Perdition's Tale, Chapter 4, "Deep in the Cavern"

[CelesJessa]

After eating, (OOC: there, you happy? ^^) the group finally set out for the cavern that the bandit had told them of, which was supposed to lead right into the heart of the wizard Skurai's castle.


However... after traveling the cavern for days on end, it was starting to seem like the cave was more likely to lead to the center of the planet. Luckily the group had been smart enough to cut up some wood to use as torches, and they figured that if the torches run out, Cid could light the way using his fire sword. A small stream ran down the length of the cave, so they always had water, however, there were hardly any monsters down there and starving seemed like a possibility if they didn't find the exit soon.


"Good lord, how long does this cavern go?" Cesia wondered, holding the torch forward, in hopes of maybe seeing signs of the end of the cave. Then she glanced up at the ceiling of the cavern. <not even any holes to let us know if it's even daylight out...> The group had been traveling for hours since their last break, so they were consitering stopping for water and to discuss what they should do, since some of them seemed in favor of going back and taking the more direct route to the castle.

[GatoFiero]

Thid was getting real tired of walking through this cave, *rumblegrumble* and he was getting hungry too. "Hey Lynx, you know in some countries cat is a delicacy?"

[IHateMakingNames]

"No they aren't, I've been around the world, and read about the world. No country has cats as a delicacy, or even famine food. Some even worship cats."

[LilWhiteMage]

"That's gross Thid... Besides, I don't think I could manage eating a cat I've gotten to know, well, or any cat for that matter." Dawn's face curled up in disgust.

"Besides, it's not like we've been in here forever and are going to starve to death. I'm sure that we're going to find the exit sooner or later." She tried to sound optimistic, but even she was starting to wonder if they would get out of here anytime soon.

[GatoFiero]

*Grins* Thid looks down at Lynx with an evil glint in his eye. "Really? Good thing nobody ever taught me that eating cats was wrong, what do you think Kalimare, is it bad to eat cats?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"No body is eating the cat." Cid said. "We still have plenty of hard tac, and if my ears are right there is a water fall ahead."

[CelesJessa]

Cesia heard the sound of rushing water in the distance too, "Wouldn't a waterfall mean there might be an exit close? Since there has to be an opening for the water to come through." She was hoping the answer was 'yes', because that would mean that their spelunking was almost done with. "If we are close... maybe we should think of a strategy for the wizards castle and the wizard... since this is probably going to be the most important battle..."

[BMHadoken]

"Sooo...anybody know any traveling games?" Jude suggested. After hearing the story about the princess' capture ("She was captured? Man, I am out of the loop"), and the slaughtering of the thieves guild ("I thought the monster had done em in...damn"), he had developed a sort of distate for a good majority of the group, although Vace and Thid seemed like ok guys, and Dawn was always there for a little pick me up.

"Cmon, anything...I spy maybe?...its getting to damned quiet here...and I don't like enclosed spaces...no jumping room..." Jude muttered. None of the group seemed very enthusiastic about the mission, excepting for Cid who seemed to be the only human alive that didn't have an inside voice.

[IHateMakingNames]

"Waterfall doesn't exactly mean exit, just a change in evelation. Don't get your hopes up. Remember that last small waterfall we passed? And don't worry about the wizard..."

[Forever Zero]

OOC: I'm out of the loop less than I thought I'd be. I've been sick all day and literally just woke up, so the group can just keep doing its thing, and Vace can just be going along with the flow for now. I might start posting more later on, but just one post for now so everyone knows I'm alive.

Vace leaned over to Jude and said, "Normally our traveling game consists of people arguing with Cid about what we should be doing or where we should be doing, but this constant traveling through this cave just seems to drain everyone. Maybe this waterfall will let us get a real rest before we get back on the move."

[LilWhiteMage]

Dawn completely stopped for a moment, just watching the others pass by her. "Guys, I just had a thought..."

She scratched the back of her head a little. "I'm not entirely sure, but this was the way that the thief had said was easiest to get to the wizard right?" She focused on Cid, since he had been the one to lead them into the cave. "If that's so.. couldn't he have possibly lied about it.. just to try and save his own neck. Eh... not that it did.. I mean... Okay, I'm gonna stop now."

After a moment of silence she started talking again. "What I mean to say is, this could possibly just a whole lie, and while this cave may eventually lead to an exit, isn't it entirely possible as well that it could take us AWAY from where the wizard is?"

[Darth SS]

Ark looked at Dawn, and said, "Chicca? Cid can do no wrong. Do not doubt him." He rolled his eyes, "That's what I've been saying this entire damn thing and you people don't listen to me!"

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx stopped to address Dawn. "And don't worry, once our food is at half capacity from when we came into the cave, we will turn back. But might as well take this path as far as we can."

[GatoFiero]

"Yea, but people tend to get slightly spiteful when you torture them to death...anyways, I spy something....greyish black."

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx sighed, in the cat way. "Is it... Me?"

[GatoFiero]

"damn!"

[Darth SS]

Ark had this urge to run into a wall.

He kept on walking, and fell. Up to his knees. "DAMNDAMNDAMDAMNDMANDAMNDAMNDAMNDMAN!"

He heaved himself up, but his arms weren't long enough. "Some help here?"

[LilWhiteMage]

Feeling ignored, she sighed and walked over to Ark, grabbing a hold of his arms and trying to pull him up out of the ground. "You really should try to be more careful about that."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"This is the right path or did the monster's we've seen not proven that. I know the two headed pigeon-rat did it for me."

[gh0st]

"You know, both pigeons and rats make relatively good eating.....I'll bet the pigeon-rat could have been a delicacy...." Taim was hungry. And bored. ANd thus more than willing to play travel games.

"I spy with my little eye something that is bright red."

[IHateMakingNames]

"The fire?"

[gh0st]

"Nope. That's more orangey...wait a minute. Aren't cats colourblind?"

[Darth SS]

"It'll be your blood on the wall if you don't shut up."

OOC: Meant for Thid.

[gh0st]

"Try it, tree-hugger."

[IHateMakingNames]

"I've heard things. And by bright, I assumed you meant bright as in gives off light." Lynx then thought for a bit. "Your tongue, or a tongue?"

[GatoFiero]

"Na na na, i heard that dogs were color blind, cats just have a tendency to see green more."

[gh0st]

"No, I meant bright as in a particularly vibrant shade of red. And not my tongue...how would i be seeing my tongue?"

[Darth SS]

Ark sighed, and took off his coat. Under the leather armour was a blue shirt with red striping. "There striping on my shirt. There, got it. NOW PLEASE TRY to keep me from going insane."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"the phoenix on my shield" Cid said. The came to a large chamber dominated by a pool of crystal blue water and a tall waterfall. The ceiling extended into darkness.

[IHateMakingNames]

"You stick your tongue out and look down."

OOC: Celes, move the story... Please...

[Darth SS]

Ark looked over the cavern and said, "Something isn't right." His hand unconsciously fell onto the pommel of his sword.

[LilWhiteMage]

After helping Ark up out of the ground, she made her way near the of the group. Where she belonged after all, being the healer and such.

She had learned a bit so far as to trying to conserve her energy, but it wasn't anything she couldn't have learned if she had just stayed back home. She was still wondering why she had even bothered to come. This whole experience had just been more hell on her than anything else.

There was a pause in the walking as they finally arrived at the waterfall. "Hopefully they'll be right about the exit being somewhere around here" she murmured to herself.

[CelesJessa]

The group had finally made it to the waterfall, which, as Lynx had predicted, wasn't a way out. But it was very magestic looking, and almost sparkled, despite the darkness of the cave.

"Finally, at least we can rest a bit." Cesia took a long drink of the water, followed by all of the others, who were, undoubtedly just as thirsty as she was. After she finished drinking, she sat back and watched the waterfall.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: I'm assuming it's just a waterfall, not the thing Jad had said...

Lynx started lapping up some water from the small river/creek.

[Darth SS]

Ark drank some, but kept looking around. "Well, aparently I'm completely ignored."

He looked into the shadows. His sword scritched slightly as it was taken out one inch.

"Don't let your guards down. Something's seriously wrong here."

[CelesJessa]

(OOC: well theres a pool of water too, but I was mainly focusing on the waterfall I guess. ^^ )

"What would be wrong?" Cesia sighed, "Nothing has happened at all since we got here. Why would this waterfall be any different?" For once, she was actually hoping something would happen.

[LilWhiteMage]

While the others all gathered around the water, she sat back a few feet away, shutting her eyes. Cesia was right, nothing would probably happen.. it had been a rather uneventful trip so far, besides the few rat-pidgeon things.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Cid wasn't drinking the water, but filling his canteen. "I suggest we make camp here. It's wide enough and we have a wter supply."

[CelesJessa]

"So Cid, Did the bandit leader mention anything about how far this cave goes until we get to the castle?" Cesia sighed, hoping that his answer would be a positive one.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Not much further." Cid said. "Not much further at all."

[Forever Zero]

Vace had been in thought, and sort of snapped back when they reached the waterfall. He said to Dawn, "Well, I don't know about the rest of these guys, but if I was tortured within an inch of my life and thought I was going to die, I would try to get back at my captors with one last bit of misinformation. It's more likely something big, mean, and with a penchant for enjoying it's meals live and screaming in terror is at the end of this tunnel, and our buddy the bandit just forgot to tell us."

[gh0st]

"Personally, I'm impressed that Cid could get anything intelligible out of the bandit's screams and imprecations."

[CelesJessa]

"Soon..." For some reason, the way Cid said that made Cesia's stomach feel strange... no... it wasn't just what he said... for some reason her body started relaxing on it's own, and her breathing slowed. <I must be more tired... that I thought...> Suddenly, her world turned black as she fell to the ground.

(OOC: I'm not going to control all of you passing out, but in your next post or two, all your characters should pass out. ^^ the story's gonna get going now. ^^ )

[Squishy Cheeks]

Cid staggered a bit and dropped his canteen. The water spilling on the silica of the cave floor. He was leaning on his sword.

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx had already gone to sleep, being a cat and all.

[Forever Zero]

Vace was suddenly feeling extremely tired, but he had just been walking and felt fine. He jumped up, but immediatly staggered into a wall. "What... is going on... some kind... of magic...?" He said, slumping against the wall and sinking to the floor, everything spinning around him, and soon he fell into darkness.

[LilWhiteMage]

Her eyes shot open as she heard the canteen hit the ground, and quickly she turned to see Cid staggering a bit. "Cid, what's..."

She trailed off as her eyes began to droop heavily. I can't be this tired... something's wrong... she thought to herself as she tried to force her eyes to stay open. Before long though she caved in, and fell over onto her side, out like a light.

[GatoFiero]

Thid starts to panic, when he sees all the others begin to drop like flys.

"Hey, what's going on? Hey scary guy, wake up!" Runs over to Cid, slips on the water and hits his head on a rock, knocking him out cold.

[OOC] I didn't drink the water so i had to think of something [OOC]

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Actually, Celes had in the post that everyone after her drank the water... But that's just funny, and further shows how useless your guy has been so far

[MasterZero]

Kalimare lapped up some more of the water to replenish himself, then turned to find everyone was going cold (knocked out, asleep, etc.). He then realized he, too, was feeling sleepy. He tried to fight the weariness, but soon collapsed onto the ground.

[CelesJessa]

Slowly the rest of the group sank to the floor, unconcious. Some of them held on longer than the others, but eventually, they all fell.

-------


"Uhh..." Cesia finally came to. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised and scared to see the group was no longer in the cave, but rather in a circular room. All of them were chained to the wall, the chains prohibiting any movement. Somehow, had chains specially prepared for each of the members, even the cat. She struggled against her bindings, but to no avail... "...This.... this is not good." She muttered, her mind racing, trying to think of what to do.

(OOC: fun fun, eh?)

[Forever Zero]

Vace came to with a horrible pain in his head, but quickly realized they were all imprisoned, most likely by the dark wizard himself. "Ugh, I don't know what happened, but I have a feeling it's Cid's fault," He managed to get out while still recovering from the forced sleep placed on all of them. After saying that, Vace began to carefully pull and test the chains, trying to see if there was anyway to break out.

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx woke up, finding himself in chains. "Ugh... Didn't see this coming..."

[GatoFiero]

"Gawd, my head feels like it has a goblin bashing it with a mallet."

[LilWhiteMage]

"Hn?" Her eyes opened finally to the sound of voices. Taking a moment to try and focus, she tried to move, but found herself bound to the wall by chains. "Where are we?" Dawn continued to tug a bit at the chains.

[CelesJessa]

Cesia blinked and looked around as best she could as Vace said, "I have a feeling it's Cid's fault,"

"Hey... where is Cid?" Cesia wondered, her anxious feeling rising.

[IHateMakingNames]

Dead hopefully... Lynx thought to himself, looking around the room.

[CelesJessa]

Suddenly a cool breeze swirled into the room as the only door to the room opened. In walked a man, his face as pale as Cesia's robes, yet his hair as dark as midnight. His face looked slightly aged, as if the man was in his early forties, or late thirties. He appeared to have a very thin build, but it was covered by large black robes, as black as his hair. He strode into the room confidently, "So nice of you all to come. I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Skurai..." Cesia got a sick feeling in her stomach, she had seen his white face several times in her premonitions and nightmares, but this was real... no waking up from what was happening now, "Where is Cid, Skurai?" She demanded.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Speak of the devil, my dear, and he shall appear." A man said. A black cloak about him. He pulled his hood back it was Cid. His bearing was different, calmer, more confident.

“I’m sure your all wondering what I’m doing here in this regard.” Cid said to the prisoners. “I’m disappointed in all of you. But it’s not really your fault. I’m really a gifted actor as well as a gifted warrior. I’d say I’m one of the best, to have led you all into this trap.”

Cid walked towards the chained and bound Lynx and punched the cat with his gauntleted hand in the stomach. “Didn’t see this coming did you. All bark, and no brain was it? You’d be surprised at the level of genius and planning had to go into this mission to get it right. How I had to plan to get all of you here to my dear friend and ally, the powerful wizard Skurai.”

“You flatter me greatly my lord Hessian.” Skurai replied.

“The hardest part was getting the princess. Especially after she kidnapped herself. How it inconvenienced my men actually kidnapping her. Care to explain how you did it Cesia, or should I use your real name, princess? It really doesn’t matter.”

“Oh let me introduce myself I’m the real Lord Cid Hessian, future king of these lands.”

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx just started laughing. "Yes, I never saw any of this coming..." He said in a sarcastic tone. "And I could come with a way to do this in a day, mind you. Don't think so highly of yourself." Lynx lied down on the ground, and curled into a ball as best as he could. "Oh, and you punch like a girl."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"I doubt that, I only hit you hard enough to cause you pain. It's Skurai's job to kill you." Cid turned to Skurai. "Are we ready to begin."

"Almost my lord."

"Good."

[LilWhiteMage]

Dawn shivered a little as the door opened, and through it walked the very person they had all been out searching for. She stopped struggling as he walked out into the middle of the room, speaking to them.

And then in walked walked Cid to stand beside him. Her heart sank into her stomach... she felt sick now. As he hit Lynx, Dawn flinched, then snapped at him. "You leave him alone traitor!"

But she quickly stopped as he turned his attention to Cesia, claiming now that she was the princess that they had all been searching for to begin with. "Why should we believe you? You've been tricking us this whole time!"

[Forever Zero]

Vace glared at Cid and said, "Well won't you make an impressive evil king, you traitor. All the cat's in the kingdom will quiver in fear at your name. Why don't you take candy from small children and take pies from windows so you can solidify your evil hold."

[CelesJessa]

"Cid, you worthless traitor!" Cesia yelled at him, disbelieving that he had turned on them, "How could you?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"True you have no reason to believe me. Seilen would be my bride and I'd have the throne legitamately quite easilly, but why would I take this route to power? Why a Coup d'etat? My unmarried status will give leverage for alliances in the future. My plans are already in motion nothing can stop it now. I have taken care of everything." Cid smiled as he caressed princess Seilen's cheek.

"But my lord what of the Black Hand? He can still pose an unpredictable variable." Skurai said worried.

"You put to much stock in that mercenary. I doubt he'd ever climb out of the bottle to oppose me." Cid replied.

[MasterZero]

Kalimare pulled the chains that bound him. Not moving a bit. Kalimare began to get angry and shifted to his lycan form. The chains that bound to the wall cracked a bit, but hardly enough for Kalimare to get out. Kalimare looked up to Cid.

"I may be barbaric in your terms, but this is lower than a barbarian. This is lower than any scum on this earth."

Kalimare struggle some more, trying to break the chains.

[CelesJessa]

(OOC: uuh, should I have her go by Seilen or Cesia now? Not sure...)

Cesia turned her head away from Cid, sickened how he had used them all, and how she had so stupidly followed him and trusted him. "You're already a powerful man, you are the knight captain, a respected position... why would you betray everyone who trusted you? How could you?"

(OOC: I'm heading to bed soon. I have a german project right after school tomorrow, so I won't be on until a little but later so... just FYI.)

[LilWhiteMage]

"Horrible... he's completely horrible..." She murmured quietly. "I figured it kind of odd how someone who was meant to take care of the kingdom could take delight in torturing then killing someone." She glared at Cid. "What I don't understand is why go through all the elaborates of bringing all of us, if she was the only one you wanted?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"And watch your line lead this kingdom into entropy and disgrace? I think not. I will lead this land into a new age. The kingdom will rise from the ashes of your families death to be born anew in my lines image. Soon I will spread the wisdom and strength of my teaching through out this world like a wild fire, burning away the unworthy so the strong may take their proper place. I would have liked to offer the worthy amongst you a position in this new world order, but your lives were the price for Skurai's loyalty."

"I am almost ready to begin my lord." Skurai said as he began to paint a symbol on the floor.

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx yawned and stayed curled. Out of every book he has every read, the 'evil bad guy' always loses, so he knew it would all work out. Also, from the strategist side of Lynx, he knew that any leader who would kill his own men(the theives) is bound to lose in the end.

[LilWhiteMage]

As Cid finished with those words, her eyes trailed down to the ground where Skurai was painting out a symbol. "A sacrifice?"

[GatoFiero]

"It's the cat right? You only need to scarifice the cat! You can let the rest of us go? Pretty please?!"

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Does your guy even know he's magic immune(Death wise)?

[GatoFiero]

[OOC] yea, but he still doesn't like to get hurt, and the wizard might use a normal dagger[OOC]

[Squishy Cheeks]

Earlier

"I don't know anything about a wizard." The thief leader blubbed as he saw Cid approach with the burning knife.

"I know I just have to make this convincing." Cid said. He pressed the knife against the thiefs arm and was met by the smell of burning flesh. and the sounds of painful screaming.

________________________

"People change a lot from a loyal page to the king, don't they, Lynx." Tama said to Lynx. Cid did his best not to laugh. <If you only knew.>

________________________

The beast gently kicked his playmate out of the way as they had coreographed for many months. The Dragoon took this time to killl the beast. Breaking the ruitine but not the purpose of it.

______________________

Cid pretended to drink and succomb to the narcotic in the water. He soon arose and rang the hidden bell in the cave. Soon a throng of magical beasts came out and brought the prisoners into the castle above.

______________________

"Oh Skurai, I should mention the Avion killed your little pet. I assume you'll make him pay for that won't you?" Cid said to the dark wizard.

"Of course I worked hard on that masterpiece." Skurai replied. as he continued to paint the symbol on the floor of the chamber.

[IHateMakingNames]

Even if the thieves weren't part of his group, he is still a fool for killing the leader. He could have easily recruited him, and probably a force of bandits across the country... He just made enemies with a guild of thieves... Lynx was going over everything that had happened in his head.

[LilWhiteMage]

She focused mostly now on the symbol that was being drawn on the floor, trying to recognize it if she could. Of course it was from the dark arts, but what exactly was it used for? Maybe she could...

"Skurai, do you really think you're going to be able to pull off that spell against me?" She tried to pull a bluff, hoping maybe he'd think she was more powerful than she actually was. "And even if you could, how do you know that Cid isn't going to betray you as well and kill you too?"

[GatoFiero]

Thid perked up when he heard Dawn's argument. "Yea, think about it, how do you know he didn't kill your pet on purpose so it couldn't help you when he decides to finish you off! And look at his past track record with dealing with people, it doesn't exactly boast for your retirement options."

Thid thought, whew, Dawn's plan is alot better than mine...his name doesn't even sound too much like Sakura anyways...

[Darth SS]

Ark came to after listening a bit. It hit him. Cid hadn't counted on him being here. He'd never signed up. And, Cid didn't really know about the phase power.

"Ta-ta." He phased. But, instead of falling down, or hell even up, he shot right across the room following gravity and went through Lynx.

He hit the floor with a thump. Above him he heard cries of rage.

His head was swimming, and he realized, the mage had fucked gravity over. He slowly got up and heard something approaching.

He jumped to his feet. A man/goat/wolf thing ran at him. He sidestepped and neatly kicked it in the face then punched it in the gut. It's grip on it's cruel sword loosened enough for Ark to get it away, and cut it's head off.

He ran out of a doorway, and saw....stairs. Lots, and lots of stairs. Majority defying gravity. He ran down some and through a door. And was all the way across the room. He bolted through another hall. The hallway extended and flipped. He was suddenly standing on the ceiling.

With a walk of confusion, he found himself back in the stair room.

"Oh fuck it all."

OOC: Before you complain, this way it buys more time. Wizard's domain, Ark running loose, who knows what abominations on the loose, etc. Wizard will have to focus a wee bit more on the spell and ignore what's going on.

[GatoFiero]

[OOC]wait a tic, i thought it was ghost's character that phased [OOC]

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: You guys are making this worse and worse...

[Darth SS]

OOC: No, it's quite me that does it. And I did that because I really can't think of anything to say. So, instead, Ark is now wandering. And trying to save you guys. But the odds of that happening are very very low.

[GatoFiero]

[OOC]You guys? I thought it was just SuperSaiyan, me and lilwhitemage were making some progress i think. [OOC]

[Squishy Cheeks]

All of a sudden ark snapped back into his chains. "Ahh I see the fist part is finished" Cid said. "The symbol is like a syphon in a way. It draws it's power from the wells, You. and gives it to the vessals, us. Downside is it will kill you in the end. Upside is Skurai, and myself will be gods onto this world."

[Forever Zero]

OOC: You'll become gods by sucking the power from a small room full of people?

[Darth SS]

Ark looked around and said, "Okay, that there? That was EXTREMELY fucked up. I hate magic. And I should point out, we've got like, 7 people here. Ooooh, a whole lot of power. Rapist."

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx yawned and stretched as far out as he could chained up, watching the wizard. It ain't happening...

[LilWhiteMage]

Well, you have to think about the powers these people have >_> And sorry if my earlier post was bad in any such a way u_u;


Is there really no hope for us to get out of here? She grew quiet as she still continued to stare down at the ground. Surely there's some way to get out of this. Maybe. Or not.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: I'm just following orders from Celes, nobody is going anywhere till next chapter.

[GatoFiero]

After hearing Cid's explanation on why they were there Thid thought, Ok, since it's magical in nature it can't kill me....so does that doom me to eternal agony of slowly having my life force sucked away, recharged, then sucked away once more?!

"DAMN IT! oops, did i say that outloud?"

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: You will all like next chapter...

[Darth SS]

Ark decided to phase again. Same effect as last time.

He looked at the wizard, "I hate you."

[Forever Zero]

OOC: How about we start it then? There's not much for us to do but yell at Cid and try to escape without success.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"We really aren't sure if this will even work on you Thid, but our best guess is that if we kill you any ways and drink your blood it should work then. but that's a 50/50 shot." Skurai said.

[GatoFiero]

[OOC] only 5 more post to go till next chapter, i was going to try something that i thought about doing a couple of times but i'll hold off on it. It would have involved a frank discussion with my ability and how i could strangle myself with the magical chains. [OOC]

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Cause Celes isn't on...

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: no we wait for Celes it's her story.

[GatoFiero]

Thid nearly wets his pants upon hearing Skurai's theory,

[Forever Zero]

"Your insane," Vace said to Cid. He pulled at his chains, but they wouldn't break, and electrocuting them wouldn't help any either, so he continued to scheme as fast as possible if there was any way out of this.

[GatoFiero]

*whispering to lynx, who is close to him* "hey! would you say these chains are magical?"

[LilWhiteMage]

Gross... She thought to herself as Skurai described what they planned to do should this not work on Thid. About then another question popped into her head, and she almost hesitated to ask, but did anyway.

"So, I know you plan on killing all of us, but you also plan to kill Cesia as well? I mean, she part of the royal family I suppose, but even if she's still alive, all of this would be considered your kingdom, right?" It was at least better to try and talk her way through this than to just sit there unable to do anything.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"I wonder in a hundred years what they will say of me, Cid Hessian, God-Emporer of the world, and Skurai The immortal. Will thy call us crazy then?" Cid said. Skurai chuckled as he finished another series of elaborate symbols in a circular pattern.

"Skurai the immortal, I like the sound of that."

[IHateMakingNames]

"Oh course there magical..."

[GatoFiero]

"Sakura the immortal? Sounds sorta funny to me..." Thid continues, "Man, you must have had mean parents to name you something that sound so close to Sakura, did they want you to be a girl?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Except for Thid's. his are just really high grade steel. We've been expecting you all for awhile so we took special precautions for each of you."

[Darth SS]

"I should point out that you want to force the princess to marry you. Obviously she'll say no, and judging from how you're an army grunt you'll probably become a rapist, which voids every single right you've got. Especially to the gods. Kinda' like instant hell trip."

Lynx looked at him oddly, "Father was a monk."

[Forever Zero]

"No, they will have thought up much worse things to call you in the future, but since we are alive now, we have to make do with the insults we've got."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"You don't listen very well do you. I'm having a Coup d'etat. I have no interest in marrying into the family, and the existing occupant of the throne is about to be put into check mate as we speak. No heirs, no opposition."

[GatoFiero]

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries! That's what i think of your coup d'etat! Now let me go or i shall give you another verbal thrashing!"

[IHateMakingNames]

"You realize there are a lot more kingdoms and empires then just the one Cesia is from, right?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"And you are a fornicating babboon." Cid said to Thid. "You all seem to think your dealing with the same ole Cid." Cid laughed an urbane laugh. "I'm really far to educated and cultured to fit the stereotype I played while among you."

[IHateMakingNames]

"Or so you think..." Lynx snickered to himself

[Forever Zero]

"The fact that you consider yourself and educated nobleman now doesn't change the fact that that you are still traiterous slime."

[LilWhiteMage]

She sighed as she got no response at, only getting to sit there and listen to the others now try to verbally attack Cid. There seemed to be no sense in her to keep trying anymore.

Once again she asked herself why in the hell had she let herself get dragged into this. If she had just told Reena that she would rather stay and continue focusing on her studies at the palace instead of coming on this trip. Not that it would have stopped the inevitable with Cid taking over.

I can't just give up like this... But really.. there's no way out of this that I can tell. She shut her eyes tightly, shaking her head a little.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"I know the nations of this world quite well I know their stengths their weaknesses their gross economic product, what the staples of their diet are. The geographic regions of them, and the tenets of their religions. Would you like me to list them in aphabetic order, or by order in land mass?" Cid said mockingly. "You should all be proud to witness the birth of a new power. Your sacrifices, though small will change the very face of the earth."

[Forever Zero]

"While I'm sure that you could list them all, the sound of your voice is almost enough for me to wish this process would go faster, so if you decide to grant us one last request, perhaps it could be to spare us your endless prattling and get your evil ceremony over with." Vace sarcastically said to Cid.

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx was about to say something, then stopped. He decided to let Cid think highly of himself, since it will just make it easier for Lynx later.

OOC: having grown up on stories from libaries, he's a strong believer on the 'good guys win, bad guys lose'

[GatoFiero]

[OOC] ok, i'm out of this until the new thread is made[OOC]

[Squishy Cheeks]

"So Skurai should I follow the vermins advice?" Cid asked in his ever calm voice a slight hinge of humor in his voice.

"It doesn't really matter to me, my lord."

"Always so serious, Skurai."

[gh0st]

"Hey" Taim asked from his side of the room, "can i ask why i'm here? You know, being neither heroic nor incredibly talented. I mean, shapeshifting is pretty common....."

[BMHadoken]

"Uhwuzzat...Oh, guys dont try the water...really bad feeling around my...ank...hey, we're all tied up!" Jude said, awakening from his sleep to find himself chained to a wall with the others, Cid standing there being overly Cid-ish, and a new guy.

"Right...should I ask, or just wait for things to happen?"

[LilWhiteMage]

"There's not much to it really Sir Jude..." Dawn finally spoke up quietly after her long moment of silence, though she kept her eyes.

"Cid tricked us, and now we're going to be used as a sacrifice so that he and Skurai can take over the kingdom."

[BMHadoken]

*Sir Jude...hmm, correct her, or use it to my favor...eh, theres always some white lies in long lasting relationships...* Jude thought.

"Sacrifice? To what? Or is it one of those, 'Drain your blood into a thimble of bone on the first full moon sacrifices'? And why sacrifice in the first place...and I definetly think these chains are a tad too tight. We have talons for feet, not twigs. If I have to die, and I can't do anything about it, at least let me die comfortably?"

[LilWhiteMage]

"They plan to use the sacrifice of our lives to drain all of our energy and powers into themselves." A faint hint of dispair was in her voice, though she wished she could hide it. "And I wouldn't count on them loosening the chains for comfort. They'd probably just as soon as kill us in the most painful way than allow us any comfort at all."

[BMHadoken]

"Jumping really high? Well, I thought I'd never have to do this..." Jude said. He cleared his throat, then stuck his head up high.

"I am Judesain Baldaron, son of Vastok the great Dragoon, weilder of the spear Germoglio, saver of angels, killer of the great monster, and I am breaking out of these pitiful chains NOW-AUGHH!" Jude began to say in a highly dignified voice. He had been planning it for awhile, and the only thing that stopped him from finishing was the humongous current of electricty that ran through the chains into him.

"I rather liked my creation. Its death was very enraging." The wizard said.

[IHateMakingNames]

Lynx snickered at the stupid show off.

[Forever Zero]

Vace sighed at Jude's attempt at escape and thought. "You really are new to this aren't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have tried some stupid trick from fairy tales and expected it to work," Vace said.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Wonder if Jad knows the basic Bad Guy power level thing... The more sense and intelligence a villian has, the worse at fighting he is.

[LilWhiteMage]

[OOC]
That's a thought...

But who would want to fight when they have a powerful wizard on their side as well.. *shrug*

I suppose now though all we can do is wait on Celes for the new Chapter o_o

[Forever Zero]

OOC: Not always the case, sometimes the badguy that is best at fighting is also the most intelligent, in the case of leaders of a group of badguys are usually the smartest and the best fighters.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Give an example then. In almost everything, the insanely powerful are insane themselves, and the smart are not. And the group could be weak, so the leader would just be stronger then a group of weak people

[Squishy Cheeks]

Dr. Doom
Magneto
Darth Vader
Darth Sidious
Macbeth
Iago
Brutus
Ghengis Khan
Dracula
Lucifer
Raj Alghul
The list goes on

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Darth Vader wasn't that smart.
Dr. Doom gets beat by the stretchy guy every time(Outsmarted)
Dracula... Real or the vampire one?
And I don't know who half that list is...

[Forever Zero]

OOC: Redwall series, Cluny the Scourge, leader of the evil army, is the second greatest fighter in the book, and is resonably intelligent. He isn't a genius, but he does come up almost all the plans to take over the castle, including the one that captures it in the end.

Jad has a much better list, most of those are good examples.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: I've read Redwall... I don't remember some guy named Cluny...

[Forever Zero]

OOC: Hes in the first Redwall book, named Redwall. Cluny the Scourge is a giant rat the leads the vermin against the castle. Plenty of the villians in the Redwall series are smart and most of them are good fighters, if not the greatest fighters.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: None of the Redwall villians are the best fighters... Not even close... They usually get beat rather easy at the end.

(Note that I would give a list, but most of mine would be games and movies, and to many...)

[Forever Zero]

OOC: They get beat by the best fighter of the good guys, up until the end they usually hold their own in battle agaisnt anyone else that challanges them.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Kal Zakath (before he switches sides)
Voldemort
Saruman
Sauron
The Witch King of Angmar
Arthas
Illidan Stormrage
Thunder leg (drunken master)
Hector
Loki
006
to add some more

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Not really... Read a long time ago, but some I remember is like 7 foxes all dieing in 1 hit from random things. A sea rat got beat by a girl mouse, later got beat by her again, ran, got beay by badger, got eaten by snake. Snake got head cut off right away... Can't think of another examples... (The main villians are usually only compared to the rest of their group though, which are all a bunch of weak people)

Smart, not strong
Delita
Leon Silversomething
Muthai Silversomething
Shu
Apple
Jenova(Until very end)
Most Bond sub-villains

Strong, not smart
Sephiroth
Seymour(He was insane and lucky)
Jaws(Bond one, not shark)
Astragh(SCII guy)
Panda
Generalization of all big guys in fighting games
That big guy from Legend of Dragoon(Good guy, but still)
Luca Blight
Bettle Guy in WC3

[Forever Zero]

OOC: I recognized most of the names from the first list, but I don't recognize as many from the second list.

[Raiden]

(OOC: Like I told IHMN, I'm going to be gone over the weekend, so I'm going to find a way to have my character go into a coma, and one of you guys has to carry him around until I get back. Savvy?)

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: want to go over to the darkside?

[BMHadoken]

OOC: Wait, is Cid gunna be the main antagonist from now on?

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Yeah... Er... I just realized I have some good guys on my list... Oh well...

[LilWhiteMage]

[OOC]

Why wouldn't he be... he IS the big bad guy now... >_>

[Raiden]

(OOC: Sorry Jad, I have a better plan. I'll send you a PM about it.)

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: He always was. Everytime he was threatening to kill you he was actually planning too. He just did his part to keep you from realizing you were walking into a trap. Remember he did hand pick all of you for this mission.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Wait for next chapter to do it, and you should be asking Celes... I would have seen it coming, but I thought Celes was anti-player evil...

[Raiden]

Tamakatari had woken up just in enough time to hear of Cid's treason, and to hear the Cesia was really the princess. He kept his face down, but his expression continued to become more violent by the minute. When Cid punched Lynx, Tamakatari merely thought of all the times Cid had done something that Tamakatari had disagreed with. When Ark tried to escape, he merely thought about Cesia, and how she was really the princess, who he loved. Nothing was making sense anymore, except for one thing.

"Cid, you're a bastard."

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Lynx was punched long before the princess thing was said...

[BMHadoken]

OOC: Did he preordain me and Ark?

[Raiden]

(OOC: There, IHMN, I changed it.)

[Raiden]

(OOC: Guys, I need to go, and I don't want to have to write a huge post saying what my character had been doing the entire weekend, so I'm going to be doing a coma-thing. And since Jad doesn't want to help me do it, I'll have to do it on my own.)

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: Just say a rock hit you on the head or something... Not some stupid, dramatic thing...

[Raiden]

(OOC: That will knock me out, but I doubt it would do it for several days. So, here we go!)

Tamakatari raised his head, and his eyes were very dark.

"Cid, you bastard. You led us here, had me thinking for a while that a group of people might be able to work together, just a little, and you DARE to touch the princess with your tainted hands! Well, I think you and your wizard friend forgot one thing! Anything I touch, becomes a weapon! That includes your damn chains!"

Tamakatari pulled at the chains with his hands, and slowly, they became two large bladed metal whips on the ends of his hands. When he was free of the wall, he began to swing the whips around him, and charged at Cid and the wizard.

"I won't allow you to harm the princess!" Tamakatari flung the chain whips at the two. But, they never made it. The wizard raised his right hand, and a large blast of magical energy shot out at Tamakatari. It struck him right in the chest. His eyes became blank, and he only managed to mutter out a few words.

"God...that hurts."

The blast flung him against the wall, and his whips became chains again, and reattached themselves to the wall. The wizard chuckled a bit.

"Quite a fiesty one, eh Cid? Luckily, I knew of his talents. He'll still be alive, but I won't have to listen to him complain anymore."

[Darth SS]

OOC: Yah, JAD is going to be slowly going insane because of Ark... Remember, Cid doesn't know diddly about him.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: Ark was at the meeting, reread your posts. Jude was the unexpected addition.

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: New chapter today?(The begining of it)

[BMHadoken]

OOC: I would hope so, witty banter while strapped to a wall only goes so far.

[CelesJessa]

OOC: alright, I'm finally home and finally finished reading it... umm now I guess it's time to make the new chapter... It might take me awhile because of lack of happiness, (I write better and more when I'm happy ^^ ) *ahem* but it'll get done. ^^ Count on it.)

[Forever Zero]

OOC: Would it cheer you up if we continued with our witty prison humor?

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: That might have been what got her unhappy...

[BMHadoken]

OOC: Some of us could be electrocuted more...I vote the cat, but only because I believe that they're plotting against me...

[IHateMakingNames]

OOC: BM... No one cares about your guy...

[BMHadoken]

OOC: I kno, I meant in real life...I don't like cats...too smart for their own good...