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Post by Hitotsumami on Dec 22, 2013 11:59:38 GMT -5
Elrond kept the sand tightly in his grip, listening to what Qi had to say. However, he couldn't believer what he was hearing. He couldn't believe it at all.
"What are you talking about?" he said, shaking his head. "This sand isn't any good! It'll help wake you up, but that's all we need it for!"
Elrond tossed the sand to Asmoday who raised a hand, and in midair it vanished. An illusion had fallen over everyone in the room, and the jar's location was hidden to everyone except Asmoday.
Elrond grabbed Qi by the shoulders and shook her, trying to make her come to her senses. "Power isn't what you need! So what if you can summon more than you normally can? Tricks like sand which take control of your mind isn't the way to do it! The way to get stronger is hard work and patience and working with your friends."
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Post by Mise™ on Dec 22, 2013 12:35:16 GMT -5
Jupiter slept well. Briar's whisper had no effect on him.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Dec 22, 2013 16:09:34 GMT -5
"I wonder, New Master, suppose a raging fire consumed these three here? Do you think such a thing would be possible?"
"Not even remotely."
A wicked grin crept across Alden's face at the suggestion. He couldn't say if he liked the little spirit or not, but he certainly liked the way it operated. Shortly though, he regained some sense, even if he wouldn't mind watching the merchants get toasted.
"Ah wait... if they're actually criminals, or they're wanted, then they need to be recognizable for any price on their heads. If they got burned up, gonna have a hard time convincing anyone it's them."
While he didn't expect to simply detain the lot of them, and haul them off to whatever authorities would take them for a bounty, he didn't think it unreasonable that the merchants might have a less than stellar history. Also, he had a feeling it might be a bad idea to just immolate them in the street for all to see. Partly because of the required, messy cleanup afterward, partly because it might reflect poorly on the guild.
"Stop! Your friend is awake now. The illusion mage told us that we could leave freely! Don't kill us!"
"If you were me, would you take your word? It would be hard to care less about what she told you, but supposing you are right, then it wouldn't hurt to hang around town for a little longer till I see she's awake for myself?"
Against his better judgement, to some extent he was letting them go. Realistically, there was nothing he could to stop them from straight up fleeing the town after they left. If though, the did and he found out they were lying, he'd do a sight more than file a complaint. That much, should have been obvious.
"After all, you wouldn't want to miss out on all the lovely festivities."
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Post by CJ on Dec 26, 2013 0:33:24 GMT -5
"Such horrible language!" Cinder exclaimed. She clasped her hands on the sides of her face, gasping in silly horror at Lakin and Ian.
Listening to their pleas, she nodded and smiled in sympathy.
"Truth be told, I am not sure there is any sort of work for people of your caliber. In the rare case that you are mages, I know of a guild here that is accepting all sorts of individuals with magic. Why, the guild master barely has any sort of examination for admission. Oh dear, should I have really said that?"
Turning around, she wondered that very thing. Even if Lakin and Ian were mages, what good would they bring to the guild? After the mess with the merchants, Cinder wasn't sure if Renascence was ready to accept any more members, whether Elrond felt it ready or not.
---
Qi became distressed when the jar disappeared from her sight. She violently gripped onto her keys, holding one of them out at Asmoday. Her eyes were still tired, but incredibly hateful. Back when Asmoday was still part of Atrum, she might remember that even when they were enemies, Qi didn't show any malice toward her.
Just moments before, the summoner was in near tears over Asmoday's success in rescuing her. Now, she wanted to hurt her over a jar of sand.
Her gaze shifted to Elrond as he spoke. She frowned and breathed heavily as her mind cleared. His words calmed her and brought her some peace.
"Friends," she repeated.
Qi tried to remember why she wanted power. She wanted to be a great summoner, but she would easily give up that dream for her friends. The guild gave her a sense of belonging and for once in her life felt a desire to serve, not because it was her duty, but because she genuinely wanted to. She would always want power, but it was so that she could fight alongside her friends, not be consumed by it in solitude.
"Elrond," she said tiredly. "You're right. I'm so sorry. Please, keep that thing away from me. I can't explain it but I want it so badly. It's like a hunger that won't go away. Don't give it to me, no matter what I say."
For a moment, Qi wondered if she would regret saying that later. She glanced at Asmoday, but looked away quickly in embarrassment.
"Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you and Renascence. Oh, and dear Cinder as well. She was so worried. What a horrible event for her to have to witness."
At this point, only Elrond knew of Cinder's betrayal. It was up to him as to whether or not to speak about it.
---
Seeing that he wasn't noticed, Briar crept quietly into Jupiter's room. He pulled his back pack in front of him and pulled out a blanket and small pillow. The action was almost ceremonial, as though the objects in question weren't to be used but revered. The pillow itself didn't look comfortable at all.
The mage positioned himself on the floor next to Jupiter's bed. He initially stayed in a straight position on his back, but then he tried to mimic the way Jupiter was sleeping.
"Is this what it's like?" Briar whispered in curiosity.
---
"I suppose so," Dragon agreed with Alden. The fire vanished about the merchants, putting Narthan and Pink Petal at some ease. The tiny summon was hardly satisfied. Despite its previous instance of its belief in zero magic, he apparently wanted the merchants to burn in his own magic. Was the summon stupid, ignorant or getting something wrong about the way their universe worked?
As they huddled together, the merchants nodded to Alden, wishing to obey his commands to spare their own skins.
"Yes," Narthan agreed with a twitching smile. "We'll stay right here at the festival."
"Yay!" Pink Petal cheered and clapped. "I wanted ta get some more cottoned candy!"
Bursting in red color, Narthan boiled in rage.
"It's cotton, you buffoon! Now are you sure that once you see that mage awake, we're free to go?"
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Post by newb23 on Dec 26, 2013 2:46:22 GMT -5
Lakin and Ian finish their bickering as they quickly glance at Cinder. “Oh sorry did you say something about a guild? All the way out here?” Ian asked, his face contorted in thought. “Hmm, Lakin when was the last time we saw a guild?” “Oh not for sometime. I think the last one was….let me think. Oh yeah it was that dark guild. Remember? We barged in took some food, fought some guys and then left.” “Really? I don’t remember too much of that.” "No because ya got drunk on their alcohol after ya kicked their guild master in the face.”
At this Ian pondered some more his face focused hard on Cinder though he wasn’t truly looking at her. Quickly he shook his head. “I don’t remember a damn thing about what happened.” “Of course not but if this lady says there is a guild around why don’t we go with her?” At this Ian shot Lakin a quick look that caused him to become silent. “You know why. How do we know it’s not a dark guild and how do we know we can trust her?”
“Well she gave us food.” Lakin said somewhat timidly. Ian sighed, “Could be a trick, and even if it’s not if this guild is chummy with the magical council well then you know the deal with that Lakin.” “I know I know but maybe we could check it out?”
Ian pondered again staring through Cinder once again. “Alright then,” He said quickly. “Guess you could show us, but be warned. If it’s a trap I’ll cut your head off,” Ian said with a small smile.
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Post by Mise™ on Dec 26, 2013 4:29:31 GMT -5
Still sleeping.
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Post by Hitotsumami on Dec 27, 2013 12:40:46 GMT -5
Elrond smiled as it appeared Qi was calming down. He placed a hand on your shoulder. "Whenever you're in doubt, just rely on us! That's what makes us a guild. Even the ones who may not like being here, the ones who are too tired to stay up, the ones we were not sure were enemies or friends, in the end, we will all wake up and do what we can for each other. That's what makes us Renascence!"
He said softly, "That's what my father would want."
He then looked to Asmoday. "Hide the sand, please. Don't tell anyone where it is, not even me. I'll trust you with that."
Asmoday nodded and snapped her fingers. "It's done. I don't think anyone will be finding it for a long time."
"Good." He then heard Qi mention Cinder and turned back to her. "Cinder..." He remembered that she was giving information about the Guild out to dangerous strangers but... she was doing it for her family. Cinder herself didn't appear to have any ill will towards Renascence. "I bet Cinder is in town right now! That reminds me, that today is the Harvest Festival! We gotta get out there and make some new members! Let's go!"
He looked at Qi. "You too, Qi. You have to join us. After all, you are one of the founding members. Let's go!"
After everything else was said and done, Elrond would slam on every door in the Guild, waking everyone up, including Jupiter's room, then head for the door.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Dec 28, 2013 2:34:39 GMT -5
"It's cotton, you buffoon! Now are you sure that once you see that mage awake, we're free to go?"
"If I saw her awake ten minutes ago, you could have left ten minutes ago. Supposing she's actually alright, I really don't care what you do."
Unable to make an exchange on the jar, and running off their word that Qi was alright, Alden didn't have much else business with the merchants. Even when he told them to stick around, he didn't mean it in the sense that they had to stay near him, they could go off in the festival as they pleased. In fact, he'd probably prefer it if they didn't stay near him.
Moving a toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other, he leaned over to pick up his helmet and the jar of sand, before turning his attention to the helmeted fellow whom had been standing nearby all along.
"So what's your deal, you looking for something?"
What followed was a painfully long pause, during which time the stranger could be mistaken for a mannequin.
"I drive."
"Ok... so are you looking to join the guild or something or other?"
Another long pause, which Alden eventually became impatient during and simply spoke up again before waiting any longer for the stranger to respond.
"Well just, sign here on this, and where you'll be staying. After that you can... do whatever you want, I guess."
A slightly less unbearable stint of inaction before the fellow took the sign up scrap of paper and began to write. Alden hoped all the new members they'd probably get, wouldn't be like this guy.
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Post by CJ on Dec 29, 2013 15:18:55 GMT -5
Cinder became understandably frightened of Lakin and Ian.
Her glass slippers clanged and clattered as she shivered near the two. She pointed up the path to Renascence and stepped away from them.
"You can find it there," she said with a nervous smile. "Good luck."
She wasn't going to risk walking with them.
---
As Elrond pounded on Jupiter's door, Briar clutched onto his blanket. He slowed his breathing into silence, praying that the mage wouldn't notice him or stay asleep.
Briar hated to invade Jupiter's privacy, but his dream of sleeping peacefully like him was too tempting to do nothing about. He found no answers that morning, but hoped with Renanscence, he someday would.
---
Qi flinched when Elrond put his hand on her shoulder. She was still rattled from before, but appreciated the gesture. What he said next though surprised her.
Did she mishear him? It's what his father would want? Qi never thought of why Elrond was the way he was. She was ashamed to think she didn't even ask why he wanted to start Renascence in the first place.
She cringed when Elrond entrusted Asmoday with the jar. A thought crossed her mind that she could sneak through her belongings when she wasn't looking. She struck lightly herself in the cheek, trying not to think about the jar of sand and think poorly of Asmoday, who had just saved her life.
She then learned that Cinder was in town. She recalled hearing Cinder going to fetch food for her summons while she was under the spell. Elrond suggested she should go into town, which meant she could go find her herself.
"Oh, sure. I'd love that. Thank you, Elrond."
Qi slowly climbed off of the table and balanced herself on her cane. She slowly walked toward the door. Her eyelids sank as she desperately tried to fight off sleep. The sand had essentially kept her up all night. She didn't care though. She'd go with Elrond and the others to the festival, proud to be part of Renascence.
---
OOC: If you haven't already, start making your final posts. Thanks again for letting me run this arc, everybody!
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Post by Mise™ on Dec 29, 2013 16:30:30 GMT -5
Jupiter was enjoying his well earned sleep until Elrond decided to ruin everything by slamming his door to wake him up to enjoy the harvest festival. However Jupiter would not get out of his bed and instead just told Elrond to "Go to hell, dammit!". After a few seconds Jupiter noticed that he wasn't alone in his room and there was someone who had no business to be there. "What the hell are you doing here?" In his anger Jupiter would get up from his bed, even if only for a brief moment and then attempt to throw Briar through the window room, along with one of his business cards he had picked up. Afterwards Jupiter would go back to sleep as soon as possible, broken window or not. --- Meanwhile Atre had once again appeared out of nowhere to take a look what was going on inside the guild and noticed how Qi had been freed from the clutches of the evil sands. "Oh you're fine..." For once Atre sounded at least mildly happy about something, but at did not last for long. "How horrible. Now you have to face the horrors of life yourself. I feel sorry for you."
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Post by Hitotsumami on Dec 30, 2013 14:04:12 GMT -5
Elrond, so happy that things turned out good (or as good as they could get) he called out to the others to go, and flew out the doors of the guild on a flying rock. High in the air, the city could be seen beautifully. Crowds were gathered below, and it did not take long for Elrond to see Alden at their stand!
Already at the stand was a number of new members signing up: Celeste Chase, Jackson McClean, Miranda Grimes, Felipe the Bird, and Groundhorn. All had signed the paper and were, as far as Elrond was concerned, official members!
More and more people were gathering the stand. He floated there, high above the city, and took a moment to just sit down and smile and enjoy all the good friends he'd made. Even so, he felt in the distance things would not always stay the same.
---
Asmoday watched as Elrond flew out of the guild, leaving the others in literal dust. "Sometimes I wonder if I made the correct choice in following him," said Asmoday to Qi. She hoped Qi had, at least a little, changed her mind about Asmoday.
"But then," she continued, "when I see how happy everyone is, I think I have made the right decision."
She then left the Guild through the open doors and down to town. Although the clown Dofun was nowhere to be found, she still had to uphold her part of the deal: A special event for the Harvest Festival!
As she ran, anyone around would see her vanish bit by bit until she was gone. Then, the sky would darken and a huge Samson would appear with sun controlling powers in the sky. Also in the sky could be seen Elrond and Jupiter and Dofun and Alden and Sarah, all fighting against the monster. Like a projection in the sky, Asmoday was providing the town with a front row seat to just what made Renascence the popular Guild it was now and just how they had saved the world.
---
Azealya Thorn was sent flying onto her butt was Elrond flew out of the Guild doors. She rubbed her head and she sat up, watching Elrond fly away.
"Was that... him?" said Azealya to herself. She then saw Asmoday run by, but paid her very little attention. She then walked into the Guild herself.
"Hello everyone, new member here, Azealya Thorn, nice to meet ya blah blah," and for the most part, she'd ignore any member that would try to talk to her.
Now, time to find out if this Guild knows anything about a woman named Asmoday... she thought to herself.
A war would erupt for Renascence, and soon.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on Dec 30, 2013 18:37:40 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Alden sat at the actual guild-designated booth after having gone back to the main building to get the proper decorations, not just some empty table he took over before.
Mechanically it was quite simple, he had simply set up a big sign to stand over the booth. On it, were colorful decorations of cut and folded paper, carved and painted wood and the like. Underneath a large banner bearing the guild's name, there was the image of a sun with a sinister-looking mage atop, pulling the strings like a puppeteer. Around it on all sides were little figures representing each of the persons present in that battle, all seeming to leap towards it in defiance.
The true skill of the decoration though was at the back of the sign, which people wouldn't be able to see. There were a number of cogs and wheels together, connected with belts and wheels. It all linked up to a little pull-chord that hung down next to whomever was sitting at the booth. When pulled up and down, it caused the cogs and wheels to turn, which made the little figures visible on the front of the sign move and perform simple actions. Essentially it was like an oversized, manual-powered cuckoo clock, and each of the little figures performed some simple back and forth action befitting of the person they represented, while sun beams moved back and forth from the centered sun itself.
Unfortunately with all the magical displays and illusions taking place, few people if any noticed him. He merely sat at the booth with a dejected look, resting his chin on a hand, while the other halfheartedly pulled at the chord to keep the sign animate. The sign up sheet rested on the table before him, bearing many new names though, so it wasn't a complete loss.
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