Rune Seaker 3: Rise to Kings

[Joa-Boo]

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[Joa-Boo]

A_Shadow_Within

Rikimaru looked around the small room. he shifted is weight and his armor moved silently. the dark black color gleamed in the light.

"if that scroll requires nothing more of me i would like to have a look around Raven. maybe rest in a room. i also would like to run a few checks on this armor for it is realitivly new. still a few chinks to work out."

Rikimaru began to drift to the door but only a little. he would have to wait for Raven's response.

((to Ricky))

"This top secret message suggests that I apply you with a few other members of your choice to hunt and destroy the Omega Alliance. This...this is absurd…… does he think we haven’t been trying to do that on our own for the past few months. They have simply vanished off the map. I don’t even know if they are still in the thunder plains.” Raven says feeling very uncomfortable as though the message said many things of distaste. He looked back at you and squinted and then back to the paper. “He wants me to promote you as the DHSS and let you decide who else is in your faction. You get choice of any one you could want and that I am to supply you with the best of the best. “

((I’m going to RP as you for a bit here to get this right…if that’s ok by you))
“There seems to be some suspicion of the activity undergoing here Raven. Joa Boo wants to monitor that in some way. So the longer you take in getting me the men I need, the longer I will have my fingers in everything you do.” You say getting close to Raven in a way of intimidation. You where bigger then him, much bigger and did have the strength to easily rip his arms off If you got a hold of him, that is if you could get your hands on him.

“Are you threatening me Rickymarow(sp)?” Raven asked pushing you back with his giant bat staff. “I don’t think that would be very smart here in my castle. These may be Dark hand members who swore allegiance to Joa Boo, but here in my castle they do what I say.”

“Then we both agree, get me those lists of men and Il be out of your way before you know it.”

Your wishes bothered Raven and you could tell it. He really was hiding something and it wasn’t something Joa Boo could trace himself. You where escorted out of the barred room and back into the throne room with all the other generals. There seemed to be a new light about the place, as though you looked at it with a whole new power. You where taken to the armory and left to do as you please there.
((At this point I need you to scout out and find 3-5 great fighters that you would have join you DHSS. These will be the only men with you on any operation. They can be as good as you want them to be but not Godly of course. Just RP it out until you find all of them.))  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Salfos, Rex, and Hikari))

The trial to the higher peaks of Picep was not easy and you had to constantly be aware of Dragon Borders. From a distance you could pick out many guard towers with half dragoon half human beings watching atop their perches and at some points even aiming weapons in your direction. They where very conservative with their Dragon culture and would not let you step foot near the precious private dragon territory. As you moved closer to the spots marked on your small map you came to a large gate heavily guarded around the border. You where watched from all side, by towers and foot soldiers. They never made any move to speak to you but let you continue walking until you did something wrong.

The Dragoons where all very heavily armored. They where known for their mystic dragon forged armor, second to none but the elves who mail was no longer made. This strong dragon forged mail had all kinds of buffs applied to the holder and could potentially give them the greatest edge in a fight on Aeonce. It would take a great group of warriors to take on a group of the peaceful yet dangerous Dragoon militia. They where mostly passive and would let you do what you want all around them but as soon as you step foot on their soil and mess something up all hell breaks lose. This here was a very touchy subject and would be the most difficult part of your task. They weren’t going to let you just walk right in even though they didn’t know your mission. They weren’t with any faction and had to abide by any rules so really the only rules where the ones they made.  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Salin))

Te group got backed together while Tooge redirected their path to get them out of this hole. The bridge that collapsed was very important for the trip and no it would not be easy.

“Well the way I see we have two options. One is heading north, just that way, and going through the egg harvesting plant. Or we could turn around and head east along the mineral fields. Both something we wanted to avoid but have no choice now. I can’t really say one would be better then the other so I will leave it up to you guys to pick.” Tooge said thinking deeply about the matter and becoming very torn between the two choices.

This is great for you because it sounds like a chance for you to take control and regain some of that respect. Its all up to you now. Pick your fate and we will see how far you get.
(( when you pick a direction start out in that way on your own RPing and just make it like you would see it happen. Ill get in when something important might happen.))  

[SkittleScion]

"I," the samurai breathed, "work for no one. I represent no one, and my goals are my own. If your "Dark Lord" thinks he has anything to do with me besides being in proximity to me, then he is wrong. I suggjest you get out of my way before you are cut asunder. I have only one goal, only one target. I will find him, for I must speak with him."  

[SkittleScion]

Sogue shook his head, "No, i'm ready. Kinda exited too. I want to have a more direct hand in influncing events. God knows Form and Essence want to taste blood. Come to think of it, so do I."  

[Van Dossel]

Salin looked at the collapsed bridge, light simmering** off her black souless eyes. He stoped breathing, not that he had to it just a habbit he formed to make people relex around him, no one knew how something subtle as breathing could make something edgey around a vampire.

Zaught took squatted down and looked acrosss the chasm at the opening across it. From there it was a reception room then the grand hall where the queen laid. He spat down at the broken bridge, "Zara no hiken," he said in his dark elf tounge cursing their luck. "Personally I believe we should go through the mineral fields. Even if we don't make it to the queen and we are stuck in a siege of this mountain we can burn their supplies and force them into a surrender sooner."

One of the others stepped foward in front of the group, the man was human and had short brown hair on a hard face that was rather plain except for the thick black rings tattooed around his eyes. Zaught had told him his name was Helix and no one had seen him fight yet but all they could see him carrying was a deck of card in a runic leather bag on his hip. His clothing was very fine cloth in an extrentric** design. "That would be no good. They tunnel my friend so they could merely tunnel out to find more and bring it back. The egg haversting plant will kill any future soldiers they have being made. In a matter of weeks we can dry out of their forces till they can't hold out against us." He like Zaught had a strange accent that made it hard for Salin to make out his words. (French this time!!)

The other man in their group stepped forward, "It does not matter Helix. We only have 120 men in our battle group, not enoughto bleed the Collective dry no matter how many we kill in here. Both choices are going to help us fight the collective, but neither will win us the war." Salin did not know what his race was called or had ever seen anyone like him before but Zaught had told him his name was Splitjaw. His face was a mix between that of a snake and human. No hair laid on his head but a plate or some type of hard skin sat on the top of his head with small eyes encampassed by to flaps of skin below and above it. His mouth went almost from ear to ear and was big enough to fit his long fangs and tounge with a split down the front of its center. He wore no shirt and had scales on his chest, top of his arms and back oh his shoulders. Where there were no scales tattooed snakes filled the plale green skin twisting and ever interlooping though one another. No weapons did he wear on his body and the earlier battles he, like Helix, had merely fought with his hand broke killed the Collective brawlers. Whatever tricks these two had up their sleeves Salin did not know if he wanted to find out.

Tooge had smiled as he sat back patiently as the soldiers discussed their plan of action; but now he grew wearly of the waiting and cleared his throat to gain attention. "I say we put this to a vote. There is five of you so no tie breaker will be needed from me, and since I do not fight I will not vote myself." The five men thought about it for a second before grunting or nodding in acceptance.

Helix was the first to speak, "I vote for the egg hacthery."

Then Zaught spoke, "And my vote is to the mineral fields."

Splitjaw sighed, "I guess my vote belongs to the mineral fields"

Atias smiled, "What one will have better defenses?"

Splitjaw smiled, "The hatchery would have more. First instinct of a mother is to defend her kids."

Atias gained a huge grin showing off his naturally sharpened teeth, "Then I am all for the egg hacthery."

Salin looked at the ground not wanting to look at the group who was all staring at him. They knew his vote know decided the path they would go. He stood motionless for a couple of second before deciding, "We need to make time fast so we need to go through the mneral fields," he paused for a second before contunining, "Besides this will have more of an immediate effect on this war."

The group turned east and prepared for the hell they were about to enter. Even thogh like Splitjaw said about the mother wanting to defend her kids first, she also would want to make sure she could feed all of them too.


(wow that was really long lol...well i used it to establish the rest of my group. will contunie writing sometime.....For Joa-Boo and anyone interested Helix is going to be a form of a gambler class and Splitjaw is going to be a summoner.)  

[Van Dossel]

The group quickly doubled back through the ridge that they had been following watching for Collective ambushes every step of the way. By the time they were halfway back to intersection they had to return to in a jog. Salin was ahead of the group by a couple yards. Unsurpusingly since they had come nothing had change so they made great time but Tooge was starting to get tired and ordered them to slow down.

When they reached the the interesection to start on their way to the mineral field they took one step into the junction and Ant Lions started pouring in through the ground. Salin drew his rusty long sword just in time to parry a blow from a crudel of a ant lion. He brought up his knee into the lower abdamen of the ant lion, his vampire strength gave him enough force to crack it and send the ant lion reeling back screeching loudly. Another two ant lions came up on Salin with crudels raised high. Salin dropped his knees down low dodging a high swing from one and sliced its legs taking one with it and serverly wounding the other one. The ant fell the to ground as the other one swung and hit Salin on the back of his head. Salin fell to the ground blowing dust everywhere. Salin flipped onto his back stabbed forward into its midsection. The ant lion sreeched loud and long before falling foward on top of Salin. Salin moaned and easily tossed the dead corpse from his body only to have something grab at his legs. Salin looked down his body to the the one legged ant lion crawling towards him. Salin smirked and just kicked the ant lions head a couple of times till he shattered the extoskeleton spilling its brains out as it died.

Salin flipped onto his stomach and went to push himself up when something jumped onto his back. The weight was not great and Salin jumped up shooting the weight off onto the ground behind. Spinning around quickly he saw that it was the ant lion whose abdamion he had cracked. Salin put his boot on the ant lion's throat and pressed down till he heard a crackling and felf a warm liquid enter through the cracks and holes in my boot.

As Salin lifted his boot he saw that the others had dispatched their ant lions as well. Also he saw that Helix and Splitjaw still had not exposed their powers yet. The group sat still while its living members let their breaths return to normal. Tooge started to snap once more after a second and the group started moving. They made it about half a mile before they reached the mineral feild.

"Oh s**t!" Atias said as he saw the huge room, the ceiling was not in sight and hardly were the walls on either side of the room. The far end of the room was not in sight as well. On the floor of the room were huge pillars of various supplies; some of the pillars were almost as tall as the room while some of the pillars where barely a foot tall by the foot wide.

(to be contunied)  

[Joa-Boo]

SkittleScion

"I," the samurai breathed, "work for no one. I represent no one, and my goals are my own. If your "Dark Lord" thinks he has anything to do with me besides being in proximity to me, then he is wrong. I suggjest you get out of my way before you are cut asunder. I have only one goal, only one target. I will find him, for I must speak with him."

"I believe we will be the only ones handing out threats. I don't know if you have heard but this world is under a bit of new administration. We call the shots now. We have reason to believe you might have some information that could be valuable to us." The wizard said turning all different shades of red as the anger boiled his blood. The others watched and waited for things to unravel. They weren’t sure if they where to attack or just stay put.

"We could track him Zoat. It wouldn't involve any fighting and he obviously isn't going to talk." A dark elf behind him suggested with a low whisper. The words didn't carry very far in the desertus thick stormy weather so by the time you could catch what they where saying all it sounded like was a bunch of muffled blurs.

"Sounds good to me, I don't know if I want to fight this guy. I don't care how many soldiers I have behind me I just don't want to fight him. If you can hit him with one bullet that would be enough, then we could get out of here." Zoat, the wizard said leaning back with a nod and then looking deeper at the unknown samurai.

“What’s your name nomad; you could at least tell us that?” A Zoat said but just before you could give any reply the dark elf pounced from behind him and fired a round of her long range rifle straight for you. The other warriors took this as a signal and formed up for aggressive negotiations. Instead Zoat leaped back on to his mount and fled the scene, leaving the others to fend for their self.  

[Joa-Boo]

SkittleScion

Sogue shook his head, "No, i'm ready. Kinda exited too. I want to have a more direct hand in influncing events. God knows Form and Essence want to taste blood. Come to think of it, so do I."

"Ok then, get back to the Omega Alliance and explain the situation as somthing completely norml and then be ready for a good performance in the morning. Don't let any one know what you about to pull, that could undermine this entier operation." Jade said with a serious face and then shook your hand for good luck.  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Salin))

The mineral field was not one to be compared. Its size was colossal and all kinds of collective could dwell within its walls. As far as you could see there were pillars of raw minerals standing tall like trees in a forest. At this end most of the pillars where exhausted and stood as nothing but small pits in the dirt but as you gazed further down the endless field you could see the nets of them as thick as a forest. The matrix of minerals could be hiding anything but as for now it was still heavy at work with ant lions gathering minerals form exposed pillars and taking it back to a collection deeper within the hive.

It seemed safe for the time being as not much was happening at the entrance but you couldn’t help feeling as though you where on a big stage for all that was coming to watch. The area around you was quite open and there was little to hide behind or use as cover. You could be easily over taken if out numbered to greatly. As you continued to move and some pillars grew around you the security came back but had anything been watching they would already know exactly where you were.

Suddenly from a random angel a quick stream of green hit against Zaught’s left arm and with a rough thud he went paralyzed against the ground. You could see the pain swell up in his face but he was unable to react. His body was tight as thought constricted by metal.

“Oh no, Buggers, get down.” Tooge said jumping behind the closes cover to him. Another 3 or 4 shots where fired of f the direction for some random direction. Off in the distance a loud roar echoed past and the ground began to shake with every foot steep closer.  

[Van Dossel]

"s**t!" Salin yelled running over and picking up Zaught, "Splitjaw get Tooge we got to move fast!" He yelled over the howling roar of footsteps. Splitjaw nodded and swooped up the negoitator and the group set off running. Though it wasn't before long that a swarm of ant lions came charging at the group.

Atias, who was out in front, chanted some words and set the ground below the ant lions ablaze killing most of them. The strike team ran right through the quick lived fires and kept on trucking. After about a hundred yards even more ant lions showed up. "Dammit!" Atias called out burning one group only to have it replaced by another.

Splitjaw stopped running and grabbed one of his tattoos and said something that Salin coldn't understand. The next second a gaint bunch of snakes where crawling out of the tattoo and wide with giant fangs and spikes on their bodies. The snakes swarmed the ant lions on their sides pinning them down under sheer body weight. Splitjaw's eyes had lit up a glowing white color and he sat motion less as more and more snakes poured out of his tattoo.

Salin threw Zaught down on the ground and drew his blade as a group of ant lions charged him and sliced the throat of the first one in line. That one fell back and knocked over another one as the rest swarmed over the body trampling it to death under their feet. Salin parried blow after blow ocassionaly getting to counter and slice open one of the ant lions in the group.

Helix smiled and drew two of his playing cards smiling as he saw what they were. "Ah yes the two of hearts and the Five of diamonds wonderful!" Energy flowed between the two cards and soon they both caught on fire which Helix threw into two ant lions. The cards hit with an explosion with the blast each taking another ant lion with it. Next he drew his trusty dice and rolled them low onto the ground. When they stopped on a 4 and a ray of light eminatted from the dice and as they disappeared a sword made of some type of light or engery remained. Helix grabbed these swords and started to slash ant lions left and right.  

[SkittleScion]

Serph's sheath flew upward, the bullet digging deep into the oak skin. The wood cracked with a crunch and was replaced on his waste.

"My name is Serph Dart, son of Eru. And every one of you bastards will pay for that."

He stood ready, in a slight crouch, waiting for the enemies to advance. One finnaly got up the courage, and dashed forward.

Serph dodged left, drew, and cut across the back of the foot soldier's neck. He planted his foot, spun and cut again, knocking another enemy on his butt, holding his insides. He stood up and sheathed the blade again, waiting for another enemy to advance. Or to flee. He didn't care.  

[SkittleScion]

Sogue and Helena returned, reported to Toru, saying that they had been exploring the tunnels...mostly out of boredom.

Toru scolded them for not telling anyone where they were going, but she wasn't overly mad.

Sogue and Helena slept, awoke next morning to a cacophany.

"Sinspawn!" a passing soldier screamed. Both Helena and Sogue were up and strapped with their equipment in a flash.

Sogue seemed groggy as they exited their seperate huts to witness the gigantic sinspawn attacking the outer edge of the settlement.

Both vampires rushed to the giant beast, attacking with what appeared to be everything they had. Suddenly, the beast re-focused its attacks on the two of them and pushed them back, crushing a wall of rock above them. They were buried underneath.

Members of Omega would report how fast the events happened...and how the sinspawn had retreated after destroying the two vampires.

Sogue and Helena sat cramped in between rocks, in a small clearing between the cave in and the actual rock wall for the better part of an hour. They heard Omega forces shouting to them from their side. The vampires were silent. Eventually, they were dug out by goblins and retrieved by Specter and his forces.  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Salin))
The waves of collective withered as a limited current. In their place something bigger was coming. It started at a brisk powerful trot but built up in power and speed to a trampling sprint as the Ant lion ordering it whipped repeatedly. This monsters beetle ran through a few pillars of minerals but nothing seem to slow down. The Buggers above repositioned and tried to freeze you up before you could move out of the way of the giant beetle. They where successful in hitting Tooge but couldn't hit any other target. Tooge met the same fate as Zaught and fell to his side as stiff as a rock.

The beetle ant continued chased forward with speed still building. It didn’t have much ability to change direction anymore but was aiming directly for where both Zaught and Tooge laid motionless. The Buggers moved again for a better direction and couldn’t find one, there was only three from your count and they where moving closer to the ground for a better shot.

Atias raced forward at the Beetle ant and pounced to the left just before it hit him and then back into its side sharply while transforming into his wolf self. His sharp movements forced a very hard hit against the side of the beetle but its strong shell made it practically impervious. It didn’t even throw it off course, but Atias didn’t stop there. He turned about after being reflected from its side and sprinted after it with his strong wolf speed. He tried again and again to push the thing off, scratching, biting, cutting at it, nothing did the trick.