Well, the last one seemed to run fairly well. I understand this is a tech forum, but to have something to read and look forward to that is created by the members of the site can be a good thing to keep us busy (besides tech work ). So, how about we try again? I'm guessing Leebo and Deftone will definity join this thread, and I'm not sure who else will come. But, try to keep it consistant. I know this should be fun, but we shouldn't go overboard (Like, I casted NUKE and killed everyone and ruled the world).

Also, follow the board rules as well (that's kind of a given though...).

Well, I can never really start off... so if someone can start off for me please

The person who starts off will basically set the time, place, era, ect... I can write about almost any place, but the farther back the time, the better I do (well, I work best during a feudal age ).

Enjoy!

*The house looked empty and deserted. Though parts of it had been torn down and replaced to make way for new, more modern designs, the mansion retained it's 15th century Japanese look. From the shadows, a pair of glowing eyes stared intently. He didnt know why he had been summoned to this place or why, but he knew the answer would be inside that house. He could not explain it, yet somehow he was drawn to it, as if a metal being brought close by a magnet, beseeching him to step forward. He was careful however...he knew too much of this life to risk it simply by walking into the open. Being a Master of the Flame had taught him a few things, and one of them was to stay alert to danger. Eventually, after seeing no one in the distance, he ventured forward into the backyard of the house, looking around, in case anything decided to pop up. When nothing attacked, he dodged quickly to the side of the house..and began to climb the wall to the nearest window.*

*Looking ahead I spot the mysterious person entering the house. I have never seen this person before, so I decide to investigate. With my perfect stealth skills I creep up upon the house, unnoticed. This character climbs into the house and I can hear the person moving many objects around, as though desperately looking for something.

It is a cold night. The dense fog covers everything to the extend of blocking all views in all directions just mere feet ahead. I had just returned from a night of work. A craftsman am I, yes. Not only have I perfected the skills of creating weaponry, I am also the master of many weapons. Sure, this may be the 20th century, but this teaching has been passed down through my family line. I remember my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, who went only known as Crusader. He was the start of our lineage, and taught those below him the true power of mastering weapons. I, in turn, have mastered the Bow and Arrow. A target the size of a fly at 100 feet is no longer a problem to hit... unless it's moving. Then, through the power that I have gained through my lineage, I can hit most any moving target, no matter how fast it can move. You'd be surprised what an arrow can do.

I watch. What is this ghastly character doing in my house? My great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather's house?

"where's that damn jewel!". Searching around, Kurei was unable to find that which he was looking for inside the house. Having trashed half of the hall, he was frustrated and tired. "Just great" he thought. Now he would never be able to save his mother. He was brooding about this when a silent yet audible (to him at least) sound came from behind me, as if a leaf being stepped on quietly. He turned to face his agressor.

Surpised to have been heard, I quickly draw my bow I draw it so quicklly that it seems I already had it ready before my opposition looked at me. I draw the arrow back as if ready to attack. We stand, facing each other, looking directly into each other's eyes. My home has been nearly destroied... I feel like killing this person right here, right now. But, I hesitate... and I'm not sure why... The aura I sense from this person seems to remind me of someone I once knew... but I'm not sure. We stand and stare for what seems to be several minutes...

"Bow and arrow huh? You sure that wood can do much.." with a quick move, friction generated from Kurei's arm makes flames lash out from his fingertips and form a fiery figure from his arm "against fire?" He makes no move but instead regards the other's perplexed look with satisfaction.

"I'm no ordinary person, i am a flame master. Please lets avoid a hectic confrontation, I am in no mood for a fight at the present time. I must find that which belongs to me, 400 years I have been looking for it, if you are a concerned neighbor who heard the noise I tell you, just let me finish here and then I shall leave"

Awaiting an answer Kurei stares directly at his adversary, flame still sparking within his palm.

A scrape on the floor makes her cringe as she tries to sneak around the two figures shrouded in darkness. She remains still and silent as she watches their faces for the slightest twitch. Confident they have not seen her she continues to slink in the shadows toward her prize.

A noise...no a presense. How could he have missed it? He must have been too compenetrated staring at his enemy, bragging by the show of his power. Yet now he could sense it, it was unmistakably there, though he could not tell where from. Turning off the flame in his hand, Kurei turned away from the stranger with the bow. "I have no time to fight, someone is after what im after, i must find it."

This person seems to think he is more powerfull than myself... but that mystic power of fire did catch me off guard; I mearly expected a commoner trying to rob the place, not someone like that of a mage.
He dissapears out though the window. I attempt to follow. I lose sight of him, but the sound of his feet hitting the ground is just enough for me to hear. I run full speed in chase, but I instead, run into the other person that is here. I regain my balance, and face this other person.

One word comes to mind: "Daaammmnnnn!"

But, I cannot be looking at such... I must... stay focused... I must follow the person I am in need of following... or... follow the follower.... folling the foller... no...

Why are my powers being depleted. I feel... weak... I step back, and attempt to run. I cannot face this just yet.

"where is that darn stone?" Kurei thinks as he runs into the nearby trees. ANd that pressence, could it really be her? It wasnt possible, but yet he couldnt rule it out completely. Yes, it must be her..but why, why was she after the stone? If only he would know. For the present time he must keep searching for it, and evade the other as possible. In time he would find the purpose of her arrival, the shadow one... this was all too much trouble, an easy evening had proven to be more troublesome than he had imagined.

She hears their shuffles behind her and turns at the instant the one with the bow collides with her. Her fast thinking saves her however as her hands slip to his face and she feels the power drain out of him. Leaving him as an empty shell she quickens her pace toward her prize. She knows that the mage has recognized her movement and that he was after the prize as well. She curses him under her breath as she steps through the door to the bedroom and the light from the gem throws a mysterious guise over her.

standing outside a vast area filled with many rooms, Kurei finally loses his patience.

¨Well if you wont show yourself on your own accord, I´ll make you show up!¨ As he proclaimed this, flames sprung from his fingertips and spread around incinerating all in their path, grass, trees, the rooms around he entire area. She would be in one of them, and he was sure the stone was there with her.

I see the immense fire burning everything in sight. The base of the forest is a smoldering ruin. The buildings are a piled wasteland. Trees snap like little toothpicks. I step back, watching this amazing powers before my eyes. It seems, yet loosely, familar. I decide to shrug it off, not to care one bit. I wait for the fire to die down.

There they are. The two of them. She looks to be in a class like that of a theif, but I am not sure. The mage stands a few hundered feet away, waiting for the smoke to clear. I step back into the shadows, and I'm just far enough away to see what carnage may appear.

My home was not burned. It was close, but just away from the flame. I feel a bit more secure that the people that have attepted to raid my possesions have removed themselves from my presence. I decide rather than watch what my occur, I return to my life. I step inside the doorway, and enter a mess of belongings. I guess they really were looking for something important.

I check the important storage I have. The stone is missing. I chuckle softly, and sit on the bed, waiting for peace to return to the area. Little do they know the true power I behold.

Little do they know what they really have in hand...

The smoke begins to clear. She is there, waiting for him to make his move. The other has gone, or at least is out of his sights. Oh well, that way he would not interfere further. Stepping forward, Kurei stretches out his hand and proclaims condecendinly "Give me the stone." A smile (well what could be guessed to be a smile since a mask covers most of his face) draws at the end of his request.
/////////////////

Just decided now to do a little background on my guy given the current descriptions. He is not quite a mage, he is a flame master. Back in the ancient times of the japanese empire, ninja's ruled through their might and skills. One clan however was mostly known because in order to deal with having less skill as far as fighting was pertained, they created weapons never seen even to this day. One of those ninjas, as well, every 5 generations or so inherited the power to control fire at his will. These were called the flame masters. One time however, there were 2, and separated at birth, one was sent to the western world, and one remained in japan. One of the babies was called Kurei. Because of being somewhat disfigured at a fight during his childhood, he bears a mask that covers most of his face except the mouth. Taunting thoughts plague his mind constantly, his only goal is to seek for the Millenium Stone, that sacred object which has the power to restore life, to take it away. That way he can avenge those who took advantage of him in his fragile state, they would pay. Including her.

She smiles slightly at the irony. Him giving her orders after all this time, what an amusing thought. She stretches out her hand as the charter marks form in her mind. She releases the gem as her spell is cast and they are both thrown into a globe of darkness. Crouching low she slinks toward the edge and makes for the still smoking river.

*History*
Alright…history on my character now. I don’t know how many people have read Sabriel, Lirael, or Abhorsen but it is an awesome trilogy and the basics of my character. I’ve also pulled some things from The Dark Elf trilogy which I have also recently finished. First of I am neither a Thief or a mage. I’m more of a necromancer than anything. Being a necromancer I am able to call on the dead, but choose not to instead using my advanced skills of the Charter. Charter Magic is a logical system of marks and sounds that draws strength from the Wall, the destined bloodlines, and the Charter Stones that dot the Old Kingdom For more about Charter Magic and Sabriel visit this link.


Sabriel

(ill have to check those out. They seem interesting. Your character also seems to dominate shadows very well right? You should come IRC if ur on!)
/////


Suddenly everything went dark. Another one of her old tricks, it was only meant to delay him. He closed his eyes and envisioned the path out of the darkness. When he was finally out he looked around. She was gone. Now all that he could hope for is that she had indeed dropped the jewel, but he guessed mostly that she had faked it. She might delay him, but he would get to her eventually. Once the mark was set, no one came in between him and his goals. Many had tried but had failed misserably. Kurei knelt down and looked at the grass. Some footprints remained and went towards the river. "Clever girl" he thought. The traces of the dark glove were begining to disipate, but he could not yet see inside it. He would have to wait.

*I'm still out of character *

I decided to follow the other two, just to see how long it would take before they come to the dim realization of what they had actually done. Taking the Shikon no Tama (sacred jewel, loose translation) with me, I follow in hot pursuit. I see a shady character and head in that direction at full speed.

(how did u pick up the jewel? JP had it lol.)

//////

The globe of darkness dissipates. Empty. Darn it. He would have to follow her. Tracing the river upstream Kurei runs determinately.

*I made a mistake earlier, and am really having a hard time getting back in place... Bear with me here*

I come upon this mighty person, the one I hear called "Kurei". He is yet unaware of my presence, but, I think he can sense the power of the jewel I carry, since he turned to face in my direction. He still hasn't seen me, as I have ducked below the foliage. I pull the power from the Shikon no Tama, and the pulsating power fills my aura to it's limit. I cannot tire out. I cannot rest. I will follow these people and find out their true purpose to stealing my treasure.

My mind races onward, wondering why they want the jewel. Is it for power? Wealth? To woo one of the opposite sex? I hold the jewel for power, pure power. It gives me the strenght to do anything I want, to an extent. Soon they will know my power upon confrontation... but not just yet... now is not the time...

The power surge was incredible. Kurei turned due northwest startled. So she didnt have the jewel. A decoy? Or had she really dropped it on the floor and he had missed it. Could he really have been so careless? He couldnt let her have it. She had evil plans ahead, he wouldnt let her control it. It was said that besides giving its owner amazing powers (at the cost of heavily wearing the him/her down after using the stone) the jewel also possesed the power to control time and destiny, to undo wrongs. It was the only way he could bring back Yanagi to his life, without her it would be meaningless. He couldnt face what was about to come alone, he needed her like a thirsty man needs water. Turning to this new direction, he decided to check out what was the source of that great power.

As she moves upstream she hears splashing behind her. What a fool she thinks to herself as she braces herself against death. Feeling death chill the front of her body calms her as her hands go to the bells that will ensure her escape. Using Kibeth, the walker, she draws spirits of long gone associates to her side. Putting the bell away ever so carefully she leads the wisp of creatures back into life and toward the trees lining the bank. Feeling the power radiating from their silent vow of protection she steps onto firm ground and checks her bag. A sly smile spreads across her face as she pulls forth both the gem and the scroll that contain the words that are required to harness the power of time from the gem.

*The Bells*(this explains the bell thing if you are all lost.)

As kurei approaches a thinning of the riverbend he hears the sound of splashing water, as if of many footsteps treading over the water. He pauses and hides behind a stone so that he may take a closer look unoticed. There she was, and the archer from before, holding a strange stone in his hand. Could it be? Did he have it all along? He would soon find out.

Apparently she had summoned the dead once again to help her. Kurei shook his head in disappointment. He had hoped her powers had increased and that she wouldnt have to resort to her puny allies. He would watch from a distance adn see how this fight turned out. Then he could approach and easily eliminate the survivor. He chuckled softly to himself, not raising his voice any more lest they hear him.

Great. Just great. Why do they come after me? Oh, yeah, I'm holding the jewel. That's why.

I tuck away the jewel and prepare to fight. Being mostly a long range fighter, I must keep my distance. I fire an arrow at the heart of one of the undead souls... and it is somehow blocked by the arm of the soul.

Oh, this is just peachy. Now I just attracted all of them.

All the souls come twords me at an alarming rate, faster than even I can run. Each one of them draw various weapons, from what seems to be nowhere, being anything from swords to lances. I draw the small blade I have for these close-combat situations. I swing twords one of the souls, hitting it's sword. The bone shattering force behind the soul's blade ripples through my body. I hold my position, shaking violently, and I'm suddenly thrown back against a tree. Did I mention it hurt? I feel as though every bone in my body has shattered to mere ashes... but I stand back up, and prepare to fight again. I cannot believe the immense power these souls behold. Why can't I achieve the higher power? I charge again at the undead, and swing full force into it's skull. My blade goes straight through the soul. Expecting to hit, and not, I'm am thrown slightly off balance. Did I just go through it? How is it hitting me, and I'm not hitting it? I rotate my sword in hand and charge the beast. Our swords meet, but this time I stand the force and push back the foe. I am angered now. I viciously batter against the evil blade that has challenged me. Blow after blow, I tear at the wretched being. I never can hit the soul itself, but, rather, each swing is blocked by the soul's sword. Without warning, the soul stops moving. All goes quiet. I stand in a fighting stance, and attack once more... once... more...

The mistake is my own. I charge at the foe, and, with what seems to be the most powerfull attack I've ever seen, as soon as I made contact with the other sword, I am caught in a wind like that I have never seen. The force blows me past the soul, and as I move by it turns and stabs it's sword... right though my back... I look down as the blood stained sword drips of my blood... a pulsating sensation eminates throughout my mind... the sensation of pain... the sensation of death. The soul forcefully rips it's blade from my back, and stabs yet again, right through my heart. The sense of doubt and disbelief ripple my mind. How could this happen? How could I be defeated?

As the undead soul pulls it's sword back, I expect it to stab again. Or maybe it'll just finish me off. But all grows silent once more. They leave. The souls that were attacking me simply leave. As I stand on my knees, trembling, unable to move, I feel the last grip of death around my neck. My limp body falls to the ground, blood beginning to run down my arms, staining the ground.

Why has the jewel failed me? Where was my power? Am I really about to stare death in the face?

No, I cannot. I lower my breathing... and lay limp on the ground. I... will... not...die.........

Oh I can’t decide if I should continue this because that would make such a wonderful ending but here it goes.

As she stares down at his bruised and battered body she wonders if he really will die. A brief thought of sympathy crosses her mind before she sees the glint of something in his pocket. Can it be? Another gem is not possible. She has the real one. Crushing her doubt as she puts both gems and the scroll into her pocket she quickly forms the Charter marks for a spell of swiftness over herself and a spell of peace over the dieing archer. Making her way down the road and toward the great hills she hears Kurei’s footsteps run toward the wilting shell of a person.

*I’m not really this heartless and GTX knows I’d do anything to help him for all of you who are commenting on my lack of humanity*

(wow very nice GT, seems like u wannna kill off ur guy though...darn u JP u posted before me! )

Kurei watches as the ranger attemps to go sword against sword with the undead creatures. He is clearly losing, the undead easily blocking every move swiftly with their powerful blades. On one unfortunate move, the necromancer throws her power about catching the ranger offguard and tossing him lightly in the air, allowing an easy opening for one of her ghouls to strike at him. The blade goes straight through his midsection and he drops to the ground, limp.

He did have to admit that he was trully disappointed, he thought that at least his adversary of her´s would last longer. She reached down and snatched the jewel from him. Darn it, he had hoped she had not noticed. As she departed he neared the corpse. Somehow , he was still alive. Had he used the awesome power of the jewel, he must´ve. Otherwise he would´ve not survived the attack plus the spell she had laid on him. His breathing was growing faint however. Reaching down with his left hand, he placed it on the wound on the archer´s back. Before dying, his siter Yanagi had imparted him with her gift of healing. He was not yet adept at it but he had some power to give. The wound stopped bleeding and closed partially but not all the way. He hoped that would be enough to keep him alive. Laying him to rest to one side on the tree, after bandaging him, Kurei set off after the necromancer. She would pay, no more lives could be taken.

(ill leave it up to u GT if u wanna continue ur char or start another)

They left. Why has he who attempted to rob me help me, when I was planning on hunting him down. I lay, still unable to move from the sheer pain. I will not die. My life force still flows through my veins, even though most of it is on the ground.

I lost the jewel. Why? How could I fail? Why did....

A sudden shock like that of a thousand lightning strike tears through me. The shock wave that eminated rocks the nearby trees violently. The feeling of an earthquake is sent out in all directions. I scream in pain. My mind is being ripped to shreads by what is going on. I cannot describe the immense pain I am feeling. What is going on? My body shakes, and an invisible force throws me twords another tree, yet I land just feet of hitting it. Then all goes quiet once more...

I open my eyes. I feel... good. I attempt to move. I can even stand. I look where I was stabbed... and the wounds are no longer there. I feel as though nothing has happend. Could it have been a dream? No... I look a few feet away and can still see the blood stained on the ground. What... happened? What cured me?

I sense a powerfull energy source coming from the west... the direction the theif of my jewel ran... Is the energy coming from her? Is this the... jewels... true power? What is going on?!

I grab my bruised blade and run to the west in hot pusuit. I will find that jewel. I will determine what had healed me, even if it means to risk my life once again.

(btw i think i should know what JP's char's name is, given my character knows her from before...or is it Sabriel like in the book?)

He still had a long way to go before catching up to her. She was naturally quick and apparently the jewel increased that power tenfold. In the distance he heard a scream, behind him from where he had come. Had be been mistaken, or had he heard in that scream the voice of the mysterious ranger he had partially cured? He couldn't find out right now, he had to follow. He hoped that his action of good will would not be taken as compassion by the fallen warrior. He had none. However, upon seeing him mortally wounded, Kurei had been reminded of his own sister's death, by the hands of that being whom he was not in pursuit of. Those feelings intertwined with the moment and so he felt compelled to save the man. But it wouldn't happen again. Somehow, he felt that next time they met, they would engage in an epic battle for survival, and for the jewel. Meanwhile however, his goal was to reach the necromancer before she got too far for him to track down. Time was short, patience even shorter.

Sorry about the name thing. I’d prefer to be called Ribelle If no one minds. Now on with the story.


As Ribelle reaches a grove of trees she quickly scales one of the highest and reaches back through death and swings Dyrim in a counter clockwise figure eight formation calling upon the shreds of the souls that fought for her. She learns of the defeat of the archer and the gentle Kurei helping the fallen warrior. As she turns to go back to life a strange feeling comes to her. The spirit form of the long forgotten Dimenticato is beside her and uttering words of destruction till they fill her head. She tries to push him away physically but only manages to fall through the image of his human form. As she hits the barrier between life and death she feels her body gasp for much needed air and the birds in the trees urupt around her. Dimenticato is back and he is set on finishing what he started many years ago. The destruction of Kurei.

(i am completely lost lol. who's dimenticato? I think its cool u add knowledge from the books you have read and what not but its kinda hard to follow if we do not have previous knowledge of them so i would ask you explain a little further for me please.)

The footsteps lead out of the forest, and are much closer together than before. He must be closer to her now. Ribelle wouldnt escape him this time. He knew it somehow.

(I'm a bit lost now too... I'm going to wait for a little bit before I continue. My character has to catch up anyway )

Sorry about that guys. I was posting at the end of the day and kinda ran out of time.

Dimenticato is not from Sabriel first of all. He is someone I made up and obviously I didn’t do a very good job of it. Oh well. Here goes the explanation. Dimenticato is dead first of all. He was a partner to Ribelle, but betrayed her by killing the countless innocents. Even in death he is set on finishing the work that was started a decade ago. He has already killed Yanagi and must finish off Kurei and complete the spilling of the royal blood if he is to return to life. His evil haunts Ribelle and she has spent the last many years trying to find a way to walk him past the ninth gate without being trapped there herself for she has unfinished business.

(that makes a lot more sense now hehe..so im royal now eh? hehe. Yeah i know...coz i OWN everyone haha. I think ill let GT continue the RP..im empty...college has drained me)

*******warning: early morning posting....read with caution and take into mind i was half asleep when continuing the story****************

Just when he thought he was out of the forest the lights went out, THE light went out. A split second but when it was back he was surrounded by vile demons. Their scaly red skin glittered in the sunlight as if made out of precious jewels. Their dark fearless eyes burned deep into Kurei...too deep. Lashing out with clawed arms, they bit and spit into the air as if rabid and completely out of control. For the first time in his life he was trully afraid. Thats when it happened.

The ground began to shake violently, and even the powerful evil creatures had to hold on with their claws against the blackened soil to not topple over. Then he saw it, just in front of him, the ground cracked open as a giant hand extended out from underneath, as if brought from the Underworld by Hades himself. It was huge, far larger than that of any other human being. Soon the arm gave way to a shoulder, armored in what looked to be a type of steel, but dyed black with special substances. Oh god no, it couldn't be him. But he feared it was, the second coming had arrived. Soon the head and torso emerged. Wearing a helmet, only darkness could be seen within, no face. Oh yes it was him. And there it was, his might sword, the Split Blade of Destruction. Kurei's legs quivered with panic. He thought he had dealt with him before, but the hellspawned Warlord was back into play, Dimenticato. He looked stronger than ever, his plated armor shining far more, as if renewed by some power Kurei could not visualize.

"We meet again Small one" called out the infernal creature. " This time, it wont be so easy"

With that last command he raised one of his hands towards the flame master and echoed a shrill cry. The demons poised in prone positions, leaped into the air after Kurei, who at the moment was too afraid to be able to move from the impending danger. This was it, the time of prophecy. Good and evil. Would he survive? Or would the toll be too heavy this time for him to bear?

*Ok, when I post tonight, EVERYTHING will be back in order, ok?*

(read my story..its in order

*Ah, I read your post again. Time for me....*

Running at full tilt, I see a pitiful person from a distance, looking like that of a human being tortured by the demons themselves. The large hand of the violent demon is about to bring it's deadly force among the human. Using all the force within my grasp, I swing my fragile blade at the hand. Upon contact, I momentarily stun the demon, but the recoil of the force sends me flying back, but I am able to land on my feet. Without hesitation, and now with the beast's attention twords me, I draw my bow, and load an arrow. The arrow, aimed for what looks to be the head, begins to glow. I will put much force into this shot. In what seems to be forever to me and appears to be a fraction of a second to others, I release to arrow. The arrow flies straight and true, and hits it's mark before the beast is even ready. The beast cowers in fear as it was not expecting such a force to come out fo what seems to be nowhere. It dissapears within the depths of hell.

<Oh, wait. I didn't see the other smaller demons. Ok now little demons, go hide with the other big demon... uh... don't come near me. Go away! Oh... not good...>

As soon as the larger demon disapears in the depths, all the other, many, many demons turn twords me, and simply ignoring what looks to be the human, just sitting there in absolute fear. I quickly shoot off a few shots from my bow, hitting only 4 of the demons, killing them instantly. But, they are upon me quickly. I pull out my rusty blade yet again for this closed ranged combat. Slashing violently, I strike 2 demons at once, taking off the head of one, removing an arm from another. All at once the demons are upon me, slashing at me, and they begin ripping at my body. I fight back with all my might, killing yet a few more demons, blood running down from me, staining the ground of which I stand on. This is worse than the previous battle.

<This will be my last battle.>

I shout out with vengance, with anger, in pain... I tear down yet a few more demons, but they are upon me more than before. I am overcome as my pitiful blade is knocked from my hand. One of the demons catch it, and examine it closely. Seeing it as a killing device that has killed the demon's comrads, the demon sees it as something to finish me off. By the force of 3 demons I am thrown to the ground, battered, bloody, barely able to move. My vision blured by the fight, I see the demon in front of me with my sword in hand. One of the demons behind me grab my hair, and force me to my feet. I see the blurred sword being raised into the air, and with an immense force it is brought down in line with my neck.

My life flashes. This is it. I have failed my lineage....... I already feel the force of the blade against my skin..... I close my eyes...


I feel no cold steel. All goes silent. A rush of wind blows hard enough to knock me off my knees, but I do not fall. The coldest blow I have ever felt, but I do not shiver. A feeling of a thousand needles being pushed into me, but I feel no pain. Have I died? Is this death? Am I being pulled into the bowels of hell?

The rushing wind stops almost instantly. The sound of a lone owl echos in the distance. I open my eyes, and I see the forest I last saw. I slowly look at my arms; There is no blood. My sword is lying on the ground beside me, and my bow is still in place. Nothing is stained on the ground, and there is no sign of the human or any sign of a battle. In shock, I notice the ground coming to me very quickly...

<Was it all an illusion?... Or... is this... death?... Have I escaped once again?... Is this the power... of the... jewel?... I... can't.... think....>

(trippy...might have to re-read a couple of times )

////////////////

Finally able to come out from his shock, Kurei barely manages to evade the Dark Knight's huge swinging blade. Rolling on the floor and quickly up on his feet, to dive yet again as the blade pierces the air on top of him. He was no match for the beast, he knew it, he lacked the speed, the strength of arms. But maybe, there was a way. On one of the attacks, he crouched low and placed his foot in front of the monster's. With the momentum from the hit, the creature tripped over his small leg and fell face first to the floor. That would buy him a few seconds,enough for what was needed.

Running away so that he could be a few meters away from the knight, Kurei removed the bamboo armguard he had placed over his right forearm.

"You think your powerful huh, well I might not be as strong as you physically, but you have yet to meet your slayer, the flame spirit that resides inside me. Rashka!"

With a small friction of the fingers, the well known flame began to spark, but it had a different glow, a much stronger glow that kept rising as the flames increased in sizes expontentially.

Surprised, the creature backed down: "What is this?" Dimenticato exclaimed.

"A flame master's armguard is what keeps his flame in check, without it he can unleash his true power, his flame spirit!"

With the last word, the flames gained their potential height and suddenly began to change. From the fires emerged flaming heads of beasts in reptile nature. The heads kept rising til 7 showed above the remaining group of flames.

"This is Rashka, the 7 headed flame dragon, and my spirit of the flames!"

All seven heads turned towards the monster, and echoed a scream so shrill that even the demons (who possessed no ears) had to grab their heads and keep them together from exploding. All at once the dragon lifted into flight, burning the forest around him, the ground beneath him, the sky seemed up in flames, but Kurei remained intact, as if the high temperatures did not affect him. Tree's melted away and even the air itself seemed to be steaming. With another cry the dragon launched himself at the demons and at Dimenticato himself. The knight barely even managed to open his mouth to scream. As flames passed, and flames were done, there was nothing left of him or his infernal creatures, not even ashes. Forcing up all his stength left, Kurei managed to place the armguard back into place, redeeming the dragon of its full power before it completely took control of him. Such a technique was a dangerous one, but he had needed it in order to defeat the impending danger. He would have to rest, the excersion of so much power had rended him weak and pale. Hugging against one of the few remaining trees, he sat looking out into the horizon, gaze lost in the infinite turns of fate.

*It seems as though there are 2 different dimensions here... this should get interesting...*

Unknowing of the events going on behind her she is exceedingly surprised by what she stumbles upon. A normal summer day forest should be in front of her, but what she sees and senses is completely different. To her left the forest is green and full of life, just begging to be strode through and admired. To her right it is grey. Completely and utterly grey, millions and millions of mind shattering shades that confound and confuse the senses. She hears sounds of life, but not sounds of the present. The sound of horses and wagons, the sound of men yelling to and fro over some task which is unknown, and various other sounds that can only be long forgotten. She catches a faint whiff of the air blowing from the grey direction and is not at all surprised to find that is smell faintly of dust. Her body is tense with the fear that she has somehow released the power of the gem and has unleashed some kind of two dimensional chaos. Facing two paths, one of the present and one of the past, she contemplates her next route. Into the present where she will find her future, or into the past where she will find what once was. They both represent a staggering sense of loss to her. She knows not if the present will bring about the death and destruction the past has wrought on her horrid life, and the past has no obvious time marks, so she knows not if it is far enough back to right the horrible wrongs that have been forced upon her. Her mind races as she remembers the competence of the flame mage and the fortitude of the archer. Taking a breath and looking once more into the blue sky she strides forward into grey.

Cleaning the dust off his pants with his hands, Kurei rose to his feet, exhausted from the tremendous feat he had just enpowered. All of a sudden, he felt a gush of hot air blow past him, so he looked up startled. The forest was still ravaged, but not quite exactly like before. There was a slight tint of grey all around, and the trees seemed to shift in their place. No, he must be delirious. He obviously had spent too much strength summoning Rashka, and it was affecting his sight. Then the most terrifying and unexpected thing occured. Out of the twisting grey, came a figure, who though slightly covered in shadows that moved like the surroundings around it, he could discern. Kurei gasped in astonishment and terror. It could not be.

" Y... Yanagi?" Wide eyed, Kurei was only able to half mumble his dead sister's name. The apparition before him could only be a dream, a twisted hallucination come back to haunt him. The gastly creature that looked so much like his sister pointed towards him, as if beckoning him near. Despite the horror he felt within he approached. The air rippled about him, as if it had acquired a liquid form, and he felt as if he had stepped through an invisible barrier into another world.

"It is not too late yet, little brother. Our fate is in your hands" The ghost said, dark and haunting.

" But, i do not understand" Replied Kurei, still astonished but less afraid.

" Follow your heart, just follow your heart. The gem Kurei, the gem is.."

Just as he took a step further towards her her sentence was cut off midway and she disappeared into the misty grey background. He screamed out for her but there was no response. He did not, could not understand what was happening. What had she meant? And had she tried to warn him about the stone? What about it? He was so confused, he couldn't think. Seeing her after so long, tears were brought to his pained and troubled eyes. He had wanted her to be back with him so much, but this apparition had scared him. There was something unusual about his sister, the way she looked, as if she had taken her life 3 times over in order to be able to reach him and deliver her message. Walking a bit further, he stepped off the grey gelatinous area and came back out into the forest. Night time? How much time had passed? He could not know, was it even the same day? THe forest looked different. He had only walked a few feet and yet all the trees around him were renewed. He looked to his left and spotted her. Ribelle. She had the stone with her. She hadnt noticed him, so he was in luck. He watched as she stared into the grey matter, then determinatedly walked in. Madness! She had gone completely insane! But he had to follow her, he had to get the gem back, and avenge his sister's death. What had she meant about the stone....

Feeling a rush of warm air around the area, I wake back up from my "sleep". I slowing rise up to just a sitting position, still with massive pain in my head, I look around the area, and see a dark figure off in the distance. Being a bit off balance still, so to speak, I can't quite make out the figure, even though normally I could. I slowly stand up, and begin walking, more like stumble, twords the figure. Suddenly he hears a sound from the figure... "Yanagi!"... What's that? What is that supposed to be? Slowing gaining full composure I start walking a little bit faster twords the figure. Just to the East of the figure I see a glowing object, bright enough that it blurs out anything around it. Suddenly, the figure I'm walking to darts off in the direction of the light.

I have regained my power. I beging running at full speed, unable to see the figure or the light anymore. I come upon what seems to be an uncolored part of the world. Unheard of! This must be an illusion of my own mind! So, I run into this "world". As soon as I cross over, I can see the light of the object, but I don't see anyone else nearby.

That light... looks... familar now...

Could it be...?

I decide to get a closer look, but the light keeps moving away. It seems as though someone... or something... is carrying it away from me.

I will get to it.