Not Your Usual Element Role Play

[Marinan]

You begin in a border town. A rich, succesful, but not yet major center of commerce. The area is nonetheless strategically important to the 8 Factions. Secular Shrines to all factions are in the town while the Imperial and Religious factions maintain an uneasy peace.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn drew his hood tight as he entered the town. Usually he felt uncomfortable just meeting a stranger, a town had him going into withdrawl, he could hardly think for the noise, the smells, the sights. True-Breeze, the hawk, would not enter the town and was in the surrounding forest. Nahn headed immediatly to where the temple was, staying closer to the outside, not wanting to go near the large crowds. He came to the large temple of nature, glad that it was empty. He had no experience here, preferring the solitude of nature for his faith, and the temple amazed him. He silently sat, freeing his mind of everything but peace, and he began to meditate.

[dementedmongoose]

Waste slipped unnoticed into the town, careful to not let anyone see his face and headed for the Black Eye Tavern immediately. When he arrived, he leaned in close to the barkeep, Tom, and said quietly "I need two shots of mead, and a flagon of whiskey." Tom, recognizing the password that would give Waste entrance into the secret shrine of Forbidden Magics, jerked his head toward the back. "The privy is down the stairs," he replied, acknowledging the code. When Waste entered the dim temple below the tavern, he was not surprised to see several small meditation circles of people in black robes with flat white masks floating several inches above the ground, some with soft auras, and some without. Donning his own mask, Waste stood at the edge of one of the circles, and pulled his feet up, magic holding his weight at the same level as the others, and for a moment, the room became dimmer as yet another practitioner began sucking magic and life from the room.

[Marinan]

Meanwhile, the forest seems to come alive a moment after you got there. Tree spirits sprang to life, and fairies were everywhere. Nahn immediately saw that this was somewhat of an important place for the Nature Element. You feel more whole here than at any other place at any time.

Meanwhile Waste saw a strange sight in the Forbidden temple. There were three great divisions there, and over 150 men and women, divided into one third each, had their own rooms each to themselves. An oriental looking man seemed to float over to Waste, though he did not address him alone. "Aw. May I have your attention...I see that you have come, all. I am the head of the Order of Ulyaon, the Angry god. All new members are informed of the great controversy in our struggling faith, even our internal enemies...Ulyaon has fought a battle with foreign deities and held back the advance of their invasion of the Great Wheel. All newcomers are to be informed of the new division within us that came from the great war of the gods."

"It seems a prophecy from the gods, including Ulyaon foretells of a time when Ulyaon is bound the service of a great champion. This has caused dissention amongst us for obvious reasons. Ulyaon, great master of the Great Ravine cannot be forced to obey any mortal, according to me and other followers, yet others say that Ulyaon's great anger has finally subsided. There is even talk of Ulyaon's turning to the side of Good."

"Thus the aforementioned divisions in our religion is re-emphasized. The Great Master Ulyaon is said to be a benevolent god now. Now that he has decided on a whim to shelter innocent creatures from the Angry Ones. The temple to the right is the Temple of Good. The Temple to the left is the temple of Angry Ones. The Temple in the center follow Ulyaon as the god of Passion. These worshipers believe Ulyaon to be the original creator the world."

[Aerozord]

As per usual Ni stuck to the back alleys. However his reasons were unique. He was hunting, and sure enough thanks to his frail appearance two 'attackers' appeared. One of them spoke up, "now what do w-" Before the man finished he was grabbed by the face. His life quickly draining out of him. Startled his partner attacked using a downward slash of his sword but Ni deflected it with his free hand. Frightened and confused he attacked again, but this time his attack him the mark. Ni smiled, "what a cheap blade, only from that small tap it has rusted that much." Sure enough the rusted edge of the sword chipped on his body.

The man was frozen in terror as he casually gripped the blade. It quickly corroded and rusted. Ni turned slowly as the man he originally grabbed turned to dust. "Take solace, for soon you shall be cleansed and know the purity of death"

[Astral Harmony]

"Is it just me, or is the collection plate a little light this time?"
Erika spared a glance at the money in the offering plate. "I guess it is, but we did have less worshippers come today."

Tiffania made preparations for a light meal while Erika retreated to her room and dressed out of her robes and hat, slipping into something comfortable. It wasn't that the robes didn't feel good to wear, but after the songs and sermon and everything, they tended to feel somewhat heavier than they really were. "Great job today, by the way." Tiffania said when Erika reentered the chapel. "I don't know why they are preparing to replace you in a few days."
Erika nearly drained the full glass of water. "If there is a reason, it's most likely that they need me elsewhere." she sighed. "Well, I did tell them I would be readily available to transfer if they ever required me."

Erika finished quickly and got ready to leave. Tiffania worked quickly and came up with a small pouch which she turned over to Erika. "We always have enough to keep going, but when the offerings are light, we can't really help the homeless that much."
Erika refused the bag. "Save it for tomorrow. The inspector isn't here to have a look at the chapel and see if any repairs are needed. Anyways, I'm off to go and see if I can help the suffering in some other way."
"Take care, Erika."

Erika left the chapel and embraced the sun for the second time today. "I suppose I'll start at the orphanage first. I'm sure a few of them have scraped knees from all the roughhousing they do."

[Marinan]

At the temple of Life, Erika soon saw an odd sight. One of the oddest things that most people would see. A drakeman came into the temple carrying his staff, apparently in peace. "I've come to make a donation to the temple of Life." He grants the staff to Erika. "Please give this to the high priest."

"Nice work." A voice said somewhere. "Would you be interested in some, company?" The man was short, around five foot and seven inches. He had the look of an oriental man, in a blue robe. His swords were in his scabbards, and he had the look of being at ease. "I can promise interesting work for you." ::He had a scroll in his hands.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn relaxed, letting harmony flow through him. Despite the urban surroundings this was closer to nature than he had ever been before. He called out to True-Breeze, trying to get him to join him in this wondrous temple. As he hoped that the hawk would join him, he slipped into the powerful peace that his nature. He felt the quiet power of the trees, the innocent beauty of the flower, the noble strength of the bear, and a million other wonders of nature merged into one state of mind.

[Astral Harmony]

Erika accepted the staff with a respectful bow to the drakeman, then cast a questioning expression at Tiffania.
"You're the acting High Priest until my father...I mean, High Priest Kane returns a few days from now." Tiffania shrugged.
"I guess I just give this to him when he returns, then." Erika said, then bowed again. "Thank you very much. The temple deeply appreciates your generous donation."

Erika stepped back inside and out of earshot of the drakeman. "Although I'm not entirely sure what to make of this." She observed, raising the staff to look it over speculatively. "I've never seen a staff like this before. I wonder where he got it?"
Tiffania chuckled. "Don't say that. It sounds ungrateful."
"Well, I'm sure High Priest Kane would know what to do with this." Erika said, lowering the staff and then swinging it with gripping the neck and striking with the back end. "I'll bet anyone struck with this definitely won't forget it. Think that man intended for me to use it as a weapon?"
"If you're going to go clubbing people with that, make sure that man doesn't see you do it. He might decide to take back his generous donation."

[Marinan]

"I can hear you." The Drakman smiled. "I, Jatok have come 5,000 miles to bring this gift to you. It belonged to the great Pharoah Osiris, may he rest in peace. This staff is a powerful one. It grants the carrier of it the power of their magic in every swing. It also has the ability to do greater things, but Osiris never said what, and only used it in combat."

"There is also a matter that the High Priest of the Empire has asked me to find you,and more would be here in the Empire to champion the causes of the 8 Elements. The Champions are called by the gods to find them, and- he gulped. "Take them into their service."

[xravi]

Rajin looked up the grand steps that led up to the church and sighed. "So.......much.......walking." Rajin said, with his eyes closed wishing the pain away. He began walking up the steps and started whistling to pass the time. At first he whistled a tune that was used to commemorate fallen warriors in battle. After reaching the more difficult part he quit and began whistling a new tune. When Rajin finally made it to the church it felt like only seconds past, he opened the doors and walked though. He walked in a straight line until he stopped at the end of the church. "Wait what was I going to do?". Rajin found himself not really knowing why he came he and began walking back out. "damn, I wish I really knew why I cam up here."

[Astral Harmony]

Erika and Tiffania decided not to bother with keeping their voices low.
"Drakeman. Five-thousand miles. Staff I've never seen before. Direct command from the High Priest of the Empire. Champion of Life."
"And a direct command from the High Priest of the Empire." Tiffania pointed out. "Don't ignore it. Father wouldn't."
"Of course I'm not going to ignore it." Erika said, a little flustered. "Even if he was just an unfortunate leper who crawled in off the street with breath that reeked of liquor, if he claims to have a direct command from the High Priest of the Empire, I'm obligated to at least hear him out."
Erika, one hand on her chest, bowed lightly to the Drakeman. "Sir Jatok, was it? Acting High Priest Erika Shuvickni, at your service. I'm not exactly sure if I'm champion material, but if the Empire commands, I shall answer to my utmost ability."

[Marinan]

"You shall manifest greater power soon. Erika. All you need do is stare straight into the sun, and move it with your hands. You can do that now."

[Astral Harmony]

Tiffania smirked. "Stare straight into the sun, huh? I gotta see this."
Erika had her eyes to the skies. "You like seeing me suffer, Tiffania?"
Tiffania shrugged. "Your innocense brings on a lot of funny situations. As the daughter of High Priest Kane, I don't get many opportunities to have a good time."
Erika was blushing. There she was, just outside, raising her eyes and the strange staff to the sun with god-knows-how many people watching. It was pretty embarrassing. "Just have to focus..." she chanted, and with closed eyes and grit teeth, she put her mind into channeling whatever she could with this staff.

"Showers of the God's Divine Light, bathe us guideless sheep in the mercy of your love! Healing Rain!"

[Marinan]

A healing rain came upon all, and all were invigorated. Jatok sighed. "That will do I suppose, although the great Osiris used it to move the sun in circles." ::He smiled.::"Well, you have great power already, Erika, but with your growing abilities, you may soon become a greater threat to evil than the great kings of the East."

[Aerozord]

The temple of death was devoid of life, save for the church's patrons. The head priest joined Ni as he walked through the barren halls. "I am honored you would grace our humble church."
"I am merely a servant of the great gods of death. The only reason I continue to live is to show others the purity of lifelessness. Now are we ready to move?"
"With your arrival we are. Soon this will be another city of death. Free of pain and corruption."
"I shall make my way to the the center of the city. Once I am there I shall start our assult on the mortals."

[Astral Harmony]

Erika lowered the staff, truely convinced about all that Jatok had spoken.
"Hmmm. Moving the sun at all sounds...volatile. But I'm definitely for purifying evil wherever it may hide."

[Marinan]

Thats good. Because I feel a presence in the city. Someone is trying to start an invasion of death here."

[Astral Harmony]

"What?!" Both Erika and Tiffania exclaimed.
"What shall we do, High Priest?"
Erika looked thoughtful. "I'm actually kind of surprised that the temple of Death hasn't pulled a stunt like this sooner. Perhaps they no longer fear retaliation from the other branches."
Tiffania shook her head. "Should we be accusing someone just from the start? What if one of their agents is listening in?"
"In any case, regardless of the power contained in this staff, I don't think I can do this alone."
"You're not going to battle this evil force alone. You've got me backing you up." To demonstrate, Tiffania made a very brief display of her exceptional martial arts prowess. "Father would never forgive me if I simply let you go it alone."
"At any rate," Erika said to Jatok. "If the force can depopulate the whole city, it must be fearsome and powerful indeed. We'll do what we are able to do, but I don't think we'll get far into stopping this evil."

[Marinan]

"Perhaps I am wrong, but there's something definitely wrong in the city. Its as if two fundamentally similar forces are about to clash."

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn felt a disruption suddenly break through Gaeias harmony. A terrible force of death and destruction was stirring in the city. He was thrown from his timid wide-eyed state at the town by the vitality of nature itself. He gained the heightened eyesight of the hunter, the strength of the bear, the nasal capablilties of the hound, the hearing of the prey and was infused with these as desperation struck Mother Nature, and she infused him with her power. He immediatly summoned True-Breeze, along with most of the other nearby birds, to scan the town for danger. He tapped into the network of tree roots underneath the town, feeling for the signs of death. He stood and began to stride out of the temple. He didnt know what was coming, but whatever it was, he needed to be prepared.

[dementedmongoose]

Waste looked at the man calling himself a priest of Ulyaon. Unsure what to make of the man, Waste went with an age old decision when in doubt. He bowed respectfully to the man, and left. Once outside, a powerful anger overwhelmed Waste, and he turned, storming back into the Temple. When he saw the priest had disappeared, leaving everything as it had been, Waste's anger grew even more, and he could feel the powers he'd sacrificed nearly two decades perfecting grow, grow, GROW! His glowing red eyes fluttered out, quickly replaced with an eerie yellow-green glow, "Not even Ulyaon can stop me." Waste said, ripping his robe off to expose his blackened skin, drooped jaw, and melted flesh. "I am the new God of The Angry Ones! Ulyaon himself shall bow before me, and I shall make the earth tremble before me!" With that, every candle in the temple went out, throwing the entire place into pitch black, but at the same moment a bright red light spilled from the fallen jaw of the self proclaimed god, filling the entire temple, seeking out those who had been possessed of the faint auras before, examining their hearts, obliterating those who had good in their hearts, and drawing those with evil closer, promising them power, glory, and eternal life. As they drew closer, Waste sent the power lancing out at them, destroying them utterly, the strongest ones simply falling to the ground, while the weaker ones simply ceasing to exist, and the more intermediate suffered painful deaths as the power exploded inside them.

[Astral Harmony]

Erika took a moment to think, then turned to Tiffania with a raised eyebrow.
Tiffania folded her arms with a stern expression that reminded Erika that Tiffania was Kane's daughter. "Father would put us to work on clearing out any innocents from the danger zone, then sheltering and healing and protecting the wounded and defenseless. That's our role when temples go to war with each other."
"But what if it's not simply when temples collide?" Erika said thoughtfully. "We usually don't need a drakeman to unselfishly travel five-thousand miles hauling an ancient artifact around to deliver it to us because two temples have started scrapping again. There's something more to it, I think."
"Well, the temple sermon is done for today," Tiffania said. "Plenty of time to find out just what all this could mean."
"Great work, Tiffania. Could you please apologize to the orphanage for me? With these new developments, I won't be there to tell any stories or mend any booboos."
"Will it take that long?"

Erika smiled. "Drakeman. Five-thousand mile trip. Ancient staff. Command from the Imperial High Priest."
"Oh. Right. Well, at least try to drop by the temple to say goodbye before you leave for good. I'm off and you know where to find me when it's time to go to blows."
Tiffania bid Erika farewell and made off towards the edge of town. "Sorry about that." Erika apologized to Jatok. "We tend to be rather...chatty. So where shall we go to begin purifying the evil?"
Her smile wasn't assuring, even to her, but she felt she was ready.

[Aerozord]

At the same moment all the high preists heard the voice of Ni, "now". All could hear an inhuman moan as it began to build up. Those around Ni began to feel weak. The water in a near by fountain turned dark as the inner pipes eroded. One by one all those within sight of Ni and the various mages throughout the city began to fall. Their bodies drained of life as they crumble. Those sensative to life force could detect the life force being drained into their mouths

Soon after the city guard appeared. The approached with cation, unsure what was happening. Ni made a hand sign and began to chant. "All that grows whither, all that breathes fall silent, that which flies fall, that which swims sink, that which was built crumble, let all that lives die." He then extended his arms to each side and uttered the final word of the incantation, "decay". With that a wave of death and destruction was released. Stone collapsed, plants whithered, and flesh rotted. With him standing at the center. All those who had done the same heardhis voice. "Much of their guard is gone. Now let us return this land to how it once was. In the name of the great gods of death, whipe out all life and free this city of evil."

[42PETUNIAS]

My, everyone is feeling rather ridiculously powerful today, aren't they?



Nahn was suddenly hit by two waves, that if not for the fortification of Gaea, would have brought him into a catatonic state. The first, reaching through the nearby roots, a force so terrible, Nahn couldn't even begin to comprehend it, the mere thought of one who could harness that power was excruciating. It however was not harming nature, so Nahn was quickly swept back by the other. A terrible force of death destroying all of Gaea's nearby creation. Nahn felt nature dying, so close that he instinclively through up a wall of earth in front of him. Then thought took over, and he instantly brought natures might towards him. He summoned all his nearby resources immediatly. True-Breeze landed instantly on his shoulder, an eagle on his other, and several domestic birds nearby. An enormous bear lumbered out of the woods with the urgency that only belongs to desperation. Three strong wolves quickly followed. A pair of thick vines spurted out of the ground, covering Nahn in a thick, light, durable, case of thorny armour that moved with him, then retreating underground. A shield of strong wind surrounded these champions of nature, they felt nothing, yet anything just inches away from them would be ripped away by gale force winds. A field produced the pure vitality of nature around him, so powerful that as he strode towards death, dead plants would instantly burst into bloom.

He was more than a man, he was a vessel for Gaea herself, and nothing would stop her.

Two can play at that game

[xravi]

Rajin felt a terrible disturbance in the force, a force that was sucking life away from bodies. Rajin was knocked down but was in no way going to let himself die that easily. "And I'm off." Rajin ran out side running right to the cliff in which church was established on. He jumped off taking a shout cut from the great steps, he felt the air pressure around him increase, threatening to tear off the skin from his body. Rajin dropped closer to the ground, he stopped instantly before hitting the ground and killing him in the second. He used magic to get him self up right and ran off to where the disturbance originated. "Man, I love doing that." he said to himself, enjoying the experience of near death.


Godmoding much?

[Astral Harmony]

And then the next wave hit. Erika's eyes radiated bright blue light.
"I shall not let it come to pass."
While it came from her mouth, it certainly wasn't her voice. All the people who dropped were reviving.
"The people of this city just trying to live their lives. The priests and monks serving the Goddess Euraleen. The children and caretakers in the orphanage. The protectors of everyday life. My precious friend Tiffania. As long as I draw the divine breath of god, thou shalt not take them."
It wasn't exactly the power to move the sun, but it came pretty close. Tiffania managed to pull herself off of the ground onto her hands and knees and gaze upon the High Priestess Erika, using the staff to slowly but surely remove the death call that had suddenly gripped the city.
"Erika..." She breathed, and somehow discovered the strength to rise to her feet. Something had very nearly killed her, had very nearly killed everyone in the city without the proper level of resistance. The drakeman hadn't lied. Erika was a champion of Life and the staff had reached its new master in just the nick of time.
Unfortunately, Erika's supreme prayer wasn't able to reach the buildings that had been affected by...whatever it was that had just occured, and a number of people were buried, possibly dead. It was that thought which helped Tiffania get moving. "Someone help! We need to get the people out of the wreckage!" she said, already tugging free a smashed support beam from an obliterated tavern.

[Aerozord]

One by one they began picking off those strong enough to survived their combined assult. Fortunately those that survived were still weakened. Many had to shed their armor, and replace their rusted weapons. Much of the city was in poor condition. the spell they casted either caused the buildings to fall or put them in a very unstable state. However Ni had his own objective. He knew they could most likely sence his unlife as he approached. The place that would most likely have those that were completely unaffected. Him, two high priests, and half a dozen soldiers came up to the church of life.

[Astral Harmony]

"Sir Jatok, please get inside the chapel!"
Tiffania had given up the rescue work and joined Erika on the front steps, taking her combat stance. Erika affixed Ni with a gaze of pity.
"How could you do this?" She said, on the verge of tears. "These men, these women, these innocent children have done nothing to you and yours. How can you just butcher them with your magic and entomb them in their own destroyed homes? Have your gods consented to these maniacal actions?"
The staff she held throbbed with power and a weak glow built up in Erika's eyes. Quickly, several monks and two priests joined Erika and Tiffania.
"The goddess may show mercy for your attack on humanity, but I assure you that I shall not withhold my judgment." Tiffania said through clenched teeth.

[Aerozord]

Suddenly a soldier stepped forth "How dare you speak to the emisary of death in such a way" Ni held out his hand and the young man stopped. "I told you, do not address me as such. I never made any claim to that title. As for you woman. You are the ones that allow suffering to continue. To live you must kill. You must endure pain and suffering. If there was no life there would be no suffering, no pain, and no evil. Mortals are the true corruption, life is a blight on the planet and we shall cleanse it of your evil."

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn sensed he was coming close to the twisted force that was destroying this city. He sped down the streets, followed by an entourage that would create a nearly unstoppable onslaught. With the eyes of a pidgeon in the air, he saw a man, the man of death, the one who had caused this, approach the temple of life. Nahn knew little of organized religon, but what he did know was that these people only did good, and anything that would harm them must be stopped. He shouted, his voice amplified by his powers of wind, and carrying through the entire town. "In the name of Gaea, you are destroying life, and I shall stop you! You have brought death to the harmony that is this town! Before you, there was Gaea, and I shall see to it, that after you, Gaea shall be there!" And Nahn rounded the corner, seeing the group that was bringing death to the town.

[xravi]

“You speak of ending suffering yet, you are causing more suffering by doing so.” Rajin jumps into view making a flashy appearance by making a flash of light shown before he gets there as if he teleported in. “If you end what you call ‘evil’ then you also end what you call ‘good’. If you end both there is nothing, and without something to compel the world itself will die. You are attempting to upset the balance and I can not let you do that.” Rajin lifts up his hands and prepares to fight. “Yo.”

[Astral Harmony]

"Orders, High Priestess?" Tiffania ignored the soldier. Arguing with religious zealots who served Death topped her mental list of things one would just waste time trying to do.
Erika assumed her combat stance, feeling her whole body warm up from the staff she held in her right hand. "We can't let them harm the people we've taken inside to help. We have to hold this door or dozens of more innocent lives will be unjustly taken. Tiffania. Monks. You're with me. Priests providing support from the rear. With the real High Priest and the twin paladins gone, we're the only ones who can keep the casualties from growing further. The Goddess Euraleen will see us safe, I'm sure of it!"
Erika was flanked on her right by Tiffania the High Monk and two more in the thin fighting robes that the monks wore. Three more monks flanked on Erika's left. The three priests formed a spacious V formation pointing at Erika from behind.

[Aerozord]

"Your right, the world will die, and finally be at peace. As long as there is life there will be evil. Our way of killing causes no suffering. We merely remove life." After a moment he smirked. "Only one sixth of our force are here. So while most of our force is cleansing the city you come here to fight where the people have the best chance of surviving an attack. If your goal is to save lives then your tactics are flawed. Your not very bright are you?"

The others began to chuckle at their obvious oversight. "Oh and you two forget something rather important. The churches of life and death are polar opposites. In essence our magics dont work on one another. As they have a natural field of protection we have one of death. We dont need to win, we just need to stand untill our forces whipe out this city."

[42PETUNIAS]

"Natural protection, eh?" Nahn said, and with a hand motion all the nearby birds flew to a low circle over the forces of death's heads. The three wolves formed a triangle with the bear in the centre. "Oh, and this should help that door, the only thing i ask is that you make sure I don't die" And Nahn reinforced the door with strong earth and thick vines covering it.

"You speak of immortality, ALL IS BUT A BRIEF INSTANT AGIANST THE ETERNITY THAT IS GAEA! You speak of pain and suffering, LET'S SEE HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT YOURSELVES!" Nahn sent a torrent of fire at the soldier who had spoken, as vines reached up from beneath.

((OOC: I'm assuming we can't god mode on PC secondary characters, like your soldiers and the other priest. Please don't annihilate my animals the same way, cept most of the birds, feel free to bring the domestic ones down by the group))

[Astral Harmony]

"I'll hold the door," commanded Erika. "Tiffania, when and if those boys goes after our friends there, you and the monks go intercept. Two priests on healing duty for him."
"Hu-ah!" Tiffania huffed, and waited for the chance to strike. The two priests in the back broke formation and prepared to provide support to Nahn. Erika took command of the enhancement spells. "A kiss from an angel to grant ones body unyielding energy. Vitalize!"
Nahn rapidly felt like he was high on some kind of euphoric rush, removing any doubts and fatique he might have, allowing him to focus and put his best effort forward. Erika lowered her staff as the spell took hold. "He must be a champion, too."

[Aerozord]

ooc: ((yup, NPCs are under the control of the one that created them. But I hope you have this thought out. With no magical power the animals wont last long. Remember my character wasn't the only one sucking out life.))

The fire missed its mark. He held the whithered vine in his hand. "Physical contact excellerates our life draining abilities," Ni rushed to Erika "to the point even the champion of life cant go unharmed" He was no fool, always go after the healer. Combat 101

[Marinan]

Meanwhile, a strange force watches over the battle. Ni Hamorte feels a presence that seems to be a major source of his power. "Ni. You and the others must choose.....This is not another petty war over the Empire. This is for something greater. I would see you now..." ::Time stopped, and a portal opens for all, pulling them in like a great whirl pool. Death was waiting for them all. He smiled, and made a bow."

[Aerozord]

"I see, so the title they gave me was accurate after all. But I must ask, what choice is there? Death is the only end, the only way to acheive peace. Are you saying now is not the time to cleanse these people?"

[xravi]

“Are we dead? If so, stop killing people it’s over already.”

[Astral Harmony]

"If everyone is dead, what's the point of having achieved peace, anyways?" Erika said, being supported by Tiffania. The monks and priests were still there, though they weren't making any movements. "Not every chance of ending the wars between us has to involve weapons and killing, and it especially shouldn't involve butchering those who didn't even choose a side. You think it's just okay to snuff lives indiscriminately just because you think they all desire peace?"

[Marinan]

"Champion fighting champion is no longer the way now the gods wish to settle this. Foreign gods seek to conquer the world and existence. We are bound from interferring in the affairs of mortals barring extreme circumstances. Thus, we can only save our mortal children by being bound to the Champions."

[Astral Harmony]

"Hmmm. I wonder if the foreign gods were waiting for the church to split up before they decided to strike out against us?"
Erika stepped forward, bowing lightly. "Lord Death, I offer my services as the Champion of Life to the divine command of the gods."
"That's our 'just point me in the right direction' Erika," Tiffania said, getting the High Priestess in a friendly headlock. "If the fate of the world is on the line, you can count on this duty-bound priestess to throw in."

[xravi]

"I still have no idea what the hell is going on but, I still accept whatever I am suppose to accept. I offer myself as the Champion of Dual.”

[Marinan]

"Needless to say it would be too easy if I just offered my self here for Ni to have the power to summon me right now. You see, The Reaper is but an avatar for me. I, myself am elsewhere. Should you have any questions to ask, you but need activate an incantation in your minds you shall receive now."

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn realized that this was not the terrible force of death speaking to him, but the absolute power of the Divine, a neutral power, one that Nature needed.

"I shall offer my service as the Champion of Gaea."

[Aerozord]

"If the god of death wishes it, I shall stay my hand and work to destroy this new threat onto our collective churches."

[Marinan]

"Hopefully, Ni. Furthermore, please, Ni, understand that the Reaper is no longer a mere murderer. He kills because he must. Never forget that in your future revolutions."

[Astral Harmony]

Erika decided not to lend weight to Death's arguement. The last thing she wanted was the Champion of Death to become riled up. Then more people would die senselessly.
Tiffania released Erika and gave her a look. Erika knew what Tiffania wanted.
"Lord Death, might I be able to return to the city now? There are many people to pray for and bury and many wounded to heal and counsel."

[Marinan]

"Good. Then I shall make sure that this travesty shall end. I order the Death forces to rescind their attack."

[Tarrin]

Jaghadi had traveled for three weeks to get to this area of the world, he could smell the city, it's food people and garbage, the last made him wrinkle his nose.

The three thousand head of horses he had drove to this area would fetch a good price, he had traveled slow so as not to tire out the beasts, and now he had finnished corraling them.
Soon the men and warriors of this great city would arrive to purchase his fine animals, He had ofcourse kept the very best for himself and all but the one he now rode were back on his plains grazing.

Somthing tugged at his inner being however, something here was not right he could sence a coldness as though death it's self walked the earth, moments later the feeling subsided and warmth flowed once again into the young Khans bones.

A short time later Jaghadi was inundated with people wanting to buy his horses.

[Marinan]

Meanwhile there was much to be done. The new traveler had not learned of the God's War yet. Stalkers creep close by, spying on the Void Disciple.

[42PETUNIAS]

As Nahn was released, he looked around at the desolation that had been caused. He stooped over, and touched a small tuft of grass that had been withered by the forces of death, and instantly restored it to health. He stood, and raised his arms, the heartbeat of Gaea pulsing through him, and all nearby plants were restored to their previous vitality. He strode off, still pumping the vitality of Nature into the plants, and headed off to where the death had begun, repairing the plants as he went.

With a wave he dismissed his natural armour, along with the animals following the will of Gaea.

[Astral Harmony]

Erika clapped her hands as soon as she and Tiffania were released, which gathered the monks and priests. Her expression was critical.
"Tiffania, take most of the monks and join up with the current captain of the guard. I'm sure they're understaffed now and we don't want bandits and disease carriers in the city. Leave me a group or two to help gather the bodies that I couldn't save."
Tiffania nodded quickly. "Yes, High Priest."
Erika worked through her memory to come up with the name of the second highest ranking priest here. "Sister Marion."

Marion stepped forward and bowed lightly. "I am here, High Priest, at your service."
Erika affixed the young priestess with her steady gaze. "Take the majority of the priesthood and start healing. Children and critically wounded first. Women and city guard second. Men and slightly injured last."
"Forgive me for saying, but I think the city guard has its own healers."
"Yes, but not many, and we can get those people back to work keeping order much faster than they could. Though I suppose it means you won't have to take such a larger group."
Marion gave Erika a questioning look. Erika paused for a moment. "Just take how many you think you'll need, and if it's not enough, come back for more."
"It shall be as you command, High Priest."

"Now," Erika began, surveying the monks Tiffania didn't pick and the priests Marion didn't choose. "Time to figure out what I need for you all to do."
Tiffania had left Erika the strongest monk they have, and Erika had just the task for her, regardless of how distasteful it was. "Alvia, I know you're squeemish, but I need you to get to work reseting bones."
Alvia shuddered violently.
"Some of the buildings have collapsed. The rest of you monks are to try and save anyone who is trapped. Remember, do not risk your lives. The last thing we need is for one monk to try and play hero only to wind up trapped under the rubble with the one he was trying to save. Bring anyone you can save to the chapel. Alvia and I shall take care of them from there."
"Hu-ah!" The monks chanted simultaneously, then ran off. Erika turned to two priests.

"I want to be ready for a mass funeral by midnight. That means candles, torches, shovels. You're priests. You should know what is necessary. Please move now."
"Yes, High Priest."
"The remaining priests are to try and comfort as many as you can. With this many slain, I think a few people might find reason to end it all themselves. Monks, get with the other churches. You know, the ones that have public faces. See if we can get some help from them. After all, I'm sure they'll be offended if we simply took charge of all of this without even their consent. Not everyone killed here is one of our worshippers."

[dementedmongoose]

Waste composed himself, left the ruined temple, and found himself oddly drawn to a line of dead plants, which were quickly revitalizing in the wake of a man who was certainly possessed of natural powers beyond the scope of Waste's thought. Waste could literally feel the power emanating off him, to a degree Waste had only thought himself capable of. Approaching the man curiously, Waste tipped his hood closer over his head to hid his features as much as possible, but he couldn't hide the black helm he carried under his arm. "What killed all these plants?" Waste asked quietly.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn spun to face the cloaked man, he didn't feel quite natural, but then again, with all the death around, nothing did. "You do not know?! The Champion of Death sent his minions to destroy this town. Myself and the Champions of Life and Duality confronted him, however we were stopped by a being wishing us to confront other foreign gods, and to turn our agression away from each other..." ((Nahn doesn't have much of a concept of hidden evil, so he easily parts with this information)) Nahn paused, wondering where a person would have to be, and what they would have to be doing to not be alerted to the soldiers of death scouring the town. "How did you not know of this?..."

[Tarrin]

The people had gone as quickly as they had come, the young Khan had sold all of his mounts, most people claimed to be leaving this town and finding a quieter place, others claimed to need the mounts for business trips.

Whatever their reasons Jahgadi had a feeling of something watching him readying to attack, while the people were around anything would be silly to attack, but now with the crowd gone the heardsman was a prime target.

He was not unaware of his stalker however and pushed out his sences in anticipation of the battle soon to come.

[Astral Harmony]

"Kyaaah!" Tiffania's palm strike sent a rabid wolf back roughly thirteen yards. "Please forgive me, but you left me no choice."
"Haaah!" The guard captain's two-handed sword lashed out and cut down another of the beasts. "Run along back to your dens. The casualties here aren't for eating."

It started as a group guarding the gate. However, as the moments passed, the guard captain orders the others away so it was protected by Tiffania and him alone, with the support of a priestess in case they got hurt. They were enough to keep the gate protected from the local scum. "I hope Erika has a talk with that Champion of Nature," Tiffania complained. "Maybe they can arrange it so the carrion monsters will try to find dinner elsewhere."
"It doesn't mean we won't have to keep protecting the gate." The captain said. "Violent animals aren't the only things that would try to enter the city. Especially during this trial, we've got our work cut out for us."
"Ah!" Tiffania exclaimed.
"What?! Even more of them?" The captain reached for his sword.
"Nope. Just my father." Tiffania breathed. "As usual, he's days early again."

As Kane and the twin paladins arrived, Tiffania slammed her right fist into her palm and bowed to her father. The supporting priests bowed deeply with her hands clasped together. High Priest Kane smiled warmly as he and his guards approached. Then they saw the state of the city for themselves. "Tiffania, what has transpired here?"
"A large-scale wave of Death magic was emitted across the city roughly two hours ago," Tiffania started. "What you see is pretty much that. Erika...ergh, that is, the Acting High Priest has been trying to restore order. Most of us monks and some priests have been put to work helping the shorthanded city guard keep whatever order that wasn't lost. Most of the rest of us are either healing the ones who weren't killed or are preparing a big funeral for those who were."

Kane nodded his understanding, then turned to one of the paladins. "Assist them in keeping this gate controlled."
The paladin nodded wordlessly.
Kane was about to enter the city. "Where is Erika now?"
Tiffania pointed towards the Temple of Life. "She should still be at the temple. During the early moments after the death wave hit, we've put a lot of injured and weak people in there."
Kane and the paladin entered the city, carefully observing the destruction.
"What do you think?" Kane asked.
"For a death wave to hit, it doesn't seem as...all-encompassing as I would think." The paladin reported. "There must be something that your daughter has not told us. Perhaps something concerning Erika?"
"That's what I think, too. Something must have prevented the death wave from taking its full effect. There's not as many victims on the streets as one would think, nor are there many dead plants and animals. I wonder what happened?"

[dementedmongoose]

Waste was hesitant to divulge his real location at the time of the battle; Very few people in the empire believed that Forbidden elementalism was real, and the Empire didn't even recognize that they existed. "I was underground at the time, working on a tunnel... Wait... The Champion of Death was here?! Where'd he go? On second thought, what foreign gods?"

[Marinan]

(All PCs feel a strong pull to the abandoned temple a few miles outside the city.)

[xravi]

Rajin returned to the temple of dual, which remained unscarred from the wave of death, and explained what happened to the others there. “So now I am the champion of duality and I am going to do something for death.”

“I already knew that,” The high priest said “I saw you through a vision and really, you disappointed me.”

“How did I disappoint you?” Rajin said, talking back quickly.

“Well, you left without a word, you interfered in others affairs and you under took a task you did not understand.”

“A voice in my head told me to see what was going on.”

“Did the voice in your head tell you to take upon yourself as champion of duality?”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

Rajin and the high priest exited the temple and strayed at least 50 yards.

“Now focus the power of death in one hand and life in the other hand.” He ordered.

Rajin felt a need to protest but he did not and wordlessly did as the high priest told, his hands glowed one black and one white.

“Now intertwine both together.”

Rajin slowly put his hands parallel to each other coming together slowly. Rajin felt a sting of fear in his mind, knowing as he had tried this before. He gave in quickly putting his hands together resisting his doubt. There was a small explosion and smoke was emanating from Rajin’s hands, he shook out his hands trying to revel himself of the burning pain.

“Just as I though, you are not ready.” The high priest took off heading towards the temple.

“Where are you going?” said Rajin, as the other went away from him.

“You shouldn’t have taken that death wish, you can’t even combine life and death. Your mind is unbalanced, wild and untamed.”

Rajin watched as the high priest reenter the temple completely ignoring him.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn turned away from the strange cloaked man, feeling the pull towards an area outside town. He knew that this must be the avatar showing him where to go. "I'm sorry, but I must go. It seems I have been summoned." Nahn walked briskly away, then after a few metres, turned around to make sure he wasn't being followed.

((Im leading the forbidden, who wants to lead the void?))

[Astral Harmony]

"I think that takes care of all of them," Alvia said, whiping her brow. Erika didn't answer, looking at her staff. "High Priest Erika?"

Erika was gazing at the large sphere that decorated the staff Jatok had handed her. It showed a temple, supposedly abandoned, that she knew well enough. Medicinal herbs grew near it.
"High Priest Erika?"
"Ah," Erika exclaimed, and while turning to face the concerned Alvia, caught view of something more interesting. "Oh."
"Are you all right, High Priest?"
"High Priest Kane has returned. He's early as usual."
Alvia joined Erika in welcoming Kane back home. They were both a little alerted to the fact that Kane had only one of the paladins with him. "The other is assisting my daughter at the gate."
"Why didn't I think that first?" Erika noted, hitting herself gently on the head.
"Erika, if there isn't any further emergencies, may I speak with you privately?"
"Certainly, High Priest."

......

"And that concludes my report." Erika said with finality.
Kane took a brief moment to juggle all the information and the recent observation Erika has made. "I can take care of the funeral processes and everything else from now on, Erika. I would like you to try and find out more about what Jatok has spoken?"
"Yes, High Priest. Would you like me to summon him? I don't think he has left the city yet."
Kane waved his hand dismissively. "No, that's fine. I shall dispatch my other guardian to assist in the defense of the main gate so please ask my daughter to accompany you. That temple is no longer in use, but that does not mean it is uninhabited. I'm sure Tiffania will be a major help."

......

Tiffania welcomed Erika and the other paladin back at the gate. Erika relayed Kane's instructions to the high monk. "So we're finally going into that spokey old temple, huh? We always used to pick medicinal herbs around it, but we've never been in before. Remember that?"
Erika nodded. "Yes, that's how I recognized the image displayed in the staff as that temple. Anyways, do you feel up to it? I highly doubt it's been investigated recently, so we won't know what's down there."
"My father's training has turned me into one of the most powerful unarmed fighters in this entire city," Tiffania proclaimed, doing a few quick jabs. "And now that a real test of my skills comes up, I'm not about to back down."
Erika and Tiffania left the gate and veered towards the abandoned temple. "And besides, you're my best friend. If you're off to the mouth of hell to do battle with the countless legions of the underworld, then save some for me because I'm always good for one more fight."

The abandoned temple loomed over them. "If you want my guess, I'd say it goes pretty deep underground. What do you think we'll find down there?"
"My destiny," Erika breathed. "Jatok gives me the staff. The staff shows me this place. What else would be here?"
"Things that would like nothing more than to consume our flesh."
"Thanks for ruining my spirits before we even enter, Tiffania. Is this what being my best friend is all about?"
Tiffania shrugged lightly. "Just keeping you on your toes, Erika. Heads up. Look alive. Let's go in."

[dementedmongoose]

Waste felt the same pull that the nature elementalist had apparently felt. Apparently, though, the man didn't want company. Waste still had questions that needed answered, though, and the best plan seemed to be to stay out of sight and follow the man. When it became apparent that the man was in fact going in the same direction as the pull, Waste ran ahead quietly as possible, and found himself at a ruined temple. As he stood there, a strange urge convinced him to hide from sight behind a crumbling door.

[Marinan]

(O.k. Let me put it to you this way, each of your PCs not only feel the urge to go there, but they see it in their dreams, and the Elemental Energy they are championing pull them toward it as well, so you know you should go there.)

[Astral Harmony]

"We need some light, Erika."
"I can see that, Tiffania. Or rather, I can't see. ...Urgh, you know what I mean! Here we go."

Tiffania smiled as Erika began her spell. "The light shall no longer ignore you. Illumination."
While Erika's heart wasn't really into the chant, the light poured outward from the staff regardless, illuminating the area. Tiffania composed herself and surveyed their surroundings. "I don't see anything...but I sure can smell it. Animals. Monsters too, probably."
Erika stepped forward inside, raising the staff to spread the glow. "Well, I'm sure this place houses lots of wildlife. Bats, wolves, all that stuff. Make sure you're ready."
Tiffania cracked her knuckles and her neck. "I was ready to rock since this morning."

[Aerozord]

After giving the troops the order to disband Ni made his way towards the abandoned temple. "Already this place has the pressence of death and destruction. However it is still centuries before this place is returned to its natural state." After chanting for a moment he placed his hand on the temples outer wall "crumble" as the stone collapsed creating an opening. "Let us see whats inside" as he walks in.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn came to the abandoned temple, happy to be out of the city and closer to nature, but this place still had an unnatural feel to it. He stepped inside, and began to look for the other champions, so they could summon the being that wanted them here. He called on the power of Gaea and created a ball of fire in his palm to light up the surroundings. He thought he saw a light ahead, probably created by another champion, so he walked forward towards them.

((OOC: Seriously Armored, get your friend out of here. Tiffania isn't the champion, Erika is.))

[Astral Harmony]

"Damn it! Isn't there at least one item of some value still in this temple?"
"Dere's gotta be som'in' stashed 'way somewhere, ya? Jus' need more time ta find et."

"Scavengers?"
"I'd say they're probably centuries too late. Leave a temple alone for three days and it'll be picked cleaned by adventurers before they realized it's just being fumigated or something."
The second speaker, who quite possibly had less brain cells than he did teeth, turned to face the two women observing them. "Who dat dere?!"
The first speaker as well as four other degenerate folk all looked in where the first guy was pointing with his clearly stolen axe.
"Well," the only female in the group who was also probably the smartest of them spoke up through a scratchy voice. "Judging from the style and color of that girl's clothes, I'd say she is a Temple of Life monk. The other girl probably is, too."
Tiffania drew attention to Erika. "This is High Priestess Erika of the Temple of Life."

"Think they've got any money or food on them?" The first speaker asked.
"Probably not," the woman said. "Those dumbassed bleeding hearts are always putting the whole damn world before themselves. They'll starve themselves and live in proverty if it means an orphan won't go hungry for a night."
Tiffania nodded. "Yeah, but regardless of how much that's true, at least we don't become desperate enough to try and raid temples that have been looted since maybe when humans first discovered dirt."
The first speaker stood up and drew his cracked, unpolished sword. "Well, let's not make this a total waste. Drop them and search them for valuables. I'm tired of eating black loaves of bread that you could use to hammer nails down."

Erika and Tiffania assumed their stances. "We probably could have avoided fighting them, you know." Erika chided.
"Sure, we'll just walk right around them. I'll sure they'll let us go through until we have our defenseless backs exposed for them to plunge their rusty knives into."
"Always the cynic." Erika grinned.
"They look like amateurs." Tiffania observed. "This might be a good time to see if I mastered my own triple backspin knuckle."
"Remember your father's words, Tiffania: never underestimate any opponent, even if they have been clearly defeated."

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn heard several voices from up ahead, then saw the two priestesses. It seemed they were being threatened by a group of grave robbers. He rushed into the room, and seeing the theives draw weapons, he drew his own mace, and enlarged the fire in his hand, preparing to throw it if necessary. "I've got your back"

[Astral Harmony]

Tiffania spared a brief glance behind her. "Hey, isn't that the Champion of Nature?"
"Oh, really? I guess I wasn't the only one invited to this party."

The fight was brief. Erika's supportive role was crucial to keep Tiffania performing her deadly dance of fists and feet with supernatural vigor. They weren't well equipped, nor were they even slightly motivated when it came to blows.
"That took about twenty seconds. My abilities must be getting dull."
"Sparring with fellow monks'll do that." Erika responded.

Tiffania whirled around to face something coming up behind Nahn, then lowered her fists. "Father sent you, too?"
It was another monk, this one having dark violet hair and glasses. And she looked like she sprinted all the way from their temple.
"What's wrong with you, Alvia? You look on the verge of a freakout."
"Tiffania, one of the monks brought in someone who needs immediately surgery!"
"Yes, and? My father taught me everything I know about it. Can't he do it?"
"I tried looking for him but he isn't around at all and the local doctor is dead! Please, you have to come save him!"
Tiffania raised her hands to try and calm Alvia down. "Okay, okay, relax."
"Go take care of it, Tiffania." Erika urged. "There can't be any more victims."
"Yeah, I'll deal with it. You just stay out of trouble until I get back, okay?"

Alvia led Tiffania out of the temple, leaving Erika with Nahn. "She might be stuck with the patient all night, and I don't think I can just leave and come back tomorrow."
Erika moved over to one of the looters and got to work on healing the major wounds.
"Ow. Hey, that hurts."
"Don't move or it's not going to heal right."
"Why're you trying to help me, anyways? We tried to kill you."
"The goddess wouldn't abandon you and your party here to die. I shall not, either. I only hope that you learned a lesson."
Judging from the damage Tiffania had done to these people, Erika knew it was going to be a small while before she was done.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn relaxed, moving away as the scavengers fell. The battle ended far faster than he would have imagined, his services weren't even needed. "When you're done healing, should we use the incantation we were given to summon that avatar? Or should we wait until more champions assemble?"

((OOC: Thats good that you're alone now, but feel like letting me in on the action next time? I was all ready to kick ass and stuff...))

[Tarrin]

One moment Jaghadi had been sitting pushing out his sences to find the stalker he could feel watching him, the next he was dumped uncerimoniously onto the hard floor of the temple.
Looking around he could see people engrossed in conversation, sliping back into the shadows a little he waited to hear what the people ahead were saying before he made his presance known, his only downfall to this plan was the fact that his steed also had come along with him, keeping something as large as a horse quiet was ney impossible and so the hoof falls echoed thru the temple.

Looking towards the people he waited for them to take the first move.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn heard a loud hoof clatter against the ground, and began to see an outline of a man, and what his link with nature told him was a horse. He didn't feel very close to horses, or for that matter, any domestic animals, so he couldn't tell much from the horses mind, other than the fact that it had just arrived- nay, teleported into the temple. "Who goes there? Are you another champion?"

[Astral Harmony]

"Don't worry, you can just go ahead. I think I'll be here awhile."
It wasn't what Erika wanted to say, which was to ask what Nahn had meant by an incantation. Maybe she would have to leave the temple for now and try to find out what that meant.
Erika didn't particularly care about the sounds of hooves. She just wanted to get these people healed and then figure out just exactly what all the gods wanted. She was getting exhausted and it was even starting to affect her mood. The work she put into the morning sermon was bad enough, but then Ni had to do what he did and the hands of every temple of Life practitioner were heavily tied up. Everyone did more than their fair share of work. That was the most strain Erika had put into anything since the first big examination at the temple to achieve the rank of High Priest. Hopefully, the temple didn't go too deep before she found some answers.

[42PETUNIAS]

((OOC: This incantation Should you have any questions to ask, you but need activate an incantation in your minds you shall receive now.))

Nahn turned towards the preist "The Grim Reaper told us of a incantation we could activate to summon it. I believe that it is probably installed in our subconcious now." He then turned back to the dim outline, then created a ball of fire in the air, and slowly moved it towards the figure to illuminate him. "Don't be afraid, I'm not attacking you, only illuminating you"

[xravi]

Rajin walked into abandoned temple with his night eye spell activated so that he would not alert anyone inside. He had an urge to come here like something told him too, like before when he went and met death's avatar. His eyes glowed with a faint light showing him the way through a tinted vision. He saw a horse and slowly sneaked up. Rajin also saw the man near his horse seeming to wait for something. Rajin decided to wait also, he backed up and hid in the dark. After hearing a familiar voice he went over to it and shown himself. "I'm here also, not with him though."

[Tarrin]

A third person joined the group infront of him as the floating ball of fire drifted towards him, each of the group felt different from normal people each had a power though he could not tell what it was he knew that they were alikend to himself.

"I am a champion of sorts" the young khan was a champion to his family for the food he bought to the table and to his people for the prosperity he bought to the lands, So it was no lie.

"Who are you all and what is this place?" His quisical expression now visible in the glow of the fire, not knowing this group he held his hands palm forward so as to show them empty, he did however form a small void hole at his back should the fire be used as a weapon.

It was at this time that a voice spoke to him, "Master the people infront of us are champions like yourself" the djinn who was part of him continued "We have been called here by the gods themselves, and more are on their way".

The other that shared the Kahns being stepped back once again allowing Jaghadi to take in the scene infront of them.

[Astral Harmony]

"Hmm."
Erika snapped her fingers and summoned a book from thin air, catching it and glossing through it quickly. The incantation was clearly written.
"Ah, you're right, Lord Nahn. I see it."
She worked her mind over the pronounciation and, when finished, simply tossed the book over her shoulder. It vanished as it began to descend.

All the major injuries the scavenger party had sustained were taken care of. They were still hurting, but would recover soon. Erika decided not to wait around. "Shall we get moving, then? I should get back to my temple before too late and I don't want to have to wait until tomorrow."

[42PETUNIAS]

"You must be the last champion chosen by the avatar, the champion of the void. Shall we wait for the champion of death, or summon the avatar now?"

[Astral Harmony]

"We should probably go ahead and try the incantation now," Erika suggested, looking somewhat as tired as she felt. "He might already be here and just didn't want to be with the rest of us."

[42PETUNIAS]

"Then let us summon the avatar." Nahn said, and begun the incantation.

[Tarrin]

Avatar, champions, death... it was all very confusing for the young khan, now they wanted him to incant something?

"It is ok young master" the voice piped up again "this avatar that you summon shall be able to answer your questions" Jaghadi shook his head and decided that his inner voice had never lead him astray before, he moved over to the rest of the people to see the written script.

[Aerozord]

They heard a voice from the darkness. "The specter of death is always present, but rarely seen. Just because you cannot tell I am near doesn't mean I am not." He came towards them. "However I will make this clear, I am doing this out of the gods orders. For whatever reason he wishes you to live and for me to aid you. I will help keep you alive for now, but beware once our tasks are completed."

[dementedmongoose]

Waste had seen enough. These people all radiated with the same power as him, and they were called "Champions." So that's what Waste must be. Quite surprised that nobody had noticed him thus far. They'd certainly sensed one another, but how could they have not sensed him? Oh, right, they didn't know what to sense for. Fortunately for them, Waste was too impatient to hide for any longer. Stepping out of the shadow, Waste's glowing red eyes became very apparent under the pitch black of his hood. "For seven people who want to avoid being followed, six of you are terrible at countersurveillance."

[42PETUNIAS]

"You must be the last champion to come. Then you must have followed me here. What element do you represent?"

[Astral Harmony]

"It doesn't matter what his element is," Erika interrupted. "He's here and he's a Champion. That's all anyone should care about. Now, if we're all here, could we begin the incantation to summon the Lord of Death, already?"

Erika's irritated expression softened. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just been a really long and really trying day. I'm so exhausted that I'm considering camping inside the temple for the night. Please, let's just get this over with."
And with that, her incantation began.

[42PETUNIAS]

Nahn joned in with his incantation.

((Nice save Armored))

[Marinan]

"The god appeared.::

::Suddenly, they were all whisked away into another plane.::

"What questions have you?"

[Astral Harmony]

Erika decided to get the ball rolling. Was the Goddess Euraleen the only one who didn't pull people into their plane of existence just to hold conversation?
"Foreign Gods are come to claim our world for their own purposes. Our gods find their intentions to be of the most malicious nature and have handpicked us, the Champions of the Elements, to become their blessed Godslayers."

She scratched her head nervously. "Unfortunately, that's about all they said. Well, that's all they said to me at least. We lack direction. Is there any possible way you can aid us in finding the path towards our destinies?"

[Aerozord]

Closing his eyes and folding his arms, Ni did what he could to hide his annoyance. Joining with forces that contradict his beliefs was not a comfertable situation. "With all due respect great god of death, this would be far simpler if you simply told us who or what needs purified."

[Marinan]

"Ah. I see. Yes. You must understand that this temple contains wormholes which lead to each of the Champion's destination they require to advance to in order to retrieve their precious gods. However, once a wormhole is activated, all the others close. Thus, all of you must decide which wormhole to go to first."

"You must understand something else. Even being able to summon gods will not make your quests pieces of proverbial cake. They have been away from the planet for so long that to manifest a presence there, further work must be done. However, I will explain more about that later."

[Astral Harmony]

"What do you mean by 'retrieving gods?'" Erika was having a hard time making her brain work through her tiredness, but she tried to get the information she needed anyways. "So you mean that there's some kind of divine powers that we are meant to retrieve in each of the wormholes that can be activated from here?"

Erika faced the other champions. "I can imagine that we'll be facing some pretty big trials on the other side of those wormholes. And if that is the case, I'd like to wait until after I've had a long, good rest and a hot, uplifting breakfast. I'm in no condition to go searching unknown and possibly alien terrain for something that could be protected by monsters no other group of people could possibly hope to defeat."

[Aerozord]

"To think the champion of life tires. I would have thought your powers would prevent you from tiring." Ni began walking towards the exit. "However I understand your need for rest. Although I do not need physical rest, I find no disadvantage in resting my mind. My god is already on our side, but I will aid you in obtaining yours. If you need me I will be outside feeding." With that he walked a few hundred yards into the forest. After getting a meditative position the life around him began to die as he began draining it their life away.

[42PETUNIAS]

"The Champion of Light is right, we must rest. But first we should decide which God to retrieve. Then we can set up camp here."

((Edit: Damnit, ninja'd by Aero. I guess he won't be able to help in the decision making then.))

[xravi]

Rajin crossed his arms and said, "When you say retrieve gods you mean get their help right? It would be really inconvenient if they were sealed away by the foreign gods or something like that."

[Astral Harmony]

Armored Bishoujo: "I'll just go ahead and post everything Erika experienced up to next morning so I don't bug everyone with several smaller posts that probably mean nothing."

Erika sighed as Ni left. "I can keep my body going just fine. But the mind is something different. Not even the highest level priests can do anything with mental exhaustion or other conditions. If we could, there probably wouldn't be any mental institutions in the world and no practitioners of Life would ever need sleep."

The priestess departed as well, meeting up with the returning Tiffania.
"So, how'd it go? Were you able to take some steps into your destiny without me?"
"I intend to leave bright and early tomorrow. As for now, I'm looking for a bed. Just any bed to collapse into."
"Do you want me to carry you back to the city?"
"God, I don't look that pathetic, do I? I hope I don't show these weaknesses when we're sent off through those wormholes."
"Mmm?"
"Nevermind, I'll talk about it during breakfast."

And the next morning...

Erika stood facing the front of the Temple of Life. High Priest Kane, his monk daughter Tiffania, the senior monk Alvia, the senior priestess Marion, and the twin paladins Edna and Flou were outside the temple to see Erika off. Tiffania was the first to wish Erika farewell with a hug.
"Make sure to bring me back a souvenier."
"Sure. And tell me when you finally meet a cool boyfriend that you don't want your father to know about because he still thinks you're too young for a serious relationship." Erika smiled.
Tiffania's cheeks became rosy. Kane frowned. "I heard that."
Erika mocked surprise. "Oh, you're here as well, High Priest? I didn't notice you standing right next to Tiffania."
Kane was next with his fatherly hug and words of encouragement...which came after his sudden announcement.

"Rebecca arrived last night."
"What?!" Erika was taken aback. She quickly looked around her as Kane continued speaking.
"She's no longer in the city. She said she had to move on to her next job."
"She didn't say anything about the job, did she?"
Kane ran over the short conversation the two had in his mind quickly. "Well, she slipped up and mentioned that the job was asking for 'pretty girls' who wanted to earn a quick coin."
That helped Erika some. "I guess I'll find her someday. But why didn't anyone wake me?"
"You didn't go to sleep," Tiffania explained. "You quite literally passed out. I was worried for a little while."
"Ah."
"Also," Kane added. "You have worked dutifully here for a half year. Don't you think it's time to go visit your mothers?"
Erika nodded. "Like Rebecca, it shall have to be on the road. I don't think I'll have time to do anything like that unless one of the wormholes happens to send me to my hometown."

Marion was next.
"You're Acting High Priest again, Marion. Sorry about being sent here and robbing you of the title temporarily."
"It's all right," Marion said. "I guess I'm just jealous because you came about your power so easily and I had to work so hard to get where I am. And now you're the Champion of Life. Imagine that."
"I'll try to give recognition for all that I'm able to accomplish out there to you. After all, you were the one who helped me really come into my own powers."
"Good luck to you, Priestess, and never let the mercy the goddess has taught you be forgotten."

Erika embraced Alvia next. "Alvia, try to get over your fear of seeing blood. You'd be a really great monk if you just got over that silly inhibition."
"I'll try. I doubt I'll succeed, but I'll try. Good luck to you, Erika."
Erika nodded, then looked to the paladins. "Keep the generally good mood I've put here alive."
"Do the Goddess Euraleen's good works, Champion of Life." They spoke simultaneously while saluting.
"Get going, now." Kane said. "You wouldn't want to keep the Champions waiting. Nor would you want to keep your goddess waiting."
"Yes, High Priest Kane."

Erika hurried out of the city and toward the "Wormhole Temple" as she called it with the waves, tears, and blessings of her friends in her wake.

[Marinan]

"What I mean to say is, is that you shall begin to gain the powers to summon the gods to your side."

[42PETUNIAS]

Assuming that this is all over, Nahn walks out of the temple and sleeps under a tree, out in the wild where he is most comfertable. Now that he is truly out of the city, True-Breeze joins him again that night. The next morning they both come back to the abandoned temple.

[dementedmongoose]

Waste listened to all this, watched people leaving, and found himself wondering what in all the hells was going on here. Realizing he wouldn't get any answers, Waste decided he should properly introduce himself to the remainder. "Well, you seem to know one another. My name is Waste, champion of the Forbidden. I think we should definitely save my plane for at least fifth. There are creatures in there you'll wish you'd never known existed."

[42PETUNIAS]

((OOC: Due to the fact that everyone sort of left in a weird way while it was still being discussed which plane to go to, let's just assume it's morning now, and continue on.))

Nahn woke up, feeling refreshed from the strange events of the day before. He went to a nearby creek and drank, ready to start the day. It was still early, so he decided to hunt for some food that he could store in his pack. He used True-Breeze to find him prey, in this case, a large rabbit, and stalked it. He then killed it with the short bow strapped to his back. He skinned the rabbit, and after skinning it, he lit a small fire to roast the meat. He ate some, and wrapped the rest in some large leaves and put it in his pack. He then travelled to the temple, arriving there only a few hours after dawn.

[Astral Harmony]

Erika looked so refreshed that she was almost radiant with life when she returned.
"Well, if we're entertaining votes, I vote that we travel to the plane of the Goddess Euraleen that I serve. Not that I think she will be the easiest to "retrieve" or that we'd be better off if she was secured first, but...if the gods are in trouble...I'm just really worried about her."

[Aerozord]

The chapion of death re-entered the area. "Are all the deciples of life this bias? We should pick the god who would be most able to assist us. Since we do not know who is more difficult, or even if there is a differance. I personally think forbidden would be of greatest help. However judging by how even its champion does not wish to enter I worry your fears will make you useless in battle once we enter."

Back to where he was resting. Within a twenty foot circle all was dead, Ni had eaten well.

[Marinan]

::The presence in which stalked the mongol like traveler could not be felt by any champion. It stared intently and efficiently, doing its work until it was ready for the champions to do theirs. An old chandelier which was still lit in the old temple could be seen. Elven gifts to the temple in which no one had removed before they left the old place.::

[xravi]

Rajin spent the night near the temple there, he did not really care where he sleeps. He soon entered the temple and shared his thoughts. “I believe that the power of duality would be helpful but, really I would assume that the powers that are the most useful would be the most difficult to obtain so, we should start off with the least useful.” Rajin backed up to the wall and closed his eyes. “We just try to save the weakest gods first, what with them being weak and all.” He then looked up to Erika's face with a his hand on his own mouth, trying to restrict himself from saying something he would regret.

(OCC: Sometimes you got to laugh at your own mistakes,that was one of those times.)

[42PETUNIAS]

"I second that we travel to the realm of Life. We should not pick that which helps us the most, but that which is easiest, so we can easily complete the quest, and use the help of the gods to finish more difficult quests. The realm of Life sounds the easiest to me."

[Tarrin]

The realm of life had the majority of votes that was for sure, The other presence within the young Khan had said little during their conference with the avatar.

During that meeting the Avatar had somehow spoken to Jaghadi and informed him of all he wanted to know, it had been placed within him like a stored library of knowlege. "Where ever we decide we must hurry" he could feel once again the eyes on him though he could not locate from where the feeling came.

"I have a feeling that agents working against us are soon to be apon us" THe feeling rang true to Jaghadi.
"Yes my friend i feel it too" the other within the young Khan announced "You and this group must relese the power to summon us to your side, It may be the only thing to stop this coming shadow" a certain word caught Jaghadi's attention but he decided to let it alone for now.

[42PETUNIAS]

"I hear no more objections to the realm of light... Shall we got there then?"

[Marinan]

(Please do. And that's o.k. You feel something, since I don't argue often, but you don't know if its really even there.)

The portal opens in the enclosed garden. Pulling all the Champions in.

You fly through this blue, magical looking tunnel, and then land safely in a large, tropical area.

[xravi]

Rajin slowly floats down and lands on his feet after being flung by some kind of a portal. He looks around seeing that things looked different then he thought it would be. “Wait, isn’t the realm of life in the clouds with rainbows and floating landmasses in the sky? Also where are the crystal like formations with those crazy symbolic statues?”

[42PETUNIAS]

((OOC: I think the two have been rendered interchageble. But yeah, I think it is life.))

Nahn landed safely, and looked around at the tropical area. It certainly felt differently than the forests that he was used to. He wasn't quite sure if it was because it was a tropical area, or because they were in the plane of life. He decided to check by attempting to exercise his will over a nearby tree. He attempted to make it grow larger with his powers.

((So just tell me if it works or not Marinan.))

[Marinan]

The tree grows considerably.

[42PETUNIAS]

((Please))

Nahn smiled, satisfied. He then sat down and meditated, beginning to feel the will of Gaea in this strange place. He decided to continue until all the others grew accustomed to this new place. Then True-Breeze came out of the portal and landed on his shoulder. Nahn nodded, and then began to sense around for other animals nearby.

[Marinan]

(Massive rumbling could be heard far away. It sounded like there was a fight going on. Roars and falling trees wrecked the country side not too far away.)