Project Apocalypse RPG Session 20 Log Session Start: Sun Jul 02 20:00:10 2000 ============================================================================ Cast of Characters: Dragonmaster Lou as Gamemaster, Man inside, Monk, Sado, Woman in video, Kane, Kane's Journal, Young Girl, Hikariko, Science Officer, Communications Officer, Helmsman Aerian as Xorn Bryann as Dragoona (Dragonmaster Lou as ~Dragoona) Lucia as Rista (Dragonmaster Lou as ~Rista) Scott Kroush as LeBeau (Dragonmaster Lou as ~LeBeau) Seath as Ashmodeel Danny Capote as Richard (Dragonmaster Lou as ~Richard) ============================================================================ ===GAME ON!=== --You are currently on the path leaving the city of Daikyo, in the Yamato Empire. This road leads to the home of a hermit monk that may have information on Yamato's founder...-- * Ashmodeel walks along silently. * Dragoona is a lot quieter than you expect of her. ~Richard: "Are you okay, Dragoona?" Dragoona: "... Maybe..." ~Richard: "Maybe?" * Dragoona sighs. ~Richard: "You certainly don't seem okay." * Ashmodeel puts his hand on Dragoona's should, "It may seem Dragoona that I don't care, but I do understand what you are going through. The uncertainty of it all. I understand all to well." * Dragoona blinks and then stares at her feet as she walks along. ~Rista: "Dragoona?" Dragoona: "...." ~Rista: "It's what Kasumi said, isn't it? Are you still worrying about it?" * Xorn continues his usual quiet android act, just listening. * Dragoona nods. ~Rista: "I understand... Remember what Uriel said about me, and what happened?" * Dragoona nods. "That's part of the reason that what Kasumi said bothers me." ~Rista: "Only part?" * Dragoona nods. ~Rista: "Is it okay if I ask what else it could be?" ~Richard: "We're your friends, Dragoona. We want to help." * Dragoona shrugs. "Why not...Firstly... I don't know why I found this stuff, anyways. It's almost like it was made to fit me exactly..." ~Richard: "Maybe it was some sort of destiny of yours to find it?" * Dragoona nods. "That's what I'm thinking -- but... why?" Ashmodeel: "Destiny? Destiny is highly overrated." ~Rista: "I don't think anyone can truly understand 'why.'" ~Richard: "Ashmodeel? Then why do you think she found her equipment?" Dragoona: "Ash... do you expect to go into a dungeon and not find not one, not two, but three separate pieces of armor that are fitted to your exact proportions?" Dragoona: "Someone wanted me to find this stuff." Ashmodeel: "I only mean that people get caught up in their 'destiny' and forget what they really want." * ~Richard nods at Ashmodeel. Dragoona: "It's not what I want, any more, Ash. It's what I don't want." Ashmodeel: "People become chained by their destiny. They either embrace it fully, or pity themselves because of it." Dragoona: "Forget what I'm fated to do. I hate myself because of what I _did_." ~Rista: "What happened on Kasumi's airship?" * Dragoona nods. ~Richard: "It couldn't be helped... Sometimes things like that happen in the heat of battle in the course of trying to stay alive." Ashmodeel: "Have you never killed another human before?" * Dragoona shakes her head. "I avoid killing. There's no reason to take someone else's life. Not when they have a family, friends, and whatnot -- just like you." Dragoona: "That's part of the reason I think we're just walking around like lemmings at the moment. Remember what we heard? If we get all eight crests, the Destroyer will revive. Who KNOWS how many innocent lives will be lost then...?" Ashmodeel: "One should never forget the pain that killing causes, but you cannot go through life lamenting over it." ~Richard: "If we don't get the crests, someone else would, and they may not have the best interests of our world in mind when they do." Dragoona: "..." Dragoona: "Don't you think we should find some way of stopping the oncoming carnage _before_ we bring it back?" Ashmodeel: "Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease." Richard: "Maybe we should ask this monk when we see him. The Emperor seems to think he knows a lot about our world." Dragoona: "Yeah..." ~Richard: "So keep your chin up, okay Dragoona?" * Dragoona weakly smiles. "Yeah... I... guess." ~Richard gives Dragoona a friendly pat on the back. --Suddenly, you hear some rustling in the bushes up ahead.-- * Dragoona sighs and draws her sword. --Some strange creatures jump out of the bushes in front of you! Both look to be reptilian.-- --One of them is a small bi-pedal lizard with a star-shaped spot on its tummy. The other is a four-legged lizard with a glowing light on its back...-- ===COMBAT!=== 3 Starmanders in front, 3 Lightbulbasaurs in back. ~Richard attacks Starmander A! First attack... 35 damage. Second attack... 31 damage. Dragoona casts Wide Slash on the Starmanders! * Dragoona, umm... slashes wide. :P Starmander A takes 126 damage. B takes 152. C takes 128. ~LeBeau casts Flame Sweep on the Starmanders! Starmander A takes 32 damage. B takes 38. C takes 36. Starmander A casts Laser Breath on Rista! Starmander A opens his mouth and blasts her with a beam of intensely focused light. Rista suffers 40 damage. Starmander B attacks Xorn! Xorn is hit for 11 damage. Starmander C attacks Dragoona! Dragoona easily parries. Lightbulbasaur A lashes at Richard with its tentacles! Richard suffers 46 damage. Lightbulbasaur B lashes at Dragoona with its tentacles. Dragoona easily parries. Lightbulbasaur C lashes at LeBeau with its tentacles. LeBeau is hit for 54 damage. Ashmodeel casts Grey Lightning on the Lightbulbasaurs! Lightbulbasaurs are immune to Grey magic. 1 damage each. Xorn casts Arc Shot on the Lightbulbasaurs. Lightbulbasaur A suffers 41 damage. B suffers 31. C suffers 37. ~Rista casts chance on Lightbulbasaur A! The waves of chaotic magic swirl in and home in on... Lightbulbasaur A! Chance effect: Auto-Death! Lightbulbasaur A has burnt out! ===ROUND 2=== * Dragoona pulls a small crest out of her pocket. "Let's see how this works..." ~Richard attacks Starmander A! First attack... 35 damage! Second attack... Critical hit! 51 damage! Dragoona summons the power of the Terra Crest on Lightbulbasaur B! * Dragoona holds the crest above her head. "Terra Crest, I choose you!" She then blinks. "... Where the HELLS did that come from?!" Dragoona casts Summon Sephina! A large pillar of stone rises from the ground. Materializing in a swirl of purplish-magic on top of it is a tall, thin young woman with silver hair and gold eyes. Sephina casts Stone Impalement! Sephina waves her hand and suddenly a several hundred foot tall spear of stone rises from the ground underneath Lightbulbasaur B, skewering it completely! Lightbulbasaur B has critical weakness to earth-based magic. 2448 damage! Lightbulbasaur B is obliterated into the next galaxy! ~LeBeau casts Flame Sweep on the Starmanders! Starmander A suffers 34 damage. B suffers 37. C suffers 36. Starmander A attacks Xorn! Critical hit! Xorn is hit for 13 damage. Starmander B attacks Xorn! Xorn is hit for 1 damage. Starmander C attacks Dragoona! * Dragoona easily parries. ;P Dragoona easily parries... Lightbulbasaur C attacks Dragoona with its tentacles. Dragoona easily parries... Ashmodeel casts Grey Sphere! Ashmodeel's Def and MgD up 22! Xorn casts Arc Shot on the Lightbulbasaurs! Lightbulbsaur C suffers 41 damage. ~Rista casts Heal Aura on the back row. Everyone in the back row regains 46 HP. ===ROUND 3=== ~Richard attacks Starmander A! First attack... 25 damage. Second attack... Critical hit! 52 damage. Dragoona casts Wide Slash on the Starmanders! * Dragoona wideslashes again. Starmander A suffers 154 damage and is dead. B suffers 158. C suffers 124. LeBeau casts Thunder Justice on Starmander B! Starmander B is fried for 156 damage. Starmander B attacks Dragoona! Dragoona easily parries. Starmander C attacks Dragoona! Dragoona easily parries. Lightbulbasaur C casts Cord Whip on Dragoona! Lightbulbasaur C lashes at Dragoona with its cord-like tentacles, picks her up, and whips her several times with them! Dragoona: "Ow! Hey!" Dragoona suffers 1 damage as she's more heavily armored than a battleship right now. Ashmodeel casts Crushing Weight on Lightbulbasaur C! Lightbulbasaur C is crushed by its own weight for 148 damage. Xorn casts Arc Shot on the Starmanders! Starmander B suffers 26 damage and is blown away. C suffers 37. ~Rista casts Chance on Starmander C! The waves of chaotic magic home in on... Starmander C! Chance Effect: Daze! ===ROUND 4=== ~Richard attacks Starmander C! First attack... 25 damage. Starmander C is no longer dazed. Second attack... 28 damage. Dragoona attacks Starmander C! First attack... Critical hit! Starmander C suffers 282 damage and is decimated! Second attack on Lightbulbasaur C... 125 damage. * Dragoona lunges at the Starmander, and then rushes towards the Lightbulba in followup! ~LeBeau casts Thunder Justice on Lightbulbasaur C! Lightbulbsaur C suffers 177 damage. Lightbulbasaur C lashes at Rista with its tentacles! Rista suffers 49 damage. Ashmodeel defends. Xorn attacks! First attack... 36 damage! Lightbulbasaur C is blown up easily. VICTORY! 35 XP, 100 MXP, 4 SXP, 500 Cira acquired. Xorn regenerates HP to full. Dragoona: "Victory, biyotch." ^_^v Ashmodeel has reached level 8! ~Rista uses a Mountain Dew on herself. 50 HP recovered. Ashmodeel: "Shall we continue?" --The path, known as the "Black Rose Road" still stretches ahead of you...-- ~Richard: "Yes." --A small hut can be seen just barely popping up on the horizon.-- ~Richard: "That's probably the place." Ashmodeel: "Agreed." * Ashmodeel continues forward. Dragoona: "Obviously." * Dragoona is lemminging along as usual. Ashmodeel: "Dragoona, you should learn that not everything is as it appears." Dragoona: "It either is what you think, or it's a trap." Dragoona: "Quite simple." --Soon, you arrive at the door to the hut. It is closed, but it sounds like someone's inside.-- * Ashmodeel knocks on the door. Man inside: "Hello? Who's there?" Ashmodeel: "Um, weary travelers seeking knowledge. We were sent by the emperor." Man inside: "Oh, in that case, come on in. The door's unlocked." * Ashmodeel opens the door and slowly steps inside. --The hut seems to be a bit messy on the inside. Scattered around are various books, some of them spell books, along with various machines.-- --Sitting in the far corner is a small old man, looking like a Yamato native, working on some device and drinking sake.-- --The man is dressed in monk's clothes.-- Ashmodeel: "Sensei, we bring greetings from the emperor." * Monk drinks his sake. "Thank you... It is an honor to have guests sent from him." Monk: "Would you like some sake? It's an excellent vintage." Ashmodeel: "I would be honored." * Monk pours Ashmodeel some sake then hands it to him. "Anyway, I'm Sado. Who might you be?" Ashmodeel: "Oh, please forgive me. I am Ashmodeel of Savanti. I'll let the rest of my party introduce themselves." * Ashmodeel takes the sake and tosses it down. * Sado nods. "Ahh, Savanti. I haven't been there in many years." Sado: "It is an honor to meet you, Ashmodeel." * ~Richard, ~Rista, and ~LeBeau also introduce themselves. Ashmodeel: "I suppose I should get to the point. Are you aware of the various forces currently vying for power in the world?" Sado: "Let's see... There's Deimu and Kasumi as well as a bunch of Tenshi, and I've heard rumors that the Destroyer may be involved in this mess as well..." Sado: "Not to mention a possible Demonmistress somewhere..." * Dragoona sweatdrops. Ashmodeel: "You keep quite informed for being in such secluded surroundings. I am impressed." Dragoona: "I can verify those rumors are, for now, completely FALSE." * Sado drinks some more sake... He seems to like it a bit too much. Sado: "Well, I have some friends... Like the one that brought me this machine I'm working on... Have you met Kasumi, perchance?" Ashmodeel: "We've had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting her, yes." * Dragoona coughs. "We have met, yes... We've had our... differences, though." * Dragoona elbows Ash. Sado: "Unfortunate? You must have gotten on her bad side... She's one of the sweetest girls I know... She's like a daughter to me." * Dragoona blinks and realizes something. Dragoona: "Er, sorry... Where are my manners..." Dragoona: "I forgot to tell you my name..." ^^; * Sado sips some more sake. "It's all right." * Dragoona bows. "Dragoona Enalia, sir." * Sado bows back. "I am honored." Sado: "Anyway, I hope you can make up with Kasumi at some point. She really is a very sweet child. She brought this for me from the Black Rose Shrine, hoping that I can repair it." * Sado points to a crystalline disc and a machine that the disc can be inserted into with some sort of screen. * Sado sips a bit more sake. LeBeau: "Ah t'ink 'dis guy likesta indulge in 'de drinkin' more 'dan ah do." * Sado looks at LeBeau, "Would you like some sake as well?" LeBeau: "Don' min' if'n ah do." * Sado pours LeBeau some sake. Sado: "Anyway, I was about to finish repairing this device for Kasumi when you stopped by. So, how may I help you?" Ashmodeel: "My pardons Sado-sensei, but the emperor said that you would know the whereabouts of the crest of the founder of Yamato." * LeBeau takes the sake and downs it. "Now 'dis is some good stuff." Dragoona: "Hmm. I think I remember hearing about a machine like that in some history book or another. I wasn't quite paying attention. ^^; It's called a... 'convoluter'?" ^^; * Sado sips some more sake, "It is an excellent vintage." LeBeau: "Ah woul' guess so." Sado: "Anyway... The Yamato founder's crest... Let me see..." Sado: "If you head up north on the Black Rose Road a bit further you'll come across another road leading to the left. That's the Road of the Sun. If I remember, the cave of Yamato's founder can be found at the end of that road." LeBeau: "Yeah, we'd likta know 'bout 'de crest." * Sado turns to Dragoona: "A 'convo-what'?" * Sado now turns to LeBeau. "Hmm... Well, contrary to what most people think, the founder isn't the Dragon Samurai Kane." Ashmodeel: "Really?" * Dragoona raises an eyebrow. "He isn't?" Sado: "Really. He lived in Yamato while he was in our world, but he wasn't our Founder. No one actually knows where his crest is." Dragoona: "Excuse me?" Dragoona: "'While he was in our world?'" Sado: "None of the Founders are originally from our world. Didn't you know that?" Ashmodeel: "Would he even have a crest?" LeBeau: "'E's prolly dead, Dragoona. No one coul' live from 'is time ta ours." Ashmodeel: "No human, Lebeau. If he wasn't human, there's no telling how long he could live." * Sado thinks over some more sake... "Hmmm, not sure... Not all the beings known as Founders left crests behind.." Sado: "Oh, Kane was indeed human. As was the Destroyer... But not like us." LeBeau: "You sayin' 'dere was somethin' diff'r'nt 'bout 'dem 'den from other 'umans?" Sado: "Yes... They came from worlds where humans had powers very different from our own. They came to our world with magic at a time when we had none." * Sado sips some sake. "You see, ages ago, a terrible weapon was tested by the ancient enemy of the Great War. That weapon malfunctioned, and instead opened 'gates' into many different worlds and times. Through these 'gates,' the Founders, Espers, and Destroyer were inadvertently brought to our world." Ashmodeel: "If they were human, they must be descended from the same stock as us or vice versa." Sado: "Not necessarily, Ashmodeel-san. Humans exist on many planes of existence. They are from different planes." LeBeau: "W'y does 'dis soun' so familiar?" * Sado shrugs and sips more sake. Sado: "Actually, this device I've been working on supposedly has some information on Kane, though I don't know what." * LeBeau downs some more sake as he listens to Sado's story. Dragoona: "So it DOES hold information." Sado: "Yes... It's some sort of recording device..." LeBeau: "W'y do ah get 'de 'mpression 'dat 'dis device's gonna 'old more info 'dan we really wanna know?" Sado: "I'm not sure... If you give me a second, I think I just have it ready to work..." Dragoona: "That's what information is for. Giving you more than you want." -_-; Ashmodeel: "Those discs by that machine are about the same size as that cursed disc in the antiques store." Sado: "Trust me, these discs aren't cursed... At least, I don't think they are." * Sado sips some more sake. Sado: "Now let me see..." * Sado gives the device a swift kick and it suddenly powers on! Sado: "Thought so!" Dragoona: "So you have to boot it for it to start up?" Sado: "I suppose you could say that... Now, let's see what's on this disc..." LeBeau: "'Ow woul' kickin' 'de t'ing make it start?" Ashmodeel: "Boot?" Sado: "Ancient Technomage secret. It's called a 'technician's tap.'" * Sado sips some more sake and inserts a disc into the player. LeBeau: "Still, 'ow woul' kickin' it make 'de t'ing work?" Sado: "That, my friend, is one of the great mysteries of the universe." LeBeau: "Ah'll nevah understan' technology." Dragoona: "It takes a genius to understand it, or more so, apparently, seeing as Ash doesn't much understand." --The disc spins up. On the screen is the picture of a translucent animated face on a blue background. A song accompanies it, singing, "Zankoku no tenshi no..."-- * Ashmodeel ignores Dragoona's witless comment. Sado: "Oops... Wrong disc! Excuse me..." Ashmodeel: "What the . . ." * Sado swaps out the disc and puts in another one..." LeBeau: "Hoo bow." Sado: "That was some sort of ancient entertainment... I think... I never was able to figure it out..." LeBeau: "Hoo boy... ah'm really startin' ta wonder 'bout 'dis trip." --The disc spins up... On the screen shows a young man in dark armor, a silver katana-like sword at his side, holding a young infant.-- Sado: "I think this is the right one..." * Dragoona looks at the sword, than looks at her own. --The swords are not the same.-- ===ANIME CUT SCENE=== Woman in video: "Kane-sama, are you sure about this?" Kane: "Unfortunately, yes... I have some debts I have to repay on my home world..." Woman in video: "But Kane-sama, please, what about your daughter?" Kane: "I know... I don't want to leave, but the Guardian of Time said that I couldn't delay any longer..." Woman in video: "Kane-sama..." Kane: "Please, will you take care of her, for me?" Woman in video: "It would be an honor, Kane-sama..." Kane: "Thank you..." Woman in video: "You will return, right?" * Kane sighs. Woman in video: "What, you don't mean..." Kane: "I don't think I'm going to going to survive this trial..." Woman: "Kane-sama!" * Woman in video bursts into tears. Kane: "Please, don't cry... It is the only way. I sinned greatly on my home world, and now the time has come for me to atone..." Kane: "Just promise me you'll take care of my daughter and tell her that I love her..." * Woman in video nods... --A blue-black circle appears behind Kane. It is a gate of some sort. Kane steps through it, and the gate vanishes... A silvery-colored crest and a single black rose remain where the gate was...-- --The video ends...-- ==END CUT SCENE=== Sado: "I guess that's what happened to Kane..." LeBeau: "Now 'dat's a fate ah would'n' wanna 'ave." Ashmodeel: "Pah!" Sado: "'Pah'?" Dragoona: "... Black... rose...?" Ashmodeel: "Just some archaic Savantian." Sado: "That spot, where the gate appeared, is where the Black Rose Shrine now stands." Dragoona: (q, to self) "Could that have been... Kasumi? No, that's stupid. It was too long ago." LeBeau: "'Den w'at say we get goin 'dere." Sado: "The Black Rose Shrine can be found at the end of the Black Rose Road, if you're serious." LeBeau: "Ah am... Coul' 'old answers we need." Ashmodeel: "The Road of the Sun should be our priority." Dragoona: "Uh, wha?" Ashmodeel: "The road that will lead us to the crest of Yamato's Founder." * Sado sips some more sake. "Anyway, anything else I can help you with?" ~Richard: "Wasn't there something about finding the crests and awakening the Destroyer?" LeBeau: "Ah don' t'ink so, Sado... T'anks... and 'ow's 'bout a bottle 'o 'dat sake fer 'de road?" Sado: "There's some in that cabinet by the door. Help yourself." LeBeau: "T'ank ya." -LeBeau acquires Sado's Sake! Dragoona: "Yeah." Dragoona: "... We heard something to the effect of collecting all the crest awakening the Destroyer. Is there any way we could prevent that, or at least make the Destroyer less... destructive?" ^^; LeBeau: "Dunno, Dragoona." Ashmodeel: "I don't think she was asking you, LB." * Sado sips some sake. "Ahh... Well, you see... When the Destroyer awakens, all the crests will be together. However, bringing them together won't awaken him." Sado: "There are two keys to awakening the Destroyer, none of which involve the crests." * LeBeau takes a swig from the bottle he grabbed. "'Den 'w'at will bringin' de crests togethah do?" Dragoona: "Maybe help hold him back... I hope." Sado: "Bringing the crests together will allow you to call all the Founders, which may have the power needed to defeat him should he awaken." Dragoona: "One last question." Sado: "Yes?" Dragoona: "The guy in the video. He was (q) supposedly (normal) Kane." Sado: "As far as I can tell, he was." Dragoona: "Yet the emperor claimed that this sword used to be Kane's. If that's so... Why didn't it match the one in the video?" * Dragoona holds up her katana. Sado: "Let me look at that sword..." * Sado reaches for the blade. * Dragoona hands it to Sado. * Sado sips some sake and examines it... * Sado pales and chokes on his sake! * Dragoona blinks "Something wrong?" * Sado tries to regain his composure, still pale. "No, umm, nothing's wrong... *cough* The *cough* Emperor was mistaken, that's all." * Sado appears visibly shaken. Dragoona: "... Then why do you look so upset...?" * Sado tries to lie, "It's nothing... Nothing..." Dragoona: "If it was nothing, then there'd be no problem telling me what it is." Ashmodeel: "Dragoona!" Sado: "If you insist... Are you sure you can handle this?" Dragoona: "Positive." Sado: "It's all right, Ashmodeel-san." Sado: "Remember what I said about the keys to awakening the Destroyer?" Dragoona: "That one of them?" Sado: "Well, maybe... You see, when the Destroyer was imprisoned, only his body was sealed. His armor remained. However, parts of his soul still remained in his armor, which was scattered across the land. One of the keys to awakening the Destroyer is to reunite the five pieces of his armor." Sado: "Your sword resembles drawings I have seen in the ancient texts of the Destroyer's sword." Dragoona: "... Oh, s***..." Dragoona: "His... armor...?" LeBeau: "Hoo boy." Ashmodeel: "Hmm." * Dragoona swallows hard. "Why do I get a sinking feeling that that's exactly what I'm wearing?" -_-; Sado: "I wouldn't worry too much... The Ancients were very wise... They put an impossible to break security device on the Destroyer's prison." Dragoona: "Um... guys... if you could explain..." Sado: "Excuse me, young one?" Dragoona: "... Long story." -_-;; Sado: "I have time..." LeBeau: "Go 'head an' tell 'im, Dragoona." Dragoona: "I'm not sure if it's still their intent..." Sado: "Who's intent?" Dragoona: "But I believe Kasumi and Deimu are still collecting Dark Mana." Sado: "I know... *sighs* I told them to stop, but they are insistent... I hope they'll learn the error of their ways before it's too late. They are really good children, they have merely lost their way." Dragoona: "... Sir..." Sado: "Yes?" * Dragoona tries to remove her helm and shield and hand them to him. "Please tell me these aren't what I think they are." --The helmet and shield seem to resist removal.-- Dragoona: "... Er, if I can ever get them off..." Dragoona: "Oh, screw it..." Sado: "Hmm... Let me just look at it while you still wear them..." * Dragoona kneels in front of him to let him have a look. " * Sado examines it... Sado: "Hmm... Hmmm... Young one, I'm afraid that while I can't be sure, this may indeed be the Destroyer's armor. Legend has it that it was a mystical armor that would adjust its size to whoever wears it." Dragoona: "..." Dragoona: "I see." * Dragoona blinks. "That means I have four... or I might have the full set... if this is part of it..." * Dragoona takes her pendant in her hand. Sado: "By the gods... It's Diana's Ring..." LeBeau: "Eh?" Dragoona: "So basically I'm a walking time-bomb. I'm thrilled." Sado: "Legend has it that the Destroyer would talk about some mysterious person named 'Diana,' and it was believed that this ring, which he wore around his neck, was actually hers." Dragoona: "..." Sado: "Dragoona-chan, you are not necessarily a time bomb. Remember, you wear the armor, not the other way around." Dragoona: "..." Dragoona: "And the Destroyer was a Demonmaster, correct...?" Sado: "Let me check... I'm not sure... I think I read it some where..." * Sado rifles through some ancient texts... Sado: "Ahh... A copy of a journal entry of Kane's..." Kane's Journal: "I can't believe, tomorrow, I'm facing perhaps my most difficult opponent. I had always thought I was the first Demonmaster, but this one predates me by thousands of years. The source of his power is different from what my source once was, but he serves the same role..." * Dragoona wideeyes! Dragoona: "Demonmaster... Kane?! The story I read was true...?" Sado: "What story?" Dragoona: "I can't remember it exactly. I remember reading it as a child... it was called 'A Story Forgotten,' or something like that..." Sado: "Ahh, that is indeed a very ancient tale... Legend has it it came from Kane's world." Dragoona: "...I see. But still... the Destroyer WAS, then." Dragoona: "That explains why Kasumi is wary of me now..." Sado: "Yes, he was... However, if Kane was one as well, he had reformed by the time he came to our world." Dragoona: "... That makes sense. Otherwise this country wouldn't love him as the hero he is." * Sado nods. Sado: "Dragoona-chan, perhaps you were chosen to help this Demonmaster also reform?" Dragoona: "..." Dragoona: "That's a... different angle of looking at it." Dragoona: "Perhaps..." LeBeau: "Ah'll say." Sado: "When you reach my age, you learn to try to look on the bright side of things." LeBeau: "If'n we live 'dat long." Dragoona: "I think that's what he's talking about, mister ray-of-sunshine." Sado: "Well, defeating you will be quite difficult as long as she's wearing that armor... It is supposedly the most powerful armor on our world." LeBeau: "You wanna see a ray o' sunshine, chere? Ah kin conjure up one fer ya." Sado: "You may be his only chance for redemption as I doubt he'll be able to seek it on his own." Sado: "The second key is impossible to find." * Dragoona sweatdrops and proceeds to ignore LB. "Yeah. I doubt someone who the people call 'the Destroyer...'" Dragoona: "Second key?" Dragoona: "I thought the second was the Dark Mana... or the armor, in that case." Ashmodeel: "It cannot be completely impossible. Someone with enough ambition will find a way." Sado: "Your armor, if it is indeed his armor, is only one key. The other is required to break the seal on him... Only a Tenshi and an Esper together can release the seal." Dragoona: "Esper... I remember seeing an Esper once... It's... possible." Dragoona: "At least, I think it was an Esper." Sado: "Ahh, but Espers and Tenshi are mortal enemies... The Tenshi were created for the sole purpose of exterminating the Espers, and they both fear the Destroyer." Dragoona: "... Maybe they'll get drunk and find their way to a bed, who knows... -_-; All we can do is pray it doesn't happen." Ashmodeel: "Then somehow, one or the other will betray their kind." Dragoona: "More likely BOTH, Ash." Sado: "Highly unlikely... Especially as the Espers are rumored to be extinct, and I doubt that the one you mentioned ever fought alongside a Tenshi." LeBeau: "Wait a minute... Din't 'dose Tenshi say 'dat Rista was one o' dem?" * ~Rista pales slightly. Dragoona: "Yeah...! That doesn't mean..." O_o ~Rista: "I AM NOT ONE OF THEM!" LeBeau: "Not 'cusin' you, chere... Just pointin' out w'at 'dey said." * ~Rista breaks down and cries. * LeBeau tries to comfort Rista. * ~Rista is comforted. Sado: "I'm sorry if I concerned you, but I also hope I reassured you." Dragoona: "... You did." Dragoona: "I now know, whatever it takes, we can stop it." Sado: "It's good to hear you say that, young one..." LeBeau: "Look, ah don' wanna rain on nobody's parade, but we needta get movin." Dragoona: "Yeah." Dragoona: "Let's go, guys." * Sado sips some more sake. "Fairwell, and good luck." Ashmodeel: "Thank you." Sado: "You're very welcome, Ashmodeel-san." * Dragoona takes her sword and sheaths it. "Same to you. I'll remember what you said. And I'm sure I'll remember you when LB gets piss-drunk off your sake." ^_- * Sado laughs heartily! * LeBeau lets out a hearty chuckle. "Funny, Dragoona... very funny." --The Black Rose Road still stretches further to the north.-- * LeBeau walks on to the north. * Dragoona walks on to the north, too. ;P She then walks north ;P --Eventually you come to a fork in the road... The road leading left is the Road of the Sun, so named because it aligns itself perfect with the rising and setting sun on the days of equinox.-- * LeBeau takes the left road. * Dragoona turns left. ;P --The road leads towards the valley between two mountains.-- LeBeau: "Nice view, but w'ere's 'dis Foundah's cave?" --A cave can be seen at the base of the left mountain.-- Ashmodeel: "That appears to be it over there." LeBeau: "'Den le's get in 'dere." * LeBeau heads into the cave to the left. * ~Dragoona lemmings. --The interior of the cave is lit with a warm, mysterious light.-- LeBeau: "Perfec... W'at next?" ~Richard: "This is just like every other Founder's cave we've been to." Dragoona: "Duh." Dragoona: "Next we try to get the crest, something attacks us, we leave, something attacks us." --Some natural stairs up ahead lead down deeper in the cave.-- Dragoona: "Same old same old." :P --There is a hole in the cave wall at the bottom of the stairs.-- * LeBeau heads to the hole in the cave wall. --The hole leads into a large chamber. There is an altar on one end. Upon the altar is a crest emanating the purest, warmest light.-- --The faint sound of a young child's laughter can also be heard from the crest.-- LeBeau: "Eh? Y'all hear 'dat?" Dragoona: "Yeah..." Dragoona: "Could our Founder be..." * Ashmodeel walks up the crest and touches it. Dragoona: "That kid in the video...?" --The laughter sounds very pure and innocent.-- --The crest rejects Ashmodeel's touch...-- --However, it doesn't hurt him, it just gently pushes his hand away...-- Ashmodeel: "This is . . . interesting." * LeBeau reaches out to the crest. Ashmodeel: "How about one of you try." --LeBeau notices the same feeling.-- Dragoona: "..." Dragoona: "Wait." * Dragoona draws her sword, and then touches the crest with her off-hand... --Her hand's gently pushed away.-- Dragoona: "Hmm. So it seems that I won't be able to." Dragoona: "Unless..." ~Richard: "This Founder may just be a child... Maybe to get its crest we need to think like a child?" * Dragoona hits LB (softly) on the arm. "Tag, you're it." --The laughter gets a little louder.-- * LeBeau tags Ashmodeel. " 'Den yer it, pal." --The laughter gets a bit louder now.-- * Ashmodeel looks perplexed for a second and slides over to Xorn, "Um, tag, you're it." --The laughter gets even louder.-- --A young girl's voice can be heard in the room.-- Young Girl: "I like you guys, you're fun!" Young Girl: "Can I play too? Tee hee!" Ashmodeel: "Um, sure." --A young girl, bathed entirely in warm, pure light, materializes above the crest. She then runs over and tags Ashmodeel.-- Young Girl: "Tag, you're it again! Tee hee!" Young Girl: "My name is Hikariko, what are yours?" Ashmodeel: "My name is Ashmodeel, although my friends call me Ash." Young Girl: "'Ash...' I like that!" * Dragoona blinks. Dragoona: "Uh... Dragoona." ^^; * Hikariko giggles. "Nice to meet you too, Dragoona!" Hikariko: "So, why did you come visit my cave?" Ashmodeel: "We're on a scavenger hunt of sorts." Hikariko: "I love those! What are you looking for?" Hikariko: "Maybe I've seen it somewhere!" Dragoona: "It's a little thing that looks like, well... this." * Dragoona takes out the Terra Crest and shows it to Hikariko. Hikariko: "Ahh... A crest! That one looks like Sephina's! Well, didn't you see mine already?" Ashmodeel: "Yes, it's very pretty." Dragoona: "Yeah, it's pretty! But we can't take it away from you... That'd be... mean!" * Hikariko giggles. "Thank you! You know, I like you guys a lot... It's been so long since I had visitors..." Hikariko: "Well, I'll let you take it away from me, but on one condition!" Ashmodeel: "You want to come with us?" * Hikariko nods and smiles cutely. Hikariko: "I haven't gone anywhere forever! Not since Kane and Sephina used to take me for walks!" Hikariko: "They were just like a big brother and sister to me!" Ashmodeel: "I don't know, what do you say, Dragoona?" Dragoona: "What harm could it do?" Hikariko: "Please, pretty please!" Ashmodeel: "Well, then, It seems that we'd be glad to take such a pretty and fun little girl with us." * Hikariko giggles and laughs. "I really like you guys! Can I ask you something?" Ashmodeel: "Sure." Hikariko: "Why did it take so long for someone to visit me here?" *sniffs* Dragoona: "Not many people know where you were, Hikariko..." Dragoona: "We ourselves had to ask a lot of people." Ashmodeel: "And if they did, there be no end to the people visiting you. Who could resist." * Hikariko giggles cutely again. Hikariko: "Well, okay... But, why did you guys come looking for me? You'd think someone would have tried before, right?" Ashmodeel: "You're a very special little girl, Hikariko-chan. People who love you were probably protecting you." Hikariko: "Protecting me? Have more bad people come here?" Dragoona: "No..." Dragoona: "But they might." * Hikariko looks mad, but in a very cute way. Hikariko: "I don't like bad people..." Ashmodeel: "Neither do we." Hikariko: "Hey, I promise I'll help you if you any bad people bother you!" * Ashmodeel brings out a word he thought he'd never say in his lifetime, "Cool." * Hikariko giggles. Hikariko: "I like you guys a lot! You're really nice!" Dragoona: (vq) "Wow, Ash. This is a side of you I've never seen before." * Hikariko yawns a little. Ashmodeel: "Tired?" Hikariko: "Yeah... I think it's almost my bedtime... I think I'm going to take a nap... However, if you need my help, call me, promise?!" Ashmodeel: "We promise." Hikariko: "Yay!!! Okay, good night then!" * Hikariko fades into a beam of pure light that vanishes into the crest on the altar... * Ashmodeel attempts to touch the crest again. --Nothing prevents Ashmodeel from touching it this time around.-- * Ashmodeel looks around a few time for any kind of monster. --There don't seem to be any monsters in here...-- ~Richard: "That was a unique 'trial...'" Dragoona: "Yeah." * Ashmodeel holds the crest in his hands, "It's sad really. She must have been so lonely." * ~Rista sighs and nods. Dragoona: "Good to know that the gods are still laughing at us." -Ashmodeel acquires Astral Crest (Summons Hikariko [Light], Wis+25 w/ Light) * Ashmodeel unequips the Viento Crest and equips the Astral Crest. Ashmodeel: "If anybody here wishes to have the viento crest, they may." Dragoona: "I don't have any wind magic..." Ashmodeel: "Neither do I." ~Richard: "I don't think any of us do..." Dragoona: "Besides, I've got Sephina and Neptune here.." ~Richard: "Maybe we can give it to Rista? She could use some more offensive spells." Ashmodeel: "Good idea." * Ashmodeel offers the crest to Rista. * ~Rista accepts. ~Richard: "Anyway, shall we exit this cave now?'" Ashmodeel: "Yes, of course." * Ashmodeel starts heading out. --Suddenly, an earthquake starts, shaking the entire cave... No monsters though this time, just a quake...-- Ashmodeel: "Let's get out of here quickly!" --The exit to the cave is up ahead... The ground is still shaking...-- * Ashmodeel makes a dash for the exit. * Dragoona rushes, as well. --You make it out before any serious damage happens to the cave structure. Hovering overhead is the Arcadia.-- Dominic: "Hey! Are you all right!" Ashmodeel: "Just how do they know to appear right on time." ~Richard: "Beats me... It's convenient, though." * Dominic lowers a ladder down. Dragoona: "... I can't say anything." Dominic: "Hurry up and get on board! There's some major stuff going down!" * Ashmodeel hauls himself up the ladder. * Dragoona does, too, getting a nice view of Ash's ass. ;) Dominic: "Welcome on board! How did the mission go?" Ashmodeel: "We were successful." Dominic: "Good... Hopefully there's still time..." Ashmodeel: "What has happened?" Science Officer: "Sir, the seismic activity is increasing!" Dominic: "We detected a massive explosion of Dark Mana near the Dragonian town of Almag." Dominic: "That's where all these seismic disturbances are also centered." Dragoona: "ALMAG?!" O_o Dragoona: "WHAT THE...?!" Ashmodeel: "Dragoona, you know that town?" Science Officer: "Incoming shockwave! Brace for impact! Shields to maximum!" --The Arcadia is rocked by a massive shockwave, but holds together...-- * Dragoona gets knocked to the floor, but picks herself up. "Of course I do! It's my home town!" Communications Officer: "Sir, we're getting the first reports from Almag. The town is okay, however, there's something really weird going on just outside it!" Dragoona: "... Take us there." Dragoona: "We'll investigate." Dominic: "Helmsman, you heard the woman! Full speed to Almag!" * Ashmodeel doesn't argue with Dragoona. Helmsman: "Aye-aye, sir!" --The Arcadia blasts towards Almag.-- Science Officer: "Angle all deflector shields to the front of the ship. We're punching straight through any shockwaves that hit us!" Communications Officer: "Within visual range of the Almag area." Dominic: "On holographic projector!" Communications Officer: "Aye-aye!" --The three-dimensional image appears before you. It shows the town of Almag, still intact, but nearby is a large black tower, protected by some sort of energy field.-- Dominic: "What in the name of..." Ashmodeel: "I'm assuming that large black towers are not part of the landscape of Dragonia." Dragoona: "No, they aren't!" Science Officer: "Sir, that tower appears to be made of solid Dark Mana!" Dragoona: "... Take us down." Helmsman: "We're still not close enough to Almag yet, ma'am." * Dragoona grumbles. "Well, hurry up...!" Helmsman: "I'm hurrying... Fighting the shockwaves coming from that tower ain't easy!" Dragoona: "... You have a point." -_-; * Dragoona looks clearly exasperated. Science Officer: "Sir... The barrier surrounding that tower appears to be an intense unholy energy... Its frequency matches that of the Dark Mana." Dragoona: "Doesn't that just boil down to what you just told us, kid?" ^^; Science Officer: "I didn't tell you what that tower does... I think I figured it out..." Ashmodeel: "If it's unholy energy, perhaps my grey magic can cut a hole large enough to get the group of us in." Science Officer: "It appears to be some sort of drilling rig!" Dominic: "It's worth a try... Ashmodeel, do you want to try giving it a blast once we're close enough to the tower?" Dragoona: "Drilling rig..." Ashmodeel: "Yes." Dragoona: "Why am I having flashbacks to the Airship...? Wasn't it doing something similar?" Dominic: "Okay... Please prepare yourself then, we should be within range in a few minutes." * Ashmodeel heads toward the bow of the ship. Science Officer: "I believe they may be using that 'rig' to drill for the Mana Pool believed to be at the center of our world." Helmsman: "Slowing down as we approach the tower... Coming within magic range... Good luck, Ashmodeel, we're counting on you!" Ashmodeel: "Everybody stand back." * Dragoona stands back, knowing that Ash is a rather nice distance weapon. ;P * Dragoona also gets another nice view, but that's completely unrelated. ;) * Ashmodeel looks serene as he raises his hands; balls of grey light appear in them. Dominic: "Brace yourselves for any possible backlash from the spell!" * Ashmodeel thrusts his hands forward unleashing massive beams of grey light toward the barrier. --The beams impact with the barrier and...-- --Do absolutely nothing!-- --Suddenly a large ball of energy forms at the peak of the tower.-- Ashmodeel: "Damn!" Dominic: "This does not look good... EVASIVE ACTION, NOW!" --A blast from the top of the tower impacts the Arcadia, causing severe damage!-- --The Arcadia, in flames, crashes down towards the ground!-- Communications Officer: "Mayday! Mayday! This is the Airship Arcadia! We have been hit! Mayday!" Helmsman: "She's out of control! I can't stop her!" --The Arcadia crashes into the ground just outside of Almag. Everything fades to black...-- ===SESSION END===