Swift gave a sigh and nodded.
"Well I suppose you have a right to know."

She looked up at him, meeting his gaze steadily.
"They're us" she replied simply.  "The Kai who went missing around Toran have become the first of what the Nadziranim referred to as a new order of warriors of darkness under the command of this Deathlord they're trying to awaken with the Deathstaff.  The one in command of Argazad was trying to turn Silver Raven into one of them using some sort of parasite.  Luckily I had some Oede which I'd acquired in Toran, and its purifying effect killed them before they could completely infect him."

She looked towards Raven, a trace of a smile on her face before returning her attention to the others.
"Those were the same creatures being used to attack the Monastery, aided with the use of magical crystal explosives, weapons stolen from the Brotherhood.  We managed to destroy their camp by detonating the explosives, so they were unable to attack the Monastery with their full forces.  It did mean we were forced to kill the hybrids there however.  Whatever the process involves, it makes them utterly loyal to the Nadziranim, as if rejecting their previous life.  I expect that the Nadziranim are seeking the Lorestones in order to increase the powers of the hybrids.  More than that I can only guess at."


OOC: Mind = blown?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Mon 11 Nov 2013.

"Then no wonder that creature knew what you were" Fox said toward Snake. "It could probabally detect through your skills"

Fox then looked towards Swift Fox

"Is whoever..... Or whatever that was too far gone now? Or could we help it?"

"I don't know" replied Swift.  "In Silver Raven's case, the purifying effects of Oede herb killed the parasite before it could complete its work on him and reversed the effects.  Even if I had any more of it, which I don't, I don't know if it would work on someone who has already been turned.  If I'd been able to enter the Monastery, I would have tried to find White Mantis and ask her advice if I had the time.  Perhaps if you can contact the Monastery through your Seeing Stone we still can."

She glanced back at the Kraan.
"If I can, I'd planned on trying to talk to it first from the air, out of its reach, hoping it doesn't have a bow or the use of Nexus.  If it still has some memory of who it once was, maybe there's a chance.  But if it's anything like the one I fought with before, we may not get the choice."

"We won't."

Silver Raven's voice was cold as he spoke, but also filled with sadness. After a moment he also hadded, in the same tone:

"There is nothing left to save in them, nothing we can heal any longer. Just two days more, and the Oede wouldn't have sufficed to save me either. They're lost."

Omg more epic posting :O...why does it always happen when I'm not around to keep up with it, lol.

As the group converses, Dusk Rat finally guides her kraan in to land a short distance away from them. She dismounts, assisting her companion to do likewise - a large black dog, who now follow alongside her as she approaches the group. She is clad, as ever, in her dark clothing, her mottled green cloak over everything and thus concealing much of herself, including her head as her hood is currently up. She stops a little short of actually standing as part of the group, but instead remains nearby and listens to the conversation without interrupting.

As far as I can remember we definitely split before I got the doggy, so I won't assume you know anything about my black-furred friend. He's pretty strong-looking - I've always pictured him resembling a Mabari Warhound out of Dragon Age :).

"Then we cannot hesitate to kill it then. It knows who we are and is a security risk. Plus, if it was one of us, we need to put them out of thier misery"

Seeing Dusk approach Fox smiled

"Afternoon Dusk, how you doing?......."

His voice trailed off seeing what she was with

 "Poochie!!!!!" He almost shrieks.

Reaching out with his Animal Kinship to show he was friendly, Fox was practically gushing at the dog

"Aren't you a pretty boy! Want to fetch a stick boy??!! What's his name Dusk?"

"No."

Sun Snake had been suitably shocked at the revelation of what the hybrids were. He had been lost inside of himself with shock, coming back out of it as the others spoke.

"No," he said again. "We do not kill one of our own. The world is trying to split us apart, we are splitting apart. Our enemies laugh and tear us apart. There is a line. We will not kill one of our own."

Sun Snake looked with fury towards Silver Raven. "A Drakkar was teaching a Helghast humanity, and yet we can casually abandon one of our own kin and not dive deep for any spark of what they once were?

Sun Snake pointed backwards. "You want to know why Sabre Fox is able to assimilate so easily in to the Colonel's ranks? It is because earlier I had spun a story of a Kai who was from an unusual family. A Kai who had been born during Drakkar occupation in the war, to a Sommlending mother and Drakkar father. A Kai who was almost slaughted when the Sommlending decided to wipe out the villages rather than fight for their people, deciding the risk of any unions from the occupation were too great. Sabre Fox's allegd betrayal of us was only truly considered as not a trick when I planted the name of that Kai as his name. I called him Alyne, and said a Sommlending mother was not to know it was a female Drakkar name. And I did not tell Vyctar that such a barbaric act of cleansing of course drove any survivors in the arms of the Acolyes of Vashna. That such a survivor would hate oppressors so much she would gladly offer herself as the ultimate sacrifice to Vashna, to be the instrument of balance - turning to such an evil because she believe it would be justice against a different evil."

Sun Snake looked to Swift Fox. "Alyne is now Dawning Blade. She is a true Kai. She is one of us. And yet because of our fears, we almost created the instrument of our destruction. If Vashna did not raise through her now, then she would have become the High Priestess ten years from now. A woman with a reason to hate us, with our gifts in one had, ties to the Drakkar, and in command of those others who have abandoned reason and hope for such a false hope here."

"I live in a world where a Drakkar Colonel can teach humanity to the soulless when we abaondon the souls of our own. Where a Drakkar Colonel has more mercy and compassion in his way than us. I had to plan to leave the body of the Grandmaster in his care, because I did not know if I could trust all of my own order. The hands of a Drakkar are a safer honour guard than theirs."

Sun Snake had unexpectedly drawn his blade, even for himself. He struck the point in the group. "So no. We will do more than talk to this Kai. I will confront him. Only if there is truly nothing left inside, only if Naar truly has claimed a shell to mock us with and use will I strike them down. And I will burn to the ground any who have done this."


I think Sun Snake's acting out a little. He'd kinda gone through all the grieve stages of denial, anger, depression, and was currently bargaining with Kai for everyhting to be fine. I think he's fallen back a coupel of steps again thanks to Swif tFox's revelation :p

OOC: Yay, I finally got a reaction out of him! :D
Also I think we may have found Sabre's weakness ;)  Cute furry things!  hehe.


If anything, Swift had looked even more saddened by Silver Raven's response.  Something perhaps added to by her own buried sense of guilt in cutting down one of the hybrids before.

He was trying to kill you though...  And it does feel good to sink into the old killing fury again, doesn't it?

The words passed through her mind, unbidden, but she angrily pushed them aside.
Her physical expression barely registered the wave of nausea that passed through her then, although the soft glow from the gemstones on the diadem flickered oddly for a moment.

Sun Snake's sudden reaction snapped her out of it though.
She looked up at him as he spoke, her expression remaining unchanging throughout most of his speech.
When he had finished, she continued to stare at him for a moment longer before speaking up in a softer tone than he had probably heard her use before.
"Maybe what I said back in Toran was closer to the truth than you believed" she said.

She looked towards Silver Raven as she continued.
"You know what I am.  I'm a different kind of monster.  Perhaps Banedon believed he had tamed the Ghost of Anskaven, but I always knew it still lived in me.  The Grandmaster gave me the chance to atone for that, and I won't be that nightmare any longer, even if this path finally leads to my end.  I've never feared death, perhaps I even wished for it on occasion.  If there is still hope for these fallen Kai, then I have to at least try to help save them.  To give them the second chance I was given."

She looked back at Sun Snake.
"I know little of healing.  As I said, perhaps White Mantis would know of a way if we could contact her.  There is one possibility, but it's been a long journey and I no longer have the energy to attempt it.  Still, if I can help, I'm with you."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:38, Tue 12 Nov 2013.

Silver Ravemn didn't seemed shocked, angry, offended or even surprised by Sun Snake's reaction, no real reaction showing on his face. He let out a long breath, then very deliberately put the Dragon's Song to the ground, lacking a scabbard where to sheate it, and started to speak, his tone still cold and still carrying that note of sadness.

"You see, Sun Snake, I think you're right, completely so. I would never think any person to be out of bound to be saved. Everybody deserves a second chance."

He exchanged a meaningful glance with Swift Fox, then went on:

"However, what you need to understand is that these hybrids, they're not people anymore; they have access to the memories of the people they once were, but those people are dead. I can't explain, not to somebody lacking my background in magic and the first-hand experience I have on what was done to them, but, let me ask you one question. If I told you that, had the process worked to completion in turning me into one of them, I would have enjoyed killing Swift Fox and Moon Shadow, reveled in the feeling I got out of it... would you still think the creature capable of that to be the same as who I am now? You're a Diviner like I am, you know people's mind; watch mine, then answer me."

Yeah, Sun Snake's acting like old Sun Snake, but he'd gone quite far in to 'sadly accepting stuff about stuff' mode, so him snapping like that is quite a big reaction. Fair;s fair for all the bombshells in the other direction, right? :D

Swift Fox's reaction cooled Sun Snake's anger, though perhaps her comment regarding her being more right than he realised seemed to make Sun Snake sadder and less sure of himself rather than encourage him in any way. "I am but a mirror," he said sadly, "if you think you see anything more, it is because of who you are, not me. Do not underestimate how much you have grown since I saw you last. And you were already equal to the task of leading your group before."

However, it was Silver Raven's calm reaction that took the wind from Sun Snake's sails completely. "I do not have to read your mind mow. It was the compassion you couldn't disguise that let me know you were friends earlier, and not enemies who had killed you and looted your possessions," Sun Snake said sadly. A small ember of rebellion flickered across his face. "I will not believe the love and compassion I felt could be snuffed out so easily."

Sun Snake realised with shock he had drawn his blade thanks to Silver Raven's mirrored actions. However, rather than sheathe it, Sun Snake again dug it in to the ground, this time turning himself towards where the hybrid and the acolytes undoubtedly were.


Belated, perhaps, but Snake's gunna try a scan of the hybrid if he can! Expect confirmation of what Silver Raven has said to create Sad Snake. Less walls of texts, more walls of quiet sobbing :)

edit: I added a little more to answer Swift Fox's comments about herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Tue 12 Nov 2013.

Silver Raven shook his head and said, in the same tone:

"They've not. It's a mercy to what they were, to not let this mockery of all they stood for to keep existing. Sun Snake, you do know what these things mean, for us all, don't you? If their existence were to become public knowledge... it'd destroy the Order. Forever."

At Sabre Fox's reaction to seeing her canine companion, Dusk Rat regards him with an almost bemused expression. She glances down at the dog, then back at Sabre Fox.

"He's known as Brook." she says.

Swift nodded sadly.
She removed the kagonite arrow from her quiver and examined it closely, slowly turning it around in her fingers.  The dim light in the tunnel cast purple reflections along its length.
"Then if it has to be done, I can at least make it quick" she said.

She looked up at Sun Snake.
"Before, I was little more than a shadow of a past nightmare, perhaps selfishly seeking little more than an end to its own suffering.  Being in Toran again brought back some bad memories.  I confess that my very sanity almost unravelled there, and I made some mistakes that I hope I can still repair.  Though one of those mistakes inadvertently provided me the means to save you."
She smiled at Silver Raven as she said the last part.
"If I have grown, it is probably more through the gentle nudging of a higher power than my own broken soul."
She tapped on the diadem she was wearing, as if hinting at the meaning of her words.

She glanced in the direction Sun Snake was looking, even though she could sense nothing more than the wall, its every crack and bump picked out by her enhanced vision.
"Are they drawing close to the camp you spoke of?" she asked.  "I assume the Acolytes you spoke of are the ones who maintain the Kraans?  The one we took these from called himself a 'Believer'.  I took the opportunity to hopefully plant the seed of betrayal in his mind by posing as an agent of the Darklands.  If he reports the incident, it may do something to weaken the alliance between them and the Nadziranim."

She frowned and glanced down at the Jade Spike with a noticeably concerned look on her face.
"He claimed to have been attacked before by someone else.  Perhaps the fear of being attacked twice will encourage him to flee this place.  He doesn't belong here in this nest of evil" she said quietly.


OOC: Thought I'd mention the unfortunate victim of our mutual encounters there, hehe :)

"Brook!" fox beamed sitting down on his haunches infront of the dog "you alright boy? Did you enjoy flying round on those Kraan? Aren't you such a good boy! Can I pat him Dusk? Pleaaasssssseeeee?! Can I? Can I?"

Brook was not reacting at all at Sabre Fox's attention, merely sittig still, although his eyes did seem to be glowering a bit at the Magnakai.

Silver Raven, meanwhile, completely ignored the duo's interaction, setting instead for moving closer to Swift Fox and putting an hand on her shoulder, clearly trying to reassure her with the gesture but without saying anything.

Sun Snake's awareness came back to the others, though from his expression what had had found neither destroyed all hope nor brought new hope. He seemed weary and perplexed.

"The man is...was...Fall Lobster, a third generation recruit. Does the name mean anything? He was a Savant at last recollection - I know the man from paperwork, nothing more - and I believe he was sent out with a group that weas headed by a Journeyman called Sky Lynx. And the fact he was not in charge as the higher ranked Kai perhaps says something regarding his position in the order."

Sun Snake looked to Silver Raven. "Even if there is nothing of the man left, the mind I feel is not just coldly taking the knowledge of Fall Lobster to fuel a general hatred. The man in his past believed I have slighted him in many ways - I daresay the fact I don't even know why may play in to those slightes - and those fuel him. Even if there is nothing left of the man, the hybrid has taken on that identify in ways that could be reached. Even if the man cannot be saved, let us allow our fallen comrade get the chance to strike his killer form the grave. Already its focus on me means it wishes to use a Darklands connection planted besuide the High Priest to further its ends against me. Whether the High Priest knows the Helghast is there or not, he cannot know the Helghast plans to betray the High Priest for the Deathstaff. Even though my understanding of the alliance between them is that the Darklands would gain the Desthstaff afterwards. I suppose if the Nadziran are allied to this Deathlord, they do not wish Vashna to stride Magnamund ruining their plans."

Sun Snake looked to Swift Fox. "The acolytes are the power here, the dominant force in the ruined city, holding back the forces of the Cener while they searched for the Sommerswerd and the Grandmaster. And Cener force - that is a complicated matter too. There are too many secrets, and we need to break them soon." Sun Snake focused again. "The acolytes possess camps with thousands of men and women, the main one with the Temple and the High Priest the one we go to now. The tragedy of the Acolytes is that man of these people are simple folk, dispossessed time and again until the possibility of Vashna's rise to wipe out everyone else seems the only way for them to regain a place. Even if such a hope is delusional." Sun Snake gave a sad smile. "I suspect the man would not abandon his post, for it is the only place he has in the world, he would have nowhere to go instead. I suspect if the acolytes as a cult dissolved around him, but he was told to stay here and tend the Kraan's needs for the rest of his days, he would be one of the happiest people alive. Perhaps if we could one day destroy the head of the Acolytes, the body left behind would be something else. A group of people who would fight for those pushed out and marginalised by our conflicts. Who knows. Still, if you have compassion for that one man, then your soul could not have been that broken. And there may be hope in the future that we can achieve a form of peace here, rectify that mistake."

Sun Snake gave the ghost of a smile regarding Swift Fox's ruse. "With the real betray in place, you may have bought us a real opportunity if we have to face the High Priest. Thoguh I am surpsied, if you discovered details of the first attack, that you did not recognised the terrifying and savage foe the man faced." Sun Snake pointed to Sabre Fox, currently making odd noises at the warhound Snake had senses earlier.

Sun Snake took the opportunity to stand and walk over to where Swift Fox was, but it was to put an equally reassuring hand on Silver Raven's should. Sun Snake leaned in ad whispered quick words to the man.

Sun Snake stood upright. "The secret of the hybrids? No, there are too many secrets, some were dividing my group deeply while we did not know they exist. Valador has a hand in these creatures, so with no effort he could turn that information again us if we give that power. For it to remain a secret would mean killing that man without allow him the chance to speak. And then cover up that secret with more secrets. Forging the blade that would ruin us. if we cannot stand as an order for truth, and using truth, then what weapons are we supposed to use that our enemy is not simply more powerful with?"

sun Snake pointed to where the hybrid was. "Fall Lobster does not possess the discipliens of Kai though. Our powers are not being perverted, merely copied. The skills he possesses may look liek them, but the are a collection of skills, facets cratfed after our own skills without the wellspring, without being born, directed and held together by the person. That is the secret to defeating them, I would imagine, and that is the truth that would undo any power their existance holds over us."


Sorry, still a wall. However, I htink that's it - maybe we can all band together and figure out a plan. Gotta rush, late for being early to work! :p

OOC: Fall Lobster?  Was that name intended to be ironic considering what he turned into?  hehe.


Swift glanced towards Silver Raven for a moment.
"Well I have secrets of my own that have perhaps kept me separated from the Order that Banedon and the Grandmaster intended me to be a part of.  Though that was more for their protection than my own illusions of comfort."
Her ice blue eyes turned to something resembling their previous cold icy look, although this time rather softer than they once were.
"I don't know if the rest of the Kai will be as accepting of the darkness within me as Silver Raven.  But I want to help, I want to do what I can to avoid losing anyone else.  It's what the Grandmaster would expect of me.  And perhaps it's what I want now...  You lot are all I have left in the world."
The last part was added so quietly it was barely audible to anyone not standing right next to her at the time, perhaps just an inner thought spoken aloud.

She tucked the black arrow back into her quiver and grinned back at Sun Snake with a trace of her usual dark humour.
"Besides, if you're going to burn those responsible for this to the ground, as you said.  I want in on it too!"

She hesitated a moment before adding: "Also, if you plan on destroying something as powerful as the Deathstaff, if it truly is the equal of the Sommerswerd, then I know of something in Valador's possession that may help if I can get hold of it."

She frowned slightly at the name of Fall Lobster, clearly trying to recall anything about him...


OOC: Would Swift know anything about him or why he had a grudge against Snake?
Do we each get our own personal nemesis in this game then? :)  I like that!
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Wed 13 Nov 2013.

I don't know, did I? Make a list of all that have appeared so far, see if you can find a connection. :)

As for Fall Lobster, the Nadziranim knew his name when he was caught. Think that over.

fox pouted as Brook didn't seem to respond.

"What's matter boy? You hungry? Want me to cook you a nice big juicy steak when we get back to the Monastery?"

Dusk Rat gives Sabre Fox an odd sort of frown, but otherwise keeps her attention directed elsewhere, listening to the conversation of the others but also taking in the group's surroundings.

Lol wtf Fall Lobster...now I'm just picturing this lobster trying to walk around on land but being all clumsy about it and...well, falling. Sounds like rather a negative name for a Kai, having the word "fall" in there - maybe it was some kind of private joke back when he thought up his Kai name or something, lol.

I just thought the Nadziranim were mocking him for being born in autumn! :p

Not the Nadziranim, that's just his Kai name, but it indeed is a reference to the Autumn; seasons are common enough among Kai names (Summer Wasp, Spring Squirrel, Summer Wind, Winterhawk...). The Masters who gave him his name simply thought "Fall" was more appropriate than "Autumn", for whatever reason. As for the Nadziranim making a mockery of his name in the form they gave him, well... is there really anything to explain?

The dog kept scowling at Sabre Fox attempts to make friends with him.

OOC: Maybe his real name is "Zoidberg" too ;) hehe.


"I don't remember him" said Swift with a slight shake of her head.  "I didn't really mix with the others much.  I may have seen him around, but I didn't know he had a grudge on you."
She glanced towards Sabre Fox and Brook with a curious look on her face, a hint of a wry smirk briefly appearing.

"Aha!" Fox smirked in a wolffish manner. "If that's your preferred mentality why didn't you say so!"

Fox then bared a fist towards Brook.

"Yea...... Your probabally right, in terms of age, I'm probabally a pup, but that's where it ends. I've been killing things since before you were around"

Fox slowly drew Vigilanace and placed it on the ground before Brook so he could examine it

"This is my weapon of choice, I've killed more things on it than I can count. And not just regular stuff, I mean like Helghast and other spawns of a Naar"

Fox inspected the dogs claws and his jaw with a critical aye.

"I see your weapons of choice. What's your best kill?" He would ask before putting a hand on his chin thoughtfully.

"I'll make you a warriors bet here" he said "whichever one of us has the most kill count after this mission is over, gets a 'winner names reward' from the other. That to your liking?"

Brook initially tensed when Sabre Fox unsheated his sword, as if readying himself to pounce on him, but when the Magnakai just settled it with the tip to the ground, the black dog moved forward cautiously, sniffing at the weapon and then circling around the man before swiftly retreating to Dusk Rat's side, looking up at her with a wimpering sound.