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 Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:08 pm
Deep in the Desert, in the Dunes of Raz'za, a long dried well bears it's Destiny. At first, it was just a well. Then, as Shi rolled into town, it became and entryway into the Buried Temple, dedicated to the glorious Grim Reaper. Once you've jumped down the well, you come to a dark shrine, dug out by yours truly, Shi. She spent much of her free-time here, digging, building, perfecting.. There was little to no light at all, except at high noon, when mirrors reflect the noon-day blaze throughout the entire temple. This occured at midnight as well, using the moon's rays, which were key to the temple; it's magic was strongest as the moon grew, and weaker as it crept into it's New phase. There were bricked walls, covered in shelves full of ingredients for potions, potions aging for use later, and hundreds of scrolls, books, and diagrams. There were several tables piled with the more recently and commonly used of these items. In the second room were the kiln and cauldron, usually powered by an odd green flame. The last room was a weapon room, which held all of Shi's weaponry, ranging from boxes of needles and poisons, to scythes, hammers, and guns.
It had all the makings of a shrine, a temple, and an alchemist's lair, all rolled into one. Though, it was kept quite tidy, with the help of the Shadow Guards, who also kept lookout on the surface.
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:11 pm
[Copied from the Tavern]
Shi locked onto her pursuer, and slowed a bit, so she wouldn't lose him, but disguised it as her getting tired from the wound or from her form or what-have-you. Then she darted suddenly to the left toward some seemingly-innocent dunes. Little did the residents of Dark Haven realize that she had been prepping for this day ever since she'd found Theonidas. She spent much of her spare time contructing her little hide-away where she could perform her duties in privacy. But, she hadn't been done when Amadeus came strolling in.. He wasn't supposed do interfere..
Shi then realized she was still being chased, and slowed down again, because as she drifted into her thoughts, her wings pumped faster. Then, she suddenly dove into the "well," the entrance to her make-shift temple, and disappeared into her dungenous shrine, hoping the boy would follow her down in blind pursuit.
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 6:13 am
Elure only paused momentarily before jumping down the well after Shi. He landed on his feet and touched the ground with his hands, just like a cat.
Not wanting to get himself into any procarious positions, he rolled out of sight, behind a table strewn with books, and boxes beneath it. He couldn't see Shi as he looked around. He saw a room with a green light, and another- he presumed she was in there, as there were no shadows in the green room.
Carefully and quietly, making no noise at all (as elves manage easily), he crept towards the green room and threw himself in there quickly. Shi was not in there, as he had guessed, but a kiln and cauldron were. He almost touched the tempting green flame, which was licking at the metal of the cauldron, but he caught himself just in time.
His safest bet was to get behind the cauldron so that he was covered a little if Shi came through the door. Once safely there, he crouched down and waited.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:53 pm
Shi watched as Elure leapt into the next room, and gave him enough time to hide in the fireplace. She crept along the ceiling, where she was hidden in the shadows, and from the view of the back of the recession, into theroom he was in. She crept beside the wall, as soundless and skilled as a spider, clutching her pitchfork in one hand. Shi stationed herself above the entrance of the fire-place, waiting for Elure to grow tired of waiting and come out to search for her. She held her trident at the ready in case he managed to detect her presence, as unlikely as that was.
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 12:33 pm
After waiting silently, Elure began to lose his patience. He wasn't comfortable either- not just physically, but mentally too. He grabbed a piece of firewood and crept out, green flame burning ahead of him.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:46 pm
(( Gah, it kept not letting me post. ; _ ; ))Shi silently fell into step behind Elure, and grappled him from behind. She held the scythe's blade to his throat, hard enough to keep him still, but not hard enough to cut him just from pressing. Shi wasn't worried about hurting him. She'd been planning everything to this moment, anyway. Her only possible friend left was Nolah, who would probably hate her now that she'd gone and changed Tank. But, that was only a minor set-back.
Shi was glad he'd followed her, and she growled in his ear, "I'll not have you meddling, boy."
She suddenly whipped her head to the well, tightening her grip on both Elure and the scythe. "He's coming." She mumbled something under her breath, so quiet even an elf could not hear, and she felt him go limp. She pulled him to a corner, and layed him on the fold-out cot she'd set up. She threw a blanket over him so he'd keep his body warth, therefore staying alive, and disappeared into the next room, where she sat in a velvet arm chair in one corner. Her Father would soon be there.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:09 pm
Theonidas dropped through the entrance of the temple, landing with a distinct thump in a crouching position, his wings spread up above him like feathered pillars. He forced himself into a standing position, falling forward and catching himself against the nearby wall. He wasn't sure of where he was, but he knew that he felt safe where ever it was. He held himself erect against the wall, taking slow, deliberate steps as he avanced deeper into the temple.
He felt warm, the embrace of the place making him drowsy. His whole body screamed with exhaustion, and when he finally reached the room in which Shi sat, he wrapped his wings around himself and fell to his knees at her feet. He sat there for a long moment, eyes downcast, trying to find the strength to speak.
"Shi..."
It was all he could manage before consciousness left him for good. And instantly, the Reaper's image flooded out of him, exiting his form in a weak red glow. While Theonidas slept, he was no longer the Reaper. A killer, he was, and when awakened, he would be just as vicious as ever. He was, however, for the moment, completely vulnerable.
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:48 pm
(( GOD DAMMIT, GAIA!! LET ME ******** POST!!
xD Sorry, I've only typed this EIGHT times. TT _ TT ))
Shi nodded, and looked down at the form that had just dropped down from the well. "Right on schedule." Shi stood, and scooped him up, taking him to her bed in the weapon room. The covers were already pullled back, so she layed him softly on the bed, and pulled the covers over him. "Good night, my Lord." She sunk to one knee and bowed her head before standing again, and returning to the main room.
She grabbed a blanket off of a table, and layed out on a cot. She wasn't worried about either of the two men; Elure wouldn't be able to move until she released the spell, and Theonidas-- well, she was just certain that he wouldn't do anything to harm her, if from nothing more than the want of information. She only thought for a few moments before she was asleep herself, though fully aware of what was going on in the three rooms.
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:37 pm
Theonidas awakened, the crimson glow returning to his eyes as he became more aware of his surroundings. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes. He wasn't sure of how long he had been sleeping, but he hoped not too much time had passed since he had arrived. He didn't immediately recognize the place where he had landed himself, but it didn't alarm him. Truth be told, he was quite content.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed that he had somehow managed to be tucked into. He could only assume he had Shi to thank for that. The room was dark and he couldn't see any other inhabitants. He supposed that was a good thing, because he didn't really want an audience at this point in time. He ventured through the only door in the room and around the corner, finding Shi sleeping soundly on a makeshift bed near the back of another room.
He was faintly aware that Rien's brother...what was his name? Ellio? Eluiere? Ah, he couldn't remember...was stuffed in the corner, alive but certainly not conscious. He knelt beside Shi's bed, watching her sleep with fondness before gently shaking her awake.
"Wake up, Little One."
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:03 pm
Amadeus had never quite gotten used to Athos's elaborate display of flight. He figured the guy could probably fly just fine without having to be so flashy, but then again Athos was the kind of guy who didn't beg a lot of attention on a normal basis. He was quiet as he was dangerous, so flight was someplace to show off. Back in the days of Crossed Sabers, everyone had been capable of flight, but none so stunning as Athos. Amadeus couldn't say that he had missed his much. He shook his head, lighting the cigarette while letting his wings keep him airbone.
The rain made making fire slightly difficult, so he cupped his hand around the flame, and puffed on the end of the cigarette. Once it was lit he breathed in a deep breath. Glancing back to see that Athos was still behind him, he set his sights on the task at hand. He knew that Christophe and the others were probably aware of his departure, but he didn't know if they knew about Athos's presence. Not it would matter much. Athos was equipped to handle whatever they might throw out there.
The temple actually wasn't far from the center of town, by Amadeus circled around once, almost as if avoiding the arrival, and by the time they brought them to a landing in front of the well entrance, he was fully aware that Rien was somewhere close by. He had heard something about a special ring that connected her with Elure, and it brought him peace of mind to know that the male elf was still alive. So...Theonidas hadn't killed him yet. that was somewhat of a good sign...at least...he thought.
But now they were close to the Reaper, just moments away from reunion. The first face to face encounter between Amadeus and Theonidas since the Reaper's transformation. And then there was the problem of Athos. What was to happen now? Amadeus wasn't even sure that Theonidas could even recall what had happened all those years ago, but he didn't dount for a minute that the memories would come flooding back.
He was close to chewing on the end of the cigarette in frustration, but caught himself in time and merely continued to puff on it. He didn't elaborate on how he knew exactly where Theonidas and Shi were. The fact was, that he knew, and he hoped the subject wouldn't come up. He turned to Athos.
"So, what now."
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:25 pm
Athos mused silently to himself at his current comrade's attempt to light a cigarette in the middle of a rainstorm. When the man did so, he wasn't in the least bit shocked, though wondered why he'd bother in the first place. Athos was never one for smoking, though he'd been informed it did well in calming one's nerves. Another suspicious little thing he'd caught Amadeus doing.
Not to mention the fact that they were circling. Those things together, it wasn't too hard to realize just what was going on. That crooked grin appeared on Athos' face as they landed, his wings silently fading as quickly as they'd come, though in a far less flashy sense. "He's back, isn't he?"
His cold gaze left Amadeus and his dying cigarette and moved toward the general direction from which Rein and the others were currently coming. Why they'd bothered to follow was no concern of his... If they didn't know who he was by now, they would shortly, should they step in his way... The dark haired man almost hoped they wouldn't. Athos once more slid his hands into his pockets and turned his face toward the angry sky, eyes closed against the rain, his breath coming out in a small white cloud. "Funny thing, life," he said, shifting to lean against the well, his leisurely smile not quite reaching his eyes. "After all these years, it STILL throws a curve ball or two." A slight chuckle escaped him, and he shook his head. "Don't tell me you helped him come out of his little state; why go and ruin ALL that hard work?"
Athos pushed off from the well and turned on a heel, peering down inside of it. "I'll give you the honor of hopping inside first. That's what." And with that, he gestured toward the temple's entrance, inviting Amadeus to do just that.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 2:18 am
Rien slowed down as she saw the men through the rain. Slipping behind a bush, she watched them- Amadeus drawing back from the well slightly, and Athos obviously enjoying having the upperhand.
Seeing Christophe coming closer, she motioned for him to be silent, and waved him in behind her.
"Now we need a plan... But we don't have much time, so be quick about it," she grinned sourly. "Well we must wait for them to go down, and give them a few minutes to move from the entrance. What if they wait for us though?" Pausing for a few seconds, she came up with another suggestion.
"Maybe we should look for another way in? I can sense that Elure isn't directly beneath the well, but more beneath... us! Maybe we can find somewhere around here. Any ideas for a plan of action?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:16 am
Instead of a greeting to the now-awake Theonidas, she leapt out of her cot, and pulled him into the room he had awoken in. She grabbed a dagger or two, and shoved them into her boot, and somethiing that looked like a scythe, but with a short handle. (( Gah, can't remember the actual name, sorry. )) "We've got guests." Shi wasn't indicating a troupe of friends coming for a bit of tea and a muffin, obviously. "Grab yourself a weapon, if you so desire, and make yourself disappear for a moment.I've got to have a little chat with our buddies upstairs." Shi left him in the dark room to go sit in her arm chair in the main room, waiting for whatever may come through the well. She lay her weapon across her lap, and laced her fingers together, appearing much too casual for what she knew would follow.
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:17 pm
While Theonidas disappeared into the back room once again, shielding himself from sight, Amadeus glanced down the well, his expression sour, like one of a person not sure about jumping into a shark's tank. Under normal circumstances, and for a normal person, the drop from the top of the well to the ground inside was to be a bone breaking experience. But Amadeus wasn't normal. Nor was Athos. Or anyone else around here for that matter. So what was the exuse? He didn't have one not to jump, just that he didn't want to.
Who knew what he would run into down there? The Reaper waiting in all his crimson glory, scythe in hand, ready to smite evil...Ah poor Theonidas. He had never understood that no matter what kind of sinner a person is, a murderer trumps all. All except...traitors. Amadeus shook that out of his head. Kill all wrong-doers? Who is the sinner in reality? But Amadeus knew that his death wouldn't be retribution. It'd be revenge.
He looked back at Athos, and seeing no leeway in the man's eyes, he pulled himself up onto the lip of the well and dropped down, keeping his hands at his sides, careful not to scrape them on the sides during his rapid descent. Landing hard on the floor, crouching to allivate undue wracking his knees, he stood erect and moved out of the way, knowing Athos would follow.
He couldn't see anything or anyone in particular from his postition, so he moved forward a little, finally catching sight of Shi, who was sitting in a chair in the center of the main chamber of the make-shift temple. He halted, watching her warily.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you again, Shi?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:26 pm
Nolah felt like she'd been walking forever. Tanks boots, though sufficient to keep her feet warm were much too large and had the skin raw in some places. If she didn't think the sand would be like ice, she'd have taken them off some-time ago. As it was, Lyra had spotted Rien and Christophe a half-kilometer back and they were nearing the pair. Nolah had felt a great rush of relief, seeing that he hadn't already gone in. Waru and Lyra walked closely together, a few paces ahead of her. Despite the situation she could see the blossoming romance between the pair. If they survived this, she hoped it would continue. Lyra deserved some happiness.
" So what is this Theonidas like?" Waru asked. Nolah shrugged.
" He's strong beyond anything I've seen...tall, has black and red wings. His eyes are green. The one with the scar is Amadeus though. It's one way to tell them apart...and you can see the cruelty in Amadeus' eyes." She paused to catch a breath.
" You know him well?" Lyra asked.
"Tank is a friend of mine, as for Theonidas, I've only met him once and he didn't want to hurt me, so I hope I'm able to communicate with him."
Waru silently absorbed the conversation until they came upon Rien and Christophe.
" Hey." Nolah whispered. They both spun around. " Lyra and Waru found me...they came to help." She replied. Waru nodded at both, muttering a formal greeting. Only he understood it but cared not.
"What's the plan?" He asked.
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