Askier

Nearly two days had passed since Jin'li had sent Fire on her way. And since that time, Jin'li had not left his room except to retrieve bread and water to eat and pay his room off for the next month after making another withdrawal from the bank. He had been writting letters, working out feverishly, and playing chess. He had been thinking lone and hard of his next course of action, and as the day closed, Jin'li sat at the desk and began to write a letter. It was a quick one and Jin'li quickly had it sealed and stamped. Once the letter was complete, Jin'li left the room and went down the hall, stopping a porter as he went. "Pardon this one." Jin'li said slowly to the porter. " But this one needs this letter taken to the delivery moogle for fast delivery. Would you kindly do so for me?" Jin'li held out the letter and the Gil tip. The porter nodded and took the Gil and letter. "My pleasure sir." the porter said. "Name of the person? "The name of the person who I am sending this letter to is a Master Franz Renatus." "Very well." the porter answered and Jin'li returned to his room and began studying a map of Eorzea he had spread across his desk.

Jin'li sat in a deep red leather chair. The miqo'te had positioned the chair before a large mahagony desk polished to the point where Jin'li could make out the reflection of his features. Jin'li gazed with black eyes from behind his white bangs. His face was expressionless as he studied the chess board before him. He was replaying a game, making his moves and the moves of Master Adin. It was the game he had played the day he had meet Adin in the brothel where Jin'li had been born and raised. He had impressed Adin with that game and had beaten him. Jin'li would never forget each move but now he realized the meaning of the game. He had always been Adin's superior. He had beaten his master, he had performed better than Adin at destroying Ul'dah, and he was better at being free. Jin'li paused and paused as the large raven that had been following him flew in the open window to the inn room and landed beside the chess board. The bird fixed Jin'li with its glowing red eyes and Jin'li stared back. The two creatures stared on in silence. "Fear not, this one assures you that you and the rest of your kin shall have a feast of flesh to enjoy soon enough." Jin'li said at last and the Crow flapped its wings in what could only be viewed as excitement.

Hark, do my ears deceive me? Is that not the call of someone in need of an rp plot? Is this a summoning of a new story arc to draw the masses together once more in standard Askier fashion?! Well no because I don't have time to run an event like that cause of rl. Seriously I'm averaging four hours of sleep here. However I'd like to toss my two cents in. I know how you feel. Back when I firsted started rping in this game, and this is the first mmo I've ever rped in, I was having trouble finding consistent rp or even the sort of rp I wanted. Personally I hate tavern rp. Bores me to tears. And I wasn't really involved in any plots and wanted the dynamic sort of situations I had assumed occurred. And It was sort of hard for me to get involved in other peoples plots. So, I dug around, got some advice on world lore, and made my own event using this website as a sort of gathering place to announce dates and get a roster and set up times and I managed to meet a bunch of really awesome people I never would have met otherwise. Now my event, well events now, ended up being rather large but there is no need to have a big one. Even a simple one night event can get people to come out for it and the perks with an event is that you gather people together who are all interested in the rp you set up prior and are there to rp. This puts fellow rpers in the same place and it is very likely your will get at least a couple people to want to rp with again and thus you sort of build that history of your characters together. So my advice in a nutshell is if you want to meet people and engage in a more dynamic form of to, set up a simple event and see who shows up. Plenty of people will normally if you give them enough advance notice.

(Written via cell phone. I apologize for any errors.) Jin'li stood on the balcony to his room, which was one of the highest, largest, and nicest rooms the inn of Limsa offered. Jin'li was adjust his white silk gloves delicately with the tips of his fingers as his black eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun as he reflected on the past few days. The four former slaves had driven the wagons loaded with gold through the island terrain and into Limsa. Jin'li had convinced the slaves he had liberated to deposit the gold into one of the banks of Limsa. The deposit had made them.immediately popular and the three recently freed slaves seemed be uncomfortable with the sudden attention they received from the bankers as they deposited and converted their accounts. Jin'li had been unphased. He had often handled financial matters for Adin Adonis. Following the deposits, Jin'li had withdrawn a sizable sum and split the amount between the four and had gone out on his own. Since then he had changed his wardrobe from the black robes to something far finer. He was now dressed in a set of black, silk trousers that were bloused above polished leather boots with silver buckles. A half skirt hung from his belt from the zipper around the left side of his body and stopping at the middle of his back. He was wearing a white, silk shirt and a grey vest. Over all this he wore a long, knee length black coat lined on the inside with wolf fur. He had purchased a walking cane made of polished metal with a curved handle and a leather holster hung over the half skirt and housed his fire arm. The door to his room opened and Jin'li finished adjusting his silk gloves and picked up his cane which was lmeaning against the railing before turning to meet his visitors. The three slaves stood there. All dressed in new attire. "Where's the rest?" the male miqo'te demanded. Jin'li blinked and looked at the male. "This one is going to give you a moment to retract that rudeness for" Jin'li started. The male hyur and male miqo'te both pulled knives and glared at Jin'li. "Ah." Jin'li said flatly. "This one now sees how Much you are slaves to the gold. Clearly.liberation is needed. Very well. You desire gold so heavily, then this one makes this agreement. The document allowing retrieval of the Gil within the bank is in the desk. You want it, be the last one standing." you mean" the hyur started. "This one.means a battle royal." Jinli went for the gun blade with a swift jekr of his hand. The hyur lurched and stabbed the male slave miqo'te Jin'lo had freed with him and stabbed him with his knife as used the body as a meat shield as Jin'li fired and the bullet slammed into the corpse's chest. The hyur rushed forward with the body as a shield. Jin'li tried to reposition himself but his limp slowed him and the hyur slammed him to the ground. Jin'li lay sprawled and tried to bring his firearm around to bare on the hyur. But the hyur kicked the firearm aside and made to stab. But a knife suddenly flew into the hyur's neck and tumbled to the ground, twitching and gargling. Jin'li blinked and.then looked at the female, who stood there in a red robe, a brown belt strapped around the waste. Several knives were shealthed there. Jin'li awkwardly got to his feet and bowed to the woman. "This one thanks you for your timely intervention. Do you mean to kill this one?" The female stared at Jin'li and shook her head. "No. I owe you. You freed me." "This one gave you a gift. This one needs nothing in return. You are free." Jin'li replied slowly. "No, I am not. My family has always paid their debts and I am in yours." "Does saving this ones life just now not.free you from that obligation?" Jin'li inquired. "I owe you one year of service. After this I shall be gone". The female answered. Jin'li was silent for a long time and he continued to adjust his gloves as he finally spoke. "This one will only.accept your service if you view yourself as my equal and are only bound by a self.inflicted chain. This one does not enjoy the idea of binding others." "I..." the female paused. " you are strange . I will agree though and yes I will only serve because I feel I am bound to do so." Jin'li nodded. He did not like the idea of anyone being bound to him when he only wanted liberation but if someone else wanted to serve it was their right if they were free like this female. "This one is called Trythian Oul." Jin'li said with a deep bow. "I'm . . .the called me Fire. That's the name you can call me." "A pleasure to be told your name Lady Fire" "Last Fire?" Fire said blinking. "I am no Lady." "This one believes you are both female.and named Fore therefore making you Lady Fire." Fire paused and shrugged. "Very well, Trythian. What is it you need me to do?" Jin'li was still a moment. Then we walked over to the dresser and opened a shelf. He pulled out a wrapped package, the metal arm.of Askier in canvas rolls, and two letters. "This one had meant to send this via a carrier but would rather you take them. The first should be easy to find. A Osric Melkire in Ul'dah. The large bundle.is for him and the first letter too. The second will be a bit harder to find. He is a Doctor. His name is written on the letter. You may need some assistance finding him but take as Much gold as you need for travel. You'll need to the code to access the gold. The code just happens to describe your mission." "And how would you describe my mission, exactly?" Fire said with a bit of annoyance in her voice when.she realized what her oath of service had gotten her into.She blinked when Jin'li answered in his monotone voice. "Spreading Kindness."

The fires of the camp Welks mercenaries had set up were nothing but glowing ashes now. The stars overhead shone bright in the absence of the moon and the sun was just a scant bell off from its first rays of light slipping over the horizon. The grove where the mercenary company numbering twelve soldiers, Jin’li, and seven slaves,was open to the sky and surrounded by trees. The wagons had formeda crescent along one row of trees and most of the mercenaries had fallen asleep. Two were supposed to be keeping watch but both had helped themselves to the rich wine found in one of the carts and were fighting the heavy sleep weighing their eyelids down. Welks was normally a man who made his sentries stay sober but he was too excited to restrict the men. It would be his undoing. The slaves had all been left chained in the back of the wagon they had been found in. They sat, huddled together, cold and fearful of what fate now awaited them at the hands of these new captors. None of them slept as the wind blew mournfully through the glade and rocked the wagon, the wooden axels creaking as the cart shifted. The female with the blue eyes and red highlights was listening. She was trying to figure out what was going on. She had heard something earlier, and a squawk from one of the chocobos driving the wagons. Something had been taken but she couldn’t make more out. And it was a long time she listened. But at last she heard it. A slow, plodding set of footfalls coming around the wagon. The other slaves heard it too and all looked fearfully at the back of the wagon. The slaves were a mix of hyurs, miqo’te and elezen and they were all equally afraid as Jin’li stepped into view, a raven perched on his shoulders, the bird’s eyes glowing a blood red in the darkness. One of the slaves squeaked in terror at the sight of the ghostly male dressed in all black standing there but Jin’li replied by raising his finger of his right hand to his lips to signal silence and then placed a large, rolled bundle onto cart before them. Jin’li unrolled the bundle to reveal a collection of long knives. The slaves looked on in silence and fear as Jin’li then reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring and placed it silently within reach. “Kill them and claim your freedom.” Jin’li said softly as he blinked. “Or they will kill you to silence your tongues.” He then bowed at walked away. Jin’li waited a short ways off, his back to the wagons. His black eyes were locked onto the shadows of the forest as his tail twitched calmly back and forth. The raven craned its head back around as soft noises from the wagon began to trickle out. Jin’li’s ears flicked around to catch the hushed whispers of conversation as chains came off and knives were picked up. “Some are unwilling to kill.” Jin’li whispered softly. “They will not be free then.” “Kill! Kill! Kill!” the crow cawed loudly, flapping its wings and rising into the air. It began to circle over the camp screaming its broken word. The mercenaries began to stir and Jin’li heard the female scream an order. The next few minutes were filled with a violent rancor. There was screaming, yelling, and bloodcurdling cries and all of the noises mixed with the sounds of clashing steel and rending flesh. It sounded like the slaves had gotten to strike first and most of the drunk mercenaries took too long to catch on. In the end, Welks was screaming for help but Jin’li did not turn around. He simply stood there and watched the shadows as he heard Welks’ scream turn into a gurgle. “It seems you were not strong enough to escape death.” Jin’li remarked slowly at Welks’ passing. “Please, rest well in the chains of servitude.” The crow came around and landed on the miqo’te’s shoulder. Once the bird was properly perched, Jin’li turned around and let his eyes see the sight before him. In the early light of the sun that had not yet slipped over the horizon, Jin’li saw that only three of the slaves were still standing. Most of the mercenaries had died in their bed rolls or nearby; but the few who had gotten up and drawn weapons had fought back fiercely. “What now?” the woman snapped, her eyes set on the white miqo’te. “This one does not know.” Jin’li honestly, his voice flat. “You are your own masters once more. Do with your existence as you so desire.” “Why did you free us?” the woman said, her chest heaving from the exertion of killing. Her shoulders were rolled back and whoever she had been before she had been a slave, she had been used to killing. “Madam, this one saw in you a will too strong for chains. This one wanted to let you out. Even if you be enslaved in death, you would have met the final chains as a free woman. This one hopes such an action was desirable.” Jin’li bowed and the woman blinked at the male in bizarre wonder. “Who in the name of the Twelve are you?” the woman asked after a moment, the adrenaline leaving her veins. “One who has proven himself their equal.” Jin’li answered. And then, after a moment of letting his blasphemous statement hang in the air, bowed his head. “My name is Trythian Oul.” “Trythian…” the woman said slowly. “Well, Trythian, what do you plan to do with us?” Jin’li noted the female shifted the dagger slightly but made no movement. “This one simply asks a small favor to an equal free person since this one did free you. This one, if you would be so kind, as to help this one drive the wagons back to Limsa so that this one might deposit the gold, give you some, and part ways. There is simply to many wagons for this one to move. “And what’s to stop us from killing you and takin the gold?” one of the others slaves, a male miqo’te said. Both the female hyur, and the third slave, a dark skinned hyur, turned and looked at the miqo’te. “This one would make you taste the insides of your own skull before death claimed you for that rude statement.” Jin’li answered in a deadpan voice. “It is very rude to murder one who has been so kind.” The male who had spoken shut his mouth at Jin’li’s words and nodded. “And how do we know you won’t just kill us the moment we are done helping you?” the female said, obviously weighing her options. “This one can say words, but you have no way to believe them, yet you must. This one will not harm you, for there is no need to do so. This one freed you to give you a chance. No more, no less. This is just a humble request to a trio of equals.” Jin’li bowed again and the three slaves looked at one another. After a moment they nodded. “Alright, we will help you get the gold there but we get to keep our fair share.” The female said. “Better be a lot.” The hyur man said in a deep voice. Jin’li looked at them and bowed. “You honor this humble miqo’te. This one will certainly make sure that once we are set, done, and all things established and finalized,” Jin’li lifted his head and both he and his raven fixed the three with their unnatural eyes. “You receive your due reward.”

Askier had dibs on mechanist before all of you. /stare But now Jin'li gets it cause reasons. But seriously, in the words of my drill instructor "Don't Nuke it." Hehe. Askier. Nuke. Hehe. Seriously though we could debate this endlessly and never get everyone on the same page and that's okay. I've been rping Jin'li and Askier using firearms since the start and I've combat rped with a whole viriety of people who fought that in different ways. Some people say armor strong enough to take a few hits, which is fair. Others say they take cover and others take the bullet and keep going cause a bullet causes a cleaner (relative) hole. Point is if you want to us it, treat it as any other fight but if they get in close the weapon become basically useless. And I'm sorry, I don't car who you are, even a gun blade, which would massively back heavy and unbalanced for com ate cause of the fireing mechanisms anyway, cannot swing or shoot accuaratly while avoiding attacks. Most fair thing you can do is simply.make your character unskilled in melee or, just use gun as a club cause in melee you don't have time to aim. And if you are worried, do what I do. Limit your ammo. Six shots for my.gun blades and they have to reload and if you have ever reloaded a revolving cylinder, its kinda awkward and slow. And if its a black power fire arm. Ha! Good luck getting the patch, powder ball and ram rod all in before they get close enough to gut you. Certainly.guns our powerful but they have limitations that if you p play correctly can make them.fair. Unless you BS a machine gun. . . And just don't do that.

The scene was a grisly one. Adam Welks and his mercenaries had been merciless against the caravan guards and the workers. The dead lay strewn around, weapons and blood lying next to them. Adam Welks strode through the scene, his hands on his hips as he nodded his approval at the work of his mercenaries. He had lost six of his eighteen mercenaries but that was acceptable. More money for the splitting once they got the caravan wagons back to the one who had given them the job. The mercenaries were cleaning their blood soaked blades and all greedily looking at the wagons and wondering what spoils awaited them. They would find out shortly. Adam Welks walked over to one of the wagons and waved his hands. “Alright, let’s see what it is we just looted.” Welks shouted and seven of his soldiers rushed to the wagons as they holstered their weapons and crawled up. Almost immediately screams filled the air, followed by laughter, and Welks turned and walked towards the commotion coming from the last wagon. The noise was growing louder and as Welks drew close. Seven humanoids in chains were dragged from the back of the wagon and thrown to the ground. Welks paused and made a very calculating face as he studied the huddled figures on the ground, their heads jerking around from one mercenary to the next with wide eyes. “Slaves…” Welks said slowly, this an unexpected surprise. He had expected more from this raid than slaves. But then again, this was just the last wagon. But slaves were a complex situation. They tended to talk and were a commodity that was more difficult to sell. But, perhaps this was what the men who had hired him had wanted. Or were they just extra commodities at this point. Welks was chewing on his lower lip as Jin’li stepped up beside him and stood there, blood still dripping from the silver gunblade in his left hand. Jin’li’s face was covered in splattered of blood and gore from his execution shot of one of a caravan guard but he had pulled out a white handkerchief and was attempting to clean himself as best he could with it while his black eyes studied the slaves. “Slave.” Jin’li echoed Welk’s words. “Should we liberate these souls?” Welks shook his head and clicked his tongue. “No. At least not yet. We need to find out if this is what we came fo-“ “Captain!” came a cry and Welks turned and looked back at the wagon before the one the slaves had been pulled from. A mercenary was standing there frantically waving his arms. Welks raised an eyebrow and turned to walk over. Jin’li remained behind. His black eyes swept over the slaves and felt a sensation of apathy. He could relate to their plight. He knew the bindings of their chains better than most and, had Welks not told him they were to wait, Jin’li would have used his weapon to set their souls free. The miqo’te’s eyes continued to sweep and then stopped. They had come to rest in the gaze of a female hyur with white hair dashed with red highlights. She was staring at Jin’li with dazzling blue eyes and there was a look of anger in them. She was almost indignant and wasn’t displaying the fearful emotions of her fellow slaves. She was displaying a remarkable will. She was like a blazing candle and Jin’li was the curious moth drawn to the flame. Slowly Jin’li walked forward, his weight shifted onto the sword he used as a cane. The blade sunk into the earth before the female and Jin’li gazed down at her with onyx black eyes, his face a blank mask as he looked at her. Her ice blue eyes shone back, glistening in the light of the sun. The two of them stood in silence, a few of the mercenaries that stood nearby looking on with mild curiosity. Jin’li saw in her the desire to break her chains. To be free. And felt as if she was a kindred spirit. Here, in the world of slaves, was another slave, lower than most, whom wanted freedom even more. But did she want freedom enough to dare defy death? Jin’li slowly lifted the gunblade’s muzzle to the middle of her forehead. The barrel dripped red fluid but the female did not break her hard gaze with Jin’li. The miqo’te slowly shifted his thumb and lazily drew the hammer back. As the hammer clicked and the cylinder turned to a fresh bullet, the female lurched to the side and slightly forward. She then smashed the firearm aside using the thick of her skull with a powerful left swing of her cranium. Jin’li’s weapon jerked aside and went off, blowing a hole in the ground. The female lurched forward as best she could and tried to bit Jin’li’s ankle. The white haired miqo’te took a step back from the female’s biting teeth and bowed his head. Jin’li was satisfied. She was worthy of his intervention. “What was that?” Welks shouted and Jin’li turned, slinging his gunblade up onto his left shoulder as he started limping towards the mercenary captain. “This one was simply surveying. This one learned what was needed.” Welks raised an eyebrow but quickly turned back around and resumed speaking to a few of his mercenaries. Jin’li’s ears flicked around and he shifted his potion once he drew close to see what the excitement was about. Gold. And lots of it. The wagons were loaded with it in large cases. “It’s a small fortune!” one mercenary said, looking at the metal as if it was a dream. “Aye, and not ours.” Welks said, but was obvious he was thinking about taking it. “So what do we do?” the mercenary said. “The guys who hired us know we will have attacked it sooner or later. And this amount of coin is worth going after.” “Who cares, no way they’ll pay as well as all this gold!” another man said. “They probably will come after us.” Welks said, obviously weighing the pro’s and con’s needed for such a huge change in his plans. He had been expecting wine or drugs or something. “Then why not take the wagons to the man who hired, collect the coin from them, kill them and take the wagons back?” Jin’li interjected flatly while blinking slowly. Welks turned and looked at Jin’li. The hyur regarded the miqo’te’s comment and pursed his lip. “It’s an option.” Welks took a deep breath. “I’ll need time to think of the best answer. For now, we are moving these into the woods away from here and set up camp. We’ll take the slaves to. In the morning we’ll have our answer, but I want you all too know, before you think of slitting throats in sleep, we probably gonna at least take a piece of all this.” There was some grumbling but Welks stood up. “Stop your bitching and get moving! You want the Maelstrom to show up?” That was enough. The mercenaries began dividing themselves among the cars and taking the reigns of the chocobos. Jin’li awkwardly hefted himself into the wagon and looked back. He saw the female slave and her blue eyes and nodded to her.

((Pardon the jumble of words, running on an hour of sleep -.- )) I don't think your question is off topic at all, Kat. I enjoyed thinking on it personally. And have to admit your x-men example can fit into a personal example, one you were breifly part of. Background: At one point in time Askier and Osric and Kahn'a IC had a falling out that left him literally stabbing Kahn'a, who at the time had really been one of Askier's few friends. This conflict was delightful, honestly we had fun, but I honestly could feel myself almost pushing too much with the version Askier I was currently portaying. Now certainly there wasn't a point where I got my feelings hurt because I know Osric and Kahn'a ooc well enough but it escalated to the point where I needed to remove Askier for IC reasons, and also to prevent his anger from become the all consuming and focal point of the Red Wings rp events by his volitile actions and had him leave for a time and use the distance as a sort of releif valve to make Askier more of a background rp than a focal point. Point of the above story is that, indeed it does happen, because we really are just side characters in another's story save our own, and we need to remember that. If we try to be the main hero in every story, eventually we gonna get our feelings stepped on and there are some people who rp that don't understand that because they are either to new to rp, or simply too consumed with themselves because they put to much of themselves into their character by accident because, in the end, the characters we made are a part of us because they are totally our creation. Thats why some people slip by accident, especially when they first start rping, because people often put parts of themselves into their character. I am even guilty of it. I put too much of me into Askier when I first made him and was brand new to rp. That's why, in my mind, I think Jin'li is the better of my two created characters because with Askier, half the time I'm just responding as I would, while with Jin'li, I am so far out of my comfort zone with normal behaviour I feel lost. I feel as if I am truly an author creating something alien to myself. And that's how it should be to avoid ooc/ic bled. The other thing people have to be careful with, and I see this alot, is the mindset that says: "Oh this isn't me, its my character". ERP is a feild I've seen this with alot and I have a conflict over it to a certain degree when its hand waved casually. People say its just for the character but, YOU put the character into that situation. You are not an actor reading lines, you WROTE the character crawling into bed and no matter how much you try to be objective, it is something intimate, even to that character and when you engage in that level of intimacy by choice, whether in character or not, there is going to be a certain bond there mentally that is going to be all to easy for someone to misinterpret. Even if both people agree OOC that this is only in character and not between them, the bleed is VERY possible. I've seen it before. An in character romance bleed over even though both parties knew it was IC and not ooc. But, and here's a little twist that I'm going to toss out there for contemplation: Is OOC/IC necesacrily a bad thing? If a legitimate relationship between two people forms based on the actions of their characters, do we still have a negative conotation to it? Because, normally the impression of bleed is negative but does it have to be? If the above question is to de-railing, I can remove it but the opinions here were very good and was interested.

The morning was bright and the sounds of song birds melded harmoniously with the sounds of the rolling sea slapping against the base of the cliffs below. A winding road cut through the trees and waving grass along the cliffside, providing a gorgeous view of the sea and the rolling clouds. It was along this path Jin’li slowly walked, his black robes and boots covered in mud from the rain the night before. His sword cane was also covered in the muck as it took his weight. The short miqo’te paused to look out at the sea, his black eyes feasting upon it. He was motionless as he watched the rolling waves. Askier had called him pathetic before his death and that had rung a cord with the once dead miqo’te. It had awakened something in him, a form of self-awareness he had not truly allowed to bubble into his mind since he had castrated himself at fifteen. He was, for all intense and purposes, indignant at the slight. He was the first, to his knowledge, miqo’te to not only defy death with the aid of powerful sorceries thanks to “The Voice” but to do so through his own sheer will and leeched knowledge from “The Voice”. Jin’li had not possessed an ego in over a decade, acting as nothing but a tool for his masters countless times over. But now, he was the master. He was, for the first time, truly in command of his own destiny and actions and, the seemingly eternal slave was unsure how to act, or even what to do with his freedom. So obsessed had he been for so long at accomplishing goals set before him by masters, he was unsure of how to set his own goals. Certainly it had been his own brilliance that had nearly poisoned Ul’dah, but even then, he had been carrying out his dead master’s wishes. Now, he was free, and he had no idea of what he wanted to do. He had killed remnants of his past easily enough, but that wasn’t’ enough. Killing for Jin’li was automatic, something he just did. He didn’t even need a reason why. But when Askier had belittled him moments before Askier had pulled the pin out of the grenade, it made Jin’li curious if he could even come up with a good reason. Jin’li had said he wanted to free people from the mortal slavery to death and its eternal claim over all. Was that truly his end? Did he truly wish to set all these people free? Jin’li thought. Freedom. It was an odd concept to him, almost alien to his mind. The idea of being free, a slave to nothing, truly nothing. The normal minded would find being killed as not a freedom, but as a punishment. But, perhaps, it was up to him to force the freedom on the masses, to force the all to die, and let only those whom possessed the true desire to be free, fight the chains of death and deny its mastery over them. Yes, that was it. Jin’li blinked and watched the sea. In that moment Jin’li realized that was his goal. He wanted to see who was his equal. Who was strong enough to cheat death and live in a new world made of only the truly free to flourish. He had so many people to test. The idea excited the normally emotionally blank male. Melkire and the former Master Jin’li’s lips curled into a half smile as he thought of the two men he wanted to test the most. One his former master and now slave to a master of his own. And Melkire, his greatest rival, the man whom had proven equal enough to kill him once. Was Melkire strong enough to join Jin’li in a new world? Was the hyur grand enough to, perhaps, best him once again? Or was the hyur just as pathetic and weak as most and would let the waves of death take him when the time came? The miqo’te didn’t know but he desperately wanted to know. “I am coming for you, Master Melkire.” Jin’li said, his voice without inflection as his smile faded. “This one shall dance with you once again.” “Dancin’ eh? Ain’t that cute.” Came a mocking voice. Jin’li turned. Standing there was four men. Behind them stretched three wagons with more men and women walking beside, all dressed in various outfits, carrying at least one weapon each. Jin’li gauged they were mercenaries and turned to them and bowed. “This one wishes you a good morning and is flattered that you should find such a simple idea as this one’s to be cute. It is not a compliment this one receives often.” “OFft, what a tosser.” Said the man in the front, a sword at his side. He was flanked by two other hyur’s and a fourth was off to the side, leaning on a strung bow. “A tosser?” Jin’li said flatly as he lifted his head and blinked. “Has this one offended?” “Yeah, you’re making me look at your face.” The man spat. The lead wagon drew up behind the men and the man sitting at the front with the reigns watched the scene. “This one cannot help it, this face is the one this one’s mother gave him.” Jin’li answered. “Well do the world a favor and throw yourself off the cliff and get out of our way.” The man grunted with a chuckle, enjoying his words. Jin’li blinked and dropped the metal arm he had been holding. He leaned with his left hand onto his sword as he reached into his robe. The action didn’t go without a response. The mercenary with the bow pulled an arrow from a quiver and drew back the projectile and string in a fluid motion. Jin’li stared at the lead hyur, unconcerned with the arrow now pointed at him. “Drake, leave-“ the man in the cart started. “This one will accept you apology now.” Jin’li said calmly. “Or you will watch your three comrades die before I make you beg for mercy.” The hyur paused, his face twisting, clearly studying the male and then snorted. The hyur with the bow fired and the arrow raced forward but never hit Jin’li. A crow that had been circling above shot down and was skewered instead, its added weight causing the arrow to drop. The four hyurs stopped and stared at the spectacle but Jin’li made good on his words. The silver gunblade flashed out. His nearly ten years of practice had made him a good enough shot to pick which eye the bullet would land in, and Jin’li picked the left eye. The first three shots hit true and the three hyurs fell backwards, blood oozing from shattered eye sockets. The fourth bullet tore a hole into the lead hyur’s leg and he fell, screaming. Several of the other mercenaries made to move and draw weapon but the man sitting in the wagon gave a command in a foreign language and they stopped as Jin’li limped over to the hyur on the ground and leveled his fire arm at his head. “This would be the appropriate time for you to beg for your continued existence.” Jin’li said calmly as he drew the hammer back on the gunblade. The man on the ground was gnashing his teeth in pain and was unable to say anything, so Jin’li pulled the trigger anyway and watched the bullet bore a hole into the man’s skull. Jin’li stood there as he canted his head up at the wagon and the man sitting there, obviously the leader. “Does this one need to extract an apology from you by force?” Jin’li aimed his weapon at the man with the reigns. The mercenaries drew swords in response. The leader, an older man with grey hair and a brow beard, dressed in a long blue coat and black trousers and shirt studied the white-haired miqo’te and, after a moment, spoke: “Before anything, I need to know your name. To be polite and all.” Jin’li paused and then bowed, his gun still aimed at the hyur. “This one-“ Jin’li paused, suddenly aware of a fact that might be problematic. He didn’t know how many knew his name, if any here knew his name, but if he was going to surprise Master Melkire, using his true name here and now might potentially ruin the fun to come. Jin’li straightened and, with a straight face, answered: “This one is called Trythian Oul” “Trythian?” the hyur blinked in surprise as he put the reigns down and hopped off the wagon. He studied Jin’li with a hard gaze, one Jin’li returned with a blank expression. “Hells of a weird name for a miqo’te, don’t you think?” “Its foreign.” Jin’li replied calmly as he and the hyur drew closer. The hyur then paused and Jin’li added “And no, this one does not think it is weird at all considering any name would still mean this one is who he is, no?” The hyur paused, having to decipher the cryptic manner in which Jin’li spoke. But, after a moment, he grinned and nodded. “I suppose it would, Trythian Oul. Trythain, my name is Adam Welks, mercenary captain and a hyur preparing for a job. Ever considered signing on with a band such as us? I’d pay you fair for that skill you have.” “Kill for coin?” Jin’li replied flatly and then added, “This one would need to know thetask and what might be required.” Adam Welks grinned. “I think I might like you, Trythian. Simple job. We were hired by a shipping company to…intercept a caravan of goods owned by a rival group coming by cart to the docks. Obviously things could get messy, of course, but it pays well.” “Consider this one pleased to join in then.” Jin’li responded with a nod of his head. Adam Welks extended his hand and grinned. Jin’li looked at the hand and, for the first time in his entire life, shook the hand of another being. As equals. No, not as equals. As a lesser respecting Jin’li’s superior level of ascension and freedom, though Welks might not be consciously aware of it. Jin’li thought. “I think we are going to get along very well.” Adem Welks answered. “This one kindly agrees.” Jin’li replied, wondering when he should test to see if Welks possessed the drive to free himself from the chains that bound him.

*Slowly limps into room* *Pauses to read* *Blinks* If you don't sign me up for this I will be very very sad kitty. Put Jin'li down for it. ;P Pweeeze?

Melkire with power..... Oh hells help us.

The winds tugged at Askier’s red coat, whipping at it, and sending his long, brown hair dancing in all directions. The Garlean slowly trudged against the rising storm winds of a freak, afternoon tempest, the cold air rushing off the sea as distant clouds rose up to blot out the sun. Bolts of lightning shot down and Askier increased is pace, his golden eyes fixed on the collection of buildings that made up the nucleus of the vineyard. Askier approached the nearest barn, a roar of thunder filling the air. As Askier gripped the door handle and opened it, a crow shot out from inside, its mouth emitting a horrible cawing noise. Askier jumped but slipped inside, pulling the door shut behind him. Rows and rows wine barrels rose around him and Askier rubbed his face and filled his nostrils with the smells of the aging red wine. The smell was vibrant and rich, and Askier was excited to try this new batch, which was only a few months away from being done fermenting. Pondering what the rich wine must taste like, he slowly walked over to a barrel and placed his hand against it. How simple his existence was now. Routine, uneventful, and yet satisfying. He was happy in this serenity. Askier’s reflection was interrupted as the door opened. A man dressed in white, the vineyard owner, entered and fixed Askier with a wide eyes stare. The man’s face was ashen and he swallowed before speaking. “Jin’a…” the man said slowly, looking at Askier. “I…you have a visitor.” Askier paused. His employers current appearance wasn’t missed, neither was the man’s apprehensive tone. “Who?” Askier said slowly, his mind pondering the very long list of people who wanted him dead. “I...I don’t know.” The man stammered. “He simply gave me a message. He told you that death has been kind.” Askier’s reaction was automatic, as if he had just had a dead rat thrust at him. He lurched back and his eyes went wide. There was an instant of panic before he flushed as red as his coat and stormed forward, his metal hand seizing the hyur’s collar. “You said, kind?” Askier screamed aloud, his eyes narrowed to slits. “You are sure?!” The man I white tried to recoil but Askier’s grasp was too tight and all he could manage was an awkward nod. Askier hissed and gnashed his teeth as he released the man. “Get your family and get the hell out of here!” Askier ordered as he went for the door. The Garlean paused in the door way and looked back at the man as he picked himself off the dusty ground. “And don’t stop running.” Askier flung his coat open and walked out. Beneath his coat danced nearly countless grenades and explosives with extra rounds of ammunition for his gun arm. Askier walked, his right hand flicking off the safety to his metal arm as he rounded the barn and began walking towards the large, gravel covered area that was formed in a circle around a fountain between the buildings. Askier blinked, and, despite his anger, was surprised. There must have been several hundred crows resting around the area, covering the fountain, the building tops, standing still on the ground. But the surprise melted away once again into anger as a gust of wind tore at the figure wearing black, leaning on a sword for support, his black eyes locked with Askier’s golden orbs. Askier closed the distance to his half-brother before he came to stop a couple dozen feet away. The approaching storm towered above them and there was a splattering of rain now, a few, random drops striking the ground between them. Jin’li bowed his head to Askier. “Master Mergrey, I-“ “Shut the hells up.” Askier snarled, his teeth flashing as he recalled how the wretched runt before him had held his sister in a prison for years on end to force him to build a bomb to destroy Ul’dah. “You should be dead.” “So should you be.” Jin’li replied, lifting his head and leaning calmly on his sword. “It seems death is but an illusion for us both.” “Not exactly.” Askier snarled. “I never died and had my body burned.” Askier lifted his gun arm and leveled it at Jin’li’s chest. “Then you were never free.” Jin’li said, and Askier’s face recoiled in disgust as Jin’li smiled, the lips on the left side of Jin’li’s face pulling back to reveal yellow fangs. It was the only time Askier had ever seen the male display emotion of any type, and it was a wretched, false impression of joy and Askier wanted to destroy it. Askier went to fire his gun arm, but before he could, the crows covering the fountain rose into the air all at once and Askierfroze. Tied to the fountain with thick coils of robe was Ashwynn, her eyes wide in terror and a metal collar around her neck, a type of collar Askier new all too well. An explosive one. “Ashwynn!” Askier shouted in a panic, his mouth going dry. “You son of a bitch, let her go you runt!” The white haired miqo’te looked from Ashwynn to Askier as his smile faded. “Askier, help.” Ashwynn sobbed, knowing what the collar was capable of doing. Jin’li pulled out a small switch and held it in his free hand. “I will, Ash just…what do you want you vermin! Havn’t you ruined my life enough?!” Askier raged, his face blood red. Jin’li’s smile faded and he lifted the button. “Freedom for all.” Jin’li said calmly. “This is not freedom!” Askier snarled. “Chaos is freedom.” Jin’li answered. “Break the chains, all that bind, and you will be free. Do not and your love will drag you both into death and eternal service to that fate.” “Insanity really does run in the family.” Askier howled above the roar of the rising wind. Jin’li blinked in confusion and slipped the switch into his pocket. “I’m goning to tear out your heart and eat it!” “This one just pressed the button. You have one minute to press it again before the collar on her neck explodes.” You…you.” Askier lifted his arm and began firing bullets from thebarrel at the base of the arm. “Die you runt bastard!” The bullets flew forward but before they struck Jin’li, several crows sprang forward and exploded in a shower of blood and feathers as each took a bullet. With the death of the crows, the rest of the flock rose into the air around them and began swirling around, their caws mixing with the din of the thunder and lighting. Askier howled and ran forward. The murder of crows suddenly parted and Jin’li aimed his own gunblade at Askier. The bomb maker threw himself aside into the swirling mass of birds to avoid the shot and the mass of crows closed again to prevent Askier a retaliatory shot. Askier picked himself up and reach into his coat and heaved three grenades forward. They exploded and pounds of feathers and fettered gore splattered on the ground. Askier used the brief gap in the crow wall to take a shot at Jin’li. Another crow exploded as it took the bullet and Askier dashed forward as he reloaded, the Garlean pulling his goggles down over his eyes as he rushed through the mass. “I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you!” Askier howled as he continued to throw grenades, slowly thinning out the mass of bireds. Fired danced on burning feathers as lighting flashed overhead. “Your allies tried to before. As is evident, they failed.” Came Jin’li’s voice from behind. Askier spun and fired as Jin’li slowly slipped through the wall of flapping wings. “Everything ends.” Askier snarled. “Yes, but today is not this one’s end.” Jin’li spoke. Askier spun, but felt the barrel of Jin’li’s gun against his stomach as Jin’li emerged from the wall of birds. “It’s yours.” Jin’li fired and Askier recoiled backwards, his blood splattering on the ground as he slammed down. Jin’li stepped forward, his silver gunblade aimed at Askier’s chest. “Fuck you!” Askier howeled as he lifted theg un arm and fired. Jin’li’s body flew backwards as the round sent, a fountain of blood spraying from the wound as he slammed onto the ground. The whirling vortex of crows suddenly rose into the tempest and was gone. Askier felt the blood oozing from his side and groaned as he blinked, slowly shifting himself around and forward. He was in agonized pain, but his mind could only process on thought, one need, to press that button and save Ashwynn. He crawled up and limped over to the still body of Jin’li. Askier reached into the pocket and pressed the switch. Askier looked over at Ashwynn and felt his stomach turn. The collar was beeping suddenly. “Askier!” Ashwynn screamed, knowing the sound. Askier sprinted forward. He had to disarm the collar, he….. “Ashwynn noo!” Askier screamed as he heard the telltale beep that preceded the collar’s detonation. “Askier…I-“ Ashwynn had tears rolling down her face but whatever she was going to say was cut off as the collar burst at the front of her throat. Blood splattered Askier as a hole seven inched wide was blasted into Ashwynn’s neck and severed chunks of her spinal column. The dead woman’s eyes were wide as her head listed forward and hung unnaturally while blood oozed down her chest. “Ashwynn!” Askier screamed and feel to his knees before his dead wife. The Garlean reached out with trembling hands and held her feet in them, tears running out of his eyes as he looked up at the corpse that had moments before been alive. “No.no.no.no.” Askier sobbed, his words repeated over and over like a spell, as if saying that word fast and often enough might resurrect her, might deny reality. It failed. The rain came with Askier’s tears. A torrential downpour that soaked the garlean in moments as he knelt there before his bride. Askier didn’t hear the footsteps or the cocking of the gun. But he did feel the gunblade shoved to the back of his head. “How does it feel, Master Mergrey, to have kill the Lady Adonis? This one never pressed the button. Had you just died or walked away, she could have lived. But this one knows you, knows your anger and this one broke you, just as this one broke Master Melkire.” “Why?” Askier choked out, his tears lost in the rain as his own blood drained from his side and mixed with the puddle of water and blood from his dead wife. “Why?” “To show you a kindness, to free you from your self-inflicted chains. Askier looked up at his dead wife. He thought of his friends. Chains. Those he loved had never been chains. They had been the pillars that built him up, they had broken his chains. They had all helped him, loved him, aided him, they were his strength, not his confinement. They were just the opposite of what his mad little brother assumed. No, what his mad brother could never understand. Not anymore. “Kanaria was right.” Askier choked out. “You are to be pitied. You won’t die because you are afraid. Because you are all alone. You’re a coward too weak to man up and do what you are supposed to. You are apathetic piece of shite.” “Death is the final master, defying it is the ultimate rebellion.” Jin’li explained. Askier lifted his head and began laughing wildly as he reached into his coat and seized a special grenade. He pulled it and fixed his eyes on his little brother. Jin’li’s crows shot down like a bullet from the clouds and started forming a wall between Askier and Jin’li as Askier pulled the pin of the grenade. “Fuck you.” There was a small flash of light and then an explosion. The wall of crows absorbed most of the blast but Jin’li was thrown backwards and went tumbling across the gravel, bouncing several times and skidding to a stop. The rain fell on the white haired miqo’te as thunder roared. Black blood oozed around him. Jin’li’s black eyes saw beyond the veil of life and death. He saw the countless chains for Nald’thal flung forward and seize him, binding him, trying to drag him into the void where he belonged. Jin’li resisted his will and soul fighting back against the flow of death. He stood defiant. “This one is not your slave.” Jin’li spoke flatly, his lips trembling as his body stirred. “This one will not bow to your will or any save this one’s own. This one..no.. I-“ Jin’li paused and his black eyes flung open. Jin’li felt the chains of death weakening. “I am Jin’li Epinoch! I am my own master! And I will enter your realm when I, not you, am ready! My will cannot be denied!” The chains slipped away and Jin’li was left on the living side of the veil once again. Jin’li turned his head and gazed at the crater Askier’s grenade had made. He stared at it and slowly picked himself up to his feet, the massive crow flapping over to him and offering him the silver sword. Jin’li took it and limped forward, his feet splashing in puddles as he approached the metal arm that had once been part of Askier. Jin’li holstered his gunblade before he bent down and picked up the limb. Jin’li inspected it and then paused, sniffing it. There was an extra smell there, of something other than just explosive powder, and extra residue. Jin’li blinked and nodded. “How interesting. Rest easy, Master Mergrey and Lady Adonis. May you be chained in slavery together forever.” Without another word, Jin’li turned and slowly began limping away, the thunder roaring across the land as he set his course towards Ul'dah. (To be continued in "The Kindly Mr. Epinoch.")

Jin'li Epinoch - Is obessesed with manners and and making sure things are clean. He has been known to mop up blood in a nice house after he kills people. - Has an obsession with the word "kind." - Hates discussion regarding sex and anything related to it because it brings up traumatic memories. - Takes pride in having castrated himself. - Has an intense loathing for slavers. - Bows to anyone and everyone who talks to him. Askier Mergrey ....yeah I don't have time to list them all...but here are a few. - He gets super energetic when drinking tea. - He can't say no to an attractive lady. - Has an addiction to sniffing gunpowder. - Has an addiction to using gun powder. - Secretly enjoys pain in THAT weird sort of way. - Likes the color yellow. - Has terrible self esteem issues despit acting like he doesn't.

Ashwynn sat on the patio of the Limsian apartment she was renting. It was a small place, and far below her normal standards, but so much of her life seemed to be below standards these days. Even her choice in husbands she sometimes remarked. She sipped her wine as her black robe danced in the wind. This was far from how she thought life would turn out for her. From adopted daughter of one of the most powerful men within the Garlean military, to a refugee on the run living just above the squalor line. Ashwynn spat and took a long sip of her red wine. She paused and turned her eyes back to the rising sun and the shimmering ocean before her. "Disgusting." she muttered about her lot in life. Askier was one thread that seemed to keep her from crashing into the ocean of life that sought to overwhelm her. He was a conundrum alright, one she wanted to strangle. but one she loved dearly, even if she seemed icy at him at the moment. What woman wouldn't? Being forced to live several miles away? Ashwynn sighed. "He's trying." she muttered softly. "Then he is failing." came a falt voice. A voice Ashwynn knew remarkably well. Slowly, she turned her head and let her blue eyes set themselves on the sickly, frail figure of the miqo'te whom had once served her father fanatically. "Jin'li." Ashwynn's tone was far from jovial, or pleased. She had heard from her husband and his allies of this little beasts actions, his monstious murders, and how he had commited them all at the orders of her father. "Lady Adonis, this one is pleased to see you again, alive for a short time longer." Jin'li bowed but Ashwynn replied by pulling a small gunblade from beneath her robe and aiming it at the male. She fired, the weapon slamming a bullet into Jin'li's stomach. Jin'li staggered backwards several feet but did not make a sound of display emotion on his face. Blood , black, oozed out a few drops fell to the floor. Jin'li blined and then slowly began limping forward, the sword in his hand clicking as he went. "I see your father gave you a gunblade similiar to the one he gave me." Jin'li remarked, studying the short, silver weapon in Ashwynn's hand. "That was very rude of you to shoot me." Ashwynn made to squeeze the trigger again but Jin'li shocked her as he darted foward and knocked her pointed weapon aside with the sword hand and seized her throat with the other. Jin'li's grip was terrifyingly strong and cold as ice. Jin'li looked at her as Ashwynn clawed at his face, her mind desperatly trying to let oxygen enter her lungs once more. "You are the brood of Master Adonis. That will not save you. This one shall use you to break another. Rejoice, Lady Adonis. The chain of love that binds you to Master Mergrey will drag you both into death together forever." Jin'li squeezed harded, his face devoid of any emotion. It was the last thing Ashwynn Adonis saw before she blacked out.

Atrium Crow stood at the edge of the dry docks near Limsa. The short, female miqo’te’s short hair blew around her face as her mismatched eyes watched the small boat sailing towards the shore, the shadow of the overcast night even darker around it. Atrium knew who was aboard that boat. The cursed other part she had been magically stitched to by “The Voice” to become an undead assassin. That black, wretched soul that had infected her. She had once been a loyal follower of the cult and had given her life and body for the cult’s cause. But that had changed. She, when she and Jin’li had been made one person called Atrium Crow, she had felt the soul, the cold, heartless calculating thing and had almost become truly united and one. But it had been her half that had fallen in love with Oubliette. Her half that had fought against the power of "The Voice" and it had been her half that had finally torn the Jin’li half away and banished it from her soul and her body to travel into the realm of death. She was her own person again, even if she still called herself Atrium Crow. She had been traveling the world, marveling in its wonder now, free. But for some time she had sensed the soul of Jin’li slipping back into the world and somehow growing stronger. The stronger and more restored the soul of Jin’li became, the more aware she was of his intentions and location. Over the past few months it had been moving up to Coerthas and back and was now sailing across the sea. Atruim knew she had to meet him on the shore, to forever sever their conection that somehow still exhisted and send the soul to Nald’thal. The boat she knew to be carrying Jin’li slipped though the waters and then up to the pier. There was a terrible splintering noise as the full sails drove the vessel aground. Atrium watched as the vessel grounded to a halt. The shadows that hung over the ship seemed to be merging and out of them emerged the white haired, pale skinned albino, Jin’li Epinioch. The male limped slowly off the ship, a sword clutched in his hand but used as a cane. A massive raven, as large a big cat, sat upon the miqo’te’s shoulder and peered around before fixing Atrium with a blood red optic. The two undead figures faced one another down, but it was Jin’li whom moved first. Jin’li bowed deeply as the great raven flew from his shoulder, emitting a horrible caw that echoed around the deserted dry docks. Jin’li began speaking in his flat, emotionless voice. “Master Crow, half of this one’s once whole. A pleasure and an honor you bestow upon this one by meeting this one here.” Atrium snarled, recalling that stupid way of talking the Jin’li soul had forced them to talk like. “Shut your damn mouth. I cut you out and sent you beyond. How are you even here?!” Atrium unslung the axe from her back and held it, metal glinting in the light from the torches that burned around the docks. “This one has learned how to defeat death, just as you have. This one, however, knows how without needing "The Voice".” Jin’li lifted his head and took a step back aboard the vessel. Atrium scoffed and stepped forward, her hot headed tendencies coming out. Her mild, coy manners had left her since the Jin’li part was gone and she had been doing ‘things’ with Oubliette. “Retreating already,spawn?” Atrium snorted. Her axe began burning with black flames as she used her energy to encase it. Jin’li blinked. “Lady Crow, do be careful, the powers you have are very limited. I know your limits just as well as you do and using them aimlessly could cause you to-“ “I’ll only be a second to kill you and be rid of you again! You tried to crush me when we were bound together. Never again!” Atrium dashed forward and leapt at Jin’li. The sickly miqo’to tried to evade her blow but the burning axe slammed into his gut and sent Jin’li tumbling backwards and crashing against the mast of the ship. Atrium slowly strode forward, her axe in hand as she spat, her feet slipping slightly on the wet deck. “You should have just gone on the Nald’thal’s domain!” Atruim shouted. “If you don’t want to go, I’ll send you myself so you might be judged for your grievous sins.” Jin’li looked up at her, his hand clutching the black blood oozing out of the gash she had cut in him and her weapon. Jin’li saw the silver etched into the cutting edge of the blade and realized he should have known one dead abomination would know how to wound another. They had once been the same person once after all and had shared memories and ideas together. But that’s how he knew she would have attacked so recklessly and been so focused on him to ignore the raven. Jin’li suddenly moved. His sword arm lurched forward and slammed the point of Jin’li’s sword into Atrium’s foot. Atruim screamed as the silver metal blade impaled her dead flesh and burned her. Jin’li bowed his head to her as he picked himself and threw himself into the ocean with a crash of water. The moonlight suddenly slipped through the clouds and glistened off the whale oil covered decks, whale oil Jin’li had spread across the deck for just this occasion. The raven flying above saw the reflection of the moon on the oil and dropped the torch it had taken from a mounting just as Atrium went to pull the sword from her foot. The torch fell and ignited the oil in an instant. The entire ship sprung into flames in the blink of an eye. The inferno engulfed Atrium and began charring her flesh. It all happened so fast she didn’t have a chance to escape. Her screams were agonized but did not last. The flames shot beneath the deck and stuck the black powder beneath. The ship exploded in a plume of fire that shot debris high into the air. On the dock two trembling hands reached from the water and seized the peir. Jin'li pulled himself from the salty brine with a grunt, his movments awkward and clumsy but he moved as if the gash in his side did not affect him as more black blood oozed from the cut. Jin'li rose up and turned to stare at the flickering flames that danced across the surface of the water. The miqo'te bowed his head. "Thank you for the duel, Lady Crow. It was an honor." There was a caw and the Crow flapped down. The flames glinted off the silver sword that had flown into the air following the blast. Jin'li took the sword and begna slowly limping inland, the winds tussling his hair, brining with it the smell of vineyards. “Death is freedom, Lady Crow. Consider yourself truly liberated at last.”

In the mountains of Coethas, a miqo’te priest pretending to be someone he was not was sitting by a table, a file sharpening the edge of an odd board that had two boot bindings screwed to one side. The blonde male was humming softly as worked. He had slipped out of Ul’dah the same time the rest of the Red Wings had made their departure as the claws of someone tried to squeeze the organization dry. Jin’to had decided it was the perfect time to return to the mountains for some well-deserved relaxation. The priest looked at the window of his inn room and grinned. He felt a bit bad for leaving the Red Wings to their fate, but with the promise of fresh snow tomorrow and a nearby ridge to slide down, he was having a hard time feeling too bad. He would worry about it later. After all, he was just a place holder, not a full member of the Red Wings. He would leave the real danger to his fool of an older brother. Jin’to sighed as he thought of Askier as he slipped the board over and began sharpening the other edge. His brother: the psychopath. The fact that Jin’to was even half related to the disturbed male bothered him. The list of reasons he didn’t like his older brother was numerous pages long. Twenty-three to be exact; Jin’to had actually written them out. But his sister-in-law, for some odd reason cared forAskier, and Jin’to had aided Askier for her sake, not Askier’s. He just hoped Askier was finally fixing himself. Jin’to had already lost one brother. The priest paused. He looked over at the crackling fire in the hearth and let the flames dance before him. His mind wandered as his body stilled. For a long time Jin’to did not move as he gazed into the embers. His left hand slipped to his pocket of his shirt and he pulled out a small stone with a carved symbol on it. The stone had been smoothed and polished by years of handling and it shone a dull grey. Jin’to let his lips curl into a sad smile as he swallowed. It had been Jin’li’s first birthday present to him, when the young kit had still been full of life and happiness, before the cruel reality of their upbringing was thrust upon him. Jin’to wrapped his fingers upon the stone and breathed deeply as he closed his eyes. “Did I fail you Jin’li?” Jin’to said softly. “Is your death all my fault?” “This one finds your sentiment mildly touching.” Jin’to bolted to his feet and leapt over the table as the voice spoke. He seized the candle stick and held it like club as he fixed his golden eyes where the sound had come from. Standing in the door, leaning on a thin fencing sword as if it was a cane, draped in total black, stood the gaunt, sickly figure of Jin’li. Jin’li’s flesh was pale white and his hair was as pure as the falling snow outside. The white tail swished slowly as the sickly, younger Epinoch limped into the room, the pure black eyes fixed on his older brother. “Jin’li?!” Jin’to exclaimed, lowering the club, his eyes bugging in disbelief. “You, they said you were dead and cremated!” Could the Red Wings have lied to him? Jin’to’s mind was full of these ideas as he stood there dumbfounded. “This one was dead.” Jin’li explained his voice utterly flat and without emotion as he paused in the room, the sword sticking in the floor. It was then that Jin’to saw the blood rolling off the blade and pooling on the floor. The fire behind Jin’to sputtered and the priest felt the hair on his neck starting to standing. “But, then how are you here?” the priest said warily. “Did Nald’thal-“ “That name, Nald’thal,-” Jin’li said, looking at his brother from behind short hair, “Is an amusing title. You do not understand the reality of what is coming when the veil of this world is gone. Death, as this one has learned, is simply a state of mind, which is able to be overcome with the right powers and desire, Master Epinoch.” “Master Epinoch?” Jin’to looked puzzled at the title. “I’m your brother Jin’li. There is no need for-” “Manners are always needed, Master Epinoch.” Jin’li said, stepping forward, his black eyes gazing at Jin’to’s and suddenly Jin’to felt the violent urge to smash his brother in the head with the candle stick. The urge shocked him but there was something wrong here. Terribly terribly wrong. This was Jin’li but wasn’t. Jin’to didn’t know how he knew, or why, but the figure before him was wrong, it was a violation of the natural world. Almost as if it was a voidspawn. Jin’to’s eyes widened. Was that it? Had his brother somehow manifested himself in the plane once more as some twisted abomination? Some construct of nightmares and energies best forgotten? Had not Alexei mentioned something about a cult altering the departed? Was Jin’li a victim of this cult? Was Jin’li some sick puppet? But hadn’t the cult been destroyed? If it had, who was puppeteering his brother? Or was it even his brother? Or was his brother some now free, dark entity? A million questions flooded Jin’to’s mind as he looked at the face that had once been his brother and spoke slowly. “Jin’li, I am sorry I wasn’t there for you. I heard about what you did, to everyone. I…you are still my brother. I don’t know how you found me, but can’t we sit and talk?” Jin’li gazed back with his black, empty eyes and no expression crossed the younger Epinoch’s face. “Master Epinoch.” Jin’li replied, voice still expressionless. “This one came here for not pity or to ask forgiveness or to rebuild a broken family. This one came to learn where the Master Mergrey was.” Jin’to gawked and then flushed red. “You came to see him! Not me, the brother who raised you, helped you, was there for you to cry too! All you care about is that bombing bastard and not me?! Why the blazes didn’t you just go ask those friends of his and spare me the heart ache of knowing you are somehow alive after death!” “This one did not mean to offend.” Jin’li said flatly as he watched his golden haired older brother shudder in rage and tears slip from the golden eyes. “This one simply knew you would talk and not try to kill. Please forgive this one for the unintended offense.” Jin’li bowed politely. Jin’to lunged forward and slapped his brother across the face. The blow was loud. Jin’li’s head jerked to the side but he did not react or make a sound. “Did the blow permit you a chance to feel at ease, Master Epinoch?” Jin’li asked as he turned his head back around. “No!” Jin’to screamed. “How are you here? Are you even alive anymore? How did you come back rom the dead?! Why do you need to see Askier, huh? I…what happened to you!” Jin’li looked at his brother calmly. “You do not know where he is then?” Jin’li asked again. “No!” Jin’to shouted in rage and frustration. This thing that looked like his brother, he hated it. It had dragged out buried emotions and then confused him. He knew in his heart of hearts it was wrong and evil, but the fact that it was like his baby brother, yet so unlike him…he couldn’t get that out of his mind. It bothered him. He wanted to reverse time, never have been here, never have seen the thing walking around with Jin’li’s face and that sword. Jin’to paused and realized he suddenly hurt. He blinked and realized something was stuck through his chest. He began to shudder as a cold crept over his body. Jin’to looked down and saw Jin’li’s blade buried to the hilt in his chest. Jin’to blinked again. He hadn’t even seen the sword move. “Why…” Jin’to gasped, blood filling his punctured lung. Jin’li twisted the blade and looked at his brother. “Because you do not know where Askier is and therefor were of no more use to this one. Please pardon the rudeness of the death you are experiencing, but know I love you brother. You were always so kind. That is why I am letting you experience a kind death.” Jin’li held the sword still until the light of life left Jin’to’s eyes and the older miqo’te sagged to the floor in a heap. Jin’li slid his weapon clear of the body and turned. It took several minutes for the sickly miqo’te to work his way down the stairs and to the front door of the inn and slipped outside. The winds howled and the air was biting cold. The flag atop the snow wall nearby waved in the wind violently. But the harsh conditions did not bother the miqo’to. Leaving a trail of blood behind him from his sword, Jin’li continued to limp his way through the swirling snows towards the sea.

“I hate this place.” the elezen said with a bitter scowl as he drew the coat hung over his shoulders tighter. Before him crackled a fire, the heat it spewed with each crackle of wood hardly defeating the icy cold that hung clean and crisp on the air. Both of the elezen’s companions exhaled their breaths white clouds that mixed with the grey smoke. Overhead the moon shone bright and clear through the leaves of the trees of Gridania, but nearby, taller and mightier, stood the mountains of Coerthas and their snowcapped peaks. The snow might be way up upon the , but apexes’ the cold hand blown down to this border region and cast aside the warmth. “We’ll be out of here soon enough, Sticks.” said a shivering hyur to the elezen nicknamed Sticks. Sticks was tall and as thin as a stick, with sunken cheekbones and black hair. He seemed more like a tree than a living creature. Sticks grumbled something as the third figure, a short Roe, tossed another log onto the fire and sparks shot up into the air like a thousand, wayward stars. The normal sounds of the forest were gone. No insects, no wind, no nighttime creatures. There was only still silence, save the three figures and their roaring fire. The three merchants had parked their wagon near the side of the road and their single chocobo was asleep nearby, it’s body mass insulating it from the biting teeth of the cold air. “Two days ain’t soon enough.” Sticks grumped as he crossed his arms over his chest and wondered how he was going to sleep that night. How in the world had he come to this? What bad cluck of fate had made him go from a successful merchant with his own wares being sold in the streets to hardly making ends meat as a low end, bottom of the barrel caravan driver? Sticks had lost count. He had been through so much, between the political upheaval currently in Ul’dah, to corruption among that city-state’s agencies, to the madness that seemed to occur there so regularly, it was just proof that life was chaos and any order people claimed existed where just a temporary illusion. All of his great life plans, reduced to freezing his ass off in the middle of the- SNAP A twig crunched under a foot and all three men jerked their heads towards the sound that had come behind Sticks. The three pairs of eyes peered intently into the shadowed, moon-lit columns of trees that stretched before them. Nothing moved. After a few moments they turned back to the fire. “Wonder what that was.” Sticks muttered. “Probably just a deer or something.” the hyur replied calmly. He was a seasoned traveler and held his bearing far better the urbanized elezen. “If I had my bow strung, I’d probably go get us some game and sk-“ “Where is the bird?” grunted the Roe as he suddenly rose to his feet. Sticks and the hyur jerked their heads and then sprung to their feet. The chocobo, so carefully tied, was gone, its rope lying on the ground. Sticks blinked in shock as the Roe stepped towards where the bird had been. The hyur was hastily stringing his bow and slinging his quiver onto his back. Something was amiss. Sticks couldn’t be sure what it was but, or how he knew, but the hairs on the back of his neck were straight up and down. “Maybe it just ran off?” Sticks said weakly. “Could have-“ SNAP Another stick broke behind them. Sticks and the hyur spun, their backs to where the chocobo had been. The hyur drew his bow string back, an arrow knocked and ready to fly. Sticks slid a pair of knives from his sides and held them tightly, one in each hand, as he peered around. “River Rock, Sticks, you see anything?” the hyur said in a hushed whisper. Sticks shook his head and swallowed nervously. “Rock, how about you?” Silence greeted this question. “Rock?” Sticks looked over his shoulder and exhaled nervously. The Roe was gone. “Rock?” Sticks said in a trembling voice as the fire crackled beside him. “Rocks gone!” Sticks turned his head and froze. He was alone. The hyur, who had just been beside him not a moment ago in the light of the flames, was also gone. Sticks stood alone. The knives in his hand shimmered as the light of the flames reflected off the polished steel as the elezen shook in fear. Nothing moved around him. Only the rows of trees for as far as he could see. And his breath, white upon the air. For minutes nothing happened but the pulse continued to hammer in Sticks’ veins as he jerked his head around over and over, seeking his comrades, or for a clue to what had happened to them. SNAP Sticks whirled around and went still. Just a few feet away stood a figure, dressed all in black. Its face was indistinguishable and dark, as if the light from the fire was unable to pierce the shadows that dwelt upon the figure’s face. A black hood covered the head but a long, white tail swished to and fro slowly behind the figure. “Who the hells are you!” Sticks exclaimed and then hurled both knives at the figure. They sliced through the air and then slammed into the figure points first. The figure in black didn’t react. It simply stood there, the handles of the blades protruding out. Sticks gave an awkward chuckle before the figure lifted its head. Sticks’ couldn’t see any feature except the eyes, but those eyes were somehow blacker than the night around them. They did not reflect, they did not shimmer, they seemed more like two black holes that absorbed everything around them and let nothing escape. Two prisons that dwelt in a realm beyond understanding. Sticks tried to look away from those hypnotizing eyes but found himself unable to do so, they were like pits he had fallen into and there was no bottom. The hooded figure slowly limped forward, a clicking faintly audible as a cane helped move the figure, As the hooded figure drew closer, it extended a trembling handed, covered in taught skin over white bone and veins. When the trembling figures were about to touch Sticks, the elezen tried to pull back but couldn’t, he was lost in those eyes. “What are you doing?” the elezen whimpered, his voice a defeated whisper as he realized, deep down, he was doomed. The voice that spoke was not harsh or cruel. It was not energetic or excited. It was simple, and soft, like a gentle breeze over fields of wheat. There was no emotion in the words and its tone did not change as it spoke two words. “A kindness.”

The woman had worked the vineyard for years; her toothless smile always ready to be given to anyone who came near. She always smiled but never told her name, her countless wrinkles creasing as she did so. That was why Askier was surprised when he walked near her and looked at him. She looked so sad. Askier had gone to open his mouth but she had simply raised her hand to silence him. "Jin'a', I owe you an apology. I did what I had no business to do." Askier blinked and gave an uncomfortable chuckle and looked around before looking at her. "Madam, to my knowledge, you have not wronged me in any-" Askier started. "I read the tarrot for you, because I was curious what future awaited you sincer you have been so helpful. I-" the woman siezed Askier's hand and shoved four cards into them and looked up at him. "I am sorry, Jin'a. I...I am sorry for your fate." The woman turned, leaving the card in Askier's hand. Askier looked around the vineyard anxiously, the entire situation odd. All he had been doing was patroling the barns housing the wine barrels when he had run into her. Askier saw he was alone and then looked at the cards. The first was "The Foo"l. Askier looked at the card and rolled his eyes. His card, he guessed, knowing how the stupid cards supposedly worked. He flipped to the next. The Lovers. Askier blinked. He was certainly in love, yes. Nothing new here. Next card. The picture of a tower struck by lightning, the card of Madness and destruction. A card Askier new well. A million options came to mind and Askier turned to the next card. The name of the card at the bottom was "Death" and Askier trembled slightly. But it wasn't the nature or meaning of the card that bothered him. It was the image upon the card. The visage of death resting before him was that of a figure in black, leaning on a silver sword, just as in his dream. A dozen crows circled the figure. Askier threw the cards from him and pulled out his firearm. With a burning fury in his eyes, his weapon fired, the bullets tearaing the cards to ashes. Askier watched the tattered remains fall to the earth and spat as he turned around and continued to make his rounds. "Well that soured my day." Askier grunted in dismissal.

The shadow thing stood at the lip of the cave, the darkness of night stretching before it. It had languished in the darkness for months, drawing itself a form not unlike its old one. Muscle and sinew, flesh and bone, all knitted together by the whisps of aether leaked from the void and used to alter the muck and water the soul had resided in, deep within the subterainian vault, to form a new vessel to house its soul. Now the thing felt strong enough to leave its hole and walk among the living once more. The thing was humaniod in shape and covered in black robes and a black hood. A silver sword, thin and polished, was clutched in its left hand and the figure leaned upon it like a cane. A crow sat on the figure's right shoulder, the bird far larger than a normal crow, with eyes that glowed a dull red, like dying coals. The figure in black slowly limped forward, its feet sinking in the mud of the swamp. Gridania smelt of rot in this place, and the sky overhead was blocked out by rows of tree limbs and leaves. It was absolutly dark, but the figure in black saw just fine as it lifted its head just enough for its black eyes to see past the cowl, eyes blacker than the night around it. The figure moved slowly, the bird on its shoulder whispering in a cracking voice words that told the location of the person the figure sought. After a few moments, the bird sprung into the air, a shower of molted feathers falling behind it. The bird rose up into the black sky and emitted a shrill caw and then, in its crackling cawing, repeated a single word: "Kkkkindness! Kkkkindness! Kkkkindness!" The wind blew and the crow was lost in the darkness of the night as the thing in black continued its slow march north.

*Sneaky sneak sneak* Oh what's this? It broke 4 days before I got back on forums? Guess whom you can't blame this time? *sneaky sneak sneak* But seriously, hope the fix goes well.

(****)

The air was cold, and each breath Askier took was a difficult task, as his veins tried to pump his warm blood to his frigid sinew and organs. Each step was long and labored as he plowed through the snow, his foot prints leaving deep impressions behind him as he gazed around with his golden eyes. Rows and rows of tombstones stood around him under a ceiling of dark grey clouds. Tombstones rolled out in rows for what seemed an eternity, each stone with a name inscribed upon its stone surface. Through this solem eternity Askier walked, his steps uneven and taking him to a destination he did not know where but seemed unable to escape. His path was set, it seemed, and he either did not want to, or was unable to, deviate from the almost supernatural force compelling him to walk. After an uncalculable time of walking through the neat, narrow rows, Askier stopped. Before him rested a headstone with an inscribed name that he knew all to well. But, where the earth had been level before the stones for ever other grave marker he had passed, this ground was torn and tilled, with a large hole open before the Garlean. Askier felt the hair on his back rise as he swallowed. And then he turned. Standing there was a figure dressed in a black robe, a black cowl draped over the head and face. Two, ghastly pale hands clutched a thin, silver rapier in their spidery fingers and the figure was leaning on the blade as if it were a cane. Askier's lips curled in disgust as he stared at the figure. He didn't need to see the face to know what this enitiy before him was. "Get back in that hole." Askier ordered in a harsh whisper. The hood lifted just enough for a chin and thin pair of lips to be seen as the head beneath the cowl moved. The lips pulled back into a half smile and a set of yellow, pointed teeth flashed. The figure then dashed forward and shoved Askier. The snow caught Askier and he slipped backwards. The Garlean tumbled into the hole before the grave, which suddenly had no bottom. Askier continued to fall into deeper and deeper blackness. And then there was light. Askier's eyes flew open and he jerked up, sweat covering his brow. He took a few panic breaths before he looked around and realized where he was. In his room, at the vineyard, still very much alive. The Garlean had been fighting a fever these past few days, but with that dream just now, it seemed the fever had passed. Askier rubbed his right hand over his face and heaved a sighed of relief. "It was just a dream." Askier replied, looking over at the window and the rain that was falling outside. "Just a dream."

A'trus and Rungee watched Ryder from the back of the room. Both had grumbled to one another and said their peace. The Black Chains were out of their hands at the moment. After the speech, the two left and strode quietly.through the Flame hall. At long last, Rungee looked at A'trus. "Want a drink sir?" "Gods yes." A'trus exclaimed with dry chuckle and two left. The cell. Kresha was about to scratch Titor's face again as the bloody towel came off when Alec slipped into the room and whispered something to her. The torture master paused, then.blinked in surprise. Then sighed and nodded as she lowered her hand. "Get this one and Od'hilkas a Flame.uniform and take them to the hangar. They are going home." With those words she left, leaving her soldiers to.carry out the orders. Two bells.later Kahn'a and Tutor would find themselves in.fresh uniforms standing in the hot hangar, their hands still bound behind their backs and sloppy bandaging covering their wounds as four guards stood around them with swords as they waited for the airship that would come and pick them up for transportation elsewhere.

A'trus blinked and exhaled sharply in frustration as he tried to keep the scowl off his face. "This is why I will never accept.a higher rank. All politics and games with the upper echelons. Least some of us know how to do our jobs. Fine, you want my unit, I want the paper orders signed and stamped. As for the prisoners, where do you want them taken?"

A'trus stared at the superior officer as if a dead rat had been tossed into the miqo'te's lap. Stand down? The Black Chains and then let his men be used without his consent in a continued hunt that he had just been forced to stand down from? Was this a joke? Was the Commander playing games with him? A'trus considered that. How did he know that this man wasn't also part of the hunt? A sympathetic ear for the unit A'trus hunted? He could be but without proof that was a dangerous road to take and could result in his discharge from the service. Something A'trus had no desire of lettinghhappen. After a few minutes of silence, A'trus looked at Ryder and spoke. "You are my superiour, and as such I am.required to obey your orders, though there is questions in my.mind if you might not be overaly loyal to your unit and maybe part of this conspiracy and their agent. But I am.required to obey orders I can rationally carry out so I will turn over the prisoners as per your request. However, my unit will NOT aid you with your own personal hunt. We will stand down but no more. I will not risk my career or theirs in your which hunt sir. The Red Wings are big boys. They can handle it, you said it yourself." A'trus stared at his superior with a steely expression. Titor's Cell Kresha approaches Titor and after a moment slashed his face with her nails. She struck left to right then right to left then down. Blood dripped off her fingers and tufts of flesh had caught under her nails. She nodded as she stepped away and began cleaning off her hand as one man stepped forward and wrapped Titor's bleeding face in a towle . Once the thick fabric was secure, the second man took the bucket and let spill the salty brine and for thirty seconds air would not reach Title as the water ran down his nostrils, his mouth and into his gashes. "Where are the Red Wings." Kresha said calmly "You know more than the other one we have in our possession obviously. Now where?"