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Return of Life, Love, and Laments; Merged with jail/barracks from msn
Topic Started: Nov 29 2005, 07:42 PM (2,262 Views)
queen_gwenefiere
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Crimson fire exploded through her long dead veins. Her heartbeat sounded. Once. Twice, and died again into the dark nothingness that now surrounded her. It could have been moments, or thousands of years that passed. She did not know, but as sudden as she entered the abyss of death, she left it. Heat burned her skin, but only on the front of her body. It took time for the light to seep throught the lids of her eyes. Surprisingly, it did not bother her as it had before. Before...it had a meaning, but it faded with the darkness. The sound of the waves crashing against the beach crept up on her, looming in the background and then closer, almost over her. The feeling in her body returned quickly, the turf beneath her hard, gritty sand. Her throat sang with agony, screaming for water. She pulled her hand up to her face, feeling for her eyes, just to be sure they were there. Every so slowly, she opened them, looking up into the brilliant blue. The smell of salt water filled her sinuses. Laying her head to the left, she peered out over to the ocean. Land reached around the small cove like fingers. So beautiful was it, that she felt as though she could stay there forever. A persisting curiosity pulled her away though. Climbing to her feet, she looked down at herself. Long ebony locks fell about her face, branching from a thick mass about her head. She pulled at her hair, trying to remove the tangles, but it did not work to her favor. Thirsty and irritated, she turned from the ocean, to figure where she was. An important question struck her though, how had she gotten here? And who was Victoria? For some reason, the woman's name afflicted her soggy mind. Pushing away the thoughts, she focused on the rocky land before her. Not much could be seen from her vantage point, but trees and rock strewn slopes. Starting off down the beach, she searched for a road or lane that would point her towards civilization.

Several hundred meters of sand and rock passed her by the time she found the port. Fishermen and women lined the boardwalk, tall sails fanning the gusts salty wind. There was a parade of color, and she was the spot of dull that plagued the lustrious hues. She scanned the crowd for a familiar face but only found humility and the smell of fish. Her eyes caught a roadway to the left. Almost hidden by an enormous fruit tree. Cutting through the throng, she scampered through the archway that made her feel separated from the beach. It was an odd feeling, like crossing over from one world to another. A feeling of familiarity filled her when her eyes caught the turrets of the castle before her. Picking up her pace, she began to jog slowly at first, then escalating to an all out run. She passed two or three carts that were filled with goods or people and pulled by horses. Most of the people on the road openly stared at her or stole shy glimpses. Some people waved, but one cart moved to catch up with her. Her eyes caught the elderly man with surprise as he waved her to stop.

"Would you happen to need a ride up to the city, mi'lady? It is a distance and you are not more than a quarter there." The old man's smile was sincere, so up she climbed.

"I thank you sir, and I am sorry for any inconvenience," Her manners broke loose, sliding off of her tounge like a reflex.

"No need to thank me, mi'lady. I am ever so greatful to be in your presence." The old-timer bowed his head to her, which was a surprise.

The woman said little for the rest of the trip. It took little time though, it was obvious that the man bred racing horses. She was almost excited when the man stopped the cart, it was in front of a shop just left of the city gates of Ombra Di Notta. She figured maybe he could tell her who Victoria was. Climbing down from the cart, she skirted around it to help the old man down.

"Sir, do you know of a woman named Victoria?" Her voice felt odd saying the name aloud.

"Well, I know one personally, but there is another." Her heart fell for a moment. "My wife, her name is Victoria, she was named after the priestess here in Ombra Di Notta. Her mother was a mage in the army. And, we named our daughter after you, my queen. It would make her ever so happy to meet you mi'lady." The glitter in his eyes scared her, his words scared her, and so did everything else at that moment.

"I'm terribly sorry sir, but what is your daughter's name?" She had to know.

"Gwenefiere, not just Gwen." He laughed and she ran.

She ran for all she was worth, without knowing where she was headed. Her feet carried her through the street of Ombra Di Notta and to the temple without her knowing. Her feet only touched thirty of the hundred steps that led to the ebony double doors of the mosque. The heart beat in her chest scared her even. It scared her to live. Black spilled across her vision and she fell to the floor of the temple. All around her the magic she created long ago thrived. It sensed her need and fear, drinking in both. The doors of the temple closed slowly on their own. Draping the temple's inniard with a dusky light. The scent of ancient incense and blood filled the structure whispering to their keeper. Silver golems broke from the walls, moving towards the form of their queen. They lifted her from the floor, their massive hands steady and true. They washed her then robed her, puzzled by her live skin. Setting her upon the throne, they each bowed and then returned to their places. All except one. The last was a bit smaller than the others and made of ebony wood. It touched the pressure pad upon its chest, a jest of steam spewing forth from the cavity. From the inside it took a medallion, the crest of the vampire carved into its surface. It then placed the necklace about her fagile throat and stepped away to find the priestess.
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Alain
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Alain had not been having a good time. The elves had made escaping the city a practical hell of a task, there had been people using magic – magic! – on him, fire and thunder and all the like. He still thought it was a miracle that he got out without his suit’s plasma battery dying… He had taken a boat ride to get to this new city – wherever the hell it was. He had spent almost two days clinging to the bottom of the boat along with the barnacles and the like, breathing recycled air and drinking what his suit could purify. Finally, he had snuck up on deck, and spent most of the time hiding in the hold, worried that an elf would have recognized him, as unlikely as it really was. He had gotten to the port faster than he believed any of them could. But then… there was magic here, actual god damn magic… who was he to question what was and wasn’t possible anymore? After he had got off the boat, he got out of town as fast as he could, and was now just walking along the countryside, hoping to find a cave or something of the sort to sleep in, but he had ended up sleeping in the forest, in his suit again. When he came across a large city, he finally decided to go in, and it turned out there were humans there – actual humans! So this world wasn’t all elves and monsters after all. His suit was nearly dead again, by this time, but at least he had managed to get enough hydrogen from the water to keep the power cells going for a long time, which was lucky enough. He didn’t want to stay in any of the hotels, that much was for certain… so he had walked around without much purpose. Eventually, he looked up to find himself standing at the doors of a great temple. Alain frowned. Things just get weirder and weirder, don’t they… now I start walking to places like this… Quietly, he put one gauntleted hand on the door, and looked up. He looked as ragged as he felt, he hadn’t had an opportunity to shave in a long time, his sandy hair was matted and dirty, and he had a long cloak around his shoulders to hide the armor. It actually made him seem even larger, more imposing, what with the armor’s wide shoulders, he looked like some sort of hunchback, really. Still… it was something that happened… he really didn’t get as many stares as he did when people could see the armor. It wasn’t as much to look at now as it had been when he had arrived. The gleaming white armor was dulled, brown in some spots because he hadn’t been able to clean it, and his rifle and scimitar were wrapped in thick burlap and slung over one shoulder. He had stopped asking the computer to check for IFF and GPS signals almost a week ago now. He looked up at the sky, totally defeated, his sky-blue eyes nearly empty.

“Goddess… what did I do…?”

He shook his head again, and pushed the door open. It closed itself again as he stepped in, but he barely took notice. What he did see were massive stone and wood figures clustered around a woman… were they attacking her? His hand flew to the rifle, and pulled the burlap, shredding it like so much tissue. He leveled the rifle at one of the creatures, and the suit’s visor slipped from the cloak, locking over his face. Targeting info came onto the visor, and he flipped off the safety… but something stayed his shot. They weren’t attacking… it was… as if they were worshipping…? He lowered the rifle, and the visor retracted again, he had taken it back out of combat mode.

“Um… excuse me? I’m sorry if I interrupted… I think I’m rather lost.”

He had known it was coming… he couldn’t take any more of this nightmare. The rifle clattered to the ground, or rather hit it with a thud – it weighed at least forty pounds. He shut his eyes tightly, and tears finally ran down his face as he fell to his knees on the temple floor. Goddess I just want to go home… why in the hell am I here…?

“Why am I here…?”
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queen_gwenefiere
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A voice stirred Gwenefiere from a restless sleep. The title of goddess struck her as suiting so much that it brought her to the surface of conciousness. Slowly her eyes fluttered open, exposing the pale silver color of her irises. The corners of her lips turned up into a smile. Though weak, she stood, her robes flowing about her.

"Hail traveller, do you not see that you are already home?" Her voice was weak and her breath shallow, "Welcome to Ombra Di Notta." The name of the city flowed from her memory and off of her tongue like silk. The dreams that troubled her sleep were now fond memories of her dark past. She remembered now, exactly who she was and the responsibilities that her titled carried. Though her vision was blurry, she attempted to study the being before her. Noticing he was human and male, she felt pity for him, as humans are so helpless compared to many other creatures. She now knew how it truley felt to be mortal.

"Are you not afraid of vampires, sir?" Gwenefiere looked around the temple at all the artifacts and idols which held reverance for the vampire goddess, Gwenefiere.

"The universe has many purposes for each of us, perhaps yours is greater than you imagined, traveller." Gwenefiere approached the man slowly. Holding her arms out, palms towards the ceiling, gently she placed her hands against the forearm of the preculiar armor, feeling the cold against her palm. His confrontation in Arianrhod flashed through her mind...an old feeling remembered.

"Do not trouble yourself with the elves, they are unlikeable kin." Seeing her first human contact, her first contact with civilization, she felt a small connection with this man. Peering up at him, she beckoned him to her height, so she may look him in the eyes.

"I am as lost as you traveller, but I am looking for someone that I know but don't know. However, I do know that she is in this city. Please help me find her." Gwenefiere's eyes begged for his aid. Taking his arm gently, Gwenefiere guided the traveller to follow, as she took the steps that the golem had.
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Alain
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"Home...? You must be joking..."

He was startled... still.. her words made him think about something. How could she say that this was his home...?

"If you think this is my home, you obviously know nothing of me..."

He kept his eyes on the floor, until she came over to him, and he could feel her touch, even through the plating and myomer musculature. He looked up at her face, studying her for a moment, confused, when suddenly a flash of memories hit him - not his own. He recoiled from her, nearly falling back, but not out of fear so much as surprise. Breathing heaviliy, he shook his head, and stood. Standing, he towered over her by a good two feet at the very least, and the tattered cloak around his shoulders waved slightly, casting a shadow on the wall that was nearly demonic. His eyes told a different story, however, and he turned from her, thinking.

"Seems as though you haven't had the best of times either, Gwenefiere... that is your name, isn't it...? Queen Qwenefiere, I should say..."

He put his armored hand to his forehead, and sighed.

"I apologize... I hate prying into other people's thoughts, it's an invasion of privacy... I simply can't help it, and especially not in this armor... I don't understand how any of this works, my own ability, or the amplification... but I'm probably not making any sense, am I..."

Suit power 70%, and she does seem to want my help... why is it that I can't bring myself to say no...?

"I think this may be the only good thing to ever come of it, however...

He looked at her, dropping to one knee to be at her level for a moment, and stared directly into her eyes. The thought that he must look one hell of a mess occured to him for a moment, but he banished it. He would have to clean up later... still... it didn't seem right, before a queen...

"I trust you, for some reason. It seems we both have had some bad times as of late... just dont ask me to go into any balls or fancy parties, I am horribly improperly dressed for such an occasion..."

He smiled slightly at the lame attempt at humor, then he stood and took her arm, being extremely careful, he knew all to well the capabilites of the armor, even scaled back as he had set it, and while he felt something different about her, he still felt that he might break her, if he was careless. She seemed as vulerable as he felt... but there was strength there, at least... maybe some in him as well...
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queen_gwenefiere
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"A home is nearly a place that you find comfort, security, and the love of those around you." A meek smile softened. She felt the need to help this man, if it was only to help him get home. In her living heart, she finally understood true compassion and found appreciation for living creatures.

"Apologies are not needed, I have nothing to hide, Alain." Gwenefiere's mood became more serious.

"We have to find Victoria."

Ten doors and six corridors later, they caught up with the golem. The wooden beast was about to exit the temple via the catacombs. The sun's rays burst through the door that opened to the outside. As soon as the door slammed closed, Gwen pulled Alain around the corner to the door and pulling it open herself, she watched the golem walk down the street towards the jail. Turning to look him in the eyes, Gwen found his half hidden weariness. For a moment she placed her palm against his cheek, using an age old technique, she strenghtened his aura and gave him a bit more energy than he had. Gwen knew she would never forget the energy of this man, it was as if she would alway know the feel of his soul. Pausing for a moment, she took a small clump hair and pulled it from her scalp. Placing it into the palm of Alain's hand, it was a gift for him.

"This will protect you from harm, keep it close to your heart, the center of your existance." The look on her face was so serious though her actions seemed childish. Taking him again by the hand, as large as it was, she pulled him through the door with renewed vitality. Following the golem once again, they entered the prison and passed down many halls. The muffled sounds of conflict could be heard throughout that sector of the jail. Approaching a door at the end of a hall, they found the noises to be loudest here and supposed Victoria was here, as the golem had entered and left the door slightly ajar.

Entering the room, Gwenefiere immediately recognized Victoria.

"Victoria!" Without thinking of the dangerous situation, her joy overtook her. The gleam of a blade stopped her short. Anger flashed, who would dare harm her? The little of the being beneath Victoria that was seen was immediatly known as well. Their loyal friend, Sabre. It was almost a reunion. Gwenefiere's anger boiled her blood. The two who were being attacked were as close as her family. This would not do. The golem sensed Gwenefiere's desire to destroy the creature harming her loved ones and moved closer to the brawl. Depending on how Victoria's attack faired would decide the next move of the golem.

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LadySabre
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"ARGH!" Sabre's shout was drowned out by the large sonicboom. Her entire body shook, but she kept her hold around the man's waist. As they both went tumbling back to the ground, she prepared herself for the impact. She felt the crack of bone as her wings hit the stone floor.

Continuing to keep her arms locked tightly around the man's midsection, she brought her right knee up into his groin. Pain flowed throughout her body, her right wing the epicenter. Fighting back the blurred vision and burning sensation that comes with pain and tears, she squeezed the man tighter and tighter, trying to break ribs or at least make him gasp.

Victoria was charging. "No..." Sabre breathed, but it was too late. She had sprung over and was attacking the man with her dagger. Her dagger! There were two perfectly useful swords on the ground near her, so why did she use the dagger? Sabre groaned quietly, bringing her knee up into the man's groin again, in hopes of some sort of reaction. She hadn't been paying attention the first time.

A large shadow fell over her face as she brought her knee up and she looked over. It was a stone golem... and... a woman... The Queen! She most definitely could not get anywhere near this brawl. In an act of desperation to get the man to twitch so she could hopefully roll him under her, she leaned up and dug her teeth into the man's shoulder, just short of the neck.
Wash: I think they really captured his essence.
Kaylee: He looks kinda mean.
Wash: That's sorta what I meant.
Simon: This must be what going mad feels like.
Kaylee: Everywhere I go, his eyes keep followin' me...
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akuma4486
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The kneeing to the groin did little to nothing, the metal head of some ornate demon had been in place protecting that area, same as his shoulders but the blade sunk into the small of his back. His body tenced and his motion stopped even as the other woman's teeth sank into his neck he did not move. He didnt even recognize the other figures, no blood escaped his wounds but an almost black mist seemed to be seeping from them, the taste for Sabre would be most unpleasant, beyond that of dead things. He kept the woman under him, now ignoring the Priestess. He raised up, propping himself up on his right hand and his metal clad left swung in for Sarbe's side. A faint glow emitting from his chest, between them, as the symbol errupted in an aquamarine light. His eyes becoming engulfed in the same color until it no longer appeared that he had pupils.
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Alain
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He nodded a little, feeling slightly ashamed for... he could only call it his weakness, he supposed. But as they ran down the halls, he realized:

"Um, wait, who is victoria?"

It wasnt really the time, and he didnt think she had heard him. But then they arrived at the jail, and he almost jumped at her touch. The headache he had been living with almost constantly vanished, and he even noticed the suit's power climb. How can she be doing that...?. HEr lock of hair in his hand was yet another surprise.

"Gwen, I..."

He was slightly startled. For some reason he had called her that, as if he had known her for a long time. Weirder and weirder... not wanting any more surprises to come from his mouth, he nodded silently, and the chestplate of his armor cracked slightly, allowing him to place the gift in next to his chest just before the plate closed and sealed again, the seam vanishing as if it were never there. He followed her down the stairs, having to watch his shoulders and head (How did that golem manage it?), until they came out into the room where the battle was taking place. Alain was startled for a moment. Okay, there was the golem, a girl, and a man in strange armor, but the guards looked like werewolves, and the woman at the bottom of the mess... he couldn't even begin to tell what she was. Not to mention, the man in the fight was looking increasingly unusal as well. He knew, however, before gwen even spoke, that one of them was victoria, and that she wanted no harm to come to either.

"Might want the golem to stay back, I doubt he is known for subtlety."

Alain pulled his hand from the queen's, and leapt onto the area where the fight was taking place, just as sabre desperately tried to roll the man over. He ordered his suit's computer to bring the battle systems online, and reached down, locking his hand around the man's wrist just as he was about to swing, a girp that could easily have crushed rocks or bent steel.

"Ought to know better than to hit a lady..."

The sharklike visor of his helmet looked towards victoria, the reflective black glowed blue for a moment in two places, almost like eyes.

"Might want to back off, or at least find some decent weaponry. As for you..."

Turning back to the man, he pulled straight up on the arm, lifting him, and brought his own heavily armored fist around to smash the prisoner's jaw.
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petenick_1984
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Victoria felt a vulger sense of accomplishment when the dagger broke through the being's flesh. The movement below made it very difficult for Victoria to hold onto the dagger which protruded from the being's lower back. The substance which emitted from the wound made Victoria hold her breath, she did not want to inhale the foreign substance. Hearing her name behind her, Victoria looked back and saw Gwenefiere. In complete shock, Victoria let go of the dagger and slid off of the creature, landing on her stomach on the floor. She looked up at the woman with her eyes.

"Gwenefiere?" She whispered, hardly believing what was before her. It had been so long, since before the humans returned. The golem did not surprise her, however the strange being in consort with Gwenefiere did. What was that thing? She thought to herself, Victoria had never seen such a contraption. Its strenght intimidated her as it lifted the creature with ease as she and Sabre had used effort to simply immoblize him. The situation became more complicated by the second. Getting to her hand and knees, Victoria scrambled towards Gwenefiere and the golem, hopefully to safety. Looking back, Victoria found Sabre, hoping she would follow in suit. The giant who had helped them could be as much a threat as an ally. She took another look at the being who had attacked her, wondering why the color of his eyes had changed so. Victoria did not understand how or why this creature was so persistant on destruction.
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akuma4486
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Hoisted into the air suddenly, he looked to the thing that had grabbed ahold of him. Then to his wrist. The pressure was immense but it didn't seem that he felt or cared about it. The then fist rang against his head, causing it to jerk back. His head snapped back and glared into the visor of this mechanical armor. "Arise my minion and do my bidding." his voice changed, that to a younger man yet the words were spoken with a certain degree of power, he looked back towards the Priestess, the queen, and their body gaurd, "Magic...." the voice spoken now was an unsteady growl of little more than feral rage. The orbs that were the eyes on his armor swirled again, a crackle of energy emitted before electricity washed over him and surged into the arm of the mechanical thing that had hold of him, a sadistic smirk on his face as he looked to the winged woman. Though his strength seemed to leave him for a moment, the sound of something giving, not quite bone but almost a metallic sound came from the hand that was secured above his head.
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