Jack
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"I'll live forever, or die trying.."
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:35:28 GMT -5
(Onizuka) Cold. Numbing sheets of ice covered Onizuka, his violent shivering breaking Onizuka free of his dreamless sleep. The faint light of the molten orange portal reflecting off the fresh snow and to Onizuka's twitching eyelids. He stupidly rubbed his hands across the frost dusting his side, not realizing at first that he had reverted to his human form in his sleep. Onizuka sighed, exhaling a cloud of vaporous heat, and pushed himself up out of the snow.
There was no sign of Zeroth or Mithos, and as the former tiger scanned the icy woods, he realized with a start his companions were considerably closer then he'd expected. The warmth at his side was Finch, who was sleeping against the tree next to him. On the other side of her was BioDiesel, whose head was down, leaning his warhammer on the tree that was at their backs. Onizuka did his best to sit up in the snow quietly. Awkward, he thought. Time to find some clothes.
Wandering around a lightless forest naked, however, held little appeal to Onizuka. Clenching his teeth so that they didn't chatter, Onizuka tiptoed past Finch and carefully took a loose fold of BioDiesel's cloak. With all of his strength Onizuka wrenched on the cloak, pulling the larger man up and causing the warhammer to slide down the tree trunk, where it bonked into BioDiesel's head. By the time BioDiesel came awake and fully to his senses, Onizuka was wearing his cloak, and BioDiesel was left in his long sleeved shirt and with a bruise on his head. Finch tiredly opened her eyes and looked up in confusion at Bio and Oni.
"Who the Hell are you?!" BioDiesel reached back and wrapped his metal fingers around the handle of his war hammer.
Mithos dropped back down to the snow beside them from his sentry position, his hand ready on the hilt of Aenior. "The tiger's gone," he said, nodding towards the empty spot in the snow.
"I'm the tiger," Onizuka said, his green eyes flashing. "I forgot to pack a scarf." He pulled the cloak tighter around him and stared back at BioDiesel, who was looming over him.
The snow across the clearing crunched as Zeroth jumped down from the branch he'd been sleeping in. "So what's your name?" The shivering cloaked man turned and faced the teen. "Onizuka, former Lord of the Styx. And you are..?"
They all made their belated introductions, save for Finch, who just shrugged and stared back at them, not giving a name. Zeroth and Mithos were able to help Onizuka, lending him a pair of spare boots and some fitting garments to wear under the cloak. Mithos offered to find the scarred man a weapon from one of the snowy battlefields near the site, but he politely declined. "Well you seem to be most informed about what's going on in Hell, do you have any sort of plan?" Onizuka frowned, thinking back to the last things he had felt in the Styx before giving his power to Evelyn. "The group Zeroth spoke of is indeed moving through Hell, by now they must be in at least the Second or Third levels." Mithos looked down at the ground. "They're truly our enemies?"
"I know an enemy when I meet them," BioDiesel interjected, and Finch gave a confirming nod. "Me and this girl fought a young woman in the Second level."
"Well then, we can either wait here complacently...or go down to meet them." Mithos said calmly. "You three fell back to this position because you needed support, if we travel as a group we should be able to fight effectively. Of course.. it would mean going back down into Hell. Are you prepared for this?"
The former Lord of the Styx looked around the snowy wasteland thoughtfully. "It doesn't really matter to me. In the years since I was last at Earth it seems some misfortune has come across the land of the living.." Finch shrugged, not caring either way, and BioDiesel frowned and looked down at the hammer in his hands. Zeroth's hand crept to the cross on the necklace about his own neck and said, "Why the heck not?" Mithos looked to BioDiesel.
"That's the majority. So are you with us?"
The huge man chuckled and hefted the hammer in his hands. "Wouldn't miss it," he said gruffly, though Finch recognized a hint of regret in his tone.
"I think we've wasted enough time, then." Mithos said, his thoughts wandering again to his past. "Let's move out now." He spread his wings and flew through the portal, followed by Zeroth and Onizuka. Finch looked at BioDiesel questioningly before turning and stepping through, taking out her throwing star as she did. BioDiesel groaned and jumped through the wall of fire, his hammer ready and tight in his grip.
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Jack
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"I'll live forever, or die trying.."
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:35:44 GMT -5
(Villeria) Grasping at air for all she was worth, Villeria clung to the ground beneath her. She had opened a water portal to create a “baptismal transference” from Earth to this unknown world called Hell. Stupid of me to forget to make allowances for air. I hadn’t expected the trip to take this long. What kind of place is this? Villeria pushed the water away from her body and looked around. Hell was certainly depressing. Villeria had heard that Hell was pure evil yet this place seemed to contain a fiar amount of hope. I can find him. I know I can. I just have to… Villeria looked around and felt hope slipping out of reach. Damn Kalvar! He deserves to be here in my stead that selfish-. “Ah!” Villeria, feeling her soul pulled downward, looked at the ground with wide eyes. Did the ground just pull me towards it? A shadow fell over Villeria and she looked up slowly. A weary priest stood gazing sadly at Villeria’s huddled form. “My dear your soul is heavy with despair and anger. If you wish to reach Heaven you must shed these burdens.” Villeria stood on uncertain legs with a puzzled look on her face. “I had heard that Hell had no doorway into Heaven.” The Priest smiled slightly. “I see… you were not sent here for dying. You came of your own volition did you not?” Villeria nodded and brushed the dusty soil from her hands. “Young lady Purgatory is a place for souls with a chance. Arriving here shows that you have hope. I assume you have come here because of the ongoing war?” Villeria assumed the priest spoke of her own world’s war. “That’s right sir.” “Well, in that case you must be looking for the rest of your group.” “My group?” “Yes.” Villeria simply nodded absentmindedly. Something about this priest did not feel right. Somehow she knew that the way he expected her to go was not the way she needed to go. In the distance she spotted a large forest. It was then that she knew where Telamichious might be found in vague sense. “Thank you for your help kind sir. I’m sorry I must leave you now.” Villeria turned toward the forest and felt the confusion in the Priest’s eyes burning into her back. “Wait! That is not the right path!” Villeria walked away without another word to the priest. The burden he had spoken of now sat impatiently in her throat. Hope to find you… The path through the forest was much shorter than Villeria had imagined it might be. She had not seen anything remotely vicious or threatening along the way. I can’t believe that not one creature lives in this forest to question my presence here. I suppose it doesn’t matter now. Villeria found a creature’s remains near a large door. I suppose that explains the lack of life forms. Villeria stepped through the door and hoped for the best.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:36:16 GMT -5
(Kyi\\Finch) Finch stepped out of the unburning flames of the portal, followed by BioDiesel. Yawning, she slid her hands into her jacket pockets, along with her weapon. She only now realized how hungry she was, and how nice a cupcake would be right about now. Last thing she ate was about two days ago, it seemed, and they were un-filling herbs and leaves.
Bio and Finch gathered up with Mithos, Onizuka and Zeroth, who were all greeted by the priest. Bio nodded to him, and the priest seemed glad to see him. "Nice to see you again, sir." The priest talked to Bio, then to everyone, "What are you all doing here? I've seen you two," he nodded to Finch and Bio, "But who are you all? And, why, might I ask, are you returning?" Onizuka replied first, "I'm the tiger from earlier today, and these two are from Darkened Sun, the land beyond that portal. We're here for the war, and we're going farther down to find the people we are against." The priest nodded in understanding, stepping to the side to let them go to the gate that lead to Limbo.
They walked along quietly, save Mithos and Zeroth, who continually whispered to one another about something. Finch stayed near the back, a bit behind Bio, shuffling her feet as she went, wondering if any of the others were as hungry as she was.
After passing the church, Bio directed them to the gate that lead to the path that lead to Limbo. It still looked fairly the same, with the dead Minotaur by it, and the gate doors still creaked open. Mithos and Zeroth's whispering had ceased, and they all stepped through the gate, making a two-lined line. Bio and Oni walked together, Zeroth and Mithos, then Finch walking slowly at the end. The trees by them were rather dense, and the path they walked on seemed to have been made purposely.
Bio spoke up, "So, these people should be in the second or third levels?" He grunted, hefting his warhammer up higher on his shoulder. Oni nodded, "We'll go through Limbo and check out the second level, if no one's there we'll either wait or keep going." Everyone nodded, save Finch, who was drifting off in her thoughts, staring at the almost bare trees.
It was a shorter walk then Bio, Oni, and Finch remembered. They had reached now the castle wall with the makeshift door. After stepping through, Mithos flapped his wings gently, "Are we going to take a rest here, or keep going?" Finch scoffed, and Mithos shot her an annoyed glance. "We're going to keep going. We don't need much of a rest, and we might as well get to them before they get to us," Oni said.
Quietly, and in their orderly little fashion, they went through the portal to the second level. When they appeared there, Zeroth blantly said, "You know, Bio, you still owe me some coffee."
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:36:45 GMT -5
(Fett) "..Sure, son, I'll brew some coffee right outta the guts of the next demon we face," BioDiesel said, grinning and giving his warhammer a mock swing. The giant man was walking just in front of Finch, wanting to keep her safe as he felt responsible for her. Mithos was taking point, as he was fastest and generally paying more attention to his surroundings then Zeroth. Onizuka and Zeroth walked just ahead of BioDiesel, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they could be ambushed at any moment.
"Fine by me. Just make sure it's a cappuchino demon first."
Light broke through the twilight of the forest shade and one by one they stepped out into the clearing, the same sandstone cliff edge BioDiesel had met Finch on. The spot had a breathtaking vista of Limbo, the thick forest framing the aging sandstone castle. BioDiesel turned and watched Finch step up to the edge, something in her eyes. Is this like returning home for her? Does she consider any place home? His thoughts were interrupted by Zeroth, who punched him lightly in the back and motioned toward the castle.
"Somebody in there. Third set of arches, from the left." The yawning windows of the castle were wide and easy to see through due to the castle's decrepit state. In the set of archways Zeroth was pointing at, BioDiesel got a brief glimpse of a woman before she dissappeared behind a crumbling wall. Her hair had been long and dark, and her attire unfitting a journey through Hell. A curious expression had been on the young woman's face, and BioDiesel couldn't deny that she was attractive. He glanced back at Finch, but the unreadable emotion in her eyes had been replaced with a weary determination again.
"No one I recognize," Onizuka said, tucking his hands inside his cloak. "Mithos, head down there and cut her off. Stall her if you can, if she starts fighting, back off." As Mithos spread his wings and dove over the cliff edge, Onizuka turned to the stone stairway which had been cut into the cliffside, nodding for the others to follow. Finch tailed closely behind, followed by the lumbering BioDiesel, and a confused Zeroth trotting after them.
"What's goin' on? Do we know who she is?" Zeroth was having difficulty keeping pace, and he was unable to pass the hulking BioDiesel on the narrow stairway.
Onizuka continued running downward but called back, "If she's an enemy, we need to eliminate her before any of her fellows arrive. If she's an ally, it would be better to have her join us before we continue on lower. Either way, we could easily lose her in that enormous castle."
BioDiesel looked down at Finch's slight form as she took the steps four at a time. "This girl should take point then, she knows this castle better then anyone in Hell, likely." Finch looked back over her shoulder and gave Bio a nod. Shortly they had reached the bottom of the stairs and ran across a small stone courtyard, overgrown with weeds and small invading plants. The entrance to the castle stood like a stark shadow against the castle wall, arched and decorated with reliefs of demons and battles, all of which were filled with moss and mold. The silvery haired girl silently led them down several dark halls, across an enormous banquet room, and up a curving staircase.
Villeria Jouliard, who had been hopelessly lost since she entered the castle, was finding the corridors she traversed more and more familiar, and feared she'd seen them not long ago. She knew Telamichious was nowhere near this castle, and the circles she'd been wandering brought her no closer to finding him. She slapped the wall beside her in frustration, vowing to exit the castle via the next window she found and start over again. The end of the hallway she was in had light shining across it, she supposed there was an arched window nearby. From there it would be a simple matter of using her family element to float herself down however many levels to the ground. How many staircases did I go up? She wondered bleakly, wishing she'd kept her mind on the surroundings she'd never expected to see again. Villeria turned the corner, brushing aside the moss which hung like a veil from the chink in the ceiling, just as the light pouring through the window of the new hallway flickered and then darkened.
A small burst of panic fled through her, as she recalled some of the creatures she'd been told existed in Hell. Her heartbeat raced and she backed away from the shadowy figure that stepped through the archway, and before she knew what she was doing a bolt of lightning struck the figure, blindingly flashing down the hallway and etching the would-be assailant with tendrils of electricity. The figure gave a soft groan before collapsing, and for a moment Villeria was sure it was Telamichious. She gasped and rushed forward, and even as she did so, the similarities to her love she found in the figure faded back into her imagination where they'd sprung from. This man wasn't Telamichious. He wasn't even an Elemeleon, for odd blue wings stretched out from his back across the floor. He was wearing an armor of a strange make, from which whisps of smoke were rising from the force of her lightning bolt. Feeling slightly embarrased, Villeria drew on her water element, pulling moisture from the damp corridor into a small ball of floating water she could use for healing. I suppose I should at least revive him so that I can ask him what he knows, Villeria thought. And perhaps apologize for being a bit jumpy..
Finch stalked around the dark causeway and into the corridor where Villeria was beginning to heal Mithos. Her throwing star was ready in hand, and she was pulling her arm back to throw when Onizuka gently held her wrist back. Villeria looked up in suprise at BioDiesel's heavy footstep, seeing now four people filling the end of the hallway. She pushed off the ground and out of her crouch, stepping back slowly from Mithos.
"What are you?" Onizuka called out, trying not to escalate the tense situation if she wasn't in fact an enemy. From their standpoint it looked very much like Villeria had beaten Mithos into submission and was crouching over him to steal his soul, or something of the like.
"I know what she is," BioDiesel said darkly. He brushed past Finch and tightened his grip on his warhammer. "Cappuchino demon. Zeroth, prepare to collect." Finch rolled her eyes and Zeroth looked slightly alarmed.
"Hey, we don't know that she's an ene--" Zeroth's voice was drowned out by BioDiesel as he thundered forward, his giant body filling the hallway as he pulled his warhammer back to swing at Villeria..
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:37:05 GMT -5
(Villeria) What's going on?! Villeria realzied that she might appear threatening but did that really validate coming at her with a war hammer? No time for discussion. Is everyone in Hell like this? Villeria tossed the water in her hands onto the ground and iced it over. BioDiesel was moving too fast to stop in time. Instead he skidded on the ice and had to grab at the wall to steady himself. "I don't know who you are or what you want with me. I have no quarrel with any of you." Villeria noticed that the rather agressive one had companions who were more willing to listen. BioDiesel now had full control of his faculties as the thin ice melted quite quickly. He lifted his hammer to charge again. "What do you want with me?!" Villeria was frustrated to the point of tears. "I did not mean to hurt your winged friend! He surprised me!" The war hammer slammed down where Villeria had been moments before. Onizuka shouted something inaudible which, judging by his gestures, referred to avoiding Mithos unconcious body. Villeria stared at her attacker for a moment. No...does this guy recognize me? The hammer dropped and Villeria dodged again. Now lightning struck out randomly. BioDiesel took a full blast which protected his companions. BioDiesel fell to one knee and Villeria propped herself up on the wall. "Now-" Villeria spoke between deep breaths "What do you want with me?" BioDiesel stood up slowly hissing out one word full of venom. "Elemeleon" He only knows what I am. Villeria absorbed what moisture she could from the damp wall and started running. She simply wanted out of the castle and away from that metal man who hated her kind. She could hear his heavy footsteps growing louder. Another set followed not too far behind his. Villeria felt that now all too familiar tug at her heart at she began to despair of ever accomplishing her goal. What will be left of him anyway? Scraps of clothing? A scattering of bones? A mere ghost? A broken form of what she knew?
Perhaps her desperation and emotions of futility led the gate to show itself. Perhaps the Priest's warning held some truth after all. Unlike the first gate which was slightly unyielding this one seemed to beckon Villeria onward. Villeria raced through the gate pushing at it with a force that was not required. "Where are you?!" The cry which escaped her lips was heard faintly by BioDiesel as Villeria slipped into the second level of Hell unaware of the horrors she had yet to face.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:37:30 GMT -5
(Onizuka) BioDiesel's pursuit was halted suddenly, as inhumanly strong hands grabbed him from behind and stalled his forward movement. When the enormous man let go of his warhammer and turned, the familiar tiger stripes were already dissappearing from Onizuka's face. The former lord of the Styx growled in Bio's face. "If she wasn't our enemy, she certainly is now." he let go of BioDiesel and turned back from the open gate to the second level. "Zeroth and the girl are waiting back with Mithos. If you can control yourself we could use you in our group." Onizuka's features returned completely to human state as he vanished behind one of the castle's sandstone walls.
Blue, with secondary colors green, gold, and silver were symbolic representations of different aspects of Elemeleon connotations for Love's sorrow, hope, and despair. But the Elemeleons are just a fairy tail..Aren't they? Swearing nastily, BioDiesel nudged the tip of his boot under the handle of his hammer and kicked it up to his hand with practiced ease. The shadow of the gate beckoned to him, the pagan Elemeleon still within his reach..But she could wait. The experimental project turned and slung the hammer back over his shoulder, following the tiger-man back through the castle.
Mithos was still unconcious, having been moved from the corridor into one of the castle's side rooms, which was if anything more dank and musty. Zeroth seemed suprised to see Onizuka bring Bio back, while Finch just gave him one of her quiet nods. They had the wounded Cruxis leaning against one of the crumbling walls, his wings tucked neatly behind him. The girl with 'Finch' sewn into her jacket worried the snowflake-like throwing star between her thumb and forefinger, and Zeroth tiredly sat down against the wall opposite Mithos with Oni and Bio.
"She got away?" He asked, rolling his head towards the huge man.
BioDiesel gave him a sour look and set his hammer down on the cold floor with a thump. "I'll find you a cappuccino demon later."
"You know what...Don't worry about it."
The tiger-stripe man slumped lower against the wall, looking back to his companions. "We ran into a bit of bad luck. Chasing after the Elemeleon girl would divide us, unless we agree to leave Mithos behind." Mention of the advanced elf bade the others to turn to regard him, the armored Cruxis' brow furrowed in pain as he struggled through unconciousness. "We're not really sure at the moment what's been done to him, but for now we're operating on the assumption he'll snap out of it. He's the only one of our group who can fly, and I've been under the impression that sword of his isn't just for show." Finch gave no response, but her eyes seemed to agree with Onizuka.
Zeroth dipped his head. "We'll wait here until he wakes up. This fortress is fairly defensible, should we be attacked in the meantime."
"Bio?" Onizuka asked, staring at the brooding man with green tiger eyes.
"I'm with you," the man replied in his bassy voice.
For a while they sat, dismally staring out the room's small arched window, and before long the limboists came out of their hiding places, and could be seen flitting among the trees, unsure of what was going on inside the castle. Finch sat and stared at them without emotion, her thoughts elsewhere. A pair of throwing knives emerged from Zeroth's boots, which he took the free time to spend sharpening, while Bio sat back and tried to regain some of the sleep Onizuka had stolen from him earlier. That same former tiger wandered away from the group, drawing on the olfactory sense his tiger side afforded him. Something in the castle smelled familiar..He could swear Evelyn had passed through here, her scent was faintly tracing some of the stones near the gateway.
Strange, he thought. Perhaps the business she had to conduct extended as far upward as Limbo.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:40:33 GMT -5
(Villeria) What is that awful noise? Villeria couldn't see a thing. She wiped tears from her eyes in an effort to clear her vision. Nothing helped. Villeria felt wind die and rage about her. Inaudible screams were coming from every direction. Well, I suppose I'm looking for another gate. How can I look if I can't see? Villeria sighed and sat quietly digging her hands into the earth in a very meditative gesture. There wasn't much earth here but... it was reassuring. Villeria held up a hand in front of her and created a small ball of lightning to better see. She instantly regretted regaining her sight. People everywhere being tortured in the most unmentionable ways most of which Villeria could not even begin to understand let alone put into coherent thought. She dimmed the ball and stood up. I have to get out of here now. Villeria took three steps and climbed onto a small rock. She let the lightning free from her hand, illuminating a large part of the second level for a brief moment. All around Villeria were swirling winds containing so many people. All of whom were screaming, crying and begging to be released. Villeria hated having to view more of this horror. The momentary flash helped Villeria confirm her suspicions that her pursuers had not followed her. Villeria sat down for a moment and listened for noises other than the screams. There were a few which she picked up on. Some very slow scraping sounds like rock on rock could be heard coming towards her from a distance. Time to run again. The light will be like a beacon but it really can't be helped. Villeria released the ball once more and looked around her. There! In the distance she saw a weather beaten gate. Before taking of VIlleria distiguished the ball and momentarily concentrated on light. The Priest was right. I can't survive this place without hope. Villeria turned the 'happy thoughts' conjured up in to her heart and immediately felt more hopeful about her mission. She brought back the lightning ball she illuminated about three feet all the way around her, jumped off the rock and ran quickly towards the gate.
She had been running for fifteen minutes already. The sliding rock sounds had turned into rumbling like dull thunder.Rock creatures. Why am I not surprised? Villeria let the lightning widen to a mile radius. A few stocky rock creatures could be seen heading towards her from the edge of the light. The gate was barely touched by the bright lightning. Villeria pushed herself to go faster. I'm not up for fighting these guys right now. They'll take time that I just don't have. Villeria continued her sprinter's pace while maintaing the mile radius of light. now the gate was fully illuminated as well as the stone creatures standing in front of it. Since when have they been standing there? Like living statues the short creatures stood waiting to attack. Meanwhile, the others were drawing in behind Villeria. What's in this place that I could use? No water, little earth, pleanty of rock and a lot... of wind. Villeria extinguished the lightning and pushed her arms forawrd and out with a sweeping motion. At the same time wind from two nearby tornadoes slammed into the two sentry creatures and then pushed them to the sides of the gate. Villeria reconjured teh ball of lightning just as she reached the gate. Stone hands grabbed her and caught air instead. The light died out of the second level returning it to its natural dark state.
NRP: I usually don't rush a story line this much but... being in a level all by my lonesome seems somewhat boring.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:41:01 GMT -5
(Mithos) Mithos, in his slumped form against the wall, began to slowly show signs of movement. After about a minute, he opened his eyes, and looked about the fortress, seeing the entire group there. He slowly stood up, using the wall behind him to support him. He looked about again, and studied where they were. "I wasn’t here before…What happened?" He looked at Zeroth and Oni opposite him; he looked down and shook his head.
“What happened? Where are we? All I remember is a great flash of light, then nothing…” He studied each of the members of the group’s faces. He looked down, and saw that he had been struck in the shoulder by something of great heat. Charred skin was peeling and flaking off onto the ground still. He placed his hand upon it, and could still feel a searing heat. When he brought his hand away, much of the skin came with it…Blood began to slowly trickle down his back and chest, which was covered in armor and so was invisible from the shoulder down.
“A girl struck you, somehow. When you were flying ahead to identify her for us, she struck you with something bright and powerful, and with searing heat. Most likely lightning. We found you unconscious, and she looked to be doing something hostile. Bio gave her a good scare.” Zeroth informed him. He then lowered his head once more, resuming his daydream about having found a suitable ‘cappuccino demon’ and Bio having ‘brewed’ the coffee for him.
Mithos stood, and then slowly stumbled forward slightly. He extended his wings and flexed his arms, making sure that he could still use the left one that was struck by the bolt. It did not work as he would have wished, but it was enough, so long as he was not struck there again. He drew his great sword from his sheathe on his back, holding it with his right hand. He walked to the large wood doors, and pushed them open with ease. “Well then, we had best continue. So long as we do not meet anymore surprises along the way, we should survive until we reach the army. I think I have enough time to heal at least a little by that time.” He walked out the door, and looked out the arches. He looked at the arch that he was told to scout to, and remembered the bright flash of light…"But then what...??" He looked at his shoulder again, then turned and stared back into the room. “Or, shall we stay here, and use this as our battle ground..?” He thought of the defensive structure as a great battle ground. They could easily ambush, retreat, hide, and all that they needed. Mithos was sure that they could find supplies ample to survive for long enough. He locked eyes with Oni, then turned his gaze to the others, and quirked his brow. “Well, what’s the plan, then?”
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:41:18 GMT -5
(Kyi\\Finch) "I say we keep going, we've done enough sitting around." Onizuka said, flicking his green eyes at everyone. Finch gave a strict nod, one stronger then usual. Her eyes flicked back at Oni's. Bio shifted feet, "Fine with me," he said, shifting back. Mithos nodded a bit reluctantly, thinking of the advantages they would've had here. Plus, Finch knew the place, that might've brought even more of an advantage...
"How about you there, cappuccino boy?" Bio grunted.
"What? Oh, yeah. Okay." He coughed, standing up fully and off the wall now.
"Okay then," Oni turned the girl. "Show us the way out." Finch was look down, drifting about in her thoughts and didn't have a clue Oni was talking to her. "Please?" Oni said after awhile. Everyone stared at her, and she could feel their eyes pressing on her. She looked up, with a sense of 'what?' in her eyes, then realized what was happening. Licking her lips, she thought to say something, but instead stepped out in front of them and began leading them down the hallway again.
"I don't remember using these halls when we went to the second level before..." Bio muttered, though his muttering was easily heard with his deep voice. Finch flicked back her head, glancing at everyone behind her, her hair whipping at the air as she quickly turned back. Bio then realized how they seemed to be going backwards, but in a different way than they had come. Eventually they reached the grassy part of the castle, back between all the walls.
Finch paused in her walking, tilting her head, the sun casting out its blue tint. She then put her head straight up, and kept walking. The others glanced at each other, confused, then followed again. She stopped again when she came to the portal.
"Off we go, then," Zeroth tweeted, stepping into the portal. He vanished, followed by Mithos. Bio and Oni stared at one another, until somehow between different face expressions, Bio went next. He gave a kind nod to Finch, who stared back blankly. Oni waved for her to go afterwards, and she did so.
Onizuka turned round, once Finch's body had completely vanished. He muttered to himself, glancing around at Limbo. He turned again, stepping into the portal.
"Bon voyage..."
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:41:40 GMT -5
(Fett) Subdued dawn light breached the maelstrom of cloud and storm, spilling haphazardly across the circle of Hell and the sinners who struggled there. Among the constantly shifting diagonal columns of light, a band of determined travelers forged on through the tearing winds.
BioDiesel and Finch found that Xandii's body had vanished, whether carried away by scavengers or blown elsewhere by the mauling winds. Finch wasn't really bothered. As soon as the stain had come free of her throwing star she found she didn't really think about Xandii.
Mithos trudged along before the watchful eyes of Zeroth, lest the wounded man fall behind and be lost to them. The Cruxis had insisted on walking on his own, flying being out of the question with his injuries and the insatiable winds of the area.
Despite his attempts to think about something else, the Elemeleon band of colors swirled like a sickening kaleidoscope in BioDiesel's head. He'd witnessed now firsthand the control they had over basic elements, the stone at his feet icing over even as he was in midstep. What other powers had the slight creature possessed? Their race's abilities were deeply rooted in their emotions, what had the girl felt that had knocked out Mithos, while only stalling BioDiesel? Emotions were powerful things, and the symbolism implied in the color of the Elemeleon's hair and eyes..
BioDiesel cut his eyes into the wind, his optic rangefinder finding Zeroth amidst the darkness. "Zeroth."
The boy had been concentrating on his footing, and kept his eyes on the uneven ground as he stepped closer to the giant. "What's up?" Zeroth stumbled slightly and swore, tempted to use his abilities to aid his travel yet also glad he hadn't revealed them yet. Always save your aces for last, as they say.
"Have you ever heard of the Elemeleons?"
Zeroth paused, wondering what this was about. What does he know about my past? He cocked his head, letting the wind blow his bangs out of his eyes. "I know of their enemies, the Elementals. A friend of mine was part Elemental, she had a wind element imbued in her." He thought back to Kyi, wondering if she would have been able to better answer Bio's question. Zeroth looked at the larger man, expecting more questions, but he had already turned back to his brooding. The teen slowed his pace so that he could keep his narrowed eyes on what little of Mithos he could see through the storm, but the evolved elf appeared to have healed off whatever ailment the girl had afflicted him with. That girl with the ice trick..Elemeleon, huh?"
They continued fighting against the wind across the level, which seemed longer then the others by virtue of the fact it had almost no identifiable landmarks to travel by. Finch was lighter then the others, and began shadowing BioDiesel, using his bulk to shield herself from the wind, while Onizuka took point far ahead, being the only one who had ventured deeper then the second level of Hell.
The others almost didn't notice when Onizuka ducked low and broke into a run, dissappearing into the fierce winds of the storm. Finch brushed past Bio and pulled her throwing star from her pocket, sending an urgent glance back at Mithos and Zeroth. Ahead, as the cascading light swept across the ground in a brief moment of clear sky, Onizuka could be seen grappling with an enormous figure of stone, raw edges cut in squat, hulking image of a man. The shapes of other rock monsters took on clarity as two more clomped towards the group. Finch dashed towards a rock monster coming up behind Onizuka, realizing her throwing star would be ineffectual. The girl kept perfect balance, flipping through the air and landing a kick where she guessed the thing's face was. Somewhat to her suprise, her kick bounced jarringly off the rock monster, not moving it an inch. Solid, she thought. Too solid.
The rock monster seemed to now register her presence and swung a stony fist in her direction, which she ducked and rolled under. The monster had anticipated this, however, and was already throwing it's opposite granite fist to meet her. Before she knew what happened, Finch was thrown several feet away, suprisingly unharmed. When she rolled over and peered back through the tearing winds, she could see that the rock monster's blow had connected with BioDiesel's jaw, the huge man having pushed Finch out of the way. The huge man dropped his hammer and brought his fingers up to his lips as he worked his jaw. They came away without blood, and Bio grinned. The rock monster wasted no time, turning his torso and throwing a punch with more weight on it, which BioDiesel caught evenly on his open palm.
"You should know," BioDiesel called over the roaring storm, "Paper beats rock. Always."
A somewhat shocked rock monster pulled his hand away, finding the stone had cracked and shattered, his stone composure not up to beating on solid metal. The creature looked back from his broken fist to BioDiesel, just in time to see his last - Bio sent a right hook his way, a clenched metal fist smashing the rock monster's head into pieces, sending a cloud of dust instead of a splatter of blood. The monster's body collapsed inanimately, becoming indistinguishable from the rocky terrain.
Where the third monster was approaching, Mithos crouched ready in front of Zeroth, and with an unsettling green glow from the boy's eyes, the Cruxis was hurled forward on a burst of telekinetic energy. Mithos tucked his wings in close and pierced the wind like a bullet, and he was upon the stone collossus before it could react, using his incredible momentum in a timed blow from Aenior, the blade slicing through without resistance. The creature's torso leaned off it's waist and landed with a heavy thud, forearms falling away from severed elbows.
Onizuka stood panting over a pile of rubble, his cloak torn and his arms and face running with blood. The others looked at him with some concern as they regrouped, but as he used his torn cloak to wipe the blood from his arms, they could see the wounds underneath were already healing, at an inhuman rate. BioDiesel looked curiously at the dozens of scars that ran across Onizuka's shoulder neck, ran down his back, across his arms, and several deep gashes that had been cut long ago directly through his chest. He's been using the tiger demon to stay alive, it's like the tiger was cursed with Onizuka and not the other way around..
The scarred man noticed they were all looking at him expectantly and he frowned. "We should regain our strength before continuing on, if my nose remembers correctly Finch was given food in that pack at her waist?"
Finch had all but forgotten about the small pouch the priest had given her on her way up. She wordlessly opened it up and found it was full of rations, heavy on starch and devoid of seasonings. The food would be filling, but not pleasant to taste.
[NRP]: Picnic time? I was assuming Mithos or Zeroth carried some food with them, and Bio would carry a little. Or you know, we could eat the rock monsters. Shame Villeria already left. Elemeleons are tasteh.
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Jack
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"I'll live forever, or die trying.."
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:42:04 GMT -5
(Mary) hamete.org/dserver/diceDice rolls: 4, 1 Verification number: 74pmcadobwvuy13v2gkknw4r100lqf (I had these results e-mailed to Onizuka, as he seems to be the front man and I couldn't figure out how to get the form to send the results to multiple e-mail addresses) Mary's footsteps cruched slowly through the snow. She rubbed her backside and her icy puffs of breath emitted incoherent grumbling. The boys who handled targeting for the entries insisted on dropping the manipulators in at least ten feet off the ground. They were afraid of phasing her in right in the middle of the ground or a tree or something. She was afraid she was going to break a leg during one of these falls. This universe was obviously breaking down already. She couldn't tell if it was due to an anomaly like they had suspected or if it was a more natural degradation. This one was too strange and they had detected too many forced crossings involving inter dimensional transits in too short a period of time. If they knew exactly what was causing it they could have sent one of the new guys, but this mission called for a veteran. Ajax wasn't nearly as good as her when it came to manipulating shadow realm crossings, but the new recruits would have to make due with his instruction until she got back. She sensed an alignment. It took her less than half a second to identify it and begin to use some its powers. A ball of clear burning flames formed around her, warming the air to a very comfortable temperature and melting the snow in her path to ease her walk through it. She was following her senses as best she could. She was trying to find the source of this universe's problems but it was as elusive and unnatural as the rest of this world. Arriving at a fiery portal in the middle of a snowy field did nothing to ease her mind. She wished that her gut wasn't telling her that she wouldn't find the source of the problem unless she stepped through it. "Why couldn't I ever get sent to the world full of elves and fairies that only want to love each other and make cookies? Why do I always get stuck going places where Shealba herself would hate? (Shealba is Mary's home world's Lucifer) She drew he cloak tightly to herself and prepared to enter the portal. (Continued in Purgatory)
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:42:23 GMT -5
(Mary) Bits of earth and melted snow wrapped themselves around Mary as she stepped into the portal. The flames weren't as hot as she had expected, but she was still grateful for the shield. When she arrived on the other side the mud that had formed around her splashed down. Before her the barren landscape was revealed, and the dozen demonic looking creatures that suddenly lunged at her.
She stomped her foot and the ground rippled slightly at her feet. The ripple grew larger rapidly as it moved towards the demons and by the time it reached them it was a full twelve feet high. The earth crashed over them like a breaking wave and crushed the few that didn't manage to leap over their companions and the one that could fly.
A blast of flame incinerated the two on the ground. The one in the air managed to reach her, but its strike was blocked by the quick draw of her swords. Two slashes and the demon fell to the ground in three separate pieces. He twitched once and then was still.
Mary turned to look back at the portal once. She regretting having to be on this side of it even more now that she had seen some of the residents. She somehow knew that these few she had seen were only here because they were too weak to survive the portal, but them being here told her that things would be a lot worse and the creatures a lot more powerful the further down she went. She grumbled a bit more, hiked up her backpack, and began trudging down the gentle slope of the landscape.
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Jack
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:42:45 GMT -5
(Telamichious) Telamichious was running through the lines of trees, constantly checking his back to assure himself he wasn’t being tailed. These hellhounds were like nothing he had ever faced, it wasn’t that they were overwhelmingly strong, but they had two advantages, endless numbers and Telamichious’ power hindrance. With only his engraved abilities, and control over water and ice, Telamichious was nothing more than a bag of battle tricks and fist fighting.
As he continued to flee, he made his way upon two hellhounds, standing with their evil eyes glaring at Telamichious as he traveled through the lumber. Telamichious decided that he would have to get tricky if he expected to beat the wolves quickly enough that their comrades in arms behind him wouldn’t catch up to lend them a hand. As he had found earlier, fire did little to the hell spawns, so he figured beating them into a pulp might be the quickest way to down them. He closed the gap between them quickly, an old trick popped into his head and he smirked, as he ran he started forming water in his hands and he threw the water around him, molding the water into two huge spears. He willed the water spears at the two wolves, one for each. The wolves just looked at water coming at them, passing them off as no threat, stood waiting for their next meal.
Just before the water hit the targets, Telamichious’ eyes gained a yellow hue, and he sped forward, stopping just in front of the wolves and his eyes switched blue and he blew arctic chill out of his mouth, freezing the spears of water into spikes of ice, flying into the two wolves and taking them to nearby trees, impaling them. He continued forward, hearing the howls behind him, louder than they had been before. He turned back around, and pulled the two ice spears out of their respective Hellhound hides, a bit of blood leaked from the puncture wounds. He looked forward at the third hound, and charged it, his eyes still yellow, and sped up to it. The Hellhound was confused by it opponent’s extremely large advantage in speed, but before it could react, Telamichious jammed the two icicles through the wolf’s head, blood spurring out covering Telamichious’ hands. He bent down to the grass and cleaned them off before running back in the direction of the firstly slain wolves.
He stopped shortly after starting, unable to move by no act of his own, and light shot out of the ground of around him, a circle of light appeared, it continued to change color as he watched it. He looked down at his arms, strange symbols began to appear on them, glowing with the same light that the one on his head had shown earlier. He looked down at them symbols, making no sense of them at all; he did find a certain awe mounting as he starred into them.
Wolves found him a few minutes later, still in the glowing circle, the images on his skin getting louder and louder, and more and more prominent. They came up, testing the waters before striking out at him. They couldn’t pass the barrier that had appeared around Telamichious, however, they did stand around waiting for him.
Within minutes of the wolves appearing, the color changing barrier that had surrounded Telamichious started closing around him. Telamichious put his hands on the barrier, trying foolishly to keep the walls apart, but they started closing around him, regardless of all the Earth-bound strength he put into holding them at bay. As they barrier got smaller, his body started dematerializing in the rainbow-effect walls, but there was no pain, even up to the point that his whole body was consumed by it. All he could see was light, he assumed they were stars. He closed his eyes and let his body go, hoping for the best in his weakened state.
He opened his eyes when he felt his body stabilize, and saw a green field, a tree line some way in the distance, and a lake off to the side, reflecting the sun off in a beautiful scene.
He smiled to himself, "I am back to Earth, out of that stinking Hellhole."
He turned around to gather more of the view to see five youths of varying appearances standing there looking at him, confused by his comment.
The female redhead ran forward at Telamichious, chanting “Rick” all the way until a few in front of him, where Telamichious jumped back, putting his hand out, conjuring fire to stop her in her tracks. She quickly stopped, “What are you doing Rick, how did you do that?” Telamichious looked at her, and then to the others, a confused look appeared upon his face. The male blonde spoke up next, “Rick probably lost his memory from all the stress he underwent from the fight on the Colonial ship, all we have to do it a healing spell on his head and he will back to normal.” Telamichious looked towards the blonde male, “I don’t know you, I haven’t lost my memory, my name is Telamichious Rei Scuraluce, the last Darklight Elemeleon, and trust me, I don’t know you.” The redhead shook her head wildly, “No, no, no. You are Rick Adare, you’re brother is a pilot named Lee Adare. I am your Molly, you proposed to me the night before we boarded the Colonial ship.” Molly put her shaking hand up so that Telamichious could see it, there was a gold band on her ring finger.
“Lets just get this over with,” the other man said, looked over to the other three who stood to his left, “The faster we start, the faster Rick will heal.” The girl with board-straight, black hair started drawing a neon light symbol in the air in front of her, the other three started, together, but seconds after the black haired female. She finished the symbol and put her hand on it, it exploded in sparks and light and Telamichious looked down to see glowing circles around his ankles, hindering his ability to move his legs. The other three finished their symbols and walked forward to Telamichious, the symbols followed their creators, staying in front of them at the same distances as when they were brought into being. The three surrounded Telamichious and put the symbols onto his head. Flashes of light shot out and the symbols on his head placed there by the three bearers, along with the symbols that ran up and down his body and the forehead symbol.
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Jack
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"I'll live forever, or die trying.."
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:43:09 GMT -5
(Telamichious) Telamichious screamed in pain, it was like that of the light that attacked him on the path through the woods after passing into the Third Level. He went to fall to his knees, but his body kept himself up, it wouldn’t let him fall. Molly screamed, “Why are his eyes rolling back up into his head.” That was the last thing Telamichious heard before his vision of the world around him disappeared.
Telamichious found himself in a circular field, grass was coming up between his toes. He looked out to see nothing but white fog surrounding this field. Two beings walked up through the fog, both looking like him, he could tell them apart, one had the symbols up and down his body, the other was glowing white and black at the same time. He looked down at his hands, the symbols had faded, but his skin was now covered in Darklight.
I think it’s time for a group meeting, the glowing Telamichious said as he stopped next to the symbolized Telamichious.
Agreed, we definitely have some things to talk about, the symbol covered Telamichious said.
I am confused, what is going on here, you are obviously me, but who exactly are you, Telamichious said to his two twins.
You are Telamichious Lei Scuraluce, but you aren’t the Elemeleon that stood next to Cryous and proved yourself the best brother to be king, the playboy that thrashed any that lay eyes on you, the warrior that fought bravely with Illeria thought battle after battle. You are a lie perpetuated by our bastard of stepbrother, Kalvar. Our father didn’t kill our people, your embrace of the Darklight has destroyed any ability for you to regain this knowledge, we have to fix this, we have to get back to Calagi and save the Elemeleons from Kalvar.
So, you are my real history, as the Lunaire was talking about in Hell, he wasn’t lying. And you, who exactly are you?
I am Rick Adare, as my friends out there told you, they are trying to heal me, but I should be dead. Your energy revived you, but it needed a body to do so, I was the most recently dead, most powerful body your spirit could find, so you were revived in my image, my body, with my memories still here. The Elementals your people banished from Calagi came to Earth, searching for a way to retake Calagi. Their plan entitled enslaving all of the humans here on Earth to be Elementals. They have a great use of technology that they didn’t have on Calagi, their traversing of the cosmos has taught them a lot. The symbols on my body were the gift of some higher power, we used them to battle the technology of the Elementals, and even the Elementals themselves.
Ok, so you are a human with unnatural abilities of creating spells out of symbols you magically draw, as your friends did to trap me and send me here, right?
Rick nodded, sighing as he thought of his friends, We need to tell them what is going on so they don’t worry.
So what’s going to happen, us three cannot share the same body obviously, who is going to be in control.
My time has ended, when Kalvar killing me to take the throne, I was supposed to be dead. The phoenix raised you from my ashes.
I died giving my life for my friends and my planet, I took down that Colonial ship and those bastard Elementals that tried to end the human race. I regret nothing, I am glad that I could stop the catastrophe from ravaging Earth, but it is you that we pass the torch to. You will get all of our memories, all of the control that Kalvar stole from you when he rewrote you, all of my unearthly powers over the symbols. Look to my friends for help, look to your friends of old for help, you cannot, or will not do this alone.
You have to go back to Hell and finish what had started down there, inaction will cause this planet to die, and without the help of Rick’s friends, we will never get back to Calagi to stop Kalvar and reclaim the throne. Our people need us; we need Rick’s friends, our friends.
I don’t know, you could just be some after effect of that spell those people cast, how are you both to be trusted?
Rick and glowing Telamichious walked up to Telamichious and each put a hand on Telamichious’ shoulders, You don’t need trust, we are one and the same.
And what started with three, will now end in one.
Telamichious watched as the other two of him flowed into his body. His eyes clamped shut and he faded into unconsciousness.
Telamichious’ unconsciousness was real life again, his eyes opened to see Molly, the redhead from earlier, standing over him. His hands moved around the grass that he was lying in, it felt refreshing to the touch after being in Hell for so long, with rocks, dirt and death being the only scenery. He sat up, memories were pouring into his head at a rapid rate, so much he couldn’t keep up with it all. Kalvar, Rick, Lee: all names that were flashing in his mind with faces. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Molly and the others stood over him, waiting for him to finish the “healing” process.
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Jack
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"I'll live forever, or die trying.."
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Post by Jack on Jul 11, 2005 20:43:35 GMT -5
(Telamichious) He woke up hours later; he opened his eyes to the darkness that was night time. It felt good to be out of Hell, but there was that tingle in his head that he knew he would have to go back. He had to knowledge of Rick and his real past now at his access, he felt the darkness flowing through his body again, with the light that he had forsaken so many years ago. The reconciliation of all of the spirits that were fighting for his body made him feel better and stronger than he had ever remembered feeling, in any of the three lifetimes. He looked around to see his friends, they were his friends now, sleeping around him, their fire was starting to die down. He put his hand forward and launched a ball of fire, igniting the fire back to the point it was giving off heat. Molly woke up beside him at the sound of the small explosions that took place with the fireball. She looked over him, “Rick couldn’t do that, the healing must have not worked correctly, who are you.” Telamichious looked into her eyes, “I am Rick, but I am also Telamichious, as I had told you before. The healing spell you preformed did work, it healed my spirit, my soul, my heart. You fixed what was broken in me, in Rick, he is me, I am him, and we are also Telamichious, that is who I am, who he is now.” Molly’s eyes filled with tears, “So Rick is gone, for ever, dead from me and everyone else.” Telamichious ran his hand through her hair, “Rick is here, he will be with you in me, as I will need your help to fix what is wrong in the universe. Rick has passed along his powers, memories and emotions to me, I am basically Rick, just with a new personality.” Molly started to cry, which woke the others, the blonde, Telamichious’ new knowledge told him his name was Alexander, looked over first, worried about Molly. “Everything is fine, Molly had just learned the truth which I will tell you all, but first I need a bit of air.” Telamichious stood up, removing his hand from Molly’s hair, and walked over to the lake he saw earlier. He conjured his light powers, he hadn’t used them since he was reborn, and looked at himself in the lake. His reflection yielded two images of himself, one was Rick, the other his old self. They both looked at him, “You are on the right path, now you know what you must do.” They faded away and Telamichious saw himself, and realized that he had to go back to Hell before he could make his way to Calagi, and he thought maybe Molly, Alexander, and the others could think of a way to get him back to Hell. He turned around and went to them, “It’s time to explain everything, I, Rick, we owe you that.” Telamichious looked at his friends, all the memories of the elder Telamichious and Rick had been brought to light, everything they knew, he knew, all the powers they had, he had. He really hadn’t got used to his symbolic powers, but he new he would get adjusted to him after some time. He found himself standing in the middle of his friends, they all started writing their symbols magically in mid-air. The walls of energy surrounded him again, but instead of questioning the powers, he embraced them, and his symbol-ridden body flashed in waves of light as he disappeared, being sent back to the hell he had so desperately wanted to escape. He looked his new surroundings, he couldn’t recognize his exact position, and he started crafting a symbol. His Rick memory told him of a locater spell, and he used it. The ruin flushed and spun into an arrow, pointing north. He picked his right foot up and started his dreadful march back into the fray: to finish this business as quickly as possible was his plan. He knew that the people he had allied himself with before were evil, he couldn’t even remember why he had wanted to kill the princess in the first place. He looked up, the area was completely different to where he was before, and looked back down and started following the symbol that floated in front of him. The incantation flashed yellow and purple as it led him, Telamichious confused by the source of it’s energy.
Telamichious was hoping there were some heroes nearby that were going to fight off the intruders to Hell, the group coming was more powerful combination of talents than any he had heard of or seen. This group that, until recently, he respected and trusted, the respect was still there, but the trust had melted into disdain: he had to stop them.
He continued his travel into the unknown that was lying before him, “The once and future king, that’s who I am now…”
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