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Post by Salem on May 29, 2012 15:14:17 GMT -8
Deep in the undernet, where the black sky is what met those with any hope in a desolate landscape, stands a mighty fortress. Well known despite its secluded location, this fortress has seen its share of fights, and has started its share. Multitudes of cannons line the massive outer wall, all once dysfunctional, now look as if they were built yesterday. The stone work on the walls are a glorious testament to its designer/creator. The sheer scale and size of this building gives Navis a sense of being insignificant. To make matters worse, the building seems to have been dug out and placed upon a floating island, with its only entrance and connection to the mainland being a massive bridge suited to handle the building sized armaments when they were to he used for war. When a poor soul looks down off the bridge they are greeted by a bottomless pit. Those who look and listen closely are given another gift of what appears to be moans of dread and fear; some claim to even see spirits of the dead reacting the previous battles. Though long abandoned, lights now fill its many many windows, but no one has ever been seen at the fortress.
To those that dare approach the massive two stories tall gate that blocks the entrance to the bridge must face a bitterly cold wind that strikes to the bone, seeming to suck the life out of the navi that approaches. The landscape is rocky and broken from constant battles that once surrounded this fortress, making it an incredible pain to approach the building in the first place, as flying is impossible with the ever shifting wind. Those that brave the harsh conditions, are met by one more factor blocking the way besides the gate. a lone navi, fully cloaked, stands at it's entrance, guarding the path to the Armed fortress.
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Post by Raven8 on May 29, 2012 15:34:40 GMT -8
*As the cloaked Navi stands, a second Navi shrouded in white walks up to the front of the area and looks around, a peaceful smile almost painted across his face in quiet confidence. Walking up to the gate, he nods to the hooded Navi and gives a slight laugh*
?: Come now... is the garb truly necessary? Do you truly need everyone to know just how mysterious you are?
*The Navi then stands, awaiting an answer from the one before him, as well as for the remainder of the group that was to meet...*
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Post by Salem on May 29, 2012 15:41:30 GMT -8
[bgcolor=black][The cloaked navi makes no movment nor reaction the the navi as he approaches. moving slowly he pulls out a digital pad and scans the navi.]
?: You are on the list, you may proceed.
[The navi grabs the base of the gate, and with little movement, the giant gate slowly rises, letting out an awful sound of old metal grinding as dust falls from the the massive thing. after it opens up half way it stops and the navi gestures for the other to go through.]
?: Master said I could comment, so I shall. I am not to show my face, it is his word, and his words are my law. Master will greet you half way.
[With that, the navi returns to his post.]
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Post by Raven8 on May 29, 2012 15:43:14 GMT -8
*The Navi's smile widens slightly as he nods to the cloaked figure*
?: Fair enough. I retract my previous comment then.
*With that, he continues down the path*
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Post by Salem on May 29, 2012 17:00:47 GMT -8
[bgcolor=black][As the navi crossed the gigantic bridge, Two figures approached from the other end. At first the figures were too distant to get a good look, but as they closed the distance, they became clear. One navi was covered in a torn and tattered cloak that seemed to hang over a a formless body, at it's bottoms, smoke poured outward and away. Where his face would be was a standard theater mask, covered the smokey ball that was apparently the head of this strange navi.
The other, was much more elegant, his clothing pristine and had a 1700 royalty feel to the it. The man wore a dull black vest with white trim and ivory buttons, his long sleeve shirt a complementing dull orange with a white lacing that frilled out at the cuffs held together by, once again, ivory buttons. His slack a pinstriped black that finished the look. His cape flapped wildly in the wind, revealing the orange underlining and that complemented the black on top.
Soon they were approaching the guest, the smokey navi taking what was supposed to be a bow, while the other spread his arms wide approaching the navi.]
?: Ahhhh Welcome welcome, I wasn't expecting such company so soon, but I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.
[The caped navi stopped in front of the guest, his cape settling down as the wind started to die down briefly. He lowered his arms and held out his hand]
?: We await a third and then we can get this meeting started. No?
[His skin now plainly visible, revealed to be pale and very stiff. It almost looked as if the navi was dead, his eyes having a slight and ugly yellow hue to them as if they had been rotting away slowly over the years. His smile was wide and wicked, and his charm sharper than any blade. The wind began to pick up again, as the caped navi held out his hand to the guest.]
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Post by Vilicious on May 29, 2012 19:15:39 GMT -8
A second visitor approaches the "new" guardhouse at the end of the bridge and merely floats in place, staring with unseeing eyes past the guardian, past the gate, and past the expanse between himself and his soon-to-be host, who in turn is whispered to by his own sentinel winds: <Exile has evidently been kind, to loose prizes such as this for those who would play claimant.>
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Post by Raven8 on May 29, 2012 19:22:47 GMT -8
*The Navi in a white overcoat stands as the second, and final, guest of the evening arrives, looking over the fortress in silence for a few moments*
?: Just how did you manage to obtain this piece of real-estate? It seems as though it trades hand every year or so. I know that the Revolution was the last to make use of it, there was another group before that, and even I have had use for it in the past.
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Post by Salem on May 29, 2012 19:34:50 GMT -8
[bgcolor=black][The Gatekeeper move's it's shrouded head up to the final guest.]
?: Master is pleased you made it, he welcomes you in....
[The Gatekeeper chants and the ground around the latest new comer and himself lights up, displacing them and replacing them beside the other three navi's on the bridge. The Gatekeeper bows to the navi's before slowly walking back to the gate.]
[The caped navi laughs at the white navi's question.]
?: Perhaps it was chance that this place was empty when I arrived here, perhaps it was fate. the dice are hard to read.
[As the new guest arrives he turns and greets him graciously]
?: And yes sir, Exile has been very kind. Infact, any situation can be kind to those that see opportunities. Now come come, lets move in away from this cold air shall we?
[The navi turned and led the way towards the the fortress.]
?: I hope you brought ideas gentlemen, I have been gone a long time, and I am unfortunantly...lacking in some fresh ideas in how to deal with our situation.
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Post by Raven8 on May 30, 2012 19:53:06 GMT -8
*With hands behind his back, the white clothed Navi walks down the path with the other two Navis*
?: In speaking of ideas; perhaps you could share your reason for calling us together this evening. I'm afraid that the invitation that I recieved lacked any true reason.
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Post by Salem on May 30, 2012 20:32:37 GMT -8
[bgcolor=black][The Caped navi answered without a beat.]
?: As our friend here stated I have done well for myself despite being in exile...and I've also had my ears open. I hear of a great threat to the net wondering about aimlessly. I wont lie, I did chuckle at that, until I caught wind of what this thing could do. So...before we give him an extra queen on the chess board, lets remove something from the equation before it becomes an issue.
[The Navi walked over to the edge of the bridge, and pointed to the black pit below.]
?: More specifically, how to hide him from it.
[as he spoke, a loud roar echoed form the pit, reverberating off the walls of the pit causing it to reach a deafening level. Soon a black mass making the armed fortress look small rose form the pit. The ground and bridge shook violently for a few seconds as he creature stretched and revealed it's full prowess. One of it's hands using the tallest building of the Fortress as a resting place, the other reaching one of the outer walls, it leaned down it's Purely black head only interrupted by on Golden eye that moved around frantically, though pausing repeatedly on the four navi's on the bridge.]
Arancione: Gentlemen, this is my pet Nero. I'm sure you both have some data on him. I know M does as he is the one that called for the metting. He kinda leaves bits of himself lying all over the place....I digress, he is the piece that needs to be removed from the game before his...uhm..."special abilities" are learned by this other threat. Though if you all would prefer we could simply play a game of chess and discuss world domination. Hahahahahahahahha
[Arancione Chuckled to himself and turned back to the White navi and M.]
Arancione: Yes, Gate, that "pet", and the threat outside of the undernet, is the reason M asked for this meeting.
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Post by Vilicious on May 31, 2012 14:50:59 GMT -8
As Nero emerges from the abyss, M merely looks from each navi to the next, and then back toward the gate of the bridge. His gaze returns, unyielding to the monster as Arancione discloses their agenda. Inside his own mind, M only wonders... Such is the price of broken limits and unenforced law. And yet, to cow those as this, we must...[/i] The thought trails off as their host concludes, and M slowly turns toward him. The wind bites into all of those present, and it sharply whispers: <Already the game of domination is played. It would be more prudent to discuss chess, should we enter your fortress.>[/color]
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 1, 2012 18:52:03 GMT -8
*Gate looks over Nero for a moment before he continues down the path to the fortress, not seeming to give much thought to the show*
Gate: Speaking of; you still owe a part of Nero to me for helping you find him. Since it's obvious that you now have him again, I'm sure that you'll live up to your end of the deal before we part ways.
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Post by Salem on Jun 3, 2012 15:40:13 GMT -8
[bgcolor=black] [Arancione started to walk towards the main entrance after the two spoke, turning his head back toward Gate with a grin on his face.]
Arancione: I have not forgotten, I have the sample still. I don't like to burn bridges when it is not needed, or if I'm still on them hahah
[As the trio approaches the main doors, a smaller, normal sized door at the base of one of them opens. Stepping out of the entrance was a sleek, and slender figure, though heavily armored from head to toe. The sharp edges and spikes on the navis armor, the color pallet of black and crimson outline, the demon like helmet all gave this navi a terrible sense of dread to those of weak constitution. As the trio approached, the navi stood to the side of the door and took a knee, his lance point up as his head remained facing down.]
Arancione: Ah thank you Roric.
[Before Arancione passed through the door, he looked up toward Neros titan body, and pointed down. The beast slowly slid back down into the seemingly bottomless pit, vanishing from sight. Aran turned his head back to M as he started to walk through the door.]
Arancione: I do hope you were not implying I was showing a sign of dominance by having Nero show himself. I would never do such a thing sir! Hahaha....no no, simply answering Gate's questions. Oh and M, we still have yet to finish that game yet, and it is still your turn.
[As the three of the navi's stepped inside, the main hallway of the fortress was revealed. All along it's walls were paintings and portraits of amazing detail and skill. Black and orange tapestry with Aranciones crest hung along the walls in between the paintings. The room was brilliantly lit with many floating lanterns that seemed to bob up and down ever so slightly. along the walls was chests and tables and cabinets, the craftsmanship beautifully done. At the end of the hall way was a open archway that lead to a large round room. Inside, unlike the previous room, was a vast emptiness. Nothing was decorated, and though lanterns hung, they only seemed to light up a path to a round table with enough space to fit 7 or 8 navis. Outside of the path, the room appeared pitch black with no distinguishable features. Aran approached the round table and took a seat, looking at M again.]
Arancione: And In case you did forget sir, I did mean that.
[Arancione pointed to the only thing on the table, a simple chess board, it's pieces still all on the board, though it looks like the game had already taken many turns without a piece being taken. Arancione chuckled as he placed a small date chip on the table near the center, as well as a small vile of black liquid.]
Arancione: And for you, Gate, the gift for helping me locate my pet.
[Arancione waved his hand to the side, and the chess board moved to the edge of the table, allowing a whole to opened up in the center. Soon after what looked like small insects swarmed out of it toward the three navis. As the bright green insects reached the edge of the table the suddenly stopped as if slamming into a wall. They built up for a few seconds before the stream of insects finished and then they proceeded to form what appeared to be a data tablet. As soon as the insects finished making the shape, they glowed brightly and darkened, leaving no trace of an individual insect, but leaving only a working data tablet for each navi. Arancione grabbed his and it lit up, on the screen was a detailed information sheet on Nero. He looked at the other two navi's with a slightly puzzled look.]
Arancione: I do not know how much you know, so I figured this was a decent gift to the both of you, a little information on the beast. I have little to no information on what we are hiding him from, I only understand it's threat, and, frankly, now being back and connected to the rest of the net, I don't feel like throwing that away...Also Gentlemen, any information you would not mind sparing on what has happened sense I've been gone would a greatly appreciated. I hate not knowing...what the pieces are doing and what they have been up too.
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Post by Vilicious on Jun 3, 2012 18:41:41 GMT -8
M looks from the tablet to Arancione, and then to the chessboard. <'Disinterring the UnderNet was the action of least risk: It is unknown if... the thing is capable of breaching such a boundary as was created for here or if it could become capable of such, and so the prudent course was to crack the shell ourselves, warn those that needed to be warned. The ONB is occupied by dithering fools and would not have taken such advice...'>
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Post by Raven8 on Jun 4, 2012 14:16:07 GMT -8
*Gate glances over the tablet for a moment, almost mumbling as he reads it with care*
Gate: Things have been relatively normal, minus this new creature. Of course a random being of mass-destruction on the loose has become something of a normal circumstance as of late....
*Gate then lowers the tablet, sits back, and speaks more casually with M and Arancione*
Gate: The largest change has been within the ONB. A new group with apparently benevolent intentions appeared from nowhere and simply took over. It is my belief that either the international senate or the Electopian President allowed it, as both have been fairly quiet as of late. Then we have the incident in Creamland, with an inter-dimensional beast taking over, which apparently spawned our newest threat. This also removed all of the visitors from the ONB save the leader, named Terra, and one of his minions, who seems to have fallen off of the face of the net. Terra has since announced elections to ONB congress positions, open to all Navis that meet specific not yet announced criteria.
*Gate then pauses for a moment, turning his attention to Arancione*
Gate: If I may be so rude as to dive directly into business; have you made any contact with the Underking in your time here? Serenade has been unusually silent in the face of his kingdom being sealed off from the rest of the world.
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