[[I guess it2s only three of us now... gallie will post when I tell her to, I can phone her about it. but rest is up to you guys <<.... so, only me, flamingcatdemon, galli-chan and shinigami yumi is active. We'll continue with each other then <<... luen, will you make a post or should I continue? ^^;]]

[[I'll post maybe tonight or tomorrow. I'm kinda busy and not feeling very well. :sweat: A shame that everyone left. =3]]

[[Oh my God, I was so caught up with exams and papers that I completely forgot to post. Sorry, everyone!]]

Joaquin sensed more than saw the rising aggression from the demon beside him and put a calming and restraining hand on Harren's shoulder. "Don't bother. Even in her present state, it'd be a waste of your time," he murmured. He had no love for deities but no animosity either. While everyone else seemed moved to tears and Harren utterly disgusted, he was apathetic. He only hoped she had something interesting planned for them.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Y-Your Worship!" Erdaime gasped, falling to her knees and bowing her head when the voice of the goddess resonated in the temple. She had never heard Sierra's voice before, but she recognized the presence immediately and was filled with awe and happiness. "I live to serve you, my lady."

[[That's alright, we all need to catch up RL first ^^]]

Angel's liquid eyes fell on Erdaime, her expression grew into one that was hard to read. Compassion, sadness, grief and relief were just visible hints anyone could notice. Her polite smile grew into a confident one as she started speaking.

"So it seems, Erdaime... " Goddess motioned young girl to stand up. "I need not only thee, but every presence to keep my head up." Her eyes examined others in the temple, ignoring praying priestesses, she adressed attendents of the gathering.

"Troubled times hast come, not only for me, but for you too. Not a single creature is secure unless they worship infamous Nastasia." angel's serene face was disturbed with frown goddess did, yet her voice was serene and melodic as ever, except the slight edge."My brother has turned his back to me, offering myself, to his beloved wife on golden plate. I never bowed to darkness, neither do I plan to do until I cease from existence. A war is approaching, and I need volunteers, no need for heroes but brave warriors with strong will and heart. These lands were created by me, with help or not, I'll do everything in my power o to fight back ones coming for my blood.

"I cannot promise you wealth or a reward worth of risking your lives for my sake, but I can promise blood to be shed. Nastasia will not hold back, neither her minions would show mercy but won't need yours too. And I can promise my presence in this quest, like a shadow I'll follow path thou walk, seeking your well being as if it's mine. You'll never fall in hands of an enemy, no matter whom or what they shall be."

"Your Grace!!" high priestess exclaimed, looking a little too excited as if she can start crying any minute. "Why do you voice such words, your compassion and forgiveness is well known over the world. Yet we can only hear words of a warrior, not a forgiving mother!" she tightened her fists which was holding a charm of goddess. "You bring fear to our souls...!"

"Her excelency..." Lady Kel'irana started, her caramel eyes were looking rather sad, like she was talking to a small child in disbelief. "... always had spirit of a warrior, my people do remember times when her hand had pointed glory at time of war."

Ginnrol swallowed hardly, he looked at angel, who was now a channel goddess apperantly used to speak with her subjects. Although body was same, goddess had a great influence over the angel, she looked almost completely a different person. His heart skipped a beat when goddess smiled their way.

"You cannot hear words of wisdom and honour from same person always. And my words of peace and compassion have lost their importance right now. What I am telling is that my life is at stake, to put bluntly. Unlike you mortals, I don't have luxury of having a chance of living an alterlife. My death would mean death of the world."

"Her worship..." elven lady murmured in despair.

"Who is dareful enough to head against Nastasia, and have my blessing in this cursed war?"

Harren brought his hand to his face and with some effort kept his revulsion at bay. When he removed his hand his eyes had reverted to their usual green. Harren smiled at Joaquin and spoke up first.
"Though I have no love for the race of angels or that of the gods, The betrayal of one of your kind will cause the kind of destruction unseen for millennia. This could potentially tip the balance of life and death, and that I cannot abide."
Harren brushed some of his white hair out of his eyes and stared directly into the goddesses eyes.
"Therefore I Harren, son of Charon the ferryman of souls, will lend my assistance in the coming battle."

It seemed a lengthy war adventure of the grandest scale was ahead. Joaquin had expected nothing less. What he hadn't expected was for his companion to be the first to hop on board. He pushed off the marble wall he was leaning on slightly to straighten. "Merciless anarchy and bloodshed, huh? Sounds like I'd fit right in." His teal eyes glowed a slight red as he smirked at the archangel channelling Sierra. "I don't much care for your cosmic family politics, but I'm not one to turn down a thrilling ride with pleasant company," the vampire said, slipping an arm around the fair-haired demon beside him. "And while there's no love lost between us, Lady Sierra, I like your sister-in-law even less, so I guess your team's as good as any. Besides," he added with a playful wink. "Can't lose our little playground now, can we?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Erdaime raised her head, but could not find it in herself to stand. She trembled to hear the foreboding words of the goddess, but her resolve never faltered. "In any way that I can, with all of my being, I wish to be of service to You, Your Worship. You need only say the word, and I shall obey to the best of my ability," the herbalist declared firmly. She paused, glancing around in hopes of more people joining the cause and felt suddenly self-conscious amidst all the seemingly formidable warriors. "I am no fighter, I admit, but with war comes injury, and I have studied the healing properties of herbs and energy paths of living creatures for many years. It may be that I can be of help to you in times of trouble." She bowed humbly. "So, please, allow me to join you!"

(Still currently locking eyes with the goddess... valendra hasn't responded...)

[[Everyone's busy IRL, it seems. I'm in no hurry in any case. XD" I think Valen needs to call Gallie too. :lol:]]

[[Dear, I wasn't reminded when you guys posted 8D But well, I hope gallie can post asap too, she's struggling with projects and midterms at the moment.

I'm taking liberty of performing a certain action, hope you don't mind luen XD]]

A charming smile bloomed on goddess' angelic face, she nodded in acknowledgement to Harren and Joaquin. She looked down at sweet Erdaime, smiling compassionately.

"Would your Grace, honor her humble servant, Kel'irana Luthién, by accepting her offer? My presence would yet be little help, at a point that wouldn't require any attention at all. Given to my condition, I'd never be able to forgive myself in this existence if I happen to fail your faith at halfway." Elven lady made a courteous bow with respect, then motioned her knight standing behind her. "But my faithful knight would be more useful than I can ever be."

"M'lady?!" Ginnrol gasped, he casted a quick glance at other... creatures, soon to be his travelling companions it seemed.

"Please serve her grace as you'd serve to me, my dear knight. I'd have very much liked to go in thine place Ginnrol, but such a journey wouldn't be the wisest choice one shall make. You'll do fine, I trust you." her brows frowned in an apologetic manner as she smiled.

He looked at his lady, hopeless it seemed, his eyes returned to Goddess. With a respectful bow of his head he approved the decision.

"It is interesting to see, scent of blood attract you, does it not?" Goddess mused, glancing at Joaquin. "I'm honored with more souls then I assumed to be earlier, I'll keep my part of the bargain. Your lives will be protected with my presence, death won't be touching you, casting a single glance at you. As long as I am alive that would do..." she nodded, then tilted her head to side slightly, golden locks of Adorielle danced as they moved with the motion. "I would advice you to take along the ladies outside, they seem stubbornly protesting the territory." she chuckled lightly, a melodic voice ringed in shrine's walls."I wish you the fairest of luck and glory..."

Then goddess closed her eyes, presence dimnished immediately, when those blue eyes were opened again it was the archangel who was staring back. Her wings fluttered weakly, as if she was relaxing some muscles.

"You're to be travelling across the land, to visit great temple of Sierra in Lielathé at capital of Des'Lariel. I'll try my best to assist you whenever I can, but now. I'll be considered as a traitor if I don't return back to Heaven." the severe expression of the maiden have returned back, a shocking change considering the previous serene face of the Goddess. "I'd advice you to keep a low profile, Nastasia will not hold back, that flock of nightmares was only the appetizer I dare say. And..." she glanced around the altar, frowning almost scarily. "I suggest you to leave shrine now." As her words ended, a loud crack was heard above the shrine's dome.

"May goddess bless you.." acrhangel murmured slowly, stretching out her wings as she crounched slightly. With a kick on ground and siz pairs of synchronized beats, she flew up through the openning collapsing dome revealed.

Ginnrol lifted his lady up in his arms, hurried through collapsing shrine's door. As they stepped out safe and sound, he dropped sun elf lady on grass before Isis and a foreign girl, completely alien to his eyes. Without a word he turned back and realized illusion spell have been dispelled, shrine was truely collapsing before his eyes. He took out his swords, swinging both in sync as they started giving a shine of gold over the runes forged on them. He stepped in doorway and thrusted one of the swords forward. A faint light layered in air through the enterance towards statue of the maiden. Stones falling above hit faint layer like it was a shield of glass.

"In haste! Get out at once!" he exclaimed through roar of collapsing.

"Oh, we missed an exciting exit challenge it seems!" Isis said laughing, she stood up slowly and put a hand on her waist to watch show. "Bewarned! Knight in shining armor in action!" she exclaimed grinning, she ignored troubled frown of elven lady darting her way.

He was frowning at Erdaime though, if she wasn't going to hurry then it could be trouble. Girl was tripping though, as priestesses departed building, and apperantly Joaquin and Harren found a way to evacuate building themselves, only damsel in distress was more likely to be mountain elf miss clumbsy. That shield wasn't going to hold up forever, and girl was quite terrified. Causing more trouble for herself.

Ginnrol cursed through his teeth, as slow enough to let it sound as an exhousted breath. And he leapt forward, breaking the shield he casted. He yanked girl's arm and pulled her out the way of ruin, he turned her around and shielded her with his body as she fell on her knees right before the exit. Noise died away, and Ginnrol let a sigh of relief. He hold young girl over her arms and looked at her warily, when exactly did he embraced her, again??

"Are... you alright?" he asked, frowning slightly, ready to ignore a certain remark.

"Congratulations! Knight in shining armor saved damsel in distress successfully!" Isis yelled joyfully with an applause. "Now, when we shall see the infamous ending kiss?"she rolled her eyes, then looked back at knight with a sarcastic smile. "Oh wait, story started just yet, we have to wait 'till end."

This remark...

[[Valen, hun, is that post supposed to end that way or did a part of your post go missing again? O_o]]

(XD)

Harren stood atop the last stable wall of the ruined temple. He lazily scanned through the dust and debris for Joaquin, not sure which way he had escaped from.

[[no, it ends there XDDD you almost gave me a heart attack, lol]]

[Sorry about this really late post…I had subscribed to this thread hoping I will be notified when someone posts to the thread. Isn’t it how this was supposed to work?? Anyway…I guess next time I have to use Vallie-notifier

It looks like Aerin decided not to enter the temple at the end, so I might as well write what she was doing in that time...which wasn’t much. This post is when the goddess was speaking at the temple…]

Maybe archangel was the better choice, Aerin mused yet again in the last ten minutes, at least there would be some action.

As someone that spends majority of her time in forests, long times in silence was not unusual and disturbing for her. She would actually like them. So she considered that it was an accomplishment of this silence; it actually managed to get into her top 5 most irritating silences in her lifetime list.

In reality it wasn’t a silence, in the literal meaning. There were noises around like her companion chirping, wind blowing or some small plant spirits chatting among themselves. Maybe this was the reason that this silence irritated her to no end…whatever.

She congratulated the silence and decided to stay just to see how it would end.

Maybe, a little and rational part of her mind reminded her, just maybe she should have congratulated the Isis woman instead for she managed to create this weird silence.

Too bad she was busy muttering to herself right now.

Aerin tried to listen what she was mumbling until she understood that the woman wasn’t answering her – she couldn’t remember the question frankly, but she was sure that she asked something – then also her murmurs didn’t make any sense. At that moment Aerin decided again that she shouldn’t judge people from their appearances. For instance this Isis woman looked nice and clever and so on but look how it turned out.

Yeah, Aerin definitely preferred hanging out with nature spirits over conversing with people in any day.

And please, would this weird silence just end already?? She was just so curious about how it would end.

Then it finally happened.

First it was a small crack. Aerin eagerly turned to see the source of the sound…that she couldn’t see. It was hidden by the ruin illusion.

The second was a larger crack, closely accompanied by other large cracks.

Then all hell broke loose. The illusion disappeared and the temple was collapsing; then some people were exiting it hurriedly.

She couldn’t hold a laugh in the irony that the temple that was protected by a ruin illusion will be in ruins in a short time.

"Oh, we missed an exciting exit challenge it seems!" Aerin glared at Isis who decided to talk again.

As she watched a sun elf she didn’t see before rescuing a clumsy-looking girl and Isis’ interesting remark, Aerin confirmed that yes, she managed to get into another mess again. Oh joy…

Harren siged and jumped down where the most people were gathered, Landing lightly.
"You know she could have warned us that the temple was going to collapse on our heads the second she left. Stupid snobby angels."

"Ah, I wonder about that too..."Isis shrugged looking at Harren, "I guess she assumed there were pretty much winged ones who can fly. But well, I wasn't there so perhaps she actually did keep shrine from collapsing a bit longer..." she crossed her arms over her chest, with a sarcastic smile on her full lips. "To my luck, we had a pretty entertaining leisure time out here; lotsa chitchat, stars were pretty noisy actually they were louder than those insects around..."she waved a hand gesturing the environment, totally ignoring the fact that Aerin's glaring eyes were focused on her. "So I'm kinda curious, because if out was boring in should be interesting, beat me... What was the so important subject that goddess wanted to say?" her smile widened as demon's face cracked a smirk at her sense of humor.

[[A small post, because I have a feeling I was kinda forgetting about Harren ^^;; sometimes... so, to make up to it here Isis totally ignores everyone and focus on harren 8D tadaaah!
Lemme know if I forget to interact with any of your characters T^T I get distracted easily and that's totally unintentional]]

(Oh you're fine. I wonder what happened to shinigami yumi though. She must be busy...)

[[Yeah, I'm generally somewhere between busy and unconscious. XD" Sorry for the delay, lol.
I was just making sure back there, Valen, since it's happened before, and it looked like it might have again. :sweat:]]

Joaquin chuckled at the goddess' words. "It is in my nature to be attracted to blood, my lady, as you well know."

He tilted his head to the side slightly as he spoke, curious. The longer he felt it, the more it seemed that he'd felt the goddess' presence somewhere before. It was familiar...and yet not quite. Then the presence was gone, and the archangel was speaking again. Even as she began, however, he heard a crack of stone. He glanced upwards. They had not much time. As she finished, a louder crack sounded as the dome began to fall apart. He sidestepped swiftly to avoid a falling slab that would have at least dislocated his shoulder and leaped after the departing archangel out the opening created by the dome's collapse, kicking off falling pillars and stone blocks as he went. Upon clearing the now genuinely ruined temple, he found himself just short of a nearby tree branch and swiftly whipped out his ceremonial dagger. Stabbing it into the tree's trunk, he used it as a hand hold to swing himself up onto the branch and sit upon it to gaze at the remains of the temple. It didn't look all that different from the illusion, now that it had been dispelled.

Resheathing his dagger, he slipped down the tree quietly and entered the clearing from behind the girl he'd seen for the first time when he arrived at the temple earlier just as the strange human lady finished answering Harren.

"Maybe that was the goddess' first test? If we can't make it out of a collapsing building in one piece, we're not going to last very long in a fight against the gods, are we?" The vampire shrugged. "They're all irritating like that up there, you know. I tuned out most of the family politics, but it seems we're headed to Des'Lariel. Well? When are you all planning on setting out on this divine quest?" he asked with a grin. "Now that this festival's been ruined, I'm not exactly living to stay for the cleaning up."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Erdaime thought her heart might have skipped a beat when the goddess smiled and found herself speechless as Sierra and Adorielle continued to speak. Just as the archangel finished, however, the dome above them cracked as the temple began to truly collapse. The herbalist got to her feet and tried to run, but slabs and pieces of stone kept falling in her way. Somehow, she managed to avoid getting hit by them, but couldn't keep from tripping over the ones on the floor. There was a shield now, but she doubted it would last...she had to hurry. Just then, her foot caught in a crevice that suddenly appeared in the floor, and she fell, bracing herself for a stony impact...only it never came. Someone caught her arm and, suddenly, she was outside again, wincing as the temple turned to rubble completely with a loud rumble.

"Are... you alright?" a voice asked, and Erdaime looked up to see her rescuer, the Sun Elven knight from earlier, frowning slightly.

"Congratulations! Knight in shining armor saved damsel in distress successfully!" Isis yelled joyfully with an applause from behind her. "Now, when shall we see the infamous ending kiss?"

The words made her realize just how close she was to the knight, and she blushed, righting herself and backing away quickly. "Ah...I'm alright. T-Thank you." There was a moment of awkward silence, and she felt like there was something she had intended to say before the temple crumbled, but couldn't quite recall what it was.

"You know she could have warned us that the temple was going to collapse on our heads the second she left. Stupid snobby angels," a male voice interjected.

She glanced in its direction, somewhat thankful that someone had decided to speak. It was a fair boy with silver hair dressed in simple travelling clothes. What had he said...he was from the Underworld?

"Ah, I wonder about that too..."Isis said, attention shifting to the boy, much to Erdaime's relief. She didn't much like being the centre of it. "I guess she assumed there were pretty much winged ones who can fly. But well, I wasn't there so perhaps she actually did keep shrine from collapsing a bit longer..." She crossed her arms, full lips curving into a sarcastic smile. "To my luck, we had a pretty entertaining leisure time out here; lotsa chitchat, stars were pretty noisy actually they were louder than those insects around..." She trailed off to wave a hand in an expansive gesture before continuing. "So I'm kinda curious, because if out was boring, in should be interesting, beats me... What was the so important subject that the goddess wanted to say?" she asked, smile widening.

"Maybe that was the goddess' first test? If we can't make it out of a collapsing building in one piece, we're not going to last very long in a fight against the gods, are we?" another male voice chimed in from behind, this one deeper than the boy's and more resonant. This was the strange one, the one who seemed older than he looked, spoke strangely and professed a liking for violence. The herbalist turned to look at him. He was pale with teal eyes and silver hair, and his elaborate clothing was all dark red and white. "They're all irritating like that up there, you know. I tuned out most of the family politics, but it seems we're headed to Des'Lariel. Well? When are you all planning on setting out on this divine quest?" he asked with a grin, and she winced internally at his blasphemous attitude towards the deities. "Now that this festival's been ruined, I'm not exactly living to stay for the cleaning up."

Erdaime didn't much like how irreverent of the gods he was, but he'd reminded her of what she had been intending to say earlier. "Ah! Des'Lariel! I could guide you if you haven't been there. That's where I live," she blurted out as she remembered.

[[*laughs* And now that I've posted, no one else seems to be around. XDDD"]]

(Sorry, when you posted I only had a few seconds to glance at the post and then completely forgot about it later... ^^; )

Harren turned to see Joaquin had returned. The demon's eyes brightened and a small smile crept to his lips as he brushed a few strands of silver hair behind his ear.

[[REVIVING THE DEAD!!!

I seriously want this story to go somewhere, so at least all that preperations and background won't go in vain <.< I'll post a summary for new players if we have any to join the fun. ]]

(Oh, yes now I remember. I'd love to continue with this RP. lol I was the last person to post XD)

(ah, that sounds great ^^ asap I lure a few more players to this sinister trap, or at least next week I'll try to start rolling this ball down the hill <.<
bummer, semester holiday starts by friday, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to post more than once a week XD Though at least story will move on a little 8D)

[[Actually, I've kinda been waiting for more people to post... :lol:]]

[[You can catch up with what's going on by reading updates on first post of the thread, it briefly summarizes huge events.

May I have your attention please? New cities are updated on world map, you can follow the route that's suggested to you. Feel free to ask me about cities though, Carsone is pactually 2 different ferry lines present there. One being the Carsone- Groyburn line, and the other is Carsone-Yarway-Jinmare line. Seas are dangerous though, if we cut the world map horzontally in equal halves, it's wise to say lower part is occupied with pirates mostly. While north lines are relatively safer, most travellers would choose travelling via Carsone-Groyburn, then travelling down the Des'Lariel, hopping on another ferry at Silmaren bay if they need to travel to southern continent. Of course this takes longer, and not completely safe but prefered to Carsone-Jinmare line. My my, I got carried away... Let me make my post now.]]

"Then you'll have to use ferry line at south, Carsone harbour is most likely what every traveller will use." Lady Kel'irana smiled at Erdaime, who kindly offered tobe the guide of the group. "Then may I ask you to join us on our way back to Vieralle? We'll use exactly same path until Delariel borders, unlike you though, we'll continue behind the Risen Mountains." she looked around to the oddly crowd, it was quite a selection of unique beings honestly.

Ginnrol hardly surpassed and urge to interfere his lady's words. Now, that was logical of course but if they were to travel together, wouldn't it risk Lady Kel'irana's life more? And it's not about the number of crowd travelling together, if you could ignore the fact that they'll be a very attention catching group, the fact that such dangerous creatures walking along with his lady side by side was enough to give his guts a naucious twist.

"Well..." Isis shrugged, looking indifferent about the offer. "We're bound to use same road anyway, I actually don't mind. In fact, this could be really entertaining than travelling without the grace of our heroic knight." She smiled impishly at sun elf, who seemed to be unbothered with her remark. But... was that a twitch she just saw?

[[short post, I know XDDD But so little to do anyway. So guys, let's get this baby move!!! 8D]]

(oh dear, is shinigami yumi still in on this? cause what am I gonna do if joaquin is suddenly gone?)

Harren grinned, one canine poking ever so slightly over his lip.
"Wonderful. I see a lot of entertaining battles along the path we now tread."
The cool breeze wafted through his silver hair, making it dance in the sunlight. It carried the scent of the wildflowers that grew in the field behind them.
"Are we to head off now? or is there time for a nap?"