<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Thanks.... There is a way for them to get http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=back to the futureback to the future</a>, right?</td></tr></table> Kien woke up just as Vyja left the place. Not out of the stinging pain that she now felt on her shoulder, but that of the dream. The stares of the dead were horrifying. It's just a dream, it's just a dream Or was it? It felt so real. She realised that she was sweating. She took the glass of water that Vyja had left for her and drank it. She looked around her unfamiliar surroundings. She saw an old pendragon, minding his own business. <span style='color:skyblue'>Who are you? Where am I? Where're my friends?</span> she asked while she tried to get out of bed. She leaned on her left and a jolt of pain went through her upper arm. Wincing, she sat and stayed where she was.
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td>Course there is! But the way back will be revealed later, muahahaha...</td></tr></table> Viridus snorted and raised his sword. Blasts of dark energy emitted from the tip of the blade, colliding with several scribes closest to him. They just melted away, as the sludgy energy burned their fur and flesh away to the bone. Viridus laughed maniacally as they writhed in their death throes, and stepped over the carcasses, cracking the bones that remained. He suddenly became aware of the old scribe running, looking as if he was carrying a particularily important document or something of worth. Viridus blade was soon raised and pointing at his back, but the sword was slammed out of the way with the sound of metal on metal. Talon stood, seeping wisps of light energy, as much as he could create on such short notice, the blade of his partisan raised to Viridus' nose. <span style='color:yellow'>Planning on killing me young warrior?</span> <span style='color:orange'>No Virus, I plan on sending you back to whatever hellhole you crawled out of.</span> <span style='color:yellow'>Then you'd better learn how to fight, you have no defensive positioning whatsoever.</span> Viridus suddenly swung his blade up, and in a spray of blood, Talon had a gaping gash in the space between his ribs. Talon staggered backwards, clutching at the hole in his robes through which blood flowed freely, before growling and pointing his partisan towards Viridus again with his free hand. <span style='color:orange'>Somebody... Anybody... Help...</span> He thought to himself as purple dots danced across his vision, either from Viridus' poisoned blade, or from a monumental loss of blood. Viridus began walking forwards, his armor clanking slightly as he swaggered mockingly side to side in short steps, his sword hanging loosely from his hand. Talon started backing up, leaving a trail of blood, the trail being forced back towards where Kien, Byja, and the priest last were...
A malevolent grin found its way into the Scribe's ancient features as he chanced a glance behind his shoulder. He had managed escape the strange 'dragons killing spree! Perhaps he could make something out of the situation... After all, with all his colleagues having met such an unfortunate end, who would be credited for their discovery but his very self? Those greedy thoughts were shaken out of him, or rather, bumped out of him, though, when his progression came to a sudden stop and he found himself crashing to the floor, his precious scrolls escaping his weakening grip. Looking up with astonished eyes, he met a bright blue set that belonged to the 'dragon he had bumped into. <span style='color:goldenrod'>"I'm sorry... I was on my way to the Temple, I didn't mean to... Wait, you're a Scribe aren't you!?" </span> The youth quickly picked up the scroll and, to the Scribe's relief, handed it back him without a hesitation. Trust Mansukhians to be trusting honest fools. Smiling, the Scribe studied the newcomer. Should he tell him about the havoc-wrecking monster in the Temple? Nah. One witness less. On the other paw, would he be able to live with another death on his conscience? Probably not, and the list was getting rather long. <span style='color:dodgerblue'>"Indeed, Young One, I am a Scribe. That is what I am. I wouldn't advise you go to the Temple though, however pious your intentions. It would seem an evil-doer has taken possession of it. Some foolish heroic soul is trying to defend it but I doubt he'll last very long."</span> <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Talon. Gods, we must save him!"</span> The Scribe was taken aback by the youth's response. <span style='color:dodgerblue'>"Why no... Heh. 'We' you say? Ah. I'm sorry Young One but I will have no.." </span> <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Gah, move out of my way."</span> muttered Vyja after a few seconds of listening to the Scribe's selfish reasons. He pushed the older dragon away with uncharacteristic violence. His rough shove sent the scrolls flying out of the Scribe's arms and into the bushes. ---------- <span style='color:gray'>"Do not stir Girl... Too late. I, my dear, am a Priest of the Temple of Tanastlasei. Head Priest, as hierarchy would have it, but that is of no matter. Do not worry for your friends. They are fighting to defend the Temple from the foe who gave you that wound. 'Viridus', I think the anubi called him. They should still be alive at this time. But they will need our help. Here. Drink this. It should take away the pain. "</span> Limping his way to her side, the old Priest handed her the glass he had been holding. ---------- <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Get away from him you Virus!"</span> Vyja was torn between relief that his friend was still alive, and distress at the fact that he was only just barely that. Still panting from the sprint, Vyja stood in a fighting stance.
Kien accepted the glass hesitantly. After taking a few horribly untasteful sips, she asked the old Kiom, <span style='color:skyblue'>When did they leave here?</span> Worry had crept into her voice. She didn't feel like staying here doing nothing while her friends fought an insane anubi. She gulped down the rest of the liquid and gave the empty cup to the Priest. <span style='color:skyblue'>I need to go help them. I must.</span> she said. If only she'd been more careful. She would have been in the Temple with them. Speaking of the Temple.. <span style='color:skyblue'>Where am I?</span> After a few moments of thoughts, she asked again, <span style='color:skyblue'>What year is this?</span>
Viridus grinned, and stepped forwards again, easily batting Talon's loosely gripped partisan away and slashing his forearm as it flailed around for support. <span style='color:yellow'>Now you DIE!</span> Viridus screamed suddenly, and with a savage haymaker to Talon's muzzle, his nose to be precise, The Virus coaxed a loud crunch from it. He then swung his sword upwards, slicing his robes clean through in a spray of blood and grinded sternum. Talon stumbled back, trying to regain his balance, but realising atempting to fight him was futile, he focused the tiny amount of light energy in his body, and thrust it forewards through his right palm. The blast slammed into Viridus' chest, catching the evildoer off guard. He obviously hadn't expected such a savage attack from such a damaged foe. <span style='color:yellow'>He DARE strike me!? The Might Virus!? Lord of Plague!?</span> Viridus thought to himself as the light energy seared a hole right through his blackened armor and then through his dark energy tainted flesh, before piercing out the back side in a spray of left over burning light. Talon smiled where he layed as he watched Viridus gape at the new hole through his body, and then again more as he bolted for the temple outskirts. <span style='color:orange'>I've stopped him from damaging the temple... At Least now I can travel on to fromina in peace... But then again... They won't accept a tainted creature such as me...</span> <span style='color:purple'>Pah... You're not dying on my account... I beat him once, but this time I'm going to OBLITERATE HIM</span> And then the dark energy consumed Talon...
<p align=justify> The old priest smiled sympathetically as Kien finished the glass. <span style='color:gray'>"They left shortly before you awoke. A quarter of an hour ago, I should think. If my calculations are correct, all four of you have travelled back some 5000 years back into the past. The year is 76382. I had foreseen your coming for nearly a year now, and have been looking out for your arrival. It's all written in the Runes I've been studying, Runes from the ruins the Temple was built on. But, alas! Nobody will listen to an old senile Kiom like myself. I've started transcribing these sacred writings onto the Temple walls, starting by the walls of my study (he pointed to the rune covered walls) hoping that if not I then some other 'dragon in posterity will be able to decipher them. The Scribes laugh at my studies... But that is of no matter. How are you feeling? Well enough to get up, do you think?"</span> ----- Before entering the Temple, Vyja's eye was caught by a golden object leaning against the earthen walls. "Mansukh's Gjepa's Spear..." he wispered, awestruck. He had heard so many stories about Mansukh's Gjepa, the Pride of Mansukh, and the mythical spear... He had heard of how the spear had been displayed in the Temple until one day it had suddenly disappeared. His mind suddenly clicked, and, asking the gods for forgivenness, he picked up the spear that had belonged to Mansukh's most famous fisherman, notorious throughout the land for having won the Annual Fishing Contest nine times in a row. <span style='color:goldenrod'>"Talon!", </span>called Vyja as he came to stand by his side, balacing the spear in his arms. Or at least he thought it was Talon... <span style='color:violet'>What do you want me to do? </span> he telepathed. </p>
Brown eyes seemed to widened as she took in the information that she was 5000 years back. Patiently, she listened and waited for the Kiom to finish what he has to say. Her wound was healing rather fast, thanks to the medicine she'd drank. The stinging pain wasn't there anymore. She moved her arm a little and then some more and found that the pain has lessened considerabily. But the wound was still there. <span style='color:skyblue'>I'm feeling much better, thank you. Most of the pain is gone. What was that subtance?</span> she asked, indicating the potion she had drank. Kien stood up, wavered, and got some control before studying the walls. <span style='color:skyblue'>How far had you gone in uncovering these writings?</span>
The Dark One Stood Up, The final wisps of dark energy being drawn back within his body, as the horrific wounds on his forearm and chest sealed themselves up. He glanced around, and after grabbing his partisan, which had fallen nearby, the gem now an insidious black, he turned to Vyja. <span style='color:purple'>He's going to find his past self, most likely, and with two of him working together, it's only going to get a hell of alot worse. I need a few things, an Anubi priest, A "skilled" priest from these parts, and an army. He's escaped, and because of my hosts total incompetence, Viridus is going to quickly capture and devastate the lands on the outskirts of this temple. No doubt he's already gathered his own army of daemons and the reanimated farmers he's taken out, so either we work quickly or not at all. Lets find that priest friend of yours... And if we're lucky, my past self will be hiding somewhere nearby...</span> He immediately started striding back towards where the priest and Kien where, totally ignoring the slain scribes as he strode through the midst of their horribly maimed and twisted bodies...
<span style='color:gray'>"The Catalysing Potion? Ah, a Mansukian speciality. Any foreign botanist would tell you that none of the herbs brewed to produce this mixture have healing properties. And they would be right. On their own each herb is useless. But together... One would be wrong in thinking that our Potion is ineffective. You see, blended together these herbs have catalysing properties and accelerate the healing process tenfold. At this very moment they are helping the healing agents young Vyja covered your wounds with. By the morrow your shoulder should be as good as new. The writings, you ask? Well I haven't discovered much, as of yet, but it is all very fascinating and I am making rapid progress. It is as though the Runes speak to me sometimes, as though they are eager to reveal their secrets and warn the world of Ramath knows what danger... It is fascinating really. They speak of an ancient civilisation-- that which dwelled in Mansukh long before my forefathers conquered the land. It is spoken of strange rituals and superstitions... One fear of this ancient culture was apparently that the world would come to an end through plague and destruction. How right they were. But another prophecy was made, one which claimed that one day those who sought havoc on these lands would know a similar end... Chilling, don't you think? And there was of course that other prophecy, written right before my forefathers banished the last of their kind. It spoke about the arrival of four 'dragons who would change the course of fate and save the land from a sure death. I suppose you must succeed if our Mansukh still lives five thousand years in the future. But time travel is a tricky thing and I don't know what would happen if you were somehow unable to defeat the Virus..." </span> ----------- "Right. Lets go then," nodded Vyja as he followed The Dark One, twirling the spear as he went. On the way back to the Priests quarters, he noticed that the cowardly Scribe he had encountered moments before was still sprawled on the floor, moaning and rubbing his head which had apparently collided with a stone when Vyja had hit him. The scrolls were scattered all over the place, and scanning through the mess one word caught Vyja's eye. "Dark One. Wait." he called, knealing to retrieve the scroll. After a quick read, he handed it to his companion. The paper was thick and coarse, the scrawl small and neat. At the top of the page, the title read in capital letters - 'The Ugykuligta'
Kien nodded, taking in the full information the Kiom had stated. It was exciting and creepy at the same time. If Kien, Vyja, Talon and the Dark One do not suceed in killing Viridus, Mansukh would meet it's downfall or cease to exist! But if the four of them managed to get that bug off, they'd be heroes...and heroine, Kien added after a few moments. <span style='color:skyblue'>You've uncovered pretty much of the writings already. I wonder what more would there be said?</span> Kien stared at the wall and then shook her head. How hard she wished, she knew it would be impossible for her to decipher them. Then she found her mind wondering... what if they don't succeed? What if all of them fail? And what if they succeed but can't go back in time? She looked at the Priest. <span style='color:skyblue'>I really want to go help my friends,</span> and already started walking towards the door. <span style='color:skyblue'>Thanks for the hospitality and everything.</span>
The Dark One only stalled for a moment, turning his head back, the dark energy drifting back with the movement. He suddenly breathed deeply, sucking in the dark energy to avoid damaging the paper, and walked over. <span style='color:purple'>What!? We don't have much time! Viridus has the powers of darkness on a much greater scale than mine! He can create portals to and from various areas, for all we know he has remembered where his past self was and has gone to meet him!</span> He grumbled but went silent, waiting for Vyja to hurry up and explain already the events occuring. <span style='color:orange'>Dark One, This must be important, if Vyja was to stop us, listen closely, it might prove useful for later, besides, I want to hear as well, and if you don't pay attention I can't hear...</span>
<p align=justify>The Priest followed Kien with his gaze, reading the doubt and determination on her face as she tried to decipher the writings on the wall. "You are welcome, Girl. But I should be the one thanking you for coming to save my land and kin. Before you leave", he added, almost as an afterthought, "Take this with you. It may come in handy." The Priest leaned heavily on his wooden staff as he went to pick something off his shelves. When he turned to face Kien, his ancient eyes were twinkling, as though the sight of what he was holding had reminded him of youthful memories. His eyes still ablaze, he handed her the silken bag, which, as it came into her paws, opened to reveal five scintillating silver daggers. The blades were moon shaped and looked dangerously sharp, and the hilts were encrusted with faded emeralds. "I have seen the dagger you carry with you and I trust you will know how to handle these weapons. These", he whispered reverently, "are the Sacred Daggers of Tarak. It is said that they were forged in the very fire of the Eternal Flame. They will help you in your quest, and are particularly effective when fighting against beings of darkness. The blades will light up when the enemy is near, ensuring that none can take you by surprise." ----------- Vyja's cheeks turned bright crimson at the Dark One's words, feeling as though he had done something wrong, and hoping that his discovery was worth the interruption. "This is written in ancient mansukhian. I can only recognise certain symbols, like that which represents the Ugykuligta. Let us not waste time. I'll take these with me and we will show them to the Priest. He might help us." </p>
Before you leave... Kien stopped half way through the door. She turned back to the old Priest. He handed her a silken bag containing the five unique daggers. She looked at it, studying it and admiring it's sharp ends and build. She listened as the Priest talk. <span style='color:skyblue'>To be honest, I've just only figured out how to use my dagger.</span> Then she looked down on the five sharp blades. <span style='color:skyblue'>But I'm a fast learner. I guess these will be handy.</span> She smiled her thanks to the Kiom and left the place. She walked in a fast pace and soon, she was near the Temple. She spotted the Dark One and Vyja. Both alive and both void of bruises. Well, at least from her view. On the floor beside them, was a stranger, moaning in pain while rubbing the top of his head. <span style='color:skyblue'>What's that?</span> she indicated to the scroll when she reached them.
The Dark One snorted and crossed his arms, his partisan dangling loosely from his free hand. <span style='color:purple'>Something about this event, that I already know about probably. You two go ahead and read it, I'm not going to waste my time, if theres anything of importance you can just tell me.</span> And with that he snorted again and started walking towards where Kien had just departed from, to see the priest about his demands... <span style='color:purple'>Remember every minute wasted is another minute Viridus and his past self further corrupt this land!</span>
<p align=justify>'I really don't know.' was all Vyja could think to say, his smile sheepish and his cheeks ablaze. He seriously hoped his discovery of the scroll would amount to something. He hated to think that he might have wasted precious time. He handed the scroll to Kien so she could study it, though he knew there was no chance she would understand it. 'You feeling better?' he inquired softly, appraising the cast he had made for her. ------ "Hmmkkmmmmph..." moaned the Scribe, stirring on the floor only a few feet away. His head was hurting like there would be no tomorrow. His brain felt like it should like to escape from his scull. That little ruffian... The useless scum bag.. The foolish good-for-nothing who had done this to him would pay. Oh, he would see to that. Once his head stopped throbbing that is. But how? How would he avenge himself?
Kien took one glance at the scroll and immediately know that she couldn't do anything about it. <span style='color:skyblue'>We can take this to the Kiom. Maybe he can help.</span> And with that, she stuffed the scroll into her pockets. <span style='color:skyblue'>I'm fine. It's healing fast,</span> she replied Vyja as she watched the Dark One go the way she came. <span style='color:skyblue'>Where's Viridus? Are you hurt?</span> Then before she heard Vyja answer, she heard moaning. She turned to look at the stranger on the floor. <span style='color:skyblue'>What happened to him? Should we help?</span>
The Dark One walked into the priest and without even waiting for a greeting he thrust him onto the bed and began his demands. <span style='color:purple'>I'm going to need an army, a skilled priest like yourself, an anubial priest, and some way of travelling fast. And I need all of this NOW. Before Viridus gathers more infected minions and daemons to his cause.</span> Without waiting for an answer, The Dark One reached into his robes and took out a vial of green powder, before scattering it on the nearest torch. In a flash of gray smoke, the fire had turned green, and then began darkening to a deep purplish black. <span style='color:purple'>Fi Dok Shii Pah Hath!</span> The Dark One chanted, and the fire suddenly twisted into a crystal ball made of black glass. The anubi placed his hands on the ball and hummed an eerie tune, and the ball began showing images of fields, bodies, and land all tainted by famine, plague, and disease. After a few moments of dark and evil images such the same, The dark One watching all with interest, the ball changed to an image of a massive horde of diseased pendragons, all with festering open wounds, horrible scars, and all with symptoms of disease. Daemons crawled among the plagued creatures, fortunately not large in number yet, and at the head, stood Viridus, a younger looking version with the saw blade sword standing beside him. They seemed deep in discussion, as the horde milled about behind them. The Dark One noticed a huddled figure off to the side, which was no doubt, him as his past self. No doubt this past self would also be killed, erasing him from history. Talon and Xavier would be free of their spirits, and Viridus would rule the continent. But hopefully it would not progress as such... Everything was all a matter of time...
Joy, shock, outrage, awe, horror, and utter despair were the many feelings that crossed the old Kiom's features as he felt himself be roughly pushed aside and shown images whose devastation would rival an insane 'dragon's worse nightmares. "This... This isn't happening, is it? It is only one of the possible futurs? It is what will happen if I do not help you?" His voice was sad, and had a pleading quality to it. Suddenly, he looked determined. "I will help you. Lead the way." ----- "I suppose we should help him," said Vyja after a few seconds, "he doesn't deserve it though. He is a coward." ----- "Hmmppphgrrk..." mumbled the Scribe as he felt something or someone tugging at his arm. He didn't want to get up. He was very fine on the floor thank you very much. "Come on, get up" he heard a young, clear voice call to him. The Scribe painfully opened his eyes, and what he saw both terrified and overjoyed him. "Leave me alone!" he whined, pushing the youth away from him. "I don't need your help!" "If you don't leave me alone", he continued, a smirk lining his face. He was not sure what he was saying, but he was pretty sure it was good. Without grace, the Scribe slowly got to his feet, arrogance curling his lip malevolently. "I won't help you. And I won't tell you that the Scroll you're holding is the key to stopping the evil that old fool of a Priest was always rambling about, that his stupid Ugykuligta is really only the doing of..." Shoot. Had he said that aloud? Realising his mistake, the Scribe broke into a short lived run. Too late, Vyja was already on his track and in a few moment had him pinned to the ground.
Kien was behind Vyja the moment the Scribe had decided to flee. <span style='color:skyblue'>Vyja, should I get the scroll to the Priest?</span> Kien asked. But then then turned to the Scribe who was pinned down helplessly. <span style='color:skyblue'>What about the Ugykuligta? Tell more!</span> she commanded him. Her paw was ready to smack the coward of a Scribe if he chose to resist.
The Dark One laughed cruelly, an evil smirk playing on his lips. In a small flash of dark energy, the orb dissappeared, and The ancient being grabbed his partisan, which he had flung beside the door and began tracing a circle on the floor. <span style='color:purple'>This is happening NOW. Now I'm going to summon as many daemons and creatures of darkness as I can control to make up our army, but I'm going to need your help in purifying them so Viridus doesn't just convert them to his side. I need priests or mages that are skilled in light magic, and I need them quickly, it doesn't appear as if you can get an army yourself quickly enough... Viridus has already met up with his past self... Now where are those other two fools?!</span> He was interupted by the shape of a winged 'dragon emerging from the circle, now glowing faintly purple. The daemon knelt before The Dark One, but he snorted and it made it's way outside into the light, before standing still by the doorway, a silent guard of dark magic... Back inside The Dark One had already begun summoning more, who went to stand at guard positions around the temple, scaring the priests and scribes, but providing a first line of sight and defense. Unless they were purified however, they would just flock to Viridus, the greater evil, as soon as he commanded them to when he came within close range... <span style='color:purple'>I still need an anubi priest, and someone skilled in light energy or magic, now go! I can handle the army and the transportation myself!</span> Then he continued his summoning, the daemons starting to line up outside, in perfect military fashion... The army was coming along...
