers were too. Rare was heart of the flame, but rarer was the Metal Warrior. Am I not unique enough? Caged in this heartless city?

He lived up to the name the monks gave him. Saymbolsal- to percieve the sound of suffering.

He was lost in the wave of the trees. So distant, but so close to his heart.

An explosion rang out. A few mega sectons from his perch.

Odd Criminals no doubt. Droids swarmed to that area like wasps to a hive. It was hard to filter out all the activity. Saymbolsal decided he'd take a closer look. It was evident he would get no solace tonight. He jumped and soared his way closer. He had to be picky as to which buildings to land on. The Iron Silence had a reputation to keep, in the right circles anyway. This area was ripe with corruption and gang territories.

Another explosion.

*Sniff sniff* Plasma...this is serious

He continued to make his way closer. Emptied shells rang like confetti through his arms...a serious fire fight. Blades?

"what is going on?" he mouthed a barely audable whisper.

A flash of light. A city block went dark and the echoes of fallen droids resonated through his arms into his chest. An Auto Cab haphazardly made its way down the street below him. He watched the figures pour out of it and into an alley below him. A motley crew.

*Sniff sniff* Blood...and...

His eyes widened. What is that? That is no ordinary cat Its footsteps rang heavy through him. Unlike any animal he had felt. Maybe its from the forest.

A raven perched next to him on an antenna.

"What do you think friend?" He asked of the raven
"CaT iS nOt CaT. cAt Is NoT cAt." Replied the raven.

Ravens are not known for their insight. But still, its thoughts rang true. Purhaps a closer look is in order. If it is from the forest he must meet it. It may know of his people.

They disappeared through a well hidden hatch. As each passed through he felt their essence fade. What manner of magic is this? I must move swiftly He decended to street level and approached the recycle droid, mimicking their movements. The hatch opened and he raised his hood as he climbed into the cramped passage. A few transients lined the small network of tunnels. He heard running water and followed its call. The stink of cigar filled his nose, cutting to blood, then cigar again. One is wounded. A chill sets into his spine as he enters the room filled with those he followed in.

(( it seems we have been using italics to denote thoughts or inner monologue so I followed suit. And introducing the mega-secton. Mega-secton: roughly a few city blocks. i figured like bit to megabit :wink: ))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick heard scuffles coming from the tunnel. He went over to the cot grabbed his pistol and aimed it at the dark entrance to the room.

"Well, I count four of us and the two others here previous, who might you be? I'll warn you kindly our night hasn't been to kind to us." he said half puffing, speaking between his teeth and the cigar.

As a cloaked head popped out of the tunnel opening, Grick backed up. He wasn't too big and certainly not a drone or cyborg, but his cyborg eye picked up a mass of metal coming into the room. He wasn't sure what to think, the person moved fluidly, like a biological person, but metal non-the-less.

The dim light revealed bright blue skin on the forearms of the creature and a faint glow from its eyes from inside the cloak.

((So I guess we should come up with and idea about liquid measurements too:wink: , we have room for two others to join in or two short-term NPC's))

[Wolfbane]

Chuún gave out a small grunt as he bent down, to fit inside the cramped tunnel. The wound was getting worse, but Chuún didn't think about the pain more than losing his precious hat in the cab incident. At his relief it was much more spacier when he came inside the buildning. He didn't spend much time lurking about, peering for any weak joints, neither did he pay much attention to the pair of outlaws, sitting by the corner, which was unusual for the sharpsensed swordmaster. Instead he found himself ripping off thin lines of cloth from his tunic, and started to wrap it around his head. You hear him mumble something: "I guess this'll do for now..." You begin to wonder why he was wearing a hat in the first place. And what that strange organ placed in the middle of his forehead is for. The one that looks like a third eye. Rumour has it that the Ramáns "third eye" grants the host special insight in its surroundings. Nobody really knows how it works though.

He reaches for one of his pockets, hidden in layers of heavy wool fabrick from his pants. A well knotted package, covered in weatherworn animal skin. He reveals whats inside. A series of straws, knitted together. He stuffs it beneath his newly formed bandana and rests against a nearby concrete pillar that stretches for the roof. And takes a well deserved sigh of relief.

The silence is broken by sounds from the entrance. A shady character stepped inside the room. His arms were covered with cromed metal and his chest were marked with tribal tatoos. Chuún instantly recognized them. It was no doubt about it. But why on earth was he here of all places? He did not belong here, just as him, he was a man from the wilderness.

"You do not need to worry, my gnome friend."

This was the first time Chuún said something in quite a while. He turned to the newcomer, and greets him with nodding his head and folding his hands together.

"What purpose does a Child of the Great Wolf have here, of all places?"

http://i19.tinypic.com/4hsab6v.jpg

((Chuún's from a very ancient spiritual tribe that lives in the wilderness as well, more of an old japanese stylish culture though))

[AbstractPagan]

((Dude that pic rocks!))

Grick put his pistol down as the person got up.

"Another from the outside realm. Well, you're coming into a lot of criminals; I hope ya know. No offense Chuun, I know that pride thing you have. Thanks for helping me out back there I do appreciate it. 'Live disassembly' *blerhhh*, the punishment gives me chills."

Grick walks over and lends out his strong arm to help the guy off the floor. The shiny arm plating shot out some reflective light in the room, causing one of the others in the corners to wince.

"Sorry about the initial animosity, it's a reactive kinda thing when you're on the 'A' list of the security drone force."

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal counts four as he enters the door way. Human girl, gnome male, the cat, and another... body mod? No... it is not human These were the four he saw exit the cab. He is sure of it. He knew it could get hostile quick, so he stayed light on his feet. He was in a fair enough position. The girl's gun is not in hand, the cat seems to be at rest, I am out of sword range, and the gnome should...

"Well, I count four of us and the two others here previous, who might you be? I'll warn you kindly our night hasn't been to kind to us." said the gnome as he raised a pistol.

Saymbolsal starred down the barrel of the pistol. A the slightest grin hooked up one side of his mouth.
"It will be difficult to kill me with but a wish short one. Reload and we can further discuss your intentions."
A very quiet giggle comes from the girl.
"You do not need to worry, my gnome friend." Said the strange one. " What purpose does a Child of the Great Wolf have here, of all places?"

Saymbolsal's eyes widened and the air left his lungs. He knows of my people!?! But how? What manner of creature is this? Is he of the forest?

He calmed his mind and demeanor and lifted his hood back to reveal himself. He shook his head a bit as he tucked his cloak behind him. His black mowhawk like mane stood up a bit. Like the ridgeback manes of the giant black wolves of the forest...like those of his dreams. More tattoos could now be seen creeping up his neck and the sides of his head. Chuun might recognize them as the talisman tattoos given to Feneripyne children at a young age. They acted as wards to protect from different dangers. His ears are long and slender. He rolls his cloak off his shoulders and slowly steps forward. He opens his arms out to the sides in an act of peaceful intentions.

"I am but a humble monk. Please allow me to tend your wound. I ask no payment but that of your council. Be assured that I am not your enemy, less -you- choose me as yours."

[Wolfbane]

Chuún bows his head in respect for the generous offer given by the newcomer. Though he's a bit unsure about being treated by those massive metal arms. But he trusts him. He comes from a noble and respected faction.

"Name's Chuún from the Sin-Dhal house. I come from the northern parts of the great forest. But some how ended up in this god forsaken city. But enough about me, what about you?"

It's a rare sight to see the swordmaster speak so openly and free. Supposedly he recognize himself in the stranger, and feels more at home when speaking to him than the others. He is one of his kind. An outlander from the wilderness.

[Katfayheirti]

(( OK. Mega-section. Somehow I'm going to remember all of this Star-Trek-esque inventive technical jargon....I swear.

Also, welcome to the RP Hookswords!))

"So miss, we never caught your name, you some kind of a special ops or somethin'?..."

Mackie pretended to ignore the gnome as he jabbered on about security codes and numerical sequences, but after a minute or so she laid down her gun in frustration, yanked off the dogtags around her neck and waved them in front of the Gnome's face. Mackie!! They say MACKIE! My name must be MACKIE! she yelled in her mind, but she never got a reply from the Gnome, for at that moment into the chamber crawled a strange newcomber. He was wearing a voluminous cloak with a deep cowl that obscured his face, and as he took a step forward Mackie eyed him with suspicion. As he pulled off his cloak Mackie saw that his entire upper torso was covered in strange tatoos, he was well-muscled, and his arms were sheathed in strange metal armour. He looked strangely exotic, as if he had come from the far outlands and only reluctantly adopted the outer trappings of the city.

The swordsman appeared to recognize the newcomer from somewhere and when the Gnome threatened him with a pistol he simply smiled. So...He's not afraid of guns... Even so, Mackie dropped the dogtags on the floor and quickly snapped KVVL back together just in case it might be needed. She was still a little suspicious of the newcomer, even if the swordsman appeared at-ease enough to allow himself to be healed.

[Hookswords]

"Well Chuun of the Sin-Dhal house, there will be little use in getting to know one another if you bleed to death." He says with a dry humor.

He continues to move slowly to suggest he means no ill. The cat still rests. The gnome keeps a steady eye on him. The girl is readying her gun. He glances at the dog tags on the floor.

"You dropped something young miss." He says as he reaches for a spare cot in the corner. He pulls the cot to where Chuun stands and kneels along side it. He looks to Chuun and warmly opens his arms to suggest to him to lay on the cot.

"I am Saymbolsal of the Iron Silence Order. I wish I knew you house friend, but I know little of the outerlands or my people." He found peace in speaking with Chuun. "I am an orphan. The monks took me in and raised me from very young. I've never left this city cage. Come now and lay down. Droid munitions are poison to flesh if untreated. "

As he waits for Chuun to rest on the cot he brings his hands together and proceeds to perform multiple finger and hand postures. His head is as if held up by a thread. His eyes become a more vibrant icey blue. Without breaking his hand posture routine or changing focus he speaks.

"I can talk you through the process as I go if you would like." The ever so slightest, barely noticeable grin hooked up the left side of his mouth. "But it would be more for the others here." he said as he looked at Chuun. "You will feel it all, so it might be redundant."

{The way he speaks may interest your character. He is well pronounced, i.e. he doesn't say "doesn't" he says "does not", etc. He often speaks in verse from his teachings with the Order of Iron Silence. He speaks honestly, and often bluntly. He has a dry delivery of wit and sarcasm at times.}

(( Just to make clear for my history for Saym: The metal arms are from being in the city dwelling monk order. The tattoos are from the forest born race.
Hey WolfBane! If we do surgery, is there anything strange about Chuuns anatomy I should know about for RPing the surgery? You can PM me if you dont want to post it in the thread. Great fun so far!))


Saymbolsal beginning the prayer for surgery. Edit: D'oh, I forgot to add the tattoos. I'll do that later

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6659/saymprayerds1.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

"About the short comment "sam", I don't mind the comment ya know. I got tech on my side. I remember hearing stories about that monk order, pretty bizzare stuff. So you gonna lay on hands or somethin'?

As Saymbolsal was preparing his surgery prayer the gnome looks over at him and something seems familiar about the prayer as if he had seen it before.

He looks back at the girl, who hasn't officially spoke her name and reads the dogtag on the floor, "Mackie". The blue colored dogtag was an odd metal. He picks it up off the floor and looks at it closer.

"Hmmm...nice to meet you Mackie. I like the gun cannon. I find it very strange for you to have a security clearance code on your arms." He hands her the dogtag and asks Symbolsal if he needs anything to help him out.

"Hey Sam, ya need anything? I can heat up some metal if ya want sterile." He walked back over to his cot, sat down and glanced over at one of the others, puffing on his cigar as the smoke is being sucked into the ventilation system.

http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/12840/2002311213482983079_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002311213482983079)

((I think it would be cool if he could just magically reach in and take the bullet out makes for an interesting pic too))

[Hookswords]

"Pardon my poor social graces, short one.." He says as he finishes the prayer sequence. "...but I've yet to be honored with your name. And yes, you can help. Please make sure that food outlet works, Chuun and I will be very hungry after this. Oh, and if you have any infrasonic sensors in your system, I would suggest you turn them off."

He stands and approaches Grick while eying Chuun with expectation.

"Strike your torch please."

The scent of acetylene fills the air once more as Grick strikes the torch. Saymbolsal bathes his hands and forearms in the torch flame like a surgeon scrubbing up before a procedure.

His eyes smiling a bit as he looks at Grick. "Safety first, as they say. That should sterilze my arms to his system. Many thanks friend, now if you could...the Food Outlet, make sure it works. This wont take long."

He turns back to Chuun...

((Kovah made mention of a food outlet in an earlier post. I assume it's a dispenser of some sort. And if you dont know, I'll save you the google trip; infrasonic is sound below the normal range of human hearing.))

[kovah]

((Yeah sorta a startrek replicator type jobby but for food))

Aysel watched the new commer appear and then the following interactions with her new companions, silently taking in what they had to say. She had, had dealings with beings of Saymbolsal's origin. As well as the monks that had taken him in. All in all it was an interesting combination of cultures. The children of the Great Wolf could almost be descibed as feral beings, wild as the wind and just as hard to prediect were as the monks were almost the opposite.

She made her way onto the back of the chair she had chosen in order to get a better view of the 'operation' that was being prepared, her only movement was the slight swish of her tail.

[Wolfbane]

Chuún rests his back on the cot. "Do whatever you have to do.." He closes his eyes with a slight grunt of pain.

[Katfayheirti]

Makie takes the dogtags from Grick, smiles, and drapes them around her neck. I have a name, not just numbers... Unfortunately, her smile fades as she turns her head to watch Saymbolsal. She still doesn't trust him, and stalks closer to the surgery cot to keep a closer eye on him. He'll pay dearly if he hurts the swordsman, or ANY of my newfound friends. Despite her distrust, she's facinated by Saymbolsal's hand gestures and watches with wide eyes. She tries to keep a stern expression on her face, but can't help being a little mezmerized.

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal slowly paced his hands over Chuun. After a few minutes he speaks.
" The bullet did not hit any major organs or arteries...his anatomy is a bit different than most, but that will not complicate the procedure."

Saymbolsal's body lurches forward and he appears to be screaming, but you hear nothing. a faint vibration can be felt in a radius around him and Chuun. His face is directed at the wound. {If Chuun could not feel the bullet inside him, he can now as it vibrates steadily.} Saymbolsal stands up and and his arms raise above his head quickly. Papers on a pillar in front of him (the one Chuun was leaning on) fly off from the force. His arms settle down slowly over the wound like a falling feather. The metal on his hands looks to turn to a gooey liquid, pouring into the wound. {Chuun feels a cool rush as the metal enters his body. It is uncomfortable, but not painful} Saymbolsal returns to his knees and places his melting hands closer to the wound. His hand metal encompasses the bullet. He stands slowly as the metal of his hands pull out of Chuun and return to a normal appearance. Saymbolsal opens his right fist, palm down, dropping the bloody bullet on the ground.

*DING, ding, ding*

He holds his arms at shoulders width above Chuun. As he brings his hands closer together he lets out another silent scream. The metal on his hands peels back like a banana to the middle of his forearms. The metal dances like serpents in the air. You can now see the flesh of his hands. You hear a crackle of energy before he drops his hands just above the wound. He then slowly presses his naked hands to the wound. A mild sizzle can be heard. Chuun twitches a bit in his fingers and toes. He raises his hands up and the metal rushes back to its home around his hands.

"There...it is done." He seems a bit out of breath. " I have removed the bullet... and stimulated the tissue to heal quicker... Some food...would be nice." He slumps down, a little winded, but otherwise alright.

As if singing a duet his and Chuun's stomach let out a hungry growl.

Saymbolsal begining the procedure
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3107/saymsuregry1bg4.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

As Grick watched in extreme curiosity, the blue saymbolsal walked up to him and asked him to strike his torch. Initially he was curious why a torch was needed, but did so since it was as easy as riding a bike. Saym asked his name while he was torching Saym's arms watching the metal begin to glow and Saym was apparently unaffected.

"Grick Gearsley, the dogtag said the girls name's Mackie. Some of my ancestors were from the outlands somewhere's. Never bother to check them out, but I think the city's life has got me thinkin' hard 'bout it", as he placed the half burned cigar back into his mouth.

He watched in amazement as the blue guy pulled the bullet out with a strange magic he had never seen before. With a tiny few dings the bullet hit the floor and rolled over near Mackie, who seemed rather on edge, yet intrigued at the same time.

Grick walked over as Saym winded slumped to the floor.

"Damn kid you weren't lying 'bout the 'lay on hands' thing. Good job. Here's some of that replicated stuff, never sure what they make it out of."

((SOLIENT GREEN IS MADE OF PEOPLE! sry guys I had too:} Anyway I posted another pic closer to the tunnel escape if ya'll wanna check it out post 28 ))

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie's eyes grew wide as the procedure was performed, and she stepped backwards unintentionally. "DING," the bullet hit the floor and rolled to a stop at her feet. She reached down with her free hand, pinched it between her small fingers and eyed it with a measure of disbelief. 'Funny how death can be dealt in such small parcels...' she mused. 'I wonder why it's still intact. Most of the bullets the drones use are designed to shatter on impact, causing maximum internal damage and releasing neurotoxins. How unusual...." She set the bullet down and stomped on it to no effect. It remained in one piece. "MOST unusual..." she thought as she picked it up again and offered it to the strange swordsman in whom it had so recently been lodged.

((hahaha. Someday I'm going to get a bumper sticker like that if I ever find a place that sells them. I swear. It'll say "Honk if you love Soylent Green" or maybe just the old classic "SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!"))

[kovah]

"That was quite a show Saymbolsal" Aysel said watching Mackie with the bullet for several seconds before turning back to watch him take the food from Grick. She hopped down from the chair onto the floor with calculated precision. Picking her way accross the floor avoiding various bits of grime that was synominous with such a transiant safe house.

She looked the blue skinned being up and down, through the posture and stillness he had learned from the monks she could see the wildness that bubbled beneath the surface waiting to be released. Perhaps it was that, which had brought him here. Grick seemed to want to escape the city as well, Chuun and Mackie were a little more hard to read. Mackie the name seemed almost familiar suddenly, something seemed to trigger in her memory Secret agent...? she mentally shook herself. Aysel would ponder on that train of thought later, now was not the time.


(( http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/51350583/ ))

[Wolfbane]

"Thanks Saymbolsal"

Chuún rubs his stomach, still wondering how the prosegure was done. He closed his eyes, but he could feel warm metal penetrating the wound. But strangely enough it didn't hurt at all. "Fair enough", he thought. He knew little about the magic technuiqes from the Order of the Iron Silence monks, which he only had read about, back in his home village deep within the forest. He looked at the metal arms once again. "No doubt about it", this kid has been blessed with the element of metal.

He remembered hearing Saymbolsal ask Aysel for food. He now figured out why. Suddently his stomach was screaming for neutrision. Saymbolsal's stomach was no different.

The new girl, apperently named Mackie came walking towards him with the bullet in her hand. Chuún bows his head as he usually does after he is given something. He can see that Mackie has a strange look on her face. He knew that she had a sharp eye. She had to wonder why the bullet was still intact, while the usual drone bullets would shatter and inflict much more servere damage to the internal organs. Chuún knew it had to be something to do with the magic, casted by Saymbolsal.

[AbstractPagan]

"Well, I'm gonna turn in for some sleep, I can barely stand and a recharge might do my reflexes some good. Would the lady care to have the cot, instead of this stubborn old gnome?

He gentured a gentlemenly bow as his hands eluded to the the cots offering to Mackie. He looked over at her with his head nodding with the almost burned out cigar.

"Im used to cold metal, so the floor don't bother me. Atleast I know Mackie and Chuun will be comfortable. I may be a criminal, but I got common sense."

He stepped over to a vacant wall, took his last puff and slid down the wall to the floor. Some dust stirred up as he took the burning nub of his cigar dropped it on the floor and stomped on it, creating an echo.

"Sorry for the noise, rather not start a fire."
((posted a closer pic in the time line post 50, will clean it up tonight at work, if I have time))

[Katfayheirti]

While handing the bullet to Chuun, Mackie made eye contact with him and saw that he understood. Good. She turned as she heard Grick proffer her a cot. It had been so long since she had slept on any surface other than metal or concrete she was certain that sleeping on a cot would make her feel strangely vulnerable. She just didn't trust anyone here enough to sleep soundly in their presence. She shook her head and bit her lip, sorry that she couldn't even say "No thankyou." It would be too embarrasing to try to say anything. She was afraid she would just spew out more nonsense.

"...I may be a criminal, but I got common sense," she heard Grick say. 'We're all criminals now. We're criminals by association with YOU.' she thought and scowled.

(( I changed Mackie's character a bit in the character post thread. I hope that's OK with you guys. I felt the previous design wasn't somber enough to reflect how this story is turning out. I also gave her a bit of a backstory. http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1237166#post1237166 See post #19))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick was puzzled he watched as the cot stayed empty. He began to drift off to sleep, his shield activated around him and he began to dream.

**Dream**

The room he stood in was tall and had several high ranking security cyborgs standing over him. A mechanical voice tore through the room.

"Grick Von Gearsley, evidence promotes that you created and delivered a handmade bomb to facility 16b of the security division. And proceeded to detonate the device, knowing it to cause considerable damage."

Another voice spoke in a lower tone, it was the Grand Chief of Security:" Mr. Gearsley, you stand in high treason against this city. Do you have anything to say before we proceed with your punishment?"

"Yes I do. This city has killed thousands of its own to support the corrupt corporations that are poisoning the lands. You drive security to higher and higher standards, without the crime to reason it. This bomb I supposedly created, was an apparent wake up call, that the public doesn't need such regulation! "

With a loud mechanical whir, a machine appears as a chair with various clamps and gadgets surrounding it. The two Cyborgs lifted Grick by his arms and drop him into the chair. Two metal belts strap him down tightly. The various gadgets surround him.

"NOOOOOO...!" Grick wakes up in a sweat. He looks around as one of the people in the corner, throws a shoe at him. It misses terribly, but it gets the point across. He shuts down his shield and stands up, apologizes to everyone and heads over to the tunnel exit.

"I've got all these people into trouble, because I wanted to make a statement, a noble statement at that. Maybe I should go out in glory. Ehhh, suicide is for pussies anyway. Besides I'm kinda growin' attached to this group. Maybe we can do something for the good of the city."

Grick Turned around to see Chuun Meditating with Saymbolsal. For one instance he pondered what it would be like to actually meditate. He'd never done it before, mostly cause the science in his mind told him it was silly. Perhaps he should try it out atleast once, afterall it seemed to help out Chuun.

((Nope I dont mind, to be honest i wasnt even sure of all you changed))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal graciously takes the food. He waits for Chuun to take the first bite and then plows into his food. He eats like he hasnt in weeks. He watches as the cat finally moves. * A quick glance around a what others are doing *
"That was quite a show Saymbolsal"
His eyes narrow and he holds his food closer. He eats and watches as the cat approaches.
He swallows a mouthful and says " You speak much more fluently than most cats." He takes another bite. " You must be very wise." * He nods once, slowly*

Saymbolsal stands up to help himself to another serving of food. Practices like that drain energy with ease.
" Eat hearty Chuun. Your body will need calories to burn for quicker healing."

He fills his bowl and returns to his seat. As he walks he sees Mackie hand Chuun the bullet.

Saymbolsal sits back where he was and focuses on the cat. He takes a bite, chews and swallows.
" And for a cat...your footsteps are very loud...in here." He says as he taps his forearm. " You must be quite steady." * he nods again*

The party begins to settle in for some rest. Saym settles in for some respite himself. He sits in meditation. He doesnt want to sleep. Not this night. It was a full moon. He didnt want to dream those dreams here with these people. Not yet. Grick must have had a nightmare. That full moon.

(( Hey, how does Aysel talk? Do you hear it in your head? Is it out loud? It may have been mentioned but I may have missed it.))

[AbstractPagan]

(( I believe it is aloud since Chuun in the beginning spoke to her as if she did speak aloud))

Grick walks over to the cot that is shared by Chuun and Saymbolsal and sits on the floor in front of them. He does every earnest effort to immitate the complex leg position both of them sit in. Grick grunts as his flexibility doesn't quite meet the standard.

"Damn metal leg, I knew I should have went with the upgrade when they fixed me."

Grick looked around seeing each person bothered by his speech echoing off the wall, and felt a little uncomfortable in the meditation position. He closed his eyes and concentrated.

He felt lighter than usual and the room lit up to a cool blue color. A voice came out of nowhere. "Grick....Grick...."

"Huh?! Who's there?" his head twitched to the right as if looking around. "Why are you in my head?"

"Grick...its..Chuun..." an image of Chuun flashed in front of Grick. Grick Jolted up off the floor unsure of what he saw.

"I think I should sleep. That was too strange. I let the gears settle a bit longer."

((I like the new Mackie Pic by the by))

[kovah]

((Yeah she speaks aloud, will explain it later in the rp. Basically its because she is a demoness rather than a cat))

"Wisdom comes with age." Aysel replied shortly "Also you may call me Aysel" her eyes narrowed as he mentioned her heavy footsteps. So he was truely of the forest for those that were could often recognise her for what she truely was. However, he didn't seem to realise the connotations of what the 'heavy footsteps' ment.

As they settled down into meditation Aysel nodded politely to them before making her way over to the empty cot, since no one else seemed to want it and drifting off into a light sleep.

[Wolfbane]

Chuún grins wickedly as the gnome jumps up in the air. Little did he know that the swordmaster was only messing around with him. "Fool" he thought. A cityworn gnome engineer mastering the skills of achieving true Gaia*. He concentrates even more, closing every other activity in the room but his own. He then floats into a spiritual regeneration process. The past 24 hours was too much for the swordmaster to handle without propper regeneration rate. Saymbolsal knew this and had them both to get nourishment by eating, and not just him alone. He smiles gently for himself in the presence of his newly founded friend as he fades off into the state of Gaia*.


((* Gaia is a spiritual state, where the individual acchieves mental balance between body and soul by concentrated meditation, the Ramáns uses this state to reload their spiritual power))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick woke up and decided that he could sleep much on an empty stomach. He noticed that three of his compatriots were appeared to not be inside. Maybe it was the poor lighting and blurry half-slept vision. He noticed Mackie was in the corner.

An alarm went off in his head. It was a frequency cloak. He barely picked it up. He headed over to the panel to go outside and see if they went outside. The car was destroyed.

"Damn they found it."

In a flash he found himself wide awake and wondering why he was about to open the door. Aysel was standing next to him.

((Frequency cloak blocks cyborg and mechanical cretions from picking up the one way communication devices frequency. It emitts a very low frequency to sound dampening field to do this. Has multiple uses))

[Katfayheirti]

((I'm confused... Frequency cloak? Special agent?))

[Hookswords]

((Yep, I'm gonna need some more info to play off of that too))

[kovah]

((And for the first time the storyteller intervenes... Storyteller posts will always be in bold from now on, my posts will be in normal text.)))

"Where did they go!" screeched the major, "I want those criminals FOUND and dissasembled.
"I.....I....." wimpered the young messenger, cowering in front of the angry cyborg, who was more than well known for shooting the messenger when the news was bad.
"GET OUT OF HERE THEN AND FIND THEM" the major yelled. He was unimpressed by his security forces inability to catch the criminals that had stolen a vehicle and then seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet. Multiple scans had revealed nothing and many members of the high council were expressing concern that the criminals had not been brought to justice, and thus wether he was suitable for the job.

The young messenger entered his office again and handed him a slip of paper, on it images from a new security camera that had faced the ally where the car had been abandoned. A manical grin spread over the majors face...

[kovah]

Aysel woke to the sound of scratching on the floor, instantly she spied what looked like a robotic mouse. It appeared to be beaming something into Grick's head which was making him...sleepwalk she decided was the best description for it. He was heading for the panel.
Instantly Aysel knew the had been compromised, once the panel was open from the inside anyone could get in. She dashed off the cot and crept up on the mouse-bot before pouncing and ripping it to shreads. The beam that conncected it and Grick disappeared.

"Everyone get up!!! We need to move, they found us...There is an escape tunnel under the table by the food outlet." she paused "WELL GET MOVING THEY WILL BE HERE ANY SECOND!"

((Addded a link to a picture on post 58 - photobucket is down atm -.-
The mouse-bot was basically giving Grick a dream so that he would open the door to let the security forces in, since they dont know how to get in and gives a little less warning to the criminals than blowing a hole in the wall - which would take several shots))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick dashed over to get his pistol and stood by the tunnel entrance.

"Let the short guy do the dirty work this time. I got an EMP if things get rough."

Grick's sensors picked up a squad of cyborgs sergeants within 20 sectons and closing fast. Several Stingers were already waiting outside taking pot shots at the car.

Grick took apart his two pistols and began putting the parts back together into one gun. It resembled a cannon with a scope. It almost looks unweildy for the short gnome, but he crouched down on one knee, placed it atop his left shoulder and yelled.

"Come on in boys its time for an ass-reaming!"

((I couldn't help but make up for the foot in mouth posting earlier...))

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie awoke with a start at the commotion. "Everyone get up!!! We need to move, they found us...There is an escape tunnel under the table by the food outlet."..."WELL GET MOVING THEY WILL BE HERE ANY SECOND!" she heard Aysel yell. shit! She grabbed KVVL, sprinted unsteadily towards the spot in the floor Aysel had specified and began to pull on the hatch. It wouldn't budge. She pulled harder and threw all of her weight into it. It still didn't move! She cursed herself and the hatch rota-lock. WHY are these doors always made with only brutes in mind?!

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal's eyes open slowly as Aysel exclaims.

"Everyone get up!!! We need to move, they found us...There is an escape tunnel under the table by the food outlet." she paused "WELL GET MOVING THEY WILL BE HERE ANY SECOND!"

He pauses for a moment. There really hadnt been time to find out what it was they had done to get into this predicament. Chuun's health had held president last night. I assume she means the security droids. He could feel the echo of the droids approaching. I have nothing to do with this mess, but the security force wont see it that way. Besides, I cannot let these people suffer at their hands. Not when I'm so close to learning more. He watches Grick approach the entry way, weapon ready.

"Let the short guy do the dirty work this time. I got an EMP if things get rough."

"That is a fool's game Grick. They would rather a fire fight and do not tire in strength or numbers. They will be slowed by the narrow passage. Set that EMP charge to overwatch* and plant it in the entrance. Come with us down this hatch and weld it shut with that torch of yours once we've all gone down. That should buy us enough time to get some distance between us."

He replicates a few snacks, not knowing when their next meal will be. He looks down to see Mackie struggling with the hatch. He tucks the food into a pouch and kneels to help her.

"Young Miss, allow me to assist. We have strength on our own, but true might comes when we are many." He says as he grabs hold of the hatch.

Together they manage to open it.

"Move with haste friends, down we go. I will take up the rear with Grick until he can seal the hatch."

Saymbolsal looks to the ground. I pray good earth, that my elders are not dishonored by me this day.

"Aysel, I hope you have a plan."

((*Overwatch: a setting on blast charges and sentry guns to fire upon sighting the enemy, or when any target enters a certain proximity. See also Overwatch as a troop order or droid command function. In the case of troops or droids, it essentially means to fire at anything moving.))

[AbstractPagan]

"I know Saym, I am just trying to set them up for a major slow down."

A major alarm, set off in his head. Two Centurions were coming. That meant they needed to get out of there altogether. EMP devices shut them down for five seconds. They had an automatic discharge of their solenoids when an EMP hit them. They had automated systems to replace it in less than five seconds. He had the oportunity to see the prototype while he was at the plant. It made the juggernaut look like a girls doll. Twice as big with AI to boot.

"Ok everyone get down there Saym, we have two Centurions coming this way on transport, we really pissed of the Major General this time."

Grick ran over to the hatch as he stood by watching the little green light flash on the disposable EMP device. Two explosions happened outside and drills sounds began to screech into the hatch door at the end of the tunnel.

"Lets hope the don't let the Centurions in first. GO, GO NOW!"

[kovah]

Aysel disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel, it was concrete for several sectors then it turned to earth, she stopped for several seconds savouring it under her paws, it was too long since she had felt anything but concrete or metal, patches of bare earth were incredibly rare in the metropolis. She did know that the lights would only last so long though, the tunnel was an escape route not a walk in the park.

Aysel had never been down the tunnel before, and was therefore unsure as to where it led. She had a vauge idea of the area it emerged in, which was in the market area of the city, which though was a busy and easy to hide in also was perhaps perilously close to the security headquarters.

[Hookswords]

"What is a Centuri...." right then, he felt the echo of the two Centurions in his arms. "...Whoa-ho-ho." He paused for a second taking in the echos he was feeling from the two massive droids. For the first time you see actual full fledged emotion on his face. He has a grin from ear to ear. "Chuun, I had hoped you and I could get a work out in this morning. It seems the Major General is providing us with a warm up on this sunny morn."

Asyel jumps down the escape hatch.

"Bless your weapons."

Saymbolsal waits for the others to descend into the passage and then follows down himself. He has a wild look in his eye and is obviously excited.

((I updated my character sheet in the character/WIP thread))

[AbstractPagan]

With a few turns of a dial on his 'cannon', Grick begins to charge up the weapon. With an increasingly brightening light the Cannon glows a heavy green color. He thought and you guys thought the explosion in the plant was bad, just wait until you get a load of this gamma fission blast.

With a thundering boom the hatch and half the wall was ripped off of the building, revealing two towering Centurion Battle Drones. Standing some twenty feet tall they barely could fit inside the building. Grick dove off into the hatch as the Cannon released its blast the Centurions were knocked back and a large hole was melted into one of their mid sections. He closed the lid and struck his welder, tack welded it in five spots and dropped to the bottom of the chute. He pressed a button on the side of his head and a blue light came on. It was bright and had a wide beam.

((This is presuming Mackie is already down in the chute with everyone else, she'd be too cool to leave behind ;) ))

[kovah]

((Guys i was wondering - but i wanted to ask first. How do you all feel about getting caught, at some point anyways...and getting rescued by a rather demonic Aysel at the 11th hour because i want to introduce Aysel's demon form before we go to the forest.))

Aysel continued padding along the tunnel, leaving the lights behind her. They now failed to work either the filaments tubes had been broken or somewhere a wire had failed. She did not mind for her eyesite was keen, but was aware that some of the humanoids may not be able to see.
The tunnel had gotten lower as well, with her small stature she still had plenty of room but it would slow the others down she hoped it was not too much futher until the end. For the first time in a long time Aysel had formed what could be called a bond with these other beings and wanted to get them out of the predicament that they had found themselves in.

[AbstractPagan]

((I have no problem with it intiially, I just want it to be hell fire and brimstone kind of climax. Gricks Gun is still up in the hideout, by the by so he doesn't have a true weapon just yet. He'll make one out of something if he gets the time. Still has his bag and grenades though.))

Grick looked up at the sealed opening and says "Well, so much for hitting up the cigar shop two blocks from here. A celebratory cigar is in order. Am I right guys?"

THOOM THOOMM! The Centurions were causing dust to fall from the ceiling with their footsteps. It semlled like old socks and beer down in this hatch, largely in part due the transient traffic that probably frequented the area.

"Well, Aysel where's the tunnel go to? I've no friggin' clue, always tried to stay dry myself."

Here's a quickie pic of the Major 20 some upgrades, high tension variable tension spring legs, a plasma whip and two semi automatic pistols rx-5 series has splintering rounds that cauterize.
http://aycu39.webshots.com/image/13838/2006180223740143100_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2006180223740143100)

[Katfayheirti]

( I felt horrible about posting without a picture, but I figured I'd better go ahead and post already.

Also, I'm OK with capture and release.)

Mackie didn't even take the time to thank Saymbolsal for his help in unlocking the hatch. She jumped down after Aysel and ran as fast as she could though the darkened corridor. Suddenly her feet hit a surface other than concrete; she stumbled and almost fell. Earth? It felt vaguely softer and, through it she could feel the vibrations stirred up by the massive steps of the mechanical monsters seaching for them. Her heart beat faster and soon she found that she had to stoop to run through the tunnel at all.

[Wolfbane]

((sorry for my absence, i'm gonna be away for a few days. (Internet café :P no time for writing i'm afraid :nohope: Just go along with my character if ya wanna, i'll be back soon!))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal makes his way down the corridor. He and Grick bring up the rear while Chuun floats center and front with Mackie and Aysel in front. The frantic calculated strikes of the Centurion thundered through the tunnel. The tunnel starts to get smaller.
I wonder if this is the maintenance system.
Saymbolsal had long been searching for a secret exit to the forest. He had been told stories of the different tunnels systems and the ruins of the old city. He had explored a few areas, but not many, and the maintenance system was not one he was familiar with. One thing he did know, was that they all link together. Easy to get lost, but great for traveling undetected. He had often heard tell of communities existing down below. I could get my maps...but that might jeopardize the Order if they can track us. If we find our way out in the first place
The corridor varied in size from section to section. Sometimes it was tall enough to walk normally, while other sections had you on hand and knee crawling.
"This cannot be an authorized tunnel."
They seemed to be walking for some time. The corridor opened up to a large area. It was a cavern of earth carved by city machines. Small guide lights dimly light the path.
"Perhaps an unfinished junction tunnel?"
Saymbolsal and Chuun stop suddenly, Grick and Mackie stop a few steps later, while Aysel saunters a few more footsteps and settles into a seated position showing little concern or fear. A dark silhouette can faintly be made out in the middle of the path. Glowing green eyes shimmer with rage complimented by a low growl. It footsteps are heavy as it slowly approaches...

[kovah]

Aysel was plesantly suprised to find the tunnel opened up into a cavern, whats more it was one she had been in before, several much smaller tunnels connected to this chamber, though too small for the others to fit down, only one human sized tunnel exited the chamber and that appeared to have a resident blockage.
She eyed up the would be opponant and though she sensed magic decided it probably wouldn't pose too much of a threat to her or the others if they stuck together. She turned to find that the others had hesitated somewhat before turning back to the green eyed beast.
"Come out of the shadows and face us" she said confidently, her tail swishing slightly in anticipation.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick worked his way through the group to the front. The green eyes seemed animal in nature, but whatever it was it was fairly large and Grick new his stature wouldn't be too effective.

He tuned his eye to nightvision and the green glow from his eye picked up a tusked beast of sorts, it had amulets hanging around its neck and special patterns burned into its fur. The creature did not appear aggressive but was somewhat apprehensive of the confrontation.

"Aysel, the things furry and has tusks with magical things around its neck too. Will it bite? Or do we have to hurt it? 'Cause the way I'm feeling I'll toss a grenade at it and get up to dance in the tufts of fur that will fall."

Grick looked at Saym and Mackie and Chuun, gave two nods in anticipation of a confrontation. I wonder if it cooks well?

((I did a quick pic and toned it green for the night vision effect, not as green as I wanted but why be picky))

http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/11083/2001561577554783297_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2001561577554783297)

[kovah]

((Ok gonna get this moving again methinks))

Aysel's eyes widened slightly when she heard Gricks description of the creature.
"Tia'go" she muttered to herself. The creature came forward and into the dim light of the cavern. It was a hulking beast filling up most of the tunnel, growling and snarling as it thudded towards her. Crouching slightly ready to strike, it swiped at the cat with the septer it held. Aysel didn't move but just before it connected with her body she disappeared literally in a puff of smoke.

The creature blinked in suprise, then roared in anger when it felt the weight of the cat on its back. Like she had done with the bot earlier she broke the catch of the amulet around its neck which then fell to the floor before jumping off and out of the way of flailing arms.
It was soon apparent that there was something wrong with it, it seemed to be getting smaller...and smaller....and smaller. Until it was the size of a small rat or a large mouse. Aysel padded up to it sweeping the amulet out of its reach with her paw, tingling surging through her as she touched it.

The creature quailed as the feline approached, apparently trying to shrink even further to escape attention.
"Tia'go...Tia'go...Ti'ago, I thought i told you to get out of my city" she said dangerously, leaning down so her face was close to Tia'go giving him a very good view of her teeth.
"I...I...Aysel!? I...erm...well..."
"I don't care for your excuses. NOW SCAT!" Tia'go at that sentence scuttled off down a rat hole in the side of the cavern.

She turned to the others,
"I wouldn't touch that thing if I were you, who knows what it would do to you, if it did that to a demon" She then started off once again down the tunnel muttering in disgust to herself.
"Stupid idiot, got less brains than Hefron...can't believe...the cheek...challenging me...next time...be sorry..." her voice faded off as she got further down the tunnel. She didn't get far along before hitting a wall with a ladder, there was a trap door at the top. Looks like this is the end of the tunnel she thought.

((Tia'go might make an apperance later on and if you really want to one of you could pick up the amulet. Might prove fun later on...))

[AbstractPagan]

"Ah, I think this is kinda cool looking, I'll put it in my bag incase I feel like adding some height later. Never thought a moment I'd run into a height upgrade! I love this cat sees got kick."

Grick picks up the Amulet and a bright blue burst of flames puffs off of the amulet.

"Whoa! Man I don't wanna catch fire or nothin', I'd hate to have to steal an arm to replace a melted one."

"Aysel..Aysel, whats the thing do aside from the grow up juice?"

He paced himself to catch up with Aysel who was standing at the ladder looking up. A few beams of light pierced through the containment hatch above. With a screech the hatch opened.

An alarm struck Gricks' brain like a hammer, and fear ripped through him as his heart pounded through his chest. It was three Cyborg officers above, all level four shileding and armament.

"Holy F*ck! Aysel move it! Grick turned around and ran as fast as his legs would carry him.

Squeels of ricochets poured down the hatch and a boom from a concussion grenade knocked Grick out. The smoke filled the end of the tunnel as two of the officers came down the hatch using their boot propulsion systems.

((Level four shielding prevents bullets and about eighty percent of standard gun shells from penetrating. Beefy stuff, currently state-of-the-art))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal stood on the ready as the beast made its presence more pronounced. He watched in bewilderment as the cat, Aysel, deal with this threat. What is that cat? Something magical...she must be of the forest. Two outlanders...much is to be learned here. The party continues on down the cavern and is met with a ladder and a hatch. Saymbolsal watches Aysel and Grick approach the ladder when light cracks from the hatch.

*He inhales deeply sensing what is about to come. His stance widens and his arms lift out in front and to the sides of his body*

"Holy F*ck! Aysel move it!'

*His arms ripple as the bullets begin to rain down.*
SHKWANG!
*in a flash metal shields extend from his forearms. They are broad, with a "V" cut out of the ends resulting in two points.*

BOOM! goes the grenade. As Saym shields himself he sees Grick fall to the ground and Aysel disappear behind a cloud of dust. Focus comes to his eyes and a grin rips across his face. The two cyborgs sail down into the cavern.
"Mark fours eh?"
He charges in. A hail of bullets dance across his shields and ricochet into the walls. He focuses on the one on the left. Its arm mounted blaster firing full auto. Saym arcs left as he makes his attack. He strikes with his left cork screwing his arm as he punches. The cyborgs firng arm is struck and joint locked into the "V" of the shield. He step behind crossing his feet and twists out putting him back to back with the the full auto cyborg. Using his newly acquired leverage, he leans into and turns counter clockwise. The full auto firing arm shoots into the wall as it is turned. The puppet like cyborg is turned to fire on the other. The hail of fire pounds into the force shield of the cyborg. These force shields are made to withstand heavy impact, but with full auto machine gun fire at point blank range the shield generator cant keep up. A hole opens in the force shield and the bullets ding off of the cyborgs exoskeleton. Saymbolsals right shield comes around and decapitates the defenseless cyborg. The full turn of Saymbolsals movement dislodges the remaining cyborg from his shield and it stumbles towards the rest of the party, the barrels of its arm cannon now whirling to a rest.

Here is a sketch of Saym with the shields. Hopefully there will be a battle pic on the way.

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9352/saymshieldseu2.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

((Im going to cover the other cyborgs movements and speech as an NPC(non playing character) for the time being))

"You are assaulting a security officer, you have the right to speak nothing until your court appearance, you have the right to have a fair trial under the Magistrate of security and your actions are being recorded for the Magistrate's case."

As Saymbolsal decapitated the other cyborg, this cyborg activated all twenty of its upgrades to become tasers five per limb. With a flick of its wrists, metal cables launch out and wrap around the legs of Saymbolsal causing him to fall on to floor. Two more cables wrapped around Gricks legs as the boot propulsion is activated. Two more cyborgs descend into the tunnel after the rest of the group.

The cyborg occassional tasers both entrapped party members to ensure a harmless route to the security base.

((Aysel your put on notice the hostile take over is about to be completed))

[kovah]

Aysel had narrowly escaped being trodden on by the cyborgs and huddled in a corner as bullets flew everywhere. She hissed in pain as one of them hit her. Searing pain flew through her body. The wound was serious but not mortal, demons were not vanquished easily. Decapitation, ingesting certain things and a specific kind of excorism. Though being bound to objects till some stupid being released them was not uncommon.

But that didn't stop wounds hurting, blood was pouring from the wound and Aysel knew she needed to move before being hit again. She crawled along the edge of wall ears flattened, past Saymbolsal as he was bound and Grick dragged past her. Aysel flattened herself into a small recess in the wall. She felt a scanning laser pass over her and let out a distressed "Meowww" The cyborg hesitated befor carrying on, she let out a silent sigh of relief. She had her backup plan but this was no place to implement it.

She didn't have a chance to find out what happened to the others because another cyborg came down the hatch and grabbed her by the scruff of the neck
"EEEEOWWWIZT" she yowled struggling and hissing and clawing at the metal arm of her capturer. She knew full well that if she used her disappearing trick she wouldn't have a chance of showing her face in the city for a long time. She was taken up to the surface, being temporarily blinded by the artifical lights of the city. She could see a small crate that was ment for her and increased her struggling. Eventually it paid off just before being bundled into the crate and she freed herself. She landed with a thump and streaked off zig zagging through the crowd and various bits of machinary. Finally stopping under a stall and peaking out to watch her new companions being taken away.

She was breathing heavily and still bleeding, staining her fur red. Anger was coursing through her making her eyes as red as blood that now coloured her fur. Aysel looked up at the security HQ where they would be taken. Presumably to face the Major, if Grick had been running for as long as he claimed his fate was probably sealed the others would probably share his fate, live dissasembly. It sounded painful if nothing else.

She had met the Major before even if he didn't know it, after years of searching she had found the one that had committed the act that had created her. He had taken his family out into the wilderness and murdered them. And in the darkness she was born. She tingled slightly at the thought of meeting her creator.
"Let the games begin" she whispered.

((I will post again as Aysel once you all have been moved into the security HQ. However i may post as the Major/storyteller depending on how it goes.
I'm also having some issues with my internet, it will let me browse but not post alot of the time, so please excuse my lack of posting.))

[AbstractPagan]

A loud mechanical clunk awoke Grick as the latch to his containment crate was closed.

"Shit!"

Grick knew that the alloy they made the containment crates out of was a superior one that his cutting torch would run out of replication fuel before he'd have the chance to escape.

"Not too bad, you buckets of tin finally caught me. I thought I'd have to run forever. Ya Pansies even had to send the 'creme de la creme' after me since, the rest of your walking junk 'n' bolts couldn't do it.

He looked over at his captor cyborg who was lifting the crate with a magnetor beam on to the transport flatbed.

"So you have the tx-234 upgrade? Well, when I designed it, I know the inherent flaw that twice a month you have to relubricate it because the replicated oil doesn't stand up to your 'high class manuevers'. Eventually you'll have to keep replacing it cause the ordering department wouldn't let me use what I wanted to on the design"

His cyborg eye scanned the area and he realized that the rest of his companions have been caught too. He thought damn concussion grenades, work everytime.

He viewed the familiar turn to the security HQ and a whir to a complete stop. Grick had to shut off his alarm system in order to not freak out with the alarm ratio that would soon ensue once they got inside. Son of a bitch, I guess the dream comes true after all. The brilliant lights from the city grew more dim as the light was cut off from the security entrance closed.

((Ok were in, I wish we'd get some more posts from the rest of the group. I know busy adult like things keeping it from happening))

[Wolfbane]

((Sorry guys, don't have time for this anymore :( going on hollidays now, bringing my pc but there'll be no connection. And afterwards i'll be really busy with practicing for my exams. Please continue without me! Seeya :)))

[AbstractPagan]

((That really sucks...Chuun is gone already I was getting to like him, oh well. Storyteller what shall we do?))

[kovah]

((Pretend he never exsisted for the time being. Then we dont commit the character to anything and then he can jump back in if he gets some time later on.))

[AbstractPagan]

((I will post as one of the cyborg's speaking back to Grick's rather abrasive comments))

The Cyborg guard leaned down and looked at Grick. He stared through his mechanical eyes. A laugh ripped out through a digital voice.

"Poor little short gnome, I will be the one pressing the switch when your sentence is given. I will also be the one to send the order to broadcast it across all the digital panels in the city. I will enjoy seeing your disassembly, afterall I am now a Cyborg because of your explosion." He paused for a minute and activated an upgrade on his arm.

"The fact is, I could just lose you in a containment room and drop you down into the boiler section and watch you melt to the ground slowly. Just like my father did before I succumbed the flames you created as well!"

With a jolt of electricity, Grick was tasered to unconsciousness again. As the digital laughter echoed to silence.

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal sits quietly in his container. There is no fighting out of this. Words would be wasted. He sits. Motionless. He sits facing the destination. Grick mouths off and is tasered. Saymbolsal does not stir. He does nothing but sit. Legs crossed, back straight, head as if suspended by a thread. He is not interrupted by the bumps and turbulence of being transported. He moves as if part of the container itself. Sitting. Sitting and waiting. The transport moves inside the security chamber. As the serpentine transports travel through routing tunnels, he sits. Waiting.

[Katfayheirti]

((OMG I'm so sorry!! I was on a trip to Maryland and totally forgot to notify you guys in the RPG! :/ Man, I'm sorry Chuun is gone. I will try to continue to participate, but I'll have final exams and graduation soon, so I may get tied up. I'll try to draw something for this thread soon, I swear! I feel so bad about not having drawn anything on this page so far b/c practicing illos is like the entire point of this RPG.))

Mackie awoke in a dim fog. Visions of metal bars swam in front of her eyes and she became vaguely aware of strange mechanical laughter. She felt as if the whole world was spinning, spinning, spinning.... Suddenly it stopped with a horrifying jolt. Metal slats. Cage? Cage! She was in a CAGE! She feebly extended a hand and groped for the comfort of her gatling gun, but it wasn't beside her. She sat up in a panic. KIVVEL! Her eyes flew wide in the dark and her hands swept over every surface in the containment capsule but they touched no familiar steel. An animal whimper excaped her lips. She didn't even remember how she had gotten here. She only vaguely remembered a tunnel, a cat, a dwarf and a monk.

'I must have blacked out again' she thought as she struggled to hold on to a shread of reason. She had been loosing conciousness all too often lately and it had been creating rather disturbing holes in her memory. Often, she had woken up injured or in a location she didn't recognize, but never before had she woken up without her gun in hand. Where are you taking me?! She tried to shout at one of the shapes in the darkness but what escaped her throat was "HALLU GOT GYRO, VAKSHA?!" She grimaged at the sound of her own garbled words and reached out between the bars at one of the cyborgs. "KIVVEL!" she screamed at him "KIVVEL GOTTA?!" She no longer cared about reason.

[AbstractPagan]

((Ah np we had thought something was going on. Anyway,you can see it didn't stop because you weren't here it was just really hard to keep it rolling))

Grick awoke to the commotion of Mackies voice. He whispered to Saymbolsal in the other containment cube.

"Saym. psssttt... Saym. Hey you got any thing that can cut through this crap? Cause I can use my skeleton security key upgrade and punch through to open up my cube, but this would need to happen very fast. Minimum two minutes and every drone in the security ward will be on us."

Mackie's whimper about kivvel attracted his attention to the weapon. It was cable locked to the transport floor in front of his cube. And Mackie was on the the other transport in front of them. He thought, Does Mackie know that security code on her arm will open her cube?

As they go further into the complex you see larger common areas barricaded with some kind of electrical fields and various races and aliens that will be in line some time to be executed. The security force wasn't known for keeping inmates long and once convicted no one stayed longer than a week. Special cases got live dissassembly in the publics eyes and directly after sentencing. Grick knew that if something wasn't done soon that his live disassembly would be swift and in view of the public as well.

"Saym, Mackie, were on the immediate execution list something needs to be done. NOW!"

The cyborg guard kicked the cube Grick was in.

"Shut you mouth, it will be over soon enough!" the digital voice let out a small chuckle and turned around again to drive the transport up the staging area for the courtroom.

[kovah]

As he got the news from his subordinates that the majority of the fugitives had been captured a manical grin spread accross his face. This is what it was all about, justice.
He had been told that they had also picked up an injured cat in the tunnel which managed to escape before it was contained. This distubed him slightly but chances are that the stupid animal had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and would die of its injuries shortly.

The Major paced around his office several times before standing and staring out the tiny porthole type window in his office. Made of the strongest materials, rumour had it that in his old age he was getting slightly paranoid, fearing for his life. After all he had been alive a long long time, he used to be human at one point but as his body began to fail him he turned more and more to cyborg machinary to keep him alive. Now practically everthing but his head was metalic.

"CORPRAL" he screeched and a young elf skittered into his office.
"Yees sir?" he said meekly bowing his head to the imposing figure infront of him
"I want the live dissasembly suite readied for our new guests. Make sure the viewing platform is ready for me"
"Yes sir" he said and ran out the office as fast as his legs would carry him.

****

The Corpral ran out of the room and ordered the immediate movement of the prisoners into the live dissasembly chamber. Several metal crucifix like structures had already been set up ready. The machines that performed it cleaned and sharpened and polished.

((Sorry for the slow replied guys having real trouble posting in here for some reason, tis getting really annoying. Am currently working on a picture of Aysel in her demon form. Hopefully will be done before the weekend when i am going away will try to keep you posted on what is happening]]

[kovah]

((I am gonna be away for the weekend, there is a slight possibility of me getting on tomorrow but nothing for certain. If you guys want to feel free to embelish on getting into the dissasembly chamber and perhaps even some nastyness on the Majors part ready for aysel to make an apperance when i return. Have fun ))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal turns in response to Grick. " I can get out with little inconvenience. But we face great odds once free of these cages."
A powerful presence is near, he can feel it. What happened to that cat? This was a different energy than Aysel, but some how similar. They would dock soon. Saymbolsal turns to look at Mackie. Is she ready for a stand off?

[AbstractPagan]

Grick looks through the small 6x6 inch holes a Saymbolsal.

"Well, I'm breaking out. If we stay here too long they'll dock us in a containment room and that will be impossible to get out. Once I frag this guy we'll have two minutes to get far away. They'll do lock-down but, we can get our weapons cache and get out. Ready?"

Grick activated one of his upgrades and a small disc came up. The vent fan up above the transporter was making alot of sound and prevented the cyborg guard from hearing their discussion. He extended his arm out of the containment crate and aimed it at the center of the cyborg guards back. With a clink it attaches to its back. The guard looks behind him at the containment crate.

"1..2..3.."

The digital voice barely gets a word in " I Told you..." BOOM! The cyborg guard explodes various pieces of scrap metal and flesh.

Grick quickly uses his security interface to crack the code on the lock, it only took two seconds. He opened the door and the resident alarm begins to sound. "ANK! ANK! ANK! ANK! ANK! Warning intruder escape sector four, Intruder escape sector four!"

He gets out of his crate and looks over at Mackies crate, while cutting her favored gun from the security strap. He runs over to her crate and types in the code from his interface and opens the door.

"Come, on. Heres your gun, you'll need it really badly. Were going to sector six it the artillery and armoury. Saymbolsal where's Aysel?"

((I figured a little scuffle before the big bang might be neat...Kat dont worry about pictures too much, it is an art based thing, but kovah said its not required. Grick will still need a weapon hence the reason for the armoury visit..We could get some neat stuff there.Wink Wink))

[kovah]

Aysel had followed the security transit at a safe distance all the way to the secuirty HQ and looked the building over. It was built like a fortress, constant scans swept over the building looking for anything that shouldn't be there. Drones patrolled the outskirts of it 24 hours a day 7 days a week 82 weeks a year. People that went in simply didn't come out. Most people were found guilty of something. ((trying to post my long post in installments))

[kovah]

She stayed out of site and looked on from an ally as her friends were placed on the conveyor leading into the building. A sign suddenly lit up on the public side of the building it read "live dissasembly, spectator spaces availble." All types of beings began to flock to the doors, wanting to see the grusome spectacle.

Aysel prowled accross the street keeping low and fixing her eyes on anything but the door, as though she was hunting something. Most that laid eyes on the bloodstained feline paid her no mind. As she went though she was muttering anicient words disgusing herself from the scans and preparing herself for what she was about to do.

[kovah]

She slipped into the crowd that was slowly entering the spectator sector of the building, staying out of sight under long coats as they made their way to the dissasembly chamber. The metal corridoors were cold on her paws and she was by now struggling to supress the change that the ancient words had begun.

She pulled herself up onto the ceiling beams that crisscrossed the chamber and stalked across it seating herself in the middle. Digging her claws into the metal as darkness gathered around her. Any one that cared to glance up may have noticed the small cat surrounded by swirling black tendrils. Aysel shivered and closed her eyes trying to ignore the change inside.

[AbstractPagan]

((I'll play the major for a minute here...))

The Major Slams his metallic fist on his slate desk cracking it down the middle.

"SERGEANT! GET IN HERE NOW!"

The sergeant comes in nervously saluting the Major.

"SEND IN LAPHAEL NOW! I WANT THAT GNOME ON A PLATE!"

((Your Turn Edriss...))

[Edriss]

Laphael was alone when the sergeant found him. Resting on the HQ's roof he had watched as the convoy entered the building; what they were bringing in? Whatever they were the Major must think quite highly of them for that kind of security. Frowning he crouch lower, "They are probably more murders, traitors and filth." Very little for him to interest himself in, he stayed with the Major only because he didn't have anything else to do and it made sense to make sure that someone like the Major didn't make too many mistakes. Though for his services the Major paid him well and despite the denials Laphael would vehemently tell himself he enjoyed the luxuries and the respect.

"Sir!" The sergeant came to a stop behind him, he was panting and by the time he caught his breath his message came out so quickly it was almost impossible to understand, "Themajorsayshewantsyoutotakecareofsomecriminols... now."

Standing Laphael sighed and placed a hand of the sergeant's shoulder, an angry tick was playing at the corners of his mouth. "What the Major wants doesn't interest me. Wants don't get you anything. Now you want to catch your breath don't you?" Tightening his grip on the sagent the angel threw him off the roof. He hated being interrupted and the Major surely didn't need as pathetic a messenger as that.

Running through the building he wondered where these criminals where, his hearing was too weak to hear the explosions caused by Grick wreaking havoc down below but it didn't take a genius to decide to follow the countless alarms and guards rushing towards sector six. He ran with his wings plastered firmly against his body, he hated being indoors..so little room to manoeuvre in...rounding a corner a metallic glint caught his eye. Making its way towards him was a half cyborg gnome, the sight was enough to make him laugh out loud.

Gripping the hilt of his sword Laphael stopped and called out to them, "You don't happen to be the escaping heathens do you?" He was still laughing as he spoke, surely the Major couldn't be worried about a gnome, a girl and a teenage Feneripyne?

[AbstractPagan]

((Wow a little too jump the gun on that one havent had time to beef up the armament...but hey challenges come with that too))

"Who me? Nah just trying to get the hell outta here? Someone blew the place up..."

Grick activated an upgrade and a coil of cable burst out of his arm wrapping the feet and the arms of Laphael.

"Sorry buddy, gotta split.."

Grick Turns into the armoury as he activates his shield.

In the pandemonium, Grick EMP's the Armoury causing a blackout in three sectors. Grick ran a schematics check on the security building through the interface panel on the wall.

"All right! Got their communications array, we've got about ten minutes of leeway guys,Grab what ya want and can carry."

Grick looked over in the corner with his Green night vision and through the annoying red emergency light and saw Quadbolt transporter*.

"This baby has two cannons on it and about 10,000 rounds." He oogled it a minute nodding to Saymbolsal. A looked over at the rack on the wall. It was the MX-119 Dual cannon Blaster rifle. His dream of holding one in ownership caused him to rush over to it.

He looked through the doorway and saw his snare wasn't holding well anymore and punched the control panel for the door. It came down with a thud as the winged man came up to the door.

Grick grabbed a backpack and stuffed it with ammunition and and cyborg upgrades. He stocked up on nano repair kits as well.

((Sorry guys, he jumped in hard had to improvise a bit hope you dont shoot me. I presumed that sector six wasn't that far away anyhow, but wow it got really close;) ))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal waits patiently as Grick hacks his way out of his container. Steady...steady... He watches as Grick passes his container to free Mackie. He stands up finally, the container swells as he stands. Now

PHHHhhoOOM! The end of Saymbolsal's container blasts off and spins like a frisbee into an access tunnel door way, effectively blocking it. He steps out of the container chewing on some of the snacks he had saved. He moves swiftly to follow with Grick. As he catches up to Grick he approaches just in time to watch him ensnare Laphael. With a little of Grick's handywork they were in the armory. Nothing here interested him really. The winged man would persue quickly enough. What was that? That wasnt what I sensed before. This one is odd. Saym and Grick both look to the door to see Laphael approaching. Grick hits the electric lock as Saym steps forward to face the threat, only to be shut off.

"Grick, Mackie, take what you need. It seems we have few options for escape. Either the hanger bay loading tunnel service tunnels, or the power lift. We ..." he stops abruptly.

Aysel is near

((I'll probably add some more later, kinda tired))

[AbstractPagan]

"Lets take the tunnel, Mackie are you ok? We have a ride outta here it's got level armament not too bad but we can get out of the city fast with it."

Grick grabbed the rifle off the wall and hopped into the quadbolt transporter and turned the security panel on. A code was needed. The screen flashing +ACCESS DENIED+ several times before requiring an override code.

"Mackie can I borrow your arm for a second? I think you have an override on on your left arm."

A loud screech of metal ripped through the door. It was a sword. Sparks began to fly as the blade was being dragged through the door. The power flickered on.

"Damn it! EMP's aren't what they used to be...Get in guys hope we can escape this place before bird man comes to fluff some feathers!"

An alarm rings off in his head. 'The entire security division is heading back to the headquarters.' 'A siege blocker is being brought to the doorway in three minutes. Among the other comunications flooding in after the communications array rebooted. 'An intruder in sector two has diverted one company of drones and is causing huge amounts of damage with -magic-'.

((Kovah you still having issues? I figured I could give some backdrop from security radio to help fill that blank for you, 'til you beat the mainframe and get access to the RP thread))

[kovah]

There are certain things that annoyed the major, and people not sticking to HIS timetable was one of them. The live dissasembly was supposed to have started by now, yet the captives, most of the drones and Laphael were no where in sight. He was aware that the alarm had gone off but it was merely arrogance that stopped him going to see just what was going on. There was also a slight unwillingness on his part to get up off his cushioned front row seat on the viewing platform over the dissasembly chamber. He could hear the mutterings of the public behind him but that was nothing unusual yet there was a strange presence in the air and he knew the public could feel it too. Not a spirital man was the Major and as such refused to believe in such things as 'bad vibes' yet that was the term he would use to describe the feeling in the air.
It also brought back memories of the family...his family whom he hadn't thought about in decades, they had been a nusince to him nothing more but once gone there was a black hole in his heart that could never be filled. The Major shook himself both mentally and physically what a time to be thinking about such nonsence.

[kovah]

Aysel was by now stood up her back arched and teeth bared in pain claws digging into the metal and shaking violently struggling to supress the change as long as possible. She knew her friends should be here by now and where they were was a mystery. She was not worried about changing but was hoping that her friends would at least see the change so they knew she was not an enemy.

It was a hope that wouldn't happen, her shape began to flicker and out of the small white cat rose a creature of pure darkness which seemed to absorb the light. One that had large razor sharp claws and a mouth full of serrated teeth, four soulless eyes blinked for the first time. She was thin but agile and extremely fast. She had little worry of the denizens of this concrete fortress, her true enemies were long gone. The sun had set and religion was not welcome in this place of corrupted justice. She sat on the beam flexing her new muscles, darkess no longer gathering around her but coming from her. She had picked her spot perfectly just out of sight of the public but in prime position to launch her attack.

Aysel rolled her shoulders back not being able to contain herself any more, and leapt down from her perch right in front of the Major landing on the small barrier that ringed the viewing platform. She didn't move just stared at him unblinking as the crowd scampered over each other to get away, the Major didn't more either. It was then that Aysel opened her jaws and let out an unearthly roar that filled the building penetrating every corner.

The Major then apparently lost his nerve and bolted shouting orders for reinforcements to get to the chamber immediatly. Aysel chuckled to herself with a terrifying confidence, as drones swamed in firing all sorts of weapons some passed through her as though she was nothing but smoke, others bounced off some of the more powerfull drones weapons seemed to have an effect, only because the lasers were bright and momenterily blinded her. These drones were dispatched by her crushing jaws, the slow moving drones having little chance against such a foe.

Aysel followed the Major who seemed to be following signs to the armory, she was having no trouble keeping up and trotted just behind him chiding him as he ran.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/meetaysel.jpg

[Edriss]

Laphael swore as he toppled to the ground, he flailed helplessly as he struggled against his bonds. His wings flared and he heard several drones fall or stumble backwards into their colleagues but at last he managed to shake himself free. Humiliation rushed through him and he felt his cheeks grow hot. Next time pay attention and stop laughing, he berated himself.

“You…,” growling he picked himself up from the floor and reached for his fallen sword. In the doorway he saw the Feneripyne turn to face him. Bearing his teeth Laphael moved towards the blue – what? – Warrior? Monk? He raised his sword and motioned his opponent forwards only to be pulled backwards by a watching centurion as the door came down with bone breaking force. Deprived of his foe Laphael raged, “Cowards!” he kicked out at the door in a moment of futile anger, “COWARDS!”

Several grunts of amusment behind him reminded Laphael that he had a job to do and lifting his sword high above his head he swung down hard at the door, there was several moans behind him and a nearby corporal yelped, “We have other ways of opening the door…the Major won’t like –“

“I don’t care!” Laphael had little use for technology and stubbornly refused to acquaint himself with it. An alarm was blearing but it served little purpose to the angel, he didn’t need to know about security – he was going to kill the gnome for his little stunt. At the mention of magic however the angel lifted his head and looked at the scene around him; something wasn’t right. “What kind of magic?” he wondered aloud, he received only blank stares in return.

Pulling away from the door Laphael swung around wildly, there was something so very wrong going on. Nausea and uncontrollable hatred began to build up in his chest, Aysel’s roar reached him and to his surprise Laphael found himself yelling back. He turned back to the door; what should he do? Kill these criminals or find the….thing? Lashing out at the door once more he made up his mind; let the Major deal with whatever else was in the building. The gnome and humiliated him and Laphael was determined to see him suffer. As he was consoling himself with that thought the door finally gave in and fell into the armory with a deafening clang, rushing into the darkened room he launched himself at the gnome and pinned him against a nearby crate, “You’re not going anywhere my friend.”

[kovah]

THe Major was running as fast as his bionic legs would carry him, this creature this beast of darkness was like nothing he had ever encountered and he was trying to shake himself out of this blind panic that had overcome him. Not a man that was esily intimidated there was something eeriely familiar about this thing that followed him, like de'ja'vu yet he was certain he would have remembered if he had met such a thing before.

The Major turned the corner to find several of his troops crowding to get through a doorway.
"MOVE!" he yelled and pushed through the suprised men and several drones to find Laphael pinning one of the prisoners to a crate.
"WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING! FORGET THEM, STOP IT INSTEAD" he roared at the angel. As there was a screech of metal and a dying scream of the men that were in the doorway. And Aysel appeared in the doorway.

[kovah]

Aysel had heared the return yell of the Angel, and her curiosity was instantly sparked as she followed the Major down the corridoors and through some quickly dispatched drones and men into a doorway where she saw an Angel pinning Grick to a crate, a growl escaped her throat as she stepped through the doorway.
"I suggest you put him down angel, god will not protect you from me."

[[Aysel is about 6ft at the shoulder btw]]

[AbstractPagan]

Grick smiled and grinted trying to get enough wiggle room for an escape. He remembered that his rifle was on the ground next to him, but it would do him any good.

"Ah I see you like pinning down the little guy why don't you take the challenge in the doorway? It doesn't make you mister big guy look too impressive fightin' with little ol me, now does it?"

Grick felt oddly aware that the large beast was Aysel, but he wasn't sure why. The fact that it came to his defense seemed enough for him to take the advantage of his sodium flash upgrade that he rarely ever used, since most of his adversaries weren't biological. He closed his eyes and activated it. The blinding flash allowed Grick some wiggle room and he ducked down.

"Aysel now!"

((Ah here comes hell fire and brimstone))

[Hookswords]

As Saymbolsal was examining an alternative exit the door they came in finally erupted. The angel darts at Grick and pins him to a crate. *He inhales quickly* Aysel is coming! A grin forms from ear to ear as Asyel's true form hulks into the entry way. His eyes dart between her and the angel. This should prove quite interesting. As his eyes move back and forth he spots the Major. Grick is up to something. Saym leaps high into the air as a blinding flash shoots from Grick. As Saym descends a sword extends from his right hand. His grin is almost maniacal as he plunges at the Major. His sword drops hard on the Major's plasma staff, thanks to a last second block. His face has gone completely wild, totally unphased by the amazing block of the Major's. His sword grits against the staff for but a moment. The length of sword above the staff begins to bend, pouring towards the Major. It darts like a snake into his neck severing a servo thus limiting the Major's movement capabilities. Saymbolsal's blade retracts back into his fist as he leaps back into the air, leaving the Major a paralyzed but aware pile of scrap to watch his undoing unfold before him. Saym grabs hold of a high shelf and perches briefly before making his next move. I have never felt so alive He too lets out a howl. It sounds of ghostly wolves, eerie and savage.

[Katfayheirti]

('Again I appologize for the long delay in posting. I've been very sick and I'm try to finish up Highschool. I have been flying all 'round to visit colleges. Things are crazy for me :/ I will try to have an illustration for this sometime soon)

For a moment Mackie crouched as if in a daze as her cage door slid open and Grick tossed her KVVL. She caught the gatling gun in shaking hands, and jumped down onto the floor, standing still for a moment as the gnome studied a sequence of numbers on her arm.

Security was breeched. Everything was going to hell. Fire. Screeching. Fighting.

Mackie dove down onto the floor and crawed behind the polished metal of a torture aparatus as the room shook and smoke filled the air. Embers dotted the tiles at her feet. The smell of burnt flesh and liquified metal hit her, rank and hot and raw. She blinked and grimaced.
Through the smoke she could make out shapes embroiled. The monk, the dwarf, a winged shape...and a great towering demonic form whose catlike grace struck her as oddly familiar. Aysel? The winged shadow faught with the others in dignified, almost angelic movements. That's the real ememy. 'Can't get a clean shot from here. Mackie crawled out from behind the cruciform, stood up, and stalked through the swirling ether towards the fray. The angel stood between her and the open door; between her and freedom. Here's my chance. She took a deep breath, opened fire and ran straight towards it in the hopes of dodging to the side and slipping through the door.

[Edriss]

Laphael turned slowly as he heard the Major’s yells come from behind him and his mouth fell instantly open; the demon he saw standing in the doorway dwarfed almost everything else in the room. The mere sound of its voice had been enough for a terrible wave of hatred to rush through his veins…but now looking at the beast standing calmly in the ruins of the door made him forget his anger towards the impudent gnome and turn to face it.

This turned out to be a more difficult feat than he had thought; the demon radiated darkness taking away what little light had filled the room, for Laphael the effect of this was blinding and he had to strain his eyes to make out the shape of the hulking demon. Despite the obvious problem of seeing his opponent he stepped towards her with a sneer, “My Father doesn’t need to protect me.”

The problem was, of course, finding the demoness in the darkness she created; but it seemed that the gnome was obliging enough to help in that regard. A dazzling flash of light enveloped the room, illuminating, for an instant, the demon.

Without warning the angel launched himself through the air. Passing him he was sure he saw the blue boy leap towards the Major and he lamented not being able to watch what would surely be an interesting fight; the Major would rip the boy to shreds. Laphael landed gracefully in front of the demon; he thrust his sword upwards ready to gouge out its throat. Then, suddenly, things went horribly wrong; the haunting sound of a howl filled Laphael’s ears followed shortly by sounds of gunfire.

Too late he remembered the girl and now he felt the sting of bullets rip through his wings. Enraged by the pain he missed his mark and his sword whipped by the demon’s neck harmlessly, regaining his balance the angel hissed a curse at the girl and swung with his sword again; this time aiming for the demons legs.

http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/9252/400qw0.jpg

[kovah]

Aysel had been ready for the Angel, until that was Grick set off the grenade. The light was blinding to the dark creature and whats more it burned for the several seconds that light filled the room. She hissed and twisted trying to get away from the light and it was only thanks to Mackie that the angel's sword missed. She was not sure how much damage such a holy object would have done had it connected but was unwilling to find out.

The second time he struck she leapt out the way and started circling the angel enveloping him in a cloud of darkness. Hissing out of the shadows she said "I am suprised even and outcast such as yourself would stoop to serve such a monster..." she paused
"A monster that took all those that were dear to him out into the wilderness." The major at this point made an inaudiable sound
"Deep into the forest away from anyone, where no one could hear the screams. A young wife and two children were murdered, and in the darkness i was born." She appeared to turn her attention away from Laphael and to the Major who stood paralyzed from Saymbolsal's blows.
"You take orders from a murderer angel, you take orders from the being who did such an evil deed he created me." Aysel suddenly lashed out with her tail sweeping the angel from his feet and pouncing on him holding down his limbs with hers.
"Would you go back to where you came from if i killed you now?" Aysel said with a smirk. "Though i suppose i wouldn't find out would I..." She looked round at the others and jumped off, leaving nothing but afew claw marks in his flesh. She had heard some more fighting going on through the door that Mackie had left through and was not going to allow any of her friends to face the security forces alone and stalked her way after her. Pausing for several seconds to knock the Major flat on his face. And without a glance back went through the door.

[AbstractPagan]

((Edriss great pic man, very comic style. Here comes a make a break for it.))

Grick takes advantage of the heated dispute between the angel and Aysel. He grabs his new rifle and hops into the Transporter again. Saymbolsal jumps after the Major and Grick smiles as his adversary essentially getting his rear smashed into the floor. Mackies arm helped Grick override the transporter and with a roar the liquid fuel motor starts up. It sounded almost like the old style motors they had about sixty years ago that Gricks ingenuity actually paid riddence to the newer solar panel technology everything ran on now. He was surprised that they were prototyping old school tech in newer vehicles.

"Mackie hop in and hold on. Saym! We've got a new ticket outta here. Aysel its time to pop the lid off this joint!"

He pressed the blue button on the control panel and activated the drive gear. With a heavy push of the pedal and a turn of the wheel Grick spung a circle of tire tread onto the floor and faced the doorway flooded by drones watching the battle unfold between Aysel and the Angel.

Grick reached over and grabbed his bag off the floor and hit the lever for the elevator to the ground floor. It rose slowly.

"Aysel duck and dodge baby! I'm gonna lay out some lead on these pansies!"

Grick grabs a hold of the aiming joystick and a whir of motion comes from the two turrets on the transporter. He raises his thumb slowly waiting for the right time to dispatch the would-be dispatchers.

With the slight touch the bullets rained down on the doorway, sparks and chunk of metal and small explosions littered the entryway. The Angel still on the ground knowingly stayed still as parts of the drones poured into the doorway littering over the angel.

Here's what the Cyborg Guard that carried off the group looked like...Of course he never had the chance to dodge bullets, but who cares it looks cool!

http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/15290/2005384580831835133_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005384580831835133)

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal moonsaults from the shelving onto the back of the transport, landing reversed to cover the rear.

"Grick, that large blast door is a hanger bay access tunnel. I was examining it when the melee began."

The metal armor plating around his feet ripples and bunches up as he adjusts his stance. A blade extends from his right hand, a blade much longer than earlier. As Grick maneuvers the transport and opens fire, Saym swats down incoming droids. His blade whips and lashes like liquid razor, cutting down droids two and three at a time. The angel was no where in sight. A warrior as skilled as he will not be dispatched so quickly.

"Aysel, make haste."

[Edriss]

(AbstractPagan, thanks ^^, I’m having trouble with Grick though; I have no clue what his colours are, :P. Borrowing the Major for a sec, :) )

The demon’s blows had knocked Laphael senseless for several minutes; he wasn’t unconscious but the shock of his easy defeat and narrow escape held him still better than any anesthetic. Dimly around him he was aware of bullets flying overhead and soon droids were dropping around him like flies.

When at last he stood Laphael saw that the criminals had escaped, from far off he could hear the sounds of a transporter making its way through the building. With a groan he spread his wings wide to inspect the damage; they would heal soon enough. Good. He would surely need them soon – that demon was a creature of evil and had to be destroyed and if her companions stood in the way…well they were aiding evil and that too must be stopped. And speaking of evil…

Laphael glared stoically at the Major still lying face down on the floor; stepping carefully through the debris of the battle he knelt by his side. “My poor Major,” Laphael said softly turning the Major’s metal carcass to face him. He heard a groan come from inside the suit. “You did wrong,” there was a sudden hardness in the angel’s voice, “and now you must pay.” Gripping the Major’s head in his hands he ripped it from his body and was rewarded with several muffled yells from the Major.

Cradling the Major’s head in his hands Laphael walked towards a shelf; lining it was several thick metal cases, usually used to contain toxic waste. “I’m not going to kill you Major,” he said matter-of-factly, “Heaven doesn’t want you and Hell can certainly do without you.” Opening one of these cases he placed the head carefully inside, assuring himself that no one would find the Major for a long time he locked the case once more and headed towards the door with a satisfied smirk. Father would be pleased; he had shown mercy and disposed of a man of evil….hopefully for a long while.

The sounds of group’s escape still found their way to the angel; they were heading towards the hanger bay. Sheathing his sword Laphael broke into a swift run heading down now deserted corridors desperate to find the demon before she escaped into the city. When he reached the hanger bay Laphael let out a furious yell that echoed out into the night. The hanger bay was empty but for the confused survivors of the demon’s flight. Ignoring several questions from the bemused men he stepped towards the open doors and spread his wings wide, gracefully he swooped into what was more a controlled fall than flight; his wings weren’t ready for flying yet. In the distance he could barely make out the dark shape of the transporter and he was determined to follow it to the world’s end if necessary.

[kovah]

Aysel followed the transporter as it hurtled from the security HQ and out into the bright artifical lights of the city complete with its escapee crew, Aysel ran along side leaving nothing but darkness in her wake and swatting away any droids that came close and roaring with glee as she ran scattering the public out of her way.
"Head towards the wall" she called

((sorry for the short post brain is a little fried]]

[AbstractPagan]

Here is a quickie

http://aycu25.webshots.com/image/14984/2005039598687808786_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2005039598687808786)

[AbstractPagan]

The impact of the vehicle landing onto the road disturbed gricks steering and it swerved a bit before he gained full control of it. The smoke from the liquid fuel engine filled the streets as passerby's looked in shock. They hadn't seen anything on the streets like that for over forty years. Several track cars stopped and Grick had to improvise, since the vehicles were in his escape route to the west side wall of the city. He kicked in the Firon gas and the front wheels went nearly vertical in the air, and came crashing down onto a metro cab. Grick pressed on the excellerator and the vehicle crushed underneath the weight of the transporter. It went over the cab easily, but if anyone was in it, its not likely that they would survive unless they were valkian, those short menacing rabbit people.

"Shit hold on guys!"

An alarm rang off in Grick's head, the security force had more skybots in pursuit and he looked behind him for a second to see the Angel turning around the building in flight.

"Ok Aysel the wall is coming up quick, the bullets won't cut through the wall, we need something short of a miracle, here. Bird boy and his toys are coming to play...Aysel!"

Grick tells Saym to either take up the rear fighting or handle the turrets. He pulls out his rifle from the back seat, stands up in the front seat aiming with the laser scope. Each shot seems to hit dead on as Grick begins to stave of the aerial assault.
Grick looks to his right and the building on the corner was a smoke shop.

"CIGARS! Sonnaofbitch, I could use a supressant right now! Can ya handle the toys 'til I pick up a pack?" As he shoots down another six more skybots"


((Sorry had to do the monster truck crunch, with those tires, how could ya resist? Gricks skin is a mild tan, bright green bio-eye red or green(night vision) mech-eye. You forgot his glasses in the pic and his interface stuff on his head gets a blue tinge metal shine. Clothing is your basic grey or brown your choice.))

[kovah]

Aysel heard Grick's shout and increased her speed, pulling ahead of the transport bounding over other transports and people alike. The great wall loomed ahead of her and for several seconds she doubted whether she whould have the power to break through it. The guards the were stationed there had obviously been told of their arrival and were ready. Lined up one after another droids and beings alike. Aysel increased her speed again and shouted out ancient words she didn't know she knew as the power inside her increased as she plowed through the forces as though they were nothing but feathers.

Then she hit the wall and a huge explosion of darkness englufed everything in the vicinity, sirens and shots were fired and the noise was defening. But when the darkness cleared there was a hole just big enough for the transporter to go through in the 20ft thick wall and some of the city's denizens got their first real look at trees and grass.

Aysel stagged into the cover of the trees once again looking like a cat and flopped down under the roots of a great tree breathing heavily, blood still staining her fur and then she passed out.

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie slid through the dust and leapt onto the transporter, just managing to jump into a seat and duck as Grick flipped a switch and bullets began to scream in intermittant streaks over her head. She grimaced as the transporter tore over the tracks in a wild flight and hung on for dear life as it wove all over the road. Her skirt and hair flapped in the wind and the air rushed past her in a way that reminded her of roofs of the very tallest buildings in the city. 'Idiot's going to get us all KILLED! She turned around in the seat and peeped over the back of the chair under the black swarm of flak. Aysel was loping after them through the traffic and that strange winged man wasn't far behind. She leaned over the side of the transporter and fired a few rounds at him, but her aim was so erratic that she doubted she'd hit anything.

Suddenly she saw Aysel bound in front of the transporter in a sudden surge of speed, and turned just in time to brace herself for impact. The wall flew apart with a clamor and the transporter flew threw the gap and spun over and over untill it finally came to a stop in the meadow. The tall grasses nearly blotted out any evidence of the steaming wreakage of the trasporter and the sounds of the city alarms sounded strangely distant.

Mackie blinked, shook her head and squirmed out from under the twisted piece of metal. "AYSEL!" She scrambled over to the fallen deamon, seemingly unaware that she had spoken an actual word and that they were no longer even in the City.

[AbstractPagan]

"Ugh..Cheap peice of security crap."

Grick climbed out from underneath the transporter and used his left arm to lift the transporter up. He could only lift it so far before the alarm in his head told him minor damage was being done to his arm. He saw Saym a shadow crawl out from the other side and let the Transporter back down. It was light enough but certainly not durable enough.

He looked at it and said, "Well, we can't just go up and pick up some food and Rathskeller passage so, I say we find a way to flip this over and I will start fixing it. It may take me a while, but we will need some transportation.
Saym, where can we get a bite to eat without chewing on something sentient? I'm sorry guys, I'd just prefer to not hear my food telling me to stop trying to kill it, that it has family and crap like that."

He was thankful that his cable upgrade broke through the glass ealier and managed to grab a pack of cigars from that shop on the corner. It was worth every second of effort.

"Saym, help me with this would ya?"

"Judging by the looks of it one of the bolts is cracked and the transmission may need a rebuild, so its shot. I may be good at what I do, but transmissions are out of my arm's techyness. I hear something coming from over there."

Grick grabs his rifle and places his cigar unlit in his mouth. He aims at the tall grass, what ever it was it wasn't very tall and the angel man didn't seem to pursue them after the breakout. Atleast not quickly enough for them to move. The smoke from the vehicle could have easily led him to them.

BOOM! The transporter exploded. Grick flew over into a small tree and was hanging by his legs upside down caught in a vine. Grick in his upside down vision noticed Saym seemed to be unaffected by the explosion. The smoke had concealed everyone in the vicinity, but Saym.

"Can someone get me out of this tree?"

((Um Mackie please stay with us...please. Mackie is coool. Mackie is great....KVVL and all.))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal looked through the variety of street cheap drugs.

"I would be a fool to not take advantage of this wonderful offer" He said to Grick. "These have got to be the lowest prices on quality drugs."

Saym purchased some valium for the undoubtably long trip ahead of them ((no pun intended)) and he also bought some viagra for Grick.

"Well I should return to the actual story now. We thank our sponsor, YoungTreVV."

[AbstractPagan]

Grick thanked Saym for the generous offer, but knew he would want that rifle used in combat. So he said "Saym can ya cut me loose I think something is still coming this way, I want to be on my feet in case its a scuffle."

[Hookswords]

As the dust fro the wreckage cleared Saymbolsal stood in awe. He was finally out of the city. There is still work to be done! He snapped out of it and moved to help Grick when the transporter exploded. He turned to shield his eyes from the bright explosion with no concern for harm from the explosion. It could not harm him. Flame nourishes metal...and shrapnel is no worry. Throwing mud at a pile of mud just makes a bigger pile of mud. He sees Grick fly by as he turns. Grcks hits a tree branch and becomes ensnared. A tree, finally! Saym climbs up to the branch and pulls Gricks foot from the branch. It feels good to be in the tree. He lowers Grick down and stays perched in the tree. He looks back to the grass where Grick heard movement. He see nothing. He scans the area. There is much movement all around. The prairie throbbed with life, similar to the city. But he could see nothing large or threatening. We didnt make that much ground, why have they not pursued us?

"I do not see your adversary Grick."

He studied the tall grass from his perch. A small grin took to his face. Things are so different out here. I wo- Something stirred in the grass. Dull armor glinted a soft sheen from between the blades of grass. The tops of the grass blades around it danced differently than most. Very subtle... just a slight turn to create a shadow different from the rest. There were more. Four metal beasts hulked in the grass in a half circle spread. He watched one move to position itself near another. It passed through a small clearing for long enough to make out its shape. It looked like a metal tiger with a bayoneted cannon for a head. Its dull dark gun metal armor swirled slightly. Stealth armor! These must be outer perimeter guards for the city.

He whispered down to Grick. " I see them. Four count. 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock. Must be city perimeter guard. I have never seen these before. They walk on all fours with a bladed gun for a head. They lay in wait."

Slowly, so to make little waves in the sea of tall grass, they begin to close in.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick summersaulted over to where his rifle fell. Grabbed it off the dusty ground near the tree roots and aimed towards the grass, he looked around aiming for a target. Grick scanned through the area for heat sources with his cyborg eye and picked up two automations coming from the south and one was closer than he thought. By the time he had time to react the automation pounced on him and activated the boring instrument on its head. Grick was pinned down and his rifle had fallen to the ground about three feet away. The drill-like object got closer and closer to Gricks 'good' shoulder and he'd rather not lose the good one to a piece of junk.

One of Grick's arm upgrades had a electrical output device, with a DC current only. It was used primarily to charge up batteries and small electrical components as well. He decided that it might be good to use it and activated it. The shock caused the Automation to shut down due to overload on its circuitry.

The Automation fell to the ground and Grick rushed up off the ground and grabbed his Rifle again.

The rustling in the grass got more active.

((Ok lets make this a quick battle if we can, so we can go to some kind of nature community or something cool like that)):D

[kovah]

Aysel slowly swam back into conciousness, her head was pounding and the bullet wound was still throbbing in her side. She was aware of someone crouching over her...Mackie?
She opened her eyes and pulled herself to her paws she was unsteady on her feet as another battle began around her, she winced as the noise hit her ears. It was like having a bad hangover but without the pleasure of the alcohol first.

She watched Grick and Saymbolsal begin to fight the city guards and crept closer to Mackie closely watching what was going on around her. She was in no condition to fight at this point in time, it would take awhile for her to recover her energy reserves.
"Welcome to the wilderness" she said to Mackie

[Hookswords]

Grick clears himself of the wreckage he made of the mechanical beast. Its partner closed in quickly as Grick reached for his rifle. Saymbolsal intercepts quickly as the beast lunges. With blade drawn he slashes deep into the chest of the beast, cleaving it lengthwise.

"Grick go to Aysel and Mackie. After I engage opne fire. Dont worry about hitting me, have Mackie do the same."

Saymbolsal advances towards the remaining two. *Phuhwang* His shields extend from each forearm. He cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders. Both watched him, but one was more eager. It approached and they engaged. A hail of bullets rained it plinking off and penetrating equally. Any that hit Saym are redirected through him to his target. He strikes furiously slicing and twisting, deflecting and redirecting. The other beast had not yet engaged Saym and was taking fire. With no defined target it turned to Mackie and Grick firing at it. It begins to pick up speed in its attack, returning fire as it runs blindly in taking fire all the way. Its accuracy due to this barrage is greatly diminished. As it rushes past Saym his shields retract quickly and a blade juts out of the head of the beast he tussled with. Just as quickly it retracted back into his hand. He runs towards the remaining beast as it advances on Grick and Mackie, as they open fire on it. It slowed as more bullets ripped through its metal hide. Saymbolsal draws his blade once more, cutting half way into its lower torso. It jack knifed as it ran, spilling into a tumble as bullets rain in tearing it to nothing. All was still. Saymbolsal rushed to the others.

[Katfayheirti]

Mackie barely had time to here Aysel say "welcome to the wilderness" before she heard Grick and Saymbolsal shouting. She turned just in time to see a strange, drill-like machine barrelling through the billowing grass straight towards her. It left ripples in its wake, much as a shark would were it swimming on the surface of the water, but then again, Mackie had never seen an ocean and certainly not a shark, so the comparison never entered her mind as she braced herself and opened fire. The bullets sliced right through the tough metal skin of her attacker, but it wasn't untill Saymbolsal sliced it in half that it lost its steam.

For a moment everything was silent and Mackie looked towards the line of unfamiliar forest. 'We need to go further out....out there where they won't find us' she thought. It was then that she realized she was absolutely terrified. That menacing wall of brambles and sticks and darkness and faint rythmic sound quickened her breathing and gripped at her heart in a way no crossfire or cyborgs or threat of vivisection ever could.

Mackie shivvered, closed and unclosed her eyes, then shouldered her gun and walked back towards Aysel. She crouched down again and met the cat-who-was-really-a-full-deamon's eyes, then gently stroked her, picked her up and held her securely in her arms. She stood up, took a deep breath and took a few determined steps towards the menacing line of trees.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick looked up at Saym, "Can you heal her too, like you did Chuun? I will try to get the one border drone working so we can have it as a 'guard dog' so we all can get some needed rest. I just overloaded its circuitry. Either ay though we should get further from the city."

Grick stood up and maintained the perimeter as the little trail of smoke rose into the duskborn sky.

"Its going to get real dark soon. So does anyone know what we could eat out here?"

Grick lit his cigar with his acetyline torch. With a small crackle the flame disappeared. The red ember on the end of his cigar was getting brighter as the sun snuck behind the tree line.

((Ooooh night time kind creepy...))

[Hookswords]

Saym shoulders the mechanical beast.

"Lets finds someplace secure for the night so I can work on Aysel and we can get this thing running. We need food."

[kovah]

Aysel flinched slightly as Mackie picked her up, not used to this kind of contact with most beings. But she soon found it to her liking.
"Head North" she advised the others "There are several fruit trees about 10 minutes walk away that should be in season. And a small rocky outcrop that will provide some shelter."

Aysel didn't let the others know but she knew they were being watched, by scouts of a small tribe that lived in this area. They were no threat to Aysel or her companions so introductions could wait until morning.

[Edriss]

(Sorry about the lack of posting; school came back with a vengeance.)

Laphael followed the fleeing criminals through the city and soon he was joined by a daunting force of skybots. Where they hunting him or the demoness? Had they already found the Major? The angel shrugged off his petty worries and increased his speed through the towering city, laughing as the girl’s bullets whizzed harmlessly overhead.

He landed in the ruins of the city wall and silently congratulated the demon on her strength; he had never known one creature with the ability to cause this much damage to the hulking wall. The rubble before him rose up like a miniature mountain and none of the city’s security guards seemed rushed to climb it, Laphael pushed past them eager to get to his quarry before they disappeared into the forest. Sounds of a battle drifted over the rubble and he quickened his pace, hopping gingerly from boulder to boulder never once losing his footing.

When at last he finished his climb he saw the group walking steadily towards the trees and grimly he reminded himself of his edict to follow them where ever they went. He looked in vain for the demon he had fought earlier but found no sign if it, noticing instead a small feline in its place. The angel bared his teeth in what might have been a grin; so she wasn’t that powerful after all. He made his saw slowly towards the group noticing that they had already managed to leave their mark on the outside world; the destroyed drones would probably be some chieftain’s talisman before too long.

He made no attempt to hide his approach, never catching up to them or falling behind, he knew that they would know he was following them but it didn’t matter he would get to the demon either way but only a coward would kill her when she was weak and Laphael would not be seen by his Father as a coward.

[AbstractPagan]

With a quick change of a fuse and solenoid Grick got the border drone working. He reprogrammed it to only obey direct orders from the group members with its voice recognition interface. He smiled and sent it to scan the perimeter for 'intruders'. The interface signal would send an alarm to Grick should anything come into range. Grick decided since it was night time that he'd spark up a fire to keep the group warm.

"Saym, Aysel, Mackie Im gonna get some tree limbs and make a fire you guys stay here.' Gricks red eye turned green as he turned his night vision on. He grabbed his rifle and activated his cut-off saw upgrade and walked into the darkness.

((Edriss don't you think about it....:S))

[kovah]

While Grick went to get the firewood Aysel said "Telaef decry kacdev" the droid beeped in approval. Roughly translated it meant 'don't attack the natives' she didn't want any casualties on either side due to a machine attacking an allie.

Her sharp eyesight caught movement in the darkness. The Angel?!

[Katfayheirti]

Firewood? Makie stopped in her tracks, turned around and glared at Grick. She ground her teeth as she thought 'You idiot! A fire?! We can't camp here! We have to go further on! Can't you see we're being followed!? Are you trying to get us all killed?!'
She felt exposed in the meadow under the great, looming, opressive sky; Like a mouse caught in the middle of a parking lot, just waiting for an owl to swoop in for the easy kill. 'Though the forest terrified her, its cramped clossness faintly reminded her of the familiar bustle of the city. The forest was unknown, but surely anything was better than camping out under this terrfyingly-open sky. Mackie continued to glare at Grick as she forced herself to form a somewhat-comprehensible string of sylables. "No.....fire. No....fire....tonight," she managed to say through clenched teeth.

[AbstractPagan]

"Um mackie, maybe yer right, but I am also not sure ow cold it gets out here. I am also willing to bet that you don't know...

*X+SNAP!+X* from a stick under a foot in the distance caused Gricks Attention to turn towards the sound.

...Show yourself we armed and extremely dangerous!" Grick looked through the shadows with his night vision and caught a faint white blur in the distance.

"Mackie, Saym, we have company it looks like the Angel boy."

Grick positioned himself near the tree and leaned up against it posted for a shot at whatever it may be in the distance.

An alarm went off in Grick's head, it wasn't the angel. I was something different.

A older voice came out from the tall grasses.

"You speak common, I am Omus a valkian from the community north of here."

((If I recall reading Edriss's description Laphael, he said something about poor eyesight in the darkness, and usually went off instinct or something like that, but to change up the story a bit)):tihi:

[Edriss]

Crouching down in the tall grass Laphael had begun to edge closer to the makeshift camp. Sudden movement behind him started the angel and he leapt into the air instinctively, only to fall down to Earth again on shuddering wings. “Argh!” He spun; searching for the disturbance and dimly saw a dark shape moving against a even darker background.

Sure that his prey must have seen him Laphael slunk slowly towards the dark shape, arriving in time to hear careful introductions. Resisting the urge to draw his sword Laphael stood a few paces away from the so-called Omus.

“Leave them,” he spoke slowly, trying to keep the rising hostility from his voice. The Valkian may have friends in the darkness – just because he couldn’t see them did not mean they weren’t there – it was a fact that Laphael often had to remind himself of. “They’re mine and we have unfinished…business.” Laphael cast a weary eye on Grick and his weaponry; he wasn’t at all keen to reencounter bullets anytime soon.

[kovah]

Aysel dug her claws into Mackie's clothes trying to reassure the frightened human. She was after all a city dweller and the wilderness was a daunting place and she felt Mackie's fingers clutching her fur.
"Do not worry young one, the things in this place are alot more scared of me than you know. They will not attack without severe provacation" she whispered. It wasn't entirely true but the demoness was fairly confident that they would not attack...yet at least.

Her sensative ears picked up the angel's voice and a grin spread over her feline face.
"Are you a coward angel? Sneaking around behind us?" she paused "OMUS Aysel speaks. We are but travellers, we are no threat to those that wish us no harm."

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"There is another amongst the grasses, it is armed and he is very outnumbered, my clan and I came to extinguish the fire by your machine...perhaps we should leave the outsiders to their quarrel. However, the fire will need to be put out."

As he made mention of his clan the rabbit-like creatures came out of the grasses by the hundreds. It was a shocking moment and Grick was shocked by the quickness of their advance without so much as a peep from anywhere. He knew if they'd start a fight in a matter of seconds it would be over.

((As Grick))

"Angel boy, I don't plan on fightin' ya tonight, I suggest you fly the coup and we will try our hardship out here. Otherwise we all get wiped off the map with the valkians."

((As Omus))

The Valkian known as Omus came out of the shadows, armed with some sort of blade.

"And what evidence do you have to support my clan allowing you to stay?"

The long rabbit-like ears and the deep intimidating eyes pulled attention away from the visciously sharp and very apparent overbite. He was clothed in some kind of mystical garb that had odd symbols that faintly glowed of some kind of magic. He had an aire of superiority about him and he was clearly a leader of this clan. His fur was a smooth gray with intensly white eyes which were oddly mystical and different for the common valkian.

http://aycu19.webshots.com/image/14218/2002201992022025850_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002201992022025850)

[Katfayheirti]

"Do not worry young one, the things in this place are a lot more scared of me than you know. They will not attack without severe provacation," Mackie heard Aysel say in an effort to calm her. For some reason, Aysel's words didn't quite seem convincing to her. The Valkians might be afraid of the demoness, but the angel seemed unfazed.

As hundreds of the strange creatures poured out of the dark foliage a brief thought flashed through Mackie's mind. Why're they so afraid of the fire?! She quickly set Aysel down in the grass and rushed over to the campfire, pulling a burning stick from the blaze. She held her gun in one hand and the makeshift torch in the other, waving the crackling stick threateningly as if daring the rabbit-like beings to come any closer. Mackie growled something incomprehensible at the Valkians, but made sure to keep one eye on the angel.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"You're gun-carried persons are overtly overmatched, we want the fire out before it spreads, it has been dry for some time here in the outterlands. Fire is the primary father of rebirth. I suggest that you place it back upon the fire and step back before hundreds more of our kind and even the nezureth come here and attack us for being in their land. Given the circumstances everyone here is better off without them interviening."

His gruff insistence struck a cord in Grick as yet another alarm cascaded off his head circuitry. The border drone detected an aggressive force two kilosects away (about 2000 feet). It was taking heavy damage and as the force made sounds over the hill the drone bleeped off Grick's com link.

((As Grick))

"Put it out now. The border drone has been destroyed by something out there I suggest we put out NOW!"

((As Omus))

Omus signalled Mackie to step back away and began casting out blue rays of energy as the clan disappeared out into the tall grasses. The energy swirled and sparked with a vibrant 'splash' put the fire out with a short, but stern incantation.

"Your best bet is to follow me to the clan camp for the time being. I suggest you put the injured feline in a bag for quick movement unless she is well enough to run herself. Leave your weapons the clan is offended by them"

http://aycu01.webshots.com/image/13080/2002999590972874931_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2002999590972874931)

[Edriss]

Laphael ground his teeth as the demoness spoke. “I’m no coward,” he called back to her, “It is you who surrounds herself with lesser creatures for protection.” He turned his attention back to the gnome, “I didn’t intend on fighting you tonight either, gnome; it's not you I'm after.”

A flash of light turned his attention away from the gnome, the girl was running towards them armed with fire, Laphael let out a snort, Primitive “Stop it, girl!” he chortled, “you’re making your friends look foolish.”

Omus was speaking, something about nezureth. Laphael searched long memory trying to put a face to the name, Sudden noises broke the angels concentration, the gnome had started yelling and Omus was quickly putting out the fire. “Don’t do that,” Laphael said exasperated, “I can’t see.” Laphael was surprised to find himself so talkative, especially since he intended on killing most of his present company but it seemed fate had decreed it wouldn’t be tonight.

Turning to glare at the gnome Laphael watched him silently, he wasn’t about to give up his sword but he didn’t want to lose the demoness either and once she disapared into the forest it would be near impossible to find her. With a disgruntled moan Laphael bowed to Omus and drew his sword, dropping it at the Valkian’s feet.

Moving away from the group Laphael passed the gnome and sneered, “I mean no harm, do you?” He flashed the demoness a cold smile and said, “Laphael. Not ‘Angel’,” speaking quietly so that only she could hear, “I finished your job for you; the Major won’t be interfering for a while. So when you die – and you will – you’ll know that it was me.”

[kovah]

"BAG!...HA..." Aysel ran up to Omus and hopped onto a rock in order to be nearer eye level. "Your father had much more sense." she muttered to him before moving back to Mackie and rubbing herself around Mackie's legs.

Omus apparently didn't know how to respond to that statement, but quickly gathered her wits and barked some orders to his troops to get them moving.

She returned Lapheal's cold gaze and then smiled at him.
"I never intended to harm the Major. I had no quarrel with him. I went into that place to prevent my friends from unfair trials and death."

[AbstractPagan]

Grick ran pass the tree and spotted the Angel in the distance. He headed the apparent direction of the valkians headed towards. It wasn't quite north but close about for degrens off. A rustling of grass by the hundred sounding of a snakes slithering caught Grick's attention. He'd never seen of a nezureth before but heard stories as a child about the serpents torturous ways and good kids won't get punished by them.


He saw them coming over the edge of the night sky on tails of fury. He ran looking back as Omus turned and headed north as well. Nezureth look like this...

((Will update with picture in about 5 hours or so))

[kovah]

Aysel groaned slightly at the mention of the Nezureth, they did not like her at all. Possibly something to do with the theft of a certain amulet that they worshipped and she had stolen. But then again they never managed to prove she was guilty. She had yet to return to the place where she had burried it hastily before she had been caught.

She was rapidly searching for a plan, there was no way the humans could outrun them, so a distraction was her only option.
"Run for it" she called to Mackie, Grick and Sayambolsal. "I dont care what you do..." she added to Laphael before making her way towards the Nezureth.

She hid in a small hollow and started chanting, weaving together a spell and for a moment magic hung in the air around the small cat. Before an image of her demon self materialized and began running towards to Nezureth, letting out an unearthly howl into the night, its eyes blazing.

It was nothing more than a specter, a magic born hologram, it had no substance but she hoped it would give her friends a little extra time to flee into the village of Omus.

((Lapheal - you could go after the specter if you want - thinking its the real thing and ruining the illusion. It would disappear if Lapheal touched it. Might be fun ;) ))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick continued to run in the direction the Omus and his clan was heading towards. He looked back to see Aysel heading in her demon form towards the Nezureth bandits. He stopped a moment and raised his rifle aiming at the first Nezureth to come over the hill. A valkian tripped Grick, looked at him in the face and said..

"You kill one now they will follow us to the ends of the outterlands. Let her go, she will champion us until we get to Underden haven."

((As Grick))

"But we can't just leave her here to die! It's not fair!"

Grick pulled his rifle out of the dirt and grass as he got up the last valkian passed by him. He realized how much of a true friend he had in that little cat watching her engage one of the most notorious of the outterlands races. A sacrifice of herself for her friends, Grick headed into the darker plains of the outterlands following the veritable wave of valkian hops through the grasses. A small blue glow came from a small hill in the distance it looked like Omus casting a spell. Grick used his eye to zoom in on the light. It was a door underground!

[Edriss]

Laphael was running far ahead of the demon and her friends when a evil howl filled his ears. He recognized it at once; the demon! Glancing over his shoulder he saw the fully formed demon running straight towards the oncoming Nezureth.

The sight made the angel stop dead in his tracks. Why? Why would a demon risk itself for lesser beings?

One thing he knew was that she wouldn’t survive - couldn’t survive - a match with the veritable army of serpents rushing towards her. Searching for the demon’s companions he saw the gnome crying out angrily, “But we can’t just leaver her to die! It’s not fair!” Though Laphael desperately wanted to kill the demon himself he knew that the gnome was right.

How could he, an Angel, let a demon fight for him while he ran like a coward?

His pride would not allow a sacrifice like that. Laphael was at once heading towards the demon’s side as fast as his wings would allow him. Passing the place where he had dropped his sword he eagerly grabbed its hilt, quite happy to ignore the Valkian’s warnings. Reaching the demoness’s side Laphael glared into the darkness searching for signs of the serpents. “You are not as weak as I had hoped,” he spoke kindly and raised a hand to touch the demon gently on her flank…only for her to disappear…

…what?

NO!

Realizing to late that the demon was an illusion Laphael had barely enough time to brace himself before the Nezureth reached him.

[AbstractPagan]

((Does anyone feel the way I do about this being a really cool graphic novel?))

[kovah]

((it would indeed, unfortunatly i dont have the time or the skill to even help make it into one :/ ))

"Bugger" Aysel muttered as her illusion disappeared. Laphael joining it however had been somewhat of a suprise. He would provide a distraction, and if he died would tie things up nicely. She knew she had little time to make a decsion run and join the others or save angel boy.
She sighed knowing this would be a long night, and muttered magic words again, knowing this would be her last spell for awhile. She was on the verge of being exhausted.

The amulet the Nezureth worshipped appeared before her. She picked it up in her mouth and ran and bounded onto a boulder before shouting out over the noise holding up the amulet in her claws.
"Catch me if you can you slimey sacks of scales!" The amulet must have had some kind of aura because they knew it was there even before she spoke, they screeched in anger, rushing towards her Laphael forgotten and possibly trampled in the stampede of Nezureth to get to her.

She picked up the amulet once again in her mouth and darted off into the forest, leading them away from the others, she was followed relentlessly, the Nezureth able to move alot easier in the dense trees. Aysel finally found a clearing and dropped the amulet and scarcely managed to conceal herself in a hole in the ground...that was almost full to the brim of mud and water. She cursed silently and waited. The Nezureth had got their prize and angry howls filled the air for their had lost their prey. They began to move off and Aysel slowly crept out of her hole, on full alert for anything.

She silently began to make her way back to the medow where she had last seen Laphael, upon finally finding the angel she walked up to him, she was almost unrecognisable dark wet mud clung to her fur obscuring the white that had been there and she had none of the usual saunter in her step due to fatigue.
"You have a lot to answer for" she snapped "What the hell were you thinking!?"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/a.jpg

[Edriss]

((I have to agree with both AbstractPagan’s and Kovah’s point of view on that one, ^^))

Bristling at the Demon’s comment Laphael at first refused to answer, instead he picked at the dirt covering him; he would have some bruises later and a dull pang was coming from somewhere in his torso – the serpents all but climbed over him in their hast to follow their jewel. Blood rushed through his ears and shame soon drove him to speak, “I’m an angel,” he said with a hint of bitter humor, “I’m an inherently good being. I see someone in need – I help them.” Letting out a bark of laughter he strode away from the tired looking cat and back towards the city.

The Demon had, perhaps unwittingly, trapped Laphael with his own moral beliefs; while as a demon she should be naturally evil she had proven herself to be as ‘good’ a being as her companions – a fact that confused the angel who found the idea of killing his rescuer something hard to swallow. So for now, he decided, he would let her live – besides he really wasn’t in any condition to be starting a fight. His wings were still throbbing from the Girl’s attack and his impromptu flight to the Demon’s side certainly had not helped speed their recovery.

“I don’t fight cats,” he said, letting out a sharp gasp. Laphael looked down to see golden blood slowly oozing from a wound he had only begun to register. A Nezureth spike from one of their lethal arm guards had found its way between his ribs. Holding up a bloody hand to his face Laphael let out a quiet “Oh” before collapsing to the earth in a feathered heap.

((Kudos AbstractPagan :), I love the look of the Nezureth…especially their arm guards))

[kovah]

Aysel was not the least bit impressed that he had collapsed she sat there staring at the heap of feathers for several seconds before walking round him and clambering onto his torso to inspect the wound. Not knowing that much about angel anatomy, though she figured it was somewhat similar to a human. Aysel looked at the spike, it shouldn't have penetrated anything vital perhaps he was just a wimp.

Some of his blood trickled down to were she was standing on him and it burned the demoness causing her to hiss and leap from Laphael's body, fur standing on end. Aysel shook herself she couldn't move him by herself and she was of no doubt that Grick Mackie and Saym were somewhere safe by now. Aysel made her way to his head and spashed some muddy water on his face.
"Get up. Your wound isn't mortal...i thought angels were made of stronger stuff..."she paused not even knowing if was concious before continuing muttering to herself more than anything "Should have just let things be, you would have died i would have been able to make my escape and things would be all tidy again. Stupid prophecy, that was where all this trouble started, i'm going to kill that soothsayer if i see him again AND i have to go and get the amulet again." Then as they say 'the heavens opened' and it started to pour it down with rain
"Awesome..."

[AbstractPagan]

((Ah, but see time is on our side. Its not like deadlines are important hell we could take until dawn of 2010 if we needed. Just a thought though. Anyone ever done a web comic or anything?))

Grick went into the the glowing entrance without hesitation. When he got inside he followed the path down some twenty feet to a very large room that was circular with seats around it. Grick looked around a minute as Omus walked up to the group.

((As Omus))

"You need not worry of your friend, she is very resourceful, and as my father once put it, 'a witty puss with 'penache' '. I only had hoped that his health would have given him the chance to see the prophesy unfold so quickly."

((As Grick))

"Prophesy? What Prophesy?" Grick lit a cigar and continued to look around at the walls that had very old and detailed paintings on it. The striking resemblance to Aysel's demon form and Mackie caused him to pull out the cigar and say.

"Omus, am I mistakin' or do I also see my friends up on that wall? I see a green eye too, pretty damn similar to my own when I have night-vision activated. What the hell is this? The paintin' looks way too old for me ta think you all decided to decorate for our stay at the happy hole here." He puts the cigar back in his mouth a second and takes a puff blowing it up to the ceiling.

((As Omus))

"I will explain when all have returned...only until then."

((I figured suspense without the action, might be a neat plot twist. Ya know, get the minds thinking for the next post...Edriss thanks man. I was thinking what eats rabbits? Hmmm...snakes do. lol))

[Hookswords]

((Sorry I've been a little sparse lately, work has been hell. I'm gonna back things up a bit here, so hold onto your Deloreons!))


As they made a simple camp, Saymbolsal layed down the border guard. As Grick worked on it Saym ate the last rations he had. He'd need them for what he was about to try. The power grid was reestablished in the droid. Saym rested his hands on the droid as Grick continued to work on it. These droids had a stealth capability. It was an enchantment from the city's technomancers. Saym wanted it for his own skill set. This place is all that he has desired for so long, but it is so foreign. Such a skill may come in handy. So as grick hacked the mainframe to get the droid back online, Saym searched its "muscle memory" for a way to acquire this talent it had. With a few quick fixes, Grick had the droid back online with new commands, but Saym was not yet done with his work. Aysel seems to be stabilizing...good...I dont know if I can help her...as much as I'd like to. Grick sent the droid on patrol duty and Saym followed. He was almost done decrypting the process. As he walked off with the border drone he heard the others striking up a conversation. The last thing he heard from them was Mackie.

"No.....fire. No....fire....tonight," She said.

Saymbolsal smiled warmly to himself. She is starting to make sense. He heightened his connection with the Border Drone. He spoke to its neural net. He asked its permission for the trick to stealth enchantments. It granted it willingly, recognizing his skill in battle. It remembers how it was defeated... it has... appreciation? The drones in the city are nothing like these...not nearly as articulate... I wonder... Saymbolsal began a meld with the drone. He began a conversation through the metal.


"What am I?" Saymbolsal says.

Its axe and cannon head tilts slightly. "I do not understand you inquiry. Use of "what" is confusing." It responds

"What race am I?"

"Unknown. Searching Profiles...."

"I am a Feneripyne."

"Unknown...creating new profile..."

"May I see your files? I am of this land but know little of it."

"Of course..accessing..."

They continued patrol as they spoke on a subconscious level. They were perhaps a bit too distracted as incoming fire rained in on their location. The drone took a few hits before it went to stealth. This was Saym's first chance to use his new ability. There is no telling how much energy this will take... He grins at the unknown as he disappears in stealth. ((Think of Predator)) Something was happening back with the others.

"Stay hidden and close friend." He ordered.

"Understood."

It began to rain as Saym caught up to the only visible. Aysel and the Angel. Both are wounded. He approached the two as he uncloaked from stealth. His stomach growled. Aysel looked up to him and grinned.

"He is out and you are looking rather savaged as well. Allow me."

He placed Aysel on the Angel's chest and picks him up. He begins to follow the tracks of Grick, Mackie, and the other creatures with them as Aysel filled in the details of what happened and the races we were dealing with. He had info on both from the drone, but no cultural information. They could see the group ahead in the distance. They could not catch up but they could make decent time.

When they arrived they were shown to the room with the others and the Chieftan. They were all looking up at a mural and speaking softly. Saym looked up to see images telling moments both past and to come. The Border drone uncloaked from stealth with some gashes to its armor.

"Grick, fix it if you would please." Said Saym as he placed the angel and Aysel on a large stone table.

((AbstractPagan, when the drone went to stealth is when it disappeared from Grick's sensor. A little tech fun :) ))

[Edriss]

The angel was indeed a wimp; the sight of his blood was something he had not seen for centuries and it was enough to put him out for several minutes. One thing could be said for fainting though – in his unconscious state his body had already begun to heal itself a rate much faster than normal. By the time the Feneripyne reached the hall where Valkian’s and their guests were the angel was awake and feeling perfectly healthy, aside from an odd twinge here and there.

The ‘reboot’ had also helped clear Laphael’s mind. Any doubts he had had about the Demon’s integrity had been replaced by his instinctual hatred of her kind and the urge to exterminate her was back in full – he remembered he help with the Nezureth but the memory seemed vague and empty of any of it’s previous meaning. Were he a questioning being he would wonder about his sudden change of heart but as it was he could do little but listen to the faint voice whispering through his mind.

“Kill her…finish it.”

Laphael woke with a smile begging at the corners of his mouth. Opening his eyes slowly he saw that he was in a hall of some sorts surrounded by Valkians and there in one corner was the Demon and her friends talking with Omus. He could hear words like ‘prophecy’ and ‘amulet’ and worried glances were being shot around the group. The angel approached behind the group and grabbed the mud stained moggie around the middle, he lifted her to eye level and snarled, “What prophecy, Demon?”

[kovah]

((Added a little bit about the prophecy)

Aysel hadn't been so glad to see a friendly face in along time. When she was placed on the Laphael's chest she had to be careful not to touch any of his blood, but soon found a place where she felt safe and took the chance to have a short nap.

When they arrived however she looked at the images on the wall and hopped off the stone table.
"Thankyou" she said shortly to Saym. The others gathered around the the exhausted demoness.
"There is a prophecy that has followed me for years, i dont like to believe in such things but certain events have made me question my beliefs. As you can see the images on the walls strike a resemblence to all of us..." she trailed off as Laphael approached and stayed calm as Laphael picked her up, not that she really had the energy to fight anymore which did worry her slightly, he could probably squeeze her to death in her current state.
"My name is Aysel. Look behind you on the wall, i think this concerns you too. " she said nodding towards one of the panels behind him because on it depeicted a tall winged being stood facing a snake like creature. As he turned she errupted in burst of claws and teeth she twisted her body causing him to drop her. She landed silently and padded away, her tail drooping from fatigue and as though nothing else exsisted she curled up on a cushioned area and closed her eyes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/lapays.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

The prophesy states that when the cycle of the moons comes full in both, that a group shall descend from the land of bricks and metal upon the outterlands....

((As Grick))

"Well, so far so good. Now what? We've a gotta Feneripyne, a cyborg, a girl, and a cat. In the round room with an angel and valkian clan sounds like a bad joke to me, what else does it say?"

Grick bent over to take a look at the machine. He pulled out of his bag a set of regulators and sensor scanners, he listened as he began diagnosing the border drones disfunctions.

((I will leave some more of the prophesy untold for you guys to fill in, kinda fun this way;) ))

[kovah]

"It says we will bring a great change to the outterlands" Aysel answered without opening her eyes "It is unknown whether the change will be good or bad but we will all play a part in it." She did not disclose the rest of the prophecy that she knew. For it was also said that one would die and one would be reborn. This was not the time or place to disclose such a bombshell to the others, especially since she didn't know how accurate it was.

[Edriss]

The painting on the wall held Laphael’s attention for some time; the depictions were unmistakable but clumsy. It was almost as if whoever had created them had seen his models for only a second. The idea of a prophecy puzzled the angel; the future should be impossible to foretell…no one but his own Father should have even a glimpse of the future…but the depictions were them.

The Demon’s, Aysel’s, sudden eruption stopped the angel in his wonderings. Hissing angrily as he dropped Aysel Laphael made to kick her but she had already moved away, “Filthy animal,” Laphael slunk down into a nearby chair and watched the gnome at his work. “Disgusting creature,” Laphael addressed the whole assembly.

Sighing as he listened to the rest of the ‘prophecy’ he cast a scrutinizing eye on his fellow listeners. The Feneripyne seemed to be maintaining a calm gaze, the Girl was lost as ever and the Gnome still busy in his work. Certainly an odd mix for any kind of misadventure. Laphael laughed wondering what sort of deity had thrown together this particular bag of chess pieces.

As Aysel finished what little she chose to reveal about the prophecy the angel found it was not enough. Picking up the nearest object, a sort of mechanical scalpel, Laphael threw it at the resting Aysel, “Finish it.”

[kovah]

Aysel opened her eyes, ignoring his description of her, just as the object was thrown, she had time to move but was too tired. It struck her on the shoulder leaving a small cut that seared for a second. The demoness ignored it instead glaring at Laphael for several seconds.
"No" she replied shortly. Should have killed him she thought not for the first time. She was playing a dangerous game with the angel at the moment, she didn't have the power to resist him, but she was recovering quickly and her magic reserves were quickly replenishing.

[Hookswords]

"ENOUGH!" Exclaimed Saymbolsal." Omus has been kind enough to shelter us in his compound, to take in perhaps the motliest crew ever to walk the outerlands, and you continue your hunt. Show some respect to these humble people." Saym approaches Edriss as he lets out a rather out of character retort to the situation.

"If you wish her blood, fine! Rend and tear each other limb from limb! But do it not in home of these good people, and do it when she has some strength, less you be a coward." His eyes raged and his mowhawk stood on end like the mane of an angry wolf.

Saym didnt know what had come over him. He was normally reserved and collected. Being in the outerlands feels so different from the city. He had hardly had a moment to take in its splendor. He began to visibly shake with rage, fists clenched, as he approached Edriss during his outburst. Random spikes of metal extended and retracted from his arms. First slowly, then violently as his stopped just short of Edriss. Fire dripped from his eyes as he looked into Edriss' eyes.

"Do not shame your lord in the house of another...and if you ever, EVER, raise your hand to my comrades in a manner that insults the rules of combat... I will ride your wings to the seat of your Lord and cast him from heaven myself." His fangs revealed like a hungry wolf. " I showed you mercy, make not vain, my kindness."

Saymbolsal turn his attention back to Omus, only to find the entire group, both his friends and the Valkians jaw dropped and looking at him. Omus laughed a bit as he spoke to Aysel.

"Where has this Feneripyne learned such manners?"

Saym had deduced that his people were not native to this land from the files the Border Drone had collected, yet Omus was familiar with his people. Saym's stomach growled loudly with anticipation as some of the Valkians brought some food for the group.

[AbstractPagan]

"Look bird boy, I ain't gotta problem with ya make off beat cat comments occassionally, but you know you aren't exactly pick of the litter yourself. All I am saying is Omus was nice enough to let us in his lair not knowing what kinda people we are, and you still want to make a mess of an dirty injured cat. I know you're sworn enemies, but take your pride for a minute and wander over in a corner and thank yourself that you're still here because of Omus."

Grick went back to recalibrating as the machine twitches from a minor reprogramming. He thought of it as a cool 'house pet' and programmed it to be more canine-like. He took its head off and welded up another as the group noticed a large section of the wall was covered by a tapestry not revealing the wall behind it. It was kept hidden for a good reason.

((As Omus))

"That portion of the prophesy will not be seen until you all are ready. For now I will train you against the Nezureth, because they too play a role in this grand scheme. Come to our training arena we have been awaiting the tournaments champions from the city realm. Your city weapons will not be used here. You will realize soon why they will have no effect against the adversary. The Nezureth are not the adversary."

((As Grick))

"Well, thatta 'bout sums up your new pet Saym. He's got a new upgrade on his phase variance for stealth, you two seem to connect better than I did with it. Oh and name him already, his programming won't start until you do. COnsider it a present for the past 'save my life' thing ya did.

((Posted in the RP group page thingy))

[Edriss]

Laphael rose from his chair angrily, knocking it over in the process, at Aysel’s refusal. He made to move towards the demon only to be confronted by the Feneripyne, as the wolf-child approached Laphael walked to meet him meeting the fiery gaze with his own cool sneer. “If I wanted to kill the demon,” Laphael said speaking slowly, as if to a particularly dim child, “I would have done so when I was following you in the grasslands. I was waiting for it to heal – so while I may not kill her I see no problem in harming her. Or for that matter – you.”

“Don’t make the mistake, boy, if thinking that you are equal to me,” the angels cool suddenly cracked and he spoke in a strained voice, wings visibly quivering with the effort to restrain himself from yelling, “If you ever speak about my Father again…I will kill you myself, prophecy or no.”

Laphael turned his back on the snarling Feneripyne, flaring his wings angrily when the gnome chose to speak. When the gnome spoke about his breeding Laphael found he had nothing to say, he swept across the room gathering up his sword and letting loose a stream of curses from through the centuries. Retreating into a quieter corner he pointedly ignored Omus’s invitation, blinking rapidly, and toying with the edges of his weapon like a petulant child.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"You may not enjoy this groups taunting of you, but it is necessary for you all will be one in the end of this. Accept the invitation to join in the training. Laphael of the Seriphim, you too need training for the adversary we all face. it is far more greater than a squabble between a demon and an angel. Your father would not be proud of your actions at the present moment. If you choose not to join, it will matter not; for you will when the time comes.

"Lerin, arm the guards to watch the angel until he joins in the tournament room. And get a healer on Aysel and Laphael they will need their strength. Perhaps, his injuries are making him bitter. We have three days to train them and we're well behind schedule."

((I figured to add the seriphim to his name, since if i remember correctly, in dogma the movie it was like the highest choir of angels. Also, the pet thing Hooks, I thought you might like it :teeth: We need a storyteller fill in on details of the surroundings and the healers and stuff...wink..wink..))

[kovah]

Aysel had been half listening to the conversations of those around her, even the short rest had made her feel a hell of alot better. So much so that she got to her feet and crossed the room giving Laphael a wide berth but pointedly ignoring him as he sulked in the corner and hopping onto a small ledge peered into the basin of a small drinking fountain formed from a natural stream that poured through a crack in the wall.

She grimaced for several seconds, almost geering herself up for what she was about to do. And stepped into the running water, staining it brown as the mud washed off her fur once again revealing the white that it covered. After several minutes most of it had come off and she got out of the water and had a good shake, before starting to wash herself. Slowly but surely bringing her fur back to its former condition as Omus ordered some food brought in as well as some healers.

The healers were accomplished and they worked as she groomed herself and before long she felt almost back to her normal self. Not quite able to go into full demon form yet but she knew that would come with time. She watched as the healers then moved off to the others to heal any injuries or complaints they had.

Aysel finally finnished her grooming and got to her feet, her fur once again looking silky and shiny and without a word to the others left the room with merely a 'follow me' glance, she walked through the twisty passages once again her body language betrayed a confidence and hidden power.

She entered the training room, a large cavern with and aray of weapons on one all and a large amount of glass jars on the other each containing a certain set of spells. In the center were a series of rings and some dummies.

[Edriss]

Lerin turned out to be a tedious creature, he and several of the laughable creatures the Valkian’s thought of as guards kept a close eye on a brooding Laphael. A meal was brought to the angel, which soon found itself staining the walls of the hall, and healers brought to tend to his wounds. It took him more than a few minuets of explaining before the healers believed that their patient was in perfect health.

The Demon and her companions soon left the room for what Laphael assumed was the much talked about ‘training room’, leaving the frustrated angel in the company of the aforementioned Lerin; a Valkian with a sense of humor smaller than Lucifer’s sense of right.

“You are not to go anywhere else besides the training room,” Lerin spoke, escorting the angel back to a seat in the hall. “I believe I have told you so before,” Lerin seemed to sigh, “several times.”

Wrenching his arm from the Valkian’s grip the angel paced the room until he was sure that he had worn a hole in the floor. This routine continued until Omus appeared in the doorway, “Laphael of the Seraphim, are you ready to join in others in developing their art?”

“No. And fighting is not an art. It’s a duty.” Laphael spoke without looking at his visitor, instead he continued his pacing. Being in any confined space for a length of time upset the angel, with a veiw of the sky he felt trapped and caged.

“The others are doing well,” Omus continued undisturbed, offering his guest a goblet of water, “The Demon espicialy. She is a grand fighter.”

The angel could not shake the feeling of being watched, and when he turned he was Omus quickly looking away. “The demon?” Laphael laughed , waving a hand in dismissal, “Even the lowest of Angels could outfight that demon.”

“Perhaps,” Omus agreed, “Though I have seen little proof of that, Laphael of –“

“I’m not Seraphim!” Laphael roured. The sound would surely make it’s way to the Major in his metal prison. He gripped his cup intil it started to crack beneath his fingers, “I’m not even Archangel. I’m just Angel – the lowest Choir. My Father couldn’t even give me higher rank for my duties.”

“Ahh, I see,” Omus smiled slyly, “So you are the lowest of angels; can you outfight the demon?”

The angel blinked at Omus in surprise. He drew his sword.

Lerin soon found himself leading his charge down the twisting passesageways that led to the training room, on entering Laphael could see the others busy attempting what seemed to him various chantings and gestures. Magic, he thought, a sin. The Demon sat watching the display before her, she looked, even in her feline form, to be deadly. It wasn’t something Laphael saw, it was something he felt.

He towards her, avoiding her gaze he bowed stiffly. “You don’t need to train with these….begginers,” he gestured towards her companions, glancing at at Saym for several seconds. “why don’t you and I finish what he started?” He flashed her a dangerous smile, “Of course you rely on magic for your power. You can't fight me without draining it - therefore you can't fight...not if you want to be ready for this 'prophecy'. I," he turned to Omus giving him a mocking bow, "have won before I even began."

((AbstractPagan; you’d be right Seraphim are the highest rank of angel – a high compliment for Laphael, he’s unfortunateely in the lowest choir; Angel :P ))

[AbstractPagan]

((Wow Dogma was right. Heh anyway back to business))

Grick stopped the spell he was practicing for a minute, not even sure if he'd even said the words properly. We saw the angel storm into the room headstrong and overly aggressive. Grick smiled as he could all but see how this was going to turn out. He began sorting through the bag of upgrades while the Angel challenged the demon to yet another fight.

"Man, gotta give it to the bird boy, atleast he's got a single track mind. And as about well rounded as a veripyne hogs track collar. Hey Saym, stop what your doing a second I think the prophesy has a hidden painting of the bird boy with his but planted in the ground! Hah hah hah! Lets go check it out!"

Saym looked over at Grick a second and smiled nearly laughing, but keeping a good focus on the spells he was learning.

"Tough man with a sword. Drop the sword, lets see some true fighting, besides if we are to work together; killing Aysel isn't going to help this prophesy thing out, now will it Laphael?"

((As Omus))

"Laphael, perhaps I should explain something to you first. Practice is good, but this prophesy was well documented before your time on the planet, you may prefer to know why your life is danger and this team is necessary for the final task. Understand these scuffles of pride and prejudice will only get you killed by the adversary."

[kovah]

Aysel watched keenly as the others began experimenting with new skills. Hoping it would be enough when Laphael came in and headed straight for her.
"No Laphael...I don't need to train" she replied with a grin. "As to resorting to magic...well one has to use ones advantages. I apologise for this everyone, it will not last." She took several steps away from the Laphael before saying
"Nox" and all the lights instantly went out, and the cave plunged into pitch black as all the lamps went out, it took a second for her eyes to ajust but she could soon see perfectly, but she knew Laphael could not.

"You see Laphael." she said brushing herself gently against his leg before darting away. "In a place like this you have no chance...and outside you only have the daylight hours to save yourself." She turned the lights back on at this point with another word.
"But despite the fact you want to kill me, i dont have a quarrel with you. But i am more than willing to defend myself by ANY means nessecery. So i suggest you get down off whatever pedestal you think you deserve because of where you came from and get some practice in." She then walked away from Laphael, knowing full well that what she had said would do nothing more than goad him into taking action as soon as he thought he could get away with it. But that was the way things had to be.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"You do realize Laphael that she is right. Darkness is no place for an angel, however..oh, I believe Grick is offering you something."

((As Grick))

"I don't need these." Grick has a small pair of night vision goggles in his right hand holding it up to Laphael. "All I want you to say, is that you'll use them for the right reasons and put aside the differences until this prophesy comes to an end."

Grick looked into Laphael's eyes for a second and left his hand extended offering the goggles until his arm wore out and he tossed it on the floor by Laphael's feet. The small cloud of dust swirled up into the air and disapated.

"Oh and no hard feelings about the cable coil in the security headquarters. I was on the move and needed to get by."

[Edriss]

Laphael swallowed when the light disappeared; he had not expected this from Aysel. He squirmed uncomfortably when he felt her furry form brush against his leg. When the light returned he was careful to remove any of the uneasiness from his face, he would not let her scare him with a simple magic trick. He stoically stared after the Demon as she padded away. “Disgusting animal.”

As Omus spoke Laphael found himself biting his tongue; the tribe leader was far too ‘wise’ for his liking but there seemed little point antagonizing the old Valkian.

“…I believe Grick is offering you something."

The angel’s head jerked towards the gnome. Grick? Light from the nearby torches glinted softly on the goggles sitting in his hand. The gnome was surely mocking him; he didn’t need charity from anyone. Though… as Grick looked him in the eye the angel could see that he meant no insult. Still he was tempted to refuse the small gift and in that moment of indecision the gnome dropped the goggles at his feet.

Laphael waited until Grick had turned and left before crouching down and carefully dusting off the goggles. He hel them as though they might break at any minute; toying and twisting the goggles he wondered of just what they did.

Probably should have listen to the Major; should have learnt about the whole ‘technology thing’.

Well, there was only one way to find out really; putting the goggles on the room suddenly lit up and he fell back in surprise. “Ah!” he quickly whipped them off laughing. A slow smile slid across his face – these would be useful for sure.

He should thank the gnome. Where was he? There – across the room. Grick was back at his practicing, though what he was trying to do was impossible to tell. Approaching the gnome Laphael took his hand, “Thank you.” Before he could respond Laphael hurried away, he didn’t often find himself thanking others and he wasn’t sure that his pride could take another hit. Coming to a quiet part of the chamber he sat down crossed legged and watched the others, occasionally letting out a bark of laughter when a spell went awry.

Despite Omus’s suggestions that Laphael should take part in the training he knew it would be pointless, he had about as much magically ability as a rock. It would be like trying to teach a fish to fly.

Soon he found himself growing bored of watching the others and dim thoughts of the prophecy keep on swimming in his mind. He was restless again, what was there to do in this place? Well…he could get some of his questions answered.

Yes, that’s what he’d do.

What was the last painting on the wall? Looking around he saw that all attention was still focused on training and so silently he slipped out of the room with ease. The Valkians really needed to train their guards more. Now which way was the hall? With a glance back at the training room the angel retraced his steps.

That was one thing he was grateful for: an excellent sense of direction.

In what seemed no time he was in the hall again, staring up at the tapestry that had to be the last part of the prophecy. Should he do it? An alarm bell was ringing at the back of his mind. “After all curiosity killed the cat,” he reminded himself, then smirked and added “if only.”

He reached out slowly to grab a handful of the cloth but something stayed his hand. Something was watching him.

“Who’s there?”

[AbstractPagan]

A brilliant blue flash of energy sparked up behind him.

((As Omus))

Surely, you don't think I would allow the children to wander off and sneak around the home. Tsk..tsk..Laphael I truely thought that you would understand your role in this all. Afterall, you see it as your father punishing you down here. Quite not the case. Again, you seeing the wall under the tapestry, would only further your separation from the group as well as completely anhilliate the cause of 'good' as you see it.

The prophesy involves many factors that you alone cannot face. You will need to assimilate with the group and learn some magic before you deprive yourself of returning to your home. As I recall, your father wanted 'to teach you a lesson' and you took it as punishment, living in resentment nearly. Times like this will need heroes, the question you need to ask yourself 'are you hero enough to remove your convictions long enough to become that hero?'. Get to know them, you'd be surprised how well you'd get along. So remove the tapestry if you want, but it will not change anything.

((As Grick))

Back in the training room Grick discovers a teleporting spell and manages to cast it properly. With a flash of blue energy Grick disappears and reappears above Laphael. Omus notices immediately.

((As Omus))

"Cessaatrum!" Grick stops falling and Laphael had enough time to dodge out of the way. Omus gives Grick a look of annoyance.

"You touched the scrolls in the corner shelf didn't you?"

"Cascaduum!" Grick fell to the floor kicking up dust. "I know you don't believe magic will help Laphael, but I know it will save your life several times, before the prophesy is fullfilled."

[Edriss]

“You bore me old man,” Laphael snarled walking back towards the tapestry. In reality he was probably a few centuries older that Omus but it seemed the Valkian were the wiser of the two. “I care little for this prophecy or for you...or for your magic.”

Snatching at the material of the tapestry the angel was hurtled across the room, sliding along the table and ending up crumpled on the floor. Shaking his head he stood and howled out in frustration. If it were possible Grick would have seen steam leaking from the angel’s ears. Soon he felt drained and tired, his curiosity shrunk to a withered husk He looked imploringly at Grick, “How can you stand to be manipulated by these – these rabbits? You’re obviously somewhat intelligent, why do you follow their wishes blindly?”

Without waiting for an answer the angel righted the chair he’d knocked over hours before and sat down. Running his hands through his hair he spoke to the floor, “There are two reasons why I refuse to have anything to do with magic. The first quite frankly is genetic; I can’t. I wasn’t created with the ability. The second,” he paused for several seconds as flashes of painful memory played in front of the angel’s eyes. “The second is that – and I’m surprised you, Omus, who seem to know my father so well, don’t know – it’s a sin. Centuries ago magical beings were burnt at the stake, I know because I helped the city dwellers do it. How can I practice magic? It would make me a hypocrite.”

The angel looked first at Omus and then at Grick, “Ask me to do anything but that and I will do it. Besides,” he gave a dry laugh, “Grick seems quite able. Nice spell…teleporting, was it?”

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1116/badmemories500it3.jpg

[kovah]

Aysel had settled herself in a corner for a time, watching the others practice, everyone wass doing well. She wondered how being able to see in the dark would help the angel who had made his way from the chamber, followed by Omus and then Grick disappeared. She knew time was slipping away fast before the time came that they must fight.

Aysel got to her feet and padded over to the shelves containing jars of spells and enchantments. She inspected several of them before using her claws to open a deep purple one, the magic it contained swirled around the small feline turning her eyes purple for several seconds.

The effect on her mentally was much more profound, she felt strange and as two Valkien children bounded past the door with a pull along toy in tow she couldn't help but give chase and soon was involved in a rambuncious game with the two younglings.

Their chase soon lead them into the tapestry room, not that Aysel noticed as she attacked the string in a very kitten-like way. She ran round and round in circles until she was throughly dizzy, and it was only when Omus finally spoke "You know you shouldn't be playing in here my children" did she finally realise where she was.

She looked from Gricj to Laphael to Omus and got to her paws still partly tangled up in thread and said "Purple bottle...bit strong..."
Omus raised his eyebrows "You had all of it!?"
"Maybe just sorta most of it..." Aysel replied quietly
Omus sighed resignedly "It will wear off in about 10 minutes, but dont have any more." before turning to Grick and Laphael. "Its a powerful set of spells, but too much too fast can have some strange side effects - one being a childlike or in Aysel's case kitten-like state for a period of time."

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"Laphael, I realize that you feel magic is a sin, but how do you suppose you were created? You certainly did not have a mother. Magic is the essence of creation itself. For those with proper training one can 'create' something of value and can 'heal' as well. Perhaps you'd even be interested in the cat's eye spell which has similar effects of a cats vision. You wouldn't even need the technology to do it for you.

But, alas, I will not impose my will on anyone. Everyone here now has chosen to learn magic for the prophesy. Essentially, your father and I have discussed this prophesy that he imposed on the wall before you were created even. My grandfather of 10 generations previous handed this down to my father and then to me. Your father even taught us the magic to allow the prophesy to fulfill itself for the 'greater good'. However, he tells others not to learn the magic in order to keep it sacred. For if everyone did it, it would fall into the wrong hands and unravel the prosperity that would come of it."

"Knowledge is power, absolute knowledge can corrupt. Even we were not taught all of it. That is for the divine to herald alone. But regardless of your earnest to learn, we will train and I say with diligence that the balance may shift the wrong way if all are not trained properly. I wield these words in cofidence of that."

[AbstractPagan]

((As Grick))

Grick overheard the long winded Rabbit-man talking to Laphael about magic. He thought about all the things said for a minute. He realized that all this stuff he had been doing led up to this, but he wasn't truly sure what his role would be. He also thought that he could 'store' spells in an tube upgrades. Something occured to him. If Laphael didn't learn magic, would the whole group die? Would he even care at this point whether they all did die?

((As Omus))

"Perhaps, Aysel could teach you the cat's eyes spell she taught my brother's clan for hunting at night. Atleast for the time being, you two should atleast try to get along."

[Edriss]

Grunting in exasperation Laphael frowned at Omus Why did he feel the need to lecture him? Feeling rather put out he struggled with a retort to Omus’s warnings, at last settling on, “I’m sure that nothing over disastrous will happen from my refusal to learn your dark arts. If this prophecy were important then my Father would have used one of my Brothers and not me. I will say no more on the matter, be aware that you risk angering me Valkian and I feel it is fair to warn you that I do not handle anger well,” a growl rose in his throat. Though the effect was slightly marred by the fact that he turned to give a knowing smirk to Grick.

After a few strained silent moments his mouth twitched once more into a smile and he jerked his head at Aysel. She was still playing with her toy in a very unsettling, kitten-like, manner. “I also doubt your demon will be teaching anything.” To prove his point the angel took the toy from the children and pulled it ahead of Aysel, sighing when she ran after it, “I fail to see how I’m the one not taking the prophecy seriously. In this state I’m worth more than an army of Aysels’, she would only try to play with this Adversary. And I assume that is not the desired effect?”

He couldn’t help but smile benignly when he saw the demon’s evident delight in her new game. Laphael gave himself a mental shake; she was a demon, not a youngling. Face returning instantly to a scowl Laphael stood and moved towards the door of the hall, glancing one last time at the tapestry on the wall. “The Feneripyne and the Girl will be missing you.”

Exiting the room he waited for the group to follow, falling into step with Grick and Omus “Tell me,” Laphael spoke softly as they wound their way along the gloomy Valkian passageways, “would you ever ‘try to get along’ with a Nezureth? I doubt you would, it’s not within your nature. Or you Grick, could you get along with the Major? I doubt that also. I mean nothing by what I say; I just thought I would give you something to think about. A lesson in empathy if you will.”

[kovah]

Aysel's face fell as her new play companion decided to leave. The two Valkien younglings had also left the room after Laphael had taken their toy from them. Playing alone was no fun at all.

She looked around the dimly lit cavern for a split second longer before following the group, had she been in her right mind there would have been something about the room that would have made her very very uneasy.

But the sight of some slightly loose feathers on one of Laphaels wings was far too tempting to pass up. Aysel crouched to the floor and began stalking the feathers, moving on silent paws getting closer and closer to her prey. She leaped into the air and came away with a mouthful of feathers, but the subsequent roar from the angel sent kitten-aysel sprinting away in fear, mouth still filled with angel feathers.

She bolted back into the training room and up onto the highest ledge she could find watching the doorway with trepidation as to what was about to come through it. Some where deep in hher mind things were beginning to matter again as the potion began tto wear off.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"Your inherent problem is not in cooling your anger Laphael, its your utter lack of patience without ego. As my father put it, ego undermines many things in a souls harbor, only true power can be gained from undermiing the ego. Perhaps you haven't gotten long with yourself yet. But alas, good sir, since you value your training and your claim to be the best fighter in the group, would you like to spar with an old valkian?"

((Grick))

A snicker came out of his Grick's mouth as the valkian finished his speech. He grabbed his cigar out of one of his shirt pockets and re-lit it. "The old man challenged you Laphael, you gonna whip his rear for some of those previous comments?"

((As Omus))

"The only spell I will cast will be a shapshifting spell and to that of a Nezureth. I have seen your combat skills in visions, but I still feel you need some training and since you have no quarrel with me per se I will teach you about the Nezureth as an example to the class."

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal stared at his new pet. He'd never had a pet before.
"...A name...It will be called Onyxadze." he said thoughtfully.
The Border Drone activated once more. Its programming loaded and its body surged to life. It approaches Saym and nudges him, curling around him. Saym looks up to the mural. A sea of battles drapes across a section of it. In it he could see himself fighting alongside this drone.

After a meal he went into the training hall with the others. He and Onyxadze sat and spoke with the elder sages about what he intended to train in. They gave him much to study, and still more that he would have to divine himself. He worked on magics to enhance himself in combat and healing. He sparred with Onyxadze, and worked to make the link with Onyxadze a constant open link.

He watched intently as others engaged Laphael once he entered the training hall. After the lights came back on, Saymbolsal and Onyxadze were no where to be seen. They watched and stalked from stealth camoflauge.
Their stealth dropped from shock in unison when Omus challenged Laphael to spar. It is so rare that you get to see a master spar. He waited patiently for the combat to begin.

[AbstractPagan]

((Here's a pic I have done took me about an hour or so. Oh and guys I will be out of town starting tommorrow afternoon going camping on my vacation, so I will post sometime sunday or monday))

http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/14671/2004847566833068988_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2004847566833068988)

((As Omus))

"Well, would you care to test my mettle? I think its an excellent opportunity to share knowledge with the class, as it were.""

((For those wondering what I thought the border drone looked like here's my rendition. Thought it came out good. As well as Saymbolsal and my rendition as well.))

[Edriss]

((Nice pic, love the twin-tails. Have fun, :) ))

“Ego?” Laphael repeated in a deceptively mild voice “I haven’t got an ego. Angels,” he said acidly, fluffing his wings, one of which was still smarting from Aysel’s hunt, “are humble.” Laphael looked among the others tartly, daring someone to contradict him.

Omus’s invitation to spar caused the angel to bristle indignantly. A low snicker came from the Angel as he shook his head at the chieftain, observing him carefully from behind bright green yes. He was tempted to refuse the offer; he didn't need to prove his worth. He knew it well enough and he did not have to justify himself to others.

What makes the old Valkian think he can match me in non-magical combat? It was a challenge that was no challenge. And yet if Omus wanted to teach the class a lesson Laphael could hardly refuse, especially since it was his boasting that caused the current predicament.

The Valkian’s words unsettled him though; he sounded very sure about ‘teaching the class a lesson’. He had to be good, or else he wouldn’t have become the chieftain, a small glint in the his’s eye seemed to hint that he was more than good. Yet the angel too had a reputation and that assured him enough to accept Omus’s invitation.

His only reply was to nod curtly and stalk to the center of the training room, his mouth set in a taut line. Eyes scanning the darkened room he caught sight of Aysel’s white coat and the Wolf-Child suddenly appearing from nowhere. The light situation would certainly not help but he was determined not to complain in front of the ‘class’.

“So. I see we will have an audience, Omus,” he spoke in a bored voice, “I assume that we are using weapons. No?” He hoped the answer was yes, unarmed combat was not an art he prided himself in.

[kovah]

(Sorry for the slow reply, also might not be able to post for awhile, we are getting new internets and i dont know when its being switched over.))

Aysel watched the exchange between Laphael and Omus, she was quickly coming back to being her old self and as such wondered if Laphael knew what he was getting into. The chieftain of the Valkian was put through a series of trials before he could become leader, the trials are such that the chieftain uses magic to extend their natural life until another passes the trials for it does not happen often.

Something else was also nagging at the back of her mind, someting about the tapestry room a strange feeling that her kitten-self didn't recognise or kn ow how to deal with. She watched Laphael stalk into the middle of the room to wait for the fight to begin and as much as she wanted to stay and watch him get his angelic ass kicked she needed to know what was going wrong in the tapestry room.

Aysel got to her feet just as a violent jolt shook the whole cavern, then another then another, causing her to fall off the ledge she was perched on and only just managing to right herself, land and bounce out the way before the ledge came tumbling down after her. Omus seemed none plussed "Earthquake, they happen occasionally. Do not fret"

Aysel gave Omus as haughty look as if to say I dont fret before leaving the room stepping delicatly over the bits of rubble that now littered the floor and left the room, she moved through the dark tunnels silently before stopping at the doorway to the tapestry room. Her eyes scanned the darkened cavern and seeing nothing she almost left. But then a faint glow in the center that was getting brighter by the second attracted her attention.

Her eyes widened as she saw what it was - another angel. Shorter and perhaps more weedy than Laphael but this one had not been bound to earth, this one was still a denizen of heaven. For his form was not completely static but the light that eminated off him seemed to swirl around him like the darkness did around her. He stepped towards the last panel of the tapestry and holding out his hand sent a wave of light towards it, Aysel felt a shiver run down her spine. He was changing it...God was intervening?!

Aysel knew she had to do something and leapt out from the doorway sprinted towards the new angel and tried to dig her claws and teeth into him, only to pass right through and stumble on the other side. She was on her feet again in an instant, the angel merely ignored her until he had finnished his talsk. Only then did he turn to the demoness
"You're time is over demon, my father has now made sure of that." and with that he disappeared, the tapestry was still covered and no one would be any the wiser.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"Laphael, I said spar. And as it were, I said nothing about the use of weaponry. That is the choice of the student, though I will warn you, it may not serve you nearly as well as you believe it to."

"Trastoartum!" In a wave of transparent energy Omus transformed into a Nezureth. He walked into the middle of the room and faced Laphael.

"Class, the Nezureth have many advantages. They may not possess any legs but be aware some have lengths twice as tall a Laphael here. They also do not need weapons their teeth secrete a poison that has made many other races extinct. They are very, very swift. An assault of just one can kill ten laphaels if the moon is right. The moon gives them incredible strength, spped, and intelligence. It increases through out the month. We have even stopped hunting in the filled moon times because of this."

"Now Laphael I will turn and face the class, I want you to swing your sword as fast as you can to strike me dead as a Nezureth, don't worry you can't kill me."

As the sword swung, a quick swish of the tail and a bracer spike was pointed at Laphaels throat from behind. With another swish of the tail, Laphael was pushed onto the floor, with Omus holding the sword. It had happened so fast that the class was intrigued.

Omus offered his hand, "You see Laphael as an example, the Nezureth are far more difficult to face than you originally thought, magic can give you an edge."

((Last post until sunday night or monday. Thanks Edriss. Hope you like it Saym!))

[Edriss]

((Good luck with the switch-over))

Laphael batted away his opponent’s hand with a growl, “We haven’t finished yet, Omus.” His pride still wanted victory, and that he would deliver.

An anxious, unrecognizable, feeling rose within the angel; it gnawed away at the back of his mind somewhere between dread and…Father. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he climbed to his feet, as quickly as it had come the feeling was gone and with it his uneasiness.

“We haven’t finished,” he repeated steadily, wrenching his sword from Omus and returning to his place in the hall. Bowing stiffly to the Valkian-turned-Nezureth he leapt into the air, lighting fast, flying out of even the lethal tail’s reach.

“Serpents can’t fly can they?” Laphael crowed as he swooped and twisted around Omus, always sure to stay infuriatingly out of reach. Without warning he lunged down at the Valkian whipping him with his blade before darting away. He had barely reached the safety of the air above Omus before he swooped down once more; this time attacking from behind.

This aerial assault continued as Laphael’s strikes grew quicker and truer. Omus struck with his swift tail, blocking almost every strike, but some found their way through. Blow after blow the chieftain struck out, with all the speed of a viper, and soon the whip-like tail left deep lines wherever it hit. Laphael’s blows grew harder in return; he was ready to finish the fight, a viscous hunger rose within the angel in a most un-angelic manner. Beating the serpent wouldn’t just do; he had to destroy it. Hurtling into the air once more he let go of the sword in mid air, grabbed it with his right hand and brought it straight down at Omus’s skull. He had done it all before the spectators had time to blink.

Omus’s arm blocked it. There was a clashing sound of sword against arm guard and the sword fell from its master’s hands to fall dully on the floor. How did the Valkian do it? Laphael landed suddenly, recovering his senses, “How?”

Somehow Omus’s arm had been in exactly the right place and he remembered his words, ”…you can’t kill me.” It seemed the Valkian was right and for that the angel was relieved. To attempt to kill a being that was not evil went against every moral fiber, but it was the want to kill that shocked Laphael. It was becoming all too natural.

Shaking visibly the angel inclined his head towards Omus and spoke in a hoarse voice “I yield. Also I tire of training,” he looked about him, eager to avoid his would be foe’s gaze. Someone was missing, “Where is the Demon?” She wasn’t by her crumbled ledge, nor was she near her watching companions. She was gone and Laphael was sure he knew where. With adrenaline still pulsing through his veins he set off through the winding halls once more, not caring if the others followed. “Why can she see it and not me?!” he called over his shoulder as he hurtled through the doors of the tapestry room.

Nothing was disturbed. Not even a speck of dust. Laphael’s eyes flickered between the seemingly untouched prophecy still hiding behind its tapestry and Aysel crouched on the floor, glaring at the hidden wall as though it were about to attack. Panting Laphael stepped forwards and clenched his fists, “What…what have you done?”

[kovah]

Aysel blinked as Laphael entered the room and accused her. She was still trying to come to terms with what she had just witnessed for despite the obvious fact that angelic beings exsisted she did not truely believe in 'god' whatever form he took. But now she was unsure and why didn't he intervene more often. She must be about to do something very very bad for 'god' to take such drastic action.

She shook herself mentally or tried to and stood up and met Laphael's gaze.
"I...nothing...well i tried...but it didn't work...just went straight through him...he changed it...don't know what to think now..." she muttered disjointedly, not quite sure how to convey what she had just seen and still struggling to believe it. Her eyes were wide and slightly glazed and it was obvious that something was distracting the demoness. Had she had human features it was the kind of look that caused the question 'have you seen a ghost?'

[Edriss]

The Demon’s ramblings did little to sooth Laphael’s rising temper; for a few moments it was all he could do to stop himself crushing her small skull against one of the earthen walls. Several times during her disjointed and unhelpful explanation the angel opened his mouth to speak but only a choked gurgle came out. Does she really believe that I’ll accept that she didn’t do whatever she did? At last he managed to form a coherent sentence and once again his voice became deceptively calm, almost bored, “I sensed…something…and I know it was you. What, Demon, did you do?”

Appearing to lose interested in her Laphael moved closer to the tapestry, his hand moving just inches from the cloth; he wouldn’t be fooled like he was before. Aysel must feel it too, he decided, something about this…something… Drawing his hand away in anguish Laphael turned suddenly to Aysel, “Show me the prophecy. You said ‘he’ changed it – well, let us see what ‘He’ has done then. You and I, before Omus arrives to interfere.”

[kovah]

Aysel took a deep breath and forced these deceptive and confusing thoughts from her mind from the time being. If what the angel had said was true then there was no point in worrying about the technicalities of this life and if he was wrong then there would be time later to contemplate it.
She ignored his first question and watched Laphael move towards it then turned to her. Aysel's eyes flicked from Laphael to the covered tapestry and back again. Her heart beating hard, no one was supposed to know the end, the implications of it were severe, but it had been changed and she was intriuged as to what.

The demoness padded towards Laphael and the covered prophecy slowing as she approached, not quite able to gauge his mood. Her icey blue eyes fixed on his.
"I...saw another angel, he changed it. He was not bound to earth yet, light swirled around him like darkness does around me. I could not touch him..." she said in hushed tones. "I dont know what was under there originally so i don't know whats different. No one should know their future..." Aysel trailed off then turned to the tapestry and in one movement dug her claws into the covering and yanked, it came off revealing a confused image.
The others were all there, as was Laphael, but there was no sign of herself, just a strange dark spoldge in the center which Laphael was stood over. She frowned, and then took a moment to compose herself.
"Looks like you get to kill me after all...so whats the rush. But know this angel i will give you a fight to remember..." she said slowly before turning to face Omus as he ran in.
"Time is short...we must prepare to leave this place" she said simply and hopped from the ledge and left the room, trying to get her thoughts into some kind of order. Now knowing the saying 'Ignorance is Bliss' to be true.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"Well done Laphael, but you'll need something faster, you see I am not nearly as fast as the Nezureth are. And you only managed to place a few hits. Some of the younger Nezureth are very very fast. Again you must pratice patience without ego. Otherwise it will be your undoing."

[Edriss]

Another angel.

Why was there always another angel?!

Always!

So Father couldn’t even trust him enough to tell him what he wanted? He had to resort to plotting and playing behind his back; sending in one of his Brothers to pull the strings of Laphael’s fate like he was some common being? Resentment swelled inside him and suddenly he heard himself spitting insults at sky. He didn’t understand what he said but rage gave his words a ferocious spite. As distracted as he was he didn’t hear the rest of Aysel’s speech, though somehow his ears had picked up the tones of worry creeping into her voice. She wasn’t as cocky as she pretended to be.

The fall of the tapestry had released a cloud of dust; the curses Laphael flung into the air were soon changed into a hacking cough. The coughing stopped as soon as it had begun; Laphael was tempted to continue his rant but the lure of the prophecy proved too strong. With the final painting revealed the anger that had engulfed the angel slowly ebbed away. Laphael’s frowning features were transformed into a look of malicious delight as Aysel dragged away the cloth hiding the last piece of the puzzle. The demon was talking again but what about he didn’t know. Why was she distracting him? He, too, scanned the figures before him for Aysel and found only the dark smudge at ‘his’ feet.

“So,” he spoke softly, struggling to hide his delight, “Father does want you to die…I had my doubts…but here’s proof.”

Seconds crept by slowly as Laphael sat himself down in front of the wall but it wasn’t the wall the thought about. What was going on with him? Why was he one minute raging to bring the roof down and the next laughing with delight? He was one extremely unstable being, why would Father create an unpredictable servant? Or maybe he was all too predictable? Maybe, he thought sulkily, I won’t kill the demon. I’ll let her live…

The idea was so ludicrous that he laughed out loud surprising Omus who had once again commented on Laphael’s ‘ego’. Sensing his confusion Laphael stood, flinching as he did; Omus had managed to hit muscles he didn’t even know he had.

“I don’t…,” he began automatically and stopped in mid sentence. Perhaps it would be easier to agree with the old man? “I’ll work on my ‘ego’ shall I? Now, as much as I loath to do so I feel that I should follow Aysel. I can’t kill her if I’m not with her,” he added with a half smile

Catching up to Aysel wasn’t hard, she padded silently along the passageway that led to the training room. How many times had they walked along this hallway? She was going to fetch her friends, they didn’t know about the ending of the prophecy and briefly Laphael wondered if he wanted them to. It would be far harder strangling the life out of the demon with Grick getting in the way. “We should leave them here,” he announced dangerously, “You don’t want them hurt do you?” He watched Aysel carefully looking for her reaction, when he received none he stopped and cocked his head, glaring at Aysel’s back, “no?”

[kovah]

Aysel heard every word the angel said and gritted her teeth slightly ignoring him at first but he pressed on and she stopped and stared ahead of her for several seconds tail swishing slightly betraying the calm the rest of her body projected. Her emotions were swirling inside her anger? anxiety? fear? relief? she turned to Laphael
"They have a part to play they will come wether i wish them too or not." she said "But they should not know what is to come." She caught his gaze and the new confidence in his eyes struck a nerve somewhere in the demoness. She powered up one of the spells from the purple bottle.
"Sevura" she called and a blast of purple magic left her hitting Laphael in the chest and sending him flying several feet into one of the walls.
"And Laphael, dont count your chickens before the eggs have hatched" she said and disappeared down the tunnel into the training room.

"Ready yourselves to leave" she called to everyone we leave soon.

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

Omus knew something wasn't right. He oversaw the tapestry for years that the ending was not what he saw. The Angel and the Demon never fought against one another. It showed a vague picture of the group and a bloody body of the Primal Dybbuk. Omus returned to the room shaken about the fact that the picture of Laphael had the Amulet of the Nezureth around his neck , and that didn't bode well for anyone good or evil alike.

"You will need more training yet if you all are to kill the Primal Dybbuk. It powers exceed even my entire clans powers and even some of the most powerful demons as well. The Primal Dybbuk was brought here in a bottle the nezureth possess. There is an amulet they need in order to control the Primal Dybbuk and take all the outterlands as their own and even the city cannot stop them if that should occur."

((As Grick))

"So then I say we give them a hell of a run on survival of th'fittest. Laphael, I overheard yer piss poor comments in the hall, mind your tongue and wings before I clip'em off ya hear! She may be a demoness, but you ain't nothin' but a birdboy down here in wonderland."

Grick activated a spell upgrade and a fireball rippled out of his left arm and flew towards Laphael, he ducked as the fireball burnt some cloth denoting hand movements for spellcasting. There was a small amount of flame coming off of the spell upgrade Grick lit his cigar with it.

"Now you be good birdboy, until we mop up the Nezureth."

((An interesting plot twist about the amulet thing, I thought))

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal watched with excitement as Omus and Laphael sparred. If the Nezureth truly are that good, this would indeed be a challenge. A few at a time people began to leave the training room. They seemed to go towards the hall with the mural. Saymbolsal stayed in the room. He stood still, pondering. Powered by the moon...the same is said about my people. I wonder if that is a common trait of peoples out in these territories.I could feel it in the city, but it is more powerful here in the outerlands.

Onyxadze growled a mechanical growl-
--Saymbolsal, I can display the orbit of the moon if you would like, both internal net and external projection. --
" No friend, its not quite the same."
Onyxadze grrrs a bit-
--You are 2.5 degrees warmer than you should be. Are you ill?--
" It is nothing to worry about friend. Just adjusting to the air and food." Saym said as he swallowed a bit of bile that found its way to his throat.
Onyxadze growls-
--Understood--

[kovah]

"Omus it is time to leave wether we are ready or not, the Nezureth settlement is a fair way away so we will have several days more training time, and the city dwellers would do well to get a little hands on experience at living out here. Your hospitality and kindness has been greatly appreciated. But we must go now." Aysel said to Omus. The old rabbit sighed and nodded and ordered some provisions to be brought.

"Grick, Saymbolsal...metal thing...we leave for the wilderness shortly. But we will need to travel light, for there is much travelling to do. When you are ready you will guided to the exit." she said before turning on her heel.
She had little use for provisions, one of the advantages of being feline. she was more than capable of catching her own food out here. So she wandered through the twisty tunnels to the exit at the other side of the haven.

She stepped out onto the grass and took in the morning air, dew was still heavy on the ground and the sun was just peaking over the horizon, tinting everything slightly green as it filtered through the trees, dapplilng the light.
Peace and quiet at last she thought to herself. Even if it doesn't last so long.

[Hookswords]

Saymbolsal lifted his head at Aysel's words. Leaving? I suppose...we've much to do. As the moon set he began to feel better and prepared for the journey. He packed light, only packing some preserved foods. His techniques burn many calories so he needed regular resupply, but things seem to come easier here in the outerlands. He packed jerky, some dried and fresh fruits as well as some breads. We can hunt, and Onyxadze can tell us what flora and fauna are safe to eat.

Before the sunrise, he slipped outside. He could sense something familiar. Onyxadze stealthed and did a quick perimeter sweep. The ground pulsed with a familiar energy.

"Where are they?" he said aloud.

He put some distance between himself and the compound of the Valkians. In a clearing he found Omus with two humans. Saymbolsal's eyes widened. The humans were men from his Order, the Iron Silence. Both men are Stone Arm Monks, the second most common type next to the various earth forms.
He speaks to Onyxadze through the mental link they share:
"Onyxadze..."
--I see them Saymbolsal. What do you advise?--
''No hostile actions, less I engage myself. I know these men, but I do not know their intent."
--Understood--

Saymbolsal went stealth himself and approached the group. He could soon overhear their conversation. They spoke about him.
"I assure you, your friend is safe. He..." Omus began as he was interupted.
"Listen Valkian, it is of the utmost importance that we find our brother. No simple beast will get between us and our goal." barked Anos, one of the monks.
"If you will not cooperate then we may need to consider hostile actions." stated Crevic, the other monk.

Saymbolsal neared the group, still stealthed. Onyxadze circled around behind them, stealthed as well. The monks looked at each other.
"Do you feel that? He is close..." said Anos.
Crevic's eyes narrowed. "Something is wrong, I feel him...but I feel two of him. What manner of trickery is this rabbit?"
Omus smiled as he spoke. "I had no idea he had advanced so much."
Saym stood behind Omus and uncloaked his stealth.
"Saym! Thank the Core you are alright. The Masters are worried sick." said Anos.
"Your manners wear thin brothers. You should speak to Master Omus as you would our own masters. How did you get out of the city? And why? For me?" questioned Saym.
The monks glanced at one another. "Yes, we've come for you. You caused quite a riot in the city. The masters worried for you and sent us to search for and retrieve you." said Crevic.
Saym nodded. "I appreciate the thought, but I've much to do out here." He becomes very stoic."You did not answer how you got out of the city."
--their heart rates are climbing Saymbolsal--
"With all the commotion we were able to flee the city" said Anos without making eye contact.
--Their pupils are blushing. He is not speaking the truth--
"Brothers, if we cannot be honest with one another, what have we in this world?" Said Saym.
The monks both brush their cloaks back over their shoulders revealing their rocky stone arms.
"You must come with us Saym." said Crevic.
With a puzzled look Saym speaks."You would fight me to drag me back to that prison?"
"The masters wish you back." continued Crevic.
"As I said, I've much to do here. Why do you avoid my question?"
"Dont be foolish Saym, the Order has always had a way out of the city, only used when needed." said Anos.
Saym's heart sank. His masters had kept him hostage! Because of his gift no doubt.
"When I am finished with my task I will deal with your masters. Now go home."
"The masters will kill us if you do not return!" Yelled Crevic.
Onyxadze positioned himself behind the two monks.
"Then perhaps you should tell them I am dead, or do not return." Saym said with the slightest of grins."Go home and do not return."
"Unexceptable!" said Anos as stalagmites extended from his arms.
"Onyxadze, if you would please." Saym said aloud.
"Onyxadze? What babble is..." as Anos began to speak Onyxadze's twin tails postioned behind the necks of the monks. A powerful jolt of electricity shocked the spines of each of them. They both fall unconscious.
"I am sorry for this intrusion Master Omus. Please make sure they find safe passage back to the city."
Dozens of Valkians rose from the surrounding tall grasses and dragged the monks away.
"All my life...they have lied to me.."
"For your protection my son, do not think ill of them. Your order is a noble one." said Omus.
They walked back to the compound with Onyxadze.
"Have you any advise for me before we leave, master Omus?"
"Let go." Omus stated simply.
''Of?"
"You know what I speak of. You are fighting your true nature. You must give in to your instincts. You may come across your people in your journey, I hope they accept you and further your training. You have come far, but much perile lays ahead of you."
As they near the compound the sun begins to rise. Aysel steps out, stretching in the dew soaked grass.


(( for clarity, Onyxadze speaks an audible mechanical growl that sounds like a beastly sound, but Saym can understand him. Think of R2D2. He emits whistles and bleeps but some people can understand him. Same thing. They have a mental bond, so he does not always growl. when text appears --like this-- that is a translation for the reader.

Been kinda slow lately. Are we losing steam or just busy?))

[AbstractPagan]

Grick came out of the opening to the Den of the Valkains refreshed to getthe upolluted outterland air. He looked down at Aysel and says, " How ya holdin' up there Aysel? Birdboy being nice?"

Then he faintly overheard a conversation going on in the distance. As he watched he followed the silhouette of Onyxadze coming behind two monks, they appeared to have arms similar to Saym's arms but the dull grey and tan colors eldued to something other than Saym's metal arms.

"So what are they saying Aysel?"

He watched as Saym's pet covertly put a swift end to the conversation with a taser effect.

"Ah that mech beastie takes after my own heart. Gotta love those five years in the programming department."

Omus' clan popped out of the grass and lifted the two monks off towards the city in the distance. As they returned Omus looked to Grick and said, "you know I know your great grandfather Nerick Hammuron perhaps when all is over we could go visit him. But for now take this, it was your grandfathers good luck stone."

((Sorry guys had a death in the family and three thousand miles later I'm back. Jeez my tailbone...))

[kovah]

(Chances are i am going to be MIA this week, something has come up, sorry for the delay]

[AbstractPagan]

((As Omus))

"Saymbolsal, you do know that their return in such a manner will spark a rebellion against you and your friends. You have essentially isolated yourself and become an 'Avatar' monk of your order.

A large burst of energy burst through the land miles away the red hue was a hint to Omus that the Primal Dybbuk was summoned properly.

He looked over a Saym and said, "The Primal Dybbuk has returned I suggest you and your friend prepare my clan is in meditation as we speak, I suggest you center yourself and your spells this will be history in the making.

((As Grick))

"What the hell was that?" Grick looked down at Aysel as Saym and Omus returned.

"Omus what the hell is that energy coming from way over there? It's not a signature wave length my eye recognizes."

"The Primal Dybbuk has been summoned. Some how they found the Amulet Aysel has been hiding for years. Soon enough you will be fighting alongside those that are the last best hope for this world. Center yourself the best you can, and prepare for a fight to get the amulet from the Clan High Serpent of the Nezureth; Asusyen(Ah soos yen). For if he is able to merge his soul with the Dybbuk, the world will succumb to the Nezureth and no one will be able to break that link."

(Avatar Monks I thought sounded rebellious and 'by their own code' similar to a bushido samurai)

[kovah]

Aysel shuddered as the waves from the powerfull spell washed over her. She couldn't wait to get near that beastie, she had a spell which took magic from the target and transfered it to the caster.
"The Nezureth will not succeed this time." Aysel muttered more to herself than anyone else. She had been on the recieving end of the last Primal Dybbuk's rage as she stole his amulet which he could do without for a time but since it held the source of his power he soon shriveled and died without it. It was not an experience she was willing to repeat.

[AbstractPagan]

Does this thing have any weaknesses?, grick thought to himself.

((As Omus))

"Yes it does, the amulet is an obvious target, but it is not physical until night fall. The sun will be setting soon i suggest you gather your crew and prepare. I have a small gift for each of you come inside on last moment."

Grick was shocked at Omus' answer to his thoughts.

"Well, thank ya for savin' some of my breath for battle. But I have six different weapons I can use aside from spells, tell me what can kill it."

((As Omus))

"Go inside the entrance over there. It has more answers than I can provide. I have a protective circle surrounding us and concentration is needed. Go inside here."

Grick looked over at the group raising an eyebrow in questioning why we were going inside when the fight was coming to them. But he ducked his head into the opening and walked into a small alcove in the den. It was very much untouched in what seemed like ages. One candle was lit in the room and it could barely fit Grick's height. The table was holding a small book that had some strange writing on the cover. Grick didn't have his translator active and even if he did it probably wouldn't read Outterland languages anyway.

He reached over some old bottles and the moment he touched the book a myriad of memories flashed through him. The room began to glow as Grick's cyborg side began to heat up. Alarms were going off left and right. Grick was pushed back and he fell to the floor. Dust curled up around him.

"I feel odd, almost like I can do anything. Like I got the best upgrades without paying for it."

Grick stood up and the faint green glow surrounded his entirety.

"Aysel, Saym you have got to 'read' this book. I don't know how, but its like I read it from cover to cover in an instant, and I glow now too. Like a Theraxan moon dog*."

((*Theraxan moon dogs live on a moon that is exclusively in twilight for more than 80% of the Theraxia's [the planet] year. The animal actually glows out of necessity for light. Wow its certainly winding down here isn't it. Will have a picture of the Primal Dyybuk sometime tomorrow maybe.))

[kovah]

OCC: Hey there, unless we get some more people i think we are going to have to pull the plug on this. :OCC

[AbstractPagan]

OCC: Wow I guess this is the end we almost finished it too. Damn. Oh well maybe next time...

[Edriss]

OOC: Arg! Been away for a while, school's been busy. (exams) and as terrible as it sounds another rp has been distracting me :P. Are we officaly closed? Who have we got left? I can start again since my workload is practicaly over. What about you Absract? Kovah? Have we got enough time and players to finish?

[kovah]

OCC: I would like to finnish it. See if you can get any of your friends involved, ideally we need at least one more person. But it can be done with three. Will try and get it moving again tomorrow. :OCC

[AbstractPagan]

OCC: Yeah we are the last left, so I would love to finish it too. I had really hoped that we could have kept the samurai guy. He'd be really cool to have in this part of the story.

[kovah]

OCC: Ok i'm going to mod people a little now to get things moving again because we have sort of stalled. Abstractpagan - dont take this the wrong way but for the sake of simplicity could you not introduce any new characters or 'things' because its harder to sustain when there are so few of us. ^^ : OCC

Aysel heard movent in the darkness and was immediatly on high alert, her keen eyes pierced the darkness searching for what had made it. A tingle ran down her spine as she felt a powerfull presence nearby. She froze
"Everyone shutup, Do..Not..Move!" she said dangerously finally honing on the source.

Out of the shadows stepped the Primal Dybbuk and all bloody hell broke loose, Nezureth seemed to appeared from nowhere and started slaughtering Valkiens left right and center. Aysel saw the amulet around his neck and streaked towards him. In the chaos she lept onto his chest and taking the amulet in her mouth bounced away from him, breaking the chain. The roar of rage from him was almost deafening and Aysel feverently hoped that one of the others was watching her back.

She hadn't gone 30 yards when one of the numerous Nezureth grabbed her, she struggled and in desperation muttered an arcane spell sending the amulet into a hiding hole. Then as the amulet flashed from her paws and then something hit her on the head and she blacked out.

The unconcious captives were hauled back to the Nezureth's holding facility, The Primal Dybbuk was furious that Aysel had once again deprived him of his amulet, but he knew that without her alive he would never get it back. He was however curious about her companions the cyborg and the Angel most of all. How strange that they would choose to travel with something so obviously evil.

He had ordered them all to be placed in a cell not only to be guarded with weapons, but by magic. Let them blame each other and tear each other apart.

Aysel woke up her head throbbing and slowly opened her eyes, they were all confined in a small cell with guards outside the bars and the hum of magic wards surrounding them. She groaned and got to her paws
"I hate it when they do that."

[AbstractPagan]

Grick Knew that he hadn't prepared any spells at all for escaping an imprisonment. He had explosives, but he was not sure if magic would be effected by them unless he could some how infuse the grenades he had in his right leg pocket. Oddly, the Nezureth did not unarm him or any other captives. It was a strange situation almost as if they planned on an escape. Omus and many other Valkians were in several other cells tat lined the circular room and a strange looking well in the center did not bode well for captives. The room looked similar to Valkian structures and had a rather bizarre looking worm-like creature hanging from the ceiling producing a du bio-luminescent light source in a lime green color. Grick had received several small cuts, nothing too serious, just bothersome and was quite relieved that he could be with his companions that they have been through so much together.

"Well, Aysel, I don't a back up plan was made fer this kinda situation. Magic and our weapons, quite the bizare combo when you want yor enemies to die slowly, why do we have our weapons?"

"I think I can make a hole somewhere's," as he bites down on the half chewed and smoked cigar, "but you might as well say they'll hear it pretty well so we would have to move very fast."

OCC: Whatever happened to hooks? he was there and gone.:OCC

[Edriss]

Laphael stopped with Aysel. Standing behind her he was sorely tempted to give her a swift kick up her behind, being vindictive was not a sin after all. As she spoke the urge grew stronger until at last he was about to give in to his intuition a large blast of purple magic threw him into the wall eight feet away. “Ahhh-umph!” Groaning and with stars flying erupting before him he stared through watery eyes after the cat. “How dare you - ?” It was no use; she had already left through the door that led towards the training room.

He had just begun to recover when Omus had stridden over and given him another too long fatherly speech. Eyes narrowing he clenched his fists; he had never been very good at retorts. Lo and behold! Father had decided to give him another blow; the gnome had strutted over to join Omus. He was growling and vague phrases like ‘birdboy’ and ‘clip 'em off’ burned themselves into his skull. It was not the only thing burning however, a fireball had come from the gnome’s direction, searing over his head and burning through the wall above him.

Furious and snarling Laphael picked himself up from the floor. First that demon filth had seen fit to throw him into the wall and then, the insult above all else, that gnome had tried to set him alight! They would pay dearly, ‘thou shalt not murder?’, commandments be damned - they would pay.

“I’m not just a birdboy! I’m a warrior of my Father himself!” A pale flush came to his cheeks as he roared after Grick, who made his way down a corridor. “I’m not done!” The gnome seemed determined to ignore him as he rushed around following Aysel’s orders. They were leaving, they needed to travel light. She sprouted orders as if she were used to it. The nerve. Laphael watched as the others grabbed whatever they could carry and left through the tunnels towards the meadow. Flaring his wings he grunted and moved after them, it would be hard to exact his Father’s will and seek revenge if they were gone. Two tiny squeals came from behind him and twisting around he saw Aysel’s earlier playmates trembling. They had been scared by his sudden movement, smiling kindly the angel hid his fury, “I’ll give you some advice; don’t throw fireballs at angels. We don’t like it. Now go and frolic.”

The two leverets blinked up at him. “Frolic?”

“Play,” the angel clarified with a smile.

This short encounter had given the others time enough to find their way through the Valkian’s tunnel maze. “I must go. It’s an angel retribution thing.” Running down the tunnels he found the exit, far in the distance he could a group standing, though he was unable to make out their faces he was sure they were part of ‘the group’. It was morning and his vision was slowly but surely improving, as he strode towards the talking group they became clearer until at last he saw two robed humans fall to the ground, apparently unconscious. What in the name of…? Omus and the wolf-child walked past him and he offered a quizzical eyebrow, in return he got a frown from the Valkian. Its meaning was clear, not now.

Mouth clenched shut he stalked after the pair with fists clenched tight, soon they had joined up with Aysel and Grick and Laphael found himself on the fringes of an extremely grim conversation. “Primal Dybbuk? I’ve never heard of such a thing. I fail to see how the demon is going to stop this ‘Dybbuk’, it is for more likely to join –“

Sudden movement stopped the angel in his tracks, rushing at them from all sides were the serpent Nezureth. Instinctually he launched himself into the air as a heated battle began, circling above the fray he watched as Aysel and then Grick were captured by the Nezureth. Briefly he considered attempting to rescue them but he was still angry and far more inclined to think about his own pleasure first. As he rose into the air he saw what must be the Primal Dybbuk raging at his Nezureth servants, a malicious smile filling his face Laphael hovered above him. “I’m not with them,” he announced as he landed gently before the growling beast, “I’m with you.”

[kovah]

Aysel shook herself trying to get her thoughts in some sort of order, when she realised Laphael was not among the captives. That did not bode well one bit, she paced round the perimeter of their cell pressing slightly on the magic wards testing them looking for a weakness.
"Getting out of here, isn't the problem." she explained to Grick. "Its the thousand or so Nezureth on the other side of this wall that we have to worry about. However i doubt you will be harmed at least for the moment." Aysel continued and started washing the blood from her fur. "Did you see what happened to Laphael?"

OCC: i will just mod the primal dybbuk for now but feel free to do it yourselves also : OCC

"Strange, i dont remember having an angel with me" he rasped, a forked tounge slid out of his mouth testing the air in front of him. He raised his hand as Nezureth squirmed over spears in hand ready to attack. They halted immediatly.
"Tell me angel, why you have the audacity to presume i want your sorry carcass anywhere near me and just why i should spare your life."

[Edriss]

Standing as tall as possible Laphael stared coldly at the Dybbuk as Nezureth slithered around him. Biting his tongue he looked at the ground as he thought carefully about his answer. Finally making up his mind he raised his head and looked his questoner in the eye, “Because I chose you to follow and,” he stressed the word carefully, “because I represent a being even more powerful than yourself. You cannot tell me that you do not need His approval. Now - do I have yours?” Laphael was certain he was making the right decision. Every creature but demons where created with at least some glimmer of good in them, this Dybbuk was no saint but he had to be better than the demon filth. If he was going to throw his lot in with evil he would rather it be the lesser, the fact that the prophecy showed the demon dead was proof enough that he was right.

[kovah]

He surveyed the being in front of him for several long minutes, he knew more than most about angels and their god as it where. He knew that this one would be a powerfull ally. He had noticed though that the angel had exited the undergound city with the Valkiens and the others. Surely he was an ally of theirs. Yet he wishes to join his cause. Why?

"You have my approval then, but tell me your name. And tell me why you wish to join me. I will know if you are lying." he hissed staring unvaveringly into Lapheal's eyes. This one might be more trouble than he was worth, but there was only one way to find out.

[Edriss]

“Laphael,” he answered trying not to blink as the Primal Dybbuk seemed to stare right through him, “one of them,” he jerked his head angrily in the others direction, “is a demon, you know that it is my natural enemy. I have not, and never will, chose to side with one of her kind,” baring his teeth angrily he continued in a harder tone, “They have insulted me more than I care to forgive.”

[kovah]

The Primal Dybbuk hissed angrily "Aysel" he paused "She is the thorn in the side of many, she has once again stolen my amulet and transported it elsewhere by magic. I have not a hope of finding it before the time is right. And i know she would die before revealing its location." he glanced at Lapheal "Unless another that she might trust could discern its location for me. And whoever did it would be rewarded."

He started walking, for unlike the Nezureth he did have legs. Though there was nothing humanlike about him. "The captives are in the main chamber." he finnished and walked away, his guards in tow leaving Lapheal standing still.

[AbstractPagan]

In the feverously destroyed Security headquarters a lonely locker opens up by the hands of a cleaning droid, the head of an old enemy speaks...

"Find Laphael and bring his body to me!"

As Grick

"Well, I know I'd take out quite a few of them, before they had their way with my body. Ehh, where's birdboy off to now? I guess we have a defector. I finally get to whip up some angel hot wings for dinner after this is all said and done. So whats' the plan Aysel? You know any minute, big bad and ugly will be in here to spit his nasty breath on us, tryin' ta kill our hopes of survival. I say we stab that ugly bug in the head while he is still flesh and send his ass off to the underworld."

A light thoom sound in the pace of footsteps ripples up to the doorway. The door swings open.

"Aysel you know your death is imminent, just tell me where the Amulet is and I will spare your friends. Omus will die slowly and your little piece of crap robo-gnome will squeak urgently for you to answer the question as he dies painfully. Of course, I don't believe a demon like you would actually develop feelings for these flesh puppets. They serve your purposes more than they know I presume. You haven't told them why you covet that amulet so much have you? Judging by that sneer of discontent I suspect not. Simply put robo-gnome, Omus, valkian clan puppets, she needs the amulet. As I rightfully deserve, she has continuously kept it out of the right hands for many years. The power in this amulet grants many capabilities, even death to those that cannot die, like myself. I long for this. Existing for six thousand years, not being able to truly place an impact on anything, just existing is bothersome, though I suspect its some punishment I deserved a while ago, I feel that punishment deserves an end, the unrelenting punishment of your ally Laphael's father has continued it far longer than is necessary. She uses it to continue her devious undermining ways of thwarting the security forces from aiding those in need, evening killing those in her way, simply because they have a magical item she wants. The previous Nezureth Clan leader was killed by her simply to attain the amulet for Omus! Omus's father was dying painfully because he killed an innocent life in the Nezureth lands many years ago. Now, you see you have been deceived the entire time and once again you all fall victim to the deceit of a Demoness!"

As Omus

"That's not True! You have twisted the story horribly!"

As Grick

"Aysel, how much of this is true?"

OCC: I know you didn't want other characters added, but I thought this would be a neat twist, since drone army seemed to drop off quickly, besides we don't have to add the major anyway, just drones upon drones good for the climax of the storyline :confident :OCC

[kovah]

Aysel's eyes flashed as the story was told and heard Omus's protest.
"You don't know the whole story Omus." she said avoiding eye contact with anyone. Before looking up at Grick but speaking to the other "I WON'T HAND IT OVER." she said "And nothing you do to them will change my mind."

She watched as her jailer reached into the cell of Valkiens and grabbed one, and forced herself to watch with cold indifference as he slowly strangled it to death, and threw the limp body aside.

"I suggest you reason with her if you wish to escape an even worse fate" he growled before stalking off.

Aysel scowled as he departed and many of the Vlakiens started shouting curses though the cellblock, Omus seemed shocked into silence. The story it told was neither true nor false though some parts of it were twisted others remained fairly accurate. She did need the amulet but as to why she would never reveal, that was the oldest of demonlore and she would never tell a non-demon.

"Goodbye Grick" she said simply as Lapheal walked into the Cellblock. She muttered a spell which transported her out into the camp. She did not like leaving them, but it was the only way she could think of saving their lives.

[Edriss]

OOC: I wouldn’t mind seeing the Major again. He was fun character, :) Besides it kind of fits that he should be there in the end considering that he is Aysel’s ‘creator’

Standing in the shadows of the doorway Laphael listened to the Primal Dybbuk’s tale. He had followed the creature to the main chamber after spending several minutes deciding where he would draw the line. The Dybbuk’s hints had been all too clear; Laphael could ask Aysel about the amulet but whether she trusted him enough to answer – especially now that he had escaped the Nazareth’s clutches – was a different matter.

The offer was tempting though, his long service to the Major had taught him that being rewarded for his deeds, rather than ignored and punished, was something he rather enjoyed. In the end he had decided that in this matter there was no line. He was doing nothing wrong by thwarting a Demoness’s plans.

As he heard his new ‘ally’s’ story Laphael was troubled, what had the Primal Dybbuk done to incur his Father’s wrath? If it happened eons ago, as he claimed, it could have been anything. Father had once been an extremely vengeful being. Laphael found himself believing the story despite himself, or Omus’s protests. As the Dybbuk stalked out of the room Laphael caught his eye and nodded. Aware that Aysel knew he was nearby he walked slowly into the cellblock, glancing down at the Valkian corpse and frowning in disapproval. As he opened his mouth to speak Aysel said her goodbyes and had disappeared before the surrounding guards could call their master.

Turning suddenly he shouted to the nearest guard, “Go and tell your master the demon has escaped! NOW!” As the serpent slithered away as fast as it could manage the angel turned back to the captives, “Hello Omus, Grick. You chose the wrong side.” Stepping closer towards the bars of Grick’s cage he looked down at the gnome. “Your chose the wrong side,” he repeated callously, “the demoness thinks only for herself and her own gain. What did you think would happen when you chose her?” His eyes swept the room and found Omus, “You and your kind deserve what you get, old man.”

Finding he had no more to say now that he finally had the chance he simply glared pitilessly at the captives, at first the room was silent but soon angry roars began to echo throughout the walls. The guard must have told its master about the missing demon. Turning abruptly on his heels Laphael stalked out the room, “If you’ll excuse me.” Reaching the door he halted suddenly and looked over his shoulder at the old Valkian, “If you tell me where she is…,” he paused wondering just what to say, “…I’ll make sure the innocent are protected.” Turquoise eyes found a group of Valkian children huddled together before they flickered back to Omus.

[kovah]

Aysel materialized on the roof of the building and looked down at the ensuing chaos as her escaoe was shouted to everyone in the camp. She crouched down her icy blue eyes almost glowing in the dim light. Aysel took a deep breath and started the enchantment that would turn her into full demon form. She had heard what Laphael had said to the others and it angered her greatly. If she had to die to sort out this tangled mess she would. be it by Laphael's hand or the Primal Dybbuk's.

She did however need to wait until most of the serpents had vacated the premisis in order to look for her. Why would they think she would stay, as long as they thought she held no alleigance to those in captivity. Time was, at the moment anyway on her side.

[AbstractPagan]

"Laphael, I always knew you were a worm, just look at you playing coward under the situation because the Nezureth are a larger force. I'd suggest another challenge, but letting me out would be the worst mistake you could ever do. Aysel said Angels can die when they are on the earthly soil. I'd love to have the option to remove you from the situation, just wait there lad, it will be me over your torn body when this is over.

((As Omus))

"Laphael, the situations spoke have been twisted. Understand that the previous chieftain was going to slaughter half the planet with the powers in that amulet killing him saved more lives than you will ever know. Worry not, for our best attack has yet to occur."

In the battle torn head quarters robots are working with the state-of-art equipment to replace the Major's head onto his new body, which cost the head quarters more than half of their yearly funding. It was composed with the most sophisticated weaponry and speed drives as well as jet boosters and an additional 3 feet in height equipped the major with top secret upgrades that make him the most deadliest singular force in the entire city.
The major was out for blood and Laphael was the target.

((As the Major))

"Send the Juggernauts to the gateway, I want flybots searching the entire outter sectors of the city. I want to talk to the Valkians and have them tell us where they are at. Laphael you will die for your tresspasses! You better pray to that silent father of yours and hope you are dead when I find you!"

(I thought this makes things difficult and the end result could be all three in a triple kill at the end kinda thing, just my thoughts.)

[Edriss]

Gripping the doorpost beneath his long fingers Laphael fluffed his wings angrily at Grick’s words, the overall effect giving him a look very similar to a stuffed peacock. “I am not a coward! My decision has nothing to do with cowardice. I’m doing what I’m doing because it’s the right thing to do. If the Primal Dybbuk wants to end his life I see no reason to stop him.”

Looking at Omus Laphael spoke in a heated voice, “He says he has done wrong, I am not fool enough to believe he hasn’t, and for that he deserves punishment. Suicide is a mortal sin, if he kills himself he will go to Hell. How is that not punishment? How is that not the right thing to do?” he was working himself into a confused frenzy. He had never been created to be able to understand the grays between right and wrong.

“He will get death, which is what he wants, and he will be punished, which will atone for whatever it is he did. In fact,” in a flash Laphael was in front of Omus’s cage. Reaching through the bars he grabbed the old Valkian and pulled his towards him, almost crushing him between that heavy iron bars between them, “why not tell us what it is he did? Where the demon is? And why, why are you involved in all this?!” The angel gave another tug, knocking the wind out of Omus’s lungs, almost grinning as he heard several bones crack.

Shocked by his own violence Laphael released the Valkian and backed away as fast as he could manage. Back hitting the far wall he slid down to the floor, burying his head in his arms as he did.

[AbstractPagan]

(As Omus)

"You see in the seventh age the Primal Dybbuk was a servant of the land, he helped forge the landscape in accordance with your father and many others like the Primal Dybbuk. He spoke to the other Dybbuk's and decided to destroy anything that thrived off the land, in a quest to 'keep the land pure'. But the cost was killing your father's greatest creation free will. You see the Primal Dybbuk and the others were secretly planning to take the Amulet of Existence and bring reality to the darkness again, when it was devoid of life and free will. Or so the story says in the tome of the seventh age, the book I tried to show you in the den. Of course you thought it was spells and magic and sin. I knew trying to show you the truth would turn you to his side. Now his magic is bluring the once pure line you stood from. Even now the fact his presence is revived he is draining existence of its energy. If the Amulet were to join with his possession of a little girl, a girl Aysel existed as at one time, perhaps you would understand the story if Aysel explained what the Major had to do with the Primal Dybbuk's reviving or eventually the death of a little girl if we do not get the Amulet on to Aysel's original body. It's locked away in the Tomb of the Forgotten in the depths of what some Valkian explorer's thought to be your thoughts of Hell.

Your Father cursed the Primal Dybbuk's outright display of hostility and linked them to forever be isolated in the Tomb of the Forgotten with his other minions. Of course, I do not know if I have enough spell energy to revive the inner light that is fading within you. I suggest you release us before it is too late and you yourself become a Dybbuk. The very thing you speak of fighting against.

(As Grick)

"Holy Shit! I saw that when I went into that alcove ealrier. It was flashes and bits of pieces of a memories from a little girl! That's why Aysel stayed out! The lass wasn't wantin' a memory jaunt. Laphael we need you to let us out, but we have to escape with out the Primal Dybbuk knowing."

(As the Major)

The surroundings of the headquarters bursts into a cloud of dust as the Major jolts into the sky with amazing speed. Clean up bots tumbled to the ground as the force and speed place their motors in disarray. The night sky reveals a beam of faint red light in the distance reaching into space.

"Now Laphael, what are possiblities that you have been caught by the primal Dybbuk? Hmmm...I think he has you around his finger fairly well by now. Just in time for me to spoil your evening of praise and victory against that damn cat that has plagued me for too long. We shall see who puts who's head on the shelf."

With a burst of speed the Major jolts off towards the outter wall opening of the city joining the Drone force awaiting his next command.

((OCC: Ah climaxing again. I love you guys. You do a great job storytelling! Check out my DeviantArt account I uploaded my checker series for you guys to look at!))

[kovah]

Aysel crouched on the roof, watching the frantic sepents searching for her. She watched them with some amusement for awhile before hearing the sound of bots. She looked on the horizon and saw a huge force of drones heading towards their position. Dam this complicated matters no end. She wondered just why they were coming for her? To wipe out the Primal Dybbuk? Or to help Laphael?

She cursed at that last thought and decided that it was now or never. She completed the transformation spell and slowly in the gathering darkness changed into her demon form. Aysel sniffed the air and looked with new eyes, her towering form now looking down on the world from her vantage point. She was ready physically and mentally for what promised to be the fight of her life. Unfortunatly it did not start quite as gracefully as she had indended when the roof gave way beneath her, dropping her into an empty cell. She shook off the dust and eyed the other captives and Laphael who was now crouched in the walkway. She broke the latch on the door with a swipe of her claws and walked calmly up the walkway ignoring them all and stepping calmly over Laphael as if he wasn't there exited the building.

She stolled in to the middle of the compound and roared, the Nezureth were instantly surrounding her but she waited patiently until the Primal Dybbuk finally appeared before her.
"You need all these minions to help you now? You must have grown alot weaker over the years." she said
"You will not win this time Aysel, I WILL have my amulet and finally destroy you." he replied with a sneer.
"We will see."

[AbstractPagan]

(As Grick)

"Well are ya gonna sit there and let the Primal Dybbuk get the best of you or are you going to save the little girl? Let us out and we can help you get her body back. Its something you would do as an angel. Look I know what I said earlier, I am apologizing, because right now Aysel is going to fight to the death with the Primal Dybbuk, will you let her die? Because the thought that she was evil? She's a victim of circumstance just like all of us.

Damn it! Bombardum!"

With a blast of magical energy the cage holding Grick flys open out of diligence for saving himself and Omus.

"Laphael you can regain favor by saving the innocent girl! You can return to your home and rejoin with the ranks with your father if you help. I feel that this is the reason you were placed so close to the major."

(As the Major)

With a high pitched whir the boosters propelled the Major ever closer to the beam of light towering into the sky. In the distance he sees a cloud of dust and debris crumble down into the the building. The flybots surround the outside of the building. Spears and other thrown weaponry began to fly into the air as the Nezureth attack the flybots. As the Battle ensues the Major lowers into the hole in the roof.

[Edriss]

With his head still buried in his arms Laphael looked deceptively frail. The reality was that beneath his mop of white hair he was paying close attention to Omus’s words and slowly but surely the ‘good’ was becoming crystal clear. Why hadn’t Father told him what he wanted rather than play these childish guessing games? It didn’t matter, the desperation in the Valkian’s voice rang too true to be a lie. His pleas still didn’t change facts though; Grick and his Valkian cohorts were still aiding a creature of evil, and while it was now clear he had no chance of choosing the lesser of two evils, he still would not help them.

Standing and about to cut Grick off from his pleas the angel heard a faint cracking above him, looking up he saw the warning signs of the doomed ceiling just in time to leap away to safety. Covered in dust and rubble he crouched in the doorway and looked for what had caused the roof’s demise, and there, as if she had not a care in the world, stood the demon Aysel. As the beast stepped over him carelessly he stayed put. It seemed the situation was righting itself. If the demon and the Dybbuk fought it out and destroyed each other Laphael wouldn’t have to worry about whose side was better.

And if one survived…

…well that would just make them an easier target wouldn’t it?

Looking slowly up at Grick he stood and brushed himself off calmly before answering in an almost bored tone, “Yes. I think it would be best to let her die, for the very reason that you stated; she is evil. And as a follower of my Father I cannot allow evil to flourish no matter how many guises it uses. Girl or no.” As the gnome ran past in Aysel’s aid he called after him as an afterthought, “I wasn’t put near the Major I chose, to –“

A dull droning sound came from the space behind him he turned slowly and found himself facing a hovering Major. Immediately unsheathing his sword the angel flew into the air and made for the open sky. Far more at home in the heavens than on the ground he darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding the fire from both sides, determined to reach somewhere in the wretched forest where he could watch the ensuing battle and wait for the outcome. Lady Luck was not with him and as the sky grew darker he began to have more and more narrow escapes with the Nezureth arrows. Nearly out of the maze of fire Laphael suddenly hit an oncoming skybot full force, the impact knocking him senseless and sending both him and the unfortunate drone spiraling towards the ground.

[kovah]

It all happened almost simultaneously, the drones attacked from no where and in the confusion shots were fired that set the Nezureth off and in turn they attacked her. However their weapons for the most part were just as ineffective as the last time they had fought her and she dispatched one after another using either spells, claws or teeth until the sheer amount of bodies piling up around her began to give the demon some defence. She heard the falling drone just in time to leap out of the way, it was only then she realised that it had the mangled looking form of Laphael stuck to it. Like a fly on a windscreen. That thought in itself made her chuckle, then in the pandemonium she saw Grick and the captive Valkiens fighting both Nezureth and drones, all were holding their own.

Aysel looked around and finally spotted the Primal Dybbuk who was powering up a spell that didn't look at all friendly, she needed to stop him and soon. Aysel started to run towards him leaping over obstcals with inhuman speed and accuracy. She was too late however and only just managed to mutter a shield spell before the curse the Primal Dybbuk had been making hit her. The force of the impact was huge and sent her flying backwards through several buildings demolishing them in the process.

She came to her senses seconds later under a pile of debris and struggled for a moment to pull herself from it, all the while being jabbed with various weapons, some of which it seemed had holy spells attached to them. She snarled in pain and anger, as blood began to pour from the wounds. Finally freeing herself she killed her attackers and made towards the Primal Dybbuk. He wouldn't finnish his spell this time, she attacked with lightning speed this time sending him flying back and crashing, luckily for Laphael into the Major that was now leaning over trying to disentangle the angel from the wreckage of the drone.

[AbstractPagan]

(As the major)

"Well, Laphael you certainly thought that gesture of goodwill placing my head in a locker would stop me from being a force to reckon with? HAH! When you joined up with the security force you had no idea, that you would be aiding me at finally killing off that damn cat and her criminal friend."

He pulled the last piece of debris off the worn angel and fired three times missing two of them and one clipping his wing, as the Angel jolted up and pursued a grappling entanglement of him and the major. Several Nezureth made an attack at the major but his state-of-the-art shielding blocked all the attacks.

"You have Humiliated me for the last time Angel boy, I suggest you go home before you get hurt to much more."

The towering Major activated ten of his upgrades at once all with energy pistols powering up. With a grunt of force the Major throws Laphael into the air and opens fire with all of his upgrades.

(As Grick)

The Ensuing battle Grick was quite the crack shot with both his weaponry, upgrades, and even his newly gained spells. Grick sensed the spell charging up and ran into the room with the primal Dybbuk fighting with Aysel. Grick Charged up his Enger cell Cannon and Fired at the Primal Dybbuk successfully hittin it square in the back, a tremendous roar rippled out as Aysel began to remove herself from the wreckage. The Primal Dybbuk faced Grick with a fury of doom. Grick in a fret of emotion dove behind the pile of bodie dodging a powerful spell the Dybbuk released. Grick could hear the screams of injured Valkains in the other room where the spell landed and hoped the Omus wasn't hurt. Grick powers up his shield as he sees Aysel approaching.

"Well ya over grown piece a underworld trash...". Boom! A Flybot crashes behind Grick and the sparks flicker and burst behind him. A swipe of the Dybbuk's claws Grick get hit in his right arm as he goes to dodge. He changes his Cyborg eye to night vision as the lighing was lower in his area. He notices a faint energy trail coming off of the Dybbuk's tail. He ponders if this is his source of power. Perhaps it will lead to the little girl.

((I wanted to share more information with you guys in PM, but must clean house first))

[Edriss]

((Sure thing, share away, :) ))

Groaning in the wreckage of the skybot Laphael was barely aware of the desperate three sided battle ensuing around him, it was only when the huge form of Aysel flew across the compound that his senses finally caught up with reality. Desperately trying to free himself from the wreckage before the Major did his eyes scanned the floor around him for his sword. This split second searching cost him and soon the Major was nearly on him, his voice coated with the thrill of victory.

“You owe me!” the angel accused, “I showed you mercy, I served you well, you owe me.”

If he expected his pleas to stay the Major’s hand they did not. Almost as soon as Laphael had finished speaking he felt the wind of two bullets fly by overhead and a third tear at his wings. “Ahh! You - !”. Throwing himself at the Major the angel fought like a wildcat. Though with a matter of seconds it became clear that his attacks might well have been aimed towards a brick wall for all the damage they did. Without ever seeing it coming a hand was at his throat and suddenly Laphael found himself high in the air staring down at the Major’s carefully aimed weaponry.

“NO!”

Flapping wildly he struggled to escape the torrent of bullets that came from the Major. Unable to escape he fell heavily on the ground several feet away, already feeling the burning pain of the hits. It was a good thing, he decided with gritted teeth, that Father had made him of strong stuff. Head lolling to one side he saw the force of his opponent’s throw had landed him right next to the hilt of his beloved weopon. Reaching out for his sword he gave a futile tug and found it was trapped beneath the remnants of a wall. With the Major approaching Laphael rolled onto his side and flinched as he felt several bullets push themselves further into him, pulling again at the sword he felt it come free.

Now if he could only get up…

[AbstractPagan]

(As Grick)

As Grick found himself facing the monstrosity that has killed so many others, he looked over at Aysel and a quick shower of bullets flew passed him. It was the major. Grick wanted to pay him back for his attacks earlier that week. He felt a little pay back might actually sway the Angel to the side of good, so with an educated aim while dodging the Nezureth, he sends out an impact spell "Bombarduuumm!" With a flash of red energy the Major is propelled into the wall completely unaware of his attacker. As he flew over Laphael, Grick saw the angel pull out his sword and deal a damaging blow to his lower left leg. The major attempted to use his boosters but the left leg was malfunctioning. Pissed, the maor turned around after collecting his composure, looking over his shoulder at Grick. With another roar the Primal Dybbuk received an attack from Aysel diverting his attention.

((As the Major))

"So now the little gnome is helping you angel boy! Hah a criminal to your aid!"

The cannon upgrade in his back unlatched and aimed at Grick. Grick knew his shields would be ruined if he took a hit. He ducked under the bodies in hope to escape a hit.

[kovah]

Aysel had launched another attack on the Primal Dybbuk and sent him crashing through several buildings. She only saw Grick dive aside in time to notice the weapon that the Major had just fired. It hit her head on, the b;ast appeared to disappate harmlessly around her, but some part of the weapon hurt her terribly.

Aysel roared in anger and pain and ran at the major she pounced on him and latched her jaws onto his arm and ripped it off like a child would a wing off a fly. The Primal Dybbuk distracted the demon with another spell before she could do any more damage to him. Aysel had little of her restraint left, there was nothing more to her at the moment but action and reaction
"Its your lucky day." she snarled at the major and left him on the ground to go take a chunk out of the Primal Dybbuk.

All the spells he had been casting was steadily making him weaker, she knew it and he knew it. He was starting to back off replying on the seemingly endless supply of Nezureth who Aysel swept aside as if they were nothing. She wanted to rip that bastard apart and nothing was going to get in her way.

[Edriss]

Snarling Laphael stood and looked for his foe among the ruins of the compound, the last he had seen of the Major his him about to blast the gnome to Hell. Almost the dead or wounded bodies of the Nezureth he found the Major standing starling dumbly at his severed arm which lay at his feet. Not waiting for him to notice the angel Laphael ran at him full tilt, tackling him to the ground unceremoniously he held the cyborg in an iron grip.

The Major bucked and tired to throw the angel off his back but Laphael clung to him despite his best efforts, using him as a make do shield as drone and cyborg alike fired at the pair. The shots were slowly but surely draining the Major’s shield, and if he hung on long enough Laphael know that he’d be able deal a crippling blow. In the midst of this insane wrestling match the angel saw Aysel tearing into the warrior serpents viciously, slowly making her way towards the retreating Primal Dybbuk. Both were tiring and Laphael wondered who would win. He did not have long to wonder about the demon’s fight as with a sudden burst of strength the Major finally succeeded at throwing the angel off his back.

Landing sprawled on the ground Laphael saw that he’d narrowly escaped being skewered onto a broken piece of steel that erupted from the ground in a jagged spire. It had been used to keep the ceiling up but that was no longer necessary, a great whole showed where one of the Dybbuk’s spells had gone awry. With a roar the Major powered towards him, limping slightly on his damaged leg, throwing himself to the floor Laphael heard a grinding of steel on steel and another roar of fury came from the Major. Looking up through a curtain of white hair he saw that the cyborg had impaled himself onto the shaft.

Standing he slowly brushed a stray fleck of dirt of one of his wings and patted the Major mockingly on the shoulder, “I’ll come back to punish you properly later. Just…stay there.” Moving through the battleground he looked for Grick, “GRICK! The serpent or the demon?”

[AbstractPagan]

(As Grick)

Grick dodged spears and arrows alike and headed down a very narrow passageway that was almost completely blocked by debris. No one else could fit down this passageway and it was clear that it was intended that way, there were no places for proper footing, and it was slick with a slimy film that caused Grick to slip and slide down the looping passageway.

When found the bottom the room was ceremoniously decorated in bizarre symbols. Grick noticed had been painted on the Primal Dybbuk's chest and face. The room itself was quite large and a Huge open well-like hole with a gate on the top of it was centered in the room. The walls seem to be crudely dug out as if it was done by amateurs, and the red beam of light in the center towered out into the tunnel in the ceiling reaching into the night sky. The full moons represented and interesting time as Grick recalled that this moment the Dybbuk's power source was to either be extinguished or he needed the Amulet to continue. The smell of the place was a salty earth smell and several plants had already began to grow out of the wall. Blood trailed from the center of the room as Grick walked closer to the center and noticed a little pale girl surrounded by this red light. She looked as if she was in tremendous pain. Grick wasn't sure what to do. The war waging on up above was getting louder and the Primal Dybbuk's groans were echoing down a passageway on Grick's immediate right. His nerves were getting the best of him. Think! Grick Think! What do I do? He thought about it and decided to grab the girl from the altar. The red beam continued to reaching throught the ceiling but began to fade. With a shrill of a terrible roar the Primal Dybbuk's voice rippled down the passageway and the footsteps pounded so hard that the cieling began to sprinkle dust and debris all over the room. The vibration of his voice disturbed Grick's Cyborg eye. Stunned about what he had just done he dragged the girl off the platform and leaned her up against the the altar away from the direct view of the Passageway. Grick powered up his sheilds and diverted power from some of his upgrades to bolster their protective power.

"Come on you overgrown peice of underworld junk, it's time to whip your carcass in a new way, the Gearsley way!"

((As the Major))

The major struggled to pull himself off of the debris that had caused several malfunctions to his internal parts. He pulled himself off of the debris and over heard Laphael " Grick! The serpent or the demon?" He stood up and pressed a triangular button on his right side chest. Sparks began to fly around him as it seemed he was repairing the damage done by some special engineering feature. In about two minutes the arm laying on the floor three feet away flew towards the major, he did a swift 180 degree turn and it replaced itself properly and more sparks crackled underneath the arms mounting. In less than three minutes the major was back to his original shape. Laphael had left his sight, but he could sense was near, by his heat signature readings. A with a silent command the Major brought in the juggernauts.

The outer walls began to be peeled away revealing a losing Nezureth force outside as well, only a hand full of flybots survived the war and the valkian captives were no where to be seen. The entire building was being peeled away like a potato and very little was left of the original complex on the ground level.

"Now Laphael we shall see who stands up to their injuries this time. Juggernauts, kill Laphael and the Gnome known as Grick Gearsley, both are considered criminals in treason against the city and state. Terminate with extreme prejudice."

((Heh I love that line, had the chance to use and it fit well. cheers. You guys rock!)):)

[kovah]

The girl stared at her rescuer for several minutes as her surroundings became apperent. She took several steps towards the gnome, and tenderly placed her hand on his face.
"Thankyou" she whispered, her voice was hollow and ethereal. She looked towards the entrance, where the Primal Dybbuk had finally managed to get though and was staring at Grick and the Girl with a look that told the gnome he was about to die.
"You, HOW DARE YOU!" he snarled, as a roar from Aysel above ground rang through the passage, she was far too large to get down and clawed at then entrance. The girl looked up at the roar and then seemed to collapse into a whisp of white smoke and swirled once around Grick and flew past the Primal Dybbuk. Who desperatly tried to grab at the smoke, he snarled and obviously had to make a decsision between killing Grick on the spot or going after his power source. Finally he turned back up the tunnel "I will be back for you."

**

Aysel backed off from clawing at the entrance to the passage when a strange presence seemed to fill the air she sniffed expirementally at the white whisp in front of her, she frowned wondering what on earth it was. Aysel didn't have a chance to decide because after the Primal Dybbuk appeared out the tunnel, the white whisp like an arrow flowed into her head.

Aysel roared in pain and confusion, scrambling backwards over debris and bodies, clawing at her own face as her skin felt like it was on fire. Had she not been in such extreme pain, she would have noticed the sudden shift in the Primal Dybbuk, he too appeared to collapse from fatigue and suddenly looked alot older and frail. When the pain finally subsided slightly Aysel looked up and saw the Primal Dybbuk on his knees and realised just what had happened. Whatever it was that had entered her was the main power source of the Primal Dybbuk. She grinned and ignoring the pain which now coursed though her body began to advance on him.

[Edriss]

OOC: I'll be away for the weekend so I'll post on Monday.

[AbstractPagan]

((As The Major))

In the last seconds of fine tuning his mechanics, the Major looked over at Laphael's reaction and smiled.

"You see Laphael, eventually the Dybbuk and Nezureth would have played a key role in allowing my re-election. I could have paid them off handomsely if the city counseling bodies boosted my budget to keep them from destroying the city. Killing that little girls family, whom of which was more political than obstructional provided me with a much more balanced vote. Clearly you never knew and soon enough it will not matter whether you do. Aysel was merely an after thought and a thorn in my side ever since, doing everything she could to be in my way. Even bring that pathetic Gnome and you into all this as well as the others. It was supposed to be far cleaner than this, but that is why I am here to finish the rest of the dirty work, now I will have to kill off the Primal Dybbuk so I can restore him again, perhaps I will use the blood of an angel to do it this time!"

He powered up all those pistols again and two small cannon-like guns come whirring quickly our of his thighs aiming with red tracking beams.

"One last dance with the Major angel Laphael?"

((As Grick))

Grick fear began to subside and it was apparent that Aysel was a target, he forced himself back on his feet pulling the little girl behind him and then like a poof of smoke Grick nearly fell forward as the girls weight dissappated into a grey smoke. What the hell? He thought nearly speaking the words.

He strategically aimed from the bottom of the staircase up at the Dybbuk, his eye adjusted several times to the bizarre energy trails plaguing his view of the Dybbuk.

"Big things come in small packages!" With a howl and a squeal the energy cannon let lose a furious burst of energy, even his weaponry was malfunctioning as the air began to electrically charge as if they were inside a magnet of sorts. Grick missed entirely as the energy bolt tore into the above ceiling revealing the double moonlit sky.

The Primal Dybbuk stood up to face his adversary, knowing his weakness could not stand too much more. The Dybbuk began to glow an ominous green color as if it would be his final attack. Grick ran up the stairs

"Aysel Move!" Grick quickly casted another impact spell to advert the tragedy. "Bombarduuum!" With a wave of clear energy Grick sent his shield reserve energy into the impact spell. The Dybbuk flew up into the air and snarled in pain.

He stayed in the air hovering as if he was protecting himself from attack the flybots that remained as well as the Juggernauts aimed at the Dybbuk with various red beamed polka dotting the Dybbuks flesh.

"You cannot defeat me, I can never die!"

A flash of a golden color catches the Dybbuk's attention far off from the building ruins a large tree stood with a beam of golden energy shooting into the sky. The Primal Dybbuk gather;s his energy and fly's off towards the golden beam.

[kovah]

Aysel watched with distant eyes as the Primal Dybbuk began to fly away, she could feel this strange presence deep inside her, willing her onwards. Aysel was NOT going to let him escape now. She began running after him as he floated towards the golden light, which she knew was another energy source he was going to try and tap into. Then he would be unstoppable. She was not going to let that happen.

Aysel jumped onto the back of one of the drones that filled the sky and leapt from one to another, in an effort to reach him. He had noticed however and fired spells at the persuing demon. Many of them hitting their mark, Aysel was getting weaker but with each spell that hit the more angry she got. Finally running on nothing more than pure rage she reached the Dybbuk and with a final leap leaving large claw marks in the armour of the droid she landed on him, digging her claws into his body, and biting with her huge jaws. As he cast spell after spell roaring in pain trying to get the demon off him.

Finally his strength failed him and whatever spell that was maintaing his flight dissapated, sending the both of them crashing to the floor from 50ft up as they tumbled through the sky, Aysel managed to decapitate him and as his last bit of power was realeased it sent her flying backwards landing in a heap inbetween Lapheal and the Major, the head of the Primal Dybbuk still in her jaws. The Nezureth were suddenly confused without their leader, and those that were left fled into the night. Aysel slowly got to her feet, considerably weakened by her exertions and whatever it was that had entered her being before.

[Edriss]

OOC: Kovah has given permission for this post

With a bellow of pure rage and hatred Laphael turned to face the Major for what he knew would be the last time. His sword flashed dangerously in the half-light as he turned, snarling, on his opponent. With his wings spread to their full wingspan and the golden light reflecting from the Primal Dybbuk’s secondary power source he looked every bit a righteous warrior, unable to resist his origins he sneered at the Major’s threats, “My Father will smite you!”

Not willing to wait a second longer he made to strike the Major, lunging forwards suddenly he used his wings to push him forwards with amazing speed. Instead of biting into his cyborg enemy his sword found the corpse of the Primal Dybbuk in its path. Howling in fury he wrenched the blade out and mounted the corpse, eyes searching for his enemy. The situation seemed almost too much as he saw both the demon and the Major before him. He couldn’t attack both without the other attacking him. Which was it to be?

The choice was clear.

Unfortunately for Aysel she was nearest, she was the weakest, and despite the Majors recent words she was the one Laphael hated most. Beside all that; she was Demon.

Mind set on the task at hand the angel threw himself into the air diving down at her viciously. With a screech of metal on bone he plunged the sword into Aysel’s neck The demon did not give up despite her exhaustion. She saw death coming and fought by bucking and rearing, attempting vainly to throw the angel off balance. Ignoring the pained roar that came from the demon he ripped the sword out and struck again with a harder, crueller blow. As the demon fell to her knees he gave her the killing stroke with a triumphant shout to the heavens.

Full of battle lust he turned his attention to the Major with a vicious gleam masking his angelic features. He said nothing but his hand tightened around the handle of his weapon.

[kovah]

The pain when Lapheal struck her was mind blowing, the holy sword seared like a hot poker in her neck, she had seconds before he killed her and they both knew it. She didn't have the strength to resist death and all of a sudden, her body went limp as her soul or whatever demon's have left her.

There was nothing but darkness for awhile, yet she was aware of it. Strange, Aysel thought, There isn't supposed to be anything after life? Perhaps there is an after life...She became aware of a faint light somewhere near her. In the over powering darkness she felt herself drawn to it.
Whatever form she was in, it looked at the light, there was the form of the little girl which Aysel now knew was the Primal Dybbuks power source.
"What are you doing here?"
"We are one now..."
"One? How can we be one? I mean i'm a demon and you, you are"
"Pure Innocence, the greatest power souce. At least until i was tainted by you. And for that demon i must thank you. My soul has been bound and steadily drained for power since i can remember. But when i entered your being demon, our souls and destinies became entwined for all eternity. The two opposites that we are, together we made a whole. Light and Dark."
"I...don't understand. How am i still here?"
"Lapheal killed a demon, but he killed me too when you died, and to take the life of an innocent is a crime worthy of your creation."
"You mean i can go back?"
"Yes, But only if you wish to joined to me for the rest of your time, we are one now darkling. But I will not be sad to die. I have lived longer than you know. So the choice is yours demon."

Aysel took afew seconds to answer, yes there was much yet for her to discover, but how would being joined to such a pure life affect her.
"Let us go back, my little one. And give my old pal Laphael a little shock."
The girl nodded and the world seemed to lurch into life, blurs of colours and lights passed her by eventually causing her to black out.

Aysel awoke in comforting darkness of the trees, trying to figure out just what had happened, she soon realised she was on the edge of the trees, just before the devastation of the battle began. She could see Lapheal and Grick and the Major, some of the Valkiens taking on the last of Nezureth. She got to her feet, finding herself alot higher up than normal. It was only then that she looked down and found she actually had feet and not paws.
This is my form dark one, you will still be able to be whatever form you like but please get used to this one first. whispered a voice somwhere deep inside her. Aysel frowned and tried in vain to get used to walking on two legs as she looked herself over.
She had the apperance of a child no more than eight human years old and wore a simple white dress and no shoes with blond hair and fair skin. Aysel struggled to walk more than afew steps without falling or stumbling but it was to be expected. She wasn't sure how Laphael and Grick made it look so easy.

OCC: Will introduce Aysel again after you have both posted again ^^ : OCC

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/kovah/ayselgirlcopy.jpg

[AbstractPagan]

((As Grick))

Grick Ran up the Staircase and stumbled over some Nezureth corpses. The Major had launched up into the air and was firing several shots into the distance, the whirs and sparks of amazing firepower stunned Grick. Realizing he had one good shot to ruin the Major again. He had help design some of armor structuring but the blueprints were supposedly destroyed. So he aimed in the middle lower back which faced Grick in a clear shot. He powered up his cannon and began to aim.

A loud roar in the distance caught Grick's attention, he ran out of the small wall and with a thoom a huge barrelling fist came plunging into the ground Grick tumbled out of the way as a Juggernaut opened fire at him. He shot five or six times and the Major caught attention of the activity.

((As the Major))

"Ah the little troll comes out to play...So wonderful for you to join us, just in time for you to watch that Cat and Angel die horrible deaths. Not that it would matter to a criminal like you!"

A few more dodges and Grick knew he was terribly outmatched. Three Juggernauts and the newly retrofitted major would be well more than one could handle. Unfortunately, Grick caught three shots to his back and he fell to the ground. The juggernaut shot out an entaglement cord and lifted him off the ground like bait on a hook.

"Well this is where you meet your end, Mr. Gearsley. Consider the forfeiture of pension and benefits for the remainder of you life. Which of course won't be much longer. You see I can't have you spilling my laundry all over the city, thats why once you are and Laphael are dead, I will be able to continue to control the security forces and coerce the publics view of me presenting justice. Your head on a platter good bye Mr. Gearsley..."

Grick disorientation and the bleeding wounds were making him feel very weak. He could see a blurry movement in the distance.

[AbstractPagan]

((OCC: Laphael should lose his wings becoming mortal))

[Edriss]

As Laphael felt Aysel’s last breath leave her a pain ripped through him. Screaming he barely notice his sword slip through limp fingers to fall useless on the ground. Dropping to his knees he doubled over and clutched at his back where the burning pain seemed to have settled, trembling fingers travelled along to the base of his wings, what is this?!. Through eyes blurred by tears he looked at his hand, slipping through his fingers seemed to be black oil-like substance; it dripped from his hand to form a slick pool on the ground before him. Dreading what he would see the angel turned his head slowly and stared in horror at his wings. They were literally decaying before his eyes. It started at their tips, slowly curling and dying, rotting until they made the slick oil that was soon oozing down his back. Another shockwave of pain washed over Laphael as he cried out once more, oblivious to what was happened in the fading battle around him. “Father!” Crying he buried his head in his hands until he felt his fingernails bite into his skull, “FATHER!”

[kovah]

Aysel stumbled out of the trees walking slowly trying to keep her balence in this strange new form. She felt the droids that were left scan her, and identifying her as a child passed her over. She heard a scream of pain then another and peaked out from behind a ruined building. She frowned, his wings, it was like they were melting into black ooze. He was still crouched over the steadily decaying corpse of her demon form.

Aysel creeped up behind the Major who was advancing on Laphael, having looked around for Grick and finding him injured on the floor. She picked up a sharp bit of metal and with as much strength as she could muster, drove it into a crack in the Major's armour at the base of his spine. The effect was immediate as he roared in pain and anger. She had paralyzed him, he strained to see his attacker roaring again in anger as he saw the small child.
"Quiet now, or i will be forced to make you be quiet." she said with a smile.

Aysel walked over to Laphael who was on his knees in the mud, his wings had almost completely disintegrated. Aysel knelt down beside the sobbing angel and tenderly took his hands in her tiny ones, feeling him trembling.
"Laphael..." she whispered, having to stop after finding herself using the little girls voice. She was a strange mixture of emotions as well, the little girl actually feeling sorry for the angel that had killed her. wonders never cease Aysel thought.
"Laphael, you did something very bad. I think you are being punnished by your Father for it." she continued on before waiting for a reply. Having to stop herself from poking fun at the angel that he had failed to kill her.

[AbstractPagan]

Grick in his disorientation notices a blazing white dress move along the ground.
He snap from his disorientation in a last ditch effort to save himself. He was pondering how the girl returned when the Major stopped in mid swing, a blow that could have killed him. While the Major turned around to see his attacker Grick powered up his beam emitter, hi energy reserves were getting low and this would likely be the last attack he could do before losing his 'better half'.

With a sizzling burst of red light the beam cut the major in an awkward angle cutting him from his left shoulder down through his abdomen into his right hip. The cut didn't sever him in half but the majors body fell to the ground nearly landing on the little girl.

Grick looked over in the distance and saw Omus and his clan returning with a shiny golden object, as the Valkian clan began to attack the three juggernauts awaiting orders. They stood there unresponsive as they were not commanded to attack unless the order was given. There was no sign of the Nezureth only bodies and what was left of the building they called home.

Grick used a cutting blade and severed the entanglement cord allowing him to fall to the ground. With a thud Grick layed there in pain awaiting Omus's healing power.

"Omus you ran off with out tellin' us, what tha hell?"

((As Omus))

"The prophesy only asked that we train you and make you aware of the dangers and show you what must be done. You did well. All of you. Laphael did well too now he can earn his favor with a more meaningful relationship with your group. I could give him his wings back, but I am not sure whether I should mettle with divine judgement."

"But why leave us Omus? We needed you and you left?"

"The amulet must be returned to the caretaker it was intended for. Our purpose was to protect it from getting into the wrong hands. So we went to protect it."

[Edriss]

Terrified of what was happening to him Laphael was desperate for any form of comfort, even if it came in the form of an oddly eerie girl, soon he was weeping into her lap unable to understand what she meant. “I did nothing wrong!” His voice was muffled by her pristine dress, “I did everything He wanted. What did I do?” he looked up onto the girl’s clear eyes and spoke in a small, panicked, voice, “Tell me what I did and I’ll undo it!” His body was still wracked with pain as the last of his wings disappeared into the ebony ooze. With their loss came a new feeling, once he could only describe as finding his ‘self’, as an Angel all his actions where determined by Father and his Brothers, no matter how faint he had been able to hear them and their will and now he was utterly alone.

It terrified him.

He felt weak, lost and alone, desperately he grabbed the girl’s shoulders, “I’ll undo it. I promise I will.”

[kovah]

Aysel smiled inwardly, finally seeing how this form could help her. Few beings would knowingly harm an innocent child on purpse, herself being one of the few.
"Death is the one thing that cannot be undone, and nothing will change what you did." she replied, knowing the soul of the little girl was talking and it was time for her to be quiet. "You killed an innocent Laphael, you killed to satiate your desire for revenge on an being that didn't deserve to die." she said to the angel taking his large hands in her small ones and getting to her feet, she was only just taller than him when he was kneeling down.

Aysel in the meantime was getting a strange new perspective on life with a soul, it was different and a little scary. Feeling sorry for creatures was not something she was acustomed too and wasn't sure she liked it.

"Laphael, I was the Dybbuks power source, the uncorrupted innocence of a child. Grick released me from my prison and i knew the only way to break his hold on me was to corrupt myself. I entwined myself with the demon Aysel rendering my soul corrupted and usless to the Primal Dybbuk. But as i did Aysel became something more than just a creature of evil. You killed us both when you struck Aysel down, which is why you're wings were taken from you Lapheal. You killed an innocent being, and nothing you can do can take it back." the little girl paused for several seconds "When you struck me, an act of great evil was commited and you created something Laphael, you created a demon..." the little girl suddenly retreated into the back of her mind and Aysel once again found herself in control.
"You created me Laphael" Aysel said in her own voice with a smile on her face and pulled her hands away from his, not quite as forgiving as the other entity inside her. Aysel left the angel there in the mud to ponder her words, and went over to Grick and used some of the white magic that flowed from the soul of the girl to heal some of his wounds before Omus got there.

[Edriss]

Laphael gaped up at the girl as she spoke, her timid voice growing harsher until reached Aysel’s growling tones. How could it be true? How could he, an entity created solely by good, have made such a terrible mistake? It shouldn’t be true but proof stood before him. Numbly he squatted in the mud as the girl left him, he felt tears dry and stain his face, the remnants of what had once been a glorious set of wings slide down his back, arms hung limp by his sides, and all the while he struggled to come to terms with what she had said.

His lips moved noiselessly as he repeated Aysel’s words, or here they the girl’s? Was she one being now or two? He had been so sure he had done the right thing, the tapestry had even shown what he would do!, but Father, it seemed, cared little about whether Laphael did the right thing so long as He got what He wanted.

A wave of fury, suppressed for centuries, boiled up with the former angel, it had always been like this! He had always done what he was told and then he was punished for doing it, tipping his head back he screamed his hatred to the havens. Lucifer, he decided bitterly, had been right to revolt. Sourly he reached for sword, only to receive a painful burn in return. “What?!”, hissing furiously he glared at the glittering blade. Of course! Only holy beings could touch it! Now even his weapon turned on him? It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Furiously he ripped off any signs of his previous station, including the heavy jeweled torque that clasped around his neck, if it were possible he would have scratched off the blue tattoos that covered his shoulders and face. Striding across the battlefield he pointed furiously at the small form of Aysel, “You’ll pay!” He lifted his head to the skies and roared, “YOU’LL ALL PAY!” Laphael did not take betrayal well. That’s what it was he told himself; betrayal.