The music of life

Silence

Debate of the gods

Zeus looked over the council he had assembled   "Its not an isolated happening nor is it just one god.  Even my angels seem to fall. We have tolerated the force users for so long they are becoming gods themselves with no respect for the established structure.  Now with the Red Saint returning, we have to consider the dark one may have corrupted that world beyond saving. Is it best to destroy it and start over?"

Athena spoke next, "The Great Father speaks wisdom.  Blade has forsook his responsibility to pursue his mortal ambition and avenge his son.  Raziel kain abused his position to manipulate the greatest of mortals - Raquel to fall.  Malekite has rose above his station using an artifact of the heretical Kale.  Logar has commissioned the angel Khan to destroy Malekite and now claims Khan has gone rouge.  Those actions have resulted in the true Vegeta being released and we know the danger if the Isle can not stop him. We can not dismiss the possibility that the Dark Ones taint has made them unsaveable."

Aries spoke up, "My Angel Strife has served me faithfully beyond expectation.  They are not all lost." Apollo spoke, "Yes Strife has served you well, but remember Swift.  He fell corrupted by his personal ambition to capture the seals.  You required Andrea's assistance to kill him and stop his rampage.  Is it not possible, he was influenced to capture the seals by some unseen chaotic force."

Neptune offered careful words to consider, "Andrea and Mordin have both raised to Demi gods and faithfully serve in that position."  

Hajama agreed continuing the course of conversation, "Raquel Al-Shatel has been an inspiration to us all, but even he has tripped from time to time.  Morgan has been a faithful servant and even returned to mortality acts as a great example for many others.  Yet the sting of Jeric's betrayal is so deep I struggle to see past it."

Zeus thundered above the council, "You were a fool to trust him and must suffer the pain of the betrayal for your decision.  It is a result of the shogun's arrogance like Kale before them.  They are a symptom of the greater problem.  The world would not follow Atrayu and unite against the Dark One, it was only by luck and trickery that we won that victory.  Now we face a crisis of faith with the Red Saint, even the valiant Elaina serves him now.  Without the faith of the mortals, Vegeta will consolidate his power and destroy us as the prophecy predicts.  The mortals can not stop him with out us and we can not stop him without the faith of mortality."

 

"We must bring them back to us if we are to save them. Or destroy them and start over with enough time to counter the One Winged."

Hera spoke, "We do not have time to rebuild a new world.  And there is much faith still in the world; Galan, Dante, to name a few.  However, we must act against those who think they gain power without us.  If humility can be proven they could be used, but if they do not need us they will not follow us."

"My wife speaks true.  Examples must be made of those who betrayed us.  Apollo, round up the angels who have broken ranks we will break them. Hajama you have been betrayed most deeply so I leave to your judgement if the Shogun are saveable.  Hades, find the vampire Blade has been tutoring and bring her to your fold, then prepare the underworld to receive the shogun.  Tyr, summon Galan I wish to speak with him."

Thats the key

Balthier sat calming drinking his ale until his guest arrived.  It was only a few moments before a slendor elf pulled back a chair and sat with authority, a clean glass of water being placed on the table just as he sat.  Balthier spoke first, "Well and here I thought you were retired."

The visitor replied shortly, "I am."

"Then why would you come, looking to pick up a job? Or perhaps you are hoping to get this back."  Balthier  slid a dagger across the table toward his guest. "And if you are retired, what was that doing where I found it."  Baltheir new Ghost would remember where he lost that dagger, the temple of Nocturne.

"Perhaps it was a bit of bad luck." The word luck hung coy in the air.

"Indeed, and I bet lots of bad luck has been hanging around lately.  Here is my guess chum, you are retired an achievement entirely paid for by one individual.  So that individual must have wanted something in the temple and you got it for him.  He could have got it himself, and maybe he even helped but he was sure that you got the Skeleton key so that Nocturnes backlash would be limited to...well you.  Or perhaps he was ignorant of that particular side effect."

"I'm not in the habit of revealing details of my employment contracts."

"No need.  Just know that I've worked something out that can turn your luck back around.  I just need the key back."

"If I did steal the key, you would know my code would prevent me from stealing back from whoever it was I gave it to."

"Of course, honor among thieves and all that.  Just a hint or push in a direction should be enough, I trust luck can take me the rest of the way."

Ghost stood up, "Your implications are baseless, the Fox has been missing 'retired' since the Dark One was defeated.  He defected to the side of the forsaken and the gods took him.  Only Persephone in her star forge and Aginor hiding north of Assyria remain of that ancient religion."

Balthier smiled and nodded and as Ghost left the tavern he said mainly to himself raising his mug of ale, "But you are still retired, and not hunting the gods.  The fox is still alive."

Whose side is time on exactly?

The bard Nial had been a silent problem to long.  He kept finding things, things which should not be found.  He held his lapel as he steered the ship toward the shore. 

How about that? The cat on the shore.

Have you heard of

Balthier, having been left by Kittiara and master whats his face there on the dock, simply shrugged and headed to the closest tavern.

The leading leaned agaist the bar and called out for a drink asking, "have you ever heard of a man named ghost?"

Samanthas trial

In chains she stood, then knelt thinking it would be more provocative.  Malekite wanted her here to be captured to learn about the Saint and she was nothing if not... obedient. And she had learned a great deal.  The Harmonium who served him were not the elite law keepers of Sigil.  No with a few notable exceptions they were recruits scattered from around the Multiverse hoping to work their way up the ranks of the faction.  Some of his officers were Sigil veterans but the most were wastes of flesh and armor, even some bone boxes among them.  

She learned much of his strength.  It was a rigid and self enforcing heirachy of followers all committed to law and justice, even the twisted brand the Red Saint pushed.  They were disciplined and dedicated.  Their magic very powerful for the chain and cages truly kept her bound.  It was rare she was bound with out choice, yet from these bounds she could not escape, she would be set free. 

She learned where he was.  From one camp to another they carted her, using established teleport gates to lead them to the ruins of what looked to be an elven city at the dead center of what was the Wilds, the Draconia, then Zys no man's land and now belonged to the Saint.  Perhaps it was his anciently for all the stones were already a crimson red.  It was old, not recently built, in fact it looked like most of it was dug up from under ground.

And now she would learn more.  It was always with pillow talk that she learned the most. 

She was marched through large ornate hallways which seemed refashioned as catacombs, she enjoyed the juxtaposition of something so lovely covered by death.  It was at long last she was led into what would look to be a temple if not for the entire lack of holy icons.  It even had the feel of divine but not in its pure form.  Compelled angels stood around her as guard.  Obviously compelled they don't want to follow him, but are captured.  Could be useful, the master could break that bound and give us allies if needed.  Though a man who dare capture and compel angels would be an friend already.  

She was compelled to stand before the judge.

   her true vision surprised her as she looked upon the Red Saint. 

 See actually saw 

Oh that is a secret the Master will love.  He is a lich.  And his staff bends arcane to filter the divine.  Even undead as a male he will fall to me.

The Saint spoke in a calm and demanding tone, "You Samantha, a Succubuss of the Abyssal plane, stand before your judge accused of perversion, murder, seduction, possession, dishonesty, greedy, coveting, the inspiring of all lustful thoughts and unjustly tampering with moral affairs.   How do you plead to the accusations?"

Now she could speak the game was over.  Exhaling sulfur from her lords domain his power was able to breath through any wards around her.  She smiled with her provocative smile and forced her compulsion upon him, choosing him as her singular male victim. It is over the Red Saint now joins Sithis.  "Almost satisfied but ever wanting more.  Please Saint, bring me to Justice." 

Her coy remarks fell upon unhearing ears.  The Saint spoke, "The court reads your comments of an admission of guilt."

NO, the bound its not there.  How???? He didn't even have to try and resist.  I've captured stronger men, Tassadar, Dante.  Its not because he's undead, I've courted many beyond their life.  This is only possible if, "YOU ARE A WOMAN!!!!"   Samantha called out startled by her own shock.  Waves of shock rolled through the other angels and men attending court.  Everyone appearred nearly flattened with utter surprise at the statement except the Saint himself who was steel and Exodus who appeared nervous and amazed.  As if some great secret were just unveiled.  

"The court finds no relevance to the accused outburst.  Based on her admission she is found to be cooperative and therefore not destroyed but sentenced to a term of eternity with in the Tess-erect."  

It was only after angels were fashioning new chains to her wrists and ankles did the she come back to reality.  They were going to capture her, lock her away.  Away from her master.   Her nerves raced.  This was not what was suppose to happen. Master would never learn what she had learned. The Saint was going to fall for me.  Master would control him.  I would be safe.  Master said I would be safe. No its ok, I will die for the master.  She had failed. She wondered for only a moment if  Malekite had meant for this to happen.  Perhaps she had displeased him in someway.  It was then the chanting and the light consumed all her senses.  

Then nothing.  Perfect stillness.

What is Lux thinking? (Player Post Jeramy)

“What am I doing? My father trained me to fight for the innocent.” Lux was not sure who she was thinking to, but the thought came back to her as if from her own mind and even in her own voice.

“What are you wining about? The power feels great doesn't it? Imagine how much good you can do with this power that is just being handed to you. So what if a few innocent people get hurt along the way? The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. So you may have to hurt or even kill a couple of innocent people to obtain the power that you need to do so much more good.”

“But what did the innocent people do to deserve to be hurt or killed?”

“How do you know that they are innocent? Even you have been guilty of the occasional cruelty or crime. If you had been caught doing certain things that you have done in Dragon, you would have been executed on the spot, would you not? Everybody is guilty of something.”

“That is the justification that the evil use to oppress the weak. I am supposed to defend the weak.”

“But that is what you are attempting to do. How many times have you come up against someone that was so much more powerful than you? With this power, you will be able to defend the weak against any foe that you come up against. You can be the unstoppable force for good!”

“That is true. I do wonder how may people I can help with this power. It has got to be so many more than I have ever been able to help.”

“Good, now you see that this power is a good thing. Now hop on that Wyvern that has been provided for you, and go do what you need to do to obtain the rest of the power that you seek!”

Lux stood up tall, proud of herself for the powerful being that she now has the potential to become. Walking up to the creature that she was now in control of, she limberly hopped on and with a simple thought and control, the wyvern took to the skies.

In search for eyes to see

For those who had eyes to see, it was apparent vegeta would come.  The great unifier, the bringer of peace, under him all war would cease.  Few dragon kin remberred despite their long lives as it was many of our generations since he was chained.  Despite the centuries, there were a few who held their secret loyalty-the forsworn.  The greyfoots tried to end us and failed, the Saint tried to end us and failed to see those secrets which hide in the dark. 

Elves and man had enterred vegetas prison and despite their efforts to keep him locked away i can feel his power grow.  With the time so close to the lords return I, Aldiun, must prepare tribute.  The item i intend will increase my lords power by giving him glimpses of the future.  I need only eyes of a seeress to complete it. Esmerdeen had provided them in exchange for an unhatched egg and my last shed scales.  It was time to work.

...........

For those who have eyes to see let them see, the time of the Dragons in the grey havens is over. King Dante issued a reward for every dead dragon and we did just that, killed a dragon.  The whole land seemed ablaze with fire and death.  The wyrms would not leave any to mercy, but by the grace of the light we saved our homes. Aldiun lay dead his body in ruin along the mountain side, his horde pillaged and scatterred just his rotting carcass to remind us of his tyranny.

..................

Those who have eyes to see let them see, vegeta has returned.  The bringer of peace in whose name all war will cease and even gods will kneel.  His retribution shall be terrible his vengance swift.  The greyhavens must pay for their part in his capture. 

Mightily his forces crashed against the shores and the armies of man and elf broke like waves against stones.  They were consumed, yet the kingdom did not fall.  For now the king could not be removed, but the hidden treasures of the forsworn could be gatherred.

.............

Those who have eyes to see...he was amused by the phrase having no eyes.  It was a trait of his kind.  The result of breeding demons and man, no place in either world.  Their cloaks allowed them to walk the shadow world, but it was still not a home.  The armies of vegeta had long since moved north to pursue the forces of the pretender.  Yet we remained, mydrahll halfmen, here in the shadow with one purpose-collect the tributes prepared by the lost forsworn.

Our presence in the shadow world had gone unoticed for many moons but our shadow caused the plants to die, stopped the flowers from blooming, we were making it into our home.

Now, the ents were noticing and speaking to a druid about it.  It was a risk to let her leave, they need all be silenced if the myhdrall were to finish their mission. A human female, an ent, an elf and half elf gypsy accompanied by a living tree.  Easy deaths, it would feel good to devour souls again.  I signal the rest to move from the shadow.  Those who have eyes to see let them see, this is your end.

A disturbance

Master Thresh grabbed his chest and fell to his knees.  The ripple through the force was powerful and clear.  Sith apprentice had become master, it was followes by the quick death of numerous force users and then avalanches of pain.  It was all he could do, to meditate and find his calm island to weather this storm.

The darkwood had been a place of much mystery. The den of the he was sent to find must have been found and destroyed.  As he meditated the force openned a vision a direction, a will.

He saw two young puppets held by the raven claw. Lux and kittiara destined to fall to the darkside.  Raven would be emperor of the sith and destroy the shogun. He felt a hard slap across his face.  He awoke from his meditation ignoring the fear of such a vision.  He believed that destiny was not final and could be changed.  The apprentices were the key.

He looked at the man who slapped him awake. A pirate by dress though the shirt was extremely fine. The man spoke, "sorry master shogun, i thought you maybe dead just sitting there for days,had to do something. You can get us out of here right?"

"I could, but my task is urgent. I must find kittara."

"well, as luck would have it..."

Excerpted from the Annuls of the Red Saint

And so it Came to pass she realized vanity and injustice of the gods did not justify her unjustice.
For a great space of time did she labor to fight the cursed Vegeta with sword and spell and all those who followed her banner.  Yet in this her spirit was found wanting.

So it had been that she was raised by mortal made god, Logar Mogath, crowned a champion of good. Yet, his will fallible, and failed as all but the Red Saint's must.  After much pain of soul she cried out and drove the demon hordes to the north sparing the innocents lives of the elves in the Grey Havens.

Yet to do so she fought among the unjust.  Her heart pure but corrupted by her Demonic father a mortal made God, Malekite crowned champion of evil. His will fallible, unjustly claimed a title of Vegeta and drew conflict with Zyr.  She fought with him seeing no other path to light.

And it Came to pass, that after many days she found the path to the Red Saint.  Word of the victory of Justice rose from the south and drew the noble heart.  It was upon the foundation stones of the new Crimson City she swore her loyalty to the only two things which are eternal-- The Law and the Harmonium.

Now clad in Armor of Red and with Sword of Might she leads the Imperial host and the Red Army.

And thus it was Lady Elaina Silvermoon Mogath become General Elaine 'the Reborn' 'the Red Paladin' Her army strong and her fury swift. Let angels attend her to the left and to the right. And Let all be subject to the Saint's justice.
"The Law and the Harmonium"