A grudging Emanicipation (Anyone from the IC thread, (and Wolfen and Cio)

[quick_silver20]

Slavery is the worst.

Lex stared out into the sunset, over this expansive world he had found himself in, quite against his will. He wondered, not for the first time and certainly not for the last, if he would ever go home. Home had its problems too, the worst of them being racism. But in the advanced thinking of the age he had come from, he had yet to find a new world where slavery was prevalent. This world he had been thrust into, however, contained the thinking and idealism of so many races and so many backgrounds. It was the cacophony that seemed to attack his senses the most, not knowing if the next place he went to would bring his greatest challenge and ultimately his demise, for the sheer power these simple thinking people possessed if for no other reason. So many new ways of thinking attacked his senses and his feelings of right and wrong, but among them, slavery was the worst

And so Lex had found himself at the forefront of a party set on dethroning one who practiced slavery. He looked on while others of similar and even of evil nature approached him from behind. He drowned it all out for moment, letting the sunset drain away the barriers attacking his resolve wanting to clear his own conscience. He felt the sun was the last thing that made sense, as its unwavering and unrelenting waves pierced his skin and made his eyes water. But those same rays also held a warmth and a welcoming that was so familiar. They seemed to hold a scent and a feeling long forgotten in his day to day worldly cares. Out here he was forced to survive, forced to use his greatest ability, self preservation, till it all seemed to muddle his thoughts, drowning out the colors and the beauty around him. This is what he saw now, as if the sun was showing him what he had hidden from himself for too long, as the wind played over the trees and the landscape stretched on before him unrelated by the concrete and steel that he had seen all his life. Here life flourished, so unaware of the struggle of man that went on around them. Through it all one thought finally brushed his senses, just for a moment. Peace.

It was Kellson, he decided as he glanced back. That rogue angel so bent on free will and women. It had all started when the Homunculus Lament had joined Kellson on a scouting mission, to save a smaller kingdom from a threat that prevailed against it. Lament’s master had sent her along with his own agenda, he had heard of an Alchemist there bent in his own rudimentary knowledge of Alchemy on creating life.

Kellson had been himself, and Lament saw a side of life that no Homunculi so entwined in servitude was ever meant to see. She saw freedom, she began to wonder why any person was meant to suffer so at the hands of another. Physical pain was no match for her several abilities, but the emotional pain was the thing that so crippled her ability to really feel out her own existence.

Whatever her struggle, she turned down several of Kellson’s advances, but her resolve to her master was not strong enough a barrier against his assaults on her sensibilities. Leave him, he said, why would you not? And, barring fear, Lament had no answers.

The mission was a disaster for both, the kingdom was half destroyed, and their technology was never advanced enough for the alchemist to get anywhere with his desires, and he was killed early. But when the time came, Lament stayed with Kellson, Kellson went back to his home and the life he knew, and Lament saw this life for what it was, freedom. Liberty from oppression.

The events that ensued the party around Lex knew too well. Deceit, and then Despair, the Master’s other two lackeys had gone looking for her. Deceit’s resolve was perhaps even more shaky than Lament’s, and he quickly befriended several of the rabble that frequented the bar at which Kellson spent his time.

For their sins, and their avoidance of their Master, the Master himself showed up one day and started a brawl of epic proportions. Unaware of his intentions, the friends were hardly able to keep from that which was his, and he stole back his possessions, the mysterious red stones keeping the Homunculi alive. Having taken back what was his, he left the two to their element, leaving them barely even alive and unable to function.

Ciaran and Lex made the plan. They would find more stones to keep these two alive, and give them their freedom. Give them the chance to make their own choices about the lives they would lead.

It was the only thing that had made Lex feel like his time on this strange world was meaningful in a long time. Indeed, if the path lead to hell and back, he felt like that was the personal barrier that stood between him and self redemption in this strange, and all at once wonderful and horrible place.

OoC: I'd have let Kiriyama read it before I posted it, but I have to go to work now. If he wants it changed, I'll change it gladly.

and Cio, you can use anyone you like.

[MaskedLegend]

Was this actually happening? Was this the truth, the reality? And if it was... why and what for? Ciaran hurried out of the Dome, into the grasslands before him and closely followed by the others who joined the adventure, hoping to help Lament and Deceit escape the cruel, binding grasp of their 'Master'. The thought of one person owning others despised the halfbreed. He too had been a subject under a powerful and cruel deity. Now he was returning to him?!

"I have to be out of my mind..." he murmured to himself, ignoring everyone around him for those few moments. Ciaran started to realize how foolish this quest is. How impossible it would be to attempt this feat of folly. Ciaran looked back and the others accompanying him. Ciaran reached into his pocket and felt the cool red stone. He picked it up and brought it closer to look at its perplexing features. It reminded him of so many things.

Ciaran looked at his gauntlet and the two identical sapphires embedded into the metal workings. This gauntlet was bound to him... maybe holding him prisoner in its own way. Ciaran couldn't remove it. He didn't want it, but he also needs it. Yes, it was holding him prisoner, holding his soul captive, his heart hostage. He sighed, putting it under his sleeve and trying to forget.

He looked back at everyone, waiting for him. Ciaran remembered what had to be done. He rolled up his sleeve and signaled Marcus through his gauntlet. After a few moments, the sapphire on the back of his hand gleamed. The cynical voice rang out, "What do you want, exile?"

Ciaran hesitated to respond... but he eventually spoke and said, "I'm bringing your father's staff back to him so open a portal... you can arrest me when I reach the palace."

The was a long and awkward silence. After the dreaded moments, the sapphire gleamed again. "Very well... but once you reach the palace throne room, submit or be destroyed!" Suddenly, the sapphire shot a brilliant blue blast of light, stopping in the air before them. The light expanded, making a swirling blue portal. Once more, Ciaran eyed his companions. Lex, Akira, Kellson, Shinu, Kevin, Sakume and Kyralie. Hopefully their efforts would suffice.

Without another second of hesitation, they stepped into the portal, falling through the circling, blue void...

...After a few minutes through the portal, the group was cast on solid ground. Red rocky terrain under them, as if the ground were heated embers. The sky was a tranquil blue, no clouds hanging overhead. Numerous white trees surrounded them with strange shaped green leaves. To the right flowed a rushing river rapid, leading to a canyon. No other people were there besides the team. Only the black and blue feathered birds in the trees.

"This is my... home, the Maelstrom Realm," Ciaran mumbled. "I... can't believe I'm back here again. Nothing has changed... Same eccentric world waiting for me..."

"Well, which way to the palace?" Shinu asked, observing everything around him with a cautious eye.

"Past the river canyon, and in the center of my capitol city. We're going to have to be extremely discrete because only my race is allowed to be here. In fact, bringing intruders without permission into the palace would be treason."

"So once we get to the palace, kill all the guards and get what we need, then out?" Kellson asked, readying one of his swords.

"Y-yes... but if it's possible... don't kill too many of my people. Save the prince and his father for me, however." Ciaran's tone going from a nervous fear to an angered tone. "My people aren't too accepting of the rules that Antipholus, the current ruler... more like dictator... laid down, so most of them won't rat us out if they see us, but watch out for others wearing armor identical to mine."

With that, the group moved on, following the river to a narrow canyon pass, its rocks as red as fire with white streaks. The light gave it a glossy and calm texture, taking away from its strange colorings. After marching through the canyon, they reached a dirt path that slowly developed to cobblestone. It lead straight to a giant wall with a humongous iron gate and wooden doors behind it.

"This isn't going to be easy..."

OoC: Sorry if I forgot to mention anyone else, but I don't know who else is playing...

[Sakume]

"Whoever said it was?" Sakume asked, not really expecting any response. So much had happened to her lately that she was still partially in a daze about it all. She had no idea why she was so willing to help anyone, she never had before.

Being a werewolf helped, as most she had met were naturally selfish, albeit her brother was quite the exception. No killing too many people?

Where was the fun of that? Come to think of it, she didn’t know the people here very well. Where this thought came from, Sakume did not know, but it was true. Weird land. The trees were cool, though. Sakume had been through weirder. The land didn’t bother her; in fact, she may have wanted to spend some more time about it if she had the time.

She began to plan ahead for what she was going to do the people she encountered that she could kill. Well, she was ready. Now that she had some “dark energy” or whatever it was that Shinu granted her, she certainly had greater powers, didn’t she? Either way, it was easier to kill. And that meant Sakume would enjoy this journey more. Truth be told, she wasn’t all bad.

She was, in fact, a very nice person, and very loyal to those she cared for. But she did know that the two, both Lament, and Deceit were meant to be free. They needed it just as much as she did. She knew exactly how they felt, or she liked to think so. She remained quiet as she walked by Shinu, curious as to what he was going to do.

She glanced down at the environment, half wanting to ask questions about it, like if the rocks were hot to the touch, and if the whole realm was this beautiful. Her boots pattered on the cobblestone; she paused once she reached the large wall, craning her neck. She’d have to remember not to talk to anyone wearing armor, just like he said. She simply looked up. “Wow. Big wall. You think that the prince and king are trying to compensate or something like that?” She raised an eyebrow, noticing the rest of the party observing the wall, probably as curious as she was to see what lay within. “So how are we planning to get inside?”

[quick_silver20]

Lex embarked from his mech, the two friends still safely inside.

I imaging you know a place to keep this, out of the way for now? Ciaran led them to a small cave. After dawning his polymer to look like a perfectly normal human, he set the mech to auto pilot. "It'll stay here for now, it can come when called, anywhere within twenty miles from here. But if it's called within the city walls, know that the situation has already become desperate, and if it gets to that point we may not all make it out of there, so hope it doesn't get to that.

Everyone gave Lex a grave look, and a slow nod. Lex turned to Shinu

"When we get to the gates, how many of us can you hide from view?"

"Ciaran do you have any other ideas?"

[HitokiriChibi]

OOC: I'm in, I'm in and sorry if it isn't that good a post, I'll settle in as this goes on ^_^;

IC:

Kyralie glanced around at the group then up at the tall wall that barred their way.

She ignored the alien terrain, having seen many strange things from the memories of warriors long dead that had trained her during her sleeping years. As it was she had changed a lot since those times.

Where the Valkyrie would normally never associate with others, she was now on a quest to save two people she barely knew - she wasn't even sure she could label them friends.

But even she had to admit the situation regarding Lament and Deciet went against whatever ethics she believed in, for two beings to be treated so callously was something she could not ignore.

If not for her father's intellectual interest into her nature, Kyralie's own mother might have visited such attrocities upon her, merely because she was brought about by an act of chaos - unwanted and unable to be gotten rid of.

"This is so going to wreck my karma..." she muttered to herself, unconsciously draping her wings around her and changing them to match the terrain so she would blend more easily.

Hearing Sakume's statement, Kyralie tilted her head back and wondered aloud, "Perhaps its to keep people in? Ciaran did say the people weren't too happy with their ruler."

Spreading her wings she looked back at the group, "If we need to see what is on the other side, maybe us with wings can fly high over the walls and scout the area? If we go in from very high up, there is little chance people will see us. I can change my colours to blend with the sky and Akira is bue enough already," Kyralie sent a quick grin at the ice demon to show she meant no insult before addressing the group once more.

"Is this a good idea?"

[MaskedLegend]

The great stone wall of the Locturis city, Amaraton, stood before them, guarding and protecting. Several flags with blue colored designs of angel wings flapped slightly in the gentle breeze. Next to each blue flag fluttered a red flag depicting a fire. On a banner overhanging the gate was an angel wing, flames for feathers. Ciaran rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo exactly like the picture on the banner on his forearm.

"Our symbol of unity..." he explained.

“Wow. Big wall. You think that the prince and king are trying to compensate or something like that?” Sakume asked. “So how are we planning to get inside?”

Kyralie wondered aloud, "Perhaps its to keep people in? Ciaran did say the people weren't too happy with their ruler."

She looked back at the group, "If we need to see what is on the other side, maybe us with wings can fly high over the walls and scout the area? If we go in from very high up, there is little chance people will see us. I can change my colours to blend with the sky and Akira is bue enough already,"

"Is this a good idea?"

"It is," Ciaran answered. "Although there are guards patrolling the top of the wall, you and Akira can fly high high enough to see if there any guards beneath the east or west wall, near the gate. When Marcus and I were young, we'd play hide and seek within and out of the city using two drain tunnels that left the city. We were young enough to slip through the iron bars, but I'm sure we could simply break through them."

"Sounds easy enough," Sakume said. "What is the deal with the huge wall though?"

"We've had a few civil wars with other smaller towns nearby, mostly rebels attempting to usurp Antipholus, but that has stopped since it's almost a suicide mission to try to bring an army, break through the front gate, make it through the city with enough men, break into the fortified palace, and kill the most powerful ruler in all the land..." Ciaran explained, out of breath from saying it all in one sentence.

"If it's possible... we need to avoid a direct confrontation with Antipholus and Marcus. I'm expecting Marcus has gotten a lot more powerful than me since I last saw him."

"So what exactly are we looking for in this armored city?" Kellson asked.

"The Great Library, adjacent to the palace throne room chamber and we'll need Antipholus' or Marcus' power to get back home and/or to activate the way to even make the red stones..."

With that, the group continued toward the wall. Ciaran led them to the left side of the wall, trying to be inconspicuous, making sure no guards were around. Kyralie and Akira flew overhead. They gave the signal and the coast was clear.

"Akira, freeze the bars, then melt them so we don't make any loud sounds," Ciaran murmured. Akira quickly got rid of the bars and the group walked into the damp tunnel. Darkness surrounded them, and water flowed above their ankles. Hopefully the mission would be possible after all.

[I)ragon11]

Kyralie spread her wings, looking back at the group, "If we need to see what is on the other side, maybe us with wings can fly high over the walls and scout the area? If we go in from very high up, there is little chance people will see us. I can change my colours to blend with the sky and Akira is blue enough already," She sent a quick grin Akira to show she meant no insult before addressing the group once more.

Akira giggled a little, spreading her own wings as if to emphasis the fact. She didn’t mind. She liked being blue.

"Is this a good idea?" The valkyrie asked.

"It is," Ciaran answered. After explaining the situation, the group headed off towards the looming wall. Ciaran led them to the left side of the wall, trying to be inconspicuous, making sure no guards were around.

Changing her hair and wings to match the blue sky, Kyralie motioned to Akira to follow and took for the air. The demon smiled, tossed her bag to Kellson and followed after her. The two ascended high into the sky, becoming specks to everyone else. Akira observed the city in wonderment. This, by far was the most beautiful city she had ever seen. The intricate design of the roadways, the magnificent building structures, not to mention, the grandest castle she had ever seen. The two winged girls scanned the walls overlooking the rest of the party. Finding that the coast was clear, Kyralie and Akira flew back down behind a cliff wall and out of sight from anyone in the city. After a few moments, the two caught up with the party. “No one is there. We can go now.” Akira said with a big smile, setting down on the ground and folding her wings up. Ciaran nodded and lead the group into the tunnel.

"Akira, freeze the bars, then melt them so we don't make any loud sounds," Ciaran murmured. Akira gave him a big grin. She was overjoyed that she was able to help so much. She quickly covered the bars in ice and concentrated on them. Shattering and braking apart the metal and catching it in the snow that broke off from the ice, effectively drowning out the sound of shattering bars. The poles slowly chipped away and reduced to nothing.

The group headed deeper into the damp tunnel. Almost subconsciously, Akira turned the water at her feet to ice. Kellson stepped forward, putting a hand on Akira’s shoulder, giving her a quick smile. “Ya might want to put this on,” he said, draping her cloak over her head and handing her back her bag. She smiled back and hugged her shoulders with her wings. She then slung her bag over her shoulder and wrapping her cloak tightly around her. The regicide walked up behind Ciaran and lit his hand aglow with holy light, illuminating the tunnel and the group trekked on.

[MaskedLegend]

OoC: Well, we can head erase the parts about bringing Lament and Deceit in Lex's mech and have Shinu give them up before we reach the Maelstrom. But we're planning to attack the Master's mansion and rescue them once we have the proper procedure and being able to teleport to any realm using the stone that Lament gave Ciaran in the IC thread.

How's that sound?

O_o Thats really confusing. Lets just go with what this story already says and what everybody already knows. That we still have Lament and Deceite in the mech.

OoC: I vote we got out of the dome and into Ciaran's homeland before Shinu gave the Homonculi back to the Master in this thread. If not, Lex, and probably half the party would just abandon the quest, as the only to benefit are suddenly Ciaran and Shinu. This quest was never really meant to follow the events of the IC thread anyway just to be inspired by it, and it opens up the possibility that Master comes looking for us, maybe even after Cairan and Shinu have gained enough power to defeat him. Anyway, if the party had already gone through the portal by then, then at the very least Shinu wouldn't be able to give the two up so easily.

Delete these posts later, ok?

[Pàxèn]

Silence had become a way of life since Alice had come to the Dome. She stayed invisible all of the time while occaisionally observing the comings and goings of the many strange people who lived in the Dome.

However recently she had been inspired to follow them outside. She had stayed in the Dome in the vain hope that rescue may one day arrive but she knew deep down that it wasn't coming. This Alexia character was partly why she decided to follow them, he had technology that far outstripped anything she had seen previously around there. Miranda had of course disagreed, she still clung desperately to anything that reminded her of home.

Not discouraged by Miranda's repeated attempts to get her to change her mind she took off after Lex and his companions. Slowly piecing together the story of what had happened, what was happening and what probably would happen.

Overall things appeared to be quickly heading towards disaster.
So then we should leave, said Miranda. Alice ignored her completely.

When the Valkyrie and that Akira thing had flown up to check for any guards she had already dealt with them. She observed Akira destoroying the bars with a certain wonder and then followed the group as they entered the tunnel.

((Rushed but what are you gonna do? This leaves it open to the possibility of my going away if it becomes nescessary.))

[Sakume]

OoC: Dead thread. -_-