Arnaxas001

[Senna]

Book One of Naraghia


The Nothingness was consumed by anger and hunger. Loneliness crippled it. After years He bent His will and created a small child. This child would become the creator of all things. The Mother. She was young, beautiful and powerful. She had the will to create and undo anything She wished. She grew tired of living in the Nothing and created a universe. Tolwyn. Mountains, rivers, trees and valleys. For years and years the Mother played. But as Her mind grew, and a greater understanding came to Her, She realised what loneliness felt like. She then bent Her will as Her father once did and created the first of the Gods. The Elder Gods. The Elder Gods were boring and tiresome, they wished for power more than happiness. The Mother banished them after a plot to destroy Her was uncovered. She spoke with Her father and he agreed to let a small space of The Nothing become what is now known to be Aranis. Aranis, the Island of Banishment. Suspended between realities, with no hope of escape. The Nothing surrounds it, and the Island itself, sealed with Aether from Tolwyn. None shall leave without The Mother’s knowledge.

Another millennia passed and The Mother refined Her knowledge and created The New Gods. She was pleased. They played for eons and the world of Tolwyn was at last happy.

On the eve of the final year of the Gods stay in Tolwyn The Mother granted five of the noblest of Her children an ichorforge to create races to inhabit the world they were leaving. So they did. The Gods created them in their likeness, giving them huge amounts of strength and power. Daeia created the Daeians. Vinilir created the Greiy and Cylvari Elves. Dordarin created the Mountain Dwarves and Rhannquo. Ghaal the Ghouls and Lategolo created the Deguar. The Mother was shocked at their abuse of power and demanded that each be lessened. One Goddess refused. Daeia. She did not with Her children to be lessened for She loved and cherished them. The other Noble Gods were furious. Their Lessening could not be undone, so was the will of The Mother, and Daeia’s defiance was unacceptable. After many years of wars on Her children She came to an agreement with The Mother. When the other Gods would leave to let their people evolve on their own, Daeia would stay, and live with the heartache and pain that The Mother saw fit. She created a law in accordance with the Fates. Two Daeians each year would suffer a painful death by Scorpia. The poison would harm no other races. And as Daeia’s children were dying, She Herself would feel the same. Her pain and heartache would be worse than any other punishment. Sobbing, Daeia accepted these terms. And so the Gods left, many leaving orders to wage war on Daeians when they were seen. Each race had left in the minds of their people to wage war on the Daeians. One God, however, did not. Lategolo and the Deguar stood by Her, as they understood what love they held. The Deguar and the Daeians would become one of the strongest alliances ever made. So say the Prophecies of Nara.

Thoth.

It was hot, down there in the dark. The broken shards of lights cascaded down onto the grainy floor, broken occasionally by the feet of people walking past the prison. The smell inside was awful, gobbets of flesh rotting away on hook on the walls. This wasn’t a prison. It was a torture house. Screams and yells echoed down the tight halls, while the pounding of guards’ feet accelerated and slowed down as obscenities were yelled and stopped.

The chains cut deep into Alexia’s wrists, even her haeling couldn’t help it. She shifted slightly trying to loosen them. She cursed herself silently for letting herself get dragged into this She should have just stayed in Shojuno, but no, she risked everything.

The door opened and in came a guard. He was tall and very well built. His skin was dirty, through months of working in the prison and not bathing. He came toward her with a look in his eye, which suggested things weren’t going to be pleasant. Another of the guards stood behind him and watched the doorway. As he came closer Alexia smelt him, and she nearly retched.

“Good morning sunshine.” She smiled at him sweetly, when in fact the urge to heave was overpowering her. He grunted and took a piece of folded parchment out of his pocket. As he attempted to read it his eyes scrunched together. He squinted at it but still failed to read it.

“Try turning it the other way.” Alexia suggested. The guard did so and he began to read. Alexia took a private pleasure in this. Maybe things weren’t so lost after all. After a few minutes the guard finished reading, and folded the paper back up.

“You’re to be interrogated by Tariq.” He announced.
“I can’t wait.” She replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Without warning the guard hit her hard across the face. A small droplet of blood dribbled down from her nose and water welled up in her eyes from pain. The guard turned abruptly and walked out with a grin on his face.

“Bastard.”

While all this was happening a plan formed in her mind. She needed to get out, and fast, and the only reason she was being held was for information she had about some thefts in Berland. There was a guard posted outside her door twenty-four hours a day, with a change over every six hours.

Eventually the changeover came, and after around ten minutes of waiting she started to ‘cry’. Loud enough for the guard to hear but quiet enough to not attract attention from anyone else. An hour went past before the guard came in to see what was wrong with her.

“These chains…they hurt. They’ve been digging into my wrists for the past few days. They’re about to rip my goddamn veins. I’m no use dead am I?”

The guard contemplated this for a second, and shrugged.
“I guess not. But just for a few minutes mind, if I get caught then it’ll be my head.”

“Of course.” She replied as the guard moved towards her. He got close to her and unlocked one of the chains from around her wrist. Ass he moved to undo the other one she reached up and grabbed the main part of the chain hanging above her, as she pulled herself up the guard took a step back, but not fast enough, she wrapped her legs around his neck and twisted. A sharp crack resounded through the room and Alexia smiled to herself. It was easier than she thought. With her free hand she reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring of keys. The body landed with a thump as she undid the remaining chain. She landed on the ground and rubbed her wrists gingerly. But as she did so a new torrent of blood flowed from them, she cursed silently before taking the guards shirt off of him and wrapped parts of the material around her bleeding wrists. She tied them in a knot clumsily before taking the heavy dagger from around the guards waist.

All she needed to do now was get out.

Each time she was taken to the interrogation room, she had memorised the position of each and every guard in the corridors they passed through.

She moved trough the halls quickly, keeping to the wall and checking corners. It was a clear run to the stairs, into the public part of the building. Not only was this used as a prison; it was used as a meeting place of the Mages. And if there was one thing Alexia hated more than anything, it was Mages.

Down the stairs she went and into the shadows of the massive marble pillars which supported the structure. She noticed a man being denied access to the building and laughed to herself, why would any fool want to get in this place?

She needed to get to the other side of the room without being noticed, the pillars only went so far. Scanning the room she noticed a crowd of mages coming towards her. She moved quickly and got in between them.

Using them as shields she quickly got across the room and to the door which would lead to her escape. The problem was, after she went through the door and down the stairs, she had no clue where to go. She shrugged mentally and went on.

The door opened with a loud creak so she got inside and closed it. She leaned up against it and sighed with relief. The hard part was over.

She walked down the stairs carefully, listening for footsteps, she heard none and walked a little faster. Moving quickly down the torch lit corridors, she realised what it felt like to be a serf. No shoes, cold ground, not a good mix. She walked past a few doors and smiled when she read the word 'Armory'. This was where her weapons would have been placed.

She opened the door and entered silently. It smelt of old rust and strangely of something which resembled navodka. She walked between the shelves until she came to her weapons. A cross bow and a dozen bolts, as well as her two daggers. She took all of them and went back out of the armory.

Just as she stepped back outside she heard footsteps, without thinking she shifted back in and close the door. She crouched down to the glimmer of light coming from the keyhole, and peered through. The footsteps grew closer until the figure was just next to the door, with the back to the room. She placed her crossbow down on the ground and opened the door, clutching both of her daggers.

The man was wearing armor, it was very good aromer except for two flaws. There was a short overlap in the groinal area, and the throat was completely bared. She moved around to the back of him and held one of the daggers to his throat, while pressing the other towards his groin.

"What the-"
"Shut up." she said pushing the dagger harder into his throat, "Now, if you move, yell, or even speak in a manner which displeases me I swear that you will lose your manhood."

[Toph Bei Fong]

The Mysterious Guardians
The legend of the ninja clan that guarded the town of Onshu, which was a small village northwest of the Soei Woods, had begun this day several years ago when a band of rookie ninja warriors (Genin) were being attacked by a large creature which looked similar to that of a wolf, except that it was fairly large, standing at about ten feet tall from it’s feet to its head when it’s standing on all four paws. Its eyes had the look that only a sick, sadistic, vile person would appreciate. Any other person would cower in fear and pee in their pants, but not these ninja. Even though they were only rookies, they had the courage of an elite army. The battle for their lives had started before they could prepare their weapons, as five of the six members fought on with their lives, the sixth one calmly observed the battle while its mind began racing with different strategies that they could use to successfully defeat this hell of a monster. But what they didn’t know was that deep in the forest, someone was watching them. This mystery ninja’s rank was way beyond their rank. His rank is what was known as a ninja master (Senin), and that supposed wolf demon that had been attacking him was actually one of his summons that agreed with him in a contract that he had signed with his own blood, that they would come and help him whenever he needed it. This particular wolf had grey silky fur covering its body, with not one, but four fine tails hovering in the air from the gust of wind that had passed through. It’s red piercing eyes had caught on to the one that had not been fighting and could immediately sense the great potential that lied within this young rookie named Hitari Mitsu. The young girl was the only reason why the master ninja was watching over them in the first place, was to scout out his niece’s potential and fighting technique. Her thought process and tactical strategies she had gotten from his bloodstream. Within an hours time the rookie group had given up on trying to defeat such a strong monster, but they did successfully ware it down somewhat. That was when Kana Mitsu came in and looked directly into their exhausted eyes.

“Nice work you guys, you’re improving your skills pretty well. But Hitari, you have to work on thinking up a strategy faster than that. You have to learn to think on your feet. Your team’s lives depend on it, you hear?”
“Yes uncle Kana…” she replied with a smug look.

With Kana’s signal the wolf demon had vanished in a puff of smoke. An hour later, they reached the village after traveling through the dark forest. At the gate of Onshu, they had all collapsed due to hunger in their bellies. Kana grinned at them, and offered to treat them to some ramen. All of accepted except for Hitari, which Kana knew because she couldn’t stand eating ramen day after day.

“Kana, can’t I go eat some sushi or something please?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not. You worked hard today.” He replied with a smirk on his face.

They all sat down at the ramen shop and they ordered what they wanted while Kana paid for their meals. Kana gave Hitari some money so she can get her sushi from the shop across the street. Just as Kana was leaving the ramen shop while the others were still finishing up their meal, he left the group leader in charge. The group leader was the son of the mayor of the Onshu village. His name was Ben Gamanoji. Although a bit on the slow side, he was very smart and agile. His best feature was cloning. He could transform into any person by just looking at them once. He was indeed a rookie with great potential, that is, if he was motivated enough. It would seem he got his lack of motivation from hanging out with Kana so long. Kana too was a pure genius when it came to battling tactics, but he was unmotivated most of the time because all the battles up to now were easy to take victory of.

*sigh* Will I ever become driven like I used to? I know there is something inside of me waiting to be unleashed, but lately I haven’t been motivated enough to use my full potential in an engagement… he thought as he was wandering through the plains of Shojuno. It was becoming nightfall soon, so he dashed at half his top speed and leapt up to the top of a nearby tree to see the horizons.

*sigh* the moon sure is nice tonight, with its full size coming out from the gloomy clouds, shining its bright light upon the earth, which is waiting for something grand to happen. I’m like the earth…in the essence of waiting for something grand to happen in my life, but it hasn’t happened yet now has it? *sigh* Why must guarding a town be so troublesome? Oh well, at least nothing deadly is on its way here… he thought as his eyelids closed out the sight of the moon, engulfing Kana in nothingness, until the next morn.

[Malevolence]

((OOC: Some people wanted to know this, so here’s a list of city-states—by capital—that are in each nation, from east to west:
Alluvia:
Pel-Kronel, Kwalish, Lodorin, Peakstone, Pel-Strix, Këdrick, Wenden, Pel-Pam, Svenel-Dor, Pel-Dor, Pel-Frij
The Cloaklands:
Ceridost, Pel-Ansar, Krazz, Cordïd, Mast, Berland, City of the Cloak, Colendd, Bay Hold
Selûne:
Sernek, Czelt, Sûne, Pel-Cur; the islands, Selemûnn, Arkrynn, and Curaçao
Bela-Ki:
(all independent colonies/city states) Ki Selavè, Qlia, Pel-Kei, Hwilaè
Shojuno:
Zejkinku, Kyushi, Ekata, Jekkido, Kejunu, Pel-Shuju, Hojukko, Mayoi, territory in the Eldûl Kojunko
Al-Hajjiri:
Um al-Yaijir, Sundukur, Qualaba’r, Pel-Umsr, Keldutar, territory in the Pricklewood
Navareskia:
Pel-Kela, Vreki Kal, Ukretzi, Pel-Shkoli, Cheknye, Slobeira
Lesk Isles:
Pel-Kelkuk, Pel-Inu’ke, Malaruk, Kelkok, Lelki, Elki
Independent City-States:
Æfer, Kei, the Dhimghôl region

There ya go Kana. On to posting!))

Taere slowly trudged over the sand dunes. The crimson glow emanating from the setting sun flashed across his armor, the silver-black plates glistening, their tarnishings barely showing when illuminated by the solar rays of twilight. The sand under Taere's feet was a deep red, its crystalline grains reflecting and refracting the deep crimson light across each other, making it seem as if he was walking on a mesh of red light. His feet crunched into the sand, making a sharp clink sound every time his armored boot hit a small rock or pebble in the deep sand. The black obsidian normally would stand out against the white sand, but again, the red light from the sun reflected of the glassy surface of the volcanic rocks, concealing them from view without looking closely. Which of course, Taere was not.

This is becoming annoying...

Taere sprung his gauntlet blade from his wrist to a short length, then reattached it to his gauntlet halfway down the blade with the magnetic charge reel in the gauntlet. This resulted in a t-shape forming with the blade and his gauntlet on his arm. He then recoiled the cable, and revved up the launch engine for the grappling hook function. He fired the blade, and with a flick of his wrist, sent it spiraling outwards at great speed. It created a reverse cyclone-like effect, blowing a path down to the bedrock out in front of him, which was much easier to walk on as compared to a barely packed-down sand dune.

That worked quite well...Now then, on to whatever awaits me.

Taere had just returned from a trek to find the lost city of Ceridost, the place where his father had hidden the final piece of his adamantite crystal sword, Malevolence. The final piece was the activator, the single small device that awakened the hidden powers of the Red Dragon. When added to the sword on the pommel, the blue and red gem amplified the damage resistance of the adamantite in the blade, and increased the potential of Taere’s Isparian Armor by a thousandfold. Through a crystal capacitator interface in the hilt, the armor's strength now rivaled that of a magically-enhanced fighter.

He reached the end of the sand-cut path as he had finally found the edge of the South Fire Wastesands by the Ice River. He was to follow the river north to a small tavern to recover from his trek across the sands. It was getting annoying being alone out in the sands with no one but a large blue sentient and a healer that barely spoke. The desert was boring, but he got what he wanted from it. Taere proceeded to follow the river north toward the shimmering plains, a place he had been before but wished to forget. The tavern where he was headed was as far as he knew located near the White Bend, a sharp eastward turn of the river, and he was getting close to finding it. He could hear the increasing rapids that would eventually tower over 10 feet tall in waves of white water. As he heard it, he felt a slight heat on the back of his neck. He pulled the hilt of the Malevolence out from the back of his armor, and grasped it.

“Oh this is too rich. You couldn’t have done this when I was in the desert?!” Taere inquested of the sword hilt. “Oh hell…”

Taere was enveloped in a pillar of white light, and disappeared. When he rematerialized, he appeared in the dark hallways of what appeared to be a dungeon. As soon as he took a step, he felt the sting of cold steel on his throat.

“What the—“

“Shut up,” a female voice said. “Now, if you move, yell, or even speak in a manner which displeases me I swear that you will lose your manhood."

“Please, don’t even start with this.”

“Do I have to do this again?”

“What in the—Alexia?”

“Taere Flarion? Where in the hell have you been?”

“Long story, all you need to know is that sand can get into places you didn’t know existed…”

“Don’t even start.”

“Where the hell are we anyway?”

“Doesn’t this look familiar you armored moron?”

“Wait a second…how did you end up in the Cloak Tower AGAIN?!”

“I’d prefer to tell you that later. Now can we figure out how we’re going to get out this time?”

“How about the same way we did before?”

“No chance, the mages put a slick etherglass coating on the outside of the Tower. I can’t climb.”

“Well, lets see what other options we have…that way, then.”

Taere picked a random direction, and began walking off as if he had any idea of what he was doing. Which of course, he did not.

((OOC: I’m assuming this is a continuation of the storyline past the script I’ve written since the Chimera was killed quite dead. If it wasn’t supposed to be, well, too bad, I think this will be cooler.))

[Senna]

“Please, don’t even start with this.”

“Do I have to do this again?”

“What in the—Alexia?”

She took the daggers away slowly, and he turned around.

“Taere? Where in the hell have you been?” she said hitting him on the shoulder.

“Long story, all you need to know is that sand can get into places you didn’t know existed…”

“Don’t even start.”

“Where the hell are we anyway?”

“Doesn’t this look familiar you armored moron?”

“Wait a second…how did you end up in the Cloak Tower AGAIN?!”

“I’d prefer to tell you that later. Now can we figure out how we’re going to get out this time?”

“How about the same way we did before?”

“No chance, the mages put a slick etherglass coating on the outside of the Tower. I can’t climb.”

“Well, lets see what other options we have…that way, then.”

She looked at him as he walked off in a random direction. He was different somehow, not like he used to be. She shrugged and caught up with him. She thought of linking with him, but she decided against it. After years they had spent apart she had learnt a lot more about her many gifts. She wouldn’t invade his privacy.

“Taere, I think the only way out is going to be through the front door.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No, since last time, everything’s been sealed up. I heard Tariq talking about it.”

“Is that why you got caught again?” he asked. “Because of the escape.”

“No.”

Taere didn’t pursue the subject. After a few more minutes of walking Taere stopped and looked at her, frowning.

“What now?”

“You.”

“…Thanks.”

“No, I mean, you’re barely clothed.”

“Oh you noticed.” Sarcasm.

“Sorta hard not to.” He sighed. “Look, Alexia-”

He was cut off by the sounds of footsteps coming along the corridor. He pulled her into the shadows until they passed. They both sighed with relief. Alexia stepped out.

“Stay here, and I’ll go and find something more suiting for you. Since your obviously not happy with how I am now. Although…you didn’t seem to mind at Lughsadnyth did you?”

She turned and started to walk back down the corridor. The guard’s quarters were where they had just passed. And Alexia was sure she just heard someone who sounded like an old friend.

She knocked on the door three times and after a few seconds it opened. It was one of the guards, which had watched Alexia. She punched him hard, and he collapsed to the floor with a thump. She looked at him, cocking her head sideways, and grinned. God she’d missed doing that. She stepped over him and walked into the room. There was a whore standing in front of the mirror.

“Hello Dena.”

She turned and laughed.

“Lexxy?”
“The one and only.” She smiled. But then, her face hardened. “I need a favour.”

“What is it?”

“I need your clothes.”

She laughed. “What for?”

“Well, I’m in the process of escaping and well, if you could look at me I kinda need to be less…conspicuous.”

“All right, I’ll get something off his lordship here.” She said gesturing to the crumpled body on the ground. “I’ll pretend to be all helpless and…undressed.” She grinned wickedly.

“You haven’t changed.”

“I know. It’s great.”

Dena was the one in which Alexia got drunkon Navodka and got a new tattoo with, the tribal dragon on her arm. Dena herself, had a matching one in between her shoulder blades. She wasn't really tall, but not very short eaithwer, her hair was the most attractive thing about her. Long brown hair which shone red in sunlight. She worked as a whore for upperclass lords and ladies. And even occasionally the odd Royal.

Dena undressed and Alexia picked up the clothes before stripping off herself and redressing. It was a typical courtesans dress, a brocade bodice (which was very worn) and a long flowing skirt. She looked at herself in the mirror.
“Ya know, I never thought you’d be one for brocade honey,” Dena said to her, “But it suits you.”
Alexia shrugged and picked at the brocade. “I can barely breathe in this thing.”

“That’s the price we pay I’m afraid.”

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

“No problem honey,” she flicked her hair, “Now if you don’t mind I have to be all helpless.”

“Alright, you’re working for Aura now right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll see you up there.”

Aura ran The Harem. A high class brothel, where privacy was its only policy, as well as having very expnsive rates and only the best services. Alexia liked Aura, she was two faced at times, but that came from working her way up from the streets to where she was now.

She left the room and walked down the hall back to Taere.

“Is this more suitable?”

“Probably.” He looked at her. “I see we’re resorting to subterfuge.”

“It’s the only way we’ll get out without causing another bloodbath,” she sighed wincing slightly and she shifted her shoulders. “I’m not really in any condition to fight.”

“Then we’ll go.”

[Malevolence]

Taere waited down the hall for a good 5 minutes. He was constantly tense, though; they were after all still in a dungeon. After a short time—at least through Alexia’s perception—she returned wearing a brocade dress with a full corset and a cinched waist. It was rather amusing, and Taere chuckled to himself a bit. Alexia spat a foul look at him. He stopped his s******ing.

“Is this more suitable?”

“Probably.” He looked at her. “I see we’re resorting to subterfuge.”

“It’s the only way we’ll get out without causing another bloodbath,” she sighed wincing slightly and she shifted her shoulders. “I’m not really in any condition to fight.”

“Then we’ll go.”

Taere and Alexia walked off down the hall. Taere, sensing that walking around in a gigantic suit of armor of foreign make would not be a good idea, retracted his armor into its gems. He was left wearing his full-body underarmor suit, and quite cold in a stone-lined dungeon.

“Should I even ask why you just did that?”

“I didn’t want to look conspicuous.”

“Just…go find some clothes.”

“I was planning on it, you know.”

“Right.”

“Really, I was!”

But Alexia had already begun walking again. Taere reluctantly followed. They walked for about 200 meters, and then stopped at a corner when they heard voices. Taere was about to draw out the hilt of the Malevolence, but Alexia stopped him. She just pushed his arm back, and smiled at him.

“Calm down. Like I said, we’re trying to avoid the bloodbath, remember?”

Alexia instead reached into one of the many hidden picked that were in the skirted section of her acquired brocade dress. She pulled out two small, cubic objects made of glass and a metal crossbar. Within the sealed glass was a green, semi-opaque gas. Alexia reached around the corner slowly, and flicked each cube with a different strength into the room spreading them across the floor. As soon as they hit the ground, the glass shattered, sending the compressed billowing gas out into the room. Alexia pushed herself and Taere around another near corner into an alcove as the gas billowed out in the room and flowed past them. They heard coughing in the other room, which eventually slowed and stopped. As the green gas dispersed, Taere and Alexia walked back around the corner, to find a mess hall, and 12 unconscious guards, some even face down in their food.

“Now see what you can do without any fighting?”

Taere murmured to himself, and began rifling around the guards. He found one with a uniform that fit him, and quickly donned the cloth garments and the leather greaves, breastplates and vambraces.

“Now what?”

“We walk out.”

“What?”

“Well, I was…one of Aura’s employees, and you paid to get me down here. So now you’re escorting me out.

“You must be joking.”

Dimitri felt his heart pounding the simple words of his most recent victim had affected him greatly.

‘You are nothing but a killer, a cold blooded murderer!’

The words circled his simple mind, drowning out almost every thought he had. Almost. He still had the overwhelming drive to find his father. He had traveled for so long now he could not even remember when he departed. He longed so much to see his family, his mother, his sister and once he found him, his father. The path he traveled had been much more than a simple one yet he found it entertaining. The endless littering of bandits kept him on his toes, his senses sharp.

He now wandered the woods, the Belden forest if he was correct. A broad area a large place to search with a lot of places to hide, and a lot of places to set an ambush. He walked carefully trying to watch the road and his feet. It wasn’t much of a road, more of an animal track. He encountered the occasional tree in his road and sometimes even found he had led himself into an area of impassible trees and shrubs. The branches were the worst constantly hindering his path and the tree roots that plagued the ground persistently causing him to stumble.

Finally he found his way back into open land into an abandoned city, completely destroyed. He had heard of this place but could not remember the name. An ancient city in the midst of a forest destroyed and left to rot to the end of eternity. This would be his refuge for the night.

As he walked down the deserted streets his mind was plagued by odd thoughts, was he really a murderer? He had only ever fought in self-defence. But had his latest victim been innocent, had he killed a helpless man. He could never be sure, the only ones that he had ever met in this land had been bandits so he assumed the worst. He associated with no one apart from the rare general store clerk when he was in dire need of supplies.

“Who’s there?” Queried a soft voice.
“Who are you? What are you do…Where are you go…Why are you he…who do you search fo…what do you wa…who are you?” the voice was joined now by several, he recognized them. The Voices of the people he had fought, the people he had defeated no, the people he had slain.

They were torturing him, it seemed that their spirits had taken a liking to his body using him as a host. He held his head softly rubbing his temples soothing his thoughts. He noticed a small building to his left, it was destroyed but the roof remained. That would be his campsite. He jogged over to the shelter and sat down quickly. The ground was soft he patted it slowly and dusted the rocks from underneath him before lying down and resting on his hands. Another advantage Dimitri held over any other race was his ability to adjust to any setting. He laughed as he remembered what his mother had once told him.

“Your could sleep upon a thousand standing needles if you had to!”

Of course it was not true but he loved sleep, the only time he could escape reality and he took the advantage to sleep whenever he could.

He looked up at the roof, looked stable enough but he moved closer to the open again, just in case. He rolled onto his side and dozed off slowly watching the comforting stars.

[Senna]

She breathed deeply and let it out. They had to get out no matter what.

They started walking across the marble floors of the lobby. Taere holding her wrist firmly. A little too firmly for her liking. But she ignored it. They were stopped at the doors by a short mage. His eyes were small and they peered and Alexia, well her chest with a look in his eyes which made her want to hurt him very badly.

“Who’s this?” he asked. His voice was high and whiney, and he smelt as if he’d been drinking red wine.

“I found her cavorting with one of the lower level guards.”

“Cavorting? Honey, it’s called sex ya know? If you’ve had any in the past few years.” She put on an accent a lot like Dena, and took some private pleasure in the fact that Taere’s face darkened.

“Whatever, she’s to be escorted out the building. On Tariq’s orders.”

“No problem.” The small mage moved out of the way and pushed the door open. Alexia and Taere walked through and over the bridge until they reached a small wood, out of sight of the tower.

Alexia shook off his hand and walked away.

“It’s good to see you.” he said.

“Good to see you?” she turned to him. “Good to see you. Is that it? You creep away after Lughsadnyth, which by the way was very very meaningful to me, and now you turn up out of the blue and say ‘it’s good to see you’. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? For all I knew, you were dead. Did you try to find me? No. Did you try to get a message to me? No. You know where Mehrehia is, and you know full well that I stay with the Deguar when I’m not busy. I don’t know who you are any more. I loved you. It’s been two years, Taere. Yeah, it may not be much for you, but being away from you for that long has been hell for me.” she softened a little. “I don’t know what to do. After we...after Lughsadnyth, I woke up and you were gone. You have no idea how much that hurt me. And seeing you now…it’s just…I don’t know. I didn’t know where you went, who you were with, or even if you were alive. I didn’t know. And I hated it. When I thought of where you could be its like my entire body froze. My blood stopped, my heart stopped. I’d never felt like that before. ” she turned away from him; she didn’t want him to see her like this. She hadn’t been this upset since…ever.

Taere stared at her a minute must have passed before he eventually choked out his explanation.

"I know how it's been for you. The entire time I was there I kept getting those damnable visions out of your head broadcasted right to me while I was sleeping, walking, even when I was fighting for my life against Ceridesian sand zombies. You have no idea how it was for me either, and it was more than hell, it was hell with your hell piled on top of it. I know exactly how you felt and I couldn't deal with it, but I couldn't come back either. I had to face my hell in the sand, and I had to watch two people I went there with die from sand pneumonia. I saw them choke on sand and die in dry pain. I wish I could have done something, sent something to you, anything, but I couldn't and I'm sorry. I had to finish that before I came back, and now I am. And I'm not going anywhere."

She looked at him, letting him look at the tears running down her face. “You swear?”

“I swear.”

He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head against his chest and felt him kiss her hair.

“I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”


They started walking, barely saying a word out loud. But in their minds, everything was open.

I missed you.
I know. I felt what you did. Your empathic abilities are getting stronger.
I’m sorry.
For what?
Blowing up like that.
It was understandable.
It was uncalled for.
A smile. I love you.

They reached a small village called Nyahn, and took shelter in a tavern.

It was silent as they went to the second floor. The room was dark and Alexia went and lit the candles. She looked out of the window, and the pouring rain battering against the glass. Taere walked to her and held her. She turned around slowly and looked at him.

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

“It’s okay, I’m here now.”

“I love you Taere.”

Then he kissed her, and she seemed to melt against him. Slowly, he ran his hands up her back and began to untie the string on her bodice. She pulled back and looked into his eyes, before beginning to slip off his own clothing. He drew her to the bed, and they thought of nothing but each other for the next few hours.


Morning came, and the sun gleamed through the window onto the bed. Taere lay still asleep, and Alexia sat up. She ran her fingers through her hair and smiled with contentment. She stretched and winced as she realised the large welts on her back had not gone yet. Taere awoke then and stroked her skin. He sat up next to her.

“Did they do that?”

“Tariq. It’s some new whip they had. Magic apparently. It won’t heal for about a week.”

“We’ll get you to Mehrehia before then, she’ll help.”

“Yeah..”

An hour later they were back on the road. Their next stop was Meldil. Alexia was long overdue on her visit there, and Mehrehia was there.

(ooc – now that was a very weird post to write. -_- Caped, that’s a lot better than I expected from you. Keep it up.)

[Toph Bei Fong]

OOC: Damn Caped, you really did do better than I thought you would have. O_o whoa.. it's good. But I think it can be better. You've got far to go. =P

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Surprise Attack – Bahjeeb of Mondu Kelusi
The eyes of Kana have opened to reveal a new and bright sun gleaming over the land. As he leaps off of the tree he was slumbering in, his mind wandered and he began to think about his sensei from long ago, who was known by the name Shadow Otenaki. Although he had been a Samurai, which was a different class than the Ninja, he was still able to teach him his unique fighting style, with the help of Kana’s supreme ability to outwit mostly anyone on this planet. He was the best tactician in the Shojuno region. The only other group of people that he could not outwit even with all of his potential, was his sensei and his niece—if she bothered to use her full potential—but Kana wouldn’t let his niece turn out like he did, and have a stained mind that was capable of thinking of ways not only to defeat the opponent, but to kill them with the greatest—save they weren’t super powerful—of ease. Maybe it would be different for him this time, in that, he would actually let Hitari travel with him in order to increase her skills and experience in battle. It would be a tough journey for her, but it would be for the best as well. But then again, the village did need her, so maybe he would take Ben instead. He certainly was a strong, bright, and extraordinary ninja for being a rookie.

It was decided. He would take Ben with him on his journey and leave Hitari in charge to protect the village. As soon as he finished his thoughts, he heard a scream off to the west, where Onshu’s gates were located. A villager had come running out of the gates as fast as his legs could carry him to find Kana.

“Hey! There are a great number of Bahjeeb barbarians on their way here to raid the town!”
“What’s the amount, considering you are calling it a great number and all?”
“I would say about twenty five or so, but I could be wrong, as my vision is nowhere as good as yours is.”
“Alright then, I’m on my way there.”

*sigh*Why do they always make raid after raid after raid? Can’t they get it through their thick skulls that there is no chance for them to overtake this town as long as I’m here? *sigh*Oi Vey…

Kana took his sweet time in going into the village to counter attack the Bahjeebs, and as he got there, he saw that a quarter of them were already taken out by the rookies. He smirked as he knew that they could handle this sort of job, so he assisted them as they were almost running out of chakra. Except for one of them, and that was Ben Gamanoji. He was smart, and knew how to use his chakra resourcefully.

Kana noticed that a group of five Bahjeebs were heading his way so he dashed toward them readying his Batatsu, and vanished right in front of their eyes, and appeared at their right hand side, and he jumped up into the air and kicked one hard in the head, which tumbled over and fell on top of two others, which left two of them standing, waiting to taste the ground. Kana called Ben over to do a combination attack which combined Kana’s Kagerou No Jitsu attack and Ben’s Aqua Racer attack. Combined, their attack elements wrap around each other and double the damage potential! Kana performed his Tiger, Rat Ox, Rooster seals while Ben performed his Dragon, Rat, Sheep, Dog, Rabbit seals and water from the ocean came roaring up into the air and made a huge splash on Kana’s thunder that was still forming, and as it was forming with water surrounding it, it had increased in size and voltage, seeing as water conducts electricity. After a time within five minutes, Kana’s attack had fully charged and looked very much deadly. Ben and Kana nodded at each other, and then stared fiercely into the Bahjeebs’ eyes with intent to spill blood on the once pure ground. But however, as the attack flew across the field and then separated into their separate elements, attacking one target each, sending them to the ground with a hard thump on the ground.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Ben.”
“Thanks, Kana-sensei. You’re just as strong as ever as well.”
“Nah, I wasn’t even using my full strength, that was just roughly twenty five percent of my overall strength.”
“Wow… is that true?”
“Yep, it is true. Besides, those bahjeebs are weak as hell—to me anyway. But as for your skills, I say that you are ready for the grand tournament that’s coming up by the end of the year. I’m confident in your skills as it is already, but I think you’d better come with me so I can train you more thoroughly.”
“Yes sir! Where are we headed, by the way?”
“No where yet, because lately I’ve had the feeling that something big is about to happen in Shojuno sometime soon, so until that happens, we’re not moving an inch from our village. Besides, without us, the village would have been overtaken years ago.”
“Yeah… I suppose you’re right.”

By the time that their conversation had ended, Hitari and the rest of the group had taken down the rest of the raid that had crossed over the ocean. Now that the town was safe once again, Kana thought to get some rest to restore his energy. As he was walking out of the village gates, to camp out on one of the trees to guard the village during the nightfall, Hitari had followed him thinking that she was successfully trailing him without him knowing it; although she should know her uncle better. He knew she was following him when he walked out of the gates. Before she knew it, he had led her in the darkest part of the Soei Woods.

Heh, so you think you can overtake me at this stage of your life? We’ll see what you can do, niece of mine.

(OOc: thank you for the praise, i just hope i can keep up to the standards you wish for me to perform at, if you feel that im slipping just let me know and i will put as much effort as i can into my writing, but if it can not be salvaged i would be glad to step aside and drop out of this rp. oh and don't be afraid to criticise)

Dimitri opened his eyes slowly looking at the reborn sunrise, it was beautiful, magnificent. The array of colours that graced the clouds, illuminating them to look as if the heavens had revealed themselves shining brightly.

He looked around him, his sleep had been restless. He could not remember but he was sure that his dream had been a horrid one. There was no more time for rest though as now he had to continue his search. He rolled over and reached beside him expecting his hand to grip his axe. He felt nothing but the cool dirt. He turned around quickly searching frantically, his stunning weapon was now gone, disappeared. Where could it be?

He jumped to his feet quickly Dimitri’s eyes darting around quickly trying to find any hint of his quarry. Then his thoughts regrouped as he dropped to one knee and felt around his ankle. He found what he was looking for, his dagger, his murder weapon. This was all he needed.

He looked to the East, where his search continued and where his path lay. Then to the South, where he saw a small clearing and the unmistakable marks of a blade that had been embedded in the soil. His mind was torn as he thought about his search, then his weapon, the weapon that held the only treasure that he had ever cared for, the small glittering diamond, he remembered the way the crystal caught the sun, and the way it sparkled beautifully. The way it made him feel just to look upon it. Without further thought he stormed towards the clearing and fighting off the urge to continue his search. The finding of his axe would benefit him and that was the only excuse he could make to tear himself away from his assignment.

The clearing was small, much like the one he had used to get to the abandoned city in the first place. Now he thought to himself. ‘Why did I bother to come here?” what was the point in searching through these woods, the whole place was deserted except for the city of the cloak, a place which he did not wish to venture into.

His feet crunched upon loose leaves and twigs meaning his presence would not go unnoticed, but that did not bother him he was prepared ready for whatever he had t