Pious

That was some good bit of fun, thanks to those who joined. Hope to see you again next week, with improved skill. I might also have a course for KR by then.

Magma Stallion : Delta T : Hana Li : Helvetic Knight : Cupid - Lord of Love : Pious Hunter

[ QUOTE ]
Personally I think thugs has a bullseye painted on it for a nerf - particularly enforcers stacked leadership buffs.

[/ QUOTE ]

OBJECTION!

watchout CoT... or is that the other way around? :P

No where near as bad as Robots's lasers sounds. Especially after prolonged exposure to it. Desert Eagles, Pistols, Machine Guns and AK47's get bigger and better.

Adding to Archer and Dante's comments this is how we started as well. I'll keep an eye on here to see how your group develops. I like the idea because it reminds me of the Fantastic Four as Archer hinted, so i wish you the best of luck mate. If you have any questions or anything, the community here is great for support!

PS. Welcome to the Forums!

Edit: Just saw your post on the Defiant League PvP Event and thought I'd let you know in case you dont already, that most Roleplayers hang out on Union.

[u]The Dragon Sabre[u]

Part Five: Demon Shoutu

Wu Long Temple – Mt. Kongur, Xinyiang, China
Tuesday 10th October - 3:12pm

“Brina, your sword won’t fly, we need another plan!” Meriam screamed.

“No! We must have faith! We will not crash. Not today!”

Meriam could feel her grip loosening. Already they had fallen roughly eight-hundred feet and only three-hundred to go.

“Brina, at the speed we’re falling, we’ll crash in less than a minute! I’m getting dizzy. Brina…” Meriam’s breathing had slowed to a dangerous rate; she shut her eyes in an attempt to calm down, but was now gasping for air, her throat tightening in as if trapped in a vacuum.

“Meriam, look at me… open your eyes and look at me”

Slowly, Meriam re-opened her eyes and it dawned on her that they were slowly coming to a controlled descent. She let out relieved sigh and breathed in a giant cloud of air, panting.

Sabrina beamed. “The test of faith, I think we’ve passed” she joked, coming to a gentle hover but Meriam was incapable of forming words, still panting. Their moment of celebration was cut short.

“Brina… what in gods name is THAT?”

Sabrina followed her gaze. Only twenty feet bellow stood a giant monster seemingly consuming the murky darkness from the room above. He looked humanoid, but coated entirely in shadow, his eyes bright red.

“Arg! This is too easy. Okay sweetheart, you’re getting heavy and I can’t do this with your weight on my shoulder, I’ll throw you as high as I can but its up to you to jump the rest.”

“You want me to climb over nine-hundred feet, jumping between two walls?”

“Yes. Go. Get outta here.” Sabrina grabbed hold of Meriam’s arm and threw her up as high as she could. Meriam flew about fifty feet before landing on the vertical walls of the pit. “Jump! I’ll come give you a lift as soon as I’m done down here”

Gravity began to pull Meriam back down; she hadn’t a second to spare. She wanted to call to Sabrina, to tell her to be careful, but she couldn’t. She propelled off her hinds and flew up the pit, rebounding from wall to wall.

“Nice to finally meet you Shoutu, ever since I was a kid my father would tell tales about you, exaggerated [censored] about Wu Long’s adventures and the great demon Shoutu. Well here I am. I have come to fulfil my destiny.”

Sword pointed, Sabrina flew directly at the monster at an amazing speed. Up came a shotgun of dark blasts which Dragonfly dodged effortlessly, disappearing amidst the darkness. The monster let out a mighty roar so loud it shook the pit entire.

Meriam was quickly loosing strength. Her legs were weak and she was still short of breath, at the roar of the demon, she lost her footing and began to fall, screaming at the top of her voice.

Sabrina reappeared, hovering behind Shoutu; she pulled her sword far over her head and struck the demon at the back of the neck. It shrieked in pain, swayed and staggered about before collapsing with a mighty thud.

“The bigger they are the harder they fall.” Meriam’s screams grew nearer and louder, Sabrina looked up and prepared herself to catch her. The two met mid-air, quickly grabbing hold of Meriam, Sabrina laughed. “What you trying to do kill yourself?”

“I wanna… I wanna go… home. Let’s go Brina” Meriam muttered, in-between breaths.

“Oh come off it”

Meriam was close to tears. She sobbed. “No! I could’ve… the first was a drop fine, but I fell ‘Brina! Tumbling and spinning, and you weren’t there… I thought I was going to… I just want leave this hole. Please, let us go.”

Sabrina stepped in to embrace her. “Sorry. I’m sorry” She was beginning to regret bringing Meriam along to the Temple. “Because you’re going back tomorrow, I thought you would like a little adventure.”

“Oh Brina, I know. I agreed to come didn’t I?”

“Maybe it is getting a bit dangerous. Manticore’s teleportation grid doesn’t extend across the ocean.”

Meriam laughed.

“There. Now that we’ve got your smile back, lets get outta here before Wu Long decides to cave us in.”

“He wouldn’t!”

Taking firm hold of Meriam, Sabrina shot off up into the air, sword outstretched.

“He’s not exactly a nice guy you know. I wouldn’t put it past him”

And sure enough, after several minutes of flying up the pit, the tiny spark of light that was it’s exit began to fade.

“See? He’s closing the exit.” Sabrina laughed.

“Nah-ah! I’m getting out of here, no matter what. Brina, we’ll have to force our way through”

“That’s the spirit”

“Keep flying and throw me again just before impact. I’m guessing... well, hoping that the lid is concrete but either way, I’ll smash it apart”

“Woo oh! Now that’s the inner Angel talking” said Sabrina hauling Meriam into the air like a cannonball. She rolled and somersaulted, unfolding at the last moment to deliver a shattering back heel strike to the lid. Several cracks opened up and light shone through.

“I was right. Its concrete” said Meriam, falling back into Sabrina’s grip.

“Wait. Before we go again, prepare yourself for anything. Wu Long will probably be waiting for us out there.”

“Kay.”

Sabrina hauled her into the air to deliver a second strike.

“Ayee yah!” Meriam screamed as she brought through a mighty fly kick. It sent her straight through the concrete seal and into the temple. Dragonfly followed. “Whoa! Big room”

The two girls glance down the temple isle. From the ceiling hung great black drapes of cloth emblazed with Chinese calligraphy. The room itself was a vastness of wet black stone and fluttering cloth. There were no windows but sunlight etched in through gaps in the stonework giving the room a strange mystical feel, a war between light and shadow. He stood at the other end of the isle, a dark motionless figure. A moment of silence.

“The Heir of San. I have been expecting you.”

[Blackout. to be continued]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh and a Vengeance'd Gangwar is hilarious

[/ QUOTE ]

Seconded. Thugs rule.

Its rare to recieve comments here my friend as most people are too busy, but I thought the story was very interesting. You have very good imagination.

[u]The Dragon Sabre[u]

Part Four: Test of Faith

Mt. Kongur – Xinyiang, China
Wednesday 11th October - 2:32pm

Climbing Mount Kongur was the easy part but now, in the courtyards of a large temple, our girls faced a wall of armed warriors stood on their path as still as pillars. All twelve of them were uniformed in black; black battle suits and black katana. The courtyard itself was roughly eighty feet long and forty feet wide, decorated with an array of black flowers, plants and trees. Even the fine sand at their feet was black. Beyond the human wall, the temple itself was constructed entirely of black stone and bamboo, with two white drapes on either sides of its grand stairway. On the drapes was Chinese calligraphy which read ‘Wu Long Temple’. The magnificent building stood out vividly along the snowy-white mountain, thirty feet tall and seventy feet deep.

Sabrina approached one of the men dressed in black and spoke in Chinese.

“We’re here to see Master Wu Long”

“Then prepare for the test of skill” one of the men replied, in a challenging tone. Sabrina wheeled around and nodded to Meriam. In the blink of an eye, the two girls had shed their climbing gear, revealing identical Hanfu, tailored in white silk for Meriam and black for Sabrina, decorated with several oriental patterns. The gowns were sleeveless with long waist-high slits across the thigh which divided the skirting into two halves; the front covering and back. This was a battle attribute which allowed for loose, free movement and complete flexibility in combat. Sabrina unsheathed the Golden Dragonfly katana and Meriam assumed her battle stance.

In a sudden gush of black sand, all twelve warriors charged in for an initial attack. Meriam welcomed them all with a mighty roundhouse kick in a wide arc that knocked all twelve back across the sand. She remained bent over as Sabrina rolled across her back to give the second wave a swift slice across the chest. She thrust her blade through one warrior’s garment, bent over under him and threw him over her head, knocking him out cold with the butt of her blade. Meriam had all eleven men surrounding her with their katana poised, a situation Sabrina took immediate advantage off. She leapt ten feet into the air and hovered up there, suspended by the Golden Dragonfly.

“Angel!” she called down. Meriam responded and leapt high over Sabrina as she fell towards the earth, bringing her blade down in a mighty whirl like a falling helicopter-leaf. “Lotus Drops” she howled in Chinese, and her blade came down upon the men without mercy, dicing there flesh like the spinning scythe of a kitchen blender. She spun and spun until a small whirlwind erupted from her feet, knocking the flesh-ridden warriors of Wu Long clear over the courtyard fence.

“Well executed” Meriam commented.

“Same for you Angel” Sabrina replied. “That’s the easiest test of them all, let us hurry inside”

They make their way across the black sand and up the everlasting flight of stairs.

“Will those guys be okay? You cut them pretty bad with that spinning attack”

“Like you, their Chi focus is beyond normal, they will regenerate soon enough. Especially that Xing-Li, he’s usually better than this you know, but I think he was holding back because he saw you.”

“Who’s Xing-Li, which one?”

“The one I took out first. Anyway, we’re here. Tap the door”

Meriam knocked on the great black door and it slid open along a wooden pulley. The girls stepped inside and the door slammed shut behind them. The entire temple felt empty, completely enveloped in darkness. They waited in silence.

“So… what’s going to happen” Meriam whispered. “Brina, ‘Brina where are you?”

“Shh. I’m right here, be quiet”

“Right, okay”

Several minutes passed and yet, nothing. Until suddenly, Sabrina felt something clasp onto her arm, she jumped in a panic.

“It’s me. Sorry… I” Meriam muttered.

“God, don’t scare me like that!”

“Brina… what kind of a test is this, patience? Because I am incredibly bored right now, not to mention creep’d out by this murky darkness… I can’t see a thing.”

“Just relax. And yes, you have permission to hold my hand.” Sabrina joked. “Can you smell that?”

“Yes, and I’m afraid I feel it too. This darkness is alive. Remind me again why we’re here?”

“Wu Long”

“Well yes, I know his name but he’s Tsoo for God’s sake, how do you know this isn’t a big trap?”

“Shh!” Sabrina ordered, listening intently.

“What?”

The girls stood firm for several minutes, waiting, nervous. Without warning, the floor disappeared beneath them.

“[censored]! Hold on tight” Sabrina scrambled for the Golden Dragonfly. She produced the sword and thrust it high above her head, ordering it to fly her. Nothing. “Fly d**n you! Fly”

“Oh my God, ‘Brina, we’re falling. We really are falling. This is some sort of pit. I can see the ground far beneath us. Oh God! ‘Brina, why is your sword not flying?”

“FLY!” Sabrina yelled, fear swelling up inside her, she looked down and noticed the ground below racing up to meet her. “Meriam, hold onto me, you hear? I won’t allow us to crash.”

“Hold on to you? ‘Brina, what does it look like I’m doing? What’s wrong with your sword?! Oh my God, we’re going to die.”

“Meriam, shut up. Trust me on this one. We’re not meant to die today and you know it! Have faith in me. This sword WILL fly!”

[Blackout. to be continued]

Meet at the Terra Volta Gate this Thursday 23rd for the Parkour Event if you can. 2pm - 5pm GMT I'll be logged in with Pious Hunter. Global is @Pious. (with a dot)

Nice one Blind, hope to see you Thursday.

Oh a very good question! Well, I felt that the thrill for the most part is being In-Character. With the bends and jumps you really can get the feel of being Daredevil or Catwoman. For this reason I decided to present it to the RP'ers. But of course, I think the event can be OOC as well. I'd just rather it were IC. Like training.

Perharps the course can be simulated into a Training Room accessible from the supergroup base or the Arena, or maybe you've heard by word-of-mouth that Pious and Doctor Halflife have discovered a freerunning route in IP. You go to check it out alone or with a few friends, or maybe you decide to follow up on the rumoured Thursday gatherings.

Done. Screenshots and 'How to Play' on this here thread ladies and gents: [u]How to Play[u]. Might ask bridger to sticky that one or something.

Okay so go ahead, log-in and have fun freerunning! I am hoping to setup a time and date either weekly or monthly for a whole bunch of us to go soon. Hows Thursday evenings say 4pm.

It's best to experience this in-game parkour course in-character and imagine your hero performing the stunts across gaps, tuck-and-roll jumps, back-flips, front-flips etc. Unless you have Ninja Run, then its all awesome and real! The more friends on your team the better, but it's cool solo too.

The Aim:

To get from Starting Point to Finish Point without touching the ground or the water.


Penalties:

You are your own judge because it is not a race, so have fun but if you slip or fall, do start that particular route/obstacle again.


Rules:

No combat/super jumping. No super speeding. No teleporting. No flying. Except on the bonus challenge - extreme routes.


Note:

Participants at a lower level than the Free-running Zone are advised to seek the company of a mentor.


Independence Port

Independence Port was the first chosen zone. The course consists of the following obstacles and challenge:

Obstacle – Valour Bridge [Start Point]

Obstacle – Plant 1

• Bonus Challenge – The Leap of Faith

Obstacle – Plant 2

• Challenge – Electric Cables

Obstacle – Plant 3

• Challenge – Relay

• Challenge – Hopscotch

Obstacle – Pier 1

• Challenge – The Wall Run

Obstacle – Pier 2

• Challenge – Cargo Jumps

• Bonus Challenge – Crane Jumps

• Challenge – Rooftop

Obstacle – Wave Landing Bridge [Finish Point]


Link to the Map (Grid View)


(Remember to *Pause* if you're using the slideshow mode)

Glad you guys like the idea. And 112 views so far, thats good, good start, people are aware. Now I have finished the photographic mapping of the track and I'm uploading them onto a photobucket slideshow as we speak.

[ QUOTE ]
So no combat jumping or hurdle allowed then?

[/ QUOTE ]

Only passives. Its a little easier for the fit heroes (those with Fitness Pool) or those inherently fast like SR's with Quickness. Its actually alot more fun and a bit more of a challenge without using super travel powers. Gonna go type out rules and stuff to post on here. Brb!

Should have mentioned, one of the main rules is that there are no super-travel powers throughout. It defeats the fun element in most cases... except the extreme shortcuts I've designed. More to come... I am almost done with these pics.

[ QUOTE ]
sounds like a bit of fun

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh believe me, it certainly is! and its something the hero can practise at, when and if solo. Some can even join the Hosting Party and help design other routes. Kings Row for example.

[u]Fun Freerunning Event for the Roleplay Community[u]

Union Server (obv.) but date not yet set. We intend to host it weekly/monthly and across Paragon, starting with IP. Obviously the more participants the greater the fun.

Later on tonight, I will write out in greater detail the aim of the game and rules involved. Also I will be displaying screenshots of the route and obstacles in Independence Port.

Basically, your hero runs from Point A (South end of Valour Bridge in IP) to Point B (The other bridge up North) without touching the water or the street while completing the set obstacles!

Obviously I'd like to measure the level of interest so please respond. I know with so little information its hard to grasps the whole idea, but I have to rush off somewhere right now. Later tonight, I will return to provide more detail!

[u]The Dragon Sabre[u]

Part Three: Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China – Beijing, China
Tuesday 10th October - 11:17am

It was cold in Beijing. The surrounding mountains were icy and the air was thick, but the late morning sun was brilliant and bright. It shone through the cloudy sky, white as snow and penetrated the dense fog at the far distance. But the girls loved it just as it was. They were standing atop some barracks along the Great Wall of China near the city; the atmosphere was calm and tranquil as they watched other tourists climb slowly along the inner pathway of the stone walls, twenty-feet high.

Both girls were dressed similarly, but where Sabrina wore the long, luxurious, blood red Hanfu, Meriam’s was snow white. The hems of the fabric were black on Sabrina’s and a silky white on Meriam’s, both emblazoned with beautiful Han Chinese textile art. The one-piece gown was flared extravagantly along the sleeves and washed out below their feet flamboyantly, tied around the waist to highlight a thin figure. The material itself, cross-layered cotton was extra thick, with a large hood to protect from the harsh weather.

The two girls had clearly been shopping earlier in the morning. The custom tailor in Bangkok was a mutant with superhuman speed and had fashionably tailored both Hanfu from fabric to perfection within half and hour, according to Meriam and Sabrina’s designs.

“Brina…” Meriam began, her mind completely at rest, stood centred over fifty feet high on the barracks’ sloped roof. “…I am so in love with this dress its unreal”

The couple laughed together. This was the happiest Sabrina had ever seen Meriam. She had even been humming to some Kashgar music, of which lyrics she had no understanding of. Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. “You know what else is unreal Angel?”

“Hmm” she pondered. “Let me guess… this dream holiday?”

“Nope… how beautiful you look in Hanfu” said Sabrina, and Meriam was in giggles. Through her olive complexion, Sabrina could tell she was blushing slightly, but surprisingly, she didn’t seem embarrassed at all.

“Honestly Brina, you think too highly of me” Meriam replied, through smiles. “You look much better in Hanfu than I do, it’s like you were made for it”

Sabrina welcomed the compliment with a simple “thanks” and slowly began to spin on the upturned eaves of the barracks’ roof.

“Oh my god, I just had a great idea” said Meriam, her face lit with excitement. “We’re standing on the Great Wall of China… what would be the craziest morning exercise?”

Sabrina caught on immediately. “Angel, that is so dangerous. I love it. My god, it may even be illegal, and there I am thinking you were daddy’s little girl”

“Not out here in China, I’m not” said Meriam, running across the roof to tag Sabrina. “You’re it!” she shouted, before pelting off along the great wall.

“You sneaky little!” Sabrina gasped, and off she went, somersaulting down onto the wall, before pushing off on a sprint. The girls jumped, tumbled, rolled and flew one behind the other, their new dresses fluttering weightlessly through the air. Sabrina disappeared from view and before Meriam could even shout “cheater!” she had already reappeared, running with her shoulder-to-shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying your time here Angel. Your well-being is all that matters to me now.”

“I love every moment.” Meriam replied. “Let’s keep running”

They moved like Ninja, gracefully, beautifully, silently. Sprinting at over fifty miles per hour; three hundred kilometres across the Great Wall before coming to a stop, three hours later, depleted of energy and completely out of breath.

“We can run the entire wall…. only six thousand kilometres to go” Sabrina joked, in between breaths. Meriam laughed.

“I’ll be fine right here Brina… but you’re welcome to go on” Meriam replied.

“Let’s go get something to eat, sweetheart. I’m done for.”

“Sounds good to me” said Meriam, gasping for air. “You run super fast. Like an antelope”

“Why thank you for noticing. You did quite well yourself, I’m impressed. But speaking of antelopes, there’s this restaurant downtown where we can have some for lunch, what do you think?”

“What?” Meriam asked, horrified, but Sabrina just laughed.

“Just kidding, Angel”

The couples trekked through the city, all the while Sabrina contemplated telling her girlfriend about the previous night. As the old man rightly warned, the Devils of Kimone had executed yet another gruesome raid on Kashgar. Despite the eight-hour time difference, Meriam had slept peacefully through the whole ordeal. Of course, Sabrina stood watch, guarding her as she slept. However, through the opening of the old man’s Yurt, Sabrina could make out the attackers. They looked different somehow. The Devils of Kimone had not been resurrected; technically, they were simply reanimated as zombies.

“Sabrina, the old man we’re staying with, you said he’s a relative of Tian Lee right? What was he saying yesterday, back on the mountains?”

“Err… he said Tian Lee passed away recently. If I am to fix the sword, I’ll have to find the magician… Wu Long. He is a Tsoo sorcerer”

[Blackout. to be continued]

[u]The Dragon Sabre[u]

Part Two: Return of the San

Kashgar Market - Xinyiang, China
Monday 9th October - 4:46pm (8:46am UTC)

The young girls seemingly materialised from thin air, pulled by Mer’de. He brought them to the ground, gently settling them on their feet.

“Kashgar, young Sabrina. Will the market suffice?” Mer’de asked.

“Thank you ever so must Mer’de, and yes, we’ll be okay from here.” Sabrina confirmed, mentally recalling their luggage to her side. “You don’t have to escort us or anything. You should probably return to Paragon, the other will need you.”

“As you wish. Mind you, whatever happens here, do not forget to keep us informed” Mer’de ordered, before disappearing into the ground.

“Brina, it is beautiful! Oh the mountains, can we go climbing? Please?” Meriam asked, eyes fixed on the surrounding mountains in the far distance, beyond the sunlight, as bright as noon.

“Sure thing sweetheart, but first, we take care of business. Follow me”

Sabrina led the party through the small market, it was buzzing with traders and shoppers, mobile stands piled with wheat, maize, cotton, barley, peanuts and flax. However, something was strangely odd about the people. Perhaps it was the invisible Golden Dragonfly katana hovering in the party’s wake, balancing four bags of luggage, but their very presence drew the attentions of passer-bys like metal to a magnet.

“Why are they staring at us?” Meriam whispered.

“Err. I honestly don’t know.” Sabrina admitted, trying to ignore all the following eyes. “Meriam, do you know of the Uygur?”

“Yeah, it’s a branch of Araic. Uygur are like Chinese Muslims right?”

“Ah-huh, a lot of them live here. Most of my old friends are Uygur, so I am pretty familiar with Islam myself.”

“Man, my dad is so going to kill me when he finds out this isn’t a school trip. I feel terrible having lied to him.”

Sabrina didn’t respond, but carried on walking. Soon, they had left the market and were marching uphill along a stretch of dirt-road.

“You know, I’m still a little fuzzy on the details of your sword… if its magic isn’t fixed, will you really give it away?” Meriam asked.

“I’m afraid so Meriam” Sabrina sighed. “The sword is more powerful than I can handle, I know that myself, and if it’s going to start flying about he place, I’d rather have nothing to do with it.”

Meriam was deathly silent; she didn’t reply to Sabrina and clearly disapproved of the decision.

“Oh come on Angel, at least that way, I’ll be more like you. I’ll attune to my training in Ninjitsu and continue my studies in Kung Fu; I’ll fight crime with martial arts as opposed to fencing.”

“I guess that’d be okay” Meriam sighed. She turned her attention to the sword, hovering gracefully behind them, without the slightest sign of struggle under the luggage. “Brina, tell me about the clan war. What was it really about? Pride, honour… was it justified?”

“Ha!” Sabrina laughed. “Hardly… It all began with Li Mu Kimone, my maternal grandfather. He was infamous in all these lands, worked as Ninja for Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War and has sought power ever since. When he married my grandmother Chun Li San, a gifted swordswoman who rivalled his own skills, he became paranoid. He repeatedly accused the San family of conspiracy and eventually attempted to kill his wife… with the Golden Dragon sabre. A large blade with several hooked teeth, Tian Lee’s masterpiece. In its making, the sword was also encrypted with very, very powerful magic. Along its blade was Chinese calligraphy by the infamous sorcerer, Wu Long. He presented it to the couple as a gesture of gratitude and mutual respect, on their wedding day. You can imagine the uproar after the attempted murder. My grandmother divorced Li Mu Kimone immediately and the magic bonding the Golden Dragon sabre divided it into two weaker swords: the Soaring Dragon blade and the Golden Dragonfly katana. Scary stuff, mythical to this day.”

“What happened to Li Mu Kimone?”

“He fled the country in fear of the San, but soon returned with followers; sons of prostitutes; bastards he had raised by the sword. They were taught to hate the San and so they did. Their skill in the martial arts and kendo was pathetic by-the-way, but they were heartless in slaying the San, who were too kind at heart. Eventually, the bastards became known as the Devils of Kimone. Li Mu managed to steal the Soaring Dragon, but was chased away just in time so save the Golden Dragonfly. To answer your question sweetheart, my guess is as good as yours… power. Li Mu wanted the power of the Golden Dragon all to himself. Even I have little knowledge of its magical capabilities.”

“Well, so far we’ve learnt half of it can fly and camouflage.” Meriam joked. The two girls laughed in unison.

The dirt road had disappeared behind them long ago; they were now climbing upwards along the rocky slopes about the foot of the mountain.

“It’s not as cold here as I was expecting Brina. You said it’d be snowing didn’t you?”

“Tian Lee lives way up in the mountains. We’ll be staying with him you see, and it’s always snowy up there. The city climate itself is actually quite a desert, but come January, you get snow six feet high. Quite strange isn’t it?”

Meriam beamed up at Sabrina, her eyes dancing with excitement. “It’s fascinating” she replied. She was so happy to be away from Paragon and away from family at last. Most of all, she was happy to be with Sabrina, at her homeland.

“I feel weird in these clothes. Can we go shopping for something a little more oriental later maybe?” she asked. Sabrina stopped abruptly to face her girlfriend.

“I thought you’d never ask” she smiled. “We’ll take a trip out to Bangkok tomorrow, I know this really nice tailor who can make you your very own custom design.”

“Wow… really? That… that would be amazing” Meriam thanked.

Suddenly, a frail old man with a large walking stick stumbles onto their path up the mountain. He wore rags; indistinguishably a mix of torn Western trousers and wraps decorated with fading traditional patterns and colours, thrown about his waist and around the shoulder.

“Stop! Stop” he yelled in Chinese, running down the slope. “Stop right there!”

Sabrina gave Meriam a slight nod, signalling her to take caution.

“Where do you kids think you’re going? The mountains are too dangerous now, you must turn back.” He continued, in Chinese.

“What is up in the mountains old man?” Sabrina asked, fluently in her first tongue.

“You!” The old man yelped. “It can’t be. You were executed. You should be dead! Why is every dead coming to life?” he asked himself.

“What is up in the mountains old man?”

“Why you should know, young San” the old man whispered. “He’s back; with vengeance and a thirst for death. His army strikes the town at midnight taking bodies up into the mountains.”

Sabrina turned to Meriam, who she knew would not have understood a single word being spoken. She addressed the old man in English.

“Listen here old man. We’re going up to see Tian Lee and you won’t stop us. No matter how true your gibberish may be.”

Sabrina led on, barging past the old man.

“Ah, the century’s greatest swords maker, designer of the legendary Golden Dragon sabre, half of which you now carry young San” said the old man, again in Chinese. Sabrina froze in her tracks. He knew about her quest. “Tian Lee was killed last night. Li Mu Kimone and his sons have been brought back from the dead”

[Blackout. to be continued]

[u]The Dragon Sabre[u]

Part One: Militia Escort

Militia Headquarters - Founders Falls, Paragon City
Monday 9th October - 8:03am (UTC)

Deep underneath the Wayne Towers laid a complex structure of steel and iron, a technological fortress of bright lights and state of the art alien equipment. The entire structure was a hundred metres square, fully kitted with teleportation beacons at several destinations across Paragon City; these were used for immediate response to emergency Police calls. The largest room, forty metres square was used for general meetings; this is where eight members of the Militia now sat, engaged in casual chat.

A commanding presence was the baby colossus, Igor Noren-ko who had already grown two extra feet in the last three months. The creature wasn’t human, but one of the last of an ancient species known to the French as Journere. He was over nine feet tall and six feet wide, muscles four times the size of the average human head. His body was textured with blur fur and clothed in brown soil. The Journere are by nature, predators of the wilderness and masters of the elements. Those similar in appearance to gorillas live inside the earth, those shaped like fish live underwater, and some are winged snake-like beasts who live high among the clouds. But most daunting to humans is the sheer size of the beasts. Those who live over eighteen-hundred years can grow to over a hundred feet long and tall.

Igor Noren-ko was in conversation with the young Saffron MacKenzie, a mutant girl with amplified sonic abilities. She often wore her long ginger hair graciously across one side of her face and was fond of leather clothing. Stood next to the eighty-year old Journere, she looked like a blade of grass staring up at an old oak tree.

“Well I’ve spoken to The Minister and he really did say we’ll be issued with a dimensional spacecraft, Amber” said Mer’de.

“Really, are you sure? Because I thought it was just an ordinary jet. Not that I’m disputing your statement Mer’de”

“Ah, here she is. I must take the table now Amber, let us continue our discussion later.”

The young Ninja, Sabrina San, better known as Dragonfly had entered the room, her blade; the Golden Dragonfly katana tentatively balancing three bags of luggage as it levitated along its master’s wake. She took her seat at the large round conference table, next to the Masked Angel; young Meriam Kesser, her new girlfriend. Although their relationship was still somewhat timid, the two girls enjoyed the company of each other. However, Meriam’s usually olive complexion did turn a customary shade of red at the sight of Sabrina. It contrasted against the pure white of her body-length cotton trenchcoat, lined along the cuffs, hood and hems with fluffy white fur. Beneath, one could make out a white belly top with matching short skirt and fluffy white boots. Had her father, a strict Muslim, so much as smelt these fabrics, the lie of a school trip to China would’ve been blown to pieces.

“Hey sweetheart” said Dragonfly.

“Hey ‘Brina” Meriam replied, in a self-conscious whisper.

Sabrina herself looked very much in-shape in her sky blue furry waistcoat, complete with matching earmuffs and mitts. She wore dark blue jeans with large white and blue woolly boots. One could physically note the awkward air between the young girls; clearly something had been left undiscussed. Sabrina made an effort to break the ice.

“There’s this fabulous new store down the Sixth Lane, that’s where I got these jeans, they’re really warm. Inside, it’s actually lined with suede.” Sabrina gossiped. Reading the puzzled look on Meriam’s face, she added on. “Now, I know what you’re thinking, 'What? Denim and suede?' but it really does feel good. And oh the patterns, take a close look Angel”

Meriam leant in to examine the texture of the denim; she felt the patterns along Sabrina’s thigh which involuntarily shuddered to her touch. Meriam quickly withdrew her hands and froze in her seat with a guilty look etched on her face as though she’d just been caught stealing from her mother’s purse. Sabrina looked rather annoyed and a little embarrassed; she decided simply to pay attention to Mer’de.

“…For bringing New Mafia to a stand still at Sirens Call. Now, before we say goodbye to our two departing friends, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome to our ranks, four legendary warriors here to aid the Militia in the ongoing battle against crime and evil, ladies and gentlemen; Sergeant Stone, Gauisus Somnium, Ebon Tear and Nuntius Angelus.”

Applaud welcomed the four guests, almost drowning out the voice of one bearded man, in a plain white trenchcoat.

“I am not Angelus, can you people not tell the difference? I don’t even speak Latin. Hello?”

“Angelus, you have something to say?” Mer’de asked.

“Yes” the man exclaimed, getting out of his seat to stand up. “I am Pious. Okay, Pious Hunter. Hear me? No Latin and no pompous want of attention” Pious explained. He despised his alter ego and the bad reputation that followed it, strangely enough, he noted, Angelus had nothing but a good reputation in this reality, and for that, he hated him more. “I’m not even Christian” he added, before taking his seat.

“My sincerest apologies Mister Hunter, a mere case of mistaken identity, I meant no offence.”

“None taken” Pious muttered. “Apologies for moaning, I just really dislike Angelus, he is far too powerful and a great danger to this realm, I cannot stress this enough, yet you insist on his aid.”

“Please, Mister Hunter, let us save this discussion for another day.” Mer’de dismissed, much to Pious’ dismay. He threw both hands limply through the air in an annoyed gesture and muttered something inaudibly. “Dragonfly, Angel, I wish you a good holiday in China.”

“Sunshine, do not give away that sword okay? Just get it fixed d**n you.” Derek suggested. He was a short Caucasian man of average build and dark black hair as wild as a hurricane, sweeping backwards over his shoulder. He rose from his seat to kiss Sabrina goodbye and others followed suit. The room had once again sprung to life as people walked across the room to bid their goodbyes, laughing and chatting among themselves.

“As planned, I will swim across soils to China and recall you both through the wind.” Mer’de need not struggle to be heard over the noise of chatter for even his inhuman voice box was capable of volumes harmful to the human ear. “Estimated time of arrival - thirty minutes and counting. Expect my call across the com-links ladies. Meeting adjourned.” With that, Mer’de fell through the earth, disappearing from sight.

Force Commander entered the room in haste, late as usual. He wore the Militia uniform assigned to him; a black body-firm overall with two vertical blue stripes along the sides. He had attached a skin-firm eye mask which further emphasised his authority. Completing his respectable appearance was the ever-gleaming bald head, perfectly proportioned to his slim build. He approached the two girls and quickly wished them farewell before announcing an emergency Police call over at Independence Port. Without delay, the team took off, leaving Meriam and Sabrina alone at headquarters waiting for transport.

For an uncomfortable while, the girls said nothing. Sabrina’s mind was suddenly crowded with replays and annotations of her conversation with Nadia, better known as the Sword of Truth, two nights back. She had advised Sabrina essentially to ease off a little and give the young girl room to make her own decisions and be the influence of her own actions. Indeed, after Sabrina had said nothing, Meriam spoke.

“Sorry about last night. You… you asked how… I felt about our first kiss and I gave you an honest answer… it was beautiful, something of a fantasy.” Meriam paused. Sabrina knew where this was going, or at least she hoped for it. “But later you leant in for nothing other than a goodnight kiss and I couldn’t do it… I’m sorry.”

Sabrina pondered for a while, wandering what would be the better reaction in this situation. She pitied Meriam. Whereas she was a grown adult at eighteen, she knew that Meriam was still experiencing adolescence at fifteen and couldn’t help but feel somewhat guilty for encouraging a romantic relationship.

“No” Sabrina whispered. “I should be the one that’s sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed you on Circe Island, I mean, I pretty much planned out the whole thing, and now I feel like I’m taking advantage of you. It’s not that you’re three years younger than me, but because you’re three years less mature” Sabrina sighed, looking Meriam directly in the eyes. “Admittedly, that is a part of you that I love most.”

Meriam lowered her head in thought, but also to conceal the shade of red her cheeks had become. Sabrina too looked away. Could it be that she was merely clutching at the young Meriam Kesser out of desperation for someone to hold, to love and to call her own. The only other person she had ever had throughout her life was her mother, who had sacrificed herself to save her only daughter less than a month ago. Despite Sabrina’s best efforts, a single tear escaped her eyes. Discreetly, she wiped it off with the back of her hands.


#Dragonfly, Angel, do you read me?# a voice travelled across their communication links.

#Monsieur Mer’de, we hear you loud and clear# Meriam replied, glancing over at Sabrina for confirmation that she too could hear.

#Excellent. I am in position; prepare for a rapid rollercoaster through the wind#

#Wait, what about our bags Monsieur Mer’de# Meriam asked.

“He can’t. But no matter, I will recall our luggage and weaponry okay?” Dragonfly suggested.

#Actually, never mind about those Monsieur, Sabrina has volunteered to do the recall#

#Just as well# Replied Mer’de and at a circular gush of wind and leaves, the two lovers disappeared.

[Blackout. to be continued]

Good scene Zap. Very natural yet the suspense is present throughout. Good dialogue and as Alpha mentioned, well structured. I felt sorry for the poor old man. I sure hope he gets them personnel.

Dude, FC is so Militia that it is just not as fun without you. But. Good fighting there, looks like you're winning. See you soon my friend.

Dragonfly will remain at the San Temple in China, Mer'de has been summoned back to the Alps and Pious will remain in a coma. It's been fun people, but I'm outta here. For various reasons. I might be back next year, but its a small chance.

Pious.

((I'll just take the 500th post to say you won't have to worry about hasty little Pious manipulating your plot anymore. I'm out.))

Nice avatar.

In my experience, it's good for literaly confusing the player you're facing and making them panic.

Good PvP'ers will just ignore em and chase you though...

A get well soon greeting from the whole team FC!

*runs off to make a photoshop greeting card*