|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 22, 2011 19:37:12 GMT -8
Once there had been a mighty, shining tower here - the headquarters of Green Tempest, the Creamland law enforcement organization, and an affiliate of the ONB. The location of this tower at the center of the island proved an appealing target for Lord Samhain.
Now, where the command center once stood, there is only his hideous castle. Taller than the Green Tempest outpost by far, the castle is built from some unearthly material that seems to be alive, with surfaces that squirm like a mass of insects. It is midnight black, but not opaque; one can see an endless web of veins running underneath the surface. The walls and towers bleed, bottomless sanguine fluid flowing out of gaping, festering sores in the structure's skin.
There are few windows, and those that do exist glow a pale, sickly green as if illuminated by some unholy magic. The sound of screaming echoes out of them, covering the entire surrounding area, amplified by some unseen force. A grand, fleshy archway opens into a courtyard filled with dead, twisted trees and exotic carnivorous plants. On the other end of the courtyard is the door, made of what looks like blackened bone.
|
|
|
Post by Snakeskin on Sept 22, 2011 20:13:03 GMT -8
Uranus stepped triumphantly out of the building. He had been successful in taking control of most of the outpost's resources and personnel, another victory for the Star Droids. Now all branches of the ONB were under their control. He radioed in to Terra, grinning broadly.
"Terra? This is Saturn. We've got them. The Creamland division of the ONB is under my control. Now we only need to-"
He was cut off by a deafening burst of what sounded like thunder. In front of him, a tear opened in the sky. Through it was nothing but blackness, but the darkness seemed to glow - as paradoxical as that statement is. What sounded like a sinister laugh escaped from the rip in reality, and Saturn changed the subject of his discussion rather rapidly.
"...Terra! Rally all of our enforcers and bring them to the Creamland central outpost! Something's going on here and we need to put a stop to it!"
|
|
|
Post by Snakeskin on Sept 22, 2011 21:20:21 GMT -8
One by one, the Star Droids teleported onto the scene. Pluto, battered and bruised from the battle he'd been drawn from. Venus and Jupiter had been holding a conversation and so teleported in mid-sentence. Neptune landed gracefully after he materialized several feet into the air. Finally, Terra materialized up front, directly in front of the rift. All he managed to utter was, "What is that?"
A dark and menacing voice emerged from the rift. "It is my triumph... and your downfall."
The instant the voice ceased speaking, the tear in the sky expanded, ripping open some unseen dimensional barrier. A mighty gust of wind started up, acting like a vacuum and sucking the helpless Stardroids inside, stranding them in some unknown limbo between worlds. Along with them went the members of Green Tempest, who had gathered outside to observe the phenomenon.
Another evil laugh echoed through the air, and something emerged from the dimensional rift. A foot. A massive one, at that.
Out stepped the vile, all-powerful Lord Samhain - a towering, muscular man wearing a loincloth sewn from what appeared to be the skin of his enemies. His skin was blood red at the center of his chest, gradiating to black over most of his body and forest green at his extremities. On top of his 37-foot-tall body, the brutal behemoth had a head like a jack o'lantern - lit and raging with flame, carved into an eternal sinister smile. He turned this head side to side, surveying the landscape with his eyeholes.
"This will not do at all... don't you agree, Nightwind?"
Someone else emerged from the void - flying, this time. It was a winged, anthropomorphic horse with black fur and midnight blue armor. He landed on his master's shoulder, perching there like a pet bird. "Yes, my lord. I'm certain you can improve it."
At that, an insidious dark energy emerged from Samhain's body, flowing out from his very skin. It entered the ground, and within and instant the world was changing. The pleasant grass and flowers died and withered and were replaced with twisted, hellish bushes with no leaves. Sharp rocks jutted up from the ground in random locations. And the building itself changed - the tower seemed to age a thousand years in an instant, its surfaces cracking, dark vines running up its sides. The sky darkened to a fiery orange and sinister black clouds formed instantaneously. His dark energy spread over the entire island, corrupting and transforming it.
He admired his handiwork silently for a moment, the flames in his head gaining strength. Behind him, more beings emerged from the portal - small, impish, shadowy demons that poured into our world and scattered about, exploring their new domain. With them came a huge machine, a war engine of sorts, in the shape of Samhain's head - another jack o'lantern. Its cannons blasted into the air in celebration of its lord's arrival.
Samhain turned to his minions and spoke, sending them into reverent silence. "Welcome, my underlings, to your new home, and the latest colony of the unstoppable Dark Dimension - the Earth Net Colony! Now... we march on their castle, and we seize control. Come!"
With a wave of his massive hand, they obeyed, following him off into the tainted horizon.
(Location Change: Pride Castle)
|
|
|
Post by Snakeskin on Sept 29, 2011 16:34:59 GMT -8
Amethyst, Edge, Embera, Ruin, Sheep, Warrior, Xion, and Xyzillentz materialized at the base of the tower that had once been the home of Creamland's defenders. Now it was surrounded by a horde of demons. Nightwind materialized at the entrance to the outer ring of the tower and stepped inside, turning to address his followers.
"I must confer with my lord. Wait here - get acquainted if you wish. Oh, and - enjoy the pizza."
As he stepped inside, the demons - just as he had warned - sensed Sheep's good intentions and attacked en masse, tearing the flufflball to shreds and leaving behind the mostly-untouched food. They had no interest in eating this sort of thing and promptly resumed roaming the grounds aimlessly.
*SHEEP.EXE DELETED*
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2011 18:11:33 GMT -8
Warrior disbanded the group by just a few steps -- almost as if trying to get some breathing room. He took a good look around, examining the Central tower and the smaller, sub-towers surrounding it. And ofcourse, his attention wasn't void of the demons running around.
He looked back at the group. The only person he really knew here was Embera. He'd most certainly seen most of the others here, though, and was quite aware of their reputations. He never thought... He'd actually be among them.
==================== Warrior closed his eyes. Yet even as he re-opened them, darkness remained. Everywhere. He looked around. Up. Down. He could see his own body, so his eyes were definitely open. But everything around him was darkness. Even where he stood.
Two figures slowly appeared behind him -- they were standing, and seemed to fade into his own reality, slowly becoming noticeable and recognizable for him.
It was weird... even though the two female navi stood behind him, he could still see them, somehow. They spoke, but at first their voice made no sound. He could only see their lips moving. As they continued to talk, the volume of their voice slowly increased until it was that of a strong whisper, then it stopped increasing. " Is this what you want?" " Is this what you've become?""
Warrior recognized the voices... " Cherish... Faith..."
He closed his eyes and jerked his head as if he were evading a fly in his face, to try and blot the two of them out.
====================
Warrior opened his eyes again. Everything was back to normal. Back to the way it was before.
" ... Just Memories..."
Or were they?
It didn't matter. Trying to forget it, Warrior stepped back with the rest of the group to wait for Nightwind. He couldn't avoid the thought that crept into his mind though, despite how hard he tried. He knew Creamland would never be the same, and its fate probably (to a degree) depended on his answer to that thought...
Was he really going to do this?
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Sept 29, 2011 19:10:36 GMT -8
*The green Navi from before, now very puzzled and confused about what in the heck had just happened, Watching Nightwind leave the area, he simply scratches his head*
?: ....wow.... I've heard of hearing something "straight from the horse's mouth", but this is insane.
*With a shrug, the emerald Navi then walks back over to the group and points over his shoulder to the tower that Nightwind had just walked up to, a nearly laughing smirk played across his face*
?: So what's up with my ugly brony over there? What kind of a holiday celebration is this anyway?
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Sept 29, 2011 19:20:30 GMT -8
*And a blast later, they were at their next destination. Airman being on the other side wasn't all bad in his opinion actually. To be fair, he did want to have a round with him at least once, and this gave him the perfect excuse to do just that. It wouldn't be any fun to not have a losing chance at this after all, so the more who gathered, the better really. Besides, he still did have the consolation back from the Aqua Net. That made up for it, along with getting to have plenty of people to play with too. He knew some here and didn't know some others, he didn't want any pizza either, and they had plenty of time to get acquainted with one another if they felt like it. For now, he would speak with the one he had his eye on.*
"I remember you too. It's sort of common for anyone I associate with to do their own thing after a while. Besides, when all is said and done, I'm certain our paths will cross again when things look a bit more profitable to him. Our stormy friend aside, I'm Xion."
*He was never sure who had or hadn't heard of him whenever he went somewhere. He would assume that most didn't know of him wherever he went. He was fine if they did or didn't, given he did whatever anyway. As for the other guy who stood for several reasons, he figured the best way to answer it was with an answer that more than likely either fit or didn't.*
"It's an early and long party for Halloween."
|
|
|
Post by "Bill" on Sept 30, 2011 14:56:17 GMT -8
[glow=white,2,500]*Embera arrived and slammed her staff in the ground, with Cloaks forming immediately. After scanning everyone who arrived, she could see Warrior fretting with something on his mind. She tapped him on the shoulder and looked genuinely concerned.*
Embera: Y'know, whatever is bugging you, you should just eliminate it. If you let things bother you, you become weak for it. And even moreso, you let them contort you in ways you don't wish....
*Embera walked away before turning around to him, with a warm smile, the Solar Empress looked back at Warrior with a happy tone in her words.*
Embera: Oh, and Warrior...if you even think about turning now, I'll kill ya without hesitation, before you get a chance to even cross sides, alright?
*Having said what she needed, Embera walked and meeted Xion and the other navi. With a chuckle she yawned lightly, rather impatient at Nightwind's lack of haste with everything.*
Embera: The name's Embera, I hold the name of Solar Empress.
*With that, she held what looked like a tiny sun in her hands, with a smile about it, she gazed into the pure heat the ball of light irradiated.*
Embera: I use fire to create light and use it to extinguish the others...
*With a crush of the ball, the flames stretched outward and engulfed a demon, nearly frying it instantly. Smiling at the twisting creature trying to put itself out, Embera turned back to the group.*
Embera: ...Oops.[/glow]
|
|
|
Post by notegg on Sept 30, 2011 15:05:06 GMT -8
[Cloudy Pizza Delivery] Respawning. . .
"Excuse me Samhain and company. I believe your guards may have misinterpreted my kindness delivering your pizza as an act of war. Also, for your information you have ordered the 'Party Size' pizza combo, which includes a free drink dispenser rental and infinite pizza-- If you could call off your demons it would be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah, the bill comes to 10,000 Zenny, although it can be paid any time within the next month."
A loud voice boomed over the tower, if one would look up, they would see the cloudy delivery virus with a megaphone over his mouth, and a drink fountain with a built in cup dispenser. He assumed he was high enough above that the demons wouldn't hurt him but you never know. . .
|
|
|
Post by Snakeskin on Oct 1, 2011 16:26:52 GMT -8
Xyzillentz did his best to ignore the terribly rude interruptions of Embera and that pizza boy. He took Xion's hand into a firm grasp and shook. "Xyzillentz. Charmed to make your acquaintance. And I must say, I like the name, dear." The sly schemer slid in closer and whispered in his ear. "Let's say things here go south... would you still have an opening for a masterfully malevolent minion?" Xyzillentz had seen the opposition's power on the beach and was aware that victory for his side was not certain, but he wasn't the type to let himself leave a situation empty-handed. Any opportunity that presented itself was fair game to him.
There was also the matter of this green stranger. Xyz didn't concern himself with it too much at the moment, but he seemed familiar...
|
|
|
Post by Genesis on Oct 4, 2011 18:01:58 GMT -8
*He had to admit that saying Xyzillentz wouldn't be the easiest thing to do. He'd have to come up with an easier name for him or work on it at a later time, especially given the 'malevolent minion' status. He also agreed that coming up empty-handed from something wasn't in his best interests either. Although he would still get to bust a few skulls no doubt by the time this was all over. He nodded in return to the whisper, given they had others that would be in the way of possible conversations that involved some of his favorite illicit acts.*
*Now that he heard the name, he did recognize Warrior, but that didn't matter more or less. Then there was the Solar Empress, who he couldn't tell whether she just was someone who enjoyed burning things like any good pyromaniac, or if she just enjoyed doing the good old chaos factor period. Still, it never hurt to know another person who reminded him of Ruin in a fight.*
"There will be plenty of light to extinguish here while the fight's still going. Rare that they ever gather up these days really. It won't take them too long to get here either. They tend to fight a bit harder when anything is at stake."
|
|
|
Post by Paruga on Oct 4, 2011 20:15:33 GMT -8
Amethyst simply laughed at the total slaughter of Sheep. She found the little demons quite amusing. She eyed the pizza disdainfully, however. She started to create a throne of evil energy when she saw Xyzillentz. Not knowing his name, she only remembered him when she and Xion were at the Aqua Net. In fact, she saw Xion speaking with Xyz. "Oh, Xion, how have you been?" She walked up to him. Then, not to be out-right rude, she adressed Xyz. "Oh, hello there. My name is Amethyst. I'm pleased to meet you, I'm sure."
|
|
|
Post by Snakeskin on Oct 7, 2011 23:32:12 GMT -8
Something strange was brewing... it didn't cross any of their minds, of course, for they were unfamiliar with the area... but normally, this tower would have been right next to Pride Castle at the center of the island. However, it didn't appear to be there anymore. Instead, there was the castle, just behind Pride Wall. Or, one of the Pride Walls.
Really, there only should have been one, in a normal world, and yet some of the warriors of light had found themselves between two. After all, this was not a normal world. Behind them now, the crumbled wall - it was only one again - opened not onto the beach of Pride Park, but to a series of large buildings and shops, decayed and covered in rust and blood-red vines. Castle Network, which should have been in front of them. At its center - where the castle really should have been - was the high, imposing tower of the Green Tempest Outpost, where the villains were currently biding their time.
Next to the castle, another building was visible, one neither party had seen before - it had once been the factory of Gauss, Inc. Of course, that factory should have been a part of the castle - it always had been, after all - but now it stood on its own. Even so, the castle looked complete. What was it lurking now in the space once filled with machines and workers? And what was being kept in the old factory that would require it to be moved into its own location? And even more than that, how could the heroes or villains ever be sure they were really going where they thought they were?
Just as Xyzillentz held out a hand to greet Amethyst, Nightwind returned, stepping back out of the tower. To get the attention of his allies, the demonic general flapped his mighty wings and built up a gust that blew piles of bones along the ground. He spoke coldly and confidently to the gathered crowd.
"I have returned from the castle of our Lord Samhain. He was gracious enough to cover my entrance and exit, of course. I imagine some of you and your counterparts are rather confused at the moment." He smirked, a bizarre contortion of his long face. "I find that quite amusing. It's quite simple by dimensional standards, especially for digital worlds. Imagine if the island were a puzzle where every piece fits into every other one. It would be quite simple to rearrange them, no? Say, to switch the basement of that tower with the dungeons of the castle while your humble servant was inside, bringing him right where you wanted him? And to move it and him back in an instant?"
He walked slowly towards the group as he continued to gloat on his master's behalf. "Of course, one of the advantages of digital data storage is the ability to make perfect copies and easy modifications - like an extra wall to hide your activities, or a nice new prison cloned from some useless old factory. Not to mention all this decor."
The horse warrior held out a finger and pointed it at his allies - or his underlings, as he saw them. "Now don't go asking any favors or abuses of this ability. It takes a lot out of my master. Lord Samhain... only moves the world for me." Nightwind closed his eyes and smiled for a moment, lost in some dark fantasy. When he lifted his lids once more, his face had hardened into the grim and intense expression of a commander at a critical turning point. "Now... my master and I have worked out a strategy. Those who oppose us are near the castle and the prison at this very moment. When the first few combatants enter the castle, they will find its entrance hall has been switched with the lobby of this tower. It will be switched again with them inside, bringing them here - and we will slaughter them. Those who enter the castle after that switch will be close to our Lord. We have a war machine waiting to guard him, but it may need support. Who here will volunteer to go into the tower during the switch and assist it?"
It was a question he didn't want to ask. He had wanted to be there himself, to have the honor and privilege of defending his master... of being trusted... of being there with him. But he had insisted on using the new recruits instead. Samhain had said Nightwind was too valuable - if he was to be governor, he could not die before his Lord had even departed. The horse supposed that was true. But there was something more... he was sure of it. And that certainty was eating at the back of his mind like a parasite coiled around his spinal cord and hooked into his brain. He could only hope it was genuine concern that had motivated his master to act as he had... it was the only possibility that would keep him sane.
|
|
|
Post by "Bill" on Oct 8, 2011 5:32:13 GMT -8
[Glow=white,2,500] *Embera cocked her head sideways as Nightwind explained the plan and everything else involved in Samhain's power. With a falsely inquisitive voice, she commented.*
Embera: Sooo....you're cheating???
*With a chuckle, she cracked her knuckles and looked dead into his eyes.*
Embera: Alrighty then, I'll help your little war machine clean house of all those rats that get in. I'm rather antsy right now and I'm sure the second wave will be rather larger than the initial grouping. [/glow]
|
|
|
Post by Raven8 on Oct 8, 2011 20:16:55 GMT -8
*Meanwhile, the green mirror-armored Navi is now laying in a hammock that he always keeps on his person on the sidelines, fast asleep*
|
|