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Profitable Conversationalist
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 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:34 pm
"He seemed so certain that was his friend in there. I...I don't think he was mistaken. I think that the Rune is Sierra." Gaiathi swallowed hard, then looked at the other two gravely. "If that is right, then we did kill his friend. I'm not sure how well he'd take that."
She sighed and reached into her bag to pull out the book she had found. Gaiathi regarded it sadly. "I grabbed this because it looked like a journal. I hoped someone might have written about what happened here. There might be some answers inside."
Gaiathi began flipping through the pages, hoping to find something worthwhile, yet also hoping the theory could be proven wrong.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:22 pm
Much of the journal pages have absorbed the spilled ink. However, there were still a few entries that were completely readable: Journal Readable Entry 1It has been many ages since I've come to possess the Blue Moon rune and it's overwhelming influence took another century to master. Before I became able to control the rune, I was a fiendish vampire, moonstruck with bloodlust, killing any and all in sight to satiate the hunger within me that would never go away. Like a hungry ghost, it would never stop, and I felt tormented, though my body had no control as it transformed into a vampire, with each victim I killed. Eventually, in great agony I retreated to this forest in hopes that I can learn to stave my cravings, and that's when he came. A wounded knight, on horseback, fell in the middle of the woods. I felt so sorry for him, then, that I wanted to save him, for it was the correct thing to do. Ah, but it was so hard to resist not sucking his lifeblood there and now, but I managed to do it. Slitting my wrist, I dropped my own blood into his mouth, giving him the blessings and the curses of a vampire. I nursed him until his health returned and, through this compassion, I no longer felt a need to feast on the blood of the living. And the cravings did pass in time. My knight and I, through our hardships and blood-hungered pains, overcame our cravings and lived peacefully in this wood. The rune no longer felt diabolical. But rather, it gave me the strength I needed to overcome the cravings and heal my knight and I of our grave afflictions. Readable Entry TwoMore and more members have heard about us, a rumor that two vampires have succeeded in calming the lust thanks to the power of the Blue Moon. It now resides in our temple and no longer attached to me, in hopes that its powers would continue to bless this place and the residents who seeked solace from the lustful hungers of vampirism. It seemed to sustain us as any mortal blood would, but without the guilt and without the killing. In general, though my history with the rune has been harsh, I'm glad that I was able to assist my knight and these other people. The rune's power of compassion is still growing, and isn't fully strong. I'm doing my best to help out all our new visitors, and my knight is helping to build housing and teaching the others to help out. Readable Entry ThreeBlue Moon Village. That was the name our residents called this place. And none of us ever wanted to leave once we came. A lot of us have become dependent on the rune's overflowing grace to stave off the afflictions of vampirism. We did allow some visitors, though with much trepidation. We couldn't risk being spotted for fear that people will try to disrupt our peaceful existence. But that will happen when it happens. Until then I'm happy to be coven mistress of the village, continuing to accept visitors, both vampiric and non-vampiric, who wish to help our cause and to help themselves find peace. Smudged EntryThis entry was quite illegible because of spilled ink, but one could note a mention about Harmonian forces in the writing. The other pages were totally destroyed in black, or had some instructions about alternate foods and other medicines to treat cravings or to heal wounds. Near the bedside stood a lone, completely-transparent crystal sphere, about the size of an average human head. It resembled the devices Runemasters used to contain runes whenever they were not attached to a host or a weapon, for this crystal was totally smoothed and totally transparent and totally spherical. However, a normal-sized rune crystal could be held in one's hand.
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:11 am
While Tuski and Gaiathi payed attention to the journal, Mauser glanced down and picked up the sphere, looking at it thoughtfully. This was a much more desirable solution to what he was about to do, which was cut off the woman's hand. This must have been for some ridiculous rune though, being so big. He shrugged, and experimented with the woman's hand and the sphere; he touched them, he rubbed them, he tried holding one in each hand and then tried to bend the power through his body and into the sphere using his mind. He really had no clue... he had had this done for him once obviously, but runemasters probably had a lot of special tricks...
He began speaking, hoping that he wasn't interrupting Gaiathi's reading. "This is useless... I don't even know where to start... there's a reason why there are only a couple runemasters in each city, y'know?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:02 pm
"The rune was...stolen." Gaiathi looked at Tsuki with wide eye. "I think that's what happened. The fellow you found here was likely involved, as was this woman."
She cast a glance towards Mauser. She then gazed around the room, wondering if there might be some text or something that would offer him some help. "Perhaps there is something here that could tell us what happened or how to work that...or something."
Gaiathi began looking under debris, when she gasped audibly and spun around to face the others. "She thought we were there to take it....Sierra thought we were there to take the rune...or to aid the one who did take it. That's why her casting was weakened. Remember what she said about the circle? That it had become useless. They were all just protecting the rune!"
For a moment Gaiathi grinned proudly, but then her face darkened with a new realization. "Oh. Oh, no. No..."
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:56 am
"Did you ever consider that we were here to take the rune? Do you honestly think Harmonia intended to assimilate this village? No. I don't think that the people here were wrong to fight us. This was the result as far as keeping things orderly is concerned." He gestured around the room, and then wider to indicate the whole town. "This was what was going to happen."
Mauser set down the orb, and reached down into his boot. He picked up a folding combat-knife, flicking it open with a small wrist movement, and then turned to the women. "You'll probably want to look away." He tried his best to cover up the sight as he hacked at the woman's wrist. He tried to keep it clean, mopping up the stump with the blankets beneath. He sighed as he finished, ripping a corner of blanket to wrap the hand up, and then sticking it into his nap sack. "Hmm, I'm going to have to find a jar or something to put that in..."
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:30 pm
Gaiathi did not look away, neither did she see what Mauser was doing. She was too horrified at his words, at her own realizations, and at the realization of the meaning of being a Peacemaker.
We were here to destroy their way of life, because it was deemed unharmonious with our own. We were sent here to take the one thing that seemed to bring two races to coexist. Just because it wasn't the Harmonian way to live... Gaiathi was distressed. This was the life her family wanted for her? She saw no honor in it, yet there was less honor in going against her parents' wishes. Gaiathi felt trapped. As much as this life went against her belief in living honorably, she had to honor her parents and her homeland above all else. This was to be her life.
Gaiathi slowly began looking around the room. "I'll look for a jar."
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:05 pm
A few jars of fruit preserves and jellies, half consumed, could be found in the cupboard. Near the sink, on the kitchen counter, was a compass, a hooded lantern, and a handwritten letter. A canister of lamp oil could be found under the sink.
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:32 pm
"What's all this? Seems someone was planning to travel." Gaiathi picked up the letter and began to read it out loud.
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:52 pm
Letter Darling, I know you will be sorry to hear this, but I'm doing this for the sake of our village. Harmonia will soon come over and claim this territory. That is, if this isn't already Harmonian territory. It's been so long since we've lived here, and so long has it been peaceful. I hope you'll forgive my actions, as it was not recommended by Sierra. But, I have to try, you know? Our village has done nothing wrong to the holy kingdom; we merely want to live in peace. If you're reading this I've already Blinked to the Crystal Palace and I'll be explaining the situation. I've heard from the few wandering salesmen who visit this place (how they came to know of this is beyond me sometimes - so few people visit and most never leave) that Harmonia's peacefully conquered will gain a higher status. Though it's against our coven mistress, it is better than being treated like the slave third class or, worse, as the non-human class. I'd rather not have our friends, family, and even Sierra herself, treated as slaves, for nobody here and anywhere should be. Please pray for me as I travel and discuss, and hope for success, which is what I'm hoping for. Job Kain The letter was dated one month ago...
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:15 am
Julius would have found Mauser and the others already. When he was set in his task, he was fast and efficient. Being alone, however, gave him what he felt would be a rare chance to be alone. So he righted the barrel of supplies, sat upon it, and there, in the dystopia of a village of people he loved, Julius Aheirem wept...
((Sorry it's so short guys...I just...can't really think of anything else right now...sorry...))
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:05 am
(( ._. This is ridiculous. *takes out Emergency Plan C - "Belle Stim"* ))
The clanking of something mysterious could be heard by Julius as he sat outside, waiting for the other group members to unite with him. The sound didn't exactly sound menacing, though it didn't sound good either. The latter quality was because it didn't sound very human at all. To Julius, it sounded like some amalgamation of metal and wood getting closer and closer to the weeping character.
Looking up from where he wept, Julius could see what looked like a barrel rolling toward him. Or, rather, the barrel's wheels were rolling toward the character. The barrel seemed to have two ebony eyes with red rings, changing in size as if scanning the vicinity. A single wooden dowel was shoved a little lower and inbetween the two eyes; a few leaves and a small bird's nest, made with fake hay and fake eggs, could be seen on the tip. Atop the barrel's head was what looked like a mixture of soil, hardy grasses, and a single daisy.
"5cAnNiNg... SC4nn1ng... 5C4nNiNG..." The barrel said as it examined Julius with mechanical eyes, occasionally moving to see the target from all angles. "1dEnTiFiC47Ion c0nFIRmED. Y0u aRe Jul1u5 AHeIreM, 5eCoNd-C1aSs CitiZEN oF CrYs7al VA11ey in tHe H01y KinGD0m 0f HARm0N1A."
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:14 am
While Gaiathi finishe dhte letter, Mauser walked over the plopped the severd hand inside a jar after emptying it into a basen. "This'll never keep... but we have to leave soon... now'a'bouts. Pack it in you two, we've gotta find Julius and leave, so keep your eyes open."
He whipped over to the door, glancing out before stepping into the street. He saw the barrel creature and drew his weapon in a flash. "What the heck is that Jules?"
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Profitable Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:24 pm
Gaiathi slid the letter into her bag with the compass and the canister of lamp oil. Grabbing the lantern and her bundling of bedding, Gaiathi followed Mauser with a sigh.
Stepping on to the street she heard an unusual sound and found herself staring at what appeared to be a wheeled barrel...talking to Julius. Gaiathi had never seen such a thing before. "Julius...watch out! It might be dangerous."
The moment the words left her mouth, Gaiathi felt a bit foolish. It was clearly too late to be issuing such warnings now.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:57 pm
The barrel moved along, not waiting for a response from Julius, and circled around Gaiathi and Mauser for a while, examining them with the same curious expression on its face. Like a small child, though a very woodsy child; the kind of child you'd get splinters from hugging.
"Scanning confirmed..." The barrel said to both of them with what looked like a nod (if barrels could nod). "Gaiathi and Mauser, also from Crystal Valley." He stated in the same mechanical tone as before. A puff of steam left its side as it continued to observe them.
"Gadget!" Another voice exclaimed from the distance. A girl could be seen, a rubber mallet hanging from her belt as she ran toward the group. Her outfit was... cute: a pink blouse with a matching pink skirt, knee-high stockings, and buckled shoes. Her face looked to be fourteen, or even younger, and her auburn hair was put into two handle-bars, adorned with a few star barrettes.
"Don't mind Gadget..." She said, patting the tuft of grass growing on its head. "He's just really curious." She scanned around the village for a second and turned back. "Say... what happened here?" She asked, looking at gadget. "Did you explode again...?" She said to her companion, tapping her foot on the ground.
(( Figured you all only had to read pseudo-1337 once to fully grasp the description I tried to imply in Gadget's voice. Also... Wheeled Barrel... Wheelbarrow... X3 *is amused* ))
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:57 am
Mauser made a show of sighing deeply and holstering his weapon. "I'm afraid this is a bit of a hazard area, Miss. Someone seems to have picked a fight with the locals, and run them all away." He glanced at Julius and Gaiathi sternly, making sure they noticed and made note that he wouldn't be standing with any loose tongues. "If you and your friend could please follow us, we were about to leave the area; we fear hostiles might still be occupying the place, and we'd be happy to escort you and fill you in."
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