Vyja raised one pale eyebrow as Talon's words began to sink... "An evil spirit? Within you?" Vyjabaj had had a very sheltered upbringing and if anyone had told him they were possessed by a demon before that day he might have called them insane. Instead, he was very confused and very afraid. After having witnessed the gem's tale, he didn't kow what to believe... He was frightened, and so, being hi;self, he sought to reassure others. He smiled a small grin at Kien, not knowing fully well who he thought he was kidding. "I don't know what to think... The warrior and the evil... Being... They're both you? I mean... They're both inside you? I mean, I've never seen the Temple like this... I don't think it has been this way since... But that can't be... The... It didn't really happen, it was just a myth... Old Kiom tales, you know..."
Everybody knows fear. Everyone felt fear. And Kien was certaintly feeling a humongous fear and thrill in her. But somewhere in her fear chemical, mixed a different type of emotion. Excitement. The excitement of having something supernatural happening around, though she doesn't know it yet. She just felt it. <span style='color:skyblue'>"Ancient artifact? Hmm.. sounds interesting. So that... that picture we saw just now, symbolises your spirit? Or should I say spirits?"</span> But before she could get her answer, Vyja had given her a somewhat faint smile and spoken up. <span style='color:skyblue'>"Wait, wait. What myth? Something like this happened before?"</span> A traveller and a collector of knowlege as Kien was, she still did not know a whole bunch of things. She felt a little stupid of not knowing anything about the Temple or it's history.
Talon scratched his chin thoughtfully. <span style='color:orange'>Well, I thought I only had one evil spirit inside me, the effect of a curse placed on both me and my brother... Usually the spirit only possesses me, attempts whatever plan for world domination or evil doings he has in mind, and then I gain control after awhile. I had a feeling that my partisan had some connection, but This hasn't happened before, is there anything about the temple that might have set this off?</span>
<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Arial'>A thin smile still lined his face, yet Vyja continued to stare blankly at the runes. His eyes seemed vacant and his mind elsewhere. No. No. It couldn't be. Not here, not now. Things couldn't be happening to him. Could they? Things didn't happen to him. He was just ol' plain and sheltered Vyja to whom nothing adventurous would never happen... But what was the point of denial? Things were happening to him. Adventurous things. And wasn't this what he had always wanted? To leave his homeland in search of excitement and danger? In search or adventure? <span style='color:CC9966'>"Yes. But not like this. Not here. Elsewhere, perhaps. Not here." </span> Not in his Mansukh. Not in the Temple of all places! This wasn't the beginning of an adventure, it was the beginning of a disaster! Something was very wrong. And he guessed he'd have to get to the bottom of it.</span> <span style='color:CC9966'> "Think V... Think."</span> Had Aunty Geetha ever mentioned a time of crisis like this? Well there was The... But... It couldn't be right? Well, whatever was happening to the Temple now shouldn't be happening. But it was happening. So anything was possible, really. <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Ah, I'm not entirely sure what might have set it off. But if the tales are true something similar might have happened thousands of years ago... Shortly after the Temple was built, in fact. I trust neither of you would have learned this as niotis but... We call it the "Ugykuligta", the End of the World." </span> Vyja paused before continuing, waiting to see if either of them had heard of it. </span>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>sorreh... short post</td></tr></table> <span style='color:skyblue'>"Ugykuligta..."</span> Kien let the word roll out of her mouth. It sounded so familiar, yet she didn't know the story of it. The Temple continued to look evil though her heart had stopped pounding and returned to it's normal beat. <span style='color:skyblue'>"Well, I guess I've heard about it. But it should be a very long time ago or I wouldn't have forgot. What about it?"</span>
Talon thought for a minute, his jaw working furiously at nothing, his eyes half closed over his pure whites. <span style='color:orange'>I don't know anything about my Anubi history, or of any history actually, never went to school till a few months ago... End of the World... What end of the world? Is it some sort of previous event repeating itself?</span>
<p align=justify><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Arial'>His chest heaving a deep sigh, Vyja tried to gather his thoughts as best he could. The frown on his face, along with his slight scowl were reminiscent of a spoilt nioti who had been denied his latest caprice. <span style='color:goldenrod'> "The Ugykuligta is said to have happened circa 76379, some 5000 years ago. Historians can never agree upon the real dates. Some claim it happened way before that, and others believe it never really happened at all! It seems only a select few can understand the archaic Ramathian and runes of Ancient Mansukh..."</span> He explained, gesturing towards the vibrant markings on the walls which, in the candlelight, seemed to have a dance of their own,<span style='color:goldenrod'> "The Temple had only just been completed, after half a dozen years of relentless toil. The first wave of believers had come from all over Ramath to worship their deities and make this place of calm and serenity their abode. It was a time of celebration and prosperity in these parts. Strangers were admitted into one's home freely and treated like kin. Generosity, food and money were in abundance and it seemed like nothing could ever go wrong. And then It came. Religious folk call it Evil, but nobody has been able to explain what 'it' really was. But It had disastrous consequences. It struck all indiscriminantly: young, old, rich and poor. One by one family members and friends were lost to an invisible and inexplicable malady. At first the consequences weren't easy to see and those unaffected continued to live in their dillusion... But gradually the morale began to drop, the harvests weren't quite so plentiful and 'dragons has less money and amity to share. They became wary of each other, suspicious. Some turned to religion, and others lost their faith. And then more strange phenomenas began to happen. The Temple, which had once been a Sanctuary of Peace now reeked unrest and dispair. Even the Sacred grounds of Worship were affected by this invisible plague. This seemed to spell disaster to the citizens of Mansukh. Religion has always had a big part in our lives... And then more than ever. Little is known of what happened next for the Scribes, the historians of the time, also perished. Everything seemed to indicate that the world was indeed coming to an end. Thieves, bandits and other delinquents thrived in this environment of Chaos. And so they all waited and waited for this foreshadowed death of the world... But it never came. Instead, the torment that had preyed on our lands left as swiftly as it had come. Scientists nowadays claim that the Ugykuligta was just a particularly virulent disease that the Science of the time wasn't capable of explaining. But much remains unexplained and the topic is open to debate." </span> <span style='color:yellow'>"Should I tell them about the Legend?"</span> wondered Vyja as he waited for their reactions. </span></span></p>
Kien listened silently. Each sentence that Vyja spoke took more and more of her interest and curiousity. By the end of it, she sat looking at the walls which cast stories that the three cannot interpret. <span style='color:skyblue'>I see. So this... history... it has something to do with what has happened just now?</span> she said at last. <span style='color:skyblue'>Now everything is back to normal? Do you believe it really happened?</span>
<span style='color:orange'>But how does that ancient story relate to the end of the world? Theres no way I could ever do that! Even me and my brother's spirits aren't all mighty, and they're complete beings of darkness!</span> He stood up, and slammed his partisan butt into the ground. The gem danced with ancient power and knowledge that no normal living anubi could ever figure out... <span style='color:orange'>Why does this always happen to me!?</span>
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Arial'>Vyja was slightly taken aback by Talon's violence but he could understand the frustration. Or rather, he understood that he couldn't understand what the other 'dragon was going through and so he knew it was not his place to question his actions. <span style='color:goldenrod'> "I... I don't know if the Ugykuligta has anything to do with this. Perhaps it doesn't... All I know is that the Temple has never been like this before... Except for that one occasion, the Temple has always been a place of rest, a place of peace. Your gem, it seems, has triggered these... Reactions from the Temple. And by 'End of the World', please don't take the literal meaning. We 'dragons of Mansukh have always taken kindly to foreigners... But we don't travel much ourselves... I guess you could call us self-centered. And so though we called this incident in history The End of the World, it only really affected Mansukh. Our world. So the aftermath of the Ugykuligta might not seem very big on a broad scale but to us it meant more than you can imagine... And the fear of history repeating itself is very great and ingrained in every Mansukhian nioti, even now. Even five thousand years later, the Ugykuligta still haunts us. So yes, I do believe it happened. But that is because I have been brought to believe in it. Foreign historians always scorn our records because of the lack of factual evidence. But I do believe it was real. Faith is believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe. I really don't know what to think... Believe me, I wish with all my soul that this has nothing to do with the Ugykuligta. But, looking around me and seeing the Temple and the Sacred Runes in such unrest... I do feel something Evil is at work."</span></span></span> <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>What ideas do you guys have for the plot? I'm thinking a bit of adventure/action could be interesting once we know where we're going...</td></tr></table>
Talon slammed his partisan stick unto the ground, creating an irritatingly echoing noise in the Temple. Then the noise slowly faded away, as if the Temple was sucking the noise in. Vyja was already talking about the End of The World. <span style='color:skyblue'>We need to do something before something else happens.</span> Kien stated, about ready to stand up and.... Do what? she thought to herself. <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Something evil comes and tries to destroy us and we try to fight and find out how to stop this evil thing and save Ramath-lehi!--Just a thought.</td></tr></table>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Sounds good! :D </td></tr></table> Talon began staring furiously at his partisan, until he grew frustrated and threw it across the chamber, where it skidded across the floor into the wall. The solid wood thudding soundly. <span style='color:orange'>Why does this always happen to me!? Why can't I just live a normal life!?</span> Talon shouted, filled with hate at his ancestors, himself, and at the stupid gem in his stupid partisan! The partisan lay there against the wall for a moment, then burst into a shower of light. Talon shielded his eyes as a figure slowly emerged from the gem, until the dark being from the story floated a few inches from the ground. It looked down at the partisan, then up at Talon. He smirked and kicked the now lifeless weapon at Talon, who stopped it with a foot and picked it up. <span style='color:purple'>Oh you've done it now young fool, You could have just let it slide but no you had to get angry, now look, I have someone to compete against for domination of the world...</span> Talon cursed the spirit and cast him back into the dark part of his soul, then raised his partisan in a fighting pose. <span style='color:orange'>Who are you?</span> Talon asked agressively, to which the figure laughed, his european armor clanking as he let himself slowly land on the floor. <span style='color:yellow'>I'm quite sure you know who I am... Because the story MUST have played out before I was released. I've been trapped in that damn old staff for over seven thousand years!</span> Talon stared at him angrily, his spirit laughing at him for his ignorance. He had let an ancient monster out from it's cage... He expected the warrior to jump in at any moment as well...
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Arial'><p align=justify>A chill crept up Vyja's spine as he watched the scene unfold before him. Instinctively, he came to fill the space between Talon and Kien. Hanging at his sides, his paws were clutching emptiness and making him feel foolish for his lack of a proper weapon. Vyja's weapon of choice had always been his softspoken words. Never resort to violence when words are enough to appease anger; That had always been his motto. But somehow he doubted his diplomatic skills would be of any use now. A mixture of hatred and fear filled his face as he studied the dark being. The monster would pay for having disrupted his world, his Mansukh. Vyja didn't know why, but he felt as though the weight of all his culture and history was now for him to carry on his slender shoulders. The chilling image of his mother at home alone, singing and cooking and concocting as she always did... And dozens of other mothers like her, and niotis playing by the piers, and honest fathers fishing for their families... No, nothing must happen to his Mansukh. <span style='color:violet'>- What do we do now? -</span>He telepathed simultaneously to his two companions. What, indeed, could they do?</span></span> <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>So... Does this have anything to do with the Ugykuligta? And Precaution, is there a way to destroy the dark being?</td></tr></table>
Immediately, Kien stood up, her paw reaching for her dagger. The whole Temple now looked evil. It looked so enigmatic... disturbing... waiting for blood-shed. She watched as the...spirit...or whatever it was, talked to Talon. Adrenaline now goes in a fast rhythm in her veins. Her body crouched in a fighting stance. Though she doesn't see what good it would do to fight an immortal (or was it?) but then this was her immediate reaction. <span style='color:gray'>I don't know. I don't think he could be killed. Should we run?</span> she telepathed back and made sure the two heard. As she did so, she looked around the Temple for ways to distract the creature when the time comes. <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Well i was thinking of it being related to the Ugykuligta... just stuck on how to bring it there...</td></tr></table>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>I was thinking that this spirit here could have something to do with the starting, ending or continuation of Ugykuligta, heh heh I have an idea or two... :D </td></tr></table> Talon gripped his partisan tighter, pointing the blade towards the 'dragon's breastplate. He was about to send a message back to Vyja when the being started to speak in a low menacing tone, strangely formal, resembling that of a knight from ancient european times on earth. <span style='color:yellow'>Well I'm sure you're all itching for an explanation. I am Viridus The Third, Roman numerals, if you please. I am supposedly "evil" just because I started a few wars, killed a few people, and caused a few natural disasters. I've been back and forth between Earth and Ramath-Lehi a few times, and I liked the way the humans thought, especially the europeans, thus the copy of their armor.</span> He indicated his black armor. <span style='color:yellow'>I was eventually stopped by a meddling anubi warrior, who you no doubt saw in the vision as well. In a cataclysmic battle, which I had the upper hand in, he defeated me by some unknown magic of his and I was sealed inside that partisan, where I watched everything through that gem. Now I know for a fact that I want to kill you there boy, for you're the warriors ancestor, and if I can, I'm going to create another period of chaos, destruction, and plague, just like I did so long ago!</span> He took a breath, and drew a few steps forwards, drawing a shining silver sword, with a black hilt and grip, a dark purple gem in the hilt throbbing with power, and a saw blade design integrated with the sword itself. He began stepping towards Talon, swinging the sword back and forth, as if to test his strength after such a long time cooped up. Talon only gaped at him, long since having dropped the partisan to the floor. Viridus then grinned, showing a set of yellow tinted teeth, and swung his blade down upon Talon's head...
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Arial'>The look on Vyja's face was as grim as terminally ill Kiom's. Yet, the tensed lines on his forehead slowly relaxed as the monster spoke, revealing himself to be rather human after all. Though the contents of his speech were anything but reassuring, the very fact that the evil being was capable of speech and boasting at all made him more realistic, more vulnerable... "You will do none of those terrible things Viridus the Virus, not if I can help it!" he thought angrily through clenched teeth. But Vyja was soon drawn out of his thoughts as the deadly opponent made for Talon's head. <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Nooooooooo!"</span> he bellowed, his clear voice echoing and sending waves of sound around the room. Vyjabaj had always been rather good at his main trade, Aerokinesis. But all his skill had been limited to performing well during exams and occasionally showing off to his friends. Now though, he used all his will and all his knowledge to stop the blade. His eyes were crammed shut in fervent concentration and when he opened his eyes he was both shocked and relieved to see that he had suceeded in stopping the blade, if only momentarily. <span style='color:violet'>"I... Can't... Stop him from using his weapon for very long. Stop. Him"</span> He telepathed, his gaze never leaving the blade and his shoulders tremblign under the strain of resisting the creature.</span></span>
Kien always wondered why the evil always brag about themselves. Wass it that they think so highly of themselves? Surely everyone knows his or her own weakness. Was it the insanity of their minds? Or was it both? She thought this over while waiting for Viridus to finish what he was going to say. Her paw balancing and finding the right way to hold her dagger. It was very precious to her and very useful most of the time. She watched as the creature pull forth his sword and swung it. It happened so fast. She saw the lost look on Talon and heard Vyja screaming. When the sword came to a sudden halt, she wondered why. Not until Vyja telepathed did she know what had happened. Finally snapping out of her daze, she quickly did a calculation on where to aim her dagger. The eye. Always go for the eye. She aimed, and threw her dagger. Only now she hoped that the creature was solid and not a Frominian.
Talon stalled, still staring straight ahead. Vyja's scream startled him to his senses however, and he snatched his partisan and leaped out of the way, feeling the build up of dark energy. <span style='color:purple'>I'm not going to let this fool take MY world! He'll die by my hands! Let me out!</span> Talon struggled against the spirit for a minute, until reaching a compromise. <span style='color:orange'>If I let you out, you'll willingly give me back control after you defeat him?</span> The spirit thought about it for a moment, before aggreing to the terms with a slight twinge of acceptance. Talon nodded, and soon dark energy was pouring from his scars, now open wounds, and the gem, once lifeless, now flared with purple light. <span style='color:purple'>Viridus! It's been so long!</span> He took a step forwards, yet held the partisan, ready to strike at a whim. Viridus brought his blade back, deflected the dagger, and turned to face The Dark One, his eyes shinning with recgonition. He sent the back of his hand at Vyja, planning to smack him away, and prowled forwards, his sword quickly being raised again. <span style='color:yellow'>Dark One, is it really you? I SHOULD KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME ANUBI! TRAITOR!</span> He was suddenly barreling towards The Dark One, who then leaped up into the air, and floated somehow, grinning down at Viridus. standoff of the evil, and now Talon could do nothing but watch through a screen. <span style='color:orange'>Kien! Vyja! If The Dark One wins, my spirit, use light energy to disable him, it might seem like it does nothing, but it truly is the only way to effectively beat him! If you can, try to help him if Viridus proves too powerful! I've done a quick scan of The Dark Ones memories, it seems he was a high ranking official of Viridus' and betrayed him, helping the anubi who banished him seal Viridus away! I can't say any more, I'm being forced into the back of The Dark One's mind, but I will try to get out later if I can when this is all over!</span> Talon's voice faded from their heads, and The Dark One's eyes gleamed with a pure evil, staring down at Viridus. He knew of the message Talon sent, it WAS him who had allowed the message, but it was not as important as the conflict to come. Viridus was always more powerful than he was, capable of far worse, dark magic, energy, and even the summoning of Daemons. Even though The Dark One had matured and grown stronger during his long years, it would take Vyjas and Kien's help to bring this foe down...
Vyja hadn't expected the blow and, though he tried to dodge it, his reaction was belated and its blow sent him crashing to the floor. Scrambling to his feet rathe ungracefully, Vyja felt the cheek that had been struck. No blood. Things could be worse. The Virus would pay. His head was throbbing slightly as he regained his fighting stance. Talon's telepath reached him as he stood powerless, watching a conversation he could make no sense of. Nodding, he sent out another telepath, this time making sure The Dark One would not hear it. 'Alright. So we do like Talon said? I don't trust the dark demon fella though. Reckon things could get fishy... What d'you think?'
Kien muttered a curse under her breath when she watched her precious dagger being reflected and drop way beyond her reach. She started for it but saw that Vyja was thrown by Virus. She turned and knelt beside Vyja. <span style='color:skyblue'>Are you okay?</span> One of them can't be down now. She searched for signs of cuts and other wounds and found none. Seeing that Vyja was okay, she extended a paw and to quickly help him up. <span style='color:maroon'>Yes, we do like what he says. But for the meantime, what do we do?</span> she telepathed back. She looked around and saw her dagger. She needed it back. She wanted it back. She got up and went for it.
