ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Dec 6, 2019 1:57:03 GMT -5
The man nodded in understanding as Wantz told him about his past. Wanting to protect the life he had was something Yuto could get behind. He often felt the same way, especially considering what he lost. 'No time to dwell on that now.' Yuto slapped his cheek lightly and continued to follow his comrade to town.
"Family is a good thing to want to protect." The man rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. They only met tonight, but Yuto had a good feeling about Wantz and his friends. They all seemed like they would do everything they could to keep the people they cared about and their world safe. It reminded him of his friends, especially his master. She always put others before herself.
The warm moment was cut off by the smell of smoke off in the distance. 'No one should be camping out around here.' Almost as soon as he finished thinking he saw the soft glow coming from the town. The light caused his stomach to drop. Granted, the lights coming from the town earlier were softer because of the time of day, this was brighter than it should have been. Much brighter. Before Yuto could say anything to Wantz, the rifleman took off running towards town. He followed immediately.
The two ran for what felt like ages, longer than it should have been, longer than it needed to be. The danger they were running towards made everything else seem irrelevant. The small fires on the way to the Bailey did very little for Yuto's confidence. 'Just keep running. The sooner we get there, the more people we can save.' Pushing himself to run faster, the man looked up to see that Wantz was still a good ways ahead of him.
As the two came up on the Bailey Heartless started spawning. "God FUCKING damnit!" This was the LEAST opportune time for these things to show up. He watched as Wantz ducked and weaved his way through the ever-growing numbers of Heartless, taking only a fireball brush past his shoulder, Yuto's eyes starting to glow a dim yellow once again. ”Yuto! Ignore them! We don’t have time!” Wantz was right, not only did they not have time, Yuto didn't know if they had the energy to fight as just the two of them. He saw Wantz turn and wait for him at the opening to the town.
"Go ahead, don't wait for me!" Like he said, they didn't have the time. Even if one of them made it into town, the chances were so much better that everyone would make it. "I'll catch up soon, go!" He flashed a smile and a thumbs-up as he leaped over an Armored Knight and spun around a couple of NeoShadows. Yuto refused to let these creatures slow him down.
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Post by hoodwink on Dec 10, 2019 0:11:31 GMT -5
Ssssssssssskkkk!
Another fireball sizzled through the night, illuminating the Bailey as Wantz rolled across the cobblestone. Coming to his feet, the rifleman was quick to press against the stone wall to his left just as an Armored Knight hurtled down the stairs. It seemed his reflexes were only getting better. ”Go ahead, don’t wait for me!” Yuto’s voice echoed throughout the stone Bailey, causing Wantz to turn in surprise. ”I’ll catch up soon, go!” Despite Yuto’s bravado, the rifleman shook his head, pointing to his right. Though not in view to Yuto below, Wantz was pointing to what the Bailey guarded.
”No! You don’t know how to open—“ Wantz’s voice was cut short as he yelled out in surprise. With all of the commotion, it had been the first time the rifleman had actually looked to the doors they were headed for. ”—THE GATE’S OPEN?!” Panic was coursing through him, his heart pounding in his chest—so loud it threatened to dominate his hearing. With bulging eyes, Wantz was leaping towards the gate, ignoring the Heartless beginning to team into the Bailey. Rushing for the open gate, he was quick to draw out the gun slung across his back, loading it with the large shells attached to the belts over his torso.
Bang! Bang! Firing off his rifle, Wantz was swift to dodge between the Heartless and defend himself as he made his way to the large open gates—the ones meant to secure Radiant Garden. Without this gate, the townsfolk’re doomed! Sweat was already saturating his clothing and forehead, his eyes wild and crazed. That was when Wantz noticed something that made him pause. Posted on the wall next to the open gate was a small note with slightly burnt paper. Walking closer to the note, all seemed to vanish around Wantz as he was finally able to read the furious scribbling:
”Left it open for ya, Yuto!—The Vagabond”
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Faint echoes of shuffled gravel and dirt betrayed the Vagabond's presence. Reaching the top of the hill, the hooded man turned around to gaze at the way he had come. A single spiraling path, weaving its way through the tall purple cliffs, one that he was more than familiar with. How often had he taken this road? Turning around to face his destination, the Vagabond craned his neck in order to gaze at the ancient and decrepit castle. Shrouded by the heavy cast of dark and moon, it warped and swayed on its own in the night, as though a tree caught in a breeze. Ancient and rusted gears caused the otherwise neat and imposing silhouette to appear gaunt and crooked. Close...come...Enter. Whispers, fainter than the sound of shuffling grass, tugged at his hooded ears. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
A sickening scent filled his nostrils. That too was familiar.
He was being pulled, tugged. Not by any physical being—but by a presence. It had made itself aware to him after his work at the Plaza. Who are you? Standing beneath the moon, the Vagabond had continued forward until he stood in the center of the small circular ornate floor at the base of the castle near the dark caverns beneath. For a moment, he stood in the silence—holding his breath. There was no answer, as there hadn't been since this ordeal had started. Am I chasing nothing? He hadn't been able to explain it to Biggs or Wedge—neither of them would understand him anyway. The first calling hadn't been a whisper or a voice, but a feeling.
One that had dragged his heart here.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Dec 10, 2019 2:28:56 GMT -5
”No! You don’t know how to open—THE GATE’S OPEN?!” The change in tone caused Yuto to run faster. Given the situation, the news would be bad enough but considering Wantz's tone of voice the gate was open for a while. 'What kind of IDIOT-' Yuto wasn't able to finish the thought as he had to duck under an Armored Knight bouncing down the steps. He couldn't help but try to stifle a laugh. physical comedy was always something he found funny but combining that with it happening to something he hated as much as Heartless just made it funnier.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSKKKKKKK
A rouge fireball brought the man back to reality. Without a second of hesitation, he made it to the top of the stairs, climbing a wall or two on the way.
He got to the top, only to see his comrade reading something. "OY!" He ran to Wantz, reading the note when he reached it. "Really man, really?" Yuto pinched the bridge of his nose. He appreciated the thought behind the action, and the Vagabond had no way of knowing the circumstances of his return. 'Instructions might've been better here though.'
SSSSSSSKOOMB
A fireball collided with a nearby wall, bringing attention to the growing number of Heartless near them. "Erupt!" The usual wall of flame sprouted from the ground in a semi-circle in front of the two men and the open gate. "That should buy us some time. Let's get this thing closed." Yuto put a hand on the rifleman's shoulder and gave a grin. Stressing out now wouldn't help anybody.
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Post by hoodwink on Dec 11, 2019 14:11:30 GMT -5
Wantz stood dumbfounded in front of the open Bailey gate. Sounds seemed distant—echoed; almost like he was under water. For a moment, the rifleman forgot about the surmounting Heartless piling up in the Bailey. His eyes only saw the note. The—Vagabond? The name of Yuto’s ally, scribbled hastily on the paper, stared at him in a most mocking manner. ”Really man, really?” Yuto’s expression jolted Wantz back to reality. When had he gotten next to him? SSSSSSSKOOMB! An erupting fireball collided with the stone wall—the entire Bailey shaking slightly from the impact as rubble shook loose from the ceilings and walls.
Thanks to Yuto’s move, a flaming semi-circle surrounded them, dividing the two from the oncoming Heartless. T-there’s so many… Hope was fading fast within Wantz, who looked over his shoulder back into the gaping entrance to his beloved town. For a moment, anger came over him as he grit his teeth and glared at Yuto for a moment. ”Tch—some friend you’ve got.” Shaking his head, Wantz sighed, knowing his lashing out wasn’t fair to Yuto, who had been nothing but helpful to him and his town so far. This Vagabond guy…who is he? Whoever he was, he wasn’t making a very good first impression.
Turning quickly, Wantz ran through the open gate, hollering over his shoulder for Yuto to follow. ”C’mon! The lever’s on the other side! The two of us should be able to move it!” They had to act fast. The number of Heartless outside just kept growing. Dashing through the open Bailey Gate, Wantz and Yuto would finally emerge into Radiant Garden. Night fell heavy over the small yet crowded town. There was no sign of bright fires anymore, though the smoke hanging over the city made it clear that trouble had only recently died down. Standing on the long cobblestone pathway formed atop the mighty wall protecting Radiant Garden’s housing district, Wantz rushed to the left, where a large lever and gear system protruded from the cobblestone on a small platform.
Reaching the lever, Wantz turned to see if Yuto had cleared the distance—that was when he noticed something peculiar. After Yuto escapes from the Bailey, the Heartless able to make it past the flames would be deflected away from the open Bailey gate by some unseen force. The first to try and fail was a flying Crimson Jazz, soaring over the rising flames Yuto had summoned to the open Bailey gate. Once reaching the open doors, the ground seemed to shimmer with a faint purple light before the Heartless was suddenly hurtled backwards. ”What the—?” Wantz stood by the lever, posed with a hand on top of it, tilting his head as he paused to look at the odd happenings.
”The Heartless…can’t come in?” Once more, Wantz blinked dumbfounded. Looking to Yuto, the rifleman was at a loss for words. Is the defense system back on? Walking away from the lever and back towards the open door, Wantz was wary as he gazed at the massing Heartless eyeing them from only a dozen or so feet away. Crouching down, Wantz was finally able to see what had caused the faint purple light. Scribbled on the cobblestone in a dark and shiny purple liquid were odd incomprehensible symbols. To Wantz, it would look like complete and utter gibberish.
The markings were much like the ones forming Yuto's seal—albeit slightly more complex.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jan 11, 2020 2:32:04 GMT -5
Yuto was a bit startled at Wantz's lash at him, though he understood where it was coming from. This place was Wantz's home and the Vagabond left it basically open to attack. "I don't get why he left the gate open, but I'm sure he had a reason. This place is his home too." Yuto looked over his shoulder to see the state of the horde of Heartless. To his dismay, they were only growing in number. He could feel the anger bubble up in him, and his eyes glowed just as bright. The situation was dismal at best, and he didn't see a possible way for this to end well.
”C’mon! The lever’s on the other side! The two of us should be able to move it!” Wantz's shout snapped Yuto out of his hate-filled train of thought, causing the golden glow in his eyes to dim ever so slightly. Taking one last look at the growing horde, Yuto ran off in Wantz's direction. He barely made it halfway to the lever before he heard what sounded like something hitting a barrier. Turning to see what the sound was, the man saw a Crimson Jazz try and fail to make it through the gateway.
A smile started to spread across Yuto's face, which slowly turned to a chuckle, and eventually a full-blown laugh. The town was safe, for now. Relief washed over him like a tidal wave. It was one less thing for them to worry about.
He hadn't noticed Wantz until he doubled over to breath from having laughed so hard. "You see something?" he followed the rifleman's gaze to a specific spot on the floor. A dark purple semi-liquid substance that he recognized all to well was marking the floor. Inspecting closer, Yuto realized what was going on. "Oh, you crazy bastard!" He couldn't keep in a small sigh of exasperation. "Wantz, it's fine, Yuto put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "The Vagabond didn't leave us defenceless. C'mon, let's close the gates." Before Wantz could say anything, Yuto ran for the lever.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 11, 2020 21:04:11 GMT -5
”Wantz, it’s fine, the Vagabond didn’t leave us defenseless. C’mon, let’s close the gates.” Wantz blinked in minor awe as he watched the Heartless struggle against the barrier. More than just the Crimson Jazz had begun to slam against the open doors, repelled time and time again by the mysterious force. As Yuto ran for the lever, Wantz straightened himself, following after him only after a moment. ”The Vagabond did this?” Just what kind of powers did the guy have? Maybe he’s like Merlin… Wantz could hardy remember the old wizard, who had been vacant from this world for some years—living on as a legend in the Restoration Committee.
Reaching the massive lever, constructed from a metal plate jutting from the cobblestone wall top, Wantz worked with Yuto in closing the Bailey doors. Grunting in effort, the rifleman had worked up a sweat by the time the task was done. ”This friend o’ yours…are they a wizard?” Wiping the sweat off his brow, Wantz once again gazed over towards the closed Bailey doors. ”They must be strong, to be able to cast a spell that powerful.” Smiling at Yuto, Wantz offered out a hand. ”Sorry…for what I said. It seems like you and your friend are really looking out for us...” For a moment he looked away from Yuto—shame brimming in his otherwise bright gaze.
Still…why are there so many Heartless?
Faint sounds of rushing water greeted the Vagabond’s hooded ears. Everything was pitch black, as there were no working lights beneath the ancient castle. I didn’t know the tunnels went this far… He had been surprised when the voice and presence he felt had guided him here—near his own laboratory. Only moments ago the Vagabond had passed the familiar hallway that led to the ornate door guarding his base of operations. That was when they had heard the voice since arriving. Just what is it, that's lurking here…? The familiar scent continued to pervade his nostrils, causing his stomach to roil and protest.
Continuing forward through the dark, the Vagabond felt no fear. He couldn’t be afraid of the dark, after all he had been through, after all.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Jan 13, 2020 0:09:51 GMT -5
”Sorry…for what I said. It seems like you and your friend are really looking out for us...” Yuto clasped a hand on Wantz's shoulder and offered a warm smile. "Don't sweat it. The man's a bit...eccentric. I thought he left the place open too." He laughed at himself a little. The thought that the Vagabond would leave his home unguarded was a bit of a stretch. "As far as what he does....he's a researcher. That's what he told me, at least."
The man looked over at the newly closed gates. 'I'm not sure how long that'll hold, but between the barrier and the gate it should be a while before the horde gets in.' Yuto looked back to the rifleman. "we should check the town, see how bad it might be." The statement was darker than he intended, but the town did look like it was on fire not too long ago. It was on them to see if the people were safe, and with any luck, they would find the Vagabond on the way.
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Post by hoodwink on Jan 14, 2020 13:31:39 GMT -5
A researcher, huh? What kind of research led to spells like that gate? Whatever the case, it really did the trick, as they were able to close the Bailey doors because of it, keeping the town safe. Sighing in relief at Yuto’s words, Wantz nodded and straightened himself. ”We should check the town, see how bad it might be.” It seemed the two were in sync, as that had been Wantz’s next thought, too. Laughing a bit, he clasped the man on the shoulder before leading him further along the cobblestone wall. ”Ha! My thoughts, exactly! You’d make a good Committee member, Yuto.” Despite the friendly grin on his face, Wantz wasn’t joking about his comment. Having someone like him on the team would make things a lot better! A new determination was building in him now. Cid already seemed to trust him…and this ‘Vagabond’ roaming around… Perhaps the wheels were already in motion?
Walking down the long cobblestone stairs that stretched the same distance as the wall, Wantz heard no sounds of fighting or torment. There were the occasional scorch marks along the cobblestone platform at the bottom of the stairs, spreading among some of the residential buildings littering the area. Though some houses seemed to be charred from previous flames, or scratched and hacked at from a previous battle, everything seemed calm now. All homes spreading across the cluttered cobblestone streets had lit lanterns among the doors, similar to the Construction Town. ”Seems everyone got home safe…” Relief and suspicion mingled to form an odd sensation over the rifleman, who led Yuto through the Residential Area. Is the base okay? Feeling a little nervous, Wantz was relieved to see the familiar wooden door leading into a humble looking cottage. The wide cobblestone pavilion around it seemed to be raked at with claws, but the house itself was untouched, appearing as though it hadn't even seen any chaos.
”It’s okay!” Forgetting himself for the moment, the rifleman doubled his gait as he ran across the cobblestone pavilion, reaching the familiar door within moments as a weight lifted from his shoulders. He had been so fast and caught up in the sight he hadn’t noticed the familiar markings running along the cobblestone around the house. ”Yuto! Check it out!” Turning and waving his hands for Yuto to follow, Wantz began to scramble through his pockets in search of his key card. Once Yuto reached him on the small pavilion, Wantz would grin and hold the purple card up, looking quite accomplished.
”This is the old base! It used to be this wizard’s house, named Merlin, back in the day…” As Wantz reached towards the lock, keycard in hand while losing himself in nostalgia, a sudden panic caused an icy terror to steel through him. Freezing and halting in place, Wantz’s eyes widened as he looked down at the broken lock and door handle. Silently reaching forward, the rifleman simply pushed on the door, which swung open with a faint creak. ”H-huh?” Stepping forward into the once familiar home, Wantz was greeted with silence and darkness that hung in the air, dimly lit by the large computer screen greeting them. Still the screen was on the last page the Vagabond had attempted to log in to, with a large red ’ACCESS DENIED’ plastered across the screen. Looking around the empty cottage, Wantz walked up to the computer system, turning over his shoulder and raising an eyebrow at Yuto.
”Looks like someone’s definitely been here recently…keep your guard up, okay?” Pushing the dusty and old rolling chair out of his way, Wantz hunched over the keyboard and began to type furiously. The password was…right! I remember! Finishing and pressing on the ‘enter’ key, Wantz was greeted with a loud BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Large letters filled the screen in red, the same as the ones that greeted them. ’ACCESS DENIED’. ”Ack! Someone changed the password?!”
Who would do that without informing the Committee?! Cid hadn’t said anything about this!
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Feb 2, 2020 6:47:51 GMT -5
Yuto smiled at Wantz's comment about being a good Committee member. It was a nice thought, both helping people and having a new home. 'I'm not sure if I could. Between learning more about my abilities and trying to rebuild my old home, I don't know.' Looking around at the town, while in his own thoughts, Yuto noticed the state of the town and how it looked like a lot of fighting took place. "Still, seems kinda quiet."
”Yuto! Check it out!” The man looked over to a pavilion and followed Wantz to a wooden door. ”This is the old base! It used to be this wizard’s house, named Merlin, back in the day…” Yuto nodded in response. He knew all too well how times change. There was a level of concern when he saw the color drain from Wantz's face. "You okaaaaaa- The door's creak answered every question Yuto had and replaced them with all new ones. "Yeah, not unnerving at all." The sarcasm in Yuto's voice obvious to everyone.
Looking around the house, Yuto could see a thick layer of dust on tables, bookshelves, a bed. the only thing that looked recently used was the computer which currently was flashing a bright ’ACCESS DENIED’.
Yuto shrugged at Want's inquiring look. "The Vagabond was supposed to be here, maybe the message is because he forgot the password?" The only other option was far more concerning. 'If there's something wrong with the system then the whole town is at risk.'
”Ack! Someone changed the password?!” The rifleman seemed to be having trouble. "Everything ok? Do we need to call tech support?" Joke notwithstanding, if something was wrong with the system then they would have to tell Cid and find the Vagabond. Either of them may have an idea of what's going on.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 2, 2020 23:05:22 GMT -5
”Everything ok? Do we need to call tech support?” Yuto’s joke unfortunately didn’t make Wantz laugh. Instead the rifleman was shaking his head in disbelief before holding a hand to his head. Who could get past the geezer’s tech? Whoever had bypassed the security system was no joke—that was for sure. ”Nah—we don’t have a way of communicating that far of a distance. We still haven’t fully connected both towns power systems.” Sighing a bit, Wantz stood from the rolling chair and away from the computer.
”Your friend, ‘The Vagabond’, didn’t forget the password, Yuto. Someone changed it on us.” Motioning for him to follow, Wantz headed for the exit and emerged once more beneath the night sky. ”C’mon, we should find Biggs and Wedge, they’ll probably know what’s goin’ on.” Leading the way, Wantz ran rather than walked. Everything about the situation was putting him on edge. Arriving in the small Marketplace, Wantz shouted out in surprise at the sight of all the destruction. The large McDuck shop was in ruins, ash and soot all over from fires previously put out.
The small cobblestone courtyard was in similar standing, most of the shopkeepers stalls and tents destroyed other than the few—even those that remained seemed that it would take some time to get back in workable shape. Despite the environment, most of the locals not asleep or taking shelter seemed to be gathered here, all helping one another in rebuilding and salvaging what was left. ”Biggs! Wedge!” Wantz had run to the edge of the raised platform housing what was left of the McDuck shop, standing at the top of the stairs leading into the courtyard below. Currently working with many of the locals, Biggs and Wedge looked up from their labor and waved silently to the waving and jumping rifleman.
Looking over his shoulder, Wantz urged Yuto onward with an encouraging ”C’mon!” before bolting down to meet the other Committee members. ”Biggs, Wedge—what happened here!?” Panting a bit from all of his running, Wantz doubled over in front of the two warriors as he rested his hands on his knees. Looking between each other, the two horned twins looked back at Wantz before shrugging. ”Heartless.” both said in unison. Immediately the rifleman had renewed his energy, grabbing each by the collar as he began hollering at them. ”YOU MORONS! I KNEW THAT PART!”
Nearby locals began to look at the spectacle, quickly laughing after realizing what was going on. ”I got this, you guys.” A slightly older man walked up to the four, a smile on his face as he clasped Wantz on the shoulder. ”For some reason, the defense system went down. Biggs and Wedge showed up right on time! They helped the younger folks fight off the Heartless—though of course they just suddenly stopped showing up after wreaking havoc, as usual.” Sighing a bit, Wantz wiped sweat off his brow after releasing the warriors from his grip. The entire time, Biggs and Wedge had remained silent, seemingly unfazed by everything. Sure, it wasn't anything new, but at least it was better than someone just blurting out a single word for an answer.
”Thanks, Mr. Sheffler—for always keeping a sharp eye on the town.” Shaking the older man’s hand in thanks before he departed, Wantz turned back to the group as he rest his hands on his hips. ”Alright—so whatever your friend did stopped the Heartless from comin’ in…but what do we do about the defense system?” Looking at Yuto, Wantz tilted his head a bit. ”Oh yeah—where is your friend?” Looking around the courtyard, Wantz glanced at Yuto.
”Do you see him around here?”
Far beneath the ancient castle, the Vagabond had come upon a mysterious labyrinth. Splish! Splash! Water spluttered and splurched as he walked, lining the hard floor beneath up to his ankles. Luckily his shoes were more or less water-resistant, though his socks had completely soaked through by now. ”Damn…bubbles…” Not only were the rooms cramped and cold, but on the occasion the Vagabond didn’t take a dead end route, he’d come across mysterious bubbles simply floating in the center of rooms.
These, it turned out, would literally envelope a person and take them through the underwater passageways lining the maze-like basement. This is a living hell… Never being too great with directions, this was a worst-case scenario for the Vagabond, who continued walking one-foot in front of the other as he silently mourned for himself. I wonder how Yuto and the town’s doing… Hopefully things had settled down there. But who’s calling me? It wasn’t likely anyone he would be excited to meet, he was sure. Yet for some reason… His feet kept moving forward.
Something was luring him here, willing or not.
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Feb 3, 2020 2:03:39 GMT -5
”Your friend, ‘The Vagabond’, didn’t forget the password, Yuto. Someone changed it on us.” The thought made Yuto's blood run like ice. 'If that's true, then it wouldn't matter who we called even if we could.' He shook the thought from his mind, negative thinking wasn't going to help in this situation.
Yuto kept pace with Wantz as the two ran towards the town. The night was quiet, but it never stayed that way in the man's experience. The sooner they got to the rest of the town, the better. After a short amount of time, they arrived at the marketplace Yuto and the Vagabond were earlier that day. The destruction was so familiar, the pain of seeing it was almost physical. Everything was in ruins, even the Moogle shop. Yuto could feel the darkness his rage fed grow to a dangerous level. Taking a deep breath, the man managed to calm himself just enough to not lose all rational. His eyes, however, betrayed his current state as they glowed a bright and brilliant gold in the dark of the shadows cast by the ruins.
”Oh yeah—where is your friend? Do you see him around here?" Yuto looked over at Wantz and glanced around the crowd of people that had gathered. He shook his head. "Nah, he's not here. Not now at least." He looked at Biggs and Wedge, the only other people he knew in the crowd. "You guys didn't happen to see him, did you?"
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 4, 2020 13:16:11 GMT -5
Wantz sighed a bit in disappointment at Yuto’s friend not being around. Once asking Biggs and Wedge, the two warriors seemed to cross their arms and mimic each others movements as they thought. ”Friend? Everyone is here—except the Wizard.” Biggs was looking around the clearing now, his height allowing him to glance across the entire marketplace. Wedge seemed to jolt in memory as he looked at his taller counterpart, shaking his head. ”He said he wasn’t a wizard…” Wantz merely blinked in confusion at the two. Wizard? Biggs and Wedge were murmuring to each other for a moment about what a ‘wizard’ was as the rifleman remained confused.
”What’re you guys talkin’ about? There’s no wizards here since Merlin left…” Crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow at his comrades, Wantz seemed skeptical. ”He wore a hood.” This time it was Wedge who seemed to bring the glimpse of light into the conversation—having grown tired of his back-and-forth with Biggs. ”And he cast magic!” Biggs refused to be ignored. Going back into a back-and-forth, Wantz ignored the bickering horned twins and turned to Yuto with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. ”Does that sound like him?” Before Yuto could respond to Wantz, Biggs and Wedge would chime in, talking at the same time and at the same pace. ”He ran off towards there.” Both of the warriors pointed their fingers at the large looming castle that cracked the horizon in the shadows.
Wantz gulped. He—went into the Castle? Were they messing with him?
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Feb 22, 2020 2:26:09 GMT -5
Yuto perked up at the mention of a man wearing a hood. "Yeah, that's the man." He smiled at the prospect of meeting up with the Vagabond again. the two of them had been on their own long enough. 'We should compare notes when we get the chance.' The town seemed safe enough, but the look on Wantz's face was concerning, to say the least.
Looking to where the other two were pointing, Yuto was met with more confusion. 'Sure, that place isn't the best, but why the cause for concern?' He walked up to the rifleman and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you alright?" The glow of his eyes oddly warm at the moment, almost as if changing to the man's mood and emotions. "The castle's not THAT bad, right?"
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 22, 2020 13:30:44 GMT -5
So—he really did go there… Shaking his head a bit after turning back to Yuto and the others, Wantz sighed before resting his hips on his hands. ”Well—s’long as the guys tough, he’ll be fine…but—“ Wantz’s gaze had averted back to the ground, it seemed what he wanted to say was difficult for him. ”It’s where the darkness lurks.” Biggs and Wedge spoke in unison, interrupting Yuto’s pause. ”Tch—“ For a moment, Wantz crossed his arms, turning away from the group. That castle was a wound to his pride as a Committee member. ”It’s where the most Heartless are, lately.”
Offering a better explanation, the rifleman turned once more to look at Yuto—seemingly getting over his momentary defeat. ”’Cause of all the people and materials bein’ pulled to fix up the other part of the world and the defense system not reaching that far…” It had become a haven for the darkness. Something ignored, untouched and allowed to bide its time. Wantz had brought up the matter with Cid and the others many times, though the fact of the matter was that they didn’t have the manpower. What bodies they could spare surely couldn’t handle what lurked within those ancient ruins.
”Last time anyone’d been there, they said there were a lotta really powerful Heartless inside.” Despite his best efforts, Wantz felt a slight chill down his spine as he spoke and gazed at the looming silhouette. Will he make it…? The thought slipped through the cracks in his mind, creating a bad taste in his mouth. Shaking his head a bit, Wantz turned to Yuto with a determined look, glancing over at Biggs and Wedge as well. ”It’s bad, Yuto—but I think we can do it! What do ya say, guys?” Biggs and Wedge nodded in turn, though their expressions were as stoic and dull as ever.
Oh—the defense system… Despite needing all the manpower they could get, the town’s defenses were still down. The Vagabond had ensured its safety for the moment—but how long would that odd spell keep in effect? I’ve got to turn it on. It was a conflicting feeling—but Wantz knew what he had to prioritize. ”Yuto, take Biggs n’ Wedge to the castle with ya—“ Adjusting the strap running across his torso that holstered the rifle on his back, Wantz walked next to Yuto and clasped a hand on his shoulder. ”I’m gonna figure out how’ta turn the systems back on!” With that, Wantz began to run out of the Marketplace, waving a hand as he shouted over his shoulder to the three:
”Don’t worry! I’ll meet’cha there!” With that, the rifleman disappeared, leaving Biggs and Wedge standing with Yuto in the ruined plaza. ”Always rushing…” Shaking his head a bit, Wedge began to walk towards the cobblestone steps that would lead them back toward the Bailey. Biggs turned to Yuto, crossing his arms before nodding.
”Are you ready?”
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
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Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Feb 22, 2020 16:44:23 GMT -5
'A place where darkness gathers? That does explain the mass of heartless he saw earlier.' It also explained why there were Heartless so close to the lab too.
Wantz's unease was almost palpable. Unlike himself, Wantz had no idea what the Vagabond had been through, the experiences he had. Yuto gave the rifleman a kind smile. "Trust me, this guy's seen some stuff and come out the other side. We...trained in the same place for a long time." The memories of that place weren't pleasant, but the skills gained there were always useful.
”It’s bad, Yuto—but I think we can do it! What do ya say, guys?” He nodded at Wantz's newfound commitment, it was oddly inspiring. They made their plans of what to do and where to go, the man followed Biggs towards the Bailey. "Yeah man, I'm good to go." He patted his belt and quickly checked his weapons as he said this. "Sooner we get there, right?"
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 23, 2020 1:15:57 GMT -5
Biggs and Wedge led Yuto out of the marketplace and back through the Boroughs. Passing by the old base, with the broken lock still hanging uselessly from the door, the lights betrayed the presence of Wantz furiously working on the computer. Coming to a stop near the large cobblestone steps that led up to the wall of the city, the two horned warriors halted and turned to Yuto. ”The Bailey’s lost.” Biggs spoke first as Wedge gestured to one of the small blocky platforms of stone by the base of the wall, across from the stairs. Though protected by the Vagabond, the Bailey was still swarming with Heartless—there was no way they’d get through unscathed.
”Committee Members know a secret way.” Wedge spoke as he came up to a small metal shaft grate, hinged in the stone. A small and almost unnoticeable mechanism resided on the front, to which Wedge swiped his purple ‘Committee’ card into. Shhhhhhhh—CLUNK! The grate fell away, landing on the cobblestone with a clatter. Straightening himself and moving out of the way, Wedge pointed to the opening that revealed itself. A square shaft, large enough for a grown person to crawl through, lay revealed in the waning lantern lights that lined the residential buildings around them.
”This way.” Biggs led the way, followed by Wedge, as Yuto would be prompted to follow in the rear. Crawling through cramped darkness for a short while, the group would take a turn to reveal faint light from ahead. Once getting close enough, another grate revealed the night around them, illuminated from an unseen moon. Luckily it seemed that the grate on this side was previously loosened, as Biggs simply pushed with a grunt and a thud as the grate fell away. Climbing out single file, the trio would be exposed to the open night around them.
Standing at the foot of a large purple cliff, the trio had emerged in a small clearing on the road leading up to the ancient castle. To their right was the ruined remains of a building long forgotten, decayed and exposed as a skeleton, forming a small tunnel leading to the path that extended back down to the town and the canyons. ”The castle’s doors are hidden.” Biggs said this as he led the others along the path, uphill. ”We’ll have to go from underneath.” Wedge chimed in, walking alongside Biggs, pulling out the hammer he wielded.
”There’ll be Heartless.” Biggs pulled out his own weapon—a trusty broadsword, pulling on his shield. Walking up the road, the two warriors peered with their hidden gaze, their heads turning slightly every now and then as they walked, surveying the area. Climbing up the road for a few moments, the three would finally be able to see the top of the hill in view, the base of the ruined castled silhouette of shadow. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! A familiar sound—a familiar feeling as the shadows all seemed to darken and the vague light of the moon and lanterns dimmed.
”Get ready.” The warriors spoke in unison as they stood in front of Yuto, forming a triangle. With weapons drawn, the two readied themselves as they gauged the enemies emerging—all dark and yellow eyes as claws and weapons glinted.
[[ENEMIES: 1 Bookmaster, 2 Iron Hammers, 3 Lance Warriors]]
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Mar 1, 2020 8:54:57 GMT -5
Yuto followed the two men passed the old base, catching a glimpse of Wantz hammering away at the keyboard. ”The Bailey’s lost.” Yuto looked where Wedge was pointing to see the swarm of Heartless amassing from where he came. "Then how are we supposed to get to the castle?" He wasn't against fighting through, but it would probably be more trouble than it was worth.
”Committee Members know a secret way.” The news was a surprise to Yuto, but it was incredibly convenient. The man followed the two through the newly opened passage. Emerging at the foot of the castle's cliff, Yuto took in the night's view. 'So much has changed since Nox and I came here. I wonder what she'd say if she could see it now.' He laughed a bit to himself, she probably would've been as surprised as he was. He was lucky that he had the Vagabond to show him around and get him acquainted with everything. 'The two of us would've probably lost it in the first few minutes.'
An all too familiar WOOSH brought Yuto out of his inner monologue. "Joy." The man's sarcasm was more than apparent as he drew his bat and faced his back to the other two, making sure all sides were covered. These were Heartless he wasn't entirely familiar with, but they all fall the same way.
[ENEMIES: 1 Bookmaster, 2 Iron Hammers, 3 Lance Warriors]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 2, 2020 1:12:44 GMT -5
CRACK! SNAP! Lightning rained down across the battlefield, crackling and rupturing the dirt and gravel. The Bookmaster’s Thundara spell was powerful, spreading directly around the three. Though Biggs was quick enough to leap away from where they stood, using his shield as an umbrella, Wedge sustained moderate damage with a grunt as he braced himself against the magic. Lance Warriors were a flurry across the plaza, led by their crooked weapons and leaping from one point to the next.
Aiming with his hammer, Wedge came down directly on one of the Lance Warriors heads, crushing it into vapor as the horned warrior smoked from the previous attack. He didn’t even flinch at the gash that bled from his forearm, seemingly from the Heartless’ charge. SMASH! BOOM! The floor shook as the Iron Hammers began to pound against the floor, keeping midrange distance from the group as the Bookmaster flipped a page, readying another spell. ”Take this!” Biggs was a menace, slicing and slashing against the Heartless with his broadsword. Rushing forward and leaping over the quaking floor, Biggs plummeted against an Iron Hammer, dissolving it as the two hit the ground.
The horned warriors shouted out as one—despite being across the battlefield. It seemed to be a rush of adrenaline fueling them, the battle only causing their hunger to grow. Despite being Committee Members, it seemed that the horns betrayed their true nature. Near Yuto, a Lance Warrior was zig-zagging its way through the air, aiming its jagged point directly for the man in flannel. ”Watch out!” Wedge aimed his weapon at the Bookmaster as Biggs squared off against the last Iron Hammer. ”Fire!” The Bookmaster had flipped its page, beginning to summon forth a power that brimmed in red energy around it. It seemed the two had fought such Heartless before—sharing the information with Yuto in warning.
Not that they glanced his way—it wasn’t like them to doubt warriors at their side.
[[ENEMIES: 1 Bookmaster, 1 Iron Hammers, 2 Lance Warriors]]
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ravenheart95
Human
Yo, Socrates, it's a cookie.
Posts: 328
Gender: Male
Age: 22
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Post by ravenheart95 on Mar 2, 2020 13:09:45 GMT -5
Yuto heard the sound of thunder before being thrown from the group. Having enough experience with being rag-dolled by Heartless, the man was able to regain himself rather easily. Shaking off debris and dirt from his clothes, Yuto managed to glimpse Biggs and Wedge taking on the Heartless with relative ease.
”Watch out! Fire!” The warning was more than enough for Yuto to realize that he needed to move and fast. Dropping to the ground, the man heard a loud 'SSSSSSSSSKOOMB' as the Bookmaster's fireball collided with the ground in front of a Lance Warrior that was clearly heading for him. "My turn." Yuto hopped to his feet, hurling his bat at the Lance Warrior with his Fire Raid before grabbing his Replikeyblade and aiming it at the Bookmaster.
"Burn!" A large ball of black fire launched itself at the book holding Heartless, knocking it back and giving the group some breathing room. Yuto's bat meanwhile managed to land a critical blow against the Lance Warrior, causing it to melt back into darkness, before returning to its owner.
Catching his bat Yuto risked a glance at the two warriors, his eyes glowing with the same intensity as the Heartless they were fighting.
[[ENEMIES: 1 Bookmaster, 1 Iron Hammers, 1 Lance Warrior]]
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 3, 2020 9:26:16 GMT -5
Yuto’s Dark Firaga ability sizzled through the cliff clearing, colliding with the Bookmaster with a loud BOOM! Despite the smoldering smoke surrounding the Heartless, Wedge seemed to remain on guard as he readied his hammer. ”Magic won’t work!” Neither him nor his twin had magic, so the comment was directed at Yuto. Shhhhhing! A frigid chill came over the air as Wedge leapt forward to deal a heavy blow with his hammer—only to be met with a Blizzard spell directly to his gut.
”Ugh! Cough!” Collapsing on the ground after being hurtled backwards, Wedge seemed dazed as the smoke around the Bookmaster cleared. Sure enough, the Heartless seemed unbothered and unharmed, hovering in the air maniacally as it flipped the page in its large book, preparing yet another spell. BOOM! CRASH! The dirt floor continued to shake and grumble, all in response to the Iron Hammer’s powerful attacks. As the hammer-shaped Heartless continued to pound at Biggs’ shield, the warrior danced back and forth, getting in shallow hits with their broadsword slowly over time until finally the large Heartless dissolved into a puff of darkness.
The last Lance Warrior was quick to see the opportunity. Leaping away from Yuto, the zig-zagging Heartless sped through the air, led by its crooked lance, heading directly for the Wedge! The horned warrior’s armor was beat up, smoldered from lightning and frosted from ice—his body shaking slightly as he pushed himself up with the aid of his large blunt weapon. It seemed to take most of the man’s energy to stand—let alone throw up a guard against the Heartless’ attack!
[[ENEMIES: 1 Bookmaster, 1 Lance Warrior]]
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