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Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream - Round Six - Now, Seriously...

Chapter 5: Memories of Death

Yume stood on the balcony, watching the sunset in the horizon. Nothing can rival the beauty of this event. A shame that it is but an illusion. And as she admitted the truth to herself, the sky darkened, storm clouds billowing across. The landscape far below began to change, buildings and trees melting into the ground while new ones rose up and took shape. And in this dreary landscape, Yume saw...

"NO!" she screamed, and the vision before her changed back into the sunset. "I'm not ready for those memories yet. I doubt I'll ever be..." She turned, willing the contestants to join her as she did.

As they appeared, they found themselves standing in the ruin of an old castle, standing before a great balcony. A chill wind blew through the corridor, and they heard nothing, save for the wind and a sound like a distant choir.

Then, almost as one, they took a second glimpse at the balcony. Some screamed, while others smiled. A few drew their weapons and readied for battle, while some were too stricken with terror to move.

Yume coughed behind them, and the warriors turned to her, most glad to take their eyes off of what stood outside the balcony. "I trust that you all saw something that you did not expect to see. I can assure you that you all saw something different, and that each one of you saw something out of your own memories."

"This is Memoria. It is a land created from the memories of everyone who comes to it. Sometimes, the memories reveal themselves to be pure illusions, while others can manifest themselves and be as solid as you or me. But remember that anything in this place can change at any time. This will be your battlefield for the next day. I shall see you all at the end of the day, and choose the two finalists."

Yume turned to walk farther into Memoria, when Queen Zeal spoke up, a small smirk on her face. "My Goddess, what do you see when you look out past the balcony?"

Yume didn't bother to turn around, which stopped her contestants from seeing the tear running down her cheek. "Everything," she replied, and left.

---

Sponsors
Baka - Commander Driscoll from Front Mission
Daigohji - Setzer Gabbiani from Final Fantasy VI
Luna - Lemina Ausa from Lunar 2: EBC
Simplistic Hero - Gryz from Phantasy Star IV
Slipstream - Rubicant from Final Fantasy IV
Terra Lockheart - Mia Ausa from Lunar: SSSC

Sidekicks
Anoat - Bowser from Super Mario RPG
Dareon - Ito Ogami from Shadowrun
Darkken - Koren from Seiken Densetsu 3
Fentom - Cid Pollendina from Final Fantasy IV
FFGnome - Palom of Mysidia from Final Fantasy IV
KuPoMoG - Shadow from Final Fantasy VI
Nif - Randi from Secret of Mana
Onyx - Bartz Klause from Final Fantasy V
Soujiro Seta - Queen Zeal from Chrono Trigger

Fallen
ArchKnightWayne - Zoma from Dragon Warrior III
Boko Mog - Kain Highwind from Final Fantasy IV
Cirrus Velious - Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda series
Curley W - Umaro from Final Fantasy VI
Exeter - Edward Geraldine from Final Fantasy IV
Izlude - Nall from the Lunar series
JonJonB - Gogo from Final Fantasy VI
KyleIII - Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI
Kyo - Duran from Seiken Densetsu 3
Lutz - Lutz from Phantasy Star II or Rune Walsh from Phantasy Star IV
Merton Dew - Mog from Final Fantasy VI
Mintaka - Rydia of Mist from Final Fantasy IV
Munkwunk - Zio from Phantasy Star IV
San Draco - Chaos from Final Fantasy
Seifer Almasy - Gilgamesh from Final Fantasy V
Sephiroth666 - Siegfried from Final Fantasy VI
Switchblade - Julius from Final Fantasy Adventure
Tenshi Kain - Slash from Chrono Trigger
The Lionheart - Lenna Charlotte Tycoon from Final Fantasy V
Ufo Z - Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI

---

Round Six Location: Memoria (Final Fantasy IX)
Start Time: 3:30 AM MST, Monday Morning
End Time: 1:30 AM MST, Tuesday Morning
Special Rules: Semi-Final Medley, Serious Emphasis

Memoria... how to describe it? The first part resembles a large, run-down castle, and at times, other castle components can be seen floating around. The vast majority of Memoria, however, is always changing, and what is changes into is based on the memories of those who observe it. Different characters may see the same location in entirely different ways, while at other times, someone may be able to see a location or event that is not from their memory, but someone else's. The rules governing Memoria are constantly in flux, and the only constants are the exits, both of which have been magically blocked by Yume. Neither Kuja nor the ragtag band led by Zidane have entered Memoria (and will be inable to due to Yume's barriers), while Hades still lurks somewhere in this ever-changing land.

Special Rules: The Semi-Final Medley is a large group of rule modifications, specially designed to make this round more interesting. This is going to be rather long, so bear with me:

1) The competitors you now face have been both hardened and weakened by five continuous days of battle, and they will not easily fall for normal attacks, or be healed by common Potions. Therefore, every participant has no A-Votes or R-Votes to cast this round, but double their normal amount of P-Votes. Spectators now recieve four P-Votes instead of the four Votes that they had before.

2) In the face of our deepest memories, we tend to act differently. We strive to correct the mistakes of our past, or remember scores that we have yet to settle, and it changes our way of acting. In this round, EX-Types are ignored, and Abilities that were limited to a certain EX-Type before are now available to anyone. The exceptions are Divine Touch, Manipulate, Brawl, Defend, Berzerk, Following, Cover, Redistribute, and EX-Barrier, which have been disabled this round for obvious reasons.

3) You have learned much over the last few days, and some of your newly-gained knowledge may have a practical use or two. All characters gain access to these new Abilities:

- Mimicry (2 P-Votes - Variable) - Imitiates one Ability by another character, including target and form of Ability (Healing, Attack, etc.).
- Regen (4 P-Votes - Effect) - For every 4 A-Vote your character recieves, you recieve one R-Vote.
- Dispel (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Remove a status effect from either yourself or another target character. Status effects include Sorrow, Trauma, Regen and Poison.
- Poison (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Every time target Sponsor takes damage from an attack, an additional A-Vote of damage is dealt.

4) Your battles shall be more epic, and will not be easily hidden. All votes must be cast in the thread, although not necessarily with a description.

In addition to these rules, I would like to place an emphasis on seriousness. Each one of the remaining Sponsors is now only five people away from winning Yume's prize, and thus the time for fun and games has ended. This is now dead serious, and I would like all participants to act accordingly.

---

- Prayer (2 P-Votes - Healing) - Casts 3 R-Votes on the target Sponsor.
- Slash-All (2 P-Votes - Attack) - Casts 1 A-Vote against each of three target Sponsors.
- Sorrow (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Target Sponsor is incapable of casting any R-Votes or Healing Abilities this round. This Ability may only be used publicly.
- Trauma (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Nullifies all R-Votes and Healing Abilities target Sponsor receives in this round.
- Misfire (1 P-Votes - Effect) - Renders the next action of the target character ineffective.
- Counter (1 P-Vote - Attack - Sponsors Only) - Casts two A-Votes on a Sponsor who has previously used an A-Vote or Attack Ability on your character in the current round.
- Aura (2 P-Vote - Healing) - Casts 1 R-Vote on each of three target Sponsors.
- Reflect (2 P-Votes - Effect - Sponsors Only) - One A-Vote or Attack Ability against you is transferred to another Sponsor of your choice.
- Mimicry (2 P-Votes - Variable) - Imitiates one Ability by another character, including target and form of Ability (Healing, Attack, etc.).
- Deathblow (2 P-Votes - Attack) - Casts 3 A-Votes on the target Sponsor.
- Evade (3 P-Votes - Effect - Sponsors Only) - Negate all A-Votes and Attack Abilities cast against you by target character.
- Jump Attack (3 P-Votes - Attack - Sponsors Only) - Negates one A-Vote from the Sponsor of your choice and casts three A-Votes on that Sponsor.
- Regen (4 P-Votes - Effect) - For every 4 A-Vote your character recieves, you recieve one R-Vote.
- Dispel (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Remove a status effect from either yourself or another target character. Status effects include Divine Touch, Paralyze, Sorrow, Trauma, and Poison.
- Poison (4 P-Votes - Effect) - Every time target Sponsor takes damage from an attack, an additional A-Vote of damage is dealt.
- Limit Break (4 P-Votes - Special - Sponsors Only) - Target Sponsor receives an amount of A-Votes equal to half of the A-Votes you have received this round (rounded down).


---

~ 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!

Last edited by Yume on 02-05-2002 at 03:14 AM

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:26 AM
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Munkwunk
FFOS6: Zio

Zio didn't know where he was, but at the same time it seemed so familiar. At one moment, he thought he was back in Kadary (speculation says that's his home town, since it's where he sets up shop, so to speak), but he couldn't be sure. It looked an aweful lot like Kadary, but his church was not there.

He took a stroll through the town, running his hand over banister, checking to see if it was real. It certainly felt real, but he still did not understand what was different, aside from his church being nowhere around.

Frustrated with the scene, he turned around and walked out of the gates of the town. If his church wasn't there, he'd move a step up; he'd check for his Fort. Upon his egress from the town, however, the scenery suddenly changed.

"What the...?" he said out loud, obviously dumbfounded. Turning around to check on the town once more, he found that it, too, was nowhere to be seen. "Just what is this place?"

Zio found himself trapsing through the halls of an old, battered castle; chunks of debris literally floated around him. It was certainly and eerie place. Even the Arcane Sanctuary -- his grave -- was not nearly so eerie.

Then, it hit him. He was dead. For the first time, this realization held more weight than ever before.

"Is this where people go when they die?" he pondered. "No, I have been to other places since my death. Why wait until now, until this place, to finally lay down? This cannot be... the after life."

Zio spun around, doing a full three hundred sixty degree turn on his heels, trying to get his bearings. Nothing was right in this place. Nothing was real. And, yet, it all so very much was.

___________
OOC: No votes yet. Just surveying the landscape.


---

Hear now this story of the man that should not be
A ghoul of blackened torment, sullen atrocity
A kindred soul to the devils own, malignance personified
Cast from his fire he molests the purest light

Profane to humanity menaced by flesh and bone
Screams of the unknown youth to him the sweetest tone
Undying in his will to kill his bloodlust is profound
For the blood of the lamb I've got to bring him down

~Vengeance Is Mine, by Iced Earth

Old Post 02-04-2002 11:09 AM
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Sephiroth666
Gloriosa Generosa

A few weeks later, late at night...

Baram leaned against a large crate. He looked up at the twinkling stars a moment, then around the dark, silent docks. Soon a dark figure walked towards him. He wore a black cloak and hood. Baram nodded to him slightly. "Is the job set up?" Baram asked, his voice low.

"Tomorrow night. Sure you can pull it off?" the figure replied.

Baram smirked slightly. "You pay enough, and we can pull off anything."

The figure then took a medium sized bag from under his cloak, and handed it to Baram. "There's half...once the job is done, you get the other half."

Baram looked inside the bag, then slung it on his shoulder, accompanied by a soft jingling sound. "One more thing...Any treasures we find inside we keep."

The figure nodded, then thrust out a hand. "Then we have a deal. If you complete this job, then perhaps we can do business again sometime."

The two shook hands, then each slipped away into the shadows.


Siegfied awoke from his trance. He found himself standing in the thick fog, near the entrance of Memoria's castle structure. He escaped the other competitors to block out the feeling he has been having ever since Yume brought them there. "How nostalgic," the dark warrior thought.


---

"Inner conflict can defeat a soldier faster than any army"

Rurouni Taikai: The Eternal Dream :: Memoria (Semi-Finals) :: Being Held Now in FFO General Chat!


Old Post 02-04-2002 11:34 AM
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Baka
WANZER!

WHOA.

OK, nice Krizak, nice. I'm VERY impressed.

(and I'm still alive? I survived the horrors of the Private votes? Woo!)

-----

What had Driscoll seen, looking out over the battlements?

A landscape torn by war. The dead and the dying. The screams of the suffering.

He sighed, a strange sigh, a sound of reminiscence, sorrow and pain. Today would be harsh.

-----

More coming when I wake up :P


---

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

Old Post 02-04-2002 12:29 PM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

Memoria? I should've known, when you said you had something special in mind. I see what you mean about it not being a very functional date spot...

*raises hand*

Question: How does manipulation work, now that there are no R-votes or A-votes? And what about Brawl, that uses A-votes too, doesn't it?

Question 2: If one casts dispel, will it remove magical effects from through-out the round, or only onwards from the point the dispel was cast?

Oh, and by the way...

quote:
Chapter 5: Memories of Death


I'm pretty sure it's the sixth round now...

-----

Koren walked through the ruins of the Mana Holyland. The woods had withered, and the ancient buildings had began to crumble... snowflakes dropped on him, and a cold wind blew, taking the last leaves off the ancient trees. The streams were reduced to nothing but mud, and the once noble wild-life had become cruel and evil, running around the remains of the once so proud land, savagely devouring each other. As he walked onwards, the ruins seemed to disappear, and he was in an open snowfield. Was this... Altena?

He saw himself there, running off the castle, face twisted in anger and disappointment. He saw himself seduced by the demon, and then he faced himself - in front of him he saw himself as he had been in the days of his glory, proud, tall, mighty, unconquarable and dangerous. "Are you surprised, Koren?" his mirror image asked, his voice bearing the note of pride and arrogance it always did. "You are me, after all. Don't you know yourself when you look in the mirror? Admit it! This is what you wanted! This is what you sold your soul for! You can't turn your back to me now, can you?" and then his mirror image was gone, leaving nothing but a sound of laughter he knew so well.

Then, he was surrounded by bodies. Beastmen, magicians of Altena, ninjas of Navarre, knights of Forcena, and others, countless others. As he turned his gaze, it was as though the walls had disappeared, and the piles of the dead seemed to reach to eternity. Suddenly, he turned his head, and in front of him was Duran, moving towards him at unreal speed, Angela, his eyes flaring with the power of the Ancient, Hawk, his knives aimed at his heart. Koren took a step backwards not so much in terror as shock, and the spirits were gone the moment Duran's blade touched his skin.

In front of him was a statue of the Goddess... only its arms and its head had been savagely torn off, so that its beauty was eternally lost. Koren laughed, laughed a long bitter laughter, laughed until he fell down to his knees, laughed until his laughter turned into uncontrollabe sobs. These were his deeds, of course, and here he stood in the middle of them, unable to repent, unable to apologize, and unable to go on.

He knew what was waiting for him in the end. He knew, but he didn't have the strength to go on.

The... The Mana Tree...

Koren looked up.

Here I am... a beggar... waiting outside the rooms of fate, waiting for punishment, waiting for release, waiting for absolution...

Then, Koren braced himself, and stood up, once more tall and powerful, a passing memory of his former self.

The time is now. Come to me, Duran. This is our battlefield.

But then, he realized something, as his gaze met the doorway in front of him, leading to what seemed like void.

No, not yet. My nightmare is yet to come to an end, and I must walk through it fully, before the end...


---


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

Last edited by Darkken on 02-04-2002 at 01:10 PM

Old Post 02-04-2002 01:02 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

Driscoll stepped off the platform, dusting his hands. Calling one of the engineers over, he sat down carefully amid the durt. The engineer, wearing dirty brown overalls and a hardhat, sauntered over, a wide swagger in his steps. Driscoll could almost feel the dirt and filth emanating from him.
"Yes Command'r?" he said, his drawl identifying him as a resident of the parts.
"The responce is up, but I still need you to fine-tune the weapon reaction time. There's a slight waver in there that's affecting it."
"Yeah, we notic'd that too, sir. We canna quite explain it tho', it just seems to be there..."
"Mm..mm..mm..mm." Driscoll mused a bit. "Do what you can. It's just a machine - it's not like it's got a mind of it's own. Fix it, or you're out of here."
The engineer paled. "Uh, y-ya sir. I'll get right on it!"

But it did have a mind of it's own, and I helped them put it in there. The hell did I do that for? I.. I didn't care at the time. I was working for the army, and the company, and I didn't care. Following orders blindly. I should have seen what I was doing. The pain I was causing.

I was blind to it.


In front of him, the scene faded to black.

Old Post 02-04-2002 01:51 PM
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Daigohji
Sponsor: Setzer

OOC: @_@ I made it to the semi-finals?! This is the first time I've ever survived past round 5. Story coming soon ... ish.


---


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 02-04-2002 04:06 PM
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Curley W
The Drano fiend

Aw sh-....ipwreck.

It's not the A-vote slaughter that annoy's me(I feel strangely proud of this in fact), it's the fact that I couldn't cash in on them with a Limit Break.

That's right, I didn't notice that Round 5 was only half as long as usual, so I figured I would wait until morning to send my votes. Needless to say, I feel like an idiot now. -_-;;;

Oh well, my bad. I'll continue on as a fallen. Time to get started on my story.

Serious writing only? This give's me some ideas. Mwahaha...

Old Post 02-04-2002 04:29 PM
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Izlude
Apocalyptic Dragoon

the eyes of the white dragon shot open. He had been faced with a recurring nightmare that put his very soul in a trance.

ugh... where am I?

he could no longer establish the difference between reality and the subconscious.

He rose to his feet...his body was ..sore. he was standing in what seemed like the ruins of an old castle, visions flooded his mind.

... a white haired main in a trechcoat... a terrible black dragon.. a yeti wearing a dress

are these memories mine.....?

more visions came.... darker ones.. death, destruction.. gods and godesses..dark lords ... and hero's falling under their control.

the visions came faster.. faces filled with the look of grief.. they flashed before Nall's mind like a speedy picture show... and then he came to an eye... like that of a dead person.. or one without a soul... the brown eye stood in his mind for a moment.. and then the visions stopped.

Nall braced his dagger

..what kind of place is this.....

------------
gear:
-White dragon dagger *note: power of the dagger resembles the power of the person using it... sort of like the atma weapon..*
-cloth of althena
-althena's sword (wrapped in linen on his back..not in use)

Current form: Human
------------

ooc: i have a moment today.. so i figured i'd do a little writing.. hopefully something doesnt come up after school.. otherwise this could be the only thing i write. oh yeah, how many votes do the fallen get? I'm off to school... be back in 4-6 hours..


---

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:21 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

"And who is this one?"

Driscoll stopped infront of a large glass window, looking down at an angle into a bare room, furnished only with a chair, a bank of computers and a mass of cables, connecting the computer to the man sitting in the chair wearing a large headset.

On a bank of monitors next to the window, lay readouts - performance readouts, stress indicators, medical reports, the like.

"Yang Yeehin, sir. He's a promising pilot we located in Grey Rock. He used to work as a ComTech, deciphering codes, we noticed his abilities when the city came under attack by the OCU and he was forced to defend the base there."

"These readouts are high, but his stress level is a little over the average. Can we compensate for that?"

"We can try, sir. It's a little worrying though. There's always the chance he could snap if we leave it, but if we pass him suppressants, his reaction time is going to go down."

"Keep monitoring him. Leave it for the moment, if it gets any worse, jack him with some downers."

"Yes, sir."

I remember Yeehin. He escaped and joined Carrion Crow... but why am I seeing this?

Driscoll and his aide left the attendent and Yeehin, and moved to the next window. This room had the same layout, but this time the patient was female - long dark hair trailing down her back.

"Ah, sir, this is - "

"Karen Meure. I know. How's her performance?"

Karen.. oh no, not this.

"It's good. Actually, it's very good. Her reaction time is off the scale, and her stress levels are nominal. There's a slight mishap on the emotional readings from time to time, but overall, she's promising."

"I see." Driscoll turned to his aide. "I think we can move her up to the next level."

"Are you sure sir? She's still rebellious, and - "

"She's just come out of hospital for multiple injuries. She couldn't be rebellious if she wanted. And besides, this is... let's call it a personal project."

"Yes sir. I'm sure you know what you're doing, sir."

Had I know what I was doing? All I was doing was following orders, moving up the successful pilots. Wasn't I?

...no. I'm not sure I was. I think I moved her up to get back at Lloyd. The man who caused me so much trouble, Clive Lloyd. My enemy.


The scene flashed away, and Driscoll's journey through Memoria continued.

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:27 PM
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San Draco
El Draco Caido

I would like to apologize for everyone's disappointment at last round. My brother and I returned to our other house, expecting the power to be back after four days of repair, but NOOOO! Everyone in a block radius has power, and the school has power, but my house does not! WHY MUST THIS HAPPEN TO ME???????

Hopefully, I'll be able to post some more when I go back to my house. Then again, power may not be restored for some time. If it does, then I'll be able to post. Garland in Memoria is not something I want to miss.

However, more than likely, I will not be able to post for some time. If I cannot, then I wish you all a happy Tournament.

In case I can't post, I vote as follows.

Aura on Rubicant, Setzer, and Lemina.

Prayer on Rubicant.

Jump on Driscoll.

Deathblow on Driscoll.

Hope I don't go over the limit with this.

HAPPY TOURNAMENT, EVERYONE!

In case your wondering, I'm posting on a school computer. I have no time left, so I bid you farewell.

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:31 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

Ah. So standing by the tank after I said I was going there WAS deliberate last round.

Strange. You mentioned revenge...and yet I'd given you one entire vote the round before.

Ah well.

Edit a couple of minutes later:

No... not an evade. I'll Reflect the Jump attack to Mia

I'd rather save the Evade til later, I may need it...

Last edited by Baka on 02-04-2002 at 05:51 PM

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:35 PM
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Yume
Daughter of the Creator

Darkken: Well, I'm kicking myself for not noticing the Manipulate and Brawl discrepancies earlier. My bad.

How Dispel works depends on how the ability it's cancelling works. With Trauma, Sorrow, and Paralyze, which are pre-emptive and start from the beginning of the round, Dispel cancels them completely. Regen and Poison, on the other hand, work from when they are cast, and Dispel simply removes the status and leaves whatever damage or good that has already been done by them.

And it's Chapter 5 because Round 4 had an Interlude instead of Chapter 4.


---

~ 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 02-04-2002 05:39 PM
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Slipstream
Emperor of Fire

*facevaults*

Ye gods, how on earth did I manage to get away with -4 votes? Many, many thanks to everyone of you who used a healing vote on me, I promise I'll try to make a good story out of my character. Given that I take the Indiana Jerico approach to Survivor, this may prove difficult.

---

I... survived?

It seems scarcely possible at first, for my last memories of the previous round were of my very destruction. Pounded by water, fragmented by holy light and frozen into crystallic shards by the power of the Phantom Beasts that aided Rydia, I felt my conciousness fading as I once more descended into the abyss and I felt that it was truly my end. As I first felt it when I stood alone against Edge and his allies, then again when I fought with my brethren against them.

Yet here I stand, whole and complete in my usual form as Yume speaks to us of this, the final round of the tournament before the two eventual victors duel for the single honour of the Lady's granted wish. The rules that govern this tournament are strange indeed, for it seems that others have aided me without my knowing -

:Honestly, you do have a tendency to overwax the detail on these things,: a clear and crystal voice speaks inside my head. :It comes of all that time alone with your thoughts, I suppose.:

"Who's there? Why do you speak to me this way?" I cry out, gaining several odd looks from the remaining contestants. I know this voice from somewhere, it echoes in the back of my mind.

:You don't remember me? I'm hurt. Here, let me refresh your memory,: the voice calls, and a sudden bright and icy light appears in front of me. At first I see only a single shard of ice dancing at its centre, then it multiplies itself and forms into a shape I do remember - it is the ice-bird that Rydia summoned at the very end of our battle and who crystallised my flames into a single entity, a phoenix in its mirrored element.

"You!" I cry, making to draw my cloak around my form, although I doubt it can protect me against the powerful attacks of this Phantom Beast.

The ice-bird clucks gently at me and continues to hover in front of my face. :My name is Garuda, elemental fire, and I would appreciate it if you were to call me that from now on. I am not about to attack you, when I saved you before.:

Now I am completely confused. "You... saved me?"

Garuda nods her avian head. :Rydia had intended to destroy you completely, and had she summoned Shiva she would have succeeded in doing so. This I could not allow, for you still have a role to play and the world of Gaia would eventually fall if you failed to take it.

:So I took her place in answer to Rydia's summonings, and reformed your essense elsewhere in the compound in my pretense of attack,: the ice-bird continues. :You know of the role I mean, do you not?:

I can be sure that Garuda does not mean my past servitude to Zemus, and I can remember no other path I have taken before this tournament. "I do not, Garuda," I tell her, "for I remember nothing before Zemus first became my master. What is this role you speak of?"

A keening whistle echoes through my mind. :You do not remember? Perhaps your memories have been blocked. I cannot tell you for you must discover it yourself, but this place is a matrix of stored memories and shattered dreams - somewhere, I trust, you will find your place in your world. In the meantime, I must leave.: With that, Garuda shrinks down into that same point of icy light and vanishes from my sight.

"Wait, Garuda!" I cry after her. "How can you be so sure? And how will I call on you if something comes to pass?"

The avian voice chuckles inside my head. :Just because we are Phantom Beasts, Rubicante, it does not mean we can only appear when called upon by our Summoners. If you find what you seek, I shall let you know.:

The voice fades from my mind, and I struggle to make sense of this new-found knowledge. My role in the world of Gaia? Its failing without my taking it up? I have severed my links to Zemus from what I learned from my most worthy of opponents last round, and now I seek a new path to tread.


---

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

Last edited by Slipstream on 02-04-2002 at 06:58 PM

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:44 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

Holy crap, I'm a semi-finalist. O.o;;; Not bad for someone who didn't even make it past the second round last time....not bad at all.

Get serious, huh? Perfect....this is the opportunity I've been waiting for, Krizak. I LOVE the location~!!! This is absolutely PERFECT....

Slight Lunar 2 spoilers here.


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

I....almost don’t believe it.

I’ve made it this far....I never would have thought I’d make it this far. Especially on my own. Well, not entirely....Mia’s been here, and some other people have assisted me from time to time, though I don’t know their motives in doing so. But for the most part, I’ve been nearly alone in all this. I haven’t been traveling in a group, and we never faced so many opponents at one time like this. It’s been terrifying, I admit it. But I’ve made it this far, and....wait....what is this? *Lemina stares at a scene showing....*

....

It’s....it’s....

Me. The way I used to be....so concerned with what magic power and money people had that I missed whatever great inner qualities they had. I....treated people horribly back then. I didn’t care what kind of person they were, as long as they had money and magical ability that I could use. Use....I....I used them....I hunted people down and harassed them, trying to get them to join the Magic Guild. I didn’t realize how badly I was treating them....not like people, but commodities. I tormented that man in Takkar to within an inch of his sanity....and I didn’t care. I didn’t care....

I....I’m no better than Borgan, who treated magic-less people like trash and threw them out of Neo-Vane. What....what have I done? What can I do? I cannot make it any better. I cannot take back my words and actions. I can only wonder about the damage I’ve done. Words hurt more than any weapon....and I used them as a weapon, carelessly, without thinking for a single moment of the repurcussions. Of the way I made people feel when I said and did the things I did. No wonder they called me the “hooded monster of Takkar”. Because I truly am a monster.

I never really realized this before now. I acted so high and mighty about what I accomplished with the others. We defeated the dark god, Zophar, we brought peace to the world. We brought down Neo-Vane and stopped Borgan from oppressing and persecuting all the people in Zaback. I thought I’d become a better person after seeing the situation in Zaback, and how Borgan and his sham of a “Magic Guild” were treating the people there. I thought I’d changed. And I did change. But it wasn’t enough.

Because here I am....still fighting on, trying anything I can possibly think of, just so I can get....money. All for money. I say it’s for Vane, for the restoration, and for the most part, it is. But then Ramus enters the picture....and I forget all about the Magic City. All I can see is the prospect of a lifetime married to him, and my stomach clenches and my mind reels. I can’t, just can’t, marry him. I don’t love him. I could never be attracted to him. He and I....just don’t fit. But....now I wonder....would it be better to just accept my fate? Trade my life for the guaranteed restoration of Vane? He’d do it, he’d use that money he’s making every single day, even right at this very moment, and turn Vane into what it was. Better than what it was, even. And it’d be much faster and easier than trying to make money myself to do it. Wouldn’t it?

Am....am I being selfish by trying so hard to avoid marriage to him? Marrying him might be the best thing for Vane. Yet I just can’t stomach it....as I see so clearly before me, in this display of my memories. All my awful memories....I see everything the way it really was, the way I really was. I’ve treated Ramus badly, too....and a good deal of it is how he looks and his lack of magical ability. I....even though he’s not exactly perfect himself personality-wise, he still has feelings. And I can only wonder how many times I’ve injured them with my thoughtless words. How....how can someone I know I’ve hurt so much, still think that he’s in love with me, and want to marry me? Does he think he can buy happiness for the both of us? And would it really be so terrible for me to let him? Is that the only way I can redeem myself....by letting him have what he wants, and giving Vane what it needs, at the cost to myself? I....


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

Old Post 02-04-2002 05:48 PM
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Zoom7000
The Ankle Breaker

Semi Finals! Things are getting real Interesting!

Right P-Votes this round eh? Hmm...

2 P-Votes for a Prayer on Lemina
2 P-Votes for an Aura on Lemina, Mia and Setzer

And remember... The Dumbbells are coming!

Zoom7000


---
Desktop needs a Wallpaper? Why not try a FF8 Wallpaper!

The Poetry Collection I fondly call "Poetic Justice"

One and Only
Wonderful
A True Friend
My Heart
Always At Your Side
Flame Of My Soul
My Star (Coming Soon)

Old Post 02-04-2002 06:21 PM
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Switchblade
Fire of Legend

Julius awoke with a start, quickly rising to his feet in preparation to fight the Gemma Knight. Much to his confusion, however, the Gemma Knight was nowhere to be seen, even the strong power source he had sensed was gone. Julius reached out with his Mana power; desperately seeking the energy he had labored so hard and come so close to finding. The results of his search revealed something entirely different.

Julius's entire surroundings were pure, raw power. Julius instinctively reached out with his Mana energy, determined to claim this aura of power as his own. But no matter how hard he tried the power eluded his grasp, indeed his reaching had an entirely different effect.

The air before Julius blurred, slowly reforming itself into the interior of a castle. The part of Julius that was still capable of rational thought recognized the new surroundings; it was the place he had grown up, the castle of the Dark Lord, the heart of Glaive. The more primal Julius roared and hurled a massive burst of Mana at the head of the room, but just like his attack on the Gemma Knight this spell also dissipated before it could reach its target.

"Is that the best you can do, boy?" A harsh voice sounded from behind Julius. The emperor turned to find he was facing the Dark Lord himself. It was not to Julius that the Dark Lord spoke, however, instead his words were directed at a small boy. "You have great potential, Julius," the Dark Lord continued, "But you must focus if you are to be of any use to this world."

"I don't want to!" the boy cried, "I want to go outside and play!"

"You do not have time for games," the Dark Lord reprimanded, "You are here to learn how to use magic, so that someday you will be able to aid me in finding the greatest source of power in the world, the Mana Tree. That is your destiny, Julius, and I will not have you distracted from it by childish urges! You are not a child, Julius, you never have been and never shall be. Now grow up and concentrate!"

The adult Julius roared in anger and leapt at the Dark Lord, desiring nothing more than to tear the emperor of Glaive apart with his bare hands. But as when he reached his old mentor the Dark Lord's form parted like a mist around the enraged Julius. The last son of Vandole quickly regained his bearings, searching desperately for the Dark Lord. But with the Dark Lord's evaporation the castle room had also disappeared, leaving Julius alone on the ruins of another castle, this one unknown to him.

Suddenly Julius caught sight of movement a few feet away from him. Believing it to be the Dark Lord Julius again leapt forth, this time connecting solidly with the figure. To his disappointment it was not the Dark Lord, just one of Yume's contestants. With a terrible roar of anger Julius turned and ran further into Memoria, determined to find the Dark Lord.

2 P-Votes to use Deathblow on Setzer


---
Proud author of:
The Final Cut: Five worlds must band together or face total annihilation.
Scourge of Heaven: An FFVII epic featuring the Turks. New chapter posted 1/22/02.
Lamentations, Interrupted by Fireworks, and Cat's Eye (reposts available upon request)

Old Post 02-04-2002 06:21 PM
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Anoat
Ride ze shoopuf?

For anyone who cared, (yes, all five of you), I've finalized a story to sever the Bowser/Yume (non)relationship. And I promise it will be serious. Unfortunately I don't have the time to type it right now, but it will be forthcoming later this round.

Oh, congrats to everyone who's made it this far!


---
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 02-04-2002 06:31 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

"Cadet, Attention!"

A young Driscoll, short ponytail tied back severely, stood to attention.

Now why have I been brought here? This is the start of my career, back when I first signed up. And there's the commander. I remember him. He gave me hell for three years until I finally beat him in training. Then he gave me a promotion.

"Cadet! Why do you want to be in the army!"

"Sir! I want to join the army to protect my country against terrorist groups who would threaten the peace!"

That's right, I did. I was so idealistic back then. I thought everything could be solved by a squadron of men with shiny boots. Boy, was I wrong.

The scene shifted. Now he was on the battlefield. Fort Monus was under attack. His squad and him were defending the walls.

I remember this. I know what's about to happen. We hear a report of a wall breach to the north...

A soldier came running up. "Sir! They're using Wanzers, they've breached the north wall!"

Lieutenant Driscoll didn't even pause before acting. "Ok. Marcall, White, get over there, give them some help. The rest of you, stay here, defend this side."

That was my first snap decision in a battle. It cost three men their lives. The front attack was a diversion. They sent a squadron of tanks to the east wall - my wall - and bombarded it. We were low on men, and three were killed. Kurtz, Poe and Dean - I still remember their names today. They were the first three people I actually saw die infront of me. I think that was the first thing that hardened me to war.

Have I really changed so much?


The scene blacked out again...

Old Post 02-04-2002 06:51 PM
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Curley W
The Drano fiend

Hey Merton, Kyle III, is it alright if I borrow Locke and Mog for a bit? I need those two for what I have planned with Umaro.

Old Post 02-04-2002 07:05 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

Note: in my story posts this round, I'm going to be switching between first and third person depending on what best suits what I'm writing.

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

How....how did I let it come to this?

Lemina stood, as if paralyzed, in an area of Memoria that eerily resembled Vane. No....that was wrong. It didn’t just resemble Vane....it was Vane. Everyone was there, moving around her and through her, wraiths of the past. They couldn’t see her, feel her, hear her. Not the Lemina who stood there watching them. But they did see and hear the Lemina who existed in the same state that they did....the Lemina of the past. A careless, heartless some would say, Lemina. She didn’t realize the full impact of her words and actions on the shadowy citizens around her. She didn’t see the older, wiser version of herself that watched her....watched her with tears sliding silently down her pale cheeks, with a pain that twisted her heart more with each passing second.

How did I let myself become this? This heartless, this cold....this selfish and vain. I was blind to so much....what I was doing, what I really was. I can’t believe I ever thought that I could become the leader Mia was....I can never be what Mia was. I don’t deserve to have met her here....I don’t even deserve to have her blood running through my veins. Passing through a heart of ice....how can I call myself an Ausa, when I’ve never behaved like one should? I never did anything for Vane....anything! I just stood by and made a fool of myself, closing my ears to Mother’s words and my heart to the people around me. I hurt so many with my thoughtless barbs....how can anyone call me a hero?

I’m not a hero. I’m a callous, shallow witch. I’m not worthy to be called an Ausa....sometimes I wonder if I’m even worthy to be called a human. Nothing I say or do can ever really heal the wounds I’ve inflicted on countless people....even my friends have on occasion suffered the bite of my caustic attitude. My friends....how can I even call myself their friend? I’ve never done anything to deserve their friendship....I’m not good enough to be called friend by them.

I....don’t understand it. I don’t understand how they ever put up with someone like me. How anyone could ever put up with someone like me. I often lamented....no, whined, about how lonely it was trying to restore Vane, but I never saw....that the reason I was so lonely....was because I drove everyone off. I chased them all away from me without even trying, without realizing it. Until now. This place....has shown me the truth of what, and who, I really am. And I....hate it. I hate how this feels, I hate seeing the past like this, I hate what I did. And most of all....I hate myself.

Old Post 02-04-2002 07:08 PM
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Daigohji
Sponsor: Setzer

OOC: If anyone else out there has the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night OST, I suggest track 21 while reading this post. It’s the music at the clock tower.

- - - - - - - -

Yume watched the remaining contestants leave and one by one vanish into their pasts. Once they had gone she leaned up against the arch of the stone doorway and idly picked with her fingernails at the leather wrapped around the handle of her katana. The girl had thought up an idealised image of the one who would win the tournament long before she had started to gather the contestants together. A strong and noble warrior who would gladly take on the burden of her power and use it for the good of all. A prince on a white horse who would carry her to the ordinary life she so longed for. A fairy tale.

Now she realised that none of the competitors was like that. How could they have been? Real people are far too complex for that. The girl wiped the tears from her eyes and turned back to the balcony. There stood Setzer, leaning on the railing and staring out into whatever it was he saw out there. Yume straightened up, her face hardening into the emotionless mask of The Daughter as she strode over and stood beside him.

“So, what part of your past has you so enthralled here, gambler?” she asked.

“Can’t you see it?” he responded, eyes still fixed far into the distance.

“I could if I chose to” she smiled thinly, “I was respecting your privacy.”

“Feel free to look” he said.

Yume concentrated on his mind for a moment, and matched her own thoughts to his frequency. Beyond the lip of the balcony everything slowly faded, until there was only darkness. Fear gripped her for a moment as she remembered the nightmare from three days ago and she took a step back. Then she realised that this darkness was different, it had no substance. It was simply an empty space.

Setzer glanced around to her, “Surprised?” he said with a sad smile.

“No, it was just a little unexpected.” she approached the railing and looked out into the dark, “it is almost as if you had no past.”

The two stood silently for a moment, gazing into nothingness.

“I don’t think this place is as much to do with the past as it is with the present” Setzer at last spoke, though it was almost a whisper. Yume got the impression that he was talking to himself rather than to her. “I think the others all saw something from their past that connected with what was important to them now. Be that guilt, anger, fear or any other feeling.”

Yume was beginning to understand his words, “Then … nothing is important to you right now?”

“Nothing” he stated flatly.

He’s just like me Yume thought to herself. He has no dreams, even though he is mortal and has all the freedom he could ever desire. It makes no sense.

“Except …”, the gambler hesitated, his eyes narrowing, “there was one thing I was curious about.” The darkness before them slowly changed, becoming a deep maroon. “Yes, the reason I agreed to compete in this tournament.” The flat maroon began to take on texture and shadow, Yume thought that they looked like velvet curtains.

Suddenly they found themselves sitting at the back of an empty opera house. The curtains before them swept open and a faceless diva began a silent song on stage. Yume was momentarily surprised by the transition, though Setzer took it in stride. Indeed there was no place more familiar for him.

“Some people listen to music on records. Certainly it has some advantages; it can be enjoyed at any time and without having to travel. But, I could never listen to music anywhere but here.”

Yume looked away from the stage for a moment and saw Setzer bearing an expression of terrible sorrow. Strange, she thought to herself, there’s something so familiar about him. His aura, strong yet filled with melancholy, it’s just like … Saint. The girl felt a momentary flutter in her stomach as realised that she had not even thought about her guardian in days.

“A recording captures a single performance” Setzer continued, “but, even if it is the greatest performance the piece has ever had … it will always be the same. In this opera house I can see the good and the bad. The fleeting moments of genius. The torrents of mediocrity. It’s not always special, but it is always unique. And this has become the only part of my life where I can find that. Everything else is just a recording. Just one more time, I wanted to join the performance again, in the hope that after the show was over I would be able to pen an opera in which every page was not the same. That’s why I came.”

Yume was beginning to feel sick at the familiarity of what he was saying. This mortal, he had everything that she wished for, but at his core he was still devoid of dreams. She quickly rose to her feet. “I … I must leave now” she tried to adopt her most commanding tone, “I have important matters to attend to.” In truth, there was nothing that demanded her immediate attention. She was simply too afraid to listen to him any further. The girl strode away and faded out of view.

Setzer remained for a while and watched the rest of the silent opera.

- - - - - -

Setzer casts Regen on himself (4 power votes)

Remaining: 12 power votes


OOC: That's all I'm using Yume for this round, Kriz.

Last edited by Daigohji on 02-04-2002 at 07:51 PM

Old Post 02-04-2002 07:40 PM
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Soujiro Seta
SIN

Shadow and Memory 1


Zeal looked up, strangely unsurprised at her personal show from Memoria. She had seen Zeal, her own self, her dear son and daughter, the Gurus, Lavos....she had seen it all. She remembered it as though it was yesterday. But it had gone by in a flash, and in its place, the tree.

It grew up once again, grasping at the sky, the focal pillar of the dream that had guided her all the way into the turning spiral of Yume's tournament. The grass in the plains rippled in the wind. The stream flowed, its water still cold and refreshing. The clouds were carried overhead in a wispy current.

And the tree was still black.

Enveloped in what could only be deemed a 'living shadow', The tree seemed to teem with conscious thought, a strong will burning in the heart of the shadow. Zeal stood at the great tree's base, able for the first time to truly interact with her vision in the realm of consciousness.

"I know you can hear me!" she cried out to the great sylvan pillar. "You pervade my thoughts, attempt to rot me from the inside out, to cause me to be a hollow shell!" This...thing...it had been responsible for her slide into darkness, for her dark and malevolent behavior. But I....without having a propensity toward such in the first place, would not have given in to the darkness. She hung her head, ashamed. She had joined this tourney not to win, but to discover the meaning of her prophetic vision, and in the process, to help maintain the balance of power.

But she had been overcome by the darkness.

"One cannot wage a war in the mind as surely as grasping a physical thing" Zeal spoke to the looming silhouette before her "but by some miracle of this place, we meet, face to face. Now, your opponent is I, Queen Zeal!"

"That is.....what you say....comprehend... Tree is. A soft voice, almost like a strong whisper, emanated from the tree. At last, perhaps she would have the answers she sought.

"Why have you done this? Why have you turned my heart toward evil!? I left that path long ago, and its possession of me is merely a page in history!"

Silence. The tree did not speak.

"So be it" Zeal continued "but then answer me this, if only one thing: what is the meaning of my dream?"

There is a tree...a great tree... the whispering voice began. From the foundations of the universe to the highest realms of heaven, its ramifications exist in all. It is the pillar. Zeal took it in carefully, hanging onto each cryptic word.

The tree...to shield life from darkness, to gather its children unto itself...but though seeking to protect from shadow....casting its own shadow, yes....

"Yet, how does this concern me? And what of the tournament?"

There is a great tree in the heavens...the tree's name is 'dream'.....to reflect the shadow and envelop the tree.....all becomes nothing....

A sense made of dread, anger, and sorrow washed over Zeal as the pieces fell into place. "You are within me, but I am not yet your puppet!" She strode up to the giant trunk and touched both her hands against it. "To live a dream within a vision within a dream....the mind is without end. I will hold you back."

And though I may be 'only human'....I will not allow your malevolence to reach....Yume!"


---

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 02-04-2002 at 08:10 PM

Old Post 02-04-2002 08:01 PM
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Dareon
The Second Gunman

Wind. Light. A sudden rushing sound...

"Ogaaaaaaami-sama! Waaaaait!"

The young man turned, gazing fondly at the small girl running up to him.

"*puff, puff* Kakei! Where are you going?"

"Ah, Konoko. I must go. I've been hired by the Renraku Corporation. Your elder brother is about to make the family very rich. You be good, imouto. Take care of mother and father."

"*sniff* Do you have to go? I want you to stay here!"

"I have to. If I don't go, I don't get paid. I'm sorry. I'll see you again, I promise."

Was that... me? It's been so long since I've seen them. Mail from home gets a cursory glance and gets tossed out. Have I become so lost in my work that I forget everything else?

A rush as the scene changes.


"Ah, Ito. Sit down, will you?"

A slightly older version of the previous Ogami. A little haggard under the eyes, but still clean-shaven and impeccably dressed.

"I'll keep this brief, Ito. You've been one of our best men. That's why we're giving you this case."

The man slid a folder across the desk, labelled, "Thon Project." The young Ito picked it up and leafed through it.

This was... a year ago. Am I really still that young?

I've wasted my life. And in return, my life shall be wasted.


"A mild... diversion before I die."

Was that the only reason I joined this tournament? To meet fascinating new people and blow them to hell? It's been... interesting, to say the least. Giant robots, enormous carnivals, and now this. A land where your closest memories are made real.

...It's time.


Turning on his heel, the man named Ito Ogami strode away from his memories. They held no meaning for him now.

Old Post 02-04-2002 09:13 PM
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Kyo
Has a Big Sword

Post

Well, I would suppose that this actually works in my favor, from a pure story-perspective. Koren, in all respects, is Duran's final trial as a character.

----------

He stood, it seemed, on the edge of reality itself. What seemed to be the stairway to a castle in the sky stretched out before him, but it became gradually vauge to his mind's eye, as if the entire place was shrouded in mist. The ethereal vapors wafted out onto the staircase as the entire castle was obsured from his view, and then stopped, lapping near his feet as if the place was expecting him.

He knew that would be a test not of strength or skill, but purely his soul--himself, as a person. Who he really was. What he might have been. What he could become.

"This time," he spoke softly as he took off the metal visor off his head, "I'll be a better person for it." And with all his strength, he hurled the visor out into the mists, watching its path as it fell softly into the castle and striding after it, deeming that was a good a path as any. The mists greeted him by completely enveloping him, until he could not be seen himself.

-------

Duran is a Knight no longer, in heart and mind. Until he discovers what he truly is, he will continue to remain nothing. This means he will not fight anyone he encounters, regardless of the situation he's in.


---
Currently sponsoring Duran (Seiken Densetsu 3) in FFO Survivor 6/Rurouni Taikai I.
Keep ~ Yourself ~ Alive

Old Post 02-04-2002 09:28 PM
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Dareon
The Second Gunman

Striding purposefully across the strange landscape, Ito came across Commander Driscoll leaning on a stone parapet and looking below, as if into the window of an operating theatre.

"What do you see?"

Driscoll looked up. "Oh... Something that shouldn't have happened, and several things that didn't happen, but should have."

"Memories are like that. Just remember, this is battle. Don't get so caught up in your memories that you ignore what needs to be done."

"Yes. Thank you."

Ito reached into his pocket and pulled out a Ration that he had saved from the previous universe. "Here. This should help."

"Much obliged. Well, perhaps I'll see you again."

"Perhaps. And good luck."

Prayer on Driscoll
Regen on Driscoll
Slash-all on Setzer, Mia, and Lemina

Old Post 02-04-2002 09:39 PM
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Curley W
The Drano fiend

Looking back on what I had written, I couldn't help but notice that most of it was utter crap. So I'll probably just wait till next round before writing anything. I guess comedy's the only thing I'm remotely good at(even then, I'm not that good).

If you want to use Umaro for anything(except as a puching bag.), feel free to use him. Here are my votes for this round.

Using Prayer(2 P-votes) on Mia(Terra Lockheart).

Mimicing(2 P-vote) Zoom7000's Prayer on Lemina(Luna).

Using Regen(4 P-votes) on Lemina.

Old Post 02-04-2002 09:41 PM
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Munkwunk
FFOS6: Zio

Memories of Zio's life passed before his eyes as he continued to look around Memoria. "I thought that was supposed to happen before I died, not after," he thought, a grim chuckle arising from somewhere within him.

Shaking his head, Zio snapped himself out of the daze he found himself trapped within. He was still participating in this tournament, dead or not.

Moving along, it was only a short while before Zio had met up with some of the other contestants. He knew they couldn't batter him this time. It was his time for revenge.

The girl he'd seen so many times before over these last few days was the first he saw. He didn't care who he attacked now. The knight was dead, the Motavian was nowhere to be seen at present, and nobody else mattered to him.

With all the verocity of a wolf attacking its prey, Zio unleashed a barage of deadly attacks, one after another, inflicting as much damage as possible upon the poor soul. When he was done, she looked badly injured; perfect, as far as Zio ws concerned.

He sneered and walked away, leaving her wounds to fester.

__________
OOC:
Poison against Lemina.
Deathblow against Lemina

2 P-votes reamining.

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:05 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

Okay....I don't know WHERE this one came from. O.o;;; My strangest post of the day....

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

Memories are funny things, aren’t they?

They can be, all at once, a source of great pain and great happiness. Memories let us experience the past all over again, inside our own minds. The power of memory lets us see old friends long gone, places we haven’t visited in years, times and circumstances that have faded away and changed. They allow us to get a glimpse of what we once were, what life used to be like. And in many cases, what we’d like to believe it was like.

Yes....oftentimes our memories deceive us. We wear the proverbial rose-colored glasses, blurring and sweetening our perception of the past. Tis a deadly deception, at times....by allowing ourselves to think that things were better than they really were, we obscure the truth, and hinder our judgment. As much as we would like to believe in our distorted visions, reality is not so kind as we would have ourselves think.

Yet....is this deception really beyond understanding? The answer is no. When the present is difficult, it is but natural human instinct to look upon the idyllic past they see in their own minds, as a source of comfort to their troubled hearts. It soothes the spirit to think of pleasanter times and happier thoughts, to lose oneself in the innocence once held within your heart.

Not all memories can be so kind, however....this place does not allow the fragile illusions the human mind so insistantly wraps around the memories stored inside it. The arcane magic here lays bare the truth of the past for your unwilling eyes to see....it shatters your idealized perceptions of the past, the present, and most of all yourself. Without mercy, it forces you to see not just your memories....but yourself, and the reality of your very being. The question is....are you prepared to accept this reality?

I....do not know yet if I am.

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

This has little to do with the story, but I'll use 4 P-Votes to Dispel my Poison status.

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:16 PM
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Baka
WANZER!

"So this is the newtype?"

"Yep. The registration code is 11DS, but you get to name it what you want."

"What' s the armanent like? Machine guns?"

"Two rifles standard, but it's got a modular design, and you can easily change it."

"Ok. What's the top speed?"

"Take a look for yourself." the mechanic handed Driscoll a pad with some technical readouts attatched. Driscoll flicked through them and raised an eyebrow. "These are some pretty impressive specs you have here. One more thing... did you install the computer I asked for?"

"Yes we did, and I've been meaning to ask you about that, Commander. Before we put it in, the readings were optimal, we connected it up and the readings started to fluctuate rapidly. We managed to stabilise it, but we had to put system blocks on to do it"

"Take them off."
"But si-"
"I said take them off. I'll pilot this Wanzer, and it will respond to me."
"But how do you know, sir?"
"I just do."

I still don't truly know why I did it. I've always told myself it was orders, but was it truly? I'm beginning to wonder...

-----

Some personal stuff just came up. I'll try and be back for the rest of the round, but you probably won't see me for a few hours.

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:25 PM
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Switchblade
Fire of Legend

This is a wonderful setting, Kriz, I'd been planning to go this direction with Julius anyway, but the Memoria setting makes it both easier and more dramatic.

All around Julius there was laughter and sunlight. He was unable to comprehend how or why, but the ruined castle had somehow changed again, this time to large sunny field filled with children, all smiling and playing. As the power crazed emperor watched another child ran forth to join them, this one identical to the boy the Dark Lord had scolded earlier. Julius watched, oddly entranced, as the boy ran forth and joined in the other children's' game. He watched the boy play tag with a little green-haired girl and a small Moogle. He watched the boy climb trees with a blonde girl. He watched the boy have a pretend sword fight with a gray-haired boy. The rational part of Julius's mind dismissed this show as nonsense, but the more primal emotions that now controlled the emperor longed for what the boy had.

Suddenly a new figure entered, this one a young man clad in ebony armor, the young Dark Lord. The Dark Lord grabbed the child Julius and dragged him away from the field and his friends. The adult Julius roared in anger, summoning up a storm of Mana energy and hurling it at the Dark Lord. Once again Julius's attacks merely disrupted the wraith-like form before spreading out across Memoria. Julius howled in rage as the beautiful field and unrealized happy childhood faded away.

2 P-Votes to cast Slash-All against Rubicant, Gryz, and Setzer.

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:41 PM
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Mintaka
Mana Spirit Dryad

*sniff* =D I love it Slipstream! =^^=

Er... recommended piece of the moment: Light Mist (Through a Thin Haze) - Disc 2, track 23 Valkyrie Profile OST
---------
Would you demonstrate your patience while your destiny's dealt out?

Rydia wandered through this strange, facinating area, confused and yet, amazed by its fluidity, its seemingly reality that was, in truth, completely fake at the base. Yet it reflected truth. You could never change the true past, no matter how much you lied to your heart and soul. No matter how hard you tried to forget, ignore, and rend apart the pains and shadows, they always remained. They were wrapped as tight about a person as the light they tried to grasp unto themselves.

She walked into a room, filled with water, and for a second almost choked, but realized it was but a memory itself perhaps. A strange, twisted room that resembled the sea bottom. Her hand fluttered again to that stuffed toy Leviathan. A false sun shone from above, the lights dancing barely this 'deep' under the ocean. Whirlpool?

Her eyes trailed up into the bright light, shielding her eyes, blocking out the light, and saw something decending, a small, fragile looking object, struggling firecly against the cruel fate dragging her down-

Cruel?

She saw herself, mere child, trying to escape the grasp of death itself as her small body sank deeper into the chill waters of the ocean. She screamed at herself, telling ehr to keep trying, and then she saw a dark figure sweep from the very floor and rising upward, a cold deathly figure that chilled her bones. One of the red orbs glimmers a fraction of a second thought Rydia did not notic as she watched this wraith heading for her.

No, no, this isn't right... I couldn't have died, I lived...

A serpent suddenly swirled about ehr small body and rearing before the wraith, hissing.

"Away demon of death. I have warned you you may never take a summoner before their time," it barked, and thrugh the dappled light Rydia saw it was Leviathan hmself speaking.

The wraith floated before the great serpent, contemplating what was said before his hallowed voice spoke, a sibilant whisper slicing the seascape. "Leviathan, she is dead, her life is gone, her time is up. Hand her over."

"Hades, you yourself wish to join among us," he replied, shielding Rydia with a fin, "then you should realize it will eb only with the aid of this summoner we shall see the coming light where we shall gain our time and respect. She will teach us, and be our link."

"You are deluded, great king," Hades replied, shaking his head, "for it cannot be just one, and you know the humans will subjugate us for our powers someday."

"They do, on our will, but that is no reason to give up. We must come to terms. Our kinds do not deserve to be locked away for ever and only come when called. Do you not desire freedom?"

"Freedom!" scoffed the wraith, pulling his tattered cloak about him, "it is but an illusion for us, the keepers of magic and power. We shuld have eradicated the-"

"NO!" Leviathan bellowed. "Without them, this world wuld be useless, and all other worlds. They shape the futures and destinies of many worlds. We ourselves make these things possible. We granted them the power to learn magics, and assist them. We will see our time. But if we eradicate humans, we are no better than some other things which seek to destroy and rule worlds. And this child will help us find the place we want."

"Fine, take her," Hades spat. "We will meet again, Sea king, and perhaps then we shall finish this." The wraith faded away, and Leviathan took the small child away. Rydia stood very still in the shadows she had been in.

Me? Was this why I was spared?

She continued onward, and as she exited the watery region, she came out on a field. The sky above was stormy and grey, and a light mist began to fall from the sky. Ahead she saw a figure standing in the fields. A stone was there before the female, and suddenly from behind it a small shape popped out, a young girl with tears in her eyes. Is that... me? My mother... and me? But no plains like this existed near Mist. only at...

"Eblan."

she walked forward towards the spectral shapes, and noticed the ground now was scorched, scarred horribly. The only forces capable of such devastation were powerful magics. She walked forward more, feeling a bitter chill in the air biting down as the wind howled up.

"Mother...?" the small child asked, her large round eyes looking up into the sorrowful face. Rydia herself knew that this had to be shortly before Mist's destruction, but yet, how could she have not rememebred?

"The powerful trauma you suffered the day you lost your mother ... would be enough to make anyone forget such a small event."

Her vision snapped up, her crystal eyes searching the heavens for the voice. She caught a glimmer of heavently blue beween clouds, but not much else.

"Your father died in battle, outnumbered, yet not outclassed. He struck down many who sought the destruction of all summoners and wizards, including their leader. It was but coincidence it would happen in the fields of Eblan, far from home. Your father had known the king and queen. And I... he would not summon me, knowing that it was his last battle. He only hoped you would gain the power to summon me, fair guardian of the Beasts and impartial judge of all. Your father was much like me, perhaps that is why he learned my name so quickly.

"And you, Rydia, have finally cast aside your anger, and you bitter emotions at last, and finally found your peace. And finally learned me as well. You might not recall, but your power called to me, and I judged. Shiva did not come, as you had wished, but instead, the locked door in your heart opened, freeing me. Rubicant lives still, but for another purpose now. Its a shame we could not help the other fiends now, but perhaps a day long away, my child.

"You've grown into responsibility, and despite everything, you're learning there's more to life than what you see. Never forget what your father fought for, or what you hold closest. And take care of your friends. You all went through a lot together.

"... and make sure Edge takes care of himself."


She watched as her youngre self and mother walked away, and in the distance she could make out a castle. A castle which was still being built in her time, one that had been decimated, but now being restored. And she would make sure it did.

A single stone...

She walked forward to the stone, and found it bare, save one mark: a circle with eight rays stretching equally from it and would have intersected in the perfect center if they had. A ray from the sun broke through then, down upon the rock and herself. And she glimped the bird again, in its full glory before it disappeared into the bright light.

"Thank you..." she whispered to no oe in particular, but outward to what could be everyone.

----------
YIKES! O.o Long.... again. ><;;; Vote time. (Beofre my PC crashes or another interruption comes along...)

Prayer on Rubicant
Mimicry - Zoom7000's Aura (that targeted Lemina, Mia, & Setzer
Paralyze on Gryz
Deathblow on Gryz


---

:: I :: summon :: thee. ::
"Uh... damn it, that burns... so, how's it going, babe?" -Edge, to Rydia -S6/RT1

Old Post 02-04-2002 10:44 PM
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Luna
Goddess of Barrels

How long have I been in here?

It feels like it’s been....well....I would say a lifetime, but that would be too close to the truth. Indeed, I have watched most of my life up to this point since coming in here. And....perhaps....I’ve been here all along? This place....it baffles me. Is it designed to merely reflect back the memories of whoever is inside it? Or....is it the place where all memories are stored, throughout eternity, and we are simply allowed to see what it wants us to see?

A most disturbing thought, that. What is behind this strange magic that shows us our past, for only our eyes to see? Is it the power of our own minds? Or is there someone....something....behind it all? I would not like to dwell on that last one....or would I? If there is indeed more to this place than meets the eye....then perhaps what I see before me is but a cruel illusion manipulating my thoughts and feelings.

....

No. This is reality, whether I like it or not. But....there lies a distinct doubt at the back of my mind. Maybe....just maybe....wallowing in all this self-hatred and sadness is what is wanted of me, of us all. By whom? I definitely won’t be able to answer that. But nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder if that is the point of holding this round here. To test our wills, our spirits. Anyone who succumbs to the dark magic of this place would be a sitting duck for his or her opponents. It’d be all too easy to pick off the weak ones, if one can resist the painful memories lurking around each corner.

If only I could just....

Old Post 02-04-2002 11:52 PM
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Soujiro Seta
SIN

Shadow and Memory 2


Let me take your hand, fair child,
and lead you far away;
a place where none have gone before
whose land has never seen the day.

Let me take you by the hand
and show my love for you;
a blanket stitched of stars, to keep
you safe in all you do.


----------

As Zeal's hand touched the dark tree, it rippled, as the surface of a vertical pond. Her hand grasped, felt and touched things that she could not see; as if she - by reaching inside the tree - was reaching into another dimension or world.

The sun began to set on the scene created by the magnificent castle Memoria, the grass took on a red hue, and the birds ceased to sing. The tree's leaves shook in a strong wind, and the sky was now empty of clouds. Only the tree remained constant, a bastion against change, though it itself had changed. In the place of a great tree stood a shadow of one, a portent of something that had happened, or perhaps something to come.

Let...me....show you.....I show you YOU... the voice of the tree pulsated again, and Zeal could feel a tingling in her submerged hand.

----------

"Mother, why do you persist in building this palace under the sea? What good does it do the people?"

"Schala dear, you just don't understand! When the palace is complete, we can move on from the limited Sunstone and harness the infinite energy of Lavos!"

"But mother, the Sunstone has always been enough...why do we need more than that? Why grab at power for power's sake? Zeal was founded on the idea of self-enlightenment. Power is --"

"Silence! I would hear no more of this insolence! 'Why do we need this power?' you ask, yet when we have obtained it, you know we will be immortal. In the light of Lavos's flame, we will grow to be more than human! Don't you wish for a way to end the pain? The suffering? Death? We, the Enlightened Ones, were given a GIFT in the form of Lavos! He is a seed that will help us grow beyond what we could previously attain!"

"I don't like this, mother. You've been so....unlike yourself lately. Janus thinks so too. You're withdrawn and surround yourself with strange people, like the wandering prophet...it's just that I feel so...separated from you."

"There, there now, dear...I understand your unsureness, but have faith that your mother is doing what is best for our glorious kingdom! When we can live forever, free of disease and suffering and hurt, there will be sunny days and smiles every day! You'll thank me, really!"

----------

Those times weighed down upon her; the splendidly shining example of how shortsighted and foolish she had been. That foolishness and lust for power and immortality had cost her not only her entire kingdom, but the disappearance of her dear son and daughter.

Schala....Janus....I'm so sorry..... a tear streamed down her face and she rubbed her eyes with her free hand. I lost you because I lost sight of what was important in the long run. So many times, my greatest weakness was the desire for everyone to have true enlightenment and enrichment - so much so that I became caught up in the end and ignored the means.

And I've come to that point again, my dear children. Though I wish to do justly, I end up causing hurt yet again. But still, I don't give up hope, because I will find you again, someday.

But now, this dream has spoken to me, and soon, there may be another child that I could do something to save. This time, for both of your sakes, mine, and theirs, I will not let another soul fall to the darkness. I wish no more fools like me!


Zeal clenched her fist and opened her eyes looking up at the tree, framed by the crimson sunset.

"Though I may not be thy match, I will hold thee fast as long as I can....." She removed her hand from the liquid shadow, and the tree gave a great groan.

The tree....the 'dream'....the shadow....you will not stop us....


---

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

Old Post 02-04-2002 11:53 PM
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Simplistic Hero
Dunce of Stealth

Gryz goes to town.

Floating stone and dusk swirled about the air, suspended as if they were puppets, encircling like vultures. The light was dim and dark, yet illuminated all in a shimmering clearness, and undiscovered clearness, ad pure vision. Stairs led everywhere, as if they were the only path, the only option.

Gryz stood, stunned, on a stairway of his own. He could see stone walls, and stone stairs, and stone doors, and the dark blue viod beyond. It was mystifying.

This must be hell. He assumed. Yet, hell would never be so empty. At hot, everyone was positive it ws hot. Then it occured to Gryz, he was suppose to be here, this was his arena. Terrifying.

Gryz sat, hoping to ajust to his surroundings. He almost had, accustoming himself to the swirling stone and twisting light, when the entire castle changed.

Gryz stood, or rather sat, in his hometown. The montavian village was exact. Everything was in its place. The river ran past his feet, the huts were small but sturdy, and laughing of children echoed off the mountain walls.

Yume spoke of illusions... Gryz comforted himself. It was all fake, his home was dead, forever.

Gryz continued his stroll alongside the river, passing the school, the elder's hut and the mythril purification pot. He had spotted to young boys, playfully jabbing eachother with wooden swords. He even saw his increidbly annoying boyhood friend, Creek, arguing how he could improve the mythril process through his education in technology. Same old, same old.

Just then, an elder, a montavian in his late 90's, hurried up to Gryz, tugging at his collar.

"We need your help! We need you to help clear the mine entrance! Theres been a cave in." Gryz remebered the day the mine caved in. He was inside, torn his way out.

But time, the experience frightened him. The illusion had TOUCHED him. It had felt real. Gryz wanted it away, but the man continued to tug at his tunic. Gryz lifted his hand, striking the elder under the chin and sending him flying. The old man landed with a quiet thud, and the illusion faded.

Once again, stone and blue were the only sight.





---
----

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 12:20 AM
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Simplistic Hero
Dunce of Stealth

Question

Krizak- Without attack votes, what does paralize do?


---
----

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 12:22 AM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

WARNING: This post involves spoilers to the entire Seiken Densetsu series, cloaked in the robe of flashbacks and unclear symbolism. Read at your own risk.

-----

Koren walked onwards, drearing every step, but forcing himself to go on.

There was the Mana Tree. But it didn't look the way it had been when The Dragon Emperor had ravaged it... this was different. Standing in front of it was an evil and terrible creature... it was...

JULIUS!

Koren watched, watched as the legendary Gemma Knight and the girl fought him, and slayed him... watched as the Mana Tree withered and died, and as the girl took upon her shoulders the weight of the Tree once again.

There was a quick flash, and suddenly, he saw another sight.

The Mana Beast, the creature who was to revive Mana, was being assaulted by a trio of warriors... the Boy, the Girl and the Sprite... the Mana Beast died, letting out a terrible scream... and the Sprite was gone, gone forever.

Another flash.

The Mana Tree, destroyed... the ground turning, and in front of him stood tall a terrible dragon... his former master, the Dragon Emperor, in his true form. He saw Duran, Angela and Hawk fight it, until it exploded, and there was the Mana Tree, cut and dying...and then, the Fairy flew in front of them,

Flashes occured, faster and faster... thousands of years and generations flew through his eyes, and Koren screamed as the light become unbearable.

And then he saw it. Something clear, something terrible...

A TRIANGLE!

A triangle of fate, monstrous and cruel, painted into the canvas of the world with the blood of the innocent, an eternal dance, culminating with an endless circle of sacrifice...

"NO!" Koren screamed in rage. This cannot be it! This cannot be the end! Could it really be so, that life would go on in such a horrible duality, reborn, destroyed, and destroyed and reborn again and again, ever bought with the blood of the innocent? Meaningless losses, meaningless victories, as life would go on, meager and weak, always dying as it was time for it to reach a new goal.

Then, a thought hit Koren, clear as a lightning.

Duran... are you... the Boy?

-----

OK, I'm ready for a showdown, Kyo...


---


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

Old Post 02-05-2002 12:28 AM
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Tenshi Kain
Nameless Eternal

Vows Once Spoken, Left Unbroken (I)

On the road that I have taken
one day, walking, I awaken,
amazed to see where I have come,
where I'm going, where I'm from.

This is not the path I thought.
This is not the place I sought.
This is not the dream I bought,
just a fever of fate I've caught.

I'll change highways in a while,
at the crossroads, one more mile.
My path is lit by my own fire.
I'm going only where I desire.

On the road that I have taken,
one day, walking, I awaken.
One day, walking, I awaken,
on the road that I have taken.


- - - - -

There was silence at the peaks of this twisted place- silence save for the groans of the unholy impish things that creeped and crawled among the shadows. Slash cared little for them, instead focusing on isolating his mind from the very noticeable, biting cold in here. Memoria...a haunted realm of memories. He sat in it, perched upon one of its uppermost balconies- at least, he assumed it was somewhere in the uppermost area. The place had so many paths, so many corners and winding roads, that still he couldn't tell if he was anywhere near the peak of Memoria. It didn't really matter to him, he supposed, as memories were...fleeting. Yes, fleeting. Especially with him. And he wasn't trying to isolate his mind- he merely found it to be less cold when he thought little of the weather.

And who are you explaining yourself to?

Slash set his jaw, wedging the Slasher II's molecule-thin edge deeper against the corpse-cold ground. He leaned his upper body against its dull edge, at the same time easing back a bit on his makeshift chair- a slab of...something, that had fallen from the wall. Rock, probably. Slash patted his brow, rubbing his fingers against his eyelids. He was a little tired of this place- nothing to do, and he hadn't seen that many of the other competitors in some time. He'd heard...whispers, yes. Whispers, rushed and hysterical, and screams. Many, many screams. And wails, and curses, and the sounds of heads ramming against walls.

"Why did you choose me?"

The voice startled even Slash, for he wasn't sure whether he'd even heard it. He tore his hand from his brow, at once on his feet with his beloved plucked from the ground. The Mystic's pale yellow eyes burned with challenge, darting from left to right, up to down, and behind in the same manner. "Who's there?" he demanded huskily, keeping his ears perked for any sound or answer.

"Why did you choose me?

Slash's ears picked up on it, but the direction was not one he'd have ever expected. For one, the voice was perfectly clear, as though spoken from human tongue, and not entirely masculine, but distant from the lighter tone of a woman. Sexless, almost, and specifically, it was coming from the vicinity of his right hand. Very slowly, almost not daring to look, Slash turned his eyes down, the ferocity in the sallow orbs dying into a shocked sheen. His Slasher II was resonating, almost trembling in his solid hand.

And it was covered with dripping, fresh blood.

"...what?" Slash murmured vacantly, knowing something was genuinely amiss.

"Why did you choose me?" His precious sword resonated again, and Slash saw another drop of fresh kill fall from its edge to fizzle into red mist inches above the ground, and then no more.

"What...are you talking about?" Slash murmured again, his voice...empty, somehow. "How do you mean, 'choose' you?"

It did not answer. But his mind did.

There were so many lives I could have chosen, back then. Roads to the future, ways to change the world laid out before me, methods in which I could have affected the entire course of history. And yet, when it all came down to it...when it was finally time for that little blue Mystic to rise up and say "I will!", it...it was just a sword. A sword and countless pints, quarts, gallons of blood. Swordsmanship, Bachiatari Hakuma Ryu- the Cursed Devil's Flow. The enemy of mankind, the blue harvester of bloody doom, standing with Magus and Flea and Ozzie against these crudely-shaped, despicable human creatures. I chose to be hellbound and yet heavensent, to use a sword to weave time...

"Why?"

Why. Slash had long abandoned that word- it made you think too much, and that was why it was useless. Asking "why did it have to be this way?" or "why did this happen?" was to delay the course of the future. When his Mystic troops asked that, when they were cradling the hacked-up remains of a comrade or clutching a stump where a limb once sprouted, Slash plainly gave them an answer, and he never stopped to question 'why':

"Because you were born." It still sounded good, coming from his lips. That was indeed 'why.' When you were born, you were given the honor- or curse, however you looked at it- of experiencing life. Whether or not it was cut short or stretched on, you were allowed some time to kill before death came knocking; any way you used that time, though, you were guaranteed to see your share of pain. Everyone got a piece of that pie, eventually. It was predestined.

"Why did I choose you?" Slash muttered emotionlessly. "Because...I wanted the thrill and the duty of teaching that lesson. I wanted to be the server of that 'pie'- to show to every one of those idealistic bastards that their dream of 'peace' that they couldn't escape having it shoved down their festering throats!" He was screaming now, his voice shattering the wails of the imps in this cold palace. But he didn't care- he needed to yell this for all the ghosts in this place to hear.

"There is no exception- none! Everyone must feel pain! To defy this is to defy existence, and for that you deserve the bloodiest end imaginable!" Slash yelled at the uncaring, formless gray sky above. "I chose this path to preach that sermon! To every damn man, woman and child- to let them scream in the same way that I did! When it was time, I vowed to show them! They would know that my wounds etched deeper than the blackest bottom of Hell!!!"

The last syllable echoed from his raw throat. The bestial glint was again in Slash's eyes, so sharp that their sheen turned orange against the Slasher II's ensanguined flat. Slash whipped the blade, but the blood did not spray. Instead, it only resonated again, and that sexless voice gave its answer once more.

"Show me those wounds."

Slash closed his eyes, barely aware that he had begun to walk. He went through hall after hall, down the long roads of Memoria, dimly passing by shadowed images of competitors both Rising and Fallen. Slash barely gave them notice, his eyes empty and his throat aching, threatening to choke him with a meek lump. He carried the expecting sword in his hand, its phrase not needing to be repeated.

And Slash began to remember.


---

Thanks to Serendipity for the schway sig.
"Your eyes...they burn with resolve! Beautiful!"
-- Seymour Guado, Final Fantasy X

Old Post 02-05-2002 12:32 AM
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Daigohji
Sponsor: Setzer

Setzer wandered through the castle of Memoria alone, his footsteps echoing through the cavernous chambers. It had been hours since he had seen or heard another living soul. Doubtless they were still entwined in their memories. The gambler had seen no further into his own past since Yume had left and had become immersed in thought.

When did I lose the drive I once had?, he pondered. There was a time when I felt a sense of purpose. I knew where I was going and why. How did I slip from the path? He stopped, half expecting some phantom version of himself to appear and answer his questions. But there was only silence. It no longer seemed to matter which way he walked in the castle, everywhere he turned it looked the same. So he simply stood and let the quiet wash over him.

And then, in that desolate place, he realised the answer. “I am alone” he said, the words reverberating around the castle. It seemed an obvious statement, but he spoke of it as though it were a great revelation. There is no cause to follow, he thought as the understanding opened upon him like the first rays of morning light. There is no woman to pursue. There are no comrades to fight beside and no evil to defeat. No one to insult me, to thank me, to love me or to hate me. There is no other. I have … stagnated in my self-made isolation. How could I hope to find my path with no one to tell me that I had left it.

The gambler reached under his cloak and pulled a single card from his deck. Even before looking at it he knew which it was. She is the same. he thought as he looked at the card, on the outside is the façade of what once was, and on the inside the pain of oblivion. I can no longer go on living my life for myself alone. Perhaps if I can help her, we will both regain what we have lost.

“I’ll find you again, Queen of Spades.” he uttered as he returned the card to the deck.

Last edited by Daigohji on 02-05-2002 at 12:54 AM

Old Post 02-05-2002 12:41 AM
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Darkken
The Scarlet Magician

Koren walked through the halls of Memoria in a trance-like state, passing warriors barely noticing. He saw the commander he had met earlier, occupied with his own inner terrors, no doubt, and in a moment of sympathy, he unleashed his magical powers on him. On his way out, he saw a young girl, pondering her own fate. Koren set out his hand, and
in a sudden moment of senseless rage he couldn't explain even himself, he cast a spell of fire on her, and walked away without even looking what happened to her.

What did it matter... it would all be up to fate, anyway.

-----

1 Prayer on Driscoll (2 pv)
1 Mimic of Dareon's Prayer on Driscoll (2 pv)
1 Aura on Driscoll, Rubicant and Gryz (2 pv)
1 Deathblow on Lemina Ausa (2 pv)

That leaves 4 power votes to be used.


---


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

Old Post 02-05-2002 01:06 AM
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