RPG The Vanishing: Sing for Absolution [PG-LVS]

[Seibzeihn]

[FONT=Garamond][COLOR=Navy]
[b]Backstory[/b]

[i]Dawn. The light of life and birth. Or at least, it was, once...[/i]

[i]So pale. So cold. A deathly cold...[/i]

[i]A reminder that we are not free...[/i]

Once, Terra had been a bright and vibrant world, filled with the light of Aether. The human race marveled at their skills as they built towering cities of stone, wood and steel, harnessing the Aether (the energy of the planet) to power their inventions. Technology and the magic of Aether worked side-by-side to create a utopia for Man -- this utopia became known as New Eden, a place of peace and freedom. At the center of this beacon of idealistic society laid the jewel of humanity's labor, the capitol city of Sanctus. This city had been constructed of Aether crystals and stocked with mankind's most advanced technology. For hundreds of years, humanity knew olny prosperity and the calm of pacifism.

But it was not meant to be.

On a day darker than the rest, where lightning cracked against a blackened sky, the wind began to roar. Directly above the pinnable of Sanctus, the roar reached a fever pitch, and the Heavens themselves parted like curtains being drawn back. And that was the day that the angels of God descended to rain judgement upon the world of men. A column of force like the Finger of God lanced from the sky to shatter the crystalline Sanctus like glass. Following the beam from the heavens, a mighty fist of airships materialized above the proud human civilization and unleased a powerful salvo of Aether beams. The reeling human coalition gathered its wiits and launched a counterattack, but the unmarked battlecruisers proved that they were more than a match for the Terran frigates. Their advanced Aether 'wave-fields' deflected Terran guns, while their beams tore through frigate hulls. But the most terrifying spectacle had yet to come.

Haloed in brilliant silver, a colossal seven-winged figure appeared in the sky. With a wave of one hand, the figure generated a shockwave of blinding white energy that swept over the surface of the planet, destroying all in its wake. Buildings were laid low and machines blasted to ruin as God dealt out his wrath. Over 99% of the human population perished that day.

Since then, humanity has lived in fear. Driven to hide underground in makeshift towns or high in the mountains where the weather beats at the shattered human sanity, many fear that the race of men has ended. One such small civilization was the mountain-town of Atma, containing a sparse population of human survivors. They had escaped the wrath of the Angels (for that was what humans had come to call these strange unmarked ships and their unknown pilots) and built their lives anew, far from the Angels' center of control -- which was now in the once-mighty city of Sanctus, rebuilt with the Angels' mysterious technology. But their rare serenity in this age of war was about to change once again...

[i]"The time has come for you to stand up for your people!"[/i] cried the Prophet to the assembled masses, who looked at him with a combination of horror and awe. [i]"It has been written that the last of Adam's children shall come forth to lead the Vanishing out of the darkness! I see you look at me with your blank faces, you do not know of the Vanishing! But, in fact, you do,"[/i] the Prophet gestured with one hand to the crowd, his voice rising above the howl of the wind. [i]"YOU are the Vanishing! Our species is becoming extinct from the face of Terra. The strong must rise and heed my call! The time of the Vanishing is now! Who will join me?"[/i]

The number of people assembled were pitifully few, even for a place as populated as Atma. Suprisingly, as the Prophet looked into the crowd, most were young women, with the odd man standing hesitantly near the back. From beneath his cowl, the gray-robed old man who called himself 'The Prophet' studied their faces. Stepping down from the rocky outcropping atop which he had been addressing the few who would hear his message, he swept his gaze to the mist-shrouded mountain town, Atma. None of the other human villages had offered him aid. But Atma was different...the Prophet could feel a resonance stirring within the heart of their land, and in the people who tended it.

As the Prophet turned his back to the rocky platform and leaned on his staff, he addressed those gathered before him in a more casual tone.

[i]"So? Are any of you willing to fight for your people?"[/i] he asked, his tone unreadable.

-----------------------------

[b]OOC: Whew, now that I've shaken off my cold, let's get this under way! [/b]




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[Sakura]

[COLOR=Navy]Aria had been listening the whole time, she had felt a strange feeling wash over her as he talked about the Vanishing. Then all of a sudden she felt compelled to do something, and without her mind telling her to, she raised her arm into the air, answering his question.

"You there! Do you want to fight for your people?" he yelled, pointing at her.

Again, without her consent. "Yes!" she heard herself say.

[I]'What's going on with me?!'[/I] she thought crazily.

"Good! We will meet again." he said, as he saw her making her way through the crowd.

The reason she had been there was because she had just come from the library again, she always went to the library, she looked up Alchemy and Wind spells. All of the librarians there knew her and she was always in the same set of shelves.

Aria had noticed the time and rushed off to the Alchemy shop, then she had heard the Prophet. Now she had seen the time again and rushed off again to the store.

She entered the store and apologised to her mother before she said anything. She smoothed out her favourite blue robe that had been messed up as she ran through the crowd, after sitting in a library on the floor for so long. Then she ran her fingers through her medium length blonde hair.

Aria was set to work immediately, her mother saying because she was late. Aria explained the situation at the crowd, with her body doing involuntary work, to her mother as they worked.

When they were done, all that was left for her mother to deliver them, while she took care of the store. She usually played her flute during that time, until a customer arrived.

Aria sat on a stool behind the counter, she was playing a soft melody, her favourite song, it had a magical feeling to it. Playing the flute, doing Alchemy, doing Magic, and reading were her favourite hobbies, and she didn't have a book and she wasn't allowed to do magic in the store, so all that there was to do was play the flute.[/COLOR]

[B]OOC:[/B] Let me know if anything needs to be changed.

[Delta]

[COLOR=Sienna][SIZE=1]
Here was another avenue, full of lovely Atman people. Kamui knew the streets of Atma so well that she once wagered that she could walk from the docking area to the pub at the center of the town blindfolded. Easy money that was.

On her way to the Alchemy shop, she passed by a gathering at the Square. Someone called ?The Prophet? stood in the middle, shouting out bizarre forecasts like [i]?It has been written that the last of Adam?s blah?blah?? [/i]

[i]What a load of bull.[/i]

For the lack of anything better to do, Kamui joined the curious crowd. She popped a candy into her mouth and tried to catch more of the Prophet?s words. More prophecies. Just when she was about to fall asleep, a girl standing in front of her shouted [COLOR=Navy]?YES!? [/COLOR]

[i]Hrmnh? What? Hey, that?s the shopkeeper?s daughter! Which reminds me? Ah, yes. Note to self: Buy potions.[/i]

After a few detours to other curio houses, she entered the Alchemy shop. A sweet tune greeted her as she entered the store. It abruptly stopped when the woman behind the counter took notice of her.

[COLOR=Navy]?Oh! Um? hi! Welcome!?[/COLOR]
?Good morning, Aria! I?ve a package for your mother. Is she here??
[COLOR=Navy]?Oh, no. But she?ll be back in while. You?re Kamui, right? From Highwind??[/COLOR]
?That?s right? So, what did the Prophet say this time? ?
[COLOR=Navy]??You don?t believe him do you??[/COLOR]
?Not that I don?t, but I must say that he provides very good entertainment---?

The door chimes rang as another customer came in. Kamui didn?t even notice disappointment spread slowly on Aria's face.

[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Epsilon]

[COLOR=SlateGray][SIZE=1]The words still rung in her ears. This had been a matter most important to her. She had shown no sympathy nor thought of those affected nor those out of her own study. Siaga stared, some what leaning forwards. Still lingering on the man's voice even after it was gone.


It must have been an award sight. The crowd had disbanded and yet she stayed. Waiting and still recalling The Prophet's words. There came a cold glance at her from around the square, those who had heard but had paid no mind to the man. [i]Would it have mattered?[/i] she thought; [i]There had been wisdom and truth within his words. Perhaps a man of which who had had much charisma in his youth?[/i] Shifting the books within her hands, she fixed the bracelets are her wrist.

Whould it have been wrong of her, simply to speak to the man. And hear his views again, when she had already found her self to understand him perfectly. No. He needn't repeat him self. Especially not to her, Siaga had already grasped the concept enough to know that if she did try what the man was asking of the people she would fail. Even so, it intrigued her.


Siaga shook her head. Pondering. Continuing her walk she went past an Alchemy Shop. Aira and Kamui were chatting lowly about the matter of what The Prophet had been saying. Stopping for a second right out side the window; she heard faintly what they were saying. None of it, even remotely, had interested her. She walked on, ending back near the outer edge of the open market bazaar.

The air filled slightly with a haze. And then with the smell of smoke. She adjusted the books underneath her arms again. Looking through the smaller shops that had carried herbs, plants, and roots from the lower harder to reach area's of the world.

She murmered to her self, "Why is it, that such a retribution should happen to fall upon us?"
[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Persona]

[COLOR=DeepSkyBlue][I]"The time has come for you to stand up for your people!" cried the Prophet to the assembled masses, who looked at him with a combination of horror and awe. "It has been written that the last of Adam's children shall come forth to lead the Vanishing out of the darkness! I see you look at me with your blank faces, you do not know of the Vanishing! But, in fact, you do," the Prophet gestured with one hand to the crowd, his voice rising above the howl of the wind.[/I]

The words of wisdom stuck in Yulin's mind so flawlessly, huanted her every thought and for that she knew that she was one of the few who shall fight. She walked on the street side not caring about getting ran over, she knew that people of Atma respected her. Yulin was tired for her days work, being a teacher was not easy at all. Her delicate hand brushed her silky hair so gently and turned to the diner, she was very hungry. The old wooden door creaked as Yulin pushed it open and entered with ease. The waitress looked at her with a warm and humble smile, she greeted Yulin and sat her in her usauall seat.

"What will you have to Milady?" the young waitress said happily.

"Hummmmmmm.....How about todays special?" Yulin said feeling famished.

'Very well.." the waitress said as she walked away.

"Darn it....vanishing.................I shall fight and protect til my last undying breathe." Yulin said a she gazed out the dusty window.[/COLOR]

[Seibzeihn]

[color=navy][font=garamond]
Siaga's eyes caught movement to her left. Turning in the direction of the Alchemy shop, she immediately zoned in on the figure of a tall man with a curving sword sheathed across his hips.

He was well-built for a human, with platinum hair falling almost to his shoulders. Wearing close-fitting black leather armor crisscrossed with straps and belts, the man moved with a swordsman's grace. Due to his garb, however, he stuck out like a sore thumb. Siaga wondered as to whether or not he had come with the Prophet -- since she certainly would have noticed him walking around Atma before.

Striding into the Alchemy shop, the man stopped to investigate the herbs and mixtures lining the walls of the store. Both Kamui and Aria noticed him enter, but continued to talk amongst themselves. The stranger made no motion to speak with either of them; he just continued to walk past rows and rows of alchemy tools and solutions, giving each a quick glance. After a time, Aria began to feel like someone was watching her. She paused for a moment and looked over her shoulder, only to find the man's eyes on her.

"Can I help you?" asked Kamui, trying to sound friendly.

The man nodded. "Actually, I'm looking for a solution for muscle aches. Do you have anything of that sort?" he asked, his voice deep and precise. Stepping up to the counter, the man watched as Kamui nodded and vanished into the back of the shop, finding what the man desired. turning around and leaning his back against the counter, the man was now only a few inches from Aria, his toned muscles rippling beneath black leather armor. Her breath caught it her chest as his gaze dropped to meet hers. He had the most amazing green eyes...

"Are all the women in Atma as beautiful as you?" he asked, smiling.

[b]OOC: Attatched are two pictures of the man[/b]
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[Sakura]

[B]OOC:[/B] Who's the man? I didn't end it because I don't know what you want to do with this.

[COLOR=Navy]Aria broke her crystal blue eyes away from his entrancing emeralds and focussed her gaze on the counter. Her trembling hands tightened around the cool material of her crystal flute.

"No, they're much more beautiful than I." Aria replied nervously, her cheeks tinted pink.

"I find that hard to believe." he said, focussing on her face.

"Aria! I can't find the muscle ache stuff!" Kamui called, just in time to save Aria from replying to the man.

"I-I'm coming! Excuse me." she said, standing up off her stool and rushing to the back.

Aria walked around the shelves in the back and clashed with Kamui.

"Hey Aria, what's wrong? You're blushing." Kamui commented.

"It's that man, he has...a way with words..." Aria said, searching through a section of shelves, then she found a bottle of liquid, and a jar of some sort of cream.

Aria took both of the items and headed back into the main shop, when she was at the door, she saw that the man was staring at the door. Aria swallowed and walked back to where she had been sitting. The man straightened and stretched his arms, he had been in the same position for quite a while, she could tell as the way his muscles were tense.

"This bottle is a potion, you have 5 doses in the bottle, a lid full when you need it, just no more than two per day. The jar is a cream that should dull and slowly heal your muscle aches in time, there's a lot in there and you apply it to the area whenever you need to." Aria said, setting the bottle and jar between them.[/COLOR]

[Seibzeihn]

[font=garamond][color=navy][b]OOC: He's a pseudo-NPC, so to speak. He's connected with the Prophet, but I purposely made him ambiguous because that was the response I was hoping for -- no one knows who he is or how to act around him. He will become more clear as the situation proceeds.[/b]

IC:

"Thank you," the man replied with a smile. Taking the jar in one hand, he unscrewed the bottle of liquid and poured himself a lidfull. Tossing his head back, he drank and twisted the cap back on the bottle. His expression brightened somewhat, as if that was possible.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad at all." His eyes returned to Aria. "How much?"

She blushed again.

After he had paid her, Aria rang his credits up on the register (one of the few technologies remaining after the Rise of the Angels). Happening to glance up, she noticed that the man had disappeared. Turning towards the back of the shop to inform Kamui, she gave a start in surprise. The man was right beside her now -- odd, since she had never heard him move -- cupping her chin in one hand. His eyes filled her gaze.

"My name is Kadaj, beautiful angel. I am sure we will meet again." Before Aria could give her name, the man had vanished again. Outside, she heard a cry of rage and several voices yelling. Running to the back of the shop, Aria yelled to Kamui. "Something's going on outside, it doesn't sound pleasant!"

-----------------

"You and your master come here preaching these tales of horror, death and destruction," bellowed Lieutenant Vaske, shaking his longsword at the man opposite him. "But all we want is to be left alone and live in peace! Your kind are not welcome here!"

Kadaj raised his eyebrows. "You will not be living in peace for long with an attitude like that," he said with just a hint of laughter.

"Please, Lieutenant, let it go!" his younger sister tugged at his chainmailed sleeve, but Vaske pushed her back into the waiting arms of another woman. The townspeople, drawn by the commotion, had assembled around the two in the twon square, each making sure to keep several meters away from both. Vaske yelled back at Kadaj, his voice red with fury.

"It is people like you who caused the descent of the Angels in the first place! Your sins drew Heaven's judgement unto us!"

Kadaj's eyes narrowed. "If that's what you think, then you're more naive then I thought!" he bellowed, his voice reaching a frightening pitch. "You dare to draw arms against a fellow human! Who is sinning now?!"

"Enough!" Vaske cried out. "I have heard enough of your talk, heathen!" With that, he charged, sword raised high.

Offering a smile, Kadaj did not draw his sword. Using the scabbard, he knelt and whacked Vaske solidly in the stomach as his slash passed harmlessly by overhead. Vaske doubled up and Kadaj rose, bringing the scabbard crashing down on the man's unprotected shoulderblades. Now lying prone on the ground, Kadaj drew his sword and pointed it at Vaske's throat. Aria blinked in surprise -- Kadaj wielded a [i]double-sword[/i], a unique weapon with two curving blades placed side-by-side.

"Think more carefully before you choose to act next time, lest this event be repeated by one less merciful than I."

[b]OOC: At this point, all of your characters will have come outside to see what was going on. Thus, you are all in the same area -- though whether or not you choose to remain in the same area or interact with Kadaj is up to you.[/b][/color][/font]

[Delta]

[COLOR=Sienna][SIZE=1]
?Mmm? Entertainment!?
Grabbing Aria by the wrist, Kamui dragged her outside to see the commotion. In the street, the man and the Lieutenant had been in a heated argument and were now in the brink of crossing swords.

[i]Is that?the Lieutenant?[/i]
[COLOR=Navy]?Kamui!?[/COLOR]
Kamui made her way to the front of the crowd. She watched for a while
[i]Really, he?s as stubborn as a dotard cow[/i]
and then tapped the shoulder of a nearby onlooker.
?Three gold pieces say the Lieutenant wins this round--?

A girl suddenly threw herself to the lieutenant. The pathetic thing tugged at his sleeve pleading. The girl she recognized as the Vaske?s sister. With a quick shove, she staggered backwards and fell into Kamui?s arms.

?Kumiko! Hey!? said Kamui as she shook the stunned girl.
[COLOR=SlateGray]?Huh? Kamui! Oh, Kamui! Please, you?ve got to stop them!? [/COLOR]
?Oh, he?ll be fine.?

Kumiko, with a bewildered look on her face, tried to swat Ms. Kamui the Useless away but found that she hasn?t strength enough to fight with the ship captain. Just then, a terrible cry was heard and they saw Vaske swing his sword at the man. A few moments later, the lieutenant was on the ground with a sword tip at his throat.

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray]"Think more carefully before you choose to act next time, lest this event be repeated by one less merciful than I."[/COLOR]
[COLOR=SlateGray]?Kamui!? [/COLOR]

But the ship captain had left. She had gone to aid the lieutenant and was now kneeling behind him.

?Come on, Lieutenant. That?s enough.?she whispered as she helped him up. With her graceful fingertips, she lightly pushed the sword at his throat aside. Surprisingly, its owner yielded and gave her a smile as he perched the sword on his shoulder.

[COLOR=DarkSlateGray]"Your friend, Miss Shopkeeper?"[/COLOR]

Kamui handed the lieutenant to Kumiko. She whistled and waved her hand at the crowd. Moments later, five of her crewmembers came up and carried Vaske away. Kumiko followed them and so did most of the crowd.

She faced the man at last and flipped her hair. A melodious laugh escaped her lips.
??Miss Shopkeeper? is over there.? she said, pointing to the place where Aria was.
?Do you have a name, good-looking??


[b]OOC:[/b] Rushed post. PM me if there's anything wrong or you want me to edit anything.
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[Seibzeihn]

[color=navy][font=garamond][color=darkslategray]"Call me Kadaj, dear girl,"[/color] said Kadaj, resheathing the double-sword across his hips. His eyes met Kamui's unpatched eye, and he held her gaze for a moment before turning to watch the other crewmembers carry the Lieutenant away. [color=darkslategray]"They seem so frightful, these people of today..."[/color] remarked Kadaj offhandedly, more to himself than to anyone else. He appeared to shrug to himself before turning back to Kamui.

Sizing her up, Kadaj laughed good-naturedly. [color=darkslategray]"You're a strong one, no doubt there. Thus you probably weren't taken by the Prophet's words, which means you probably don't hold as much of a fear of the unknown as your peers. What's your name, Lady?"[/color][/font][/color]

[Persona]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue] Yulin spotted a man wielding some sort of double blade sword and with this she gave a long sigh and got up from her seat. She walked past the doors and into the street where the scene took place.

"Oh crap...what the hell is this now? I should go in and help....but maybe they don't need it.....then again I vowed to protect the innocent and so I shall." Yulin said as she approached with caution.

She surveyed the scene first and wondered if the man would attack. She just stood there watching, Yulin would only attack if he would strike.[/COLOR]



OOC:I am a little lost...so pm me if you want me to fix this.

[Delta]

[COLOR=Sienna][SIZE=1]
?I?d rather you call me Captain than Lady, Sir Handsome. The name?s Kamui, nice to meet you.?
[COLOR=DarkSlateGray]"Then Kamui it is. And ?Miss Shopkeeper? is??[/COLOR]
?I think she?d rather tell you herself.? She raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways to the girl who was already on her way to them. ?Now, if you?ll excuse me?? With a bow and a graceful sweep of her cloak she turned to leave but soon looked back with an amused look.

?Oh, by the way, maybe it would do you good to leave town for a while. Come back when Vaske?s angry liver bursts then maybe we could have a drink together.?
[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Seibzeihn]

[font=garamond][color=navy][color=darkslategray]"Oh?"[/color] Kadaj raised his eyebrows. [color=darkslategray]"I will heed your warning, thank you. I am quite unfamiliar with this place, as you can probably tell."[/color] Kadaj brushed off his leather armor and his gaze swept towards the sun. He appeared to be considering something, then turned back to Kamui.

[color=darkslategray]"We will be leaving soon, regardless. It is almost time to be gone. I'm sure we'll meet again, since I sense that you do not wish to come with us."[/color]

Kamui was about to answer, when Kadaj gestured with one hand. From one of the streets of Atma, a figure came into view amongst the mists. It was the Prophet, walking slowly but surely towards their location. [/color][/font]