In the Endless Darkness ( IC thread)

[Serenity the Candyman]

OOC: http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/229121-in-the-endless-darkness-not-started-always-accepted/page__p__4790356__fromsearch__1#entry4790356
[spoiler=Plot]
The year is 698, and the Reign of King Renaldo was considered his greatest in all of Gregnir. New inventions were being created and Magic was man's best friend. It seemed that nothing disrupt the peace that was enchanting Gregnir. But something lurkes in the depths of the Region west of Gregnir, Lumin. After about half a year passed and the country side that surrounding Lumin began to wither and die. Lumin itself was considered dangerous for anyone to enter and now was covered in Dark, omnious clouds. The creatures of Lumin began killing many people, as though it was deliberate. King Renaldo, fearing Gregnir was going to become consumed by Lumin's Darkness, he sent out a call for anyone that is couragous to go in and find out what is going with Lumin.

Finally the King as met with the Warriors the had answered his call and already they were attack by one of the consider Leaders of the Evil, The Nightmare: Randell.
[/spoiler]

King Renaldo began pacing back and forth, and was getting more agitated by the minute. It was bad enough that everyday the Evil that was effecting Lumin was spreading rapidly over to Gregnir but now it has been a week since he had Cumin go and send men out to every town looking for people that are brave enough to face The Evil that had Engulfed Lumin. "CUMIN!!!!!!" The Renaldo eclaimed at the top of his lungs.

"Yes..your Highness?" said a man that was running and breathing hard. Stopping in front of the King, he put is hands on his knees to catch his breath.

Renaldo looked at Cumin and Cumin could see the stress in his face. "Where are the men you promised me you were sent to get? It's been a week since I sent you out and appointed you in charge of this affair. So, WHERE ARE THEY?!" Cumin knew that when the king yelled his question at the end, It wasn't good to disappoint him.

"Well...umm...let me go and get-t-t them for you..." With saying this, Cumin ran out the side door of the room, which led to one place...away from King Renaldo. As he headed away from the room, he was beginning to become more upset than usual. He had failed the king and now was going to pay. Cumin decided to give the meeting spot where he instructed his men to tell anyone who wanted to help the King one more shot before telling the King, there was no one. Opening a door which led to the outside, he entered a garden that had a statue of of the Goddess Luniast looking over it. To Cumin's surprise, There was actually people here.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The King took his hand and began rubbing his temple of his head. He knew he shouldn't have ask Cumin to do such a tedious job in a short time span but everyday was getting worse. People were being turned up half eaten and on the borders of Gregnir was becoming more barren. If only he had anyone willing to go, then Gregnir might have a chance.

~~~~~~~~~~

A door opened and and the dragon looked up to see who was stupid enough to wake him. A man stood in the doorway and moved to the shadows, blending in with them. "Arise, my grand Pet, for I have a job for you." the man said, "I need you to go to Gregnir and strike at what little hope that king has." The Dragon put up his head and transformed into the form of a man. The scales and wings came together and form armor that blacker than black.

"Yes, My Lord"

[Magnet Soldier]

[spoiler=OOC]I'm just going to describe what I imagine Cumin would look like here. I'll change it if you dont like it. [/spoiler]

"You need warriors?" A tall, scarred young man said from behind Cumin, laughing as the short man in front of him jumped, nearly landing flat on his face. The man helped the stubby man up, only just stopping himself laughing at the man's rat like nose and giant round spectacles that were falling off his nose. The glasses magnified the short man's eyes, adding to the rat like immpression. Michael bowed to the small man, still taller than him as he bowed. "My name is Michael. You must be Cumin. I am the one who travelled here a year ago to warn the king about the clouds gathering above Lumin, and that Lumin was growing dark. I was also the one who broke into the throne room, and nearly killed you. Sorry again for that, by the way." Michael said, shaking the small man's hands. These are other warriors, I think. They certainly look like them." Michael said, wandering to the front of the crowd, seamingly ignorant of the hateful and disbelieving expressions he was getting from the crowd. One man even laughed at Michael, and muttered to his neighbour in the crowd about how cocky he though Michael was being. Michael waved his hand passively, and the man's little hair set itself aflame. "Dont underestimate me." Michael said, without turning around, but it was obvious it was aimed at the now bald man with charred lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the Black Knight-like guy left the room, a thinner and lankier, but muscular, man entered the same room, a long Muramasa slung over his back and a long, black knife hanging from his belt. He was grinning slyly and was walking towards to man in the shadows. He leaned against a wall about 20 yards away from the man in the shadows. "Where's 'he' off to? 'Cause I'm bored, and I want to go kill. It's been three months since I last tasted fresh blood on my lips. I need that taste!" Randell said, nodding towards the open door when he said 'he'. Randell sighed and rubbed the knife at his belt. A quiet purr was heard by both of them, but both weren't surprised.

[Lord of Chaos]

Uinen had heard the kings men talking of a last chance to help the king Uinen looked around at what was left of his 'guild' those who were not already dead were badly wounded. Uinen could no longer stand by and let his men along with those in the kingdom die, it wouldn't be good for his business. Uinen walked out of his 'guild's ruined church out side of the main city. Uinen looked back at the chuch and then began walking into the city. Uinen waved his hand in the air as he walked and became invisible to all around him. Uinen continued to walk unseen straight towards the palace. If Uinen was going to offer his help he would do it straight to the king's face

[Venom]

Volcannon was still sitting atop Maficon Volcano, which was close enough to the palace to see it full of people. "Crowds... they always make me nervous!", he muttered, as he finished practicing with the last batch of herbal reactives to make his potions. Pyro Leaves, to be exact. "Heh, my Pyroclastic Bomb is still the best!", he said, rising a pot full of red-hot liquid, as if was magma contained within glass. "Well, I guess it's time to get down and see what happens there. I only recall it has to do with the darkness engulfing Lumin, and King Renaldo asking for brave warriors. Well, he got himself the best flame wielder on this land, hehe", Volcannon said, with a hint of vanity in his voice.

"Haste!", he cast on himself, and he ran at lightspeed downhill. Raising an enormous dust cloud that could be seen from the palace, people in the crowd started muttering about what was that.

"I guess they are watching the dust I leave behind. Well, time to rush in!", Volccannon said. He already was at the base of Maficon Volcano, and heading straight to the castle gates, which had the drawbridge closed. "No problem!", he said. He pointed his hand down to the ground, and said: "Burning Lance!", as a fiery lance burst out from his extended arm, impulsing him upwards and over the castle walls. Some guards standing atop the wall on duty had their hair burn a little, because Volcannon passed too close to them. He didnt even notice, but those guards started yelling at him for being so careless. As if he cared...
He finally landed close to the statue of Lumiast, but without touching it. [color="#FF0000"][i]I always respect the Gods, no harm shall be done to them, even their earthly symbols.[/i][/color] He turned around to the stunned crowd and said: "Well, well, Volcannon is here! Time to burn it!", saying his catchphrase, his favourite one. All the people started muttering again, but again, Volcannon didnt care. He turned around in time to see a group of people who seemed to be more of this help Renaldo asked from. "I suppose you are the rest of the group, or there is someone missing here? Because I dont have patience for crowds, so I would like to finish this nice and quick!".

[Dark Lightning]

Nowaki leaned on the wall across from Randell. He gave a sly smile and then lit a cigarette. He looked at Randell as he blew out the smoke.
"Yes, well...It does feel like it's been ages, doesn't it...?" he asked, partially talking to his blade. Nowaki glanced toward his broad sword that leaned near him
"Ages since my blade has been stained with blood..." he muttered, losing his train of thought. He kicked the ground with his boot, like an uninterested child would do, and sighed. Moments later, he made his blade disappear and turned back to Randell.
"So how much longer do you think it'll be...Before we can go out and kill again?" he asked, opening his red eye.

[Serenity the Candyman]

After the fiery entrance that Volcannon, Cumin decided that it was best for him to come out from his hiding spot, behind one of rose bushes. This was turning out to be a excited crowd and that last man (Volcannon) really made him feel unsafe. Knees shaking, he tried to dust himself off as calmly as he could. "I-I....can't believe-ve that so many mad-d-de it after all!" He shouted, so that everyone could hear him over the roar of the crowd. "The King is most pleased that you-u hav-ve decided to accep-pt such a dangerous and....." Cumin stopped and looked at crowd staring at him. " You know what would be best is that you should go through this door. Inside awaits the King, so please, be as respectably you can be." The last sentence was more like a shriek but Cumin didnt care.

As the crowd began to thin out, Cumin saw an man sitting there on a on of the rocks in all black fiddling with what looked like a mask. Cumin walked over and whispered the man, "You of all people should have known to be here as soon as you accepted this. After all, it was my doing that got you out of the Tower."

Jerome looked at Cumin with a look that stop a dragon in its tracks. "Just because you arranged for me to leave the Tower dosent give you the right say when during the week when I should come here. After all, I did say yes to serving the King."

Cumin just shook his head, " Remember this then. I gave back your freedom and I could take it away just as fast."

"I figured you would say that," Jerome said, his eyes never leaving Cumin's face. "So did you bring it out of storage, like I asked?"

Cumin clapped his hands and a bow appeared in his hands. "Yes, here it is. Now lets go inside."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The man in the shadows looked at the two and pointed at them. "So you two want to taste blood? Well, then we should waste our time in here. I hear that the King recruiting Young Warriors for his cause. I want you to go down and 'Test" their abilities. I dont want to kill them just yet, but inflict enough pain to make them second guess themselves." He then walked out the door, the shadows following his every move.

[Lord of Chaos]

Uinen kept walking reaching the outer part of the palace he smiled, this wouldn't be his first time entering a palace. He quickly trailed through the court yard and to the main door, he looked around trying to find a way in then he had an idea. he swiftly made his way to the back of the palace finding a servant entrance and opened it he looked around seeing no servants he swiftly entered and closed the door. He walked around the palace looking around, he was suprised that no one had yet to detect him, but it wasn't to big of a suprise as it was his job to be suddle and unseen. He made his way quickly to where the king was. He smiled seeing the king, and unvailed himself "Hello my lord......" Uinen said as he now stood directly infront of the king "I am Uinen Kormahs, surely you know me as the notorious leader of the guild, but no worries I am not here to kill you or to steal from you..... I am here to answer your call for help." Uinen bowed low to the king "I am at your servises my king." Uinen then took a knee and looked up to the king, he smiled under his mask as he awaited the surely shocked responce of the king

[Venom]

"Hey, there, young man, you come secretly bashing in here and await a response, a kind response? You didnt even receive invitation, so what the..!", Volcannon calmed down upon seeing Renaldo giving him a cold stare, like saying [color="#0000FF"][i]be respectful, or else...[/i][/color]. "I am sorry My King, it's just my nature, fire's nature, to be raging and unpredictable", as he bowed to Renaldo once again. He felt relief to not anger the King even more.
"I forgot to present myself. I am Volcannon, the best flame manipulator on the land!", he said, raising his arm and pointing at the throne room's ceiling with one finger. "I understand you have worries about the darkness spreading in Lumin, and the hellish creatures that might come out sooner or later. Well, know that with me by your side, your Highness nor your people will have to fear anything. I will do my best to abide by your orders, as long as this group does not make me angry..." Volcannon then stepped back to let the others present themselves, but tripped with one of the many servants in the throne room. That made him lose his balance, and one of his potions fell off his Potion Belt. "Careful, boy!", he shouted as he barely managed to catch the bottle, preventing it from hitting the mosaic floor. "If one of this things drops here, we would be toast in seconds, so watch where you walk, idiot!" The scared youngling ran off very fast, letting a scream rise and echo in the halls. "Hehe, anger management issues", and Volcannon laughed, but he recovered quickly. But the King warned hm again with another look... [i][color="#FF0000"]I better be careful from now on...[/color][/i], Volcannon thought.

[Magnet Soldier]

Michael sighed at Volcannon's outrageous attitude and shook his head. He ignored the guild leader, walking towards the centre of the room and bowing to the King. "Good day to you, King Renaldo. I believe you remember me. It wasn't that long since we last met. I seem to remember that you stopped your guards from attempting to kill me. Not that they would have succeeded, but I still believe I should repay the favour. I dont believe you need me to introduce myself, but I will for the sake of the others you've recruited." With this, Michael turned around, standing up. He was quite tall, and towered above over half of the people in the room. However, there were a few giants, bearing giant Axes and Maces. However, he was sure he could deal with them if needs be. He bowed quickly to the crowd, before introducing himself. "My name is Michael Sermon. I am the person who notified the king of the spreading darkness in Lumin. I am also the only student of the last Swordmage in Gregnir. I also broke through the castle defences to see the king, and actually got into the throne room unharmed, so I'm tougher than I look." Michael said this last part with a smile, glad to see the shocked expressions on a lot of the faces in the crowd, many being the giants with the maces and axes. "Well, there you are. Your highness." He bowed to the king and walked to the side of the crowd, satisfied with the reactions.

"I hoped you'd say something like that." Randell said, a grin spreading across his face. "Although the fact that I cant go alone kind of disappoints me. Halves the fun, y'see. Never mind. I'll get to test a new summoning. I've found some nice secrets that my Mayveraka's Ahriman's can do." Randell sighed and let go of his Knife. It stopped purring instantly, though the eye on the hand guard was shifting about, staring at the man in the shadows and at Nowaki. Randell, however, was staring at the ceiling. He yawned and faced the man in the shadows. "Well, If we're going, lets go." He said, smiling again and walking out of the door, not bothering to check if Nowaki was following. "I hate teams." He muttered, walking to a stable like hall, where he walked to a dark black horse with wings folded into it's sides. "Let's go, Netherchilde." He whispered, jumping into the saddle atop the horse and muttering under his breath. The horse trotted over to a small hole in the walls just big enough for a horse and rider. Randell and his horse galloped through the hole into a long tunnel, which, at the end, emerged into the desert lands of Lumin. "Towards Gregnir!" Randell shouted. Netherchilde answered with a loud whinney that almost sounded like a roar, and started to gallop faster than a car, running at roughly 80 miles per hour.

[Serenity the Candyman]

The King did not expect such a 'rambunctious' crowd of people. No, he envisioned more of the kind of men like him, Serious and knowing that the situation at hand was no laughing matter. [i]Cumin, where in the world did you find such people. Well, must not judge a book by its cover.[/i] Looking over to Micheal, he nodded then said with the most stern of face, "You think just because you can brake into here means that you have what it takes to face what comes out of the Hell that was once Lumin?" Then turning to the crowd he continued "And what about you out there wanting to face the Evil? I have ask for your help today not because I wanted you to face the Evil. I could do that with ease. No, I have summoned you here today because Gregnir and Lumin needs to be saved before its too late. I know not one person in this room is able to do this alone. But together, There is nothing that can stop you. Now the first thing I think I should do is group you into teams." Renaldo turned to Cumin, who had just entered the room with Jerome. "My Greatest Adviser, Cumin, will be the one that will you exactly what to expect and supply you with whatever you need to help you on the Quest I have laid out in front of you." The King then nodded to Cumin.

"Ah, yes, the Evil isnt just what you call your standard evil. Many, many people have sacrificed themselves to stop it and failed. With recent information that we have received, There are three main 'beings' that seem to be in charge of the Evil. Little information is known about the three, but I will try to provide as much as can on the three." Cumin said and then brought out a piece of material. "One is said to be a Dragon like Creature that has been told to strike the very soul. Another rides the land and is considered the Nightmare of Lumin, no light follows after his appearance. Lastly, the third hasnt made a appearance but our scouts are sure there are three and if the three are killed, the Evil should be destroyed. Simple, no?" Cumin smiled at the crowd.

[Magnet Soldier]

"I do hope I'm the Nightmare, because I've made more than a big enough appearence in Gregnir, and I'm pretty sure I'm not a dragon." A shadow said from the rafters. It jumped down, alarming everyone. However, it turned out it was just a shadow, A doppelganger, of Randell. "This is just a clone, but I think you'll find it suitable entertainment." From the shadow erupted a fit of laughter, before Michael launched on it from behind, his blade coming inches away from the doppelgangers neck. "Nice try kid." The clone said, before blurring out of vision. The ground on which it stood was charred, and when Michael landed upon it, he jumped away, his foot on fire. "Be careful where you step kid." The clone said, as Michael landed infront of it. Michael turned around quickly, but was too late, and was hit across the side of the face with the clone's hand. Michael groaned, but landed on both feet. "Stupid clone. FIRE!" Michael shouted, a small fire ball shooting from his hand. The clone managed to dodge it, again, but only just. I seemed that magic was it's weakness.

Randell laughed at the kid's attempts at defeating the clone. Randell was glad he had thought of leaving one in the castle, making it follow Uinen inside. Although the clone provided entertainment on the boring journey to Gregnir, it was only like a Video game, it wasn't as fun as a proper fight.

[Venom]

"So, you like to play, bag of scum? Play with me and BUUUURN!", Volcannon raged. "Burning Lance!", he shouted, igniting his lance from his hand and throwing it with incredible wrath. "Take this scum!", as the spiraling torch landed on the clone and burst into flame... Volcannon waited... He took out one bottle from his Potion Belt, just in case that attack wasnt enough. "Cmon, filth, come out and fight! Or are you too scared in my presence?... I knew it, useless COWARD!". Volcannon liked to taunt his enemies to make them fight more and more.

[Serenity the Candyman]

"ENOUGH!" Renaldo shouted and a long, double bladed axe appeared in one of his hands while a massive ball of energy formed in the other. "I find it really annoying that you have the audacity to interupt my meeting! Infinite Dance of Zerom, 1st Strike!" The King swung the ax in circle around his head and threw the ball of Energy into the path of the spinnig ax. When the ax was hit with the energy, The ax began to glow as if it absorbed the energy and the King threw it at the clone. Then, to everyone's surprise, the King ran past the ax as it flew like a speeding arrow. The King stopped behind the clone and caught the ax as the clone dodged it. Grabbing the clone, He took the ax and ripped right through the clone with ease. "Never let your guard down!"

[Magnet Soldier]

[spoiler=OOC]Dont test Randell, Venom. [/spoiler]

"You are no Fun, your Highness." The clone said as it evaporated. Before it evaporated though, it muttered something and Volcannon's Burning Lance stopped, turned around and launched itself back at Volcannon, twice as hard and ten times as strong. Noone could dodge it. However, it stopped just before it touched Volcannon's throat, pinning the 'kid'(He would be a Kid to Randell) against the wall, unable to move. A Cloud of smoke appeared above it, Randell's face imbedded into it, the eye's piercing Volcannon's very soul and causing a bead of sweat to erupt on Volcannon's fore head. "You are but a child to me. I'm going to warn you once and once only, you are going to [i]die[/i] if you continue. You have already annoyed me, being too cocky. Dont get on the bad side of me. You are a pawn in a plan much bigger than you can imagine, and are replacable to the king, as you are a bug to me. That was your strongest move - dont lie to me, I know - so you wouldn't stand a chance against me. You would die before you could take in a single breath." As if to enunciate this point, a small knife erupted from the smoke, quicker than a blur, and slashed Volcannon's cheek before anyone could imagine what was going on. "If it wasn't for your king, you would be dead already. I'll be back soon." The cloud muttered, before exploding, covering Volcannon from head to foot in soot, and leaving him shocked. The Burning Lance had disappeared. A single Echo of a laugh was left behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael shuddered, shocked from what had just happened. He'd never seen the king's power before, and never wanted to face his wrath, only just realising what could have happened had the king took his breaking into the throne room in the wrong way. Michael was petrified, though he doubted he was as scared as Volcannon, who he now felt sorry for, even if he had been very rude earlier. He sighed as he shook his head, flicking his fingers to make the fireball which was now spiralling the ceiling disappear. "Well, that was......weird." He said, trying to elevate the atmosphere. But since the floor was singed, the walls were no better, the king was in a rage and one guy was stuck against a wall terrified, Michael guessed it wouldn't work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Randell laughed as his cloud left. "If they had that much trouble with a clone, I wonder how they'd fare with the real one fighting them." He mused, stopping his horse as it approached the border of Lumin and Gregnir. He looked back to see if he could see Nowaki in the distance.

[Lord of Chaos]

Uinen still down on one knee kept his face down and under his mask he was shocked, this had all happened in an instant and Uinen was almost in the middle of it. He twitched and stood, the king could have tore him to pieces if he wanted to, but why didn't he? Uinen was no friend to the kingdom, he was more of an enemy if anything. He had stolen from most everyone in the kingdom and slain countless others for an amount in gold, Uinen truthfully should be hung, but this quest for the king might be seen as atonement for all of his ill deeds against those he had wronged. Uinen looked to Volcannon who's own flaming lance had been thrown back at him, he felt sorry for the boy, who was no doubtingly stunned with fear

[Venom]

Volcannon was frozen in place, unable to move or even talk. [color="#FF0000"][i]Years and years of training to master the fiery arts and he...., h-he.. simply nullified one of my most powerful techniques... negated...[/i][/color], he was too shocked to continue, and fell to the floor, his Potion Belt ripped apart by that misterious knife that slashed his cheek, all bottles spreading wide. He managed to catch one healing potion and drank it, and his slashed cheek healed in an instant. However, he was no longer able to stay awake, and fainted...
He dreamed of his years of training, countless hours manipulating flaming rocks and molten magma pools inside the many halls of Maficon Volcano, of the vilage that rejected him because of his special condition... And he kept on dreaming, while on the outside some people gathered to help him.

[Serenity the Candyman]

The man of the Shadows walked down the tower staircase till he came to a section of the wall that was a bit off color than the rest. Anyone trying to find this wall had to be look very intently to find it. Touching the wall with one finger at the center, the wall seemed to be absorbed by the finger, revealing a hole that had a black aura to it. The man stepped through the hole when it was large enough and entered a room that was behind the wall. His eyes began sweeping the room for something as he moved about. Then, stopping in front of a table, he saw ehat he was looking for. There on the table was a glass ball that was made of a very cloudy material. Taking the ball, he set fire to the center of the room and threw the ball at the fire. Immediatly the scene at Renaldo's castle was seen through the fire, clear as day.

~~~~~~~~~

Renaldo stood back and said to the young warriors, "Though he may hve been Evil, He was speaking the truth. You need to strengthen yourself so when the day comes when you actually fight one these men, You'll be ready." After saying this, he threw the ax into the air and it dissappered, as though it never existed. " It safe to say that our opponent knows of this meeting and we must quickly get you ready. Cumin, it is time!" With this, two doors open from behind the throne, blinding those that looked.

~~~~~~~~~

[i]That fool![/i] thought the man of the Shadows, [i] If he didn't atack so early, I might have gathered more information about the King's 'Releif'. Not that it worries me. It seems now would be the best to start the other phase of my master plan.[/i] Now ignoring the fire, he picked up a small cube from the table amd threw it to the floor. Upon contact with the floor, the cube open to reveal a 6 ft hologram of a well dressed man of some sort of military.

The man became startled at the fact the he was in the presence of a great man. "My Lord, What do I owe the pleasure to be able to talk with you?"

"Major Kraymin, It is time to start."

The Major nodded and said, " When shall you be ready for us to go through Wormhole?"

"Do not worry about that. I will contact you when it has opened. Until then, be ready on your side."

"I Understand, My Lord." Bowing his head, the hologram shut off. The man of the Shadows smiled and began preparing.

~~~~~~~~~

Cumin stepped up in front of the hole the doors made and began speaking, "Now you know the Evil is no joke. Your job is simple, but not easy. Are you Ready?"

[Serenity the Candyman]

The Door that had open wide was filled with a kinds of supplies that could be used for the Journey ahead of them. Jars and jars of many kinds of liquids are on shelves, their labels telling the user its contents. Food appeared in small bags, with the help of science and magic, and was noted that all one needed to restore the food to its regular size was add water. Cumin looked around at the warriors as they examined the items that were there on the tables and making remarks, like: "Yes this one can start a fire..." and " Creates smoke from grass, good for cover!"