Well, I was typing this post up when the computer shut down, so I'm going to try and reconstruct it.

Anyway, all 9 champions are in Ganelon's chamber now. TLTE, I know you haven't posted that part yet, but you can post it retrospectively.

-----

The nine champions milled about, meeting each other, testing new waters. Finally, a voice resonated throughout the chamber, cutting off all conversation.

"Welcome."

Perplexed, they looked around, wondering whose voice this was, until they turned to look at Ganelon. He was rotating around to face them and floating down to the floor to stand on his own two feet, amber robes swirling about him.

"It's about time," Shade rumbled under his breath, but Ganelon ignored him.

"All nine champions are here, and it is time for your questions to be answered. You each come from a different universe, each one a thread in the tapestry of the multiverse. Where you currently are is the Nexus, the universe connecting all universes, on the central planet Bahneim. Now, the Nexus is in grave danger."

Icharich scampered forward hesitantly. "Not to sound unfair, Ganelon, but isn't that a bit, um, selfish? Taking us out from our universes to save yours?"

Ganelon smiled gently. "Know this. Whoever has complete control over the Nexus also has complete control over the entire multiverse. Thus we are all in danger."

Eluidath said patronizingly, "Ganelon, some of us are powerful, like myself, Ti-Shen, and Shade, but. . . these others? They are the best the multiverse has to offer?"

"Hey, watch it, old man," Kiyobashi growled.

"Patience," Bob counseled, drawing upon his humility to keep from being offended. "I'm sure Ganelon has his reasons."

Ganelon replied, "I do. So, Eluidath, master of a two-million-year-old civilization, you think you have power? Do you know who I am? I am" Here his voice reverberated throughout the entire Citadel, revealing incredible power beyond anything they had ever imagined.

Ganelon, Amber Wizard, Master of Amber, Supremely Powerful Being of Good in all the multiverse

"That is who I am." No one could doubt. Ganelon had the power to demolish entire universes, and was the most powerful good being in the entire multiverse. Ti-Shen especially was pale, having sensed the tone of Ganelon's power and understanding it better than the others. "The Amber Wizards are the most powerful beings of good, besides me, ever to have existed and that will ever exist again."

But Ford said, "In that case. . . why do you need us?"

Ganelon returned, "Because there is a prophecy of the Dark Being, 'one who shall grind the nations beneath his heel, one whose army is matches the army of amber, one whose power outshines even that of the greatest wizard.' "

"So, there is no hope?" Inchaura said.

Ganelon smiled again. "There is always hope, Inchaura. You of all people should know that. Your universe was destroyed, yet you have discovered the potential for a new life here.

"There is also a saying. 'Not by might, not by power, but by spirit.' The Dark Being shall fall by spirt and not power. Thus my reasons for summoning you."

Ganelon paused. "You all have personalities, intelligences - all sentient beings in all universes do. If you break down your character, you will have many different qualities. I have chosen you based on the qualities you possess.

"Bob. You possess humility unlike that found within anyone else in the multiverse, humility even in the face of shame, cruelty, and bodily harm.

"Hiro Kiyobashi. You possess perserverance. Perseverance that has enabled you, despite your depressing mortality, to hunt down your family's killer, though it costed you all else.

"Ti-Shen. You possess extraordinary compassion, which manifests itself in your great sensitivity to the tones governing the physics of the multiverse.

"Yoda. You possess the ability to heal, the capacity to love. Guard them well, for you shall need them in the upcoming battle, indeed for your entire life.

"Inchaura. You possess hope. Hope that has persevered throughout your cosmocide, the destruction of your family, friends, your way of life. I salute you for your hope.

"Eluidath. You possess wisdom. You hide her in your heart, for she honors you, and you her.

"Shade. You possess amazing creativity. Alone of all the people here, your imagination was closest to grasping the full extent of my power. But be cautious. You forget that others depend on you and are around you. Always inform them of your plans.

"Ford. You possess love. Love for your enemies, despite all that they do to you. Never lose that.

"Icharich. You possess cleverness. Subtly yet importantly different from creativity and wisdom. Creativity allows one to dream of grand things. Wisdom allows one to lead a full life. But cleverness, which could be called an aspect of wisdom, is practicality. The ability to plan and think under pressure.

"Thus, these are the qualities that you possess. These are the qualities that define what it means to be good - or, rather, Good defines them.

"Good power cannot match the Evil power in the Dark Being, but Good spirit overcomes Evil spirit. When an evil one is touched by Good, he is shown how petty, how meaningless his evil is. At this point, he is either driven to despair, and lost, or he is driven to redemption, and won."

Eluidath tried to absorb this. "So, Ganelon, what you're saying is that we need to show the Dark Being our good qualities in order to defeat him?"

"Yes."

"No offense," Shade said, "but I think this guy would kill us on sight."

Kiyobashi hardly cared.

"Yes, I know." Ganelon smiled again. "That is why I have summoned you here. I intend to make a sword, imbuing it with a portion of each of your spirits, to give it the qualities you possess and the spirit of Good. This sword, when touching the Dark Being, should show him how meaningless his evil existence and power are."

Icharich pounced on the word. "You say 'should'. Does this mean that you are not sure?"

Ganelon's smile drooped. "Yes. But, there is always hope. For that, you can always learn from Inchaura."

The sword-creation ritual was fairly generic. The nine champions stood in a circle, with Ganelon in the center. Ganelon used his power to create a sword (with an amber hilt, which was no surpise, and a silver blade). Then, calling upon his Amber power, he pulled a portion of the qualities of good from his champions, pulling them into the sword.

Lightning flashed within that room. Thunder roared. Each champion would have fainted at least once were it not for the strength of the others.

At long last, after what seemed an eternity, the sword was complete.

Ganelon held it up high. "I christen thee. . . Spiritus! The Soulsword!"

Caught up in the ecstasy of having contributed parts of their very beings to this device, the others cheered, before settling back down to reality.

"So. . . what now?" Ford asked.

Ganelon strapped Spiritus onto his belt, and explained further. "There is a race of evil beings, called Dizaablons. The first Dizaablon was the first evil force in the multiverse, created in counter to the first Amber Wizard. Their king, called Antepre Ungarrant, is the very opposite of love - which means he embodies hate. He has deathly white skin and wears the stereotypical black robes. He is the first second-stage Dizaablon - indeed, he once fought an all-powerful Astral to a near-standstill. And King Antepre has passed on his legacy to his three sons."

Ganelon turned around to look each champion in the eye. "One of these brothers of evil is the prophesied Dark Being."

"You don't know who the Dark Being is yet?!" Yoda said, incredulously.

"Correct," Ganelon confirmed. "But the signs are right. We have only to wait to discover which one is the Dark Being. Let me describe these brothers to you.

"There is the eldest-born son, Laesonthar Belemorium. Massive and Draconian. Like a heavily muscled stooped bipedal dragon, only lacking wings, and stands approximately 15 feet in height. Greenish black in colour, with glowing eyes that shift from yellow to red and in between, depending on mood. Speaks with a rumbling voice, similar to thunder. Laesonthar originally grew up in the Nexus, but grew so ambitious that his
evil father used magic to return him to embryonic state and implant him in the womb of a draconian woman in another universe. There he grew up again, with no memory of his past, where his father hoped he would never rediscover the Nexus. But Laesonthar has just entered the Nexus once again.

"In the other universe, where he grew up again, his life was this: Laesonthar Belemorium was in a dimension inhabited by a large, sentient draconian species, of which he was a part. At the time
the species had colonized most of their galaxy, through creative uses of Magic.

"Though relatively low in what is generally considered "technology", the species was highly advanced in the uses of Magic, which is what they used for space travel.

"The galaxy was ruled by a group known as the Oiasdin, a group concerned with lofty ideals such as Peace, Prosperity, and the Pursuit of Happiness, among other things. Laesonthar was born into the family of a low ranking member of the Oiasdin, Cvoan Belemariut. Cvoan was a vocal proponent of the belief system of Idefar, a pacifistic system where violence was not acceptable in any way. Laesonthar too followed his father's beliefs, until his father and the rest of his family were assassinated by the sinister Bamevek cult, a shadowy organization devoted to the worship of the occultic god Bamevek. When this happened, Laesonthar's beliefs were shattered, and he became disillusioned with everything his father had stood for, seeing it as weak and fruitless.

"Vowing that he would not make the same mistakes, and vowing he would have revenge, Laesonthar joined the Bamevek cult, and slowly rose through the ranks, over many years. Through the cult's vast resources Laesonthar deeply researched any and all of the forbidden dark aspects of Magic, becoming extremely powerful, and rising to become a part of the twelve member Council of Bamevek. Through Laesonthar's influence, the cult destroyed the Oiasdin, and set up the Council of Bamevek as the absolute ruling power in the galaxy. However, once the Council had consolidated their power, Laesonthar single-handedly murdered every single other Council member, along with their families, friends, and anyone else who might try to take revenge. Laesonthar took control of the galaxy, ruling it with an iron fist that showed no mercy.

"Having established himself as Emperor of the Galaxy, ruling the entire known universe, Laesonthar turned his attention outwards. He had stumbled across, in his dark researchings, references to planes parallel to his own, as well as a central hub known as the Nexus that held the key to controlling everything. Laesonthar turned the resources of the entire galaxy toward finding a way to access the Nexus. And found it.

"Laesonthar has now been supposedly reconciled with his father, King Antepre.

"The second brother is Rasheavan, the Devourer of Thoughts. He feeds off the minds of other beings. Though his normal aspect is very similar to his father's, his body shapeshifts, as well as his personality from the minds he has devoured.

"The third and youngest brother of evil is Lucisanat. He is the one I am most wary of. He is a being of angelic beauty. Golden hair, golden skin, and golden eyes.
And a golden glow around him. Generally wears a white robe and a purple one. He can sprout golden wings, too. He looks beautiful as part of his fabrication
that only he can restore any and all sentient beings to wholesomeness.

"That is his blasphemy, the source of his evil. For he has tricked his mind (though of course not his soul) into believing that he and only he can restore himself and the rest of the universe to wholeness.

"He is a native of the Nexus but has traveled throughout the entire universe to gather knowledge and aggrandizement. As infinity is possible in the Nexus, Lucisanat has accelerated his internal power to advance him to the only infinity-stage
Dizaablon. Thus he is supremely potent. Perhaps more powerful than even myself or anything else in the Nexus. Perhaps more powerful than the entire combined might of the universe itself. He might not even know the full extent of his powers, yet.

"These are your enemies. I believe that they are plotting to overthrow their father. But then they will fight among themselves. One shall prevail. One shall become the Dark Being.

"These are your enemies. Are you ready?"

There was a silence. Then Yoda whispered, "Yes." Slowly the others affirmed.

They would stand together against the Dark Being, though it cost them their lives.

Ganelon smiled wearily. "Thank you, friends. Return to your chambers. This may be the last night you'll get some sleep for a while."

-----

After the champions had left, Ganelon teleported out of the Amber Citadel, into a place beyond space and time, yet still within the Nexus. Large, shadowy beings surrounded him, eyes flashing.

The Astrals.

"Well?" one rumbled.

Ganelon replied, "The champions have agreed. The Soulsword is forged. Now, as you have agreed, give us this chance to stop the Dark Being. If you all step in to battle him directly, the resulting clash of power could well destroy the multiverse."

Another one whispered in a voice like thunder, "As you wish, Master of Amber. But if you fail, we will have no choice."

Ganelon bowed his head humbly, though he knew he was more powerful than any one Astral. "Yes. I understand."

-----

Sorry I was so long-winded, but all this needed saying. We'll post more later as you're digesting this!

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Play epic RPGs such as Dark Exile, or duel in the Interdimensional Arena @ The High Citadel

[This message has been edited by Highemperor of the Force (edited September 01, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Highemperor of the Force (edited September 01, 2001).]

as the champions returned to their rooms a rumbling comment can be heard from Shade:

"I hope that Draconian ends up being the evil being. i know how to fight his kind."
bob:"what do you mean?"
icarich:"shade, you aren't trying to act big again are you?"
Shade:"nope. it's true, my race never once failed to conquer the larger more physically violent races. one was similar to these draconians. they had enourmous power within their grasp. huge 21' creatures with wings to match. they could reduce a 13' boulder to slag glass with one breath. but they only concentrated on certain aspects of power. they were conquered because they didn't know how to adapt. unfortunately they were one of the few races we had to destroy. they had potential, but they were mislead by Evil in their midst.
remember that folks. Evil's one flaw is that it cannot create. it can only warp and bend something to its needs. evil people have no concept of care or love. which is why ganelon isn't sure that that blade of his will work. it does no good to show Evil how petty and corrupt it is in its ways if Evil doesn't care. that's where we come in. we have to make it care.*yawns, revealing rather large fangs* i'm tired. hitting rage-mode is exhausting, for all the power it gives."
Icarich:"please don't yawn like that again. those fangs make my instincts tell me to run for the nearest vine."
Shade:"sorry. hmm, wonder where they keep the food? i feel that i could eat a whole plet'ka'rak'th"
as shade wanders off to his own room and the hope of food, the others head off to their own rooms, now aware that their own stomachs are getting rather intimate with their backbones
----------
that was the best i could think of to post. just had to state that thing about evil cuz i just felt that you had left a big whole in the plot there. you should read mercedes lackey's Valdemar series. it would give you some good insights for your stories.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

(NSP: On request from highemperor, I'm giving a shot at the following scene. I may also continue to write for the majority of what the evil King Antepre does.)

In the center of a kingdom far away from the Amber Citadel, King Antepre surveyed his lands. Inside his foreboding castle, all was at his service, everything he could possibly want. As the king searched with his oily-colored eyes, from his balcony high above, he thought to himself if he'd ever find what he was looking for. He didn't know what it was he was looking for, only that it was something greater than what he had. For with even everything he could ask for, ready at an instant, the king could never be content.

Sure, he was content with himself. He was the best in everything, he thought to himself. He even fought an Astral to a near standstill. If only he had not passed on his power through his sons, he brooded. His jealously that his sons literally had something that was a part of his boiled inside, his hate heating it. If only he could know where they were. He would have his revenge against them. The king realized that he was searching for what was his in his kingdom below. It was taking too long to reclaim what was his from his sons, he thought.

King Antepre Ungarrant turned away from teh view of the kingdom, his black robes swirling and covering all around his deathly white hideous body. He would not concern himself with these troubles, he thought to himself. Instead, he would take his problems out on his kingdom. They will be punished for his benefit and pleasure.
--------------------------------------------
In a dark and reclusive cell, two of the evil king's sons wait for the third to arrive. They did not have to wait long though, as the other, massive and draconian in appearance, entered shortly after they had entered themselves. One of the two, who stood as a most beautiful being of ten feet, spoke to the third.

"We finally meet you, our eldest brother, Laesonthar," the beautiful son said, with a tone of deciet. "I am your youngest brother, Lucisanat, and the other is our middle brother, Rasheaven."

"Enough with the formalities, Lucisanat," Laesonthar growled. In his greed for knowledge and revenge against his father, Laesonthar demanded why he should want to be with him.

"We each want to succeed our father," Rasheaven said in a dark, whispered tone. The pure fear and unknown that Rasheaven eminated was thicker than the darkness that surrounded them. "We can only hope to do so if we...collaborate."

"Yes, indeed," Lucisanat said. "For being our father, he has power to torture us from within. A genetic detail in the Dizaablom race."

"So what do you plan we do?" Laesonthar asked.

"We'll sneak into his stronghold..." Rasheaven trailed off. His oil-colored eyes darted and stared between theirs, and only after leaving them hanging in question of his pause, did he continue. "...and we'll devourer HIS mind."

"Dear brother," Lucisanat said warmly, "You must have last had a comedian to eat!"

The three laughed loud in the dark cell, plotting their plans to kill their father.

(NSP: Hope you liked it, because that's the best I could do, at o'dark thirt in the morning at least. If not, tell me what to edit, and I shall do so )

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~Geb

[This message has been edited by Gebohq (edited September 02, 2001).]

Highem and Dark, I have an idea for the Astrals, which I'll email to you, if they're what I think they are. Meanwhile, I hope you don't mind the liberty of this post.

A robot about ten meters high flew over the land of Banheim.

Shadowlord was within. His mech, the shadowmech. The only repository of knowledge and technology left over from his universe.

He had studied the nexus, first from afar, then from within. He knew of the three evil brothers. He knew of Lucisanat, the one who promised wholeness to all who followed him. He was desperate for meaning in life, and thus had decided to throw himself at the feet of the dizaablon.

The shadowmech landed on the ground, a short distance away from a huge, roiling fireball.

Shadowlord was in a wasteland, a mile in diameter. At the borders of the wasteland was the kingdom of Ungarrant. In the center of the wasteland was the king's castle.

A humungous dragon with five heads lay on the ground beside the castle. From his central head came fire, surrounding the evil castle to shield it from all harm.

The shadowmech stomped forward, until it came to the dragon. "Noble dragon," Shadowlord called out, "I seek an audience with your master."

One of the dragon's heads, that wasn't breathing fire, spoke in a deep voice that would have terrified a lowlier being. "Who art thou, that thou durst to seek out my lord?"

"I am Shadowlord."

Through the fire, King Antepre Ungarrant could be seen in one of the highest towers, standing on a balcony, watching the scene unfold. He called something out to the dragon, and the dragon responded, "As you command, my lord."

Shadowlord got out of his mech and activated the self-defense subroutines so that no one could harm it while he was away. For a brief instant, the dragon stopped breathing fire around the castle. In that instant, Shadowlord stepped through.


Shadowlord was exhausted. After playing the obsequious supplicant to Antepre Ungarant, he now sought out Lucisanat.

"My lord Lucisanat," he addressed him, "I have traveled far and wide to find you. And I vow my everlasting loyalty to you."

Lucisanat smiled, reveling in his angelic beauty and blasphemy. "Then so be it. Thou, Shadowlord, art now mine."

hey! we can't let this post die! highemp or someone! post something for us to go on!

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

NSP to shade: actually, some of the really good stories hav eto wait days before real action, but anyway your right, so i'll post some more.
NSP to shadowlord: your idea souinds good; highemp and i are gonna use it.

***

King Ugarrant was sitting on his lavish throne in the throne room of his dark, fireball-surrounded castle. A herald announced, "The three princes of darkness arrive!"

Trumpets blared, and the wide doors opened, addmitting Laesonthar, Rashevan and Lucisanat to come in side by side.

"What do you wish?" the evil king asked.

Lucisanat, his tone that of deciet, replied, "we have conferred among ourselves, father, and we think that it is not right that you remain trapped within the confines of this depresingly small kingdom. We urge you to gather up an army to lead upon the elven kingdom! They have ben a thron in our side for too long."

The nbloodlust within King Ugarrant was excited and he leaped to his feet and cried, "yes! It shall be done!" Then, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at his sons, suspecting some treachery, he added the clause, "but you three shall be the generals of my army."

Lucisanat and Rashevan hesitated, having not foreseen this wrench in this plans, but Laesonthat smiled his sly smile and said, "Why, certainly, father. I was about to suggest that myself."

Surprised, Ugarrant said, "Very well. Gather up an army of conscripts from my kingdom by sundown tomorrow!"

***

"What in the name of all that is wicked were you thinking!" Lucisanat whispered fiercley to his oldest brother. "Now we might die in battle instead of that old worm!"

Rashevan concured. "Far be it from me to agree with my beatified brother, Laesonthar, but he has a point."

Laesonthar grinned. "In my time in the other universe, I discovered a forbidden aspect of magic, called synthegrams."

Lucisanat, intrigued but unimpressed, raised an eyebrow slightly. "Which are?"

"Well, holograms are a projection of a person's appearance. Synthegrams are a projection of a person's presence and power. Thus, we will be there, able to influence upon our surroundings, but we will be unable to be hurt!"

"Excellent thought, Laseonthar," Rashevan said. And the brothers laughed out loud. "Now, let's recruit the worst army this kingdom has ever seen so that dearest father is sure to lose!"

***

Ganelon summoned the champions back to his chamber. "It has begun."

"What do you mean?" Ford asked.

"King Ugarrant is marching upon the elven kingdom with large army. This is undoubtedly the brother's attempt to overthrow him, which wil most likely succeed, but we don't want the plot to succeed by destryoing the elves."

"Finally, some real action," Shade muttered.

***

NSP to all writers: K, now someone can write about the champions going to the teleportation chamber to transport to the elven king in order to warn him about the imminent attack. Then they'll help fight against Ugarrant's army and might even come up against the brother's synthegrams. Keep in mind, though, that Ganelon will stay behind in the amber citadel, though a couple of amber wizards might come along.

Kiyobashi's long black trenchcoat swept across the corridor as the champions of the multiverse flanked him, following Ganelon's instruction to warn the elven kingdom of King Ugarrant's imminent assault, and help if necessary.

Ganelon. He was more powerful than people than Kiyobashi could even comprehend. But then, the Detective reasoned, why did this being trust his prophesised loss over his own talents? Why did he get complete stangers from different universes (that part was still sending Kiyobashi's mind reeling)who, under any other cirumstances, would never have met, or even acknowledged each other's existence, to fight a war for him?

It made no sense to Kiyobashi. But then, since he'd stepped through the door to the Casino, after Long, things were on a downward spiral.

You died, and woke up in the next life, with vivid memory of the previous one.

Or was your whole life just a bad dream, a nightmare that you only just woke up from?

It didn't matter anymore. Kiyobashi was so tired, numb and brittle, caring was beyond the question.

He reflected on the past few hours;

He lay on the roof of the Casino, with Long lying motionless next to him, dead, and just as Kiyobashi himself slipped into unconsciousness, he could feel raindrops start to splash down on them. Absurdly, he thought; "When it rains, it pours!" and laughed through damaged lungs.

Then, Kiyobashi ceased to be in the universe of his origin .03 seconds before he expired.

He had regained consciousness in a strange, regal room, with a strikingly beautiful woman at the foot of his bed. She was, as she explained, his guide. Ektra.

She had patched him up, but Kiyobashi could find no bandages...in fact, he could find no wounds.

His bullet wound, and the hole where Long's sword had gone through, were both gone.

Vanished.

Before more could be asked, Ektra had guided him into the chamber for the meeting with the enigmatic Ganelon, and the nine champions.

And now what? They were marching off into battle. As quickly as they had met, they were entrusting their lives to each other.

Or at least, SOME were. No one was willing to give Kiyobashi credit yet, save Ganelon himself.

Kiyobashi felt in his trenchcoat for a few reassuring bulges. Come the time to fight, he would prove himself very capable of battle...

The Amber Wizardesses Ektra and Crystalia, Ganelon's apprentice, led the group down a hallway to another amber room. There were several glowing circles in the floor, each one a meter in diameter and about an inch into the floor.

"Everyone step into a circle, please," Ektra instructed.

"Just like Star Trek, huh?" Bob wondered out loud. Of course, no one understood the reference except Crystalia, but she kept silent.

The champions did as they were told, the Amber Wizardesses included. Ektra spoke some words of magic, and columns of amber light shot up from the rims of the circles, enveloping each champion.

They vanished.

-----

King Treunt of Juevansia, the elven kingdom, was, in some ways, like any other elf. He had the pointy ears and a stature shorter than a human's.

But he was also very sickly. Once he had been a great warrior. He had fought the dark wizard Corling in an honor duel to save his kingdom. Corling had won with a curse that made Treunt frail, but Ganelon had stepped in and defeated the dark wizard before his power grew too great.

Now Treunt was a king wise beyond his years. Having faced death will do that to a man.

He was sitting in his throne room, mediating a dispute between two of the noble families, when an amber flash appeared in the center of the room. When the light faded, two Amber Wizards and nine other strangers were present.

"Hail, Crystalia," the king cried to the one he recognized. "I believe you have the advantage of me, for I do not know your companions."

"Greetings, your majesty," Crystalia returned. "This is my fellow wizardess, Ektra, and they-" Here she paused, before continuing, "-have been chosen by Prime Amber Wizard Ganelon to battle the Dark Being."

Treunt blinked in surprised. "The Dark Being? I thought that was only a legend."

"No," Ektra interjected. "It is a prophecy, all too real, that is about to be fulfilled."

King Treunt tried to absorb this. "So, you have come to warn me?"

"Yes, but not about the Dark Being. For now, another, weaker threat marches against Juevansia."

"Who dares?" Treunt roared weakly. "Since the downfall of Corling, we are the strongest kingdom. Surely not the ogres? Or the vampires?"

"No," Crystalia spoke up again. "Antepre Ungarrant has mustered up an army. He is casting a mass teleportation spell to bring his army here, as his kingdom is on the far side of Banheim, and yours is halfway between his and the Amber Citadel."

"Ungarrant?" Treunt paled. Ungarrant, it was rumored, was more powerful than the dark wizard Corling had been. Ungarrant, it was whispered, had three very powerful sons. Ungarrant, it was heard, had once battled an Astral - and lived. "Then, I shall the sound the alarm! That foul king of the Wasteland shall not prevail!"

"And we have pledged our support," Ektra told him. . .

------------------
Play epic RPGs such as Dark Exile, or duel in the Interdimensional Arena @ The High Citadel

Suddenly there was a large crash King Truent said "And so it begins. Summon the elve warriors" A Drum wich must have signnified an alarm rang trough the castle. The Champions ran to the front gates led by Truent. Shade yelled in glee at the battle that was sure to come. For there were hundreds of creatures marching up to the castle. The assult was spearheaded by large but slow creatures that seemed to have weapon inplacements all over them. Unfortunately the castle was in a valley surronded by to cliffs and that didn't give much fighting room. Elves surprisingly came out of wholes in the cliff and started throughing rocks down on the assult team. The Champions led by Shade ran into the battle. Yoda Ran around helaing the fallen elves. There was one particular elf with a nasty chest wound Yoda was holding it together with his hands as he foucused his energy on the muscle inside. The elf started to squirm. He seemed to be looking past him. Yoda turned around and there was an ogre brandishing an axe that looked as if it could just totally cut Yoda in half. Yoda rolled to his right as the axe came down a scarce hair form his sholder. The elf screamed in aganiy as his wound burst open and started gushing green blood onto the battle field. Yoda thought, geeez I need to talk to GAnelon about a weapon of some sort. The ogre prepared to swing again and Yoda using the slight inbalance that teh axe caused his jumped at teh ogre hit him square in the chest with all his wheight behind the blow. The ogre overbalanced itself and fell onto its back. The ace came clattering down onto the rocks. Yoda momentarily dazed was sitting right on the monsters chest. It picked him up and trhew him like a rag doll. As he was flying threw the air he thought. Man I really have to talk to Ganelon about a weapon. He body crashed into the cliff face and he fell to the ground. Yoda saw he was near the other Champions and crawled his way into thier midsts.

*hope this is ok. Any Problems Post it and I'll edit it* *Sure Thing Guys* *since evrey body was talking about what they did in battle i guess i will evaluate a little about my part*

[This message has been edited by Yoda007 (edited September 04, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Yoda007 (edited September 08, 2001).]

NSP: Good post, Yoda, but seemed a little fast. You don't have to, but you might edit your post to show just the very beginning of the battle, so the other writers can write about the battle from their perspective...

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May the Windex be with you
-Janitor Jack (Salk Wars)

yes, please, I would like that.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

NSP: Yes...I would like that too. Also I don't know how I'm supposed to fight without a decent weapon.

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I created the most popular toilet 3do ever!
http://files.massassi.net/3do/toilet2.zip

pengun, i'm going to consult highemp about getting some weapons for us after this little skirmish.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

(NSP: To Janitor Bob: if you don't mind, I was hoping to introduce a close friendship between Kiyobashi and Bob, finding commonality in each other's humanity and subsequent flaws. Surrounded by so many powerful champions, the two of them should feel very comfortable around each other.)

Set just before the teleportation into the Elven Kingdom:

As Kiyobashi pulled out a long-barreled revolver and examined it, he was unaware of Bob's sad shuffling up next to him.

"That's a mighty large gun, Mister."

Kiyobashi nodded noncommitally, checking each individual chamber before snapping the weapon back into its loaded state.

"So it is."

Bob smiled. "It sure does remind me of this one gun my cousin used to know-"

"Then that's your business, isn't it? No need to tell me..."

Bob was immediately silent, looking ahead. Kiyobashi glanced at him. It looked as if he was used to rejection and ridicule. In that moment, Kiyobashi felt the strongest and most potent pity for him. His mind cast back to his identification by Ganelon;

"Bob. You possess humility unlike that found within anyone else in the multiverse, humility even in the face of shame, cruelty, and bodily harm."

So humility was this man's greatest trait. In Kiyobashi's culture, humillity was respected as well.

Kiyobashi also realised that, in the face of his own bitterness, he had abandoned simple human decency, a trait that the family man Hiro Kiyobashi honoured deeply. Ashamed of himself, he put his arm around Bob and drew him closer. Bob tensed at first, unfamiliar, waiting for the cruel Detective to hurt him.

"Bob, I want you to take this gun. If something happens to you, you aim like this...and..."

He gently eased the revolver into Bob's hand. The janitor's hand quivered for a moment, then was still. Nervously, he aimed it himself, fumbled with the gun barrel to check the bullets, and tucked it carefully away.

"Th...thank you!"

Kiyobashi smiled. "Not a problem, my friend. I have more."

"It's not usually someone...you know...helps me out like that..."

Kiyobashi looked at his haggard, lonely eyes with interest and compassion. "Really? Are you married?"

"No sir. Not me. Married life just...too much trouble, I'd think!"

He chuckled a bit. Kiyobashi's eyes diverted for a second.

"Mister? Mister Kiyobashi?"

In slightly cracked tones, Kiyobashi nodded, still looking away.

"Yes. Too much trouble."

Bob, not an unintelligent man, picked up that the subject was not a favourite with his new friend, and pressed on. "Do you think that Ganelon is right? Do you...do you think we stand a chance?"

Kiyobashi looked around, at the other champions. Strong, resilient, and intelligent.

"They might. I say we look after ourselves for now."

Bob inclined his head in a nod of agreement.

(NSP: sorry was out of town for, lobour day weekend. three things first of all what does NSP stand for? ive just been using OOC(out of character) fort things like this. second yes iwould like to tell the battle from my perspective andhopefully with my own weapons. if you dont mind, id like to start now.)

before the telportation

Ford followed the two Amber Wizardesses, who were talkng between themselves amaibly. he glanced around at the other champions. Shade was walking stiffly, that is if he could walk any other way, ignoring everyone else. Eluidath, seemed to be meditating, conserving his power. Hiro and Bob were talking, and Hiro had just handed Bob a rather large archaic revolver. Ti-Shen, was tuning hs tonal sounders, listeningwith his highly attuned hearing. yoda was walking silently looking ahead. Inchaura seemed to be thinkin about something, ford tried to look, but he resstrained himself. (thats wrong. dont doo it)Finally his eyes fell upon icharich, who was glancing around much as ford was. he walked with a nervous gait, and had his lesser hands folded together.

Ford then checked his powers and weapons. he put his body on auto pilot(a figure of speech of course) and checked his resourses. he looked inward, and saw that he was completely rechared, somthing that hadnt happend since he started training for the figh with Murdoch 150 years ago. while he was in his room he had put his weapons back into his pockets. ow he drew his pistol, to inspect it. it was alittle smudged from the last encounter with murdoch, but other wise n perfect condtion.

they had almost reached the teleportation chamber, when Ktanguros walked up to him.
"Good luck!" he said hopefully. (great, a fan. just what i need.) although secretly he was thankful for him.

they stepped onto the round pads, and in a flash of amber he felt his body disassemble.

(NSP:well i said there was a third thing didt i? so...lastly would i be terribly out of line to take these posts and put them in a linear fashion, hopefully to make a book. this story looks like it may go on long enough. i would have to edit some of your posts a. for consistancy, and b. for the sake of making it seem more fluid. i would send the thing back of course for you to see if yo like what i did with the character or whatever. im tinking maybe we could send it to a couple of publishers to be printed. is that allright? i wouldnt just say i worte it, i would include your names and addresses. just a thought. i have high ambitions. well this post was all i could muster up right now, but more later.)

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may the farce be with you.

NSP to ford: actually, ford, highemp and i were thinking the same thing about publishing it. great minds think alike! and nsp is short for non story post.

Hmmm...

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I created the most popular toilet 3do ever!
http://files.massassi.net/3do/toilet2.zip

hmm, well, i was going to send that e-mail, but it came back saying that the e-mail we were given isn't accepting mail from this sender, what's up with that?
now, to take Ford's example, here is Shade's POV for the moment's leading up to and during the battle, I say we just rewrite the part where we get repulsed and go after the three figures on the cliff.
--------
BT(before teleportation)
as shade followed along to the teleportation chamber he began walking the in the natural gait of his ancestors when preparing for battle, idly wondering if the teleporter would be of the matter disassembler type.
:hmm, I should better check on my power reserves and Decimator charge. I havent' actually checked to see if the nexus has an ambient gravitic field.:
as shade peered about he noticed that not only was there an ambient gravitic field in this "nexus" it was a very stron one, with bleedover from the intersecting dimensions.
:it's a wonder this place isn't swariming with black holes, what with all the gravitic power here.:
as the teleporter flung everyone's particles to the elven kingdom shade's last thought before transit was: I hate particle dissasemblers!
------
After teleportation, beginning of battle
--------
noticing the others utilizing less than orthodox methods of warfare, Shade simply fell back on the least exhausting method of fighting, A big gun with lots of ammo. unslinging his decimator, shade quickly warned everyone to stand clear, and set Decimator Rifle's generator to full power, with a simple concussion energy matrix, and fired. as the generator quickly drew in power for the huge blast the other's noticed the drop in gravity for a few seconds, enjoying the brief respite that ocurred as shade's shots began happening with decreasing pauses in between, soon there was no noticable pull of gravity and the slightly warmed gun shut down.
as the smoke cleared it was clear that the front three lines, as well as some of the leading artillery, had been destroyed.
Kiyobashi:"damn. I've seen some big guns before, but that thing takes the cake factory."
Shade, grinning,:"what? this? awwe, it's just an improvement on what my ancestors carried into battle. mlael's didn't need superior numbers on the battlefield. we just simply adjusted the enemy to fit our armies., now. the gun is in shutdown mode so I won't be firing for about an hour or so. *unsheathes the massive LiveSword* let's go play with the little people!"
rushes into the battlefield screaming a battlecry in some odd language and begins laying about him with his sword, but soon has to sheathe it because of the press of bodies, and finds himself forced to fight tooth, claw, wing-talon, magic, and mlaelstaff(a type of serpentine weapon that is harder than steel, with a sharpened, flat head and pointy tail, weapon can spit a type of acidic nerve poison that eats through armor and kills shortly after contact with flesh. one of the most devastating features though, is the fact that the staff can coil and lash about like a snake. this thing accounts for a quarter of the casualties in battle)
noticing poor icarich being swarmed over, Shade quickly sends a few quick mental commands to the MlaelStaff and sends it to help the overwhelmed fellow
"Icarich, here comes some help! I'll get us out of here as soon as i can get free! ARRGH!"
with that Shade finds himself now being swarmed by the enemy forces
-------
sorry about the slightly itinerant post, but this way you guys can have some fun here as well. i'm stuck right now, but if we can get me free i'll jump the other's out of trouble as well. obviously we underestimated the power of bad fighters in large numbers.
Fun? yes? yes?

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

The slow weapon emplacements wheeled into place. Grotesque creatures- were they orcs, or minatours… or goblins… or something else all together. They stopped the emplacement and then laboriously unfolded them- creating a twisted sort of Catapult. Jeweled and ornate, the catapult was an elaborate web of black wood and stone, carved ornately. Every end on the catapult was pointed, sadistic. Malformed gargoyles were etched into the stone, both precisely and hideously.

Several of the champions saw this unfold through a narrow arrow slit on the castle gatehouse. While the elves’ archers peppered the invading army with a skillful onslaught of arrows, the champions flattened themselves along the wall of the first gateway. The only feasible way to enter the castle.

Icharich watched the battle from high above- on the highest point of the Castle keep. Elven archers surrounded him, assailing the catapults with arrows. The arm on a catapult device pulled back… and a massive creature with stone gloves slowly placed a flaming orange orb in the pocket. The creature pulled a lever, and the orb sailed through the air- long trails of flame behind it. The intended target, Icharich saw, was the castle keep.

Bob mumbled “… I have a bad feeling about this.”

If they others had had any time to catch the reference, they wouldn’t had understood it anyway. But they didn’t have any time. The orb hit the castle wall and literally exploded. Blowing apart the wall, and covering the stone in a slippery flaming substance. Seconds later the gate house collapsed- on top of the heroes.

Each hero let out a separate scream or an expletive, as the tons of flaming molten stone fell upon them.

But when they opened their eyes, they found themselves unscathed, and the flaming stone merely surrounding them

Bob let out a sigh mixed with relief and surprise. “What the…”

Eludiath stretched his fingers. “Quick personal anti-gravitational repositioning. I merely levitated the blocks.”

Inchaura seemed almost angry. “If you can do that… why don’t you that more often. Like before we were almost covered in fiery rocks.

Eludiath explained. “I do not want to run out of power. Power should be reserved only for the most dire of circumstances.”

“With all due respect,” Kiyobashi said dryly, staring at the battlefield. “Our situation seems dire enough”

Before the conservation could be continued, the battleground exploded with chaos. The lighter smaller goblins rushed forward through the canyon, heads down, ignoring the continuing rain of arrows dropping down on them from the cliff top. Gunshots ran out from the champions. A few goblins collapsed from a bullet or an arrow, but the reckless charge continued.

Most of the champions were so busy- distracted with the oncoming army- they failed to notice the catapults’ reloading- aiming at the keep of the castle. But Ti-Shen could hear the strain of the arm being pulled back over the din of the battle. He flexed his fingers, readied his plan. He really hated to do this.

Power should be reserved only for the most dire of circumstances Ti-Shen remembered.

With all due respect, our situation seems dire enough Ti-Shen raised his hands- pointing at the catapult and released a piercing sound. The opposite of tone- the opposite of pitch- the opposite of harmony. Instead the warped sound made its way to the catapults and vibrated it at its natural frequency. Or rather- unnatural frequency. The catapults shattered gloriously. The orbs were sent through the air by the explosion, and impacted in the middle of the evil army, covering large pockets of invading forces with fiery liquid.

Seconds later, the goblins reached the champions. A goblin raised it’s sword to attack a distracted Ti-Shen. Just in time, twenty elven warriors armed with light swords dropped from the wall- surrounding the heroes- blocking the goblin’s blade. The elves and the goblins danced around each other in sets of graceful- but vicious melees.

Perched upon the Keep wall Icharich saw his opportunity. Twelve goblin warriors were lined up- perfectly. Icharich spotted a rope- leading from the keep to the tower. Wasting no time- Icharich made instinctive calculations doing what he done thousands of times before. He leapt upon the rope and chopped it in two with a longsword. He swung down over the battle, and leaned down, with his arm stretched out. The sword sliced through all twelve goblins- effectually decapitating them. He leapt to the ground and continued battle from there.

A goblin slipped through the flank of elves and lunged at Bob. Bob blocked it with the only thing he had. His pushbroom. He parried the blow, knocking down the sword with his heavier broom. The sword arced through the air, and stuck in the dirt like an Olympian Javelin. The goblin ignored the loss of his sword and lunged at Bob with it’s open hand. It caught Bob around the neck and lifted him- about to snap the neck like as easily as a toothpick. Unexpectedly, the hand loosened and the Goblin collapsed, a small hole in its chest. Kiyobashi nodded at Bob, a smoking pistol in Kiybashi’s hand.

Bob wheezed. “Thanks, Hiro”

Kiyobashi had no time for acclaim. He stayed nobly to his task at hand. He saw a contingent of mounted elves galloping towards the bulk of the army. Admiring their brazenness, Kiyobashi also charged towards the army, firing his two automatic pistols at the enemy. But before he could get near he… he… tripped. Hitting the dirt, Kiyobashi rolled to see his assailant. It was… Bob. Bob had tripped him with the end of his pushbroom.

Kiyobashi exploded with anger. “What was that for, Bob?! I saved your life. This… this is how you repay me.”

Bob had to yell also to be heard over the battle. “You were rushing towards the Battle, recklessly! I didn’t want you to get killed!”

“What! Killed! Killed… let me tell you something. We have a DUTY to these elves. To protect them. To fight to the DEATH for them. And that would be the best way to go. Achieving your objective.”

“But how can you achieve your objective by getting yourself killed! You die. You can save no more people. You can protect no more innocents. You are CHOSEN, Hiro. You have a duty! You don’t achieve that by RUSHING into things! You need to live- not for you, but for your family. For those who love you.”

An arrow whizzed past the two.

Now Kiyobashi was really angry. “Listen, Bob. My family was KILLED because I didn’t hurry. They were KILLED because I was too late.”

Bob softened up, but only slightly. “It wasn’t you, Kiyobashi. It wasn’t your fault. It was some scumbag who had no respect for you, no respect for human life. You did. But what do you achieve by avenging him? Justice? Maybe. But by killing him, you have committed the same crime that he did. Killing. True, it is justified- even deserved but…”

An explosion of fire rang out. The head Elven knight had stepped on a sort of enemy land mine- of the same type as the catapult ammunition . The entire group of mounted elves were destroyed in an explosion of burning liquid.

Kiyobashi stopped and gazed at the spectacle. I… I would have been killed. I would have died with them, had I gone charging in… “I’m… sorry, Bob. Sorry for doubting you.”

Bob nodded. “I’m the more guilty. I had no right to be hard on you. I don’t know your circumstances.”

Kiyobashi changed the painful subject. He surveyed the attacking army. “Idiots. The commander is an idiot. Look at the tactics. He’s wasting his troops, recklessly.”

Bob had much more faith in his enemies’ intelligence. “I don’t agree. The commander isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t be. It’s a tactic. He’s either hiding something- protecting something… or we’re the objective. He’s attacking us.”

Kiyobashi’s jaw dropped, surprised at Bob’s tactical skill. “Where did you learn all of this.”

Bob chuckled. “Real time strategy games.”

Kiyobashi ignored Bob’s answer and scanned the battlefield, and the charging enemy. Yes. He’s attacking us- attacking the champions. He must know our importance in future events. I know that now, but… what to do about it. What to do indeed…


[This message has been edited by Janitor Bob (edited September 05, 2001).]

The three synthegrams of the evil brothers stood on top of the cliff that made up the pass into the valley.

Lucisanat, who had next to no grasp of military tactics, said, "The elves seem to be well-defended."

Rashevan who had devoured enough strategists to know better disagreed. "The architect of that castle is a fool. Putting a castle in a valley? Surrounded my high cliffs, no less."

Laesonthar who was very astute in that way spoke up. "Actually brother, the architect merely wanted any attackers to think that. They are elven possitions on top of the cliffs, the castle walls are very high and strong and well fortifeid, and elves warriors have already swarmed out of the hidden caves."

"Precisely," Lusicanat said defiantly to Rashevan, trying to cover up his ignorance. His was a spiritual power, not a military genius.

"Why, look," Rashevan pointed unintentionally shapeshifting into a giant cobra in his excitement, "there's father, wading through his enemies. No doubt he'll encounter the champions sooner or later."

"The trick is to both destroy the champions and our 'beloved' father," Lucisanat said. "Those champions could prove to be dangerous. They don't seem all htat strong, but that snot of a wizard GAnelon undoutedly has a trick up his sleeve."

"Perhaps," Laesonthar, suggested, "We should keep on focus on the primary objective of this mission: destroying the wasteland king. the death of any champions would be a bonus."

And how do you propose we deal with the champions after this battle?" Rashevan asked.

Laesonthar grinned, something that contorted his dragonish features, "i have had some of my men study these champions; they seem to have archenemies in their respective universes. Imagine what a psychological blow it would be if we could summon them to Banheim!"

"You are clever, dear brother," Lucisanat replied, "But I am a step ahead of you. I have uncovered these champions' archfoes and instructed my sorcerers at the castle to prepare a summoning chamber so we can summon these villains for us when we get back!"

Rashevan: "You may be awful at military strategy, brother, but you sure know how to wreck an opponent's mind!"

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An optimist is someone who stomps on the floor and calls it tap dancing.

um, can't think of anything to post at the moment, but, I will be posting less, getting swamped now that all that senior crud is setting in. you know, scholarships, classes, pictures. stuff everyone says you need, but just really get in the way of all the fun stuff. so, i'll try to post every evening, but umm, i make no promises.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

Within the raging battles by the Elven stronghold, King Antepre Ungarrant had a devestating impact on the Amber-sided forces. Utilizing a sleek dark grey and bone white dragon, comparible in size to one of our fighter jets, the king flew above the elven soldiers, weaving through the valley. Swooping down, the king would chant gutteral, ancient words of dark magic. The next moment, the king pierced the ground with a tearing beam that looked like the solar flare of a blue star and a vortex of a black hole when it impacted the surface. It was disturbing how the only aftermath of his attacks was a burning cold; not a single body on the field.

Antepre thought to himself how exhilirating it was to be fighting something again. Too long had he become lazy and careless inside his fortress. He was impatient though how much longer it took him to summon a magic attack. His old age had revealed weakness in himself some time ago, and if not for that, he would be able to do more than a cheap air raid. King Antepre Ungarrant was still an intimidating sight and unquestionabley superior, and he had done a good job to keep it that way.

Letting his desire to kill rise above his impatience to immediately head straight for the castle and barrel through, the king instead turned to a large group of elven warriors just making their way down the valley from their acloves in the caves. Feeling an unusual urge to be creative, Antepre roared a magic spell. Thunder could be heard rolling in the darkening clouds, and hairs stood on edge. A bolt of lightning came hurtling down, striking the center of the group of elves.

The king admitted to himself, there was something about old-fashioned summons that touched him. He smiled, turning to find another target.

------------------
~Geb

Inchaura held back. What could he possibly do? He was a scientist, not a warrior. One of the elven captains, a grizzled veteran, came up beside him and handed him a longsword. "Here, son, you might be able to use this."

Inchaura blanched. A sword? "With all due respect, sir, I have no idea how to use one of those." He didn't add that he had only seen swords in museums in his universe.

"No?" the captain puzzled. "What kind of place do you come from anyway?"

Inchaura replied, "A place where one can surgically and genetically implant great power reserves, generators, and manipulators into one's mind."

"Son, you've lost me."

Inchaura sighed. "Oh, just call it magic."

The old captain was still uncertain, but he pressed the sword into the gray-skinned humanoid's hand. "Take it. Use it well."

The captain charged forth into battle, as Inchaura just kind of stood around, holding the sword. He waved it around experimentally, then an idea occurred to him. Concentrating on the diminishing figure of the captain, rushing ahead of him, he searched into the elf's mind for all of his sword-handling knowledge, experience, instincts, and expertise. He did not take it away, merely copied it into his own brain.

"Whoa!" He felt a rush. This was amazing. He had almost never been able to do this back home, since everyone else was also strongly psychic. He charged forth recklessly into battle, laying about him.

It was only a matter of time before there were no more nearby goblins for him to deal with, when a shadow flitted over his head. He looked up and saw a deathly gray, bone-white dragon, with a demonic figure on it that could only be the Demon King.

Inchaura called upon his psychic powers to probe the ancient dizaablon's mind. He instantly was propelled back seven meters! This guy has some serious power surge! I'd hate to meet the Astral, whoever he is, since Ganelon suggested that he's even more powerful than the evil king!

Frowning, he wondered how they could take down the Demon King, and charged back into battle.

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The Lord of Shadows lives ...

hmmph. one would think you guys would read more of my post than that. i sent icarich a weapon. why didn't he recieve it and use it? it would have done half the fighting for him!
--------------
as the goblins pressed down upon Shade, attempting to bite and scratch at him, Shade reached down into the , so far, untouched reserves of magic he held within him.
"time to die!"
as Shade stands up he begins drawing power from all around him, causing the battlefield to grow cold and dark, and then with a two quiet words in that odd language of his, a massive grid of energy spreads forth, mapping out every point in the area around him, stretching half a mile in every direction and covering all the goblins and battle weapons, while carefully avoiding the good-guys, then the grid expands out into the air, forming a perfect 3d mapping of everything enemy related within a quarter mile radius. then with another word, shade releases the energy, pulsing through the the small ley-lines and exploading inwards, leaving charred and smoking enemy forces in its wake, and leaving the elven forces and the champions untouched
"Now, Let's go after those three on the ridge!" shade calls out to the champions, bringing them in close to discuss strategy
Shade:"i'll keep them distracted from up in the stratosphere, but we need someone to act as sniper. *unslings Decimator and resets it to a medium power setting and changes the power matrix in the projectile to a compressed pellet of extremely high velocity and penetration.* who's the best marksman here?"
Inchaura:"I can become one."
shade tosses the Decimator to Inchaura with a simple "good enough for me."
----------------
sorry, but i got tired of this tedious battle thing.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

"Actually," ford stepped in, talking to shade, "i have the ability. but i dont need your weapon."

"what?" shade asked, "what are you going to use then? Your fingers?"

"nope." He reached into his trench, and pulled out his pistol. "I have got what i need right here."

"look, ford, that little thing may be powerful from where youre from, but im sure here its nothing."

"wanna bet?" he said, "in fact heres a wager. you see that rock over there? yeah that one, way over there, jutting out of the side of the cliff? if i can knock it clean off of there with this, you make me your marksman. and if i cant, trust inchura with an extremely powerful weapon hes only seen in action once."

"okay," said shade, confidantly, "lets see it."

ford raised his weapon, and felt his energy flow into his arm, and into it. he concentrated soely on the outcropping, evaluating it for weak points. he chose one, and fired. a blast of bright purple flashed across the canyon, and struck the rock.

nothing happened.

Shade turned to ford to speak but he spoke first.

"just watch."

the rock suddenly with a roaring rip, tore off the cliff, fell to the ground and shattered. a cloud of dust erupted, and rushed towards them, but the nearest it came was shade, who got covered.

"now do i get the job or what?"

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may the farce be with you.

NSP to shade: we won't let you use that much power at least not so casually, but we will let the battle wind down.

***

The champions stood around, gazing at each other. They had fought the enemy army of goblins and ogres - and won. The army had been pushed back, but the dark King Antepre was still wreaking havoc, preventing the elves from totally destroying his forces.

"Well?" shade gesutred impatiently. "let's go get em!"

"Patience, young one," Eludiath counseled. "Antepre is obviously very powerful. And I don't think that he is the driving force behind this attack."

Inchaura watched as the dark king summoned a torrent of lightning down onto his evlen foes. "You don't?"

"He's right," Ford chimed in. "I think it's those three on the cliff over there. My instincts tell me that they're the ones behind the attack."

Crystalia nodded. "Your insight serves you well. They are the three brothers that Ganelon warned you about - the spawn of Antepre Ugarrant."

Icharich blanched. "Um, shade, I think your first idea was better."

"No," Ektra said, "you must face the brothers of darkness. They are not at full strength yet, however, but you must face them."

***

K, now yall can trek up to fight the synthegrams. Since the brothers aren't at full strength, and two of the amber wizards are with you, it should be about an even battle. In the end, theyll promise to retreat if yall destroy their father antepre Ugarrant.

NSP:

I deleted my post because it didn't make sense, and kind of sucked.

Actually I'm surprised I didn't catch the bit about the weapon the first time since I was going to ask if Icarich could borrow the mlael staff anyway. It seems like it would be a comfortable weapon since Icarich used to hunt with a woven spear and all.

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I created the most popular toilet 3do ever!
http://files.massassi.net/3do/toilet2.zip

i never said he used it casually, i just said he drew in an enourmous amount of power and blew up all the goblins. it's one of those things that Shade can do every once in a while. but only when he has the stepping stone of desperation. can we just combine the two posts? that we all walk away happy, or at least satisfied? i promise shade won't be doing big stuff like that very often. it's a rare ocurrence, although not as rare as his rage-mode. now, what is it that we are going to do?


------------------
you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

Hit things.

------------------
I created the most popular toilet 3do ever!
http://files.massassi.net/3do/toilet2.zip

Kiyobashi and Bob fell into line, following the heroes as they started up the valley toward the three sinister figures on the hill.

Suddenly, everyone turned in unison just in time to see the Dark King swoop down, loosing a lethal energy blast onto them. Everyone dove for cover, but the resulting explosion sent everyone flying. Kiyobashi, Ford, Ti-Shen and Bob were lucky enough to be thrown, relatively unhurt, further up the hill, landing with three consecutive thumps on the uphill slope.

"Well," Ford grunted, slowly getting up, "that was one ride I could have done without-"

"FORD, LOOK OUT!"

Kiyobashi's shout was too late, as an ogre wrapped his powerful arm around the other man necks. Ford panicked, and kicked backwards at his opponent, to little effect. Shunning his powers, Ti-Shen acted upon his first instinct and tackled the ogre from behind, weakening his foothold and sending the three of them tumbling down the hill in a torrent of dust and gravel.

Bob and Kiyobashi were about to start down the hill after them when suddenly, another massive ogre grabbed Kiyobashi from behind and slammed him into the ground, producing a lethal dagger. The blade arced down, stopped just in time by Kiyobashi's quick reflexes. They struggled on the ground for some time, the police officer unable to break the ogre's strong grip, nor push him away.

Bob tried to help, but kept finding himself being shrugged off by the ogre.

"Kiyobashi, what should I do???"

"GET MY PISTOL!" Hiro's eyes scanned for where it had fallen. "IT'S OVER THERE!"

Bob scrambled over to where his friend had indicated, grabbing the futuristic pistol.

"What now?"

"CHECK IT'S LOADED!" The dagger was closer to Kiyobashi's face now, closer...

"It's loaded!"

"THEN USE IT!"

Bob aimed carefully, and squeezed the trigger. There was a painful click.

"It won't work!"

"CHECK THE SAFETY!"

"The WHAT?"

"FLICK THE LITTLE SWITCH NEXT TO THE TRIGGER!"

Bob obediently flicked the switch. To test, he chambered a round and raised it to the sky. A loud bang and flash announced the weapon worked again.

"It works, Hiro! It works!"

"THEN SHOOT HIM!!!" The blade was nearly at Kiyobashi's neck...

Nearly...

And then, suddenly, a cannon fired, and the ogre went limp. It took Kiyobashi a moment to realise that the ogre was dead, shot in the head by Bob.

"N..nice shot, Bob," Kiyobashi managed shakily.

"Well...I try," said Bob, bashfully.

He helped Kiyobashi to his feet. The two gazed down the valley. Ford and Ti-Shen had made short work of their foe, and were working their way back up the valley to their position, along with the other warriors.

Still, as much as Kiyobashi wanted to wait for them, he couldn't. At any moment, the three Brothers at the top of the hill could leave, and they would have failed.

He and Bob had to head up the hill and challenge them alone, if only to sacrifice themselves to give the others enough time to catch up.

"Bob, we're going up the hill."

"But-"

"No buts. We can take them."

Bob gave him a doubtful look, then showed Kiyobashi his sole weapon.

His pushbroom.

"Do you think I need a better destructive implement?"

Kiyobashi nodded. "Good point." He thought for a moment, then knelt behind a fallen elven warrior, pulling the head off his spear. He jammed it into the flat edge of Bob's broom, and pulled out a composing packet from his tactical unit kit, hidden inside his trenchcoat. He broke the small packet over the spearhead and the point where it touched the broom. Instantly, the liquid metal hardened, and fused the broom and spearhead together.

Kiyobashi handed it back to Bob.

"There. A spear."

Bob stared, horrified, at the pushbroom. "What am I meant to do with this???"

"Well," Hiro started, "if one of the Brothers gets too close for comfort, show him how much you value your personal space."

Hiro stared at the mutilated broom for a moment longer, then nodded. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Kiyobashi pulled out his sword, loaded a High-Explosive Shell clip into his pistol, and with the two weapons in each hand, strode up the hill, Bob flanking him as convincingly as he could...

well, time to play with fire then.
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as the group headed up the hill towards the brothers, shade, icarich and inchaura hung back, at shade's behest after witnessing the ogre incident
Shade:"guys, we're gonna provide cover-fire. icarich, you take my MlaelStaff and scout out the path they are taking, the thing takes its cues from what you are thinking, so just wield it like a staff, but keep in mind that it can act as a pike, a whip, and a lethal crossbow as well."
Icarich:"okay. got it."
Icarich shudders slightly as shade holds his arm up to icarich's and the Mlaelstaff crawls across and wraps itself around his wrist
Inchaura:"what do I do?"
Shade:"take my decimator, use it and your personal skills to provide coverfire, that dragon up there will be a neusance, just fire potshots at it and pick off the larger creatures that attack the group."
Inchaura:"and what will you be doing?"
Shade:"i'll be dropping fireballs on the brother's heads to keep them occupied. they will be too busy looking up to watch for incoming fireballs to notice a rag-tag group sneaking up behind them."
with that shade hands inchaura his Decimator and leaps up into the air, flying up to the very edge of the atmosphere, where the brother's will have the most difficulty attacking back, and begins generating balls of liquid fire and dropping them on the cliff-face

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

NSP:
Ummm... can i like borrow a gun or sumthin from somebody?

You can pick up one of Kiyobashi's, Yoda, I've dropped like 1000 over the battlefield.

No, seriously, express your interest in armament later to my character and he'll fix you up...

NSP:Thanks LTE

***

Yoda was walking with the champions towards the cliff face when he saw a projectile weapon that Kiyobashi must have droped. He picked it up. It fumbled in his hands for it was so unusual. A goblin saw him and started running towards him brandishing a spear. Yoda pointed what seeed to be the barrel and pulled the triiger. Nothing happened. The goblin was on him trying to scuer him when he started beating the goblin over the head with the weapon. The goblins helmet flew off and Yoda mercellesly pounded onto his hard scull. Then it went off. Then goblin flew at least 100 feet from Yoda and landed with a crunch. Yoda thought, crude but efficient. He ran to catch up to the rest of the champions on the march to the cliff.


NSP:Sry LTE if it sounds like i'm making fun at your gun it is just so different from the kind of weapons Yoda is used to seeing.

NSP
I thought TLTE was joking about that. I have something to get out of my system:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHGHHGHGGHG!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I created the most popular toilet 3do ever!
http://files.massassi.net/3do/toilet2.zip

hmm, actually, I have a plan for armaments and munitions for everybody. if highemp or someone will e-mail me so i can tell it to them, then i will try to put it into action, in case they do approve of it, everybody tell me what type of weapon your character would be most comfortable with (pistol, rifle, staff, long range artillery, sword, dagger, you get the idea) after all, Shade's lab has a buttload of advanced tech. Funfunfun!

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

Nsp: Semi-auto Pistol Shade and when is the battle going to end?

[This message has been edited by Yoda007 (edited September 11, 2001).]

i'll see what i can do about it man, and the battle will probably end as soon as the people running it get back.

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you're all a bunch of useless bloody loonies
-arthur from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

NSP to shade and every1: its really up to yall from here how u conduct the battle. Just so long as its about and even battle, and the brothers eventually promise to retreat if the heroes destroy their father. So have fun!

The Caelum, the realm where the Astrals resided, was a realm parallel to the Nexus. Rather, it was the Nexus, or more accurately, a part of it. It, like the Nexus, was connected to every part of the multiverse. It, unlike the Nexus though, could not be described, because as pure emotions can not be reasoned by a mortal mind, neither could the Caelum. It was here that the Astrals, masters of emotion, debated on the imminent danger of the Dark Being to come. All thirteen were present: Love, Hate, Order, Chaos, Peace, Anger, Bliss, Fear, Pride, Apathy, Hope, Despair,
and Infinius, the orcestrater of the twelve.

As was usual, bringing the twelve together was not something done on a whim, and for a good reason. Each would violently conflict with an opposing Astral, and it was hard enough to mediate them when each was not with the others Astrals, much less trying to do so when they were together. As Ganelon guided the Nexus with an emotional strength only found in the Caelum, Infinius guided the Astrals' actions as the left side of a human brain checks the right side.

"Listen!" Infinius commanded to the twelve. Immediately, the other Astrals halted in their quarrels and focused on Infinius. Chaos could be heard muttering "Always favoring Order", before Infinius continued, ignoring his remark.

"I have brought all of you here together in regards to an event that could have the utmost importance to the balance of the multiverse. Pride, Apathy, and Peace were with me when Ganelon came and told us the news. The Dark Being will soon rise, and threatens to control the Nexus. You all know what that means."

"The Dark Being that was prophisized could have the power to wipe us all out?" Despair asked. "We're wasting our time debating if it's true."

"I agree," Apathy affirmed. "Debating over the situation is only extra effort in vain."

"But we can't just stand by and watch the Dark Being destroy everything we control!" Anger yelled.

"Yes, we must protect what we have worked throughout the multiverse through our powers," Pride insisted.

"How do we know what we'll be up against?" Fear interjected.

"And what about Ganelon?" Chaos threw in. "What did he want with us?"

"Chaos, do not fuel this fire," Order commanded. "Everybody needs to listen to what Infinius has to say!"

The Astrals were calming down again, as Peace was using its hands to motion everyone to settle. When all the Astrals were focused once again, Infinius spoke.

"Ganelon came to request that he be allowed to deal with the matter on his own terms--"

"WHAT?" Anger yelled.

"Anger, trust that Infinius has his reasons," Hope said.

"I do," Infinius said. "If we engage in battle with the Dark being, we almost certainly will destroy the multiverse in the fight."

"Perhaps it would be best that there be none at all than one controlled by the Dark Being," Bliss remarked.

"We can not discard the purpose of life within the multiverse!" Love yelled.

"Well..." Apathy began, trailing off.

"Well I did tell Ganelon that if he did not succeed within a certain time that we would take action," Infinius stated. "But until then, we will continue to go about our duties. I will keep updated on the situation, and bring you all together if anything should be needed to do."

Infinius nodded to Peace, Apathy, and Pride, who in turn made an example and separated first. The others soon dispersed, tending to their own problems. Chaos, Fear, and Pride had pressing matters within the Nexus themselves, in the battle between King Ungarrant and the elven forces.

Infinius, standing alone, mulled over the logic in emotion, a thought that plagued his mind since he existed.

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~Geb