Talon

[color=teal]Um....Tsukasa, thieves have NO magic. Stealth is not a magic ability. It is a skill. As for acid tip, you could have a special vial with acid inside for dipping your dagger.[/color]

[i][color=crimson][b]Lodoss, the accursed island. Born in battle and baptized in fire, it has seen wars ravage its kingdoms for thousands of years. Now, a new evil permeates the mist shrouding the island, and it is up to a party of seven to ultimately spare the island from certain doom....[/i][/b][/color] [color=royal blue][i]It is many years hence that Parn fought and destroyed the Goddess of Destruction and her servant, Emperor Beld. The isle of Marmo seemingly no longer threatens the shores of Lodoss, which had come upon an uneasy, yet reliable, peace between the nations and races of Lodoss. However, in the mountain ranges, two ageless women have foreseen the coming of a new evil, but also a new good. The child born of a former hero would become an even truer hero than his father, but the closest one to him would become the one he must destroy in order to save his home......[/i] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [center][b]Races[/b][/center] [b]Human:[/b]Traditionally greedy, the humans tend to begin wars over land disputes or gold. They are hardy and strong, however, though they lack the patience, longevity, and understanding of elves all too often. Humans, however, have no feeling of ultimate superiority and in fact look up to the other races of Lodoss. Humans are exceptional in many areas of combat, though often they lack in druid knowledge. [b]High-Elf:[/b]Mainly skilled in magic for their lack of resilience, these elves are sometimes exceptional in combat. However, their extensive knowledge and longevity make them perfect for druid fields. Often, however, elven mages can turn the tide in a losing battle. The problem with elves, however, is that they often believe they are far better than humans and dwarves, though indeed this vanity is often their downfall. [b]Wood-Elf:[/b]The more peaceful, druid-like Wood-Elves embrace nature and the magic embedded within it. More attuned to physical combat when the need arises, they do sometimes call upon nature for help in most situations. Much tougher than their cousin High-elves, these elves do not study magic as deeply, though they do know a good deal. However, like their cousins, they have an extreme case of vanity. [b]Dwarves:[/b]The toughest race of Lodoss. Traditionally carrying large axes or extremely large sword, these hardy dwarves will only fight in hand-to-hand combat. Magic, to them, is somewhat of a curse, though they do employ many ancient and reliable magiks for protection or security in dwarven cities. Skilled at smithing and even in the arts, dwarves have one gaping flaw, however: temper. Though their longevity suggests patience, they lack it and the ability to control their red-hot tempers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [center][b]Classes:[/b][/center] [b]Knight/Valkyrie:[/b]Specializing in swords, axes, and daggers, these tough fighters wear strong metal armor for protection, though they sometimes fight without it. Agile and strong, they often baffle their opponents by moving at high speeds while wearing full platemail. Their special ability lies in their profiency to use a sword to perform magic, often calling out an elemental strike or using their swords as a focus-point. [b]Mage/Siren:[/b]Skilled with rods, staves, and daggers, these are usually the focus points for the many spells cast by the class. However, they can fight hand-to-hand should the need arise, and their chainmail or leather armor often backs them up. They cast only magical spells, avoiding nature-reliant spells. [b]Thief:[/b]Daggers, knives, and throwing weapons are this class' specialty. Fighting from the shadows and stealing whatever they can, they often rely on their own stealth to get out of sticky situations. Leather armor and a lack of magic decorates this class. [b]Druid/Druidess:[/b]Expert in both fighting and nature-magic, these fighters often wear leather armor with a cloak attached. They aren't too tough or strong, but their quickness and ability to call to nature for help are invaluable. [b]Barbarian/Amazon:[/b]Decorated in any kind of armor they can find, these warriors carry any kind of sharp or heavy weapons they can find, though it's usually a huge axe or sword. Lacking any judgement, they often rush into battle without thinking, though their strength and resilience often let them win. They have no magic ability whatsoever, but their unique "Berserk" ability makes up for it. [b]Sorcerer/Sorceress:[/b]Carrying only staves and rods, these powerful mages call on all aspects of magic to further their causes. Deadly in battle, they must stand far from the place of battle, however, or they risk getting slain, as the only protection they wear is usually a robe of some sort. [b]Phalanx/Diana:[/b]Spear-experts, they wear extremely heavy armor and move slowly. However, they are very deadly as frontline soldiers, twirling their spears so expertly they can remove an enemy soldier's armor and life without them even seeing it. They know only the magic within the spear, such as an "Earth Spear" or a "Lightning Pike", increasing the elemental force of their weapon and using it to harm multiple opponents at a time. Their strength is often dragged down by their lack of agility. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [center][b]Stats[/b][/center] [b]Name:[/b]Duh [b]Age:[/b]Ditto [b]Race:[/b]Choose from above [b]Class:[/b]Choose from above, I'd like to have ONE of each, but it's your choice [b]Appearance:[/b]Whatcha look like? [b]Connections to Past Heroes:[/b] (If any) [b]Bio:[/b]What's your life story up 'til now? [b]Equipment:[/b]Max of two main, two sub weapons, and armor [b]Magic:[/b](Only if you're a class with listed magical ability) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/color] This is my bio. NOTE that I am the ONLY Half-elf in the party. [color=teal][b]Name:[/b]Artem Halfelven [b]Age:[/b]79 (Looks about 18) [b]Race:[/b]Half-elf. Combination of human and high-elf. [b]Class:[/b]Knight [b]Appearance:[/b]See picture [b]Connections:[/b]Son of two warriors of the past age. [b]Bio:[/b]Artem was born of a lovely elf and a human knight, becoming the second half-elf, the first being his brother, in Lodoss for many eons, but that is all he knows about them. His father died in an attack by dark elves, and his mother was seperated from him and his brother, Ryth, when her father called her back to her home, a place where half-elves were unwelcome. She never returned, and the baby Artem was left in the care of a human family. He was raised, knowing his father was a legendary hero and, hoping to live up to that image of his father, began to train hard as a knight alongside his brother. As sparring partners with elven agility and human strength, they became Zaxon's strongest warriors. However, their desires were ultimately different. Artem began to travel Lodoss, hoping that he could find his mother, for he knew she still lived. He didn't even know her name. Upon his return to Zaxon, he found that his brother had gone off, making his way to the cursed island of Marmo. On finding this news, Artem took up his mother's Silhouette Rapier and a longsword, Fenix, he had made using the magics of the dwarven smithy and the power of the serene water and powerful fire. [b][u]Equipment:[/b][/u] [b]Fenix:[/b]Bearing the powers of water and fire, this sword is a favorite of Artem's. It holds enormous untapped power, waiting for Artem to use the blade at an emotional extreme..... [b]Silhouette Rapier:[/b]One of two, his mother carries the other. The blade, while extremely thin, is forged by a powerful magic, making it nearly unbreakable. Artem looks on it as a sign of the unbreakable bond between him and his mother, making it his most powerful weapon at times. [b]Crossbow:[/b]Utilized when stealth is required for the first strike, this is Artem's least favorite weapon. [b]Plate Armor:[/b]A relic left over from his father, and indeed his grandfather, this tough armor can resist the most painful of attacks. It has a large scar mark on the right side of the chest. [b][u]Magic:[/u][/b] [b]Vorpal Slash:[/b] A high-speed attack used with the Silhouette Rapier, this attack is aimed at the neck, the meaning to decapitate the victim. [b]Fire Slam:[/b]The hilt of Fenix glows brightly, at which point Artem brings it down upon the opponent's skull, engulfing them in a ten-second long flame that usually leaves painful burns on the opponent. [b]Ice Slash:[/b]Fenix trails ice across the air, spraying the opponent with large shards of ice.[/color]

[color=teal]Umm.....first off, I'd never think of getting her a paperweight. Second.....since WHEN do people SERIOUSLY take Seinfeld's dating advice???? Third....I'm planning on horseback riding and then a dinner at Bennigan's.......I'm just not sure I have enough cash for it....[/color]

[color=teal]My girlfriend and I are approaching the six-month anniversary, which is a record for me. I want to give her something special, something she'd go ga-ga over...... But I don't know what to get. It has to be especially worthy of her seeing as how we got together on Valentine's Day, two weeks after her birthday..... Can anyone give me a tip on what to give her? I seriously am not used to this kind of thing.[/color]

[color=royal blue][b]Night.[/b] Time when sorrow comes. I often dream of you. Yet you're not here. My bed lies empty. My hand grows cold. Tears slip from my eyes. I know you'll be back. I know you'll hold me. But I still miss you. I can't hear your laughter. I can't feel your kiss. I can't see the stars in your eyes. Starlight above in the dark sky. I can't see it without you. I don't want to be without you. [b]Day.[/b] You're back. Your laughter soothes my soul. Your hug caresses my pain. Your hand warms mine. Your eyes brighten mine. Your kiss strengthens my heart. The pain of last night.... Will be the pain of tonight. Why do you have to go? Every night, I cry again. Every night, the stars shine. Every night.....I do not want to see the stars without you. [i]Night.....means pain. When shall I be able to enjoy A night of your soothing voice? A night of your kiss? A night of your caresses? When shall I be with you....every moment of my life?[/i][/color]

[color=teal]Well done, Dani. Nice poem....though it reminds me of what I've done to Steph in the past and doubles my feelings that I'm not good enough. But, it's great, Dani. And i'm glad to hear you and Mike are back together.[/color]

[color=teal][i]Somehow knowing his dragonette would know what to do, he withdrew the fire lizard, Frenze, from his pouch.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Frenze, hurry! Fly fast to Eve, Frenze, and ask her to help us! [i]The silver dragonette chirruped back, disappearing in an instant. Ryth leaped onto the wyrm's back as Lacroix did the same, the wyrm confused about the disappearance of its meal. Taking its time, it bent low and began munching away at a rust monster, two of which hadn't taken the opportunity to run.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Yes, I've fought greater drakes. My only problem with them, excepting golds and silvers, is that they seem to regard anything smaller as food. [b]Lacroix:[/b]Well, I assume you know what to do? [b]Ryth:[/b]Well, the group IS right ahead, the wyrm is shaking like it's gathering energy......I say we kill it before the rest of the party is hit by a fireball. [b]Lacroix:[/b]Idiot. Use your cognitive faculties, if you have any. We're on the wyrm's back, it is preoccupied. You have a razor-sharp sword, the neck is about two fee in front of you! What do you do? [b]Ryth:[/b]Oh. [i]Ryth held his blade aloft, bringing it down into the beast's neck. The blow was not deep enough to kill it, as Lacroix well-knew, but the creature now had a disadvantage, a wound, and a full party preparing to assault it. Ryth withdrew his sword, leapt off of the raging drake, and used his silver gauntlets to grasp a somewhat large log, hurling it at the side of the beast's head...[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Ryth smiles slightly, sensing the over-grown ticks with a lust for dissolving iron. He held back, his absence completely unnoticed by even Raven, but then again, because of his Breathwalk, he seemed absent at all times. He turned about, hearing Lacroix making a shade too much noise to be silent to his well-trained ears, yet even Lacroix either did not notice Ryth's passing, or pretended to do so. Ryth drew his blade swiftly and silently, running softly towards the ever-burgeoning noise of the rust monsters. The first glimpse of them afforded him time to smile in victory to himself as he readied his blade for a strike on one of the five creatures. His heart beating in excitement, he raised his blade.......that wasn't his heartbeat. A steady, pulsing sound, as steady as a drumbeat......Ryth dropped his blade in surprise, jumping back against a large tree......which moved. The rust monster furthest to the right never knew what was coming until the wyrm's jaws closed upon it. The huge, metamorphic wyrm, posing as a tree, had sensed the monsters and knew a meal was nearby. It hadn't expected an elf to willing throw itself in as a meal, too. Ryth grabbed Knight and ran, four rust monsters following him for....health reasons, some of which did not involve the fifty-foot long shapeshifter behind them.....[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Ryth led them towards the gate, somehow knowing the way. His blad whispered to him to fall into the depths of Heaven, to quest to the Magorian palace in Avalon. He looked to Eve, nodding and flickering his blade in a fashion he hoped meant "Heaven" to her. Soon, however, his thirst overcame here.[/i] [b]Raven:[/b]Ryth.....what is wrong? [b]Ryth:[/b]No.....not here.....get away, everyone! My....thirst...... [b]Eve:[/b]What? What thirst? [i]Ryth pulled a vial from his cloak pocket, dripping several drops of a clear liquid into his throat. At once, his body became slack, still standing, yet nonviolent.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]A month ago, when I saved Jaida at her village, I was chased by many various creatures. Including a daywalker. I was bitten before I killed him. I inherited only his violent thirst. I cannot pass the virus onto others, however. But....I....need......blood......... [b]Raven:[/b]Mine. [b]Ryth:[/b]What? NO! [b]Raven:[/b]Yes! [i]Raven cut the back of her hand on Ryth's drawn blade and forced the bleeding member to Ryth's lips, at which point resistance disappeared. He lapped the blood violentlym almost biting. The blood flowing into Ryth's lips overloaded his mind, driving him into an involuntary satisfied sleep where he lay....providing a hell of a hindrance to the rest of the party, of course.[/i][/color] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Had to give you guys SOME challenge. Now you gotta drag my comatose body with you until I wake up!

[color=teal][i]Ryth sighed, his mind fading again. His eyes glowed silver, his hair briefly flashed into a braid, and the right corner of his mouth flicked into an unmistakable smirk.[/i] [b]Hunter:[/b]Now, now, sister. I was merely stunned. You needn't have gone to the trouble. My body is much stronger than it used to be. And Elsyan, watch Jaida for me when I'm gone. I'll have to leave nightly for....matters of my own. Ryth knows this. And I do not wish to be Fox, I shall be Ryth with my memories, sister. I already made my choice. Jaida.....your father, your real one, is dead. The ogres killed him. Rythmyth is now your father.....I am sorry...... [i]As Hunter faded again, Ryth's body snapped into consciousness unbecoming an elf. Jaida clenched his hand, her tears flowing, the shock of learning of her father's death tearing her apart. "Leave it to Hunter to be insensitive about a sensitive subject. Damned bastard." Lacroix whispered to himself, Elsyan taking the crying elf-girl in her arms as Ryth fought the urge to remove his sword and his head with it. Eve simply held back her emotion as she put the choice forward again.[/i] [b]Eve:[/b]I think it's time to vote now. What shall it be?[/color] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm workin' on it, Dani. Habit's a hard thing to break, you know.

[color=teal][i]Ryth stared as the battle's raging was going nowhere. The Nightogre's kept regenerating, even Lacroix's was standing back up. Ryth sheathed his sword, leaping into the air and tearing off his cloak, revealing a pair of emerald wings. He began flapping these into a bit of a frenzy, placing his hand on the hilt of the Sword of Whispers.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Everyone, get behind me!!! Get behind me or you will all suffer extreme pain!! [i]Somewhat reluctantly, everyone in the pitched battle moved behind him, wondering what he'd do. The ogres, too, stared at the wildly flapping wings.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]WING SLASH!!! [i]A different form of his once-proud Wing Slash, he drew his ancient blade with the speed of lightning, the blade hitting the wind created from his wings and driving them with the force of thousands of tons of blades raining point-down on a large area. The ogres were swept up into a painful vaccuum, those who were injured were made worse by the fact that their wounds gave the slash a medium to the heart. Five of the remaining ogres fell dead, five of them fell incapable of fighting, the rest stood. Only one of the Nightogres, Lacroix's, fell dead. Completely dead. The other just laughed as he aimed a Dark Blast at Jaida.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]NO!!! [i]He dove to protect Jaida, the Dark Blast catching him full in the chest, his mind cleared of anything but the pain, his breath failing as he fell to the ground, his wings splayed at odd angles. He only had time to see Jaida crying and shaking him to awaken him before the stunning magic took him completely...[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Ryth would not allow the ogre's threats to fall on deaf ears. He tossed his hair back and dove out the window, his sword glinting in the sunlight. Nolth followed quickly, as did the rest of them. Ryth didn't happen to hear Lacroix's "Damn, he hasn't changed a bit since he lost his mind, has he?" in regards to his recklessness, he simply fought to defend the town. An elven scream pierced his ears as he thrust his blade through a Nightogre's throat, turning his still-breathing opponent to find Jaida in the other Nightogre's grip.[/i] [b]Nightogre:[/b]Come get here, Nightcloak, if you dare! You save her, or the village! [i]Ryth combatted the decision in his mind before Lacroix stepped in and stabbed the ogre through the gut with his blades, effectively giving Ryth vent for his ange on the rest of his opponents.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Well, that's one point for the drow...[/color]

[color=teal][i][u][b]Sword:[/b]Ryth....Ryth......tell her the sword is closer than she imagined. Tell her Alaris is nearer to you than any others......[/i][/u] [i]Ryth jumped in surprise, as he always did when his sword spoke to him.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Eve, my sw-.......Alaris is nearer than you think. Alaris is nearer to me than any others here. [i]It was Eve's turn to be bewildered.[/i] [b]Eve:[/b]How do you know of my brother's sword? How do you know the name of the object we search for? [b]Ryth:[/b]Welllllll......you just said it, but my sword here tells me that Alaris is quite close. It speaks in the voice from my dreams. Here, it wants to speak to you.... [i]Ryth handed his ancient, rusted blade to Eve and at once she fell into a trance, the blade's powers speaking to her heart and mind....[/i] [b][u]Whisper:[/b]Eve, my creator.....long it has been since I have been properly used or held by you and Hunter. Ryth is a kind master, though. I hope he is maintained when Hunter returns, just the memories come back, not the arrogance or anger.....or depression. Eve, you must still quest in Heaven and Hell, the artifacts that will open the way to the tower lie in your reach. you know of them, I do not. You must find them. I know not where they are, this is YOUR time to shine. But Ryth......he can lead. At least until you are in the reaches beyond this world. His fatherly affection for Jaida will make him thirty times more powerful. I am Alaris.....but for now, I rest. Foxknight will care for our master...just....don't tell Ryth about his dragonform JUST yet.......he's a bit ticked about a black dragon that ate his favorite horse.[/u] [i]Eve regained her awareness and handed the ancient sword back to Ryth, who had another blade, an emerald one, drawn. He and Lacroix both were in alert stances, their hearing keen and focused on-[/i] [b]Otik:[/b]OGRES!!!! Prepare the walls, raise the crossbow nests! It's a hard battle ahe- [b]Lacroix:[/b]Do us a favor, Otik, and shut your mouth for two minutes. We have a party assembled, we can handle a few ogres. [b]Ryth:[/b]Not these......two of them, two, are reinforced, nearly impossible to kill. They're about as big as Balrogs, minus a couple of meters, maybe. They're carrying oak trees for clubs, saplings about ten years old, I'd guess. None too big. But I'm scared of the necklaces..... [b]Lacroix:[/b]How do you know all this? [b]Ryth:[/b]I'm looking out the window at them. [i]He grinned quite sheepishly, though Eve knew it was a ruse. Like her brother, Ryth kept his true abilities hidden in case of capture. He'd heard every bit of what he'd described and saw none. Eve looked out the window, where fourteen ogres and two Nightogres were rampaging townsfolk, heading, it seemed, right for the inn.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Those two are infused with the powers of the necromancer. They will be able to speak and hunt us more effectively than the other fourteen. They are mine. I say we kill them, save the village, THEN make our choice on where we go to find the sword. [i]One of the Nightogres looked at Ryth, grimacing and hilding his grotesque arm up, pointing at the elf who grimaced back.[/i] [b]Nightogre:[/b]Our master wants the one in the black cloak taken alive! Kill the others, including our master's mother! [i]Ryth looked around the room. He was the only one visible in a black cloak. The necromancer wanted him alive. He looked out the window, drawing his longbow and stringing an arrow, putting the shaft through the speaker's throat. The ogre simply laughed and pulled the projectile out, breaking it in half. Ryth pointed to his targets.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]You, ogres, won't have the luxury of being taken alive! Knight, let us be swift as lightning![/color]

[color=teal][b][u]Dreamscape[/b] [b]Ryth:[/b]Who.....who are you? [b]Veiled Figure:[/b]I am you, Ryth. I am Serenol Muirin. I am the Hunter Moonshade. I am you. [b]Ryth:[/b]NO! I am Ryth Lethraina, wielder of the Sword of Whispers, foster father of Jaida Glaivemoon! [b]Serenol:[/b]I know this, Ryth. I AM your sword. You will remember nary a word of this when you awaken, though for mere moments, I shall now be able to assert myself into you. You will be more whole than ever, but you must allow......our blood to restore you completely. [b]Ryth:[/b]Blood? Our blood? What do you mean? WHAT DO YOU- [b]End Dreamscape[/u][/b] [b]Ryth:[/b]MEAN?!?!?! [i]Ryth snapped awake fitfully, his breath ragged and his eyes half-closed. He tried futilely to grasp the dream he'd experienced, like holding water in a sieve. He held his head in his hands as his eyes shifted to silver, his black hair glistening in the constant full moonlight. He looked to the window, Eve awakened by his distressed cry. The ghosts of tears settles on her cheeks, Hunter had awakened briefly to comfort her. Ryuu moved aside as Hunter sat by his sister, taking her in his arms and rocking back and forth.[/i] [b]Hunter:[/b]I am here, Eve. I am here. I will not be for long, but I will be here nonetheless, every night. I am sorry, dear sister, but I cannot come back..... [i]Eve cried softly into her brother's shoulder, then looked him in the eyes. He knew it was coming, saw the smack before he felt it. He did nothing to stop it.[/i] [b]Eve:[/b]WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!?!?! WHY'D YOU LEAVE US?!?! [i]Hunter sighed, feeling his time grow short. He gripped Eve's shoulder as he explained.[/i] [b]Hunter:[/b]Sister, I could not stay with Mara because she was not right for me. She was......just not to be mine. I had to relieve her of any and all pain as I had caused her so much, and demons and hatred followed me like blood to a battlefield. I had to give her some reprieve from the torture. The blade, Alaris, however, had an unexpected effect on me. I reached Everdawn, the forest you forged Alaris in, and it put me into a deep, memory-less sleep these centuries to ensure that I would live to destroy Nilothakir once and for all....Nilothakir's keep still stands, and the sorcerer uses Matthew like a puppet.......The blade....is.....the.......key............. [i]Ryth's body slumped to the floor, the blood flowing again. Eve fell to her knees, her only living relative again an unconscious, amnesiac traveller with a foster daughter in the next room. Eve sobbed into her hands, unable to take much more pain......[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i][u][b]Voice:[/b]Come, dear uncle! Stop of you can! You cannot fight me! I shall kill you as my grandfather killed your mother.....FIGHT ME!!!! [/i][/u][b]Ryth:[/b]Rahgh!!! [i]Miles away from a dark tower, inside the Crystal Forest inn, Ryth Lethraina awakened from a nightmare, his eyes tearing as though he had lost his dearest fiend.[/i] [b]Voice:[/b]Are you alright, Ryth-myth? Was it another nightmare? [i]Ryth turned to the young maiden, an elven child of about a hundred years, ten years to a human, and almost smiled. He hadn't smiled in four months....not since he awakened from a timeless sleep in the Forest of Everdawn.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Yes, Miss Jaida, and I would like it if you'd stop calling me Ryth-myth. I assure you, you actually saw me slay the dragon, it is no myth that I did so. [i]At this, Jaida Glaivemoon rushed forward and hugged her foster-father tightly, smiling and squeezing his hand.[/i] [b]Jaida:[/b]I know, but I still like it. I don' like "Miss" on my name, though..... [b]Ryth:[/b]Alright, Jaida, alright. Now, shall I tell you another story about the Ancient Warriors that battled the great Dragonmoon? [b]Jaida:[/b]Really? WOW!!! Tell me, tell me!!! [i]Ryth really did smile, praying in his heart that Firenze Glaivemoon were alright so that he could see the daughter that Jaida was growing to be lovingly. He began the tale he had read so many times before to an audience for the first time, making the hero Sash Reldmar, a dwarf with an alcoho problem, seem as though he really were there, bringing the accursed moon from the black war-scarred skies at that very moment.....[/i] [b][u]A short while later[/u] Ryth:[/b]Haha.....poor child. She is quite lonely.....I must find her father soon.....the orcs will be after her again for when I slayed their leader..... [i]Ryth walked down into the inn's main area, where a new cloaked figure Ryth hadn't seen in his four months at the inn before sat apart from the humans and a young maiden outside piped on a flute. His memory lapsed briefl, his head spun with pan, and he staggered.[/i] [b]Otik:[/b]Aye, izzat you, Ryth? So you've awakened again? Was it the dream again, sir? [b]Ryth:[/b]Ah, Otik, yes....it was. And my head hurt something fierce...it seems to hurt mainly when she plays....hold on. [i]Ryth hurried out to the girl playing the flute, his cloak wrapped tightly around his neck.[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Ma'am, could you please stop piping? It...it....I can't explain why, but it hurts me.....and I dislike the extreme pin. Besides, my foster daughter is quite asleep. [i]The girl turned, and the most powerful shock of pain yet coursed through Ryth like an electrical current. Memories that he could not see or grasp tore his mind apart at the sigt of her face. Ryth fell to hi knees, grasping his head and crying in pain. Though he couldn't hear his own words, he uttered words the girl could understand...words she knew...[/i] [b]Ryth:[/b]Agh! Stop! Muirin, father, leave me be!! Nilothair, I killed you.....I must......not......AGH!!!! LEAVE ME BE!!!!! I must....save....Eve......my head...agh!! [i]Ryth fell unconscious, his head hitting a rock, drawing blood and leaving Ryth senseless as to the past he had just found and lost again.....[/i][/color]

[color=teal][b]Name:[/b]Ryth Lethraina [b]Age:[/b]Unknown (Looks about 17/18) [b]Race:[/b]High-Elf [b]Class:[/b]Ranger/Paladin [b]Height:[/b]6' 6" [b]Weight:[/b]160 lbs. [b]Hair Color:[/b]Black [b]Eye Color:[/b]Emerald [center][b]Short Bio:[/b][/center] Like it says, short. He has amnesia of his life beyond the point of waking, barely a scant four months before the uprising of Nilothakir's descendant. Carrying a longsword he found upon his chest when he awakened, a sword that whispers to him, the timeless Ryth sets out to defeat the rising evil with nary a clue as to why he cares, why he has a pair of emerald wings, or to whom his life is in the hands of.... [center][u][b]Spells:[/b][/u][/center] [b]Eternal Slash:[/b][i]Attacks thousands of times within a single instant, draining large amounts of energy from multiple foes, but the same amount from the user. [b]Note:[/b]If multiple enemies are struck, the damage to all will be the same and it will all be the same for the user. Upgraded form of former [/i][b]Vorpal Slash[/b]. [b]Wing Slash:[/b][i]A beat of the emerald wings extending from his shoulder blades combined with a slash of the longsword he uses in battle forms a blade forged of pure wind, making a usually gentle element of nature a force to be reckoned with. Damage is multiplied when the target has abrasions or gashes because the wind achieves a medium with which to travel to the target's heart.[/i] [b]Firefist:[/b][i]A flurry of flaming punches to the sternum. Usually extremely painful, though damage is light. Used as a way to gain an attack of opportunity on target because of target's loss of breath and because of the extreme pain.[/i] [b]Alterform:[/b][i]Ryth becomes a werewolf, humanoid, muscular, and extremely deadly. His strength, senses, reflexes, and constitution are augmented heavily, though he can no longer use his Wing Slash spell. He has a full awareness of being when he is transformed. See a picture of Cornell from [u]Castlevania 64: Legacy of Darkness[/u] for an idea of what the form looks like.[/i] [b][u][center]Abilities:[/b][/u][/center] [b]Forestwalk:[/b]Walks silently through the forest at night, making him nearly invisible and indetectable to anyone that isn't an Elf. [b]Flight:[/b]Only enabled when he is in half-elf form, his emerald wings can tirelessly propel him through the air. [b]Amnesia:[/b]Permanent, unless lifted by his "blood". A sword on his back seems to be the key to the lifting of this heavy memory loss. [b]Shift:[/b]Currently unavailable. Ryth will transform into his true self, the form of himself that haunts his forgotten dreams... [b][center][u]Weaknesses:[/b][/u][/center] [b]Dark Magic:[/b]Magic used by necromancers and demons of the Circles of Hell, he is weakened because of a forgotten encounter in his past. [b]Abuse of children and women:[/b]The mistreatment of the weaker and feminine peoples of life drives Ryth into an uncontrollable rage that usually drives him to kill the offender/s, whose deaths he adds to his total and gains more depression and stored anger, which can only be released upon ONE certain person. [b][center][u]Strengths:[/b][/u][/center] [b]Full Moon:[/b]Even in elf form, the full moon empowers him, doubling his physical and mental ability. His spell "Eternal Slash" becomes the "Moonlight Slash", an attack that does not drain any of his health when used against any number of opponents. [b]Sword of Whispers:[/b]The blade on his back, the ancient Sword of Whispers, is a virtuous blade that grants him seemingly unlimited wisdom and foresight. [b][u][center]Equipment:[/b][/u][/center] [b]Sword of Whispers:[/b][i]An ancient and rusted blade whose true name is unknown, the blade strengthens Ryth and provides him with the key to regaining his memories. It cannot be used for battle, however.[/i] [b]Foxknight:[/b][i]A longsword with the power of wind and lightning, this blade was forged by Ryth and the latent knowledge of smithing within his body. This blade is used by Ryth in battle.[b]Note:[/b]When Ryth speaks the words "Ryth-lach natroden", his blade is electrified to any who touch it save Ryth, including the hilt, and he can give the electricity a medium in water.[/i] [b]Longbow:[/b][i]A simple longbow used to kill enemies at a distance. Ryth is exceptionally proficient with this weapon, using it to destroy numerous outposts of the necromancer single-handed.[/i] [b]Dagger:[/b][i]Close range stabbing weapon. No finesse. The weapon is hidden in Ryth's boot.[/i] [b]Midnight Cloak:[/b][i]Shadow-black cloak used only for warmth and appearance.[/i] [b]Green Leather Armor:[/b][i]Emerald-colored armor used for protection of the torso. A white longsleeve undershirt covers his arms and provides his chest with protection from the abrasive leather.[/i] [b]Silver Gauntlets:[/b][i]Gauntlets that provide Ryth with doubled strength, they have an emerald set into the backs of the hand.[/i] [b]Midnight Boots:[/b][i]Boots that allow Ryth to walk completely silently, they come up to his thighs.[/i] [b]Shadow Jeans:[/b][i]A pair of denim pants that provide Ryth with tireless energy and intensified speed. All armor and accessories are relics of his former life.[/color][/i]

[color=teal][u][i]No....go back! Go back! This is my story...my ending. Your stories have only just begun........I have nothing left but painful memories.........I shall return, my sister......I have promises to keep.......[/u] It was too quick to notice. The Squiddies backed off, out of anyone's range. John had drawn his magnum, drawing a line at......Danni.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Sis, go back. I'm not having fun. This is where the path seperates. You go your way, away from me. Go to Zion. I'll handle things here. Tell Steph and Jaimie I love them, and that I will return. And give this to Steph, this to Mike......now, go, or I'll pull the goddamn trigger on you, then myself...... [i]He handed an envelope labled "Sorry, Mike" to Danielle, followed by a diamond ring with a quickly scrawled note inside the metal band. With that, John ran as fast as he could, holstering his S&W, pulling out his sword, hashing it into the wall and slowing his descent. Silently, he prayed his sister would pull himout of the hole of depression he had managed to dig himself into.......he'd barely noticed Danielle had followed him before the Squiddie's blade pierced his side, just above the hip......Danielle and Ron screamed, firing ronds repeatedly as John fell, his vision and consciousness fading.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Sorry.....sis......help........m-[/color]

[i][color=teal][u]Stephy......please be alright. Please.....I need you.......I need you.....[/u] After Jaimie left, John picked up his guns and the cloak Jaimie had thrown off. After pondering a while, he threw the cloak on the fire, flaring it up again, hoping to buy time for Jaimie to get back to the ship. He walked, unsheathing his shotgun and making sure the ammunition on his belt was full. He began walking again, replacing the ring in his pocket. He ran hard, ignoring the tears of farewell as he realized he might never see his Stephanie again. He was running into what Yuginocho had privately revealed to be one of the main Squiddie hives. He made his shotgun ready, preparing for the fight of his life......one that might even be tougher than the fight against his father about his change in high school plans......his plans for East Jefferson....[/i] [b][u]Flashback[/b] [b]Jack:[/b]Look, kid, you either go to King or I disown you!!! [b]John:[/b]NO! None of my friends, not even Dani, are going to King! I'd rather swallow molten metal than go there! [b]Jack:[/b]Don't TEMPT ME!!!....Tempt me......tempt me......... [b]End Flashback[/b][/u] [i]John snapped out of his reverie, a Squiddie claw buried in his shoulder. He fired his Remington, the blast ejecting the Sentinel away. More Squiddies took the ones place, John firing repeatedly, hoping he wouldn't have to resort to his Smith and Wesson in the back of his jeans....[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i][u]Wake up?......Why? I can't....feel......ARGH!!! Pain....must...wake....up......[/u] His eyes snapped open, his heart beating wildly. The burns of his torso cooled, some ointment spread across his now-bare chest. His lips occupied by Jaimie's, John lapsed into a deep reverie of the past before coming to his senses. He pushed her away, realizing her hands were on his chest.[/i] [b]John:[/b]No....NO! Not here, not now......I'm sorry. I...I wish I could......but I have someone now. Maybe someday later, Jaimie....but not here. Not now. My life is in thehands of fate. And....please.......let's just be friends. [b]Jaimie:[/b]Al...alright. I'm sorry. I...I lost focus. [i]John kissed her cheek, standing and replacing his clothes, wincing as the pain set in briefly. As his shirt fluttered loosely in the light winds of the tunnel, the protective bonfire soared ragingly. John sighed, sitting back down against the wall. He pulled out his necklace, a triangular symbol much like the greek "Alpha" on the chain. John kissed it, tossing it into the fire. The token of friendship from a traitor bured black, his eyes darkening at the memory of his friend Logan's betrayal......he gave into the flow of memories from his past.....he felt home.....like friends had forgiven him....yet a feeling of pain still riddled his heart. He stared at Jaimie, tossing her his cloak.[/i] [b]John:[/b]It's cold, the fire won't keep you warm. My body can take freezing temperatures. Take the damn cloak and keep warm. [i]He settled against the wall, staring into the flame, natural sleep setting in as he felt something move close by, realizing that Jaimie was already asleep.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Friends......Dani, Stephy.....please be ok. I can't be there for you forever......I will be home soon, my friends....I hope.......Stephy, please be ok. I can't propose if you're gone.... [i]He reached into his jeans pocket, removing a small ring, a yellow diamond set inside an emerald heart setting on the top. John kissed the ring, looking to the roof of the tunnel, praying for his beloved's safety.....[/color][/i]

Give it to him, then. Too much time on my hads, anyway. Sorry, sis. *shoots Dragoon*

[color=teal][i]She doesn't know....that's well. It wouldn't do for her to realize.....I can't stay awake..my body will sieze up soon.....funny that my own last name will kill me.....hahaha......[/i] [b]John:[/b]Jaimie....E's fine......and so am I. By the way, Rain....Happy Birthday. Sorry I was an ***. I just.....hated to admit I still have feelings for you. I do....but......I have a life. I can't allow my feelings for you destroy me, or Stephy. Maybe one day, if life ever changes me again..... [i]He allowed the shock to wash over his body, stopping his bloodflow,siezing his heart and gripping him into a dire state of emergency. It was all h could do to keep breathing. His breath ragged, his face pale, and his wounds evident through his scorched and broken armor. The burns of his cauterized wounds stood out as patches of fiery red skin. He couldn't stay up.....he gripped Jaimies hand one time before sinking away into darkness, one that might last until the end of time......[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i][u]Damned fools, all of them. They don't know what has to be done. I can't risk their safety...I have to drag the Squiddies away. Dani, Jaimie, Stephy....all of you, please be safe. If I lost any of you, my heart would never heal. Farewell, for now.[/u] John let go of Danielle, allowing her to rush to Jaimie's side. While everyone checked to see if Dani was ok, he made his move. He deactivated the magnetic boots, jumping in the same instant onto a Squiddie's head. He quickly used all of his weight to turn it down a seperate tunnel, firing an explosive round to divert the rest of the swarm from the ship. The ploy worked, and he was left alone, one man versus about ten thousand machines. It was going to be a massacre.......lucky the whole world was a junkyard, now![/i] [b]John:[/b]Ok, you ****sucking mother****ers, kiss your bot goodbye! [i]I've watched Medabots too damn much....[/i] [i]He sliced the weapons of his Squiddie off, making it nothing more than an oblivious platform. Firing round after round from his guns, he brought down a good many squiddies. Using his grenade launcher, he destroyed most of a wall of squiddies, bringing the number to be deal with down to about a hundred or so. He whipped out his katana, destroying squiddies as they came close. After about forty minutes all that was left was John's "bike". He plunged his katana into it, bringing it down to the ground, leaking oil copiously. John collapsed to one knee, his armor destroyed, blood pouring almost as much as the Squiddie's oil. He took his grenade launcher and fired it, starting a rather large fire. He grabbed a broken piece of wood from the ground,lit it in the fire, and torched every single wound on his body, effectively stopping the bleeding. Using a bit of a cave behind the fire, John had an effective means of hiding from any further Sentinels, whom searched by body heat. In his "cave", John allowed the exhaustion and pain from his wounds and burns set in, driving him into an involuntary sleep. He didn't know it, but his body was going into shock.....[/i][/color]

[color=teal]My Merlin is not just that of T. A. Barron's somewhat lax series, but also the product of several years' research, many hours watching the ABC movie special, and reading just about every single Merlin and Arthur book aside from Lost Years #5. And just to let you know, it's Tuatha, not Tunnetha. I have Lost Years #3 open in my hand right now. As for his warriorhood, he was a more able warrior than Arthur himself. He just didn't fight much in his OLD AGE because of frailty. As for the first person toknow of the swrod's name, it was Merlin then Uther, then the Lady of the Lake, then Arthur, after whom the sword became a lost artifact of the Fay. I'll give you a much deeper lesson in Merlin history if you ever wish it, sis, but for now, be grateful tha I haven't listed anything else historical. Otherwise, the Merlin of this RPG would be an EXTREMELY old man who progressed in life to get younger. I'm satisfied with this Merlin, the most crrect Merlin that can be produced through a combination of different accounts.[/color]

[color=teal][i][u]Wait! I can hear them......monsters........the machines that destroyed my life! I will now destroy them!!!! [i]John twisted rapidly, leaving a kiss on Stephy's cheek as he climbed to Weapons Deck.[/i] [b]Dani:[/b]What are you DOING?!?! [b]John:[/b]Squiddies are coming. There's a hatch upstairs leading outside the hovercraft. With that, I could use my weapons.....from on the hull. Yugi, get me a pair of mag-boots. [i]The magnetic boots appeared on the holo, John grabbing them and strapping them on. He climbed up onto the ship, a somber look on his face as he pulled out his personalized Mp5's.[/i] [b]Dani:[/b]Jaimie, Stephy, STOP HIM!!!!! [b]Jaimie:[/b]Hey, let him die. I don't care. [b]Stephy:[/b]John....no.....don't! [i]A single bullet pierced the ground at Jaimie's feet as John's stare pierced her soul. John turned, kissing Stephanie deeply, as deeply as he could manage with his armor on, and then climbed again.[/i] [b]John:[/b]I have to go, Stephy. I promise, I'll be back. I promise you, tonight, I'll give you the best night of your life. I just have to do this to keep you safe.... [i]He shut and sealed the hatch from the outside, checking, loading, and prepping his guns. As an emergency measure, he carried a propelled grenade launcher and his katana. He grabbed his comm and called in.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Mike, Boris, somebody! Take the forward energy cannons and help me out, I can't do this on my own! [i]He cut his comm after that, taking aim at a wave of Sentinels that had just begun to swarm.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Come and get some, you bastard sons of Satan![/color]

[color=teal][i]Ah, yes. I see it as plainly as the sun above. My beloved home, Fincayra, besieged by Rhita Gawr. My home....my slumber must now end. I must begin the next chapter of my story. But first, allow me to explain where I have been for the past few years.......[/i] [b][u][center]Flashback[/center][i][/b] My relationship with Hallia, a member of the peoples of the Merwyn-bri-Meath, a tribe of magical folk that could transform into deer at will, led me far into the heart of Fincayra. However, a strange affliction took hold of Hallia, killing her slowly from within. I left the island at the advice of Domnu, the hag whose love was gambling, in order to find a cure for my beloved. I succeeded, and Dagda delivered the cure to Hallia at my request, as I was unsure if I could return to the Isle of Mists. I was correct in my doubts. Though Dagda assured me as to my darling's well-being, I was unable to return home. I decided to find the boy, Arthur, if it was possible. It wasn't, though his father, Uther Pendragon, was easy to find. Along the path, I found Mab, Queen of the Faeries, and her sister, The Lady of the Lake. By some misfortune, Uther's enemy, Vortigern, received word from Mab that his keep would only stand if the blood of a sorcerer was used to bless the foundation. Naturally, I being the only sorcerer for miles, Mab became my enemy, and my life became desirable for Vortigern. I joined Uther, after some trouble, and by the powers of the magical sword, Excalibur, which I gave him to rule as king wisely, I set out again, this time, to the Lady of the Lake. A spirit from my home of Fincayra, from whom I learned my home was now called Avalon. She gave me health, strength, and a few more lessons to fill my clouded head. I returned to Uther, whom I found besieging Castle Tintagel, home of the beautiful Lady Igraine........and her husband, Lord Cornwall. Through my help, unwilling, I assure you, Uther penetrated the castle after Cornwall left under the guise of Cornwall himself. I extracted two promises, the first being that Cornwall would live and the fighting would end, and second, that when the boy child was born, he would be given into my care. Only the second promise was kept. The siege lasted thirteen more days, then Cornwall broke, and was killed by an arrow. Igraine knew by now of Uther's trick and married him. Nine months later, I waited at Tintagel's gate for a maiden to present me with the boy, to whom I gave the name Arthur. I left him in the care of one Sir Ector, a friend of mine during the days of Vortigern. Ector swore he would tutor the boy in knightly fields, and, thank Dagda, philosophies that Ector and I shared. Arthur, shame to say, never had a knack for magic. I left the infant barely five hours ago, and now, I must stop boring you. My sister and my dear one await me at my home in the Old Forest of Fincayra....Dagda has given me but this one path home, which I can use repeatedly, to be sure, but.....he has given all of his energies to keeping Rhita Gawr from the mortal realm.[/color][/i][/u] [center][b]Stats[/b][/center] [b][color=crimson]Name:[/b]Merlin [b]Age:[/b]27 [b]Description:[/b]Dark brown hair falls backwards, tied in a braid to keep from interfering with magic. His eyes, now glazed completely white, are surrounded by burn scars, though the scars are almost invisible to those who don't know about them. A strong physique and an air of majesty surround him, even though he wears mere leather armor. Now in the habit of carrying a spear, his physical ability has grown. He can rarely be seen out of the company of his beloved black horse, Ionn, when he's on Fincayra. [b]Background:[/b]Grandson of Tuatha, son of Stangmar, who, because of Rhita Gawr's influence, became entirely evil and held an iron grip on Fincayra at one time. Merlin vanquished his father, summoned his mother from the mortal world, and managed to have to find a cure, given by Dagda himself. Again, Merlin had to fight Valdearg, Wings of Fire, after the dragon charged the boy with murdering his eggs. A young dragon, whom Merlin nursed back to health, though Merlin believed that the dragon died, changed Valdearg's mind, being the dragon's daughter. However, Wings of Fire died at the hands of the last kreelix, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Then, a blight began to spread from the swamplands, driving Gwynnia, Valdearg's daughter, away from hallia and Merlin, her surrogate parents. Merlin and Hallia together investigated the blight, finding that a murderous young woman whom had once tried to steal Merlin's staff for his power was the cause. Thanks to the help of a young boy named Arthur, Merlin was saved from a deadly worm that could split his heart in two from inside his body.......by himself. Arthur took Merlin into the future, where his master was waiting to be freed from a cave. Arthur's master was........Merlin. When Merlin returned home, to Hallia, he managed to stop the murderous witch and send her through the mirror that had made him a time-traveller. The rest, look up. *NOTE*I haven't the events of the fifth book, yet. I'll add them when I've read up on them.[/color] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I hope this pleases you, sis. ^_^X