Forgotten Freedom:47

Last Plot -- Plot Line Home -- Next Plot

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Satnak: Well, that takes care of—

There is the sound of a planet-sized dragon roaring.

Satnak: WTF?

Random entity from Non-existence: Well, you know how all the land on Eberron is supposed to be part of the body of a huge progenitor dragon?

Satnak: Well if I made it mad by blowing up a continent, I'll just have to zorch it!

Random entity from Non-existence: And completely destroy the surface of the planet, not to mention freeing Khyber from her imprisonment?

Satnak: So I'm just going to have to do a lot of zorching.

Random entity from Non-existence: I thought you were the opposite of Kanatash. And by that I mean that you don't want to destroy the world.

Satnak: Well then, mister "I know everything because I don't exist", what do I do?

Random entity from Non-existence: Just hit "reverse" on your arm.

Satnak: What?

Random entity from Non-existence: Your arm has the power to suck up and destroy deities. Illogically, then, if reversed it should have the power to create a deity. And just to head off your question, if you don't like what you create you just destroy them and start over.

Satnak: No way.

• Sound like the planetary surface below is transforming into a huge dragon that is very angry and legally un-zorchable.*

Random entity from Non-existence: And Norbaz can't create new chili recipes if there aren't ingredients.

Satnak: *sigh* Logic gets in the way of everything.

She points her arm out into empty air. As if she's always known it was there, Satnak hits the mental "reverse" switch. Something begins to take shape: a swirl of sand.

Swirl of Sand: I am Flow, non-gendered god of deserts and time. I shall reverse the damage that Satnak has done and restore the lost continent. SHAZAM!

5360: Satnak is not allowed to destroy the new continent. 5361: Satnak will not be making deities on request.

Igor is cleaning up the mess of Superjarlot.

Andrea: Hey, I thought you didn't want to clean that up.

Igor: Yeth, mith. But I realithed it didn't thuit the decor.

Andrea: What—so you didn't do it before—

Igor: —becauthe I thought it wath appropriate to the image of a thip of violent, murderouth thycopathth.

---

( a small Airship pulls up to the forgotten freedom ( which was almost destroyed by a huge rift opening, but Satnak closed it by sacrificing the new deity she made, and the ship became fully functional ( for the first time since it was stolen; there were cutbacks) ) along the gangplank walks a messanger holding a letter in his hands. He's trembling a lot, he hands over the letter to Tara and then runs screaming something like " Dont kill me, I have a wife and kids!" and "don't shoot the messenger" )

Tara: hmmm, this should be interesting *opens letter*

"Dear crew of the Forgotten Freedom,

due to your recent work at repairing reality and saving the world (twice) we've decided to clear all of your charges and remove the bounty placed on you. please note that there is no cash prize or lordships enclosed, but we would like to remind you to stick to only petty theft rather than full scale destruction. yours Sincerely, Lawyers of Eberron "

Tara: hmmmm, better post this on the ship's bulletin board

                          ***

( later, around the bulletin baord) Micheal: SWEET! back to drinking in pubs again!

Devon: and wenching!

Andrea: and some proper mage's supplies, not this second rate crap

Marish: and some proper customers for once

Jarlot: and some actual proper beer, not the smuggled stuff

( of course some of the more powerful crew members aren't so happy) Sa'vor: Damn, now we're going to have to keep an eye on them while they're in the cities. though maybe I could indulge my kleptomania a bit,

Kantash: though we do have new access to new test subjects. and a higher chance of gaining new crew members. the ship's lawyer will be pleased

Sa'vor: Ah, more chances we'll need his help. and we'll be able to gain some proper money on PROPER mercenary jobs. unlike that last one

Kantash: yeah, those dolls weren't exactly worth a lot

Jarlot: Look, those dolls are extremly popular to the lower-down people in Sharn

Kantash: you're making that up! all we did was hand them over to this twisted collector guy, FOUR THOUSAND OF THEM! and he payed us, what was it? oh yeah twenty gp, TWENTY!

Jarlot: we gained a lot of experience though, I leveled up TWICE

Sa'vor: you mean you can finaly tell which end of the swords the pointy bit?

Jarlot: I thought you were loyal to me?

Sa'vor: I am, I've supported you in each one of the mutinies. and I collect all the money of the redshirt corpses and hand it to you. though I refuse to use my powers of invisibility to help you take pictures of Aerith in the shower.

Jarlot: why? what's wrong with you man?

Sa'vor: I, unlike most of this crew, have some control over my desires. also it's unhonurable

Jarlot: Bah, I'll find someone else to do it

Sa'vor: and I've only betrayed you once.

Jarlot: you did attempt to torture me that one time

Sa'vor: that doesn't count! you deserved that, and anyway, you acted like it was a holiday

Jarlot: shame I lost all the Xp

Kanatash: that's weird...

Sa'vor: what?

Kantash: Pholly or the lesser crew haven't blown anything up recently

Jarlot: you're right! I was wondering why it was so silent

Sa'vor: that's not a good thing, I believe it's time for some good old-fashioned information gathering. Slip! ( Slip appears out of the shadows) Slip: You called ?

Sa'vor: would you mind investigating what's going on with Pholly and the lesser crew?

Slip: *smiles* will do ( vanishes)

Jarlot: I never can get used to that

Sa'vor: *sarcasm* it's a good thing she doesn't exist, then, isn't it, captain?

Jarlot: I'll keelhaul

Sa'vor: that doesn't work on ubers

Jarlot: how about I stuff you in the Crystal dimension?

Sa'vor: okay, okay. I'll shut up

---

OOCat: What's the Nameless City? But by all means, I just thought it would be fun to go somewhere since this crew has been basically b*tch*ng, though I can't blame them, since we're just waiting for all these posts to drop off the face of the Earth. I have the Idea for a New Continent saved, and I will post it after the Great Deletion.

Satnak: You know, you may count as a deity.

OOCat: I count as something more than a deity. Your arm can't—AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH—

Satnak: *blowing off the steam from the end of her arm*

---

Allen was relaxing on one of the several luxurious beaches of the desert continent, sipping a red-colored martini. "Ahh... This is the life. Not having to worry about Kithle, Sa'vor, Kanatash, or any of those other main characters getting me into even more dangerous situations... I mean, those Crystals? And Mr. T? And all those cloning experiments... It's good to be away from all of that insanity..." He says, relaxing some more.

---

Norbaz, Michael, and Dooj are in the kitchen when Kanatash suddenly floats in.

Kanatash: Here's your supply for this week, Norbaz.

Norbaz: Ah, good. Your timing is perfect.

Michael:  :eek: You're getting ingrediats from Kanatash? Mind telling me what that’s going into so I know what dishes to avoid?

Norbaz: Oh, these are Kanatash's toenail clippings, I use them to make the chili.

Michael: ... Are you serious.

Kanatash: The corrosive abilities of that stuff defies to laws of science, magic, physics, psionics, reality, possbility. What do you think went into it?

Dooj: ... Well I suppose this does go a long way towards explaining why Satnak likes the stuff so much.

Satnak - What do you mean by that?

Dooj - (shakes in fear)

Michael - How the freak is she doing that?

Kanatash - She's abusing a couple of soulmelds.

---

Still in Terra's room:

Volrath: Didn't the last one have some kind of enchantment?

Terra: Yeah, and I think this one does too. I just can't figure out what it is. From what I can tell, it needs a password or something to activate it.

Volrath: So, you have no idea what it does?

Terra: Not a clue. It could be something completely harmless... or it could be very, very bad. Considering my experiences so far, I'm going with the latter.

Volrath: What are you going to do?

Terra: What can I do? I can only really wait for their next move. *sigh* It just... it just burns me up, you know? I've been searching for any leads to my origins for the last 200 years, and the first real clue I get comes in the form of a blast to the face...

In quick succession, several images flood into her mind. The man she saw through the spy, only much bigger. A young boy of about 12 talking to her, calling her 'sis'. Many figures in blood red robes, their faces obscured. A dreadful figure, cloaked in shadows surrounded by a foul mist, its eyes cold and unforgiving. A silver flash, followed by a sharp pain in her chest. The last one snaps her out of her vision, sweat dripping off her forehead.

Volrath: (worried) Are you okay? You kind of freaked out there for a second.

The throbbing in her chest is still fresh in her mind. The pain slowly subsides as she regains her bearings.

Terra: Y-yeah, I guess so. I think... I'm beginning to remember. I'm not sure I want to anymore...

Death paper - Daddy said to keep an eye on you, especially if you brought anything shiny back.

Volrath - Gah !!! origami ankle-biter, don't think I forgot what this thing did to my crystal singers, wiped out every last one of them.

Terra - -in squirrel- Yes I think this is what he meant, but I'm not sure what you can do.

Death paper - Skritch somebody's eyes out (makes slicing motions at Volrath)

Volrath - Gah, it's after me again, hide me!

Terra - Calm down -in squirrel- Death paper, these people have unknown psionic power.

Death paper - is that anything like the shiny lights people throw at me?

Terra - huh?

death paper - yeah, a bunch of people toss shiny light thingies at me but they always look at me weird afterwards, is it because i don't turn black or smelly like other things do?

Terra - duh, golem -in squirrel- sort of, did daddy ever warn you about fire?

Death paper - he said squirrels are fireproof.

Terra - wtf?

Volrath: (in an oddly calm voice) Mist. (He then slumps over.)

Terra: Well, just to be in the safe side, I'm sealing this until I figure out more.

She places the gem in a small anti-magic field in the hopes that more answers will present themselves next time.

---

Volrath drifts through his memories again, completely oblivious, to Terra's worrying.

He remembers waking up in cold hard room, strapped to a table. A door opens, mist spills out of it. Into the room walks a bald man, slightly bent over.

Bald man: Hello, god-child. You're the first success.

Volrath: What? How'd I get here? Why am I tied up? Success?

Bald man: Yes, all of the other patients either died, or suffered mental "trauma". (gestures toward a young dwarf strapped to another table)

Dwarf: (barely consious) Muradin smash!

Bald man: Hell I even tried a child of a celestial (Gestures toward a muscular, lithe man with one wing. He's breaths are labored and seem to be taking all his effort.)

Bald man: (as though to himself) Yes, with you true power can be achieved.

Volrath: (coughing up a mouth-full of blood) You still haven't answered me. Why am I here; and what did you do to me?

Bald man: (walking out) You will learn in time.

Meanwhile on the Forgotten Freedom, Terra wonders why Volrath hasn't gotten up yet.

---

Unable to wake Volrath, Terra leaves him in Mickey's care, Kanatash hovering over him. With everything that had happened, she simply couldn't risk Volrath getting caught in the crossfire if anything should happen. In a flash of inspiration, she headed off to find Caralot.

Caralot: What's up? It's not often that I see you down here.

Terra: I need a favor. Well... several favors actually. I'd be willing to offer you something in return, of course. Something you've had your eye on for a while now...

Caralot:  :confused: Wha-...oh.  :D OH! Alright, you've got yourself a deal!

---

A throbbing headache again strikes Terra as she heads toward her room. Another memory surfaces, this one very vivid.

???: Lana, it's time.

Lana/Terra: (her voice that of a seven or eight year old) But, I don't wanna go, daddy! I'm scared!

???: Now, Lana. This must be done. As part of this family, you must participate in the ritual.

Lana/Terra: No! Haru changed after he went through it! He got really mean! I don't want to be like that!

???: That is the price we pay for our power. Our master will not tolerate failure just because you 'don't want to'.

Her father picks her up and carries her to a dark room. In the center is an altar covered in dried blood. Surrounding it are several men in similarly colored robes. The young elf boy from her previous vision stands nearby, and an elven woman that strongly resembles Terra waits with him, a look of despair on her face. The boy, Haru, looks at her with wild eyes, seeming to enjoy the look of fear on her face. She is carried over to the altar, kicking and screaming as she is tied to it. On the wall she is facing, a large sigil is carved in the stone. The robed men close in around her and begin chanting in a language she does not understand. Each word is painful to her ears and causes the sigil to glow softly. The slow torture continues for several minutes until one of them picks up a dagger from an indentation in the altar. The chanting stops, and the man grabs her right arm. He cuts her wrist, the blood flowing into a bowl. She tries to pull away, but the ropes prevent it even as her strength wanes. Half conscious, she sees one of them carry the bowl over to the sigil and begin tracing the outline with her blood. When he finishes, the sigil turns blue and a foul mist eminates from it. A demonic form, cloaked in darkness, emerges from it, his glowing eyes fixed on Lana/Terra as he hovers above her.

Shadow Demon: You have done well, my servants.

???: Thank you, my lord. As per our agreement, she is yours.

Too weak from blood loss to protest, Lana/Terra can only watch in terror as the demon reaches for her. His hand passes through her skin and wraps around her heart, the icy grip seeming to stop time. The cold begins spreading throughout her body as the demon attempts to absorb part of her soul. Suddenly, a flash of silver and a stabbing pain snap her back to reality. Her mother had stabbed through the demon's hand and right into her heart. The demon howled in rage as her life quickly ebbed. Before the darkness overcame her, she heard angry shouting, stabbing noises, and her mothers screams echo throughout the chamber.

(back in reality)

Lisa and Aerith are walking down the hall when they notice Terra collapsed against the wall. They hurry over to her, hearing her mumble softly.

Lisa: Hey! Are you all right?

Aerith: She'll be oka. We need to get her to bed.

Lisa: (hoisting Terra onto her back) What happened?

Aerith: (her hand on Terra's forehead) I'm not sure, but it seems something quite traumatic to her psyche revealed itself.

Lisa: Can't you do anything? You're a Deva, right?

Aerith: This is something she must work through herself. Anything I would do would only be superficial and more damaging in the long run. Just make sure she knows you're concerned about her. It will do more to help her than I could.

---

Dat da dat dat da DAA Dat da dat dat da DAA

Earl - Get them offa me!

Ketler - What the?

Micheal - I think someone's been using the wand of awakening as a chew stick.

Doing the conga on the elemental ring is a swarm of squirrels.

Ketler - I though we dropped the wand over the ocean... oh crud, Mr. T must of had it and dropped it.

Earl uses hand afrost and manages to scare the squirrels off.

Earl - The buggers keep coming back first they were roasting chesnuts, then some dance called the peanut breaker or something. Fire doesn't burn them, they keep dodging the basic ice bolts, and they scamper off until I let hand afrost die down.

5633. Apparently they are. 5634. This does not mean you are allowed to give them incendiary weapons and use them as reusable self guiding fire bombs. 5635. Stop getting the squirrels drunk, they're mean drunks. 5636. Do not feed the squirrels chili. 5637. No I don't know what will happen, let's not find out.

In Pholly's lab, everything is taped down and solidly corked and over-labled, except when necessary for use. Pholly is bent over his bowl, obseving his latest attempts.

Pholly - I got it this time, true alchemist fire, properly contained. finally I'll be able to get this to the armory and validate my existence.

A squirrel on the shelf above chirrups.

Pholly - Huh?

Squirrel Smirks and knocks over vial labeled flammable with suspiciously frayed tape.

Pholly - You little bast...

Fwoom

Pholly now sits amongst the ruins of his lab, again, while the untouched squirrel climbs on his head and chews him a nice bald patch.

Pholly - ... ard *cough* Its almost enough to make you miss Kithle.

---

Terra awakens in her room to the sound of squirrels doing the conga. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the world looked different somehow. Like a veil had been pulled from her eyes, suddenly revealing a new level of existence. She could see it, but not understand it yet.

Lisa: Are you feeling better now?

Terra: I guess... What happened? How did I get back here?

Lisa: Aerith and I found you in a hallway, passed out. We brought you back here to rest.

Terra: Oh... thanks. Have I missed anything?

Lisa: Not really. Death Paper found the Wand of Awakening and has been causing a little mayhem. But I'm more concerned about you. You were mumbling in your sleep. You kept changing languages and you seemed rather distressed.

Terra: Remembering your own grisly death will do that to you. Death is never a pleasant experience, but it's terrifying to a child.

---

Nalfein is trying to talk to Terra, who is walking away from him.

Nalfein: :bigeyes: Please! Ask Volrath when he wakes up to get me the book!!!

Terra: For the last time. NO!

Nalfein: Why not?

Terra: Because I. Said. No.

Nalfein: :mad:  :tantrum: [SIZE=3]COME ON![/SIZE]

Terra:[SIZE=4] I SAID NO!!![/SIZE]

Nalfein:  :headexplo [SIZE=5]THATS IT! FIREBALL![/SIZE]

Terra uses her ring of greater spell turning to reflect the fireball, which is nullifyed by Nalfein's Ring of Fire Resistance.

Nalfein: HA :D , Ring of FI-

He sees Not-Walter is leaping for his face.

Nalfein:  :gah: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

---

( In Sa'vor's Citadel Dimension. On the balcony overlooking the training Grounds. before Sa'vor stands a legion of Half Dragons. Beside him stands Slip, Naz'roth, Feal-Thas and Tara. Sa'vor's Black hood is pulled quite far over his face, shadowing his features. Naz'roth Stands in his true Deamonic form, a tall humanodi of unearthly grace with two large draconic wings. his eyes burn with violet flames. his black robes flutter about him. Tara wears her usual Arch-Necromancer's robes with the hood concealing her face. Feal-Thas wears full armour with a double-bladed scimitar on his back. Slip wears light armour, her hair bound behind her. Sa'vor's face is grim)

Sa'vor: ( In a voice that booms across the huge training ground to the fully ranked out legion) Brothers! just a few months ago I brought you all into this world as my children. since then I have seen you thrive beyond my greatest expectations ( large cheer)

long has mankind squabbled amungst themselves like children! long  have our kind been belived Abominations by our progenitors. an impure bloodline! a HALF RACE! no more, my brothers! with my power I have made us a race of our own, the empire of our lord Kithle will rise in time. but first ( smirks) how about a little field test? 

on the plane Shavarath a test shall be made, the legions of Demons, Devils and Angels belive the armies of mortals below them. well, let's see how our bloodlines do against such "Higher beings"? ( larger cheer, The Black banners bearing the symbols of the empire flutter in the breeze) Be prepared, for in a week. the first test shall begin! the test by battle! For the empire! For our bloodline!

the Legion as one: For the Empire! For our Bloodline! ( the legions begin to disperse and practice their combat techniques, tactical maneuvers. ambush tactics and crafts. Sa'vor Turns to the others) Sa'vor: this shall be the first test. but aside from that, Slip, what happens on the ship?

Slip: Terra's acting funny, I've heard whispers of her having flashbacks. that the wall in her mind is shattering and what is concealed behind is becoming known to her. She fainted in the corridor, also, Volrath told me that she was attacked while visiting her mother's grave

Sa'vor: interesting.... we'll have to keep a close eye on her. she may become a threat to us, maybe she won't. but we have to keep on our toes, she's a dangerous one, that Terra.

Tara: that she is. but, I wonder. what was so important or horrifying that it was concealed from her?

Naz'roth: what concerns me is whom her assailants are, why they seek her. and why they've been watching her, something isn't right about this, I feel it in my bones.

Slip: this Cult or organisation could be a threat. if it becomes one we'll have to take action.

Naz'roth: if they become a threat... well, lets say that the cleaners will be scraping this cult's member's remains off the walls for years to come.

Tara: you've always had such a deliciously evil mind Naz'roth.

Naz'roth: nowhere near as evil as yours

Sa'vor: Enough, save your lovers banter for your own time. (Tara gives Sa'vor a look) Slip: what can we do, Sa'vor?

Sa'vor: like always, we shall wait and see what happens. then we shall act. Action, reaction.

Naz'roth: that is the wisest action. we don't know their motives yet, for all we know, they could be protecting us from Terra.

Sa'vor: that they could, though it makes me wonder. what about her is so terrible that they've been waiting this long to act? what about her required such careful planning?

Naz'roth: we won't find out by forcing the information from them.

Slip: like the shadows we will be. watch and wait.

Tara: then we act.

Sa'vor: well, let's get down to planning this war.

---

Volrath’s memories continue. He is still tied up, but now the winged man begins to stir.

Man: (looking at Volrath) Who are you?

Volrath: I guess just this crazy guy’s next experiment.

Man: Pray to die quickly. They longer he doesn’t get the results he wants, the more horrific his tortures become.

Volrath: It couldn’t have been that bad. I don’t see more than a few scratches on you.

Man: He doesn’t hurt you physically. He tries to extract your life force. He has never be able to get any pure enough. So he just keeps trying new things. He’s trying to bring back his wife, who’s just barely being kept alive by his machines. He found some girl’s body to transfer the spirit into, but apparently to keep her from passing on, he needs large amounts of life force.

Volrath: He said that I was a success.

Man: That could be bad, for us. Just have to watch and see.

---

Deep within the Forgotten Freedom, Terra waits patiently. She had felt the same presence she had sensed during the attack on the cottage. Whoever it was, he was back. She only had to wait for him to come to her.

Terra: So you’ve finally shown yourself...

Behind her, a man in assassins gear appears from the shadows. His eyes glow coldly, a wicked grin firmly planted on his face. Though he has matured, this is obviously the boy from her visions.

Haru: Heh, heh. You really are pathetic, Lana. I don’t know why Father wants you back so badly.

Terra: Jealous? No need to be. I have no intention of cooperating with you, family or not.

Haru: Father will not take no for an answer. I, however, am not here to take you back.

Terra: Then you wish to kill me? Is that it, (turns to face him) brother?

Haru: Very astute, sister. This time, I won’t leave you with just a few bruises…

He launches a quick Psionic blast, which Terra knocks away. Each of them form a mindblade. He lunges at her, only to be parried and flung against the wall. He comes at her again, clashing blades.

Terra: You underestimate me. I will not be defeated by such a meager offense.

Haru: There is much you do not realize, sister. Power unique to our clan that you cannot yet access. Or ever will.

Before she can inquire, he breaks off and jumps back. He launches another blast, stronger this time. Terra manages to deflect it, but is unable to react when he rushes her. He pins her to the wall, his eyes seeming to laugh at her. With a swift knee to the balls, she breaks his grip, grabs his arm, and flings him down the hall. In one smooth mid-air motion, he rights himself and melds with the shadows of the hall.

Terra: A Shadowdancer, eh?

Haru: (his voice seeming to come from each shadow) You only wish it were that simple. Shadowdancers only use the shadows to hide and travel. I can use them as an extension of myself, an endless weapon. Unkillable. Unbreakable.

The shadows around her begin to close in, taking a semi-solid form. They strike at her from all sides, landing blow after blow as she is slowly overwhelmed. Within the forming mass of darkness, a flame erupts as she activates her incendiary skin. The shadows do not dispel, but they no longer have solid enough form to hit her.

Haru: Clever. But how long can you keep it up?

Terra: Long enough, you little creep.

She summons a fire elemental, causing the shadows to retreat further, and also revealing Haru’s location. Startled, he is unable to react before a massive arcane blast strikes him in the face, sending him flying into a portal. Terra follows closely behind, arriving in one of her pocket dimensions. They are standing in a clearing surrounded by a lightly forested area.

Terra: (motioning to their surroundings) You like it? I created it myself. Everything in this room responds only to my will. Your shadow abilities are pretty much useless here.

Haru: A minor setback. I was merely unaware you were a sorcerer. I don’t need shadows to kill you.

He throws a small orb to the ground, which explodes in a flash of light and smoke. Temporarily blinded, Terra can only sense his movements. She manages to block several strikes before her sight returns, but he lands several damaging strikes as well. Regaining her focus, she sees his face twisted in sick pleasure at her bloodied form.

Haru: You can never hope to defeat me. When you are gone, Father will have to acknowledge me as the rightful heir to the clan!

Terra: (smiling) Gloating over your victory before the final blow is struck? Igor would be disappointed in you.

Her body glows slightly, and something rather strange happens. Her wounds begin undulating, small plantlike tendrils sprouting from them, sewing them back together. In a matter of seconds, the only evidence of her wounds are the bloodstains on her clothes.

Terra: (checking out the results) I’ll have to thank Caralot for that one.

Haru: (enraged) Y-you! What trickery is this! How can you be unharmed?!

Terra: (wagging her finger, smiling) Ah ah ah. That would be telling. Now, if you’re done with the questions, let’s finish this.

With a wave of her hand, a shower of crystal spikes fires at him. The spikes tear at his flesh as he defends, the skin of his arms shredded. She creates a Psionic barrier as he counterattacks, blocking his blade, and repels him with a shot of arcane magic. As he is propelled into the air, she flies up to meet him. He opens his eyes, only to see her coming down with a two-fisted smash. The blow strikes him across his brow, sending him careening into the ground. Terra lands a few feet away as he painfully gets to his feet.

Haru: Wh-where did all this power come from?! You can’t possibly be stronger than me! I WILL NOT ACCEPT DEFEAT!!

His frustration blinding him, he leaps at her with a guttural scream. She grabs his arms and flips him onto his back. Hopping up, he strikes at her again, missing badly and succumbing to another blast of arcane might. He is thrown through a tree and lands several feet away, narrowly avoiding being hit by the falling trunk. Before he can right himself, Terra catches him in a vine death grip.

Terra: Like I said before. I will not go back, nor will I let you do as you wish to me. You were a worthy opponent, but our match is decided.

Haru: (strained) You may have defeated me, but your defiance will not go unpunished. If you continue to refuse, Father will show no mercy. I am but a flea to him. Your meager power cannot hope to stand against him…

Terra: Is that all you have to say? Goodbye then, brother.

Without hesitation, Terra Psionically crushes his mind while her vines crush his body. The bloody mass falls to the ground as she walks through an exit portal back to the FF.

---

Lisa - Somethings been bugging me.

Terra - If it's Michael again, I'll...

Lisa - No, I'm talking about the squirrels, I mean I understand the awakening thing, but . . . why were there squirrels on board in the first place?

Terra -  :confused: ... good question.

Caralot: Sorry. I was trying to create a squirrel swarm. Heard about something called a Squirrel Hurler (actual prestige class created on the boards!) and thought that squirrels would make more humane security than Crys.

The Legion as one: For the Empire! For our Bloodline!

Igor: :weep: I've never been so happy.

---

Kanatash: Virgin's blood... one quarter ounce of child fat... and done.

[size=7]A Dark And Demonic Cloud Emerges into the Ship[/size]

Akuma: I AM AKUMA! THE SHAPESHIFTING MASTER OF DARKNESS. WHO DARES SUMMON ME UNTO THIS PLANE TO BRING BOTH TERROR AND CHAOS!?

Kanatash: While I'd argue that Chaos is in any, way, shape, or form more wicked than Order, I do in order to destroy a problem of mine. You see the Crystals onboard this ship have gotten out of hands. Plus, there's this never ending supply of Jarlots....

Akuma: Jarlots!?

Kanatash: Uhhh... yeah.

Akuma: GAH! NO! CLOSE THE GATE! YOU'VE MENTIONED HIS...

• Akuma is then destroyed by a katana that falls from the sky*

Samurai Jarlot: Do you happen to know the way to a... Time Portal?

Kanatash: Uhh... no.

Samurai Jarlot: Pity.

Geisha Aerith: Sayonara!

• putters after Samurai Jarlot as they wander out of the room*

Kanatash: You know, I didn't believe in Karma until today but I'm starting to realize that all my evil deeds COULD be having a horrible consequence for me. Could I possibly change my ways?

• pause*

Jarlot: *pops his head in* DAMN IT! NO SUMMONING JAPANESE ME! WE KNOW THEY'RE MORE COOL!

• slams the door*

Kanatash: NAaaaaaaah.

---

Satnak - Ok when are they going to learn, no more Jarlots.

Samurai Jarlot - Huh?

Giesha Aerith - Who are you?

Satnak - I am the Deicide and I want you off this ship, preferably out of this reality. Please tell me you want to do this the hard Way.

Samurai J - If you have access to a time portal or even just a way to the place we came from, we would be more than glad to ...

Geisha T - No one threatens My Jarlot die *****.

Satnak - *Freezing Fist*

Geisha T is rooted to the floor with ice.

Geisha T - Eat tanto, mage.

Satnak blinks out.

Samurai J - (draws sword) A ninja?

Satnak - No, just a real warrior, swordboy *pegasus meteor punch*

Samurai J is thrown across the hall way with several vicious bruises from a barrage of Satnak's right hand jabs.

Satnak - Normally I'd kill you for being presumptious, but you tried to play nice. So A quick trace annnnnnnnd bingo here you go this should send you back to whereever the last portal took you.

Samurai J - Than...

Satnak - Yeah yeah, gratitude, could you just take your girlfirend and go.

---

Terra walks down a hall in the FF, lost in thought. The battle last night had given her a few more clues, but had brought up so many more questions. Seeing Haru's ability to manipulate shadow had revealed what it was that seemed different about her surroundings. She was able to 'see' the Plane of Shadow as it overlapped the Material Plane, its ebb and flow as the lights flickered. It was right there, but she had no idea how to do what he did or even how to enter it. If Haru's words were to be believed, she had abilities similar to his.

Still, what was all that about leading the clan? Was it really worth it for him to kill her for just that? No, there had to be more. Her resurging memories were of little help with this. She was simply too young at the time and hadn't been told of such matters. She could only wait and hope the next time went as well. He almost had her with the shadow swarm, and she may have lost if she had not gone to Caralot for her new regenerative abilities. She had to expect that her father would be much harder if she was forced to fight him. But he also knew the answers to her questions.

Any information she could gather on her foes beforehand would be helpful. Volrath was still out cold (she wasn't about to even try to find anything in that maze), so she headed off to the next best available source of demon information.

Silence: What do you want?

Terra: Oh, come on. That incident with Lisa was weeks ago. Plus, you got me pretty good for it.

Silence: Fine. Still, like, why are you here?

Terra: I need information on demons. I have no idea what the name of what I'm looking for is, and I figured you're my best bet to find out more.

Terra describes the being from her memories as Silence begins searching. Going off Terra's information, she comes across a book on Glabrezu demons.

Silence: Does this look familiar?

Terra: Hmmm. It's close. The one I encountered may have been a variation. Still, this is the most I have to go off of. When Volrath wakes up, at least I'll have a starting point. Mind if I borrow this?

Silence: Yes.  :P

---

Jarlot: Satnak...

Satnak: I'm sorry, one of you is enough.

Jarlot: I'm afraid I have to modify your character sheet to stop Godmoding. Here's a copy of your character sheet.

Satnak: What in the what now?

Jarlot: Here you go.

• hands over the modified sheet*

Satnak: You do realize that this won't impede me in any way.

Jarlot: Whatever.

Satnak: See that mountain. Watch me....

• flicks fingers at it, it doesn't blow*

Satnak: What the....

Jarlot: *whistles*

Ketler: We need to get those away from the Captain.

Satnak: What the Hell ARE they?

Ketler: The keys to the Matrix, I'm afraid. The real question is where Jarlot GOT them is my question.

Satnak: *scribbles back in his ability to destroy mountains then blows up the mountain* Okay... this is weird even by my demigod of Chaos standards.

Ketler: Maybe he's like Roger Rabbit and can only do stuff like that when it's funny.

Marish: Yeah, well we're still trying to figure out which one of the crew is Jarlot's daughter.

Ketler: Wait, what?

Marish: Long story.

Ketler: Oh hell, this opens a new can of worms.

Marish: Yes, I bet Terra!

---

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