Dark Age Legends

[Drannic_Lord01]

"Oh, right. These two are Sierana," he pointed to each as he introduced them awkwardly, "and this is my little sister Lucia. I'm still not sure how this all worked out..."

"And... Justin?"

"Yeah, sorry. This is... Belle, was it?"

"Nice to meet you. I'm princess Sierana Valimore, though I think you might've figured that one out already." She laughed a bit as she said that, and reached out her hand to shake with Belle.

------------

"Hang on a moment... I thought there were only three airships... hey Lagart, you don't think...?" Jacobie caught his fellow lizardman's eye. They both knew something was going to happen, just not when the time was to strike. Jacobie unsheathed both his katanas to prepare himself.

"You might want to get ready, I think the fighting's about to start!"

[Mikado]

Puco was even more happy now she saw the woman was smiling. "Great! I already made someone smile!, Yaaay~~!"

She was performing some awkward happy dance, and stopped suddenly and looked questionably at the woman.

"But why?. are YOU in such a place?"

A child's curiosity knows no limit.

[Dude Man]

"It's Bell, actually." Bell said laughing a bit.

//Long story on the spelling change, I did a similar thing with Marshall, which used to spelled with only one L.\

She shook hands with Sierana. "Nice to meet you Princess Valimore." She thought she recognized that last name before, but didn't pay it much mind. "Oh and this is Miss Egal." She said motioning to the middle aged woman who owned the house.

"Hello there dears. Would you like anything? Water? Tea?" Miss Egal asked.

"And that little red guy sleeping on the chair over there is Rink." She said motioning to the imp.

Rink opened one eye. "Huh? Oh." He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "People are here. What's going on?"

"Justin brought over some company. This is his little sister Lucia." She pointed to Lucy. "And this is Princess Sierana Valimore."

"Sorry, Valimore did you say?" Rink asked, remembering that name.

"Yeah, what about it?" Bell asked.

Rink rubbed the top of his bald head. "Uh, never mind. Probably nothing." He got up and hoped on top of the table and sat down at the edge to be more at eyes level with the rest of the group. "So, any word from Duilin and the others?"

---

Lagart put his hand on the hilt of his broadsword sheathed on his back, but didn't make any sudden movements.

--- ---

"It's a long story." Sienna replied. "But let's just say this used to be my home." She took a deep breath and sighed. "My brother, well half brother is the only other person from this village who is still alive. Right now he is fighting the Dark Empire, which I have just left. Hopefully for good."

[Mikado]

Puco tilted her head.
"Why won't you help him them? Sitting here looking at something that doesn't exist anymore doesn't help at all!"

She pointed at herself.
"Look at me! I'm jumping from world to world, and never look back! See how nice it is!"

[Trent]

"I will bow not to pledge my allegiance to you," Anti said with an earnest smile, "but only to proclaim how honored I am to fight you... the strongest being in Gaian!" And with that, he took his bow, and then assumed a fighting stance.

[Ted Der]

Akran stood there, motionless, and quiet. He was aware that he was staring, but he felt no desire look away from the fortuneteller’s face.

All of the information that was spilling out of her lips… abandonment, betrayal… and family? Did she say she was Kronos’ sister? And what Kronos said… “You are not pathetic.”? Well, Akran would have reacted differently if it were any other time. Kronos sounded totally out of character, even vulnerable at the moment. All of his mightiness looked as if it had sunk down, through the chair and into the floor.

In the silence that followed, Akran felt as though he should leave. They should be left alone. He tore his eyes away from the woman’s face and ducked out of the tent. Outside, the town was busy moving about and working; totally oblivious to what was going on behind him right now.

What had he heard? Well, much more than he knew just a few minutes ago. It was strange though. Out of all the shocking news he just witnessed, he couldn’t focus on it. The perfumes from inside the tent still clouded his mind. All he could think about was that woman.

Enough, thought Akran. He took a deep breath and let the chilly air fill his lungs. He tried to shove everything out of his mind: the Sovereign, the elder, the town, the woman…

“Damn it.” He cursed to no one in particular and strode back in the direction of the ship.

[Xorlak]

The tiny airship slowly approached the translucent green shield surrounding Tjedon.

"I don't like those guns..." One of the Velken guards said though clenched teeth, warily eyeing the massive cannons of the three airships that hovered over the city.

"Relax... we'll be fine..." Renard said, swallowing hard.  He was beginning to feel rather nervous himself.

The small transport vessel stopped just outside the shield and just waited for several tense moments.  Renard took his sister Emile by the hand and two of the Guards stood close to the priestess. If those cannons made any sign up powering up, they would have to jump out the window-- and fast.

Finally, the crystal in the center of the control room flickered to life and a reptilian figure translucently floated above it.

"This is The Death Evan.  Identify yourselves."

"Galry Renard, Battle Mage of the Skyward Division, returning from classified mission.  Ask the High General for clearance."

"The High General is not on board.  I will clear you with Commander Vlak."

Blast it... Virmir wasn't on the ship... Could they possibly know?  Renard sucked it in, despite how much he was shaking. "Our mission is classified to Vlak.  And you're delaying us, lizard."

The lizard flinched, then scowled.  "One moment..."

Renard's tail twitched back and forth nervously as he waited.  He just starred at the cannons pointed at them outside the window...  One hit would vaporize the lot of them...

Finally, a small hole opened in the shield, and he breathed a huge sigh of relief.  They all did.

The airship maneuvered in through the hole and the opening closed off behind them.  'There." Renard pointed to the largest of the three airships.  "The Death Evan.  That's where Helix is."  The pilot nodded and steered the ship towards the larger ship's expansive landing dock.

Renard turned to Duilin.  "Sorry... my friend Helix was struck down by some undead monster, and the only one who can heal that sort of thing is the High Priestess here."  Lucile gave a nod. "I don't want to delay.  We'll make contact with Lord Virmir as soon as she sees him."

----

"Hmmm... unfortunate."  Retan's blade flickered away, leaving just the hilt.  He folded his arms as he remained floating above the crater, black cape flowing around him, edged by the pale moonlight.

"It is a shame, and a waste."  His crimson eyes turned to Valos, and then in the direction of a third warrior, one floating towards him with a sword and axe.  "You... human, you... astral, and you... Lilithian... None of you are of the correct alignment to strike me down.  You should serve, and yet you struggle.  A waste.  I tire of insurgents.  My army is complete.  I have acquired all that I desire.  The rest is trash."

A dark mass began to form above his head...

"Up until this point I have been exceedingly generous. It is time I withdraw my offers and wipe clean so that I may build anew."

----

Virmir balanced on the sword-in-the-floor with one hand on the hilt.  When Aaron's horizontal slash came, he floated up in the air so the blade went under him and over the sword.

On the downfall, Virmir drew the much longer and thinner Wind Serpent, a gale bursting from the sheath as he whipped the blade above his had.  With a downward slash, he fell next to the still burning sword he stuck into the ground and struck Aaron's weapon with a resounding clang.

"You're not human, are you?"

----

Zion's attack seemed to have zero effect on the monster.  It scowled and lurched at the man who turned his back to it.  But then suddenly the creature fell apart, diced into hundreds of tiny black cubes.  Each piece flew a few yards away before disintegrating into tiny particles that fizzled into nothing.

[Drannic_Lord01]

"Sorry, but I don't think so... but something feels odd, I can kind of sense his presence. Hey Rink, can you feel that, too? It's demonic, but not entirely... it has to be him."

"Justin, your sister needs to get to bed soon, remember?"

"Yes, of course. Here, I'll get you to bed Lucy." Justin walked further into the house away from the others and found a small bed; perfect for his little sister. As he put her to bed, she gave him one final hug, and he left to join the others.

"So, you say you've heard the name Valimore before, have you?" Sierana was now getting a bit concerned. Not too many people who haven't been in the Arctic region for long enough would know of her father's name.

"It may be possible that you've met my... father... King Damion Valimore. He's not quite... human. Well, nor am I, I suppose, but even still, he's something else. He's a vampire." She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth as she said father.

"Yeah, Valimore... uh, I mean 'Damion' was here before. I think he was looking for me... hey, do you guys hear that?" The smaller airship that docked with the Death Evan, though being a smaller model, still made quite a racket.

"It's another Airship... Hey, Duilin's on board!"

------------

"Hey, you guys... thanks." Tiberius said, walking towards the three; Aura, Tsu, and Xenai. "We owe you more than enough thanks, but there is one thing I'd like to ask... do you think we could travel together? There really isn't much for us to do anymore... I understand if you don't want us to."

------------

"No, I'm not quite entirely human!" Aaron said as he held his sword against the windserpent, a wild clang noise as the two enchanted metals slashed together.

"I'm part wolf. In a way, we're both distant cousins from the fox, aren't we?" Aaron then twitched as he heard an airship pull into the air above them.

"This duel has lasted long enough. MEN, HAULT!!!" Aaron slowly let his sword return to its sheath. "I tire of fighting. It seems you have me at every move; older, faster, stronger... And more numbers. I surrender, High General, just please don't mistake me for a coward. I have an empire to lead, and if they loose me... they're bound to share the same fate of this island... imprisonment."

------------

[Dude Man]

"Wait, you had a friend who was struck down by an undead creature?" Duilin asked. "Was it a giant rat by any chance? A friend of mine was struck down by a giant zombie rat, he seemed pretty ill. If it's needed, I'd appreciate it if you could heal him."

---

"Not quite demonic?" Rink asked. "Yeah, that's probably Duilin." He turned to Sierana. "King Damion Valimore. I definitely recognize that name. I heard that name before my amnesia." He rubbed his head.

"Yeah, I don't know exactly how long ago it, fifteen years ago I think, but I apparently hit my head really hard or something, I dunno. But yeah, amnesia. Things come back to me every now and then however."

Rink rapidly shook his head a couple times. "Anyways. If Duilin is here, in an airship then that might mean he just rescued the Velkens." He smirked a bit.

"I bet his being all modest and crap. He's like that." He lays back and rubs his chin and lower lip in a similar fashion Duilin does.

"Hell, it was nothing. I'm just doing, what I do." Rink said imitating Duilin's voice.

Bell gave out a hard laugh, and Rink smirked again. The imp exhaled, and then looked back at Sierana. "But, yeah I think there's like some legend about guy named 'Damion Valimore' who was like born from 'darkness' and 'destruction' and like populated the world, ten thousand years ago. I don't remember where I heard it however. But I used to live in the demon's world, Thanatos, so maybe a demon told me or something. Some of them know quite a bit, but most of them are just dumb brutes."

--- ---

Valos couldn't believe what he was about to do. He was probably kidding himself more then anyone has ever in his life but he wasn't going to back down. And if he's going to get killed, he's going down with a fight.

"Make my day O' mighty Emperor Retan of the Darkness..." Valos lifted up his fists and created another spiked ice gauntlet on one, and held a fireball in the other. "...I just went through hell and back, so I could really use a nice walk in the park."

[Dude Man]

//Forgot Ophelia/Sienna\

"You don't understand." Sienna replied. "When I lived here, it was the only time I was actually happy. I avoided this place for decades so I could forget about it. If I could forget about it, then maybe I'd be happier with my current state. But that didn't work out, it leads me to do things, anyone that reminded me of my old life, I killed them." She shed a tear from he eye. "I tried to kill my own brother. I am thankful that he was stronger then I and I was unable to kill him. I am also thankful that he was so understanding. He's truly a great person."

She rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have opened up to you like that. You're so young and I don't even know you."

---

"Look at this, so pathetic..."

[Drannic_Lord01]

Jacobie opened the door to the house, still holding his katanas. "There's another airship up there. You might want to keep your guards up. Justin, Rink, get ready to fight."

"Yeah, we noticed, what with the noise and all. I'm pretty sure Duilin's up there, but we should still be prepared, or whatever." Justin pulled out his demon fang and had it at his side, making sure to keep it out of the way.

"Hmm... I don't think whatever's up there is on our bad side. Still, if they are our ally, then we should help them." Sierana sat down in a chair next to the table. "By we, I mean you guys, of course. I'm no fighter."

"Well put. Lagart and I will warn you guys if we see anything unusual going on." With that, Jacobie shut the door behind him and watched the sky again.

------------

[Trent]

Zion didn't even so much as look at the monster that had tried to attack him. He simply grinned upon hearing the monster's discomboobulation (Yes, I AM using that word). "Now, for the other guys..." And with that, he got started on fighting the other enemies.

--- --- ---

"Hah! You must be kidding me!" Full of overconfidence, he just floated there, willing to take that dark mass head-on (and apply it directly to the forehead).

[Xorlak]

"Giant rat?"  Renard scratched his head. "Yeah, that was it exactly, actually..."

"Of course I will help whoever needs it," the priestess smiled, but then it faded. "But we must hurry..."

The transport vessel quietly landed atop the Death Evan and the door opened, Renard leading the group out while holding Emile's hand.  Lady Urocy's guards surrounded the priestess with their hands on their weapons, their eyes and ears darting about.

Most of the Lizard Men atop the deck stopped to watch them.  Especially Duilin.

"Helix is two levels down..." Renard said through clenched teeth as they made their way towards the lift.  "Just... look like you're an officer or something, Duilin."

As they approached the rectangular section of floor that lowered down into the bowels of the ship, a single lizard rose from the opening and walked past the group.  "You there!"  Renard shouted, trying to sound authoritive, but it wasn't really working. "Send a message to the High General.  Tell him Renard has returned and needs to speak with him..."  The lizard nodded and went about his business.

When they were traveling down the lift, Renard quietly said to Duilin, "We're going to have to try and fit in for a while... there's way too many of them to fight...  Lord Virmir will have a plan.  I know it..."

----

Retan remained floating there with his arms folded, the darkness swelling above.

"Very well.  I shall grant your wishes.  Let us make this entertaining, at least..."

The blackness exploded into a vortex, with swirling winds pushing outward instead of in. Two shadows leapt from the portal and blazed right at Valos and Anti.  The crimson-eyed creatures looked nearly identical to Retan, complete with cape and armor, except they were but detail-less silhouettes.

A burning red sword appeared in each's hand, and the Shadow-Retans lunged through the air at the demon and human...

(The Shadow-Retans are medium-high powered NPCs that you may control.  Have fun!)

----

Virmir held the tip of his blade to Aaron's throat for a long moment.  Finally he lowered it and sighed.

"You... probably shouldn't have told me that much...  With you in our custody, we will be able to subjugate your nation much more easily..."  By now the Velkens had the Drannivolka's arms tied behind their backs and their weapons confiscated. "Although I mean you no disrespect.  I merely do as my liege wills... we all do."

He turned and pointed to the door.  "Take them to the lower dungeons, along with those other two... Where did they go?  Where is Riuki?"

[Drannic_Lord01]

Aaron lowered his head and sighed. As Virmir had mentioned, he probably said too much. He lifted his head and looked the Velken straight in the eye. "I... beg your pardon? My nation, you say? Please, more than enough blood has been spilled, and on my own account as a bad leader! Spare your lord this information! There is no need to know every detail!"

"Enough, my lord. They are of the Dark Empire, and know of no peace. Do you not see the coldness in his eyes?" The three Drannivolkan Elites' hands were bound behind their backs.

"Marrik, you don't know what you're talking about!" Aaron gave him a stearn look, and the Drannivolkan merely looked away, flicking his tail as he did so.

"He has a point, Emporer. We're outmatched by a worthless scumbag from the dark empire. They know nothing of honor, or mercy for that matter."

"If they didn't know honor or mercy, then why are YOU still alive? SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" A window lit the room with the light of a full moon, shining into the room, and increasing Aaron's breathing. His chainmail started to stretch out as he began to slowly grow in size.

"You remember... when I said I was part wolf, right? Part werewolf... to be exact." Fur started to grow all over his body, his head changing shape, growing wolf-like ears. The transformation was complete within a matter of seconds after the moonlight shone upon him. He looked like a wolfman in armor and a cape. A velken came near him, blade drawn.

"No, don't! He's perfectly calm, just don't hurt him! He won't fight you! Lord Aaron, down! See!?" The Emporer heard the words of his commrade and lowered to the floor, like an animal responding to the call of its master. The Velken still kept his blade drawn, and pointed it at the wolven Aaron. After a few moments, he sheathed it.

------------

[D. Ein]

Kronos came almost right after Akran.

-"Let's go. We're leaving."

--- --- ---

Cain stood at the summit of the mammoth Citadel, looking at the workers below. Since Eldridge was so kind to introduce the flotation crystals to the Sovereignty, Ryleh took initiative and installed them into the fortress. Now the four bone legs which used to support the structure were no longer needed, so they were salvaged for their unlife. In their places, there were massive chains extending from the top and to the ground. They bound the Citadel to the ground, not allowing it to float away into the sky.

Suddenly, the Scribe felt a deep rumbling. It wasn't even a rumbling, as such - more like a strange feeling of having your insides shaking as if from a very loud sound, but it was deathly silent. He looked around, finding no apparent source of the disturbance.

And then, he saw it.

The grey, starved clouds rushed to the sides, revealing the metal sky overhead. At first, nothing could be seen through that hole - but then, a circular shadow revealed the ship which has finally arrived to Gros Morne. The design changes were immediately visible - the three carcasses which sheltered the crystals were now chained to the hull, pulling the whole contraption into the skies. Instead of being located at the sides of the ship, the carcasses floated a good fifty meters above the ship itself, attached by the long chains. They appeared to form a sort of a three-pointed star, joined in the middle by a suspiciously bulky sphere. The main ship itself consisted of a relatively thick and wide ring, encircling a massive lens in the middle (which was slightly elevated above the rest of the ship). The lens itself had a smaller ring around it, which was almost touching the delicate glass. There were many glass lines attaching the two rings together, squirming over the metal hulls like tentacles, eventually vanishing inside. The lens was not attached to the ship at all, probably for the ease and speed of rotation. Cain also noted with delight that the whole vessel had a barely visible shimmering blue aura around it.

The ship continued descending until it was right over the Citadel. A walkway extended from the ring, revealing a beaming Foreman, who dashed over to Cain.

-"I present to you the Enlightenment, Scribe, a name we thought to be rather fitting. All she needs now is a crew, but I'm sure you already have that planned out."

-"Yes... I do. Thank you, Foreman. Perfectly done. I will inform the Sovereign of your deeds."

The Foreman nodded, and disappeared in the Citadel's trapdoor. Cain followed afterwards. He'll need to contact a few people...