RPG Paranoia [R]

[Patronus]

[color=404040][size=1][center][u]Paranoia[/u]
Leh-Artemis Dominion
Vicky-Aranel Lissësúl
Dagger IX1-Sachiel Asmodeus
Arcadia-Iara Iolanthe

---[/center]

[i]Rivera- Palace[/i]

The Innocence stood in front of the King, each wearing robes of their native color. Royal Sorceror Lerigot, from the Victoria Kingdom, wore velvet green robes. His dark hair was overflowing from the hood, which had a golden lining across the edge.

To the left of him stood Royal Sorceror Lexington, of Rivera Kingdom. His robes were wine colored, and matched the palace decor around him. He looked much younger than Lerigot, or any of the other Royal Sorceror's, but was older than all of him.

Beside him stood Royal Sorceror Diadem, of Lerion, wearing his black robes with silver lining. His dark eyes would scare most away, but those who knew him knew that he was one of the gentlist souls ever to be born.

And lastly, beside him stood Royal Sorceror Zech, of Memoria, in crystal blue. He was the youngest of the sorcerers, and looked almost as young as Lexington. His jade eyes showed an intelligent man, and nothing less.

King Aldeon stood up in front of him, his olden hands behind his back. "Have each of you found the candidate, as we discussed at the Royal Convention?" he asked, in an expectant tone.

"Yes, your Highness," said Lerigot, Diadem, and Zech at the same time, in unison.

"What about you, Lexington? You [i]have[/i] found your candidate, haven't you?" asked the Queen.

"Not exactly, your Majesty. I have searched everywhere in Rivera, even in the Hahn District, the District of Thieves, but I have not found the one I needed." Lexington replied, in a pleading tone. "But, I do know who is my candidate. His name is Artemis Dominion, and he is a witch."

[i]Rivera- Industrial District[/i]

Artemis smiled as he saw children playing in the damp street. He folded his arms, trying to get warm. His long, red robe barely touched the ground, and its white arms and fur collar were the prettiest piece of clothing anyone had ever seen. Some even said he looked like royalty on some days.

His eyes shifted to the reason he was in the Industrial District - across the busy street stood a man dressed entirely black. His hair, nails, and even his eyes were black. His name: Gonnador. His game: dream snatching.

Gonnador and Artemis had met earlier before, in Artemis's early teen years. Gonnador, being a witch, had challenged Artemis to a duel - a duel of spells. As Artemis's powers were already advanced, he won, and Gonnador was a [i]very[/i] sore loser.

That was when Gonnador went bad. Using his natural power of dream jumping, that is, the power to appear in one's dream to change it or interpret it, he began to draw power from the dreams of the villagers of Laguna, the village that Artemis lived in at that moment.

Artemis and his associates finally banished Gonnador from Laguna, to who knows where, and never saw him again. Well, five years later, Gonnador appeared in Artemis's dream, and that brings him to the Industrial District, where his scrying showed where Gonnador was.

Artemis smirked. He hadn't really had any battles for a while, seeing that Rivera was a peaceful place. But this was going to be fun. He lowered his head, and using his power of astral projection, appeared behind Gonnador in his astral body.

"You should've known I would find you if you appeared in my dream," Artemis said. That said, Gonnador spun around.

"I was counting on that," he replied. He opened his hands and his fingertips lit on fire, as he tried to slash Artemis. It didn't work, and his hand went through the astral body.

"Oh yeah," smiled Artemis, "right after you left, I found my power. It's called astral projection. Like it?" Artemis then returned to his body, and left Gonnador confused.

"Just a fly in my way, another problem in my day. I banish you from this kingdom, as I want it, so shall it be done." Artemis whispered. Suddenly Gonnador disappeared. "Don't mess with me." said Artemis, as he walked away.

[i]Rivera- Palace[/i]

Royal Sorceror Lexington stood a step ahead of the other sorcerors, closer to the king.

"I can't find him, for some reason. I find that this might be a good test for the other candidates - let them find him. It might as well help their location skills." Lexington said with a grin.

"So be it. Royal Sorcerors Lerigot, Zech, and Diadem, send your candidates - Aranel, Sachiel, and Iara - into Rivera. I want Artemis found before midnight tomorrow." King Aldeon announced, with a sigh.

---

Sorry, that was really bad, wasn't it?[/color][/size]

[Dagger]

The dark-haired man glanced up as Zech walked through the door, his blue robes rustling softly against the polished floor. "Oh, hello. You've finished conferring with the King?"

"More or less," came Zech's reply. Frowning, he eased into a nearby armchair and watched the sharp-eyed Sachiel peruse a book. "What are you reading?"

With a lightening-swift flick of the wrist, Sachiel tossed his tome into the Sorceror's lap. It fell open to reveal aging pages and writing so cramped that it was nearly indecipherable. "A history of the Nexus," he said coolly, watching Zech through half-closed eyes. "I like to be prepared."

"Good," Zech retorted. "I'm sure you'll need the help." He stood, his voice once more growing authoritative as he delivered King Aldeon's message. "His Highness wants you and the others to find Lexington's candidate, a witch called Artemis Dominion. You don't have much more than a day."

The black mage rose gracefully to his feet, smirking down at the Sorceror--who, when standing next to him, suddenly seemed rather short. "I'll finally get to meet the [i]others[/i], then," he murmured. "Lovely. So when shall you introduce us?"

[Arcadia]

[size=1]Diadem of Lerion swept into the private library, his black robes billowing about his legs as he paused in the doorway, dark eyes searching the room. This is where he'd left his candidate - a red mage called Iara Iolanthe. Only, the soft-haired woman didn't seem to be [i]in[/i] the room. His brow furrowed for a moment, the look softening his normally hard appearance, before he noticed the open doors leading to the balcony. The curtains had been swept back some, an automatic gesture anyone would do as they passed through the doorway.

He stepped towards the open glass doors then, one eyebrow quirking up slightly. "Miss Iolanthe?"

She was standing on the ledge of the balcony, looking impeccable in her odd dress, with her hands clasped behind her back. Her face turned towards him discreetly, a small smirk curving her lips up. "Greetings, Sorceror. I trust your meeting with the royal head went well?"

Diadem paled slightly, quickly moving forward onto the stone balcony. "Lady, please, don't stand there," he muttered gently, offering his hand up to her as support. "It isn't safe."

Iara rolled her eyes and sighed, shrugging in compliance before hopping backwards off the railing. Her grayish slippers made hardly any noise at all on the smooth stone work, just a soft little [i]pat.[/i] "If I'm going to be saving the world or whatever, you're going to have to learn to trust me."

That was easy for her to say, Diadem thought absently, before offering her a smile in place of his hand. "I'm afraid you won't be getting to that quite yet, as one of the candidates is still missing. A witch, from Rivera. The three of you here will need to locate him first."

"The three of us?" Iara repeated, wandering back into the little library. It smelled of old books and age and it was a welcome sense; very calming. "So they're actually here, then?"

"Of course," Diadem replied effortlessly, crossing his arms as he remained behind her, lurking in the doorway. "If you're ready, lady, we may go and speak with them. I believe you shall be setting out almost immediately."

She did turn to face him then, raising her eyebrows. "Trying to get rid of me, are you? And so quickly, too."

He just smiled again. "You have little more than a day to find him, Iara. I suggest you start right away." Diadem moved towards the door then and held it open for her, bowing gently.

Iara just stared at him, and then adjusted a stray piece of hair back behind her ear. "Well then."

They moved down the pristine halls, the Sorceror tall and intimidating despite his true nature, Iara significantly smaller, but no less prouder. It was sort of an unusual sight, with her in light colors and odd clothes and him in the dark, formal robes. But no one really seemed to notice, and if they did, they cared even less. Maybe they just knew not to question the Innocence and their ways.

Eventually they entered a grand parlor, though for the moment it was quite empty of any visitors. Iara took a look around, poking gently at a nearby statue before remarking off-handedly, "The King sure does know how to throw a party."

Diadem chuckled quietly, and was perhaps going to respond, but a noise at the door alerted them to a new presence - another duo of the small group had entered. So the parlor would have visitors, after all.

[color=gray]Crazy-boy Leh, your post was fine. A good opening. :P[/color][/size]

[Vicky]

[B][SIZE=1]Aranel, the Elf, sat crossed-legged on the thin white balcony, the wind pushing his hair back across his face. He blew his hair out of his eyes and looked ahead. Behind him, he could here footsteps far away, most likely to be Lerigot.

--

Lerigot green robes flew behind him as he paced quickly to the place where he "left" his candidate. If Aranel was still there, it was a complete mystery. Lerigot came to the doors of the room where Aranel should have, and pushed them open peering in. He noticed the elf sat on the balcony, looking outside. Lerigot let out a sigh, not of relief, not of nothing really.

"Mr.Lissësúl!" Lerigot said running up to him, anyone would have thought he would trip on his robes. Aranel sighed heavily, and turned around to Lerigot who came right up to him.

"How many times must I say... call me by my first name! It's annoying." Aranel told him. Lerigot smiled, and began to speak again.

"That does not matter right now, what does matter is that you listen to what I have to say next." Lerigot replied. Aranel looked down at the floor, and looked up at Lerigot again, sighing once more, but a little lighter.

"I'm listening." Aranel said. "You know I listen." He added, mumbling.

"One of the candidates is missing, meaning you and the others have to find him. You will be setting out soon." Lerigot replied. Aranel didn't wait if Lerigot had to finish, he spoke right away, brushing his hair out of his eyes again.

"Fine." Aranel said. "What do you mean by soon, though?" Aranel asked.

"You're going to look for Artemis with the others right [I]now[/I]!" Lerigot replied. Aranel nodded slightly, as he followed Lerigot.[/B]

OOC: Mine was rubish...[/SIZE]

[Dagger]

Sachiel followed Zech into the parlor, pausing as he caught sight of Diadem and a fair-haired, unfamiliar woman. He raised an eyebrow and tugged idly at the back of Zech's robes. "Well, she's new."

The sorcerer came to an abrupt stop, stumbling briefly as Sachiel continued pulling him off-balance. "Stop that," he growled, head whipping around to glare at his candidate. Sachiel simply stepped back and offered Zech a disgustingly innocent smile. "Pardon me, Lady," Zech told the woman, regaining his composure even as he swatted irritably at Sachiel's hand. "And you as well, Diadem. This man is my candidate, the black mage Sachiel Asmodeus."

Sachiel swept an elegant bow. "Charmed, I'm sure," he murmered, grinning at Diadem's expression of disbelief. Zech only sighed, eyeing him in way that clearly said, [i]behave yourself.[/i]

The woman turned, surveying them skeptically, and crossed her arms. If Diadem didn't plan on introducing her, then she would have to take care of the formalities herself. "I'm Iara Iolanthe," she said coolly.

Still smiling, Sachiel glanced up to meet her gaze. "Wonderful. I hate working alone," he replied, absent-mindedly toying with Zech's sleeve.

The sorcerer rolled his eyes and yanked his clothing from Sachiel's grasp. "Do you [i]ever[/i] plan on doing as you're told?"

[Arcadia]

[size=1]Iara only quirked an eyebrow up at the other candidate, glancing brieftly to Diadem, who looked slightly concerned. She could just imagine his thoughts; asking himself if this was really the best Zech could find in Memoria. However, if there was one thing Iara learned over the years it was that first impressions meant nothing. They were good masks, for certain, and it was the only place to start when interacting with a person, but the truth was that she'd hardly ever met a person who was as forthright and real as a first impression would have you believe.

Turning her clear blue eyes back around the room, she started wandering around it again, fingering her necklace lightly. As she did so, Diadem seemed to have found himself finally and bowed to Zech and Sachiel.

"Miss Iolanthe is Lerion's candidate, a red mage of great talent," he murmured, his expression falling back into one of quiet calculation.

Zech nodded, glancing towards the fair-haired woman (who was currently tilting her head at a rather unusual painting), before asking Diadem, "And what of Lerigot? Has he been by with his candidate?"

"Not that I know of," Diadem shook his head, smoothing down his dark, silver-lined robes out of meticulous habit. The way Sachiel kept wrinkling Zech's was beginning to make him nervous. "Though I'm sure he'll be present shortly."

From further down the room, Iara suddenly remarked off-handedly, "His highness should really look into finding a new decorator."

Before any of the three men could comment, however, the doors swept open one last time and Lerigot entered with his candidate - an elf.[/size]

[Patronus]

OOC: Sorry for the wait, guys. Been rough these past weeks. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing. I'm completely lost.

---

Lexington smirked as the Elf made his way into the room. He had just entered the room himself, but it was unknown to any of them, except maybe to their sorcerers. He stepped forward, revealing his presence.

"Good day," he said. All the candidates, along with their sorcerers, turned to look at him.

"Good day, Lexington." said Zech of Memoria.

"As I'm sure you've been informed, you three potential keys are to find the fourth candidate, [i]my[/i] candidate."

"Why can't you find your own candidate, sorcerer?" asked Iara.

"Because Rivera is bigger than you'd imagine, and the people in it are endless. It would take me weeks to find him or her myself." replied Lexington, in rebuttle. "Now, anyways, what I need you to do is find the candidate before midnight tomorrow."

"And then?" asked Aranel.

"Then, one of you who can cast spells, send a messenger spirit to me. Then I will come and do the rest."

"Sounds easy enough," added Sachiel.

[i]If only,[/i] thought Lexington.

----

OCC: That was really bad, but I couldn't think of anything to do with Artemis until you guys get into it.

[Arcadia]

[size=1]Lexington had given them a detailed description of his candidate, which helped to abate Iara's nerves quite a bit. For a second she'd been under the assumption that he'd not done his job at all, but that wasn't exactly the case, and so she didn't exactly mind. In fact, it seemed to her to be the perfect opportunity for the three of them - and the witch, whenever they found him - to build some sort of warm and fluffy companionship up. Perhaps the sorcerors had been counting on that. Perhaps not.

They were currently just outside the palace, and Iara for one was glad to be back in the sunshine. The elaborate rooms and decorations of the King's abode were a bit too much for her, even if a few of the paintings were rather... uh, fascinating.

"Where shall we start, then?" The elf, who had earlier introduced himself as Aranel, was standing perfectly still, his sharp eyes skimming the people immediately around them. Lexington had been right in one respect - Rivera was huge, and full of people. Finding the other candidate by midnight tomorrow was suddenly looking to become a daunting task.

Iara stepped a few paces away from the two men, adjusting one of the straps to her dress absentmindedly. "We'll cover more ground if we split up," she suggested after a moment, glancing back to them.

Sachiel propped a hand on his hip, looking slightly bored. "So I'll be working alone already."

Her cool, blue eyes focused on him. "You're a big boy. You'll survive."

"Mhm." Iara couldn't tell if he was smirking at her or not.

Aranel turned towards them, the picture of calm. "We should set up a meeting place, in case one of us finds him. It would also be a good idea to meet there periodically, so that we can be sure we don't overlap our search."

Iara's eyes lingered on the palace. "Preferrably not here."

"There's a fountain a couple blocks down, I believe," Sachiel suggested, waving in its general direction. "I believe that would suit our purposes nicely."

They agreed, and then parted ways. Aranel went west, Sachiel east, and Iara headed directly north. As she passed a few crowds slowly, her eyes narrowing in their search, she thought absently, [i]This is exactly the way I wanted to spend my day. A profitable start, indeed.[/i][/size]

[Dagger]

Sachiel meandered through the eastern marketplace, his earrings jangling quietly as he walked. The witch sounded recognizable enough, and anyone with that degree of power should be fairly obvious--even in these screaming, pushing, thief-filled crowds. Pickpockets were amusing, if only for their persistence, but he did tire of having to slap his purse from the grubby hands of pre-pubescent children.

[i]We make an interesting team.[/i] He already liked Iara; she seemed refreshingly intelligent, and had a tongue to match the quickness of her mind. Although the elf was agreeable and constantly alert, Sachiel had never met an elf who [i]didn't[/i] possess that kind of preternatural calm. Well, so far the witch was causing more trouble than any of them were liable to do....

He paused, absent-mindedly toying with his artfully disheveled hair. Hours had passed without him encountering a single flicker of magic. Perhaps it was time to take a break and buy some food, or at least wander by the designated fountain. Shrugging, Sachiel brushed past a little herd of thieves, making his way back in the direction he had come.

[Arcadia]

[size=1]At first, Iara wasn't having much luck, either. She'd managed to wander into a district that was almost entirely devoted to the buying and selling of livestock. And though many of the signs claimed they were clean and healthy, Iara had some serious doubts about that. Either way, there was definitely no magic present there and after passing a particularly foul smelling pig stand, she decided it was time to try elsewhere.

[i]If I were a witch, and a guy,[/i] she thought to herself, absently turning down a different street, [i]Where the hell would I be?[/i]

After wandering in and out of various shops, searching through a public garden, and even checking down a few residential streets, Iara still didn't have any answers. And that was not acceptable. Sitting back under some shade, she eyed the townspeople as they passed by and decided that it was time to change her strategy. If she was going to find this guy at all, she wouldn't do it by moping about quietly. Adjusting her dress strap, absently reminding herself that she should probably tighten it, she set out to question various shopholders around her.

That plan, though a little more successful than the last, still produced no real results. [i]But at least some of them have actually heard of him.[/i] That thought was reassuring, despite the little help it gave her, and she entered the next shop holding onto that.

Iara was immediately struck by the diversity of the store. It was an eclectic mess of talismans, beads, cloths, birds, amulets, pentacles, books and pens, various divination materials, and other odd items. You name it, it was there. And each and every one of the items held some sort of charm or power to it - the combined force of them was a tad overwhelming at first. It was like stepping into a sauna. Careful to block out the excess magic, she fought back her curiosity and headed straight for the counter, giving the man behind it a quick, polite smile. "Excuse me, but would you by any chance know an Artemis Dominion?"

The shop owner raised an eyebrow, glancing briefly and quickly to his right, towards one of the many patrons. Iara noticed and mimicked the gesture, and her cool, crystal blue eyes landed on a young man some few feet away. He was currently picking at some knives disinterestedly, but for what reason, she didn't care. Instead, she focused in on his presence and smiled smugly when she felt a flicker of power there. [i]Bingo.[/i]

Feeling quite productive, she stepped into his line of sight and offered him her hand to shake. "Artemis, I presume?"

He paused, eyeing her warily, before taking her outstretched hand. "Who are you?"

She looked over him, pleased to observe that he matched up with the description that Lexington had given them previously. That, and she could sense his power easily, now that it wasn't masked by the various charms around the store. "Iara Iolanthe. I've been sent by the Innocence to retrieve you." At his dubious look, she smiled demurely, which only made her look even more secretive. "If you'd come with me, I'll explain what I can."[/size]