New Beginning 21: Awesomeness Revisited

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Energy being. We can't kill it. Seriously, I won't allow anyone to kill it. I want it."

The Vault quakes with anticipation. Given the emaciate demon of animal hunger it currently wore, the effect could not be called beautifying. She is literally drooling.

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"An... ENERGY BEING?!? I was attracted by an energy being?!?" Crescent puts a hand to her face as she sighs in exasperation. "And here I was hoping that it was an artifact made by one of my ancestors. Or did any of you happen to use a high-powered magical item?"

"Nope. But I do recall that that one," Mayumi points at Vault. "Used an item."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Describe it. The Artifact, not the ancestor. I don't really care exactly who I take these things from."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Describe which one? My ancestors made several Artifacts as did their teacher," Crescent replies. "I've collected maybe 10% of them and that's from the records of what they made while they were with the family. We don't know if they made more."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Maybe it's better is we come at this from the other direction. See what I'm wearing?" it gestures to the entirely steel grey suit. "No, ignore the pink hair, the teeth, the horns, the tail, the claws, even the gender. Just the clothes and the eyes."

"Now, dis your ancestors leave any record of someone dressed like this, with eyes like these, kicking in their door and stealing all of their nice thing?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Um, no," Crescent replies confusedly. "No one was dumb enough to try that what with how renowned they and their teacher were. Anyone who tried that would've gotten killed within a second by them or servants."

[Philote]

I draw back the energies of Rose King's Shield back within itself so that my armor fades, allowing me to speak easier with the group.

"Eh, I did what I felt I had to in order to help Zale. I was able to undo the alteration. The Labyrinth Virus may be something I'm still learning how to use, but I believe I'm getting it properly under control. Look, even this sword is still functioning properly after I exposed it."

"Now..." I say looking around the group "Most here I can place the dimension of origin, but I have not seen a creature like you before" I say to the one in the suit "What's your story and what did you do with the one with the rabbits? I'd like to know who is going to be standing by my side before we face the creature with Zale."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Ah, allow me to introduce myself to the assembled. My Proper title is The Vast, Exquisite, and Wholly Unbreakable Treasure Vault of Zybornia, Depository of the Wealth of 10,000 Empires and Keeper of Treasures Innumerable. The form I wear now is Krunchka, a disproportionally powerful demon of animal hunger from the Third Circle of Hell. She lost, I acquired her before she could be put to death for high treason. Although if you'd like to fight by the side of someone familiar...."

The Door open. The Door Closes. The demon girl is replaced, and Peter stands wrapped in grey and twirling the key cane. He continues on, In a voice Peter would have if he thought he was safe.

"...That can easily be arranged. If you want to know of the rest of him, he's within me. Trust me, there is no safer place. As for my story, it's simple: I am a treasure Vault. I am meant to safeguard precious treasures. I will continue helping in this diversion for as long as I think I can acquire one. Right now the one I'm after is inside your friend."

He looks Philot over, sniffs once or twice, sticks out his tongue and licks the air. Then he gets a very contemplative look on his face. "You're powers, they have a flavor I find familiar. Have we fought before?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"Really now? No safer place you say?" Crescent asks. "I prefer the adage that goes, ... what was it again? I think it had something to do with your valuables being safest with you yourself."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"With me, the adage is quite literal."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

Crescent shrugs, "That is a way of interpreting it, I guess."

[Philote]

"This body you are wearing, and the people you are keeping"  I ask "How are they treated and how do you choose who you hold. I can't say that I'd like to let you get away with imprisoning sentient beings."

(The last question's answer depends on if we are counting the Zauber arena match as canon )

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

(Everything is canon with New Beginning!)

"The only criteria I judge by is interest. People that have a certain skill, the last members of a dying species, those who have performed awe inspiring feats, or those I just think they look interesting. Within me, they are kept in a state where they know and suffer nothing, like a long dreamless sleep. How often they're brought out to play depends entirely on how cooperative they are when I bring them out. Some long to be free, some deserve never to see the light of day again, some I offer, and some come seeking me out. There are advantages: they can't die, for I keep their time safely locked up. When I bring them back, they return to the state they were in when I first acquired them. They get to travel the universe and see amazing thing they would have never seen in their lifetimes. And they get to ride out the death of this multiverse is complete safety, whereupon I'll release them into the next one and go to sleep for a billion years. There's bound to be some new interesting things by that time."

[Philote]

(True  but this just makes some Timey Wimey stuff happen since Zauber was canon in NB anyways. Now he just exists in two states.)

"I'll have to keep watch on what exactly you snatch up. Especially those that do not need to be imprisoned. For now though, so long as you will cooperate with saving Zale, I will leave it alone."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Well, I promise to behave myself. We shouldn't have any problems."

Unless you do something absolutely delicious, it thought.

[Philote]

I pull out the pass the original Peter gave me and hand it over to the woman. "With yours that should be the second of the three passes we need and I believe one of my other allies managed to track down a pass as well. Is everyone here prepared to face the creature?"

[Ericus Europaeus (Bug)]

CONTENTS DELETED

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[Philote]

"With this many of us gathered, this operation should go smoothly once we actually get to the creature. If we can free Zale, that will be another on our side while we try for containment."

"Unless someone has an objection, lets head straight to the heart of this problem."

[Myself]

Shall I provide assistance here?

[Zaleramancer]

"Knock yourself out."

The sorceress helped the Vizier up, tossing the crystal she'd gained from a certain someone to Takai, before the three moved down one of the halls.

"This way, please."