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Merton Dew
The Main Moogle

quote:
Originally posted by Switchblade
All of a sudden a small, light object fell from the sky and landed before Julius. The emperor reached down and picked it up. It was a soft child's toy shaped like a Moogle. In a partial trance Julius took the small plushie and hugged it close like a small child would. This was something Julius had never felt, a feeling that he should have experienced a long, long time ago. Julius clung tightly to the plushie as tears flowed freely down his cheeks.
I'd like to believe that this is the same Moogle plushie Mog has been carrying around. You've certainly turned Julius into a sympathetic character. Many kupos to you.

As for me, complete writer's block.

Edit: OK, not complete. Inspiration strikes suddenly and without warning.

---
Mog watched as the Moogles performed their dance. It was the annual Moogle Winter Ball, and eveyone was dancing, feasting, and having fun. The Moogles' cozy little cave was brightly lit and toasty warm. Mog looked on as the specters of his old comarades danced their ghostly dance. He recognized all his old friends - Kupek, Kupop, Kumama, Kuku, Kutan, Kupan, Kushu, Kurin, Kuru, Kamog - they were all there. Those were the good old days... But Kefka had taken all that away. Back home the Moogle cave was still abandoned. His friends had never returned. He didn't know if they were dead or alive. "Kefka's gone! Now things can go back to how they used to be! Right? Kupo?!" Mog asked the vision before him. This is why he came to this tournament. To turn back the clock, to change things back to how they'd been before Kefka changed the world. No... it'll never be like it was. It's time to move on. It's time to rebuild. It's time for rebirth. Mog walked over and joined in the Moogles' dance as it faded away, leaving him alone in Memoria.

---
Edit 2: And I might as well use some votes.

Prayer on Gryz (2 P-Votes)

Last edited by Merton Dew on 02-05-2002 at 08:38 AM

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:14 AM
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Tenshi Kain
Nameless Eternal

We can embrace love; it's not too late.
Why do we sleep, instead, with hate?
Belief requires no suspension
to see that Hell is our invention.
We make Hell real; we stoke its fires.
And in its flames our hope expires.
Heaven, too, is merely our creation.
We can grant ourselves our own salvation.
All that's required is imagination.


- This entry, as well as the prior two, come from The Book of Counted Sorrows.

- - - - -

"...ey, sir, are you all right?"

Slash was roused from a light doze by the voice of a woman. He winced as his eyes were subject to the gray light, which told him he was still in Memoria. Which also meant that the round- strangely- had not ended yet. Though, given Yume's earlier reaction to the place, he supposed they all needed some extra time alone. He was no exception, given what he'd had to remember and contemplate so far. But who had awakened him?

He craned his head up to see a woman's figure, dark-haired and fairly petite, with a concerned expression that yet belied the struggle she was putting aside. Slash identified her at once- she was one of the only females to make it to the final round, and the one who'd been called 'Mia.' Something to that effect, anyway.

"Sir, are you all right?" she repeated. Her voice was light, welcoming, and yet horribly pained. Slash briefly scanned her and found the cause, or at least the physical source of her pain- a sword wound. Judging from the bruise surrounding the torn flesh, that had been no light cavalry sword or even a katana- a much heavier weapon had been used to inflict the injury. Broadsword, perhaps- it was a wonder she was alive, but then, she was in the final six of the tournament.

And she...

"Yeah, I just dozed off, F- Miss," Slash said, rubbing some sleepsand from his eyes. He came up to his feet with ease, his brow twitching as he looked at her. "You walk around in that condition? Must take quite a bit out of you."

Mia shook her head. "Not really...my friend Lemina treated me with a curative spell, so I should be fine..."

Slash had a strangely nostalgic feeling about what he was about to do. He put his sword in his scabbard, dusting his hands together with a grimly understanding expression plastered on his brow. "Your name's Mia, right? Or am I mistaken?"

"No, you're right." She eased a step back, as though apprehensive of his fists. "Mia Ausa..."

"I'm called Slash. You look like a nice, young lady. For a human." Slash twisted his lip into a half-smile that was devoid of mirth. "I'm almost sorry I didn't get more of a chance to know you in this little shindig. Oh, you can relax- human or not, you're a lady, and I still have my principles."

And something about you reminds me of that little transexual.

"Hold still, will you?" Slash pressed his palms together, his brow furrowing in concentration as he summoned up his greater magic power. When "allocating" elements to yourself, it was best to place an attunement in your mind based on the level of familiarity you had with it. He let his muscles tense, and then there was blue light encasing the younger Mia's feet. She cringed for a moment, but then, only a moment, as a bubbling, pristine stream of what looked like untouchable water washed over her. She was left dry, save for the wound, which at once clotted. Tissues repaired themselves in microseconds, the flesh sealed up like a creamy door, and the last trace of blood fizzled into nothing.

Slash exhaled through his nose as the powerful CurePlus element completed- nearly four times as powerful as his standard curing spells, and definitely the first time he'd ever used it on a human. Whether or not it was as restorative as this 'Lemina's' spell remained to be seen, but Slash reckoned it was.

Mia seemed appreciative. "Um, heh, thank you," she muttered.

Slash crossed his arms and turned to the side, pacing off. "You ought to thank a lady by the name of Flea," he called back.

Something in her gait. The way she forced that smile...yeah. Pure Flea.

Slash's thoughts were fleeting as he walked, his earlier thought suddenly hitting him. I gave up on feeling to become a swordsman. But...then why did that girl's resemblance to Flea make me do that? If she looked like Ozzie, hell, I wouldn't have given her a second glance...

A memory stirred, and Slash stopped dead in his tracks. The senses of that day came slamming back into him, and he felt himself lose balance and stumble. He swallowed, hard, and forced himself to remember. Perhaps it would tell him a bit more, answer the pathological self-exploration he was feeling...and, maybe, tell him why he felt this way.

-----

"Slash, baby, you were dropping mass and kicking ass out there!" Flea crooned, smirking from ear to ear as she leaned against the doorframe of Slash's quarters. "That's the first time I've seen a full-blown human retreat."

Slash whipped the lone braid of silver hair from the back of his head over his shoulder, wedging his palms against his neck muscles. "Don't look so adoring. That was one of the worst-organized charges they've ever put out. Oily dunces left their archers too far out of range. They didn't stand a chance."

Flea twirled a finger in her hair, her grin turning cocky. "Not against that blade and those muscles and that cunning jaw...that elegance, that kick and cut combo, those to-die-for slacks- you almost make up for being less-than-gorgeous, Slash."

He craned his head back a bit. "Don't you typically ramble about yourself, Flea?" He turned his back to her, half-smiling as he kneaded the base of his neck. "Come on, I'm dying to hear the four hundred and seventy-third theorem of why beauty is power. Every night, it's 'beauty is power.'"

He'd expected an answer, or some type of pun, he later admitted. But he didn't expect Flea's hands on his neck, easing the ache out of his battle-worn muscles. Nor did he ever imagine he'd feel her breath against those muscles as her body bunched up closer to his. Slash had tried to pull away, but her arms were immediately around his chest. Then he felt her shift around him, until her hands were pressed to his shoulderblades and his chest was up against hers. He remembered...her flesh smelled like wild cherry when she was that close, and her eyes had that low twinkle to their maroon orbs when the light hit them just right. He remembered, in the most fatal moment, when she brushed his diminute lips with her own, when she rose to her tiptoes and sealed his mouth with hers. Just before she'd kissed him, Slash had heard her whisper something, when her face was huddled against his neck.

"Oh, but power is beauty, too."


-----

Slash clamped his hands to his temples. Damn, that was...not something he'd been prepared to remember. Over the pain of his chest, raw from being beaten by his heart, and the heat swelling in his arms and cheeks, Slash felt fury- fury with this place. Memoria was a giant castle of malediction! It was his mind, damn it! It had no right prying those things out, weeding into his cranium like some sick, freak battle surgeon. He snarled, calling out to Yume in the midst of his throes, his tormented frame writhing on the ground as he clutched his head.

"...damn, no," he finally croaked, his chest heaving. "I did not...I did not want to remember. I can't feel...I'm not supposed to care...I'm not supposed to care..."

-----

1 Mimicry of Lemina's Prayer on Mia

So all that round-favoring to Mia and Lemina did have a reason behind it. And yeah, I'm going on the assumption that Flea was a female and confused about her gender. Anyway, I've raped the italics function enough for tonight, so oyasumi!

Last edited by Tenshi Kain on 02-05-2002 at 08:45 AM

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:43 AM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

The round's been extended until 9PM GMT? Thank god for that, Krizak - the fact that I spent the entire night up to do the Edge/Rydia/Rubicante duel, and then went straight on to a 9-hour work shift, means I went to bed a lot earlier than I wanted to because I was knackered and I only just woke up. The extra time actually gives me a chance to catch up.

Sorry it's because you were feeling ill, though, get well soon. Great posts everyone, btw.

EDIT: Okay, 7PM GMT, not 9PM, I thought we were seven hours ahead.

---

The infirmary of Castle Baron stands empty save for one individual, his chest slowly rising and falling as he lies in his bed and recovers from his injuries. A great welt darkens his left forehead with individual strands of his long blond hair draping over it. At the foot of the bed is the man's armour, stylised in the rainments of the dragons, although the chestplate is heavily buckled inwards as if struck by a heavy object.

Barbariccia leans against the nearest wall, her hair flowing behind her in its usual fashion when unwhipped into a frenzy by her elemental wind. Her eyes have barely left the dragon knight since she brought him here, and dust whorls skitters around her feet as she subconciously tries to fight down what she must be feeling.

"Why?" I finally ask, breaking the silence. Barbariccia does not start at my voice, but turns to face me as I stand in the infirmary doorway. "You brought him back from the village of Mist, and defended his life when Golbez decided he should be slain. Is this one human more important than any other?"

"I thought he could be of use to us," she replies slowly, as if having to think of her answer. "I found him on the outskirts of Mist, barely alive after his chest was caved in by a falling boulder." She takes a breath, then continues.

"I saw his soul, Rubi, unshielded for once by the mental defense humans erect to protect their sanity. While he lay there, dazed and confused, I saw his mind. His wish to prove himself over the dark knight Cecil in the eyes of the King, to win Rosa's love for himself. His is a life of being second best, of not becoming as recognised as his adoptive brother and having to live in Cecil's shadow. He would give much to gain that power, that recognition in the eyes of others."

I ponder her words, and I realise that they make sense to me. This warrior has the fighting spirit to become strong, strong enough to change the course of our struggle, and the envy that he feels could easily be used to bring him to our side if he is granted that power. I will not force him down our path, but given reason enough he may choose to tread himself, sacrificing his past in order to shape his future.

"... I see, Barbariccia, you were right to do such a thing. Before he is recovered, I will also speak to Golbez and reaffirm your words." I tell her. "But is there something more? You did not act this way when we brought others to our side, such as Baigan."

"He is also a creature of the sky, his path of the dragon knight taking him into the skies to see things from above, to dance with the winds and feel part of them." She looks at the knight again, running her sight over his injured form. "I thought I could find something I could connect to in him, some way to form a bond. And..."

I sense her roiling feelings inside, for we Fiends cannot hide our natures from each other, and her voice quavers as something bottled up inside her threatens to spring forth.

"...Bar? What is it you have to say?"

"We're all alone in this, Rubicante," she whispers, a slow and delicate tear trickling down her face as she looks down at the floor again. "We have none but each other..."


...That was my first meeting with Kain, I realise, as the vision melts from my view and the chaotic hallways of Memoria return. Are these memories connected somehow to the path Garuda spoke of, or do they just randomly flicker from my mind as I pass through the twisted corridors?

That memory remains one of my most clear and cherished, for it is a continual reminder that we Fiends had more emotions than just blind hate and rage. But why did I see it here?


---

As you probably noticed, I'm using the original names of the Four Fiends and not their retranslations into English because of personal preference. This might be a very small nitpick, Krizak, but would you mind adding the 'e' to the end of Rubicante's name?

Last edited by Slipstream on 02-05-2002 at 06:00 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:52 AM
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Dareon
The Second Gunman

"Aren't memories strange? Just when you think that you've forgotten about something, it comes floating back into your heart. I guess it's just lying there in wait. Waiting for that right moment..."

Two Itos stood and watched a sunset through different eyes. They were at the top of Seattle's famous landmark, the Space Needle. Through the smog, the sunset had turned a vivid orange and was slowly fading. The Ito of the present watched carefully. Any moment now...

A sudden flash of green fire on the edge of the sun. The young Ito next to him gasped. "Faerie fire..."

I remember this. My first night in Seattle. I didn't have much of a workload, so I went to the Space Needle after work. And saw this sunset. I think... I prefer my memory of it more. The sense of wonder and joy I felt.

Ito turned away from his memories once again.

"So much pain and suffering is here. Joy, sorrow, anger, envy, lust... All here for those that seek them."

Ito glanced up. "Yume!"

The Daughter appeared, striding slowly through the mists. "Ito. You've never called me before. What's up?"

"Half the contestants are paralyzed by their own memories. You knew this would happen, and somehow, it's integral to your plan."

Yume looked a little startled, but quickly composed herself. "Plan?" she asked incredulously, "What plan?"

"Yume, please. I know you must have ulterior motives for this. The contest, the venues, even the choice of contestants. I think I know your game, Yume. I can't be sure yet, though."

"What do you plan to do?"

"Against a goddess?" He laughed. "Nothing. I plan to sit back and enjoy the show. It would be nice to have some popcorn. Or maybe a nice warm bagel?"

"What are you..."

"I merely call attention to the plight of these poor people." He gestured towards the barely-conscious body of a contestant. "Half his wounds appear self-inflicted, as if he is trying to excise some evil memory from inside himself." Next, a thrashing blue swordsman. "He struggles to retain his shell, in the face of his own weakness."

Ito finished a slow, 360-degree turn and faced Yume again. "You have placed them here. Amidst their hopes, their fears, their greatest desires, and their darkest memories. You have given them everything, and they may break from the strain.

"A small bit of advice. From a miniboss to a goddess. Go among them. Share their suffering, their joy, their love. Then, find your own dream. You have the power to make the dreams of everyone here a reality. Do not squander them on others."

He turned on his heel and made to walk away. He paused an turned back to Yume. "Go well, goddess. May you find the peaceful dream you seek."

With that, the man named Ito Ogami walked off into a sunset only he could see. A sunset filled with a flash of green, and a young man's wonder.

---

OOC: Okay, that's my use for Yume. For some reason, that came to me as I was walking the dog. A cookie (No votes, though) to the person who identifies the reference in this post.

Old Post 02-05-2002 10:47 AM
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Switchblade
Fire of Legend

quote:
You've certainly turned Julius into a sympathetic character. Many kupos to you.

Thanks, Merton Dew, it took me awhile but I think I've finally hit on a good storyline for Julius. The game doesn't really delve much into his character, but it does say how the Dark Lord found and raised him, so i figure that can't have been the best environment for a kid. His story's done now, though, I just have one final part to add to it and I'll wait and add that in round seven.

Old Post 02-05-2002 02:08 PM
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San Draco
El Draco Caido

Cool, I actually get some time between classes! YAY!
---

Garland stepped into Memoria. The very first person he met was... well... Garland. The Silver Garland bowed. "I am Garland, the Master of Time."

The other replied, "I am Garland, the Master of Memoria. I can tell that you have some great sorrow weighing heavily upon you. I would help you, if I can."

The two, along with Kefka, went deep into Chaos's memory. Into the Great Desert, the hiding place of Mirage Tower.

Kefka looked down, and vehemently pointed out, "Ahem, there's sand in my boots."

The two Garlands looked at him, then turned toward the tower. The Silver Knight whispered, "This is where I first met Tiamat. She had been attacked by the Lefens, and I saved her."

The black-clad one nodded. "Yes, you saved her. In return, you received a stauch ally, which aided you against the Light Warriors. It was the same with the other Fiends, was it not?"

Chaos nodded his head. "Indeed. All of them were already created, I merely brought them to my side. Why does this memory come?"

"That is a mystery, which only time may solve. Please, continue on."
---

*OOC* And I will, when I can.

Old Post 02-05-2002 02:13 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

I'm not sure whether to reveal everything of Rubicante's past in Memoria, or wait until the final round whether competitor or Fallen to conclude it all. Meh.

---

I pass through a great series of stone archways, framed by ornate windows that look out onto a vast city below. This part of the vast labyrinth is unfamiliar to me, and I realise that this Memoria is composed of the combined memories of all who come here. Even now, in its passive state while I am not seeing my own memories played out on a screen, it constantly moulds and reshapes itself to unify the rememberances and dreams of all here into a single place.

I reach the top of the stairs and step onto a long stone bridge, impossibly spanning the city I saw through those windows. This must be how Zemus saw our world from his vantage point in the orbiting moon above it, the buildings below me appearing tiny and meaningless. Insignificant, one undistinguishable from the other. It occurs to me that this is the way he must have seen humanity, spread out below him, and he never knew the power of these humans because he was never close enough to see how they each stood out in the world.


"He was everything I loathed, and every reason I endured the pain I have."

"...I wasn't with Cecil and the others for very long, but I know that Zemus' control was responsible, directly or indirectly, for the deaths of countless innocent people..."

"He destroyed many countless lives in his actions. And he was the poison that warped so many souls and caused so much pain. He forced betrayals and heartache on many, and used people like dolls."

"To top it off, he did it all for power. Nothing but his own greed motivated him."

"I'd rather have died than let any more pain befall others like what befell me and my friends."


As Rydia and Edge's words reflect back to me, whether through my own ponderings of the city below or the effect of Memoria upon my recollections, I cannot believe I once swore alliegance to such a creature. What was I before then that made me unable to see Zemus for what he was, a bumbling halfwit? Or perhaps, more fairly to myself and my brethren, like a child who believes all that they are told by their elders and grow up into those beliefs so strong that they mould their very character.

"Honestly, despite my hatred for you, I'm surprised he could control you; you obviously have a sense of honor, however misguided it is."

Yes... yes, I do, Edge, and that did not come from Zemus. Nor Barbariccia's feelings for others, nor Cagnazzo's sardonic sense of humour, nor Scarmiglione's endless hunger. We were all individuals, all possessed of emotions and personalities that our master certainly did not grant to us.

What were we? What am I?


---

Maybe you'll be able to challenge me again. I look forward to our next encounter.

Last edited by Slipstream on 02-05-2002 at 03:49 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 03:43 PM
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Yume
Daughter of the Creator

I don't know where some of you are converting your times, but most of you have it wrong. This round ends at 12PM Mountain Standard Time. That's 11AM on the West Coast of the States, 2PM for the East Coast of the States, and 7PM for you Britons and your GMT.

So in other words, the round ends in an hour.

*stuggles to hold in some liquids* Damn! Of all the times to be sick! The last day of the Tournament AND my day off from work!


---

~ I am you, and you are me ~ This defies reality ~ Whether this is false or true ~ You are me, and I am you ~
Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream ~ The Massive Insanity Has Begun! ~ Now, Cross Your Fingers And Hope For The Best!

Old Post 02-05-2002 05:44 PM
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Soujiro Seta
SIN

Placeholder!

Perhaps opposed to popular opinion, I DO, in fact, have a third and final part to my story for this round sitting nicely on my hard drive at home. However, I won't be able to get it posted before the end of the round's voting time.

So, because I want to make sure I get this in.....

----------

1 Aura on Commander Driscoll, Rubicant, and Setzer Gabianni (2 P-Vote Points)


That leaves me with 4 P-Vote points...enough to do any move I might fancy......
----------

Unless Krizak decides to start the final round really soon, 'Shadow and Memory 3' should be up after the end of the voting, but before the final round.

Oh, and this 'emphasis on seriousness' rule is making this round shine brightly in terms of writing talent....


EDIT: Hailing Yume, you have a universal telepathic PM waiting in your PM inbox...

Last edited by Soujiro Seta on 02-05-2002 at 06:11 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 05:59 PM
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Netz Ausg
The Light of Hope

And the annoying spectator walks in, messes people about and leave:

One Prayer for Driscoll
One Deathblow against Mia

*Leaves until survivor 7*


---
The light of hope



Image thanks to Dareon

Old Post 02-05-2002 06:09 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

Oops, I thought we were nine hours ahead and not seven. Panic time and rushed posts ahead.

This is a placeholder for a Rubicante/Malaris fight, in case I don't get it finished before the round ends. San Draco, let me know if it conflicts with anything you're planning and I'll change it.

---

As I reach the halfway point of the bridge, the world spins around me and a vast shape appears on the stonework before me. Its red and blue scales flicker in the light of my fire, and its long and serpentine body wriggles and wreathes behind and beneath the mostly humanoid torso. Each of the beast's six arms holds a vast scitimar, which weave an intricate dance in front of its head.

"So we finally meet, Rubicante," the beast hisses. "I am Maliris, one of the Chaos guardians, and I have been looking forward to meeting you here."

"And why would that be, serpentine one?" I ask her, watching warily for signs of attack.

"We share many similarities, you and I," she replies. "Brother and sister, loosely connected by our elements and the vagueries of fate in our different worlds. I wished to see which of us was truly the stronger here."

Another day, another battle. And although it is one of my fondest desires to fight equals in combat, a bitter taste enters my mouth as I build a great bolt of flame in my arms and hurl it at her body. I should have known better, really - she mentioned we were connected by our elements, and the fire heals her as it is absorbed into her body. She has obviously realised that her flame will do the same to me, and she rushes forwards with her swords gleaming.

I duck as one blade shoots over my head, take a glancing blow across the chest as the second strikes me in a sideways blow, and I throw myself into a backwards roll before the other four blades can strike me. I create twin firesabers in both hands and rush her in close combat, the variable length of my sabers managing to compensate somehow when Maliris has three times my number of attacks available.

Despite this, I am continually assaulted with no room for manouver. Neither of us are using fire attacks for we both know them to be useless against each other, and it strikes me as being somewhat ironic that we who are so similar are battling solely on the supremacy of our physical forms. I know I cannot defeat her in close combat, so I must separate us entirely if I have any chance of survival.

Acting purely defensively now, I do my best to concentrate on the stones of the bridge. I remember the attack I used in the second round to free Bowser from his captors, and I superheat the stone bridge beneath us both as rapidly as I dare while attempting to stay alive.

Three more seconds...

A sword whistles past my cheek and scores a cut in my cloak.

Two more...

Maliris flinches as the tip of the left saber slices her body.

One...

Knocking me back, Maliris raises all of her swords into the air for a special attack, and pauses as her serpentine body finally feels the growing heat beneath us both.

Zero.

The ground opens beneath us with a vast cracking noise, and massive chunks of the ancient stonework fall from the base as the superheated bridge finally expands enough to break apart. I turn rapidly and hurl myself as far away from my opponent as possible with a burst of flame to propel me, but Maliris's larger and more ponderous body is unable to move as fast as I and she screams as the bridge breaks open beneath her.

"It's over... but I'm taking you with me!" she cries and throws all of her swords into the air as her final gambit. I cry out as one impales me in the chest, then the rest fall along with the stone of the bridge and Maliris herself onto the city below and some of the competitors facing their pasts in lower locations. Leaning against the wall, I painfully draw the saber from my chest and drop it over the end to join its fellows.

"What," I murmer under my breath while crouching down on the bridge to recover, "was that?"

"It was a copy, Rubicante, a simalcracum of my own Fiend of Fire," Chaos's voice rings out inside my mind. "It was the weakest of the four where you are the strongest, and I found Kary and enlisted her aid instead of creating her as Zemus did you, but you still share many strengths and weaknesses. If you had chosen a physical form to match hers, I have no doubt you would have still won for your mind is the more creative."

"Chaos!" I cry, looking around, but the demon is nowhere in sight. "Where - "

"I am far from here," he replies, "and I am communing with the master of this place. It seems that he and I share many similarities ourselves, as do you and the other Fiend of Fire, and I learned something of your nature - you are both light and darkness, as well as of fire, and you must be in balance between them before you can accept what will come to pass. I must leave you now, but I aid you before I go."

I feel a wave of healing energy encompass my form and close the wide sword-cut from the scitimar's impalement, a residue of its energies lingering on my form as I augment its energies with my own. In sympathetic response I reach out and heal another warrior who has impressed me in this tournament, who strives to win his battle no matter the cost and overcome his problems.

I thank you, Chaos, and Koren also for giving me my freedom. My inspiration to question my allegiances, to walk away from the ties that bound me to Zemus and to his grandiose dreams of destruction. I know not what lies ahead, but I face it on my own terms and make my own choices now.


---

There's hardly anyone left that I want to vote against, but needs must as the Drano drives. Apologies to all, it's been great. I'm saving the last four P-Votes in case I need them for something that comes up.

Jump Attack to Gryz.
Slash-All on Mia, Lemina and Gryz.
Misfire on Setzer.
Prayer on Driscoll.
Regen on Rubicante.

Last edited by Slipstream on 02-05-2002 at 07:54 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 06:30 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

Where... am I now. I'm in a place.. I know this. The old factory.. our staging ground. Any minute now, Lloyd, Sakata and Karen will walk over that ridge. Ah yes, there they come.

"This is Rabbit 1, I have arrived at the designated reconnaisance point."

That was Karen. The original Karen.

"What's the situation?"

Lloyd... the man who was to become my nemesis."

"This is strange... it's too quiet here. The area appears deserted."

"Don't let your guard down."

"It's alright, Lloyd. I don't plan on dying in a place like this. Rabbit 1 beginning a sweep of the area."

Karen's Wanzer began to explore the factory, oblivious to the USN Wanzers, led by myself, hidden there...


"Just as I thought, you're worried about your fiancée."

Aah. That would by Ryuji Sakata, Lloyd's right-hand man. Although at this time, he was just another soldier under his command.

"Open your useless mouth again during operations and you'll be shot."

Lloyd reminds me a lot of myself at this point. But he changed, he helped people, he stopped me.

"Forgive me, Commander. But why do we have to spy on this factory? Isn't this violating the treaty?"
"That's true. But we have our orders. Our superiors don't seem to care whether it's right or not."

Ha. Same line I used to... still do give. It's for the war. Obeying orders.

"Th... the factory is..." Karen's voice stuttered over the radio. Lloyd replied instantly.
"What's going on, Karen?"
"I.. I don't believe it... This can't possibly be..."
"Karen, answer me!"

Of course, she'd spotted us.

Four OCU Wanzers and Driscoll's black Wanzer popped up from their hiding spots in the ruins. Sakata spotted them first.

"The enemy's here! Impossible! They were hiding in the factory waiting to ambush us..."
"Karen, we'll back you up. All units move out!"

Lloyd.. that was the first time you disobeyed a direct order. Is this why I'm here?

"Well then, everything is going as planned. How far will you go to complete your mission?" Driscoll - the old me - snarled. Lloyd and his men moved up, but they were too slow.

Karen called out to them twice for help, before she died. Or so they thought.

What is it about this place? I'm not thinking straight damnit! I'm sitting here thinking about the things I could have changed... but why? I am who I am.

And I will never be able to be anything else!


The landscape around Driscoll blurred again, but this time, it didn't solidify again. Karen's voice called out to him.

"Good, Commander. We wanted to see if you still stuck by what you said."

That's not Karen. Too emotionless.

"Who are you?" he called.

"We are the testers." Lloyd's voice, now. "We are here to judge your worth. And you are worthy, Driscoll. You have committed evil deeds, but you are willing to atone for them, and you did them for a reason you believed in with all your heart."

"We had to make you think, to search your soul. We would not accept someone who would change their heart to suit others."

"You are worthy, Commander. You may proceed."

And the images swirled away, taking Driscoll with them...

-----

OK! VOTES!

2 P-votes to Mimic Zeal's Prayer on Driscoll
2 P-votes to Deathblow Lemina
1 P-vote to Misfire Mia
1 P-vote to Counter Mia
3 P-votes to Jump Attack Lemina
4 P-votes to Limit Break Setzer


---

Baka // Evil Bishounen Mastermind // Otaku-in-Training

Last edited by Baka on 02-06-2002 at 06:02 AM

Old Post 02-05-2002 06:34 PM
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Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Round Six has ended. Vote tallies in an hour or so.

Not that it matters. All of you have probably figured it out already.


---

~ I am you, and you are me ~ This defies reality ~ Whether this is false or true ~ You are me, and I am you ~
Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream ~ The Massive Insanity Has Begun! ~ Now, Cross Your Fingers And Hope For The Best!

Old Post 02-05-2002 06:45 PM
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Izlude
Apocalyptic Dragoon

@#$%@!!!! i thought i had plenty of time.. i still had alot i was going to write and some votes to cast

Edit: i'm gonna post em anyways.. krizak can add them in if he wants

Prayer on setzer(2p)
Regen on setzer (2x regen)(4p)
Mimic on setzer's regen on himself(3x regen)(2p)

though... i doubt this'll help him much even if they are added


---

Last edited by Izlude on 02-05-2002 at 07:04 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 06:57 PM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

No need to worry, Baka. If you hadn't done it, I would have... (Sorry, Luna!)


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:02 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

....

All I'm going to say about this is that Trauma will definitely be the first thing to go when I'm running this thing. Oh, and good luck to whoever does make it.

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:05 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

Yeah, it's such a shame. I was seriously considering negating that Trauma in the spirit of fair play, but the round closed before I'd decided to do so. Darkken's attack would have got through anyway.

*has the feeling everyone wants his blood for accidently saying the round ended two hours later than it actually did*

On a completely different point, did that remind anyone else of #25 and #26 of Evangelion? Plot twists, character development and buckets of angst in one tidy package.

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:10 PM
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Curley W
The Drano fiend

The real problem with Trauma is it's too inexpensive. For just four P-votes, you can strategically eliminate one of your biggest competitors from the game. It need's to be more expensive, make it to where you almost wouldn't want to use it. Or just do like so many others had said, and remove it entirely.

Luna: I hope you continue on as a fallen. It seem's rather pointless to give up when you've gotten so far.

Oh well, I'm voting against Driscoll next round. I used over half my votes to keep Lemina alive, and now it feel's wasted.

Last edited by Curley W on 02-05-2002 at 07:20 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:17 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

What's really horrible about it is that it's retroactive. -_-;;; That's what I hate most about it. That is just cheap.

I'll....think about continuing on.

Apology accepted, Baka. I mean, I did Limit Break ya(sorry about that). It is just a game....


---
Barrel....colorful barrel....

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:25 PM
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Daigohji
Sponsor: Setzer

Luna: Don't worry, Trauma will be long gone by the time you take the reigns. I'm going to be toning down the abilities aspect a lot in S7/RT2/whatever.

Izlude: Don't worry about it, it's the thought that counts. As you say I would have been out anyway.


---


He deals the cards as a meditation,
And those he plays never suspect.
He doesn't play for the money he wins,
He doesn't play for respect.

He deals the cards to find the answer,
The sacred geometry of chance.
The hidden law of a probable outcome,
The numbers lead a dance.

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:26 PM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

I don't like Trauma, either - I haven't used it once so far, even though I could have, being Dark - which is pretty weird, since Trauma IS the main strength of the Dark class, even more so than Manipulation. Why did I choose Dark in the first place, when I couldn't use its full potential?

So, I guess Trauma SHOULD be removed in the next tournament, along with Limit Breaks - both are automatic kills.

Anyway, I'll apologize again, too, since even though I didn't do anything, my intentions were evil.

*changes topic swiftly*Looks like the final duel between Duran and Koren has yet to be finished. I guess we'll have to do it in the last round, then...


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:30 PM
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Izlude
Apocalyptic Dragoon

yeah.. trauma should get rid of half the r-votes.. or somthing along those lines... there are alot of bugs in the ablilites.. for example.. if a single person gets regen cast on them 4x.. they wouldn't take any damage.. these things need a little bit more thought and definition for the next tournament (no offense kriz.. i know you weren't feeling well)


---

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:34 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

Don't worry about it, I probably wouldn't have stood a chance even without the Trauma. And I've made it much further than I deserved to anyway -- I really didn't do anything with Lemina to warrant making it to the semi-finals, much less the finals. So....no big deal after all.

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:38 PM
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Mintaka
Mana Spirit Dryad

As I already voiced rounds back, retro-activity is just plain wrong - either it kicks in when you play it, or nada. And Trauma is way powerful as it has been this tourney. Retroactive is like an Ex-post-facto law, and we all know how people feel about that.

I don't want it ELIMINATED, but balanced. Here's some ideas for tweaks. (And I plan on eventually dragging this BACK to RI for discussion.)

1) Affect ONLY R-votes, and not healing abilities.
2) (Should be anyway) Non-retroactive
3) Cost more if kept as is - 4Pvotes is CHEAP for somethign that could negate ALL R-votes - come on, it has the potential to release a LOT of votes back on people, and yet, jump only costs 3 Pvotes to nullify one attack and cast 3 votes? (bad example, but my brain is lost)
4) A way to nullify it?
5) Another gem idea from random... how about making it nullify HALF the r-votes given? Then its not so powerful, yet can STILL be effective?

Basically, we're going to switch the balance to where EVERYONE would want to be darks just for sheer elimination value, and then where's the fun? (I'm not bringing all this up because I was hit and eliminated by it, I've been complaining since it was know to be retroactive. :P

My whole gripe about retroactive things is it eliminates some form of strategy - do you hit them early, nulling R-votes then and trying to eliminate them that way, but risk having others toss R-votes elsewhere on other people, or shoot it mid/late round to keep someone from being healed more/part of combo/counteract late voter plans? If Pvoting was meant to add strategy, then retroactive counters that. I shouldn't lose R-votes I already cast on others because Sorrow hit me - they're cast and done with. So, do you sorrow someone early before they CAN R-vote, or sorrow someone late before they can act on the damage scale like some do?

*shrugs* G'luck to all. This should be interesting no matter what.

Edit: Brilliant, people thinking same thoughts.... --;;; heh.

Luna: :P Don't give me that!! You did too deserve to reach the semi-finals, you've done well. =D

Edit2: Oh, and Slip, I really enjoyed that post. ^^

Last edited by Mintaka on 02-05-2002 at 07:43 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:41 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

AAaaaaa....

Well, I agree. Trauma needs severely toning down, and Dispel needs to be permanently included. I think it wouldn't have been a problem at all if Dispel had been around, but... hey.

Old Post 02-05-2002 07:58 PM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

Well, personally, I've always seen the tournaments as interactive fanfics, rather than strategy games. I think the focus should be in with the votes preserving the most active and interesting characters who have the best writing styles. I think that, while they're a rather good idea, P-Votes make things just a bit too complicated, and it retracts people from writing their stories. Also, it also somewhat limits the way people can write - from what I've seen, people who use their A-votes in a comical or a neutral manner seem to make it a lot further than people who use them in real battles.

That's not to say that the votes weren't interesting, as such - after all, the votes, themselves, sometimes trigger little side stories of their own, when people get hit a lot and heal themselves, and so on. But I think the wealth of special skills right now is a bit unnecessary, especially since most people haven't used them in their actual stories, anyway... I think the only ones that are really useful in actual writing are Manipulation, Deathblow, Prayer and Counter Attack and maybe a few others.

This entire tournament was rather nice, since there was very little evil-bashing, in fact, the balance was almost spot-on - even though most of the Darks fell fairly early, at least Shadows suvived pretty well, and most people who made it to the end wholly deserved it. Still, once I'm done with Koren, I think I should try my luck with a funny character - people seem to like them. Maybe Flea or some other frighteningly effeminate pretty-boy... depends on what the theme of the next tournament is.


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Last edited by Darkken on 02-05-2002 at 08:12 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:06 PM
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Mintaka
Mana Spirit Dryad

'Hey' is for horses. *throws a bale in the thread* [||||]

Ok, so, we're agreed on that then. But, not like I could have dispelled my trauma since I was out. ^^~

*shurgs* Granted, this was the first time all this was used, so we know what to fix. Tweaks should be thought over and 'playtested' (even mentally) for awhile. Since these happen only every few months, that should be easy.

I do like the Pvote in a way, since it adds a bit more to the whole.

^^

(Thanks for preview again)

Darkken: Its always been the vote before the story - from everything I've heard, the early ones were more vote than actual story. The writing aspect's evolved. *shrugs* I should be saving the threads I don't have (4-6) ... then I want to look voer them when I can, and look at all the P-votes used and see which were used and how often, and how they affected everything.

... shoot. Brain blanked. I was about to say something else.

Actually... last tournament, I played Lenneth more seriously, and Beatrix (S4) before that the same, and made it finals/semis respectively, so its not the humor necessarily that preserves. Maybe it is true this time. Its really a combo of things, or sometimes just circumstance that chooses. I do know that the last two winners wrote well all across the board. *shrugs*

Ah, whatever. X_x; I'm lost in logistical thinking and ponderings anyway. Question forumlating is hard on the cells. >< Must.... make... choice... *Mintaka dies*

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:14 PM
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Anoat
Ride ze shoopuf?

quote:
Originally posted by Darkken
Still, once I'm done with Koren, I think I should try my luck with a funny character - people seem to like them.


Unless your character has a crush on the tournament's central character. Yume, I'm lookin at YOU!


---
Proud holder of 1,000+ posts before the forum revamp.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then, if you still don't succeed, give up. No point in making yourself look like a damn fool."
-- ???? (I forgot)

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:17 PM
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Simplistic Hero
Dunce of Stealth

E'llo all.

Hey. The round was extended? Dagnabit all those premature votes for nothing.

Oh well.

And on this ongoing trama debate, I like Trauma, its a very powerful skill, but dispel should be made a permenent ability.
Kyo dispelled my trauma the first time I tried to cast it Lemina, figured that would happen, but with all those R-votes, she was jsut asking for it.

I can't wait for the results. If i don't make it, i'm perfectly satisfied. This has been my first tournament, I sponsered a relativly unnown character, and I've made it atleast to the semi-finals. This has been a blast.


---
----

I use to have a list of all the RPGs i've beaten here, but God asked that I take it off because it kept scaring all the children.

Mammoth rush
Generic crunch
That fickle beast
stepped on a pickle.
And how could he be so crude
to step on such a marvelous food.
--And then bellow at his feet.

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:29 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

"Done well"? Er....I'm flattered that you think so, but I definitely disagree....

About the whole writing vs. voting thing....I don't know from personal experience, as S5 was when I started, but I have heard that the first few were little more than voting, with scant story, and that the tournament has evolved considerably. ^^

P-Votes....I don't quite know what I think of them. Like anything else, they've got their upsides and downsides....

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:33 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

If I were hosting (god forbid) I'd keep a modified version of the Power Vote system, while dramatically hacking down the number of abilities available. Say one speciality for each Ex-Type and four which could be used in common, and I'd pick the ones that could more effectively be used in writing the scenarios. I considered a system once without Ex-Types as all as people basically develop their character the way they want to anyway and it would help to cut down on the anti-Shadow/Dark bias, but I think it's a permanent feature of FFOS now.

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:43 PM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

Well, I didn't take part in the first ones, but I DID read at least the very first one, and they were quite a bit more voting-based. Still, it's like you say, the power votes have their upsides and downsides both... but after a bit of refinement, they should work well, I hope.

quote:
Unless your character has a crush on the tournament's central character. Yume, I'm lookin at YOU!


Oh, I thought it was funny. Maybe Krizak didn't, though, but that's another thing completely...


---


- Koren of Red Lotus - Scarlet Magician - Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:44 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

If I hosted... well, it's extremely unlikely to happen, so yeah. I think i'd implement some kinda system though, but make it simpler than this, i think some people were put off mythe simplicity.


---

Baka // Evil Bishounen Mastermind // Otaku-in-Training

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:46 PM
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Simplistic Hero
Dunce of Stealth

Hey.
Hold a second...

"What does Krizzy do if we tie?"


---
----

I use to have a list of all the RPGs i've beaten here, but God asked that I take it off because it kept scaring all the children.

Mammoth rush
Generic crunch
That fickle beast
stepped on a pickle.
And how could he be so crude
to step on such a marvelous food.
--And then bellow at his feet.

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:47 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

Dunno. In FFOS5 three characters tied, and all three went through to battle Ayin together instead of fighting each other. Assuming that doesn't happen here in a similar case, he'll probably judge it on what scores the 2nd tied characters got in previous rounds.

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:51 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

Krizzy? roffle!

Old Post 02-05-2002 08:51 PM
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Soujiro Seta
SIN

Shadow and Memory 3

Ah, amidst the cheerful banter, I must unfortunately interject the last part of my story for this round. Don't worry, no votes involved (obviously).

--------------------


Tell us, what is it that you see?

Out of the liquid abyss which threatened to consume the great tree stretched a hand as black as the shadow from whence it came. It was slowly followed by the rest of a being bearing a remarkable resemblance to the silhouette of Zeal herself.

Your anger….misery…sorrow………….all that you hate in yourself is made manifest. Humankind is strong to adversity…..yet weak against its inner failings. You too know this is true. Yet….you resist us. The turning wheel cannot be stopped.

The Shadow-Zeal stepped away from the tree, and for the first time Zeal could see it clearly, against the cloudless horizon. It seemed to be, in every way except color, an exact physical replica of herself. It raised its hand jerkily, like a marionette being manipulated from the treetop.

“You think you can crush my spirit with this abomination?” Zeal asked as she began to focus her magic.

When you are defeated, the ‘dream’ will be ours. You forget, this is not true life, merely what is inside your mind. Zeal knew it was true, but at least that gave her the edge of consciousness against the unknown foe.

The first attack was Shadow-Zeal’s; one, two, three, four, five, six; the energy balls pulsated from her dark hands like the staccato fire of a machine gun.

“Banish the power of the enemy!” Zeal focused her own energy into her hands and braced herself for the assault. “Chest, one!” the enemy had chosen such a typical spot for the first wave. “Left knee, two, right shoulder, three! Ha!” Zeal’s hand sailed diagonally across her body to parry the two nigh-simultaneous shots. “Chest again, four, head five, and hips makes six!” Across, up, and down her hand flashed with magical energy, sending the last three orbs ricocheting off in random directions. Six orbs, five seconds. “My turn!”

"Waters in the heavens and waters under the earth, come together and form the demise of the living! Hexagon Mist!” The six-sided column of water formed almost instantaneously around Shadow-Zeal. “Ha, gotcha!”

You do not have us.

Shadow Zeal expanded within the watery hexagonal prism as a gas fills a trapped space, dissipating the spell back into ether. Do better. Zeal heard the tree say. Shadow-Zeal hovered and launched herself at Queen Zeal, circling her at high speed and firing off a volley of spells; now balls of fire - eight of them. “Is my energy ball the only spell you know?” Zeal taunted “Let me teach you how a master uses my spells!”

“Blades of light, pierce the souls of those that stand before me! Skygate!” Shadow-Zeal seemed to sneer as she braced herself to dodge the powerful lightning spell, leaving her fireballs still hurtling toward Zeal. But no! The panels of lightning came down around the true Zeal! “One two three” she counted again “four five six….seven…eight!” With her mind, the panels of lighting had been called down in such a manner as to extinguish each fireball in turn. A smoky haze hung in the air around her. “And now, learn why they call me the Queen of Magic! She began to chant words, but Shadow-Zeal flew at her relentlessly, forcing her to deflect the magical assaults or snuff them with her own attacks. But all the while, her lips kept moving. One casting was all she needed; her succession spell could bring any foe to within an inch of their life in mere milliseconds, regardless of their speed or defense. She mouthed the words with barely a breath passing her pink lips as she focused on the casting and guidance of Energy Balls to dissipate the attacks of Shadow-Zeal. But before she knew it, she was inside a column of mist that vacillated from beyond boiling to colder than freezing hundreds of times a second. Pain! She felt faint, like layers of her skin were being torn away. The heat broiled her, and the cold stung her, over and over. Gritting her teeth, her lips still kept moving. Run! Run! Zeal let loose, moving further from the ground, circling the massive trunk of the great tree. Around, around, and around, and Shadow-Zeal in tow.

This may give me what time I need! Higher and higher, the two queens circled the tree. When a shot was fired, Zeal would alter her trajectory at a sharp angle and the blast meant for her would fizzle into the dark shadow enveloping the tree. Casting a glance back, it seemed as though the shadowy queen was drawing ever nearer. A sense of urgency overtook Zeal, and she responded with as urgent a measure.

Heading straight for the tree’s trunk, she turned up sharply and ran up the rest of its length, to where the branches became the canopy, now a realm of shadows and shade. She alighted on a branch to watch, her lips still moving, her eyes scanning fervently and her head turning toward anything that moved. She heard a rustling in the branches and knew that her foe was close. Quickly, she knelt down, touching her finger to the branch upon which she stood, then took upward again through the myriad of branches and dark leaves. As she rose higher, the branch upon which she stood exploded in a sea of smoke. More time, more time!

You cannot run.

Must keep moving. Must reach the treetop! Under a branch, over a limb, and between two intertwining branches, Zeal continued her flight up toward where the crimson sun burned in the sky. The Shadow-Zeal, she felt, was as close as her own shadow. Up a few more meters….three….two….one…there! Zeal broke through the roof of the canopy in an explosion of black foliage. Against the setting sun she stood, looking out across the plain at where she had stood all the times she had visited it in her mind. Now, she was there. If only it hadn’t come to this….but it had, and she would see it through. As she took in the view, another shape, her blackened double, rose on the other side of the tree to meet her gaze.

I’ve repeated the whole incantation…if it is such a mighty spell when I call it at whim, then….I will now wield its full power as my own responsibility! “….and by the twelve guiding stars and the lords of the angels, I call the power to judge life itself! Hallation!!!” Zeal had finished the incantion. She had activated the Hallation spell. An intense ring expanded from her body, iradescent colors casting an eerie glow over the entire landscape. The crimson sun dimmed, as if under an eclipse.

Now, let the shadow be known!

Zeal saw it in slow, deliberate steps – Shadow-Zeal’s mouth seemed to be moving at an inhuman speed, repeating words she dreaded she knew.

….and paint the blackness of night with the blood of the saints! Dark Holy!!! The whispering voice of the shadow rose to a thunderous booming, shaking the tree down to its roots. Shadow-Zeal seemed to explode into hundreds of orbs radiating a dark energy. They flew about in circular patterns, and Zeal could feel them crash into the Hallation, which was expanding to sweep away the entire sky of her dream world.

What….is beyond the sky? Zeal pushed with all her might, letting all the ether she could gather be forced into the Hallation. She felt a few caught in its wake and tried to bend the spell around them….did it work?

“I will not let you cross the threshold of her dream!” Zeal shouted as the tree began to fade away. As Memoria’s powerful images faded away into a pervasive fog, she caught sight of a familiar figure standing near her in the growing mist....it was the Prophet, who had foretold the fall of Zeal Kingdom, his face obscured by his robe.

“Win or lose....pass or fail....such things are ultimately of only secondary importance compared to the culmination of the thoughts and actions of our lives.” His voice was edged with a strange yet sympathetic kindness as he stood with crossed arms, already starting to fade away with the rest of the vision. “Mother……isn’t it about time you forgave yourself?”


--------------------
Hear the theme of Zeal's Conflict :: 'Black History' - Turn-A Gundam OST 3, by Yoko Kanno


Take it and run!


---

Am I a butterfly dreaming I'm a man, or a bowling ball dreaming I'm a plate of sashimi?


"The Queen is peerless in both power and beauty"
FFOS6 :: Queen Zeal :: Sidekick :: Dark

Last edited by Soujiro Seta on 02-05-2002 at 11:42 PM

Old Post 02-05-2002 09:10 PM
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Simplistic Hero
Dunce of Stealth

Oh yeah. Krizzy. Its like Yunie, jsut without the "y."

FFO Forums Tournament-
The only place where your allies are more useful dead.


---
----

I use to have a list of all the RPGs i've beaten here, but God asked that I take it off because it kept scaring all the children.

Mammoth rush
Generic crunch
That fickle beast
stepped on a pickle.
And how could he be so crude
to step on such a marvelous food.
--And then bellow at his feet.

Old Post 02-05-2002 09:16 PM
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Terra Lockheart
... ... ... What?

I definately wasn't around long enough--especially since this was the semi-finals. *hides* Sorry, you guys...I should've been here at least a little more. Considering, though, I don't think I made it...but thanks to everone who R-Voted...er...healed...Mia. ^_^


Tenshi: *screams* Yaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoiyaoi...well...Flea could be considered a girl, I guess, so... I see now, though.

Luna: You did deserve to make it...look how much you posted! And your story was great as well--look how many people you ties into it. ^^;; Don't ever say you didn't deserve it, although I think it sucks that you're probably going to be eliminated...

I definately don't think we should have Trauma, either--far too powerful, especially with so little sponsors, like we had this time. If we still have to include it, at least make dispel a permanent abilty, like Kyo said...although, with more sponsors, I don't think it would quite as deadly. I wouldn't have used it even if I was a dark, though. I think it's too cruel and a bit cheap actually. If it was toned down, I guess it could be okay, but...*shrugs*

Old Post 02-05-2002 09:24 PM
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Kyo
Has a Big Sword

Post

Gah. I don't want to see anything like Trauma again in a Survivor tournament. Toned down or not. You can be sure that I'm completely axing that ability when it comes to my--

Er. Nevermind.

EDIT: Now to try and wrap up Duran's story before Kriz finishes tallying.

-------

Duran stepped up to the Swordsman Aspect, who gauged him with a nonchalant eye. The darker form of himself gestured to the pool, indicating that he should look into it.

"I will show you our past, Brother. Perhaps you can find a defining quality there that may help you later."

The mists parted in the pool as Duran looked into the waters, revealing a scene of a small cottage at the top of a grasslands hill. As it focused in on the doorway, Duran saw himself--that is, as a newborn baby. The rough and comforting presence of his father was watching him be cradled to sleep by his mother, who sang a soft lullaby as she gently rocked the child. As he watched, Duran found himself remembering this moment, vaugely.

Although that memory was more of a nightmare--mainly because what happened afterwards... but I never got to see it myself. Just a lot of yelling and screaming...

His thoughts proved true, as both mother and father looked up at the door. It appeared that someone was knocking on it rather loudly, and a bunch of fierce shouts were coming from outside. He saw his father snatch up the sword and scabbard that was laying by the door, and waited with his blade drawn.

It didn't take long, anyway. The door burst open, and a party of three bandits burst in, intending to kill everyone inside and loot the place. Obviously they hadn't expected Loki.

Or his powerful sword abilities, either. Duran watched in admiration as he finished off the first one with a mere flick of the wrist, the momentum of him already dashing towards the second finishing the job as he dragged his sword through the corpse. Caught off-guard, the second quickly perished to a roundhouse-like stroke from Loki before he could even make a defense.

However, the third one had reached Loki's wife, Simone. He lifted his dagger to end the life of both mother and child--

"Whirlwind Sword!"

The powerful Tech knocked the bandit away like a flea in a hurricane. He crashed into the wall with a sicking thud, and then lay still. The vision then faded back into mist.

Duran looked up in wonder. "My father used the powers of Darkness to protect me and Mother?"

The Swordsman Aspect nodded. "Yes. The trick to being able to use Darkness without losing one's soul to it is to moderate. Use balance in your actions, and you will succeed in controlling any malelovent power. Now, my strength is yours... As it should be."

With that, the Aspect's form flared into pure energy, and flew into Duran's body. The young knight felt a spark of something flow through him--but he wasn't exactly sure what. Turning to face the other Aspects, he noticed that the Paladin Aspect was waiting at a mirror hanging from a small tree.

He strode forward.

******

The Paladin Aspect smiled warmly as Duran approached his area. He also made a gesture to the mirror, saying, "We have little time, Brother. Please let me show you what the Light brings in concentration."

As Duran looked into the mirror, the mists gave sway and parted to reveal two warriors dueling atop a volcano. One radiated extreme purity, the other darkness--so it was the classic duel that preceeded Time itself, brought into life again. The warrior of Light gained the upper hand, and knocked the Dark warrior towards the firey pit, but at the last second, the auras changed. The Dark Warrior threw himself into the pit, setting off all his fighting abilities in an explosion of light, as the former Light warrior began to curdle over with darkness' aura as the explosion and the following eruption consumed him.

The Paladin looked at him seriously as he mists faded away. "Do you know who those two were?"

Duran shook his head. "One looked familiar... but no, not in general. I didn't get a good look at their faces."

The Paladin Aspect's face broke into a grin. "That was the epic final battle between your father, Loki, and the Dragon Emperor. Loki's powers of Darkness were not enough to prevail, so he sacrificed himself to seal the Emperot away, who was pretending to be Light-aligned to give himself the advantage."

Duran stared in shock, then looked at the ground. Hot, stinging tears sprung unbidden to his eyes as he stammered, "That... was how.. my father...."

The Paladin Aspect gave Duran a comforting pat on the back. "He died a noble death, Duran... serving for the cause of saving the world from evil. You should learn from his example, and your experience; No-one can ever be truly consumed by Darkness, or Light. There isn't a single soul beyond redemption or corruption. My power will be one with yours now, and remember that your father lives in our heart, as well..."

Duran barely noticed the flash of light accompanied with the Paladin Aspect's last words, as he obtained the power of the Light in his soul. He moved with new resolve towards the Duelist Aspect, who was standing by a blackened oak tree.

******

The Duelist Aspect got out of his leaning position as Duran approached, and drew his sword. When Duran got close enough, he slammed the blade to the hilt in the trunk of the oak tree. Drawing it out with a single twist, he bade Duran to look into the blade.

"You've seen the Past, now my part mixes that with the Future. Discover the reason why your nemesis fell into the Dark Path, and your father's ultimate destiny..."

Duran saw the mists in the Duelist's sap-soaked blade collapse to show the past of Althena; The Scarlet Magician was pouring himself over some books; tomes of magical import, he assumed. The mage-in-training then decided to take a breather, and left his study to go out onto the parapets.

When he did so, Duran saw a soul not unlike himself; dreaming to live up to great expectations, having great potential already. And he was already off to a promising start... so what happened?

The Dragon Emperor happened. Appearing in a violet burst of light to startle the apprentice mage, it was obvious that the Emperor had also noticed Koren's potential and wanted to exploit for himself by use intimidation.

What shocked him, however, was the level of the pact Koren made with the dark Emperor. He looked on in partial wonder and partial revulsion as a piece of Koren's soul was extracted painfully from the mage's body as payment to seal the deal.

Then, the mists closed over the scene, as if making something new. The Duelist Aspect spoke softly now. "This is a vision of what could be. You and your future companions have sought out the Dragon Emperor yourselves, after a long and ardous journey. This is the battle with the Emperor's greatest servant, the Darkshine Knight."

The mists then spread open again, to reveal himself and two other people he had never seen before in his life exploring a dark castle. A knight clad in glistening black armor came out and challenged them, and a fight of epic proportions began, the likes of which he had never seen. With him in the future stood what seemed to look like the princess of Althena, Angela, and a dangerous-looking rogue of a man who wielded twin daggers. In the battle, he saw himself end the conflict by stabbing the Darkshine Knight through the heart. The faceplate of the dark servant's helmet fell off in that instant.

He couldn't believe his eyes...

"Father?"

Vision and reality spoke, cried as one.

"NO! FATHER!!!"

Duran sank to his knees, feeling bitter tears fall to the ground. So that was how Koren knew so much about him, and his father... they both served under the Dragon Emperor. His spirit felt immensly hollow in that fraction of a second.

"Get up, warrior!"

The Lord Aspect stood in front of him, gesturing to the Tree of Mana.

"Hope is not lost, my brother... Come, and see the final piece of your destiny."

But as he timidly took the last steps foreward, he felt the presence of Yume teleporting everyone else away. The Lord Aspect, sensing this, immediately fused his body with Duran's as he was beamed away.

Urrgh. Now, I'll have to do this the hard way...

Last edited by Kyo on 02-06-2002 at 01:36 AM

Old Post 02-05-2002 10:18 PM
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