The Coming of Shadows

[batgirl]

Jun had noticed that the man she had been talking to was short on money. He looked rather despaired, probably not wanting to wash dishes for the night. Jun dropped the remaining coins for his drink on the counter. "Don't worry about it, no one wants dishes back there, you don't know what's been on them." The man gave her a puzzled look. "You'll just owe me now is all," she extended her hand to him, "I'm Jun."

[Astral Harmony]

Location: Alkadian Fields South, 20 miles from the border between Gelti Empire and Non-Commital Zones

Clitonna: "Well, I certainly didn't expect this."
Lilemi: "We'll be okay, right?"
Grant: "I only see them. Perhaps they came here alone?"
[Clitonna, Lilemi, and Grant stood at the base of a series of cliffs, their weapons drawn when they saw none other than Ashgand and Ferra at the top of the same cliffs, also ready to do battle.]
Ashgand: "Clitonna, I think you need further training."
Clitonna: "Did you come all this way just to give me a lesson? I'm flattered, but where's your brain? You could have lead the enemies right to me."
Woman's Voice: "Yes, he did."
Grant: "Who's there?!"
[A woman, dressed in a black, functional dressed, slowly stepped into view, along the middle of the cliffs, carrying a long saber.]
Chocolate: "He was very cautious, though. If I didn't have the abilities of a Vampire, I am certain that I would have been found."
Ashgand: "Who're you? I didn't give anyone authority to join me in battle."
Chocolate: "Since when do I need the permission of a traitor to get involved in a fight like this?"
Ashgand: "What're you talking about?"
Chocolate: "Poor CO Chalmers, too altruistic for his own good. It was a shame that I had to deal with such a kind soul, but it had to be done. There is to be no forgiveness for betraying the Gelti Empire."
Ferra: "You killed CO Chalmers?! You pale-skinned BITCH!!"
Man's Voice: "Hey, I resemble some of that remark."
Grant: "Is that...?!"
[Fugurd stepped out, gothically dressed as ever, his spell book open in his right hand.]
Chocolate: "Fugurd, what are you doing here? You need not get yourself involved in this battle, though I do welcome your assistance."
Fugurd: "Clitonna, the lives of the Shock Falchions is of less import to the Emperor than the return of the Ebony Twilight."
Clitonna: "Clearly."
Chocolate: "What's the meaning of this, Fugurd?"
Fugurd: "Poor, deluded sister. There are indicators of my actions. You remember when I handpicked all the members of the Shock Falchions myself? How about when I worked extra hard to keep Clitonna on the team? There's a great power within that girl. You can see it clearly by the sword that she carries."
Chocolate: "I don't understand."
Fugurd: "Someone is watching Clitonna very closely. While the Emperor would simply see Clitonna's head promptly separated from her shoulders, the watcher would rather see Clitonna's destiny fulfilled."
Chocolate: "So you won't let me simply take her, will you?"
Grant: "Fugurd, what the hell is going on?"
Fugurd: "I'll explain it all later, friend. First off, we need to drive Chocolate away."
Ferra: "She's already gone."
Lilemi: "CLITONNA!!"
Ashgand: "Hmm?"
[Lilemi kneeled down by Clitonna's prone body, on the verge of desperate tears. Leeping down whole cliffs, Ashgand dropped close to her body, Grant, Ferra, and Fugurd close behind.]
Lilemi: "Damnit, Clitonna, please wake up! What's wrong with her, Fugurd?!"
Fugurd: "A vampiric sleep spell."
Ferra: "Is that it?"
Fugurd: "Let's get Clitonna to the Non-Commital Zones. I can take care of her there. Ashgand. Ferra. What will you two do now?"
Ashgand: "We're branded as traitors just like they are and just like you will be very soon."
Fugurd: "I don't mind. Grant, can you carry her?"
Grant: "Sure thing. She's not a lightweight like Ferra but she's definitely easy to carry."
Fugurd: "Excellent. Ashgand. Ferra. Lead the way. Lilemi and I'll bring up the rear."
Ashgand: "Sounds good. All right, you heard the man. We're going to the Non-Commital Zones."

[Flarecobra]

"Um, no, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Kazi said.

[Ryu Kurai]

"Um, well, you look a little pale and you have ssssome blood...erm, never mind." Kirrass says, then getting tired of speaking in the basic language and flipping into a long stream of draconic. *"Heh, how could I be so lucky? I'm actually talking to a human! Too bad it looks like she's gonna die soon."* He then looks at her again. "Well, I sssshould get going. I do have to find a place to sssspend the night, you know." He says, turning around and tail knocking the empty glass off of the bar. He turns around quickly, lookign around. He then focuses on Kazi. "Hey, are you OK? I heard some glassss break." He says.

[Kuffie]

As Coyoto headed Back west he noticed that it was mid-night (by looking at the moon) <just great I'll soon become weak better hurry > as he did he saw two bandits attacking a man < well I'll see the marusume's powers> he pulled the sword out the sword went from a shining black to a pale white he swong at the biggest one he looked lke he had the blood drained from him the sword went to a pale red the second ran away Coyoto entered the tavern < there she is !> " umm excuse me," he asked "I have some questions I need answered," he said to the pale woman

[Astral Harmony]

Location: Ruins of a Shack, Non-Commital Zones

Lilemi's Voice: "Onna! Clll...na! Clitonna! C'mon, wake up, please!"
Clitonna: "Mmm...hunh?"
Lilemi's Voice: "Yes, you're awake! I'm so glad!"
Clitonna: "Agh, get off me! My arm's asleep, that hurts!"
Lilemi's Voice: "B-b-but...!"
Grant's Voice: "Let Clitonna wake up some, Lilemi. Then you can snuggle."
Clitonna: "Snuggle?"
[Clitonna wakes to find herself in a bed that hasn't been taken care off for some time but is still miraculously functional. Lilemi slips out of the bed from next to her. Grant is shoving what appears to be an old bookshelf to the side to support the unstable roof. Ferra is sleeping in a chair. What exactly is going on?]
Clitonna: "What exactly is going on?"
Lilemi: "That woman..."
Grant: "Her name's Chocolate."
Lilemi: "Yeah, well she placed a sleeping spell on you, but Fugurd fixed you up."
Clitonna: "Fugurd?"
Grant: "Yep. The whole gang's here, Clitonna. Ashgand is out, keeping an eye out for Geltis who'd sneak across the border. Fugurd is right outside."
Clitonna: "Remind me to thank him...as well as all of you, for sticking with me."
Grant: "Aw, you don't need to do that. We all got our reasons for going against orders...and duty...and paychecks..."
Lilemi: "Grant!"
Grant: "I'm just kidding! But you know, I do have a point. It's obvious that we aren't going to earning anymore cash."
Ashgand: "That shouldn't be a problem. I brought a considerable supply of ready cash in case something like this would happen."
[Ashgand walks over to Ferra and wakes her up...the Clitonna's surprise, by kissing her. Ferra awakens and kisses Ashgand ever more, then stands up.]
Ferra: "Time for my shift? Oh, Clitonna's awake!"
Ashgand: "You can talk to her later, Ferra. Go take care of the watch for me."
Ferra: "You got it, sir."
[As Ferra leaves, Ashgand turns to look at Clitonna, and sees her expression.]
Ashgand: "Which looks rather humorous, I might add."
Clitonna: "Hunh?"
Ashgand: "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking out loud. Yeah, Ferra got me. I wasn't myself that night, I..."
Clitonna: "I don't mind, Ashgand. Just as long as you make her happy like someone is making me happy."
Lilemi: "Oh, Clitonna."
Clitonna: "Let it go for a bit, Lilemi. My arm's still sort of asleep. What's our plan, Ashgand?"
Ashgand: "I don't really know. Without the governing of either the Free Alliance or the Gelti Empire, the Non-Commital Zones can prove to be rather lawless. We could make our worth hunting the local criminals. In light of that, I've been hearing about a rather disturbed tavern that's just recently come across some bizarre and perhaps unsavory folks. If they're not too bad, we might be able to get some help for us. Money can be traded for safety."
Clitonna: "So we go to this tavern and meet the locals, and maybe we can find safety from the Gelti Empire?"
Ashgand: "I know it doesn't sound reliable..."
Clitonna: "It's fine, Ashgand. I know you're doing your best. We can't exactly ask for the easiest route."
Ashgand: "Thank you for understanding."
Grant: "Well, we got a functional house for now. This will keep that damn roof up."
Ashgand: "Good. Thank you, Grant. Clitonna. Lilemi. Get some rest. We depart for that tavern tomorrow."

OOC: All you guys are at a tavern in the Non-Commital Zones, yes? I think I'm gonna have my characters meet yours.

[Mad Jack the Pirate]

OOC: well, with the exception of maybe one of the Vampire terrorist ops crew I sent out, none of Mine are, but I can remedy that

[Flarecobra]

(OOC) Kazi's not drinking anything. Plus that fight was done and over with a while ago there Kuffie.

[Kuffie]

ooc: uuumm he just wants some answers to some questions

[Flarecobra]

(OOC) I wasn't talking about that. I ment that a: No-one has had their blood drained, plus I don't think they've been killed. Just rather cut up.