NSFCD

Why did it have to happen to us? We may be fine now, but... There are those of us who want things to go back to the way everything was before...

Our dear planet, Aritsu...

After the meteors struck, mass panic erupted. The meteors came in at such an angle, they sent pieces of the planet's crust into the atmosphere. Those who were on the newly formed floating islands were the lucky ones. Those who had survived on the planet itself were all killed by vicious beasts of many different forms, which we have now come to know as the Me-kashikyo, which means "Death maker". The islands became nestled into the safety of the sky, where we still are. Over the next three years, the only thing keeping the islands motivated was the fact that we were not the last. Each of the surviving islands helped one another recover.

But through differences, five groups formed. Through designs in books that weren't incinerated by the flames of the meteors, were used by one group to advance their lives and build devices and machines of past and future. The largest of the islands came under control of those who survived the capitol of the planet's strongest country, and became home to another group of millions of survivors. Another group took up the refuge of abandoning all technology and relying on the new found power of the magics, using spells to help them in this new world. Primitive, yes, but very powerful they are. One group had gone back to ways that haven't been seen for centuries, using swords and old-fashioned pistols. Many young ones from this group are quite the day-dreamers, hoping for a way to bring about peace once more. And finally, this group, who shall keep the records of these new lands, shall not fight, but try to bring peace among the others through knowledge of our glorious past.

Whether you be a traveler, or too daydream of better days, you have a part in this world. So the only question is who will you be to our world?

World History Archives of the Ishizo Library, Kazuhiro, 3 A.A. (2017 A.D.)

Form:

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Group (see below list "Groups"):
Island of Origin (see below list "Islands"):
Weapon(s) (varies from group to group):
Bio:
Appearance (Note: your appearance will depend on your group):

Rules:
-No godmodding
-No flaming other players
-Use double parentheses when speaking OOC
-Use of good grammar and spelling is REQUIRED. Some mistakes are allowed occasionally, but not too often. ;)
-Have fun!


Characters:
(I'll add mine a bit later)

Name: Akutai (X_Hero)
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Group: Kenshin
Island of Origin: Kiku
Weapon(s): A long pistol and a sword
Bio: After the meteor shower, his father was killed, and he now lives with his mother. He recently has been curious about traveling to other islands, and has trained himself in ways of combat to prepare himself.
Appearance: Orange, spiky hair and blue eyes, a green scarf, black shirt under a white vest, blue pants, and old sneakers.

Name:Kai (20fan)
Age:25
Gender:Male
Group:Kenshin
Island of Origin:Kiku
Weapon: A Katana
Bio:A master swords man, he was an orphan since age 10.
Appearance: Scar over right eye, and is seen most often wearing a samarai suit.

Name: Solon (Birdie of Aces)
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Group: Norobu
Island of Origin: Chinatsu
Weapon(s): A small dagger hidden in boot, a steel scimitar
Bio: Lives on the beautiful tropical forest of Chinatsu. His group is being attacked by the militaristic Atsushi, so Solon has taken the job of being an Assassin, ready to kill any of the Inside men of Atsushi to help out Norobu.
Appearance: Spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, scar over right eyebrow, wears dark colored robes.

Name: Ryuki Ryushima (Nils_13)
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Group: Rurousha
Island of Origin: Shigeru
Weapon(s): Staff, Book
Bio: He lived happily on the ice island of Shigeru until he grew tired of the cold and decided to travel and explore the other islands instead of being stuck in his icy homeland. He left after saying his farewells and has been a stowaway on many of the transportational systems running between and throught the islands. He was taken in by the Yoshinori and learned the magic arts. He mastered them quickly and decided to continue on with his adventures.
Appearance: Thick, white, unkept hair. He has blue eyes and wears the traditional mage garb, only every single bit of his clothes are white.

Name: Jas (Sh0rTi)
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Group (see below list "Groups"): Atsushi
Island of Origin (see below list "Islands"): Yutaka
Weapon(s) (varies from group to group): Duel Vipers (Guns)
Bio: Jas got bored, staying in one spot. She wanted to see who and what else existed, even though her parents told her not to bother with people from else where. Being the rebel that she can be at times, Jas ran off, fed up with the 'boojie' act people often put up.
Appearance (Note: your appearance will depend on your group): http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/Keigoe/RP%20Stuff/cee4f27250acd3cced89c20a97010b4e.jpg (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/Keigoe/RP%20Stuff/cee4f27250acd3cced89c20a97010b4e.jpg)

Name: Haseo (Triforce_Luigi)
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Group: Yoshinori
Island of Origin: Kazurhiro
Weapon: A Staff and a small dagger
Appearance: He dons black robes like those worn by scholars. He has brown eyes and black hair.
Bio: Haseo is a typical Yoshinori, other than the fact that, if provoked, he will use magic for combat purposes. He has mastered how to use his magic, but keeps a dagger as a precaution. He wishes to travel to other islands, but despises the hopeful, naive, daydreamers.

Ready for you to post. :)

Groups:

The Daichi - the group occupying the largest of the landmasses, they live in a city built for them by the Norobu. They are thankful to the Norobu, and sometimes serve in the Norobu army. Their clothing is usually tattered, and they have the same jobs as the Norobu group.

The Atsushi - a group who is still producing advanced mechanical weaponry, they are also advanced in every aspect of their lives. Since the least amount of problems have occurred to them, they are stuck up and a bit snobby. They wear clothing with new fabrics and futuristic design, and use advanced weaponry. Usually, jobs include gunslingers, scientists or a position in the Atsushi army.

The Kenshin - a group that abandoned technology for the old ways, including weaponry such as swords and 15th to 16th century-styled guns. Many of the people of this group have at least one dream, and they never give up. Their clothing is usually made of clothing that have been newly made from home-made fabrics, with designs that reflect the period of their weapons. Jobs include swordsmen, many types of smiths, or a position in the Kenshin army.

The Yoshinori - the most populated group, made of survivors from two of the world's former largest cities, who decided in not resorting to violence. They are wise and peaceful, wearing the robes of scholars. They use magic, but never for reasons of attack. The jobs of this group are usually scholars or mages.

The Norobu - The group on the smallest, yet most powerful of the islands, survivors of the capitol of the strongest country of the planet. Since the Atsushi had begun to attack them for control of the planet, they have become untrusting and cautious. Clothing is similar to the Kenshin, but with more modern designs. Jobs include many government positions, assassins, or a position in the Norobu army.

Rurousha - Not exactly a group. A Rurousha is basically a wanderer, which can basically choose almost whatever they want for weapons and skills. They can also choose any job they want.

Islands:

Hajime - The largest island, home of the Daichi group. It has part of the world's largest ocean, and there are several waterfalls flowing off the edge. It is very beautiful.

Katashi - the second largest island, under the control of the Norubu group. Incomplete cities are still being built, so the skyline is quite interesting.

Yutaka - the third largest island, home of the Atsushi group, one large city with advanced buildings and factories stand tall.

Shigeru - fourth largest, not in control of any group. It is far in the northern regions, so it is an island of ice.

Masayoshi - fifth largest, under control of the Atsushi. A factory is here, surrounded by a forest.

Kazuhiro - sixth largest, home of the Yoshinori. The two former largest cities stand at each end of the island.

Chinatsu - seventh largest, not in control of any group. A beautiful tropical forest surrounds a small sea with an encircling beach.

Saki - fifth smallest, under control of the Norobu. Towns have sprung up from where refugee camps were once erected.

Michi - fourth smallest, under control of the Kenshin. The island is very thin, which makes it resemble a path.

Kiku - third smallest island, home of the Kenshin. The name for the island was given because of it's numerous chrysanthemums.

Hideaki - second smallest, the relic erected from one of the meteors stands here. It's magnificence is widely known, but it's use is yet to be discovered.

Masahiro - smallest island, home of the Norobu. The main government building of the old capitol still stands, but just barely.

Soyomi - Average sized island. An unactive (you can guess why) volcano rests dead at the center of the island. It's sister island is located nearby

Shiyomi - The sister island of Soyomi, it is a little smaller than Soyomi. It used to be a tourist resort before the meteor hit, now it's the central hub of transportation between the islands.

Ryomaki - An island with many waterfalls and mountains, it is the home of Dragon's Peak. It is under control of the Noboru.

Ishizu - A relatively small island. It is nearly uninhabited. It is a place where many scientific studies are conducted by Atsushi scientists. Lately, the Atsushi have become rather interested in genetics...

Tsumino - Also known as the "Island of Gambling", it is where the few casino machines were discovered and repaired by Yutaka. Gamblers from all islands come here to test their luck.

Money and Item Purchasing

There will be a system of money here, and the currency is Genkin. Each time you win a battle, you will be awarded Genkin, the value of prize earnings varying with the length of the battle. Many stores will be on different islands. What you can buy will depend on how much money you have and what your job is. Also, each island's shop will sell different things, depending on what group controls the island. I will keep an up to date record of how much Genkin you have next to your character profile.

All right, so when you're ready, you may now post your character. :)

Name:Kai
Age:25
Gender:Male
Group:Kenshin
Island of Origin:Kiku
Weapon: A Katana
Bio:A master swords man, he was an orphan since age 10.
Appearance: Scar over right eye, and is seen most often wearing a samarai suit.

Quote from: 20fan on December 17, 2007, 10:21:49 AM
Name:Kai
Age:25
Gender:Male
Group:Kenshin
Island of Origin:Kiku
Weapon: A Katana
Bio:A master swords man, he was an orphan since age 10.
Appearance: Scar over right eye, and is seen most often wearing a samarai suit.

All right, you're in. :)

Name: Solon
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Group: Norobu
Island of Origin: Chinatsu
Weapon(s): A small dagger hidden in boot, a steel scimitar
Bio: Lives on the beautiful tropical forest of Chinatsu. His group is being attacked by the militaristic Atsushi, so Solon has taken the job of being an Assassin, ready to kill any of the Inside men of Atsushi to help out Norobu.
Appearance: Spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, scar over right eyebrow, wears dark colored robes.

Quote from: Birdie of Aces on December 17, 2007, 10:30:22 AM
Name: Solon
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Group: Norobu
Island of Origin: Chinatsu
Weapon(s): A small dagger hidden in boot, a steel scimitar
Bio: Lives on the beautiful tropical forest of Chinatsu. His group is being attacked by the militaristic Atsushi, so Solon has taken the job of being an Assassin, ready to kill any of the Inside men of Atsushi to help out Norobu.
Appearance: Spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, scar over right eyebrow, wears dark colored robes.

Very nice. You're in. :)

((Can we start or are we waiting for you to open it or more people?))

Quote from: Birdie of Aces on December 17, 2007, 01:02:13 PM
((Can we start or are we waiting for you to open it or more people?))

((Right now, we're waiting for more people to join.))

Name: Ryuki Ryushima

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Group: Rurousha

Island of Origin: Shigeru

Weapon(s): Staff, Book

Bio: He lived happily on the ice island of Shigeru until he grew tired of the cold and decided to travel and explore the other islands instead of being stuck in his icy homeland. He left after saying his farewells and has been a stowaway on many of the transportational systems running between and throught the islands. He was taken in by the Yoshinori and learned the magic arts. He mastered them quickly and decided to continue on with his adventures.

Appearance: Thick, white, unkept hair. He has blue eyes and wears the traditional mage garb, only every single bit of his clothes are white.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 17, 2007, 02:31:32 PM
Name: Ryuki Ryushima

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Group: Rurousha

Island of Origin: Shigeru

Weapon(s): Staff, Book

Bio: He lived happily on the ice island of Shigeru until he grew tired of the cold and decided to travel and explore the other islands instead of being stuck in his icy homeland. He left after saying his farewells and has been a stowaway on many of the transportational systems running between and throught the islands. He was taken in by the Yoshinori and learned the magic arts. He mastered them quickly and decided to continue on with his adventures.

Appearance: Thick, white, unkept hair. He has blue eyes and wears the traditional mage garb, only every single bit of his clothes are white.

Added. :)

We need someone to join the Atsushi before we can start.

((Name: Jas
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Group (see below list "Groups"): Atsushi
Island of Origin (see below list "Islands"): Yutaka
Weapon(s) (varies from group to group): Duel Vipers (Guns)
Bio: Jas got bored, staying in one spot. She wanted to see who and what else existed, even though her parents told her not to bother with people from else where. Being the rebel that she can be at times, Jas ran off, fed up with the 'boojie' act people often put up.
Appearance (Note: your appearance will depend on your group): (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/Keigoe/RP%20Stuff/cee4f27250acd3cced89c20a97010b4e.jpg)

Anyone know if it's okay to have more than 1 character?))

((I have you added Sh0rTi, and yes, you can have more than one character, but no more than two. :)))

Ooc/ Um, when does this become closed? I want to join, but am currently unable.

Quote from: Triforce_Luigi on December 18, 2007, 04:43:47 PM
Ooc/ Um, when does this become closed? I want to join, but am currently unable.

((Well, we can certainly hold a spot open for you. And we're also about ready to start up, so you made it just in time. :)))

Could you hold a spot? I do not know when I could join.

"About ready to start up" could that possibly mean that we will be RPGing soon? Great, I've been curious about this one.

Quote from: Triforce_Luigi on December 18, 2007, 05:27:12 PM
Could you hold a spot? I do not know when I could join.

Of course. I'll put it in now. :)

Thank you.

Quote from: Birdie of Aces on December 18, 2007, 05:31:35 PM
"About ready to start up" could that possibly mean that we will be RPGing soon? Great, I've been curious about this one.

Yes, we'll be starting soon. :) As soon as I close up the sign ups (which is in a few seconds), we'll be able to start.

((All right, we are now officially open for RPing. :)))

Akutai looked out over the almost endless fields o chrysanthemums, watching as the wind made them gently ripple in the breeze. His scarf quivered as it was being blown back. Akutai brushed some of his hair out of his face.

"Better be heading back to town..." Akutai said as he got up and turned back towards town. He straightened his vest and began walking back. The view of the town soon came into view, the small buildings already awakened in the hours of the morning. As he walked down the small street, he looked around. Today was when he would finally be ready. The day that he could go out and see what the other islands were like. He made it to one fair-sized house, which was apparently his own, and walked in.

"Back so soon?" Came the voice of Akutai's mother from the kitchen. She was cleaning some of the dishes in the small metal tub where a working sink had been three years earlier.

"Oh, I just need to get a few things, then I'm heading over to Kaito's to see if he's finished getting my pistol and sword ready." Akutai answered as he was a bout to head up to his room to pack a bag. His mother just thought a moment as he went up. Akutai came back down with his pack and was about to head out.

"Akutai?" His mother said, walking up behind him. He turned his head to face her. There was a moment of silence. "... Don't forget to come visit once in a while, okay?"

Akutai smiled. "Don't worry, I will." He replied, as he opened the door, and then headed out.

((I'll have my other char come in later))

"And those rags! Those are supposed to be clothes? They look so... ew!"

"Tch," Jas rolls her eyes at the conversation a group of girls were having next to her.

"Hey, Jas, sit over here!" One of them says.

"Nah, ya'll go ahead," Jas heads back for her house. "I got stuff to do," she knew better. They probably said stuff about her behind her back, too cowardly to say it to her face. Jas puts the ear pieces to her music player on, and listens to the sounds coming from it.

Solon sat on the top of a tree branch, letting the sun soak up his face as he carved a plank of wood with his dagger. He would begin as a full recruited assassin soon. He had waiting so long... Training so hard...

His mind flashed back to the incident, causing him to become a member of the crew much later then the ones starting after him. He shook his head and absent mindely rubbed his left shoulder. Even though he was loyal to Norobu, some memories would always belong with a different group...

The sun had risen a bit more, and some of the light reflected off some of the windows of the town. Akutai squinted a bit until he had gotten out of the way of the reflected light. He had come up to a large shop, with a sign that read "Kaito Blacksmithing". Akutai waled through the large sliding doors of the barn like smith shop, he could hear the sound of a hammer hitting against steel. He came around the corner, and there was Kaito, just putting the last touches on Akutai's sword. Kaito looked up at him.

"Ah, perfect timing, Akutai. I just finished your sword." Kaito said. He placed the blade of the sword in a large bucket of water to cool it off the rest of the way, since it had already cooled off for a bit as he was hammering it. He took it out and wiped it down with a cloth before handing it to Akutai. "I gave it a stronger core, just so it won't break quite as easy. You have yourself a very strong sword there..." He leaned over to a post and took a long-barrel pistol off of a steel peg and handed this to Akutai as well.

"Thanks, Kaito." Akutai replied to him.

"Ah, don't mention it." Kaito said back. "Well... Guess this is it, eh?"

"It sure is..." Akutai said.

"Well... I wish you all the luck I can, Akutai. Bring back something nice for me, eh?" Kaito said with a bit of a laugh.

"Sure will, Kaito." Akutai replied again. "Well, see ya..." He turned and headed back out the way he came.

"See ya." Kaito said back. Akutai raised his hand in response.

He headed back out of town, and now he was staring back out across the great fields of chrysanthemums. It was going to be a while before he saw them again. Quite a while. All memories of what happened in those fields rushed through his mind as he himself began to rush along a path through the miles of beautiful flowers.

((I have to go for tonight, so CYa.))

Ryuki walked out of the Ishizo Library. Several other mages stood at the steps.

"Good bye, Ryuki. Don't forget to come see us sometime!" one yelled and waved.

"I won't. I've learned to much here to forget you guys. And I may need to research a few things every now and then, so expect some visits from me here and there." he smiled, waving back. He left. Walking down the street, passing a few people, he thought about what a great time he had there. All of the friends he was leaving. Sure, he was a Rurousha ever since he left Shigeru, but he missed having people he knew he could truely trust. A friend. He had several friends across a few of the islands, including his own, but the only time he saw them is when he decided to go visit that island again, for whatever reason. His thoughts were interupted as he walked right into a pole. Wham!  His head collided with the steel beam and he fell to the ground. A large red mark was sitting proudly on his forehead.

"Owww...." he muttered, rubbing the spot on his head.

"Five minutes away from us at the library and you've already hurt yourself." came a fimiliar voice.

"Aya! What are you doing here?" Ryuki asked, bewildered as to why one of his friends had followed him.

"Well, you left in such a rush, you forgot your spell book and staff." she reached behind her back, pulling out a blue and white book and a staff. The staff was a gift given to him by the main Sage at the Ishizo Library on his fifteenth birthday. It had a Blue orb at the top of it with a ring of Moon Stones around the center of the orb. The orb was held in place by a crescent moon with even more Moon Stones on it. On top of the crescent was another, much smaller sphere, a white one. Under the sphere-holding crescent, supporting it, were a pair of white wings, with a stone in the center of them. The Master Sage had made it himself.

"Oh, thanks, Aya." Ryuki replied, taking the book and staff from her. She helped him up.

"Well, I'm going back to the library now. See you around." she turned and started walking off. She stopped after a short distance. "Oh, and Ryuki..."

"Yeah?" he replied.

"Please be careful..." she said, audible to where only Ryuki could here it.

"Don't worry. I will. After all, you were the one who always helped me out with my spell homework, so I think I'll be fine." he replied in a cheerful, confident tone. Aya just continued on her way after hearing Ryuki's reply. If Ryuki would have seen her face, he waould have seen her crying.

"We have gathered here today to welcome our newest assassin, heart set on destroying the Atsushis. Solon," began a man in the traditional black assassin robes. Usually, cheers came thundering through at this point, but there were only a few half hearted grunts. Solon stayed in his place with a straight face, he knew why they resented him so much.

They were in a cathedral-like room. Every black robed assassin stood around the altar where the leader and Solon were placed. Solon had to stand through speech after speech, and each cheer afterwards was feebler then the last. Solon sighed, he knew what they were thinking. What if his task is to kill that one guy...? Is he completely loyal, with a bond like that? Solon wondered the same things sometimes. But he was angered by his old friends and teammates distrust in him. He had been good friends with these people once.

"You are now, an official assassin of Noboru. Serve us well," finished the leader. He was a bald man with black eyes, never showing feeling within.

"Thank you," replied Solon, bowing his head. The leader, whose name no one knew, gave Solon the Harness of Respect. I don't deserve this. No one respects me... Solon thought with self pity. It was a black leather sword holder, with a Khopesh blade inside. Solon would probably never use the sickle-sword, but it was the Norobu assassin's signature weapon. After doing their duty, they were taught to make a special cut with the Khopesh to honor their "work".

After the ceremony, Solon went out to the tropical forest, hoping to get a chance to just lay down and think...

Ryuki continued down the street. If he was going to make it to the next transportation area, which on this island was a magic circle created by the Head Sage of the Library (if that's okay that is), he was going to have to hustle before the portal closed for the day. He started running down the street. His book was in a bag tied to his belt and his staff was safely strapped to his back. His white cloak fluttered behind him as he approached the portal.

"You made it just in time." the guard smiled as the portal was slowly shrinking. "Hurry, jump on it before it dissapears!" the guard laughed as he warned Ryuki.

"Um.. Yes, sir." Ryuki replied as he stepped onto the continually shrinking portal. A wave of energy enveloped Ryuki as he randomely thought of a random island to go to. The energy closed in around him and he arrived in a different place. There where flowers he had never seen before all around him. He noticed a town not too far away. He decided to head to it.

Akutai was still running, but from out of nowhere, a person in white robes appeared in a small flash of light. It was too late to slow down. He ran full force into the strange person, sending them both to the ground.

"Augh!" Akutai exclaimed as he hit the ground with force. Stunned for a moment, he lay for a bit until he slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "Ow... Sorry about that... You just appeared out of no where, so I couldn't stop..."

Ryuki rubbed his head. Another red mark appeared and made itself known on his forehead.

"Oww.... Second time today I've run into something..." He sat up, recovering from the impact the person ran into him with. Ryuki's book had flown out of its bag and landed nearby. He crawled over and picked it up, gently brushing the dirt off of it.

"This time I ran into a person. I'm sorry, today is just not my day." Ryuki stood up and apologized to the stranger, helping him off of the ground.

Akutai's pistol had gotten out of his holster, and he walked over to pick it up. He turned back to the person. Then again, this was the first person he had met since leaving town, and that was only a few minutes ago.

"Guess I should watch where I'm going..." He said, putting the pistol back. "Oh, by the way, my name's Akutai."

"My name is Ryuki Ryushima. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ryuki replied, smiling and extending his hand after checking to see if his staff was still there and tucking his book under his arm.

"Thank goodness..." he thought after he felt his staff still strapped to his back.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 03:57:42 PM
"My name is Ryuki Ryushima. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ryuki replied, smiling and extending his hand after checking to see if his staff was still there and tucking his book under his arm.

"Thank goodness..." he thought after he felt his staff still strapped to his back.

Akutai held out his hand and shook Ryuki's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, too." Akutai replied. Akutai thought a moment. "Well, I was just heading from town... Do you want to join me?"

"Sure. I'm new around here and need a guide." Ryuki replied as he took out his book and opened it up. He flipped to a certain page.

"Nabake Ishio! ((totally made that up))" he shouted. A powerful gust of wind enveloped him and blew all the dirt off of his clothes. They looked like he had never fell.

"Now then," he said calmly closing his book and putting it back in its bag,"shall we had to town?" he smiled and began walking.

"Well, all right..." Akutai replied "Heh, it's going to be weird for me heading back to town after I just left, but okay..."

They began to walk back towards town, the wind still gently making the chrysanthemums dance in the wind.

As they walked into the town, Ryuki kept getting the smell of the strange flowers off of the breeze as it blew past.

"What are those flowers that I'm smelling?" he stopped and asked Akutai.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 04:20:14 PM
As they walked into the town, Ryuki kept getting the smell of the strange flowers off of the breeze as it blew past.

"What are those flowers that I'm smelling?" he stopped and asked Akutai.

"They're chrysanthemums. Before the meteors fell, it was just a small garden that someone was keeping. It didn't take long for them to stretch out for miles afterwards. That's why this island is called 'Kiku'. They stretch out as far as the eyes can see here." Explained Akutai.

It was actually his mothers. She had made the garden a few weeks before the meteor shower. When Akutai's father was still alive...

"I see," Ryuki replied, amazed," I've read about this before, but I didn't know this is where I was after the portal brought me here." he smiled.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 04:33:57 PM
"I see," Ryuki replied, amazed," I've read about this before, but I didn't know this is where I was after the portal brought me here." he smiled.

"Hmm... so you're a mage?" Asked Akutai. He had always thought their robes were a different color than pure white.

"Yes. But I'm not your typical mage," Ryuki held his index finger in the air as he closed his eyes to explain," I'm classified as a Rurousha. I originally came from Shigeru, but decided to travel. I left after saying my goodbyes, but for some reason, everyone classified me as a Rurousha. I managed to find my way to Kazuhiro and the mages of the Ishizo Library found me and brought me in as a regular student. They gave me white robes instead of the typical mage garb to signify that I was a Rurousha."

"Oh, I see... I've never really met a Rurousha before..." Akutai said amazed. "So... How long have you been traveling?"

Akutai was curious. he wanted to know what it was like beyond his own island.

"Since I was about 13." Ryuki replied, "It gets rather lonely, but I've gotten used to it."

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 04:57:57 PM
"Since I was about 13." Ryuki replied, "It gets rather lonely, but I've gotten used to it."

"Wow.." Akutai said. "Well, I was about to head out myself, see what was out there..."

He began to think a bit more.

"Well, each island has its own charm. For example, this one has all of these flowers." Ryuki replied.

Jas has been staring out the window for a while now. She looks back at her bedroom door, at a bag laying on the floor, then at the window. "Tch, so sick of it..." When she slides off the windowsill, Jas sweeps the bag into her hands and starts throwing her items of importance into it. She starts to head back to the window, but then finds herself staring at the door again. 'I can't just leave like this though...' Picking up a pen and piece of paper, she begins to write.

Mom, Dad...
I'm leaving. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm gone... don't know when I'll be back again, but I'll be alright even with the way I am.

~Love Jas

She opens the window, then takes the Duel Vipers from the wall to put them at her side. A few seconds are spent standing on the ledge before Jas jumps down, and runs off into the night.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 05:07:11 PM
"Well, each island has its own charm. For example, this one has all of these flowers." Ryuki replied.

"Yeah... And I hear that Shigeru is ice covered, right?" Akutai asked, since he said he was from there.

"Yep. It was still covered in ice before the meteor hit. That's the reason I left, too cold and icy. However, it has its charms, too. Like the rare animals that live there and no where else." Ryuki replied.

"Solon," called a voice in the forest. Solon raised his head, he had fallen asleep on his usual tree branch. Eyes narrowed, he peered down to see the Leader walking swiftly through the tropical forest.

"Here," Solon replied, jumping down and landing softly. "What is it you ask for?"

"I have your final task," was the Leader's reply.

"Final task?" asked Solon, caught off guard. "But I only just started!"

"Many don't trust you. Well, this is your final chance to prove your loyalty to Norobu," the Leader replied coldly. Uh oh, I know where this is headed... Solon rubbed his left shoulder without thinking.

"Yes, that," replied the Leader, eyeing Solon's left arm.

"You want me... To kill him?" Solon asked. The Leader nodded. Is that a smirk on his face? Solon didn't answer, but only replied with a bowed nod, to show he understood. The Leader threw something on the ground and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. This is my chance to prove I can be who I am... To everybody... But, don't I need to believe it first for it to be true? Solon shook his head, and rubbed his left arm, realizing what could happen to him if he was unsuccesful. Silently, Solon disappeared into the night, knowing what he had to do.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 19, 2007, 05:21:15 PM
"Yep. It was still covered in ice before the meteor hit. That's the reason I left, too cold and icy. However, it has its charms, too. Like the rare animals that live there and no where else." Ryuki replied.

"I see..." Akutai said. They had now made it back to town, and everyone was looking at Akutai, wondering why he was already back after a few minutes.

Ryuki looked at the people staring at Akutai. He looked at Akutai and back to the people. He felt a little awkward, "I take it these are are fellow townspeople?" he asked.

((Have to go now everyone... CYa))

"Yeah. Most of the people here had already been living here since before the meteor shower. Others were visitors that were here seeing friends and relatives." Akutai replied.

They had arrived in front of Akutai's house. "Well, here's my house..." He said.

"Oh, wow! This beats my house by a mile." Ryuki commented, looking around Akutai's home.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 20, 2007, 04:07:47 PM
"Oh, wow! This beats my house by a mile." Ryuki commented, looking around Akutai's home.

"well, it's not much, but it does well..." Akutai said. He walked up the steps and went in. His mother peered around the corner and now had a confused look on her face.

"Akutai? Um... Didn't you just leave?" She said, perplexed.

"Well, yeah, but... I kinda ran into a new friend..." Akutai answered as he put his hand on the back of his head.

Ryuki stood there, awkwardly. He didn't know what to say or do. Finally he summoned up the courage. He bowed.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Ryuki Ryushima." he said, raising back up.

Kai drew his katana and slashed at the traning dummie before him , flash appeared and the upper half slide to the floor.

Solon wondered exactly the man lived now... Atsushi life hadn't fit him, he was a man of dreams that wanted to bring everyone up to speed with the technology that Atsushi had to offer. Solon was ashamed by how much he enjoyed the Atsushi's technological power. But, he knew the love for the techonology could only be from one thing, he realized hopefully, rubbing his arm absentmindedly. He decided he'd go through each place. One of the smaller islands would be easier to check, but the bigger places would have a better chance of knowing where he is now...

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 20, 2007, 04:22:15 PM
Ryuki stood there, awkwardly. He didn't know what to say or do. Finally he summoned up the courage. He bowed.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Ryuki Ryushima." he said, raising back up.

"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you." She replied.

"Well, I guess we just stopped by for a moment before we headed back out..." Akutai said, not sure of what else to say.

Ryuki stood there, awkward and unsure of what to do or say.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 20, 2007, 04:40:13 PM
Ryuki stood there, awkward and unsure of what to do or say.

"Okay, well, you can have a seat in the dining room. I'll bring you something to eat..." She said as she went over to the wood stove and began putting logs in.

Akutai went over and sat down at the small table.

Okay, I'm finally able to join!

Name: Haseo

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Group: Yoshinori

Island of Origin: Kazurhiro

Weapon: A Staff and a small dagger

Appearance: He dons black robes like those worn by scholars. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Bio: Haseo is a typical Yoshinori, other than the fact that, if provoked, he will use magic for combat purposes. He has mastered how to use his magic, but keeps a dagger as a precaution. He wishes to travel to other islands, but despises the hopeful, naive, daydreamers.

Quote from: Triforce_Luigi on December 20, 2007, 05:06:13 PM
Okay, I'm finally able to join!

Name: Haseo

Age: 16

Gender: Male

Group: Yoshinori

Island of Origin: Kazurhiro

Weapon: A Staff and a small dagger

Appearance: He dons black robes like those worn by scholars. He has brown eyes and black hair.

Bio: Haseo is a typical Yoshinori, other than the fact that, if provoked, he will use magic for combat purposes. He has mastered how to use his magic, but keeps a dagger as a precaution. He wishes to travel to other islands, but despises the hopeful, naive, daydreamers.

Nice. I'll put you in right now. :)

"Thank you, miss." Ryuki bowed again and went and sat down at the table. He placed his staff against the wall and he hung his book bag over the chair.

The fire in the small wood stove began to burn, and a smell of hickory wafted into the room. There were many hickory trees on the island along with the chrysanthemums.

Akutai just sat there, thinking a moment. What would the other islands be like?

Haseo decided he would leave for another island. He also decided not to tell anyone, but to sneak away. He knew the way to get to other islands took the form of a warp point which he could activate with magic. He grabbed his staff and dagger and went outside, making his way to the warp point.

((Sorry for taking Nils_13's idea, but I couldn't think of another way to get off the island.))

"Those must be the hickory trees I've read about. I've heard they make an excellent firewood and they're also good for building houses due to their resistance to the weather." Ryuki stated after inhailing the strong scent.

((That's okay TL. It doesn't matter to me.))

"Yeah, they're all over the place here, just like the chrysanthemums. But the trees don't grow just here. There's also some on Michi, the neighboring island." Akutai explained. They grew all over the place there. "But the weird thing is that there's a big path that goes right thought the center of the island, th has no trees for several feet across. There's something weird abut that place, but I don't know what..."

Haseo used the warp zone to get to an unknown island, though it was covered in chrysanthemums. From that, he gathered he was on Kiku and walked into town.

Quote from: X_Hero on December 20, 2007, 06:12:20 PM
"Yeah, they're all over the place here, just like the chrysanthemums. But the trees don't grow just here. There's also some on Michi, the neighboring island." Akutai explained. They grew all over the place there. "But the weird thing is that there's a big path that goes right thought the center of the island, th has no trees for several feet across. There's something weird abut that place, but I don't know what..."

"We should go there next!"Ryuki exclaimed. He had planned on going there anyway, but it would be more fun to travel with someone istead of just traveling by himself.

"It would be a great place for you to visit first." he continued.

"That would be a good idea. I've always wanted to check it out..." Akutai said, seeming a bit exited.

"Well, who would that be?" Akutai's mother said, looking out the window. Seeming confused, Akutai got up and took a look for himself. He saw a person wearing black robes similar to Ryuki's, with brown eyes and black hair.

"Who is that?" Akutai asked in confusion.

Quote from: X_Hero on December 20, 2007, 06:29:56 PM
"That would be a good idea. I've always wanted to check it out..." Akutai said, seeming a bit exited.

"Well, who would that be?" Akutai's mother said, looking out the window. Seeming confused, Akutai got up and took a look for himself. He saw a person wearing black robes similar to Ryuki's, with brown eyes and black hair.

"Who is that?" Akutai asked in confusion.

Haseo felt as if he were being watched for a moment, but he shook the feeling off and approached a house to ask directions.

OOC//Yes, this would be the place you are currently in.

Solon got his small boat prepared, and headed out towards one of the smaller islands, hoping for a lead.

"Eh... Guess I should see what he needs..." Akutai said, turning to head to the door. He walked over and opened it.

"Uh... Can I help you?" Akutai asked, still a bit confused.

Quote from: X_Hero on December 20, 2007, 06:36:12 PM
"Eh... Guess I should see what he needs..." Akutai said, turning to head to the door. He walked over and opened it.

"Uh... Can I help you?" Akutai asked, still a bit confused.

"Yes, do you know where I could get food and provisions and such?"

Ryuki grabbed his book off of the chair. He took his staff out of its case and held it in his hands. He stood at the doorway, holding his book and staff. He was prepared, just in case this newcomer was a threat to him or his new friend.

Quote from: Triforce_Luigi on December 20, 2007, 06:38:19 PM

Quote from: X_Hero on December 20, 2007, 06:36:12 PM
"Eh... Guess I should see what he needs..." Akutai said, turning to head to the door. He walked over and opened it.

"Uh... Can I help you?" Akutai asked, still a bit confused.

"Yes, do you know where I could get food and provisions and such?"

"Sure, it's just a bit farther down the street... You should see a sign that reads 'Kimiko's General Store'." Akutai replied. Two visitors in one day. This was rare for Kiku.

"Thank you," said Haseo. With that, he made his way to the store and bought provisions enough to last till he got to Michi.

Ryuki sighed and put his staff away. He closed his book and put it back in his bag. He walked back to the table and sat down, putting everything exactly the way he had it before.

Akutai sat down too. "... Ryuki, would you happen to know him at all? It looks like he came from Kazuhiro..." He asked, a bit curious who it might have been.

Solon knew a area of the ocean that had fast waves, sending Solon's boat crashing to a small island.

"Guess this will be the first place I'll look," Solon decided. He noticed many chrysanthemums and realized it must be Kiku island. "Great, this place rarely gets visitors," growled Solon, thinking whether he should bail or not. But, he decided to venture further, hoping the fact that it was secluded would be a reason for the man to have come here.

"Unfortunately, I've never met him. I was taken in and placed with some of the higher classed mages because they knew they had to teach me fast because I wouldn't be there for years to study magic. So I was pretty much shut away in the higher stories of the library to be trained. Five different mages would tutor me. On Saturdays, a Sage would come to test how far I had gotten that week. One of my favorite tutors was Miss Aya Ishiami. She would help me nearly every time I needed it." Ryuki recounted on his experience at Ishizo Library.

"Oh, I see..." Akutai said, now understanding. The question still remained of who that per son was, though...

Haseo was prepared to leave Kiko and had already found the warp point, but he hesitated. He decided to stay a while and leaned against a tree amid the chrysanthemums.

"Do you want to go find him, Akutai?" Ryuki asked his new friend, reading the bewilderment on his face.

Akutai's mother had now finished the food. She brought it over and set it down on the table in front of them. "Enjoy." She said with a smile.

They had finished eating, and once again, Akutai sad his goodbyes, and they headed back out of town. "Well, now which way would probably be quickest to get to Michi?" He asked.

((I have to go now, so CYa...))

"Well... there should be a trasport station nearby to take us there..." Ryuki replied.

After some talking to strangers, Solon realized he wasn't around. The worst part was his boat had broken down on his crash landing.

"I'll need to find a mage who can open portals," muttered Solon, heading back into the heart of town.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 20, 2007, 07:23:49 PM
"Well... there should be a trasport station nearby to take us there..." Ryuki replied.

"Well, all right... Let's head there." Akutai said, ready to head to Michi.

Ryuki lead Akutai to the trasport center. There were several guards there, as there always were at each island's individual transport station.

"G' day. Heading somewhere?" the guard asked in a bored tone.

"Yes. We're heading to Michi." Ryuki replied in his usual happy, childish tone.

"Right then. Just step onto the portal." the guard told them, motioning to a glowing yellow circle on the floor.

"Are you ready to go, Akutai?" Ryuki asked.

After a brisk nap, Haseo got up, duted himself off, and went to the transport center to get to Michi. Once there, he noticed the guy who had helped him earlier, but ignored him.

"Yeah, I'm ready..." Akutai replied a bit nervously. This was it. Akutai's first time leaving the island ever since the meteor shower. He began to wonder what kind of places had survived through the meteor shower...

Ryuki nodded. He glanced back and noticed the guy Akutai had helped earlier.

"I wonder where he's going..." he quickly shook the thought, though. He stepped onto the warp point with Akutai. A brilliant golden light surrounded them. It engulfed them. They were gone. In another flash, the were standing on Michi.

Haseo stepped onto the transfer point too. Once in Michi, he decided to find an inn and rest before heading on.

Solon found the transporter, and stepped on it. He wasn't sure where to go, but just let the transporter follow the guy who had went in right before him. He might as well go to a place that he knew was getting visitors...

Solon landed on the ground of Michi. "Huh, I wonder if he's here..."

"Well we're here... There's a town up ahead, from what I've heard. The rest of the island is all hickory forest." Akutai explained to Ryuki. "Right... well, let's go."

The entire island looked like one long path. It made Solon dizzy, looking at the thin path ahead of him, but he continued trekking through. He would have to ask any person he could find about the guy... Up ahead he saw two men walking towards the town.

"Hey you," called out Solon, walking up to them. "Who are you?" Solon asked, narrowing his eyes. Kenshin may have owned the island, but he could never be to careful.

"Good idea. We're going to need supplies before we head to the next island." Ryuki answered and started walking off towards the town. Ryuki then heard someone calling out to them.

"Depends! Who are you?" he answered. He was always cautious of strangers during traveling.

Akutai turned to see who it was. He almost froze. it was an assassin from Norobu. Akutai could recognize the the familiar mark on the right shoulder.

"Akutai, who is this guy?" Ryuki turned and whispered.

"... He's an assassin from the Norobu group. They're brutal in the ways of killing... What would a Norobu assassin be doing here?" Akutai said, still a bit frightened.

"Oh yeah. The guys who have mastered the silent killing arts." Ryuki replied, still keeping his voice low enough to where only Akutai could hear him. At the same time, he was reaching into his bag and pulling out his book.

Solon hadn't realized that people might be afraid of him. He was new, and wasn't quite used to it. But he kept a straight face, a smile almost appearing, making him look evil.

"Well, you know who I am now. Who are you," repeated Solon, eyeing them with new found ease. He didn't have to worry about these two, they were no threat. If he needed to dispose of them, he was sure he could do it easily.

Haseo looked out the inn's window and saw a Norobu assassin. In case of danger, he took his staff and held it tight.

"What are you doing?" Akutai whispered, wondering what Ryuki would do next. He really didn't know what was going to happen next.

In a fast, practiced motion, Solon lifted his leg up and retrieved his dagger from his boot, slipping it into a holder on his arm, where he could easily take it out with a swish motion. It was done so fast and well crafted, the exchange could only be seen by the well-trained eye.

Solon noticed through his perifieal vision that one of them was looking through his book bag. Solon wondered what he could find in there, but kept his face locked on the other one, giving nothing away, as he was trained.

Haseo watched the two people readying their weapons and went outside. He did not directly interfere, instead hiding in the shadows ready to help if necessary.

Ryaku pulled out his book. Its blue and white cover gleamed a dull shine.

"Don't worry, Akutai." Ryuki whispered. He finally spoke up.

"We're just two travelers. And you're an assassin from the Norobu, and a new one at that." Ryuki said, noticing how the mark on the assassin's arm was new looking, unfaded like the more experienced ones he'd come across.

"What business do you have with two young travelers?" he asked calmly with an emotionless expression.

Solon wondered if the book was one of the mages. He gave an arrogant smile and turned on Ryaku.

"And I believe that you like to read, by the look of that worn book bag," Solon replied, stating the obvious just to mock him. "Let me see that book."

"The word can be more powerful than the sword. Yes I like to read, but I'm afraid you won't be able to understand this book, sir." Ryuki answered, keeping the same expressionless face.

Akutai just stood there, unsure of what may ensue if this confrontation continued.

"Come on, Ryuki, let's just get out of here... I don't like this..." he said nervously.

"Okay, Akutai..." Ryuki replied, putting his book away.

"I came to ask a question. But it seems from the frightened stature of that one," Solon nodded at Akutai, "that you have not traveled long or far." Solon replied seriously. "But, you," Solon said to Ryuki, "seem to have traveled long and endured much. So it is to you I must speak."

"Okay... What sort of questions do you need to ask me? I'm a Rurousha, so I may know what you're after." Ryuki answered.

"Not in front of him. This question must go to as few people as I can let it go to. But first I must ask, are you friends with the Atsushi's?" Solon asked.

"... Frightened? Is it really that obvious?" Akutai began to think. "I might have just started, but... The only reason I'm afraid is because of him... ... What am I saying? If I go long enough, I'm bound to find things more frightening than him..." Akutai was calm now. In fact now, he seemed kind of upset at the Norobu for calling him frightened.

"You will hear my answer once I ask you a question. Do you plan on killing us after your little interrogation, or are we going to walk away alive and unharmed?" Ryuki asked, staring at the assassin with his icy blue eyes.

Solon couldn't help but smile. Although killing him afterwards had crossed his mind, he decided he could not kill someone as shrewd as this one. "My assignment is to take someone else's life. Today you walk away without a scratch," Solon replied. Though, an assassin's word was never law, so Solon wouldn't have been surprised if they did not trust him still, after giving his word.

"Then I'll give you one answer. No, I'm not friends with any of the Atsushi. However, I have learned through personal experience in the two and a half years I've traveled to only trust an assassin's word if you can figure out a way out of the situation you're in with said assassin, or.... the other one I'm not going to say." Ryuki kept giving the killer the same cold, icy stare.

"So, you've answered my question. Could that mean you know a way out of the situation?" Solon asked, not really caring about the answer. Instead, he went on to say, "Have you ever been to Atsushi?"

"Yes. I'm a tactician, sir. And I've only been to Atsushi once. Also, since you've asked me two questions, I think it's only fair that I get to ask you two." Ryuki answered.

"You may ask me one question," replied Solon.

"What is your name?" Ryuki asked calmly.

That question caught Solon off guard. His name was something he could not reveal.

"Sol," Solon stated, just giving his nickname. "Now I must ask you if you know someone from Atsushi. I feel this person may have left, for they are more of a dreamer, rather then a warrior."

"Unfortunately, my stay in Atsushi was short, why is none of your concern. This is all I'll reveal to you, Sol, as the more questions you ask, the more mine and my friend's life become disposable. Good day." Ryuki calmly turned and motioned for Akutai to follow him.

For some strange reason, when he heard his name, something about Sol somehow became familiar. He looked closer and suddenly realized something; Sol looked similar to someone his father had known before the meteor shower. But he had to know.

"... What's your full name?" Akutai asked, since he wasn't so afraid now.

Ryuki stopped. If Akutai could get him to answer this, it would be a valuable piece of information.

Sol shot a glance at Akutai.

"Ah, almost forgot you were there," Solon replied. "Sorry, but I won't answer any questions from you. You haven't given me any valuable information."

Ryuki sighed and turned back around.

"What else do you want to know?" his cold gaze fixed back on Sol.

Akutai just thought a minute. There was that noise coming from the island of Ishizu, which wasn't far from Kiku, and was controlled by the Atsushi.

"The island of Ishizu... There's been some weird noise over there, and it's controlled by the Atsushi. ... Sounds that didn't sound human..." He answered him.

Looks like the ball is back in my court. I've found something that is very valuable to them... My name.

"I'm looking for a man from Atsushi... He was a visionary, and the reason that Atsushi has all that fancy equiptment," Solon replied, absent-mindedly rubbing his left arm.

He looked back over at Akutai for a second, thinking, but did not reply to his statement.

"Well, during my stay at the Ishizo Library, I did quite a bit of studying on the Atsushi's technology and the man behind them." Ryuki replied.

"Where is he now?" Solon asked.

"The archives didn't say specifically... Supposably, he's on Masayoshi conducting scientific research in an old factory." Ryuki answered.

"There's a piece of valuable information, now answer Akutai's question."

Solon smiled. "Yes, valuable indeed." With that, Solon threw a smoke ball onto the ground, and darted off towards the portal.

((gtg for tonight... CYa...))

"Blast... Sorry, Akutai..." Ryuki said, sulking about not getting the answer he wanted.

Trouble and danger seemingly averted, Haseo made his way back to the inn.

Solon made his way to the portal, happy with the skills he was able to use. Yes, he had to give up some information, and half of his name. But now he had an actual place to start looking. He decided to check Ishizo first, for a secondary source. Then, he would make his way to Masayoshi, if the leads added up. He went into the portal, and felt himself being transported to Ishizo.

"It's all right... Somehow, I felt that he wasn't going to tell us..." Akutai began. "But still... ... There's something that seemed familiar about him. Oh well... Let's go."

"Alright... At least he didn't get everything I knew." Ryuki answered as he began walking towards the town.

The town was small, but it was a good enough size to house a fair amount of people. As they came up to the inn, Akutai noticed that the sign was written in a different language that he couldn't understand. The inn must have been in another country before the meteor shower.

Ryaku pulled out a book. This one was different than his spell book. Its red cover gleamed when he pulled it out; across it, in large gold letters, it said, "History of Languages and Translations".

"I thought this might come in handy, so I got a copy of it before I left Ishizo." Ryuki said. He opened up to a page that had the letters like the ones on the sign. He glanced up, then back at the page. He ran his finger over the page, looking for the same letters on the sign.

"Aha! This is the inn." Ryuki exclaimed after a minute. He closed his book and put it away.

"Well, let's head in..." Akutai said, starting for the door. He grasped the handle and turned it. As the door opened, a warm, homey smell wafted out. This must be a really nice inn if it had such a scent from inside. They walked in, and the inside of the entire building seemed to glow a comforting, gold color from the fireplace and numerous candles.

"I like it here. We should check in and go see what kind of shops are around here." Ryuki said as he walked up to the counter.

"You check about the shops, while I ask some people if they know anything more about Michi." Akutai told him. He walked into the center room of the floor and looked around to see who he might be able to ask.

Solon had not fully trusted the man who had given him his information. So, when he got to Ichizo, he first decided to check up on the strange metal noises, then he would go to the library. Then he would go to the lead Ryuki gave him. He might as well, since it was fun travelling through the places, he had to admit. But, he would use the source they had given him to find his own lead. He decided that getting help from others was no longer an option.

"Alright. I'll be back in an hour." Ryuki answered, leaving the inn.
The town had relatively few shops, but Ryuki decided to look around anyway. He went to the weapons shop first, to see if they had anything interesting. They had a few spell books. None of them were as good as the one Aya got him on his birthday. They had quite a few pistols.

"I wonder if Akutai would like one..." he thought. He saw a particularly good one, but it was out of his price range.

He left the weapon shop empty handed. He continued on and decided to visit the other shops.

Akutai looked a bit more before seeing a man over at one of the tables. He went over and decided to ask him.

"Excuse me sir, but do you know anything important to know about this island?" Akutai asked him. The man turned his head to look at Akutai. He looked like a Rurousha by the looks of it.

"The only thing about this small island is that no-one has ever dared try to go to the edge of the forest at the end of the path..." He began. "No-one at all..."

"Hmm... maybe we should look there for something..." Akutai thought to himself. "Well, thank you sir..." He made a quick bow and went back to where he entered the inn to wait for Ryuki.

Ryuki found nothing interesting in the shops, so he decided to head back to the inn. He walked in and saw Akutai waiting.

"Sorry to make you wait. Did you find out anything interesting?" Ryuki asked.

"Well, a man over there said that no-one's ever tried to get to the other end of the path thought the forest... You think we should check it out?" Akutai asked to Ryuki.

"..... Sounds interesting. Let's go." Ryuki replied.

"Right..." Akutai said. They opened the door back up, and headed out for the path in the woods.

When they arrived at the entrance to the woods, Ryuki pulled out his spell book.

"Hmm? What are you looking up?" Akutai asked Ryuki, wondering why he had his book out.

Haseo made his way to the transport station on Michi. He decided to go to Ishizu and see what scientific advancements, if any, had been made there.

Quote from: X_Hero on December 22, 2007, 11:59:49 AM
"Hmm? What are you looking up?" Akutai asked Ryuki, wondering why he had his book out.

"Nothing. You can never be too careful. I'm getting ready in case we're attacked by anything." Ryuki replied, tucking his book safely under his arm.

"Well, all right..." Akutai replied. They then began down the path. It was now about 15 minutes later, and they had probably traveled almost 1/8 the length of the island.

"Jeez... I never realized it was this long..." Akutai said, his legs beginning to grow tired.

((Confused as to what I'm supposed to be doing))

Quote from: Sh0rTi on December 22, 2007, 05:16:58 PM
((Confused as to what I'm supposed to be doing))

((Well, for right now, just choose an island you want to go to, and see what happens. :P))

Quote from: X_Hero on December 22, 2007, 04:58:04 PM
"Well, all right..." Akutai replied. They then began down the path. It was now about 15 minutes later, and they had probably traveled almost 1/8 the length of the island.

"Jeez... I never realized it was this long..." Akutai said, his legs beginning to grow tired.

"You're right.... I'd say we've been on this path for at least an hour. We might make it to the end soon" Ryuki replied as he continued walking.

"I don't know about that..." Akutai began. "I've heard that people have gotten way farther than this... Some actually leave markers to show how far they've actually gone... And we haven't seen even one yet."

"That's interesting. I'll leave one." Ryuki opened his book and faced a tree.

"Ventus Lamnia." he muttered. As he did, blades of wind cut a large X on the tree.

"There. Now we know we've been this way."

"All right... let's keep going after we rest a bit." Akutai said as he sat down against the tree.

"Good idea." Ryuki replied, sitting down against a tree.

((Someone post please.))

((Post.))

Solon walked into the library, looking for a book on the man he was looking for. He found one after a bit of browsing, and sat down to look through it.

Jas stands at the edge of a cliff, and looks at the field in front of her. She doesn't know where she is, but it doesn't matter. She lets herself fall from the ledge. Before Jas hits the ground, she flips over, and lands on her feet in a kneeling position. After looking around, she finds herself in a field of blossoms. "Mmm, so nice," the girl lays back and closes her eyes.

((Can you please tell me when Sign-ups are re-opened? I'd like to join. ;D))

Quote from: LightningSword on December 26, 2007, 10:20:04 PM
((Can you please tell me when Sign-ups are re-opened? I'd like to join. ;D))

((Hmm... well, there might be a couple of spots open once we get to a certain part of the story, so probably sometime with in a few weeks, possibly. :)))

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 22, 2007, 08:05:46 PM
"Good idea." Ryuki replied, sitting down against a tree.

Akutai just sat there and looked around. The wind was rustling the leaves gently, and the smell of fresh hickory was steady in the air. He was still a bit tired, so they would probably wait a few minutes before setting off again.

Ryuki became bored very quickly. He opened his book and made a puddle of water on the path. He froze it.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:10:35 PM
Ryuki became bored very quickly. He opened his book and made a puddle of water on the path. He froze it.

Akutai looked over at the newly formed ice sheet on the small path. he began to wonder what else Ryuki could do.

"Say... what other spells do you know?" Akutai asked curiously.

"Well, I know ice, wind, and water magic. Why?" Ryuki replied, unfreezing the puddle and freezing it back into a pillar of ice.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:15:25 PM
"Well, I know ice, wind, and water magic. Why?" Ryuki replied, unfreezing the puddle and freezing it back into a pillar of ice.

"Oh, I was just curious..." Akutai replied back to Ryuki. he began to wonder what the spells were capable of doing with those elements.

"Oh, you want to see something cool?" Ryuki asked, thinking of something cool he could show Akutai with a few of the spells he had learned.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:23:03 PM
"Oh, you want to see something cool?" Ryuki asked, thinking of something cool he could show Akutai with a few of the spells he had learned.

"Uh, sure." Akutai replied, wondering what Ryuki was going to show him.

"Okay, watch carefully." Ryuki said. He stood up and opened his book. He held it in his left hand, aiming his right hand towards a tree. He mouthed some sort of words in a different language. Needles of ice appeared in front of him, hovering around slowly. In a second, the launched themselves at the tree, burying themselves in it's trunk.

"Wow..." Akutai said in amazement. "That's amazing." He hardly knew what else to say because of the amazing damage the ice needles had made to the tree.

Ryuki made them melt. The water trickled down the tree.

"And you already saw a bit of what I can do with wind magic." he said proudly.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:37:35 PM
Ryuki made them melt. The water trickled down the tree.

"And you already saw a bit of what I can do with wind magic." he said proudly.

"Wow... Well, the closet I can get to that is the aim I have with my pistol." Akutai stated. He was actually very good with his pistol. One time, he had hit a post from about 150 feet away. Akutai wasn't sure how good he was now.

"Then let's find out how good you are." Ryuki replied. He formed a pillar of ice in front of him, about up to his chest.

"Are you ready?" he asked, getting ready to fire ice discs into the air.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:46:38 PM
"Then let's find out how good you are." Ryuki replied. He formed a pillar of ice in front of him, about up to his chest.

"Are you ready?" he asked, getting ready to fire ice discs into the air.

Akutai pulled out his pistol and readied it.

"Yeah, I'm ready." Akutai replied to Ryuki. He was just waiting for whatever was going to come up.

"Good." Ryuki replied, before mouthing more words in the different language. Waves of sharp, powerful air blasts began slicing the ice into discs. They flew several feet up into the air.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:52:34 PM
"Good." Ryuki replied, before mouthing more words in the different language. Waves of sharp, powerful air blasts began slicing the ice into discs. They flew several feet up into the air.

Without hesitation, Akutai began to fire off the pistol, each bullet whizzing through the air. One by one, they each shattered the ice discs, sending the fragments tinkling to the ground. Akutai waved the pistol below his waist to get rid of the smoke. Blowing off the smoke seemed a little cliched and a sign of bragging to him.

"My, my. You're a sharpshooter. And a good one at that." Ryuki said, looking at the fragments of ice scattered across the ground.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 04:58:20 PM
"My, my. You're a sharpshooter. And a good one at that." Ryuki said, looking at the fragments of ice scattered across the ground.

"Well, I've been practicing ever since..." Akutai began, but stopped himself. He thought a moment. "... Well, ever since the meteor shower..." He was about to mention his father, but stopped just in time before any questions arose.

"Well you learned fast." Ryuki replied, sitting back down against the tree.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:03:53 PM
"Well you learned fast." Ryuki replied, sitting back down against the tree.

"Yeah, I guess I did." Akutai replied as he sat down as well.

"Great... Now I'm thinking of him again..." Akutai thought to himself.

Ryuki pulled out his staff and began to polish the orb resting on the top of it.

"Were you self taught? Or did you have a teacher?" Ryuki started to wonder. He had always been called a prodigy at the Library, but he never really thought of himself as one.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:11:05 PM
Ryuki pulled out his staff and began to polish the orb resting on the top of it.

"Were you self taught? Or did you have a teacher?" Ryuki started to wonder. He had always been called a prodigy at the Library, but he never really thought of himself as one.

"Well, I was self taught..." Akutai began. "I happened to have enough money for a pistol one day, so I bought one out of the local store. It really wasn't that hard for me to handle, so I learned fast. The same for my sword here" He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Oh? You wield a sword as well?" Ryuki asked, as he inspected his polishing job on his staff. It gleamed in the light.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:17:25 PM
"Oh? You wield a sword as well?" Ryuki asked, as he inspected his polishing job on his staff. It gleamed in the light.

"Yeah. Here..." Akutai said. He drew the sword out of its sheath. The metal of the blade was slightly tinted blue, and glistened rather than shone. "I actually found this... Not quite sure who it might have belonged to."

"Oh, wow. This sword is extremely well crafted. Whoever lost it sure did lose a treasure." Ryuki was amazed at the work of the sword. He ran a finger down the middle of the blade. The light danced off of it, causing little beams of light to hit the grass near them, even though they were in a shaded spot.

"Here," Ryuki said, handing Akutai his book and staff, "I don't normally do this, but you can see my book and staff." he said, handing them to him, along with the sword.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:26:03 PM
"Oh, wow. This sword is extremely well crafted. Whoever lost it sure did lose a treasure." Ryuki was amazed at the work of the sword. He ran a finger down the middle of the blade. The light danced off of it, causing little beams of light to hit the grass near them, even though they were in a shaded spot.

"Here," Ryuki said, handing Akutai his book and staff, "I don't normally do this, but you can see my book and staff." he said, handing them to him, along with the sword.

"Thanks." Akutai said as he took the book and staff. He was amazed with the staff, which the sphere on top of it reflected his image slightly. It seemed almost like if you were to stare into it long enough, you could see something completely different than you could ever see. Akutai opened the book and looked through a bit. He couldn't understand a word of it, but it still fascinated him.

"That book is written in a dead language, before or after the meteor hit, I'm not sure. My friend, Aya, made it for me on my fifteenth birthday. The staff was given to me by the Arch Sage at the Library on my birthday as well." he explained.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:38:25 PM
"That book is written in a dead language, before or after the meteor hit, I'm not sure. My friend, Aya, made it for me on my fifteenth birthday. The staff was given to me by the Arch Sage at the Library on my birthday as well." he explained.

"Well, they're amazing..." Akutai said as he handed them back to Ryuki.

"Are you ready to continue down this trail?" Ryuki asked.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:44:42 PM
"Are you ready to continue down this trail?" Ryuki asked.

"Might as well..." Akutai replied as he got up. He sheathed his sword and put away his pistol. "It's still quite a ways to go, by what I can tell."

"I'd say it will take us at least another 30 minutes to get to the end." he replied, putting his staff away and standing up.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 05:53:20 PM
"I'd say it will take us at least another 30 minutes to get to the end." he replied, putting his staff away and standing up.

"It might... it might not..." Akutai began "It all depends on how far we've actually traveled this path. And let's not forget that we haven't seen any of the postmarks made by other travelers yet..."

The sphere on Ryuki's staff turned red and began to glow.

"That's not good..." he said, pulling it back out and looking at the glowing red orb.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 06:03:49 PM
The sphere on Ryuki's staff turned red and began to glow.

"That's not good..." he said, pulling it back out and looking at the glowing red orb.

"What does that mean?" Akutai asked, looking at the glowing sphere. Somehow, he felt it wasn't a good thing, but he didn't know exactly what.

"It means there's another source of magic in the area..." Ryuki said, as he continued staring at the red orb.

Quote from: Nils_13 on December 28, 2007, 06:12:05 PM
"It means there's another source of magic in the area..." Ryuki said, as he continued staring at the red orb.

Akutai just stood there a moment.

"... Another source of magic?" Akutai began to think to himself. "That definitely wouldn't be good for us if they were hostile..." He put his hand on the handle of his pistol, just waiting for something to happen.

"I thought it was weird, too, when we weren't finding any signs of other travelers that had passed through here..." Ryuki said, continuing to stare at his staff. The glow turned into a flash.

"It's getting closer...." he said.

Akutai still stood there, waiting. What direction was it going to come from? He looked from place to place, wondering what the mysterious source of magic might be.

Ryuki shifted his staff to his left hand, pulling out his book and holding it with his right hand. He closed his eyes and listened.

Jas spots Ryuki and Akutai from a distance, and immediately hides. 'Bad enough people from where I am ain't liked very much...'

Ryuki continued listening for any signs of movement.

"Where are you....." he thought.

Akutai thought he heard a rustle of leaves in one direction. He whirled around, pulling his pistol out and pointing it in the direction where he heard it. He didn't know who he was pointing at, and it just happened to be Jas.

"All right, come out, whoever you are..." Akutai said in an attempt to draw them into the open to see who it was.

Ryuki opened his eyes. He looked into the direction Akutai was.

"Please come out. If you don't want to get shot, I'd suggest you make your presence known."

((You did say the Atsushi are futuristic, so I'm using references from the Ghost in the Shell Series.))

'I could take this chance to use that cyborg stuff they implanted in me,' Jas activates her camouflage, then jumps into the tree she was behind. She jumps from tree to tree until she lands behind Akutai, pointing her right Viper at him, still barely visible. "I should trust you, why?" 

Akutai just froze. He wasn't sure what had just happened.

"Wh... What the...?" Akutai said out of shock.

Solon hit his head against the book he was reading. "Too boring!" he groaned. "I need to find an easier way..." he thought back to the guy who seemed to know a lot about the man he was looking for. "Maybe I should go back to him..." Solon walked out of the library and towards a portal. "Maybe... Or Maybe not..."

"You must be an Atsushi... Or a very powerful Sage." Ryuki stated calmly, his expression unchanging.

"..." Jas makes herself visible again, her weapon still pointed at Akutai. "Still haven't answered my question... Who are you two?"

Akutai didn't dare move for fear of something happening to him. He just waited for it to end before trying to make another move.

Solon thought hard and logically about the next place they were going. He thought he might of heard them say it while he was running off... He stepped into the portal and felt himself land in Michi. Aw man... I hate this place! he groaned to himself. It was just one long and boring path. Oh well, better start lookin'...

"I am Ryuki Ryushima." Ryuki replied, now facing the stranger who threatened their lives. He glared at her with a cold, icy stare.

"Akutai..." He said, probably one of the only things he would even think of saying in a situation like this.

'I probably look like some kind of felon... But then again, he threatened to shoot first.' Jas jumps back into a nearby tree, then lowers her gun a bit, raising her other hand to signal that she means no harm. "Name's Jas... that's all you need to know..."

Akutai now relaxed a little, seeing that he didn't have a gun pointed at his head anymore. He lowered his pistol and put it back in its holster.

"So... What is it that you're out here for?" Akutai asked to see what exactly the Atsushi's purpose for being on Michi was.

"Fine. Yes, what do you want with us, then?" he asked.

"To tell the truth, I don't know," Jas sits on the tree branch. "Guess you can say I got bored and ran away from home, and ended up here... Since I know people don't really like me already for being an Atsushi, I hid. That's when he," she nods her head at Akutai. "Took aim at me. I don't want anything really."

Solon was sprinting through the trail. If he could go through it fast enough, he might have time for something to eat before checking the entire island. To his dismay, he heard voices up ahead. But, his ears perched when he heard one of them say they were from Atsushi...

Akutai began to think. Then, he realized something. He turned to Ryuki.

"Wait... Then if she isn't the one with the magic, then..." Akutai began. Then from out of nowhere, a small light flew around them. Akutai immediately looked at it, surprised at how fast it had appeared. "Wh... What is that?"

The small orb didn't seem harmful. It headed back off down the path a bit before stopping. As if it wanted them to follow.

((Here comes the interesting part...))

((Is it sending you guys farther up the path or back down where you came from?))

Quote from: Birdie of Aces on December 29, 2007, 07:46:17 PM
((Is it sending you guys farther up the path or back down where you came from?))

((Farther up the path.))

Jas jumps out of the tree, landing on her feet. "And my day gets crazier..."

"I don't think it means us any harm. We should follow it." Ryuki said, putting away his book and staff as he began following the golden orb up the path.

Solon saw a light blinking farther up the path, and saw movements following it. Hm... I wonder what that orb's for... I should follow a good distance away, don't need unwanted attention yet.

Akutai tilted his head a bit. He then decided to go along with Ryuki and follow the orb. He walked a few steps, and then turned to Jas.

"Well, do you want to come?" He asked her to see if she was at the lest bit curious of it.

"Yeah, I'll go with," Jas starts going towards the orb. "Nothin' else for me to do."

They all began to walk down the path, following the orb of light. As they went, they began to see the markers of other travelers who had come that way before.

"Well, now we found these markers..." Akutai began to think. "Now how far is the end of the path...?"

The markers began to thin out. Akutai began to think that they were starting to get close.

Ryuki continued following the orb.

Jas walks with them, occasionally looking at her hand.

"I think we're almost there...." Ryuki said.

((This walk has been very climatic. I'm holding my breath from the intensity of it all))

Solon followed slowly and silently. He realized with a grin that if he had wanted to kill any of them by now, he could have.

"I guess so..." Akutai said. He thought a moment as he saw that the markers had now completely stopped. The trees began to thin out, and now there was a clearing. Nothing spectacular, just a dirt clearing. The small orb of light stopped, and it began to spin around in circles, growing faster with each loop. "Now what's it doing?"

Ryuki's staff started to glow.

"I think there's more here than meets the eye...." he muttered. He looked around and saw nothing of particular interest other than the circle of dirt in the ground.

"Don't know," Jas looks back. "But I'm sure we were followed here," she keeps her gaze in Solon's direction.

"Wait..." Akutai said. The orb was now traveling so fast, it began to kick up the dirt. As it cleared the dirt, a large metal plate appeared. "What is that?"

"I've never seen or read of anything that looks like this before...." Ryuki replied, looking at the strange plate.

Jas can't shake the feeling that something's stalking them, but she looks at the plate that appeared anyways.

The orb suddenly stopped. For a small moment, Akutai felt something, but it didn't last very long. Suddenly, the orb flew straight into the center of the metal plate, and designs of straight, jagged lines lit up on it. Another small orb began to appear from sparks coming from the center of the plate, and it began to grow larger.

Solon stared at it with wide eyes, subconciously rubbing his shoulder. That looks like... he thought. His gaze skimmed over to the girl who knew he was watching them. He decided she'd be the threat, and she must have been the person from Atsushi, too.

Ryuki leaned down and touched the glowing plate. For some reason, he felt like this was something that he should do.

"It's odd.... But I feel like I've felt this energy before.... Where, I'm not sure....." he stated, as he placed his palm on the metal plate.

'Maybe I should've tried to learn how control this before runing off...' Jas stands there, trying to look up what the object could be using the cyber brain implanted in her head, but doesn't come up with anything. 'Even if I did find something...'

((For some of the things I've mentioned: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex#Technology ))

Quote from: Sh0rTi on December 29, 2007, 08:59:37 PM
'Maybe I should've tried to learn how control this before runing off...' Jas stands there, trying to look up what the object could be using the cyber brain implanted in her head, but doesn't come up with anything. 'Even if I did find something...'

((For some of the things I've mentioned: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_in_the_Shell:_Stand_Alone_Complex#Technology ))

((Yeah, I saw most of Solid State Society, so I know what you're talking about. :P ))

Akutai looked at what Ryuki was doing, wondering what might have come into his head. He then realized something. He had seen this scene in a dream the night before the meteor shower. Then Akutai saw a small slot in an area in front of where the sparks were coming out of the plate.

"Wait... maybe...?" He began to think. He drew out his sword, and suddenly realized it was somewhat glowing.

Ryuki stood up, allowing Akutai to do whatever he had planned.

Solon had a sudden feeling he didn't want Akutai to do whatever he was about to do. With a yell he lurched himself out and catapaulted into Akutai.

((I have the feeling that if I didn't post it, then people would be confused. :P))

Jas looks from the sword to the plate, and continues watching... until Solon shows up. "What the f-" She quickly draws her Duel Vipers.

The sword flew up in the air as Akutai fell to the ground. Flipping around a few times, the sword landed directly into the slot, and a giant flash of light enveloped the group. The light cleared, and they were gone, along with the sword.

"... Wha...?" Akutai mumbled as he sat up. He looked around a bit, and suddenly saw a large temple right in front of the group. "Wh... What the??"

"Oh NOW what?" Jas looks around, keeping one of her guns out in case that maniac was still there.

"Oh no... No way... I don't like this place... Can you take a hint and not put the darn sword in the slot!" snarled Solon, rubbing his arm non stop.

"It's called asking instead of charging at people like an idiot," Jas still has her Viper pointed at Solon.

"Wait a minute..." Akutai said as he got up. He looked at the large temple more carefully. It was made out of a very strange kind a rock. A kind of rock that you wouldn't normally see on this planet... "... Hideaki??"

"Put that down," he snarled at Jas, "do I look like I'm about to attack you or something? Anyway, how do we get out of here? You really shouldn't have put that sword in there...!"

"If you wasn't stalking people and lunging at people, then I'd say no," Jas says, her voice cold, but she returns her weapon to its holster.

"Thank you," he replied, eyeing her. "You're from Atsushi, right?" He stopped rubbing his arm, but began twitching it a little, getting insanely nervous.

"I can't believe it... No-one's been here in more than two years..." Akutai said to himself, but the others could hear him easily. "This is amazing... The island of Hideaki, and we're here..."

"Th.... There's no way.....This place was thought to have disappeared after the meteors hit.... But.... It still exists...." Ryuki finally responded after recovering from the shock of the transport. He got up and stared at the temple, his blue eyes fixated on its entrance, and the shere beauty of it.

"Yes, it's the best thing in the world," Solon said, rolling his eyes. "But, I really don't think we should venture too far into it. Or at all."

Akutai was already walking towards the large temple before Solon had finished what he was saying. He was eager to see what was inside.

Ryuki rushed after him, "Hey, wait for me."

"Guys? Guys! Come on, don't make me whine like a complete... opposite of an ass-... Oh forget about it. I don't care if you go in or not," Solon decided. "But I need to find a way out of here..."

"Yeah, I am," Jas looks away from Solon, and follows the other two.

"Hey, wait!" Solon called out. I need her. She's an Atsushi... "Don't say I didn't warn you..." He walked after them, then began walking the other direction. With a sigh, he turned around and ran up behind them.

"Warn us about what?" Jas lazily looks back at Solon.

They were now inside the temple, and the inside was just as amazing as the outside. Small windows all along the inside of the temple let in the light of outside and hit the other wall. After looking through for a bit, they came to a large room, where on the opposite side, were steps leading up to what appeared to be a sphere that was broken in several places.

"Wow..." Akutai awed at the magnificence of the sight.

"Don't touch anything," Solon snapped. He hid his left arm behind his back and kept his distance from the sphere.

"Why are you so darn jumpy," Jas kneels down by the broken sphere. I don't even know your name, so how are you gonna tell me what to do?"

Ryuki walked up to the sphere, completely oblivious to anything around him. He looked at the shards lying around it. He snapped out of his trance, and looked at the light dancing off of the walls. It was amazing, better than any story he had read in his life. Finally, he said something,

"Sol, quit worrying..... You're just wasting your breath...." he said, continuing to bask in the radiance of the room.

A rumbling began to sound. It was faint, but it was noticeable enough for them to be weary.

"What's that...?" Akutai asked a bit nervously.

Out of nowhere, a large creature ripped through one of the side walls of the room, sending pieces of rock everywhere.

The creature was deep violet and black in color, with menacing red eyes and large teeth that could possibly shred you to pieces with just one bite. It stood atop three legs which were attached to its body, and two arms with scythes at the ends waved at the group. Akutai recognized it instantly, and just stood there.

"Me-kashikyo..." Akutai said, his voice trembling a bit.

Jas reaches for her Duel Vipers. She stares at the creature waiting for it to make a move.

"Oh no... Not again. See, Solon? This is what happens when you try and help people. That's why you stick to being an assassin. Stick to being an assassin!," he said to himself. "Can we atleast not touch the sphere?" he added to everyone else.

"Oh, no....." Ryuki muttered. This was one of the few times he had been terrified in his life. He stared at the menacing look of the creature, unable to do anything. His life passed before him, as it does with nearly everyone in a life or death situation. It was almost as time itself had slowed down, each second seeming like hours. Ryuki felt like he was just frozen in that flux in time, unable to act. His breathing began to slow as the realization of the danger he was in took its place in his mind. He had read some about the vile, wicked creatures before, but he thought he'd never face one in real life.

"Th.... they.... they're not supposed to be on the islands..... This is.... impossible!" his mind tried to battle with the complexity and danger of the situation all at once. It was too overwhelming.

"Am your Viper at its eyes!" hissed Solon to Jas. "It being blind can only help us."

"Come on you big chickens," Jas continues to watch the creature. "It looks like it's fight or die now..." She whips her Vipers out, and starts shooting.

The bullets only bounced off of the thick skin of the creature. Akutai had no clue on what to do. But from behind the creature, the broken sphere faintly flashed a bit of light. It wasn't very strong, but it was enough to get Akutai's attention. He then noticed that his sword was already back in it's sheath. Could this have to with that sphere? He drew the sword again, and it was glowing like before.

"... I think we have to fight it another way." Akutai said, his fear somehow beginning to ebb away slowly.

Solon relaxed in one of the palace chairs.

"It's different every time," he sighed, leaning back. "Enjoy the fun while it lasts."

"Calm down, Ryuki...." he told himself over and over again in his head. He finally regained enough sense to analyze the situation and react. He pulled out his book and staff. His staff was glowing with the same faint light as the sphere behind the demon. He bscked up enough to be out of danger, for the time being.

"Let's see how resilient you are to magic...." he muttered. He began to mouth a spell. It was the same one he had shown to Akutai. Needles of ice formed in front of Ryuki. He held the hand with his book in it out towards the creature, causing the needles to fire at it.

Jas growls, and starts trying to look for a weak spot on the thing.

The needles hit the creature, and it seemed as if it had done some sort of damage, but not enough to call it satisfactory. Akutai saw this, and began to think. The blue color of his sword's blade. He then thought back to when he had first brought the sword to show Kaito. There was a blue gem embedded in the hilt.

Without another word, he rushed up at the Me-kashikyo. It swung one of it's scythes at him, and it nicked Akutai's shoulder. Akutai somehow knew what to do, though. He jumped up on the scythe and used it to slash his sword at its side, where it left a large gash.

"Jaz, shoot where I slashed it!" Akutai shouted down to her. The creature seemed like it was in pain.

"I see where this is going," Jas runs up, then fires at the gash left by Akutai's sword.

Solon sat up a bit, watching them "Hm..." They're lucky. They have three people to stop this monster. But I'll be a little mad if no one comes out injured... he thought.

The creature gave a loud roar as the bullets blasted through the gash, sending some of its dark violet blood spill on the ground. It was still standing, though...

"One more..." Akutai murmured to himself. He landed and ran right up in front of the thing, jumped up, and slashed at its chest. "Ryuki, fire some ice needles here!"

"Right!" he obeyed. He summoned more ice needles. He did the same thing he did the first time. This time was a little different though. He muttered a different spell after conjuring the ice needles. As they flew towards the beast, he created an air wave that gave the needles more speed and power.

The needles hit their mark. They went straight through the gash and came out the other side of the creature, making it scream out a blood-curdling roar of pain before it collapsed to the floor. Some of its blood had splashed on the front of Akutai's clothes, and the wound on his shoulder hurt like heck.

"Well... That wasn't all too bad... Eheh..." Akutai joked a bit as he clenched his shoulder.

Ryuki fell to the floor and sighed," Good.... That was more excitement than I care for...." he said, exhausted from the stress and energy it took during the battle. He glanced over to Akutai and noticed the dark, violet blood that coated his clothes. He noticed red seeping down one of his arms.

"Akutai, you're injured!" Ryuki exclaimed, trying to think of what to do. He wasn't good at healing spells, but he was good at basic wound treatment.

"Yeah... Kinda figured I would get hurt when going in close range like that..." Akutai said. He twinged as pain waved in his shoulder a bit.

"That's... it? Are you serious? When I had to fight that thing I lost an arm!" Solon shouted, angered by the easy victory.

"Not all too bad, hm?" Jas puts her weapons away and walks towards Akutai. "Could you at least let me help?" She asks. "Since I came close to shooting you earlier..."

Ryuki got up and started walking over to Akutai. He ignored Solon's comment for the moment. He staggered a bit as he was walking. He pulled out some gauze he carried with him and began wrapping it around his shoulder. He used a rather simple spell to destroy the bacteria and infections that may have resulted from the wound.

"There.... That should do it." he said, putting away his medical supplies. He then turned his attention to Solon, "Is that why you didn't help us?" he asked with a rather cold tone.

"Or don't let me help," Jas shrugs and turns around. "So how do we get out of here?" She asks, not in the mood to hear any arguments.

"Try the sphere now," Solon told Jas. "And I didn't help because I've fought this thing already. I tried to tell you guys not to go in there, so don't say I didn't try to warn you before hand."

"Oh.... I'm sorry, miss. I get carried away when my friends are injured and want to help them immediately." Ryuki said shyly.

"... Wait..." Came a voice from out of nowhere. Akutai looked around a moment.

"Uh... Did you hear that?" He asked, looking at them confused.

Ryuki listened, "I think so.... It sounded like 'wait'....." he replied and looked around. The voice had confused him. None of the others had said it.

"Of course, I could just be dizzy and hearing things...."

Solon tried to remember what had happenend to him when he was on the island. But, the pain of losing his arm had erased most of him memory of it. Solon just sat back down in the chair and waited for everything to unfold.

The broken sphere began to faintly glow, and a small ray of light came down from it, and hit a spot in the center of the room. Soon, the image of an aged man dressed in robes with the same patterns on the large metal plate on Michi appeared.

"I am Haruo... I used to take care of this temple when it was first carved from one of the meteors..." The man said.

Jas looks at the person, listening.

Ryuki was tempted to go poke the image of the man to see what would happen, but decided thatwould be a bad idea and listening would be better.

"Now, you may be wondering how the Me-kashikyo had gotten onto the island..." Haruo began. " The truth is that it was on the island to begin with... We weren't sure of why it had kept itself hidden until a year after the meteor shower. That is why I am not talking to you in person... for all of the ones who cared for this temple were killed by that creature... Using the last of my energy, I put a spiritual projection within the sphere, which was found within the meteor..."

"So wait, you're not...?" Akutai began.

"No, I'm afraid I have now passed from this life..." He answered. "But the guidance of this last will shall guide you into this world's last hope..."

"....This sounds.... strange." Ryuki said after thinking about what Haruo had said. If what he was sating was true, then this would be difficult.

"Last hope?" Jas looks at the projection. "What's about to destroy the world though...?"

((gtg for tonight... CYa...))

((Jeeze, talk about cliffhanger. X.x Bye))

Quote from: Sh0rTi on December 29, 2007, 11:42:34 PM
((Jeeze, talk about cliffhanger. X.x Bye))

((Just what I was thinking :). Cya X_Hero))

((Okay, end cliffhanger... XD))

"This planet is fragile... And with the meteor shower, it is now on the brink of utter destruction." Haruo began. "The only hope for our planet is to bring the planet back together. Unfortunately, that cannot be done until the Me-kashikyo are defeated... Which is why we need those with the abilities to fight against them. Which... is why you have been chosen."

"... Us? Why us?" Akutai said, not knowing what else to think.

"Wait, why have we been chosen to defeat the Me-kashikyo and put the planet back together? And on top of that, how are we going to?" Ryuki asked. He was confused. All he had wanted was to get out and see the world, not defeat a horde of menacing creatures and bring the islands out of the sky.

Solon wondered if the whole 'Saving the world' thing also applied to him. He was an assassin. He was supposed to kill people, not save the world. And anyway, he had gotten sucked in by accident. He had his chance once already... And he blew it.

"You each have abilities that will aid in the defeat of the Me-kashikyo." Haruo said. "Only together can you put those abilities to the fullest of their extent."

"Well, I kinda understand that..." Akutai started. "But is there any way to defeat them?"

"Each one has a different weakness. All of these weaknesses can be found in nature." Haruo explained. "The one you fought was not only weak to ice, but was probably the most easy to defeat."

"I guess that means I'm going to have to learn more magic, then?" Ryuki asked, fond of the idea of mastering other spells. He knew ice, wind, and water already. Learning the others would be no easy task, but Ryuki liked a challenge.

Akutai then thought of his sword. He drew it and showed it to Haruo.

"What does this sword have to do with this, though?" Akutai asked. Haruo looked at it and then got a relieved look on his face.

"Ah, so you found the sword..." Haruo began. "That sword is one of the keys to defeating the Me-kashikyo. It can be inlaid with several elemental gems. By the looks of it, it has already been placed with the ice gem. It, of course, it can only be placed with 5 of the 10 gems at a time. which is why the other gems can be used with other weapons to increase their effectiveness."

Ryuki's staff fell out of its holder and fell to the floor with a crash.

"Ah! The staff ArchSage Tsumino gave me!" Ryuki exclaimed, picking it up off of the floor and dusting it off. He pulled out a rag and rubbed it across the orb in the middle, making glow softly.

Haruo turned to Ryuki.

"Tsumino? You know Tsumino?" He asked somewhat interested.

"Yes, sir. He was my master before Ieft Ishizo Library." Ryuki replied.

"Ah yes... I knew him before the meteor shower..." Haruo began to mention. "I was on a trip before it happened, and the meteor that this temple was built from came down along with the meteor that separated this area from the planet... It's good to know he still lives..."

((Will someone post besides me and X_Hero? :-\))

((You two seem to know everything... but then I come in, and end up feeling stupid sometimes. >.<))

Jas just stands there listening, feeling as if she didn't belong.

((I know, do you guys PM eachother the whole story of Nibankari? You guys seem to know it all, already.))

We've already had this chat before the meteor strike... I didn't say anything, and look what has ended up happening? I'm not cut out to be asked to save the world again... Solon thought through gritted teeth.