Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 420: Museum of Fated Destruction
Date: April 28th, 2007.
Metal Man (GM): The group is back in a rather crispy ship. Metal is less than amused as he holds a burnt coffee mug... Eggman's.
Metal Man: "Couldn't you have waited a few seconds before deciding to attack our allies?"
Julian: *Julian's there too.* e_e "What the HELL was that?"
Alexia: "...Allies?"
Metal Man: "I mean... now my best tuxedo is more like my best painting clothes."
Dragoshi: "...What does that make your best painting clothes?" >_>;;
Metal Man: "The people of this planet are sort of kind of maybe interested in helping us with our Aran problem."
Azure: "In what way?"
Digifanatic: "Yeah, but they're also looking for that sphere."
Dragoshi: .oO(...Why does he even have a tux or painting clothes.)
Metal Man: "Mainly because the Archivists have been after him, and, guess what. If we scratch their back, they can take down him for us."
King Demon: "What about Leviathan? The Archivists kidnapped him!"
Julian: "That ain't a bad thing."
Metal Man: "They have informed me he is in stable condition. They intend to extract whatever makes him dangerous and return the disarmed version to us. Seeing as his powers served only to make him attack us, I don't see the problem."
Alexia: "They're going to decapitate him?"
Dragoshi: "...They're going to drain the excess Ruin Miasma from him?"
Digifanatic: "Heh..."
Metal Man: "They have the technology. They can rebuild him. Better. Faster. Less traitorous and schizophrenic. They have the technology."
Dragoshi: "'..."
Digifanatic: "Whoa."
Metal Man: "They have the tech--" *Slapped by SIMBER.*
King Demon: "Why couldn't they TELL US THIS TO BEGIN WITH!?"
Metal Man: "Ow. Uh, anyway."
Alexia: "...Sounds like something from a bad TV show."
Dragoshi: "I'd smack you with a shovel for that, but SIMBER already did that with his hands. So, yea. Not to mention there prolly' wouldn't be a shovel on this ship in the first place, anyway." >_>;;
Darkdata: "These things are always complicated... It never is that easy is it?"
Dragoshi: .oO(Not to mention pummeling things with a shovel works better on doors, anyway.)
King Demon: "It'd be nice if it was easy just once though!"
Metal Man: "Now we have our choices. If you do dislike them, please don't hit them. Just leave them alone."
Alexia: "If it ever IS easy, it's a setup."
Metal Man: "We still only have access to Halton heights, but we have plenty of choices."
King Demon sighs.
Metal Man: "First thing, you can find and try to get a meeting with that guy you encountered... but my sources say he's got bodyguards aplenty and doesn't want to associate with known people who have fought the Republic. Even though he actively subverts it. Go figure."
Dragoshi: *Muttering to himself.* "...I love it when people state the obvious." *Out loud.* "...Right. Other choices...?"
Darkdata: "No way to disguise someone?"
Metal Man: "You can also meet the Archivists. They have a mission of their own for you, but I dunno if it'll be good or not. Then there's the terrible trio. If you're suicidal, you could try to beat them."
Alexia: "...I say we arrange a meeting with the Archivists."
King Demon: *mutters.* "I'm homicidal, not suicidal!"
Alexia coughs into her shoulder.
King Demon: "I'll see what the Archivists have to say."
Darkdata: "What would the three crazies be after anyway?"
Metal Man: "We don't know, they're busting in and stealing old rocks and dirt."
Alexia: "...Dirt?"
Digifanatic: "That's pretty much it for now... I was thinking it had to be some mineral thing."
Azure assumes they're looking for something ancient.
Dragoshi: *Does the same.*
Digifanatic: "Aside from the iron, I don't know what's commonplace in the crust here."
Azure also assumes they just could have a rock and dirt fetish.
Alexia: "Sorry for that smoke incident yesterday, by the way."
Dragoshi: "...Eh."
Digifanatic: "Eh, no problem, but what's your problem with it?"
Darkdata: "It's ok, 'lex."
Digifanatic: "No offense to your life or body or what, but I'm just concerned."
King Demon: "I vote we see the Archivists. There's not a lot we can do against the Trio right now, and going back to the Heights would probably be a waste of time."
Alexia: "I never breathed air like that before. I'm not built for it."
Dragoshi: "...I see."
Digifanatic: "Oh..."
Metal Man snaps his fingers and a portal appears. "Just don't cause the ship to explode again, or I'm going to make you go out next mission with 'kick me' signs on your backs."
Digifanatic: "And Demon has a point. We somewhat know all we need to do right now from the Heights."
King Demon: "We'll try to not get the ship fired on, but I can't guarantee anything!"
Dragoshi: "...Mhm."
King Demon walks through the portal.
Alexia enters the portal as well.
Dragoshi: *Enters through the portal, as per usual.*
Darkdata goes though the portal!
Digifanatic: *portalized!*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers appear in a big, marble room, deep underground. It's so large and dark they can't see the walls or ceiling. Sitting in 10-foot-tall judge-style booths, five people wearing robes of red, blue, green, black, and white respectively sit, looking down at the Questers. A spotlight is on the part of the area the Questers are standing on. Their faces cannot be seen, the hats shadowing them. They also speak as one, with all five of their voices.
Archivists: "You are here to speak of a topic. Please dictate your purpose."
Digifanatic: "I hear you have a special task for us to complete right now."
Dragoshi: "If I remember correctly, our leader, Metal said-Yes. That."
Azure walks up behind everyone with the usual monk like garments on hands within gi and hood over head with only a small bit of hair visable.
King Demon looks at the five as best he can "We are here because we were told that you had a mission for us to do. We are also here about someone who is in your possession."
Archivists: "A task. Yes."
Metal Man (GM): The white one takes out a holo-box and rummages around, before taking out a paper. Another one takes out a document with Glyph's face on it.
Archivist: "So you have chosen your task and reward. Complete task, reprogramming of subject 'Glyph' will be beneficial to you and he will be returned."
Digifanatic: "Hmm..."
Archivist: "Task is also in Halton heights. Specific information..."
King Demon: "If I may ask, what does this 'Reprogramming' entail?"
Archivist: "There is a black market dealer specializing in antiques. Raid his shop and steal this. I'm afraid you are not privileged to that information. Now... steal this."
Metal Man (GM): A hologram appears... it shows a scroll of glass, which opens up to reveal endless green binary numbers.
Julian: "...You want us to steal The Matrix?" *Has been following.*
King Demon attempts to read the binary.
Metal Man (GM): It hurts Demon's head.
Dragoshi: "..." *Facepalms as Julian says that.*
Archivist: "No, it is not that. Although your knowledge of ancient film history is interesting. It is the code to operate something on our project. A backup. The original code was erased by a rogue security program. We dealt with the program... but we need this code to proceed. It is great enough we entrust it to bounty hunters with no allegiances like you."
Digifanatic: *Tries to determine their motive.*
Archivist: "If you do well, we may think about giving you access to a higher-importance area."
Metal Man (GM): Digi draws a blank. They're almost like machines. Do they even have motivations?
Digifanatic: .oO(Hmm... can't quite figure out if this is worthy of following or not...)
Julian: "Deal."
King Demon: "All right, we'll do it."
Dragoshi: *Nods in agreement.*
Alexia is a bit too intimidated by these guys to talk.
Digifanatic: "Yeah, sounds good..." .oO(As long as they need that program for a good thing.)
King Demon looks around for a teleporter.
Blade: "...I don't like stealing, but I suppose I'm up for the challenge." The tiger shrugged a bit as he quickly polished up his blade and tightened down loose plates on his armor.
Azure sighs as this was completely against several codes of his.
Julian: "...Who're you again?"
Blade: "My name's Blade." He nods to Julian.
Archivist: "Now, to ensure you don't do anything sneaky..."
Metal Man (GM): A contract appears for the Questers to sign. It is very simple.
King Demon reads the contract.
Julian: *Doesn't sign anything without reading it...*
Contract: 'I agree to find and confiscate the code to the device the Archivists mentioned, and give it to them in working condition, in exchange for Glyph's freedom and reprogramming. If I fail, then Glyph is not freed.'
Metal Man (GM): It's only those lines. No small print.
Blade decides to give it a once over, before giving it the good ol' John Hancock. "...paragraph four, subsection two, second line first sentence... that's not very clear..."
King Demon signs the contract.
Alexia signs as well.
Julian: *Sees nothing that could screw him over, and signs it.*
Azure signs.
Metal Man (GM): It poofs, and a warp appears.
King Demon goes through the warp.
Alexia enters the warp.
Dragoshi: *Reads. Rereads twice. He enters the warp...*
Blade slides the greatsword into its sheath at his side, before entering.
Julian: *Warpin'.*
Azure: .oO(Hmmmm.) *ponders something as he enters the warp.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers at the front door of a museum. Problem is, it's been locked tightly.
Julian: *Knocks.*
Metal Man (GM): The steel door is plastered with 'No Solicitors' and 'Intruders will be shot' signs, and it appears to be unmanned as the knocks are unanswered.
King Demon: "Think they'd be upset if we kicked the door down again? Oh, nevermind."
Blade: *The tiger's sapphire eyes look about.* "I wouldn't kick the door down just yet, there's usually another -- much quieter way in..."
Alexia: "Yeah. Let's go find an air vent."
King Demon looks up at his horns "Yeah, THAT'LL work well..."
Blade: "...I doubt my platemail and sword will be very stealthy inside of an air vent... Is there a window we can access?"
Metal Man (GM): There's no windows, just the door.
Digifanatic: *had signed with the others and moves along.*
Blade: "Or, access to the roof? Maybe there's a skylight?"
Dragoshi: "...Or we could try and climb up and enter from the roof..." *Looks up at the building to see how big it is...*
Julian: "Or we could jus' knock the damn door down. This 'sposed to be a raid, not a sneaking mission."
King Demon: "I'm all for THAT!"
Dragoshi: "...But where's the fu-Oh, nevermind."
Digifanatic: "That sounds pretty good."
Blade: "...I suppose." He draws the cleaned greatsword, and gets ready for a nasty fight. Because when you bust doors down, usually there's soldiers to take care of you.
Dragoshi: "I just wanted to do the whole 'path of least resistance' thing, but no..."
King Demon: "I think there's only one path to take in this case Drag."
Digifanatic: "Yeah."
Dragoshi: "...You haven't even checked to see if we could-Screw it."
Alexia: "We could tunnel in..."
Julian: "You wanna sneak around like a lil' girl? Break off an' do it yo'self. But I didn' defend three fuckin' planets to sneak through an air vent." *Julian knocks on the door in various places to find a weak spot...*
Dragoshi: "..."
Alexia steps back a bit.
Dragoshi: "..."
Darkdata sidesteps away.
Metal Man (GM): It's only held on by hinges. One punch would crumple it.
King Demon shrugs and kicks it.
Julian: *Fist to the door!*
Metal Man (GM): *CRUNCH* It falls down the stairs within. No, it flies down. It shatters into pieces at the bottom. The room downstairs is... dark. It's about 1 story down, the stairs lead into it.
Digifanatic: "Alright, let's hit it..."
King Demon looks at Julian and shrugs "Well, that works too..."
Alexia shrugs and heads down.
King Demon starts to go down the stairs.
Julian: *Down down down.*
Darkdata follows behind 'lex.
Digifanatic: *downstairs, dudes!*
Dragoshi: .oO(...Right. I'll just watch you guys get slaughtered.) *Will be the last one going in...*
Blade swiftly follows the group, being rather quick on his feet for being in such heavy armor...
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk on in... ...it's too dark to see in here.
Julian: *Julian opens up his Dex to provide a light source.*
King Demon lights his hand on fire to light the way.
Julian: *Or KD could injure himself.*
Dragoshi: *Holds a spark of Indignation to help with the way-lighting.* >_>
Azure: *spirit charms appear one by one around him giving off some gradient light as well.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers light it up... sorta. There is a light switch up by the door.
Julian: *Flip dat switch.*
Metal Man (GM): The lights turn on. Ahead is the first exhibit. It's an early combat suit. A tall, partially hunched-over collection of metal plates. Held together magnetically.
King Demon extinguishes his fire.
Metal Man (GM): Ironically this is more advanced than Metal's own... but up ahead there is some interesting stuff.
King Demon looks at the suit and wonders if it'd fit him.
Metal Man (GM): It might fit Demon, but it's all on display and stuff. Seems relatively stuck to where it is.
Blade: "Huh... kind of reminiscent of my armor..." He moves ahead carefully, keeping his sword at the ready.
Metal Man (GM): Up ahead is a display case filled with about a hundred different types of gun. P-90 derivatives, rocket-guns, machinegun shotguns, laser guns, plasma guns, even gun-shooting guns.
Blade: "Firearms. I've got a rifle... but I can't use it in this form. It's a shame I'm unable to shift at the moment."
Dragoshi: *Looks for guns that shoot swords.*
Metal Man (GM): None. They're all behind a glass case, too.
Darkdata: "The redundancy is amazing."
Metal Man (GM): There's another door ahead, but its... much more professional, with 'AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY' written on it. Also there's a palm scanner next to it.
Digifanatic: "Ah, here we go... oh dang." *Tries to hack it.*
Blade blinks at the door, then grumbles. "That could be a slight problem."
Metal Man (GM): Nowhere to interface with it.
Alexia stares at those guns with a flicker of envy in her eyes. "I really want one of those..."
Dragoshi: "...Meh."
Azure: "Mind on the objective..."
Dragoshi: "I'll just rely on my good 'ol machinegun." *Looks at the door.*
Julian: *Tests the door's condition and durability...*
Digifanatic: "Now, let's see here... authorized only... can't tap into it..." *walks out of Julian's way.* "Go for it."
King Demon: "We have GOT to loot this place when we're done raiding it..."
Azure: "..." *sighs.*
Alexia: "Aw, c'mon..."
Julian: "Same thing." *Checks how strong the door is.*
Alexia: "That contract didn't say we couldn't smash and grab on the way..."
Metal Man (GM): The door is in very, very good condition. It has been reinforced repeatedly. Only a Quester could break it. But there's probably alarms hooked up to it.
King Demon: "Well, shall we get this party started?"
Digifanatic: "Well, we're probably going to fight someone anyway..."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Digifanatic: "Now's a good of a time as any."
Darkdata: "Hmm, I may have an idea."
Dragoshi: "Go on..."
King Demon: "What?"
Digifanatic: "That is?"
Darkdata: "Well, we could try ripping off the hand scanner, and then hacking the wires from there."
Alexia: "After the alarms go off, can I smash the case too and get one of those guns?"
Dragoshi: "...Question is. Do even one of those guns work anymore?" :/
King Demon: "Only if I can get one too Alexia! Or the armor for that matter..."
Alexia: "If they don't, I can take it back and have it repaired."
Julian: *Julian reaches into the interior of his vest, pulls out a sledgehammer, and steps into position in front of the door.* "If anyone's got any objections, speak 'em now or forever hold yo' peace."
Dragoshi: "..." *Rolleyes.* .oO(Optimists...)
Darkdata: "I still want to try my control panel idea. Mind breaking that first?"
Johnny: "Get Alexia to rip it out wit' TK."
Alexia: "...Did you hear something?" *glances back for a second.*
Julian: *Damnit.*
Digifanatic: "Huh?"
Julian: "?"
Alexia: "...Never mind. What'd you want me to do, again?"
Julian: "Rip out that panel wit' TK."
Alexia: "Okay. I get dibs on those guns, just for the record."
Julian: "Whatever."
Alexia attempts to do so.
King Demon: "And I got the Armor!"
Azure sighs.
Dragoshi: "...All the guns? Well, that hardly seems fair. I at least want to take a look to the scope attachments and compare them to my machinegun's and-Oh, nevermind."
Alexia: "I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to get first pick."
Metal Man (GM): The panel refuses to come loose.
King Demon: "Did anyone try to actually get their hand scanned?"
Dragoshi: .oO(Then please word what you say more properly.) "...Okay, then." *Shrug.*
Digifanatic: "Look, it probably won't accept our presence."
Darkdata sighs.
Alexia: "...No go. Sorry."
King Demon: "It's worth a try though, isn't it? "
Digifanatic: "Regarding the circumstances, I'm pretty sure we don't qualify as 'authorized personnel'."
Darkdata: *Move item Clearsong.* - The panel.
Metal Man (GM): It is still stuck in there.
Darkdata: "Julian, take a hammer to that door."
Julian: "You done? Good." *SLEEEEEEEEEEEEDGEHAMMER!*
Alexia times a Mindblast at the guns case to hopefully sync with Julian smashing the door.
Metal Man (GM): The hammer breaks off on the door.
Alexia: *Mindblast at the guns case!*
Darkdata conceals.
Blade sighs softly. "...what have I gotten myself into..?"
Metal Man (GM): The guns case is not broken. Darkdata vanishes. Sorta.
Alexia: "...? That's some durable glass..."
Digifanatic: .oO(Probably puts Lexan to shame.)
Dragoshi: "...Hm."
Metal Man (GM): The door remains shut. It is extremely solid.
King Demon shrugs and puts his hand on the scanner.
Alexia knocks on the gun case.
Julian: "Damn." *Julian drops the broken handle and thin-And then KD does that.*
Metal Man (GM): It scans... alarms go off. ...A person casually walks up to the door and opens a tiny slit in it.
???: "What do ya want? I'm trying to sleep in here!"
Digifanatic: .oO(Well, here's the fight.)
Blade: "...I could probably blast it open with my Frizzle spell, if I had access to my mage form... oh well." He resheathes his sword, then tilts his head. As soon as the alarms go off, his arm goes to his sword again...
Darkdata reappears. You need to help us. There is a giant monster outside. Please let us in?
King Demon: "Any chance of me acquiring that armor?" *w* "If I can get him to leave that room, you guys can search it."
Blade: *whispering.* "Psst, guys, if he doesn't comply... try the annoyance factor... it usually works."
Alexia leans on the gun case, trying to both open it and make it look like an accident.
Darkdata: "You do want to help us, right?"
Metal Man (GM): It doesn't open. Then he rubs his eyes as Darkdata speaks at him.
Azure just doesn't say anything... this scene was horrible.
???: "Stop lying and tell me the truth, or I'll just sit here and watch you bounce off this door."
Dragoshi: *Stays silent...*
Darkdata: "One of you guys handle it."
Blade slides up next to Darkdata, and clears his throat. "*ahem.* "Sorry, he's a little loopy right now. We're the new security force sent to guard the museum for tonight only."
???: "I said stop lying. That room's intentionally openable. Only thieves would break the door like that, though. Stupid, stupid thieves. But... we're not hostile to the thought of money, so we aren't gonna shoot ya. Assuming you haven't gotten past our defenses on those items in there."
Blade then glares back at the other Questers, before looking back to him. "Ahh, yeah, that's the thing. We were just passing through when we heard the door being knocked off its hinges."
Alexia: "They have defenses?" *still leaning on the gun case.* "Blade... just stop."
Azure was about to step up and say something but nothing but the truth.
Digifanatic: *w to Alexia.* "The casing's probably real good."
???: "Defenses... so good you can't notice them. So... what do you want?"
Dragoshi: "...Of course."
Blade: "...We want to go inside, and check on the security logs, and the stored exhibits."
???: "Security logs? Those are sort of ours. If you want to see exhibits, though... That'll cost ya... 100k per person. No weapons, no items, and if I see anyone say anything magical again I will kill them, preserve their body, and make them a new exhibit so help me."
Digifanatic: .oO(WHOA.)
Alexia: "...Magical, sir?"
Julian: "...Damn."
Darkdata: "..."
Dragoshi: "..."
Darkdata: "Are you the only one there?"
Digifanatic: .oO(Oh, dang, that's not a good one to ask.)
Alexia stomps on Darkdata's foot.
Blade: *anvil!, fall-over.* "One hundred thousand? I've only got 70k!"
???: "Magical. That includes thoughts, I can hear those. So. What'll it be. The best museum you'll ever see, or me hurling bombs at you?"
Alexia: "Well... I'm just curious as to what you mean by that. Like 'Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat'?"
Darkdata: .oO(Ow ow ow ow ow ow!) *Makes a pained face."
???: "Large explosions. Now, c'mon. I'm getting bored here."
Blade: "Perhaps we could negotiate the price a little bit? How about half that?" ~That way, I can actually afford it!~
???: "Half of it? I dunno, that door cost a lot. Maybe only a few of you could come in."
Darkdata: "I could repair it. Give me a second."
Blade: "...One of our party is offering to repair the door."
Alexia: "Do you have anything about dragons in there?"
Darkdata: "I could do it right now."
???: "...Pffft." He kicks the door. "I don't care about that door. I stole it from a drug dealer. I just want my money, if you're coming in."
Blade: "Alright, give me a few." He turns around. "Who wishes to enter this room? It'll cost fifty-thousand, though..."
Alexia: "Sorry, I'm broke."
Darkdata: "Ditto."
King Demon: "Same here!"
Julian: "Ain't got that much."
Dragoshi: "I only have 33k or so..."
Digifanatic: .oO(He's not being serious, now...) *sigh.*
???: "100k? Anyone?"
Blade: "...Then I guess I'm the only one entering." ~Draco save me.~ The tiger turns around, and sighs. "I'll enter and pay the agreed-upon price of...(ouch) fifty thousand coins. Is that fair?"
???: "50-thousand? Pfff. I guess I can let you in. Any other cheapskates?"
Darkdata: "Ya, know. I hate for it to come to this but..."
Darkdata eats a psycho shroom. "IT'S EGGMAN TIME!" *spins.*
Digifanatic: *He has about 110K but he's really been unloading cash lately...*
Darkdata walls through the door, and if not the door, the wall beside the door.
Julian: *Truly only has 35k.* "What."
Blade gives him the coins through the slot, and makes his way in once the door opens.
Alexia then wanders back in to where the others are.
???: "Aw crap. The last time an extradimensional person broke in, it took me three days to clean up the mess. Sorry, gotta kill people." *He takes out a strange shotgun and chases after Darkdata.*
Darkdata: *Fear.* "I will eat your SOUL."
Dragoshi: "..." *Facepalm.*
Darkdata: "IT'S EGGMAN TIME!" *spins.*
???: "I have no soul." *BLAM! BLAM!*
Metal Man (GM): *BOOOOM.*
Dragoshi: .oO(This has gotten awkward.) >_>;;
Metal Man (GM): Tons of damage to Darkdata. This guard guy's shotgun apparently shoots antimatter.
Darkdata: *Stays dead on the floor.*
Julian: "...O-kay..."
Alexia: "...Whoa."
???: "Dang it, there's extra-dimensional freak all over my floor again."
Alexia starts backing up towards the entrance door.
Dragoshi: "...Yeesh. That sounded like one hell of a shotgun."
Blade: "...Yeah, I'll be paying for entry now." He chuckles nervously. "And I'll give up my sword on the other side."
Darkdata: *Still alive.*
???: "Now, you wanted in, Dragon-person. Cough up the 50k." He holds out his hand.
Darkdata: *Runs over and opens the door if it has a conventional open system on this side. If not use mirror songspell.*
Blade: ~How'd he know I'm a dragon?~ He hands over the 50,000 coins.
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata attempts to do so. The man raises an eye-brow and stares at Darkdata in the eye.
???: "Do you REALLY want to get me mad? I have the only functional soul destroyer in the tri-planet area."
Alexia: "I guess I'll just stay here in the lobby..."
Blade: ~Soul destroyer? That's a little... disturbing...~.
???: "And it's only been used once... to stop E Li Three from making a movie about himself."
Darkdata: *Twitch.*
Dragoshi: "...Wow. ...Wait."
???: "Anyway..." He reaches through the door and drags Blade in through it, and then points at Darkdata. "Now get out of here, or I'll be hanging your carcass on the ceiling. And not with the good hooks."
Darkdata: *Revive.* "If I give you a new exhibit, would you let everyone in? I have something you may like."
Blade blinks a bit. "That... was disturbing. And thank you." He then goes to look at the stored exhibits, trying to see if their target was back here or not.
???: "No, I only work in cash and people not attacking my place."
Alexia looks again at those guns. "We're sorry about that, but we didn't see a handle, so..."
Metal Man (GM): Blade would see definitely the target, alongside several displays of ancient writings, old computers, and weaponry so weird it doesn't make sense to people with 3-dimensional vision.
Darkdata: "And if I pay the 50k now?"
Metal Man (GM): There's also a nice big sign next to it. 'Everything in here is on sale!'
Blade: "...Ummm..." he holds up the data-scroll they need. "How much for The Matrix?"
???: "Matrix? Wha? That's just some old source code. I got it from my friend Dave, and he charged a lot, so... let's see... How about 3.5 million coins?"
Blade: "..." Super-anvil, MEGATHUD against the floor! Blade picks himself up and sizzles. "I don't have that kind of money!!! ...unless I open up a hefty loan from that questionable Wario character..."
???: "Oh, wait." *He points at Julian.* "He's rich. Get money from him. He has a bank, in fact. Not as good as the Kuja bank, but he can make loans. And I need money to replace that door you blew up."
King Demon: "Huh?" looks at Julian.
Darkdata: "Once again, I can repair it."
Blade: "...Julian? I... *cough* wouldn't be able to borrow three and a half *million* coins to buy what we need from here... would I?"
Julian: "That door was gonna fall off sooner or later. An' I dunno, you prepared to be over 4 mil in debt?"
Blade: "It depends on what the terms are... but we can discuss that later. What's important now is this object."
Darkdata: "What do you think of the archivers?"
???: "Scum. But... I like money."
King Demon steps back away from the door and leans against the wall, aware that there's nothing he can do right now.
Alexia continues leaning on the gun case.
???: "They sent you here, I bet... but I live for money, so... cough up enough, and I'll give it to you. Either that, or you can do a job for me in turn."
King Demon perks up at that sound.
Darkdata: "Job?"
Dragoshi: "...What's the job and how high is the risk, out of curiosity?"
King Demon: "What's the job?"
Blade: "...what kind of job? As long as it's not unscrupulous or bad-natured... I could do it."
Alexia: "...Zzz..."
Dragoshi: *Walks over to Alexia and pokes her.*
Alexia: *continues sleeping.*
Julian: "Cough it up."
???: "Okay, okay... You gotta go to this place... a very, very dangerous place. Get me an item there, and I'll give you this one. Except you don't have to find the item. You must defeat what protects it."
King Demon: "Gee, that sounds easy... where and what?"
Blade: "Okay. Where must we go, and what must we destroy?"
Dragoshi: "What's the item's protector?"
Julian: "Who's the mark?"
???: "The item protector is some ancient thingy. I don't know what it is, but... eh. You might." *Hands a weird-looking card to Julian.* "Anyway, just swipe this and you're there. Sorry for wasting your time here."
King Demon: "This doesn't sound... TOO hard, let's go!"
Darkdata gives ??? a psychoshroom. "Sorry for the trouble."
Blade: "Then can I leave this room?"
Julian: *Yoink.*
Darkdata: "Yeah... getting out would be nice. Without having to eat another one of those things."
Julian: "So we gotta beat up another ancient thing? A'ight then... So where is it?"
???: "Yes. Swipe the card and it'll take it to the location where it is." *Opens the way out... stares at the shroom.* "This is definitely going on display."
Azure puts his hand to his hood removing it so that he could rub his temples slightly.
???: "...There's a teleporter right there." *He points besides the stairs.*
Alexia: "Zzz..."
Blade moves out of the room, and retrieves his sword on the way out.
Darkdata heads to the teleporter and waits.
Julian: "O-kay." *Heads for the teleporter, swipes the card...*
Digifanatic: "Ah, okay... hang on, I gotta wake Alexia up..." *carefully walks over to Alexia and lightly pats her shoulder, whispering.* "We gotta go somewhere else to move on."
King Demon: "YO ALEX, TIME TO GO!"
Digifanatic: "Whoa..."
Dragoshi: "...I could've summoned an albatross to dance on her head, yanno." >_>;;
Digifanatic: *takes a step away from Alexia for that matter!*
Alexia: "...Okay." *wakes up and enters the warp.*
Digifanatic: *warps.*
Metal Man (GM): *WARP.*
Darkdata: *Yelling.* ALEXIA-- oh... never mind.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers vanish and then reappear in a dark area underground. Before them is a wrecked skyscraper of some kind. The door is guarded by two torn-up looking guards, and they don't look very alive either. The door itself is just a doorway.
King Demon: "This looks... bad." *walks toward the doorway.*
Digifanatic: *warps.* *slowly walks towards the doorway.*
Darkdata: "Oh before I forget."
Blade steels himself, and moves through the portal.
Darkdata: Alteration Clearsong - Psycho Shroom - Psycho to Sane. "I will not eat another one of those without an antidote."
Blade: "Do you want me to sentence you to writing that five-hundred times on a chalkboard?"
Darkdata: "Candy, Blade?"
Blade: "Depends? Is it one of those mushrooms?"
Darkdata: "No."
Digifanatic: "Blade..."
Darkdata: "Just a harmless... candy."
Blade: "Is the candy questionable in any way, shape, or form?" He looks to Digi, tilding his head a bit. tilting.*
Digifanatic: *w to Blade.* "Most likely, it'll screw with your gender for a while."
Darkdata: "I am out of the gender changing item if you must know."
Digifanatic: "Oh, right..."
Blade: "Alright." He holds out his gauntleted hand for the candy.
Darkdata gives it to him.
Julian: "I wouldn' touch it if I was you. 'Less you like being fluorescent green or somesuch."
Azure: "What he said."
Alexia: "Candy! I want one!"
Dragoshi: "..."
Darkdata: "You can have one too Lex."
Darkdata gives one over.
Blade simply pockets the candy, smiling. "Thank you, I'll be sure to enjoy it later." ~Or feed it to a pet I find... one or the two...~.
Alexia: *Wonders if she got the same kind as Blade.*
Metal Man (GM): The guards stand there... in their old, tattered armor, as the Questers sneak up on them. They see the Questers and one stands in the doorway.
Guard1: "Who dares trespass in this ancient place?"
King Demon: "The Questers!"
Alexia: "Hello."
Guard1: "Then ye shall die by my hand..."
Julian: "Me an' them." *vague gesture.* "Now beat it."
Alexia puts her candy in the pocket of her jeans.
Blade decides to stay out of this for now... but he does go for his sword -- because knowing them, it's going to get real ugly, REAL quick.
Digifanatic: *does not take a candy.*
Metal Man (GM): It raises a strange hand and goes to fight, while the other one runs inside.
King Demon: "Don't we have to to advance further?" *shrugs and wonders what everyone else is gonna do.*
Azure: "Do we have another option at the moment?"
King Demon looks for another option.
Julian: "You jus' heard how he wants to kill us?"
Digifanatic: "Exactly..."
Metal Man (GM): There aren't any, really, plus he looks nasty and dumb.
Digifanatic: "If we're to advance then we need to take them down."
Metal Man (GM): Unlike the psycho at the museum, all he has is a weird symbol on his hand.
Julian: "So I'm thinkin' no, we AIN'T got a choice."
Darkdata: "Move aside or I will turn you into a fluffy bunny rabbit."
Digifanatic: *gazes curiously at the symbol.*
Julian: "So let's kick his an' his ass an' move on."
King Demon draws his sword "Then En Guarde!"
Metal Man (GM): Whoever it is has apparently already been brainwashed by somebody else, as his eyes hollowly stare through Darkdata when he lies at him.
Dark Guard: "Turn back... the ways of darkness cannot be defeated."
Dragoshi: *draws his machinegun, and aims it at the Dark Guard, firing out an Indignation shot.*
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* Straight in the face.
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi then proceeds...* *To fire an albatross-shaped laser at the guard. ...wate, wut? Anyway...*
Metal Man (GM): Miss.
Dragoshi: *And, to finish this turn off, A Tidal Blast!*
Metal Man (GM): Miss hit hit.
Julian: *Julian leaps for Dark Guard, scissoring his legs and ending with one up as he tries to bring his heel down on DG's head with an Axe Kick!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Julian: *CRASH! Julian kicks Dark Guard in the head...*
Metal Man (GM): There are concrete blocks about. They approximate rock.
Julian: *At least Julian's right next to him, then. Julian follows up with a good old fashioned Mugging...*
Metal Man (GM): Hitz.
Julian: *POW* *PUNCH* *STEAL.*
Metal Man (GM): Julian steals a weird bracelet off of it.
Julian: *Yoink! Julian pockets said weird bracelet, and goes to finish up with...* *A Brick!* *Julian then tries to slam said Brick into Dark Guard's head...*
Metal Man (GM): Miss!
Julian: *Fuck!*
Dark Guard: "You have provoked my wrath... BURNNNNNN!!!!!"
Julian: *Oh snap.*
Metal Man (GM): He holds up his hand, and suddenly it rains meteors on everyone.
Dragoshi: *Dances outta the way! Wheeeeee!*
Alexia: *METEO.*
Metal Man (GM): He then blows the fire off of his hand and points it at Julian.
Alexia: "Ow..." *picks herself up.*
Dark Guard: "Flare!"
Darkdata: *Comical Tunk.*
Blade grunts as he gets knocked down and exploded-ed-ed by the meteor...
Metal Man (GM): He fires a gigantic beam of neutral energy above Julian and into a wall.
Julian: "...Nice try."
Dark Guard: "..." He then raises his hand again. "Barrier!"
Metal Man (GM): A wall of magical energy appears before him.
Dragoshi: "...Barrier? How useless." *Has a barrier-killing machinegun.* :p
Alexia: *Mend. Everybody's healed a bit.*
Digifanatic wastes no time on this first guard. He promptly covers the distance between himself and the guard in a single Icy Kick, and then rears his golf club back... and fiercely holds it in his not-really-a-backswing, then lets rip a charged swing on the guard!
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Digifanatic: *Fire Punch to the first guard!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Darkdata: "Hmm..." *Darkdata moves up two spaces.* *Grease Clearsong.* - Behind the guard. "Someone hit him hard, send him slipping!"
Dragoshi: "...You didn't notice the fact he's protected by a barrier, huh?"
Darkdata: "I never aimed at him... I aimed behind him. All someone has to do is just break the barrier and send him slipping..."
Metal Man (GM): Demon attacks, and then hits the guard!
Alexia: *Fate critical hit SFX.*
Blade: *He slinks forward just a bit, as his sword suddenly sparks with blue, gold and even black thunderbolts now. It gets encased in a bright blue aura of his own energy as he surges forward, making for a pass-by slice.*
Metal Man (GM): Miss.
Blade: -- End Soul Breaker combo --
Dragoshi: *Aims machinegun, rolls eyes, and fires an Indignation shot at the barrier...* *Then, an Ice Tornado shot, and to finish the turn a Tidal Blast.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit, Hit. Barrier is weakened. Miss hit miss. He still isn't budging due to that resistance.
Julian: *Julian cracks his knuckles, and decides to work over Dark Guard's face with a Haymaker!* *Julian quickly cancels into a Grapple attempt!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Julian: *Julian loops his arm under DG's nearest arm and around his neck, and kicks his legs out from under him while driving him into the ground for an STO!* *Julian then drags DG back up, and tries to grapple him again...*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Julian: *Julian pulls DG in close, unloads on him with 6 stiff kicks to the midsection, then pushes off him and tries to knock his block off with a finishing Roundhouse kick!* *Which... misses. Damn.* *Julian finishes by making a short hop into the air and trying to slam his heel into DG's head again with another Axe Kick!* *>:O*
Metal Man (GM): He raises his hands and fires three bolts of lightning. They threaten Julian, Dragoshi, and Digi. Then he glows again and fires a massive ball of dark energy at Julian.
Julian: *And of course he targets the guy who just went.*
Metal Man (GM): Julian is mind-controlled into attacking Julian with Foreign Object!
Julian: *what.* *Son of a bitch.* *Julian manages to miss himself!*
Metal Man (GM): He then tries to hit Julian by mimicking his beer bottle! *SMASH.*
Julian: *Julian gets hit with a Beer Bottle. Just like home!*
Digifanatic takes out his golf club to start his turn this time, but he's holding back a bit on that swing... oh, he's charging it!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Digifanatic finishes up with his turn, going for another blazing Fire Punch on the Guard, but that's not fire, that's a shower of sparks!
Metal Man (GM): He's taken quite a beating, now. Perhaps he shall fall soon.
Darkdata: "Hehe. I wonder what a stone elemental would be like." *Raise elemental Darksong.* *Darkdata plucks a few notes..*
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata creates a concrete elemental. It stares at him with its soulless holes for eyes.
Darkdata: *Go attack!*
Metal Man (GM): It swipes at the Dark Guard. *WHIFF.*
King Demon uses goes forward two feet, then uses Demonic Charge on the Guard.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
King Demon follows it up with a flame punch.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Blade fires things up by giving him a slice, then a slash, before finishing it off by leaping into the air and coming down on top of him. "Heaven Divide!!"
Metal Man (GM): Hit, miss, hit.
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi switches to his scythe, and attempts to swipe at the Dark Guardian with it.*
Metal Man (GM): Miss hit. He falls over after a thorough beating... leaving the way inside open at last.
Julian: "Boom!" *Onwards!*
Dragoshi: *Ker-follow.*
King Demon goes through the doorway.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk on in, and... they see some very old wreckage. Apparently nearly earthling wreckage. Wrecked tables and chairs and such.
Digifanatic walks in with interest...
Metal Man (GM): There's notes strewn about as well.
Julian: *Par for the course...*
Darkdata checks some of the notes.
Metal Man (GM): And finally, there's a computer in here. It looks broken, though. The notes, or the pieces of them, are unnerving.
Dragoshi: *Does the same for the notes...*
Notes: 'Ancient... ruins... danger... deadly... object... key... signal... final...'
Dragoshi: "...How disconcerting."
King Demon: "Uh... are we sure this was a good idea?"
Blade: "My sentiments exactly."
Digifanatic: *reads them as well.* "Sounds like that sphere..."
Blade looks at Demon. "Would you rather be paying out the ass for the next hundred years to pay off a 4-million coin debt? I think not."
Julian: "Like we got a choice."
Metal Man (GM): Nothing else in this room besides that and the ruined computer.
Darkdata: "... well..."
Darkdata looks at the ruined computer.
Digifanatic: *Searches for that ancient item protector!*
King Demon checks the computer.
Dragoshi: *Searches as well...*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers search the area. Dragoshi finds something... ...and it's pretty disconcerting as well. He finds an old Kuja standard laying by a table. Except it's not old. It's brand new.
Blade: "Curious as to what this is..."
Dragoshi: *A new Kuja standard what?*
Digifanatic looks for a door heading onward just in case.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers hear somebody walk in. This person is a bit less weird-looking. Standing about 5'6", and with sunglasses, this man stares at everyone from behind his... ...Kuja-regulation uniform.
Darkdata Conceals.
???: "Hmmm... what do we have here... the Questers. It is too bad God is still dead, otherwise he'd be happy to see you..."
King Demon grabs for his sword.
Blade swiftly redraws his sword and falls into his battle stance. "...I vaguely remember you guys..."
???: "Of course, I'm not quite as crude as he was." He waves a hand. "What are you down here for, anyway? There's no official cards that get you here, and those Archivist morons don't know of it either."
Dragoshi: *He checks out the standard, then looks over to the guy.* "Hm."
Julian: "Honestly? I dunno."
Metal Man (GM): The standard: A gray K with a circle around it, and the planets Turion, Nintendus, and Saga around it. The three planets Kuja directly (or indirectly) touched before he died.
???: "You don' "You don't? Well... that's a pity."
Julian: "We're lookin' for some item, an' that's all we know."
???: "I'll just have to tell you where you are, then... perhaps who I am, too. I am Sir Kuka, the successor to Kuja. Not much of one, though, as the genome process of his realm never made it here. In fact, his Solarians died, and so did all his soldiers... And I don't want your pathetic planets."
King Demon: "Then what DO you want?"
Dragoshi: "Then what is it that you want? Or is that none of our business?" :/
Sir Kuka: "No... I'm the last of his people here. His bankers. That's right. He sent his assets away before you got near them. I'm searching for a way home. He destroyed the old realm quite a bit, and this place hates us like the plague. Plus Kuja credits are worthless here."
King Demon: "Can't imagine why..."
Sir Kuka: "Of course, that's the unfortunate reason why we're both here."
King Demon: "BOTH!?"
Sir Kuka: "These are the ancient Earth ruins here, made by the colonists who fled here."
Blade: "If he is no longer evil..."
Sir Kuka: "Kuja? Oh, he is perfectly evil. If I were a warrior, I'd kill you all!" He leans forwards a bit. "But... I'm a banker. Suffice to say I have a few cheap tricks to stay alive and that's it."
Dragoshi: "I see..."
Blade: "I did not mean him, I know perfectly well how evil he is. I meant you."
King Demon: "You want to go home? Well, we'd love to send you there if we knew how!"
Sir Kuka: "Me? Well, I guess. I'm only doing the money aspect. Anyway... There was something here... Kuja himself prophesied it. He said that it would bring the end of this dimension, and said that he would allow his followers to get back home before such occurred."
Blade: .oO(Kujan accountants... even more evil than lawyers... though Kujan lawyers are even more evil than their supposed god...)
Sir Kuka: "You're looking for an item, right? That guy you killed. He's a pain. He kept me out of here for two years with his evil magic."
Dragoshi: "Pretty much, yea..."
Sir Kuka: "As for the item..." He holds up an old spellbook.
Darkdata: "Glad to be of help..."
Julian: "Whatever..."
King Demon: *w* "Maybe we should resurrect him though before we leave, keep this lackey occupied..."
Sir Kuka: "I have the item here. You can feel free and take it." He tosses it at the Questers' feet.
Julian: *Yoink.*
King Demon picks up the book.
Sir Kuka: "And I shall take this." He pockets a disk. "No hard feelings--one for me, one for you. You see?"
Dragoshi: "Makes sense."
King Demon: "What's on the disk?"
Metal Man (GM): He sighs a bit, as if he was remembering something.
Sir Kuka: "Kuja... you were so close to stopping the end of the universe. Ah well. At least you left us ours to escape to." He begins walking off.
Darkdata: "Explain?"
Metal Man (GM): The Questers have their item.
Julian: "Hey! Wait!"
Metal Man (GM): He doesn't seem to be listening, as he drones on about "The Treachery of the Fayth" and "How much I hate The Void. He walks out and is now proceeding towards a strange bridge made of debris outside.
Julian: "Get the fuck back here!" *He follows Kuka.*
King Demon: "How else are we going to get out of here, unless we follow him?"
Blade: "...Why not go back the way we came, make our trade and complete our mission? We have no quarrel with him, nor does he us."
Darkdata follows behind the guy.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers chase him to the bridge. He stops when he hears them.
Sir Kuka: "Ah, sir. But what can I do for you? I am a worthless villain to you."
Julian: "You can come work for me, that's what."
Sir Kuka: "I'm sorry, I've already chosen my employer. He's a little on the dead side, though."
Julian: "So you ain't got an employer no more, is what I'm getting out of this."
King Demon: "If he's dead, he's no longer your Employer, is he?"
Sir Kuka: "Kuja is alive, as long as we remember him. That is all that counts to me."
Darkdata: "King Demon, Julian can speak for himself."
Sir Kuka: "I took this name in his honor. It'd be silly to desert for money, even though it'd mean a ways out of running to a pock-marked pile of dust that once was a planet."
Julian: "Whatever. Look, I run a bank, an' we're currently in competition wit' another on. Now what I need, is people like you. ACTUAL bankers, so I know how to take these guys down."
Sir Kuka: "Which bank is this, anyway?"
Julian: "The first one or the second one?"
Sir Kuka: "All of them. I want to know, if you wish to bring up banking."
Julian: "A'ight, my company? SawyerWario Financial. National Bank of Genetia. The one we're in competition with is Kuja Bank, who jus' teamed up wit' Eggman in a monopoly that's gonna kill everyone one involved. But 'fore they do that, I'd like to run 'em outta business. I figure you could help with that."
Sir Kuka: "Ah, right. I'll have to get to work stopping myself, then." *Slaps his face.* "Eggman was the only person who had found a way to spend Kuja Credits. I was starving without the help. Now at least I can eat. But if you want to hire me, that'd mean a merger." He smiles oddly. "I'd be asking some pretty steep rates for that."
Julian: "How much?"
Sir Kuka: "Considering our wealth is five to six times that of your bank and the combined money of Nintendus, and the possibility of Eggman's technology working... eh. I'd demand a 49% stock in your company and tons of rules barring usage of Kuja credits except by people approved by me. However with that much wealth you could probably afford never to lend any of it ever again. ...Considering Kuja took all the money he made before he died, you see, his empire's funding is actually intact. The problem is you guys killed all his military minds."
Julian: "What's the value of that money running off of? There ain't no empire to be generating worth anymore."
Sir Kuka: "About... eh. 5 trillion coins. That's a fraction of what it should be worth. Kuja Credits were once worth five times that."
Julian: "So you guys are just running off a big stockpile of coins that Kuja left lying around."
Sir Kuka: "Yes. One so big that we can survive off of it for generations, if need be. If we were really under attack, we could just buy the Archivists into being our personal weapons... but with our underground hideout, no such thing is needed. But I'm not here to threaten you... it's Eggman who you want to talk to, right?"
Julian: "I already went through that. He didn't want to do things the legal way, so he was out of the deal. I was jus' talkin' to you to see if I could get yo uto come over to our side... but you ain't hearin' none of that." *walks off.*
Darkdata: "So, about the doomed universe..?"
Metal Man (GM): He brightens up a bit, happy to see somebody heard what he was mumbling.
Sir Kuka: "Yes. The universe will end in roughly a year. Only Kuja's loyal subjects will escape."
Darkdata: "Could you explain in detail?"
Blade: "...Not if the Questers have anything to do with it."
Sir Kuka: "'Cept they killed Kuja. The Dimensional cannon was to rally for help from all the nearby dimensions."
Julian: "Or destroy the whole damn place."
Sir Kuka: "He was really desperate. That's why he actually let you kill him when you attacked."
Dragoshi: "...Rally help? Like a signaling shot?"
Sir Kuka: "Rip a hole so he could send his white ships there as delegates. Gerald Robotnik and you and others stopped him, though. But he said if that happened, that not to worry. His faithful would still be saved, assuming they... survived the interim. Bitter words. All but a few of us are dead."
Dragoshi: "...Well..."
Digifanatic: "My goodness."
Dragoshi: *Tries to determine the motive of Sir Kuka.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi believes he is telling some sort of religious gospel.
Darkdata: "Is that your own truth? Or did it come from elsewhere?"
Dragoshi: "...This all seems like some sort of religious gospel, to me. ...But, then again what do I know?"
Sir Kuka: "Kuja is truth, pure and simple. He saw the beginning and the end. Unfortunately, he wasn't those, so he was unable to survive."
Digifanatic: .oO(Dang, this does seem to have some religious connotation to it.)
Sir Kuka: "And, of course, some dismiss it, especially those weirdos who do business with us. I've heard another prophecy, although this one is supposedly from somebody we don't trust the words of anymore... but... you wouldn't want to hear it. This makes you look bad... THAT makes you look evil."
Darkdata: "You may as well."
Dragoshi: "...So?"
Sir Kuka: "The source... that's what got us."
Digifanatic: "Well, we've overcome crazy odds before..."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out a book.
Dragoshi: "I've been called evil before, so it's no skin off my back." :/
Metal Man (GM): 'The Other Journal of Sardis Mongul.'
Sir Kuka: "It's like there was a mirror of what happened before coming to light here."
Dragoshi: "...Other journal?"
Digifanatic: .oO(OTHER?!)
Sir Kuka: "This came to us, telling us that the Questers were the other half of evil, and that in reality two evils had been fighting and destroying good... and that the infinite power of the third dominion would bring an end to the wretchedness... but it can't be true... he was the one who said Kuja was evil. So much blasphemy he said, indeed, that we don't even accept this. It is possible he went insane with his own prophecy-vision, at times more clear than Kuja's but rimmed with ravings about men with stones and dark palaces. He also mentions that the death of the person who saw through good and evil would be a catalyst."
Dragoshi: "I see..."
Sir Kuka: "It's... it's so bad that to hold this book makes me feel sick at times, but I must. Kuja himself would want me to see all sides."
Dragoshi: "Saw through good and evil... Who would that be?" *Sadly, Dragoshi wouldn't know anyone who'd fit that description.*
Sir Kuka: "I don't know. Nobody here does."
Dragoshi: "...And, I'd just want the truth behind the lies. But, sadly, it keeps evading me." :/
Sir Kuka: "Kuja said that the truth would only be known once it was too late."
Dragoshi: "...Wow."
Sir Kuka: "Perhaps you should try to predict it before it happens... otherwise knowing it may doom us all."
Julian: "That's the way it always is 'round here."
Dragoshi: "Well, then where do I start?"
Sir Kuka: "You want to help predict this before it can happen?" He looks at you, in awe. "I thought there would be no more oracles... perhaps we can salvage this mess."
Dragoshi: *Ah, sod it. He'll just try to think of who the possible choices for one who would fit under the description of one who could see through good and evil.*
Sir Kuka: "But... it is a bit of a sacrifice... the Oracle of its time is usually fated to die in some way."
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi thinks of reflections.
Dragoshi: "...Reflections. Hmm."
Sir Kuka: "Hrm, maybe you can begin to predict now... it's a bit much, though. It may cost you your life... are you sure?"
Digifanatic: "Well, that's an interesting one..."
Julian: "He's got two more."
Metal Man (GM): Sir Kuka shakes his head.
Dragoshi: "...Heh. I'm bound to die someday. 'Sides. I've lived a rather... long existence, so why the hell not? That is, until I find someone far more suitable for the job."
Sir Kuka: "Kuja was immortal as a God, and Sardis Mongul had infinite time traveling powers... they're both dead. Even your Metal Man would probably die if he picked up predicting. However he's perpetually short-sighted in his choices, so the joke amongst us is that he'll outlive everybody instead. So you accept, then I shall give you this."
Metal Man (GM): He gives Dragoshi... a piece of crystal.
Sir Kuka: "The last piece of Kuja's soul."
Dragoshi: "...Interesting."
Sir Kuka: "He gave it to me as a bauble, saying if it was the only one left, we would have only a small chance of survival. It can help you focus in predicting."
Dragoshi: "Would taking it... make it immediately taking affect?"
Sir Kuka: "No, it is gradual. But it won't possess you. Only give you foresight."
Dragoshi: *Checks to see if he's telling the truth this time...*
Metal Man (GM): Ironically, the crystal glows, allowing Dragoshi clearer vision of Kuka's intentions. He is telling the truth, as he apparently wishes Dragoshi to be the next prophet, and probably the last one if his prophecies are correct. Dragoshi is more sure of this than he os usually. It's almost as if he already knew this.
Dragoshi: "...I see. You want me to be the next, and possibly the last if this goes along correctly... And, weird... It's almost like I already knew. I guess that must be the power of the crystal at work, then." *Takes it, then, seeing as he's telling the truth...*
Sir Kuka: "There is no more I need to say, then." He winks. "You'll know everything eventually..."
Metal Man (GM): He walks down the bridge.
Sir Kuka: "I'm afraid, good sirs, I have business to attend. Eggman's going to prep a demonstration. If you want to see it, come again... tomorrow."
Dragoshi: *Nods.* "...Goodbye, then."
Darkdata: "So back to Mr. ???"
Metal Man (GM): The warp back is open.
Julian: "...Whatthefuckever." *heads for the warp.*
Digifanatic: "Sure, no problem."
Darkdata follows!
Digifanatic: *walks back to the warp.*
Dragoshi: .oO(Reflections... Does that mean... Myself? Nah...) *Heads back to the warp...*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers appear, with the book. ??? is pleased.
???: "Ahhh... this book... it is an ancient spellbook. It shall easily replace this piece of junk." He snatches the book and shoves the code to Julian.
Dragoshi: "I see..."
Darkdata: "I don't suppose you will be able to understand the Archivers now Drago?:"
Julian: *Yoink.*
Metal Man (GM): The warp to the Archivers is there, now.
Dragoshi: *He looks at the crystal.*"Well, this has turned into an interesting turn of events... But, yes. Possibly."
???: "Now, next time you come in here... knock three times quickly, and no more."
Darkdata: "K." *Heads to the warp.*
Julian: "Whatever." *Heads for the original warp.*
Blade: "And do NOT bust down the door..." He sighs, then shakes his head. "Let's head home, guys." He warps back to the meeting room with the Archivers.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers warp back to the Archivers. They sit and see the Questers again.
Archivists: "You have brought back the code. We are pleased. We shall forget that incident yesterday."
Dragoshi: *After entering warp, and popping up.* "...Thank you."
Julian: "Good, whatever. Bring out Glyph."
Archivists: "Here you go."
Metal Man (GM): Glyph reappears. Strangely, he looks cleaner than usual. He also has weird Japanese symbols tattooed into his arms.
Darkdata: *o_O*
Dragoshi: *Looks at the symbols...*
Darkdata: "The Tattoos are odd..."
Archivists: "He was very interesting... he shall no longer attempt to destroy you."
Glyph: [Hop] "Hello Questers."
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
Digifanatic: "Hey."
Darkdata: "Hello?"
Glyph: *Hop just sort of stands there, oblivious to reality as ever.*
Julian: "Yo."
Archivists: "Now, as you can see, we are not mean people. In return for your service... have this."
Metal Man (GM): A new area is added onto the Questers' cards... Jordan District. It's specifically a high-scale shopping destination.
Digifanatic: "Thanks."
Metal Man (GM): And a warp back to the ship appears.
Archivists: "We do not need your services for now, so you are free to do as you please."
Darkdata: *To the ship.*
Dragoshi: *Bows in thanks, and exits to the warp...*
Glyph: *Hop wanders over to the warp and jumps in.*
Metal Man (GM): Mission Complete.
Digifanatic: "Well appreciated." *warps.*
Julian: *Warped away.*
Digifanatic believes he's content with items and such, so he just heads back to his room...
Blade: *The tiger wanders into the currently inactive Seeker Stadium, yawns and shifts into his true form to stretch out a bit.*
Dragoshi: *Walks on down, 'cause why the hell not?*
Digifanatic: *is probably completely unrealizing of it, even though it would most likely interest him.*
Darkdata is in his bed. Asleep. Half Dead. And planing on studying the Glyphs on Glyph.
Blade: "Hmmm... what scenery shall I use tonight?" He thinks. "Computer... forest meadow clearing please." As Dragoshi enters, he watches the arena shift to a clearing in the middle of a thick forest, with all sorts of little flowers growing. There was even a nice soft bed of grass in the middle for the dragon who was now standing in the middle of the arena. Yes, this is Blade's true form, all forty-three feet tall, hundred and four-feet wide, ninety-three foot wingspan, six and a half tons of him. He circles around, before laying down in the center and looking around at the peaceful night sky.
Blade: o/` Final Fantasy VII - Flowers Blooming in the Church o/`
Dragoshi: "...Hello."
Blade looks back at him, smiling. "Hello, there."
Darkdata: night.
Blade: "Like my little scenery?" He smiles a bit, as he gazes around the arena.
Dragoshi: *Nods.* "Yes. That I do..."
Blade: "It reminds me of how I lived on Draconia... except I usually slept in a cave, not out in a clearing."
Dragoshi: "...Ah. Interesting." *He then once again looks at the crystal he was given.* "Hmm..."
Blade: "Back home, we did all sorts of interesting things... I bet you a Librarian could read that crystal you have... but alas, we're not on Draconia."
Dragoshi: "It's supposed to be able to make me have the ability to predict things... Like, a prophet would, apparently. An example of its ability to do so was shown to me when I tried to figure out Kuka's motive."
Blade: "I see..."
Dragoshi: "I'm trying to predict what the other journal said was to be found out when it was too late..."
Blade: "Unfortunately, I don't think you can force it."
Dragoshi: "Sadly... But, hey. One has to try sometimes, right?"
Blade: "I suppose so."
Dragoshi: "Though, in the end... Will it all be worth it?"
Blade: "We'll find a way to stop the destruction of the galaxy. I'm sure of it. Perhaps, that is why I have been summoned here again. Perhaps the Great Mother wished me to appear here, to help save it from destruction. I know a long time ago, I appeared to help dethrone Kuja..."
Dragoshi: "...If I may ask, who is this 'Great Mother' you talk about...?"
Blade: "Hmmm... it would be best if I told you the full story, are you interested?"
Dragoshi: "Yes. That I am."
Blade: "Then, please, sit." He nods to him, and shifts so he can maintain eye-contact with him without killing his neck. "A long, long time ago... billions of years ago perhaps... there was naught in the universe, naught but an egg. Where this egg was wrought was uncertain -- perhaps it had been left-over from a previous universe? Who knows, but continuing on... there was suddenly a bright flash, and a great release of energy. The egg cracked and crumbled away, revealing two dragons... one male, one female."
Dragoshi: "...Hmm."
Blade: "Each dragon was colored an opposite, the male was gold, and the female was silver. Endowed by the purest tie to the universe, each dragon frolicked about the empty void, creating stars, planets, whole galaxies at their whims. For eons they continued, playing about in the vast sandbox that was the universe -- creating and destroying all manner of things. As they grew more mature, they learned to better control their power."
Dragoshi: .oO(Interesting...) "...And, then what happened after that?"
Blade: "One fateful eon, the silver dragoness had fully matured... and as you would guess, her maternal instinct kicked in... she eventually wanted children to take care of, and nurture, to call her own... Try as she might, with her power alone she could not create a world that would support life until she turned to her twin brother..." He chuckles a bit.
Dragoshi: *Chuckles as well and shakes his head.*"And, then we all know what happens from there, huh?"
Blade: "You can probably guess where *that* ended up... anyway, the dragoness would eventually give birth to a world, which bore the seed of creation -- the Tree of Life. Upon this tree, grew nine fruit, each fruit falling from the tree and bursting from the ground, giving life to a dragon born in the aspect of a cosmic force. The forces you know as 'elements'...fire, water, air, earth of course, light and dark yes... but did you know that order and chaos are also elements?"
Dragoshi: .oO(...Yggdrasil? Nah. That's Norse. ...I think. Was it? I really need to re-look up my myths again...) "Eh, I thought that..."
Blade: "Anyway, the ninth dragon, the youngest, was born aligned not to a cosmic force, but bound directly to his mother -- as the messenger of balance. Each dragon went on to shape Draconia into its current form, each one also creating its own 'clan' of dragons -- red, blue, green, yellow, white, black, orange and violet. The gold and silver dragons were eventually known as Altharazhaaln(pronounced all-tra-shahln) and Feeazhaaln(pronounced Fi or Vee-shahln), the Great Father and Great Mother. And that is the end of my story. "
Dragoshi: "...Wow. That was, in all regards, a rather interesting story. Thank you for telling it to me."
Blade: "Thank you, those who do not know the Birth of Draconia -- which is everyone not from Draconia itself -- usually do find it interesting."
Dragoshi: "Heh. ...Anyway, I believe I should resign to my room for the remainder of the day, as I'm starting to feel tired. Good night." *Bows and leaves, heading back to his room.*
Blade: "Good night. Feel free to come converse with me again. Y'know, when we're *not* killing each other." The dragon chuckles, before laying his head down.