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Post by Psychosis on Mar 16, 2006 17:17:17 GMT -5
Psychosis looked back at the young Dhole.
"I know much that is unseen to the rest of the world, I am a Templar, a psychic.. I come from a Zone where time means nothing."
He continued to walk, guiding the Echidna and talking to the Dhole at the same time.
"I dreamed o fthis place while suspended in that Zone.. at the time, little did I know they weren't dreams, but windows to the present.. but I can harldy do justice to this paradise, Shae or The Goddess.. meyhaps even the Deathog would know more than I.."
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Post by Luminous on Mar 16, 2006 20:17:39 GMT -5
"Thank you" Luminous smiled as he walked along, following the footsteps of the others as well as the guiding force that gently led him along. The young man was right, of course. The aeromatic scents were indeed pleasant, as were the sounds, soft and serene. Much like his old home, a place he could never return to, yet still yearn for.
He was wise to keep his mouth shut during the small fight between Stealth and Shea, only sighing as he heard the splash of water, maening that someone got wet. Reaching out, he held the Templars shoulder, smiling softly. "Dreams are often times the windows to bigger things, and to others, to the hopes we all hold. Still, you know quite a lot for one who has little knowledge of this place." Releasing his shoulder, he walked onward, keeping Stealth in his thoughts. He would have to talk to the kitsune later. There were thoughts in his mind that would interest the hunter, and quite possibly ease his qualms of being...inferior, if the fox prefers to think of himself as.
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Post by CC on Mar 17, 2006 5:19:24 GMT -5
The lemur bowed her head even deeper and without a word she backed away from the throne and exited the room, her face blank but her emotions in turmoil. She knew that she had been somewhat careless, an d it was obvious that she should have expected more power from those trying to "defend" the gem, but she had retrieved it, had she not?
She stopped just outside the door and closed her eyes, these thoughts are not ones becoming of one of my station, I must banish them- Lord Syntaru is correct, I should be punished for my mistakes and accept that punishment gratefully for how else am I supposed to learn?
Calmer and more serene she quickly finds herself at her crypt and enters. The stone floor is bare of anything but a small cloth sack, sitting by a far wall, it holds nothing more than spare clothing. There is a stone basin that at one point may have been used for other rites but is now filled with cool water. Tala walks over to it and dips her non-mechanic paw into the cold water and moves her paw up to her face, washing her muzzle and letting the cold water run down her face. She did not feel anything on the right side where the scars ran down, even under her clothing, but she had grown used to not feeling anything.
She makes her way to a cubby where once a tomb was kept but now serves as her sleeping hole. Climbing into it deftly she wraps her tail around her so that it is out of the way and lets herself fall into a light meditation.
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Post by Stealth Greyblade on Mar 17, 2006 8:12:00 GMT -5
Shae growled, standing with Syth once more. He raised his free hand, pointing it towards Stealth."You.. will.. behave." said Shae.
He charged a small energy bolt, firing it at Stealth, pushing him back, through the air and into the lake."When you've both cooled and dried off.. meet us at the palace." said the Bat, continuing down the path once more. Stealth let out a yelp as the blast hit him square in the chest and off in the air aways back till he fell spluttering in the lake. He fell down twords the bottom but after fifteen secodns or so he rose back to the surface snarling angryly. Cursing the bat in all the names of the mobian gods. Then wint an undginified snort he swam back to the waters edge, shaking himself dry like a common mongrel once he was on land ."Stupid freakin bat....this isnto over not by a long shot."he growled as he rung out his tail and then his jacket before running up to catch up with the others. His eyes straight on the bat.
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Post by Shae the Bat on Mar 17, 2006 12:08:27 GMT -5
Shae ignored the soaking fox. They approached the palace gate, where the guards were weary.
"Master Shae, who are these mortals?" said one of the guards, pointing his axe.
"There is no cause for concern, Aries, these mortals were brought by the Goddess." said Shae, he being the top Vanguard. "She has requested they be served a meal in the platial hall."
"The Reaper as well?" asked Aries.
"Yes, the Reaper is here on a debt owed." said Shae, speaking no more and entering the palace.
The palace was every bit as magnificant as the rest of the Chaos Realm. The hues of white and pink marble stone were expertly arranged and carved. Massive pillars, an eleagant stairwell and several statues of the Goddess in her varied animal forms. Shae lead the warriors down a long curving hallway to a set of large double doors.
"The palatial hall is through those doors, wait in here, the food will arrive shortly." said Shae. "The Goddess and I shall return once you've finished the meal."
Shae left, carrying Syth with him, neither of the two recquired food, so he brought the Deathog to a small room outside the Goddess' chamber. In this room was a small bed, one of quite lavish design and comfort. Shae lay the Reaper onto it while he recooped. The bat, sat on a bench by the Goddess' door.
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Post by Psychosis on Mar 17, 2006 12:25:03 GMT -5
Psychosis walked calmly, using a light psionic pulse to guide the echidna. He gazed at the pristine palace. The incredible craftwork and devotion into the detailed marble was enough to make the hedgehog's haw drop. He looked at the guards as they passed through the gate, he could hear their thoughts. They were displeased at both he and the reaper, more vocally with the reaper though, but obeyed their superior and allowed them passage.
The inside of the palace was more of the same, the carefuly sculpted statues of the Goddess in her many animal forms. The one that he and the others had seen was curiously missing from the display. He paid no mind to it for now as they walked down the hallway, and entered the appointed dining hall. He lead the echidna to a seat, and once settled, he went to the opposite side of the table.
He closed his eyes, and meditated while waiting for the mentioned meal.
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Post by Stealth Greyblade on Mar 17, 2006 15:41:15 GMT -5
Stealth snorted and leaned up against one of the statues and sighed as he gazed around the hall. From the look on his face it seemed he wasnt acustumed to such luxury. "I think ill wait till i get down planetside and hit a diner."he mummbled to himself as he glaced up at the statue of the goddess in tiger form. He snorted and shook his head. "I think ill just dry back here for a bit and just let my wounds heal. You guys enjoy your meal but I heard to many myths and legends to want to eat the food of the afterlife. Dont want to get stuck here before my time ya know." he said shaking his head. Stealth had a hard time eough of beliveing all of this was happening to a meer mortal like himself so he was still wary after all the doubts stayed in his heart tillthe goddess eplained to him exactly why she wante him along.
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Post by Lucian on Mar 17, 2006 16:04:53 GMT -5
Syth stared at the ceiling, even the bloody roof was intricately carved with bass reliefs of quaint medows filled with happy dancing creatures. The overwhelming lack of cliche' reality was starting to eat on the deathog. Ever since coming through the portal ripped open by the Goddess his skin itched, he didn't belong here, his kind never had. And he knew it, the reaction of the guards were proof enough of that.
He couldn't be sure but he thought he could almost remember one of them. Perhaps the Reaper had been present when he was harvested and still resented the matter. Then again, he could just be mindlessly doing the will of his Goddess, fanatics are like that. Syth layed there and longed for home, the lime green sky, the boiling evergreen sun. The red mountains and orange waters, so very otherworldly yet natural all at the same time.
In spite of the incessant itching, Death's Son was getting better. Simply being in a place completely composed of ether, even neutral ether, did his depleted soul good. His very essence draining some of the worlds life away to suppliment his own, he really couldn't help it, it was a natural side effect of being the construct that he was in a world he didn't belong in. The bed sheets started to turn neutral gray, drained of their basic vibrance by the anomoly that is death in a land of ever lasting life. Sure, they would return to normal once he left, but it was a site to see the intense color slowly melt from the room to disapear seemingly into nowhere.
The deathog closed his mind and looked inwards, for the most part it was all there. His mind's eye showing him his gloves, his boots, his scythe, his cloak, and then pain. There was a torn hole, the place where Shade's spirit should have resided to be summoned at need. A gapping tear that would not seal no matter how hard Syth willed it, eyes closed he fought back the rage of a lost friend and servant. His skeletal hands clutched the bed covers with out him knowing it, already some movement was coming back to him. . . .
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Post by Shae the Bat on Mar 17, 2006 18:54:02 GMT -5
A group of robed figures, their faces hidden, enter the dinig hall carrying large platters of fruits, vegetables, varying degress of cooked and spiced meats, breaded and unbreaded alike. Though meats were synthetic, they bore the same tases, aromas and nutrients of the real things. The platters were layed out on the table, and as quickly as they entered, the mysterious druid like figures left again. Leaving the warriros to their meal.
Back on the planet, a team of SwatBots had finally arrived to reclaim Gulo, carrying him by stretcher to an awaiting shuttle. They took no chances in losing Eggman's most prized loyalist, armed to the hilt with blasters, rifles and grenades. As well as teh shuttle's own weapon systems. The journey back across the sea to the Eggman Empire and Robotropolis woul dbe a long one. On board, Medi-Bots tended to Gulo's injuries, giving him plasma transfusion and injecting corrective nano-machines to repair the gaping scar made from the Shadow Walker.
"I have failed my father.. he.. will.. not be pleased.. I only hope that he can forgive my failings, and not turn me into one of his mechanized minions." Thought Gulo to himself.
Eggman was in a good mood, which was a rarity, he was pondering on how best to use his new found 'employee'.
"Hmm.. how can I best use a minion, that can only travel at night.. perhaps I can send him on a test of skill on the training facility rig in the Oilic Sea.." said Eggman to himself, deep in thought, and smiling.
The Prophet, Syntaru, reveled in his recovered GemShard, it increased his Shadow Psionics an extensive ammount. As such, he began to toy with a shadow, moulding it, reshaping it filling it with dark essence. The shadow began to take shape, a familiar one, it was a shape of a fallen hero.. one taken in the prime of it's existence.. one that had been a loyal servant to another prior to it's demise..
Syntaru.. had reforged Shade. Filling him with horrific evil, increasing his strength 10 fold, the re-incarnated Shade was pure black, with bright purple glowing eyes. It knelt to it's new master;
"I live to serve your whims, Lord Syntaru." said Shade.
"Hahahaha excellent.. excellent.. this new Shadow will prove to be a most effective soldier in my armies.. just one more step closer to defeating that vile witch.." said Syntaru.
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Post by Luminous on Mar 17, 2006 20:10:43 GMT -5
As Luminous started for his seat, he overheard Stealth. Looking downward, he thought, then started to walk away. "I remember my way, so I shall return momentarily. Please, go ahead and eat while I'm away.." Walking out the door, he walked back the way he came a few paces, then stopped. He didn't know if he had reached Stealth or not, but it was the spot that he had heard the fox speak. Finding a statue to rest an arm against, he sat in front of it on the floor, hoping the fox was still around.
"Stealth, I do not mind if you ignore me, in fact, I expect it, but I can understand your plight with my own. Ever since my birth, I was plagued with discrimination due to my fur color, marking me an outcast. It wasn't until my powers came forth when I was truly feared and became, not only an outcast, but an Exile to my own home...a place in which I inadvertly destroyed..."
Sighing, he wondered if the fox was even around. A blind man can never be sure. Sometimes, only had to hope. "You see, you continue to say that you are only...normal, while the rest of us have powers beyond belief, that you are at a disadvantage. I sympathize with you, but only bacause I wish I could just leave this power behind, to have never dealt with it at all....to be normal, like you..."
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Post by Shae the Bat on Mar 17, 2006 20:43:47 GMT -5
Eggman's voice came onto a speaker down in Lucian's quarters.
"Oh Lucian, could you come to my central office? I recquire your.. talents..." said Eggman, coyly.
Of course what he intended to do was submit the vampire to a test of strength, to see just how powerful an ally he really was. He waited, tapping his fingers on his command chair. Back in the Chaos Realm, while the warriors enjoyed their food, Shae was called into Aurora's chamber, which housed the Vision Fountain. Shae bowed to his lady, and stood at attention. Aurora had assumed the form of an Eagle, and was leaned over her fountain..
"We failed.. Shae.. because the warriors I had gathered weren't as ready as I thought to face his evils.. even with your and Syth's help.. 4 is not enough.." said the Goddess, in a monotone voice. "We must find more.. Shae.. we must find many more.."
"How, Goddess? The planet is so vast, and we have limited Vanguards to spare.." said Shae, a sense of doubt in his words.
"Yes, this is true.. which is why we will use the warriors we already have to seek out more.. we will pair them off and send them to the most populous areas of our planet.. and give them the means to find more warriors.. with the light inside them.." said the Goddess. "As much as I dislike it, Syth was right when he said to me, this was a war.. and as my brother has ammassed an army.. so shall we.. Mortals and Vanguards alike.. standing side by side, defending their existence.."
Shae stood still, silent, he could not believe the words that had come from his lady's mouth. But he knew she was earnest in her sentiments, he also knew she was right. It would take an army of exceptional fighters to fight the evils of Syntaru.. but it would take time.. and time was not something they had on their side.. every minute that passed Syntaru's harbingers drew closer and closer to finding another temple.. and gaining another shard. He clenched his fists, a darkness rising inside him.. hatred for all those that served the Demon..
Those like his mentor.. Magnus, the one who'd betrayed him back in Mercia. The one who caused Shae's soul to be tainted... tainted with a black shadow, that even with all his service for the light, would not leave. A growing power inside him, fueled by his hatred, his anger. A power that threatened to consume him, and a power he could not control easily. He calmed himself.. taking a deep breath.
"My Lady, what do you wish me to do?" asked Shae.
"...For now, wait, when the warriors have replenished themselves.. I will make our intentions known." sighed the Goddess.
"As you wish, my Lady." said Shae, bowing and exiting the chamber.
He checked on Syth, the aura the Goddess had placed around him was doing its job, faster than expected. It seemed to be drawing power from the Realm itself. This unnerved Shae, but he knew it would be for the better, once Syth was fully healed, he would only add to the strength of the Goddess' forces.
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Post by Lucian on Mar 17, 2006 20:54:58 GMT -5
Lucian heard the summons and made haste down to his new boss' quarters. No sense in being late on the job for his first assignment. Doing that while working for villains generally earned you the rank "cannon fodder" and a life insurance plan wasn't included in your benifits. A disturbingly short time later a knock came at Robotnik's door, the screens showing the pathway to his inner sanctum were blank, nothing living, dead, or otherwise had passed in front of the cameras unwavering gaze. Perhaps the sound came from some rarely used machinery clunking on, or such a rationalization could have been if it didn't come again at the door, more insistant.
A wave of a hand signalling all kinds of mechanical failsafes to open and Lucian stood in all his unholy glory for the Doctor to see. It would seem the legends about reflections extended to recordings as well. This would certainly explain why there are only drawnings and written account of vampires and no actual footage. More than a little put off on this fact he hid his displeasure for his new associates in born stealth, such assets had uses to the ever manipulative mechanical despot.
With a wave and a flourish Lucian bowed low, "You summoned me, sir?"
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Post by Shae the Bat on Mar 17, 2006 21:19:29 GMT -5
"Yes, I did, you're coming with me to my special platform on the Oilic Sea, it's a training facility.. I wish to test your abliities, to be sure that you can serve me to your fullest." cowelled the Doctor. "Come come, vampire.. we take our leave."
Eggman's command chair hovered from the ground and headed outward through a large hangar door, on the other side of which was their awaiting Shuttle. They boarded, along with a few ComBots and SwatBots, and took off out over the city. It was night, an it was the only time the city gave off any sort of beauty. The bright lights, and strange green glow of the radioactive material gave a sort of eleagance to the cold steel cities. It wasn't too long before the shuttle arrived at the platform.
Eggman and his Bots exited first, Lucian close behind. Eggman stopped and ordered his Bots to posts around the edge of the center landing pad. Now, only Eggman and Lucian remained, the Doctor pushed a button on his command chair and the central pad began to rise, high off the platform. Four solid support pillars at the corners and one large cylindrical shaft in the center. The shaft was partially hollow, and contained a cargo elevator.
"For your first test, I will pit you against 50 Grounder Robots, they're like small tanks with drill-like appendages." said the Doctor. "You must stay in the center of this pad, if you stray, my gaurds on the edges will open fire.. they're armed with rifles.. that have been modified to fire ultra-violet pulse beams.. which would turn you to cinders in moments.. as the beams mimic the light of the sun."
Two door slide open and the elevator rises to the night-time air.. the 50 Grounders become active.. drills spinning madly.
"Commence testing, phase 1." said Eggman, fleeing the scene to safety immediately.
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