{{right_image|image=http://www.taikaiwiki.com/images/logos/rt3.png}} '''Ruruouni Taikai III: The Cage of Dreams''' was a main tournament held from [[July 14]], [[2002]], to [[July 31]], [[2002]], on the [http://www.randominsanity.org Random Insanity Forums]. The sponsor Pool was from Squaresoft (pre-Enix merger), Eidos, and SNK. All characters entering into the tournament were invited by [[Halcyon]] or [[Kaiki]] to participate. Part of the reason for this was for Kaiki's sake to observe other people - but there was further plotting afoot with revenge in mind against the [[The Eternals]] for the death of Thanatos. He is also in search of [[Forever Sin]] - a blade of legend. [[Issabelle]] was fueling the fires behind Halcyon, using him despite knowing the truth that Halcyon was Thanatos 'reborn'. [[Sphynx]] meanwhile reported to [[Fabian]] about the movements of the two, and after that was visited by [[Mintaka Averinthe]] who prodded Fabian into investigating. At the opening of the tournament both sides meet up somewhat, and they both oversee the tournament while working out differences (though it's more like Mintaka and Fabian and Sphynx are tagging along). Quickly, a new problem has occured - a being of dubious origins which will devour everything in time dubbed ''"[[Children of Terror]]"'' (a shapeshifting chimeric mass of ugly) has appeared that is temporarily contained at Crystara until the hosts can figure out what to do - or find a means. (Those means include involving the participants, as Halcyon won't have any of Kaiki getting involved, but they need to find one capable of handling the beast. Still, they ar reluctant to call on them because, well, it's not like they were asked here for that.) Tensions between Fabian and Halcyon reach a head during Round 4 where they fight, but they're cut short with the near-death of Sphynx and Kaiki's powers awakening because of an attack made under Issabelle's direction. Because of this - and other things - Halcyon turns his back on Issabelle with somewhat drastic results when they return to the place of Thanatos' death and Halcyon discovers what really happened. Unfortunately, all is not complete, as everyone is taken to Carpasia, the City of Dreams by Kaiki. It is here she comes to find Forever Sin, and put the beast to rest. Kaiki has pulled [[Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy VII)|Vincent Valentine]], [[Mesdoram Elmdor (Final Fantasy Tactics)|Mesdoram Elmdor]] and [[Ukyo Tachibana (Samurai Shodown series)|Ukyo Tachibana]] into the central tower here with her, and the beast. Kaiki confronts Issabelle and puts her in her place in her quest to find the sword, retrieves it and heads to the top of deal with the monstrosity, unfortunately it becomes three. Vincent and Elmdor go to join her, declared winners of the tournament after the beast's defeat. RT3 was the last of the main-tournament Rurouni Taikai before they were switched back to the [[Survivor]] name. Note: Elaboration on the characters and plot of RT3 can also be found at [http://exile.ajora.net/ RT3: Goundworks] maintained by [[User:Mintaka]] ==Rounds== [[Rurouni Taikai III Round One|Round One]]: '''Beginnings and Endings''' ([[Pride Marsh]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Omake Round|Omake Round]]: '''Just a Second!''' ([[A Remote Lodge]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Round Two|Round Two]]: '''Brightest Day''' ([[Crystal City]] ''Crystara (Original Location)'' (Mintaka's personal creation))
[[Rurouni Taikai III Round Three|Round Three]]: '''Sunset Reflections''' ([[Sea of Israfel]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Round Four|Round Four]]: '''Darkest Hours''' ([[Underworld]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Round Five|Round Five]]: '''Truth, Memory, and Trust''' ([[Tower of Thoth]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Round Six|Round Six]]: '''The Halcyon Days''' ([[B'Al Zarr, The Constellation Desert]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Final Round|Final]]: '''The Cage of Dreams''' ([[Carpasia, the City of Dreams]], ''Original Location'')
[[Rurouni Taikai III Aftermath|Aftermath]]: '''Even Though We Change...''' ([[A Remote Lodge]], ''Original Location'')
===Other Important Threads=== [[Rurouni Taikai III Drafting Thread|Drafting Thread]]
[[Rurouni Taikai III Descriptions Thread|Descriptions Thread]]
[[Rurouni Taikai III Sunshine Introductions Thread|Introductions Thread]]
==Continuity== RT3 occured in the [[Eternals]] [[Multiverse]] allowing participants to use characters from prior tournaments as well as use their characters again in future Eternal-related tournaments. It featured Fabian prominently, as well as mentioning several other Eternals in the course during the time of the tournament, and past events involving [[The High Council]] and several locations related to the Eternal's continuity. It did not really reshape any major history, other then delving into things once forgotten. ==Battle System== The tournament used some sort of system... which Mintaka will elaborate upon later! ==Awards== '''Best Story''': [[Tenshi Kain|TenshiKain]] as [[Zack]]
'''Best Dramatic Performance''': [[Darkken]] as [[Ukyo Tachibana]]
'''Best Comedic Performance''': [[AsylumXKP]] as [[Red Mage]]
'''Best Rivalry''': [[Wayne]] and [[San Draco]] as [[Walton Simons]] and [[JC Denton]]
'''Best Duel''': [[Tenshi Kain|TenshiKain]] and [[Soujiro Seta]] as [[Zack]] and [[Mesdoram Elmdor]]
'''Best Romance''': [[Cirrus|Cirrus Velious]] and [[Kellios]] as [[Cloud Strife]] and [[Aeris Gainsborough]]
'''Lancelot's Chivalry Award''': [[Darkken]] as [[Ukyo Tachibana]]
'''The One-Man-Army Award For Overcoming Extraordinary Odds''': [[Shokanshi Ascot]] as [[Seifer Almasy]]
'''Most Original Interpretation of an Existing Character''': [[Soujiro Seta]] as [[Mesdoram Elmdor]]
'''Best Friendship/Alliance''': [[Darkken]] and [[CarlyCheeese]] as [[Ukyo Tachibana]] and [[Shizumaru Hisame]]
'''Best Sig/Avatar''': [[Alexander Krizak]] for [[Aya Brea]]'s sig
'''Best Omake''': [[Tenshi Kain|TenshiKain]]'s [[Zack]]
'''Best Fluffy Sidekick''': [[Baka]]'s [[Plue]]
'''Rookie''': [[CarlyCheeese]] as [[Shizumaru Hisame]]
==Roster== This tournament allowed characters from Square, Eidos, and SNK that did not break the [[Divinity Ban]] and didn't somehow break any other rule. Fluffy Sidekicks were allowed. {| width="100%" |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" !width="15%"|Final Round !width="15%"|Sponsor !width="35%"|Character !width="15%"|Fluffy !width="20%"|Mode |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Winner ||[[Soujiro Seta]] ||[[Mesdoram Elmdor]] (Final Fantasy Tactics) || ||Neutral/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Winner ||[[Exeter]] ||[[Vincent Valentine]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Neutral/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Final Round ||[[Darkken]] ||[[Ukyo Tachibana]] (Samurai Shodown) || ||Light/Chaos/Neutral |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 6 ||[[Shizuyoko]] ||[[Yuffie Kisaragi]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Light/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 6 ||[[Kellios]] ||[[Aeris Gainsborough]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 6 ||[[CarlyCheeese]] ||[[Shizumaru Hisame]] (Samurai Shodown) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 6 ||[[Dareon]] ||[[Amethyst|Blue/Rouge (Amethyst)]] (SaGa Frontier) || ||Light/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 6 ||[[Baka]] ||[[Haru glory]] (Groove Adventure Rave) ||[[Plue]] ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 5 ||[[Media]] ||[[Fuujin]] (Final Fantasy VIII) || ||Light/Neutral/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 5 ||[[Shokanshi Ascot]] ||[[Seifer Almasy]] (Final Fantasy VIII) || ||Neutral/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 5 ||[[Switchblade]] ||[[Terry Bogard]] (Fatal Fury/King of Fighters) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 5 ||[[AsylumXKP]] ||[[Red Mage]] (Final Fantasy) || ||Light/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 5 ||[[Nif]] ||[[Rock Howard]] (Garou: Mark of the Wolves) || ||Neutral/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 4 ||[[Slipstream]] ||[[Kain]] (Legacy of Kain) || ||Shadow/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 4 ||[[Alexander Krizak]] ||[[Aya Brea]] (Parasite Eve) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 4 ||[[Bugenhagen]] ||[[Fei Fong Wong]] (Xenogears) || ||Light/Neutral/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 4 ||[[Anoat]] ||[[Auron]] (Final Fantasy X) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 4 ||[[San Draco]] ||[[JC Denton]] (Deus Ex) ||[[Security Bot]] ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 3 ||[[Daigohji]] ||[[Mitochondria Eve]] (Parasite Eve) || ||Shadow/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 3 ||[[Cirrus|Cirrus Velious]] ||[[Cloud Strife]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 3 ||[[Netz Ausg]] ||[[Odin]] (Final Fantasy VIII) || ||Neutral/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 3 ||[[Sylphid]] ||[[Angela]] (Seiken Densetsu III) ||[[Mana Spirits]] ||Light/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 3 ||[[Kyo]] ||[[Iori Yagami]] (King of Fighters) || ||Shadow/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 2 ||[[Simplistic Hero]] ||[[Queen Brahne]] (Final Fantasy IX) || ||Shadow/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 2 ||[[Hito]] ||[[Rufus Shinra]] (Final Fantasy VII) ||[[Dark Nation]] ||Shadow/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 2 ||[[net-cat]] ||[[Red XIII]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Light/Neutral/Neutral |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 2 ||[[BlackMage]] ||[[Vivi Ornitier]] (Final Fantasy IX) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 2 ||[[Saint7]] ||[[Leona Heidern]] (King of Fighters) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[KyleIII]] ||[[Raiden]] (Metal Gear Solid 2) || ||Neutral/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[Aku]] ||[[Irvine Kinneas]] (Final Fantasy VIII) || ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[Zoom7000]] ||[[Laguna Loire]] (Final Fantasy VIII) ||[[Moomba]] ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[Thirdtwin]] ||[[Citan Uzuki]] (Xenogears) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[JSG|Just Some Guy]] ||[[Elazul]] (Legend of Mana) ||[[Succubus]] ||Light/Law/Neutral |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Round 1 ||[[Wayne]] ||[[Walton Simons]] (Deus Ex) || ||Shadow/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Tenshi Kain|TenshiKain]] ||[[Zack]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Light/Law/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Boko]] ||[[Reno]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||Shadow/Chaos/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[JonJonB]] ||[[Solid Snake]] (Metal Gear Solid) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Luna]] ||[[Lady Blackpearl]] (Legend of Mana) ||[[Chitto the Chobin Hood]] ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Curley W]] ||[[Umaro]] (Final Fantasy VI) || ||Light/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Chakraist]] ||[[Raijin]] (Final Fantasy VIII) || ||Light/Chaos/Heart |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Sachiel]] ||[[Otacon]] (Metal Gear Solid) || ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Millenia]] ||[[Adelbert Steiner]] (Final Fantasy IX) ||[[Bobby Corwen]] ||Light/Law/Mind |- style="border: 1px solid #7577B7; color: #000000; background-color: #E4E4F2" ||Sidekick ||[[Efli]] ||[[Tseng]] (Final Fantasy VII) || ||?/?/? |} ==Soundtrack== ===Vocal Side=== 01. Pink Floyd - Solitary (Predule) (''High Hopes'')
02. Styx - Dream Beyond (''What Have They Done to You'')
03. Lawrence Gowan - Pride & The Past (''The Dragon'')
04. The Tea Party - Respondent (Fabian's Theme) (''Correspondences'')
05. The Tea Party - Echoing & Gathering (''Great Big Lie'')
06. Damn Yankees - Peril of a World (''Mister Please'')
07. Styx - Hold Your Breath (Theme of the Crystarans) (''Castle Walls'')
08. Styx - Hopeless Situations (''Just get Through This Night'')
09. The Tea Party - Question the Darkness (''Chimera'')
10. Staind - Ocean's Concurrent (''It's Been Awhile'')
11. Glen Burtnick - Eloquence on Hold (Mintaka's Theme) (''River of Fire'')
12. R.E.M. - In Too Deep (''Losing My Religion'')
13. FFX OST - Underworld Dreams (''Otherworld'')
14. Lara Fabian, FF:TSW OST - Hollow Hopes (''The Dream Within'')
15. Journey - Cycles (Sphynx's Theme) (''Wheel in the Sky'')
16. Lawrence Gowan - Come Crashing Down (''60 Second Nightmare'')
17. Kansas - Sighted (Kaiki's Theme) (''Play The Game Tonight'')
18. The Tea Party - Deserted Thoughts & Recollections (''The Halcyon Days'')
19. Sting - Desire's Poison (Issabelle's Theme) (''Desert Rose'')
20. The Tea Party - On the Edge (Halcyon's Theme) (''The River (Remix)'')
21. Glen Burtnick - Tranquility's Wish (''Someday'')
22. Lwarence Gowan - The Sky is Falling (''Message from Heaven'')
23. Tommy Shaw - Abyssial (''Down on the Ground'')
24. The Tea Party - Light at the End of the Tunnel (''Walking Wounded'')
25. The Tea Party - Hope Everlasting (''These Living Arms'')
26. Led Zeppelin - Wit & Reason (J. M. Karadontia's Theme) (''Kashmir'')
27. Styx - Drawing Down (Johnathan & Kaiki aka Closing One) (''One with Everything'')
28. The Tea Party - Echoes to Eternity (Closing Two, aka Final Closing) (''Heaven Coming Down'')
===Instrumental Side=== Under construction - literally. Mintaka will add this when she finishes compiling this. ==Archives== *[http://dreamscape.sonitus-online.com/Survivor%20Archives/RT3.rar Tournament archive download] [[Category:Rurouni Taikai III]]