Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 421: Banking a la Kuja
Date: May 1st, 2007.
Metal Man (GM): The group is on the still-burnt (somewhat) Seeker. Metal looks at the options up for today.
Metal Man: "Well, we've got three choices. The Archivists don't need our help for now, but we still have the 'Terrible Trio' on the loose. Although they only stole some meaningless coal, so nobody seems too upset."
Digifanatic: "So far..."
Metal Man: "Then there's Eggman. Apparently he is up to something, and we need to know what's goin' on. He's built a base on this planet, too."
Blade was in the stadium right now, though soon he comes out to join the briefing, in his Warrior form. "So, what chaos and mayhem are we causing today?"
Metal Man: "Finally, we've scoped out those ruins where Kuja's bankers are hiding. It appears they're hiding more than money there. You can investigate."
Alexia: "Geez, doesn't that guy ever take a break?"
Blade: "I'm certainly interested in seeing what Kuja's bankers are doing..."
Digifanatic: "Yeah... it seems like the most intriguing of the three."
Alexia: "I'm for it."
Metal Man: "So... you guys gonna check out the ruins beneath the planet's surface?"
Julian: *Julian would be in his usual chair, feet up.* "Kuja bankers. I need to find out what they're up to..."
Dragoshi: "...I would've gone for Ivo, but seeing as I'm outnumbered... again... I'll just be neutral."
Digifanatic: "But, to answer your question, yeah."
Dragoshi: "...Eh." *Just stares at the crystal.* .oO(Now, the death of the one who saw through good and evil is a catalyst, as the other journal mentioned. And, so far my clue trail says tries to correlate said being to... reflections. Hmm.)
Glyph: [Hop] "Hello Questers! Tinfoil weapons are bad, right?"
Digifanatic: "Hey..." .oO(Now to see if that procedure worked.)
Julian: "Get out, Hop."
Blade: "Yes, but I heard a tinfoil cap will prevent mind-control..."
Glyph: [Hop] "Yes sir."
Dragoshi: .oO(That has a very elaborate meaning. I mean, it could mean me, or someone who's an expert at-Ack!) "...Only if they aren't immune to being crumpled up." :p
Glyph: *Hop leaves.*
Alexia: "Hiya, Hop."
Dragoshi: .oO(Well, with that ruiner of my concentration out of the way...)
Julian: "...Wow, that worked?"
Alexia: "...Are you okay, Drag? You look like you're a million miles away."
Metal Man flips open a warp. "Be careful. They claim you killed their warriors. Then they must have something else to defend themselves..."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. I'm okay." .oO(...Now, anyway... The next step would be to find a correlation to that and the whole reflections thing, but that'll be for later)
Digifanatic: "Well, we've taken down the big guy before..."
Julian: "'Course we killed their warriors. 'Cause they was tryin' to kill US." *Julian get out of his seat and heads for the warp.*
Digifanatic: "Unless they have something that is powerful beyond belief hiding up their sleeves, this shouldn't be that bad." *trails Julian to the warp.*
Alexia: "...Don't jinx it, Digi..."
Glyph: *Hop prepares to rush back in after Julian leaves.*
Alexia enters the warp.
Digifanatic: "Sorry."
Alexia: *Or not.* "Hop, what do you want?"
Glyph: [Hop] "Since tinfoil weapons are bad I need things like magnetite and iron!"
Alexia: "Well, have fun with that." *Warp.*
Dragoshi: *Absentmindedly looking at the crystal, and puts it away.* "...Huh? Oh. Iron. Well, I wouldn't know where that'd be located. Sorry." *Moseys on along to the warp.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers reappear in a deep underground cavern. It's... sorta freaky down here. Old Kuja-style buildings persist here, and a small town of sorts exists here. Immediately nearby there is a 'Kuja Shop', a 'Kuja Bakery', and a house.
Julian: *Moves ahead to see more of the town. Can't investigate if you're standing still.*
Digifanatic: *True that.*
Dragoshi: *Mhm.*
Alexia: *Yup.*
Metal Man (GM): Walking further in, the Questers see several people walking around in gray robes. They see also up ahead a bar. There's some noisy stuff goin' on in there.
Julian: *Noisy stuff = a scoop! Head for the bar.*
Digifanatic: *Might as well move along to the bar.*
Alexia: *Sure, why not.*
Dragoshi: *Yep. And noisy stuff also = Opportunity for him to find out skeletons! Ker-follow!* >_>
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk inside and see two drunken guys rambling on about something. They speak incoherently, so listening to them doesn't seem to show anything. However the barkeep is another story. Both his hands have one silver ring per hand, and he wears a red felt hat, which he keeps low. He takes out a baseball bat and slams it into the counter, silencing the drunks, and things continue as normal (quieter, at that.) There's a jukebox playing one of Kuja's themes in the corner, too. It's in a honky-tonk style, though.
Julian: *Looks around the bar.*
Digifanatic also looks around the rest of the bar.
Metal Man (GM): The bar is made up of Kuja-style metallic everything, with somewhat elaborate chandeliers. There's a feather that was apparently once worn by Ruvyn. It's blackened and on the wall in a frame. Next to it is a picture of Kuja's main control room, with Kuja himself sitting at his throne. The barkeep has a badge of a commander on his lapel.
Digifanatic: .oO(Freaky sights...)
Metal Man (GM): There's not much else there.
Digifanatic: *w* "Now, what? Should we talk to someone or look for something else now that the bartender shut em up? I mean, that was the only thing that really drew us here..."
Alexia: *w* "I have a bad feeling about this place... I say we leave before we wind up in a bar brawl."
Digifanatic: *w* "Yeah..."
Dragoshi: *w* "I'd say talk to someone. Start with the guys that were arguing, then the bartender. But, eh." :/
Metal Man (GM): The bartender glances at the Questers once. His gray eyes seem vaguely familiar.
Digifanatic: .oO(Huh? That's weird...) *w* "Well, this is a bar... perhaps someone friendly will be here."
Dragoshi: *w*"Yea. That's always a possibility..."
Metal Man (GM): Being a Kuja bar, it doesn't seem to have many issues with disorderly conduct. The barkeep stares at the Questers again.
Digifanatic: .oO(Hmm...) *walks over to an empty stool or chair, preferably one away from the two that nearly started the fight... or the bartender for that matter.*
???: "Hey, you. You're not from around here. Why are you just standing in the middle of the room?"
Digifanatic: "Oh, sorry... I didn't realize that was a problem." *continues to look for some place to sit down.*
Metal Man (GM): Digi sits down.
Dragoshi: *Just takes a seat at an empty barstool, then.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi sits down... the bar continues operating.
Alexia takes a seat as well.
Metal Man (GM): The chairs and tables are Kuja standard.
Digifanatic: *Looks if there are any locals looking friendly sitting next to him.*
Metal Man (GM): Nope. They all seem to avoid Digi, as he isn't wearing Kuja specific clothes. The barkeep points at Digi.
???: "So... uh... what can I get for you?"
Digifanatic: "Just a soda's fine."
Dragoshi: "What do ya have specifically?"
???: "Kuja ale, Kuja stout, Kuja wine, and Kuja Vodka insanity. And water. Soda? We used to get that, but because we ran out, we don't really have any anymore."
Digifanatic: "Oh, water's fine."
Metal Man (GM): He snaps his fingers and water appears in a glass before Digi.
???: "So... what're you down here for? Usually people who come down here are out to kill us all."
Digifanatic: "Huh... thanks." *lifts the glass and takes the glass.*
Dragoshi: "...Hmm." *Pulls out a coin and flips it to decide...* *Sees that the coin has landed on heads and puts it away.*"...I'll have the ale."
Julian: *Julian would have taken a seat at the bar.* "My man what do you know...'bout bankers?"
???: "Okay." *summons an Ale for Dragoshi, then turns to Sawyer.* "Well, that's the funny thing. Everybody here but me is in some way a banker."
Alexia: "How so?"
???: "Kuja sent his accountants and all his money off here so the Questers couldn't steal it. Turns out, in bitter irony, that his money and accountants outlasted him and even his space ship project."
Dragoshi: "Thank you." *Takes slow sips from the ale.* "Huh."
Blade decides to remain silent, sitting in a random chair, with a bottle of ale in-hand. He took a drink from it.
Dragoshi: "Space ship project?"
???: "The problem is there's no real leader here, so the money is primarily used as a gigantic black market bank."
Dragoshi: .oO(Wonder if that's the same as the dimension traveling ships... Eh. Prolly' is.)
???: "Project Prometheus. A number of Kuja ships made to conquer the universe. They were hijacked by Gerald Robotnik and then in turn somebody named Trevor. I think the Questers got one too. Ruvyn was going to lead the remnants, but then he died too. That leaves the miserable old idiot named Kuka, who believes somehow being rich will save the universe."
Dragoshi: "Yea. They did. And they destroyed the other four. ...Somehow." *Shrug.*
Alexia: *thinking.* "Uh-oh."
Dragoshi: "...No, maybe it wasn't them but an outside source. Can't remembe-Kuka? Oh, right. Him. The guy who mentioned that whole 'Other journal' thing, right?"
???: "I'm the last non-banker left of the Kuja group. Honestly, nobody here knows what Kuja wanted--cold, hard, intergalactic rule. Ah, you've heard his speech."
Dragoshi: "Yep."
???: "He's nothing but a religious guy. Kuja didn't want to warn anyone of it. In fact he'd probably want his enemies to die in it when it came down to brass tacks. Of course, the only reason I'm talking to you is that you are obviously the Questers. Other idiots just want to steal our gold. I know you. You guys are too rich to want it."
Dragoshi: "Of course." :/
Blade: "Of course... since everyone around here's a Kuja-worshiper..." He shrugs. .oO(Not me, I'm DIRT POOR!.)
Alexia stomps Blade's foot.
Dragoshi: "I really don't care about the gold. ...I have a bank account of my own somewhere else, but eh. All I want to know is the truth."
Julian: *Rich, yeah...* "Whatever. Look, the real reason we came down here is to find out if the Kuja Bankers(most ridiculous faction name ever GO) got anythin' else down here 'sides gold."
Metal Man (GM): He looks at Julian very sadly.
Dragoshi: "And, apparently..." *Pulls out the crystal.* "This thing is supposed to help with the whole finding out the truth thi-..."
???: "That is the thing... there is something better than gold down here... and they're wasting it."
Dragoshi: *Faycepalm.*
Julian: "Now we're getting somewhere."
???: "Kuja and Gerald made one last invention when you were about to hit the tower."
Dragoshi: *Puts crystal away.*"Yep."
???: "A device which could be used to alter history. I'm not sure how or what, but it's something that could avert many catastrophes."
Julian: "Go on..."
???: "Kuja himself was about to use it, when Gerald went nuts and broke free from his mind control. He hurled it all the way out here with his teleporter."
Dragoshi: "Such as, for example...?"
Blade: "Alter... history?"
???: "Gerald's true motive was to participate in the destruction, not the saving, of the universe. Kuja, as selfish as he was, wanted this universe, so he wanted to save it so he could rule it. The device is exactly below the gold hoard. The bankers placed it there because they don't want anyone to use it. Frankly, I can only say it here without being attacked because everybody here is drunk out of their minds."
Dragoshi: "Of course. Gerald does fl-Huh."
Blade: "...then why don't they use it to prevent the Questers from destroying Kuja in the first place?" He shrugs a bit, now a bit tipsy.
Dragoshi: "Wonder if they did that, so that way the gold would try to crush anyone who'd try to get in through the bottom..."
Julian: "So where's the gold hoard? An' how big is security 'round it?"
???: "Ohhh... that, unfortunately, I can't help you with. I'm not a banker. They won't tell me. I am..." He chuckles a bit, almost darkly. "The Last Commander of Kuja."
Alexia: "...Pardon me?"
Julian: "Lucky you. Anythin' else you can tell us?"
Dragoshi: "First there was a guy who claimed to be the Last Survivor, now... You. Hm."
Slade: "Commander Slade. That Last Survivor guy was just a jerk. He wanted to be something he wasn't. There are no last survivors in the Kuja regime. If you survived, you betrayed the regime. That is why I'm helping you."
Dragoshi: "Ah. 'Course. He killed himself trying to kill us, though." >_>;;
Julian: "An' I thank you for that. Any other info 'fore we head out?"
Slade: "Simple. The Bankers are often half-mages. Make them angry and you're in for a magic pummeling. But they're also weak to money."
Julian: "So what, we jus' throw coins at 'em and they'll go away?"
Dragoshi: .oO(So we smack then with sacks of coins?)
Slade: "You can bribe your way a very long way... not here, though. My alcohol is the strongest in the region... about 60% by volume in the stuff I serve to them. Don't worry, you guys got the normal stuff. It's my own way of gettin' revenge. I heard most of this by getting idiots drunk."
Blade: "Sounds like a job for my magic form, too bad I'm in no shape to transform to any but my true form."
Dragoshi: "Heh. 'Course. Nice tactic, by the way."
Julian: "Bribery... got it."
Alexia: "...Would you happen to have any peanuts?"
Slade: "Well, I am a Commander. If I was loyal to my post you'd hear the drums of war already. But in truth, my enemy is them." He points at the bankers. "And also them." He points at a picture of the Archivists. "And him... him." He points at Charles' picture... it's on a dartboard. "Uh. Yes. Go nuts, literally." He hands Alexia a bag of peanuts.
Julian: "Amen to that."
Dragoshi: .oO(Note to self. Start bar to acquire interesting info more easily. Oh, and make sure to give them strong alcohol. Yea.)
Slade: "Now, before you go, I have a few questions myself. It's only fair, after all."
Alexia: "Thanks."
Alexia pockets them.
Julian: "If you ain't got anythin' else to tell us... we'll answer some questions. I guess."
Slade: "Why are you down here, specifically? This place is a horrible place."
Dragoshi: "Shoot."
Slade: "Kuja's men were never right in their minds, and these people are religious maniacs."
Blade: "We're down here investigating the possibility of other things other than cash..."
Dragoshi: *Nods.*
Julian: "Already said that."
Slade: "Ah, I see. Next question. Who's your new enemy #1, now that Kuja is gone?"
Julian: "Anyone that gets in our way."
Blade: "Well, *I* am unsure, I just rejoined the Questers..."
Slade: "Anyone?" He shrugs. "If there was somebody in specific, I might be able to help..."
Alexia: "I think a better question would be 'Who ISN'T?.'"
Julian: "Specifically? It's all over the board."
Dragoshi: "Previously it was Ricky, but now that he's vaporized and whatnot, there are various enemies now..."
Slade: "Ah. Any of them anywhere near Kuja's power?"
Julian: "We got Shadow, Rathos Lell, that other guy, Eggman, Hop's crazy ass..."
Dragoshi: "The Void, Aran... Just to name two out of a wide range."
Julian: "''Pparently Aran created the universe or some such an' was worshiped as a God by the Lunarians 'fore we wiped their asses out... He'd be the closest, I guess."
Slade: "Aran... This is why I asked you. Kuja, as you know, predicted things. He said a huge number of names, including Aran, and then said that one of them was the destructor of the universe, which he himself would kill so as to continue his control. He was also so cocky because he swore you would soon trigger this person and be your own destruction. Looks like he was wrong, or if he was right, he had a very bad sense of time..."
Dragoshi: "...I think the very bad sense of time thing could be right..."
Slade: "Ah, but he said this as if Aran or whoever would kill you before you were able to kill him."
Blade: "Or at least try."
Julian: "Wouldn't be surprised."
Dragoshi: "Well, Void told us about ten items or so that could be used to do something against Aran. Let me try to remember what they were supposed to do..."
Julian: "All of Kales' Staff parts... which we don't know where the fuck most of 'em are."
Slade: "Hm... that staff... not good. Anyway, you may leave now. My questions are over. And my information... gone. Of course, if you need a quick spar, I'm up to the challenge."
Dragoshi: "Okay, then. Thank you." *Finishes up his ale.*
Julian: "I'm good." *Julian pushes his barstool away from the bar and stands up.* "Well if that's all, we'll be on our way. But first..." *Julian reaches into his back pocket, and places a 1000 Coin Bag on the bar.* "Thanks for the help."
Slade: "No problem."
Julian: "A'ight, let's bounce." *Julian goes to exit the bar.*
Blade follows, albeit with a very slight wobble.
Alexia heads out as well.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers exit the bar. Up ahead they see more houses, and then finally a bank at the end of the town.
Julian: *To ze bahnk.*
Dragoshi: *Ze bahnk indeehd.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk into the 'Kuja Bank.' It is mostly empty, besides a single teller.
Blade's following again. Off to the bank!
Teller: "???! Questers in this bank? What could you possibly want here?"
Blade: "We'd like to make a withdrawal..?"
Teller: "You... have an account? How could that be? I don't see any here in the records..."
Dragoshi: "Don't mind him."
Julian: *Julian gets a general scope of the bank while Blade's distracting the teller... He looks for the location of the vault and counts how many personnel on this floor there are.*
Metal Man (GM): The vault is not to be seen. The main room is about 50 by 50 feet in size, and dusty. This is so old it looks like Kuja himself oversaw the construction. It's massive, and there's locked doors everywhere. Only one teller, though.
Julian: "Fine establishment you got here..." *Walks up to the paywinda.* "Mind telling us about it?"
Teller: "Sir? I'm looking, but I don't see anything under the Quester name here... good reason for it, too... This is the Kuja bank. And that's all you're entitled to know about it."
Blade: "Okay... how about Blade?"
Teller: "Nothing, nothing under it here."
Blade: "Bah... of course I wouldn't be famous enough to have bank accounts here..."
Julian: "Okay, but what about my friend Coin? What's he entitled to know?" *subtle hint, made more obvious by Julian reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a coin sack.*
Dragoshi: .oO(Oh, just get to the damn part involving bribery already. ...THERE we go.)
Blade: "...I think Alexander Hamilton or Benjamin Franklin will be more enticing."
Alexia: "Who?"
Teller: "Ah, so you know that." He opens his hand. "What do you want? There's a price... for almost anything."
Julian: "Where's the vault? More specifically, where's the way UNDER the vault?"
Teller: "Ohohohoho. You want that knowledge? That'll cost you a million coins. Strict policy--that's more than even a group your size could grab with your bare hands and conceal."
Dragoshi: *Falls over.* *Gets up...*
Julian: "A'ight everyone, pony up."
Blade: "...d'aww, I've only got twenty thousand..."
Alexia: "I don't have any. You took the last of it."
Teller: "Strict policy, like I said. Plus we need mooore money." *His eyes shine a little.*
Julian: "...Assessin' our current financial situation, here's a counter-offer." *Brandish fist.* "You cough up the info, an' we don't bust yo' skull in."
Teller: "At last! A chance to avenge my God!" He hurls a fireball into Julian's face when he does that.
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM.*
Julian: *Argh?*
Teller: "Die, infidels!" *He leaps over the counter and rips off his gray robes, revealing his combat uniform.*
Blade: "Dumbass..." He grumbles, and gets ready for a fight.
Dragoshi: "...Hmph. And I didn't even get to negotiate from a different angle. ...Meh."
Julian: *Julian's back up at this point.* "We was gonna have to fight them sooner or later."
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi draws his scythe, and attempts to reap the Teller's possessions with it in a modified Five-Clawed Discount.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi hits him with it, but reap nothing. Apparently they have protective spells against that sort of thing.
Julian: *Julian easily covers the distance to Teller, and attempts to grab him by the collar...*
Metal Man (GM): *Hit.*
Julian: "C'mere." *Julian grabs Teller by the collar, then lifts him up and pulls, flipping him over the counter and onto the floor!*
Metal Man (GM): He is knocked away some.
Julian: *Julian Axe Kicks Teller while he's down.* e_e
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Julian: *Julian then attempts to pick him up...* *Julian hoists the guy to his feet, gives him 6 quick kicks to the midsection, then pushes him off and gives him a Roundhouse Kick to the head to finish his turn 'cause his player needs to go to the store!*
Metal Man (GM): He is 1 foot to the Questers' left.
Alexia: *First, an Overload!* *Gee, THAT one's familiar.* *Right, segue into a Mindblast.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit. The Teller looks at Julian... and laughs.
Teller: "You call that fighting? Kuja made that obsolete AGES ago!"
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(He's dead, though.)
Teller: "Behold! The Kuja no Ryuken style, a style he stole from another realm!"
Dragoshi: .oO(Kuja no Ryuken? Buh?)
Metal Man (GM): He flies at Julian and spins with an uppercut. Then another. Then another. Then another. His hands turn to fire when he does it, and he yells "Shoryuken" over and over again. Then he cancels into a standing pose and begins firing fireballs rapidfire at Julian's face. "Fira Fira Fira Fira!!!!" He finishes up by leaping into the air and spin-kicking Julian in the head over and over again. The usage of those other-dimensional techniques causes a hole in the time-space continuum.
Alexia: "...What the hell?"
Dragoshi: "...Oh man! I should've known those were other-dimensional skills!"
Metal Man (GM): Suddenly, some woman in armor flies out of it, and the portal closes.
Dragoshi: "Yeesh. And I call my self a seasoned traveler of dimensions." *Shakes head.*
Teller: "Wha? Hm... no wonder why Kuja said not to overdo it. No matter. I will beat you into the ground with my superior magi-fighting skills!"
Alexia: "Um... hi?"
Woman: *stumbles a bit and sighs.* "...well then ... I guess this is another one of Lezard's little games ..." *she glances to Alexia.* "..."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. He knew what he was talking about, what with the whole 'don't overdo it' thing. ...Though, enough with the witless banter."
Leo: *walks into battle and takes out his sword.* "...Hello, hope I didn't miss much."
Dragoshi: "No, not really, Leo. As far as I know of." :/
Woman: *the easiest why to describe her is a woman decked out in Blue armor with gold trimming ... and a white with gold trim skirt on...* ^^;
Dragoshi: "Well, except for the fact that the bank teller... mage... guy, overused other dimensional techniques, but eh."
Leo: "...Who's the person in the blue armor?"
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(That's what I'm wondering.) *Shrug.*
Alexia: *First, a Charm bolt.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Alexia: *Well, no need to futz around, then... Point-blank Mindblast to the ribcage!*
Leo: *moves up 3 feet and blasts the teller with fire.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Woman: *mmphs and lets her Ethereal Wings appear, then leaps upward and lifts thel amd gives a strong beat to launch her right at the enemy.* (Lancer) (Editor's note: I still don't know what this muddled mess means.)
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Woman: *lets her wings fade then spins around and slashes out at him with her sword horizontally.* (Whirling Ripper)
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Woman: "...it shall be engraved on your soul ..." *she swipes her hand out in front of her and the enemy would start to levitate off the ground a little bit, 3 spears forming around him and then they launch themselves at him when the woman snaps her fingers.* (first Part of NV: full power)
Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit. Hit. All three hit, allowing for the final part of the combo to be used.
Woman: *Then leaps up into the air, her wings appearing once more and the beat lightly to keep her in the air, then she summons a very... veeery large spear and aims it down at the enemy.* "...Nibelun Valesti!" *the tip of the spear suddenly blazes with energy and she flings it downward at him.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Woman: *lands and her Wings fade again.* "... it is foolish to continue mortal..."
King Demon starts off by using draw to acquire his sword, then he uses his spinning sword attack on the Banker.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
King Demon follows it up with a flame punch, then a wing hit.
Metal Man (GM): Hit. Hit, crit.
Dragoshi: *First, Dragoshi readies his scythe, then plants his feet to the ground, prepping something, then launches and flip kicks the Teller, using the scythe for extra reach, in what one would call a modified charged Flipkick.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit.
Dragoshi: "...I'm just getting started." *Quickly switches out his twin-bladed laser scythe o' dewm for the barrier-killing machinegun of death. After doing so, he fires an Indignation shot at the Teller.*
Metal Man (GM): Crit.
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi then...* *...It's an albatross. Weird. And, it's perching on the machinegun, and after gathering energy from it's perch, it swoops down to strike the unsuspecting Teller!*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Dragoshi: *And, then Dragoshi finishes his turn with an Ice Tornado shot.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit. He's nearly dead now.
Dragoshi: "...Yea. At this point I really suggest giving up." >_> *Dragoshi absent-mindedly taps his foot.*
Teller: "Never. To die is to be rewarded; to live is to betray Kuja! And... you shall never get the coins, either way."
Blade sheathes his sword, turning about. "I'm not going to kill him, he did nothing to me."
Dragoshi: "Hey, I really didn't want to do the whole violent method. If it was in my hands, I would've either A. tried to negotiate the price lower, or B. Figure out a way to use the whole prophecy thing..."
Woman: "...this quarrel is over money? ..."
Dragoshi: "No. Much deeper than that."
Leo: "..."
Teller: "They wish to access the vault and something inside it without my permission."
Dragoshi: "Though, you'd have to have seen the whole thing from the beginning to understand or some other weirdness than that."
Leo: "Ahh."
Teller: "In the name of my country, I am prepared to die... but not before I exterminate the one who caused this."
Leo: "...The assassin?"
Dragoshi: "...Nah. I think he means someone different. I don't think the assassin has anything to do with this."
Teller: "No, him." He points at Julian. "I shall perform the most powerful attack I was taught by Kuja yet."
Julian: *This better not kill him. He had something cool planned.*
Leo: "..."
Julian: "Hey, if you had jus' backed down in the first place, we wouldn't be doin' this."
Woman: *she sheaths her sword.* "..."
Dragoshi: *Puts machinegun away, and looks at the crystal, muttering.* "'Sides, I'd like to get back to figuring out who the one that could see between good and evil is first..."
Leo: *sheaths his sword as well.*
Metal Man (GM): He holds his fists up and looks at Julian one more time.
Teller: "I give you one chance to take back your threat."
Dragoshi: *Continue talking to self under breath.* "'Sides, the other journal did say that they were the catalyst..." *Already put machinegun away.*
Julian: "Lower the goddamn price."
Leo: "...I kinda had a feeling Julian would end up dying like this..."
Teller: *shakes his head.* "This is no longer a matter of money... unless you are afraid to die for money."
Dragoshi: *And, more self-talking under breath.* "Well, their death, anyway." *Puts his crystal away, and is now not armed.*
Teller: "The price is as the God Emperor stated, and he is dead. I cannot rescind that."
Julian: "If he's dead, he ain't much of a God anymore is he?"
King Demon really has no idea what's going on, so shrugs and lowers his sword.
Teller: "Then you have chosen your fate."
Julian: "Look, I'll make you a deal. You tell us where the vault is, I drop the threat."
Woman: "God Emperor?" *seems rather offended now.*
Teller: "No deal. You die PERMANENTLY now."
Metal Man (GM): He raises both his fists and the entire planet shakes.
Leo: "...Can't be any deader than that..."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Teller: "I CALL UPON THE ULTIMATE POWER OF KUJA... THE FORBIDDEN SPELL WHICH HE HIMSELF REFUSED TO CAST, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD HAVE SAVED HIS LIFE..."
Julian: *Wonders if he could punch Teller while he's yelling out these incantations... he can Sneak Attack.*
Leo: .oO(Hmmm, wonder what that could be?)
Metal Man (GM): The mage is glowing awfully powerfully. However the door out of the room is also open.
Leo: *Starts to inch his way to the door.*
Dragoshi: "..." *Should prolly' get the hell out of here, considering...*
Blade uses this time to make a break for it, not wanting to be anywhere *near* this when it goes off. "Sorry, but I like my existance."
Julian: *Julian takes the path of least resistance and beats feet towards the exit.*
Dragoshi: *Follows Leo...'Cause, YEESH.*
Teller: "I SUMMON THE UNSTOPPABLE BEING---ARK, DESTROYER OF---"
Metal Man (GM): The Questers flee the building as it simultaneously explodes from his casting.
Woman: "..." *just followed the others I guess* ^^;
Leo: "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): But that's not fast enough--the destruction is following the Questers.
Julian: *Run away! RUN AWAY!*
Blade: "Aww, damn... I can fly faster than this!"
Metal Man (GM): Slade walks out in time to duck under a giant metallic beam which flies over his head.
Slade: "I told you not to annoy those idiots! They're suicidal!"
Dragoshi: *RUN THE HAYELL AWAY!*
Leo: *looks behind himself.* "...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" *starts running even faster.*
Metal Man (GM): A warp out appears as the cavern itself cracks and bits fall from the ceiling.
Julian: "No you didn't!" *Into the warp!*
Dragoshi: .oO(Didn't know they were that suicidal, though.) >_>;;
Leo: *runs in the portal.*
Blade dashes into the warp-out, this isn't good.
King Demon runs to the portal.
Woman: *moves into the warp.*
Dragoshi: "...Wow. Talk about ridiculously suicidal." *Blink, then exit into warp...*
Julian: *Perhaps Slade would like to join us before the cavern collapses on his head.*
Metal Man (GM): Actually he did join in. Aboard the Seeker.
King Demon: "Well, THAT was fun..."
Leo: *out of breath.* "...What's... Ark?"
Metal Man (GM): The burnt Commander coughs a bit of dust, clutching his relics from his bar.
Slade: "An Eidolon capable of utter annihilation."
Julian: "Better them than us."
Slade: "Had you not run you'd have been obliterated."
Leo: "I see..."
Slade: "However, that isn't the first time that's happened, so don't believe they're all dead."
Dragoshi: "As seen from that display of utter annihilation." >_>;;
Julian: "Also." *points at Woman In Armor.* "Who the hell are you?"
Slade: "In fact, they'll..." *Glances at the woman in armor and continues talking.* "Probably rebuild like nothing happened... as they always do."
Leo: "...I was gonna ask that too, just not as bluntly."
Slade: "Except... uh..."
Woman: "...One who Judges the fate of souls... A Valkyrie."
Slade: "I don't think they'll be liking Julian anymore."
Julian: "...Name."
Dragoshi: "...what?"
Leo: "...I'm guessing that means you're an angel?"
Dragoshi: *Headwall.*
Leo: "What?"
Slade: "Anyway. You're sort of stuck with me for a while, so I think I'll make myself home here."
Metal Man (GM): He sits down and takes off his... metal? boots.
Slade: "Aahhh. Been a while since I've had such a shiny place to live in."
Dragoshi: *Stops.* "...'K."
Slade: "Oh. That reminds me."
Julian: "O-kay... welcome to the ship."
Woman: "...Goddess ... Angel ... your human titles don't mean much ... call me what ever you like ..."
Slade: "Eggman's gonna kill us all. Just a head's up."
Julian: "Again?"
Slade: "He's not out to kill you, no."
Woman: *lofts a brow and looks to Slade.*
Slade: "But he's creating his own Dimensional Cannon."
Dragoshi: "...What? Is he gonna pull a Nah Rasur MkII out on u-...what."
Julian: "...Again."
King Demon: "Eggman? Bah, he's Nothing!"
Slade: "And he's not a God, so he can't mentally figure it out. Nor does he have Magitek. So it's most likely to explode violently and blow up stuff."
Julian: "So we have to go kick some common sense into him."
King Demon: "Then again, I could be wrong..."
Julian: "Again."
Leo: "..."
Dragoshi: "...Yea."
Slade: "Just don't kick common sense into him near the cannon. It might explode from being hit by kicks. In fact it nearly exploded that day a fly landed on it."
Julian: "Whatever. Looks like we got our next mission set up for us..."
Dragoshi: "Seriously, though. Why couldn't he have done something saner?"
Slade: "Also, if you want to kill 'dem nasty bankers, you're going to need some explosives."
Blade: "...I'll be in the stadium for a little while..." He moves towards the stadium, and transforms to his full dragon form, laying down.
Julian: "Because he's Eggman. He's using robots that are gonna kill him all some day."
Slade: "Because they don't die normally."
Valkyrie: *just watches them all silently.*
Slade: "That's the other reason they're alive now. Stab 'em in the brains, they come back the next day and hand you back the implement you stabbed in there."
Julian: "Explosives? I got explosives."
Valkyrie: "...Explosives?"
Slade: "The tricky part is attaching them to the people and detonating them. Not to mention they'll try stuff like Captain 'Let's Explode' you saw down there."
Dragoshi: "...How much Super C4, Julian?" >_>;;
Julian: "Wait, so we gotta actually plant the stuff on 'em? I was thinking like, plant it in public places and wait for people to gather..."
Slade: "That annihilation there would have killed them if that was true. You have to literally scatter their atoms hundreds of feet apart."
Julian: "Damn. And I only got five bricks left, too."
Leo: "..."
Slade: "Most deaths are only a misconfiguration of atoms. So it's easy for them to regenerate. The last real death had to do with an idiot and some antimatter."
Dragoshi: "...Now all we need is antimatter." >_>;;
Leo: "...Where do we find that?"
Dragoshi: "I... have no idea." *Anyway, obligatory attempt to detect Slade's motive.*
Julian: "Eggman's probly got a whole tank of it or something."
Metal Man (GM): Mission Completed. Slade's motive: Wait a minute... he's doing a check motive on Dragoshi too!
Slade: "You don't trust me, do you? Good for you." *He sticks his tongue out and walks away.*
Metal Man (GM): He seems to be telling the truth. Dragoshi gets the impression he wants the banker people to violently explode.
Valkyrie: *after a long while of silence.* "...Why are you after these ...seemingly cultist mages?"
Dragoshi: "...That was one of those weirder moments."
Leo: "...I think you just got told."
Julian: "Because they're already dead on the inside. That an' they're bad for business."
Valkyrie: "So they are one of the foul undead?"
Leo: "I thought all bank tellers were dead on the inside? I would if I had a dead-end job like that..."
Dragoshi: "I'm not even gonna bother with a retort."
Julian: "Dead as in they worship a false god. Which we killed, but they do it anyway."
Valkyrie: "...I see" *just goes silent again.*
Julian: "I dunno."
Leo: "Kuja being that false god?"
Metal Man is sitting nearby. "It's all your choice, really. They pose no real threat. They seem best equipped to blow their own town up."
Julian: "That an' Kuja tried to take over the Universe."
Valkyrie: *nods slowly .. and then mutters something to herself.*
King Demon leans against the wall, listening to the debate of the other Questers, wondering about what Slade had said about the demon not dying.
Julian: "I need to take them out or I'm gonna go out of business... But seriously." *points at Valkyrie.* "What's your name?"
Valkyrie: "You don't need to know of my name, it is rather useless information."
Leo: "I almost forgot about you having that bank..."
Dragoshi: *Pulls out the crystal and spins it on his finger.* "And, this apparently is a crystallized piece of his soul. Huh." *Stops its spinning and puts it away.*
Julian: "If we're gonna be working together, I'm gonna need your name."
Metal Man: "Valkyrie is technically a name."
King Demon: "He's right, after all, the only name I have is 'Demon.'"
Metal Man: "After all, you accepted me, and my name is technically Illian Macgregor, not Metal Man."
Julian: "Too much of a mouthful."
Dragoshi: "...Yea, technically."
Valkyrie: "Valkyrie is fine ..."
Julian: "I mean, you could shorten it to Valk, but that don't sound right."
King Demon: "..."
Leo: "Or Kyrie?"
Valkyrie: "..."
Leo: "What, I thought it sounded good?"
Valkyrie: *just stares.*
Leo: *sighs and looks depressed.*
Dragoshi: "...I'm just gonna go and try to figure out who the being that can see through good and evil is... Over there." *Inches away, then zooms off.*
Julian: *Staring contest, biatch. Julian cheats via wearing shades.*
Dragoshi: *And, he's off at nearly full speed!*
Valkyrie: *keeps staring, almost statue like.*
Dragoshi: *Actually, half, but whatever.* >_>;;
Leo: *starts to inch away as well.*
Dragoshi: *ANYWAY, temporarily shift scene to Dragoshi's room. Dragoshi is sitting at a desk, complete with drawing board, and is busy contemplating.* "Hmm... To start, I should prolly' figure out what correlation between the one who can see through good and evil and reflections are."