Rune Seaker 3: Rise to Kings

[Joa-Boo]

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.

That was que for 3 of the 5 left to turn and run after their negotiator and ran quickly for their lives. This group of cowards contained the dark elf, a dark knight, and a foot soldier. They all ran in fear with their tales between their legs.

The other two however stood in focus and furry of the ruthless respect given by the samurai before them. They reached for their weapons and brought themselves to fighting stances. One was another dark knight and the other a demonic warrior. One wielded a long pike and the other had a massive axe and a huge shield that covered over 3/4ths of its body. They progressed slowly, noting your speed and planned to strike together. At the same time one brought their weapon across you mid section as the other came from underneath you in quick light blows in case to protect ones self.  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Sogue and Helena))

Hours later you where recovered by well covered brute goblins disguised as rocks. They dug you up as quickly as they could with their four hands going back and forth with great strength. It didn’t take them to long and once they dig finish the clean up they quickly scooped you up into their smaller arms and kept hidden underneath the rock like disguise.

They carried you for a while until they knew for sure you where safe and out of range of the Omega Alliance. It was a clean get away and no questions asked. Off in the distance you could hear a memorial song roaring through the caverns for the great heroes’ death. It was a very sad song and for a moment you could connect with it a bit. This was really the death of Sogue. You have died before but not anything like this. You where dead to the Omega Alliance and would live to another code, something much more radical. Specters crew met up with you and Helena, a small group of 20 berserker Goblins traveling with him, they where all broken into groups of 20 not counting the bigger names. It was good to move in quick little squads back through the caverns to another exit much more northern into the Kingdom of Baji. Only a day worth of traveling to the other secret exit/entrance but it would put the faction in good position to get any where else they needed in all of Aeonce.

“We can bring ourselves to a forest further in the Kingdom of Baji, which would secure us as a massive army and keep us hidden from large eyes. That is where I am going to consider being our HQ. From there I want you and Helena to travel to the main city of Baji and take a commercial air ship to the Kingdom of Barosuk. Raz will fill you in with the rest of the information. Good luck with your operation Sogue. Don’t leave me waiting, the sooner you get this done for me the quicker I can get you to Joa Boo’s porch.” Specter said speaking to you as you walked side by side. He was walking on foot still and had been for the whole trip but by this time you where set on top of a horse for comfort and recognition as a key leader. The Berserker Goblins around seemed to worship you as they followed in masses now in the hundreds. To them this was a holy pilgrimage. They still didn’t quite catch on to the fact that they where being used for a military.

Once the faction made it to their destination Specter ordered that they fortify the area however they could. It didn’t need to look formally by any means but did need to be safe. The Berserker Goblins got to work as the rest followed over to a small rock platform shaped like a giant hand in the ground with its fingers pointing upward and slightly making a dome. Specter stood in the middle with his hands on his waste and a smile to his face.
“This is our home now my fellow friends. Now that we have a place to live and an army to fight with, what should we call ourselves? We need some kind of name to identify with, something motivating that the world can know and be inspired by.” Specter said while looking all around as Jade, Whisper, Raz, Sogue, Helena, and a few other people you had yet to meet looked back in thought.

“We could be called ‘Rise’,” Jade suggested with a very simple name but deep in meaning, “It would represent the rise of kings and movements to end this chaos.”

“I know, we should be called Olin Sikil.” Whisper said taking her time with the pronunciation. It was a tough word for her and her human tongue but she finished it off and the words hung in the air. There was a pasue as no one answered. They all seemed to be confused by her words and couldn’t reply. “Olin Sikil means Secret Knife in elf. I think it is a great name for our faction.” Whisper added with her first description and suddenly everyone seemed to catch on.

“I like it,” Jade
“Second” Raz
“Well then write it in stone. From here on out we are known as the radical Olin Sikil.” Specter said with a brand new outlook. His spirits rose as he turned to watch the berserker goblin tear down trees and push damns together for a jungle looking fort. Everything was coming together.“Now Sogue, about your first mission, better get to it. Raz here will explain everything on the air ship”  

[Salfos Iga Ninja Assassin]

Salfos and Rex walked out of sight of the dragoons. then using a sercret sign language that they creature in their earlier years. they began talking in it.

"Rex we must scout the walls and find some pockets in their defense. also take trees to look all around. ill double check skies to see if they have any air support. "

"alright Salfos. remember stay out of sight. after we look we see if they try to reason before we try to sneakk our way past them. peace and safety be with you."

"And to you"

the two stealthy men silently moved through foreset checking the defenses of the dragoons to find pockets.  

[Joa-Boo]

A_Shadow_Within

Salfos and Rex walked out of sight of the dragoons. then using a sercret sign language that they creature in their earlier years. they began talking in it.

"Rex we must scout the walls and find some pockets in their defense. also take trees to look all around. ill double check skies to see if they have any air support. "

"alright Salfos. remember stay out of sight. after we look we see if they try to reason before we try to sneakk our way past them. peace and safety be with you."

"And to you"

the two stealthy men silently moved through foreset checking the defenses of the dragoons to find pockets.

Further north where the main road trailed off and away from the Dragoon teritory there seemed to be much less tention on the walls. Their was one seige tower hidden further inside the walls but it couldn't see much on the outside. Only three gaurds rotated along the tall stone pillars with their lances and bows relaxed. A large unlit torch waited wasting away on top of the pillar to signal any breach. The skies where dark and cloudy, very hard to tell if there was anything flying above that might trigger the Dragoons. Nothing you could see added up and looked clear.  

[Salfos Iga Ninja Assassin]

Rex being the one closets watched the guards for a bit to get the timing down of their rotations. figureing that if one was to stop and talk to them the others would move faster. thought they seemed a little distracted, which was good. but they can try to reason first and then sneak off to come back. Rex went back and signaled to Salfos for a lesser guarded wall. the approached the wall and waited to be addressed by the guards.  

[Salfos Iga Ninja Assassin]

As Rikimaru entered the armory, there was not a soul beside his....it was dark too since no activity was going on. He turned on a light. He began removing his armor so he can run a check on it. But he wanted to sneak around as well. Look for something inside. He peered around nothing to be out of the ordinary...seems they put him in the grunt armory. O well. Rikimaru felt like he was being watched by someone.....or something. He looked around. His eyes began to glow brighter he tasted the air and found nothing. He looked down at the dark armor. It was nice but wasn’t the same as his old armor. This armor had a great lost and his other had many great victories laid upon it. He began to remove the armor mechanize to where the spikes where turned on and off. He then cracked the armor. Pulling out his old battle armor. it was gold colored and gleamed. Not as heavily armored as the dark, but it gave him more mobility. He loved this armor and put it on. When he turned around a dark figure stood in front of him.

"Who are you? Show and state yourself or I will rip you apart!" Rikimaru hissed.

"So you are the DHSS leader.....are you not...so you and raven are in motion" the man bluffed

"How do you know. That room was secret." Rikimaru growled

"Words always reach shadows...” The man said.

"Well my friend… prepare to no longer be here." Rikimaru roared and pulled out his sword from the table and rushed the figure only to find air. Then he felt his breathing disappear. The weight at the back of the man’s Kursarigama wrapped around Rikimaru's throat. Rikimaru turned and pulled to get breathing back. The Man then seemed to focus on a rack of spears and then the spears began to shoot off the wall. Rikimaru ducked in time. The man yanked the Iksar to the ground and began dragging him shooting more spears. Rikimaru took his tail and broke the leg of a nearby table to create a shield. The spears hit with a thud. Then he kicked the table at the man. Only to find him gone. Rikimaru turned around looking. Then the man came out of wall it seemed with a uppercut slash. Rikimaru parried. Then with more sword strikes keep the quick man at bay. He seemed to be teleporting everywhere. Rikimaru threw an elbow into his face knocking him back and then Rikimaru ducked behind a forge.
The man sat and had his eyes closed. Rikimaru waited and sneaked around behind him and jumped him with a down moving slash. Then a foot stops it. The man rolled backed and blocked it with his foot. Then Rikimaru felt his feet slip from him as they were tangled again.

"You cannot attack a shadow for a shadow consist of nothing." the man whispered almost

"But this one I can" Rikimaru yelled and wrapped his tail around the man’s hands and pulled him feeling some tension released in the chain. Rikimaru grabbed him by the throat and put him on the wall. The man was smaller than normal men but not too much. But Rikimaru was close 8 ft so he dangled.

"Once again I will ask you nicely....who are." Rikimaru hissed

"I am the shadow...that none can see." Rikimaru blinked and the man was gone again. but behind him leaning on the table.

"I am Hanzo Hattori...now Rikimaru your skill has shown me why you are to lead this group. i will help you the best I can." Hanzo said.

"Good I wasn’t going to give you a choice to decline either Hanzo. You’re a good fighter probably a better assassin. I’ll need someone with you talents. What powers do you have? I haven’t seen that in awhile."

"I’m a powerful psychic. I’m able to move objects sense presence of anything and able to see the future. Plus I can translocate." Hanzo seemed modest

"Well good....come when i call you again. We have much to discuss but I am on a mission now."

"Yes Rikimaru...call and your shadow will rise." Hanzo began to melt into thin air and was gone.

Rikimaru came out of the armory and heard a faint singing....it was good but yet seemed to be magically and felt a pull at his cold heart. Then he saw some shades acting quit strange so he kept up with them. They disappeared into a courtyard. The singing seemed to get louder as he followed them.  

[SkittleScion]

With a serene speed, Serph dodged backward, flipping upward. He did a backflip before landing and blasted forward at the dark knight, drawing his blade as he slashed. The knight fell back, barly blocking the strike. A small beam of light emenated from where the katana and pike met and suddenly the pike broke, shrapnel flying in different directions. The katana continued, digging itself into the dark knight's armor, blood now oozing from the attack.

Serph drew his blade out as he circled with the demon, the knight now bleeding horribly on the ground.

The samurai turned with a sweep of his leg, kicking the huge shield on the very bottom. The shift of momentum hurled the demon onto his side, and in a flash his stomach was filled with cold metal.

"You both should've run."  

[Salfos Iga Ninja Assassin]

Rikimaru opened the doors to the courtyard and sitting in the moonlight was a beautiful girl singing luring shades. They were so hypnotized they didn't see she was killing their comrades. This meant only one thing....

"A siren....."Rikimaru hissed.

He walked to the siren pretending to be in a daze. Luckily his lizard and the cold blooded body system gave him a nice cold heart. Plus add his warrior mentality and savageness. Why would he be interested in a siren? she kept singing louder and louder noticing that the siren saw him and took his acting well. as he got close to her he kneeled down and got close to her face just staring.

"what do I owe the pleasure of your company Mr.?"

"Rikimaru call me that."

"Well good, do you like my singing ill sing better for you...you look of high rank from this army in the castle want to show me all the treasures? hhmmm?"

"yes." Rikimaru turned and waited for he saw out of the corner of his eye that she had pulled out a blade going to stab him after he shown here treasure. as they began Rikimaru slipped his tale around her ankle and tripped her. Going into shock the siren was surprise and froze seeing the lizard get angry.

"Why shouldn’t I kill you now witch?"

"Because....I’m not pathetic as I look" she shot a fireball into Rikimaru's face. Stumbling back Rikimaru scraped the burnt flesh off his face so he can regenerate it back. Looking for her she was already casting a powerful lighting spell. Rolling out of the way the bolt shattered part of the wall. Rikimaru was impressed by the shear power of the magic this siren had. He then cast Protect on himself. Only to find her attempting to dispel it. As he saw her attempting he rushed her and when he striked her she disappeared. Only to find 3 more copies around. gahhh magic is for losers he thought. He then got hit with a ice spell followed by fire and lighting. the extremes started to cause his body to seize.

"YOU WITCH!!!!ILL GET YOU" Rikimaru yelled as he began to recover. He cast a curing spell to heal his wounds faster and got himself up. Noticing a faint glint in the tree he leaped into it finding the siren controlling her summoned duplicates. He crushed her to the ground and impaled his tail to her shoulder and snapped both her legs. He began to crush her windpipe.

While she began to choke her casted a lifting spells to throw Rikimaru off and rolled over. "Wait......I....I....yield..."she coughed out. Seeing her giving up Rikimaru gave her some healing.

"keep going you gotta have more than that to keep from killing you.."

"Yes I find you a very strong individual. It’s almost too good. May I accompany you wherever you go? You always need an escort to get into fancy places."

Rikimaru sat in thought.....

"Come on you have to be impressed by my magic."

"Yes...indeed hold on. HANZO!!" And out of now where Hanzo appeared from the shadows.

"Hanzo, what do you think about this women."

"Sirens.....are deadly and not to be trusted.....you how ever are able to overcome them....I see no fear of them now..."

"Very well...what is your name my good lady?"

"Silke Malnora...” she smiled an evil smile.  

[Joa-Boo]

((lol....do you ever toss your post through word...these are good but all of the errors might take away from it a bit.))  

[Van Dossel]

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.

Splitjaw smiled and touched another one of his tattoos. His eyes lit up once more and a gaint snake as big as the beetle slithered out of his tattoo expanding as it hit the air. The snake had metal scales and turned out to be robotic. It's gears and plates hissed as it braced itself for hitting the beetle. The beetle rammed into the metal snake and both went up into the air as Salin and the others moved out of the way. The snake wasn't strong enough to push back the beetle before being toppled over and vanishing into thin air.

Helix growed furious, "Your snake did not take down the beetle!"

Splitjaw looked at Helix snarling, "I know that but it did stop its trampeding!"

Salin took this opertunity and jumped onto the beetle as Atias did on the other side. Atias jumped in his wolf form into the rider and started to tear open its exoskeletion sending the green goo for blood everywhere. Salin on the other hand moved to the bettles neck and stabbed down into the bettles neck. The intial strike couldn't break through the exoskeleton so Salin had to slamm his foot down onto the sword pommel a couple of times before cracking its shell in a foot in all directions. Salin dropped onto the now bucking beetle and ripped out his sword before slamming it down into its exposed neck several times. The beetle shrieking loud and hard for half a minute before falling forward sending Atias and the now dead ant lion flying off it onto the ground in front of them.

Salin jumped off the carcass and saw that Splitjaw and Helix had finished off buggers and were picking up Tooge and Zaught, "We got to move quickly," Salin said sheathing his sword, the other two nodded.  

[Joa-Boo]

((To Salin))

This was the perfect opportunity to get some space and maybe find a good spot to rest for a bit. It would be very hard to continue moving and fighting without knowing where to go and having to watch over to sacs of potatoes.

You where able to move about 60 yards before another giant beetle crashed through the rock walls behind you. They where still far back at the main entrance but that wouldn't get you very far before you where trash.

"Look, down there. Maybe if we run down that corridor the beetle won’t be able to follow." Helix said shifting his eyes to the left to catch a glimpse of a small broken hallway. It was small enough to fit through but the large beetle wouldn't be able to get anywhere inside.

There was little time to decide as the massive beetle moved quicker the closer it got. Its loud roar shook the thin air around as it broke through another old pillar. ON its back was three more buggers and of course the ant lion. You could see there cold blank white eyes gaze no where particular but they did seem for some reason responsive and intelligent.  

[Joa-Boo]

SkittleScion

With a serene speed, Serph dodged backward, flipping upward. He did a backflip before landing and blasted forward at the dark knight, drawing his blade as he slashed. The knight fell back, barly blocking the strike. A small beam of light emenated from where the katana and pike met and suddenly the pike broke, shrapnel flying in different directions. The katana continued, digging itself into the dark knight's armor, blood now oozing from the attack.

Serph drew his blade out as he circled with the demon, the knight now bleeding horribly on the ground.

The samurai turned with a sweep of his leg, kicking the huge shield on the very bottom. The shift of momentum hurled the demon onto his side, and in a flash his stomach was filled with cold metal.

"You both should've run."

The two bodies feel like expected resulting from your sword and bled into the dark gray terrain. Once again nothing stood in your present way from getting to the Caverns. The fleeing group was almost entirely out of eye sight. Bits of them could still be seen running off, the Wizard on top his horse. The rest of your travels where easy and uninterrupted through the torn thunder plains all the way to the caverns.

At the entrance to the caverns was a much different scene from the last time visited by Sogue. Now the Omega Alliance had fortified it to resemble huge double doors that covered the entire width and height of the cave mouth. Within the larger door was small pockets where turrets mounted by Omega Soldiers. IN the middle of the door was the real entrance. A smaller hallway brought you to human sized doors. These doors where guarded by two knights that where heavily armored and ready for action.

The first one stepped in your way without a word and looked down at you from within the slit in his helmet. The other one watched form behind his as well and paused. He then turned and put his sword through a hole in the wall and turned it. The door opened to the long cave leading all the way to the Omega Alliance’s secret hide out. By this time it was growing into its military base and a very good one at that. The knights let you pass and on you went into the caverns with no words said. Again you where stopped by a group of similar knights but this time it ranged to 8 of them. They all walled you out and the one on the end held up his sword into the air. Toru came over as she noticed the signal. She took one look at you just before dismissing the tight formation of the knights but she did tell them to stay close.

“Can we help you sir. This isn’t exactly the greatest time for random strangers unless you are seeking to join our ranks. It just so happens we have a spot open for some very big feet to fill.” Toru said as she watched the man with great interest.  

[SkittleScion]

"I'm looking for Sogue Paglabe, Captain, first class of the Omega forces, son of Alaric Paglabe, blacksmith of Kine. I am Serph Dart, son of Eru the darkling elf. I have business with the vampire."




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

The travel to the airship was silent. Sogue was practicing being dead, and Helena was trying to stay focused. In the beginning, Raz had tried to joke and cajole, but his comedy had fallen on deaf ears. A small goblin party escorted them to the edges of the woods until the trio reached Baji City. They quickly booked passage to Barusuk and sat.

Raz spoke to them of their mission.  

[Deidrice]

{to joa-boo}
[[ah, well i'll see what i can put together]]
Aveleon rubbed her temples trying ease the minor ping of pain from her vision, she tries to concentrate on why that vision was so hostile.
"maybe, i should look into this." she says quietly to herself, but then thinks against it seeing as how she has never left her shrine for any reason and she would wait for a much better reason before she left for a man she knew nothing about.  

[Joa-Boo]

Hikari Harada

{to joa-boo}
[[ah, well i'll see what i can put together]]
Aveleon rubbed her temples trying ease the minor ping of pain from her vision, she tries to concentrate on why that vision was so hostile.
"maybe, i should look into this." she says quietly to herself, but then thinks against it seeing as how she has never left her shrine for any reason and she would wait for a much better reason before she left for a man she knew nothing about.

The image again pulses and contracts an irritating pain. His face bulges and then becomes furocious and dark. His left eye is left as a gaping whole with dark particles ever being sucked into it, almost like a black hole engulfing his face. The wolf like fetures barried his human ones into a beast of a face. It growled and roared but never said anything.