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 Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:07 pm
Kioku has lain in ruins for longer than anyone can remember, nothing but debris covering the once fertile soil of this place. For some reason, even after all this time, nothing will grow over the destruction. Maybe for that reason, Kioku is said to be where the first memories of the Soulless World began infecting Lenoria. In the center of the destroyed city stands a tall screen, static rolling down a black surface. For a few moments the screen leaves the place in peace, but then a face appears, torturing this town with the same pained expression as always, the same message of death and fear as always, and leaving the same sense of dread and loneliness when it finally ends and fades away, leaving you to face whatever they were so afraid of on your own. This place is cursed now, you can feel it in the air.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:30 pm
Kurai hit the ground. Hard. Unrolling herself from the groaning heap that felt all too familiar, she took stock of her surroundings. At first she wondered just how much destruction had been done to Misuteru and how long the hole in her memory went on. Then, with a groan, she realized where she was.
"This isn't Misuteru at all," She said through gritted teeth, "We're back in Kioku."
But how had the void brought them here? She had done everything perfectly! The ingredients were all correct, and she had pulled off the summoning ritual quite spectacularly if she did say so herself. The only thing she had any trouble with was... She smacked her head in disbelief, closing her eyes and furrowing her brow. She had been thinking of the rooftop she had been on when she had first met with the adventurers. But the image was blurry so she had tried to picture the fountain where she had chased Celia down to. Instead, the picture of a ruined square had popped into her mind and she had focused on it. The void had done exactly as it was asked. She simply hadn't asked for what she wanted. In a huff she sat down cross-legged on the rubble, waiting for the others to follow and witness her mistake.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:27 pm
Karin finished her shout with a yelp as she was deposited more unceremoniously than she was used to on the hard ground. Sitting up and looking around, she located Kurai sitting close by easily, but at a quick look at the surroundings...
"This is Misuteru?" she wondered looking at the ruin and wreckage. From the way they talked of it before it had sounded like it would be more populated, or green, or... not this.
Had the war they mentioned reached here as well? Misuteru was apart of Lenoria? Or this wasn't Lenoria and this 'war'/curse was something spreading between worlds? She bit back her tongue from a barrage of questions - others would follow here probably, and likely there would be more forthcoming explanation once everyone had grouped together.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:38 pm
"No," Kurai pouted, "This is the hidden village Kioku." She pronounced 'hidden' with more than a hint of sarcasm.
She pulled herself to her feet, observing the thick circle of trees surrounding them. "This place has been destroyed for some time, even before the curse traveled to Lenoria, but it's become a lot more dangerous since the forest became cursed." She swore under her breath. "Especially at night, so if we don't get moving soon this place will be swarming and we probably won't be able to get out."
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emperor_Hikaru Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:32 pm
Windy tumbled through and into Kioku. Looking around , she realised where she was. "Kurai, why are we here?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:43 pm
"Shut up," Kurai shot back, her pale skin turning red, "I did the best I could. They're both decaying cities. What do you want?"
Suddenly a voice caught her attention. "This is not my world; I am only here to warn you. If you can leave you should do it now, while you are still yourself..."
Of course. She had forgotten about the giant screen, playing the message given by the self-proclaimed princess Rayne, or else casting a black light across the destroyed town. It was one of the few things left standing and, now that she thought about it, the only thing left uninjured. She wondered faintly why that was.
"...like those who tried to save me!" Rayne continued, "I'm so sorry! To all of them and to everyone still alive! Please forgi-"
And there the message cut out, as it always did, returning to the black and static that usually filled the village. Kurai sighed.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:59 pm
Celia yelped after reaching the ground, her body stumbling forward a bit, her hand catching the ground to steady herself. After pulling her hand back and noticing ash, she gasps, quickly wiping it off. She looks around the desolate area, hearing Kurai mention that is was not Misuteru but instead Kioku. As the message plays, she jumps, unsure of what is really happening.
"Where is this place? Should we walk from here?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:22 am
Rohan was thrown from the portal coming out of it headfirst. He attempted to land on his feet but due to the close distance the portal was from the ground he landed, stumbled and tripped on some broken up stone falling onto his back.
"Ow," he said belly up.
He stood and looked around like the rest and understood why the seemed shocked. "Kioku, am I right?" Rohan spat at the name. This place was not a good place to be.
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:41 pm
Nex turned his blind stumble into a sorta-but-not-really graceful combat roll. It ended with one knee on the ground and a hand on a hilt, eyes peering around. After a moment he stood, glanced at the others, then looked up to the screen. After a couple more moments he spoke.
"Can I break it? It just looks so uneven now..."
That and the idea of the only building in relatively good condition was creepy. Maybe it was a metaphor, even though something survived, look what it became. Nex grinned a little.
Don't think I could get much worse from before...
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:54 pm
Rohan looked around and disgust of the area as well as for himself. It distracted him greatly. He knew why Kioku was what is was.
He was young when it happened. He was young and reckless. After the Great Betrayal, he looked for a way to decimate the corrupt Celestia and the out of control Nether. From his angsty rage he released his angelic and nether forms, fusing them with them with the elements and cultivated The Astral Beast, hoping that it would have the power to put both Celestia and Nether out of commission and they would finally atone.
All the beast did was pass destruction to the world.
Rohan opened his eyes and looked around and at himself. The beast was gone, leaving its scar on an already scarred world.
"If only if only." He thought quietly to himself.
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:04 pm
"Yeah," Kurai replied to Celia, "Doesn't look like we have much of a choice. I'm running low on ingredients now, even compared to before. I'd need the same stuff as before: another skull, more curse grass, and more shadow essence, but I'll need more ingredients to make another portal like that. Dragon's eye flowers, a few common herbs, and shade spirit just to name a few... Oh, and..." She took a look at the vial full of red liquid from before, "lunar blood, too I think. I'm running a little low and I tend to go through it... quickly..." She eyed it hungrily but quickly stuffed it back into her pouch, turning back to look at the others.
She looked at Windy in particular, "Windy, your gourd is missing, isn't it? I still need those other ingredients, but a sensory spell doesn't take much. If you could provide me with some kind of memory or emotion connected to the gourd I should be able to do it without losing too many ingredients."
Then to Celia and Karin, "I know you both are still new to Lenoria. We can explain what we know on the way, but we really need to get moving before nightfall. This is just a valley deep inside the forest and we're going to have enough trouble traversing the forest during the day. We won't stand a chance at night, even if we stay here."
She looked seriously at everyone, "We need to get moving as soon as we can. Unless anyone has a reason to stay, we ought to get going now."
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Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:22 pm
Celia nodded her head in understanding, her eyes already turning crimson red from the danger that her body was sensing in the radius. She watches as Kurai begins walking, her walking fast to keep up. She trembles a bit, her hands held close to her heart, afraid of doing much really.
'I have to keep calm....that's all....'
A noise causes her to shudder a bit, her hand reaching for a sleeve close to her, just wanting someone to be close.
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:41 pm
Rohan shook off his nostalgia and threw an acknowledging nod to Kurai. He looked at Nex who was also looking around and observing. He knew what was going on in his head too. He caught up to Kurai and kept his voice quiet.
"Kurai, I can tell you now something is waiting for us in that forest; waiting for us to make a move so it can adjust its tactics against us. I know I am not the only one who knows- maybe for sure, but, everyone here is probably feeling something...at work."
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:28 pm
"Of course," she answered Rohan, agitated, "They heard us when we came through screaming and cursing, but it'll be worse if we sit here and wait for whatever they've got in store. Best to face them on our terms rather than theirs."
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:31 pm
Celia, not noticing anyone close, holds her hands to herself, her fingers fidgeting with her skirt. She feels her eyes still red, the color distinct against her pale features. She sighs, looking around warily, afraid of what is waiting for them.
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