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Post by darkoneofpower on Nov 3, 2004 0:49:18 GMT -5
Iris didn't even bother to speak in Calm towards the woman. The lady was powerful, Iris could feel it but that wasn't why she didin't speak. There was something disturbing about the lady's eyes that bothered her too much for her liking. She could almost smell it, whatever was so different about the lady, above the horrible stinch of the alley they stood in. Iris pulled her lips back in a snarl before walking over towards Shadow. She didn't take her eyes off the woman.
She couldn't tell if the women was evil because whatever else was there was so intense it practically made the woman invisable to Iris... everything but that funny smell and the eyes. She couldn't figure it out, no being in her life time had ever smelled this way. Maybe it was the stinch from earlier that was messing up her senses.
Unconsciously she curled her tails around the outside of the small group.
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Post by auraki on Nov 3, 2004 13:54:15 GMT -5
Sahn watched with anticipation the cat bristle under her gaze. She knows I'm here to play, even if Shadow won't take the bait.
Purposely, she gave the others in the party a predatory smirk before she allowed her eyes to rest on the cat woman again. "You seem awfully protective of these people, Madame Feline. And all I've done is introduce myself." Rule One of Offensive Combat: Never make your true objective obvious to your opponent.
She relaxed her stance, unbuttoning her cloak and brushing locks of sky blue hair back away from her face so that they flowed behind her like a liquid curtain. It was a girlish gesture that normally held no place in her warrior sensibilities, but she knew it would just unnerve the group further.
"As I've just said, I am no loyal hound of Arya. Her gains are not my own." She reached a hand slowly into her cloak, aware that she was probably agitating the already jumpy group. "No, I am in this for a different reason."
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Post by Ancient Goddess on Nov 3, 2004 14:50:37 GMT -5
(Okay...YES I am back. Geez...no more hounding me for not responding. I said I didn't give up on this and I meant it. I just had to read all 50+ responses again before I re-entered. ) After slaying the runaways in the forest, her master Arya had given the order to return to her headquarters. Even though she was not pleased by the short battle, it was not up to Reiko to chose. Orders were orders. She sheathed her sword and was on her way back when she saw the dark priestess leave the battlefield in the direction opposite to where the henchman's team was supposed to be headed. 'Where the hell does that damned wench think she's going?! Arya would not like it one bit. Therefore, Reiko knew she would have to investigate and be sure that any of her master's plans were not interrupted. She viewed the whole scene in the alley from the surface of a rooftop, her emerald eyes narrowing into slits. 'This fool...' Reiko sneered. 'Arya had made it clear that no one was to mess with Shadow and company outside of the orders, yet this moron rushes in head on without consent?!' The assassin shook her head. When she saw Sahn reach inside her clothing, Reiko knew she had to put a stop to it. The priestess was not seriously attempting to fight...that Reiko knew since she had seen the results of those who had crossed the demonic female too often. However, if someone rubbed her the wrong way, someone would surely become a smear in the pavement. Arya would not like that. Sighing, she leapt down from her position and entered the alleyway, placing her hands on her hips. "Sorry to break the suspense and drama," Reiko said, as she came up behind the priestess. "Can't you do anything right, Sahn? We were not ordered to contact the enemy without permission of our leader. You know that." She looked to the group of people in front of them. A feline-girl, a female pirate, a rugged thief, and... "Shadow. Hmph. Hanging around with the wrong crowd. Arya would be quite amused."
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Post by Sephiroth Kaizen on Nov 3, 2004 14:51:00 GMT -5
Shadow smirked but held her position as the rest of the group took the initiative to introduce themselves. On the otherhand, Shadow would never have done such a foolish thing.
Lady Sahn--what is she doing here? Ailoki settled to her shoulder, and raising his wings, he sent a warning hiss to the woman across from them. Shadow, this isn't a favorable position we're in.
Yes, I know. Shadow took a step forward, but was stopped by the Calm's tails. Especially while being surrounded by a group who know nothing about her.
Her glowing eyes studied Sahn's smirk, followed by her graceful yet girlish movements. She was toying with them and obviously hoping Shadow would play along. She rested her hand on her sword when she felt the vial of souls begin to tremble on her chest.
Glancing amongst the group behind her, she noticed the Calm, visibly agitated. Their senses were detecting something the others obviously couldn't.
Get the others out of here, Calm. Shadow commanded focusing on her for a moment. There would be no window open for discussion or negotiation.
Her eyes reverted to Sahn hearing, "No, I am in this for a different reason."
"Really?" Shadow raised a brow as she tightened her grip around the leather bound hilt of her sword. "Then why be associated with Arya if her goals are not your own?" Perhaps the spark of conversation would grant the others a window of opportunity.
Whether the others would notice it was a different question. She had a feeling the Calm would ignore her orders.
If it comes to it,Shadow turned her head slightly to see Ailoki flap his black wings at Sahn, I need you to be ready to change.
The vial was trembling against her chest. And with a hand on the hilt of her sword, and another around the vial, she knew something was up. She debated using a spell to ensure Sahn was not up to an attack.
Would she attack without Arya's consent? Shadow was curious to find out. Perhaps Arya didn't have as much control over her lapdogs as she thought.
"Shadow. Hmph. Hanging around with the wrong crowd. Arya would be quite amused" She heard from behind Sahn.
Shadow narrowed her eyes on Reiko, standing behind her and laughed. "I believe I could say the same for you."
She knew now that it was probably nothing more than an empty threat. But if Reiko was there in order to get the renegade soldier, Sahn, then perhaps they were more of a threat than expected.
"You, with a reputation that rivals that of Arya..." Shadow began pushing her hood from over her face. "I'm surprised you would associate yourself with a group a lowlifes."
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Post by auraki on Nov 3, 2004 16:45:25 GMT -5
"Lowlifes?" Sahn hissed, her eyes flashing silver for just a second. Immediately she calmed herself and let her face smooth into an emotionless mask. With Reiko playing watchdog, she could not openly defy Arya's wishes. That’s alright. Shadow will be the first to go if things get ugly, I promise it.
Without turning around, she addressed Arya’s second-in-command. "Relax Reiko. I was only doing a bit of reconnaissance. Would Arya not be curious as to where the group was headed? And I believe she is also quite in the dark about that one,” she tilted her head toward the cat woman.
“Was our master not curious about the black beings that massacred her men? It was almost as if they came from thin air. Something like that should at least be investigated.”
She directed her attention now to Shadow. “Shadow, do you really have to right to question loyalties? You yourself are sword-for-hire, mysterious and well-renowned as you may be. We are alike in some ways. I’ve just chosen the winning side. As long as Arya continues to hold my interest.” She said the last statement in her mind, but she was sure the Shadow understood.
With a sudden spin on her heels, Sahn abruptly turned and walked past an incensed Reiko, pulling up her hood. “I believe our master is holding a celebration feast, Reiko. I would hate to be too late. I’m rather surprised you took the time out to find me…it’s not like you to lurk in the shadows like a lowlife.” She laughed quietly as walked back into the darkness of the alleyway, leaving the group to their business.
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Post by Ancient Goddess on Nov 3, 2004 18:24:50 GMT -5
Man, how could she have forgotten how much she hated Sahn?
'That bitch.' Reiko thought as she watched the dark priestess saunter passed her. With her around the assassin, Reiko knew that she would be sorely tempted to slit her throat. Just her attitude and air about her was enough to make the head henchman's blood boil.
Sighing, she turned her back on the four who Sahn was speaking to earlier, shaking her head. "Well, I've saved you all once...." Her head turned as she gave the group a smirk. "Don't expect it to happen again. Especially you, Shadow. Wouldn't want you to die before the master wishes it." And with that, she walked out of the alleyway, a smile still on her lips.
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Post by darkoneofpower on Nov 3, 2004 19:51:59 GMT -5
Iris' ears twitched as she watched the two leave the alley. Worry etched her eyes as she shifted her gaze from the spot where the strange one had stood to an invisable object in the distance. She sighed. Maybe it was not a good idea to disobey Shadow, but she wasn't sure if she should leave just yet when the feeling she got from the woman was so strange. She dropped her tails suddenly and took a step back from Shadow. She had never went against an order because of her gut feelings before.
It was wrong, so wrong and she had to be punished for it. She shook her head once as if letting go of the possiblity to see life again, before walking in front of Shadow. She held her head low and her paws spread before her. She tossed a glance at Tabix, who looked confused and drunk and then at the man who looked equally confused. In the calm, above all else, loyalty was most important. She hesitated under a direct comand.
No acceptance, I await my fate. she said as she bowed deeply, tails spread out behind her.
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Post by Sephiroth Kaizen on Nov 3, 2004 20:59:18 GMT -5
"Shadow, do you really have to right to question loyalties? You yourself are sword-for-hire, mysterious and well-renowned as you may be. We are alike in some ways. I’ve just chosen the winning side..."
Shadow smirked at Sahn and raised an eyebrow as she began to walk away. "It is not my place to choose a winning or losing side. I choose the side which pays me best." With that, she nodded, almost playfully toward her.
With Sahn departing from the alley, Reiko stood behind. They exchanged glances, but Shadow wished to say more.
"Well, I've saved you all once...." Shadow heard Reiko mention as she began to leave. "Don't expect it to happen again. Especially you, Shadow. Wouldn't want you to die before the master wishes it."
"As always, Arya gets whatever she wants." Shadow taunted with a shrug. As a soft breeze went by, she held onto her hair before the Calm walked through it. Pulling her hood over her face, she stared after Reiko.
Well aren't you a precious commodity? Ailoki asked crawling into her hood. He wrapped his tail loosely around her neck and snorted. Still wish you didn't take the position as Special Forces Leader?
Shadow chuckled. If I did... that would be my army of lowlifes.
Catching a glimpse of the Calm bowing before her, she stepped back.
No acceptance, I await my fate. The timid voice of the Calm touched her mind.
Removing her hand from the hilt of her sword, Shadow began to walk away. I am not your leader. Do not treat me as one.
She turned around the corner of the tavern and without waiting for the others, slipped into the shadow cast by the full moon. Closing her eyes, she felt herself disappear fully from view. Perhaps this will be my only way to get a few moments to myself, she thought reaching into her head to scratch Ailoki's chin. Hearing him hum in agreement, she smiled.
So, her old friend was alive and very well. She bit back a laugh. You haven't changed a bit... Thinking of the message, she felt a sigh of relief leave her body. Maybe she didn't have a lot to worry about afterall.
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Mori'Quessir
Jounin
"With the ancient is wisdom, and in lengths of days is understanding."
Posts: 186
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Post by Mori'Quessir on Nov 5, 2004 15:14:39 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]"You know B'luth'ol, I may not seem that powerful to you. I have many hidden talents that make me extremely difficult to defeat. And just because you came here on a whim, doesn't mean that I couldn't feel your presence coming! ... Any other questions..?
Now,.. onto the feast! I wouldn't want to dissappoint my men. I also have a feeling that we'll be having some company (Reiko and Sahn) soon. I will be discussing quite a bit before we feast."[/glow]
Arya had formulated a new plan. Arya knew that Shadow had 2 other companions when she left her. Both needed to be looked into, and backgrounds done. We could not have any loose ends. And the rule of only Arya killing Shadow was a foolish mistake. That's how all the good villians die. Arya would make it to where anyone could kill them. Just no unnessecary fighting just to be ridiculous. Security and all would have to be strengthened to it's max. Arya would have to call all of her allies and have even more soldiers sent to her. We could not have common riff raff, she needed more powerful soldiers. This was not a mere rinky dink fight. This was the dawning of a new day. She needed her #1 there and her other powerful henchman.
Arya shut the doors to her office/room, and motioned to B'luth'ol to come with her.. it was time for her to give her speech soon and feast.
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Asharrod
Knight
Did God Create Man or did Man Create God?/--//--/
Posts: 59
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Post by Asharrod on Nov 5, 2004 18:17:26 GMT -5
Stymied by the apparent lack of progress in the conversation B'luth'ol just shakes his head and follows slowly behind Arya. I have many hidden talents that make me extremely difficult to defeat. And just because you came here on a whim, doesn't mean that I couldn't feel your presence coming! She had said. He wondered at what else she could have been hinting at. Perhaps she felt not him but the influence of the dark one at work. Surely that was power....
His soft boots clicked upon the stone floors of the fortress and he sunk deeper into thought, following behind casually, paying no concern to those around him.....
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Post by darkoneofpower on Nov 5, 2004 20:34:18 GMT -5
I am not your leader. Do not treat me as one. ...Shadows words echoed in her head. It wasn't as if she had a choice in the matter. She walked over to the edge of the building just into to see a swirl of dust where Shadow should have been. Iris growled before turning back to Tabix, who hadn't said anything in a while. Shadow had left her with two drunk humans. She lowered head and walked over to Tabix, nudging the girls hand with her nose and letting out a pur like growl, trying to get the girl to move.
If worse came to worse she could always turn into her human form but she never liked walking on two legs. Her eyes shifted back to the boy who had stood in the same place as when Shadow had left. Iris shifted uncomfortably before nudging Tabix again, this time on the girls shoulder with her head.
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Post by GoGoCactusMan on Nov 6, 2004 14:52:41 GMT -5
"Ack!! I'm up I'm up!!" Tabix recovered her senses when the cat nudged against her. "heh, I think I fell asleep standing up again..." Tabix shrugged, still dizzy from the alcohol. She looked around. "Where the hell did 'Shadow' go? Was I really out for that long? Weren't there more people here? I am so confused." Tabix noticed that the man from the bar was still standing in the alley with her. "Did he fall asleep too, Kitty?" she whispered to the cat. "Oh well, I suppose we'd better go catch up with the mean lady, I'm sure she's getting into trouble without us..." Tabix walked out of the alley and into the darkness, and then, before getting too far, she turned and shouted back to the man in the alley, "Thanks for the b33r!"
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Post by Sephiroth Kaizen on Nov 9, 2004 0:19:58 GMT -5
(I'm sorry, was everyone waiting for me?)
Shadow glanced to her side when she felt the brief presence of the Calm. She stood motionless deepening her breathe so she could not be heard. Exhaling, she withdrew her aura making sure her self-appointed "companions" could not detect her. For anyone walking past her, she was not there. She had a way of vanishing from the scene without truly leaving.
I want to rest, Ailoki. Shadow scanned the still busy town for an inn. Did you find an inn for me?
Yes. As he gave her the images of the inn, he spread his wings and stretched his head toward the sky. Leaping from her shoulder once again, he glided in the air and out of sight.I will watch over you from the roof.
Nodding slightly, Shadow shut her eyes, allowing herself to completely disappear and reappear inside the inn she decided to stay at. It was far from a tavern and more or less, out of the way. She couldn't help smiling in approval for Ailoki's decision.
Upon arriving to her room she removed her cloak and drew the curtains to her window. She did not want to risk anyone finding her, especially since she wanted to some time to herself. With her aura sealed, it would be fairly difficult for the others to find her. Perhaps she could manage a few hours of sleep. She knew the Calm would find her eventually, and Tabix would soon follow. Who knew about the Nori fellow.
Are you watching them, too, Loki? Shadow inquired, curiously while she gently raked her fingers through her hair. She could sense a fondness of the others creeping into her mind, no doubt from Ailoki.
I have a feeling the Calm may be in more danger than you, Shadow. His voice was deep yet gentle as he grew to his full size just above her on the rooftop. Unlike you, Arya knows nothing of that creature. Surely she will send out her band of misfits to gather information about her.
Shadow groaned and felt the bed yield under her weight. Resting her head against the pillow, she smiled. You see something in her, Loki, it's not like you to worry about someone so soon.
I don't trust Arya's people. He responded quickly with a snort.
She could hear his snort above her and grinned. Of course, Ailoki. Not bothering to hide her skepticism, she snorted back.
Above her, Ailoki sat silently on the brick roof. His ruby eyes glistened in the moonlight even though he could not be seen.
Ailoki, the black Shadow Dragon, even in his full form could not be seen in the moonlight. The full form of a Shadow Dragon could not be seen in daylight, moonlight or a moonless night. They were completely invisible to the eye, except at sunrise or dusk where a faint outline could be seen. When he reduced his size to that of mearly one foot he could be seen at all times. It was a defense mechanism that helped preserve the rare species of dragon and the lives of those they bonded with. When he could be seen, he looked like an ordinary black dragon with curled horns similar to that of a ram. With spikes along his spine, it would make it very difficult for anyone outside of Shadow to sit on top of him. His body, still the color of oil, was protected by thick ridged scales that raised much like that of a porcupine when alarmed or ready to attack.
When merged with Shadow, his form became much more frightening.
Shadow? Ailoki said softly stretching out along the roof. He curled his spaded tail along the perimeter of the roof.
Shadow smiled again. This would prove to be a very interesting adventure, she thought. Not only was Arya after her but an old friend had resurfaced.
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Post by darkoneofpower on Nov 9, 2004 0:43:57 GMT -5
Iris was pouting. She doubt any one could tell. Shadow was gone, Tabix was drunk, and she didn't care if that guy was still following them or not... the point was Shadow had denied her. It took everything in her will power not to get angry. She snorted once, before turning around. She dove between Tabix's effectively setting the girl on her back. It had been a long night and Iris was sick of it.
She wanted to sleep, and she didn't know if Tabix would be able to get someone to let her sleep in their inn. She could get into one if she wanted but the last thing she wanted to do was turn human. It wasn't every day you see a giant cat roaming around in town. At least that was the impression she got from allthe rude stares. She walked to the edge of the forest, just outside of the town. Slowly she laid down, so Tabix didn't fall off.
Her nose burned from all the different smells and she was too angry to try and search for Shadow. She burried her nose underone of her paws and huffed. Shadow couldn't have left unless the reason was just, she thought, at least she hoped. I will wait, she thought. If Shadow didn't come back there was no place else for her to go. The Queen would kill her if she didn't finish her mission.
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Mori'Quessir
Jounin
"With the ancient is wisdom, and in lengths of days is understanding."
Posts: 186
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Post by Mori'Quessir on Nov 9, 2004 1:12:19 GMT -5
Arya had reached the dining hall. She could hear the loud ruckus of men waiting for their food, drinking, telling jokes, talking of their kills, and the normal “manly” stuff. There were few women to be counted for in the halls. Many of the women were dark elves and were stationed outside to protect the castle. They could sense anything coming near or going for great distances. The dark elven women were also very powerful people and would not die easily. With a flick of Arya’s wrist, a surge of power bolted from Arya's hand and allowed the doors to the dining hall to swing open. Arya stepped forward into the center of the doorway out of the shadow. The hall became silent, and Arya gracefully yet powerfully walked up to her seat at the head table. She stood behind her chair and waited for B’luth’ol to seat himself next to her amongst her friends and high ranked members of the army. Arya filled her goblet with Elven wine as much of the hall had, raised the glass to the ceiling and an enormous cheer was let out from the crowd of followers. Arya looked up at her army, took a breath, and began to speak…
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