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| C`aos Posts: 239/311 |
SYNOPSIS:
The mercenaries of Salaheem's Sentinels had just begun pressing into the affairs of the Empire itself, visiting their elite-staffed outpost. The guard was one of the Immortals, soldiers infused with the blood of beasts, which would enable them to use feral techniques outside normal human use. They were used in the outer-most outposts, both because the infusion of genes had both made them potentially harmful to people near them and destructive to the beastman forces invading Aht Uhrgan. This was one weapon of many used in Aht Uhrgan's war with the 'other' empire years ago. As the thread progressed more information about the factions surrounding Aht Uhrgan, the Empire itself, and the victim of their war would gradually be dispensed, leading to increasing distrust with Aht Uhrgan. Eventually Salaheem's motives would become clear; that she just wanted to get the hell out of the country. Understandable of course, but the missions undertaken by her mercenaries would become increasingly risky to the point of hopelessness in the name of profit. This would eventually cause a mass exodus of working mercenaries in her company, including the main characters. Both the Chaotix and the posters would eventually begin to understand the workings of the Astral Candescence, and its involvement in the destruction of the other empire that Aht Uhrgan had been at war with - the Candescence that Aht Uhrgan excavated was the condensed wrath of their victims, and would curse the Empire and everything around it with an infinite greed surrounding the artifact that would cause everyone around them to engage in perpetual war. Salaheem and her soldiers, including the posters, would be unaffected by it because they were not of Aht Uhrgan blood. Magnopolis understood the risk of the war exploding out of control and dragging surrounding nations into the influence of the Candescence, and when its powers were confirmed, the order would be given for Ultimanium to attempt an assassination on the Empress, who would be revealed to be a powerful sorceress with the power to awaken the latent powers within the Candescence. Soon it would be revealed that the 'ultimate bliss' surrounding the Astral Candescence was death itself - both in the form of inciting war, and a supernatural entity residing within that would eventually break free and destroy the world around it, known as the Absolute Virtue. This too would be defeated some point and everyone would live happily ever after. The thread relied on a small number of posters so one person going missing slowed it down that much more - eventually that person was me. I think I sorta killed it with too much walking and talking and not enough battling, and random huge time lapses. Take it as you will 
For those unaware this is a partial fabrication of an expansion plot in Final Fantasy XI, which I only played through for a month prior to quitting. This thread was made some time after and obviously doesn't mirror the actual plot in any recognizable aspect. |
| C`aos Posts: 176/311 |
Ultimanium : Are you kidding... it smells like something died in here, I'm not staying here any longer than I need to. The portal should still be active, and if the Immortal dude was happy enough to leap through it then it supposedly should take it back to the city. I think our work's done here...
Ultimanium advanced towards the open door leading into the adjacent chamber, but stopped as he sniffed at the air again. He looked to his side, noticing a bedpan tucked between a drawer and the Immortal's makeshift bed. He held his breath and crouched down to look inside. In the metal bowl was a sickly blue-black substance, and as Ultimanium shifted the bowl around, it appeared far too thick to be any sort of human excrement. Ultimanium : Aht Uhrgan just keeps weirding me out more and more. C'mon, let's just get out of here... ******* Vector shifted around on the ground uneasily, watching as men dressed in the same robes he was march uniformly into the small mosque and sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor. The walls of the Walahar place of worship was oddly large for having no seating, although the dark stone walls that surrounded it made it seem far smaller than it actually was. Vector's robe rustled for a bit, and eventually a large antennaed head stuck out of it, looking around. Charmy : Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Vector : Shaddup, they'll see you... Vector quickly rammed Charmy's head back under his many-sizes-too-large-even-for-him clothing, and glanced off to his side. A purple-skinned chameleon dressed in the same-style clothing (though obviously more tolerant of it) shot him an annoyed stare. Espio : They are starting now. Keep it down, we may learn all we need to know from this. The two quickly straightened themselves as a black robed man entered from a side room, his hands folded in front of him. The followers leant forward and planted their hands on the ground, which Espio and Vector quickly followed. ??? : Welcome my brothers. I am sure we've all had a productive week? Then it is time to celebrate both yourselves and the Absolute Virtue. Join me in worship of the Virtue, and announce your servitude to it in prayer... for it will reward you all in due time. Commence, and we will proceed to our daily readings. Vector : *sticks hand up* Yo. Espio : Vector!... what are you doing? Vector : (Shh, I got this covered.) ??? : Yes? Do you have a question? Vector : Er, yeah. I'm a little embarrassed about saying this, but I've actually gone for a long time without knowing the gift of the Absolute Virtue, and I... Vector slowly trailed off, feeling the angry glares of all those around him. Clergy : How could you not believe? May the Virtue have mercy on you! ??? : Now now, this is merely a thing of the past, what is important now is that this misguided soul has come to the hope of Walahar in search of guidance. Now what is it that you wish to know? Vector : What is the Absolute Virtue? The speaker smiled softly. ??? : Why, the Absolute Virtue is the ultimate bliss that embraces all that seek shelter in it. The writings of Walahar say that the Absolute Virtue will watch over the residents of Aht Uhrgan, and eventually return them to his loving sight when the time is right for all of us. Vector : ...okay. Just curious. ??? : I'm glad to have answered your question. Now, if you have finished your prayer, please turn to page 57 in your tome... Charmy : (You went that far and didn't ask about the Aspirin Candlesense?) Espio : (Astral Candescence...) Vector : (I couldn't ask about the Asinine Chantescence, then they'd see right through me... right now we just gotta blend in, 'ight?) Espio : (They seem like any other localized religion... but this still doesn't answer how the Astral Candescence fits into their organization... I don't think this is the last time we'll be coming back here. Aht Uhrgan just keeps weirding me out more and more... c'mon, let's just get out of here.) |
| Kirbynite Posts: 1091/1334 |
Kirby: Alrighty, Rexy. You know what to do.
Kirby's one wheeled motorcycle let out a rev as it started to look around for stuff it can bump into and collect in its hammerspace trunk. Kirby: That was quite the meeting.. But with that guy gone... um.. You don't think that cat lady's gonna tell us to take his place? |
| C`aos Posts: 171/311 |
Najheed : Only a mercenary could take on a mission this recklessly.
Ultimanium : What's that supposed to mean? Najheed : Let me see your map. Najheed took the tattered paper into his hands. Najheed : ...you idiots... who drew this path? Ultimanium : Our employer. Najheed : You went straight through Troll territory! Look... if you turn here... head to this summit from Whitegate... and head west, then south from there, you head into the catacombs. You go a mile north-northeast, and then ascend the hills, and then follow the river. From there you keep going north... *10 minutes pass* ...AND THEN, you should end up on the Zyhalom plateau, where you head east to where we're standing! You would have zero chance of being caught! Ultimanium : ...and going by the map measurements, it would have taken us a month and two weeks to arrive here. Najheed : Don't mock me, pup! it took me a month, two weeks and three days to ascend this mountain! And I did it while keeping it a state secret! Ultimanium : Uh, yeah. Okay. Here's your freaking parcel. Najheed ripped the package out of Ultimanium's hands and tore it to shreds. Inside was a baseball-sized purple gem, which he placed into a compartment on the wall. A steady stream of energy flowed behind a closed door, which Najheed charged through. Inside, a large magical array was painted on the ground, flanked on two sides by two wall-mounted blue orbs. Najheed : Finally the runic portal is operational! I was afraid the replacement energy core would never arrive! Now, I can use this gate to return to Whitegate for my long-deserved leave! Ultimanium : ...actually, we were supposed to tell you that you're wanted to help defend Whitegate. Ultimanium covered his eyes as Najheed stepped onto the floor painting, disappearing in a bright flash of blue light. Ultimanium : ...I think I've just about had enough randomness for one day. Minonim : Shall we loot his belongings? Ultimanium : ...well, just about. |
| Kirbynite Posts: 1083/1334 |
Kirby let out a loud sigh of relief as he just finished the canteen.
Kirby: Ah.... Mmmm... Just a bunch of reckless transporters looking for money. He shook the canteen a bit. Kirby: Er.. sorry... Didn't mean to drink it all, guys.. Anyway.. Is there a problem with mercenaries? |
| C`aos Posts: 169/311 |
The man stepped aside, revealing his chamber. It was carved out of the rock, and the walls and ceiling were still jagged and hot to the touch. The ground had been pounded into a workable floor however, and the room itself was well furnished. Ultimanium stared at a laptop sitting on a crate next to his bed.
Ultimanium : (...I thought Salaheem said he didn't have contact...) ??? : I am Najheed. I am an agent of the Empire currently deployed in these parts to watch Troll activity in this area. Their stronghold is not far from here... *points downward* It's odd that people like you would be wandering around a place like this... especially with rumors that the Cerberus has come out of hibernation. What business do you have here? Ultimanium : Uhh... oh yeah. We're from Salaheem's Sentinels, she said that we were to deliver a parcel up to the Mt. Zhaylom staging point. I'm assuming this is it? Najheed took the package slowly, staring at it for a moment and giving it a steady shake. He calmly put it down on a table next to him. Najheed : ...are you all with the mercenaries? |
| Sukasa Posts: 1757/2068 |
"No thanks, I'm fine" Said Snipes. "I don't mind the heat too much, really. So, who are you?" |
| C`aos Posts: 166/311 |
A large canteen had already landed in the dirt at the group's feet. The wind picked up again, the heat from the mountain quickly sucking the moisture out of the air. Whatever was in it was already gratifying.
Through the gateway, past Minonim, stood a man with silver hair that fell loosely out of a vibrant blue turban. His face was mostly covered by a flap of black velvet, and he was draped in a robe of the same blue, adorned with gold chains. He stood at, the very least, 8 feet tall. ??? : Drink up. It's been a long road here. |
| Kirbynite Posts: 1076/1334 |
Kirby momentarily flinched from the complete randomness of the caterpillar. He scratched his head and then turned to Minonim. He slowly approach the drone and tapped it a few times.
Kirby: Heeey! Do you have some juice on you? Like, are you also a vending machine? I'm getting thirsty. |
| C`aos Posts: 154/311 |
The following couple hours were uneventful - though it was obvious how untamed the terrain was, rugged as it was - sometimes becoming increasingly narrow, sometimes causing Ultimanium to duck down, and occaisionally taking them over top of blatantly dangerous rivers of magma. And all along the way, the wildlife continued to get increasingly bizarre.
But eventually the path ended, leading outside and up onto an ash-covered plateau that wound around a cliff face. The giant city they left was quickly losing focus on the horizon. Ultimanium was already far away, pushing his ear against a giant bronze gate that covered another small cavern opening. Stepping back, it creaked open. And behind it was... Minonim : Salutations! I am Minonim Mk.MCXVIII, recon drone version gamma, deployed to the Empire of Aht Uhrgan to replace the Mk.MCXVII model after techincal failure, all information has been uploaded from the master database and *rabble rabble rabble* Ultimanium : Oh for the love of god. A large red caterpillar-looking beast crept by, turned in the group's direction, belched some flame into the air, and continued moving. |
| Kirbynite Posts: 958/1334 |
Kirby: ... Dang. Well, atleast we won't have to worry much about our backs.
Kirby held the map up to get a better view. Kirby: Maybe.. we should start running. There could be plenty of reasons that caused that cave in, and it could happen again. That and if we run into a different kind of trouble, fighting inside a cave is not the smartest things to do. |
| C`aos Posts: 137/311 |
Ultimanium : Ohhh. I get it. You think that someone is trying to track us, and that this is a really poor route to take to get to Zyhalom. Well, don't look at me, this is just the way this map is pointing... and if this is one of the Empire's own mass-printed maps, then there shouldn't be any reason for this cave to be-
All at once another tremor shook the entire cave, and in one fell swoop the entrance caved in, putting a wall at least several feet thick between the group and fresh air. Ultimanium flicked his hand out, and a bright orb of energy appeared in it, creating a light source. Ultimanium : ...unsafe. |
| Sukasa Posts: 1561/2068 |
"It was on the top of said spider. But you're right, why woudl the follow us in here... I don't like this much either." Said Snipes.
About that moment a large rumbling began to emanate from deeper within the tunnel, accompanied by the sound of a viscous liquid pouring through atunnel, much like the one the four were in at the moment! |
| C`aos Posts: 135/311 |
Ultimanium : Red light... I wasn't paying attention, all I saw was that big-ass sp...
He spun around, staring outside one last time. More wind rustled through the trees, but that was about it. Ultimanium : ...this place looks a little too well-trodden for my tastes. But who would just go on marching through here? Ultimanium pointed into the tunnel a short ways, where a tiny trickle of lava could be seen seeping from the wall and crossing the ground into a larger crevice. Ultimanium : Maybe it's just coincidence... the trolls are pissed at us, yeah. But I don't think they'd be dumb enough to follow us into here, or towards an Imperial outpost for that matter. |
| Sukasa Posts: 1555/2068 |
OOC: Perhaps it's good then that no-one made the connection to Snipes having been an assassin for a long time. |
| Kirbynite Posts: 940/1334 |
((Aha! Now I remember! It was because Quint's appearance was similar to Mega Man's, in which caused Kirbynite to think there was a connection to Wily.  )) |
| Sukasa Posts: 1552/2068 |
OOC: Well, "I'm a reploid as well" in the middle of conversation with Quint (when Snipes first met you three) isn't exactly noticable ). Not that it would help much... he doesn't know. (there is a sotry to that) |
| Kirbynite Posts: 939/1334 |
((Well, you never pointed out he was a robot or reploid. Either that, or I never caught onto it ))
Kirby: Er.. well.. Yeah. Scouting around behind us making sure no one is going to ambush us from behind, heh. |
| Sukasa Posts: 1550/2068 |
OOC: I just noticed this (wow I'm slow)... Kirbynite was very carefl around quint at first over his programmer at first... but wasn't with snipes, even though snipes too is a reploid. Wj\hy is that?
 "You could be a little clearer then... I thought you said you were to be using him for scouting..." Frowning slightly, Snipes relaxed a bit. "Anyways... good idea." |
| Kirbynite Posts: 937/1334 |
Kirby: Geeze, ya don't give me no credit? That was the main reason why I took out the Clockwork-Poe. |
| This is a long thread. Click here to view it. | |
