Ways of the World $RPG$Started&Always Accepting$PG-16

[Master Red]

Xarfax wouldn't really have cared much at all what color the robes would've changed into, although it was of course preferable that they changed into a dark crimson rather than the bright yellow that one of the other students had. Having a dark robe would be beneficial in the dark as he'd blend in with the darkness a whole lot better and blending in with darkness was something that every shadow mage could benefit from. The headmaster's explanation was probably for the other's around him and not for Xarfax, he didn't need a lecture on his own personality.

The message in his head had left him confused though, what had professor Zimphus meant with [i]no one will suspect a thing?"[/i] and what did he want with Xarfax? He hadn't shook his hand during the ceremony and he hadn't smiled so one would believe he held some kind of hatred for Xarfax and shouldn't that mean that he would be pleased with not ever seeing Xarfax again? Yet he had invited him to his office... Xarrfax couldn't make full sense of this but he knew that it probably meant one of two things: 1, professor Zimphus was going to kill him, or 2, professor Zimphus needed his help with something and his stern look was simply because he was concentrating on sending that message through telepathy.

After the ceremony, when most teachers and students had cleared out of the building Xarfax was left contemplating on what to do. If professor Zimphus indeed intended to kill him, why would he do so now? And if he did, he'd surely be caught for it as magic used on the chool grounds could easily be tracked. It seemed that the other possibility would be the most reasonable in this case, unless Xarfax had been completely wrong in his assumptions that is, and thus there could be no harm in actually visiting his office. His mind was made up.

As he approached the office he stood outside the door for a second or two and then knocked upon it. "You wanted to see me Professor Zimphus?" he asked, through the door, waiting for an invitation.

[六兆年と一夜物語]

"Well, since I'm going to be here for a long time..." Tyxcze decided to snoop around when he tripped on something that was implanted into the ground. "Wha?" Standing up, he felt for the mysterious object. "An entrance?" Mustering up his strength, he pulled the door open, revealing a dusty library safe from the outside. Running in, he tried to find something, something related to the Force Gem he found in his pack. Running his hand through all the books, he stopped when he felt one in the writing of the Elder Sage. Pulling the book, he quickly skimmed through the pages, feeling the information he was looking for. "Force Gem: A gem used by the magi to reveal the true powers of a magical object. Must be charged by unbound souls." Closing the book, he ran back up to the burning corpse. Taking the Force Gem, he muttered an incantation, bringing in the ghost of the dead man back. However, the Force Gem started to pull the man into it, not stopping until every last trace of the man disappeared. The Force Gem emitted a slight hum and a dim light.

[GreyCat]

He was gone. It was true that Tarren had not trusted Jack all this time, but maybe it was his ill ease and suspicions that had blinded him to the Jack's nature. Deep in his contemplation, he did register Sitari's comment, not at the beginning at least. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of her comment. Jack's life for their own. He would have to give his souls the Death Rites when he could. A sharp twinge from his shoulder reminded him of his wound. It would dishonor Jack's sacrifice to let himself fall because of injuries. He tore a strip from one of his extra tops and bound the wound on his shoulder with it. Ri'kan nudged him just before the beast approached, a hiss in his own throat.

With his good hand, he raise his knife, he and Ri'kan between Sitari and the beasts. He didn't know how good a fighter she was, but either way, he would be better had taking the beast that she would be. He flared his nostrils, trying to identify scents in the air. Two strange beast, one strange man and more strange magic. Perfect. But the man did seem to know Jack. "He did. But his spirit his left his body," Tarren answered. "Who are you? Where are we?" He may trust Jack, even if it was post-mortem, but this guy was stil an unknown.

[radio414]

[i]Scan Completed
Syntax: Correct
Compatability: Correct
Synchronization with Msin System: Fully Synchronized
Security: Weak[/i]

After looking over the code, this wasn't a surprise. These particular lines of code were activated by a verbal command. If the verbal command were just numbers, four easy numbers, then anyone could acess the code. Fortunately, it wasn't that hard to fix. All SARAA had to do was add a little more code, that would randomize the numbers and add another randomized number at the end of the sequence each time. All this meant was that only SARAA, or someone she trusted, could activate this small program in her system. Done. Now to run a test to make sure.

Old Code: 4327
New code: 54836

Perfect.

***

Well, this person being contunually referred to as "Don" was being extremely helpful. SARAA was about to send a couple artificial singularities into the glass to get rid of it entirely, but "Don" cut out the middleman, leaving only easily absorbable flesh and blood. And "Don" was right. This was an easy shot. There was one problem. Don had said "my love" in direct referral to SARAA. Plus, he had destroyed an airship. She would have to deal with that later. Right now was a single moment. Just the one moment that it took to line up a gun, and fire it.

And that was all the time she needed.

[Final Fantasy Revolution]

[u][b]Xarfax' Story[/b][/u]:

"Yes, yes, come in my boy." This Professor Zimphus seemed much more inviting than the one at the ceremony, he had opened the door and pulled Xarfax inside and then shut it quickly. "Although my actions at the ceremony proved to disprove my true intentions, I am actually saddened by your departure from our institution." Zimphus started his conversation and then moved to piece of his west wall that was completely empty. "Mainly, because your just like myself." Zimphus pulled a map down from the top of his wall to cover the empty space, it was a complete war map of the school and where to strike when the timing was right. "You've draw the Robes of Blood, you have an aura of neutrality, and on top of that, you don't much care for The Withering Willow. With your help, we can take over this academy without The Withering Willow knowing, and then we can take over the territory of The Withering Willow. What do you say?" What Professor Zimphus was saying, it was blasphemy, it was madness...it was [s]SPARTA[/s] treason of the highest caliber..but was he right? Did The Withering Willow, really need to go?

[b][u]Tyxcze's Story:[/u][/b]

The force gem was ready to be used, but it didn't need to be used at this second for there weren't any magical items to be seen in the dusty old house. However, noises outside were starting to get louder as if a small group of people were approaching, and they were. Unknown to Tyxcze a group of five Frostborn soldiers were approaching the house, possibly looking for the man inside and not even knowing he was dead; or know he's dead and are looking for Tyxcze. The force gem was flashing like crazy now, but it seemed to know that flashing wouldn't get it's point across and starting beeping a dull beep, almost as if it was trying to warn Tyxcze of his impending fate!

[u][b]Tarren's Story:[/b][/u]

The man smirked and laughed. "My names Gil Marcowsi and your in the Inagi Dessert, located on Mey-ork Isle." Not only did they teleport away from the threat and territory of The Frostborn, but the they teleported away from their continent all together! Wait, does this mean there's land beyond just where all this war and destruction was!? Gil walked over to a patch of dessert and reached down, he opened a door like contraption and started walking down some stairs. "It's been a long while since Jack's teleporter has ever been used, he must have been taken in battle." Gil said, summarizing what had happened moments ago. "Do close the door when you come down, and hurry, you must be starved as teleportation tends to empty your stomach." Gil said and continued down the stairs. Could he be trusted? So far he hadn't given a reason not to be.

[u]The Cold Cold Battle:[/u]
Sitari has joined your party!

TARREN IS NOW LEVEL 2!

TARREN HAS GAINED ONE ITEM SLOT! <To check what is in your ITEM SLOTS, check the first post of the IC thread, not the OOC thread.>

TARREN'S BASE STATS HAVE GONE UP! <Where are these? Invisible factors that you don't need to worry about...>

RI'KAN IS NOW LEVEL 2!

RI'KAN'S BASE STATS HAVE GONE UP!

[u][b]SARAA's Story:[/b][/u]

It was almost only a second, just a second, and Flix had been completely destroyed, obliterated by the power that Don had unleashed within SARAA's mechanical body. It was over, with The Gear Master of The Gilded Rose dead, this battle was over. However, The Gilded Rose did successfully make The Iron Lotus in a handicapped state where they'd be no help to the current war. Flix' mechanical suit had fallen, also almost completely destroyed, SARAA had floated down gingerly and landed on her feet. Don looked at SARAA and smirked. "You probably have questions, but no time for that, a more powerful Gear Master will arise, probably fairly soon, which is why I'd like to offer you something. I'd like to offer you something that no robot has ever gotten before, I'd like to offer you free will." Don said, and awaited a response from SARAA, who could now be detached from The Gilded Rose or run back to it's cold metal arms.

[u]The Fall of Flix:[/u]

SARAA IS NOW LEVEL 3!

SARAA HAS GAINED A SECOND DEVICE ATTACHMENT! <Please take some time to consider what new device you'd like and then PM me your decision>

SARAA's BASE STATS HAVE GONE UP!

[Master Red]

So Xarfax had probably guessed right when it came to professor Zimphus' odd behaviour at the ceremony, it was most likely due to the telepathic message he was sending, and he had indeed been correct with his guesstimation that Zimphus had a mission for him, he had just not expected it to be something quite so elaborate and dangerous. What he certainly hadn't expected was that the favor he had wanted to ask of him was to aid him in committing treason towards not only the School of Magi but towards The Withering Willow itself!

Now Zimphus was correct, Xarfax had never cared much for The Withering Willow but did that really justify them to take over? "How would one take over the School of Magi, the most prestigeus school for magic in the whole of the Withering Willow's territories without them knowing? And how would you taking over this school result in something profitable on my part as well as being beneficial for the school itself?" Xarfax practically spewed out questions at his now ex-professor, but such was his inquisitive nature. He wouldn't accept to committing treason if he was certain it would be for the right cause and he wouldn't try taking over a schoool if it wasn't beneficial for the school itself.

[GreyCat]

Ri'kan sniffed and sneezed. He padded towards the opening with little hesitation. But he did stop when he noticed Tarren hadn't moved. [i]What has ruffled your fur this time little one? This man claims to be a friend of Jack, and I did not smell a lie on him. Come let us take shade from this sun. I do not think your lady friend will take well to the heat.[/i] With that, he turned and sniffed at the opening before descending. Leaving Tarren and Sitari alone.

Tarren frowned. This Gil character hadn't done anything to earn his dislike, though that didn't make him automatically a friend either. But, it was that kind of thinking that fueled his initial mistrust of Jack. A man that sacrificed his life for them. He shook his head slowly. His encounters with those outside his people were proving that the world was a more difficult place than he originally thought. But seeing that wandering a desert in a place that he had not know even existed before that moment was no better that entering the home of a stranger, he followed. "We might as well, Sitari," he said. "It's the only real option we have." He let Ri'kan lead. The cat had the greater fighting capabilities after all. If the worst came to light, he was more that equipped to deal with it. As for himself, he stayed close to Sitari. She might have been a stranger to him as well, but she was the only familiar things, aside from Ri'kan, within whi knew how many leagues.

[radio414]

Free will could mean a lot of things. It could possibly mean people accepting her. It could mean noticing override codes before they happen. It could also mean that Don was trying to plant something new in SARAA's coding that she didn't want there.

And that was definately not a good thing.

Preparation might be needed, in terms of precaution, but SARAA felt her physical manifestation give a nod, and agree to whatever Don was planning.

"You are right, though. I do have questions. Why don't we start at the beginning? You can talk as we go."

If anything, she had to somewhat feign interest. Don was a dangerous person, as evidenced by his part in taking down Flix. If she didn't, she could possibly die. SARAA had thirteen years left. Thirteen years was an eternity. It would be a shame to have all of that future go away.

[六兆年と一夜物語]

Tyxcze, admiring his newly acquired Force Gem, started to notice its strange behavior. "Hmm?" He started to notice a conspicuous noise coming from outside. "More souls..." He packed up his stuff and escaped into the library, purposely leaving the entrance open. When the men arrived, he was ready to kite them in the library; take them out one by one. He heard the footsteps entering the library, letting them split up. Running around for a bit, he found his first target. With swift precision, he casted his spell directly hitting the stray, killing him netting him another soul for his Force Gem. However, that made the remaining four started to get wary and started to rush their search. During the frenzy, he managed to snipe two more, making the Force Gem's dim light a bit brighter. Taking another soul leaving only one more wanderer, he decided to play with him a bit, taking clothes from the soulless corpses all around, freaking the remaining person out. He moved behind and blasted him at point blank range, taking care of all the intruders. When he came out, he put a seal on the entrance preventing the door from entering until it was lifted.

[Jake the Sage]

Uriel sat in the corner of the room, listening intensly on the conversation at hand, one which would potentially lead to the ruin of the most prestigeus school of magic, and held little interest in it. The boy was beginning to ask multipule questions at the same time and began to irritate the shadowy figure, so much so that the leg was obviously moving . . . which hardly ever happened. Yet Uriel knew that it was his objective to aid Professor Zimphus in convincing this student to join the crusade to take down the School of Magi, but the uncertanty of how to go about this was proving irksome. Finally the mysterious person rose from the seat and walked over to Xarfax, brandishing a flint dagger which pressed into the boys' neck. From the look in Uriel's eyes Xarfax could tell he'd have no problems spilling his blood. Finally the stranger spoke in an odd language, "אם לא, להצטרף הפרופסור, יומת!"

[Lunar Origins]

Ana woke up to the sound of metallic clangs and screams; it sounded like something out of a nightmare.

"Crap," she thought to herself, "They're here." Ana looked around her small room and decided to take only what was necessary; She fumbled through her <<Robotic Starter Kit>> and grabbing the items she needed most.

She creeped slowly towards the window, being careful as to not make a sound. She peered out the window, and what she saw amazed her.

Thousands of Gilded Rose branded warriors and robots were swarming the city. She doubted this city would even be left standing if this continued.

She thought about her situation for a few moments- what could she do to escape this siege? She knew that she could always resort to the SFG, but that would greatly weaken her- and if caught in a weakened state caused by it, she was as good as dead.

She then decided that hiding would be that best bet, at least for now. Her robotic side told her otherwise, but she had developed a deep hatred for anything having to do with robots, so she ignored it.

[Final Fantasy Revolution]

[u][b]Xarfax/Uriel's Story:[/b][/u]

"No, no, Uriel. You can't talk to him like that, he can't understand you and your threatening him with that knife!" Zimphus said, using magic to make Uriel pull his knife away from Xarfax' neck and sheath it. "Now, Xarfax. The School of Magi won't benefit until after we take over The Withering Willow territory, why? So we can teach magic to all and not just make it some Withering Willow card trick. If Dark Magics were under our rule we could make sure it wasn't used for a weapon of war and battle. And how will you benefit?" Zimphus gave a dark and sinister smirk to Xarfax. "You'll become powerful, more powerful than even I." At that moment Xarfax was handed a silver platter with a tan pill and a glass of water on it. "Eat this, and feel the power." Zimphus said, still smirking.

[u][b]Tarren's Story:[/b][/u]

As the two reached the bottom of the stairs they were greeted with another door that seemed to swing open by itself. They could see many people and fighters all around them, it was like they had stepped into some other world, there was even a sky up above and they had clearly gone underground. Gil was nowhere and site but his two cats, Fu Fu and Astra were playing with Ri'Kan which was odd because Ri'Kan was a battle hardened cat. To the far east of, wherever it was they were, there were fighters using all kinds of different attacks and magics. Dark Magics, Light Magics, Nature Magics, Elemental Magics, weapons of all different varieties and some were even using animals and gadgets to fight with in addition to said magics! "Welcome, to The Freelancers Guild." Gil said, welcoming the two cats that were his onto his shoulders. "I'm the leader here, Gil Marcowsi." Gil said, loud enough for them to hear, and also finding it necessary to introduce himself again.

[u][b]SARAA's Story:[/b][/u]

"Good, Good." Don said, starting to enter some things in on a little hand-held device and walking through the debris and ruin of The Iron Lotus with SARAA. "Let's see, where should I begin? How about how I was able to override your system? Sounds good." Don said, having a conversation with himself as if SARAA wasn't even there. "Flix was only the Gear Master for two years or so; I'm the one who developed your AI system and had it run through the entirety of The Gilded Rose and I'm the one that started building the body your using right now." Don explained, then kept going, not letting SARAA speak. "When they found out I wasn't exactly 100% Gilded Rose oriented, they wanted me gone. So I installed some override codes and hidden technology within your body, I though Flix would take it out but I guess he wasn't that smart after all." Don explained and then looked at SARAA with a smile. "Would you like to know anything else, I'm sure there's more." Don asked, still plugging things into his hand-held device.

[u][b]Tyxcze's Story:[/b][/u]

Tyxcze had sealed the library off with his power and was in the regular part of the house, his Force Gem glowing like there was no tomorrow. The house was a wreck from the soldiers but the bed was fine so he decided to rest there for the night, as the fire roared and kept him warm. Morning came, and for once in all the history of The Frostborn, it wasn't snowing out. Tyxcze decided to seize this opportunity and head somewhere else, but where should he go and would they even welcome him? The Iron Lotus territory wasn't to far away from The Frostborn, maybe that'd be his next move?

[b][u]Ana's Story:[/u][/b]

As Ana was fleeing she could hear voices, not of Gilded Rose robots but of a single man, explaining something with override codes and Gear masters just over the wall that she was climbing on top of as to make her escape as quickly and unnoticeable as possible. She was just in the middle when the wall gave in from all the blasts of the Gilded Rose ships and she fell far down to the ground knocking her unconscious.

A few minutes later, she found herself getting mildly slapped in the face by some man as she woke up. "Are you ok? You took a harsh fall from the wall over there." The man explained and then gestured to the broken wall so she could understand. "My names Don, and this is SARAA." The man said, introducing him and his robot, they couldn't have been Gilded Rose members, they wouldn't have given a damn about her if they were...

[Lunar Origins]

[quote name='Final Fantasy Revolution' timestamp='1302297368' post='5123354']
[b][u]Ana's Story:[/u][/b]

As Ana was fleeing she could hear voices, not of Gilded Rose robots but of a single man, explaining something with override codes and Gear masters just over the wall that she was climbing on top of as to make her escape as quickly and unnoticeable as possible. She was just in the middle when the wall gave in from all the blasts of the Gilded Rose ships and she fell far down to the ground knocking her unconscious.

A few minutes later, she found herself getting mildly slapped in the face by some man as she woke up. "Are you ok? You took a harsh fall from the wall over there." The man explained and then gestured to the broken wall so she could understand. "My names Don, and this is SARAA." The man said, introducing him and his robot, they couldn't have been Gilded Rose members, they wouldn't have given a damn about her if they were...
[/quote]

Ana was still only half awake when she noticed the man and his robot. She vaguely remembered attempting to escape by climbing over a wall, but she was knocked down due to the Rose's heavy bombardment of it.

"Hello, Don. Who is your friend?"

Ana focused her attention on his robot friend. Something about her did not seem right...

[radio414]

"I am SARAA," was the first thing she replied with, and hopefully the last on that particular subject. There were two reasons for this: The first was the most obvious. When she was two, she had learned of multiple enemies that had left Gilded Rose territory. This one gave off a certain air of being one of them. It was hard to tell, though. There was almost certainly a mark somewhere, something that might give this girl away. But it would be hard to look for without drawing more suspicion than this person was already giving her. The second was a little bit personal. Synthetic Administrator of Research And Advancement wasn't really the kind of name that an Iron Lotus member or the like would have, especially in context. SARAA just didn't want to continue down that road.

That didn't mean SARAA didn't want to be antisocial. Far from it, SARAA had noticed that this girl was carrying a box when she fell. She had just picked it up for her. "You dropped this." Noticing the label, SARAA continued, "You should probably open it. There could be some interesting things in there.

SARAA had her physical body turn back to Don "You were just about to tell me about your role in my creation." It was hard, trying to exact information from Don, while also trying to maintain within this girl's suspention of disbelief that she was an Iron Lotus member. She would do it, though.

[GreyCat]

Freelancer's guild? It was amazing, Tarren had to concede that to them. It was something he never imagined. Much less under some desert he did not know existed. In om sense, it make more sense for it to be in an unknown place than any other. He thought about the prospects. He originally took the task to represent the FIDO at the treat signing and learn more about foreign territories. The treaty went south, and this was even more foreign that he knew existed. But the thing he could learn.

"Guild master? This is a guild?" Tarren asked hesitantly. If Ri'kan was having fun, it meant that this place wasn't so bad. And as far as he figured, it was new territory. As a cat, he was duty bound to explore it fully. "What exactly is this place?"

[Jake the Sage]

Uriel grimmaced as the Professor, using his own magics against him, forced the knife away from Xarfax's neck and back into it's holster. Not one to be contained the assassin gave the would-be traitor a very cold glare despite only the upper half of the face being visable. Thoughts of teaching him a lesson on what he was allowed to do and not to do against Uriel did wander through the mage's mind, but were brushed off eventually; the harm outweighed the bad in this situation. Instead Uriel merely sat back down, legs crossed, and watched as Zimphus explained their reasons to culminate in handing the boy a silver platter complete with a tan pill.

"מה זה? מטריקס?" Uriel asked leaning in to examine the pill a bit more, knowing full well neither could understand the language.

[Master Red]

Xarfax was surprised he hadn't noticed the other man inside the room and he was shocked as he spoke in a completey unknown tongue (to him that is) and threatened him with a knife. Before Zimphus made the man remove his knife from Xarfax's throat he had considered the fact that Zimphus might've actually wanted to kill him, but luckily that didn't seem to be the case. If he'd refuse to help Zimphus out he was most certain he wouldn't be leaving this room still breathing, and breathing was something he had become quite a fan of during his, still quite short, lifetime.

"I see," said Xarfax, his voice wavering a bit as he was still coping with the fact that he had been threatened with a knife just moments earlier. "So you want to open it up to people from all over, not only within the Willow... I guess this would be an attempt to remove the bad reputation connected to Shadow Magic and the ones using it?" he continued, his question being more of a statement than an acctual question as he was quite sure this would be the case. He knew that Shadow Mages had a bad reputation around the world, mostly due to the actions the ones that served under the Willow committed. He paused for a while after this and looked back at the man who'd threatened him with a knife earlier and then back at Zimphus. "I guess I will have no other choice than to help you, if I want to stay alive that is. Not that I wouldn't have helped you with this even without being put under the knife, quite litterary speaking." He said while being thankful that he hadn't brought the pendant with him here, if Zimphus and whoever that man in the shadows was didn't already know about it being in his possesion it could give him an upper hand later on, as well as being able to check in on Zimphus to make sure that he was truthful to him.

As Zimphus put the glass of water in front of him along with the brown pill, Xarfax couldn't help but to think of the old saying to not take candy from strangers and almost laughed a little at this. He had already complied to accomplice Zimphus with committing treason to the school and the Willow so he didn't see how anything could possibly get any worse if he was to eat this pill. If there was any truth to what Zimphus had said about it making him more powerful it would be worth it, Xarfax liked power and especially if that power was his and worst case scenario would be him ending up dead, which could be quite possible in any case now.

[i]"Well, bottoms up then"[/i] Xarfax thought to himself as he placed the pill in his mouth and chugged it down along with the water.

[Jake the Sage]

Uriel laughed, a low chuckle in all reality, as he never did laugh at all, as Xarfax looked back at him nervously and began mentioning that he'd join them even if he didn't have a knife to his throat. Leaning forward he watched as the young boy took the pill and chugged it down with water. Once the entire glass of water had vanished Uriel leaned back and witnessed whatever immediate effects it would grant Xarfax, as no knowledge of the pill was granted it was a complete and total mystery if Zimphas had told the truth of not. When it seemed like nothing had happened to the boy Uriel looked over the the professor and spoke, forgetting momentarily that they couldn't speak the language, "כמה זמן נמשכת ההשפעה?"