Amarth

INTRODUCTION:

I don't know if this is where this post belongs, but tilted roleplaying is gone, so I thought this would be the second best place. Besides, I'm basing it off a story I'm writing anyway. This post will be dedicated to a "game" I am going to try to run on the forum here. The true point is to tell a cool story, not to win. The story will take place in feudal Japan just after the invention of the gun. Actual history is unimportant, this is a fantasy. The characters will have some special skills and stuff, but no intense magic like "Hadoken" (8-bit theatre style). All the players will write whenever they want, as much as they want, about whatever they want, but always from the point of view of their character. Please don't decide the responses of the other characters. By now, if you're interested you're probably wondering what the characters are. Well, here are the BIO's.

Amarth Eldaire:
Weapon: Katana
Class: Samurai
Strength: Offense
Power: Swordsman's Spirit
Personaity: calm, wise, direct, calculating, does not kill
Backstory: He was once the greatest general in his clan, but ran away from his noble life after suffering a great loss at a battle. He spent many years on a journey for redemption, training under a great master and perfecting his already incredible swordsmanship. Eventually, he found peace with himself and began to lead the life of a hermit with the woman he loved.
TAKEN

Shoan Usaku:
Weapon: don't know the name, like the thing krim uses in .hack//sign (if someone could tell me the name of this thing I would appreciate it).
Class: Bandit
Strength: defense
Power: Swordsman's Spirit
Personality: arrogant, loud mouth, womanizing
Backstory: Amarth's younger brother. Ran away from home before being forced to join the military. Taken into a gang of bandits who found him starving in the desert. Rose to position of leader after his incredible combat abilities were discovered. Now, the bandits only kill when they need to, and a large portion of their "earnings" goes to the poor (though they still keep plenty for themselves).

Enzeru Amatsu:
Weapon: The only six shooter that exists. (invented it himself)
Class: Gunman
Strength: Accuracy
Power: Big gun... big bullets... does he need more?
Personality: kind, idealistic, somewhat naive
Backstory: Main character. Emperor's top guard. Is responsible for enforcing law across the empire.
TAKEN

Xyven ninjaface: (last name still open)
Weapon: throwing knives and one magic knife
Class: Ninja
Strength: Stealth and Speed
Power: Powers of Darkness
Personality: cold, calculating, emotionless
Backstory: The Emperor's top assassain. He is one of the few remaining true ninja in the world. Invisible and deadly when he needs to be.

"Pesho" Peter Stoyanov
Weapon: Bow, backed up with shortsword
Class: Ranger
Strength: Survival Abilities and Agility
Power: Beast Control
Personality: short tempered, hardened
Backstory: The Emperor's scout. He's a ranger who knows how to stay alive in nature.

Draconis Hanoni:
Weapon: Claws (his own)
Class: Demon
Strength: Regeneration
Power: Fear Induction/Illusion
Personality: evil, murderous, insane
Backstory: A half demon who joins because he admires Enzeru's determined spirit.
TAKEN

Abanaku Bakemono
I haven't written much about the bad guy. He will definately have 6 generals who are the antithesis to the six main characters. If anyone wants to write for the bad guy, they'll probably end up writing for the six generals as well.

Order of entry:
Enzeru, Shoan, Xyven, Pesho, Draconis, Amarth, Abanaku

This is mostly going to be going on between my friends and I. They will be the ones playing the characters who say TAKEN underneath. We would love to have other people join us and write for the untaken characters, but please only join if you are going to be checking and writing preferrably everyday, but at least every other day. Either post here, PM me, or IM/E-Mail me at AmarthEldaire@aol.com. I will tell you more about whatever character you are interested in. I hope there are some people who wanna play with us! ^_^ The story will start in a couple of days, after we give people some time to join.

SSJwrestler

just have to make a few changes to the ol' profile

Enzeru Amatsu
Weapon: The only six-shooter in existence (invented himself, crafted w/ the help of his father)
Class: Gunman
Strength: Accuracy + Quickness
Power: Big gun, special bullets, and knowledge of alchemy
Personality: Kind, idealistic, a bit naive
Backstory: Main character. Emporers top guard. Is responsible for enforcing law across the empire.

And that's me in a nutshell, lets get this thing going.

SSJwrestler

Enzeru stood at the top of the hill looking down its slope to a beaten path that led into a dense forest. As he stood there, the first light of dawn began to pull away the blanket of black that night had pulled over the land. When the light hit the slope he was looking down at, Enzeru smiled.

Gotcha.

Enzeru had followed this trail for three days and nights, and now with the help of the evidence of a newly made path cutting through the dew laiden grass down the slope, he knew where to find his query.

Looking at this man, one wouldn't know him to be the Emperor's top guard, or even an imposing figure at all. The man stood only 5' 8'' bearing a trim but athletic build and shaggy cloud-white hair that lay wildly on his head and over his face covering his ice-blue eyes. Not even his clothes showed him as a fighter. He wore a simple grey cloak over a black prefect's shirt and pants, and a pair of wrapped leather boots.

The only indications of this man being a fighter at all were the black fingerless leather glove he wore on his right hand, the black head band he wore bearing the emperor's seal, and the odd contraption he wore in a cross-draw leather holster on a belt dangling at his left hip accompanied by a leather pouch, nearly out of view under his cloak.

After standing on the top of the hill for a bit longer taking in the beautiful scene he was a part of, Enzeru mounted his horse and began making his way to the dense forest at the bottom of the hill.

Well, here we go.

Amarth

Shoan rode feverishly through the forest. The branches tore at his face as he rode through the untamed wilderness. As he rode he wore the same cocky smile he always wore. His persona exuded smugness. He knew something his persuer did not, and he relished the feeling of superiority.

Finally Shoan made it to his destination. He stopped, dismounted, and waited for his foe to arrive. All of his men had disappeared from behind him, but he knew where each one of them was. This wasn't the first time they did this. After all, they were the great Tamashii Hito clan, loved by the people and feared by the nobility. His grin grew just a little as he praised himself in his head.

Shoan stood a full six feet tall in the midst of this dense brush. He wore various mismatched pieces of armor and fighting gear, obviously all stolen and selected for style as much as practicality. In his hand, he held a beautiful Zambatou with two gold dragons spinning around the end just before the blade.

His ears perked as the sound of horses galloping grew closer. -=Alright, time for the climax=- he thought to himself as he prepared his mind and body for the fight ahead.

SSJwrestler

Enzeru's horse raced forward, perhaps out of desperation, through the twisted underbrush of the untamed woods. All the while, Enzeru's eyes didn't leave the many horsetracks he was following on the ground.

Damn, sure are a lot of them. But all I need is him

Taking his eyes off the horsetracks in response to an increase in his horse's speed, Enzeru saw glimpses of light breaking through the tangled forest in front of him. In a few seconds, he was greeted and blinded by a mass amount of sunshine pouring into the clearing he had just entered.

Raising his hand to his eyebrow, so that he could see in front of him, Enzeru got a glimpse, for the first time, of his query. The bandit sat lazily with his back to a huge cherry blossom tree on the other side of the clearing, wearing a very smug grin.

Enzeru dismounted his horse, taking care not to let the left side of his cloak reveal the contraption he carried at his side. After setting foot on the ground, Enzeru took two steps towards the bandit, who didn't move and continued smiling.

"Shoan Usaku of the Tamashii Hito clan, you are wanted by the Emperor for the countless thefts of goods from nobles, numerous deaths of noblemen, and for not paying homages to the Emperor in the past decade. My name is Enzeru Amatsu, head of the Imperial Guard, and I am here to take you in."

Amarth

"Heh. You're going to just take me in? I have a better idea. Why don't I just ride away with my huge stock of treasure, find several gorgeous women to keep me company, and leave you here. I mean, come on. Did you really think you were going to bring me in all by yourself?"

As Shoan said this, he brought his spear around and pointed it imposingly towards Shoan, as if to say, Don't even think about it little man.

SSJwrestler

"Well, actually, no." Enzeru replied with a warm smile "I actually have my batallion of Imperial Guards with me waiting outside the forest, as well as the Emperor's personal troop of Elite Guards."

"All I need to do is fire one shot and they will be here almost instantly. However, I thought we could settle this one on one. I win, you come with me. You win, and I leave, never to come after you again. That is...unless you kill me." At this, Enzeru again bore a warm smile on his face.

But you couldn't do that now could you?

"So what do you say thief?"

Amarth

Shoan let out a loud confident laugh. "You're on Enzeru. But I warn you, you aren't the first guy with a gun I've faced. That's right, I saw you're gun. You better hit me with that shot, or the duel will be over long before you reload." Shoan gave a graceful bow and crouched into a defensive fighting stance, Zambatou held close in preparation for Enzeru's assault.

SSJwrestler

"Heh, I figured you saw it." Enzeru said as he lifted the left side of his cloak and drew his pistol " But trust me...I wont miss."

Enzeru about twenty yards from Shoan, his pistol pointed at the ground at his side. As he stood, Enzeru looked Shoan's stance up and down. He then raised his pistol to eye level and fired at the bandit.

A O-ring of smoke bellowed out of Enzeru's pistol as the crack of the shot echoed through the forest.

Amarth

Even before the trigger was completely pulled, Shoan's movement had begun. He had done this sort of thing many times before, but it still made him nervous every time. One false move and... no, he didn't have room to think about that. He required absolute focus. The world around him slowed to a halt, but the bullet still appeared to be careening towards him, and fast even for a bullet. That was some gun this shrimp was packing. Just as the bullet was about to reach Shoan's... shoulder? Why was he aiming for the shoulder? No matter, it never reached its target anyway. A loud but brief clang was heard as the bullet ricocheted into a tree at the edge of a clearing. "Ha!" yelled Shoan with a big smile on his face. He brought his spear into attack position and in an instant was flying towards the far too calm gunman.

SSJwrestler

Enzeru watched as Shoan dodged his first bullet with ease, and smiled as he saw the warrior charging toward him through the still lingering smoke.

Ready for this?

As Shoan advanced to a mere ten feet away from him, Enzeru cocked his gun a second time and again pulled the trigger. This time, however, Shoan was not able to dodge, he was far too close.

The bandit was stopped dead in his advance, and as he fell to his knees, a few drops of crimson blood fell to the ground behind him, landing at the same instance his knees touched the Earth.

Enzeru holstered his pistol as quickly as he had drawn mere moments before, and then looked at Shoan. "See, told you I wouldn't miss."

Amarth

"Heh." Shoan sputtered. "You cheater." The Zambatou fell from Shaon's now injured arm. He went to pick it up with his other hand but found another bullet in that shoulder as well. He fell to his back, feet sliding out in front of him. "What kind of gun is that?" Well, I'm far to injured to try to resist now. I'll figure out a way out of this situation later. I might be able to take him like this, but it's not worth it. Besides, food was pretty good last time I was in that cell. As Enzeru advanced on his prey and arrow came soaring past his face, the wind blowing his hair around just a bit. He turned and pointed his gun. "No! Run away from here! He won fair and square. I'll meet up with you later." A small shuffling in the woods around them, followed by the faint sound of hooves on the forest floor were, well, other than the arrow sticking out of the ground, the only signs that Shoan's men had ever been there. Shoan managed to make himself sit up. "Y'know, I gotta hand it to you. It's been a long time time since I've actually been caught."

SSJwrestler

"Well, we'll treat you good." Enzeru said as he placed restraints on Shoan's hands and bandages on his wounds, by this time the Imperial Guards had entered the clearing and were covering Shoan so that he wouldn't try anything. "This time, you even get your own horse. You had to walk last time didn't you?"


The journey back to the Emperor's palace took about five days, though Enzeru had made it in three. Upon, entering the palace's towering doors, Enzeru looked around at the splendid place. The rock gardens, monasteries, guards quarters, fish ponds, and of course the Emperor's main hall. The whole scene always entranced Enzeru, he was completely awestruck.

Enzeru and his batallion dismounted and led the infamous bandit to the deepest reaches of the palace, the dungeon. After Shoan was securely locked in his cell, and ten armed guards had been posted around the cell, as well as one guard at every exit, Enzeru made his way to the Emperor's main hall.

The doors flew open as he approached and he was greeted by the sight of nearly ten thousand lit candles around the hall and all of the Emperor's advisors standing to the side of each gigantic door. Keeping his eyes to the floor, Enzeru advanced to with in one hundred paces of the Emperor and knelt.

"You called for me, your majesty?"

Draconis

Draconis Hanoni:
Weapon: Claws
Class: Half-demon
Strength: Regeneration
Power: Fear Induction/Illusion/Demon Form
Personality: Psychopath, Morbidly Charismatic, Amoral, Malevolent
Backstory: The bastard son of a peasant woman and the general of Hell's armies, Draconis spent a care-free childhood in his village with his mother and 3 younger siblings. Shortly after his 19th birthday, his village was razed by mercenaries and his entire village was lost in the carnage. It was then, as he watched his family's bodies burning, that something deep inside of his snapped. He was unaware of his father or the demon blood that coursed through his veins until then. By the time Draconis stopped, only one mercenary was alive. Draconis told him that he let him live so that he could tell everyone he meets what had happened there that day and who had done it. Ever since, Draconis has wandered the earth in search of a chance for a righteous murder to avenge his family's death, but anyone will do in most cases.

Amarth

Draconis

I'm going to be writing for the Emperor here. Just keep in mind that, A) The Emperor is not Draconis and B) I may not be doing this all the freaking time

The Emperor sat upon his throne, encrusted with gold and jewels, the royal insignia proudly displayed above his head and at each arm. As but a chosen few were allowed to hear the voice of the emperor, he whispered to his Premier, who in turn spoke to Enzeru.

"Enzeru. You have done well to capture the bandit Shoan."

Enzeru, with his head still bowed, replied, "What shall you have me do, your highness?"

The Emperor whispered to the Premier, then sat glowing with a subdued elation.

"There is dissent within our country. There are some that would gladly be rid of our glorious way of life, of our honor. I ask this of you. Gather a band of warriors. You will be given the list."

An emperial servant hands a scroll to Enzeru. It has two names in addition to his own: NONAME and Xyven.

"Take these men with you," continued the premier, "and rid our country of those who plot against me."

"If I may, there are a few names I would like to add. First, Draconis Hanoni. He would be very useful to me, were I to run into anything close to as bad as him. Second is Shoan Usaku.."

The Emperor blurts out, "That man is condemned to die. He has committed horrible crimes against our country."

"I apologize for being brash, but I think he would better serve your cause were he to live fighting your enemies than die for being one."

"Very well," said the Premier, as the Emperor had regained his composure.

"Third, I would like to add Amarth Eldaire."

"Amarth Eldaire has been missing for five years. Noone can find him."

"I would rather try to find him than give up without a second thought."

"I accept your addendums. Leave and may the gods be carry you."

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

With this, Enzeru stood, bowed low to his Emperor, turned, and left out the emperial hall's enormous doors. Once outside, Enzeru unrolled the scroll and, using a piece of characol from the pouch at his hip, added the names of Draconis, Shoan, and Amarth.

So this is the group of heroes assigned to defend this land. Wow

Enzeru tucked the scroll in the back of his belt and began to make his way to the palace's dungeon. Upon arriving at the building, Enzeru made his way down nearly ten stories of winding stairs, till he reached the lower-most region of the dungeon. Enzeru reached out his hand to open the door, but stopped abruptly before entering.

Quiet, too quiet

Enzeru took a step back and then kicked open the door. The scene that lay on the other side of the door made a smirk appear on Enzeru's face.

Amarth

Shoan was half way out his cell door as Enzeru walked in, closing the door behind him with one hand and putting his lock picking equipment back in his pocket with the other. Five of the six guards had left and the one that was stubborn enough to stay behind sat unconscious leaning against the cell wall. Shoan looked like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. After only a second he regained his composure and a sheepish grin spread across his face.

"Heh. This was a new speed record for me. Unfortunate that you came back here. Why return so soon? I'm sure the Emperor would have scheduled my execution for at least the next day."

He leaned against the cell wall as he spoke, like he was talking to an old friend. His arms were folded confidently across his chest, but he made sure he had placed himself within reaching distance of his weapon.

SSJwrestler

Enzeru wasn't the least bit surprised that Shoan had escpaed his cell, but the ease and speed he had done it with was a bit unnerving. Enzeru made sure that his hand casually made its way down to his side, and then took one step towards the escaped theif.

"You seem to be healing well, seems the two shots I put in you weren't enough" Enzeru said smiling. "But, just for the hell of it, would if I offered you a chance to expel all the crimes from your record and for you to walk out of here a free person?"

Amarth

"Well that's quite an intriguing offer. Don't mind me if I get my weapon... but you're armed and I wouldn't mind negotiating on fair grounds."

Shoan kicked the rack his weapon was on and knocked his spear into the air, grabbed it and brought it to his side.

"Now, I'm afraid I'm gonna need to hear some details. The most pressing question appears to be... why would you want a thief like me whom the emperor despises to help you out? And then, why should I help you anyway? This cell's like a second home to me as it is. I don't need your help to leave it."

SSJwrestler

"Well, the fact is that there are a hundred armed guards at every possible exit out of the palace, including the secret ones you used befoe and yes, even the ones your men secretly built when they infiltrated the palace last spring. So, essentially, if you try to escape your execution will simply be moved up a day."

"That's your first option. The second, and might I say much better, option is to join four other men and myself in group, whose goal is to seek out the evil causing dissent in His Majesty's kingdom, and destroy it."

"To answer your question pertaing to 'why you?', one needs to simply look at your resume. A theif who has travelled all over the country has great knowledge of the land and of the evils it carries, and the fact that you have gotten away from the Imperial Guard for the last decade proves your worth as a fighter. In short, we need your skills. So what do you say, do you promise to help the Emperor and your country?"

With this, Enzeru took his hand from his side and stepped towards Shoan, still carrying the smirk on his face.

Amarth

"Abunaku..." Shoan spoke softly to himself. In his mind's eye, he saw desolate villages with people starving and destitute fighting amongst themselves for the meager scraps of food they had left. He saw children left homeless, wandering the lands with empty stomaches and souls. He shuddered briefly and looked up at Enzeru.

"I'll help you, but it's got nothing to do with loving Emperor or country. I'm just siding with the lesser of two evils, but I have a condition. I want the sentence removed from the heads of all of my men as well."

SSJwrestler

Without hesitation, Enzeru answered "Done, but in return, I have my own condition for you. Once you depart from here with the group, you do not leave the group. The only way out is through your death, which I am pretty sure you aren't too fond of. My reasoning behind this condition is simply that some of the characters in this group are less than trustworthy and I need someone to rely on. I've chosen you. So do you agree to these terms?"

Amarth

"Done. You have my word of honor that I shall not leave our group until our mission is completed. Though I may be a bandit, I suggest you do not question this word. I find such behavior insulting."

Shoan gave a deep bow.

"Shoan Usaku at your service."

Draconis

Once again, I have to write for someone else. Goddamnit, I'm neither of these people and I'm probably going to have to write for Pesho the Ruski asshole tracker too. Fucking sack up bitches and take on one of these roles.

"Well then, I think it's time you met me," said a deep voice in the shadows, from which came an upside down face, veiled in black as to only show the man's eyes. The face quickly turned right side up, as if upon a pivot, and a black cloaked ninja emerged from the shadows. Standing 6' 3", he was unnaturally tall for a ninja but had managed to confine himself to a shadowed corner of the room about 3 square feet total.

"I am called Xyven, ninja of the shadow and servant of the Emperor."

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

"I was wondering when you were gonna show your face Xyven. I believe that Petra is waiting for us upstairs. Let's not keep her or our departure waiting." Enzeru said before he turned and made his way out the door.

Shoan and Xyven followed, Shoan throwing his spear over his shoulder and Xyven bending down to make his way through the low door of the dungeon. Upon exiting the dungeon, the group was immediately met by another figure.

This woman had all the characterisitcs of a woman who spent all her time with her face two inches from the ground or ten feet up a tree. Unkept long brown hair worn in braids, dirt smudges all over her face and shabby clothes, and a tattered backpack which carried supplies and sheathed her bow and arrows, a short broadsword relatively foreign to the eastern region they lived in accompanied her hip.

"Enzeru," the woman said looking towards Enzeru, who was leading the group. "The horses and supplies are ready, all we need is your word to depart."

"Gentlemen, this single-minded, focused woman is Petra, the Emperor's scout. She will be taking care of our journey's path." Enzeru said stepping aside to let the party's other members get a look at the scout.

Petra simply bowed slightly acknowledging the other members. "Are you ready, Enzeru?"

"Yeah," Enzeru said with a slight laugh. " We'll head out now towards Mount Sendo, where we'll search for the next member of our party, Draconis. Anyone have any problems with that?"

Amarth

Shoan's ears perked up when he heard the name Draconis.

"Draconis?! Draconis Hanoni?! The murderous half demon that terrorizes this country?! You must be completely out of your mind! That man, or demon, will kill you as soon as not look at you. What's more, he's absolutely impossible to find. After one of his rampages, he seems to disappear from the face of the earth until the next. I'm telling you, we've got to forget that name right now. The thought of being in the same group as him is sending chills down my spine."

SSJwrestler

"I understand your fear of Draconis, Shoan, but at the same time I can't forget the old saying 'fight fire with fire'. So since we're going to being combatting evil, Draconis will be an important part of our team. As for finding him, I'll worry about that.
Anyone else have a problem with Draconis?" Enzeru finished, turning towards Petra and Xyven.

SSJwrestler

"No problems here" said Petra, "I'm just leading this party."

Amarth

"Humph," Shoan sputtered at the mention of fear. "I'm not afraid of some stupid killing psycho... *grumble* *grumble*"

He walked over to the door and stood beside it, now impatient to begin their journey and prove that he wasn't afraid of anyone or anything.

Draconis

"It is a fine line between fear, respect, and trust. I say that one we fear may become one we respect and perhaps trust," said Xyven, "There is no reason to hastily cast aside a possible ally. All I ask is that in approaching Draconis, we try not to get ourselves killed before we even say anything."

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

"Now that that's settled, lets head out " Enzeru said as he walked out the door and over to his horse, which was laiden down with full saddlebags. "Mount Sendo is a four days ride from here, if we ride hard we can make it in two. Let's go"

Enzeru spurred his horse, which bucked in response, sending Enzeru back to the ground flat on his ass with a resounding thumph.

Getting up from the ground, rubbing his ass, Enzeru remounted his horse, and this time coaxed it gently to a walk at first and then a run.

Petra, laughing internally, mounted her horse and followed suit.

Draconis

After three days hard ride, the party finally arrived at Mount Sendo. It was a frightening visage that lay in front of them, a craggy slope of obsidian that looked like broken black glass. The mountain glowed an eery shade somewhere between fresh blood and a dark reddish-purple, growing to a bright shine at the cracks where the magma lay just below the surface. A high arc jutted out at the end of the path, with dagger-like extensions that pointed ominously at the travelers.

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

"Bit scary isn't it guys?" Enzeru said lifting his head to get a full view look at the mountain. "I said that I'd take care of finding the demon, so you all stay here, but it's not like I'm gonna get any objections."

Enzeru laughed nervously at himself as he dismounted his horse. Upon hitting the ground, Enzeru drew his pistol, cracked it open to be sure that he had reloaded. This was an unnessecary measure, though since he knew he had reloaded right after his battle with Shoan.

Why'd I volunteer myself? Why? Damn good heart

Enzeru began to scale the treacherous mountain side, slipping here and there on the loose rock, and cutting his hands and knees on the sharp obsidian. After a few hours of climbing, Enzeru stopped at a relatively level outcropping to regain his breath. Looking up the side of the mountain, he then realized he was only halfway there.

Shit this mountain's high. Of course a demon would choose this place, it SO freaking fitting

Enzeru continued his treck up the mountain, and came to the crest of it's peak at dusk.

Finally

As Enzeru pulled himself up over the crest, a strange sight introduced itself to his eyes. At the top of the mountain was a crater which contained what appeared to a carved out ampitheatre, almost like a colliseum of sorts. Sitting cross-legged in the middle of this structure, outlined by shadows, was what appeared to be a man.

Enzeru had almost hoped he wouldn't find what he was looking for at the mountain's peak, but fate seemed to have different plans for him, and he had to accept that, whether he liked it or not.

Casting off his initial fear, Enzeru stood and began to make his way down the ampitheatre's steep wall. Approaching to within about twenty yards of the dark figure, Enzeru cleared his throat and spoke.

"Are you the half-demon known as Draconis Hanoni?"

Draconis

The man in the center rose to his feet. He had medium length black hair, stood around 6' tall, and wore a duster, pants, and buckled boots, all made from the same blackened, blood red leather. Without turning, he said;

"Why did you come here?"

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

SSJwrestler

"My name is Enzeru Amatsu, the Imperial Angel, personal guard to our Emperor, who has sent me to enlist your services on our quest to seek out the evil causing dissent in our nation. Why'll I know you are a part of this dissent, there are greater forces at work, and your services are need to defeat them. Will you come with us?" Enzeru said as he took one more step towards Draconis.

Amarth

Draconis

"Stay BACK!"

Black smoke began to pour from Draconis and engulf everything around the two of them. He turned towards Enzeru, bearing his face for the first time, a contorted caricatured mask of something that was once human but had been altered by untold pain and hatred. Set staring at Enzeru were Draconis's glowing red eyes, blood colored smoke pouring from them.

"You dare to ask for MY HELP? I help NO ONE."

Draconis's voice ripped through the air, sounding more like thunder than a voice to the party at the base of Mount Sendo. Enzeru felt unquenchable fear as he saw Draconis lift from the ground and hover about a foot from the floor of the ampitheater.

"You have NO RIGHT TO DISTURB ME."

The ground tore asunder below Draconis and iron chains rose from the magma. They wrapped around the body of a man that was forming from the black smoke. He was badly beaten, bleeding rather badly, and wore a blacksmith's apron.

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

Draconis

__________________
STEVE MCKENNA!

Amarth

Shoan kicked the rocks at his feet and fidgeted impatiently.

"Hey guys. Do you think we should help him?" He cast a glance up the mountain and a darkness seemed to swirl over it. Just gazing upon it filled his heart with the unwanted emotion of fear. "Nah. He's probably fine." Shoan's voice wavered a bit as he spoke, confidence sapped by the nagging fear in his heart and the effort of lying. He looked away and kicked a few more rocks.