"Maybe time we move separately. I can lead my Drakkar crew on another front........ And no I wasn't joking"

Must remember to get back to the abomination comment, but I think there's a bigger thing to say first.

Sun Snake seemed relieved regarding the news from Swift Fox, that Banedon may not be unwittingly compromised. Less so regarding Swift Fox's words regarding Shining Peacock's blockade of the monastery.

Sun Snake looked to Sabre then back to Swift Fox. "He jokes he has gone renegade, but after we let the rest know it is not true, we must act as if he has truly turned from us. The world is going mad, and so I have been forced to take a drastic action."

Sun Snake pointed back the way they had came. "Yes, we found Sun Fox. However, the rest of the journeymen did not make it. Valador had a hand in that, tried to compromise Sun Fox. She may have some things to tell you, in private, but know that Kai has forgiven her - of that I have no doubt. Do not let her think otherwise. She is out best hope in this madness, a beacon of hope to rally behind when the time comes, so the order can heal itself. Heal and be stronger for it as she will need to. However, for the moment I still am acting as if I am the leader of the group..."

Sun Snake looked backwards again nervously. "The second highest ranked Drakkar in the Hammerlands led a company of men to these tunnels aswell. However, not for the Deathstaff, unlike all others around here. He came for something else. Not for himself directly, but as part of a plan to ultimately take control of the Darklands from Naar's own minions for the Drakkarim. We encountered the man, and his men, and he is ...singular. Or was...and I hope still is. But Valador even then managed to reach out and inadvertently strike a blow to that hope. Still, the commander is named Colonel Vyctar, and while a normal Drakkar in many ways, he shows compassion and intelligence, and certainly a disdain for Maagnarn and the Warlord's ways. If we are to have an enemy in the Hammerlands, we could do worse than this man rather than another Magnaarn. And perhaps, one day, if we are ever to have true peace, it may be him we make peace with. For the moment, with a common enemy, we made a temporary alliance. He would help us with regaining the Deathstaff, while we would not act against him when he found what he searched for."

Sun Snake again looked to Sabre Fox darkly. "With enemies at every turn, I allowed Vyctar to leave here with what he came for when it was revealed. He possesses the Sommerswerd. Sabre Fox has 'turned' to be on the inside, and luckily Valador's treachery left us some methods to track him. However, for the moment I am still staying true to the alliance - small lies regarding Sabre's turning in return for Vyctar's lies on what he sought. However, I think Vyctar and I have an understanding, as it goes. He knows I will come for him, I think he welcomes it. And when we do, I hope we may find a way for him to give up his prize without a fight."

Sun Snake sighed. "I have told Banedon what I am about to tell you. I wish Banedon would be the one to tell you, Swift Fox. Vyctar did not come for the Sommerswerd, it was the way for Sabre to prove himself, the way for us to have another avenue to track the man. And Vyctar and his men, away from here, is the safest place for what Vyctar possesses. Valador wanted what Vyctar had, enough to make Sun Fox walk a dark path for him. The acolytes and the Cener here and the Darklanders stop at nothing to find what Vyctar has. Vyctar is the only man who will not instantly make use of what he has for ill, who will treat what he has with respect and honour. In a mad world, he is the sanest choice. For now."

Sun Snake breathed in deeply, shaking. "We completed the missions we were given, Swift Fox, as did you. We found Sun Fox. We also found the Grandmaster." Sun Snake put a hand to Swift Fox's arm. "Lone Wolf is dead," he said quietly as if his strength had left him and he could barely speak. "We must finish his mission, swiftly. And then we must take him home."


Bombshell 2
This message was last edited by the player at 23:18, Sun 10 Nov 2013.

Swift peered at Sabre Fox again then grinned as Sun Snake explained that part.
"Sometimes a little deception can work wonders" she replied.  "So if we meet the Drakkarim, we should act as though you're an enemy?"
She looked as though she was enjoying that thought a little too much.

She looked puzzled at Sun Snake's comment on Sun Fox though.
Forgiven her for what? she thought.
She left the question unspoken for now, allowing Sun Snake to continue.

The news of Lone Wolf's death drove it from her mind almost immediately though.
She staggered back, her face going white with shock.
"A...  Are you certain it was him?" she said, her voice shaking.  "It...  It couldn't have been an illusion?  Some... trick created by our enemies?"


OOC: That wasn't so much a bombshell as a tactical nuke!  lol
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:40, Sun 10 Nov 2013.

Well Swift Fox has a couple of her own to throw soon, so it's only fair Snake goes big or goes home, right? :D

If Sun Snake's pale face and barely restrained expression were not indicators, he nodded. "No trick," he said simply. He moved forwards. "I can let you see in my mind, if you wish. But instead there is something else I would show you, to give you strength. An area in this twisted place cleansed by Kai, through Sun Fox. We are not alone, and if Kai's hand can reach down so low and make it anew, then Lone Wolf is not gone. He is at Kai's right hand, and watching us and knowing we will follow his lessons and honour him."

Will it cost me any WP to connect the to pool and let Swift Fox scan my mind to experience it? Sun Snake would self scan with Divination if that would help.

Swift shook her head, looking numbed.
"I believe you" she said.  "And besides... I feel as though this journey taught me some things about myself as well.  I've been able to think clearer lately, but I still have difficulty in tolerating the touch of another mind on mine.  As a certain mage found out once" she added with a glance towards Sabre Fox.
She smiled at that, but it was a weak ghost of an emotion which faded almost instantly.

She shivered slightly.
"And what did you mean about this 'Vyctar'?  Was he the one responsible for what happened to the Grandmaster?" she asked.
The way her hand gripped the blue dagger again suggested that anyone she believed responsible for Lone Wolf's death would likely be living on borrowed time...


OOC: Light the fuse and stand well back...! ;)

"No one but the Grandmaster himself knows" fox said interjecting. "Everything we heard says he stopped the Acolytes reassureEcting Vashna by using the Deathstaff to level thier temple. After that we don't know, but we think he may have sacrificed himself to save us all"

Frost, Dusk, you're free to join in whenever; when you do, you can react only to the last post that was made.

Wouldn't want to leave all the fun to Snake and Swift, do you? ;D

Before Swift Fox could say or do anything in answer to that, a tall figure emerged from thhe darkness, moving towad Swift Fox at a brisk pace. It was a man dressed in tattered rags, with long, platinum blonde hairs, and a clearly magical sword in his hand which both Kai Lords easily recognized.

"Swift Fox! Why have you tensed up, is there any danger?"

The worry in Silver Raven's voice was plain and evident for them all to hear.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:52, Mon 11 Nov 2013.

Sorry, I have a post but my computer crashed. Need to get sleep for an early styart, so I'll have to basically dump it in unmodified and tweak it tomorrow sometimes.

Edit: Sorry, my laptop has just majorly crashed and it was a long post. I'll see if I can rescue it some other time.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Mon 11 Nov 2013.

Swift looked back at the sound of Silver Raven's voice.
It seemed to take her a moment to understand what he had asked before she shook her head.
"No, I'm fine.  But..."
She sighed and glanced back at Sun Snake for a moment before looking back to Silver Raven.
"Sun Snake here was the one who led the team to find out what had become of the Grandmaster.  And they..."
She paused for a moment, clearly reluctant to speak the rest aloud, as if saying it would remove any hope that it might yet be a cruel illusion created by the Nadziranim.
"They found his body.  The Grandmaster is dead" she said quietly.

She closed her eyes.  A single tear leaked from beneath one of her eyelids.
"He gave me a chance to atone for my past.  And when it mattered, I couldn't repay him for that..."
The words were spoken almost to herself, clearly not directed at anyone in particular.


OOC: Nice timing actually, I think my connection might be dying again.
Really need to find a new service provider, 'cos this one is just winding me up now... >:(

"It's been a while Raven" Fox smiled at his appearance. "And I prefer when that sword doesn't come near me" he chuckled

He then turned his attention to Swift Fox

"Don't talk such stupid" Fox said sternly. "Everyone is making out like he has gone to the void itself. Even at Kai's right hand, he will know your on your own personal quest and how you feel. Don't ever think he won't"

It was clear despite his stern words, that Fox would not let her dwell on it

Silver Raven shot an annoyed glance to Sabre Fox but didn't said anything to him, instead moving to Swift Fox side, putting an hand on her shoulder in a reassuring manner and saying, his tone kind:

"You've not, and don't ever think that way again. As long as you keep protecting people, as long as you keep following his teachings and ideals of brnging peace to Magnamund, you'll not be failing him - rather, you'll be proving he did the right thing when he helped you."

There were no hesitations or doubts in the Magnakai's voice, as if he was certain of being speaking the thruth.

Sun Snake nodded at the other's words. "Silver Raven," he said in greeting to the man, "I am glad Swift Fox's mission had a happier end than ours."

Sun Snake looked back to Swift Fox. "No, Vyctar had no hand in what happened to the GRandmaster. And I do not believe he personally gains from carrying the GRandmaster's body in any way. I believe it is the Darklands than wish it, and if so that would suggest Valador does. For Valador made a parallel attempt with Sun Fox. He used her grief to make her attempt to find darker means to raise the Grandmaster. Luckily we found her before that happened, for who knows what Valador really wanted ot happen, what would have been raised."

Sun Snake looked grim. "Still, Valador made one error. In sending Haxadrom to kill us, Haxadrom also killed a Helghast. An unusual one, one whom Vyctar had turned to his cause, and was trying to teach to be human...in its way. As I said, a signular man. It..she... was special to Vyctar. His grief has pushed him to look more to his quest for power, perhaps robbed him temporarily of the spark that made an alliance between us even possible. Still, I was the one who dissolved the alliance, on as good a terms as they could be. And I made sure he knew it was Valador who he should focus his rage on. If Valador is in league with he Darklands, if Vyctar ca be persuaded his current 'prize' is only going to the hands of the one whom took something from him... perhaps we will be able to find a peaceful way through this."


In deference to everyone, and me being on limited internet time, I'll leave it there and we'll save the Alyne bombshell for a little later :D

Omg epic post spammage, lol. I'm not sure what to post IC yet (since I haven't really got any idea how much of the conversation I'm supposed to have heard, especially since Sun Snake put the "oh btw I want this to be private" bit after the massive thing about how he thinks Shining Peacock is The Bad) so just assume I'm still hovering in the air nearby, lol. I don't know what half the names and stuff are anyway so that just gives me another reason for my oh-so-chatty character not to say anything right now (apart from the fact she's still sat on a kraan a little way back from the gathering of everyone else) ;).

Additional note - Wow, and yet another post has appeared from Sun Snake in between the time I started writing this and the time I tried to post it. Alyne bombshell? Oh great, has she developed uber powers and turned all bad and stuff now? :O Urgh, political storyline whyyyyy, lol.

Swift gave a half-hearted smile back to Silver Raven.
She raised a hand to her shoulder and placed it on top of his, in what was probably a rather more tender gesture than most people would be used to seeing from Swift.
"Still, I would have readily taken his fate onto myself if I could have."

Then something among Sun Snake's words seemed to catch her attention and she frowned, taking a step forward.
"Wait...  This Vyctar has the Grandmaster's body?  Why?  What does he plan on doing with it?"


OOC: Yep, the way Snake worded his previous mention of that particular extra bombshell was complex enough that I decided Swift would miss it in the mental shock from finding out that Lone Wolf was dead.  Mentioning it again more openly would definitely make it hit home though ;)

"He has the Grandmaster......... Because I gave him to Vyctar. It was the only way to ensure his safety while we complete this mission. Vyctar....... Will do nothing to him. He treated him with great respect. It was the best option we had"

"You gave his body to..." Swift slapped a palm to her face, almost knocking the diadem off her head.
"I'm really not liking this plan much after all" she muttered darkly.  "And where is this Vyctar person now?  Is he one of the others with you?"
She gripped the hilt of the Jade Spike, clearly forming her own plans for Vyctar if she happened to find him.

The gemstones in the diadem seemed to glow a little less at that point, but gradually brightened again as she took a moment to calm herself, quickly pulling her hand away from the Jade Spike.
"We had heard of a Haxadrom.  We got the impression he was a Vakeros Knight who came here for reasons of his own.  I believe he was the one I saw with Valador when I went to explore Toran on my own.  We met his father and young sister in the marketplace, they had come to Toran to try to find him.  Is he still here somewhere?  It's possible that Valador has somehow tricked him into aiding his cause, we need to try to persuade him to change his course before he kills anyone else."

She frowned slightly, trying to make sense of something else.
"I don't understand what you mean about Sun Fox.  She is the last one I would imagine as being on a dark path."
She shook her head and looked back at Silver Raven.
"Anyway, the others will need to know of this, about... about the Grandmaster's fate.  And we have to try to catch that hybrid that Dusk Rat sensed before.  Perhaps we can strike from the air using the Kraan."

She looked back at Sun Snake and Sabre Fox.
"The last time I fought one of those things, it took three of us to bring it down.  And it left me a little souvenir of the encounter."
She raised a hand and tapped at the scar on her cheek, which was shaped distinctly like the mark of a bestial clawed hand.

Turning around she cupped her hands to her mouth and called back down the tunnel in the direction she had come from.
"You can come closer.  There is no danger."
"Not yet anyway" she added, more quietly.


OOC: I think Swift is just in the mood to go kill something now.  May as well be that creature :)
Also taking the opportunity to invite the others to come in and get involved in the bombshell dropping :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Mon 11 Nov 2013.

"No Sabre, you did not. I gave him the Grandmaster. You moved to put yourself in harms' way beside Vyctar afterwards. It is not your fault he would not allow you to stay until you fully proved yourself to him. It was rash but noble, and I daresay you will prove key in helping us secure the Grandmaster in the end."

Sun Snake briefly summarised what he had told Switf Fox to Silver Rain of Vyctar and the mission, before turning back to answering Swift Fox's question.

"Vyctar wishes to subjugate the Darklands. He clearly plans to to get on side the forces once aligned to Naar on way or another. Although if his efforts with his own Helghast are anythign to go by, I think any who would not ultimately reject their Naar-ish nature will not find the Darklands to their liking. He has no plans for the Grandmaster himself - no experiments, no trohpy - and so for now the Grandmaster and the Sommerswerd are safe. Clearly Vyctar knows the Darklaners wish the Grandmaster, and so has made a move for leverage. And perhaps the Darklanders wish the Grandmaster for Valador. Guildmaster Banedon was the one to confirm Vyctar is the second highest ranked in the Hammerlands, and not one to make moves without caution. We have the time finish the mission with the Deathstaff. There are measures in place - Sabre Fox, our ability to track Vyctar and the Sommerswerd, the Skyrider he knows nothing about - that allow us a tactical advantage. In the end it does not matter his plans. He will either move away from using the GRandmaster in them willingly, and join us against Vyctar, orwe will force him to abandon them. He will take the Grandmaster's to his home over my dead body, and in that case we will have gifted the order the ultimate way to set aside their differnces and act as one. Until then though, he is honourable enough and strong enough to protect the GRandmaster, and allow us to make a move against the Deathstaff without fear of the Acolytes nor the Cener harming the Grandmaster's body, and dishonouring him."


Sorrry, more words Dusk Rat (and FF)! And lol, I too foudn the sudden posts scary - especially when you posted first last night, then Swift did which made me notice so did Sabre!

Edit: Double post! I'll post the above then modify it, just in case my main comp also does weird things!

Sun Snake repeated to Swift Fox regarding the confrontaiton with Haxadrom, taking the opportunity to fill in Siler Raven too. Sun Snake confirmed it was that very Haxadrom, and that indeed Haxadrom seemed to be acting in tandem with Valador rather than as the man's direct lap dog. Sun Snake confirmed that the groupo had been forced kill Haxadrom. sun Snake was vague on Sun Fox, saying that she had temporarily been forced to ally with Haxadrom before the group had found her. "Speak to Sun Fox yourself. I think she needs it. She needs the support of frineds such as yourself and Rain Feather now more than ever."

Regarding Swift Fox's comments on Vyctar, Sun Snake said, "I do not blame you for hating the action I took, I hate myself no less for it. To say I was not of my right mind when I made the choice is perhaps the exact opposite.  With all the revelations that had occurred regarding those who were keeping secrets and acting to betray us...I am afraid it took Kai's hand to calm my emotions. I felt nothing but rage at everything. A rage I had to push in to the world est it comsume me. I'm afraid that the action I took was most liekly the most logical one at the time, and yet I can barely stomach it now I have found myself again. I can only have faith that Kai will grant us victory, and forgive me for it. The Grandmaster too." Sun Snake whispered that last word.

"Vyctar has left these caves, and is on his way home. He has left men behind in captivity - five we have found, others at the Temple we plan to free to cause a distraction. And because I do not think strength of arms will determine our success with Vyctar. But being stronger allies than the fickle Darklanders, Darklanders who support the one who he wishes revenge on? That might sway the man. We shall see."

Sun Snake looked back to the others, nodding that they should be informed. However, he had one question. "Laughing Shark? I could not sense her..."



Hmm, I think I will go tidy up and stop posting for a while. So many plot things to say, it just seems to getnerate hige posts. Plus I have laptops to fight with!

"You forget Snake....... I killed Haazadrom myself. Which is why I've taken it in myself to tell his father. Haazadrom was honourable but misguided and I can't fault him for trying to create a better world even if his ideals were wrong"

Fox looked around a the mention of shark.

"Yea, where is everyone?"

OOC: aaargh, DOUBLE Wall of Text Combo!  How can I beat that?!  (O.O)'


Swift let out a sigh at the mention of Haxadrom's death.
"His sister will be upset to hear that.  She seemed very fond of him.  She mentioned that she'd met you before, Sabre Fox, and didn't believe your claim that you would be able to defeat him in battle."
She seemed a little downcast at that.

At the mention of Laughing Shark her expression soured even further.
"We became separated on the journey" she replied slowly with a look towards Silver Raven.  "To tell the full story of our journey would take too long, but suffice to say we discovered the way the Darklands sent those Helghasts which attacked us near Toran without having to go through Shadow Pass.  They have a tunnel passing through the Durncrag Mountains, dug by magic, most likely by the Nadziranim with Valador's help.  He has also been using the teleportation powers of his staff to allow them to move around quickly within Sommerlund.  Our lead on the missing Kai took us to the Darklands port of Argazad where we rescued Silver Raven.  On the way there we encountered Laughing Shark again who had returned to the Monastery and fought against its attackers during the battle I mentioned.  During our escape from Argazad, she chose to remain behind to delay a Xagash which was following us.  I can only hope she survived and is able to make her own way out.  Once this Deathstaff problem is dealt with, I intend to return there and find her if she has not returned on her own."

As she spoke, she flicked back her cloak and removed her backpack, also revealing some sort of shield with a highly reflective mirror-like surface she was wearing on her back.
"The ones who attacked the Monastery were after a specific target, something connected to the abomination you spoke of, if it's what I think it is.  Laughing Shark killed the one who took those items and recovered them.  She passed them on to me before we became separated in Argazad.  I tried to return them to the Monastery, but I suspected that something has gone wrong there and so I decided that they would be safer with us until I know for sure that the Monastery hasn't been compromised."
With that, she opened up her backpack, glancing around cautiously as she did and showed the contents to the others.
Inside her backpack were a small sheaf of Moon Balm herbs, two daggers similar in design to the orange one and the blue one she was wearing at her belt, these being a pink one and a green one, a large pile of what looked like keys, a large chunk of obsidian crystal, and an unidentifiable small round object wrapped in cloth.

Clearly however, the items that Swift was trying to draw their attention to were the two brightly glowing crystals inside the pack.

Two of the Lorestones of Nyxator, last seen in the Vault of the Sun before the group left the Monastery...


OOC: Wall of Text and extra Bombshell Combo! ;)  hehe

"Shark can take care of herself" Fox said. "I've never seen her not out brawl anyone in a tavern when we were drunk. So that will be easy for her"

As Swift talked, Fox was casually talking along the way

"Yea yea, we know they want the Dagger of Vashna too, honestly you underestimate......"

His sentence died at the sight of the lodestones

"Or maybe not" he gulped. "So if you think the abomination wants the stones, just what exactly do you think it is?"

This has to be level up/full heal time infront of those stones! I mean you get it in the books after all ;)

I think SOME PEOPLE went and stole that from us, Foxy. Levelled up all on their own without asking if we wanted any :(

Sun Snake nodded at the brave works regarding Laughing Shark, but still showed concern on his face. However, it was clear his mind trying to process the full extent of the attack on the monastery. Not just a small attack. The Darklands has a tunnel to Sommerlund. And had almost taken...

"Hyrbids?" asked Sun Snake, his voice slightly uncertain. "Why do you call the creature we saw a hybrid? Why would the Lorestone matter? I thought it a Cenerese abomination, some random chance letting it know who we were. It had a small mindshield, and I did not want to confirm who we were at the time and press through it."

Sun Snake seemed to have some intuitional uncertainty, although he clearly had no idea why. "What are these creatures, Swift Fox?"

That's only if you drain a Lorestone of its power, which would work only on one   of you, and remember, they take THREE YEARS to reload after use. Not to mention that using them without authorization or a VERY good reason is insubordination of the higher calibre, maybe even treason if the people in charge decide that draining them deprived the Order from access to their power at a critical time.

Just saying.  :)

OOC: Aww, as if I'd do that...  (Tempting as it was, hehe) ;)


Swift closed up her backpack and pulled it back on, covering both it and the shield with her cloak again.
The questions about the hybrid made her look strangely concerned though.
"Those creatures were created by a combination of the magical disciplines.  From a rather disturbing form of parasite created by the Nadziranim using their own foul sorcery and perhaps some Old Kingdom magic.  Possibly also some secrets of Left-Handed magic given to them by Valador.  He did openly admit to us that he dreamed of combining the magical disciplines after all.  I believe that the creatures encountered in Toran were some of the initial experiments for the creation of these creatures.  As for what they truly are..."

She hesitated and glanced nervously at Silver Raven and then back at Sun Snake and Sabre Fox.
"If you learn the truth about them, it may make fighting them more difficult.  As much as I'd like to give them the same second chance as the Grandmaster gave to me, I can't help but wonder if they can still be saved at all."
She seemed noticeably disturbed by whatever knowledge she was hesitating to share.
"Are you sure you wish to know?"


OOC: Dare you pursue secrets humanity was never meant to know? ;)  MwaHaHaHaaa.

"Save them?" Sun Snake's general demeanour had been calmer and sadder than before. For the first time in a long time, Sun Snake radiated his old fire and unbending resolve. Some dread certainty seemed to be forming in his mind. "What are they, Swift Fox?"