P.S.S. "The Legend Of The Primal Keys"::Ch.2 a- The Truth [IC]

[K_H]

Ko'luki, still on Wind Tracer's back, put his hand near the Iron Pole he'd been carrying since the Incident in Cithalos, and rode into Castle Nix behind the others, wary of the possibility of it being a Trap.

Edited November 7, 2014 by K_H

[Sutoratosu]

It wasn't long after the Party had grudgingly entered through the Gates that they all arrived at the central plaza. The ground was inlaid with intricate patterns in the colors of the Guard. Trees of all types lined the area, along with a variety of wild flowers and other plants that should've been impossible to even grow this high in the mountains. Torches sat in bronze braziers, providing ample light. Benches of richly carved stone ringed the circular perimeter, assembled in pairs of two at a time. the place, all in all, was approximately some 300 feet in diameter, huge to say the least.

Members of the guard were visible up in the tree tops, snipers sitting there in every single one it seemed, gazing at the group, but weapons lowered. But that honestly didn't matter to Eric that they weren't pointed at them, simply the fact that Rosse had so obviously lied to their faces... not that he was surprised, but his lack of alarm at the matter didn't douse his growing fury in the least bit.

"Trust you, you say..." he mocked at the man as the two of them entered after everyone had arrived. "My men and I are unarmed, you say... a load of bullshit, just as I predicted. Prepare yourself..." The glyph in his hand began blazing whencemore, as did the one branded on rosse's shoulder.

"I've told you all no lie at the gates," The conqueror said, quick to rise to his own defense. "Yes, my men are unarmed,as am I... but you insult my snipers here, good sir, look closely, you'll see they are all women, and the best the Guard has at it's disposle at that..."

"Valkyrie corps..." Eric snarled, gazing up at the trees one more time and seeing that the man was right... and technically not lying. "Fine, Monster... but remember, anything at all, and-"

"Yes yes, I know already," Rossephus interupted. "You'll kill yourself and take me with you, you've made you're point, boy... unfortunately you won't be able to keep it."

Eric's eye's lit up in realization at that. Something...was about to go down. Before he could say anything though, he felt a searing pain in his upper back, thrown forward and landing face first on the ground, unable to move. He knew this was poison, precisely what in fact... the extract from the Leaves of a Blood Root bush. Whereas the roots purified tainted blood, the leaves themselves caused paralysis... and forced slumber even in high enough doses. "Bastard..." he croaked from the ground. "I'll...End you..." he faded away into unconsciousness before he could fullfil his deadly promise though, unable to envoke his magic.

The mark on Rosse's shoulder faded as he knelt and retreived the large, 8 inch dart that had been fired into Eric's left shoulder just shy of his spine, holding it up for the Travelers to see. "Forgive me," He said, sounding like he genuinely meant it... and he was looking right at Cesealia as he said it, the young woman falling from Blackjack's back just as he finished speaking. She hit the ground and lay there motionless, Blackjack and his brother glaring at Rosse, as were the other horses of the pack, looking ready to stampede the auburn haired man if nessacary. Elibus trotted forward from Matrim's side, eye's full of fire, expecting some type of ambush to come. No more poison tipped arrows came though. Only two Snipers out of all those in the trees had even raised their weapons, and were now lowering them once again. Rossephus glanced at the two sleeping subjects on the floor of the plaza, then turned his sights back to the travelers.

"They're nothing but dangers to the world's future, you have to understand," he began. "There's no way either of these two would've listened to reason, their minds were already dead set on me being as much of an enemy as what I fight against... even her." He pointed to Cesealia's motionless form. "She was intending to either slit my throat or cut the spinal cord, whichever necessary. Go on, check her person before you go trying to attack me. She gave the air of being unarmed, did she not, feigning to be useless without Magic and the spheres? not so, go on, check her, you'll find a dagger some 7inches long hidden somewhere.

The doors to the castle opened before anyone could respond, and out stepped a familiar giant of a man, nearly some seven feet tall. A bastard sword of pure black was strapped to his side, his cloak, formerly white, blood stained and burned, lying in tatters around his shoulders. His armor was cracked and dented, stained with a mysterious black substance, his breast plate hanging off by the leather strap. He said only one thing to the travelers though, not a greeting or inquiry of how they were doing... but instead just two, simple words with as much authority as he could muster. and he looked at his adopted daughter as he did, eyes hard as stone.

"Do it."

[K_H]

That's when Ko'luki spoke up, a small smirk on his face.

"Actually, Rossephus, In all technicality, you did lie, and yet you didn't at the same time. When you think about it, the reality of the situation is clear. The word 'Soldier' has NO Gender! Grammatical things can make all the difference, and when you talk about Soldiers in an Army, the Gender most people use with 'Soldier' is the male. 'Tis a shame that our Grammar hasn't updated with the times... after all, as you've just demonstrated, some of the best Soldiers are female."

Ko'luki then took on a much more serious look.

"Besides... I don't suppose you should tell me why i shouldn't try to extract payback for that little stunt you pulled back in the Alchemy Shop?"

[Chim]

Trystane got off Argo’s back and walked over to the unconscious Cesealia. All the time he kept his eyes on Rossephus and glanced at Atton. He carefully looked through Cesealia’s clothes looking for a dagger. He decided to check her sleeves and boots first, the most logical places, and listened to Ko’luki. “You make no sense, Alchemist. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, but do realize that if he wants us dead there is no way out of this one. Keep your mouth shut and don’t provoke him or that’s probably the last thing you do.” His tone sounded harsh but if he wanted to walk out of here alive it was best to listen for now.

((Not sure where she hid it but I'll leave that up to you, Lieutenant))

[K_H]

Ko'luki spoke up.

"Thank you for answering my question, Trystrane. That's precisely why i'm not going to try anything. I.E, if i do, Us Travelers will likely end up dead."

He then muttered under his breath

"You got lucky this time..."

[Sutoratosu]

"But yet," Rossephus said, turning to face the alchemist as Trystane searched Cesealia. "I did not use the specific word 'Soldier' when I spoke to you all at the gates earlier, now did I, Ko'Luki? In fact, my exact words were: 'I stand before you all completely unarmed, as do all my men up on the wall, save for those guarding the fiend I was foolish enough to trust not to fall back into his old ways. None of us bare you any ill will or malice, I swear it. Now... will you enter?'. Ergo, your thoery is mute, my friend, I've still not broken any word I gave you there. And as I said before, we've all gotten off on the wrong foot this night, but only because it was necessary... though, if you're dead set on attacking and killing me in payback of merely giving you the fright of your life, while I stand here unarmed and without any armor whatsoever... then go on. Do it, Ko, I'll even order the Valkyrie Corps to hold all fire... but believe me, my friend, it will speak volumes to the type of man you are if you do."

Meanwhile Trystane's search turned up something once he got to inspecting Cesealia's right arm. The Guantlet on her forearm had an irregular ridge on the inside of the curve, facing towards the body. Upon further inspection, The hunter could see a length of metal protruding from a strange channel in the piece of armor... which he quickly realized upon laying hands on it that it was a handle. With just a pull of his arm, there was a click, and the very knife Rossephus had described came out of the hidden sheath smooth as butter. He held it up to see better... it was seven inches, precisely as the Conqueror had just prophecized... and one would have no way of guessing it's length without seeing it out of the sheath, even if they did manage to spot it in it's stowing place before hand...

[Snap Crackle Pop]

Octavia had, for the most part, kept her eyes fixed on Rossepheus, but her gaze did flicker to where the snipers were occasionally in thought. They could have easily killed them all if they wanted to already, so while she was uneasy, she accepted that there wasn't anything hinky going on. Well, he did just knock out probably their two strongest fighters, he could have killed them, but he didn't. For what ever reason, he wanted to talk to them- something quite important to go to this extent. Technically speaking, there wasn't anything they could do anyway if it was an overly elaborate attack, they were completely outnumbered.

"How about we get on with the matter at hand. If you wanted to kill us, you could have easily. Right from the beginning. What is it that you wanted to say without Eric and Cesealia conscious?"

[Sutoratosu]

"Ah, guess it's time to get down to business then," Rossephus said, turning his attention away from the Alchemist and to Octavia. "It's just a question of where to begin..."

"Start with the keys and go on from there, then explain Shatter points and finish from that point." Atton said from the opened door way into the Castle, eyeing Trystane... "Just as you told us..."

"Atton!" a voice suddenly called from behind him. It sounded oddly familiar, Samiel, perhaps? "The bastards are surging forth again, we need you back below!" The gaint cast one more glance at Trystane, then without a word disappeared back inside the keep, leaving them alone once more with Rosse.

"Right...right," he said, looking at each of the travelers in turn. "Very well then, let's begin. Who here knows anything about the primal keys, anything at all? how about you, Matrim?" he seemed to have chosen the man's name as if drawing it randomly from a hat.

[Chevaleresse]

The bard looked about somewhat nervously, but answered in a calm voice. "I'm afraid that the Keys are somewhat outside my realm of expertise. I might have encountered references to them in my studies, but any documents referring to their capabilities must have been destroyed. I do know that they must be immensely powerful magic relics of some sort, judging by their demonstrated capabilities, but beyond that I do not know. I am not a mage, just a storyteller who has fallen on worse times than most in his lifetime."

[Sutoratosu]

"Sorry about the bounty by the way," Rosse said sincerely. "Added quite a bit of insult to injury there... back to our discussion though, I shall give you all the short version, rather than the long winded lectures I was forced to have shoved down my throat so many times by countless priests. The Primal Keys, Alpha and Omega, are two unimaginably powerful tools, or weapons, depending on you point of view. And it is with them that the very concept of Existence was ever even able to come about. In summary from what I recall from those boring schooling moments of my childhood; They are the two forces that existed when all was nothing but void, pure, pitch black nothingness. Twin lights, that birthed forth a being endowed with their very power... a being called Orphont, or "GOD" if you will, stands for "Generating, Organizing, and Destroying" the cycle which the keys are working through at every single moment in time, more on that later though." He began pacing back and forth, as if giving a lecture in a university somewhere.

"Brace yourselves now, this is where it gets a bit confusing. It was Orphont, or GOD, again, which ever suits your fancy, who created the first Realm of Existence, and the first world. What you all and I and all these Snipers around us and every single beetle, bug, bird, fish and beast are standing in, is known as the Second World, created during the Second Realm of Existence. Now, I'm sure some of you may be curious as to why the first Realm ended. But before I go into that, I'll stop and take any questions you might have at this moment. Anyone? any takers? don't be shy now, the more you understand, the easier things will be for you in the future..."

[Supernovae]

"I have a question..." Maximus spoke up. He had remained silent for long enough, but he could stomach this no more. "Why in the hell do you expect us to believe you. How many lies have you told and don't bring up the fact that you're men aren't armed or whatever, I mean the real lies, you beast. How many children search for their mothers because of your actions. How many wives grieve their husbands. I could care less to hear your account of the world. I could care less if you fancy yourself some savior doing what must be done or whatever the hell you're about to say. It means nothing to me. To me, you're a monster. Plain and simple."

Maximus quickly placed his hand back on his lance, ready to draw it if he had to. "If you mean to kill me then get it the hell over with. If not then let me be on my way because honestly, their is absolutely nothing you could say that would make me join you. Nothing you could say that would make me change my opinion of you." Maximus stared directly into Rossephus's eyes while he said all of this, never taking his hand off of his lance.

[Sutoratosu]

"Good," Rossephus said, stepping closer to Maximus slowly, hands in the pockets of his coat. His voice sounded grim as night. "I don't want you to change your opinion of me, any of you, because I deserve to be thought of as you already do. The things I have done in the past, both in this world, and far more so in the last, Makes me far worse than a monster. So I'm not going to sit here and try to defend myself against being called out as such." He stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ekarder at this point, facing towards the Castle Doors. His face was an unreadable mask.

"I don't know how many have died by my hand or by my orders over the eons I've lived," He admitted. "I don't know how much suffering and pain and destruction I've caused. You're absolutely right, Maximus... I am a monster. And I fully accept that fact. But I'm a monster with a conscience. Just as I've done horrible things in the past, now I'm trying to stop even worse from occurring. And I don't expect you all to believe me, you've no reason to, as you've cited, but I just pray that at least a few of you will despite that, because this world will be the next to fall before long. And I'm not a savior, and I know and fully accept that." He turned and faced the entire group now taking a step away from the warrior.

"You all are." he said. "Look, I don't expect you to believe me or trust me, any of you. I know the things I've done, my sins have all been accounted for, and I hope that someday I burn in the hottest fires hell has to offer; to give at least some justice to those who have been wronged by me, including you all this night. But before I burn, I intend to do what I can to help stop this world's destruction. But I'm not sitting here with a proposal for you all to join me, nothing of the sort. You all... have been chosen. call it either Fate, or just random chance, but the world's lies in your hands and the hands of a few others who will be traveling in the dessert soon. I'm not here to recruit you, I'm here to tell you that this world, and every single person in it, needs you. and they need you now."

[Supernovae]

"Fine then," Maximus started, never letting his eyes slip away from Rossephus or his hand sleep away from his spear. "If you have something to say, then say it. And while you're at it, you may as well release our comrades."

[Sutoratosu]

The moment that Maximus had mentioned the others, the ground began to tremor violently, shaking the leaves off trees and threatening to send everyone to their feet. Thankfully no buildings in the city collapsed during the quake, though a few people who had been walking the streets were having to pick themselves up off the stones now. Up in the trees the Valkyrie Corps Snipers stayed put as if nothing had happened.

"Don't worry about that tremor just now," Rossephus said, getting up himself now from where he'd been thrown to the earth. The bleeding behind his bandages had gotten noticeably worse. "It just means that the Seal has been secured once more... in fact, that was what your friends were all doing just now, holding back the tide of Nix while another Binding was being made." The doors opened once again as he spoke... and standing there was a man Maximus had thought to be dead... none other than Rodriguez. His shirt was torn, chest and face covered in cuts and scrapes. his body was battered and bruised, as if just in some intense battle that he'd barely walked away from. A Scitmar hung in his hand, the same that Maximus had seen the Bartender draw numerous times in Cithalos. It's blade and bone white hilt were tainted with black blood, slick as oil. His hair was a complete mess, scattered around his face and head and covered in sweat and the same black ichor that covered his sword. his eyes were wild and exhausted, glaring through the group and at the conqueror.

"It's done, you beast," he snarled at Rossephus. "The seal is anew...but don't think this means I'll ever fight for you; I only did this to stop another Nix War from being fought..."

[Supernovae]

Maximus's eyes opened wide as he saw his friend arise from the ground. His hand immediately fell away from his weapon and the defensive position he had placed himself in was replaced by a position showing pure surprise. "Rod...Rodriguez..." The Ekarder began, completely incapable of putting the words he wanted to say together, "But, how... That beast... it killed you?"

[K_H]

[EDIT]: Ignore this Post, I Accidentally hit the "Post" Button.

Edited November 21, 2014 by K_H

[Chim]

Trystane twirled the knife around in between his hands and put it on his belt. He figured he would return it to Cesealia after he asked her about her intentions to use the weapon. He raised his eyebrow in confusion when a guy, apparently named Rodriguez, walked in. “Rodriguez? As in the one you buried earlier?” he asked Maximus.

[Sutoratosu]

Supernovae

"Ah, Es told me about that little encounter you all had," Rodriguez said, pushing the door open further and stepping out into the night air. "No, my friend, I am very much alive... The fiend gave Esmerelda a sword and said the man inside the pot was Rodrigeuz, did it not? That was likely just a man who happened to share a name with me... that blade was not mine, for my own weapon has been at my side this whole night. Or it wasn't even a Rodriguez at all? perhaps the fiend was lying completely in order to exploit your anger and none of us will ever know who was butchered and boiled alive by him..."

There was something about his voice as he drew closer to Maximus, sheathing his sword and looking the other man in the eye. Then Maximus understood a bit... it was pity. And it was meant for him.

"I just got out of a very harsh fight, Maximus," he began... "Your friends were there, fighting alongside me...I am sorry, but some of them... did not make it. Samiel, Atton, and Muya, I believe their names were? They are no longer with this world, my young friend...they made what may well prove to be the ultimate sacrifice just moments ago."

Murdoc, Snap

Meanwhile, not far from Matrim and Octavia stood White Hoove... with the prisoner still slumped over his back like a sack of flour. Aaron's eyes were an entirely different color than normal, however. instead of their drk green, they held a bright violet hue. Finally free from the Silencing spell Eric had placed on him, he spoke... a woman's voice issuing forth from his lips as whoever was in control called to the two.

"Can you people take any fucking longer?" it asked, voice smooth and seductive as silk. "All damn night I've had to control this little bastard... I'm getting rather tired of having to turn around and force him back into his damn place every five minutes..."

Kenny, Chim

Near Ko'Luki, Eric was beginning to visibly stir against the poison in his system. The young man forced his eyes open, feeling the Milk of Blood Root he drank each morning finally kicking in. When one was an Apothecary, one naturally became a little paranoid of toxins doing you in.

"Hel...hel...h...." he couldn't even finish the sentence. A bit more time would be required until the venom could be fully neutralized... which meant that though he was awake, he was paralyzed still.

[Supernovae]

Maximus stared for a moment, he was more dumbfounded than upset by the loss of his friends. It wasn't that he didn't care, no it was more that he was in shock do to the insane change of events that were taking place.

After a few moments of silence the Ekarder finally gathered his thoughts and sternly spoke to the bartender "What... What exactly is going on Rodriguez. Just days ago you told me you would kill Rossephus yourself if Stratos failed and now you work along side of him? I... I need to know what in the hell is going on." Maximus at this point no longer sounded as strong as when he had first started talking to Rossephus, instead his demands for answers no sounded more akin to begging.

[Sutoratosu]

Supernovae

"Do not get the wrong impression," Rodrieguez warned angrily. "I do not work with this monster, I only helped just now because, at the ed of the day, it happened to be the morally right thing to do, my young friend. The Seal that binds this world from that of the ancient Invaders of legend, the Nix? It was crumbling from the death of magic that has occurred this night. If it collapsed, the world would fall with it. It was fixable, but someone needed to hold off the ones coming forth while the work was being done." He placed his hand on the hilt of blade, glaring at Rossephus as he continued.

"I have carried out no act in the name of this monster with a conscience. I stand on my own as far as I am concerned." he turned his attention back to Maximus. "And, yes, I told you that I would take it upon myself to kill this beast; and indeed I shall... but listen to me, my friend, there is something lurking in the darkness, far more dangerous than the man standing before us... I do not honestly believe what he's told me, but if he's telling the truth, and I ignore it and stand by, then if the world falls as he predicts and countless innocents perish in the ashes, it shall be my fault. As a former Magistrate, I can not, nor will not accept such a thing... If there even exists a chance for the blood of those who have done no wrong being spilt, I must investigate, and I must strike down any and all whom seek to spill it. And I will tear apart any man or woman who seeks to stand in my way in this matter. As for what exactly is happening, Maximus... it is horribly simple at it's core, this entire night has been nothing but an elaborate hoax performed by the beast and those who serve him. Everything was conducted under false pretenses... but the damages and loss of life from them were very real. A lie, Maximus. that is what this night has been. He claims that he needed to make you all believe him to be some villain hell bent on destroying the world, that if he hadn't, the future would've been entirely lost.

He says he can read something called 'Shatter points'. He described them to me as tiny pin pricks of light that are everywhere... he says that each shatter point has branches upon braches of possible futures and outcomes that a particular action can have on it. And he says that he had read all your shatterpoints constantly through the night, and orchestrated things to keep you from going down paths that would kill you or lead you all to become separate. He said that it was imperative you formed into a group, as you have, apparently thanks to his meddling... look, I can't explain it entirely, but the demon knows far more than I can tell you. ask the bastard yourself, he seems to already be eager to reveal his secrets to you as it is anyway..."

[Chevaleresse]

Matrim's eyes widened slightly in shock at the voice, but he quickly controlled himself. Smoothly turning, he asked a question calmly. "I don't suppose you'd be kind enough to introduce yourself."

[Sutoratosu]

Murdoc, Snap

"I am the Arch Seraph Zartana, Mortal," the voice replied. "The Black Judge and Mistress of Hell and all it's prisoners...If, of course, you even know what that is, which I highly doubt these days..." As soon as she spoke, though, she was visibly struggling against some unseen force. The boy's possessed body began to convulse violently for a few moments, then in a flash of violet light that blinded both the Highway Man and the Apothecary right along with Whitehoove himself.

The boy was lying on the ground when it finally ended, the bindings he had been under now broken and lose as he stayed there, motionless, as if dead. He wasn't even breathing... but that wasn't the biggest change in the area. For lying on the ground before Matrim and Octavia was a voluptuous woman with long hair, pitch black as night, eyes a bright violet, with a hint of danger underneath. She wore an silver breast plate over top a black coat with grieves to match. She stood slowly, glaring at Aaron with contempt. Six wings covered in inky black feathers arced out of the small of her back, large and imposing, easily dwarfing the wingspan of the demon for earlier, until he reigned them in, calling them back within.

"Seems I let my guard down a bit too much just now..." she hissed, turning her attention to Matrim. "But fine, that assignment was getting on my nerves anyway. And I guess that now you can actually see me..."

"Kil-kill...Kill her!" Aaron managed to croak from the ground. "That bitch has... made me a prisoner in my own body... ever since that weirdo in blue gave me those damn key things! Kill her! do it now before she snatches...your bodies too!"

[Chevaleresse]

Matrim hefted his axe. "Do you have any reason for me to not heed the boy's words? After all, I would hazard that you have nearly led us to ruin by controllinh him." His calm, assured words contrasted his interior. While he did not fear death, he doubted his ability to combat someone possessed of enough magical power to take control of someone else's body, though the axe might prove to have some sort of hidden power. . .

[Sutoratosu]

Murdoc & Snap

"Because my controlling of the little rat bastard is precisely the one thing that saved all of you from ruin," Zartana said, giving a wave of her hand in a dismissing motion. the next thing Matrim knew, his axe became quite heavy in his hands... so much so that he had no choice but to drop to the ground, the thing splitting the stones with it's strangely acquired girth. "The weight of sin within the heart of man..." The Black Judge continued. "Disgustingly abundant, is it not?" she gave another wave of her hand, and the axe lost it's extra weight, becoming actually wieldable once more.

"Do you know how many times Agents of the void came after you in the time it took to get from the ruins of Cithalos to here? 300 separate attacks, the majority of which was directed at the boy. Were it not for my puppeteering of him coupled with the actions of Hell's Legion, God knows how many shatter points would've taken a different path and resulted in the Keys being stolen and this world being dead..."

"You're just like the guy in blue..." Aaron managed from the ground, trying to stand... but mysteriously finding he could not... just like...no... he didn't even go there, there was something more important right now. "You sit here and you spout nonsense and fantastical tales to them, as he did to me, yet you offer no proof... Why should they believe you? where are these Legionaires of Hell I hear you speaking of? from my little prison inside my own head, I saw no soldiers...but again, I was rather detained, so perhaps these two saw these hallucinations even when I did not?" the sarcasm lacing his every word could have been cut with a knife...

[Supernovae]

"Fair enough," Maximus sighed. He had no intention of falling into Rossephus's trap, but at this point he didn't see what harm it would do if Rossephus at least told him what he had told Rodriguez. "Go ahead. Tell your tale beast." Maximus finally said as he turned to Rossephus.