Lords of Creation (Story Thread 2)

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Von Trapt worked quickly after arriving in Aox's room where he lay unconscious. Using his new godly powers, he began to construct a hand. It was no simply prosthetic, but a functioning replacement that would allow Aox to contiue to invent.

Crav sighed a breath of relief as Von Trapt attached it to Aox's wrist. He had mended the damage, time for a celebratory drink.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"So, is their more of this?" Two Gods asked the Watchman. "These fights, are their more of them?"

"Yes, lot's more." It was hard to read a Vandals expression, but she was looking very intense. "Is something wrong?"

"They are fascinating to me."

He turned around, "Well, what do you two thi-" he stopped. Only one Vandal was behind him. The smallest one. "Hey, wheres the other one?"

Sisters Arms spoke for the first time today."Horizon left earlier. She sad she had to watch something."

Meanwhile, high in the stands of an empty arena, a silent observer watched and waited for the unofficial match between Mina's Heroes to begin.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Kagehana formed 5 strikes of light and let them fly at Hikaru in a pattern reminiscent of a 5-petaled flower. Hikaru responed by forming a net of light to capture the strikes then added her own power to them while forming her own strikes and threw both sets of strikes back in a beautiful pattern of a hundred petaled flower. Kagehana dodged to the side scraping her knees and elbows on the hard ground before forming a tendril of light to try to trip Hikaru, but it was slashed in half by a sword of light that gracefully arced its way through the air. Hikaru then teleported in a flash of petals of light next to Kagehana and swung down with her sword to neutralize Kagehana's quick movements. Kagehana barely dodged the blade as she clumsily fired off a few more strikes at Hikaru. Hikaru responded by catching the strikes yet again before firing them back at Kagehana with increased power. The strikes hit Kagehana in the abdomen causing her to fly backward and ungracefully crash into the arena wall. The training was not going well for Kagehana.

(Total: 6 motes)

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

The fight wore on as Kagehana and Hikaru continued the training. Hikaru was a fast learner, figuring out how to do highly complicated attacks such as dozens of light chakrams flying in a complicated pattern within the first half hour, Kagehana though took much longer, slightly over 5 hours, to figure out how to create weapons from light. The two of them would benefit from the training in the end regardless. Neither looked up though during the training to see Horizon watching them.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox had finally awoke from his deep sleep. He was feeling much better, and no longer felt weak. he allowed himself  a little smile. It wasn't until he looked down at his hand that he truly felt happy. He had a hand again! Aox marveled at its craftsmanship, flexing it and wiggling his fingers in awe. All was not lost, he could still return to inventing....no, he had promised himself he would make himself a better hero.

But first he had to say a few goodbyes. That shouldn't be hard, he was already out of the tournament anyways. Aox heaved himself out of bed and slowly made his way out of the room taking small pained steps. Apparently he wasn't as healed as he thought he was.

Aox ventured out sluggishly into Spectropolis to say his goodbyes.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Spread out!" Draias sternly commissioned his motley crew of villagers. If he was going to be successful in finding whoever--or whatever-- currently stalked their establishments, they would have to get to work immediately, and be unrelenting.

"You! Rox! Gosso! Linessa! Fandas! And those three over there, come with me!" Draias was worried, and had no time for their dilly-dallying. The scout, the man with the dog and the burly man who would help clear the way hurried to Draias' side, and awaited any command he might issue. Likewise, the others followed suit, gathering up with their troops. With that, Draias looked them all over, made last finishing touches to their group arrangements, and gave the cue.

Each dog was given a sample of something from each crime scene to sniff, and when they were done, Draias bade them move out.

Through the cool, crisp near-silence of the forest the dog trekked, with Draias' crew following intently behind. The investigator was vigilant on every side, in the hopes of stumbling across a hotspot for genetic remnants. It was something scaly for sure, and not native to this land, he thought intently. His mind scrutinized every rock, every tree, hoping his sight would be sharp enough to catch everything of value to the investigation.

Their large escort, Rumon, pushed aside a branch, and Rox whispered to Linessa.

"Should we tell them about our discovery? About the lady in white?"

"We'll tell them eventually, I guess." Linessa shrugged, "And besides. I doubt it will help us find whatever creature we're looking for. It's probably best not to distract Draias' train of thought."

Rox and Gosso nodded to her in agreement, and continued on without another word.

Their troop scout, Vaida, however, was not silent. Utterly terrified at the sudden realization of the situation's realness, she was constantly prayerful. Her watchfulness was not simply watchfulness for vigilance's sake, but for her safety's sake. When they crunched a leaf too loud, she would jump, and utter a three-line prayer she would make up on the spot. Sometimes it would rhyme, sometimes not, it didn't matter.

But Fandas was too concerned with the loveliness of the surroundings to be afraid, even going out at night. The stars were out, and the quiet, temperate feel of the open air was soothing. It put a bit of pep in his step; he walked as though they were on some nighttime nature walk, rather than stalking a potential threat to all life in the land.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"So, Draias", the magician Fandas spoke finally, "When do you suspect we'll find this thing, whatever it is? I sure hope it's soon, don't you? I mean, before we run out of supplies."

Draias continued on inspecting his environment, and answered gruffly, "You mean, beyond the supplies that have already been spoiled? Did you forget that one of the water sources in town has been poisoned, as have been several food stocks? We're fortunate we even have the strength to come out in conditions like these."

Fandas was quiet, his feelings obviously hurt. But, before long, he found words again; stepping over a log that had fallen, he smiled kindly, "Well, that's why we have you, right? You're so smart, I'm sure you and the rest of us can have this all wrapped up in no time."

Draias scoffed at the thought. What had this charlatan to offer him in his case? What had he to offer at all in the ways of intellect or practical science? All he knew of chemicals was how to make smoke bombs for his magic act (whether he wanted to admit the illusion or not, Draias had figured him out). And all he knew of science was the feeble psychology of people who didn't know how to tell true supernatural power from parlor tricks.

He shook his head with a smile at his mental tirade, and trudged on through the gentle creaking of crickets, and the fragrance that came from various shrouds of flowers. He told Vaida to keep the torch steady, and Fandas echoed the order, as though to reinforce what otherwise would have fallen on deaf ears.

Fandas was about to ask another question, but Rumon called out that the dog had caught onto something. Draias hurried away from Fandas, mid-sentence, and knelt down to see what the dog had sniffed out.

He saw nothing.

Standing, he eyed Rumon suspiciously and leaned in as though looking for a small piece of evidence on the man's face. Burly though he was, Rumon flinched.

"I...well, the dog looked like he had somethin'."

"Wait!" Fandas stood up from petting the dog, "There IS something here."

Draias turned and eyed the magician now, answering with an accusatory glare, "Oh, reeeeeally, now? Is there something, reeeeeeally?"

Fandas and Draias shared an intensely awkward stare and Fandas twitched, before finally blinking and reassuring the investigator, "I think I would know a good illusion when I see one."

Draias was on the ground, kneeling next to the magician before he could finish his sentence, and scrounged through the clutter of leaves on the forest floor. Nothing. Nothing! He found nothing! Now, he was growing furious.

"Just what the hell are you getting at, you two-bit hack of a pseudo-magical jester?! I can't see a thing here!"

Fandas retracted at the comment, and fell on his butt. Draias blinked vacantly, before turning around and realizing that the others were now staring at him. Annoying though he was, even Fandas didn't deserve that.

Draias wanted to quickly amend what he had said, "I...I'm, um--"

"Save it, you stuffy old grump." Fandas said at last, pulling himself to his feet with a frown, "I'll just head on back to the village, if that's how you feel about me. And I'll take MY clue right along with me."

He dusted himself off, trying to preserve what he felt he had left of his pride, and stormed off from in the midst of the group, to head back for town. Or...he would have stormed off, if not for Draias lunging out and grabbing Fandas by the hand, tumbling the two of them to the ground in the process.

"Wha-what clue did you find?" Draias demanded anxiously as Fandas picked himself up, yet again from the ground.

"I won't tell you until you apologize." Fandas demanded, crossing his arms, and turning his back to the investigator with a pouty face.

Draias grumbled something under his breath, "sorry....."

Fandas couldn't hear it, and asked with a smile that it be repeated.

"UGH...grrrrr...ohhh...FINE, SORRY!!!" Draias exclaimed at last, "There. Happy? Now what clue did you find???"

Fandas rolled his eyes with a smile, and grabbed Draias up in a completely platonic, but still totally unwelcome and uncomfortable bro-hug and then handed Draias the invisible reptilian scale before rejoining the group. The dog was given the scale the sniff, and it gave a loud, raggedy baying call. They must have been close.

[Zaleramancer]

Distantly behind him, two Voices spoke.

"So.. we're stalking him?" Said the excitable voice.

"Yep." Said the mellow voice.

"That's stupid. Let's just find someone else to use the stick."

"Can't. Now just be quiet, we don't want to be heard."

[Zaleramancer]

Little frighted ones.. all so alone.

Itself had fed. However..

Itself wished to play.

It creeped through tree branches until it was behind the frightful. Then hissed.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox ventured about Spectropolis as quickly as he good giving heartfelt goodbyes to anyone he knew, even Sarina who was clueless as usual. He had hoped to say goodbye to Kagehana as well but he could not find her. After he had finished he trudged back to his room and began to pack his bags.

The Medical staff had returned his gear after they peeled it off his body in the medical ward. Aox sifted through his things singling out which he would be taking with him. Many of his broken tools he left behind. As he packed Aox's hands suddenly came to a stick laid out with the rest of his gear. It was the one he'd picked up in the arena. He hadn't had a chance to really look at it before.

It seemed so ordinary to his eyes. Just another stick, but something about it held his attention. Some half remembered thought passed carelessly through his mind. He placed the stick securely in his bag. He was taking it with him. Once he was packed Aox set out of Spectropolis.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

As Aox heads out of the gate, he can just make out some figures in the distance, a huge circle of ant like people. They seem to be watching something.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

The gathering intrigued Aox, he headed towards in. He approached the ring of strange ant creatures with hesitation, but managed to peek around them.

[Philote]

Balasar and his men reached the edge of the town, they had definitively agitated the citizens, but he sensed that they weren't the only ones in the town.

He would circle them back around through the town again and toy with them some more as they made their way in the direction of their lair.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

A man was standing in the circle, helping a vandal to it's feet.

"Now," he shouted, pulling her up and sending her back into the circle, "can anyone tell me what A Hole in the Sky did wrong?"

Several insectoid arms shot up, and he regarded them, before pointing at one of the bigger ones.  "Yes, Running Sand?"

"She wasn't watching you, not really, right commander?" She asked, probing.

"That's part of it, yes." he replied. "But I still don't think you all get how important this lesson is. It's arguably the most important weapon I can give you. So, I need another volunteer. Who's brave enough!"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox's eyes narrow as an irrational confidence builds in him.

"I am!" he calls out in answer to the man's call.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Crowed parts to make a path for the newcomer, and he can feel many, many eyes boring into him. Not with animosity, but curiosity.

The Vet looks him up and down from the center, nodded his head, and grins. "Alright soldier. Step in here! Double time!"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox hustled into the ring, taking off his bag as he did so. He tossed the bag at the edge of the ring and stood at attention before the man.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Name and Rank, boy!"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"Aox, Sir! No rank that I know of."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Hmmm? Alright Aox, get ready. I'm going to show you the first rule to winning any fight. Now, I'm going to count to three, then I'm gonna punch ya, and you try and block it" He says, holding up his fist and drawing it back. "Get ready now!"

"1..."



"2......"
Its at that moment that he sweeps Aox's legs out from under him.

He holds out his hand to Aox, while at the same time asking. "Now Aox, what is it that you did wrong?"