From 0a9c6a08614d4bd3a7ba8daa2a4cfb7240c68d91 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Nanashi Kokoro Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:33:42 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Updated returns to domains 1-9 --- 01 - Start.txt | 55 ++- 04 - Returns.txt | 703 ++++++++++++++++++++++++------- 05A - The Mole.txt | 30 +- 05B - Meeting The First Face.txt | 51 ++- 05D - Facing the Faces.txt | 33 +- DOMAIN - Black.txt | 8 +- DOMAIN - Brown.txt | 105 +++-- DOMAIN - Orange.txt | 90 ++-- DOMAIN - Red.txt | 113 +++-- 9 files changed, 883 insertions(+), 305 deletions(-) diff --git a/01 - Start.txt b/01 - Start.txt index 38cf2ae..4678ceb 100644 --- a/01 - Start.txt +++ b/01 - Start.txt @@ -2,42 +2,56 @@ OPENING SCENE You open on a military base in a private meeting room. The table in the center takes up half the space of the room, but is large enough to accommodate 12 chairs, even though only (players #) are currently occupied. The room is otherwise decently lit, and the silence speaks volumes, only interrupted by the visual loudness of the (country) flag against the front wall before you. -After several minutes of dead silence, the door directly to the right of the flag opens and in steps (players #) high ranking officers armed with the latest and greatest two handed military combat rifles, full thickly plated chest armor, and a surprisingly large backpack CLEARLY filled to the brim with supplies. The officers step back, take a saluting pose, and the farthest left one announces in a boisterous voice "ROOM CLEARED. SEND IN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF." +After several minutes of dead silence, the door directly to the right of the flag opens and in steps (players #) high ranking officers armed with the latest and greatest two handed military combat rifles, full thickly plated chest armor, and a surprisingly large backpack CLEARLY filled to the brim with supplies. + +The officers step back, take a saluting pose, and the farthest left one announces in a boisterous voice "ROOM CLEARED. SEND IN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF." -In steps a man everyone in this room recognizes as the president of the goddamn US of A himself, carrying a confident smile and a stack of file folders under his arm. He politely turns to the officers and says "thank you gentlemen, at ease." The soldiers step back and assume a more laxed position, but no less threatening with those guns in hand. He turns to all of you and clears his throat before dropping his folders onto the table, them opening to reveal every personal record and document to ever have your (player #) names on them. +In steps a man everyone in this room recognizes as the president of the goddamn US of A himself, carrying a confident smile and a stack of file folders under his arm. He politely turns to the officers and says "thank you gentlemen, at ease." + +The soldiers step back and assume a more laxed position, but no less threatening with those guns in hand. He turns to all of you and clears his throat before dropping his folders onto the table, them opening to reveal every personal record and document to ever have your (player #) names on them. "I thank you for stepping forth to participate in what is now known as the single most dangerous recon mission in history. I know you've been briefed on it multiple times, but I'd like to take the jargon out and shoot straight so there's no misinterpretation, and when I'm done, I want each and every one of you to decide once and for all if this is really a task you are prepared for." -He grabs a remote from his pocket, presses a button, and lowers a projector screen in front of the flag, then starts pulling up images on it of a massive island from a small projector in the ceiling. "For as long as we have documented it, we have been aware of a mysterious unknown land mass in the middle of the Pacific. This mass is approximately 10 miles wide, nearly circular, and is completely surrounded by a colossal rock wall. We believe this land mass originated naturally like any other, but the fact it ended up nearly perfectly circular tells us it is occupied with people who, bare minimum, have the tools and numbers needed to shape it as such." - -"Now I'm sure you've heard of us using... less than friendly means of gaining entrance, and it is true, but it has failed at every turn. Either the weapons we use never make contact or have no effect if they do." And true to his word, you see several clips of missiles, bombs, and massive artillery that would eventually evaporate a continent essentially either bounce off the rock walls, or explode on impact and leave none. +He grabs a remote from his pocket, presses a button, and lowers a projector screen in front of the flag, then starts pulling up images on it of a massive island from a small projector in the ceiling. "For as long as we have documented it, we have been aware of a mysterious unknown land mass in the middle of the Pacific." -"We are, of course, curious to see if such an amazing material has military applications, but samples show that whatever is causing it is not the rock itself, but something inside the island. Twice a year for over a century now, we've sent soldiers, scientists, engineers, the best of the best men and women we had to offer inside through this one entrance, a small cavern near the water's edge. Despite that, every single one of them has never returned, and we never receive communication from them again." +"This mass is approximately 10 miles wide, nearly circular, and is completely surrounded by a colossal rock wall. We believe this land mass is occupied with people who, bare minimum, have the tools and numbers needed to shape it as such." + +"Now I'm sure you've heard of us using... less than friendly means of gaining entrance, and it is true, but it has failed at every turn. Either the weapons we use never make contact or have no effect if they do." + +And true to his word, you see several clips of missiles, bombs, and massive artillery that would eventually evaporate a continent essentially either bounce off the rock walls, or explode on impact and leave none. + +"We are, of course, curious to see if such an amazing material has military applications, but samples show that whatever is causing it is not the rock itself, but something inside the island. In comes the Program." + +"Twice a year for over a century now, we've sent soldiers, scientists, engineers, the best of the best men and women we had to offer inside through this one entrance, a small cavern near the water's edge. Despite that, every single one of them has never returned, and we never receive communication from them again." "As such, the military has opted to start taking in people of a more... unique background this time around, which is where you all come in. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be the same as those before you. Infiltrate this island, gather any and all intel you can about this place and its inhabitants, and (for once) return alive." -"Now I know ya'll have lives, assets, and dependents of varying degrees, but we always ask for people to be prepared to never return to them. But in exchange, they will also have the most to look forward to. There is a dedicated monthly budget for this project, and all the excess proceeds went into essentially a "reward" for anyone that came back. That is well over a century's worth of amassed funds, and if any or all of you (players #) return with anything of value, you get the whole sum." +"Now I know ya'll have lives, assets, and dependents of varying degrees, but we always ask for people to be prepared to never return to them. But in exchange, they will also have the most to look forward to." -He then slides a folder toward your group with a single sheet of paper inside, listing a sum of money that would take a chunk out of the national debt. "In addition, we would even be willing to discuss your personal records and how to make certain... red flags and highlighted marks disappear. In the meantime, your personal possessions, homes, assets, and everything else would be funded by this budget and cared for either by your pre-selected caregivers or ones we select if needed. We do this for 25 years, and if you do not return, any remaining assets are liquidated and added right back into the budget." +"There is a dedicated monthly budget for this project, and all the excess proceeds went into essentially a "reward" for anyone that came back. That is well over a century's worth of amassed funds, and if any or all of you (players #) return with anything of value, you get the whole sum." + +He then slides a folder toward your group with a single sheet of paper inside, listing a sum of money that would take a chunk out of the national debt. "In addition, we would even be willing to discuss your personal records and how to make certain... red flags and highlighted marks disappear." + +"In the meantime, your personal possessions, homes, assets, and everything else would be funded by this budget and cared for either by your pre-selected caregivers or ones we select if needed. We do this for 25 years, and if you do not return, any remaining assets are liquidated and added right back into the budget." -"And that is about the nitty gritty of it. If you are still interested, we will leave immediately to get you geared up in the finest weapons, armor, tactical equipment, and... well essentially everything the gentlemen behind me are wearing and then some. We also have a special arsenal set aside for those with a more unique taste from as far back as the first Century, with some slight modernization of course." +"And that is about the nitty gritty of it. If you are still interested, we will leave immediately to get you geared up in the finest weapons, armor, tactical equipment, and... essentially everything these gentlemen behind me are wearing and then some." "If you have questions, feel free to ask now. And if you are having second thoughts, the exit is right there. And trust me when I say, no hard feelings, braver men and women have walked away from this offer. Myself included." -He waits for anyone to ask questions or walk out of the room before finishing, "Very well then, welcome to Project Invincible Island. Gear up, your chopper leaves in an hour." +He waits for anyone to ask questions or walk out of the room before finishing, "Very well then, welcome to Project Evermore. Gear up, your chopper leaves in an hour." SEVERAL HOURS LATER -The helicopter escorted you from the base to a military aircraft carrier floating in the water, where they will double check your gear and weapon stock. They also give each of you a "signing bonus" in the form of $100,000, but instead of your own currency, it is broken up into 100 different types worth about $1,000 each. They say it is "just in case there IS civilization based on ours, this will help you survive among the most likely related countries." +The helicopter escorts you from the base to a military aircraft carrier floating in the water, where they will double check your gear and weapon stock. They also give each of you a "signing bonus" in the form of $100,000, but instead of your own currency, it is broken up into 100 different types worth about $1,000 each. They say it is "just in case there IS civilization based on ours, this will help you survive among the most likely related countries." They then drop you onto a speedboat, jetting quickly through the water to the island entrance, a deep rounded cave opening about 20 feet in width and height. You all step off the boat as the driver turns back and hands one of you a signal flare gun, to let them know if and when you are ready for your return trip. You are now faced with the ocean at your backs and the cave before you, and it only gets darker as you look deeper in. *IF YOU ENTER* -(NOTICE roll) while the rock is overall rough, it is NOT a natural cave. The walls have something of a carved and scraped pattern in them, like chisels were taken to it but not with a rhythm in mind. Even the floor itself shows a fair level of smoothness. +While the rock is overall rough, it is definitely NOT a natural cave. The walls have something of a carved and scraped pattern in them, like chisels were taken to it but not with a rhythm in mind. Even the floor itself shows a fair level of smoothness. -(INVESTIGATE ROLL) It's been about 20 minutes walking into the cave, and your flashlight shows the floor is not only getting more smooth, you could almost recognize a pattern in the ground. +About 20 minutes walking into the cave, your flashlight shows the floor is not only getting more smooth, you could almost recognize a pattern in the ground. -(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a soft rumbling noise in the distance, slow and repetitive like a growl on a repeat pattern. +(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a soft rumbling noise in the distance, slow and repetitive, like a growl on a repeat pattern. *IF THEY CONTINUE* The noise only grows louder as you continue, the path before you slowly but surely getting even cleaner and more uniform, until you spot a light in the distance, coming from a lantern hanging off the front of an old wooden shack, roughly ten feet in height and wide enough to occupy the entire right side of the pathway. @@ -75,7 +89,9 @@ Walking through the strange energy is no real issue, it just feels like walking CAVE EXIT -After another mile or so of walking, you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it borderline blinds you as you walk out and see... about 50 people walking around, happy as can be, in front of what looks like a large tree and pond park within the rock walls. Some teens are riding on bikes on the paved sidewalks in the distance, some children are playing with toy cars in the grass around you, some adults are eating ice cream under some shady trees or on benches, and there are a few birds chirping in the trees eating away at the fruit and berries hanging from their branches. +After another mile or so of walking, you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it borderline blinds you as you walk out and see... about 50 people walking around, happy as can be, in front of what looks like a large tree and pond park within the rock walls. + +Some teens are riding on bikes on the paved sidewalks in the distance, some children are playing with toy cars in the grass around you, some adults are eating ice cream under some shady trees or on benches, and there are a few birds chirping in the trees eating away at the fruit and berries hanging from their branches. You also see a few people using low grade magic to douse each other in water playfully, or to heal a kid's scraped knee, or to ignite some clubs and do a flaming juggling routine. Magic looks to be about as normal as cell phones for you. @@ -94,6 +110,7 @@ You open the glass door wrapped in steel framing and head inside to a fairly bas *AFTER THEY LEAVE* The path out the door leads you directly across another massive patch of grass and trees, but you can more clearly see deeper within, and you bear witness to a fully functional massive city, hundreds of people walking, biking, driving, or riding a trolley on the defined roads. + - On the left is a massive residential neighborhood filled to the brim with houses, most of them two stories tall - On the right is a bustling business area filled with storefronts, each with simple signs representing them - You can see a group of white and gold buildings farther in, multiple people in dressier clothes carrying suitcases walking between them. @@ -101,20 +118,22 @@ The path out the door leads you directly across another massive patch of grass a *Every place they visit, have them make NOTICE rolls to detect if they are being followed* -You are approached (if not straight surrounded) by a group of average looking thugs carrying baseball bats, chains, rocks, and other random items. Most of them look young college age, wearing bandanas or helmets and otherwise REALLY generic clothing. But their leader, a decent sized black bull, steps forward with a chuckle, wearing a black leather jacket and wielding a white shortsword that is CLEARLY too small for him. +You are approached (if not straight surrounded) by a group of average looking thugs carrying baseball bats, chains, rocks, and other random items. Most of them look young college age, wearing bandanas or helmets and otherwise REALLY generic clothing. But their leader, a six foot white ram, steps forward with a chuckle, wearing a black leather jacket and wielding a white shortsword that is CLEARLY too small for him. "Well hey there strangers, we're the welcome wagon, here to welcome you to Diadem." He aims his blade at your group. "Get 'em." AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY WIN* -The attackers lie on the ground, groaning in agony at their defeat. The leader of the group is in shock, holding his head to keep a bleeding injury from pouring out. "What the fuck?! I'd expect this from the Thunder Force, not a bunch of random asshole newbies!" +The attackers lie on the ground, groaning in agony at their defeat. The ram is in shock, holding his head to keep a bleeding injury from pouring out. "What the fuck ARE you people?! Regalia Hunters?! Thunder Force?!" (NOTICE ROLL) You suddenly detect the stench of ozone, and in a matter of moments, both your group and the Marauders are surrounded by a series of oddly dressed soldiers, their bodies lightly cloaked in silver trails of electricity. Each one is geared up with a thin knee-length black jacket trimmed in inch-wide silver all along the body and at the ends of the sleeves, the letters T.F. emblazoned on the back in identical silver. These coats somewhat hide a silver chestplate & matching gauntlets, black tact pants leading down into black boots with silver laces, chrome half-masks covering the bottom halves of their faces, and sunglasses that perfectly hide their eyes. -"Shit! Thunder Force!" The leader tries to scramble away. Two agents step up and each grab an arm, stopping that right quick. Their outfits' silver stripes begin to glow and crackle with energy, and all three appear to be teleported away, as do all the other knocked out thugs. The ground is scorched in several straight lines, implying they were really just moving insanely fast. +"Shit! Thunder Force!" The ram tries to scramble away, but two agents step up and each grab an arm, stopping that right quick. Their outfits' silver stripes begin to glow and crackle with energy, and all three appear to be teleported away, as do all the other knocked out thugs. + +(NOTICE ROLL) The ground is scorched in several straight lines, implying they were really just moving insanely fast. One of the operatives stays behind, a Panther man standing at just over six feet in the same outfit with a visible scar under his eye. "I don't know who you are, but you have helped us contain a significant threat today, and we appreciate your assistance." diff --git a/04 - Returns.txt b/04 - Returns.txt index 8314aeb..319ba0d 100644 --- a/04 - Returns.txt +++ b/04 - Returns.txt @@ -1,52 +1,124 @@ RED -Upon returning to the RED domain, you see that everything has been returned back to normal after the Marauders' attack and subsequent ass wooping. The broken huts are rebuilt, the destroyed trees were replanted & replaced, and all the people you saw there have been patched up and any burns were properly healed. Everyone who sees you doesn't pay you much mind, since all you really did was walk in and go to the Volcano, but everyone treats you with the same kindness as before. +Upon returning to the RED domain, you see that everything has been returned back to normal after the Marauders' attack. The broken storefronts are rebuilt, the destroyed crops were replanted & replaced, and all the injured people seem to be okay now. There IS still a circular scorchmark in the middle of the road though. + +*DEPENDING ON WHO THEY SPOKE TO* +- Garsen the boar stops rotating a pig on a spit, handing it off to someone else, and approaches your group, arms crossed. "Well if it ain't the Kings of Kings." +- Culver the yellowjacket puts down his hedge clippers, hopping over the fence line and staring at you in awe. "I hoped you'd come back someday!" +- Lana the Asp steps out from behind her shop display, cautiously looking your group over. "I am... SO shocked you're still alive after last time..." +- Kyong the bearded dragon steps up to you, ukulele in hand. "I bet you came back to hear me play some more, didn't ya?" He starts strumming lightly on his instrument as he laughs. + +*ASK FOR AODAGHAN* +Their faces dtop in shock, they look toward each other, and point toward the Volcano. Before you walk away, Garsen grabs your attention. "Aodaghan took the day off, so be REAL careful dealing with him. He won't have his work to distract his anger." *VOLCANO* -Upon entering the cave of the volcano, (NOTICE ROLL) you hear whistling in the distance, a tune you can't quite place but you could swear sounds very war song like in nature. When you reach the main chamber, you see Aodaghan is the one whistling, as he lounges in the Lava pool like it's a hot tub, looking genuinely relaxed for once. You also see he is the only person here today for some reason. +(NOTICE ROLL) You hear someone whistling in the distance, a tune you can't quite place but you could swear sounds very war song like in nature. -"Well look who it is, the li'l shits from before. Excuse me if I don' stand an'shake ya hands." +When you reach the main chamber, you see Aodaghan is whistling casually, as he lounges in the Lava pool up to his chest like it's a hot tub, looking genuinely relaxed for once. You also see he is the only person here today. + +"Well look who it is, the li'l shits from before. Excuse me if I don' stand an'shake ya hands, I'm free ballin' in here." *IF CHALLENGE* -He will reach over and grab a nearby deep red longcoat, sling it around over his head, and stand from the lava pool, throwing it over himself smoothly so it lands atop his body as he steps out, the stray drops of lava rolling off his feathers as easily as water. "Then let's step out. I don' feel like breakin' my forge for a fight." He will lead your group outside the volcano and into the town, meeting up with one of the locals. +His eye suddenly turns sharp. "You fuckers know today's my day off, right?" He will pause to sit upright, pulling his wings up and out of the lava, the fierce glowing red and orange now dripping with molten rock. "That means I got no reason to hold back." -"Hey. Sound the alarm. We got challengers." Their eyes will suddenly widen as he runs to a nearby hut, and you hear what sounds like an air raid siren ringing out,, causing everyone to suddenly run into the various huts, taking them apart surprisingly quickly and hiding them away before backing away to a relatively far off part of the area where the trees are more dense, watching you all nervously. +*IF THEY CONFIRM* +He will suddenly stand up in the pool, the lava stopping just below his waist. "Then step out and gimme five ta get ready." -He will reach behind himself, pulling out his colossal blackblade sword, letting it rest on his shoulder for a moment. "Aight, stage is set an' I'm ready to kick some ass." +*OUTSIDE* +(NOTICE Roll) +- You hear drumming back down in the little village at the base of the volcano. +- And you smell a LOT of cooked meat. + +----- + +*IF THEY STAY AND WAIT* +After about five minutes, but Aodaghan finally steps out in his full combat attire. His hair is tied back and draped behind his deep red long coat, lined in black with black shoulders, the front held together with gold chains. His chest is exposed and leads down to a black pair of slacks, but no shoes, exposing his bird feet. + +"Aight, let's get th' show on th--" He pauses, looking around. "The fuck is that noise?" He starts sniffing the open air, his eyes getting sharp. "Fuuuck, who did you assholes tell???" + +He will throw his wings open and suddenly rocket off into the sky, flame erupting from his feet like small jet engines, headed straight for the village. + +----- + +In the village, you see a group of people on the far end of the street all circled around a large fire. Two of them are banging away on pahu drums, two are chopping vegetables, two are tending to two different spits of meat (one with a pig and one with different segments of beef), and one sitting back and supervising the whole event. + +They have made this a ceremonial event, all of them wearing more festive attire. Feather cloaks on the males, long dresses on the females, both wearing strings of flowers, and colorful stripe banners are hung all around. + +Aodaghan stares down the group of people, arms crossed and physically putting off an immense amount of heat, which gets the attention of the people. He is perfectly encapsulating 'resting murder face.' + +"Only reason I'm not settin' ev'ry one of you assholes on fire... is cuz that shit smells edible." + +The overseer (Garsen the boar) approaches with a knowing smile and a plate of both meats and grilled & stewed veggies with a bit of rice. Aodaghan yanks it away and takes a bite. + +"...mm. Not bad." + +He immediately flops down in front of everyone, and starts munching down on the food like he hasn't eaten for the week. Everyone at the party starts cheering and handing out food, including to YOUR group if you want it. + +Aodaghan spends the next several minutes eating all the food he can get his hands on. Anyone who tries to talk to him gets short choppy responses while he eats. + +By the time everyone has finished, there are ten empty plates at his feet. He suddenly shoots his head upward and belches VERBOSELY, a massive fireball shooting into the open air. + +"Aight... enough stallin'." He hops up and walks over to the previous scorched circle in the ground, standing in the center. He pulls his blade out and jams the tip jnto the ground. "Aodaghan Panthrandu officially accepts yer challenge fer my Regalia. Now get yer asses in here an' say the words." AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -He will stand before you all, panting in blatant pain and exhaustion, his sword jammed into the ground blade first to help him stay upright. "Well fuck me runnin', you little shits ain't half bad." He will pause to grab his shoulder, seeming to jerk it upright and crack it into place, before continuing. "Come back when you got a little more to offer." He will then extend his wings and attempt to fly off, wobbling a little in the air at first as he leaves. +He will stand before you all, spitting a glob of blood to the side, his sword jammed into the ground to help him stay upright. "Well fuck me runnin', you little shits ain't half bad." + +He will pause to grab his shoulder, jerking it upright and cracking it into place, before continuing. "Come back when you got a little more to offer." He will then extend his wings and attempt to fly off, wobbling a little in the air at first as he leaves. *IF THEY WIN* -He grumbles as he lies facedown in the dirt, slowly picking himself up. "Well shit... been a while since I lost a fight. You won, straight up." He extends his arm and jams the sword he fought you with into the ground, blade down. "Here's my Regalia, the Flint Flametongue. It's yer prize fer beatin' me, Kings o' Kings." +He grumbles as he lies facedown in the dirt, slowly picking himself up. "Shit... been a while since I lost a fight.." He extends his arm and jams his sword into the ground. "Here's my Regalia, the Flint Flametongue. It's yer prize fer beatin' me, Kings o' Kings." -He extends his wings, one not extending the full way, which causes him to retract them. "Guess I'm walkin'." He'll limp past your group into the tall trees, leaving you with only your prize in the scorchmark of a battlezone. +He extends his wings, one not extending the full way. "Guess I'm walkin'." He'll retract them both and limp past your group toward the cavern, leaving you with only your prize in the scorchmark of a battlezone. -----=====-----=====----- ORANGE -Upon returning to the Orange domain, you will see that everything is more or less the same, still the infinite expanse of sand and the one giant building standing in solitude. Upon entering the building, you will see Conroy pushing a book cart across the floor, stacked full of comic books. He will see you and immediately push the cart away, giving you his full attention. "Welcome back, friends! What can I do for you today?" +Upon returning to the Orange domain, you will see that everything is more or less the same, still the infinite expanse of sand and the three pyramids around you. -*if they ask about DM* +*INSIDE* +You see Conroy pushing a cart around the corner of one shelf, putting books away. He will see you and immediately pause, smiling wide. "Welcome back, friends! What can I do for you today?" + +*As they walk, he will continue to put the books away* + +*ASK ABOUT DM* "Is that the title now? Bit pretentious if you ask me, Guardian has a much nicer ring." -*If they ask if HE is DM* +*ASK IF HE IS DM* "You caught me! Not that I was hiding it or anything. But yes, I am the Master of this Domain." -*Why didn't he tell them* +*WHY DIDNT HE TELL THEM* "Well I can't answer a question you never ask!" -*Why he didn't help more* -"Well THAT is a bit more complicated... I kind of... Couldn't. It'd be easier if I simply showed you." +----- -He guides them to a deep dark decrepit part of the library, requiring a torch, a Raiders hat, and giving the youngest CHARACTER a ball cap, before finally making it to a shelf of books that have all been stabbed, burnt, and otherwise in mix arrays of destruction. +*WHY DIDNT YOU DO MORE TO HELP* +He suddenly shoves the book cart down the seemingly infinite aisle until it is no longer in view. "Well THAT is a bit more complicated... I kind of... Couldn't. It'd be easier if I simply showed you." -"As you can see, the knowledge is simply gone. Someone destroyed almost all of it. The book I shared was all I had left, and as you saw, it was disintegrating in my hands. All the information from this library is based on contribution, and anyone with that level of knowledge on this is long gone aside from the Domain Masters. And that magic doesn't work on them, I tried. I'd give anything to have that knowledge back." +He asks you to follow him into the front of the library, goes behind the counter, and opens up a secret floor panel, leading down into a VERY dark abyss. "Onward and downward, as it were?" -(IF VISITED WHITE DOMAIN, MAKE CONTACTS ROLL) +The pathway leads you down several yards underground, and it gets darker as you go. But once you reach the bottom, you see a rack with several unlit wooden torch sticks on the wall. + +(NOTICE ROLL) You also spot hanging nearby +- A brown fedora +- A blue & white baseball cap +- A brown leather whip + +He grabs a torch, lights it with a match from his coat pocket, and walks through another pathway, but only another 50 feet or so. You open up to an internal chamber with a completely separate set of bookshelves made of stone lined with old cloth. + +The books themselves however are covered in various cuts and scorch marks, most of them physically unable to be useful just at a glance. You DO see the book he brought to you the first time he asked sitting by its lonesome. + +"Now you see what I mean... someone destroyed almost everything about Diadem's history, and that one book was all I had left, damaged as it was." + +*CAN THEY REPAIR IT* +Conroy shakes his head a bit. "I'm afraid you can't, nor can I. Everything here is based on contribution, we would need someone with intimate knowledge of Diadem to contribute again. And most of those people are gone." + +*WHY NOT HIM* +"The type of chronomancy that ritual performs doesn't work on Domain Masters. I've tried. It needs to be a normal mortal person." + +(CONTACTS ROLL) You suddenly recall SOMEONE in the ice domain that was well versed in Diadem history, someone who moonlit as a teacher. *MORANA.* ----- @@ -54,23 +126,32 @@ IF MORANA IS WITH After stepping through the ORANGE gate once again, Morana smiles and lets her bare feet sink into the sand for a moment, eyes closing slowly. "Mm.. feels like heaven.." She looks down at Whitaker with a playful smile. "Sorry, but a girl can only handle cold toes for so long~" -She walks in with your group and smiles in amazement. "It's been a long time since I came here.. I wonder if that old sabertooth pain in the butt still remembers me?" Morana laughs a bit to herself, before a pair of striped orange hands suddenly slide over her eyes. +*INSIDE* +She walks into the library with your group, and smiles in amazement. "It's been a long time since I came here.. I wonder if that old sabertooth pain in the butt still remembers me?" Morana laughs a bit to herself, before a pair of striped orange hands suddenly slide over her eyes. "Guess whooo?~" -She gasps playfully. "Conroy you always beat me to the punch!~" +She gasps playfully. "Conroy you absolute ass!~" He laughs mirthfully and steps in front of her before giving her a big bear hug, the two nuzzling cheeks like you'd expect cats to. This goes on for a few moments until Conroy spots Whitaker standing nervously by his lonesome, letting her go and kneeling down in front of him. "Hello.. old friend. You're looking better." -Whitaker just stands there, staring at him with wide eyes, arms crossed against his chest defensively. Conroy waits patiently before extending his arms wide, and continuing, "Got one for you right here.." Whitaker runs into his arms and hugs him tightly, burying his face into Conroy's shoulder, sniffling softly. Conroy holds him tight and runs a hand through his hair slowly. +Whitaker just stands there, staring at him with wide eyes, arms crossed against his chest defensively. Conroy waits patiently before extending his arms wide, and continuing, "Got one for you right here.." -You see faint glows of orange in his hair, small particles of sand falling from them, as you see a single tear streak down Conroy's cheek. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... you didn't deserve ANY of that..." He glances over at your group with a knowing look. "we may be powerful and practically immortal, but we can very much still be hurt..." He stands up, holding Whitaker's hand in his own, and guides you all to the back room, right to the book creator platform. +Whitaker runs into his arms and hugs him tightly, burying his face into Conroy's shoulder, sniffling softly. Conroy holds him tight and runs a hand through his hair slowly. -"Alright, just step onto the platform for me and--" +You see faint glows of orange in his hair, small particles of sand falling from them, as you see a single tear streak down Conroy's cheek. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... you didn't deserve ANY of that..." -Morana interrupts him. "I remember from last time, just close my eyes and wait." He smiles and nods, taking the hand holding Whitaker's and placing both on the panel. The orange sand sprays her down, clings for a moment, then falls, collects, and shoots off into the library. Conroy runs off into the next room, and you can hear his ecstatic squee from inside the deepest part of the library. He comes running back in with a book titled 'The Diadem Anthology.' +He glances over at your group with a knowing look. "Being borderline immortal doesn't mean we're immune to pain and suffering..." -"A brand new mint condition reprint! And you're the first to see it! I'm so excited!" He places it on the table and opens it, the text inside flashing gold as it is written into the book. +He stands up, holding Whitaker's hand in his own, and guides you all back to the laboratory pyramid, humming an excited tune. + +He holds the door open for Morana first, guides you all back to the chamber, and walks to the panel. "Alright, just step onto the platform for me and--" + +Morana interrupts him, stepping up before he can finish. "I remember from last time, just close my eyes and wait." He smiles and nods, taking the hand holding Whitaker's and placing both on the panel. + +The orange sand from before swirls around her for a few moments (a sight YOU never saw from the outside) and shoots off into the library. Conroy runs off after it, and you can hear his ecstatic squee from inside the deepest part of the library. He comes running back in with a book titled 'The Diadem Anthology.' + +"A brand new mint condition reprint! And you're the first to see it! I'm so excited!" He places it on the table and backs away, reclaiming Whitaker's hand as Morana picks it up and begins reading aloud to your group. ----- @@ -78,11 +159,19 @@ In the beginning, the universe itself was nothingness within nothing, existence But it did not stay as such for long. The Word became complicated, unfolded, expanded, evolved one could say. One word became many, became sentences, explanations, definitions, and then concepts. The first concept created in this emptiness was the pinnacle of all balance, EQUILIBRIUM.. -From that moment, that simple power bore witness to the birth of the concept of NOTHING, but recognized the potential of ALL to keep that balance. And from that, more concepts came to be. That which had a BEGINNING, surely had an END. Those that ended were DESTROYED, and those that came back were RESTORED. Bearing witness beget ALL, and turning away bore NOTHING. Resistance beget STRENGTH, yielding bore FEXIBILITY. Activeness beget SWIFTNESS, passiveness beget SLOWNESS. Recognition of surroundings beget WHEN and WHERE. +From that moment, that simple power bore witness to the birth of the concept of the NOTHING all around it, but recognized the potential of ALL to keep that balance. And from that, more concepts came to be. +- That which had a BEGINNING, surely had an END. +- Those that ended were DESTROYED, and those that came back were RESTORED. +- Bearing witness beget ALL, and turning away bore NOTHING. +- Resistance beget STRENGTH, yielding bore FEXIBILITY. +- Activeness beget SWIFTNESS, passiveness beget SLOWNESS. +- Recognition of surroundings beget WHEN and WHERE. -Twelve of the simplest concepts were formed, the basis of everything that were to come to pass for the foreseeable eternity. Despite these humble beginnings, all these concepts assumed themselves the predominant force, even with a direct counterpart, and wished to see itself be the deciding factor for this new domain they found themselves in. +Twelve of the simplest concepts were formed, the basis of everything that was to come to pass for the foreseeable eternity. Despite these humble beginnings, all these concepts assumed themselves the predominant force, even with a direct counterpart, and wished to see itself be the deciding factor for this new domain they found themselves in. -As such, a mediator was needed, one with an identity beyond itself, with an understanding of the concepts, and with the potential for genuine intelligence and learning for the sake of ensuring current and future struggles. As the EQUILIBRIUM was their source part, and was naturally as influencial as the twelve concepts it spawned COMBINED, it took that role to be a neutral mediator. This group of thirteen in one concepts eventually learned to balance themselves with each other and the core within them. +As such, a mediator was needed, one with an identity beyond itself, with an understanding of the concepts, and with the potential for genuine intelligence and learning for the sake of ensuring current and future struggles. + +As the EQUILIBRIUM was their source part, and was naturally as influencial as the twelve concepts COMBINED, it took that role to be a neutral mediator. With this rule defined, the thirteen in one concepts learned to balance themselves with each other and the core within them. And, once the balance was established within them, they took on a collective identity: ZEROTH, that which exists before any other. @@ -92,7 +181,7 @@ But unlike the rest, THIS one's life was progressing, becoming more complicated, But that was ultimately a mistake. The existence of this concept of equilibrium caused a shift in development. Had the planet remained untouched, the species within would've developed separately, humans as a primary species fighting for its independence and superiority. -Instead, it caused the multiple species to form an unexpected alliance in its presence. These creatures began to adopt each other's minor traits and mannerisms to become more at ease with each other, work together easier, evolce alongside each other and inherit identical traits until the two were almost indistinguishable from each other in only a few dozen generations. As the eon stretched forward, the animalistic humanoids became the norm! +Instead, it caused the multiple species to form an unexpected alliance in its presence. These creatures began to adopt each other's minor traits and mannerisms to become more at ease with each other, work together easier, evolve alongside each other until the two were almost indistinguishable from each other in only a few dozen generations. As the eon stretched forward, the animalistic humanoids became the norm! ZEROTH, meanwhile, had been mortified with its tampering of the natural flow of events, and had removed itself from the equation immediately. Thanks to that, circumstances were otherwise unharmed. Cave dwellers grew and developed homes, societies, ecosystems, not dissimilar to that initial timeline. @@ -100,13 +189,13 @@ ZEROTH spent that time during that eon exploring the rest of the universe for an First, it chose to take what it knew about the people at that time, and separated the twelve concepts from itself, intending to make itself weaker so the chances of its immense power and presence influencing events would be minimized as much as it could allow, but still maintain its status as the equilibrium force amongst the other twelve. -Second, to ensure the newly separated entities of power were not running rampant across the planet (or anywhere else for that matter), it created a consciousness for each of the twelve concepts. Each one was similar to its own, BUT specifically using single emotions and sensations from the mortals it encountered the first time as a basis for each one. They were instructed to disguise themselves so they may walk amongst the people together, still within close proximity of itself but not suffocatingly so. +Second, to ensure the newly separated entities of power were not running rampant across the planet (or anywhere else for that matter), it created a consciousness for each of the twelve concepts. Each one was similar to its own, BUT specifically using single emotions and sensations from the mortals it encountered the first time as a basis for each one. They were instructed to disguise themselves so they may walk amongst the people together, still within close proximity of itself but not suffocatingly so. -Even with all of Zeroth's preparation and hard work, this was ultimately a failure as well, as given these were concepts given consciousness and only knew of their own nature up to that moment, AND they all lacked his comprehensive learning ability (instead being given a fraction of that potential), they revealed themselves as being far more than just mortal, to the point many of them were feared, revered, and recognized as beyond mortal entities. +Even with all of Zeroth's preparation and hard work, this was ultimately a failure as well. Since these were concepts given consciousness and only knew of their own nature up to that moment, AND they all lacked his comprehensive learning ability (instead being given a fraction of that potential), they revealed themselves as being far more than just mortal, to the point many of them were feared, revered, and recognized as beyond mortal entities. Throughout the following centuries, as recorded history became the norm, they were all noticed and added to the analogues of history. Some had been given names and descriptions of people YOU recognized. Zeroth became King Midas, Miranda became Queen Cleopatra and inspired the Sphinx, Whitaker became many cryptids of lore, Fulmo & Tlaloc became Zeus & Hercules, all thirteen of them were the guests of honor at the Last Supper, just to name a few! -If that was all that changed, the story may have progressed perfectly fine like their first visit, but this time, their tampering had an unintended consequence. In addition to exposing themselves as entities that existed beyond that of the average mortal, they also exposed the people to their uniquely godly power of manipulation toward the concepts themselves, and after only a few generations exposure, many of the mortals began to learn to replicate these abilities themselves in their own unique ways! +If that was all that changed, the story may have progressed perfectly fine like their first visit, but this time, their interaction resulted in another unintended consequence. In addition to exposing themselves as entities that existed beyond that of the average mortal, they also exposed the people to their uniquely godly power of manipulation toward the concepts themselves, and after only a few generations exposure, many of the mortals began to learn to replicate these abilities themselves in their own unique ways! The mortals had learned how to manipulate the elements through the use of what they would refer to as magic, and eventually, the utility of magic ended up side by side with the development of technology, rather than abandoning the former to pursue the latter as history should have been. @@ -116,13 +205,17 @@ So he decided that, instead of putting himself and the others down to the MORTAL ----- -Morana would pause and turn to Conroy and Whittaker, staring at them in bewilderment. "So... that would imply the two of you are... what, fragments of the Creator of this universe?" +Morana would pause and turn to Conroy and Whittaker, staring at them in bewilderment. "I read over that passage so many times and never put it together it was referring to you two.. that would imply the two of you are... what, fragments of the Creator of this universe?" -Conroy and Whittaker held each other's hands tightly, nodding solemnly. "Something to that effect.. we wanted to say something, but we were forbidden.. part of the challenge itself was showing you had the mentality to understand who and what we all are, as well as Zeroth himself." +Conroy and Whittaker hold each other's hands tightly, nodding solemnly. Conroy speaks first. "Something to that effect.. we wanted to say something, but we were forbidden.. part of his rules are you must learn and understand who and what we all are on your own, as well as Zeroth himself." -"And the regalia are fragments of YOUR power, but not animated in the way he did with you?" +Morana placed the book down. "And the regalia are... what, fragments of YOUR power, but not animated in the way he did with you?" -"Correct. Not to say we couldn't if we wished, I believe Cassius created and animated Striker in a similar manner." Conroy sighed a bit and ran his free hand on the panel of the book creator. "Truth be told, I simply did what I could to make things better. Few of us wished to participate, but much like Striker to Cassius, we are still an extension of him, to a point." +Conroy replies "Correct. He wished to slowly test and increment your access to his power in slow doses, as it were. But he demanded you earn it in challenges of wit and strength, outsmarted and outfitting each of us in our own unique ways." + +Morana steps closer, arms crossed. "You could've said something, done anything to help them-- help US." + +Conroy sighed a bit and ran his free hand on the panel of the book creator. "Truth be told, I simply did what I could to make things better. Few of us wished to participate, but we are an extension of him. He still overrides us as a whole." Morana steps up to Conroy, determination in her eyes. "So if he ordered you to kill us all..?" Conroy stares into her eyes, paused perfectly still. But Whittaker reaches up and takes a hand of each, shaking his head slowly. @@ -130,20 +223,40 @@ Conroy sighs softly. "The short answer is no.. When he gave us wills of our own, "That's all I needed to hear." She smiled up at Conroy, before taking Whitaker's hand in her own. "Well I... think that's enough reality shattering news for one day. I think its time for us to go home." She waves at your group with a smile and heads back out the door. Conroy smiled a bit and leans against the machine, arms crossed. -"You know... he paid a hefty price, but at the end of the day, Whitaker really is quite lucky to have her. She might be the one person to help keep him in one piece." He pauses for a moment and claps his hands, rubbing them excitedly. "So! Back to business. I assume you'd like to try for my Regalia next, yes?" +"You know... he paid a hefty price, but at the end of the day, Whitaker really is quite lucky to have her. She might be the one person to help keep him in one piece." -*IF YES* -"Well fantastic! I'm not one for violence, but truth be told, I'm curious to see how far you have all come." He reaches down, grabs the orange panel on the front of, and suddenly yanks it straight up off the machine, causing it to power down. "I've been using the power of my Regalia to help speed up the process of generating new and expanded books. I can still very much do it without it, but it just takes longer." +----- -He will slide it along his arm like a buckler shield, causing it to glow a little, before turning to his side and extending one arm in a battle stance. "Alright, my preparations are ready... after you?" +*IF REGALIA* +"Well I'm not one for violence, but truth be told, I'm curious to see how far you have all come." + +*IF THEY DIDNT GO THERE ALREADY, HE WILL GUIDE THEM TO THE BOOK MAKER* + +He reaches down, grabs the orange panel on the front of the machine, and attempt to yank it off. "You see I've-- oh, um.." + +He attempts to yank it again and again, speaking all the while. "I've been USING... the POWER... of my REGALIA..." + +He turns and grabs it at a different angle. "To SPEED UP... the DE-VE-LOP-MENT... of new BOOKS!" + +The panel suddenly pops off the front of the machine, and Conroy flops onto his back in the middle of the floor. In only a few seconds, that same chunk of stone comes flying down and lands right on his stomach. "OEUF!" + +He will jump back up with the panel in hand, resembling an orange chunk of rock attached to a handle grip and an arm strap. "I can still do this without the Regalia of course, but it takes a bit longer." + +"Now we can't rightly have our fight in the lab. Follow me please." He will walk back out of the lab and toward the third pyramid, leading you all in much the same. + +Inside this one, it is pretty much empty. You see a giant square in the center roughly 100 feet wide, and beyond that resembles rows of stone bleacher seating. This pyramid is a coliseum of sorts. + +He will stand in the center, slip on the stone buckler looking item, and take an odd fighting stance, left arm out with hand raised. "Conroy Kaksteist versus the Kings of Kings, a fight for the history books... En Garde!" AFTER THE FIGHT IF THEY LOSE -Conroy will stand before them, wobbling heavily. "That... was a fight for the ages, my friends. I'm not even a true fighter, but I know a powerful person when I see it. And if it becomes even slightly more refined, you will be a force to be reckoned with." He wobbles forward, flopping into the empty machine chamber, pretty much immediately falling sleep with soft purring snores. +Conroy will stand before them, wobbling heavily. "That... was a fight for the ages, my friends. I'm not even a true fighter, but I know strength when I see it. And if it becomes even slightly more refined, you will be a force to be reckoned with." He wobbles forward out of the pyramid, hopping along tenderly on one foot, muttering Ow Ow Ow every time he steps with the other. IF THEY WIN -Conroy will stumble back a bit, panting as his glasses fall off his face and clack onto the floor, revealing his full yellow feline slitted eyes. "Well done... Kings of Kings... If you fight the others with this much ferocity, I'm sure that whatever that prize is... it will be yours." He will suddenly lean backwards and flop onto the floor, panting heatedly. He will shakily riase his arms, remove his magical buckler, and place it on his chest. "Your prize is the Sanskrit Chronicle.. Good luck on the rest of your journey, Kings of Kings.." +Conroy will stumble back a bit, panting as his glasses fall off his face and clack onto the floor, revealing his full yellow feline slitted eyes. "Well done... Kings of Kings... If you fight the others with this much ferocity, I'm sure that prize will be yours." + +He will suddenly lean backwards and flop onto the floor, panting heatedly. He will shakily raise his arms, remove his magical buckler, and place it on his chest. "Your prize is the Sanskrit Chronicle.. Good luck on your journey, Kings of Kings.." -----=====-----=====----- @@ -151,130 +264,256 @@ YELLOW Upon returning to the YELLOW domain, you see there are far fewer people out and about, and the few that ARE there are all heading in the same direction: To the far end of the domain, in the direction of the warehouse building. +The stores and shops are still open as well, but they appear to be closing up very shortly. The attendee will tell them Zahir is having another dance party and they wanna get there as soon as they can. + *IF THEY FOLLOW* -The people are definitely going inside that same building, and there doesn't appear to be a party this time, but there is definitely SOMETHING going on inside. (NOTICE ROLL) You could almost swear you hear a song playing out loud too, and it sounds like "Sweet Little Bumblebee" +The people are definitely going inside that same building, and there are lights and music as well, but it doesn't seem as loud and powerful this time around. + +(NOTICE ROLL) You could almost swear you hear a song playing out loud, and it sounds like "Sweet Little Bumblebee" *IF THEY ENTER* -You come in right when a song playing out loud is ending, everyone cheering excitedly and chanting ZA HIR ZA HIR ZA HIR! As you pass through the crowd one person at a time and finally manage to see Zahir, panting and sweating excitedly as he waves all four arms in the air, a person flopped on the gorund beside him in exhaustion. "WOO! That was fun! We should do DDR more often!" If you look on the floor, six of the hexagonal tiles are lit up bright yellow in a circle with arrows pointing out in all six directions, and the DJ station has what looks like a VERY old wood-frame TV sitting atop the table with a Dance Dance Revolution display on the screen. +You come in right when a song playing out loud is ending, everyone cheering excitedly and chanting ZA HIR ZA HIR ZA HIR! -Zahir suddenly spots you in the crowd. "Oh hey, it's you guys! He runs over and hugs your entire group with his four arms excitedly. "Didja come back to visit li'l ol' me?" He giggles a bit excitedly. +As you wade through the crowd one person at a time, you eventually see Zahir, panting and dancing rhythmically as he waves all four arms in the air. There is also a second person flopped on the ground beside him in exhaustion. + +"WOO! That was fun! We should do DDR more often!" If you look on the floor, six of the hexagonal tiles are lit up bright yellow in a circle with arrows pointing out in all six directions, and the DJ station has what looks like a VERY old wood-frame TV sitting atop the table with a Dance Dance Revolution display on the screen. + +Zahir turns around and cheers in excitement, then suddenly spots your group in the crowd. "Oh hey, it's you guys!" + +He runs over and hugs your entire group with his four arms excitedly. "Didja come back to visit li'l ol' me?" He giggles a bit excitedly. *IF REGALIA* -"Ohhh, you're here for the THMACKDOWN, are ya? Well fine by me, I'm all warmed up!" He will suddenly launch into the sky with a line of yellow light trailing him Tron style, spinning in circles around the station where the TV is, and in a matter of moments, it is gone AND the station is set up to play music, just like the party before. He grabs the mic and flutters in the air for a moment before loudly speaking, "ATTENTION PARTYGOERS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE KINGS OF KINGS! AND THEY ARE HERE FOR A CHAAAAALLEEEEENGE!!!" Everyone in the audience suddenly backs up while cheering, giving your group plenty of space for your upcoming event. Zahir floats down and pitches the microphone into the audience, being caught by a small child in an indigo hoodie. "Alrighty, the stage is set! Say the magic words!" +"Ohhh, you're here for the THMACKDOWN, are ya? Well fine by me, I'm all warmed up!" He will suddenly launch into the sky with a line of yellow light trailing him Tron style, spinning in circles around the station where the TV is, and in a matter of moments, it is gone AND the station is set up to play music, just like the party before. + +He grabs the mic and flutters in the air for a moment before loudly speaking, "ATTENTION PARTYGOERS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE KINGS OF KINGS! AND THEY ARE HERE TO CHALLENGE YOURS TRULY, DJ ZAHIR ONLARLAAAAAAA!!!" + +Everyone in the audience suddenly backs up while cheering, giving your group plenty of space for your upcoming event. Zahir floats down and pitches the microphone into the audience, being caught by a small child in an indigo hoodie. + +He will suddenly clang his topmost two fists together, and you see he has dawned a pair of metal gauntlets made of black and yellow rings. "The stage is set! The lights are just right! It's time to show you how we fight!!!" AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Zahir is panting up a storm, but is also laughing heartily, very much enjoying the whole event. He cups all four hands around his mouth and shouts "EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR THE CONTESTANTS! THEY SHOWED GREAT SPIRIT IN THIS COMPETITION! LET IT BE KNOWN THEY HAVE A VIP PASS TO EVERY PARTY FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!" Everyone cheers their heads off insanely and suddenly goes full mosh pit, lifting your group into the air and parading you out across the beach. +Zahir is panting up a storm, but is also laughing heartily, very much enjoying this whole encounter. He cups all four hands around his mouth and shouts "EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KINGS!" + +The audience actually help you get back onto your feet slowly and carefully. Zahir continues, "LET IT BE KNOWN THEY HAVE A VIP PASS TO EVERY PARTY FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!" + +Everyone cheers their heads off and suddenly goes full mosh pit, lifting your group into the air and parading you out across the beach. Zahir flutters nearby and lands beside your group at the entrance to the gate. + +"You guys did amazing, and next time, I know you'll do even better!" *IF THEY WIN* -Zahir flops onto his knees, legs splaying wide anime schoolgirl style, and throws his head back, flinging beads of sweat back at the audience. "THAT.. WAS.. AMAZING!" He throws his hands up in cheer. "I HAVENT HAD A CHALLENGE THAT GOOD IN AGES!" +Zahir flops onto his knees, legs splaying wide anime schoolgirl style, and throws his head back, flinging beads of sweat back at the audience. -He slowly stands up, pulling off his gauntlets, and hands them to your group. "You've earned my Nova Knuckles, AND my respect!" He turns to the people watching before continuing, "GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!" Applause erupts from the audience for several seconds, before Zahir squeals and points out he loves this song, inviting you to dance with him. +"THAT.. WAS.. AMAZING!" He throws his hands up in pride. "I HAVENT HAD A CHALLENGE THAT GOOD IN AGES!" -The party goes on all night and clear into the next morning, and right as the sun comes up in the sky, people pour out. Some are laughing and heading for the gate, some for the beach to sleep in the cool morning sun, and some for the snack shacks. +He slowly stands up, pulling off his gauntlets with slow pained difficulty, and offers them to your group. "You've earned my Nova Knuckles, AND my respect!" -Zahir floats down and gives all three of you a happy hug. "I'm so glad you all came back! You made it really special, you know that? Come back anytime!" +He turns to the people before announcing, "GIVE IT UP FOR THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!" Applause erupts from the audience for several seconds, before Zahir flops back onto the ground in exhaustion. "I think for the first time in a long time, I need a break..." + +He will then proceed to flop onto the ground, smiling wide as he rests. The other partygoers fall silent, slowly gathering around him to carry him off outside the facility. + +*IF THEY ASK* +One of the partygoers, a human woman in neon green and black clothing, states they're taking him home. + +*IF THEY FOLLOW* +You see in the distance what looks like a very normal wooden beach house, the walls painted an amber yellow and the roof a brick red. All the partygoers are carrying him together, taking turns handing him off to different people all he while. + +They even manage to coordinate opening the front door for him and carrying him all the way to his bedroom. In passing, you see what looks like a giant wood box in the back of the house, fenced in and surrounded by signs. + +----- + +*LIVING ROOM* +The building itself is surprisingly normal. Basic yellow walls and brown furniture all around, with some bee shaped knickknacks all around, nothing too out of the ordinary. + +(NOTICE Roll) You see an entire shelf of framed photographs, each one showing a different party. But each photo appears to be focusing on him and a different person, but one in particular catches your eye. This one is a close-up group photo of Zahir with the three commanders of the Thunder Force and King Akarui. + +(INVESTIGATE Roll) +- You notice the photo is old, at least 20 years +- You notice they are all wearing the same military style outfit +- You notice the scar under Harken's eye is missing + +----- + +*BEDROOM* + +The light is low, but you can see a king size bed in the far corner, a few encouraging posters on the walls making various bee puns, and a desk covered in tools, scraps of metal, various wires, and other pieces of electronics. + +(INVESTIGATE roll) +- You can see familiar hexagonal glass panels with circuitry and lights attached +- You can see fetters of mana running through some of the wiring + +----- + +*BACKYARD* + +The entire yard is full of fresh produce, bright flowers, and SO MANY GODDAMN BEES SWARMING AROUND A MASSIVE WOODEN HIVE + +(NOTICE Roll) You see a sign that says WARNING: Melipona beecheii + +(CONTACTS Roll) +- You recall this as a type of bee without stingers but they bite STUPID hard +- Their honey is smooth and a little sour, but has medicinal AND psychedelic proerties +- The Mayans had a male god associated with this species of bee called AH-MUZEN-CAB -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the GREEN domain, you hear tons of yelling and see something large and green flying in the sky in circles. +Upon returning to the GREEN domain, you immediately feel a heavy breeze pressing against your faces, something you wouldn't expect from such a calming place. + +(INVESTIGATE Roll) You see something large and green swirling around in the air, and you could almost swear it looks like a bird with a REALLY long tail. *IF THEY GO SEE VILLI* -Villi is watching the whole thing from a pair of binoculars with a slight smirk. When she hears you coming, she lowers the binoculars. "Oh hey, you again. Came back to see the boss man again?" +Villi is watching the whole thing from a pair of binoculars on top of the rock. When she hears you, she lowers the binoculars. "Oh hey, you again. Came back to see Corentin? Cuz he's a little preoccupied." *IF ASK ABOUT COMMOTION* -She will laugh a bit. "Yeah it looks like target practice took a weird turn today, all the kids are taking shots at Corentin." She hands you the binoculars and you can see clear as day that Corentin is flying in circles, being shot at by practice arrows in rapid succession. +She gives a soft nasal laugh. "Target practice took a weird turn today, all the kids are taking shots at Corentin." She hands you the binoculars and you can see clear as day that Corentin is flying in circles, being shot at by colorful arrows in rapid succession. And you piece together that HE is the source of the sudden wind, from all the way over there. *IF HAS REGALIA* -She will be taken aback a little, but immediately loan you some new horses. "You should probably go over there sooner rather than later." +She will be taken aback a little. "Oh... shit... you actually found it." -When you arrive at the tree house and put away the horses, you will see a group of adults all watching behind their own sets of binoculars while their children (you assume) all take toy arrows and shoot up at Corentin. All the kids are laughing and having a fun time, the parents are enjoying themselves, and you'd assume Corentin is making a day of it as well. +She hops off the rock and immediately takes your group to the stables. "I'm gonna put these on your tab. You should probably go over there NOW." -Suddenly a teenage boy in an indigo hoodie stands up and waves his arms around. "Aaand time!" All the kids stop firing their arrows, giggling amongst themselves as Corentin slowly swoops down and lands between them, smiling softly. He looks different this time ina much fancier getup, wearing deep green leather. His torso has a triangular draped piece of leather with a longer drapery of it beneath it extending below his waist (if he had one) and strapped around the backside, with some layered pointed shoulder coverings as well. His arms are only covered in a pair deep green bracers, etched with Aztec symbols surrounding a centered piece resembling a serpent with bird wings. The armor also appears to be perfectly cut around his back, a simple support strap running down between his shoulder blades to allow full movement to his wings and clear access to his quiver. +When you arrive at the tree house and put away the horses, you will see a group of adults all watching behind their own sets of binoculars while the children all take toy arrows and shoot straight up at Corentin. All the kids are laughing and having a fun time, the parents are enjoying themselves, and you'd assume Corentin is making a day of it as well. -"You all did well at aiming at an overhead moving target." He holds out a hand full of multicolored suction cup arrows, which makes ALL the kids cheer and high five each other happily. Corentin turns to see your group, then returns to the children. "I'm afraid that is all the time we have for practice today, I have an appointment I really should get to. Plus I do believe it is time to return to class?" The children all pout and grumble, slowly shuffling over to their parents as they head toward the gate as a sparse group. Corentin will slither his way over to your group, waving at the children on his way over. "So... to what do I owe the pleasure?" +After a minute, a teenage boy in an indigo hoodie stands up and waves his arms around. "Aaand time!" All the kids stop firing their arrows, giggling amongst themselves as Corentin slowly swoops down and lands between them with a flourish of his scaled emerald colored wings. + +He looks a bit different this time, wearing stylish deep greeen armor. He bears an oval-shaped leather piece draping down just over his pecs and across his shoulders, a strap underneath each side to connect to the thick belt at where his waist WOULD be, with drapery on the front. You also see a matching pair of quivers on his hips, a matching pair of bracers on each forearm, and a surprisingly brilliant headdress with stripes of black & gold, all topped with gorgeous green quetzal feathers. + +Corentin raises his arms, his voice bearing insane volume despite being softly. "You all did well at aiming at an overhead moving target." He holds out a hand full of multicolored suction cup arrows, which makes ALL the kids cheer and high five each other happily. + +Corentin turns to see your group, then returns to the children. "But I'm afraid that is all the time we have today, I have another appointment to keep. Back to school for all of you" The children all pout and grumble, slowly shuffling over to their parents as they head toward the gate as a sparse group. + +Corentin will slither his way over to your group, waving at the children on his way over. "It is good to see you again, Kings of Kings. To what do I owe the pleasure of your return?" *IF THEY ASK* "The elementary school discussed a field trip to my domain, if you'll pardon the pun, and they were becoming a bit bored... I offered them some activity to pass the time." -*IF RETURN REGALIA* -He will graciously take back the bow, smiling a little at the sight of it. "I thank you for returning my Zeph Arcus, Kings of Kings... truth be told, if it were my decision, I would declare such a quest as more than proof enough that you are deserving of such a reward, but the rules dictate you must acquire it through competition. If that is your goal, then we may do so now, if you like." +*HOW WAS HE SO LOUD* +"The air is a... magical compound. I am no scientist, but I know that sound is carried through some particles in the air that vibrate and carry the sound. It is simple to amplify such vibrations in my element." -*IF YES* -"Then let us move away from the horses. We do not want to startle them afterall." He will suddenly spread his wings and take a quick liftoff to a far more dense grassy area several yards away before turning back to your group. "I believe you know how these kinds of events are started." +*IF RETURN REGALIA* +He will graciously take back the bow, smiling a little at the sight of it. "I thank you for returning my Zeph Arcus... truth be told, if it were my decision, I would simply hand it to you now, but every Regalia must be earned through combat." + +He will suddenly spread his wings and take a quick liftoff to a far more dense grassy area several yards away before turning back to your group. He will suddenly pull back the string on the bow, and you see a magical green arrow manifest itself within the bow before launching it straight into the air. + +You watch as it rockets into the sky, exploding in a burst of wind and green energy, slowly lowering and swirling around all of you in a slow vortex. His gaze turns a bit more serious, his eyes glowing a warm green. "Let us do this right. I, Corentin Tasnyak, hereby challenge you to armed combat, with the Zeph Arcus as the prize." + +*IF THEY AGREE* +"I believe you know how these kinds of events are started." AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Corentin will pant raggedly, his scales glistening with sweat in the sunlight as he puts his reclaimed bow upon his back. "Kings of Kings, you have put up a valiant fight, and I applaud your efforts. I know full well that I am not your traditional enemy and it complicated your attempt to earn my Regalia. But take it to heart that, your potential has nowhere to go but up. When you are ready to try again, you need only to seek me out. I will be waiting." He will simply slither past you back to his treehouse, disappearing from sight by the taller grass. +Corentin will pant raggedly, his scales glistening with sweat in the sunlight as he puts his reclaimed bow upon his back. "Kings of Kings, you have put up a valiant fight, and I applaud your efforts. I know full well that I am not your traditional enemy, but take it to heart when I say, your potential has nowhere to go but up. When you are ready to try again, you need only to seek me out. I will be waiting." + +He will attempt to extend his wings, flapping a few times. "Hm.. cannot glide on the wind... Oh well." He will slither past you back to his treehouse, disappearing from sight within the taller grass. *IF THEY WIN* Corentin will suddenly slump over, using the bow itself to keep himself upright as he groans in pain from all the hits he took. "A magnificent show, Kings of Kings... you have more than earned my Zeph Arcus for such a display of power." He will slither closer and place the bow in the hands of anyone whom accepts it. -"Now, if you will... excuse me..." He will slowly slither his way over to the tallest part of the grass, easily three feet high, and simply spreads his arms wide before flopping back into it. "Mm... the grass in this domain is as comfortable as any bed I've ever rested in..." +"Now, if you will... excuse me..." He will slowly slither his way over to the tallest part of the grass, easily three feet high, and simply spreads his arms wide before flopping back into it. "Mm... the grass in this domain is as comfortable as any bed I've ever rested in..." It only takes a few moments before his eyes are closed and he simply falls asleep. -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the BLUE domain, everything seems about the same as before. Same shops at the south, same boats docked on the east, same diver rentals on the west, and same fishermen on the north. But this time, when the people see you, they all slowly stop to look you over, recognizing you after maybe two seconds, and all start to smile. And it's more than a little concerning. +Upon returning to the BLUE domain, everything seems about the same as before. Same shops at the south, same boats docked on the east, same diver rentals on the west, and same fishermen on the north. But this time, when the people see you, they all one-at-a-time stop to look you over, recognizing you after maybe two seconds, and all start to smile. And it's more than a little concerning. *IF ANYONE SAYS ANYTHING* -You hear someone in the background start saying "DOR RIN! DOR RIN!" And slowly more people join in on the chanting, only taking about a minute before the entire island is chanting his name. And in the distance, you see a very familiar tall figure approaching you from the distance. It is indeed Dorrin, marching across the dock like a champion, harpoon carried across his shoulder, but he looks a little different. +You hear someone in the background start saying "DOR RIN! DOR RIN!" And slowly more people join in on the chanting, only taking about a minute before the entire island is chanting his name. And in the distance, you see a very familiar tall figure approaching. Dorrin marches his way across the dock like a champion, harpoon carried across his shoulder in his left hand. This time, his body is SIGNIFICANTLY better filled out, turning into the walking hulk of muscle you KNOW a shark to look like. And it's barely being contained under a double breasted deep blue suit, complimented with a red pocket square to match the red tie against his bright white dress shirt, and a matching fedora with a red hat band. -Everyone IMMEDIATELY makes way for him to approach your group, the chanting slowly dying down as he looks down over you all with a look of stoic judgment in his eyes. "I owe you something, something I should've given you when you first came here... My name is Dorrin Dodici. And I welcome you to my domain, Kings of Kings." He extends his free hand down, palm open and turned to the side. He has extended a gentlemanly handshake. +Everyone IMMEDIATELY makes way for him to approach your group, the chanting slowly dying down as he looks down over you all with a look of stoic judgment in his eyes. "I owe you all something, something I should've given you when you first came here... My name is Dorrin Dodici. And I welcome you to my domain, Kings of Kings." He extends his beefy right hand down, palm open and turned to the side. He has extended a gentlemanly handshake. -The second someone shakes his hands, everyone there starts cheering their hearts out. Dorrin will nod and ofer to shake EACH of your hands one at a time, before taking his harpoon and slamming it butt first into the pier, the noise getting everyone's attention. "I assume you have come to challenge me for my Regalia, correct?" +The second someone shakes his hand, everyone there starts cheering their hearts out. Dorrin will nod and offer to shake EACH of your hands one at a time, before taking his harpoon and slamming it butt first into the pier, the noise getting everyone's attention. "I assume you have come to challenge me for my Regalia, correct?" *IF THEY CONFIRM* -"Then let today be the day that the Kings of Kings challenge Dorrin Dodici, and may the tides of victory be ever in your favor!" Everyone starts cheering again, but this time, he raises a hand to silence everyone. "BUT FIRST! I still owe you a debt of gratitude for aiding in my search for my daughter, so before our fight, please join us in a meal of the finest seafood our Domain has to offer!" +"Then let today be the day that the Kings of Kings challenge Dorrin Dodici, and may the tides of victory be ever in your favor!" Everyone starts cheering again, but this time, he raises a hand to silence everyone. + +"BUT FIRST! I still owe you a debt of gratitude for finding out my daughter is still alive. Before our fight, please join us in a meal of the finest seafood our Domain has to offer!" *IF THEY AGREE* -Everyone cheers louder than before, the entire south side of the Domain suddenly in a frenzy. In a matter of moments, a long table and several chairs have been produced, white tablecloth and everything, as well as plates and silverware, even glasses of wine are being poured for everyone. (NOTICE ROLL) You start to hear sizzling and smell the distinct scent of fish cooking, the entire east and west piers full of people grilling a different type of fish for anyone's selective appetite. From groupers to flounders, from tuna to trout, the entire wharf is engulfed in the biggest fish grill imaginable. And Dorrin is ordering one of everything. +Everyone cheers louder than before, the entire south side of the Domain suddenly in a frenzy. In a matter of moments, a long table and several chairs have been produced, white tablecloth and everything, as well as plates and silverware, even glasses of wine are being poured for everyone. + +You start to hear sizzling and smell the distinct scent of fish cooking, the entire east and west piers full of people grilling a different type of fish for anyone's selective appetite. From groupers to flounders, from tuna to trout, the entire wharf is engulfed in the biggest fish grill imaginable. And Dorrin is ordering one of everything. + +You see Gallon suddenly waltz up with a violin in hand, starting to 9lay slow soft music in the fkrm of a half-italian half-sea shanty tune to accent the music, while someone else brings in a basket of bread for everyone. -After everyone has had their fill, Dorrin approaches your group, looking visually no different despite eating twice as much as your whole group combined. He grips spear with intent and slams the flat end on the ground, getting everyone's attention. "Our stomachs are full, our spirits are high! The time for upcoming battle is NIGH!" Everyone backs away and cheers them on as the table and chairs are suddenly pulled away, an appropriately sized fighting space appearing on the dock. Dorrin removes his coat, takes his fighting position, spear gripped in both hands, and declares, "After you!" +After everyone has had their fill, Dorrin approaches your group, looking visually no different despite eating twice as much as your whole group combined. He grips spear with intent and slams the flat end on the ground, getting everyone's attention. "Our stomachs are full, our spirits are high! The time for upcoming battle is NIGH!" + +Everyone backs away and cheers them on as the table and chairs are suddenly pulled away. The shops are slowly but surely all picked up and pulled back & to the sides several yards. There is now an appropriately sized fighting space, mostly on the solid ground and partly on the dock. + +Dorrin removes his coat and tosses it to the audience, revealing his INCREDIBLY firm physique under his white shirt. He yanks his tie off and tosses it just as unceremonyously, followed by his hat and cufflinks. He takes his fighting position, spear gripped in both hands, and declares, "After you!" AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Dorrin stands tall, battered and bruised with his finest suit in shreds, but gripping his harpoon tightly to keep himself steady and upright. "You all fought valiantly. Learn from this experience, grow stronger from it, and fight me again. Whenever you feel you are ready." He will walk away, using the harpoon as a support cane. +Dorrin stands tall, battered and bruised with his suit in shreds, but gripping his harpoon tightly. The position he stands in blocks out the sun from overhead so you cannot see his face clearly. + +"You all fought valiantly. Learn from this experience, grow stronger from it, and fight me again. Whenever you feel you are ready." He will slowly walk away, using the harpoon as a cane. One of the nearby fisherman will carry his tossed clothes alongside him. *IF THEY WIN* -Dorrin sits on his knees, panting hard, both hands gripping his harpoon tightly to keep himself upright. "You are all little monsters, you know that?" He slowly climbs up to his two feet, almost falling over. "And I know a thing or two about raising a little Hellian." He cracks his neck in both directions, wiping blood from his mouth. "I fully admit and acknowledge my defeat. You have earned the Tide Turner." He turns the spear around and jams the sharp tip into the ground, leaving it embedded and free standing in the wood of the dock. +Dorrin sits on his knees, panting hard, both hands gripping his harpoon tightly to keep himself upright. "You are all little monsters, you know that?" He slowly climbs up to his two feet, almost falling over. "And I know a thing or two about raising a little Hellian." -He tries to take a step and stumbles a bit, the people from the audience suddenly rushing to help lift him up, needing about eight to do so. Gallon steps forth, holding out a bottle of wine to him. "Yer Daughter'd be proud of ye, Dorrin." You could swear you saw Dorrin smile a bit as he grabbed the bottle, drinking the whole thing down in a solid second. You watch the two walk away, Gallon spouting fisherman-isms the whole way, followed by a good dozen other people fascinated by the conversation. +He cracks his neck in both directions, wiping blood from his mouth. "I fully admit and acknowledge my defeat. You have earned the Tide Turner." He turns the spear around and jams the sharp tip into the ground, leaving it embedded and free standing in the wood of the dock. + +He tries to take a step and stumbles a bit, the people from the audience suddenly rushing to help lift him up, needing about eight to do so. Gallon steps forth, arms behind his back with a grin a mile wide. "Yer Daughter'd be proud of ye, Dorrin." He then presents a brand new bottle of wine to him and a bucket of ice. + +You could swear you saw Dorrin smile a bit as he grabbed the bottle, drinking the whole thing down in a solid second. You watch the two walk away, Gallon spouting fisherman-isms the whole way, followed by a good dozen other people fascinated by the conversation. -----=====-----=====----- THERE IS NO REASON TO RETURN TO THE PURPLE DOMAIN, SO INSTEAD THIS WILL BE WHEN THEY CHALLENGE AKARUI FOR THE PURPLE REGALIA -Upon entering the office, Akarui will be furiously scribbling down some information on a series of papers, barely even looking in your direction. It takes a few moments, but he eventually stops, and you could almost swear you see steam rolling off the tip of his pen. He sighs and flops back in his chair a bit. "I'm very sorry Kings of Kings, I am quite literally buried under paperwork. New project budgeting, noise complaints, property damage repair orders, I have alot to do. I'm afraid I don't have alot of time to talk, but I will gladly take a minute to speak with you. What can I do for you today?" +Upon entering the office, Akarui will be furiously scribbling down some information on a series of papers, barely even looking in your direction. It takes a few moments, but he eventually stops, and you could almost swear you see steam rolling off the tip of his pen. He sighs and flops back in his chair a bit. + +"I'm very sorry Kings of Kings, I am quite literally buried under paperwork. New project budgeting, noise complaints, property damage repair orders, I have alot to do. I'm afraid I don't have alot of time to talk, but what can I do for you today?" *MENTION REGALIA* -His eyes will suddenly widen, before reaching to his intercom button. "Nash? Please hold all my calls, paperwork, and meetings until further notice. Something urgent just came up." He them shuts off the intercom, leaning forward on the desk. "So... you are after HIS Regalia, I see. I could not have asked for a better opportunity for this." +His eyes will suddenly widen, before reaching to his intercom button. "Nash? Please hold all my calls, paperwork, and meetings until further notice. Something urgent just came up." -He will open his drawer, pulling out a metal cross in gold and purple, and place it on the desk. "Several years ago when I first arrived here, I fancied myself a Regalia hunter as well. I tried my hand at playing by their rules, thought I would see about beating all the Domain Masters one by one with my team. Sadly my first victory was my only victory." +He them shuts off the intercom, leaning forward on the desk. "So... you are after HIS Regalia. I could not have asked for a better opportunity for this." -He will pick up the Regalia and hang it from his neck, the Regalia glowing softly and his eyes emanating a faint violet glow. "I found out how difficult these treasures were to earn. Arledge may be a pacifist by nature, but he's also a surprisingly adept fighter. I fought as hard as I could, but it essentially turned into an endurance match. It took me AN HOUR OF COMBAT to finally defeat him, and even then, only barely." +He will open his drawer, pulling out a metal cross in gold and purple, and place it on his desk. "Did I mention to you that I was a Regalia Hunter?" -He walked over to your group, sitting on top of the desk to meet you more at eye level. "When he handed me the Regalia, he said he was happy he was the first I fought, because the rest will be far worse. And he was very much right. Every Domain I tried for after that one, I lost. These Domain Masters are MONSTERS." The look in his eye changes to ferocity. "But I also learned that someday, someone would want to take this from ME. And I have been training for that day, every day, to guarantee I can be JUST as monstrous as them, especially for the sake of something this important." +"Decades ago when I first arrived, I tried my hand at playing by their rules, thought I would see about beating all the Domain Masters one by one with my team." -"Kings of Kings, I will accept your challenge for this Regalia. Meet me in the Sports Zone in one hour, at the Combat Arena. I need to gather my supplies and prepare for what I can only assume to be war." He thinks for a moment before continuing, "Plus it... could be an interesting way to boost morale among the people, maybe get your faces out there." He walks toward the door and holds it open. "I promise you will not be disappointed." As you leave, the door will slowly and quietly close. +He will pick up the Regalia and hang it from his neck, the Regalia glowing softly and his eyes emanating a faint violet glow. "Sadly, Arledge was my first and ONLY victory." + +"I found out how difficult these treasures were to earn. Arledge may be a pacifist by nature, but he's also a surprisingly adept endurance fighter. It took me AN HOUR to finally defeat him, and even then, only barely." + +He walks over to your group, sitting on top of the desk to meet you more at eye level. "When he handed me the Regalia, he said he was happy he was the first I fought, because the rest will be far worse. And he was very much right. Every Domain I tried for after that one, I lost. These Domain Masters are MONSTERS." + +The look in his eye changes to ferocity. "But I also learned that someday, someone would want to take this from ME. And I have been training for that day, every day, to guarantee I can be JUST as monstrous as them, for the sake of something this important." + +"Kings of Kings, I will accept your challenge for this Regalia. Meet me in the Sports Zone in one hour, at the Combat Arena. I need to gather my supplies and prepare for what I can only assume to be war." + +He thinks for a moment before continuing, "Plus, it... could be an interesting way to boost morale among the people, maybe get your faces out there even more." He walks toward the door and holds it open. "I promise you will not be disappointed." As you leave, the door will slowly and quietly close. ----- -The Sports Zone is almost completely empty at this moment, the only people on the particular arenas being the maintainers keeping them clean. King Akarui will be standing in the very back, in the middle of a fairly large stone square, fifty feet across if not more. And he is dressed for WAR, now wearing high quality (if not a bit old fashioned) military garb. All black, just as a scout is supposed to wear. The second he sees you, he tugs down his black gloves and straps them on tightly. +The Sports Zone is almost completely empty at this moment, the only people on the particular arenas being the maintainers keeping them clean. King Akarui will be standing in the very back, in the middle of a fairly large stone square, fifty feet across if not more. -"Kings of Kings! I hope you brought your A Game today, because I know I brought mine!" Just as he says this, at least a hundred people suddenly start pouring in from all corners, surrounding the arena and cheering for their amazing King Akarui to win in what they hope is a landslide victory. Which is made even more apparent by the purple and yellow banners, signs, and cardboard cutout faces on sticks being swung around. And every second that ticks by, more and more are showing up to join them. +And he is dressed for WAR, now wearing high quality (if not a bit old fashioned) military garb. All black, just as a scout is supposed to wear. The second he sees you, he tugs down his black gloves and straps them on tightly. -Akarui appears surprised. "This is... a bit more than I was expecting, but I'm certainly not complaining." He turns to the audience and switched to a more 'entertainer' style of speaking.. "The bigger audience we have, the more people get to see the most spectacular show in Diadem's history, AM I RIGHT?!" And everyone responds with an ABSURD amount of cheering. +"Kings of Kings! I hope you brought your A Game today, because I know I brought mine!" Just as he says this, at least a hundred people suddenly start pouring in from all corners, surrounding the arena and cheering for their amazing King Akarui to win in what they hope is a landslide victory. -Nash runs on stage, microphone in hand, and speaks through a pair of large speakers projecting from BEHIND the growing audience. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Today is a once in a lifetime kind of show! Our King Akarui is going to be challenged byt the scrappy newcomers, the Kings of Kings!" Everyone starts cheering again, but this time, there is actually a small group of people chanting on YOUR side of the audience, rooting for YOU to win. +Which is made even more apparent by the purple and gold banners, signs, and cardboard cutout faces on sticks being swung around. And every second that ticks by, more and more are showing up to join them. -Akarui smiles a bit wider. "I was so hoping you would have at least SOME adoring fans that weren't that spider friend of yours. It makes it so much more fun when we both have a favored audience, doesn't it?" He laughs uproariously, already enjoying himself, before clearing his throat. He reaches up and grabs his Regalia, looking to your group and raising an arm, causing Nash to literally dive out of the arena in a hurry. "I CHALLENGE THEE!" +Akarui appears surprised. "This is... a bit more than I was expecting, but I'm certainly not complaining." He turns to the audience and switched to a more 'entertainer' style of speaking. -The magical golden circle will appear from his feet (as well as anyone else's with a Regalia in hand), circling the group and lightly glowing purple. "The challenge is a fight, your entire group against me! If I take all of you down, I Win! And if you cause me to kneel, you win!" The circle solidifies in gold and reaches is full physical range, signifying the stage is set. He will bend down a bit, right legs forward and arm-wings expanded, taking a swift style battle stance. "May the best Regalia Hunters win!" +"The bigger audience we have, the more people get to see the most spectacular show in Diadem's history, AM I RIGHT?!" And everyone responds with an ABSURD amount of cheering. + +Nash runs on stage, microphone in hand, and speaks through a pair of large speakers projecting from BEHIND the growing audience. You can see the end of his mic has a small green magic orb, indicating it is using wind magic. + +"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Today is a once in a lifetime kind of show! Our King Akarui is going to be challenged by the scrappy newcomers, the Kings of Kings!" Everyone starts cheering again, but this time, there is actually a small group of people chanting on YOUR side of the audience. + +Akarui smiles a bit wider. "I was so hoping you would have at least SOME adoring fans that weren't that spider friend of yours. It makes it so much more fun when we both have a favored audience, doesn't it?" + +He laughs uproariously, already enjoying himself, before clearing his throat. He reaches up and grabs his Regalia, looking to your group and raising an arm, causing Nash to literally dive out of the arena in a hurry. " On behalf of Arledge Tannifila, I CHALLENGE THEE!" + +The magical golden circle will appear from his feet (as well as anyone else's with a Regalia in hand), circling the group and lightly glowing purple. "The challenge is a fight, your entire group against me! If I take all of you down, I Win! And if you cause me to kneel, you win!" + +The circle solidifies in gold and reaches is full physical range, signifying the stage is set. He will bend down a bit, right leg forward and arm-wings expanded, taking a swift style battle stance. "May the best Regalia Hunters win!" AFTER THE FIGHT @@ -293,12 +532,14 @@ Arledge just grins a bit. "Now come on, ya'll know th' gossip in this town sprea ----- *IF THE PLAYERS LOST* -King Akarui will walk over to their group, and extend a hand toward them. "All of you fought valiantly and bravely, and you gave that fight everything you had to offer. I thank you, not for just showing us what you can do, but for reminding me of the kind of person I was before I was a king. I haven't had this much fun in YEARS!" Akarui laughs a little, sighing before wiping. atear from his eye. "We will definitely have to do this again sometime, especially if you plan to collect all twelve. But for now... I have alot of paperwork to get back to." +King Akarui will walk over to their group, and extend a hand toward them. "All of you fought valiantly and bravely, and you gave that fight everything you had to offer. I thank you, not for just showing us what you can do, but for reminding me of the kind of person I was before I was a king. I haven't had this much fun in YEARS!" + +Akarui laughs a little, sighing before wiping. a tear from his eye. "We will definitely have to do this again sometime, especially if you plan to collect all twelve. But for now... I have alot of paperwork to get back to." *IF THE PLAYERS WON* -King Akarui will walk over to their group, and slowly remove the Regalia from around his neck, extending it in his wings. "I have safeguarded this treasure, what I consider to be one of the lost important relics I have ever owned, for twenty-five years. And now, as your King, I proudly present it to you Kings of Kings to continue it in my place." He hands it to whomever accepts it, and turns away. "Now as much as it begrudge me to acknowledge it... I do have my duties to return to." +King Akarui will walk over to their group, and slowly remove the Regalia from around his neck, extending it in his wings. "I have safeguarded this treasure, what I consider to be one of the lost important relics I have ever owned, for twenty-five years." ------ +"And now, as your King, I proudly present it to you Kings of Kings to continue it in my place." He hands it to whomever accepts it, and turns away. "Now as much as it begrudge me to acknowledge it... I do have my duties to return to." Arledge will suddenly step in front of him, placing a hand on top of his head. "Now hang on ya'll, I know fer a fact yer prob'ly STARVIN' after all that fun! What say you an' yers come back to my place fer some food, eh? Ya'll know I can grill up a meeeaaan tofu burger!" @@ -308,180 +549,332 @@ Arledge grins cheekily. "Nope!" Akarui retorts. "Then it's a date!" -Both of them burst out laughing as they walk off, leaving the audience to disperse themselves at the "suggestion" of the Thunder Force. Arledge and karui will offer your group to come with if they like, as there will be more than enough food for everyone. +Both of them burst out laughing as they walk off, leaving the audience to disperse themselves at the "suggestion" of the Thunder Force. + +Arledge will turn to your group. "Ya'll're welcome too, ya know. We got plenty ta spare." *IF THEY ACCEPT* -You are all escorted back to the Violet domain, but this time, the ranch with the carts is suddenly filled with picnic tables, grills, and plenty of friendly farmhands all hefting various amounts of food around. The rest of the (time period) is filled with fantastic cooked foods, laughter from all sides, and a surprisingly positive atmosphere despite the circumstances where you literally just beat the snot out of the King of Diadem. +Your group receives a literal police escort by all three Thunder Force commanders, all the way to the Violet Domain. You also get to see a rare treat, all three of them AND King Akarui talking and enjoying each other's company like old friends. + +Inside, you see that Montana's little ranch near the gate entrance is filled with picnic tables, as well as a couple grills (one of which HE is operating), and your noses are IMMEDIATELY bombarded with the fresh scent of grilled meat and veggies. + +Harken only stays for a few minutes, but the rest of the morning/afternoon/evening is filled with fantastic cooked foods, laughter from all sides, and a surprisingly positive atmosphere despite the circumstances where you literally just beat the snot out of the King Akarui. -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the PINK domain, you will see things have definitely changed. Where there was once a well crafted runway for the fashion show, there is now a professionally crafted boxing ring approximately 50 feet across, and several rows of chairs surrounding it on all sides. And a large portion of those chairs are filled with people, all excitedly chattering about the upcoming fight. +Upon returning to the PINK domain, you will see things have definitely changed. Where there was once a well crafted runway for the fashion show, there is now a professionally crafted boxing ring approximately 50 feet across, and several rows of chairs surrounding it on all sides. A large portion of those chairs are filled with people, all excitedly chattering about the upcoming fight. -There are even concession stands selling popcorn, drinks, hot dogs, burgers, and every kind of snack food you can imagine, all ran and sponsored by the Diadem restaurants. And the lines forming from them are surprisingly short, but you can immediately see why when the people only wait about 30 seconds before their food is done. +There are concession stands selling popcorn, drinks, hot dogs, burgers, and every kind of snack food you can imagine, all ran and sponsored by local Diadem restaurants. And the lines forming from them are surprisingly short, but you can immediately see why when the people only wait aboseca minute before their food is done. -"Welcome back, Kings of Kings." You see Caelum standing at a podium with a stepping stool, meeting you at eye level easily, but this time with his hood up. "Miranda is in the craft room, preparing her outfit for the night. Just go around the back of the audience and it should be the second door on the left." +"Welcome back, Kings of Kings." You see Caelum standing at a podium with a stepping stool, meeting you at eye level easily, but this time with his hood up. -Once you reach the craft room, you see the door is partly open. Inside is indeed Miranda, as well as about ten different spools of thread hanging about in the air, as well as several patches of fabric, all faintly glowing pink. Miranda, on the other hand, is standing in the middle of it all, wearing a black denim crafting apron, but not much else underneath. She waves her hand and fingers around, causing the pieces to come together and the threads to weave between them, creating a brand new top right before your eyes in a manner of moments. +"Miranda is in the craft room, preparing her outfit for the night. Just go around the back of the audience, second door on the left." + +Once you reach the craft room, you see the door is partly open. Inside is indeed Miranda, as well as about ten different spools of thread hanging about in the air, as well as several patches of fabric, all faintly glowing pink. + +Miranda, on the other hand, is standing in the middle of it all, wearing a black denim crafting apron, but not much else underneath. She waves her hand and fingers around, causing the pieces to come together and the threads to weave between them, creating a brand new top right before your eyes in a matter of moments. She sees you peeking into the room, and smiles. "You can come in if you like, I promise not to bite~ This time~" She laughs a sultry laugh and puts the remaining pieces on a nearby table, folding the top and placing it on a clothing rack with an identical set of boots and pants. -"I certainly hope you're all ready for this, we have quite an audience out there~ I made sure this would be an event for the ages, afterall~" +"I certainly hope you're all ready for this, we have quite an audience out there~ I made sure to sell this as an event for the ages~" -*IF YES* Caelum will step inside and shut the door behind him, walking up to Miranda, whom will happily ruffle his hair with her hand. "I assume it's time?" He will squirm and make cute huffy little noises before nodding. "Yes Mom." +*IF YES* +Caelum will step inside and shut the door behind him, walking up to Miranda, whom will happily ruffle his hair with her hand. "I assume it's time?" -"Then lead our guests outside and introduce them first. I only need a minute to change." Caelum nods again and leads your group outside, and in only these few minutes, almost all the seats have completely filled. You see tons of people you recognize, including King Akarui, several members of the Thunder Force, and even Striker. Although HE just seems to be taking bets and exchanging tickets. +He will squirm and make cute huffy little noises before nodding. "Yes Mom." + +"Lead our guests outside and introduce them first. I only need a minute to change." Caelum nods again and leads your group outside, and in only these few minutes, almost all the seats have completely filled. + +You see tons of people you recognize, including King Akarui, several members of the Thunder Force, and even Striker. Although HE just seems to be taking bets and exchanging tickets. Caelum walks out onto the stage, microphone in hand and hoodie pulled back. "Ahem... LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU TODAY'S MAIN EVENT, A REGALIA BATTLE BETWEEN MADAM MIRANDA AND THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!" The audience immediately starts roaring with applause. "FIRST, WE WILL INTRODUCE OUR CHALLENGERS!" -He will then give a slightly corny introduction for anyone participating in this event, and let each one step up on the arena one behind the other. Once everyone is introduced, he will guide them to a far corner to make room. "AND NOW FOR THE CHAMPION YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE FASIONISTA QUEEN OF DIADEM, THE STELLAR MAGE AND MISTRESS OF THE SATELLITE DOMAIN, MADA MIRANDA BAARAH!!!" +He will then give a slightly corny introduction for anyone participating in this event, and let each one step up on the arena one behind the other. -From the distant corner of the room, aspotlight shines down and an explosion of bright pink smoke and confetti erupts. Once it slowly ebbs away, Miranda stands proudly in a VERY tight black leather outfit comprised of a halter top that BARELY contains her generous chest, complimented with black pants whose length is obscured by the brown leg fluff of her knee length boots, ending in three inch black stilettos. Her lips and nails are painted black, her neck carries a thin black collar, her forearms are covered by black bracers trimmed in brown fur, and her hip carries a whip on a buckle holster. +Once everyone is introduced, he will guide them to a far corner to make room. "AND NOW FOR THE CHAMPION YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! THE FASIONISTA QUEEN OF DIADEM, THE STELLAR MAGE AND MISTRESS OF THE SATELLITE DOMAIN, MADAM MIRANDA BAARAH!!!" -The second she is revealed, everyone starts losing their goddman minds. The men are hooting and hollering, the women are fawning over her beauty. Even King Akarui is reaching out toward her with a photo and a marker, begging for an autograph, which she gladly signs AND punctuates with a lipstick stained kiss. +From the distant corner of the room, aspotlight shines down and an explosion of bright pink smoke and confetti erupts. Once it slowly ebbs away, Miranda stands proudly in the very outfit she was building. -She finally approaches the arena and steps up, bending down VERY slowly ad she steps between the ropes, knowing EXACTLY what she is doing to the audience. Once she finally stands back up, Caelum will hand off the mic to her and pull up his hoodie, trotting off the stage, as she speaks to the audience. "Thank you all for coming out! I know it's a rare occasion to see me fight, so I wanted this one to be as special as possible!" +She struts out in a black leather outfit comprised of a halter top, a tight miniskirt, and knee length boots, ending in three inch black stilettos. Her lips and nails are painted black, her neck carries a thin black collar you can barely see under the plumage, her forearms are covered by black bracers, her right hip carries a whip on a buckle holster, and her left has a brown satchel. -Everyone cheers in excitement as she steps toward your group for a moment. "I'm ready to start whenever you are, Kings of Kings! Let's give these people a show they will never forget!" +She makes her descent down the pathway, wings spread wide, and everyone starts losing their goddman minds. Even Striker is reaching out toward her with a photo and a marker, asking for an autograph, which she gladly signs AND punctuates with a lipstick stained kiss. + +She reaches the arena and steps up, bending down VERY slowly as she steps between the ropes, knowing EXACTLY what she is doing to the audience. + +Once she finally stands back up, Caelum will hand off the mic to her and pull up his hoodie, trotting off the stage, as she speaks to the audience. "Thank you all for coming out! I know it's a rare occasion to see me fight, so I wanted this one to be as special as possible!" + +Everyone cheers in excitement as she steps toward your group for a moment, pulling her whip off the clasp. "Let's give these people a show they will never forget!" AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Miranda will proudly raise an arm in the air as the audience cheers their hearts out that their idol has rightly (in their eyes) won the fight, and will step forward, her outfit tattered in several places. "Kings of Kings, I thank you for giving this fight everything you had! This was a fantastic event, and even though you did not win, you impressed each and every one of these people who came out tonight!" And just to prove the point, everyone starts cheering hysterically again. +Miranda will proudly raise an arm in the air as the audience cheers their hearts out that their idol has rightly (in their eyes) won the fight, and will step forward, her outfit tattered in several places. + +"Kings of Kings, I thank you for giving this fight everything you had! This was a fantastic event, and even though you did not win, you impressed each and every one of these people who came out tonight!" And just to prove the point, everyone starts cheering hysterically again. "I extend an open invitation to you and your group to challenge me again! Any day, any time, name it and we can do this all over again!" The idea of another chance to watch this kind of spectacle excites the audience all over again, as she simply hands the microphone to Caelum and steps off, doing her whole walk up routine in reverse. *IF THEY WIN* -Miranda will fall back onto the stage and lie there, arms over her head and wings sprawled beneath her. The entire audience goes completely silent, many people staring in sheer disbelief, eyes wide and jaws hanging. Caelum will run out and give her a concerned look, but will do his job and count slowly from one to ten, but she does not get up. Caelum looks out to the audience and states as loudly as he can into the mic, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION, THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!" +Miranda will fall back onto the stage and lie there, arms over her head and wings sprawled beneath her. The entire audience goes completely silent, many people staring in sheer disbelief, eyes wide and jaws hanging. -It takes a moment before the disbelief wears off, but everyone starts screaming and applauding, and you can hear comments in the audience of that being a fantastic show and they were insanely impressed. Miranda sits up slowly with Caelum's help, and she spits out a gob of blood to the side, but smiles wide at your group. "Well done, Kings of Kings. You brought everything you had and it paid off magnificently. You have more than earned my Regalia, the Star Scourge. Take it with my blessing!" She extends an arm with the whip she used in battle toward your group. +Caelum will run out and give her a concerned look, but will do his job and count slowly from one to ten, but she does not get up. Caelum looks out to the audience and states as loudly as he can into the mic, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION, THE KINGS OF KIIIIINGS!!!" -After you take it, she stands up with Caelum's aid and grabs the microphone. "Thank you everyone for coming out and making this show just as special to me as I hope it was for you! Drive Safely and Good Night!!!" She drops the mic on the stage and shakily walks away with Caelum's help, leaving you all to your adoring audience, all of whom now want your autographs and to interview you. +It takes a moment before the disbelief wears off, but everyone starts screaming and applauding, and you can hear comments in the audience of that being a fantastic show and they were insanely impressed. Miranda sits up slowly with Caelum's help, and she spits out a gob of blood to the side, but smiles wide at your group. + +"Well done, Kings of Kings. You brought everything you had and it paid off magnificently. You have more than earned my Regalia, the Star Scourge. Take it with my blessing!" She extends an arm with the whip she used in battle toward your group. + +After you take it, she stands up with Caelum's aid and grabs the microphone. "Thank you everyone for coming out and making this show just as special to me as I hope it was for you! Drive Safely and Good Night!!!" + +She drops the mic on the stage and shakily walks away with Caelum's help, leaving you all to your adoring audience, all of whom now want your autographs and to interview you. -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the WHITE domain, you see dozens of snowballs whizzing by in every direction imaginable, screaming ringing out from every corner, and children lying in the snow, round lumps of snow clinging to their outfits. You didn't just enter a snowball fight, you entered an active snow war zone. +(ATHLETICS Roll) Right before you enter the gate, a snowball launches at you from within, slamming right into the lowest roller's face. -(NOTICE ROLL) You see a flurry of shots head your way from the sky, but before they land, they are suddenly blocked by a familiar looking husky body jumping in the way. Exile will flop into the snow on his back, staring up at the wintery sky. "Ough.. did anyone get number of that snowplow?" +Upon returning to the WHITE domain, you see dozens of snowballs whizzing by in every direction imaginable, screaming ringing out from every corner, and children lying in the snow. You didn't just enter a snowball fight, you entered an active snow war zone. -He will sit upright, his original heavy winter outfit replaced with a form fitting silver one, clearly better designed for moving around. He will shake his head rapidly and raise his arm, before yelling "I am out!" He will stand up and sigh, head hanging. "And I lasted so long too... oh well, there is always being the next of time. Come, let us get to shelter." +(NOTICE Roll) You can see the dozens of children flinging snowballs on the left, but you can't seem to make out whom is throwing them on the right. But you DO see a consistent flurry of them flying out from the trees. -He guides your group to a nearby snow wall, partly dug into the ground like a dugout and lined with blankets so the packed snow and ice doesn't melt OR make anyone's butt cold. Hot chocolate is being made at a nearby campfire for everyone to drink, and despite what looked like a kid friendly active war zone, noone seems too hurt or upset at getting taken out. +A flurry of (those) shots head your way from the sky, but before they land, they are suddenly blocked by a familiar looking husky body jumping in the way. Exile will flop into the snow on his back, staring up at the wintery sky. "Ough.. did anyone get number of that snowplow?" + +He will sit upright, his original heavy winter outfit replaced with a form fitting one clearly better designed for moving around. He also sticks out a bit more since primary silver and secondary deep blue don't exactly blend well against white. + +He will shake his head rapidly and raise his arm, before yelling "I am out!" He will stand up and dust his suit off quickly with a smile. "There is always being the next of time. Come, let us get to shelter." + +He guides your group to a nearby wall, partly dug into the ground like a baseball dugout, and lined with blankets. Hot chocolate is being made at a nearby pitfire for everyone to drink, and despite what looked like a kid friendly war zone, noone seems too hurt or upset at getting taken out. -*WHAT IS GOING ON* Ouja, the snow fox from the cabin, steps forth with a fresh tray of hot cocoa for anyone that wants it. "Oh hey, the Kings of Kings are here! This could make things more fun!" He sets his tray down once everyone has taken a cup, making sure to save one for himself. -"So the short version is, the kids wanted to do a snowball fight and invited Whitaker & his girlfriend to join in, and they were told they could use their magic powers as long as they kept it to safe stuff. Problem is, it's the two of them against the children, and 30 vs 2 is a bit uneven." +*WHAT IS GOING ON* +Ouja sits down on a blanketed seat, nursing his cocoa. "So the short version is, the kids wanted to do a snowball fight and invited Whitaker & his girlfriend to join in. Problem is, it's the two of them against a hundred enthusiastic children. A bit uneven." + +*UNEVEN FOR WHITAKER* +He laughs softly. "I meant for the children." He takes a sip from his cocoa, his ears perking, before he continues. "Sounds like they're making their final push." *IF THEY LOOK* -The last six children are all looking around with snowballs in hand ready to go, all standing back to back in a circle. All of them are looking around for their target, giggling playfully like they have the greatest strategy of all time. +The battlefield looks surprisingly sparse compared to five minutes ago. There are only six children left, all looking around with snowballs in hand ready to go, all standing back to back in a circle. All of them are looking around for their target, giggling playfully like they have the greatest strategy of all time. (NOTICE ROLL) You spot something moving in the snow, a faint line of black moving around the base of a nearby tree. You also notice the branch, which is covered in snow, is slowly lowering itself to the ground, and you spot a familiar pair of beady little eyes. -Before the children can react, five snowballs fly through the air at perfect arcs and smash right into the top of their heads, each one flopping over in a giggle fit. The last one, a finch boy, just looks around seeing he is the last one, before frantically throwing snowballs in random directions and making more. But at some point, he accidentally throws one so hard in the air that he stumbles and flops into the snow, that same snowball falling and smacking him in the back of the head. +Before the children can react, five snowballs fly through the air at perfect arcs and smash right into the top of their heads, each one flopping over in a giggle fit. -The weight on the branch disappears as Whitaker finally reappears in front of the last little boy, kneeling down in front of him and simply touching a snowball to his head. You hear a soft sigh from beside you, and Morana steps forward, sipping on her own cocoa. "Guess the snowball fight is over, for today." She just smiles and takes her slow sip, watching the children pick themselves up and run to Whitaker, pointing out how he is so cool and fast and awesome, which causes him to nervously scratch the back of his head. +The last one, a finch boy, just looks around seeing he is the last one, before frantically throwing snowballs in random directions and making more as fast as he can. + +At some point, he accidentally throws one so hard in the air that he stumbles and flops into the snow, that same snowball falling and smacking him in the back of the head. + +The weight on the branch disappears as Whitaker steps out and kneels down in front of the last little boy, simply touching a snowball to his head. + +He is also wearing a much different outfit of a tight white vest with a ring of black around the midriff & a matching black choker, white jean shorts with a black belt, long white boots with fur between the ankle & knee, and white arm warmers. You also see what you assume is some kind of backpack composed of snow white feathers. + +You hear a soft sigh from beside you, and Morana steps forward, sipping on her own cocoa. "Guess the snowball fight is over, for today." + +She smiles as the children pick themselves up and run to Whitaker, pointing out how he is so cool and fast and awesome, which causes him to rub the back of his head with a nervous laugh. *IF THEY APPROACH* -His ears will flick a bit, hearing you coming and immediately stepping in front of the children, long before he sees your group approach. His outfit is VERY much different and way more form fitting, consisting of a tight white vest with a ring of black around the midriff & a matching black choker, white jean shorts with a black belt, long white boots with fur along the upper part between the ankle & knee, and white arm warmers. He even has what looks like a backpack composed of white feathers, likely a snow owl pattern. +His ears will flick a bit, hearing you coming and immediately stepping in front of the children defensively, his mirthful appearance being replaced with a mix of fear and determination. *PRESENT REGALIA* -He will flinch initially, but upon recognizing his Regalia, he will reach out slowly and take it back, slowly putting it to his chest as he stares up at you all, clearing his throat softly. "Th-thank you.. Kings of Kings.." His voice is soft and a little high pitched, but you can hear every word. +He will flinch initially, but upon recognizing his Regalia, he will reach out slowly and take it back, hugging it to his chest as he stares up at you all, clearing his throat softly. "Th-thank you.. Kings of Kings.." -Morana will step out from behind your group, turning to the kids. "Sorry kiddos, it's time to go home, the adults have things to talk about." Every child goes "aaawww" at the same time, but they all hug Whitaker's legs happily before trotting off through the snow, leaving your group with these two. Morana smiles and steps behind Whitaker, rubbing his hair playfully with one hand. "Thank you for returning his Regalia, Kings of Kings. I think I speak for both of us when I say we owe you a significant debt. Is there anything we can do to return the favor?" +Morana will step out from behind your group, and stops beside Whitaker. "Sorry kiddos, it's time to go home, the adults have things to talk about." Every child goes "aaawww" at the same time, but they all hug Whitaker's legs happily before trotting off through the snow. + +Morana smiles and steps behind Whitaker, rubbing his hair playfully with one hand. "Thank you for returning his Regalia, Kings of Kings. I think I speak for both of us when I say we owe you a significant debt." *ASK ABOUT REGALIA/DM* -Whitaker's eyes will flare open, staring at you in fear at the possibility of having to actually fight someone. Morana will step out from behind him and walk between him & your group. smiling wide. "Well I think that is more than fair honestly, that's why you came here in the first place afterall. What do you think, Whi--" She will pause, realizing he is gone again, a pile of snow left in his place. "..I should have seen that one coming." +Whitaker's eyes will flare open, staring at you in fear at the possibility of having to actually fight someone. Morana will step out from behind him and walk between him & your group. smiling wide. -She will turn to your group, grinning a bit. "You know.. catching that little ninja of mine would be quite a CHALLENGE, if you catch my drift..~" She gives your group a playful wink, before turning and scanning the area. She eventually settles on a spot and launches an ice spike at a tree, causing him to fall out of it all over again into the soft snow. She looks back to your group and nudges toward him as she runs to get behind him. +"Well I think that is more than fair honestly, that's why you came here in the first place afterall. What do you think, Whi--" She will pause, realizing he is gone again, a pile of snow left in his place. "..I should have seen that one coming." + +She will turn to your group, grinning a bit. "You know.. catching that little ninja of mine would be quite a CHALLENGE, if you catch my drift..~" She gives your group a playful wink. + +She turns and launches an ice spike at a tree, causing him to fall out of it all over again into the soft snow. She looks back to your group and nudges toward him as she runs to get behind him. *IF THEY FOLLOW ALONG* -Once everyone is in position, she will walk up to Whitaker and pick him up from behind, setting him on his two feet. "Sweetie, I know you're scared, but this is part of your responsibility as the Domain Master. Now go and do your absolute best." She will look to your group and nod, kissing the top of his head and jumping far out of the way. +She will walk up to Whitaker and pick him up from behind, setting him on his two feet. "Sweetie, I know you're scared, but this is part of your responsibility as the Domain Master. Now go and do your absolute best." She will look to your group and nod, kissing the top of his head and jumping far out of the way. *IF CHALLENGE IS MADE* -Whitaker will frantically look around, realizing she is gone, gripping his weapon tightly. And he will sudddenly remember he HAS it, pull it out of its sheath a few inches, staring at his reflection in the blade for a moment as his eyes faintly light up white, before looking at your group and clanking the blade back into the scabbard, a flurry of snowflakes suddenly blasting outward in all directions. "Okay.. I'm ready." +Whitaker will frantically look around, realizing she is gone, gripping his weapon tightly. And he will sudddenly remember he HAS it, staring down at it. He will pull it out of its sheath slowly, looking at his own reflection for a second, deep in thought. + +You can see his eyes glowing a soft white, even from this distance, before he cranks it back into place and slips it onto the back of his waist, resting a hand on the handle. + +He takes a deep breath and tries his absolute HARDEST to look serious. "M-my name.. Is Whitaker Tormet'i, a-and I accept your challenge!" AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Panting tiredly, legs shaking, Whitaker will sheath his sword and flop onto his knees in the snow, looking around the area. Morana will step in behind him and just pick him up like he weighs nothing, carrying him bridal style, much to his blushing surprise. She will literally walk him over to your group and set him down with a playful smile. "Go on dear, tell them.." +Panting tiredly, legs shaking, Whitaker sheaths his sword and flops onto his knees in the snow, staring at your group silently, deep in thought. -He will bashfully nod a bit and turn to your group, clinging to Morana tightly. "Th-that was.. I-I mean um.. mnh.." Getting frustrated with himself, he will force himself to take a calming breath and actually talk to you with his full volume voice. "Thank you for being n-nice to me and bringing back my Regalia and if you want to try again sometime you can!" Morana will just grin down at him and nod as she walks away, still carrying him all the way back to their home. +Morana will step in behind him and just pick him up like he weighs nothing, carrying him bridal style, much to his blushing surprise. She will literally walk him over to your group and set him down with a playful smile. "Go on dear, tell them.." + +He will bashfully nod a bit and turn to your group, clinging to Morana tightly. "Th-that was.. I-I mean um.. mnh.." Getting frustrated with himself, he will force himself to take a calming breath and actually talk to you with his full volume voice. + +"Thank you for being n-nice to me and bringing back my Regalia and if you want to try again you can!" + +Morana will just grin down at him and reply "What he said~" She will stand back up and walk away, carrying him all the way home. *IF THEY WIN* -Whitaker will crumple into the snow, his blade jammed straight down into the powder. Exhausted, battered and bruised, he will lie in the snow and stare into the sky, smiling a little. Morana will walk over him and stare down at him with a Cheshire grin. "Well? Did you have fun?" +Whitaker will crumple into the snow onto his back, his blade jammed straight down into the powder. Exhausted, battered and bruised, he stares into the sky, smiling a little. -Whitaker will sit upright after a moment, nodding a bit. "I-I did.. it was scary and tough, but.. it was alot of fun.." He will slowly get to his feet, wobbling a bit as he does. Morana will reach down to help him up, but for once, he will hold up a hand and stop her, much to her surprise. He will slowly walk over, pick up his weapon, clean it on his vest, and slide it into the scabbard on the back of his waist. +Morana will walk over him and stare down at him with a Cheshire grin. "Well? Did you have fun?" -He will them hobble to your group, taking the weapon off his waist entirely, and plant it into the snow, scabbard first. "I-I don't wanna let this go, but.. I feel better knowing its in.. ya know.. YOUR hands than stolen, so.. take the Mokha Verglas..~" He lets go of the weapon with both hands at the same time, slowly standing back up and walking over to Morana slowly. She has been watching quietly the whole time and is absolutely delighted in this change in him. +Whitaker will sit upright after a moment, nodding a bit. "I-I did.. it was scary and tough, but.. it was alot of fun.." -Morana will reach out and take his hand in hers, Whitaker smiling up at her, then your group as they turn to leave. "I think I speak for both of us when I say, you are welcome back anytime~" He will nod happily and wave at your group with his free hand, both of them walking toward the house together, before Whitaker trips on a thick pile of snow and flops over, pulling them both down. And they will both laugh uproariously all the way back to the house. +He will slowly get to his feet, wobbling a bit as he does. Morana will reach down to help him up, but for once, he will hold up a hand and stop her, much to her surprise. + +He will slowly walk over, pick up his weapon, clean it on his vest, and slide it into the scabbard on the back of his waist. + +He will them hobble to your group, taking the weapon off his waist entirely, and plant it into the snow, scabbard first. "I-I don't wanna let this go, but.. I feel better knowing its in.. ya know.. YOUR hands than stolen, so.. take the Mokha Verglas..~" + +He lets go of the weapon with both hands at the same time, slowly standing back up and walking over to Morana. And she is absolutely delighted to see this change in him. + +Morana will reach out and take his hand in hers, Whitaker smiling up at her, then your group as they turn to leave. "I think I speak for both of us when I say, you are welcome back anytime~" + +He will nod happily and wave at your group with his free hand, both of them walking toward the house together, before Whitaker trips on a thick pile of snow and flops over, pulling them both down. And they will both laugh uproariously all the way back to the house. -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the SILVER domain, things look exactly the same, but the air is strangely low on the smell of ozone for once. The doors to the Thunder Force main office open, and Second Commander Valeos approaches with a smile. "I was waiting for you to arrive. I heard about your upcoming challenge match against Fulmo, and we are ALL very excited to see it." Several more Thunder Force operatives step out behind him, all applauding your group, and several with bags of popcorn. Even the criminals behind the fence of the prison are all lining up, hooting and hollering excitedly to see some legit action for (what is likely) the first time in a long time. +THIS WILL BE SET UP BY APPOINTMENT -The sky suddenly starts turning dark, storm clouds forming overhead and bits of discharge forming inside of them. You hear many thunderous booms from within, before a bolt of lightning suddenly descends into a nearby empty space, scorching the ground immediately. As the bolt disappears, you see Fulmo standing proudly, his high-collar shirt a magnificent silver, nicely contrasting against the black denim longcoat and black cargo pants. His boots are a polished silver, and his sunglasses wrap around his face perfectly, but do little to hide the charged blue eyes behind them. +Upon returning to the SILVER domain, the air is thick with the scent of ozone and rich in the sound of thunder. -Everyone turns to stare at him in stunned silence, clearly signifying NOONE has seen him looking like this before. He approaches your group, his tail discharging small amounts of electricity as he passes by. "Kings of Kings, let it be known that I do not normally engage in combat myself. It would not do for the main face of the law to run around fighting criminals himself, afterall. But I know full well my duties as a Domain Master include accepting challenges from Regalia Collectors. and appreciate your understanding." +Moreover, you see dozens of Thunder Force agents standing around, dumbfoundedly staring up at the sky. As are several people on the steps to the courthouse. And pretty much every prisoner in the yard. -The inmates suddenly start hooting and hollering at your group AND Fulmo, all making comments about which one would be the biggest loser. He suddenly becomes engulfed in electricity and disappears from view, reappearing inside the inmates' fence, directly behind them. "I would advise you pay close attention to this. For if I win, then my status as Lawbringer will be unquestionable. But if I lose, then that means THESE PEOPLE are more powerful than your JAILER." And every single criminal suddenly shuts up right quick. Although you DO hear one in the back mutter 'may the best man win!' +(NOTICE Roll) +- You see one MASSIVE dark storm cloud looming overhead, not a drop of rain coming from it +- You see flashes of lightning every second accompanied with an immediate clap of thunder +- You could swear you see someone's shadow appearing randomly in those clouds with every clap & bolt -Fulmo simply leaps over the twelve foot razor wire fence, his legs charged with electricity for a moment as he does so, and lands beside your group. The Thunder Force operatives are trying their hardest to not laugh at that comment from a moment ago, backing away and giving you all space. "Let this battle be the finest these brave men have ever witnessed. After you?" +While you stare at the sky, Second Commander Valeos approaches with a smile. "Good to see you again, Kings of Kings, it's been some time." + +*WHAT IS THAT* +Valeos laughs a little and casually points into the sky. "THAT would be Fulmo. He advised us this morning he would be doing some... warm-ups before his fight with your group today. Speaking of which, I'm under orders to alert him when you arrive, so if you'll excuse me..." + +He steps away and kneels down, his legs begin crackling with electricity, and he LEAPS into the air. He lands on top of the Thunder Force office, then takes another grand leap to the top of the courthouse's highest flagpole, and makes a mighty third leap straight into the sky. + +You're pretty positive he actually made it into the cloud, and in a matter of moments, you see the claps & bolts have completely stopped. + +A few moments later, a bolt of lightning suddenly strikes the ground, only a few yards from you, with a brilliant FLASH. As the bolt disappears, you see Valeos standing beside Fulmo, in a much more combat-ready outfit. + +He's wearing a high-collar silver shirt, nicely contrasting against the black denim longcoat and black cargo pants. His boots are polished black & bound by vibrant silver bootstraps, and his sunglasses wrap around his face perfectly, but do little to hide the charged blue eyes behind them. His hair, while mostly slicked back, is spiked in a uniform pattern, and each hair is crackling with energy. + +You can easily guess the Thunder Force uniform was based on THIS look. + +Everyone turns to stare at him in stunned silence, before all the Thunder Force agents salute him at the same time. He dismisses all of them with a wave, then approaches your group, his tail discharging small amounts of electricity. + +"Kings of Kings, let it be known that I do not normally engage in combat myself. It would not do for Judge Fulmo Uncial, the face of the law, to run around fighting criminals himself. But I know full well my duties as a Domain Master include accepting challenges from Regalia Hunters." + +The inmates suddenly start hooting and hollering at your group AND Fulmo, all making comments about which one would be the biggest loser. + +Fulmo suddenly becomes engulfed in electricity and disappears from view, reappearing inside the inmates' fence, directly behind them, causing them all to freeze in place. + +"I would advise you pay close attention to this. For if I win, then my status as Lawbringer will be unquestionable. But if I lose, then that means THESE PEOPLE are more powerful than your JAILER." + +And every single criminal suddenly shuts up right quick. Although you DO hear one in the back yell 'may the best man win!' The Thunder Force agents are trying their hardest to not laugh. + +Fulmo simply leaps over the twelve foot razor wire fence, his legs charged with electricity for a moment as he does so, and lands beside your group. "On that note, I believe we are ready to begin, yes?" + +*IF YES* +He will pull out a pair of pure silver revolvers from behind his coat, his body crackling with energy as it channels into his guns. "Then let this battle be the finest these brave soldiers have ever witnessed. Say the words." AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -Fulmo will stand proudly, his outfit in practical tatters with both guns aimed directly into the air. Panting heavily with a trail of blood drooling down his lip, he will slide both guns into his holsters on the back of his waist under his coat space, and stumbles a bit from the pain of the action. "Mmf.. Kings of Kings, you are an incredible force. I genuinely believe my victory was nothing short of luck today. I know you will all likely wish to challenge me again sometime, and I openly invite and welcome the opportunity." He will slowly limp away from the battlefield, as the Thunder Force agents all around you cheer him on, helping him back inside the Thunder Force main office as the door shuts behind them. +Fulmo will stand proudly, his outfit in tatters, both guns aimed at your group in shaky hands. Panting heavily with a trail of blood drooling down his lip, he will slide both guns into his holsters on his backside, and winces from the pain after. + +"Mmf.. Kings of Kings, you are an incredible force. I genuinely believe my victory was nothing short of luck today. I know you will all likely wish to challenge me again sometime, and I openly invite and welcome the opportunity." + +He will slowly limp away from the battlefield, as the Thunder Force agents all around you cheer him on, helping him inside the Thunder Force main office as the door shuts behind them. + +Valeos stays behind, kneeling in front of your group. "That was a hell of a show you put on. You should be proud." *IF THEY WIN* -He will collapse onto his knees, dropping both guns as he falls onto his hands, his sunglasses falling onto the ground to fully reveal his face. He will look up to your group, electricity seeping out from around his eyes like a flow of energy, almost looking... angry? But he will close his eyes and sigh deeply, reopening them as they return to the original cool blue orbs you've seen. "I have no excuse, you have defeated the Lawbringer in combat. And it was a magnificent fight. As per the rules, you have won your prize." He will pick up both guns and hand them to your group. +He will collapse onto his knees, dropping both guns as he falls onto his hands, his sunglasses falling onto the ground to fully reveal his face. -He will slowly and painfully stand up, swaying a bit as he does. He will dust off his tattered coat a bit, looking to your group with a smile. "Aim true, Kings of Kings. You have many battles ahead of you, and you will need to make every shot count." He will slowly turn and limp his way to the Thunder Force agents before tripping, Second Commander Valeos catching him. Fulmo will stare at him in surprise, but will not deny the aid, letting him be carried over Valeos' shoulder as the two walk up the stairs together. The other agents follow and applaud both your group AND him, up until the moment the doors shut behind them all. +He will look up to your group, electricity seeping out from around his eyes like a flow of energy, almost looking... angry? But he will close his eyes and sigh deeply, reopening them as they return to the original cool blue orbs you've seen. + +"I have no excuse, you have defeated me in combat. And it was a magnificent fight. As per the rules, you have won your prize." He will pick up both guns and stand up, swaying a bit as he does. + +He will place them before you, looking to your group and aiming a finger gun at you. "Aim true, Kings of Kings. You have many battles ahead of you, and you will need to make every shot count." + +He will slowly turn and limp his way to the Thunder Force agents before tripping, Second Commander Valeos catching him. Fulmo will stare at him in surprise, but will let him be carried over Valeos' shoulder as the two walk up the stairs together. -----=====-----=====----- -Upon returning to the GRAY domain, it appears relatively the same. Graves as far as the eye can see, everything beyond in a graying mist, one solid brick path leading ahead. But you can't help but feel like something is a little different, and you can't quite put your finger on it. +Upon returning to the GRAY domain, it appears relatively the same. Graves as far as the eye can see, everything beyond in a graying mist, one solid brick path leading ahead. -(INVESTIGATE ROLL) You see the gravestones closest to the front are all dated within the last few days, meaning the ones closest to the path are NEW graves. And as you look through the next row, you see the time between their dates is only about a week apart from the front row. This can only mean the graveyard is expanding from the path you are walking on outward. +But you can't help but feel like something is a different, and you can't quite put your finger on it. -(NOTICE ROLL) As you start walking down the path, YOU hear a male voice singing in the distance, and it's a beautiful song, but a little haunting from a misty graveyard. It's also accompanied by a slow drum beat, but you could've easily missed it +(INVESTIGATE ROLL) You see the gravestones closest to the front are all dated within the last few days, meaning the ones closest to the path are NEW graves. -It takes a few moments, but the others in your group start to hear it too, and you also hear a female voice joining into the harmony, but no instruments aside from an occasional drum beat for pacing. +As you look through the next row, you see the time between their dates is only about a week apart from the front row. -(CONTACTS ROLL) You recognize the song as The Wayfaring Stranger, a sad and mournful tune from the 1850s about a soul's journey home. +The graveyard is expanding from the path you are walking on outward. -When you reach the cathedral, the door is shut, and you NOW hear a third voice, a young boy singing with sounds like a soft Creole accent. Now that you are so close, you can hear the singing is clear as a bell coming from inside. +(NOTICE ROLL) As you start walking down the path, you hear a male voice singing in the distance, accompanied by a slow drum beat, and it's coming from the path ahead into the mist. + +(PLAYER WITH GIFT) You hear a beautiful female voice joining into the harmony + +(CONTACTS ROLL) You recognize the song as The Wayfaring Stranger, a sad and mournful tune from the 1850s about a soul's journey home + +When you reach the cathedral, the door is shut, and you NOW hear a young boy singing with a soft Creole accent. The music is definitely coming from inside. *IF THEY OPEN THE DOOR* -The singing stops as soon as you open the door. The inside of the cathedral hasn't changed at all, same pews and stage, although the propped up photo has changed to announce another new person that passed recently. You see Thanatos, in the same dressy clothes as before but this time sporting a dark gray cloak with the hood down, standing in front of a series of elevated steps that would be holding a choir of people, as though he were the conductor. +The singing stops as soon as you open the door. The inside of the cathedral is a little different. The pews and stage are the same, but the stage is occupied by rows of risers for a choir to stand on. -On the choir steps is a young boy with very pale blond hair, sporting a deep gray choir gown with indigo piping along the edges as well as an indigo undershirt showing around the chest area. He is accompanied by his little pet lizard, resting atop his head like it was a bed. When he sees your group coming, he looks a little flustered, clearly not expecting company. +You see Thanatos behind a nearby podium, in the same dressy clothes as before but this time sporting a dark gray cloak. "Now dhis is a surbrise, dhe Kings of Kings have graced us widh dheir bresence once more." -And (WHOEVER HAS THE SIGHT) spot a familiar face behind him, the same red robin woman (Rowena) from the funeral, in a similar garb. She looks tired, and her feathers look a little greyed out, but she seems very happy. +On the choir steps is (Caelum) a young boy with very pale blond hair, sporting a deep gray choir gown with indigo piping along the edges as well as an indigo undershirt showing around the chest area. He is accompanied by his little pet lizard, resting atop his head like it was a bed. -*BE SURE TO TELL EVERYONE ELSE THAT YOUR CHARACTERS CANNOT SEE HER, AND TO BE SOMEWHAT PASSIVE IF THE ONE WHO CAN SEE HER SAYS SOMETHING* +When he sees your group coming, the boy (Caelum) looks a little flustered, clearly not expecting company. -Thanatos will step forward with an inviting smile as everyone on stage steps down, taking one of his hands. "Welcome back, Kings of Kings. Apologies, you caught me honoring a last request, a childhood song sung in a passionate harmony." He will step down off the stage and to the side to let the little "choir" walk off, one of them singing passionately on the way out the door. +(PLAYER WITH GIFT) You didn't spot her behind the boy at first, but you notice the red robin woman (Rowena) from the funeral you attended, in a similar garb as the boy (Caelum). She looks tired, and her feathers look more gray than you remember, but she seems very happy. -"I admit I am not the greatest vocalist, but she looked happy with my best attempt..." He will look to (WHOEVER HAS THE SIGHT) and give them a knowing wink. "I am certain you saw it as well." +*IF GIFTED PLAYER MENTIONS ROWENA* +Thanatos will turn to you all. "Now dhad is quide dhe coincidence, we were jusd discussing a song dhad Rowena is a fan of, a haunding melody of a wayward soul redurning home. Quide abbrobriade for my domain, wouldn'd you agree?" -*IF THEY LOOK BACK* -Caelum will be standing in the doorway of the cathedral all by himself, kinda staring out the doorway at nothing in particular, prtting his little lizard on top of its tiny head. +He will turn back to the risers and sigh softly. "Abologies my brecious choir, bud I believe dhad is all dhe dime we have. I have a new abboindmend do addend do." + +(Caelum) The boy will nod quietly and start quickly scampering for the door, and you notice a sad look in his eye. + +*IF THEY ASK* +Thanatos will step down next, standing before your group. "Caelum is a unique child, blessed much like us Domain Masders do never exberience death. Bud in his eyes, he sees id as a curse. He yearns do know and undersdand how id feels do age, grow, and exberience dhe end of life." + +(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Out of the corner of your eye, you see Rowena quietly shuffle her way out behind your group, CLEARLY trying her hardest to not make a sound, and stands beside Caelum in the doorway, looking outside with him. + +He will pause and sigh softly. "Id does nod helb dhad he wadched someone he liked bass away very recendly, bud he feld id was his dudy do come and sing, for dhe ceremony." + +*WHEN WAS THE CEREMONY* +"Abologies, bud I'm afraid you jusd missed id." + +*WHO WAS IT FOR* +Thanatos will wipe a tear from his eye, looking to (PLAYER WITH GIFT) with a solemn glance. "Do you wish do say it, or should I?" + +*IF THEY SAY ROWENA, OR* +*IF THEY TURN TO THE DOORWAY* +Caelum will be standing there on his own, facing out the doorway & away from your group, and you could swear you hear him sniffling a little as he wipes his face with his arm. + +(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Rowena is gone, but you can see a small cloud of gray mist where she once stood, and you can faintly hear her voice singing a few melodic words. + +Caelum will slowly begin to walk forward, pulling the door behind himself with a soft click. *IF REGALIA/CHALLENGE* -He will nod solemnly, reaching for his hood slowly. "The nefore we begin, I will introduce myself proper... I am Thanatos Ondogon, the Death Domain Master." He will completely obscure his face under the hood and his body under the cloak, except for his arms which will reach behind him and pull out an old style scythe, three foot blade on a five foot gray pole with a golden wolf skull across the top. +He will nod solemnly, reaching for his hood. "Dhen led us begin dhe ceremony of combad, and bray do whadever God you believe in dhad you are vicdorious againsd Thanatos Ondogon." -The pughs in the room begin to tremble and shake, suddenly picking up from the ground and shved to the far wall in a pair of heaps, clearing the entire church for the impending battle. "May the odds be ever in your favor." +He will completely obscure his face under the hood and his body under the cloak, except for his arms. He will reach behind himself and pull out an old style scythe, three foot blade on a five foot gray pole with a golden wolf skull across the top. -(THE ONE WITH THE SIGHT WILL SEE A DOZEN GRAYSCALE PEOPLE WORKING AT A FEVER PACE TO LIFT AND PUSH THE PUGHS OUT OF THE WAY IN A HURRY) +The room slowly begins to fill with that gray mist you kept seeing outside, obscuring your view a little. You suddenly hear the pughs around you creaking, lifting off the ground slightly as they are pushed to the far wall. + +(PLAYER WITH GIFT) You see that, within the mist, there are several men and women in varying shades of grayscale quickly working together to move the pughs away. + +He reaches under his cloak and pulls out a mask in the shape of a wolf skull, placing it upon his face, now the only thing you can see from under the hood. "May dhe odds be ever in your favor." AFTER THE FIGHT *IF THEY LOSE* -He slams the blade if his scythe into the ground, using the staff to hold himself upright. "It has been some time since I have experienced such a challenge.. you are all indeed worthy fighters. If I could die, I would be satisfied if my last act was to lose to you all in combat." He hobbles past you, hefting the scythe over his shoulder as he heads out the door. "I will await our rematch, my friends." The door will slam shut behind him, leaving you in a room of only silence. +He slams the blade of his scythe into the ground, using the staff to hold himself upright. "It has been some time since I have experienced such a challenge.. you are all indeed worthy fighters. If I could die, I would be satisfied if my last act was to lose to you all in combat." He hobbles past you, hefting the scythe over his shoulder as he heads out the door. "I will await our rematch, my friends." The door will slam shut behind him, leaving you in a room of only silence. *IF THEY WIN* He kneels on the ground, staring at the floor. "Magnificent... an honorable loss, to be sure... you have most definitely earned your prize, Kings of Kings." He grabs his scythe and slams it into the ground, the blade jammed into the pavement and the handle sticking up at an angle. "You have more than earned my Grimm Requiem, take it with my blessing." diff --git a/05A - The Mole.txt b/05A - The Mole.txt index 8d4b71c..da22af1 100644 --- a/05A - The Mole.txt +++ b/05A - The Mole.txt @@ -18,24 +18,35 @@ Harken maintains his composure, removing his sunglasses and revealing his deep b Jerras groans in annoyance, rolling his eyes. "Dont give me that crap Harken, the man wears gold draperies like some... what do they call them out there, Arabian princesses?" He puts his hands around his muzzle and yells muffledly in frustration, then takes a deep breath, sighing a bit. "I refuse to be taken advantage of. This could have been the deal of a lifetime for me. Either way, I owe you one for talking him up to where it landed, so... just... call it a future favor." Harken extends his hand toward Jerras with a stern look in his eye. "Friends don't hold debts over each other, you know that. But... you spot me for lunch and we will call it even." Jerras smirks a little and accepts the handshake, getting ready to turn and leave when he spots your group. - + +----- + +- *IF THEY DID NOT MEET YET* "Hey wait a sec, I recognize you... aren't you the latest batch of newbies turned heroes?" *IF THEY CONFIRM* -"Well this day just became better. Name's Jerras, I own the weapons store in the Business District. If you're ever looking for something bigger and better, look me up." He then slips you a business card with black lettering that mirrors everything he just told you, before heading out the door and looking significantly happier. +"Well this day just became better. Name's Jerras, I own the weapons store in the Business District. If you're ever looking for something bigger and better, look me up." He then slips you a business card with black lettering that mirrors everything he just told you, before heading out the door and looking significantly happier. + +- *IF THEY MET* +"Well look who it is, my favorite customers. You hear to see King birdface too, huh?" + +*IF THEY CONFIRM* +"Well he ain't in a charitable mood, so good luck to ya. Yer gonna need it." He chuckles a bit and heads out the door, looking significantly happier. + +----- -Harken steps toward your group. "I understand you have a meeting with the King? I'll be attending alongside you." +Harken steps toward your group. "I understand you have a meeting with the King? I'll be attending with you." *ASK ABOUT JERRAS* -"He's pissed because he came here to make a deal to outfit the Thunder Force with weapons. Problem is, King Akarui lowballed him when he realized Jerras just resells weapons pawned off to him, sometimes FROM the Thunder Force raids of the Marauders' possessions. I vouched for Jerras to get the profit up enough to make it financially beneficial to him." +"He came to broker a deal to outfit the Thunder Force with weapons. King Akarui lowballed him when he realized Jerras resells weapons pawned off to him, sometimes FROM the Marauders. I vouched for Jerras to get the profit up enough to make it financially beneficial to him." *IF THEY AGREE WITH JERRAS* -"Like I was telling him, the bigger issue was moreso the morality argument King Akarui made. It's one thing to buy an arsenal of weapons fresh from a supplier. It's another to take used ones acquired from Marauders and put them in the hands of the Thunder Force. It's unfortunate, but... it is a legitimate concern." +"The bigger issue was moreso the morality argument King Akarui made. It's one thing to buy an arsenal of weapons fresh from a supplier. It's another to take used ones acquired from Marauders and put them in the hands of the Thunder Force. It's unfortunate, but... it is a legitimate concern." "In any case, we have a meeting to attend. Shall we?" Harken will escort you to the meeting this time, holding open the door for all of you, then following you in and pulling it shut. Akarui will be closing the door on a nearby file cabinet, turning to your group with a smile on his beak. "Welcome back, heroes! And thank you for coming to see me so soon." *WHAT IS THIS ABOUT* -He will sit behind his desk again, holding up two digits. "Well actually this is a dual purpose meeting. Firstly, I wanted to see how you were all faring so far. Normally after the welcoming in, I would just leave you to your own devices, but unlike the others that came the last few times, you've been more... 'active' in public." +He will sit behind his desk again, holding up two digits. "Well this is a dual purpose meeting. Firstly, I wanted to see how you were all faring so far. Normally after the welcoming in, I would just leave you to your own devices, but unlike the others that came the last few times, you've been more... 'active' in public." *AFTER THEIR RETORT* "Well keep up the good work, I appreciate you dealing with those Marauders so efficiently. And cleanly, according to Harken here. The expense to repairing all their property damage was REALLY starting to hurt, so now our budget is starting to normalize again." @@ -43,10 +54,13 @@ He will sit behind his desk again, holding up two digits. "Well actually this is "Which brings me to our second and, admittedly, more distressing topic. We think there may be a mole in the Thunder Force." *AFTER THEY COMMENT* -Harken steps up. "We've noticed some unusual things happening within our organization for some time, long before you arrived. Calls coming in and sending us to the wrong locations, reports having their information fudged, even evidence disappearing entirely from our inventory. It's happening too consistently to be a coincidence." +Harken steps up. "We've noticed some unusual things happening within our organization for some time, long before you arrived. Calls coming in and sending us to the wrong locations, reports having information fudged, evidence disappearing entirely from our inventory. It's happening too consistently to be a coincidence." Akarui will chime back in. "Which is where your group comes in." - + +*DOES HE WANT THEM TO SEEK OUT THE MOLE* +"Personally I would be thrilled to see the bad element rooted out, but I cannot be the one to authorize such a mission. Nor Harken. You CAN keep an eye out for suspicious behavior if you are so inclined, but I'm not going to ask you. Quite the contrary actually." + ----- IF THEY APPLIED diff --git a/05B - Meeting The First Face.txt b/05B - Meeting The First Face.txt index 120f8d5..3834358 100644 --- a/05B - Meeting The First Face.txt +++ b/05B - Meeting The First Face.txt @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ You see King Akarui and Anais already in the middle of a heated discussion. Nash "You. Wait right there. I'll be with you in a moment." He will visibly gulp and move a little more inward into the room, standing almost militantly at attention, partially hiding behind his clipboard. -King Akarui will sigh and return to his prior conversation. "Anais, you can't expect people to follow these nitpicky rules. Fence color restrictions, hedge height requirements, heavy volume level regulations... I don't care how many complaints you've received, this is nonsense and I won't enforce it." +King Akarui sighs and returns to his prior conversation. "Anais, you can't expect people to follow these nitpicky rules. Fence color restrictions, hedge height requirements, heavy volume level regulations... I don't care how many complaints you've received, this is nonsense and I won't enforce it." Anais will reply with a whiny tone. "But think of how much it'll beautify the Gated community! It'll be so much more pleasant for the seniors to see, plus you'll get to see a much cleaner and quieter neighborhood!" @@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Harken meets your group at the door and guides you directly into his office, loc "You are expected to arrive in one hour, work an eight hour shift of hourly building inspections one at a time, and otherwise are to stay inside with the containers until the end of your shift. They will be picked up and transported after. Afterwards, report back to me here. That is your mission for the day. *IF THEY ASK ABOUT PAY* -He will reach into his desk and lull out several small bags full of coins. "I had a small budget approved by King Akarui before we set this up, you will be paid the same as any Thunder Force agent starting out. 25z an hour, 8 hours of work, that entitles each of you to 200z, all paid upgront. AND, since you are with us, you are owed access to our special uniform selection. Be sure to pick some up on the way out." +He will reach into his desk and lull out several small bags full of coins. "I had a small budget approved by King Akarui before we set this up, you will be paid the same as any Thunder Force agent starting out. 25z an hour, 8 hours of work, that entitles each of you to 200z, all paid upgront. AND, since you are with us, you are owed access to our special uniform selection. Feel free to pick some up on the way out." "Dismissed!" @@ -113,16 +113,16 @@ When he sees you, he LITERALLY jumps three feet in the air screaming "OH FUCK" a "AWESOME! This is so perfect! I don't care what anyone says, Akarui is AWESOME!!!" He realizes he is acting a fool and straightens himself out. "Sorry, I uh... may or may not have overheard about that "mole" situation, and since you didn't show up until AFTER that started, I gotta assume it's not you guys." *HOW DOES HE KNOW* -He is a little taken aback by the third degree. "Those intercoms we use are kinda junky, so I hear alot of those private meetings without meaning to. Among other things..." He will lean in and whisper to your group, "...Apparently the King is trying to supplement his height with platform shoes..." +He is a little taken aback by the third degree. "Those intercoms we use are kinda junky, so I hear alot of those private meetings without meaning to. Among other things..." He will lean in and whisper to your group, "...Apparently the King is trying to supplement his height with platform shoes on the sly..." *ASK WHAT HE IS DOING THERE* "Oh, uh, right... so this is kind of a secret, but you know how we got those hydroelectric generators giving Diadem power, right? Well, my dad was an engineer here. He helped create the hole through the Diadem floor like 20 years ago, and he had a dream we MIGHT be able to use that to escape from this place." -"But since we are on an island in the middle of the ocean, going out through the hole is a bit of a suicide mission. So, we need a safety vessel. So some scientists and I proposed this idea about two years ago to King Akarui that we could build like... a test submarine and see if it could descend far enough to get out, make it to some nearby boat, and then get some actual help!" +"But since we're on an island in the middle of the ocean, going out through the hole is a bit of a suicide mission. So, we need a safety vessel. Some scientists and I proposed this idea about two years ago to King Akarui that we could build like... a test submarine and see if it could descend far enough to get out, make it to some nearby land, and then get some actual help!" -"And it took some pressuring, but he finally approved it a month ago! Full ride budget and everything! This here is the last of the shipments of raw material we need to make a test sub. We're thinking a fifty man vessel would be enough to get ourselves into the outside world. Can you believe it???" +"And he finally approved it a month ago! Full ride budget and everything! This here is the last of the shipments of raw material we need to make a test sub. We're thinking a fifty man vessel would be enough to get ourselves into the outside world. Can you believe it???" -"All I gotta do is get this to the secure location, and we can finally finish building it. We might just be making history." +"All I gotta do is get this to the secure location this evening, and we can finally finish building it. We might just be making history." He looks up to a clock on the wall. "Anyways, we can talk about it later. King Akarui only gave me an hour to come check on stuff. I'll see you guys later!" He pauses and turns around with a cheeky grin. "...or if this works, maybe not?" ;D @@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ He looks up to a clock on the wall. "Anyways, we can talk about it later. King A The shift goes pretty much without issue, and around 5:30pm, you see an all new flatbed truck pull in to the same entrance. This time you see a dozen much more normal sized men approach, each one wearing different degrees of clothing. "We're uh.. we're here for the shipment?" (EMPATHY ROLL VS DECEIVE ROLL) -*IF THEY PASS* These guys are not dressed right, are fidgeting like hell, and the one in front can't even look you in the eye properly. +*IF PLAYERS PASS* These guys are not dressed right, are fidgeting like hell, and the one in front can't even look you in the eye properly. One of them will suddenly pull out a gun, aiming it right at (Player who beat roll)'s forehead. All eleven of the others will run in, going for the boxes. @@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ They will hear a familiar voice shout DONT EVEN TRY IT! They will turn to see LU *IF THEY RESIST* A familiar scent of burning ozone will appear behind (player), a gun pressed against (PLAYER's) back. "Braver than I expected. Unfortunate." -The rest of the party sees someone new behind you, a man of authority and stature inside of what looks like a modified motorcycle outfit. The shoulders, arms from elbow down, and legs from knee down are layered in thick blue padding ridges, and the rest is standard black, including the elongated motorcycle helmet with the white A emblazoned on the front above the shaded eye visor. +The rest of the party sees someone new behind you, a man of authority and stature inside of what looks like a modified motorcycle outfit. The shoulders, arms from elbow down, and legs from knee down are layered in thick blue padding ridges. The rest is standard black, including the elongated motorcycle helmet with a white letter A on the front above the shaded eye visor. *IF THAT PLAYER PLAYER RESISTS* The person will counter, pinning that player to the ground with lightning speed. He will quickly turn to the others and shout "HURRY UP!" @@ -151,7 +151,15 @@ He will manage to dodge his way out, but not completely. The attack will catch t (NOTICE ROLL) The inside is dark, but you see dark fur, possibly brown or black, and you see a deep brown eye with a small rounded scar under it. -He will cover his face quickly, then speed to the truck, the Marauders finished getting the crates inside before taking off in a hurry. (LV2 enemy) carries the chameleon to the truck and takes off, letting him on the ground by the truck at the corner, all ten crates being stolen. +He will cover his face quickly, then speed to the truck, the Marauders finished getting the crates inside before taking off in a hurry. However, they have left LUCKY behind, still holding the chameleon hostage. + +"... they just left me..." He suddenly lowers himself onto his knees, staring at the place the truck used to be. "I did everything they asked... I escaped prison three times... and they STILL left me behind..." He finally releases the chameleon and the knife, just staring at the floor. + +*IF THEY SAY ANYTHING* +"He promised he... he was gonna get me out... and he just left me behind... again..." + +*WHO IS HE* +He will look up to your group, a tear in his eye. "The Crooked King." ----- @@ -161,7 +169,15 @@ THUNDER FORCE HEADQUARTERS Back at Harken's office, Harken is pacing in front of your group. "This task was supposed to be simple, a guard position of no real strategic import. Instead, tomorrow's headline will read that a hostage situation resulted in the theft of the entire shipment of research and building materials under our watch." He slams one hand into the desk in frustration, rubbing his eyes with the other. IF THEY OBJECT -"I know what happened. Fact is, you followed your orders perfectly to a tee, you defended an innocent from harm in a hostage situation, and you proved you value lives over cold hard metal. If it were anyone else, you would have a fucking parade in your honor. But due to these... unfortunate circumstances, the public will choose to ignore those positives. And they will expect some form of punishment for your 'failure.'" +"I know what happened. Fact is, you followed your orders perfectly to a tee, you defended an innocent from harm in a hostage situation, and you proved you value lives over cold hard metal. You even re-captured LUCKY, AND got him to cooperate for the first time ever. We finally have solid intel on their organization." + +He will pull out a folder, slap it on the table, and pull out a document with information scrawled all over. "We now know there is a genuine hierarchical structure in the Marauders. What we thought were random acts of thuggery were coordinated and strategic from the start." + +"Add to that we now have confirmation of an active general, the man with the A on the helmet. We don't know his name, but we have dealt with him in the past. He uses lightning magic to move same as we do, so it is safe to assume he is also the mole. Which would explain how he knew about the shipment. But the issue comes in with this... Crooked King." + +"Noone within their organization knows who he is, but he is the mastermind behind the Marauders. He picks whom to recruit & when, supplies the coin for their weapons, coordinates every attack, and supplies them with THESE." He places the gold dagger LUCKY had on the table inside a glass box. + +"This is career defining evidence. If it were anyone else, you would have a fucking parade in your honor. But due to these... unfortunate circumstances, the public will choose to ignore those positives, as will the media. They will expect some form of punishment for your 'failure' to protect the shipment." IF THEY ARE NOT TF "Worst of all, given you were wearing our uniforms, they will assume you are with us, which doubly complicates the matter." @@ -172,9 +188,9 @@ He grabs a handful of papers, quickly scribbles some information down, turns the IF THEY INTERRUPT, STATE THE FOLLOWING LOUDLY -"During this time, all activities you do, including but not limited to potential kidnapping investigations, criminal syndicate altercations, and disruptions due to challenges, cannot and will not be associated directly with the Thunder Force. They will instead be seen as the activities of a group of rogue REGALIA HUNTERS working to save the people of Diadem from their imprisoned fate, no different than those that attempted before." +"During this time, all activities you do, including but not limited to any & all criminal syndicate altercations, cannot and will not be associated directly with the Thunder Force. They will instead be seen as the activities of a group of rogue REGALIA HUNTERS working to save the people of Diadem from their imprisoned fate, no different than those that attempted before." -"And if, within those fourteen days, you manage to gather them all and free the people, well... I doubt anyone would remember the incidents up until now, and you may even become... heroes again. But THAT is information I, and the Thunder Force, cannot and will not be responsible for OR associated with during your two week paid leave. Is that understood?" He gives you something of a sly smile. +"And if, within those fourteen days, you manage to gather them all and free the people, well... I doubt anyone would care about this debacle anymore, and you may even become... heroes again. But THAT is information I, and the Thunder Force, cannot and will not be responsible for OR associated with during your two week paid leave." He gives you something of a sly smile. IF THEY ARE TF "Now this does mean I will require your badges for the next two weeks." @@ -192,7 +208,9 @@ It is a female voice you don't recognize, asking you to come to the Capitol and Upon arrival, you are greeted by a Parakeet woman sitting at Nash's desk, and she does not look happy. "I assume you to be the Kings of Kings, yes? Please follow me." She marches you quickly through the office area and right to King Akarui's door. No kindness, no nonsense, just professionalism. -Once inside, you see a concerned Akarui stamping some official looking documents. He pauses for a moment and drops the stamp, looking up to your group. "Kings of Kings, I know this is a bit pedestrian of me to ask of you, but I'd like you to do a wellness check on Nash. When he came in this morning, I let him know the metal for his project was stolen, and... well, he looked like the sound of glass hitting the floor. I gave him the rest of the week off to recuperate, but based on what I saw... I'd love some peace of mind." +Once inside, you see a concerned Akarui stamping documents. He pauses for a moment and drops the stamp, looking up to your group. "Kings of Kings, I know this is a bit pedestrian of me to ask of you, but I'd like you to do a wellness check on Nash." + +"When he came in this morning, I let him know the metal for his project was stolen, and... well, he looked like the sound of glass hitting the floor. I gave him the rest of the week off, but based on what I saw... I'd love some peace of mind." "And as long as you're out there, for the sake of my sanity, could you also ask around and check on the supposed 'noise complaints' coming from that area? Killing two birds with one stone and all that. Plus it might keep Anais out of my office for longer than five minutes." @@ -201,7 +219,7 @@ He hands you a folded document made of a strangely textured light brown paper, w ----- -Upon arriving at the Gated community, you are confronted by a pair of Doberman guards, one brown and one black, but both wearing identical silver Thunder Force like outfits, modified to resemble security outfits. They both see your group coming and the brown one asks in a German accent, "How may ve help you today?" +Upon arriving at the Gated community, you are confronted by a pair of Doberman guards, one brown and one black, but both wearing identical silver Thunder Force outfits. They both see your group coming and the brown one asks in a German accent, "How may ve help you today?" *ASKS ABOUT ENTRY* The black one will chime in. "Sorry, ve vere not informed about any visitors, ve cannot permit entry." @@ -222,15 +240,16 @@ They chuckle again before clearing their throats. "Uh but.. given your credentia ----- -The neighborhoods are considerably fewer in numbers per house, but every property has a full acre MINIMUM of land and the houses are minimum TWICE the size of the ones in the Residential district. The lawns are trimmed, the fences are painted, you even see some ornamental bushes in the shapes of animals being maintained by professional landscapers right this very second. But when you reach the property you are looking for, all those homes are put to shame. +The neighborhoods are considerably fewer in numbers per house, but every property has a full acre MINIMUM of land and the houses are minimum TWICE the size of the ones in the Residential district. The lawns are trimmed, the fences are painted, there are several with animal-shaped ornamental bushes being maintained by landscapers right this very second. But when you reach the property you are looking for, all those homes are put to shame. The house is easily three floors, has a colossal front yard, a massive bird bath, perfectly trimmed bushes along the immaculately painted fences, a multiple car garage with Nash's car parked in front of it, and even a chandelier style light hanging from the porch. *IF THEY KNOCK* It takes a few seconds, but you eventually see Nash greet you at the door, and he looks exactly like how King Akarui described. -His ears that were always perked are slumped against his head, his chipper smile looks like it was manually pulled downward, and you could even swear his fur looks less colorful. But at least his hair looks brushed, sorta. When he sees your group, he actually looks a little perkier. "Oh.. hey guys.. you wanna come in?" +His ears that were always perked are slumped against his head, his chipper smile looks like it was manually pulled downward, and you could even swear his fur looks less colorful. But at least his hair looks brushed, sorta. When he sees your group, he looks a little perkier. "Oh.. hey guys.. you wanna come in?" +*INSIDE* His home looks almost too immaculate, the cushions on the furniture all look borderline unused, and there is zero dust on anything that you can see. But the lights are on, even if it is just the living room. (Notice roll) There are no pictures on the walls either, even though there is clear evidence there used to be. The only real furniture is the roaring fireplace and a couple pillows & large couches in front of it. diff --git a/05D - Facing the Faces.txt b/05D - Facing the Faces.txt index 842e520..6af7d53 100644 --- a/05D - Facing the Faces.txt +++ b/05D - Facing the Faces.txt @@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ He promised me that, in exchange for creating coordinated distractions with the ----- -Running further inside, you see the black and yellow Jack in the distance between you and your goal. Some of the houses have their standalone bushes on the edges of the property set on fire, almost giving it a kind of gladiator arena feel. "Sure as shit took you long enough... I had money riding on Ace not stopping you, and it looks like I win the bet." +Running further inside, you see the black and yellow Jack in the distance between you and your goal. Some of the houses have their standalone bushes on the edges of the property set on fire, almost giving it a kind of gladiator arena feel. "Sure as shit took you long enough... I had money riding on Ace not stopping you... looks like I win the bet." IF THEY ASK WHY "I've run into fifty different immigrants to this land, and seen every kind of currency they carry. Do you know how many of them use magic infused coins? ZERO. We literally have the single rarest currency in existence here in Diadem. Not because it's scarce either, but because we exclusively hold the ability to make it. @@ -175,9 +175,9 @@ What I DIDN'T tell you was the drill didn't explode on its own, it exploded beca That explosion killed my parents, and scattered huge chunks of it all over the place. Once I regained my sense of thought from watching my parents die, I decided to collect the metal and look into why it was there in the first place. -I spent eighteen years educating myself for a good job just like dad wanted, while ALSO using the resources from the college and grand library to figure out what the gold metal was. And I couldn't find SHIT. +I spent eighteen years educating myself and job hopping until I would up as the King's aide, while ALSO using the resources from the college and grand library to figure out what the gold metal was. And I couldn't find SHIT. -I "did" find some super obscure wordings and religious text about someone named Zeroth. Supposedly, HE built this place, something about elevating mortals to a higher plane of existence. Didn't make an ounce of sense in that context. +I "did" find some super obscure wordings and religious text about someone named Zeroth. Supposedly, HE built this place, something about elevating mortals to a higher plane of existence. Didn't make an ounce of sense. But ya know, eighteen years of fruitless efforts is a long time to focus on such an outlier project, and I almost moved on with my life. Decided to continue my dad's project. @@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ I proposed the submarine plan to Akarui, poured my heart and soul into the proje In a fit of depression and rage, I decided I wanted revenge. I took a bag of that gold metal to the Volcano domain Forge, wanted to make a poetic weapon out of it and uh.. "hand deliver it" to the king. -Bad news, it can't be melted down like normal metal. Good news, it could be bent, sharpened, and whittled. But it was delicate as glass, couldn't take more thn a couple hits. And as we already discovered, can be very volatile. +Bad news, it can't be melted down like normal metal. Good news, it could be bent, sharpened, and whittled. But it was delicate, couldn't take more than a couple hits. And as we already discovered, can be volatile in larger amounts. But the edge itself? Sharper than any blade and packs a HELL of a punch. The first shitty one I ever made accidentally cut through an anvil. AN ANVIL. I also found out 'by accident' that it eats magic to make gold dust, which is so much fun. @@ -199,17 +199,15 @@ Words were exchanged, I fumbled a bit and called myself the Crooked King, and ki Lodged a gold bullet in his summon's brain and made it go ballistic, put a hole in his chest, cut off his arm, blinded him with the gold dust, I basically kicked his ass. I still don't know how he hid his Regalia, but I got pissed and started screaming things I was... VERY grateful noone else was around to hear. -At one point I got so mad, I Sparta kicked him through an unbreakable magic barrier, or so I thought. I didn't realize until after that the SWORD was GLOWING, and it... changed the rules so things COULD through the barrier, even if it was just one way. - -And when it heard me scream (essentially) I HOPE YOU ROT OUT HERE FOREVER, it started glowing again and the circle moved around the Gate. I... decided to NOT press my luck and ran off with the wood. +At one point I got so mad, I kicked him through an unbreakable magic barrier, or so I thought. I didn't realize until after that the SWORD was GLOWING, and it... changed the rules so things COULD through the barrier, but only one way. I... decided to NOT press my luck and ran off with the wood. -I got home and.. I.. had a mental breakdown. I kept replaying everything that happened in my head over and over, and none of it made sense independently. Once I calmed down, I figured the only logical explanation would be if they were all connected somehow. +I got home and.. I.. had a mental breakdown. I kept replaying everything that happened in my head over and over, and none of it made sense independently. Once I calmed down, I noticed a strange pattern on everything I hadn't before. Gold magic metal in Diadem, gold magic barrier around Diadem, gold magic barrier circles, domain masters and their regalia with bits and pieces of gold on them... it's all connected. Everything here shares a common magic source. -And then it hit me. If this is all from the same magical source, then everything about this place must be fabricated by the same person. Which had to be Zeroth, who is... I don't know, GOD or something. +And then it hit me. If this is all from the same magical source, then everything about this place must be made by the same person. Which had to be Zeroth, who is... I don't know, GOD or something. And then it clicked. -He made this island, put people on it, lined it with magic eating metal, to fight each other and his twelve henchmen for a few trinkets of God power, and once all twelve of them are collected and gathered in the center of town, you call for big daddy Zeroth, and SUPPOSEDLY GOD HIMSELF IS SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN and reward them with freedom and some fetters of mention of a god tier prize that FIVE HUNDRED YEARS WORTH OF TEXT CAN'T SEEM TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT?! +He made this island, put people on it, lined it with magic eating metal, has them fight his twelve henchmen for a few trinkets of God power, and once all twelve of them are collected and gathered in the center of town, you call for big daddy Zeroth, and SUPPOSEDLY GOD HIMSELF IS SUPPOSED TO COME DOWN and reward them with freedom and some fetters of mention of a god tier prize that FIVE HUNDRED YEARS WORTH OF TEXT CAN'T SEEM TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT?! THIS IS ALL JUST SOME STUPID GAME! This stuff is the cardboard walls of this magical rat maze, and we're the lab rats! The domain masters are glorified referees and their Regalia are promotional incentives! @@ -250,6 +248,11 @@ I took a swing in self defense, you can hardly blame ME for that one. It was LIT ----- +*IF THEY ASK ABOUT THE SHIPMENT* +"That was plan B. On the extreme off chance I DIDN'T beat you, I have a mini-sub my team and I built hidden away JUST big enough for myself and my four most loyal teammates to bail out in." He will pause and turn toward the FACES. "Or at least they WERE, until they started questioning EVERYTHING I EVER DID FOR THEM!!!" He will sigh VERY loudly before finishing. "Good help is so hard to find, I swear." + +----- + *IF NOONE PROPOSES ANYTHING* All four of the faces stare at Nash for a few seconds in silence, then look at each other. Jerras is the first one to speak up. "You really expect us to believe you intended to do all of that...?" @@ -259,13 +262,13 @@ Harken speaks up finally. "You are going to kill yourself, you realize that righ Nash pulls out his gun, loads it with fresh ammo one bullet at a time, and clicks it closed. "I'm not giving up until either they go down or I do. I'm willing to die on this hill." -Anais actually stands up and walks up to him, and for once all the rage in her eyes is gone. "Do you have any clue how much I want to kill you right now?" +Anais actually stands up and walks up to him, and for once all the rage in her eyes is gone. "Do you have any idea how much I want to kill you right now?" -"No more than them I assume--" She interrupts him mid sentence by grabbing his shirt collar, yanking hom down to her level, and KISSING HIM. Right in front of everyone. He takes a few seconds to process what just happened. "...you are giving me really mixed signals, you know that?" +"No more than them I assume--" She interrupts him mid sentence by grabbing his shirt collar, yanking him down to her level, and KISSING HIM. Right in front of everyone. He takes a few seconds to process what just happened. "...you are giving me really mixed signals, you know that?" "Shut it." She pulls out her own rifle and loads a fresh magazine. "If we make it out of this alive, you and I are gonna have A LONG TALK." -Harken stands up and lights a cigarette, sighing a bit. "Well you can count me out. At this point, it all comes down to which of your groups want this more. If I join either side, I stop being neutral." +Harken stands up and lights a cigarette, sighing a bit. "Well you can count me out. At this point, if I join either side, I stop being a neutral entity. Whomever wins, is the one in the right." ----- @@ -277,7 +280,7 @@ ROLL FOR JERRAS *DOES JOIN* "Well you can count me in. I make it a habit to see every business deal through to the end." He marches himself over to Nash's side, hefting his hammer on his shoulder. -Vivid rolls her eyes and groans. "Fuuuck, this is such bullshit..!" She picks herself up and walks to your group, pulling out her sword. "Harken, you and I are gonna have words after all of this. But I know HE gave you the order, so I'm gonna kick his ass TWICE as hard for the BOTH of you." +Vivid rolls her eyes and groans. "Fuuuck, this is such bullshit..!" She picks herself up and walks to your group, pulling out her sword. "Harken, you and I are gonna have words after all of this. But I know HE gave you the order to shoot my dad, so I'm gonna kick his ass TWICE as hard for the BOTH of you." REDO FIGHT WITH FULL HEALTH ENEMIES @@ -289,7 +292,7 @@ Nash will flop against the ground HARD, curling up a bit in severe pain. Anais w *IF JERRAS JOINED* Jerras will lie on his back, half conscious. "I think it's safe to say it's over, Boss..." -*IF HE DID NOT* +*IF JERRAS DID NOT JOIN* Harken will take a long drag off his cigarette. "You lost fair and square. Twice. Time to pack it in." ----- diff --git a/DOMAIN - Black.txt b/DOMAIN - Black.txt index 8d89244..880901f 100644 --- a/DOMAIN - Black.txt +++ b/DOMAIN - Black.txt @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ your eyes cannot seem to focus on the colorless world around you. You are surrou Welcome to the **Forest** domain! -Your visuals are disrupted by a distinctly golden glow of magic appearing in front of you, in the shape of a golden ring about 50 feet wide. It completely surrounds your group, the gate, AND the dead tree it's attached to. The circle appears to be warbling in an odd pattern and drifting back and forth between black and gold. +Your visuals are disrupted by a distinctly golden glow of magic appearing in front of you, in the shape of a golden ring about 50 feet wide. It completely surrounds your group AND the entrance to the gate. The circle appears to be warbling in an odd pattern and drifting back and forth between black and gold. *IF THEY WALK AROUND* Your shoes make an odd SQUELCHING noise, and you realize the bottoms of them are coated in what looks like black ink. Not only that, ALL of your shoes are dipped in it, and that ink expands well beyond the range of the circle. @@ -89,9 +89,11 @@ He will shakily walk to the tree you found him at, leaning against it with a sig *WHAT HAPPENED* He turns away and replies, "A man in black and gold challenged me, called himself the Crooked King. He used these... strange golden weapons. He ate through my strongest spells, corrupted my own magic creatures." -He will toss the bullet to your group. If anyone catches it bare handed, it will sizzle against their skin if it is bare, or will singe their fur or scales. "He was too dangerous to have my Regalia, so I animated a piece of myself to hold it and cast it out. He became enraged, corrupted the battlezone magic, pushed me through its walls, and bound it to the area around the Gate. Turned it into a one way travel, imprisoned me in my own domain. None of which should be possible for a mortal to do." +He will toss the bullet to your group. If anyone catches it bare handed, it will sizzle against their skin if it is bare, or will singe their fur or scales. "He was too dangerous to have my Regalia, so I animated a piece of myself to hold it and cast it out. He became enraged, corrupted the battlezone magic, pushed me through its walls. None of which should be possible for a mortal to do." -"The creature ran rampant through the Domain, spilling my essence as its continued existence demanded it from me. And when these... mortals entered and touched the ink, they became like me. Barely alive, but unable to die." +"The creature ran rampant through the Domain, spilling my essence as its continued existence demanded it from me. The CHALLENGE circle prevented escape for us, my strength refused to recover, and I was alone." + +"But when these... mortals entered and touched the ink, they became infected with my immortality. Unable to escape, unable to die." "In defeating my Kurogitsune, you have returned what is mine, and assured the freedom of everyone here. I only need to reclaim my Regalia to break the seal, and reclaim my essence to sever the connection." diff --git a/DOMAIN - Brown.txt b/DOMAIN - Brown.txt index b4cb02c..f7f3c5c 100644 --- a/DOMAIN - Brown.txt +++ b/DOMAIN - Brown.txt @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ The right side is a large gym full of legitimately massive workout equipment, an *IF THEY TALK TO EITHER ONE* - He will see you walk in the door, suddenly smiling wide. "Welcome, how can I help you?" -- She will sudden;y turn to your group hearing the door open, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hello strangers, can I help you?" +- She will suddenly turn to your group hearing the door open, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. "Hello strangers, can I help you?" The group will be told basic information about the domain being THE place to get rock solid muscle and consistent results - The common ways would be either good old-fashioned working out, or doing some rigorous mountain climbing & hiking. @@ -38,10 +38,12 @@ The koala/maned wolf smiles a little, (dives down behind the counter/walks into - If they spoke to BUNJI, he will call for Jekhyra to come over - If they spoke to Jekhyra, she will toss a towel around her neck and walk to Bunji -BUNJI: Afternoon Jekhyra, (I overheard / not sure if you heard), we have some people wanting to see Tlaloc +BUNJI: Afternoon Jekhyra, (I overheard / not sure if you heard), we have some people to see Tlaloc? + JEKHYRA: Yep, gonna be a fun day. Gonna need gear for (party size +1) looks like. BUNJI: Not a problem, and at 25z a head, that'll come out to... uh... before I do that, you all CAN afford the equipment rental, yes? + JEKHYRA: Shiiit, forgot to mention that. You wanna head up, you gotta get equipment. Helmets, hooks, ropes, backpacks, all that shit. Anyone that can afford the climb comes with, the rest can stay at the building and shop around or work out @@ -50,60 +52,111 @@ The mountain in question already has an indicated entryway, at which she will co The climb will take place over the span of an hour, and a total of three times, there will be an ATHLETICS roll made to take DMG from stumbling or making mistakes, as unskilled climbers. -At the top of the mountain is a relatively uneven and rocky circle of about 200 feet in width, basically making this a hilltop mountain. As your group climbs up onto the top, Jekhyra unhooks each of you from the rope, letting you all walk around and enjoy the view. And the view is spectacular even from this low of a climb, as you have a much better view of those spectacular and significantly bigger mountains, only barely obscured by the few small boulders around you. Until one of the large boulders begins to move entirely on its own. +At the top of the mountain is a relatively uneven and rocky circle of about 200 feet in width, with sparse boulders littering it. -(ATHLETICS roll) Someone loses their footing thanks to the loose rocks from the uneven crag and falls over the cliffside, careening down into the distance. But before anyone does anything, a massive SOMETHING whizzes right down in the same direction at breakneck speed. - -The falling character comes face to face with a large brown creature that grabs them in its massive arms, curls tightly around them to flip itself forward, and SLAMS into the ground full force, leaving a small crater upon landing with its two massive yet stubby legs - -The creature slowly lets the fallen person down onto their own two feet, revealing the thick muscular arms under all those spiny armor spikes. You realize you are being stared down by a seven foot tall AND wide pangolin. And the only thing he is wearing is an awkwardly designed loincloth. +Jekhyra unhooks you individually when you each safely reach the top, letting you all walk around and enjoy the view. This practice mountain PALES in comparison to the other ones surrounding you, but the view over the trees, lake, and building is stellar. -The massive creature peers down at the character and in a halting and slow manner, manages to form a few simple words in a deep, toungue-heavy voice. "YOU? OKAY? HURT?" +*WHERE IS DM* +"Oh right, forgot you came to see him. He's around here somewhere, pretty hard to miss." + +(INVESTIGATE roll) You find a massive rock that has a weird patterned texture, and even weirder, it appears to be... breathing? + +The thing you found suddenly begins to move, raising itself up out of its small divot in the ground, stretching a pair of massive arms wide and unfurling a colossal tail, groaning loudly. + +Everyone on top of the cliff watches this massive monster unfurl itself, stretch its arms out, and unfurling its tail, and realize immediately it was just yawning and stretching. + +But you all also witness, in a fraction of a second, its tail accidentally swings out and pushes every one of your team backwards a bit, and it unfortunately knocks (player that woke him up) off the cliff. + +Everyone rushes to the side of the cliff and tries to catch the fallen teammate, but noone can quite reach him in time. And you watch your teammate descend backward and down into the distance. + +Even at this shallower height, you know landing from a fall like that will likely be serious, if not fatal. But before any of your group can even grieve, that massive brown creature LEAPS right down in the same direction at breakneck speed. + +The falling character comes face to face with a large brown creature that grabs them in its massive arms, curls tightly around them to flip itself forward, and SLAMS into the ground full force, leaving a small crater upon landing. + +The creature slowly lets you down onto your own two feet, and is currently looking you over, which gives you a chance to look over your savior as well. + +The creature LOOMS over you with a body that is INSANELY beefy, every inch of it is covered in muscle from the front. His arms are huge & tipped with foot long nails, his entire back half is covered with what resembles brown dragon scales, his tail is almost as long as he is, and the only clothing he is wearing is a very minimal brown loincloth. + +You are being stared down by a seven foot tall AND wide pangolin, staring at you with bright brown eyes atop a long muzzle. He leans down and, in a halting and slow manner, manages to form a few simple words in a deep, toungue-heavy voice. "YOU? OKAY? HURT?" Once they confirm they are okay, the creature nods, turns around, and jams its claws into the rock face, suddenly climbing its way back up the mountain face like it's nothing. +----- + *IF ANYONE STAYED BEHIND* -You've either been getting hassled by the gym bros into joining them for a workout, or mulling around the equipment store looking over the gear. When that massive pangolin lands outside the building, literally everything and everyone stops, watching the creature set your teammate down, and climb up the wall like some scaley spidermonkey. Everyone suddenly runs outside and checks in with your teammate, making sure they're okay. +You've either been getting hassled by the guys in the gym into joining them for a workout, or mulling around the equipment store looking over the gear. -*AT THE TOP OF THE CLIFFSIDE* -About five minutes has passed since you watched your companion fall down into the distance, Jekhyra keeping you all from doing anything reckless. Instead, she regales you with tales of her spelunking in the mountains' various caves, rope bridging to help speed the process of crossing more dangerous ones, and even the time she paraglided from this mountainside... right into the lake. +When that massive pangolin lands outside the building, everyone stops to watch him set your teammate down, and climb up the wall like some scaley spidermonkey. -You all begin to hear rumbling and spot a massive brown scaly creature climbing up the rock walls with its large talons, and it is approaching FAST. (NOTICE ROLL) And YOU recognize it as the thing that dove after your friend moments after they fell. +----- + +*AT THE TOP* + +Jekhyra has been doing her best to talk each and every one of you down from doing something stupid like going after your teammate unescorted or jumping down there. + +You all begin to hear rumbling from the side of the cliff. + +You spot a massive brown scaly creature climbing up the rock walls with its large talons, and it is approaching FAST. And yes, it is the thing that dove after your friend. Upon reaching the top, the creature helps itself up onto the flat surface and kinda just stands there for a second, before waving at you all and contorting its hands around as it speaks haltingly. "FRIEND. OKAY. RIDE? DOWN?" He then turns around and points to his back, offering to escort you down. *IF ANYONE ASKS OR OBJECTS* -Jekhyra will step forward and stand beside the creature. "You got nothing to worry about. Tlaloc here's the Domain Master and an expert mountain climber." She will pat him on the shoulder before stepping away. "I'm going down the long way, so you can either go with me, or with him." +Jekhyra will step forward and stand beside the creature. "You got nothing to worry about. Tlaloc here's an expert mountain climber." She will pat him on the shoulder before stepping away. "I'm going down the long way, so you can go with me, or with him." *EITHER WAY* -It only takes a few minutes before Tlaloc makes it to the ground, and when he touches down, he kneels down to let you all off his back. He just smiles as best he can while he watches your group climb down off him and reunite with your fallen teammate. After you all have caught up, he points to the building Jekhyra pointed out and waves for you to follow him. +It only takes a few minutes before Tlaloc makes it to the ground, and when he touches down, he kneels down to let you all off his back. Once you are all off, he steps away and smiles in a goofy manner, showing his toothless gums. -Once inside, he takes you through the gym area to a room in the back of the gym itself, and tosses you each a bottle of ice cold water. He himself grabs one as well and simply holds it over his head, poking a hole with one talon and guzzling the water as it streams out in only a few seconds. After he finishes, he clears his throat as best he can and points at your group, then the floor, then the mountain. "YOU. VISIT. WHY?" +Once you all have a chance to reunite, he steps up to your group, raising his arms straight out at his sides. "SORRY.. NEW... FRIENDS..." He is offering a hug as an apology. + +*AFTER HUGGING* +He lets you all go and trots off toward the building, looking back to your group and waving one hand for you all to follow. + +Once inside, he takes you through the gym area to a room in the back, and pushes a wood crate full of metal water bottles and ice toward you all. + +He grabs one and holds it over his head, poking a hole with one talon in the bottom like it was nothing, and guzzling the water as it streams out in only a few seconds. + +After he finishes, he clears his throat as best he can and points at your group, then the floor, then the mountain. "YOU. VISIT. WHY?" *IF THEY MENTION DM / REGALIA* Tlaloc suddenly stands up and begins laughing excitedly like a small child, in a deep unsettling tone. Everyone slowly puts down their equipment and starts asking what is going on and what has him so giddy. *IF THEY ANSWER* -All the gum bros start getting excited, chanting and hollering about the chance to see Tlaloc the Immovable in action. Around this time, Jekhyra finally bursts in, having known a few slightly more dangerous shortcuts for going DOWN the mountain, and reuniting the group with anyone that wasn't there yet. She sees the commotion and wants to know what's going on. +All the guys working out start getting excited too, chanting and hollering like a group of rowdy frat boys at a party. + +Jekhyra finally shows back up, and rushes into the group, going right for the water bottles. "What's with all the noise, boys?" She opens the bottle and takes a quick drink. *IF THEY ANSWER* -Jekhyra will widen her eyes, and step up to Tlaloc, temming him to step outside for a minute. He will giddily do so, running through the gym and barely noticing himself running into several freely sitting around weights. When he gets outside the door, he will start doing stretches in preparation. +Jekhyra will do a good old fashioned spit take hearing YOU want to fight HIM, coughing hard as Tlaloc suddenly runs out the door, accidentally catching some of the free weights on his scaled tail on the way out. -Jekhyra will stare at your group in disbelief. "Okay I'm going to assume you are all insane to actually WANT to take on THAT." She will pause as Tlaloc picks up one of the stone benches in each hand, using them like free weights, each rep further exposing the massive muscles hidden under all those thick rock-like spikes. Tlaloc will suddenly turn toward the gate, putting down the benches as a new group of people come into the domain. You watch him waddle toward them like an overweight excited toddler, leaving footprints in the ground with every step of his hyper muscular yet short and stubby legs. +Once she stops coughing, Jekhyra will stare at your group in disbelief. "Okay I'm going to assume you are all insane to actually WANT to take on THAT." She will pause to point at Tlaloc, whom is currently doing bicep curls with the stone benches from out front. + +Tlaloc will suddenly turn toward the gate, seeing a new group of people come into the domain. You watch him excitedly run toward them like an excited toddler, leaving footprints in the ground with every step. *GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO THINK IT OVER* -You hear a loud thud and see that Tlaloc is suddenly on the ground, bellowing out in pain. You see the group of peoples' attention is now turned toward you. And yes, it is very obvious now they are Marauders. +You hear a loud thud and see that Tlaloc is suddenly on the ground, bellowing out in pain. You see the group's attention is now turned toward the building. And even from here, you can see one of them is holding a golden sword. -Every gym bro is suddenly VERY agitated, and you hear about twenty sets of knuckles and necks cracking as they all head for the door. A furious Jekhyra is clearly resisting the urge to go with. "I... want you to go... help 'greet' our new 'guests'... while I go help Tlaloc... think you can help me do that?" Her heckles are raised, her eyes are sharp, and she is practically snarling. +Every guy in the gym is VERY agitated, and you hear about twenty sets of knuckles and necks cracking as they all head out the door, led by Jekhyra. Her heckles are raised, her eyes are sharp, and she is practically snarling. -Outside, the gym bros are actively knocking the snot out of most of the weaker people, but several of them are managing to hold onto their own thanks to some very strange looking golden blades. In the center though, there appears to be a group of leaders just hanging out and watching their men get beaten up three to one. They see your group coming while Jekhyra swings wide to go for Tlaloc and get him away from the battlefield. +*OUTSIDE* +As you exit the door, you immediately see dozens more Marauders pouring in from the gate, headed toward the people from the gym. And you get to subsequently watch as ten buff people easily lay the smackdown on about forty moderately-armed Marauders, very easily clearing a path for the rest of you to go for the leaders. + +When you reach them, you see Tlaloc lying on his back, bellowing deeply and holding on to his chest wound with both arms. And you see a bull standing over him, one foot on his stomach. "Well lookie who it is!" + +(CONTACTS ROLL) It's the same bull man from the first fight. + +*WHAT DOES HE WANT* +"Boss man sent me to take this lummox's Regalia, of course! And I think I'm gonna test it out on you lot!" He hops over Tlaloc and charges at your group with his own small group. *AFTER THE FIGHT* -Every one of the fifty or so Marauders lie in a heap on the ground, very battered and bruised. All the gum bros are hooting and hollering, high fiving and shaking hands with your group, acting like you were one of them all along. A couple of them look like they took some solid hits,, but they just start bandaging themselves up like it was nothing at all. The good times are suddenly interrupted when you hear Tlaloc bellowing from the stone bench behind you. +The Marauders are lying defeated in a heap before you, with the bull lying right on top. Behind you, the guys from the gym have ALSO finished, their own heap of Marauders significantly larger. -He is actually sniffling like a child that just learned he wasn't immortal, Jekhyra tending to a massive gash going down his chest diagonally. There doesn't appear to be any blood thankfully, since even THAT skin is incredibly dense, but there IS traces of gold dust trickling out of the cut. Jekhyra doesn't appear to have any bandages that can stick to the wound, so instead she is just pouring water to clean the gold out of it. Which appears to work, because he starts to calm down right quick after, but still seems woozy. +Jekhyra heads over to Tlaloc and slowly helps him up, the big guy sniffling like a toddler that bruised his knee. The good news is he looks okay, the gash across his chest not particularly large, but you DO see some golden powder trickling from the wound. -"Okay so... goes without saying, no challenge today. Whatever they hit him with, hit him HARD." All the gym bros seem sad to hear their big friend won't get to stomp your shit in, and she continues, "Buuut... give him a couple days for this to heal up and he'll likely be good to go." +She walks Tlaloc over to the Marauders' leaders, holding his meaty hand like a mother with her massive child, and Tlaloc suddenly picks the half conscious bull up from the heap. When his eyes meets Tlaloc's, he suddenly becomes VERY scared. "OH FUCK! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" -She will help Tlaloc up and support him on her shoulder, slowly walking a few steps with him in tow, before he suddenly falls over onto the ground with a dull thud. He has just fallen asleep again. And this time, Jekhyra is trapped under the wight of his massive arm, which everyone points and laughs at. \ No newline at end of file +Tlaloc just gives him a goofy grin and pulls him into a bear hug, holding him tight. "ME! FORGIVE! FRIEND!" You see a wave of relief wash over the Bull's face, which disappears after three seconds as Tlaloc slowly but surely starts tightening his hug. And starts dancing around, slinging him in slow circles all the while. + +Jekhyrs watches beside your group, arms crossed and snickering. "Okay so... goes without saying, no challenge today. He's gonna be uh... 'playing' with his new friend for a while, plus that gash is gonna need time to heal..." + +All the guys from the gym are VERY disappointed to hear that, and make it VERY vocally known. "Buuut... give him a couple days for this to heal up and he'll likely be good to go." \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/DOMAIN - Orange.txt b/DOMAIN - Orange.txt index 424b07a..bf2f92e 100644 --- a/DOMAIN - Orange.txt +++ b/DOMAIN - Orange.txt @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -The warbling gate is a golden ring with an orange magic wall, looking like a loose pile of oddly colored sand +This gate is a golden ring with an orange magic wall, looking like an hourglass but significantly slower ORANGE DOMAIN @@ -9,67 +9,105 @@ In the back lab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y-PFMU_NiM ## Upon exiting the ORANGE gate, -you stumble on your way out of it and land on all fours one after the other into a pile of sand, and are immediately met with a deep dense heat all around you. Not like fire, but moreso the air being devoid of all moisture, which is when you realize most of the land around you in all directions is endless amounts of sand. +you stumble on your way out of it and land on all fours one after the other into a pile of sand, and are immediately met with a deep dense heat all around you. Not like fire, but moreso the air being devoid of all moisture. + +Looking up, your gaze is immediately captured by two triangular (lime)stone structures, easily hundreds of feet tall and triangular in design. But outside of that, all you can see is endless miles of sand. Welcome to the DESERT domain! - + *BEHIND YOU* -You realize the gate itself is angled backward at about 45 degrees, and the reason is because it is physically built into the angled walll of the foot of one of three pyramids, each one probably ranging upwards of 400 feet tall. And you do see an entrance in the center of the one the gate is built into, a deep rectangular entryway going a few yards back into the structure. +You realize the gate itself is angled backward at about 45 degrees, as it is physically built into the angled wall of a third pyramid. You DO spot a pair of staircases going right around the Gate and up the stone incline to an opening about six feet high and six feet wide. *IF THEY GO IN* -You feel an immediate wave of coolness break the heat as you peer into what might be the largest library you have ever seen. Before you are rows of books reaching heights well exceeding a second story building's, the columns easily double digit, and the depth too far to immediately spot with the naked eye. +The pathway inside is about 50 feet deep, and slowly expands out wider and taller. You eventually come to a pair of ten foot tall iron doors, one of which has a sign with bold letters stating PUSH. -*NOTICE ROLL* -They all seem to be in something akin to the Dewey Decimal system, except... not? The books are all organized by their general themes of philosophy & psychology, religion, social sciences, language, science, technology, arts & recreation, literature, and history & geography, and they each have a dedicated series of tall aisles filled with them, but the books seem to have no actual numbers of any coordinated organization system, just... placed in places by theme. +*IF THEY GO IN* +You feel an immediate wave of coolness break the heat as you peer into what might be the largest library you have ever seen. Rows of bookshelves reaching heights well exceeding a second story building's, the columns easily double digit, and the depth too far to immediately spot with the naked eye. + +(NOTICE ROLL) Without meaning to, you mutter that this place is DEFINITELY bigger on the inside. -To the right is a small series of tables, chairs, and couches being sparsely occupied by people reading, barring one tiger man taking a nap with a book over his face. There is also a card catalogue off in the corner with a sign saying USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. +To the far right is a series of tables, chairs, and couches being sparsely occupied by people reading, barring one tiger man taking a nap with a book over his face. There is also a card catalogue off in the corner with a sign saying USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. To the left is what appears to be a check-in / check-out station that also doubles as a merchandise space selling bookmarks, colorful book covers, comfy bookbags, magic rings in an orange hue, and several other bits and bobbles. But at the moment there is noone behind the counter and a sign on it saying BACK SHORTLY -*IF THEY GO TO THE CARD CATALOGUE AREA* -The catalogue drawer itself looks relatively normal, aside from there only being one drawer. Upon opening the drawer, it reveals name card after name card in an organized rack, but the rack doesn't ever seem to stop expanding, continuing on so long you feel the need to take a step back every few seconds so it can continue. +----- -The sleeping tiger man will walk over to you, clearly barely awake, commenting on your situation. "Oi mate... you know this is a MAGICAL library, right? You opened the drawer without an inquiry and now it's showing literally every book it can think of." +*CARD CATALOGUE* +The catalogue drawer itself looks relatively normal, aside from there only being one drawer. Upon opening the drawer, it reveals name card after name card in an organized rack, but the rack doesn't ever seem to stop expanding, to the point you have to keep walking backwards. -He walks over and pushes the drawer shut with one swift motion. "Ask the drawer for something specific and it'll shrink the options." He will suddenly flop back onto the couch, curling up and resuming his cat nap in peace. +The sleeping tiger man will walk over to you, barely awake. "Oi mate... you know this is a MAGICAL library, right? You opened the drawer without an inquiry and now it's showing lit'rally every book it can think of." + +He pushes the drawer shut with one swift motion. "Ask the drawer for something specific and it'll shrink the options." He will suddenly flop back onto the couch, curling up and resuming his cat nap in peace. + +----- *IF THEY EXPLORE THE SHELVES* -(NOTICE ROLL) While exploring the seemingly endless shelves of books, you will randomly spot a quick trace of a person waltzing by just out of sight -- a hand placing a book on a shelf, a white coat whizzing by on a wheeled ladder, a pair of legs wobbling by under a pile of heavy books -- until a book falls off the shelf at your feet. - -The title of the book is "the Diadem Magical Manuscript," an almost ancient hardback book with bent golden corners. +(NOTICE ROLL) While exploring the seemingly endless shelves of books, you will randomly spot a quick trace of a person waltzing by just out of sight. -(OPEN IT) The inside is filled to the brim with multiple languages of scribbles of information you barely make out as magical in nature, until you reach the back half and finally make out a legible section about the twelve unique elements of magic. +- You see a hand placing a book on a shelf +- You see someone in a white coat whizzing by on a wheeled ladder +- You see someone's wobbly legs as they round a corner with a pile of books ten feet tall + +But each time you turn to them or try to reach for them, they disappear, like they were never there. But in the commotion, a book falls off the shelf at your feet. -The translation roughly reads "The twelve magic elements as we know them were originally the twelve defining concepts that framed the universe. Destruction and Restoration, Strength and Flexibility, Beginning and End, Quickness and Slowness, Where and When, All and Nothing. There is also a thirteenth element, a balancing force that kept all others in check." The rest is unintelligible. +The title reads "the Diadem Magical Manuscript," an almost ancient hardback book with bent golden corners. + +(OPEN IT) The inside is filled to the brim with multiple languages of scribbles of information you barely make out as magical in nature. + +(INVESTIGATE roll) You make out a legible section almost at the end of the book, and it's about the twelve unique elements of magic. You see a color wheel above the text with no indicators, + +*The twelve fonts of magic (unable to read) twelve defining concepts that framed the universe* + +- Destruction and Restoration +- Strength and Flexibility +- Beginning and End +- Quickness and Slowness +- Where and When +- All and Nothing + +*Counterbalance is key (unable to read) another, thirteenth force that kept all others in check* +The rest is unintelligible. *IF THEY GO TO THE COUNTER* When you approach the counter, the sign has SOMEHOW changed to now read RING BELL FOR SERVICE, and there is a bell you swear was not there before. *RING THE BELL* -A tiger man suddenly stands up from behind the library counter, as if he was always there just out of sight. He straightens his spectacles on his lightly striped orange and black face, straightening his white flowing longcoat and adjusting his necklace of long feline teeth against his knit black shirt, his orange nametag reading CONROY. "Ello ello! 'ow can I help you?" +A tiger man suddenly stands up from behind the library counter, as if he was always there just out of sight. He flicks his long black ponytail behind him, straightens his spectacles, adjusts his white flowing longcoat trimmed in black over his black tee shirt, and adds an orange nametag reading CONROY. "Ello ello! 'ow can I help you?" *IF THEY ASK* The tiger man that was asleep on the couch is, indeed, gone. + +----- Upon being asked any question he cannot readily answer, he will duck down out of sight before what appears to be his hand slams the book down before your group from behind you all, and slides back behind the counter nonchalantly before opening the book up to the appropriate page for the information you need. -*IF ABOUT ISLAND HISTORY / DM / REGALIA* -He will do a doubletake and suddenly reach down, yanking out a hundred-years-old golden tome with bent corners, slamming it before your group on the table with a plume of dust. He will open it, showing the pages are very much singed and genuinely ancient paper, before landing on a page. "Ah, here we are! The island was constructed... according to this, 547 years ago, but the purpose behind it has been worn and damaged... Ah! Freeing the people says you need to find the twelve champions and earn their treasures, they will be your keys to... freedom.. wish... it's a bit hard to read, but there is SOME form of a prize at the end of it all. Can't really gleam much else from this old thing..." +----- + +*ISLAND HISTORY / DM / REGALIA* +He will do a doubletake and suddenly reach down, yanking out a hundred-years-old golden tome with bent corners, slamming it before your group on the table with a plume of dust. + +He will open it, showing the pages are very much singed and genuinely ancient paper, before landing on a page. "Ah, here we are! The island was constructed... according to this, 547 years ago, but the purpose behind it has been worn and damaged... + +Ah! Freeing the people says you need to find the twelve champions and earn their treasures, they will be your keys to... freedom.. wish... it's a bit hard to read, but there is SOME form of a prize at the end of it all. Can't really gleam much else I'm afraid..." He flips through the rest of the pages, looking for anything else of use, one of the pages crumbling against his fingertips, causing him to whimper a little. "Well... that's upsetting... I'll need to see about restoring this book somewhow, I suppose... but that's for another day." He puts the book down under the counter out of the way. "Anything else I can help you with? *IF THEY ARE DONE* -"Wait a tic! Since I 'elped you, perhaps you can 'elp me in return? See we have a small ritual here where, when a new person arrives, we add them to the library in a sense, to add and expand on what we know. I would only need a moment of your time, if that's alright?" +"Wait a tic! Since I 'elped you, perhaps you can 'elp me in return? See, we have a small ritual here where, when a new person arrives, we add them to the library in a sense, to add and expand on what we know. I would only need a moment of your time, if that's alright?" -He takes the volunteers out through a surprisingly deep passageway out the backside of one pyramid, and into the entrance of the one behind it to the right. Inside you see a massive laboratory filled with a few sectioned off areas, each one full of beakers & test tubes, burners & freezers, microscopes & petri dishes, and all manners of bright lights & VERY old machinery anyone would recognize from any old horror movie. +He takes the volunteers back out through the pyramid, and into the entrance of the pyramid to its immediate left. Inside you see a massive laboratory filled with a few sectioned off areas, each one full of beakers & test tubes, burners & freezers, microscopes & petri dishes, and all manners of bright lights & VERY old machinery anyone would recognize from any old horror movie. -He guides you to the back-right corner of the room, to a strange circular metal chamber with an orange magic circle on the ground, and a panel containing an orange slab of stone with odd writing on it. "The process is quite simple, this magic circle simply reads your mind and body for anything knowledge-based, checks it against any pre-existing books, and either fills in the blanks or writes whole new ones. Everyone has one! Now just stand right there, keep your eyes closed, and..." +He guides you to the back-right corner of the room, to a strange circular metal chamber with an orange magic circle drawn on the ground, and a panel containing an orange slab of stone with odd writing on it. + +"The process is quite simple, this magic circle simply reads your mind and body for anything knowledge-based, checks it against any pre-existing books, and either fills in the blanks or writes whole new ones. Everyone has one!" + +He personally takes the hand of anyone wanting to volunteer and guides them inside. Two or three people fit easily, but any more than that would be a bit crowded. "Now just stand right there, keep your eyes closed, and..." He slams his hand onto an orange stone tablet and causes it to jump to life, a swirling vortex of sand encompassing you like a twister. Each pellet glows with a soft orange light before taking off into the entryway, causing the cat to giggle with glee as he stares at the orange stone panel. "Fantastic! 17 books finished, 83 furthered along, 9 sequels, and (player number) all new ones just for you!" An explosion occurs just outside the doorway to the lab, a body careening across the room before slamming into the wall with a dull thud before slooowly sliding down to the floor. Conroy dashes over to the body, picking it up and dusting it off to reveal a small boy, barely double digit age in a singed indigo hoodie, his orange nametag reading CAELUM. -"Caelum?! What have I told you about doing your dangerous experiments inside the lab?! You do that OUT IN THE DESERT so the property damage is minimized!" He sets the boy down on his own two feet, and the boy responds by coughing up a bit of soot. +"Caelum?! What have I told you about doing your dangerous experiments inside the lab?! You do that OUT IN THE DESERT or the third Pyramid so the property damage is minimized!" He sets the boy down on his own two feet, and the boy responds by coughing up a bit of soot. "Sorry, I just had this idea for that gold potion and I had to work on... it..." He slowly turns to your group, eyes wide and just now realizing you were there. "Uh... hello..?" @@ -80,4 +118,6 @@ Caelum gets a bit huffy and extends his hand to your group, speaking with a bit THE PLAYERS HAVE UNLOCKED THE ABILITY TO RESET AND RESPEC THEIR SKILL POINTS -Conroy smiles seeing him genuinely try. "There's a lad, your mother would be so proud. Anyhoo, I should be returning to work, plenty of people here need a good book. But if you need any help with information, feel free to stop by anytime you'd like!" Conroy .and Caelum both head out the door of the lab together, and you can very clearly hear him talking Caelum up for attempting to be social with someone for the first time in a while. \ No newline at end of file +Conroy smiles seeing him genuinely try. "There's a lad, your mother would be so proud. Anyhoo, I should be returning to work, plenty of people here need a good book. But if you need any help with information, feel free to stop by anytime you'd like!" + +Conroy and Caelum both head out the door of the lab together, and you can very clearly hear him talking Caelum up for attempting to be social with someone for the first time in a while. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/DOMAIN - Red.txt b/DOMAIN - Red.txt index f35e3a3..7c015ab 100644 --- a/DOMAIN - Red.txt +++ b/DOMAIN - Red.txt @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -The warbling gate is a golden ring with a red magic wall, looking like a slowly dancing image of flames +This gate is a golden ring with a red magic wall, looking like a slowly dancing image of flames RED DOMAIN @@ -9,41 +9,56 @@ https://youtu.be/Ava45CrcDPQ?si=fDugZT4a8JKcZ1bv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYnUvln9So ## Upon exiting the RED gate, -You immediately feel an immense heat hit you right in the face and the sound of drum beats. Once the sensation of your eyes being soft boiled wears off, you see you are surrounded by wood and grass huts, coconut trees bearing ripe fruits, and several people bearing their bodies under minimal clothing. - +You immediately feel an immense heat hit you right in the face and the sound of drum beats. Once the sensation of your eyes being soft boiled wears off, you see you are surrounded by a simple Hawaiian town, like it was right out of a movie. + Welcome to the **Volcano** Domain! *BEHIND YOU* The Gate is firmly attached to the side of the volcano itself, dug slightly into the side wall. *TO THE LEFT* -A group of four are currently slow spin roasting a four foot pig on a spit roast over an open fire, apple in mouth and everything - -*STRAIGHT AHEAD* -Six people are dancing a good old fashioned hula dance in a row, one banging on a pahu drum and leading them in their dance +A dozen buildings of different colors all stretch down a spacious dirt path, all of them hosting a storefront with market racks made of palm wood. *ON THE RIGHT* -A few people are climbing trees and either picking fresh coconuts or cutting segments of tree leaves off, both being handed down or tossed into straw baskets below +There are several good sized plantation fields behind fences made of palm wood, each one hosting a different kind of food or crop, each one with a person actively managing the plants. -*FURTHER BACK* -The grass huts appear to be various little shops and inlets full of handmade goods and clothing, mostly leis, grass skirts, tiki pendants, magic rings in a bright RED hue, and other on-theme memorabilia. - -*PIG ROASTERS* -The people see you approaching and tell you that if you're here for the feast, it'll still be a bit, as the pig was only recently picked up and isn't quite ready. -(ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA) They will immediately point you to the Volcano, and let you know the boss man is working right now in that cave vent. +*STRAIGHT AHEAD* +You see a group of people all sitting around a fire, and it looks like they are having a good time. You can even hear music coming from them. -*HULA DANCERS* -When your group approaches, all the dancers (all female BTW) smile and break up their line, dancing your way to give each of you a lei of flowers, before seamlessly resuming their lineup like it never happened. The drummer crosses his arms and laughs boastfully at their flawless execution. -(ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA) The dancers all simultaneously point and guide your attention to a vent cave on the side of the volcano, and the drummer states proudly that if he's anywhere, THAT is likely where. +----- -*TREE CLIMBERS* -When you approach, the people at the base of the trees all wave at your group, asking how they can help you -(ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA) One of the tree climbers leans out and yells at your group, saying they saw the "red man" in the Volcano cave earlier, before accidentally dropping their coconut in hand. But the one below him is fast enough to move over and catch it before it lands. +*SHOPS* + +Each storefront has a display rack showing an individual food item or a bundle of a crop, and the spread is diverse. You see coconuts and palm leaf based products, wheat, bananas, lemons, coffee beans, magic rings in a red hue, and even sugarcane. + +The shop you approach is ran by an Asp woman in a white flower pattern shirt and a sun hat, her red nametag reading LANA. "Hello, what can I get for you today?" -*SHOP* -Despite their being multiple huts, only one is open at the moment, ran by an Asp woman whose red nametag reads LANA. "Hello, what can I get for you today?" *ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* -"Oh you want to see Aodaghan? He's working the forge right now. Wouldn't recommend bugging him, but if you really need to see him, just go in right there." She will point toward the volcano cave entrance. +"Oh you want to see Aodaghan? He's working the forge right now. Wouldn't recommend bugging him, but if you really need to see him, just go in right there." She will point toward a cavern farther down the side of the volcano. + +----- + +*PLANTATIONS* + +When you approach, you see one person each handling the individual plantations. Trimming excess leaves, watering the plants, pulling nasty weeds, all of them are hard at work. + +One of the workers notices you, a yellowjacket in brown pants and a white shirt with a red nametag reading CULVER, stops to wipe his face with a rag. "Ya need some help?" + +*ASK ABOUT DM/REGALIA* +"Oh you wanna see the man in charge? He's riiight up there." He points to a cave in the side of the volcano. "Good luck to ya, he's not an easy guy to talk to. + +----- + +*PARTY PEOPLE* + +You see a circle of about ten people sitting around a nice little controlled fire on the far edge of the drive where the buildings and plantations end. All of them are either relaxing on top of some rocks or fallen trees, enjoying some plates of freshly cooked meat, or playing music on their ukuleles. + +One of the ukulele players, a bearded dragon in blue trunks & a white shirt with a red nametag reading KYONG, puts down his instrument and flags your group over. "How can we help ya, friend?" + +*IF DM/REGALIA* +"You want to talk to the bird man? Better have a good reason for it, he don't like to be bothered when he works. But if its important, try your luck up there." He points to a cave built into the side of the volcano before picking up his instrument again and resuming playing. + +----- ----- ----- INSIDE THE VOLCANO CAVE @@ -51,60 +66,80 @@ The entrance to the cave is nothing special, clearly dug out by hand and tool, b As you walk deeper in, the heat becomes far more intense by the second, but your ears fill with the strange sounds of metal on metal and metal on stone in the distance. After a few minutes of walking, you find yourselves face to face with a full on mining and smithing operation. -On the left is a group of massively muscled men and women swinging pickaxes into the rocky volcano walls, yanking out chunks of rock & raw metal ore, and tossing them into a crate. At one point you hear one of their axes SNAP right under the head, but this is apparently such a common occurrence they have a literal crate full of brand new ones, which the man simply pulls a new one out of and resumes like it was nothing. +On the left is a group of massively muscled men and women swinging pickaxes into the rocky volcano walls, yanking out chunks of rock & raw metal ore, and tossing them into a crate. + +At one point you hear one of their pickaxes SNAP right under the head, but this is apparently such a common occurrence they have a literal crate full of brand new ones, which the man simply pulls a new one out of and resumes like it was nothing. Opposite them on the right is a row of large iron anvils, with just as many muscled people pounding away on chunks of metal to mold it into various shapes and sizes. (NOTICE ROLL) And you spot one anvil is split in half, long ways. -Between them is a ten foot wide plume of hot smoke rising out and going straight up through a hole in the rock above, and you can tell that this is the source of the immense heat. +Between them is a ten foot wide plume of hot smoke rising out and going straight up through a hole in the rock above. The smoke is coming from an indented hole full of fresh molten rock, and it is SWELTERING to be this close to it. ----- -*IF THEY ASK* +*ASK ABOUT THE ANVIL* A boar with a red namtag that reads GARSEN pauses at the anvil and laughs. "Oh THAT? Some asshat came through here a couple years ago with a fancy slab of metal and made a blade out of it, broke the anvil by accident. We were gonna replace it, but it's like... how many times you see an anvil split long ways, ya know? Fucking hysterical!" A gruff voice in the direction of the Lava pool speaks out. "Damn straight, it was 'see it to believe it' type shit." ----- -You couldn't see it at first because of the immense heat and smoke coming up out of it, but between the miners and Smithers was a pool of magma with a single worker, a very tone and very red bird man, his nametag on his pec reading AODAGHAN. He's currently grabbing chunks of the ore and dipping it by hand into the magma for a brief moment (hand and all) before pulling it out and letting the melted metal slip through his fingers into specific trays. +You couldn't see it at first because of the immense heat and smoke, but inside the pool of lava you see a very tone and very red bird man, his nametag on his pec reading AODAGHAN. He's currently grabbing chunks of the ore and dipping it by hand into the magma for a brief moment (hand and all) before pulling it out and letting the melted metal slip through his fingers into specific trays. AN ALARM GOES OFF -Garsen suddenly stops what he's doing and turns to the others, giving a loud WAHOO before yelling QUITTING TIME! Every worker suddenly puts down their equipment and starts to pile out, avoiding your group as best they can through the path that you came in. But, the red man by the magma pool is still here, routinely taking handfuls of the metal ore and dipping it into the pool, filling trays despite noone being there to help. +Garsen suddenly stops what he's doing and turns to the others, giving a loud WAHOO before yelling QUITTING TIME! Every worker suddenly puts down their equipment and starts to pile out, avoiding your group as best they can through the path that you came in. + +The red man by the magma pool is still here, routinely taking handfuls of the metal ore and dipping it into the pool, filling trays despite noone being there to help. Upon being asked, he points out a pile of empty metal trays. "Whatever it is can wait, I got an order to fill. Either make yourself useful and bring me those trays or cop a squat in the corner, I don't give a shit which." His irritation is causing his words to practically come out in a snarl. *IF THEY HELP* Each metal tray is surprisingly thick and heavy, taking a surprising amount of effort to lift and move over. -When finally finished, he hops out of the pool and slips on his smithing apron, revealing himself to only be wearing a pair of shorts made of (you would assume) some kind of super kevlar. He puts each tray on top of an anvil to let them cool before finally turning to your group. "Aight, I'm done. Now what the fuck do you want from me?" +When finally finished, he comes from around the back, only wearing black shorts that you would assume are made from kevlar. He puts each tray on top of an anvil to let them cool before finally turning to your group. "Aight, I'm done. Now what the fuck do you want from me?" *MENTION APPRENTICE* -"Ah, my old apprentice sent you my way, did he? Ain't seen "im in 30 years or so." +"My old apprentice sent you my way, did he? Ain't seen 'im in 30 years or so." *MENTION REGALIA/DM* "OH fuck me, you ain't one of them hero types, is ya?" He groans exagerratedly before continuing. "Aight, here's the deal--" And an explosion occurs that rumbles through the volcano cave. "--and this chat is on hold. We got assholes." *WHEN THEY TURN AWAY* -The red bird man flies right over you at surprising speed, wings spread and shooting fire from his feet like jet engines. By the time you make it out, he is hovering in the sky and staring down at the issue with a murderous glare, a group of Marauders fucking with the locals and breaking all the huts. +The red bird man flies right over you at surprising speed, wings spread and shooting fire from his feet like jet engines. By the time you make it out, he is hovering in the sky and staring down at the issue with a murderous glare, a group of Marauders fucking with the locals and breaking all the shop fronts. -The bird man divebombs them at mach speed, only turning up at the last possible second and creating an explosive air current that knocks everyone on the ground back, even a couple islanders. He then grabs each Marauder from their disheveled area and throws them into a pile close to the cave entrance your group is standing at. +The bird man divebombs them at mach speed, only turning up at the last possible second and creating an explosive air current that knocks everyone on the ground back, including a couple innocent bystanders. He then grabs each Marauder from their disheveled area and throws them into a pile in the middle of the street. The bird man suddenly lands in front of them, collapsing his wings against his back. The Marauders pull out their weapons and aim them at him, but he shakes his head in disappointment. "You fuckwits made a huge mistake comin' here and startin' shit. You ain't leavin' without a harsh lesson." -He raises his right arm and reaches behind him, pulling out a massive six foot long two foot wide black sword, aiming its tip at their feet, and states with malicious intent, "I invoke... FURIOUS BURNOUT." The blade itself suddenly glows bright red, and their entire group suddenly becomes encircled in a wall of flame, causing them to move closer to Aodaghan, which is exactly what he was waiting for. +He raises his right arm and reaches behind him, pulling out a massive six foot long two foot wide black sword, aiming its tip at their feet, and states with malicious intent, "I CHALLENGE THEE." + +From Aodaghan's feet expands a magical golden energy that spreads to a width of about 50 feet, containing himself and all of the Marauders. You watch as the Marauders helplessly try to claw through the magic wall, but cannot seem to escape. + +Aodaghan slams his blade into the ground, getting everyone's attention. "Here's your challenge: SURVIVE!" -What you witness is the most brutal, one-sided beatdown you have ever witnessed. More flames than a house fire, more screams than a haunted house, and more bodies flying through the air than a paratrooper squadron. And by the end of those 38 seconds, the charred, battered, and bruised (but barely still alive) bodies of all eight Marauders are lying in a smoking heap. +What you witness is the most brutal, bloody, one-sided beatdown you have ever seen. More flames than a house fire, more screams than a haunted house, and more bodies flying through the air than a paratrooper squadron. + +(NOTICE roll) And you pay particular attention to the fact that he only ever used the flat side of his sword. + +By the end of those 38 seconds, the charred, battered, and bruised bodies of eight Marauders are lying in a smoking heap. You then hear Aodaghan proudly declare "Well whaddya know... I WIN." -The bird man sighs deeply as the ring of fire slowly evaporates, then walks away for a moment, grabbing the snake woman from the shop by the back of her shirt and lifting her straight up into the air. "Call th' Thunder Force, cleanup on aisle eight." She quickly nods, fear in her eyes, before dashing off for the gate. +The gold circle fades away, and Aodaghan takes the opportunity to step toward a half broken sign on the ground. He reaches behind it and picks up the Asp woman running one of the stands by the back of her shirt. + +She starts screaming, until she is turned around and comes face to face with Aodaghan, shutting up IMMEDIATELY. He states as quietly as he can, "Go get th' Thunda Force." + +The woman quickly nods, eyes wide as dinner plates, before she is suddenly released. Her ass lands on the ground first, but she quickly picks herself up and darts for the gate. He walks back to your group, and cracks his neck VERY loudly. "Well I feel better.. now where were we?" -*ASK ABOUT MAGIC SWORD* -"Right, you prob'ly wouldn't know. See this sword? This is my Regalia, the Flint Flametongue. See, each one's got some of the owners' magic in 'em, an' you can use it like a spell free o' charge. In my case, it summons an arena of flame. If they go too far, they get their ass toasted. And they stay too close, they get their shit stomped." +*REGALIA* +"Fucking seriously?! URGH... Okay, I'm gonna go nice an' slow. See this sword? This is a Regalia. It's my symbol of rule in this Domain. Ev'ry Domain Masta's got one, an' ev'ry fucker wants it." -"Now that you seen it, I gotta assume that means you wanna try an' earn it, yeah?" He raises his sword and rests it against his shoulder. +*GOLDEN CIRCLE* +"THAT was a CHALLENGE ring. Anyone holdin' a Regalia can either issue or receive a CHALLENGE, an' any legit Holder will make one of those circles. Once it goes up, you either win, lose, surrender, or DIE. Otherwise, Noone goes in, Noone goes out." -"Well too bad. I actually got some time to myself for once, so I'm gonna use it. But uh... you ever want your ass served to ya on a silver platter, you come see me." He will spread his wings and take off back into the volcano cavern. \ No newline at end of file +*IF THEY WANT TO FIGHT* +"Well tough titties, I ain't doin' that shit today. I just worked through my break. Besides, you pissants almost melted unda th' heat o' the magma pool. Come back when you got actual muscle on yer bones an' MAYBE I'll give you a shot." + +He will unfurl his wings and take off, heading right back for the volcano cave.