Askier

More darkness. The abyss. A chasm of madness and chaos. Mists of ice and death. Whispers upon a wind. A cell. Crystal. Floating. Something sinister within. To the surface Crate peered, seeing the slithering thing within. A face. A vision. The blonde recoiled in disgust and clutched at his skull as a sound like a million shrieking harpies assaulted his brain. The mists plunged in and suddenly a shaft of light enveloped him. In the real world his blue eyes shot open. "So that's you're goal."

Entry 8 Dear diary, I know you are just a book and don't think and all but I've missed writing you. It's nice to have a someone I can talk too without feeling judged. Far as I'm concerned you are the best sort of friend, silent and willing to just listen. And right now, need it. I'm a few bottles in and feeling reflective ya know? Went looking for Frandrin but he's out looks like for the time. So turned my aim towards other matters. Good news, found new employ with the White Wolf Syndicate for the time being. Capable group though Lotus might take wrong aspect. This is for safety, but could need to mention. Blood oaths are not light in Doman culture and I technically still have mine. But I need contacts and protection. And, I dunno. Ever since Tessra died, things just seem so strange. I remember back then that everything was a big deal. I stressed over everything and everything seemed so wonderful. But now? It's just so meh. Maybe I'm wiser. Jaded? But things don't get to me the same way. I mean people point guns at me and instead of losing my mind, I just react. I'm mean I get scared sure, but I'm also so logical. I don't loose myself in the same way. Whatever. Enough edge lording. The orphanage is doing well. We're up to six kiddoes meow. Fixed the roof. Took forever to re-shingle but least it isn't leaking anymore. As for the rest of of the building, working on it. Got the gang new bed sheets and mattresses too. Course it's amazing I get any work done when I'm there. Those kids harass the hell out of me to play with them. It's exhausting trying to keep up with six kids but I manage somehow. Think they are all great and looking forward to seeing them all again. Also of note is the fact that I've managed to avoid any interactions with the 'crew.' Sooner or later we might run into each other but for now I'm feeling optimistic that this shift to operating around Thanalan after having laid low for so long is going to keep my profile low enough to be missed. Well, I've rambled enough. Sure I'll have interesting news soon.

Hey! Saw you were looking for clients for your body guard character. What time are you normally active? My character definitely could use one but wanted to make sure timing was possible lol

((Tray'ju was a pen name I was using but forgot password to account and e-mail associated with account was corrupted so back to using main account. :roll:)) Entry 7 Hello, Diary. How have you been? Sorry it's been so long since I scribbled all over your pages but, well, things have been a bit hectic. See, following the near death of Hojo'to at my hands and the meeting with Frandrin, I became primary target number one for lots of very unhappy people with weird affections to the retarded meat-head. These affections, unfortunately meant lethal ramification for me. Between Bleeding Boar, Kanako Moonweaver, Sun'ra Zhwan, Mergrey, Korofi, and a half dozen others, I was constantly looking for someone to come out of the shadows and lop my damn head off. To compound matters, my high profile in a certain organization, as well as the work I continued to do for Frandrin, was putting me front-and-center with various law enforcement agencies as my import business, (hehe imports, gonna remember that one), exploded with demands. One could say I had too many investors. Well, I figured my number was gonna be up anytime and was making plans for the orphanage when He-Whom-I-Shall-Not-Name-in-Case-This-is-Picked-Up-By-the-Law recommended a ploy. I won't get into specifics in case I need to do it again, but you may have heard I was dead, Diary. Well, -someone- did die. But, wasn't me. Now, moment I got wind, I dropped my colors and fled. Right into hiding. Granted had to watch most of my contacts and venues get absorbed by various sects but I was alive and was worth it. Spent a lot of the time in the orphanage fixing it up and working with the kids in the moons following. Had plenty of money saved over so no trouble. For awhile. But, the money began to dry up after several of my accounts were seized upon by agencies or former allies and I've had to come back out of hiding and resume my trade. What can I say? I have a legendary skill at turning shit into gold. For now, most think I'm still dead and I'm -very- happy to keep up that visage up while I work. First though, Frandrin and I need to have a little chat about his -friends-. Never did update about his little package did I? Well Diary, I'll keep you in suspense for a bit longer. You know how I like to be a merciless tease.

"Got a moment?" Ki Grimsong paused to suck in deeply on the cancer stick that was smoldering fiercely from his lips. Like a pensive dragon of the north, the miqo'te tensed as he slowly turned his head and shot jets of smoke from his nostrils. He peered out from behind his round, shaded glasses at the face of the person that had been naive enough to waist his time. Ki pulled his hands from his red jacket's pockets and rolled his fingers. He sniffed and flicked his ears, the bomb earring he wore from his left ear shaking as he did so. "Got coin?" Ki replied in a gravely pitch, his tail twitching. He was already late and this man was just increasing his tardiness. Out here, in the Golden Bazaar, all there was to do was drink and make things. And he was on his way to do the first. "I have an offer for you to make some." replied the figure. The person, whom Ki was tempted to call male but couldn't be sure since they wore flowing robes and had their face wrapped up in a shoal, was annoying him. "Listen, pal, ain't really interested." Ki spun and began his march toward the bar and blissful inebriation. "Is that a fact 'architectus veteranus'?" Ki immediately went for the pistol at his side as he heard the rank,throwing his coat open as he spun. The figure was already aiming a magitek pistol at him and Ki went deathly still as he looked from the weapon to the masked face. "Who are you?" Ki snarled, pointed fangs flashing as his lip curled. "Mercenaries like you kill for coin, yes? I want to offer you lots of coin to build us things to kill lots of people." The figure drew back the hammer of his firearm. "And, I don't think you are foolish enough to say no." "You clearly don't know me." Ki replied.

You know what they say: MMORPG - Many men online role-playing girls And MMORPG - Many madains online role-playing guys Lol. On topic though. Dudes. I roleplay mostly dudes cause am one and the woman psyche is a mystery that defies my attempts to probe and reveal the secrets there in. And the females I make do make tend towards evil cause apple and gardens and I'm not creative cause evil easier. Lol xp

IhP3J0j9JmY The mists of madness were a place Crate knew ever so well and he now dwelt within them once more as his mind unraveled from his body. He let himself follow the strange winds within this place. Why fight? A flash and a memory as the walls of white roiled back. A young, small boy with blonde hair in a garden. He was hunched over, a trowel discarded besides him as he held something in his hands. He was sobbing and shaking. Crate blinked in surprise as he realized this was a memory of himself and, he had actually done...this! He looked around at the large garden, filling his nose with the smell of the roses. It had been years since he'd seen the residence of his old order. So long in, fact, that he had forgotten both the smells and this moment. He turned back to the tender-hearted young version of himself, who couldn't be older then eight winters, and blinked. He recalled now. He had accidentally hit the small garden snake while digging and cut it's nose. It was bleeding and lying still as he tried to tend to its wound with a small rag. Tears were flowing from his eyes as he begged the little thing to be okay. To move again. It did, and the blond began to give a teary laugh of excitement as he put the little snake down and watched it wiggle away into the brush. "It's just a snake." Crate snorted as the fog rolled back in. He stepped back and grimaced. What was this? Some amused twist of his brain? Before he could be answered, the fog parted. There he was again and Crate growled. Was this the moment where his life passed before him and then he died? Cause he wasn't a fan of how it was playing out. He had a lot of good sex sessions he'd rather be reliving. The young Crate, now fourteen, stood in a set of armor. His hand was pressed to his right breast as he recited the oath of his knightly order and he was made a full squire of the free company. Crate looked into his younger eyes and saw the hope and optimism in them as he recited words about goodness and protecting the innocent masses. "Oh you'll see." Crate snorted as he crossed his arms. "How you the -innocent- masses repay your sacrifices." Fog. Flashes. Another. "We did it!" Young Crate raised a glass of ale. He was now a full knight and eighteen winters. He and his companions sat around a table, laughing. They had just managed to destroy a void spawn assaulting travelers on the desert roads. This was a victory. A day for the good in the world. Then a crash. The knights turned to see a young male being punched around. Instantly, Crate crossed the room. He and his buddies, so sure of their righteousness, brought fists to the assailants and rescued the attacked man. Crate went to offer the black-haired miqo'te help and caught those deep, emerald eyes. The young Crate was struck and older Crate knew that was to be the first of many nights spent with his to be love. "Ugh this is making me want to vomit." Crate retorted as the fog came in again. "I was a good person, then I wasn't. We get-" "I love you." young Crate said, a happy smile on his lips. "For fucks sake." older Crate moaned and face palmed. The young Crate held his lover in his arms as they lay between the sheets of their bed. "Do you really have to go?" Crate's young lover whispered, tracing the blond's lips. Young Crate smiled at him. "I do. This village we are going to needs us to end the beastmen attacks it's been enduring But I'll be back before you know it. Not even the Twelve could keep my from your arms. And that ass." The two lovers laughed and then they kissed. Crate clenched his fist. "Can I please stop watching my mistakes now? K? Thanks, byyyyyeeee." Another vision. "OH COME ON! Just let me die already." The village. There it was. Before Crate had burned it to ashes and crucified it's mayor. The blond felt his blood begin to boil as he saw the faces of his twenty or so companions and friends. They moved about the town, speaking to the folk and promising them aid. The folk of this hamlet smiled and nodded, but it was a lie. Crate knew that now. And seeing this made his eventual barbarism more justified. "Knights!" came the call of an older hyur as he ascended his mount. "Let us find these beasts and put them to the sword!" The knights, and the townsfolk, cheered. But for two very different reasons. Fog. Flashes. Screams. Violence. Crate saw himself astride his mount, hacking wildly at reptilian forms. All around him lay dead and dying allies. Only he remained against the tide. Blood covered him and his chocobo. It had been a trap, pure and simple. They had blundered into the canyon and into death. Young Crate turned and fled as more of the reptilian demons poured into the pit. Fog. The village. "You...are alive." Crate slipped from his mount. The mayor was standing there in awe as rain fell down on him. Crate was crying but the tears were lost in the rain. Then the form from the door. The reptilian freak. The realization then happened. The town had sold him and his knights out to their beastmen masters for favors. Young Crate butchered the beastman and then fled, his mind numb as his idealistic view of the world fell to ruin. Then the hall of his order. "We need to seek vengeance on that town!" Young Crate roared in anger to his superiors. "We will -not- butcher innocent townsfolk." one of the leaders said flatly. "The blood of our fellows is on their hands!" Young Crate snapped. "The political ramifications for such an action against a town so important to trade and the Monetarists would be damning at best. Better to claim it a terrible tragedy and save face and earn sympathy from others than to-" "This is not right!" Young Crate shrieked. "Right has nothing to do with it! This is politics!" "This is hypocrisy to please some limp gut, small dick politician!" Young Crate snarled. "ENOUGH!" "Go fuck yourselves!" Young Crate spun and stormed off. Another flashed. Crate braced himself as he had a feeling of what was next. He was right. A room. Their room. His lover in the sheets. But not with him. Young Crate kicked the door down to see his lover and another male mid-act. Crate watched as the madness took his young self for the first time. He watched as the goodness and wonder for life broke behind those blue eyes. The scales fell away to reveal the twisted nature of the realm of mortals. Crate drew his sword and, despite the screaming, stabbed both naked men to death. Young Crate fled then, fire burning hot inside his soul as he planned vengeance on the town. Three years he delved into the books and knowledge he had accumulated in secret. Dark knowledge was made known to him. And he would unleash it all. Fog, a flash. Three years later. The town was burning and the screams of the dead and those who wished they were filled the air. Crate's hired thugs were plundering home and resident alike and the mayor was gasping for air from his cross as he filled his dying lungs with burning flesh. Crate stood in the middle of it all. He was giggling and swaying as if the sounds of ruin were a sweet music. This was the moment of his death and resurrection. He had entered this town as Zhinci Mordhelm. He was leaving it as Crate the Great. Blood dripped from his hands and ran down his face as he looked over the madness. Young Crate and Crate locked eyes and the young Crate giggled. "Remember the snake from our childhood?" Tears began to flow out of young Crate's eyes. "I want to be that boy again. Damn you for doing this to us." Young Crate sighed and then yelled. "DAMN YOU!" Fog rolled in and Crate tapped his nose as he cocked his head to the side. A sneer wormed its way over his lips. "Don't recall that last part. How fun, a twist. He turned and saw the small snake, resting on the ground, still. He blinked at it and lifted his boot to crush it, but he paused. He gazed down at the small, helpless animal and then stepped over it as he walked into the fog.

aigkKwrdEmo "I hate that woman." Crate wheezed out in pain as Kanako Moonweaver's face crossed his vision. Every step, every breath, sent pain spiderwebing through his body. His left hand clutched a rag to a bleeding stab wound in his side and his right arm hung limp, unable to move from the bullet now lodged in his shoulder. The night had ended in a direction Crate had hoped it wouldn't. Soon after Kanako had stormed the villa, their battle had begun in frightening earnest. The female had come at him like a machine with his death her only objective. Crate had known she was the better with steel but this had been something else. It had taken ever ounce of Crate's skill to just manage to stay alive against her whirling web of metal death. And to further confound him, she had been in a sort of trance. His constant mocking and goading, which normally seemed to affect her with ease, had fallen on deaf horns. Finally, he'd been forced to just drop his major hint in a blunt manner and hoped that the thick-headed female had caught up on it. His plan did depend that she was able to relay the information dropped to other ears. Because if she didn't, there wasn't going to be another chance for Crate to just casually get out where he and Jin were headed, which would mean Jin would have a easy time reaching her goal; which was not in Crate' s plans at all. Crate stumbled and fell to his knees. The impact sent more pain through his flesh. He hissed and gasped for breath to steady himself. The fight had steadily gone downhill till she had lanced him through with her blade. He had turned to flee then as Rhyme came to his aid. But that remembrance drew a deep scowl across his features. Rhyme, his companion for years now, was unreachable. The blond miqo'te couldn't sense him anymore. Whatever had happened when Hojo had come crashing in and the explosion Crate had heard outside the locked door, the result was an inability to reach his companion. Crate had then leapt from a window and began running towards the exit of the courtyard and onto the road beyond but Kanako's accursed pistol shot had done his shoulder in. Thankfully, she had not come after him immediately for some reason and he had used that time to drag himself up and away. Now he slogged down a hill in the welcoming embrace of the jungle. But he was growing weak from loss of blood. He was feeling cold and chills ran down his spine as his body began to shiver to keep itself warm. But the act of shivering drained his energy even more. He came to a small foot bridge and paused. He began to sway, unsure of himself. He gave a small chuckle of despair. "Is this really how I die?" Crate whisper in a gravely voice as he stared at the bridge. "This is so..." he paused to swallow and flutter his eyelids. "not what I had in mind." He sunk to his knees again and tried to keep the bridge in focus as he swayed. Rain dripped from the countless leaves of jungle vegetation around him, creating a sort of rhythmic melody that began to unfocus his brain. A trance began to overtake him. Lost in thought he began to drift into his own mind, and then fell sideways onto the soaked earth; red crimson spilling through his fingers and into the puddles around him. He thought back. To the moment years ago he had ceased to be Zhi and become Crate. A village. Their betrayal. His anger and promise for vengeance. Three years of planning and tainting his soul. Three years. And then, with his bandit allies, he'd butchered that village and set it to flame. The screams. The blood. The flames. The heat. Heat. Crate was starting to feel feverish as he lay in the muck, twitching. A smile, though, danced on his lips as he recalled the way burning villager smelled. And the way morals went up in smoke in everyone sooner or later. Even for knights.

Es3GQMOLHkk "Did you really think you would escape judgement?" Thunder roared overhead a pair of figures as rain fell in heavy torrents upon them. A roaring wind screamed around them, tearing at their clothes and shaking the rows and rows of grapevines that encompassed the vineyard's fortune. Another flash of lightning revealed the make of Jin's obstacle: a tall, lanky eleven with a hawk nose and eyes that seemed to peer right through her. Atoneaus Dexrinoiux. She had exited the tunnel into the fields of grapevines and made her way south towards the distant jungle. It had soon become apparent she was not moving alone within the halls of fruit. Despite the storm, the dogs of Atoneaus had hounded her. At first she had hoped she would be able to evade them in the inky blackness that dwelt between flashes of celestial lightning, but this soon proved to be an impossible dream as one after another she had been forced to unleash her magics upon the close minded fools that stood against her. Each blast of aetherial energy had done the job against her foes, but the pack master had used the released energy to triangulate her position and his hunt had led to this moment; each staring down the other in this lane of vegetation with only a deep puddle between them. Water dripped from Atoneaus spear as he leveled it at her throat and Jin knew that the space between them was not far enough for true comfort. But the elezen, as always, was being theatrical and slow in his posturing and taunting. Even now, the pointed ear fool was slowly curling his lips into a smile instead of striking. The longer it took, the longer Jin had to spring her trap. She just needed time to change things. "I won't be judged by you and your impotent gods, fool." Jin hissed back, flashing teeth in a display of aggression. Her ears were flat but her mind calm as she continued to alter the polarity of molecules beneath the puddle with her aether. Atoneaus laughed darkly and spun his spear lazily, slicing through vines as if they were soft arteries. "Oh yes you will. Your dark magics die tonight." Jin snorted and gave a sneer of contempt. "Magic is just a word used by fools who don't understand a new science." "There is nothing scientific about the abominations you practice!" the elezen retorted quickly as he took a menacing step forward, his metal boot splashing into the puddle. "I'd say the husk of your wife disagrees." Jin mocked, recalling the sweet memory of how she had arranged the situation that had forced Atoneaus to butcher his own mate. Atoneaus bellowed in rage as he surged forward like a harpoon thrown by a Roe whaler. His spear glinted in the lights from above as the thunderstorm roared bestially. Jin twisted her hands and shifted the polarity of the molecules beneath the puddle, altering the electrons. She felt her hair on the back of neck rise and she stepped back as a bolt of lighting, now drawn to the sudden change in the earth's composition, shot down It struck the elezen and the puddle with a blinding flash. Jin felt the heat singe her hair and skin as she recoiled further. A second later thunder boomed and the moment was over. Jin opened her eyes and blinked furiously, trying to see as stars swam over her vision. Slowly, she began to make out the ruined, smoldering form lying face down in the muck and mire. His spear lay beside him and the vines around the site were smoking as the rain doused glowing embers. Jin began to laugh as she turned and continued her flight from vineyard. The dogs might now be without a master, but they would still be hunting her.

We already spoke, your interest are a bit different from what I'm looking for. No, we actually didn't speak. I gave you my information and that's it. We never had a conversation at all. actually we did, I am Magikarp's Ghost on discord. Ah. I see. My apologies, I didn't realize that was you. I'll leave you to your search then. Good luck. Wow this an awkward conversation without context.

MwsPuisHpjU Jin was seated cross-legged in a plush, leather chair. A small book of poetry was resting in her lap as her wrinkled hands flipped the pages slowly; giving her black eyes times to take in the written words scribbled before her. Around her was a large study full of books, mostly about wine and poems. A large window was allowing setting sun's last rays to spill in and illuminate the space. From her perch here on the second floor, she was able to gaze out over the hills of Limsa. Rows of grapes stretched out before her just outside the villa's walls. Inside the white, stucco masonry of the wall was housed a large, two story home. In addition, a warehouse and a small barn stood within the wall's protection, all coated in the same white paint. The elderly woman's eyes were caught by a sudden flash of movement. Lazily, she lifted her head from her book and glanced out to see Crate shutting the gate to the courtyard behind him and locking it. As Jin continued to watch the blond male, she grew increasingly uncomfortable. His movements were hurried and when he spun to begin marching towards the house, she could see a busy mind blazing behind his eyes. She 'tsked' and slammed her book of poetry shut. She didn't need to be told what was happening. It was obvious. Jin had spent enough of her life running from hunters to know the look of prey when the wolf was at the door. Jin rose to her feet and made for the door of the study. She had just opened it and stepped into the hall when Crate's voice reached her. "Jin I-" "They're here already." Jin cut him off as she turned to face him. Crate nodded, not surprised she knew. "Aye, plenty of them. How quick can you be ready to go?" Jin snorted as if she was insulted. "Faster than you." "Well then get moving. If we're unlucky, they'll be here tonight." Crate pushed past her and entered the study. He went to a chest and began to dig around. Jin waved a dismissive hand and strode calmly to to her room. Unless the hunters arrived in the next half bell, she would be long gone. Jin had determined days ago that if the need arose, she would cut Crate lose like dead weight. He had saved her, that was true, but she was regarding him as a tool. He had his uses, certainly, but she wasn't going to slow down her quest for anyone or anything. Her goal was more important than the life of anyone else. Jin entered her room and went over to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of brown trousers, a white, hemp shirt, and leather corset. The miqo'te removed her loose robe and quickly donned the new outfit. She secured a leather belt to her waist and then pulled on a pair of polished, thigh-high traveling boots with steel toes. Jin took a sling bag and hung it over one shoulder before she pulled out a brown cloak from the bottom drawer and draped it over he shoulders. She paused to admire her reflection in the glass and gave a small smile. "You still have it honey." she complimented herself as she flapped her grey ears and slipped back into the hallway. As she walked, a roar of thunder crashed overhead and the whole building shook. Jin blinked and she could make out the sound of a sudden, howling wind. Giving the cloak a tug for reassurance, she returned to the study. Outside, the sun was gone and darkness had consumed the island. Crate was standing by the window, a lantern in his hand. Lightning flashed and revealed that he was standing inside a hastily drawn chalk pentagram. "What's the ley line for?" Jin inquired, well aware of the symbol's purpose. "To make sure I give our guests a proper welcome." came Crate's voice. It was oddly thoughtful as he gazed outside the window. "What!" Jin exclaimed, rushing over and placing both hands on the window to peer outside. She could see it almost instantly: the light from torches gleaming just on the other side of the gate. There must have been a dozen or so. Flames danced and flickered in the heavy wind as whoever held them tried to break down the door. The gate shook from heavy blows and a large hole appeared, letting a shaft of light spill in. "Even earlier than I feared." Crate gave a small smirk and sighed. "They never cease to amaze." "Now is not the time admire them." Jin grunted. "We need to-" The gate crashed open and the hunters strode into the courtyard with intent, their eyes gazing around the darkness. A female au ra pointed up towards the window and Jin hissed at she studied the pointing figure. "Well, fuck me sideways, up-way and down-ways." Crate gave a growl that somehow managed to sound both delighted and angry at the same time. "Aint it my favorite trollop. Jin be a dear and get out of here. I need to greet an old friend of mine. I'll catch up." Jin snorted. If Crate wanted to get himself killed, that was his business. He might as well serve as a roadblock. Without pausing to answer, the elderly female turned and slipped out of the room. She was halfway down the hall when the screams started and the roars of some sort of monster reached her ears. She heard steel on steel and quickened her pace, taking the stairs to the ground floor two at a time. Thunder roared overhead as she reached the bottom. Through the windows she raced past, she could make out figures fighting figures in the dark but the constant lighting hurt her pupils and she turned her gaze away. Jin reached the door to the cellar just as the front door was smashed in and a female voice filled the house in a furious roar: "CRATE!" A moment later, Crate's voice replied in a loud giggle from further in the house: "Hello Kanako, did you miss me?" Jin slipped into the cellar and shut the door. She raced down the stairs to the rows of wine bottles that sat aging inside the cool earth. She spent several moments hunting for the shelf Crate had shown her. Once she had found the shelf, she pressed a switch and watched as the section of wall slid open to reveal a small tunnel. She summoned a ball of aether to her hand for light and entered the space. The wall closed behind her, leaving Crate and the hunters to their fate.

Stormblood's first world boss. The Que 856 people ahead of me... Time to go do something else.

RlqI_lAkIfM The day was hot and humid; the sort of weather that made one drenched in seconds and feeling sticky for hours. The sun had been baking the hills of Limsa for hours and it was hard to breath. Distant storm clouds hinted at the source of the festering humidity but that relief was coming. However the front was still hours away and, until then, Crate was forced to suffer. The blond seeker had departed the vineyard and made his way to a nearby trading post. The shade of the large trees did nothing to stem the oppressive temperatures and the constant attack of mosquitoes was nothing less than impressive. If I could raise an army of these bastards, I could take over the world. Crate mused as he waited for the traveling merchant to fill his order. Over the past few days he had consumed his entire stock of fruit and he was in need of more to sate his legendary sweet tooth. Plus it gave him an excuse to leave Jin for awhile. The elderly keeper was recovering well, but with her restored health was returning her powers and confidence. Crate was being quickly reminded that the witch had earned her place in her cult through brains and power. The Seeker for all his bravado, was realizing her skills with aether surpassed his own. She hadn't given him a display, thankfully, but he could just sense it. While, not the strongest spellweaver he'd ever met, Jin was in a tier above his and he was starting to think he might have bitten off more than he could chew with his plan. His sort of magic required preparation, raw components, and time. When the two miqo'te came to blows, and Crate was under no illusion that such a conflict was avoidable based on their views of what should be done with the thing in Doma, Crate would have to be the one to spring the trap. If Jin got the drop on him, Crate didn't fancy his chances. The fruit merchant finished bagging the pineapples and handed the burlap sack to Crate. The seeker grinned and paid the merchant dutifully. Pleased with his haul, he began to head to the bridge that marked the start of his journey up the dirt road to the vineyard. "We wait until tommorrrow morrrning." Crate's eyes went wide and he immediatly pressed his back against one of the nearby buildings. That voice... "Hojo, here?" Crate whispered to himself. His ears turned in all directions through the holes cut in his tri-corn hat. They sought hojo's location. "I have no intention on waiting that long." came another voice. The second voice was snobby and aristocratic. The two speakers were just around the corner and Crate peered around carefully. About twenty feet away stood the huge bear of a miqo'te. Dressed in is armor, Hojo looked ready for war. Around him were some twenty men in leather armor that Crate took to be witch hunters. A tall, red-headed elezen was the source of the second voice and he was currently sharpening a long, wicked looking spear. Crate took him to be Atoneaus Dexrinoiux, which meant the other figures were part of his free company. "Just my luck." Crate growled as he slipped back. Crate's powers were limited in the light of day, and against that many skilled witch killers, he didn't fancy his chances. The blond dropped the bag of fruit and placed his right hand on the machete at his waist. With purpose, he crossed the road and slipped into the heavy foliage to make a wide arc around the hunters as he headed back towards the vineyard. Crate wasn't sure how they had picked up their trail so quickly but he wasn't surprised. This wasn't the first time Hojo had surprised him like this. And from what Jin had told him, Atoneaus was one of the best blood hounds in the business. Crate weighed his options as he drew his machete and began hacking through some vines. At the moment, it was only Jin and himself. If the hunters attacked at night, Rhyme could come out to play and that would equal the odds immensely. But Hojo knew Rhyme's weaknesses as well as Crate knew Hojo's. If Hojo managed to convince the hunters to attack tomorrow morning, it would probably be over. So, at this point, running might be the only option left to the two miqo'te. Thunder rumbled in the distance. A tempest was brewing and Crate hoped he had the skill to weather this one out.

K2C6G3PCpqw Do you hear them? Do you hear the voices of the enslaved? They are screaming out for release from the prison of life. "I don't hear them. I only hear the screams of a boy wailing in the dark against the world." Then you are blinded by your chains. Do not let sentiment trap you, woman. "No mother is free of that." You must kill that which enslaves you. "Would you have me destroy you then?" -Silence- Darkness and silence. Then the memory of past conversations faded into nothing. Now, there was only peace in a void of nothing. No emotions. No regrets. No burdens. Simply nothing. Jin wished this moment of trance could last forever. Her wish was never meant to be. Her wishes never were. Her black eyes rolled open. Her vision was hazy as she tried to keep the world unfocused. She would have been content to lay in the bed for the entire day. But her stomach protested it's ravenous hunger. Reminded of her mortal coil's needs, Jin squinted to focus her eyes; the crow's feet around her eyes deepening. The ceiling snapped into focus and the aged woman could make out a moth crawling over the wooden planks overhead. Jin's forehead throbbed as if she had consumed half the wineries on Limsa and her body, already accustomed to countless aches, felt as if she had been assaulted by a hundred clubs wielded by a hundred Roes. She placed her pale, wrinkled hands to her face and covered her eyes to shield her from the light of the sun spilling in from a large window. She didn't want to rise from the bed anymore. She didn't want to face the world. She could feel in the back of mind the years of regrets and sins trying to crawl forward in her weakened state and overwhelm her mind with guilt. If they surfaced now, she might not rise for hours as she struggled with the past. She gave a grunt of annoyance. "I'm stronger than this." Jin chastised herself, feeling her emotions trying to drag her down like an anchor into the sea of depression. Jin gained control of her mind and then stretched beneath the sheets. She attempted to roll out of bed. It hurt to move, but her stubborn streak refused to allow her to admit defeat to age. Joints popped audibly as she rolled over and climbed to her feet. As she rose, she looked down and realized she was wearing a long, black nigh down that hung around her figure like a tarp. Blinking as she realized someone had undressed her, her eyes swept the room for signs of where she was. Her hunting gaze ran over the desk and chair that sat against the wall opposite her bed. A large chest-of-drawers stood by the door on her right and on her left a large window looked out over a large vineyard. In the distance, a setting sun glittered off the ocean. "Where am I?" she commented. "Do I even want to know how long I was unconscious?" A sudden crash reached her. Somewhere below in the house, a man was cursing. Here ears went flat and her mouth went dry as she turned towards the door. She strained to hear any more but there was nothing. Nervously, Jin flexed her age-spotted hands. She reached out and felt for aether, twisting it to her will. Once she felt confident in the amount of energy now at her disposal, Jin tip-toed to the door and gingerly opened it. The door creaked ever so slightly and she tensed as the sound filled the hallway outside her room. A few candles flickered in their mounts but otherwise the hallway was empty and silence returned. Jin craned her neck; first to the left, and then to the right before she crept into the hall way, doing her best to move quietly towards a stairway. The stairs were made of stone so the elder was able to make her way down them without fear of creaks. Her nightgown fluttered as she descended in a crouched stance. Her ears craned themselves around as they searched for any further noises. At the bottom of the stairs she heard new sounds: a sliding drawer and then the telltale sound of a metal blade being sharpened upon a whetstone. Jin pressed her back against the wall near an open doorway. Natural light was spilling in through the door-frame and just on the other side of the wall was the source of the menacing sound. Jin took a deep breath and drew the aether into her right hand. A ball of purple lightning began to dance just above her palm and she tensed, ready to spring through the doorway and hurl the bolt. "I'd prefer it if you -not- do that." came a voice from the kitchen and she immediately sighed in both relief and annoyance. Dispersing the spell, she rolled off the wall and walked through the door. She entered a large kitchen. The granite counter tops were long and broad. Rosewood cabinets lined the walls. In the center of the kitchen was an island with a great cooking pit in the center. The sun illuminated the entire room through a series of skylights. Polished oak boards shimmered on the floor and the whole place smelt strongly of fresh fruit and sweet meats and Jin's stomach growled to remind her of her hunger. Crate was standing opposite the door by the island. He was dressed in a white, cotton shirt and black trousers and was wielding a large machete in his right hand. Before him was a fresh pineaple and a bowl of meat. He gave Jin a grin and then sliced off the pineapple's pointed stem with one, smooth cut. "Glad you could join me. Was starting to think you were never going to wake up. Jin eyed Crate as one might eye a live grenade. "How long was I out?" her voice, unlike his, was not filled with warmth. Crate rolled the pineapple onto it's base and began to skin the fruit with slow, careful cuts. "Four days." Crate commented, his blue eyes fixed his efforts to flay the fruit. "Nasty little poison they got into you. Almost didn't manage to get it out of you in time." "Four days?" Jin repeated softly, genuinely surprised. It had been a long time since something had taken her out for that long and explained why she felt as bad as she did. She placed her hands on the counter and leaned forward slightly. "Why are you helping me Crate? Our last words-" "You mean the words were you informed me that I was a cancer upon the world and the only thing of use I might ever do would be to die in a garden so I might act as fertilizer and redeem my pitiable existence?" The blond spell caster chuckled and glanced up to look at Jin's wrinkled face. Jin gave a grunt. "Yes. I figured that made our relationship rather clear." "Are you sorry I saved you?" Crate raised an eyebrow, but his Cheshire smile never left his face. "I do wish it had been alot of other people, yes." Jin's honesty made Crate laugh. "Well, it wasn't. You got me. Little, old me. Wait. Little me, you the old one." He giggled before shrugging. "Well, I do suppose I owe you an answer." He spun the pineapple and began skinning a new portion of the fruit. "It's a two part answer. The first, is that I'm curious about this 'thing' in Doma you are planning to go seeking. From what I've heard through the rumor mill, it's something to do that boy of yours. Therefor I'm assuming its bad for a lot of people and so I would like to make sure it's not bad for me. The second part is, that since it probably is bad for people alot of people are probably going to try and stop you. Violently. That means I can have some fun at their expense. Get to tease and taunt and do some more experiments for my psychological studies." The pineapple, now properly flayed, was rolled over. The machete rose and fell as it cut the fruit into thin slices. Jin eyed the male carefully and pursed her lips. "So this is all for your own amusement." "Well, and for science." Crate commented. "Face it, Jin, you need me right now. I don't know how many remaining pals you have, but they didn't show when you needed them." "Convenient. Wouldn't be surprised if you helped guide them." Jin's expression was far from pleasant as she spoke. "Possible but, in this case, no. I was there because I was hunting that big iron ball of male you got to meet. He and I tango every so often and I felt like we were overdue for a date. Timing, eh?" Crate finished slicing his pineapple and put the dripping cutlery down. He picked up a slice of fruit and began to chew. Jin took in a deep inhale. "I'd be a fool to trust you." Jin stated as she studied the little male. She did owe him, but she didn't value a single word from his lips. His reputation preceded him and a long list of betrayed and vindictive persons followed him. Crate had slipped from master to master like a plague, always leaving devastation in his wake. His goals were always self-serving and Jin was willing to bet that his goals went beyond simple curiosity. Problem was, he was right. She did need him. She was currently penniless, friendless, and being hunted by what seemed like endless stream of want-to-be-heroes. "Now that's not very nice." Crate feigned offense and placed a hand to his heart as he swallowed. "You trusted your son, didn't you?" "That's different." Jin snapped back, Fury crossed her wrinkled features as her grey ears went flat atop her head. She flashed her keeper fangs and the short, seeker male actually grabbed his weapon once again. "How so? I'm less crazy?" "You're not my child." she growled, clenching her fists. "Child? Right, right. You mean I'm not an insane, dramatic, genocidal, edge-lord monster?" Crate took another bit of his fruit and chewed, jucing running down his tan chin. "Forgive me. Definitely see why you would trust someone like that over me." That stung. As much as she didn't want to let Crate's goading bother her, it did. It was a sensitive area to the mother of three, despite the passing of time. Crate watched as some of the anger faded from Jin's features and she gave a slow exhale. Her tense shoulders slumped slightly. Relaxing, Crate let go of his weapon a and mentally stored away the effect of his words should he need them again. "You wouldn't understand. How could a little freak like you ever understand." Jin's voice was slow. "Who knows." Crate cshrugged, his voice the same, chipper tone it always seemed to be. "I hear words are a way though." Jin closed her eyes and sighed. "Did you really see him as a monster?" she inquired. Crate was about as close to a monster himself as one could get and if even -he- had seen her son as such a creature when he was alive... "Lady, I never met the fellow." Crate declared through mouthfuls of pineapple. "But I know his reputation among the right circles. Annnnnd, yeah, not pleasant. Not at all really. I mean sure, some of the cult you and your fellows made that tried to serve him might have liked him. But...yeah, cults. Bad taste. In mouth, Hence why I eat pineapple. To leave a good taste. In mouths." He giggled impishly. "Charming." Jin grunted and rolled her black eyes. She was done with this conversation. This was just stirring up more memories and raising that feeling of guilt inside her. When she had first learned of her child's existence after all the years apart, she had traveled the world over to find him. She had refused to believe those whispers about him. She had desperately wanted to think of his reputation as a lie. But, upon meeting him, there could be no doubt the nature of the rumors were true. And worse, he didn't even seem to recognize their relationship. It was as if he was something else. His dismissal had broken her heart and just added to the guilt she felt when it came to her kits. She had felt she had failed as a parent with all her children. The first was left with that stupid seeker soldier. She had been younger then and full of a drive to cast down the Empire's war machine and break it. A rebel with a cause; then, some years later, slave to the pleasure houses of the machine. Then her second two children, born into servitude, were forced to bear a childhood of degradation and abuse as they watched their drug addicted mother taken over and over just to keep them eating scraps. She could hardly recall that point in her life save for a few clouded memories. It hadn't been until her youngest boy, just fifteen at the time, had freed her that she could truly think again. She recalled waking up in that coffin after whatever toxin her boy had slipped her wore off. She had screamed in terror but had escaped as the lid had never been sealed and the grave had been a shallow one. As she crawled from the ground, she had been reborn. But her family was long gone and she began to resume her work bringing down the Empire with even more of a hatred burning inside her heart. The Empire had taken her life, her children, and part of her soul. She would have her revenge. But she had never lost that need to see her children; to apologize to her youngest two for the hell they had endured. But, when she had stood before the youngest and given her apology, she had been rejected as he committed his atrocities. Everyone else saw a monster. She had seen the same, little boy who had screamed and cried in the night when he was scared. The same boy who had giggled when she sang him lullabies. And the same boy who told her he loved her. That is why she had stayed. Why she had help founded the cult: because she loved him in the way only a mother can and she wanted to make amends. She had wanted to be close to him. But now...he was dead. The cult was now gone with him and all that remained was the thing in Doma. A last gift to her for her revenge. She had always been a better revolutionary than a mother. She clenched her fists and glared through Crate as if starring across the ocean. "In Doma, there it lies, that which shall bring about the Empire's demise." "Beg your pardon?" Crate blinked as his smile faded. He had been watching her as she had reflected inside her mind and the sudden shift back to aggression put him on edge. Jin reached over and took a piece of fruit. Part of her wanted to strangle the Seeker male right there and then but she stayed her hands. Later, she told herself. Later. "Just recalling something." She ate the fruit and seemed to relax. "You seem intent on accompanying me, so I'll permit it. But understand, I make the orders." She offered him her left hand. Crate eyed it. "Very well." Crate took the hand. The two shook. "Allies to the bitter end." Oh -you'll- come to a bitter end, alright. Thought both miqo'te in unison.

We locked a thread because it was getting a little heated. Opening another, while Nobel, is probably futile on this topic. Official designation will not solve the issue. Why would people already on a server want to leave. They have friends on their servers. Plus Not everyone has free money lying around to pay for the transfers.

ul6AePnTOno When had things gone so wrong? Had it been when Tray'ju died at the hands of that thief? Had it been when the cult's assets had been seized and ripped apart like carrion? Had it been the actions of the void hunter, Hojo? Had it been the works of the witch hunter Atoneaus Dexrinoiux and his fanatics? Was this the shadow of things moved by Tengri? Was it the collapse of the cult their savior had worked so hard to create due to political in-fighting? Honestly, at this point, the elderly female cultist didn't care. Things had snowballed to this terrible moment somehow. She was just hoping she could somehow survive the coming tide that seemed intent on consuming her. A pistol's report shook her back to the present. The smell of burning flesh and spilled blood filled the air. She glanced back over her shoulder and fixed her burning mansion with her onyx black eyes. Like a pyre, her home, and all her works and books of forbidden magics, burned in the name of the Twelve. Figures and forms danced around the base of the inferno, cutting one another down with blade and spell. "Stop her!" shouted a voice. Several dark shapes began to surge towards her, cutting their way through her once tenderly attended rose garden. Hissing at the barbarism on display, the miqo'te elder spun on her heel and resumed her race down the dock as quickly as her aged form would allow. There, at the pier's end was her salvation: a small boat, no more then twelve feet long, sat moored. It looked so innocent, as if it was somehow oblivious to the madness of mortals that was occurring all around it. The female kept running, her right hand pressed to her side as crimson blood ran down her dark dress. Pain filled her as whatever foul toxin she had sensed enter her body worked it's dark power. She only hoped she would have the power to save herself once she was free. She could hear footsteps gaining on her and she dared not look back. Not here. Not like this. Not after everything she had endured in this life. And all the one's before. It could not end here. She was all that endured. The cult was gone, it's members and leaders all dead save her. All that remained of the great purpose she was meant to carry out. She had found, at long last, the secret left behind by the Crow. She knew where he had hidden it now. Her eyes glanced up as she reached the boat and threw herself into it. The ocean rolled gently in the evening breeze. Stars shone over head as the sky darkened to deep shades of violet. Out there, across the sea, in distant lands, was hidden the key to completing the Crow's final goal. She had just untied the vessel and raised the sail, when a sinister shadow fell over her. She turned to look up at a gargantuan figure glaring down at her with eyes like shinning coals. "Yourrr corrrrrruption ends herrrre, witch." The great titan of a Keeper held an axe in his hands, and a wild glint was blazing in his eyes. The female cultist tried to conjure up a wind, to push the boat away, but it seemed so fruitless. There was the void hunter, starring her down the wrath of the Twelve made flesh. And behind his bulk charged even more hunters, all eager to spill her blood and end her mission. Despair, a feeling she had hoped to never to feel again, filled her and she sunk to her knees in a gesture of defeat. "I failed." she wept bitterly, hanging her head. But, in that moment, when her hope had faded, her fortunes, at long last, shifted. A loud set of shouts filled the air. And the female raised her head just in time to see Hojo thrown by some force into the air and go splashing into the ocean, well clear of the boat. Eyes wide in surprise, the cultist leader whirled to see a small, blonde figure cackling wildly as dark energies billowed around him in all directions as he struck out against the witch hunters. "It can't be...I-" her shock faded and she seized upon her chance. She could worry later about why Crate, of all people, had come to her aid. She conjured up what remaining aether was available to her and summoned up a wind. Directing the gusts into the sail, she felt the breeze tugging at her air as the ship lurched forward. Her despair and fear became a laugh of disbelief. Soon she was shooting out towards the open ocean. She glanced back at the chaos of her beach front home. She still couldn't believe it was all gone. In a way, she was numb. It had all happened so fast, she couldn't fully comprehend the meaning at the time. And now, in hindsight, it seemed like a bad dream. Or a story about someone else. "Pity, I actually -did- enjoy your dreary place." came a chuckle. The female turned to see a section of black fog solidify into the blond haired, grinning face of Crate. He was lounging against a sack and his arms were folded in his lap. "I-" the female started, disbelief filling her features. "Let me cut you off there, bag-of-bones." Crate giggled. "I couldn't let you die, ya know. Not after you found it." "You knew?!" the female blinked in shock, collapsing onto the deck as the poison coursed through her veins. She suddenly felt like she was on fire and she shivered. "Oh yes." Crate mused, lifting a hand to inspect his pedicure. He frowned, seeing a chipped nail. "Son of a-, but, to the topic, I have friends in all sorts of places, my dear." The blond fixed the pale female with his icy, blue eyes. She saw his face become a wide, Cheshire grin as her vision became foggy and her world began to spin. "And you and I are about to become the best of friends, Jin." Crate threw his head back and cackled as Jin collapsed face first into a heap as she sunk into the darkness of unconsciousness.

I'll give you some lip service. Ahem. No. Not just no but heck no. No one owes you or Mateus or me, hell, anyone rping, hell anyone period anything. I'm sorry buddy but that's life. This isn't some utopia were everyone has stupid amounts of free time. This is life Dawgs. Cruel. Mean. Unfair. Uncaring. Don't give two shites if you life or die life. And sometimes, to get what you want, you gotta put on dem adult pants and embrace the suck and worl hard to get what you want. Ain't no one gonna help you out if you keep bitching like that. You want help? Start busting your ass and then, after a few weeks or months of events you have hosted, say 'hey you Dawgs I been working hard to make Mateus awesome but could use some help. This is what I've done. What advice or help can you offer." That's proves you care and are not just a lazy peon who wants other people to do the work and that you are worth helping. Cause, again, no one owes you a thing in life. You earn everything, including respect. And right now, with comments like you dropped, you blew your damn foot off in that department.

-Drags dead horse out and starts kicking it- Zhavi is right. People need to listen to her more for serious. If you plan events and are vocal and work hard, people will show up and you can be drowning in rp before you know it. Everyone has to start not knowing anyone and work their way up. It's a climb. But gotta do it. Balmung was nothing once upon a time too. -kicks dead horse a few more times and walks off-

Oh. This thread is still going. In circles too.

"Damn bitch needs to learn her place." The bounty hunters Hojo and Khari had just left his small, one room shack and Pip was glaring at the door with immense displeasure. It wasn't bad enough that Khari had forgotten how to speak to Seeker males like him, now she had dragged Hojo off by his almost literal leash because she didn't like being reminded of where she belonged in Seeker society. The burglar pushed his salad away and leaned back in his chair. This was his job. His score. His mark. Pip had done all the hard work. Planned how to capture their target down to the last detail. And now, he was convinced this woman was going to cross him and go for the mark herself along with Hojo. And that stung though he hadn't shown it. Seeing Hojo pick to work with Khari over him. Just cause she had a cunt. Pip had assumed his and Hojo's past working relationship would have amounted to something. But he had been wrong and the scorned miqo'te should seen it coming. Hojo might have been the biggest and broadest bear of a Miqo'te Pip had ever met but Hojo only thought with lower head at least half the time. He was muscles, not the brain. Pip ran his pale hands through his inky black hair and looked over the sketch of the elezen target. When the miqo'te looked at the reward scribbled above, he growled, rose to his short height, and slammed a fist on the table. "That's my coin, i..." Pip trailed off as a thought was born in his mind. Rapidly it grew and developed and a few minutes later it had matured into a plan. A crafty smile crept over the pointed face of the small miqo'te as he turned and walked over to a set of pegs. He pulled his brace of pistols and their holsters off and buckled them to his chest. Then he pulled on a large, beige overcoat. He added a worn tricorn to his head and paused to inspect himself in the mirror mounted to his left. Pleased with his reflection, the burglar spun on his heel and slipped out the back door. Khari had another thing coming if she thought she could double cross him that easily. He would have the mark and his revenge before this was all said and done.

May I point out that, even if SE DOES make an official rp server, that server, like Balmung, will fill up. And, once it's locked, they will have to make a new rp server and thus the community will be split. Only now officially split. SE shut down the server for technical issues related to server stability and functionality, not cause they hate roleplayers. Making them open an official rp server won't stop the split. Wow had like 10 rp servers, many of which were full. There is no reason the community of roleplayers cant designate a new rp server and use it on our own. We shouldnt continue to beat drums and dead horses on SE'S door, demanding they tell RPers where they should or shouldn't flock too. We're all thinking people with educations and brains. Sure we can figure this out. We made Balmung work after all. Less you need a corporate mandated and designated rp safe space or something. And then you have bigger issues

I'm not sure if this has been brought up before and I just missed it but WoW, and other MMO's have or have had, multiple rp servers. I mean when Emerald Dream filled up, rpers just went and filled up another server and so on. I don't see why that can't happen with Realm. Sure we do it unofficially, but that hasn't stopped us on Balmung, why should that stop us on Gilgamesh, or any other servers? I recall Gilgamesh having a decent amount of rp once upon a time.

"The gods will never forgive this affront!" the priest bellowed defiantly moments before his guts were spilled onto the floor of the church with a wet, splattering noise. Gasping in pain and shock, his hands clutched at his spilled insides. His wide eyes gazed upon the ruined mess as if he was frantically divining sacred purpose from the entrails. Engulfed in the horror before him, he never saw the second swing of the sadistic looking axe that parted his head from his shoulders. His head bounced away, rolling down the rows of burning pews as his body fell into a heap and twitched. The butcher's eyes followed from beneath a hood that shadowed its face. It beheld the remains of the congregation, now crimson ruins of muscle and organs, and their sacred site that was slowly being consumed by a hungry inferno of green fire which ate it's way through stone and wood alike with an unnatural appetite. Hissing and popping filled the air, sounding as if a thousand vile serpents were filling the rafters. Hefting the dripping axe, the armored figure stomped forward, their red cloak billowing behind them. Reaching the door, the hood and the shadowed face that lurked somewhere beneath turned to gaze at the crest of the Twelve. A contemptuous snort filled the air. The axe swung again, cracking the stone epitaph. Over and over the axe fell, stone chips splintering away. The last etching of earth to vanish was Nald'thal's, and this one was defiled with a noticeable enthusiasm in the figure's hacking. Once the figure was satisfied that his blaspheming was complete, they turned and strolled out into the cold night.

One thing I recommend , and do, is send a /tell asking ooc if someone would like to rp. In my experience it has a much higher success rate than just posting an ic emote in a crowded space and hoping it gets a reply. Almost everyone who has 'tell friendly' in their search info means it. . So once you have them engaged with you ic, your character can get their brood on lol

Imma third this notion. Cause I do love the style. Plus Hitoshura character is pretty awesome to rp with.