The Gang of Five
Role Play => Random Role Play => Topic started by: Mirumoto_Kenjiro on August 30, 2010, 02:14:35 AM
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Tedisian, an oceanside city built on trade and commerce. Ruled by a delagation of wealthy aristocrats and their private armies. It has been two years since the city was under siege by an airborne fleet of pirates, and one aristocrat found it an opportunity to celebrate an 'anniversary' of the town's victory, although the anniversary was techincally another month. The city has become alive with festivities and increasing trades as the day rolls by...
Although the name Summoner has long become a common name, Summoners remain rare, and practically no such residents in the city. Views towards them were mixed, from great respect to outright hate. In this city, the view expressed at best is suspect and curiousity. For this aristocrat, he trusts none...
At his luxorious home, he displays his wealth to only the rich, famous, and political figures. None of the common people are permitted. Amongst his treasures, stood a set of seven strange-looking large gems. Not as exquisite as the rest of his stash, and perhaps not of monetary worth, but it remains his most guarded valuables. Its true worth could only be noted by two kinds of people: Those who wants them for an unknown and dangerous plan, and those who could wield them, perhaps to save the fate of the world...
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As the festivies had begun, one character in particular, sat above the city, on one of the rooftops as he watched the fireworks being shot into the air before he glanced down at the busy marketplace bellow. He gave off a light smirk to himself, yet, made no movement to move from his position he was at.
Within the busy marketplace, another person walked around, a female, whom approached one of the marketstalls, glancing to the stall owner for a second, who was already busy talking with other customers. That gave her all the time she needed as she walked on by and in the process, slipped one of the diamond rings on display at the stall, into her pocket without anyone noticing her.
Granted, she did know that someone had indeed seen her, but no one on the ground level. The one on the rooftops noticed this as he sighed slightly to himself as he stood up, pushing his sunglasses up a little bit before stepping towards the edge of the roof as he watched the female walking off.
He stepped off the roof and dropped down to the ground level, crouching as he landed in order to soften the land before standing up straight and started to make his way through the crowds, heading off after the female in question.
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Watching his display of the strange gems through a space where armed guards with swords stood, the Terran aristocrat was deep in thought, until another terran interrupted him.
"An interesting display. I have never thought such things were truly worth anything."
"Why not? It's just that no one considers putting a price on them."
"They are considered worth much in ANOTHER way..."
"As tools for those ruffians to use to enslave us? It's a miracle there are so few of them..."
"And the Wraiths?"
"Are you kidding? There have been no Wraiths sighted within miles of here for decades..."
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Far above the skies outside the city, it was a different story. A small wing of sticks and cloth cut through the sky, quickly followed by four smoky shapes. The pursuers were a kind of Wraith, flying grim reapers with heads of grotesque four-eyed birds. The wing belonged to a young Goth of exceptional powers against the monsters like the ones after him...
The Goth banks and dips to get around the attackers, loading his sling with one hand and twirling it, then swings it with skill at the first Wraith. The creature turned its head just as the 'stone' strikes it...and explodes, turning it to dust...
The sky dance continued as the Goth finished the rest in minutes, then the sky was peaceful again. He flies below the clouds to find a city in sight. He knows that the city should have air defense and would shoot anything coming too close to it, so he carefully reaches the ground and lands just outside the town. Taking his time to fold the hang glider into a large backpack. Checking to see that he needs water for his journey home, he heads into the city. It seems as if a festival has started...
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As the Goth was walking through the busy marketplace, she had ran right into another person, the exact same person that had been following her for the last few minutes.
She looked up at the person she had run into, yet, said nothing as she patted his chest at least twice before she continued on.
The Reaper spoke up to the goth in question "You shouldn't steal" his voice sounded a little deep as he turned to look at the goth girl.
The goth girl almost froze in her place and had to say something back to cover her tracks "I'm sorry, but I think you've got the wrong person, I haven't stolen anything" she replied back to him as she started to walk backwards, still keeping an eye on him.
The reaper shook his head back slightly at her, smirking slightly "I saw you take a ring from one of the stalls over there" he spoke as he started to step forward.
The goth girl immediatly, turned and took off in retaliation, only to have the reaper smirk even more at her retaliation as he sighed a little "I didn't want to have to do this...." and with that, he straight away, activated one of his soul gem characters, Bolt, who appeared in front of him. He pointed ahead "Bolt...speak...."
Bolt jumped forward a little and got into position before seconds later, letting off a super bark, sent towards the goth girl in question.
The goth girl turned around and saw the approaching shockwave from the super bark "Oh....this can't be good...." she spoke as she stood her ground, slidding back somewhat as the super bark struck her before being thrown back a few feet.
The reaper approached the girl with Bolt by his side as he looked down at the goth girl. However, the goth girl, again, retaliated as she got up and swung her clawed gloves at the reaper in one swift motion.
The reaper in turn, bought out one of his short swords in order to block her incoming attack before he went to strike her in he face using his hand only, doing his best not to harm the girl as much. Yet, the girl was still being stubborn as she bought up her hand and managed to stop the attack from the reaper as she jumped back a little bit, clenching her fists at him.
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The Reaper's partner's attack started a panic from the bystanders, causing them to scatter in fear. Very quickly, armed guards (think Spanish conquistador armor)entered the immediate area, lances at the ready on the Reaper. "Summoner!" shouted the commander. "Surrender at once!"
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With the setting more calm, Tai pulled out what the Wraiths were chasing him for. In his ventures, he had found two Soul Gems, but none of which had chosen him. Summoners have a certain sense for the Soul Gems, for a Gem would shine in the hands of their chosen Summoner...
An explosion further down the road averted his attention, and he put the Gems away to investigate...
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The Reaper stopped as he looked to each of the guards that had approached him, then looked to the commander of the armed guards. He then looked to Bolt for a moment before bringing him back into his Soul Gem "Very well then" he spoke rather calmly.
The Goth girl in turn, took this chance, once the guards were all concerned with the summoner, to take off herself as she turned and dashed off, rushing down a dark alleyway.
With the guards still aiming their lances at him, the reaper decided to speak up once more "If you require a reason for the attack, I do have one....I was simply bringing order back to this place, asking the Goth to return the stolen item back to the stall she had obtained it from"
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"I'm not sure about this," Ellen said as she followed her young companion through the streets. She wore a bright orange and purple costume that displayed a bit of fur, but not enough to be embarassing. Her eyes darted around, trying to jot down the city's layout in case they had to run for it.
"You worry too much," Kyle Verona said. The Terran wore his usual red shirt and blue jeans. "These people are going to love us!"
"Maybe they will, maybe they won't..." the Fur warned. She knew this place didn't outright hate summoners, but they weren't welcoming either...
They paused as the crowd ahead scattered and several guards surrounded a reaper.
"A Summoner?" Kyle gasped as the white dog vanished from sight. The teen stepped forward so he could hear better.
Ellen gasped as he slipped away and darted after him. Thankfully, Kyle stopped at the far edge of the crowd.
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Tai reached the edge of the commotion in time just as a Reaper had brought back a Soul Gem. Another Summoner? he thought as he watched.
The commander was a reasonable man, and allowed his lancers to raise their weapons away. "Fine then," he said sternly, "But no more Summoning from you or anyone like you today without true justification. These people care not for sudden bursts of violence while they are having a good time. Guards! Search the area! Question any Goth you find!"
One guard pointed at Tai. "What about that one?"
"Leave him! The Summoner said a female Goth! Now go!"
The line of guards dispersed across the streets for the suspect. The tension lifted in the area and people returned to their own duties.
Tai cocked an eyebrow. "OK..."
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The Reaper, who was known as Skorn, watched as the guards disbanded in order to find the Goth girl in question. He looked over to Tai as he approached him, dipping his sunglasses slightly at him before pushing them back up to his face again "Do you know the girl that they are to find now? A female Goth, much like yourself, but as I said, female....she weilds, what seem to be a pair of metal gloves if that's any help to you"
He glanced back to the guards "They could probabally have used that information, but they are rather quick on their feet....they do seem to want to find her rather quickly for a simple theif of her standards"
***
The Goth girl, Zoe, had already run a fair amount as she headed back into the open again and ducked into some crowds, yet, kept her eyes out for either the guards, or the Summoner she had run into earlier on.
***
As Skorn was waiting for a reply from Tai, he turned slightly to see Kyle approaching as well, which in turn, only gave him more of a reason to smirk lightly to himself "Seems like my little commotion has caused a few more civilians to become rather....interested...."
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Kyle paused when he saw the Reaper's smirk, not quite sure what to make of the expression. Most of his experience was with other Terrans or Furs thanks to Ellen.
Attempting to put on a brave face, the teenager approached the stranger. He tried not to be too obvious, but couldn't help staring at the Reaper's summon band. His eyes were bright with curiousity.
"Wow..." Kyle whispered. "I can't believe I ran into another Summoner here."
"What's the big deal?" Ellen asked, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the Reaper. She quickly scanned the stranger, before studying the goth he had been speaking to. Kyle's attention remained focused on the Summoner.
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"Actually, I just got here myself," Tai replied. "Flew in over the mountains." He turned to see what the Reaper was looking at, two individuals looking back at them. "It's like the guy never saw a Reaper before..." he said afterwords.
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Skorn in turn, was looking at Kyle's Summon Band as he gave off a light sounding chuckle himself "I have to agree with the Goth here....you act as though you've never seen a Reaper before at all" he flexed his fingers a little bit as well as he looked over to Ellen.
***
Zoe continued to remain in the crowds as she noticed the guards not too far from where she was, each of them questioning other Goths that were around, however, they seemed to be only questioning the females in question, leaving the males alone as she gave off a rather light gulp herself "Well, they are smart....I'll give them that...."
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Tai also noticed the young Summoner's Band. "I never thought there would at least three of us here in one town," he said, and he pulled up his sleeve to show the Reaper his own Summon Band.
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It was rather simple to tell that Skorn was a summoner as he never wore a shirt himself. He looked to Tai's Summon Band and gave off a light sounding chuckle afterwards "Indeed, three Summoners in one town.....what are the odds of that even happening?"
***
Not far from the group, there was a Fur that was walking around. She wore pants and a shirt, but that was it. She wore no shoes herself as she looked around the busy marketplace.
The girl wasn't suppose to have stayed for too long, but the festival seemed to have now attracted her long enough to keep the girl around. She was a Vixen and her name was Luna.
She was simply having a look around the marketplace, yet, her eyes diverted a little to where the four were gathered, three of them seemed to be summoners while the other one had no Summon Band on.
She smiled to herself lightly, but decided to not approach the group in question, deciding to leave them be as she really had no need to approach them and talk to them.
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"He's seen his fair share of Reapers," Ellen said. "He's just--."
"What else can you summon?" Kyle asked.
"Excitable..." the Fur sighed and rubbed a hand against her forehead.
The teen's head turned towards the Goth as he spoke and gasped as he saw his Summon Band. "You're kidding me. You guys are both Summoners? What are your names? I'm Kyle and this is Ellen."
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"I'm Tai," the Goth replied. "I just got in from a trip...and had some turbulance on the way." He turned to the Reaper. "I didn't catch your name, though."
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"That's because I haven't given it just yet....Tai" Skorn spoke as he looked to the Goth, then looked over to Kyle and Ellen once more "Skorn" he added in as he looked to the three of them still.
Skorn looked to Kyle once more and gave him a light smirk as well "All in due time kid....all in due time" he told him as he folded his arms by that point.
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"So you're both here for the festival then?" Kyle asked, folding his arms and cocking his head to one side.
"Jeez, Kyle, just pry into other people's business," Ellen sighed.
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The group was observed by one more pair of eyes, which belonged to a Fur, a hare to be more specific. She sat at the small table in front of inn, sipping some local beer. She wore a simple leather jacket, thin cloak and loincloth - all in greyish-green color. Her clothes would provide ideal camouflage, if she was traveling though woods, but in the city... not so much. Good thing she didn't have to hide from anyone at the moment, she thought.
That group, she was looking at, consisted of Summoners evidently. This brought the memories and with them the sadness and anger.
There will come this day. Day of revenge. Willow (as this was the name of the hare) thought, caressing her Summon Band absentmindedly and watching the group.
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"I may do that, now that I'm here," Tai replied, but then remembered... "By the way, I came across two Soul Gems, but they haven't chosen me. Might as well see if they choose any of you..." He pulled out the Soul Gems, those not of his own, and handed it to Kyle and Skorn. If they were chosen by any of the Gems, they would shine in their hands...
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Skorn took the Soul Gem in his fingers and looked at it for a moment before it started to glow. After a few seconds, he gave off a light looking smirk before looking over to Tai "It seems as thought this one has chosen myself" he paused for a moment "I suppose I should thank you for the Soul Gem kid...."
Meanwhile, the Fur in question from earlier on, was still having a look around the marketplace, yet, still kept her eyes on the group as well, yet, she noticed another was also watching them, a Hare and decided to approach her and straight away, speak to her "You know them?" she asked her.
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Willow looked at vixen who had spoken to her. Maybe she was a bit too obvious with observing that group of Summoners...
"No, I don't know them, but being Summoners they surely attract attention of those around" hare answered pointing to the people, who were throwing quick glances at group. Then she noticed, that this brown fox had her own Summon Band.
"You are a Summoner, aren't you?" Willow asked.
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"Yeah, I am....and I can see that you are too" the Fur called Luna, replied back to Willow. She glanced at the Summon Band on Willow's hand, then glanced over to the group "Which is why I try not to summon so much....I really don't need, nor want others staring at me"
She looked back to Willow once again and held out her hand in a handshaking manner "I'm Luna by the way"
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"I'd rather see them in the hands of Summoners than in the hands of the Wraiths any day," Tai replied, then lowered his tone as he continued. "It's sort of the reason why I ended up here. I picked those Gems up in one of my ventures, and a scouting patrol of Wraiths found me out... I never thought they'd be far beyond their borders..." This is true, for the closest known border of one of the Wraith Generals was nearly half a country away...
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"Willow" hare said shortly, holding oput her hand to shake Luna's. Then, she waved to other chair, inviting vixen to take a sit. Willow throwed a quick glance at the group again before turning to Luna "Actually, I am ex-Summoner, as I haven't had any Soul Gems for a long time. I'm keeping this..." she motioned to Summon Band "...as a reminder."
She didn't explain a remainder of what this Summon Band was supposed to be. That wasn't something she would like to talk about with person she had just met. Not that she had anything against Luna.
"So..." Willow began before taking a sip from a pot, after which she continued "What are you doing in Tedisian, Luna?" she gave vixen apologetic smile "I'm sorry, if I am being overly curious, but I don't see many Furs in these parts."
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Kyle stared at the gem in his hands, it remained unlight. He frowned in disappointment before handing it back to Tai. "Guess it's not looking for me."
"Wraiths?" Ellen repeated, her expression darkened. "Thanks for the warning."
"Are we leaving now?" Kyle asked the Ratel.
"Of course not, I don't want to be caught on foot by those things," Ellen said. "If we're leaving it will be on a pair of wheels or hooves. Which means we need money."
Kyle smiled. He knew that he'd be able to perform now. The wraiths worried him some, but he told himself it was only a scouting party. Nothing for him to worry about.
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Luna took a seat herself as she looked to Willow, listning in on the explanation she was giving her. She was about speak herself when Willow asked on why she was here, to which Luna just shrugged back "Eh, not much really, just having a look at the festival is all, other than, no real reason on why I'm here....yourself?" she asked Willow as she leaned back in the chair.
***
Skorn gave off a light sounding chuckle as he looked to Kyle "Don't seem so dissapointed, there should be plenty of Soul Gems out there that would choose you" he told him as he took a quick look around, the Goth girl hadn't returned just yet, she must be still hiding.
***
Zoe in turn, remained undetected by the guards as she watched them from within the crowd she was doing her best to blend into. As guards approached her direction, she moved off once again, walking through the crowds as to not raise any eyebrows.
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Tai placed the remaining Soul Gem back in his pack. "I took out that entire party that was chasing me," he replied, "so there won't be any rapid responses any time soon." He looked around to find any guards nearby. "I guess they haven't found her yet..."
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"I'm looking for a work. I would prefer the kind that includes fighting against Wraiths, but since there is none here I will have to find something else." Willow answered with the tone in her voice that indicated that she had some personal grudge against Wraiths.
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"Found who?" Ellen asked, glancing around in a sudden bout of paranoia.
Kyle nodded at Skorn. "Yep, I'm happy with who I've got and we don't really need more stuff to carry." He shrugged his shoulder, indicating the pack on his back that held the tools of his trade.
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"Fighting against the Wraiths? But as work?" Luna thought for a moment "Well, I don't know about work as fighting against them, I mean, I have foughts Wraiths before, but it was in self-defence, nothing to do with work"
***
Skorn looked over at Kyle's backpack and grabbed it for a second, just to get a better indication on what Kyle was carrying around with him before giving off a slight chuckle "I must say, it is impressive.....just as long as you have useful items within your pack to be able to survive....as I doubt that a kid such as yourself, without any sort of equipment, would last long out in the open, and especially against Wraiths"
Skorn then looked back to Kyle's Summon Band "Granted, you do have that, but it would depend on who you are able to summon and how you use them to your own advantage"
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"Well... One can find other kinds of work here: protecting local merchants, escorting caravans, fighting bandits and so on." Willow said, then added after a moment "I think I will be going soon. I doubt that anyone will come here with job offer and I need to earn some money." She stood up.
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The alarmed teen jerked away from Skorn. Ellen released a feral growl, reaching for her own pack.
"You'd be surprised how long we can last," she said.
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"Why not see if any of them have some work for you that you could perhaps do? I mean, it never hurts to at least try anyway" Luna shrugged back to Willow as she watched the girl stand up, yet, didn't move from her seat, leaning back in the chair a little bit as well.
***
Skorn only chuckled some more at Kyle and Ellen's reactions "Very well then, if you believe that you are able to survive out in the wild....then there is no need for me to see for myself....that is, until the time comes anyway...."
He glanced around at the area before looking back to the group "Just be thankful you don't face a whole lot of Wraiths, by the looks of them, they could easily slaughter you two" he seemed to think for a second "But might I ask on where you two are going after this festival is over?"
He himself, knew of the dangers the Wraiths were starting portay, well, having a fair idea anyway, but not a full idea, nor on what purpose they were after either and he already had a plan in his mind on what to do next.
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While the talk between the three continued, Tai stepped away to truly take in the surroundings of the city. If he was to leave any time soon, he'd have to know where he could get them before the time comes. His eyes stopped on a pair of Furs at a table for a while, before looking back to the sights of the festival. He might as well take his time here in the city...
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"Talking to them won't hurt, I suppose" Willow said, looking for one more time at the group, then turning to Luna "Are you coming? You seemed to be interested in those Summoners as well."
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Luna shrugged back to Willow "Not sure if I really should....uh, you go on ahead and talk to them....I'll catch up soon" she told Willow wih a little bit of a smile as well before getting up with a bit of a stretch.
She smiled to Willow once more before heading over to a nearby market stand. There was a reason on why she didn't want to talk to the lot of them, but why she didn't, she wasn't about to tell anyone, anytime soon as she kept her distance from the others, glancing at the Reaper in question.
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"None of your business," Ellen replied pointedly. "Come on, Kyle. We've chatted enough for one day..."
The teen opened his mouth in protest, but the fur turned and walked off. Kyle shot an apologetic look at Skorn, before following his friend.
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Tai turned around to see the Fur and Terran walk off, then approached Skorn. "Something happened?" he asked.
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Willow walked to now reduced group. She wondered what they might tell her, but didn't have high hopes for getting from them information about some job offer...
"Hello" she greeted with Reaper and Goth "I am Willow."
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"I'm Tai," the Goth replied, and looked down to see that the newcomer also carries a Summon Band. It seemed like coincidence to meet more than one in one place, but this many had to have something more...
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Soon enough, some of the guards were getting fed up in finding this elusive thief, a few of which finally gave up the search...
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"You may call me Skorn" the Reaper replied back to Willow, giving her a rather small nod as well. He looked at Willow, looking at her Summon Band "I see that you're a Summoner...." he paused for a second, looking to Tai as well, seeing that he too noticed it.
***
Luna on the other hand, had decided to leave Willow alone, allowing her to make some friends while she on the other hand, started to head off away from the groups that were present.
***
Meanwhile, Zoe had managed to sucessfully evade the guard as she brushed some hair out of her face in the process, to which she chuckled a little to herself "Too easy...." she smirked to herself as she slipped away into a nearby alleyway to look at the ring she had stolen earlier on "And all that just for a ring? I have to say, they were on it today....but not good enough I'm afraid"
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"So are you. I saw your effort at trying to catch that thief." hare said, looking at Skorn, pulling her coat to hide her Summon Band. No need for more people to notice she was Summoner. "Quite impressive I must say. Do you always chase them? Thieves, I mean."
***
Unknown to Zoe, she was observed the whole time by a thing, which at that moment sat at the edge of rooftop above the alleyway. This thing was a dog-like robot, which had no face but just single black eye. That eye was watching Zoe intently. Suddenly, it jumped off the roof and dropped down to the ground, without making much noise...
-
Unknown to Kyle and Ellen, they were being watched by a few individual Terrans, who began to tail them from a distance. They remained within the moving crowds to keep from being watched...
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Pretty sure the young Goth was out of this conversation as well, Tai decided to walk the city. "I'll be seeing you guys later then," he said to the Reaper and Hare before heading off down a street, apparently heading in the same general direction as where Kyle and Ellen went...
-
Skorn looked over to Tai for a second and gave him a nod, deciding not to stop him as he looked back to Willow to answer her question "Not usually, however, if I do see one stealing, I would at least attempt to interviene....and do not get me wrong either, I would usually not attack another, unless it was in self-defence, and as you were probabally well aware of, that had turned into more, self-defence related"
***
Zoe's head darted for a second, believing that she heard a noise, but saw nothing around. However, she did decide to put the ring back into her pocket and started to walk off, deciding it was best to not stay in place for too long.
-
"Aaawww, Ellen, you never stop and meet new people," Kyle pouted as soon as they were away from the group.
"Why get to know someone when you're just going to move on anyway?" Ellen asked, glancing back to make sure the Reaper hadn't followed them. "Besides he was annoying."
"You think everyone's annoying," Kyle pointed out bluntly.
They walked in silence for a few seconds before Kyle spoke again.
"So where are we going?"
The fur exhaled and glanced around. They still needed money, which meant finding a good place to perform. Preferrably a crowd of people with loose change and the heart to hand some of it over to the poorer. Years of running around with Kyle had helped teach her what to look for.
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The next place Ellen and Kyle would reach is a massive square, with three large running fountains lining the center and connected to each other via a small viaduct. Shops lined the outer border of the buildings, with occasional kiosks and street performers within the space. The politician's home is at the center of one side overlooking the square, and an inn sits on the opposite end's corner, the pathway leading by this inn reaches the main center of the city in no more than a mile...
One of the Terrans following the duo stopped to see a young Goth, the one talking with the Summoners before, and waited for him to pass, before starting to tail him instead...
-
Willow waved her hand and say goodbye to Tai. After Skorn ended answering her question, she said:
"Tell me, Skorn... Are you new in this city? I mean... Are you here long enough to hear about some job offerings?"
***
The robot called after Zoe with cold, mechanical voice:
"Stop, please! I have a message for you, Goth..."
-
"New?" Skorn let off a light sounding chuckle "Not as such, I do vist now and then, however, as for job offerings, only the usual going ons such as, merchants wanting hands, perhaps the Imperial Guard here are looking for new recruits, all hard to say....but I take it that you are searching for a job?"
***
Zoe stopped for a second as she heard a voice call out to her and turn on her toes, quickly swinging at the robot with her metal claws, missing him by inches, to which she glared at the robot as it mentioned a message "What kind of message?"
-
Tai soon reached the massive square, and was awe struck by the brightness of the place. He walked down the open spaces, watching dealers of the kiosks selling their hand-created works to street performers singing and dancing for charity...
The Terran following him stopped as he reached the square as well, there were more guards than he cared for, and had to watch from a distance to avoid any suspicion...
-
"You guessed right." Willow said with a friendly smile "I do it most of the time, since I don't take any regular job offers. I like to be able to move on when I want to, you see..."
***
"My Owner is looking to hire someone, who would be able to 'acquire' some things from other person." the robot said, not changing it's voice's tone at all "If you're interested, I can guide you to my Owner, who will explain details of this work to you."
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Zoe stopped for a moment "That all depends....what do I get in return for helping out....if I decide to that is, hmm?" she asked the robot, arching an eyebrow slightly as she folded her arms as well, watching it carefully.
***
Skorn gave a nod back to Willow "Fair enough, however, I am afraid that, other than all the regular jobs around, I do not know of anything that would catch your fancy as one would put it..."
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"Money. That's what my Owner usually offers for accomplished mission. In local currency or other. I can't say how much you will get, that belongs to my Owner." dog-like robot said, tilting his head to one side, as if it wanted to look at Zoe from another angle "Observation: 99.7% of those who had worked for my Owner and succeeded at their work, didn't regret that cooperation."
***
"Then I will have to look around the market..." Willow said with a slight shrug. She had not expected much from this conversation, but it didn't hurt to ask "It was nice to talk with you. Maybe we will meet again in the evening at Victory Square. There is a rumor, that some Tedisian's aristocrat payed a lot of gold to make it so, that this year's celebration would be remembered for ages" hare again shrugged "I don't know how much truth is in that one. Some of local people can have very wild imagination."
-
Zoe just gave off a smal shrug back "Well, I suppose if money is involved....then I suppose it wouldn't hurt to at least ask your owner on what it is that he wants aquired....and then I guess, negotiate a good payment from there" she looked at the robot for a second "Lead the way rustbucket...."
***
"Seems like it wont hurt to check it out, so sure, I shall meet you there later on this evening....unless of course, something else, unexpected does come up which would prevent my appearance there" Skorn paused for a second, taking a looking around "And that other friend of yours....the female....seems like she's gone...." it was something else he had noted that Luna, who was with Willow earlier on, was nowhere tyo be seen at the moment.
***
Luna in turn, had left the general area where she had met Willow and was now, elsewhere in the city, sitting down underneath a tree and looking up at the sky, glancing at the branches of the tree as she watched them rustle away in the wind, to which she ran her fingers through her "hair" as she smiled lightly to herself, enjoying the peace and quite she had at the moment.
Although, she still did have regrets about not joining Willow in meeting the Reaper, but of course, she had so far, just shrugged it all off as she sat there quietly.
-
It took a while for Tai to reach the inn across the square, and entered into the bar. It was quick for him and the Terran bartender to noticed each other, and the Goth approached the counter.
"Haven't seen you around, stranger," the bartender said, gesturing the rather large pack on Tai's back. "A long distance, I presume."
Tai removed his pack and set on the bar. "Yep, and my arms are tired..."
The Terran simply smirked. "Heard that one before. And some of them from flying Furs, too. So, what can I get you?"
"A room for one night and a phone call." Tai pulled some money from a belt pouch and placed it in front of him.
The Terran picked up the amount he needed and pushed the change back, then pulled a keychain from behind him. "Your room will have a shower room, and someone's in the booth already. So if you wait long enough, you'll get your phone call."
Tai takes back the rest of his money. "Thanks."
-
"This looks as good a place as any," Kyle said, glancing around the square. "All right, which character should I use?"
Ellen sighed, letting her pack slip off her shoulders. She leaned down and removed the tambourine from it. Her eyes lingered a moment on the pair of swords in the pack. She hoped not to use them, but she had a bad feeling.
"Let's be careful--."
She paused as she spotted the skeleton in the black and white stripped tux with a bat-shaped bow tie. Jack Skellington raised his arms and proclaimed in a loud voice. "Come one, come all. Prepare to be amazed. Thrilled. Terrified!"
The ratel slapped a palm to her face. That bonehead had such a one track mind.
"Watch and listen as our ensemble preforms. For this night only," the Summon continued.
Please don't freak out, please don't freak out, Ellen thought at the crowd. The skeleton man had already alarmed quite a few villages...
-
"Alright, but let me turn my disguise on." robot said. Suddenly, it seemed like an air waved around this machine and then... Poof! Where there was a dog-like robot, an actuall dog stood. It was a brown-furred and big, but also agile.
"Follow me now, please, but when we are amongs people, pretend that I am your pet." dog said, it's tail swinging "As a robot or a talking dog, as the case might be, I would attract too much attention in these parts and that's the last thing my Owner wants." It then started to walk, expecting Zoe to follow...
***
Willow looked in direction Luna had gone, before speaking "Indeed. I think she has to see to her own matters."
-
"Well duh...." Zoe muttered to herself so that the dog could not hear her as she silently followed said dog off into the crowds, muttering to herself even more "This better be worth it in the end...."
***
"Yes, either that....or she seemed to be concerned about something...." Skorn then gave off a light shrug and gave off a bit of a laugh as well, placing a hand onto Willow's shoulder "I shall see you a bit later on then....I too have matters I should attend to" he told her and then simply walked off, leaving her be for the time being.
-
The dog guided Zoe through few alleys and streets and then through square to small inn. It stopped before the entrance, turned to Zoe and whispered in a way that no-one else could hear the fake dog:
"The owner of this building wouldn't let any dog in, so I will have to take another route. You, however, can go straight in. Just ask the bartender of the Terran called Alex and he should show you the right room..."
***
"See you later" Willow said to Skorn and when he had left she wondered where to go from here? Maybe she will find some job to do around the market, hopefully. She walked in direction Luna had taken earlier. It was as good as any other and she might stumble across brown Vixen. Willow would not have anything against meeting her again, as she was the only Fur hare knew here personally (as short as this acquaintance was)...
-
"Alex?" Zoe asked, arching an eyebrow, however, the dog was already gone as Zoe shrugged a little and headed inside. She approached the counter and spoke up to the bartender "I'm here to see a fella named Alex"
The bartneder looked at Zoe for a moment before moving away from his post in order to show Zoe to where Alex's room was.
***
Soon Luna gave off a stetch as she stood up from where she was and started to walk off again. The rest she had was rather nice indeed, however, she knew she could not sit there all day long, nor did she really want to either.
She started to make her way back through the crowds once again, her mind a little preoccupied at the moment as it didn't take long for her to bump into someone....that someone being who she had met before, Willow.
Luna looked at who she had bumped into and immediatly stopped for a second, giving off a bit of a smjile "Hey, it's you again, um....Wilow was it? I can't remember....I'm terrible at names...."
She paused for a second before speaking once more "Sorry about taking off before....I uh, I just didn't really want to meet others....it's something I'm not good at doing, and that Reaper seemed a bit....intimidating...."
-
The bartender lead Zoe upstairs and once there, he pointed to one of the doors:
"This is the room you're looking for. I must leave you now. I have a lot of work downstairs. If you would need me, I will be there" he said before going down.
***
Willow chuckled at vixen's words.
"You don't have to be sorry. I admit that he can look intimidating, especially when he tried to catch thief, but I don't think he would hurt you." she said with a friendly smile.
-
Luna smiled back a little bit to Willow again "Yeah, I guess you could say that" she paused again as she looked to Willow some more "And again, sorry for leaving like that" although, of course, she didn't have to be sorry, she just tended to say sorry more than what she needed to, even if she didn't have to say it.
She paused a little, giving a bit of a thought to something "So um, what are you up to now anyway? Cause I was just going to have another wander around this city....I mean, it's big and all...and well, I guess you could say that I'm curious on it and what else is around...." she tilted her head to the side, just a little bit as she continued to look at Willow "Do you want to come for a walk or something?" she decided to ask.
***
Zoe nodded back to the bartender and knocked on the door "Come on, answer....I am not going to be standing here all day...." she grumbled to herself some as she soon waited for an answer from the door.
-
Tai didn't have to wait too long, as his turn for the phone came up. He walked into the booth and picked up the receiver of a 1930's era phone, dialing in the number. The phone was picked up promptly on the other end.
"Baldor's Antiquities..." an answer came.
"It's me, Tai," the goth replied cheerfully.
"Tai! I haven't heard from you in a while! You doing OK?"
"I'm great. I just got a little sidetracked and came to Tedisian."
"Tedisian? Interesting... There's something in a newspaper about Tedisian... Let me go find it... By the way, have you found the Soul Gem?"
"Two, in fact! But I ran into another Summoner, and one of the Gems chose him, so there's only one to bring back."
"That's just fine with me. A Summoner with a Soul Gem is much better than a Wraith with one."
"That reminds me... I was sidetracked into Tedisian when I crossed paths with a patrol of Ravers..."
"Ravers? Even those have never been that far from the closest General's domain... Aha! Found it! Hmm... The article says about a festival being thrown down there, and some aristocrat is showing off his treasures...even some unusual large gemstones in a set of seven in his own home... Tai, I think they're talking about Soul Gems."
"There's Soul Gems here?! And that big a number in one place?"
"That's a possibility. And...it may be why Wraiths have been seen that far out... You said another Summoner's in town?"
"There's at least three more I met today."
"Very interesting... You may need their help, especially to see if what this man has are in deed Soul Gems, and that he may in danger."
"It'll be hard to find them now. It's a big place. Is Kenshi still available?"
"He hasn't come back from his recent venture."
"OK then. I'll just find Skorn and the others and see if they can help."
"I'll talk with Kenshi when he stops by. Good fortunes to you, Tai."
"And to you, Baldor!" Tai hung up...
(OCC: Pointing out there are different types of subordinate Wraiths. I'll have a list started of the different kinds of Wraiths we'll face.)
-
"I'm still looking for a job right now, but I don't mind doing it with company." hare said, looking here and there, before turning to Luna again "If I remember correctly there is a park here, a green land with a few trees. It's not much, but it is the closest thing to the woods you can get in this city. If you want to know Tedisian more we could start by going there."
***
After Zoe knocked on the door, she heard a woman's voice coming from inside the room:
"You may come in!"
-
Luna loked back to Wilow and gave off a light shrug "That would be nice, I mean, I'm only in the city for a few days before I head back, and getting to know the city while I'm here would probabally be the best bet" she spoke with a smile as she walked beside Willow, heading towards, where she believed, the park was.
***
Zoe was a bit suprised to hear a woman's voice coming from the door, yet, she ignored it for the time being and opened the door and stepped inside, taking a quick look around.
-
It wasn't long till they arrived at their destination. Like Willow had said, the park wasn't much, but it did have some trees and even a small lake, so one could take a rest from walking through noisy and crowded streets. There were several other people who was enjoing walking around this park. Willow wondered briefly how many of them had ever seen a real wood. She turned to Luna and asked about something the vixen said earlier:
"You're going back in few days? Where to, if you don't mind me asking?" she said with a smile.
***
In the room was a woman, sitting by a desk. When Zoe entered, a woman looked at her and said:
"Welcome. I take it you are the person Ber just told me about" she pointed to dog-like robot, which Zoe had met earlier and who was lying in a corner of the room, watching this scene silently "I am Alexandra."
-
"Well, seeing how this city is big and all, and I don't have family, friends, a love life or anything like that anywhere, staying here for just a few days and then moving on is my best option, that way, i guess you could say, others wont realize, or miss me when I'm gone sort of thing" Luna replied back, giving Willow another little smile "So, I'll probabally be heading East from here"
***
Zoe looked over to the female sitting at the desk and spoke up to her"I figured you would be a guy at first, the name Alex, but now I do realize, Alex can also be short for Alexandra, a girl's name" she paused for a second "But enough small talk as it is, you require me for something I take it? Cause your rustbucket dog there said that you can pay me after helping you out....and the money better be worth it....or we are going to have...some problems...."
-
"Straight to the business, aren't you? I like that." Alexandra said, looking into Zoe's eyes. Then, she took out a small metal thing looking like a cellphone with little antenna. Alex pushed some button on that thing and it started giving a quiet humming sound.
"It works well against wire and bugs." Terran woman said to Zoe "Local politician has seven Soul Gems in his possession. I would like to have them and for that I need a professional thief. I will pay you 1000 gold coins for each SOul Gem you will deliver to me. I can also provide you with informations, that can help you in accomplishing your mission." Alexandra looked at Zoe awaiting her response.
***
"East? I came here from south and at one time I visited lands west and north from here, but never east." Willow said, walking towards the lake. Once there, she settled down on the edge of it, so she could dip her feet in the water. She sighed and spoke to Luna:
"I've stayed in this city for too long. I miss wilderness, the woods with their peace, but most of all I would like to see something new..."
-
Zoe was looking at the object that Alexandra was holding as she crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow "That there, seems a bit...expossing I suppose you could say, wouldn't it stick out? she asked rather curiously.
However, when the Terran then mentioned 1000 gold coins per gem, she just ended up smirking some "Very well then....and you better not be lying about it either, would hate to bring you say, 6 Soul Gems and you have no money in the end...."
***
Luna was standing up still as she looked down to Willow for a second, then out to the water "I can never settle into any big cities for too long, gets....overwhelming is all...." she paused for a moment, still looking out at the water as she spoke to Willow some more "Why not come with me then? I mean, you don't have to if you don't wish to, cause I'll still be heading off regardless, but if you want to come along, I wouldn't mind the company...."
-
When he was done with the phone Tai hurried to his room and entered. He placed his glider pack on the bed and quickly went to the wash room to fill his canteen with water, before heading back out and locking the door behind him. He should find Skorn at least...
He walked out the inn to the square, and quickly found Ellen and Kyle performing with a Summon Soul. Giving a half-smile, he reached the crowd watching the show...
-
"It can be pulled to pieces." Alexandra answered, before taking out another thing, a map "Back to business. Here is the map of the place aristocrat is keeping those Soul Gems and it also shows the sewers underneath that house. You could use them to get there unnoticed..."
***
"That's a splendid idea, Luna" Willow said with a grin, standing up "I will be happy to join you."
-
"Oh trust me, I know hopw to get a job done, one way or another" Zoe replied back to Alexandra as she took the map from her, rollng it up and placing it into her pocket without so much as looking at it.
***
Luna was a bit suprised to hear that Willow was going to join her on the journey "You will? Um okay....I didn't actualy expect you to say yes or anything like that, but okay, cool" she spoke, giving off a small nervous laugh as well and looked to Willow some more and held out her hand for a handshake "Um....welcome....aboard?"
-
"Good. After you steal Gems, come here, but make sure nobody will follow you." Alexandra said firmly, then added "But I don't have to tell you this, do I?"
***
Willow shook Luna's hand.
"Thank you. I should find some way to earn some money, so I could prepare myself for a journey. What I have right now is barely enough to let me live here for one or two days." hare said, once again wondering where she should go to find job. She didn't think long, as she heard a voice to the side of her:
"You're looking for a job? Perhaps I could help you with that"
Willow turned and saw a small man standing before her.
"Hello. I am Winesmouth, trainer of one of the best Tedisian's fist fighters, Steelman." a small man said with a wide smile "I am sure that you've heard of him"
"Well... Not really." Willow said, which caused a deep frown at Winesmouth's face, but he quickly covered it with smile.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I need a sparring partner for Steelman, since he is preparing himself for a very important fight in next week. I heard that hares are good at fist fight, so I would like to hire you."
-
"Well, I'll see you a bit later on, come and meet me at the inn, as the innkeeper for me....he'll direct you to my room and then, we can talk about it some more....the whole travelling thing and what have you" Luna told Willow a bit quietly, giving her a smile and nodding to the other two before turning around and simply walking off.
She just did not want to stay around for the fight, it was something that just did not interest her as much.
***
"Kinda defeats the purpose, telling me it to start with, then saying that you need not tell me....when you already have...." Zoe gave off a light grumble as she spoke to herself quietly "People really need to learn to think before speaking...."
-
"See you later then" Willow spoke to leaving Luna. Then she said to terran called Winesmouth:
"Before I decide to agree or not, I would like to hear what you offer"
"Right. I will pay you, hmm...., 300 gold coins for every hour of training session, which will last for four hours a day, not including breaks...What you say?"
Willow was thinking about this offer for a few seconds. 1200 coins for a day. That sounded rather well, as long as this Steelman will remember it is a training and won't try to punch her into oblivion. Even if so, after a day she will have enough money to buy appropriate equipment for a long journey...
"Okay. I agree for your terms. When do we start?" she asked. Winesmouth grinned at this.
"Right away. Follow me." he started walking off and Willow followed.
***
"If you have any more questions about your mission, then I will try to answer them, but if you do not... Well... I wish you goodluck." Alexandra said, then she waved her hand at door "You know the way out."
-
Luna had indeed, for the time being anyway, headed back to her room at the local inn. She was sitting on the bed, going through some odds and ends she had on her, things she had picked up whilst on her journey to be able to sell for her own money, since she practically had no use for any of the junk she had carried.
She decided it would be best to summon one of her Summons to help in finding out how much each of her items was actually worth, Summoning one, Iron Man as she addressed him straight away "Hey, um Stark, sorry for calling you out like this, I just need your help, and you're practically a genious....just need some help in finding out how much each of these things here are worth"
Iron Man looked to the items on the bench and moved his mask up to reveal his normal face as he picked up one item, a necklace and gave off a whistle "I would say, for at least $1000" he told her, only to have Luna looked at him a bit confused.
"Dollars?" was all Luna could ask "Uh, we only have coins here...."
"Coins? As in gold coins? Well, if you say that, then I would imagine that it could possibly pick up for around 400 gold coins, if my calculations are correct" Iron Man replied back to her.
***
Zoe just looked at Alexandra and scoffed a little, to which she simply turned and walked out of the room without so much as a word back to Alexandra, already starting to make her way towards the destination, to the point of which she climbed up onto the nearest rooftop to get a better view of the area.
-
"This is the place." trainer said, when he and Willow arrived at their destination: well-illuminated clean basement with a ring in the middle (which was outlined only by a white line) and some training equipment beside the walls. There was a man punching the bag with enthusiasm worth the better cause. In fact, he was punching it so strongly, that one could wonder how this bag was still there.
"And there is our champion. Steelman! Come here, please!" Winesmouth called the big man, who stopped his exercise and walked to Willow and Winesmouth. Steelman looked at hare in the way that made her feel uncomfortable, even though she couldn't quite explain why.
"Hello. I am Willow." she said, helding out her hand for a handshake, but the fist fighter ignored it. He just kept staring at her.
"Willow here will be your spaarring partner now, Steelman." Winesmouth said, which caused an evil grin on other man face.
"Good. I was getting bored with just hitting a bag, trainer." he said and looked at Willow like a destructive kid, who just got a new toy after breaking all others...
"Let us begin straight away. Steelman. Willow. Enter the ring." trainer spoke. fist fightere entered the ring right away, while hare joined him after a few seconds. She laid down her cloak and her weapons. After all, she won't need them to training fight. When both she and Steelman were on the ring, Winesmouth said:
"At the beginning, you, Willow, will be on attack and you, Steelman, on defense. Remember. This is just a training fight, so take it easy." Willow noticed, that Winesmouth directed the last sentence mainly at Steelman.
"Start!"
-
After talking with Iron Man about how much all her stuff would be worth, she got up and dismissed him, to which she headed out of her room and downstair, walking over to the innkeeper "Listen, if someone by the name of Willow comes looking for me while I'm out, just tell her to wait in my room" she told him as she then headed out the door and down the street towards the busy marketplace.
As she approached one of the stalls, she placed the bag of items down onto it and looked to the stall owner "I'm here to sell a few things...." she begun as she pushed the bag towards him.
The stallkeeper looked into the bag and started to go through it, looking already, to be rather intruiged with what she was selling him "2,450 gold coins I can give you for the lot"
Luna thought for a second "Make it 2,700 and we have a deal"
The stallkeeper thought for a moment more before giving in and raching for the gold coins he had on him. He reached for another little bag and placed the gold coins inside and handed them over to Luna "Here, all 2,700 gold coins, inside that bag"
Luna took the bag and looked inside and smiled to the stallkeeper "Thanks" she told him and turned, walking away from the stall as she attached the bag to her waist and decided to go for a little walk for the time being, believing that Willow would be a while with her training.
-
Figuring they were busy, Tai then turned back the way he came into the city, looking around for Skorn...
----------
Outside the highest window, the aristocrat and his colleague watched the festival below.
"A Goth outsider and a Terran boy..." the aristocrat said.
"And word tells me there is a Reaper Summoner as well," his colleague added.
"We'll tend to him another time and another way... These two are perfect for action tonight, as long as that captain of the city guard doesn't meddle in my affairs again..."
"You seem that anxious to add to your collection, my friend."
"These jewels deserve much more in my hands than in that of scroundrels like them... Do you have guards posted, as promised?"
"Of course. I even have some watching the entrances to the viaducts below around the city."
"Good..."
(OOC: Zoe won't have much trouble with the guards, just to point out.)
-
Skorn was still in the city at the moment, crouched down with one of his Summons out in the open, Bolt once again as he gave the dog a pat on the head as he gave off a slight sounding chuckle as well, smiling to the dog.
Bolt's ears perked a little as he looked past Skorn and over to one whom was not far from them. Skorn looked over and saw who Bolt was looking at, Tai, to which Skorn stood up straight and walked over to him, with Bolt following him behind "You look a little lost"
***
Zoe soon, found what she after, well, seeing it in the distance and started to make her way towards the building, rushing along rooftops, as silently as she could "Yeah, go into the sewer....like hell I'm going to do that...." she muttered to herself as she ran, leaping across onto another rooftop as she kept up her momentum in the process, not wanting to slow down just yet.
***
Luna on the other hand, was already getting rather bored with walking around as she looked to the sky and watched the sun, slowly, starting to set as she let of a sigh of some sort, looking at the gold coins she had managed to obtain and decided it was best to go back to the inn.
Once at the inn and back in her room, she was busy getting together her things, so that she was ready to leave the moment Willow would arrive.
-
Tai was relieved when he found Skorn quickly, and smiled at the small white canine that was with the Reaper. "Sometimes you gotta be lost before you find something," he replied. "As a matter of fact, I was looking for you. I take it that Willow person's doing her own stuff?"
----------
On the roof of the aristocrat's building, a group of four guards reached the top via a stairwell, armed with steam-powered repeating crossbows. This was a part of their patrol...
-
Skorn gave Tai a nod back "Yes, as far as I know anyway" he paused as he looked to Bolt, then back to Tai once again "And you were wanting to find me? Might I ask on what it is you wish to speak to me about? Assuming of course, you do need to at least talk to me about something"
***
Zoe leapt from another rooftop, onto the side of another, taller building and slowly started to climb up it, well, as fast as she could anyway, grabbing onto the side of the roof and pulling herself up, glancing back on where she had come from "Really had misjudged that jump..." she spoke, shaking her head lightly and began to run again towards her destination.
She stopped short of the building a few blocks away, skidding to a halt right on the edge of the building she was on and looked at the building in question. She looked to the rooftop and noticed four guards in the general area patrolling around, armed with crossbows.
She looked down and saw other guards in the general area "Yesh....this place is locked up tight as it is...." she muttered to herself, deciding it was best to just observe for a few minutes, to see if there was any sort of pattern to the guards patrolling.
-
Willow soon found out, that her opponent knew his profession rather well. Almost every time she attacked him, he was able to block or dodge her punch and even when she did hit him he simply shrugged it off. In the meantime, Winesmouth was shouting instructions and tips to Steelman or telling Willow how to strike him in particular way. It had lasted for an hour with few breaks, before trainer decided to change the state of this fight...
"Alright, Steelman! We've been training your defense so far. Lets see if your attacks are so unstoppable as usually, shall we?"
"Yes, chief." Steelman responded with a smile, then he threw Willow a look that made her shiver a bit "Time to play is over, rabbit. Now..." his smile became even wider "...it's time to die."
"Terrific..." was all Willow had got to say. She didn't have a chance to say anything more anyway, as Steelman begun his attack. Willow dodged it in the nick of time, but Terran followed her swiftly and tried to hit her again, so she blocked that punch. She was hit by another though, right on her mouth. She tasted a blood, but luckily didn't loose any teeth. After that, she started jumping around the ring, trying to keep Steelman at distance and wear him out. This was getting on fist-fighter nerves, as he wasn't fast enough to catch Willow...
"Stand still you cowardly rabbit! Fight me!"
"No, thank you. By the way... I am a hare, not a rabbit, you ape!" The insult seemed to enrage Steelman even more.
"I will bite your ears off, you chicken-hearted lop-eared bunny!"
"BUNNY?!" Willow shouted, fires of anger in her eyes. She leaped towards Steelman and before he could raise his fists to defend himself, she hit him as hard as she could, right between his eyes. After this punch, Steelman looked at her a bit surprised, then... fell down with a loud thud.
-
"I'm sure you ever heard about this," Tai began, lowering his tone of voice. "Have you ever heard anything about a large number of Soul Gems here in this city?"
----------
Three of the guards stood towards the edges of the building while one stood guard by the door.
The guards on the street were armed with glaives and swords, and made regular changes around the building and square...
-
"It does sound rather familiar...." Skorn looked to Tai, going into a bit of a thought as Bolt gave off a bark as well "What have you heard about it anyway? As I heard that is was....an aristocat, but what he wants to do with them, I am unsure about that"
***
Zoe watched what the guards were doing and noticed that only three of them were on the edge of the building while the other one was guarding a door "That must be the way in...." she spoke to herself as she moved away, starting to get closer towards the building as she moved across the other rooftops around.
Moments later, she stopped and hid behind a nearby chimney and peered out to look at the guards and got an idea as she slowly crouched down, placing both hands onto a piece of rooftile and ripping it out, she held it for a moment "Let's just hope this works...." she muttered and tossed the rooftile across the rooftop in order to cause some noise before she moved to the other side and started to sneak over to to the building via the other side.
-
Inside, the aristocrat noticed the noise and watched a piece of roof tile fall in front of his window. "Wait... That's not from MY roof. Send more guards up to check it out."
As commanded, two swordsmen departed to the roof top...
Speaking of which, the guards caught the noise and where on guard, the one by the door stood where he is, while two of the guards investigated the noise...
----------
In the sewers, the guards stationed were in conversation, when they were suddenly cut down by an unseen foe...
----------
"I don't know," replied Tai. "But if the guy does have Soul Gems, he may be in danger. I doubt those Ravers I fought would go this far without a legit reason. It may be those Soul Gems."
-
As the guards were going to investigate the noice, Zoe clambered up onto the rooftop of the aristocat's building and snuck up to one of the guards whom had his back turn, grabbed him by the neck and simply, used one of her claw on her metal gloves to slit hit throat before turning her attention to the guard by the door, flexing her fists somewhat and swung at the guard, slicing his throat open in the process before trying the door.
***
Skorn thought for a second "Then I would imagine that Wraiths could very well be attacking this city soon enough....if they are coming this close to the city anyway....we should be on our guard, just in case...." he looked to Bolt and took him back to his Summon Gem.
-
When the last guard killed dropped, his crossbow accidently discharged, immediately having the attention of the other two guards. Finding the thief near the door, they quickly raised their crossbows and fire a steady stream of iron bolts...
----------
Down the street, the captain of the guards looked up to a whistling sound and saw the bolts fly above him. "Find out where those are coming from!!" he shouted, leading his force to the source...
----------
One stray bolt made its way to the street where Tai and Skorn stood, making a loud clank and startling some of the residents on the street...
-
Zoe's eyes widened slightly as she hessitated for a moment as the bolts came closer to her, giving her only a split-second to react, to which she swung her hands, to which the bolts seemed to clank right up against her metal gloves before falling to the ground. Zoe had to indeed, take a breath of air, glad that she was alive as she looked to the guards and turned, giving the door a boot as it swung wide open as she bolted inside.
***
As the arrow landed right next to Skorn's foot, he looked at the arrow for a moment as he knelt down and picked it up, looking over to the direction of where it came from, motioning to it for Tai "Over there, looks like something's happening"
***
Luna on the other hand, had her ears twitching slightly as she looked out at the residents running in fear as she opened up the window to get a better look of the area and what they were running from.
She thought for a moment and got an idea and summoned one of her Summons, Iron Man once again as she spoke to him "Stark, can you do me a favour and go check out what they're all running from and keep me informed?"
Iron Man gave her a nod back, handing her something, a listning device "So I don't have to come back here with the news" he told her and activated his thrusters, taking off towards the source.
Skorn noticed this after a few moments, one in armour flying above them and past them "Looks like another Summoner is around too" he told Tai.
-
"What have you done to Steelman?!" Winesmouth shouted at Willow, before running to unconscious body of 'one of the best fist-fighters in Tedisian' and trying to bring him back to his senses "You knocked him out and you were supposed to defend yourself only!"
"Well... I wouldn't hit him that hard, if he didn't call me a bunny." hare replied with her arms crossed.
"Get out of here." Winesmouth said quietly, not looking in Willow's direction.
"Excuse me?"
"I said: get out of here!" he repeated angrily.
"I thought that you need a sparring partner for your fist-fighter?"
"Not anymore. At least, not someone who knocks out Steelman for some stupid insult and make him unable to train and fight for who knows how long!"
"Then give me my payment." Willow said, gathering her stuff. Winesmouth snorted, but he reached to his pocket and took out a small pouch.
"Since you've trained for an hour and a bit, I'm giving you 400 gold coins. Dont ask for more. Just... Get out of my sight."
"As you wish." Willow spoke, taking a pouch and then leaving the basement without any more words.
-
The two swordsmen were halfway up the stairs when they encountered the Goth, then drew their swords...
----------
The crossbowmen followed suit as they reloaded their weapons...
----------
The aristocrat turned to his colleague. "It sounds like a fight upstairs..."
The colleague said nothing as he drew a dagger hidden in his sleeve and stabbed the aristocrat, then carved upwards. "It may be premature," he said, with a voice different than before, "I was considering waiting until nightfall to kill you. But this change of plans will still be of use to me..."
The diplomat fell to the ground, bleeding to death of his wounds. There was no one but the shadows who witnessed...
----------
Tai also saw the Summon in the sky. "Who ever that guy is, he's got the right idea on how to get there..."
The Goth pulled a Soul Gem from his belt and slipped it into his Band. A bright light emitted from the Gem, and a massive shape emerged, taking the form of a white dragon with feathered wings, gold hair-like mane, gloves, and a flight cap. He landed softly on the ground and opened his blue eyes to the Summoners.
"I take it we have Wraiths to contend with?" the dragon asked.
"I don't know, but there's a fight going on the top of that build, and we need to get there fast!"
The dragon sighed and knelt to on knee. "Well let's not waste any time..."
"Thanks Shiron!" Goth leaped easily onto the dragon's back, and looked down at Skorn. "The only way to fly..."
-
Skon activated a differen Summon Gem of his and this time, he summoned fourth the Human Torch "Listen, Johnny...you head off ahead, follow that suited person....Tai and I will catch up with you in a moment" he told the Human Torch as he jumped up onto the back of the dragon with Tai.
The Human Torch nodded and took flight, flying off ahead to catch up with Iron Man.
Iron Man in turn, stopped in midflight as he looked at the guards in the area "Luna, you read me? Looks like we've got guards who are dealing with something, I'm not too sure on what though, it's rather hard to make out from this angle"
Luna thought for a moment "Alright, listen Tony....if you can get inside and find out the source of all this madness, would be greatly appreciated....I'll head over as soon as I can myself" she spoke back into the listning device as she placed it into her ear before leaving the room as it was, taking only herself and her other Summon Gems with her.
***
The Human Torch had soon enough caught up with Iron Man and already, he recognized him "Yo Tony!" was all Johnny could say.
Iron Man just seemed to groan slightly "What are you doing here Johnny?"
"Investigating this madness or whatever you want to call it, I take it, that's the same with you?" Johnny decided to ask Tony.
"Yeah" was all Iron Man had said back as he cut his thrusters power, landing on the rooftop right in front of one of the guards, who in turn, hessitated by fisring his crossbow at Iron Man, getting no effect by the bolt pinging off his armour. Iron Man raised a hand and blasted him with his hand blaster, knocking him backwards as the Human Torch gave off a simple whistle.
***
Zoe in turn, looked at the two swordsmen and clenched her fists and she muttered to herself "This is not how I had planned for this to work out...." she grumbled as she got ready to defend herself.
-
"Halt!" called the crossbow guard on top of the stairs.
The swordsmen saw the crossbows and back down the stairs, turning off down a hallway. "Fire! Kill the thief!"
The crossbowmen raised their weapons and fired...
----------
Shiron spread his wings and took to the air, taking Tai and Skorn in tow as they headed for the square...
----------
The captain and his guards reached the building of the aristocrat, but was blocked by the diplomat's guards.
"Let me pass! Someone's been shooting on top of that building!"
"I'm sorry, sir. I've been given strict orders not to let anyone pass. Even you..."
-
Iron Man continued to blast away at the guards on the roof top, dwindling their numbers away to nothing as the Human Torch landed, blasting the final guard in the face with a fireball "You missed on" he told Tony rather smugly.
"Don't get too cocky kid" Iron Man told the Human Torch as he started to walk towards the door.
***
Zoe believed that she was indeed, at a dead end as she eyed the guards with the crossbows as she saw them about to fire, only to be shot down seconds later by none other than Iron Man, who started to decend the stairs, stopping as he raised a hand at Zoe.
"Wait, wait, wait...." Zoe quickly spoke as Iron Man stopped charging a blast, yet, still kept his hand aimed at her "You....you just saved....my life...." was all she could muster in saying, even though she was a bit iffy that it was a Summon that had saved her life "I'm not one of the bad guys....really....so um...you don't need to shoot me...."
The Human Torch walked in, stopping beside Iron Man as his eyes fell upon Zoe and a smug look came across his face as he went back to looking like normal "Hi, name's Johnny Storm" he spoke, using what charm he had as he held out a hand for Zoe to shake.
Zoe, however, was already feeling reluctant as it was in shaking his hand and decided against it "Yeah, uh listen flame boy....can you and tin man there, do me a favour and help me out with the rest of these guards around here?"
"Sorry, no can do, gotta wait for my Master to arrive" Johnny Storm replied back, looking at his fingers, as he was already feeling shot down by Zoe's rejection, but did indeed, decide it was best to wait for Skorn to arrive.
Iron Man, on the other hand, decided it was best to contact Luna in regards to what had just happened "Luna, you copy? Looks like these guards were trying to catch a girl, a Goth by the looks of it, she wears a pair of metal gloves as weapons by the looks of it"
"Alright, just be on standby at the moment....I might be a while...." Luna replied back to Iron Man as she continued to make her way down the street as she headed towards the building where the action was happening.
***
Skorn looked to Tai for a moment as he spoke "You got a plan for all this?" he decided to ask the kid as he looked back out towards the building where the comotion was coming from.
-
The swordsmen appeared back on the steps, their blades ready on the trespassers. "Come no closer, thieves!" shouted one of them.
Two more guards ran down the hall to join them...
----------
"I don't have a plan, but I do have a question," replied Tai. "Why did your Summon just help another Summon blast some guards off the roof?"
"Some of guys they took out were pointing into the building," Shiron added as they neared the building...
-
Iron Man looked over to the guards that arrived, crossing his arms over his chest and powering up his unibeam this time as he then fired it second later, blasting a guard right through several walls and out into the open, followed by a bit of a blast of light.
The Human Torch on the other hand, flung fireballs at the other guards as Iron Man walked over to Zoe, leaving Johnny to take care of the guards at the moment "We've got to stand our ground for the time being, gotta wait for Luna to arrive before I can really do anything else"
"Luna?" Zoe asked a bit lost at first, till she realized what he meant "Oh right, your Summoner"
***
"That is a rather good question, gonna have to ask my Summon about that when all of this is over....however, my best guess is perhaps, the two somehow know each other from where they originated from" Skorn told the two of them as he looked over to the building himself.
-
Tai looked over at the square below. "Oh great... We got the whole town coming here... With what's going on, you think it's safe to land on the roof with what that Summon's doing?"
"It's fine with me," Shiron answered with a smirk and he began to set down on the roof...
-
As the dragon landed on the rooftop, Skorn got off and started to head towards where his Summon was, yet, he stopped in his tracks and looked over to Tai "You coming?" he asked him.
***
Iron Man moved his hand slightly past Zoe's head and fired two shots, taking out two guards that were approaching Zoe from behind.
"They ust be running out of guards soon enough" Zoe spoke up as she looked to Iron Man and the Human Torch as she started to move backwards before turning around and rushing off in order to finish off what she was suppose to do.
"Hey!" Iron Man called out to Zoe as he watched her run off before placing his fingers to his forehead in annoyance.
-
Tai leaped off Shiron and brought him back into a Soul Gem before following Skorn. "I'm coming! You have a plan?"
----------
With many of their numbers dwindling quickly, the guards retreated back to escort their employer out of danger. They reached the room to find the aristocrat dead on the floor, and the colleague standing over him. But they had no time to react when their own shadows took form behind them and slit their throats...
-
"A plan?" Skorn asked Tai back as he shook his head "Not quiet....we'll need to at least meet back up with my Summon and find out what he has found out so far" he then started to walk towards the door, glancing back to tai to make sure that he was following.
Inside, the Human Torch had heard footsetps and turned around, about to fire a fireball, yet, stopped in his tracks when he realized that it was Skorn.
Skorn motioned for the Human Torch to walk over, to which Johnny obliged and walked over to Skorn, to which Skorn spoke to him "So, what's the situation?"
"Well, me and Iron Man here found a girl, a Goth actualy, and a rather nice one too for that matter" the Human Torch began as he lightly elbowed Skorn some "Anyway, she had these metal gloves on and was being harrased by the guards before taking off that way" he pointed down the hallway.
"Metal gloves? A Goth?" Skorn thought for a moment as he looked to Tai "I know her....sort of....I had a run in with her earlier on....if she's here, then that must mean....I'm guessing anyway, that she's to be stealing something"
"What makes you say that?" the Human Torch asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I saw her stealing from one of the stalls just before I approached her and got into a little fight with her" Skorn replied back.
***
Luna was still running down the street, past all the bystanders as she was very close to the building where Iron Man was located at "Okay, Tony....you read me? I'm outside the building.....uh....north side I think....well, by the front door, mind coming to get me?"
"Sure thing" Iron Man then looked to the others "Sorry, my Summoner calls" he spoke to them as he activated his thrusters and took off past the group and headed towards Luna's location, landing beside her moments later.
"So, uh....what's the story here?" Luna decided to ask.
"In laymen's terms....it's got something to do with a theft in progress, well, apparantly that Goth girl is a theif, however, this much comotion should not be coming from something so simple....something else is up, I'm sure of it...."Iron Man replied back as he looked to the front door "Shall we?" he asked.
Luna gave him a nod back "After you"
And seconds later, the front door was blasted clean off its hinges by Iron Man's Unibeam move, allowing Luna and Iron Man entrance to said building.
-
The aristocrat's guards had to jumped out of the way as the door was blasted away.
The captain shielded his eyes from the blast and watched the Summoner and Summon enter the building. "Halt!" He quickly turns to his guardsmen. "Clear this area now! And get some reinforcements!"
One guard peeled from the group and ran, shouting, "SOUND THE ALARM! TEDISIAN IS UNDER ATTACK BY SUMMONERS!!!"
----------
Tai heard the commotion from the street and cursed under his breath. "This is not good... Whoever that Summon is, he just got the whole city on us! We gotta go in and stop him!"
He sprinted through the door and into the building...
----------
The Terran turned to the seven Soul Gems, then back to the shadows. "Take them now," he hissed. "Apparantly we have Summoners for the slaughter..."
-
"That would be our best bet at the moment" Skorn replied back rather calmly as he followed after Tai, deciding to bring the Human Torch back to his Soul Gem for the time being in the process "How do you propose we go about doing this anyway?" he decided to then ask Tai, to see if he had any ideas.
***
Luna looked at the guards, then to Iron Man "Any ideas?" she asked him.
Iron Man looked to the guards, scanning each of them as he bought up a hand "Unless you lot wish to blasted down, I suggest you stand aside and allow us to search the building, we have reason to suspect that there is a theif around here, however, there must be something more to all this commotion that has been bought up before we had arrived"
***
Zoe had moved down the hallway quite a bit, however, when she heard some voices nearby, she stopped and moved to the corner of the hallway. She looked out a little, keeping quiet as she saw them "What the? What's going on here?" she asked herself rather quietly as she watched the scene slowly unfold some more.
-
Tai said nothing as he raced to catch up with the thief...
----------
"Return your creature, Summoner!" the captain demanded. "This is OUR city, and OUR laws! You are NOT above the law! And I will not let you destroy this city for your personal gains!"
The captain had reason for concern. There had been times when Summoners took on full cities, and very few nameless individuals succeeded. Those that did had no regard for life, and legend said this is what created the Wraith Generals, but this was not founded. Still, this common legend puts many nations to fear and hate the Summoners...
"Stand aside, and I shall inspect this building!"
----------
The shadows slided closer to the Soul Gems to collect them...
A shadow behind Zoe began to form and stand taller than her, brandishing a shadowy version of her own claws...
-
Skorn rushed off after Tai and placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him "We should not just rush in" he warned him and looked ahead.
However, as they were moving ahead some more, something was watching them, it remained on the ceiling, silentl as it watched the two of them, silently dropping down behind them and flexed the claws it had. The creature in question was a Phantom Slasher, a creature of the Wraiths and was ready to attack both Skorn and Tai...
***
Zoe stopped what she was doing, looking behind her slightly and saw the creature forming "A wraith?" she asked herself as she looked at the creature and what form it was taking on, looking at the claws of the creature as she clenched her hand somewhat, deciding to stand her ground at the moment.
***
Luna sighed a little bit as she looked to Iron Man "Guess I should do what he says..." she spoke and recalled Iron Man.
However, as the guards were then busy, with their backs turned, only for a little while, a small window of opertunity was found by Luna as she Summoned another one of her Summons, this time, it was Batman as she whispered to him once he appeared "Go and inspect the building....you're good like that, doing this while remaining undetected"
Batman gave off a nod back and quickly grappled his way upwards, near the stairs just as the guards turned around, yet, they did not seem to see Batman leave as they decided to keep their eyes on Luna.
Luna in turn, decided to speak up to the Captain of the guards "Sorry, I did not mean to take things so far....guess you could say, wasn't really thinking it through in the end...."
-
"I guess they came with their muscles in case Summoners were around," Tai said as he ulled out his sling and loaded it with an explosive stone. He gave a few quick twirls before launching the stone at the creature's hood...
----------
The shadow reformed again to take a more defined likeness of her before attacking. It seemed as it was moving exactly like her...
----------
The captain began sending troops inside to search the building, before turning back to the Summoner. "If I had allowed Summoners like you to run things under your own volition, I couldn't stop the city officials from having you and your fellow Summoners hunted and killed. And that would spark the destruction of our home at the hands of the more unruly Summoners..."
He was cut off when he heard the automated fire of the crossbows firing inside the building, followed by some screaming...
-
Willow was just going to inn Luna spoke off earlier, when she heard some commotion coming from aristocrat's palace. Well... 'Commotion' might be an understatement, as she could hear sounds of small explosions, screams and soldiers shouting orders. Hare decided to investigate it and so she went to building in question. When she had arrived at her destination, she saw what was left of front doors. A unit of soldier was just entering the building, but they didn't put any guards before doors to keep civilians outside. Willow was too curious about what is happening inside to miss this opportunity. She entered the building and looked around...
"Luna! What are you doing here?" Willow called out to vixen, who was standing in hall. Hare run to female fox and then she noticed the captain of he guards.
-
"Investigating" Luna whispered back to Willow as she kept her eyes on the guards "One of my Summons believes that something's going on here, but I was ordered to recall him....but don't get me wrong, I'm still investigating the place, even if I don't need to actually go anywhere....Batman will deal with things...."
She then looked to Willow for a moment "How come you're here? Did you decide to get....curious or something?"
***
Zoe stood her ground still as she watched the figure become more or a shadow clone of herself. As the figure attacked her with a fist, she swung her own fist, her glove clanking against the shadowy figure's glove.
She swung her fist in for an uppercut, only to have the figure backstepjust slighty in order to avoid the swing of the fist and grabbed Zoe by the arm. However, Zoe swung her other free fist and slammed it into the arm of the figure, causing it's grip on her to loosen enough for her to pull it away.
***
The Phantom Slasher seemed to take on the strike of the explosive stone, yet, stumbled back slightly and seemed to roar at Tai.
Skorn stepped forward, pulling out both of his swords, holding each in his hands and swung one at the creature before swinging his second at it in a lunging motion, aiming for its stomach area...
-
As the Terran colleague watched the shadows grab for the Soul Gems, he puts a hand up to his face, and began to peel off the skin and hair to reveal a dead white pale head with a vague skull-like appearance...
----------
A shadow began to emerge behind the slasher and make a move for Skorn. Tai drew a pair of tomahawks and intercepted the creature, using the reflected light from a lamp post off his blades to 'severe' the Wraith in half, and finished it off. "I take it you got the slasher?" he asked Skorn.
----------
Blood began to spray from the nearby rooms, and a blood-soaked guard came screaming back out. The captain turned and saw a hooded Wraith emerge with a rusty longsword in hand.
"A Wraith?! Why are Wraiths here?!" he drew his saber.
-
"Yes. I ended that sparring session and was going to meet you at inn, but I heard all this commotion..." Willow answered when a hooded Wraith showed up in hall. Hare was standing there motionless for a second, surprised of the sight of Wraith, but then her instincts kicked in. She reached quickly for her crossbow, loaded it with a bolt and aimed at hooded Wraith.
"Take this!" she shouted, shooting at Wraith.
-
"And Batman just had to bugger off at the wrong time...." Lunaspoke as she grabbed her dagger from her side and held it, glancing at Willow's gun and then to her own dagger, then back to Willow's gun "Oh sure....you have a good weapon to use....and all I have is this measly dagger"
However, she then turned and tossed it at the wraith, causing the knife to impale itself in the eye of the Wraith before she rushed over at the Wraith that had flinched, long enough for her to at least retrieve her knife.
***
Skorn nodded back to Tai, unflinching as the other Wraith was quickly taken care of, to which he stabbed the Slasher in the stomach and bough his sword upwards in a vertical motion. He then used his other sword to swing in a horizontal motion at the Slasher's throat, causing blood to gush out of said creature.
The Phantom Slasher started to stumble and attempted to slash at Skorn, only to miss and fall to the ground, twitching for a few seconds before stopping.
***
Batman had dropped down into the room of where the pale Wraith had revealed himself as Batman looked to the creature silently, then looked over to the shadows taking the Soul Gems "I suggest you leave them where you found them and get out of here"
***
Zoe on the other hand, was still battling her shadow self, the two seemed to be well evenly matched, neither of them were showing any signs of loosing "Man, this thing seems to know me rather well....and if that's the case....then it should hate the same things that I do...." she paused for a second and shook her head some "Nah, doing that is not worth it....." she spoke, shuddering a little, yet, ducked away from another swing of the shadowy glove and used her own glove to knock it away "Okay....fine...." she grumbled and moved in a little closer and slammed the figure up against the wall and gave it, a very quick kiss on the lips, something Zoe just did not want to do, nor did she like....yet, she noticed that the figure also did not like it.
That had given Zoe enough time to finish off the creature as she swung her claws at the creature's throat, slicing said throat open before grabbing it by the head and slamming it a few times up against the wall until she let it go and allowed the creature to drop dead onto the ground.
-
The dead and dying Wraiths struck by the heroes soon dissentigrated to dust where they fell...
----------
Tai ran ahead to the room where the thief was fighting a shadow likeness of herself, and another Summon squaring off against more shadows and a... "Faceless?" He drew back his sling again and threw another stone past the Goth thief into a shadow holding a Soul Gem. The stone exploded with a bright flash, destroying the Wraith, causing the Soul Gem to drop and land on the floor with a thud. The Gems were tough and sturdy for such drops.
The faceless turned its head to Tai and pointed at him, and a group of sword-wielding Wraiths came behind the shadows for him. The Goth again replaced his sling with his tomahawks and charged past Zoe to clash blades with the closest Wraith...
----------
(Downstairs)
After the Wraith fell, a pair of Creepers came crawling across the ceiling towards Luna, Willow, and the captain...
-
Willow followed Luna, who was retrieving her dagger, as she didn't want her and vixen be seperated. That would make them an easier targets for other Wraiths, that might be in this building. When Creepers showed up, she shot one with her crossbow, but the other Wraith was coming too fast for her to reload, so she dropped her crossbow and took out her long daggers. She assumed a defensive stance.
-
"Man, where is Batmannow?" Luna asked herself asas held onto her dagger rather tightly as she watched the creepers move rather quickly, to which she stepped back slightly to be able to stand right next to Willow "You ready?" she asked her.
***
Zoe slammed the Shadow's head into the wall one last time, the Shadow turning to dust the second it touched the wall. However, she looked over and saw Skorn approaching "You again!" she called out with a slight snarl as well.
Skorn rushed towards Zoe "I'll deal with you later" he told the Goth before rushing off after Tai in order to help him out, swinging one sword at one Wraith and blocked an attack from a second Wraith before swinging his first sword at it, starting to keep up with the numbers of Wraiths there were around.
***
As Tai and Skorn were taking care of some of the Wraiths in the room, Batman already had his hands full taking on a Shadow version of himself, yet, he was already a few steps ahead of said Shadow, as he had already landed in a few hits into the creature.
-
Tai cleaved the Cloaker down to dust before catching the eye of the fallen Soul Gem, but he wasn't the only one. The Faceless made a dive for the Gem, but Tai flung his tomahawk into the Faceless skull, dropping it dead on the floor before it became a dust ball. Tai ran for the Gem and grabbed it...and then it began to glow brightly and illuminate the dark room. The Shadows reeled back, some of them dropping their loot in Soul Gems...
----------
The captain ran out to see for the reinforcements coming with pikes, lances, and crossbows.
The second-in-command saluted him. "Reinforcements have arrived, sir! The Summoners won't stand a chance!"
"Belay that, Sergeant! Wraiths are inside the building! The Summoners must've known of this before! Just clear this block of all civilians and form a perimeter!"
"Yes, sir!"
-
Willow nodded to vixen's question "Yes. I am ready." She watched as the creepers were circling around her and Luna, seeking any signs of their defense's weakness. One of them was merely injured by hare's shot, but it caused him to slow down a bit.
-
Luna continued to eye the Creepers herself as one lunged in for Willow, only to have Luna step in front in order to at least protect Willow, swinging her dagger at the Creeper, causing it to screech a little as it moved back "Don't worry, I've got you covered"
***
Zoe groaned a little and rushed off after Skorn and Tai, looking to the two of them before swinging her glove at a few Wraiths that were in the area, slamming her fist into each of their faces with a rather hard punch.
Skorn seemed to smirk, only lightly at what Zoe was doing as he swung his sword and blocked attacks from Wraiths in general as well, doing his best to drive them off at the very least anyway.
***
Batman on the other hand, was getting ahead against his Shadow self, punching it quite a few times in the face before doing a leg sweep, knocking the Shadow off its feet and slamming his foot down into its chest afterwards, injuring it quite a bit.
-
It took moments for the Shadows and Cloakers to regain their composture, and those not already fighting were making a move for the fallen Soul Gems.
Tai had no choice but to trust this new Soul and inserted it into his Band. Another bright light lit the room and a tall brown-furred wolf in a blue uniform and with a cutlass by his side appeared.
The wolf instinctively drew his sword. "So... Where is the dirty scoundrel that kept me locked away like some lowly trinket?!" he snarled in a Spanish accent, looking around intently. His gaze fell upon the body of the aristocrat. "I see that you came upon a fate more merciful than what I intend for you, my friend..."
Tai cocked an eyebrow at the Summon. "Um... And you are?"
The wolf turned to the Goth in response. "Aha! You must be the one that released me! And a pale one at that... Let me introduce myself." He bowed low. "I am Don Karnage, the toughest air pirate the world has ever seen! And what would be your name, my pale-faced compadre?"
"Um..Tai. And...maybe we can finish introductions later..." He picked his tomahawk and gestured to the Wraiths.
Karnage looked behind him and smirked, twirling his saber. "I see... It's been a long time since I cut down your kind! Well then?"
Tai and Karnage readied themselves as the Cloakers attacked...
-
"Good idea...."Skorn spoke as he pulled out the Soul Gem he had newly recieved from Tai a little while ago and decided to use it without so much as a second thought.
A second bright light emerged and engulfed the room before moments later, someone stood there who had emerged from the Soul gem. The character in question was a tigeress, who wore a martial arts-like uniform with no visible weaponary on her.
She looked in the direction of the Wraiths, but ignored them for the time being and looked upon Skorn and to his Summon Band and gave off a light smirk in the process "I take it that youwere that one that had....I suppose you could say, Summoned me? You do not have any idea of how long I have been stuck inside that gem for" she told Skorn "You may call me Tigeress"
Skorn gave her a nod back "Skorn" he told her simply as he clutched his swords again "But I'm afraid we must cut out little chat short for now, first....we must clean up here"
Tigeress looked to the Wraiths again and smirked some more getting into a more, crouching, martial arts, defensive related position, one arm forward and the other back, ready to strike at the Wraiths the moment they would get close "Fine by me...." she spoke as she eyed each and every Wraith around.
-
The remaining Shadows and Cloakers on the upper floor attacked at once. Don Karnage parried three Cloakers sword into the wood floor, sticking them in. Tai jumped over on Karnage's soldiers as he swept his tomahawk in sideways, slashing the Wraiths down. As Tai landed back on the floor, he dropped to one knee to give room as Karnage impaled an incoming Shadow...
Downstairs, the Creepers were joined by four more Cloakers as they rushed in at Willow and Luna...
-
Batman had taken care of his shadow self moments later and decided it was now best to go and help out Luna as he rushed off, leaving Tai and the others to take care of the Wraiths around.
***
Luna stood her ground still as she watched the Creepers approaching before four more Cloakers appeared. She looked to her dagger for a moment and gulped a little.
However, the Cloakers were stopped as a Batarang came flying more or less out of nowhere and struck two of them in the head and a voice was heard "One should not pick on others like that" he told the Cloakers as one lunged in to attack Batman, only to have him counter and elbow the Cloaker in the face followed by a punch into another Cloaker's face.
***
Tigeress looked from left to right before giving off a smirk again and moved from her position, striking one Cloaker in the stomach followed by another punch to a Shadow's face as she then elbowed another Shadow in the face, doing a backflip in the process and slamming her feet down onto the chest of another Cloaker.
Skorn just smiled to himself lightly as he started to take out Wraiths himself, watching as each of them slowly started to drop and turn to dust.
***
Zoe, in the middle of all the fighting, simply walked over to the Soul gems that were left unguarded, punched a Faceless in the face as she grabbed as many as she could, at least five of them, putting them into her pocket, punching the same Faceless again in the face before she started to slowly make her way out of the room amongst all the fighting.
-
As Karnage was cutting down the last of the Shadows, Tai grapples with a Cloaker and tosses it through a window right next to where Zoe stood, shattering the glass on it's way out.
The guards outside turned to see the Wraith hurled out the window and they brought their pikes up to impale it, the cloth shredded on the lances before the whole becomes dust...
-
As the Wraith crashed through the window beside Zoe, she peered her head out for a second then looked back to Tai "Thank you" was all she said as she stepped up onto the window sill before digging her metal claws into the side of the building and slowly started to climb back up towards the rooftop.
***
Tigeress continued to take out Wraith after Wraith using only her bare hands and her martial arts skills while Skorn continued to take out his own set of Wraiths as he spoke up "These Wraiths better be stopping their attack soon....not sure if I can keep this up for too much longer...."
***
Meanwhile, Batman continued to take out Cloakers downstairs while Luna was face to face with a Creeper herself, brandishing her dagger at the Creeper before ducking one of the swipes of the creature and slashed back at it across the face with her dagger.
-
Meanwhile, Willow was fighting with other Creeper, who had circled around her a bit and then leaped at her. Hare waited to last second, then she jumped out of a way and slashed Creeper with her dagger, injuring one of his arms. He tried to hit her once again, but she was too fast for him. Willow jumped once again, this time behind the Wraith and before he could react, she sank the blade of dagger right in Creeper's head. That was a final blow, as Creeper turned into a dust.
-
The captain looked up to see someone climbing up the side of the wall, using claws. "That Reaper Summoner really was right," he said...
Behind the group, a one-wheeled cycle buzzed by and came to a stop. The driver stepped off and removed his helmet to reveal a caucasian Terran...
----------
Tai barely noticed the thief escape as the Wraiths were being dwindled fast on the upper floors. Those near Karnage were already taken down to dust...
-
Zoe continued to climb up the side of the building, grumbling to herself in the process as well "This was not how anything was suppose to turn out...."
***
Soon, both Tigeress and Skorn had taken out their group of Wraiths each, to which the two of them ended up back to back and looking around "We could be in the clear" Tigeress spoke up rather softly as she moved from her fighting stance to a more straight up, relaxed stance.
Skorn too, became a bit more relaxed as he looked over to Tai "You think that's all of them?" he decided to ask the Goth.
***
Luna continued to duck and dodge the attacks from the Creeper as she slashed at it some more, before jamming her dagger into its throat, causing the Creeper in turn, to turn to dust, as Luna continued to hold onto her dagger.
Batman in turn, had finished off his set of Wraiths and walked over to both Luna and Willow, looking at Willow for a moment before looking to Luna "That should have taken care of the Wraiths for the time being"
-
Tai looked around. "It must be all of them on this floor..." he replied, and noticed something odd. He spots the gleam of only one Soul Gem on the floor. "Hey, there's supposed to be six of them here..."
"Wasn't your pale-faced lady friend helping you with that?" Don Karnage responded as he twirled his sword.
"Pale-faced? ...The thief!"
----------
Some passersbys outside gasped and pointed at the side of the wall. A Creeper has rounded the corner outside and is bearing closer to Zoe...
A loud bang is heard and a small ball of light shoots from the lower larger barrel of the Terran's revolver for the Creeper, exploding with concussive force and crushing the Wraith into a silouhette on the wall...
----------
Tai recognized the noise and ran to the window, quickly finding the person in the crowd. "Kenshi! You're late!"
"I got one, didn't I?" Kenshi answered back.
-
Zoe watched as the Creeper was killed before it managed to reach her, causing her to give off a sigh of relief "Whew....that was a little too close for comfort" she muttered, glancing downward before grabbing onto the ledge of the roof and pulling herself up onto it.
However, she made no attempt to even stick around any longer as she then bolted for it, building up momentum in order to run and jump along the rooftops with ease.
***
Skorn rushed out with Tigeress and looked to where the shot was fired, only to see the thief escape as he looked to Tai and Kenshi as Tigeress spoke up "Looks like she got away"
Skorn nodded back to Tigeress as he then spoke up himself "Did you grab the Soul Gem?"
-
"Is this what you're looking for?" Don Karnage replied, with the only other Soul Gem left in hand. "If these weren't made of those like my beautiful self, I'd be stealing them." He hands it to Tai, who placed it in his pack with the only Soul Gem remaining from the Goth's earlier adventures.
Kenshi breaks open the breach of the small grenade launcher to reload it. "What's the situation downstairs?" he called up.
"Don't know!" Tai called back. "We're just about to head down ourselves!"
"I'll meet you inside, then!" With handgun in hand, Kenshi calmly but cautiously entered the front door...
-
"So what we do now?" Willow asked, looking around to make sure that no more Wraiths were sneaking about.
-
Skorn looked to Tai for a moment "You go and meet your friend, Tigeress and myself will remain here, just in case any other Wraiths do decide to show up here" he nodded to him.
Tigeress just folded her arms as she remained watching both Tai and Karnage, yet, did not say a word to them.
***
Luna was about to speak up when she heard somethin from behind them, turning around, about to throw her dagger at the figure, but stopped when she realized it wasn't a Wraith, to which she lowered her dagger.
Batman stepped up beside Luna, looking at Kenshi as he entered "He's defiently not a Wraith, friend of yours I take it?"
Luna shook her head "No, I don't even know him"
-
Tai returned Karnage to his Soul Gem as he ran down to the ground floor. Kenshi holstered his gun as he spotted his friend.
"You got everything above?" the Terran asked.
"From what I could tell," Tai replied. "Glad you came though."
"Had some issues of my own with Dark Ryders when Baldor called me. I knew I couldn't make it until nightfall. Anyway, you know how they came in?"
The Goth shook his head. "This mess started before I showed up."
The captain heard the question as he entered. "I know they didn't come in from the streets," he answered. "That big a number couldn't have come through the roof without being spotted. They must've come through the floor from the sewers. This city is a labyrinth with them."
"Then let's find where they came in," Kenshi said.
-
Luna seemed then shrug a little to herself "I guess we're not needed here anymore...." she muttered to Batman before returning him to his Soul Gem and looking to Willow "If you want to come, you can....I'm just going to go for a walk or something now...." was all she said as she put her dagger into her pocket and started to head off out the door, leaving the crime scene alone.
***
Zoe had soon enough, landed on top of the inn of where Alex was, clambering down the side of the inn to where the window was to Alex's room, slowly opening it up and slipping inside.
-
Tai and Kenshi couldn't stop Luna as she left the building.
"Oh duh," Tai said, and turned to Willow. "Willow, this is Kenshi. Ken, Willow."
Kenshi looked to Willow and nodded.
-
"I'll catch up with you later!" Willow shouted after Luna, then she turned to Tai and Kenshi. If they were going to look for some clues why Wraiths came to this city, then she wanted to join them. Who knows? Maybe those Wraiths were sent by the General, who had been her personal enemy since 3 years ago...
"Pleasure to meet you" he greeted Kenshi.
***
Alexandra was evidently waiting for Zoe, as she didn't show any signs of surprise when the Goth entered the room silently.
"Ah... There you are. Without a pursuit on your tail, I hope?" she asked sarcastically "I heard there was some great commotion in aristocrat building. Were you responsible for it?"
-
Kenshi led the way deeper into the building, finding a back room where a series of steps lead to the cellar...and slain bodies strewn across the floor...
"I'm guessing they came up through here," Tai said.
-
Willow leaned over the dead bodies to investigate them briefly.
"I would say, that one of these is quite fresh. Perhaps, he was killed by someone, who was escaping this place," she said.
-
"Well, we knew one person escaped," Kenshi replied. "But she left by the roof."
"All this looks fresh to me," Tai added. "The fight didn't take that long at all..."
The Terran looked down the stairwell to the cellar. He drew his gun and cocked back the pin before being the first to walk down the flight into the darkness...
-
"This one smell of a sewer though," Willow pointed out "Others might have died while they tried to stop Wraiths from entering, when this one could have been killed by someone or something that was leaving this palace."
She looked from dead body to Terran, who was walking down the flight. Hare reloaded her crossbow, which she had picked up after the battle, and followed Kenshi.
OCC: Do you know if MrDrake will still be playing with us? He has been a bit quiet lately...
-
(OOC: Last I heard, MrDrake has been having new home issues and is trying to get Internet set up there.)
Kenshi reached the bottom of the stairs, staring off into darkness. He quickly switched the grenade in the bottom launcher with another item, and fired it into the darkness. It was a flare, and it lit the room nearly as bright as day...
----------
Still upstairs, Tai and the captain of the guard were about to follow when a noise turned their attention to a blood-spattered cabinet in the corner of the room. Blades at the ready, they moved to the cabinet and swung the door. Inside, a Terran man huddled at the bottom of the cabinet. By his clothes, he was perhaps a servant of the house...
-
(OOC: Yeah, conncetion is still being a pain....but I am doing my best with it at the moment XD)
Zoe placed the Summoners Gems onto the table, not saying a word to Alexandra, just looking at her, still unimpressed with what she had to go through to collect the gems.
After a few moments, she spoke up "I couldn't care less if anyone followed me anymore, that task was a waste of my time, it was like walking into a death trap....so just give me my coins and I can be on my way"
Zoe indeed, did not sound too pleased at the moment, she indeed, just wanted to get her coins and get out of there as soon as she could.
-
Alexandra was looking at Gems intently, checking if they were real. Then she nodded her head approvingly.
"Hmm... You did better than I've hoped," she said to Zoe "Good. You kept your side of the deal, so I will keep mine."
Aleaxandra reached to small bag, lying beside her seat and took out five small coin purses and gave them to Zoe.
"As we agreed, there is one thousand gold coins in each ot these."
-
"We got a survivor," Tai said.
"By the look of his clothes, he must be one of the servants," the captain replied, and tapped the Terran's shoulder to get his attention. "Did you see what happened?"
"I only saw them coming up from underneath the cellar," the man stammered, his face stained with spattered blood. "I knew they would come for them. It was a bad omen from the start..."
"Start? Explain..."
"I can't! My master swore death if I told!"
"I don't think he'll be able to do that now pal," Tai replied.
"So talk..." the captain added.
The servant gulped before he began. "The master came into possession of two gems by a chance run-in on his annual commute through the desert. He didn't think of them as valuable until after he came across a Summoner he thought was an assassin. My master had him killed and discovered the gems on the dead warrior, and then his obsession started into a dangerous goal. Last year, another Summoner came to attend a festival, and he had her killed too for her gems. There were warnings of such a collection luring monsters and vengful Summoners here. But he would not listen. He threw this very fair to lure more Summoners..."
"I knew I never liked the guy," the captain said, "but I'd never expect him to go this far..."
----------
While the room was lit, Kenshi reached the bottom of the stairs to allow Willow through. What he found almost immediately was a grate in the floor to the sewer, ripped open from underneath. He reloaded with another flare and fired into the aqueduct, to see a momentary glimpse of a grotesque monstrous face before a giant hand with blade-like claws reached out through the hole at him. He fell back, missing the blades by inches, and rolled away before the hand came down on where he once stood...
-
Kenshi landed on his rear, but kept his gun at the ready and unloaded it into the hand. The monster roared and its hand raked back into the sewer, leaving deep gashes in the floor.
"You ain't getting away THAT easily!" the Terran said, pulling out a Soul Gem and inserted it into his Band. A bright light illuminated the room again, this time a tall wolf Fur-like Summon in armor and a cape stood.
"You summoned me, Kenshi?" the wolf asked.
"We got a big Wraith in there! Can you get him from up here, Greyfas?"
"Of course!" Greyfas answered, and drew a whip made of energy, then snapped it into the sewer. Explosions rocked the sewer, and more unholy screams echoed through the area, followed by heavy thuds leading away from underneath the cellar.
Just then, Tai reached the stairwell. "What you find?!" he called.
"We got something in the aqueducts! See if you can find it when it gets out!"
"I'm on it!" Tai then sprinted back outside...