The sword was beautiful. It radiated perfection.

It could also speak.

"Friend," said the Divine Master Sword. "You are.. you are changed. The wand has turned to the chalice."

Maxine smiled. "You have changed as well, blade. When I first discovered you, you were mundane in appearance, as was I.  When I became enraged, you became a greater blade; a odachi. Then, when I fell, you became your current form. But as you have observed, I have changed once more. And so must you, for you are my soul."

The blade in her hand flashed, morphing into a ornate military sabre with black adamantine blade; yet, at the very edge of the blade, a thin line of flowing rainbow energy was easily seen.

"You have no doubt grown in power, as I have. If both of us are to survive, I must know you as well as I know myself."

She swung the sword, feeling it's weight. even at such a slow speed, a whoosh could be heard. As he strength had grown, so had the blade. It was very heavy, yet she wield it with ease.

"I am your friend, but not your servant," said the sword. "I have warmed to you, Lady.."

The sword suddenly stopped.

"There is an intruder within the Temple!"

"I have no idea why anyone would enter my temple.. after all, you are the only valuable thing here. Let us see what manner of fool has decided to grace Xi with his presence today." Maxine said, keeping the blade at ready and walking calmly towards the entity that dare trespass here.

The being, a tall, skinny man with a bald head, was in one of the main halls, helping himself to some cold preserves. He was dressed in a long, rippling series of robes, definitely something a little exotic, and when Max appeared he looked up, mouth full of food.

"Hey - what?"

Approaching swiftly, she kept the blade in hand. "Welcome to Xi." She said politely. "Are you an invader, visitor or messenger?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Sun 08 Nov 2009.

"Perhaps a little of each," replied the man. "Forgive me. I am Dxacku of the Wanderers, Friend of the Stars and Astrologist Immortalist."

Max felt that there was something wrong - perhaps he'd forgotten something?

(Hello? Girl? *She'd* forgotten something)

Max nodded. "I see. It is nice to meet you, Dxacku. My followers were recently slaughtered by Osiris-Ra for no particular reason, so I apologize for the lack of hospitality."

(I thought Max was now a guy stuck in a girl's body.. and thus the 'he' would be appropriate.)

"It's quite fine," said Dxacku. "Sorry about the loss. If I may be candid for a moment, however, Max, I have come here just for that - see, I'd heard you'd had a visit from Osiris-Ra, told by the stars I was, and I wanted to ask you how that was. What a thrill it might be, spitting in the face of the Dread Lord himself!"

He seemed excited at the prospect of near-certain death.

(He is surprisingly adaptable to his present situation)

She thought for a second. "Meeting him is watching a tornado run by you and utterly destroy your home and family before turning away and leaving you alone, alive but shocked beyond comprehension."

"Ah, yes," said Dxacku. "I heard he walks beneath the Ruby Star. That makes sense. Tell me, fair maiden, when were you brought to existence? Under which sign do you walk?"

Suddenly, the Divine Master Sword screamed out: "Danger-danger-danger Max danger help danger!"

Oh. Right. Explosives.

"Sir, I would highly recommend we leave Xi immediately, before I answer that question. You see, it is about to explode."

"I see," said Dxacku. "A pity that such a wonderful place should be brought so low. Where would you have us go?"

"A valid question. To the realm of Armanthor would seem safe, and I wish to speak with that god anyway."

Max opened a portal to Armanthor's realm, then stepped aside to allow her visitor to enter.

Dxacku followed.

The clashing of blades - a king gone - a place of stasis - a hundred thousand soldiers -

And they were there.

Max appeared back at home, in the meditation chambers.

He turned his head to left, Kaie flying out. "Hey Kaie, could you do something for me? Please go to Eulyshia and tell Dxacku that it's safe to come back now."

Yes, friend, said Kaie.

An hour passed - and Dxacku had returned, heavy case behind him.

"You okay, kid?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Can you stay here, please? I don't want someone coming here and stealing.. I need to go to the valley of mist."

"C'mon, Kaie, we've got places to be!" She said, opening a portal to Ruse's realm and going through, Kaie following after her.

"Sure.." said Dxacku, grabbing a flagon of wine from the table.

There was mist - and mist and mist and mist - and a healing hand - a liar and a king -

He was there.

Balast arrived, the darkness of his portal opening and closing leaving him standing with palms visible in the most non-threatening pose he could manage.

Balast's form was conjured into a dining room of sorts, filled with food and drink, a hearty fire warming the room. There was a tall, thin, wise-looking man sitting at the table, eating as fast as he could. There seemed to be no end to the man's appetite.

"Curm'nn," said the man. "NyahmsXacku ernd frond've'Ax's curhm'n'eeet!"

Balast smiled.

"Thank you good sir.  I'm not a friend of Max yet but I hope to be one.  Is he not here?"

He sat and pulled a leg of meat across and started to devour it.

Dxacku finished what he was eating before he answered, taking a sip of wine in the meantime.

"No, not yet, went to the Valley of the Mist to run some errands, I think," he said. "I'm, uh, Dxacku the Unkillable, greatest dancer Yggdrasil has ever seen. Be merry and eat. The food is free."

Balast smiled gently.

"Good - I need to talk to him after he has spoken to Ruse.  I would prefer not to find our plans clashing and he is unlikely to believe me without Ruse's confirmation of the threat.  So tell me about yourself Xacku?  I assume if you are unkillable you have entered the abyss and survived or is that pleasure still to come.  It has been some time since I walked its pathways myself of course and even longer since I walked the voidways but the memories still remain.  What did you think of the Abyss?"

"I have not yet traveled to the Gnarled Abyss, though I have once sailed across the stars of the Void," said Dxacku. "I consider it a pleasure, aheh, to come."