Sutoratosu

Eh, don't worry bout it. everyone has things that can't help but piss them off a bit. like when I got stuck with a temporary teaching gig and had to do every fucking bit of the prep work and most of the presentation work even though I was in a god damn group of four... Op... see? still mad about it, even weeks afterwards. Cause I don't enjoy being fucked over like that and watching the sons of bitches ride to an easy grade on my coat tails. Luckily I sabotaged the whole thing via procrastination... make em all pay and teach em a lesson for next time... Anyways, moving on from my little rant, I'll get something up soon. EDIT: None of you. At all. Have any idea. How Much I fucking cried in the two hours it took me to compose that last post. I have no idea what's going to happen to Nemo at this point. But mareek's definitely not gonna be able to deal with or continue to train the kid, not after this. Cause every time he'll look at him from now on... it will be like looking his Gallipoli Campaign in the face, all over again. He'll see a part of the mistake... that killed Java But now... now is time for Juno. If anyone has read The Main Ender's Game Saga... they likely can get some idea of how I'm going to do this.

I'm not saying they aren't, because maybe there is a bit of fear there with Kruga gone and the fact they don't have time. like he said when he was talking with Azauqyar, they gotta move fast. Either way though... someone's gonna be getting trapped in that Odd Keystone for this. As to who though... that remains to be seen.

Stratos- Salamance "I swear to all the fucking gods..." Stratos muttered, face-palming after the whole little speech from the girl. "Everything you try to teach these children, all the lessons you try to ingrain in them so that they are ready and you will not have to defend your own people from them, but instead will only have to defend them as you would your own people... they all have such a way of misconstruing everything and missing the ultimate point. This damn younger generation...no idea what it means to rule." Regardless, he kept moving, ordering those stragglers who had been watching to get their asses in gear. Before long they were before the Keep's front gates. Stratos instructed the guardsman stationed to go fetch Swain... there was something they needed to discuss about all this. After the soldier rushed off like death itself he turned to one of those knights in his entourage, choosing carefully... "You there!" He said, eyes finally falling on a Hydreigon and a few sigilyphs. "Yes, you, go to the mountian's heart and tell the scholars of White Crescent we need an Odd Keystone! be quick about it!" "My lord, but...what is an Odd Keystone?" one of the asked. "Aye, and who are the scholars of White Crescent...?" "Good Arceus, must I explain everything... They are the Clerics and Magi and Wise Men of this nation, the best within our borders, all gathered under one roof so that they may work towards a better future- understood? Where do you think all our healers and mages are trained? How do you think the knowledge was gained to built this city so high in the mountains, so close to the sky?" He almost felt as though it would be better if he just went himself and save the trouble... but he knew he could not do that. "As for what an Odd Keystone is, it is a prison used to imprison malicious spiritual entities, made active when placed upon a specifically constructed stone monument. I need you to go to the Order and tell them that we need them to begin constructing this structure immediately- look for the mark of a white crescent moon in the city, for those are the entry ways to their chambers. Now GO!" They asked no more questions, rushing off to fullfill the orders... Stratos turned back to the gates of the keep. "Come on, damn it... how long does it take to find one old honchcrow?"

Jesus H. Christ... these folks, they seem to know just how to freaking grind Stratos and Azauqyar's gears... Reverse psychology obviously ain't working here, maybe they should just outright tell them to say yes to the dang throne... This is precisely why 3 out of my 5 PCs have no loyalties to an official nation... gotta appreciate that freedom. I'm honestly just wondering if the lessons the two of them are trying to subtly give are ever going to get through though. Because yes, they are trying to teach something here... Stratos just tried again, in fact...might not look like it, but if you go back and read what he actually says... cause they already know how to do this stuff, they know how to keep the order and hold the discipline, and one of them definitely knows what it means to rule, having seen both so many good and bad examples over time... They're just trying to pass on the knowledge in their own ways...and unfortunately they have to make it a crash course, cuase there ain't much time left... I gotta admit though. This is kinda making for some pretty good tension and conflict right now...XD 2 old geezers trying to teach something as fast as they can out of urgency, and 2 young folks who seem like they ain't quite understanding yet... could make a proverb out of it.

Stratos (Salamence) "You are not queen here." Stratos said simply, making no effort to mask the annoyance in his voice. "I have a damn psychopath to find before he does something heinous, and here you are, wasting my time... girl..." "You and your brother were hesitant to take up the crown, remember? You got cold feet when you were asked if you would take up the throne Kruga had left behind, and no coronation could be held because of that, remember?. Ergo, you hold no authority over either me or this city, and your brother only holds what authority he has now because he was a Lord Commander prior. So do not go thinking you can so nonchalantly throwing rank in my face, it does not work like that. Either you will choose to accept the power fully and all the duties that come with it, and rule and protect and serve your people, or you will not have it at all. It is a not a toy and it is not a tool; Governing is not a game, governing is a duty, and you do not simply turn the power stemming from it on and off whenever it is so convenient to you." The emerald armored dragon wasted not another second on the girl, continuing on his way. "If you must know though, our reports tell us that the ghost named Alucard has been plotting against this kingdom and the entirety of her populace since the moment he arrived. They say that he set up the death of his Grace and has been manipulating you via hypnotism, all for the hopes of taking over this nation with you and Eric as his puppets..."

"Fuck." Faust thought as he saw the torrent of black power heading right for him. Like a giant, black wave that burned the closer and closer it got, as if it was alive, as if it was some phantom that wanted nothing more than to reach out and steal his life. It was like those two brits... just like them. He felt something coursing through him as he sat floating downards through the air, near paralyzed... it was fear. It was always fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of disgrace or prejudice... always, it was always fear of something. And it was fear that was his lightning. It was the fear that gave him power... "NO!" He shouted, his entire body blazing with the same violet light as his eyes, engulfing him in the luminescent crackle of electricity that circulated throughout his entire being in a storm. The scent of scorched ozone hung in the air, strong enough for everyone in the alley to smell it, His wing stretched and extended to it's full span, his feathers elongated and sharpened, each and everyone of them, like serrated knives with countless teeth. His hair faded from it's blonde hue, a deep blue like thunder replacing it as the strands began to fan out around his face. He could feel countless volts pulsing through him every second, his heart faster than a bullet. The whole world seemed to slow down. As if it was only constituted of this one moment in time. Just him... and the giant black wave coming the kill him. "No!" He repeated, creating a massive uplift of air with a single powerful flap as it hurtled closer, sending himself into an acrobatic spin just as it passed by beneath him and continued onward into the sky above. He could still feel the hairs on his arms raising, his feathers quivering... but he was alive. "It doesn't end like this. Not after all this madness." Fuast held out his palm as he hovered, the sigil there spinning faster and faster like some run away gyro scope before finally peeling off a blast of thunder that bloomed over the area like a flower, sending a wild torrent of lightning headed for the Dragon down below...

Stratos- Salamance He stared down into the gem like scale one last time, awe struck by his reflection. The Guantlets he wore, the helm on his head, the plate on his chest, the greaves on his legs... it was not his. The silver gleam was not there anymore. It was not steel... not as far as he could tell from knocking on it. The Glow had died down, the scale had stopped resonating. And he was clad in the same strange emerald green it was. It was sleeker too, this armor. Smooth as silk yet hard as diamond. And it was light. light as air it seemed, for the drag that had always been there in the past... it was gone now. He could fly at full speed with no impedment. He felt faster in it... felt at home with it. Almost as if it were a part of him somehow. Not even his mega stone had been spared from the changes, for now instead of his back, it rested in the surface of his left gauntlet. "What... what is this?" he thought. "Did Azauqyar do this? surely, it must've been him, there could be no other explanation..." He tucked the glossy scale into his breast plate, for safe keeping. Perhaps it had indeed been the sky lord... Stratos wasn't the most well versed when it came to old legends and religions, but... surely it wouldn't be beyond a God's power to change the nature of a man's armor. They could make continents and raise sea levels, afterall, they could manipulate time and space and create new life... they had powers far outstripping that of ordinary folks. Hence why they were called 'gods' in the first place. It was just then however that Lt.Dravius descended, looking urgent with his scarred face. Stratos simply raised an eyebrow... then glowered. By Arceus' beard, if that damn ghost has caused even more trouble... "He headed north, Lieutenant." He nodded in the appropriate direction. "Towards the sea. You'll have to fly fast if you want to find him though, he looked to be in a hurry." Dravius didn't utter another word, simply turned and shot off through the air towards the north coast, wings flapping in a furry as he reflected on the events of the past few hours. "I should've just killed the bastard in the plaza when I had the chance..." Stratos meanwhile shot off towards the city, flying far faster than he ever had been able to while wearing regular armor. A sonic boom blasted around him as he came in for a landing, suddenly breaking his speed as the wind rampaged around him in fierce turbulence, much to notice of the Draken Guard members nearby. "What's going on here?" he demanded, not even allowing any opportunity for anyone to ask about the strange new armor. The soldiers wasted no time, explaining the situation as they all walked towards the keep. The Salamance was grinding his massive fangs the entire time. "Alucard, that undead whore son... I was right about him... completely, and absolutely... right."

I got no issue with it. Heck, we were supposed to be planning something out for a meeting anyway

Azauqyar- Rayquaza "The realms of men have been warring with one another for fifty long years." Azauqyar answered as he hovered there in the heavens, looking off into the horizon. "The kingdoms that once knew peace have been turned into imperial nations by the greed and ambitions of a few hateful mortals who wanted the entire world for their own. They have let their minds be made to mush by a lust for power and now... it seems the whole world is at war." He turned his gaze back down upon Aquero. "That. is what likely woke you up. A disturbance in the force caused not by myself or Groudon or any other god... but by mortals." Sebastian and Brantyn- Gothitelle and Rhyperior "You call me insane?" Brantyn laughed, pointing his cannon at the prophet. "What's so insane about that? Look at the legend of three sacred beast, such a transfer of power is not impossible... Ho-oh managed it. All I need is to figure out how to reverse the flow- to syphon Groudon's power out of him" "And I suppose you'll want to find and kill Entei and Suicune and Raikou then, if that's the case..." Sebastian said, actually looking a bit bored as he listened to the rant. "Carve them open and see what makes them tick? Maybe you think you'll find the magic secret?" "Ah, you're a perceptive one, I'm impressed-" "I was wrong." Sebastian interrupted curtly. "You are not insane, you are simply a fool." "What was that?" "You're so absorbed with death that you can't even realize the path you walk will end in your destruction as well if you succeed in it." Sebastian began walking forward, his eyes still blazing a bright blue as he focused and glimpsed further into the Giant's future... into his soul. "You are not mortal, not anymore. You are not god either. You are something else. You are a nobody, a shell, a body left behind by a departed spirit which still continues to be animated by the raw emotional force that it left behind." "What the hell are you talking about, you old fool?" Brantyn was raising his cannon. Sebastian was unphased. "You dare call me a nobody? Do you know who the fuck I am!? Do you know my damn name!?" "You are Brantyn Von Richi," The gothitelle answered. "Former commander of the Colossus Corps, and the most ruthless captain ever in the history of the Land, or likely, any kingdom for that matter. Yes, Titan, I know who you are. As an old priest of Azauqyar, I should kill you for what you have done... but there is a young woman who desires your head on a pike far more than I. You have met her already, I'm sure... so I will leave you to your fate." There was silence for a while. The arid winds blew blistering sand to and fro in the dirt plaza. Elder looked on, gripping his cane as he watched Sebastian stare down the Colossus... it was strange sight. A Small wandering man looking up into the eyes of a hulking behemoth near twice his size and thrice his girth. Just standing there. Not shaking, not pissing himself, just staring. As if Brantyn was a mere Ant to be crushed underfoot...

I know, right!? this is unacceptable folks, we gotta get it started up in here! XD I mean, just how easily we could all do it... we could straight up have a war of the five kings going on alone right now. We've already got King Roberts death down with Kruga gone, Eric/ Ulkina... well they could possibly be like Jaime and Circe in a way... Azauqyar is like Barristan Selmy, and... we need a ned stark. come on folks... you know it would be awesome. EDIT: also, I see we have expereinced our first instant of massacre in the story... in the Sky Kingdom, no less... They will be avenged. When the destruction is eventually found. Of that, rest assured...

Azauqyar- Rayquaza The Massive Sky Dragon glowered down as he noticed the form of Aquero in the sea. He glanced around, taking note of more or less calm nature of the waves and the fact that the air wasn't choked with the stench of salt. It was always salt when the two of them fought. Every single time Azauqyar had intervened, it had always been the one thing that stuck with him the most. The smell and the raw heat. "So you've awakened...again." He said, scowling. "Then that means it's almost time again...time for another one of your damn bouts..." He considered something though... What if he knocked the big lug out right here and now and just do the same to Groudon whenever he woke up, put them both back into a slumber... stop the battle by incapacitating the combatants before it even started. It would certainly be easy, after all, He could just hit the water with Thunder right now and spray Groudon with Water Pulse and freeze him with Blizzard when the time came... But... no. No... he supposed he should at least wait to here whatever the destructive god had to say before taking any course of action... "Why have you called me, Aquero?" he demanded. Sebastian and Brantyn- Gothitelle and Rhyperior There was a small crowd at the front gates. A young Flygon lay twisted in the sand, his neck bent a full ninety degrees to the rest of his body. His head lulled the wrong way in the sand. A female knelt next to him, eyes filled with fire as she glared up at the massive figure draped in a dessert cloak. The being gave no acknowledgement to her, simply stared down the dirt road... but the wind's rippling fingers revealed a glimpse of golden plates and skin silver as castle forged steel. "I told him to stay back." The giant said. "He would still be alive if he just knew how to listen." "You fucking monster..." The woman cursed, cradling her husband even closer. "What kind of man comes into a town and begins threatening to take hostages!?" "A man who knows what he's after, Sand Witch." He took his Arm Cannon out form the folds of his cloak, aiming the business end directly in her face. the sound of a vortex echoed outwards as he began sucking in air... "Prepare to meet your husband in the After Realms." only to lower it as a few shapes emerged on the horizon. "Well well... looks like I won't have to start killing you one by one afterall..." "It's him..." Sebastian snarled the moment the three of them arrived at the scene. Those Gold plates, that skin, silver as moonlight, those arm cannons... he would never forget them. Could never forget them for as long as he still drew breath. He could never forget the suffering or the screams, he could never forget the fire and the water that tasted of blood... he could never forget the cove. "A monster has descended back upon my people..." Elder whispered, moving forward with his cane. "What do you want this time, you damn beast!? Why have you returned to this place!?" "You know why I am here... Baba." Brantyn removed the hood from his face, sulfuric yellow pupils boring into the old man's soul like horn drills. "You're going to tell me where Groudon is. You're going to give me the Seeing Glass and tell me how I can awaken him." "Why in the Sky Lord's name would you want to awaken that brute?" Sebastian interjected, drawing his staff in close as something began to glow green beneath his robes... "The amount of destruction and chaos it and Kyogre cause whenever they clash... why would you want to speed up the cycle of their slumbers?" "Because... I'm going to kill Groudon." Brantyn grinned, flexing the fingers on his arm cannon. "I am going to strike him down and claim the powers of a god... and then I'm going to go kill a certain little dessert bitch and destroy Azauqyar." He hid his arms again, stepping forward. "The campaign against him and his little protectorate was the only failure I ever had to suffer in my whole career... he destroyed everything, my men, my cavalry, my supplies and my whole damn army... all of it, all in the sweep of one hyper beam... I couldn't possibly return afterwards, not in such shame!" "You're insane." Sebastian said simply.

Lols, again, you all act like that's the worst thing that has happened or will happen in this story. Brantyn's done things thousands of times worse over his career as the old Captain to the land kingdom But Azauqyar fries a few rebeling soldiers for insubordination, like he's been doing for the past 3 weeks when needed, much in the exact same manner as I showed, just off screen, and now all of a sudden he's the "mentally unstable" one out of the bunch. I just find it interesting...((Totally not mirroring game of thrones right now. I fully expect Eric to dismiss Azauqyar like Jeofrey did with Barristan selmy...except because Azauqyar was just doing his damn job))

Then freaking accept the position of king already :I

I edited in Sebastians intro into my last post. And there is a freaking huge bit of backstory for Brantyn in there...just waiting to get out

Aaaaaaahhh... looks like the big green bastard has a heart. And it's about time I intro sebastian

Azauqyar and Stratos- Rayquaza and Salamence Again there was a long silence in the ground after the Sky Lord was done with his tale. The winds were still. The air cold. The entire world, right then and there, it all seemed to be frozen at that very moment. Stratos clutched the Elder's scale in one of his massive claws, glaring into his own reflection in the glossy emerald green. "To think... wearing such a scale used to mean something great... used to mean you had a divine aegis." He pulled his gaze away, staring into Azauqyar's eyes. "It is true then... the Sky God does not love violence as so many slander him as doing. You have only been trying to restore the world you once knew. All you've ever tried to do... is keep everyone safe. Even though you hate us sometimes... as I can understand why you would now, you still try." "What you described my lord... can such a thing ever again exists in this world? A thing like your haven? A thing like your cove?" Azauqyar hesitated for a moment. "Perhaps someday..." he said, though he scowled. "Yes... someday indeed. But only when the realms of men come to their senses and stop this mindless violence and killing and conquest." He looked down to his champion. "Yes, Stratos. Such a place as I established can again exist. I have quelled the fighting of my fellow gods many times. And since it's obvious someone must, I shall step in and do it for the realms of man now. Nothing any mortal can yet conjure has ever rivaled the potential destruction from Kyogre and Groudon which I have always stopped. I need only grow to understand you mortals more, understand you as I do the Land God and the Sea God. And when I finally do..." As if on some cue, again he heard Kyogre calling out in the force. He faced the north, sighing as he shook his head. "I would tell you to watch the city, but you are Champion now. You know your duties already." He began rising higher into the atmosphere, focusing in on Aquero's signature... "I will devote myself to your cause till the day I die, my lord!" Stratos proclaimed as the Drake disappeared in the clouds. The Scale in his claw resinated at the declaration... ever so slightly. "I will fight to my last breath to help you... you are the only god this bitter world truly needs. You are the only god who actually cares enough to keep trying despite everything we have done. My sword is yours, now and forever..." The scale burned brighter. Stratos's thick, glossy plates of armoring began to blaze with a sacred emerald light as a layer of green began to crawl across it's silver surface... Meanwhile the Sky Lord had flown off towards the north sea... searching for the one known as Aquero from the air... Sebastian- Gothitelle The hamlet where the wandering healer spent the night was somewhere on the outskirts of the Magic King's holdings. A mere speck of a settlement, not even enough to deserve a place on the map; one of those out of the way places that just about no one even realized was there except those born, raised, and died in it. The roads were sparse here and had no cobble like major highpaths or trade routes. dust seemed to be whipped up by every stray wind and the sun beat down on the inhabitants heads like drums. The air was mostly arid, Though being so close to a dessert tended to have that effect on nearby environments. He had come in like a prophet, they had all said the night before. A prophet wrapped in robes of white wandering across the dessert lands, carrying a staff of cyprus and a satchel of Gyarados leather. they said he had wandered into the town hall and asked them to gather all their sick and their dying. And they said he had healed every last one of them to the point where one would never know they'd ever been suffering from malady. And then he had asked for a place for the night- something that everyone in the hamlet was more than eager to offer the Holyman. For truly. A holy man was what he had to have been. If not a servant of arceus himself, then surely one for his Peace Keeping Trio Masters, like Rayqauza, perhaps Regigigas or Ho-ho or Lugia. Some thought maybe he served the Moon Goddess Creselia. Regardless, just an hour after making the request he had been given the best quarters in the entire settlement- the Elder's home. And now, as the hours dragged slowly past noon, here was where Sebastian the white prophet found himself. An elderly flygon sat across from him over the small table of glass, carved stone chalices filled with tea from dessert herbs cooling, their steam curling up into the perched air. He had been a gracious host, the Elder. Even still he was trying to offer Sebastian any meager gift his people could for his kindness just the last evening. "Please, my lord," He said. "Anything at all, anything we can help you with- let us know, we are forever in your debt." Sebastian had gone to take a sip of the tea, only to lower the chalice from his lips at the mention of 'Lord' "No no no," he said adamantly. "That is not nessacary, my good man. And please, call me sebastian; there is only one lord in this world... and he rules over the skies." As he went to put the vessel to his lips again the Elder spotted a gleam of Emerald Green in the folds of his robe... "It has been many years since I last saw my lord though. Sometimes I feel as though his scale is so old that he has either forgotten about it on accident or it has simply lost the power it once had..." There came a knock at the door. The Elder rose from his seat on shaky legs, wings unfurling as he prepared to get it. Sebastian simply held up his hand, gesturing back to the plush chair. "No, no please, allow me." Within an instant the door handle was engulfed in a faint light and turned. A boy wandered in, about 11 or 12 at the most. Sebastian could recognize him as one of the children he had healed from physical deformity. He had once had a gimp leg... it was nice to see the young trapinch was already getting used to walking normally. "What is it, young Raiden?" Elder asked, wondering back to his chair and lowering himself slowly. Nowadays his levitate ability wasn't quite working as well as it used to. "have you come to thank our friend Sebastian?" "Elder, Mama said you need to come quick! The Town Gates!" "Hmmmm...." He again rose. Sebastian simply sighed and again gestured with his hand. In an instant the man was on his feet as if he were fifty years younger. "Oh, why thank you..." he turned to Raiden. "What's going on, little one?" "A-a man... he came wearing a cloak, a BIG cloak, Elder! He's BIG! A giant! and he has Arms like Cannons!" Sebastian dropped his cup at that moment, stone shards and tea spilling across the floor. "Did you say... a giant? with Arms like cannons?" "Yes healer!" Raiden said. "And he was pointing them at people and saying that the elder better come out and talk to him or else... he'd hurt us! Papa tried to stop him... but he grabbed his neck and did something funny and he... he won't wake up..." Tears were beginning to form in his eyes. Sebastian's eyes blazed with a azure blue that could've lit up a thousand nights. "The Titan..." Elder snarled. "You know his legend?" Sebastian called telepathically. "Elder!" Raiden called, already out the door. Elder turned back to Sebastian. "No time to explain! Come!" and he was out into the dessert winds...

Well currently she is kinda being abducted by Alucard the Gengar... even though everyone thinks she legit wants to leave the captital. Dravius just handed her one of Azauqyar's special Scales though (Well, more of tossed it). Whether or not she takes it is entirely up to Dorvan though.

Both combatants are supposed to post in the IC thread with their PCs arriving when their names are called, then refrain from posting again for 24 hours/ until either Dobs or Jory can post a recap of the major events of the fight, as they are written in the good book the battle thread. After one of the host has posted, Then the two players in question deal with the immediate aftermath of the fight.

Eh, the people come first for him. And he feels so strongly about it that he'll do what is needed, even if that entails a few on the spot executions for rebeling guards (cause that was legit heading for an uprising...). Besides, you act as though thats the worse thing that's happened so far... (Though, it actually might be...) That's one of the probably the biggest things you'll find about his character as time drags on though. He cares for the small folk more than anything else. You actively threaten the small folk, he'll do whatever is in his power to 86 that real quick. He was too slow to act once and now he's got an itchy trigger finger because of it. And that is how his most redeeming quality also serves as perhaps his biggest flaw as a being. Eager to protect, but maybe a bit too eager sometimes. He will eventually die though because of this very redeeming quality that serves double duty as his biggest flaw. This is why I made him as the Captain when I made his character. It fit him better than any other rank. And why do ya'll think I got Freya around?

Lt. Dravian- Dragonite Dravian simply looked at the Latias disdainfully. All around him cleanup was going on, removing the bodies of those who had decided to turn on their commander. The body count wasn't as high as one might expect... from an explosion of such magnitude earlier. In fact the number seemed lower than twenty... obviously whatever had gone down had been highly controlled. "Here," the Dragonite said, tossing the scale towards the girl in a manner that even an armless man should've been able to catch it. "Lord Azauqyar ordered me to give this to you... considering Alucard says you wish to leave. He said to keep it on your person at all times if you could. A pendant of sorts would likely work best." and with that said the man turned back to overseeing the cleanup. It was almost done. the only thing still left to tend to was the pile of ashes and bone fragments scattered in one corner... That was when Lord Eric Arrived, already shouting as if he had accepted his place as king...and Alucard's feeble answer. He decided to let the Gengar get away with it though... troublesome bastards always got their dues eventually. "One last issue with the guard, Lord." Dravius answered simply. "But it was the last uprising there will ever be, ever again. The Explosion made it seem far worse than it actually was, only a few men had to be executed...but they finally know their new mission. There will be no more disorder in this kingdom... not after the reminder they got from Lord Captain that their first duty, as His Grace would've wanted it as he lay on his death bed, is to serve the people now." He sighed, shaking his head. "It was unfortunate that it had to be such a... flashy showing though. But alas, it did it's job..." Azauqyar and Stratos (Rayquaza and Salamence) A good while after the massive reprimand before the Royal Keep it seemed that the Rayquaza had retired to a rather old spot... the Training grounds. There were no soldiers there though. No Guard Members. No attacks flying through the air, no roars or shouts, no cries of agony... just the two of them, staring off into the mountain ranges in the distance. Stratos had already been waiting there for him. "Sometimes" Stratos sighed. "I can not help but wonder if things were better when his Grace still drew breath... with all this going on..." "You forget the man hasn't even been dead a full month yet. Of course things are going to be tense right now..." Azauqyar hovered forward, arms crossed behind his back. "But we will prevail through these turbulent times." The champion seemed skeptical. Azauqyar pressed on. "You think I enjoyed that, Stratos? Unleashing such hell?" "I wasn't there, my lord. The only thing I have to go on is what you've told me occured. But no, I imagined you did not." "I am not a angry god, Stratos. I do not kill and destroy for the fun of it. I tried being amiable. I tried showing mercy and advocating the peace... but this world, you mere mortals, you forced me. The world I had constructed was shattered, however small it may have been. Her people were stolen and broken and slaughtered. All because I was a fool, Stratos. And so I had to change. It was obvious I could not have the world I wanted to see without bloodying my claws. It was obvious I could not merely rely on words, that I had to defend what I had..." "My lord...I do not follow." "I do not wish to have to issue such harsh discipline, but a force unlike any other this world has ever known is needed right now. And the only way it can be attained is if I take the helm and keep the ship steady. I have seen a great many things, Stratos. I have lived Eons. I have seen the first primitives climb out of the mud and begin building cities. I have seen peace... and I have seen war. War on my very doorstep. War consumes everything stratos. War is a monster. War kills children and makes orphans. War does not care how young the girl is when the male soldiers catch her. War does not care that the child was only a babe. War eats... everything." He turned... and looked into the Champion's soul with those massive eyes. "And war... it has a personified form in this world, Stratos. It has many forms in the flesh. Every last king or queen who has sat upon a throne during this era of 50 years of dogged war. They are all guilty, they are all War given flesh. They have all committed atrocities. All standing nations have their stains." "My liege, truly, I can not see where you are going with this..." "Of course you can't. you are but a mortal, You will not have the length of existence I or my godly brethren have known. But Stratos... I intend to bring war to it's knees. I intend to chop off War's head and mount it on a pike. For war took my little ones. War took the haven I made for them. War murdered those I loved. But in order for me to someday kill war and bring back peace... to bring back the world my little ones enjoyed... I must first make war my bitch. I must master him. So that I may know his weaknesses and see his vulnerability. So that I may make sure he can never harm anyone ever again..." Azaquqyar plucked a single scale from his body, holding it out towards the Champion. "Tell me... have you ever heard the legend of Brantyn the Titan?"

Ah, there are two things I love in this world. One of them is sub plot twists. You hear that? that's the sound of me taking the concept of the Unsullied from Game of Thrones, Mixing it up with the king's guard, except fixing it so that the people come first rather than the king, and finally sprinkling in the values and principles of the US military. My friends... in the sky kingdom, we have what may very well someday... be the seed that will bloom into a prosperous plant. We have a new force. We have a force fit for a new world. A force for the public good rather than the monarchical Good. But anyways... yeah, we're probably gonna have to reschedule that fight man, sorry... just the way it all turned out XD Since honestly, you'd be able to walk through those gates and the only thing lt. dravius would would be to try to hand Ulkina Azauqyar's scale... And the best part about it... Kruga's dying wish started it all. Azauqyar saw one of the biggest failings of the guard as being caught up in war ambitions rather than it's true purpose... and so he had it changed. though a bit of his hidden personality traits are also visible in the changes...

Lt. Dravius- Dragonite(NPC) (and later Azauqyar) "Lord Liutenant!" a Hydreigon called, stepping forward and kneeling before the Dragonite. "Allow me to chase that scum! Even if he mega evolves, I will not let him escape!" "Aye, lord commander!" this one was a female gengar... one of the ones who had accompanied stratos earlier and failed. "Let me finish what was started! He may claim to be beyond death, but a Ghost knows how to fight another ghost..." Soon there was an entire chorus as the indignant guardsfolk tried to convince the solemn faced dragon to let them in. Dravius only raised his head and roared mightily though. "NO! PIPE DOWN!" in an instant, there was silence in the plaza. the only noise came from the babbling of the fountain. they all stared at him expectantly. "The girl isn't the important one here. Do you not see that simple fact? Lord Eric was the primary one chosen by King Kruga, Lord Eric was the one who was a commander within this army, lord Eric was the one who was fucking trained by Lord Regent Azauqyar. Lord Eric is more qualified than his sister to ever rule the throne of this land. He has fought for this land and her people, he has bled for this land and her people on the fields of battle, but what has the young lady Ulkina ever done for it's people? Mere weeks ago she was naught but a mere traveler whom his grace happened to take a liking to before his death. Placing her on the throne would be the exact same as placing a visiting foreigner on it, and each and every last one of you know Lord Azauqyar feels the same. Hence why he hasn't even spent one moment training her." A collective gasp came from the guard members. "Such...such treason... my lord!" "to hear one such as yourself utter such things..." "Down with Lord commander Dravius, down with the treasonous son of a bitch!" Dravius opened his mouth and peeled a white hot blast of searing flames at the one who had uttered the last remark. The fool fell to the ground like a rock, the very flesh burned from his bones. nothing but a charred carcass of scorched calcium remained... which quickly crumbled into ashes. "It is not treason if what I say is true to the greater good of my fucking country. Have you all forgotten the new oath of the Draken Guard!? Have you forgotten what the Sky Lord made you swear on threat of his hyper beam!? On threat of the Fire of the Gods!? You did not swear your lives to a king, you swore your lives to the people you are sworn to defend! you swore yourselves to all men and women within this nation! You act in their best interest, and you only serve the damn king so long as he has the interests of his people at heart and cares for them like a good ruler fucking should, so do not sit here... AND FUCKING ACCUSE ME OF TREASON! TREASON WOULD BE ALLOWING THAT DAMN GIRL TO SIT THE THRONE!" "That is quite enough, Lt. Dravius." a voice called from the keep. Emerald scales and gold markings graced the doors as the elder wyrm passed, peering down at the dragonite... then up at those assembled. "He is right though. Kruga may have named Ulkina as an heir, but it is lord Eric whom he named as his primary heir. the girl is simply to serve as queen...if she accepts." He looked into each and everyone of their eyes. Then fired a hyper beam at every last soldier who had accused his officer of such a heinous crime as treason. The Plaza soon filled with the ruby, shining gleam of their life stuff in the noon light. Some of them had experienced heat so great their very shadows had been burned into the stones. "That is what happens when you forget who it is the Draken guard is to serve at the end of the day. It was only three weeks ago I made you all take the new oath after the suicides stopped. You have no excuse for forgetting it so soon. Or EVER, for that matter. as such, doing so from now on will be punished by death. Do I make myself clear? You serve your people. You protect your people. And so long as whoever rules serves and protects the people of this nation like they should, you will protect them as well. But the moment they begin to deviate, you will drop them like the tyranical stones they are and let them meet their fates, no matter how nasty." Many of them began trembling as he burned with a divine light and his Mikado Organ began to flare... a display to show his seriousness. "Do I make myself clear? No longer are you the Draken Guard of the days of old... the old Draken Guard died when they failed Kruga. They died because they failed Kruga. You are the new draken guard. You do not serve a king. you do not swear yourselves to kings. You do not swear yourselves to your commanders. You swear yourselves to your fellow men and women who are to weak to fight for themselves but would rise to do it in a heart beat if they could. You fight for the men standing beside you, to your left, and to your right. You fight for the fathers we can return to their sons, the mothers we can return to her babes, the husbands we can return to their wives, and the brothers and sisters we can return to their families. You fight for the little children still learning about this world. You fight for the old men who think they have lived too long and seen too much of this world. You fight for every living soul who calls this great land of ours home. You will fight in the Skies, You will fight in the streets, you will fight in the oceans and even in the deepest bowels of hell if it is necessary. And you will never stop fighting until the day you die." Silence. complete. And absolute. Silence. "Now get the hell out of this plaza and go fullfill your oaths. Before I send you all to Arceus for treason against your people." Without another word. they vacated, armor clanging. they seemed mute. They seemed ashamed. just as they should've been. "Give Ulkina this when Alucard attempts to come back through. Tell her to keep it on her at all times." Azauqyar held a shimmering, emerald scale in his hand, presenting it to sir Dravius. The dragon took it nonchalantly. "as you wish, lord regent... you know though?" "Oh please... that entire exchange between all of you out here was so damn loud- of course I heard. Why else do you think I just intervened?" He gave no opportunity for an answer. Simply flew off in the same direction that Stratos had.

I'll try to get something up by friday. things are a bit wonky and something keeps coming up whenever I try to sit down and get something up for faust

((@ Darvan, the wall is actually clean from Stratos using roar of time on it earlier.)) Lt. Dravius- Dragonite (NPC) The same Dragonite who had accosted him for his behavior earlier still stood in the same spot like a statue. The entire plaza was ringed in Draken Guards... it seemed as though they had been drawn by something, though as to what... well, alucard couldn't possibly have known. Nevertheless the Dragonite had to cast the occasional reprimanding glance at one of them... some of them had repeatedly felt inclined to step forward for some reason, but stopped the moment his eyes fell upon them, shaking his head. "No one knows where Lord Stratos has gone." The Dragon stated simply in a voice like gravel. "He gave the guard our updated routes and patrols and then flew off somewhere. That was a good while ago. Arceus knows what he's doing now though." He paused for a minute. then the silence dragged on for several. apparently he was done. Until he finally added. "It would be... unwise to go pursuing him anyway, however. especially considering... earlier events this day. He does not take such matters lightly...he calls it broken window theory." Dravius fully expected the ghost to completely over react in some absurd way to something he had said, just like the Gengar had when Lord Stratos had tried speaking to him. But quite honestly he was hoping the boy would... yes, it would be just buetiful if he gave them a reason, what with the fact that the Draken guard had been expanded recently. If Alucard looked around the plaza for the first time... he would notice those soldiers present were Hydreigons and Mismagius and Mandibuzzes and other Gengars and even a Koffing of two...all standing at attention. Still as statues.

And before anyone says anything about Azauqyar and that whole telepathy via scale thing: that whole thing is actually a massive component of the backstory between him and freya. It wasn't just thrown in there just because. So yeah, before anyone starts raising any hell... just wanted to make that very clear. There's a huge purpose behind it. and it's even mentioned in my revisions of their character sheets before this (her having the choker with the scale on it, not what it could do)