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  1. Noteworthy
    The masked man observed the young lady's mark for a moment, making sure there was not a single detail of the Fire Nation symbol out of place, which didn't take long considering how simplistic of a symbol it was. His mind wandered for a moment as he reminisced on the day he was first branded as an FNA soldier, at only the age of 9. It was his destiny to fight for the Fire Nation





    "What is that thing?" the young boy asked. His large blue eyes gazed at the blacksmith who wielded a steaming metal rod, though they were only half visible behind his long jet-black hair. "Why have you brought me here?"

    The black smith laughed deeply. He was a bald, husky man with a bushy grey beard who wore ash-covered leather overalls. The metal rod he held in his gloved hands had a circular block of cement attached to the end of it. The block was in the shape of the Fire Nation symbol and was glowing a bright red, having been held in a fire for quite some time. "Stop asking questions, kid. You're pretty young to be doin' this, but you gotta get it done at one point or another, so just lift up your sleeve and shut up."

    The boy backed away slowly as the blacksmith began to approach him with the steaming metal rod. He didn't like where this seemed to be going, but he couldn't find a way out of the small dungeon they were in. "You better not touch me with that thing...I'll kill you, mister."

    "Ha!" the blacksmith broke into a fit of laughter, then charged at the boy. "Stay still, junior. You're making this harder for the both of us."

    Before the boy knew it, his right sleeve had been ripped off and he was being held against the wall at his neck by one of the black smith's thick, hairy hands. With the other, he began to slowly press the cement block of the metal rod against the boy's shoulder.

    "Aaaagghh!" the boy yelled, wincing in pain. "I WARNED YOU!"

    He gripped the black smith's hand with both of his and rubbed small flames into them. The black smith jumped back, now in pain as well, then attempted to swing his metal rod at the boy as if to knock him unconscious. His multiple swings were easily dodged by the boy who then sent a blast of flames into the man's round, bearded face. Within a matter of seconds his long grey beard had caught on fire and he was desperately trying to pat it out, but the young boy made the flames greater each time he tried to do so. The odor of burning flesh soon filled the air of the compact dungeon and the black smith began to roll around on the ground, clutching his incinerated neck in agony.

    "PLEASE!" he croaked. "HELP ME, YOU B*STARD CHILD! HELP ME!"

    The boy watched the black smith slowly die, keeping a solemn expression not making even the slightest attempt to rescue him. Once the man stopped moving and the flames died out, he found a wooden exit doorway and proceeded up a set of stairs, gently rubbing his new tattoo.





    "Very well then." the masked man said in his velvet voice, lowering his katana from the girl's neck. "That's a shame. I was really hoping for some fun later tonight. Guess I'll have to pick up some worms elsewhere."

    He walked away and sat back down in the bench, crossing his arms.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 28, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  2. Noteworthy
    The masked man sat back and crossed his arms, having just finished cleaning the deep blood off his katanas. It wouldn't be long before they arrived back at the Fire Nation. These international flights were relatively short--much shorter than sailing, that is. He was pondering on how he could pass the remaining time when the young lady in front of him caught his attention. She seemed awkward. Nervous. Perhaps he would've found her to be pretty if she wasn't dressed in filthy Earth Kingdom attire.

    "So, what brings you aboard, worm?" he asked intimidatingly while approaching her. It was a common term he used to refer to those from the Earth Nation. "A prisoner of war, are you? Adena has a lot of fun with your kind back at the Fire Nation. She brings them home like toys, practices on them like punching bags. Maybe I'll even get a turn...hm?"

    The masked man now stood barely an inch away from the girl; the tip of one of his katanas was stroking the side of her neck very lightly. Being a few inches taller than her, he had to tilt his head slightly downward in order to stare intensely into her eyes. His were not visible, of course, but she could feel the stare burning into her skin.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 28, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  3. Noteworthy
    General Kynu forced a smile and gestured his arms to the right. "By all means. This way, your majesty."

    He escorted her to the West Wing of the airship into a narrow hallway, then used a silver key to open one of the doors on their left, revealing a bedroom. Considering its size, however, the room was more of a broom closet. It was dimly lit by a small candle in one corner, and included nothing else other than a folded dusty mattress with no sheets. As light from the hallway flooded into the room, two mice scurried out from beneath the mattress and disappeared again.

    "Make yourself comfortable. FNA airships are famous for these luxurious suites, so I'm sure you'll sleep like a baby."

    Kynu then left Princess Adena and proceeded to the control room of the ship. He was in a lighter mood than usual. Probably because it calmed him to know they would be on solid ground soon.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 27, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  4. Noteworthy
    The man laughed at the Princess' anger with his head still down, endlessly taunting her. His mask lay at his feet, ripped from the straps but still intact overall. He picked it up and tied the ripped straps together so it would stay in place, disguising him once again with its comical expression.
    "I wouldn't do that again if I were you." he remarked. "You of all people should know how important it is for my identity to remain anonymous among others."

    The masked man gestured to General Kynu, Feng, and the other FNA soldiers who stood post by the windows in the room. Kynu glared at him with distaste when singled out. "I was curious when you first boarded the ship, but I think I've got you all figured about by now. You're just some kind of advanced soldier. No different from any of my men except you specialize in single assassinations. Ozai probably keeps you locked up in training most days and calls upon you when needed. Isn't that right?"

    The man put both hands up mockingly as though he were surrendering. "What can I say, General? You caught me."
    He faced Adena, staring into her eyes deeply and intently. She was one of the very few people that knew who he was.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 27, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  5. Noteworthy
    "Oh please Adena, I mustn't take all the credit." the man said teasingly. "After all, if it wasn't for you the King's army would have been protecting the palace, rather than out hunting for some crazed Princess. So therefore you weren't completely useless, which I must congratulate you on. You were more like...bait."

    He chuckled softly for a moment, picking up one of his katanas and wiping the blood off. It was beginning to dry, and he preferred to have his weapons looking sleek and shiny.

    "And another thing." he said, raising a gloved finger. "I noticed that Ba Sing Se suffered some pretty significant damage--a portion if it, anyway--and I'm somewhat impressed. Especially when considering the low expectations I have for you. Perhaps when we get back to the Fire Nation, Ozai will have some type of treat​ or something prepared for you."

    General Kynu held in his laughter, aware of the Princess' short temper, and turned his attention to the remaining katana that still lay on the floor. He observed the way it was covered almost entirely by dark, crimson blood. The combined blood of the Earth King and his guards. It almost shocked him to know that the very weapon he stood only a few feet away from had been used to eliminate the powerful ruler of the Earth Kingdom. How had the masked man defeated him? Did Tasuki even put up a fight? After the day's events, perhaps he lacked the pride to even want ​to fight back.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 27, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  6. Noteworthy
    "Yo Jesse, what do you think about this one? I say she's an...8. For sure." Derrick jeered playfully, pointing to some girl who was walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. He incessantly tapped his cousin's shoulder, eager for a response. "I think I might even go talk to her."

    Jesse half-opened his eyes, having dozed off for a moment, then squinted them to get a good look at the girl Derrick was pestering him about. She had light brown skin, strutting down the street in sparkly high heels, sporting a tight purple dress that complimented her curves.

    "Dude..." he said, rolling his eyes and smiling. "That's a hooker. For sure. If you really like her that much just wave her over and get out your wallet."

    Derrick turned to Jesse with his mouth gaped open, then back at the woman in disbelief. It was evident by his face that he was disgusted. "Aw man, that was a close one. See? This is what we need each other for. I save your ass, you save mine. I get you into therapy to keep you from going crazy, and you-"

    "Keep you from sleeping with disease-ridden wh*res."

    The two laughed hysterically for a little while there in Jesse's car, parked in front of the mechanic shop they owned together. It was one of the few worry-free moments they were able to have in times like these. The economy was down the toilet. Their neighborhood had one of the highest crime rates in the country. The bills came in constantly and piled into mountains. It all caused a great deal of stress, and seemed to never end. But for now, they could just sit here and laugh.

    "Seriously man," Derrick said, his laughter calming into a soft chuckle. "I got your back. You got my back. No matter what, remember that. We're here for each other come hell or high water."

    Jesse nodded slowly and the two bumped fists, resuming to rating women as they passed by. It wasn't too often they had emotional moments like that, but when they did, they never wanted it to linger for too long for the sake of their masculinity.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 27, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  7. Noteworthy
    The masked man chuckled softly. "Don't worry about it, Adena. Luckily for you Ozai is naturally two things: A master of war, and one hell of a father."

    He revealed his blood soaked katanas and threw them aside, then sat down on a side bench while the airship took off again. It was obvious by his casual body language that he found the day's events to be quite amusing. "Wait, you didn't think the Fire Lord was actually going to trust you to take down King Tasuki, did you? Ha! That's a laugh. You may be a General now, Princess, but you have to understand that these kinds of missions require someone...of a higher caliber. Ozai just wanted to test you with this assignment, probably for his own entertainment, but in the end he knew I was the one who would have to get the job done-"

    "Wait," General Kynu interrupted, leaning in with his eyes wide. "So, you've done it? Is he-"

    "Yes. It is done. King Tasuki is dead."

    Miles behind the airship, Ba Sing Se was completely silent on this night. It was a night of grief and solemness. The heart of the city had been destroyed and eliminated. Without a heart, how can anything continue to live?




    Draco stood at the dock for a moment, gawking at the enormous ship before him. He had never seen a vessel so large, other than the ones from the Fire Nation that attacked his home, and it made him feel uncomfortably small. But it was going to get him where he wanted to go, nonetheless.
    "Well, as the monks said," he whispered to himself while approaching the walkway. "Each journey begins with a single step."
    As he boarded the ship Draco began to see some familiar faces from the group he had met with earlier. Many of them were missing, though, which worried him. He could only hoped they hadn't backed out of the trip. A couple of the men who were already on board appeared far stronger and more masculine than he. Their faces were stern and serious, while Draco's was rather playful and boyish even in his adulthood. The last thing he wanted, though, was to seem inferior.
    "Evening, gentlemen." he said in a voice deeper than his usual. "Ready to train hard, are we?"
    His chest was puffed out and his face forced a tight frown with sharp, glaring eyes.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 27, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  8. Noteworthy
    General Kynu flipped the side lever and the ship was closed again. He let out a deep sigh of relief and yelled at the top of his lungs, "We're good! Now let's get the hell out of here!"

    He escorted the Princess and her female friend down the hallways and tried to keep his composure as she yelled. After all, it wasn't like he had just saved her life or anything. "Look, don't ask me any questions, alright Princess? All I know is that a few hours ago your father made be come aboard this flying death machine to Ba Sing Se, and if the whole city wasn't in ashes I had two jobs: Number one, find you. Number two, drop off-"

    Kynu came to a sudden halt for a few seconds, then he ran down the hall to the control room where the Captain and Co-Captain were seated. "Turn this thing around! We forgot something! I want us at the center of Ba Sing Se ASAP!"

    "Sir, it's nighttime. We can hardly see a thing as it is-"

    "I've grown quite tired of your backtalk! Turn back NOW!" Kynu then faced the Princess with a small smile. "We have someone special for you to see."



    The masked man sat on top of a collapsed building in the center of Ba Sing Se, his katanas concealed, and his hood over his head. He appeared to be waiting for something. To any normal passer-by, he even looked like Death himself. Suddenly, the loud sound of running engines came from above. The same Fire Nation airship which had dropped him off at this position had arrived for his retrieval. A rope ladder hung down beside him. Some Earth Kingdom soldiers began to gather around, standing in combat positions, but with a quick rotation of his arms the masked man formed a circular wall of flames around himself that spun endlessly. He then casually grabbed hold of the ladder and climbed it without any interruptions. Once aboard the ship, he brushed off his shoulders and looked around the room. He saw General Kynu, Princess Adena, and a young woman he was unfamiliar with.

    "Well, well, well..." he said, turning towards the Princess. "Look at you, Adena, with all those battle marks. Didn't think you'd measure up so small against some Earth imbeciles."
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 26, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  9. Noteworthy
    The center of Ba Sing Se was nothing. Its buildings and people were turned to rubble and corpses. All that was left of the area was the Royal Palace, which still stood proudly beneath the sky that grew darker by the minute. The long, perilous day was at last coming to a close...and the city had prevailed for the most part...but at what cost? Several individuals began to roam the area, holding candles in their hands and tears in their eyes, searching for the loved ones they lost in the midst of all the madness. A masked man walked among them, but he felt no sadness. Nor was he carrying a sympathetic candle in memory of those who had perished. Instead, he wielded two long, elegant katanas. One in each hand as he strode through the rubble towards the grand palace.

    The others paid him no mind. They were too engulfed in their emotions; too blinded by their own tears to notice that an armed assassin was among them. If they had given it a moment's glance, perhaps they would have noticed the spine-chilling way his boots intentionally stomped on the pale faces of the scattered corpses beneath him. Like dirt. Kicking them aside occasionally. All but one person let this strange sight go over their heads: One of King Tasuki's guards who was monitoring the palace entrance.

    "Excuse me, sir." the concerned guard said, stepping towards the masked man as he neared the palace. "You're gonna have to-"

    His words were cut off as both sides of his neck met with the man's blades, slicing in either direction. Blood poured out of his open neck. His body collapsed. His decapitated head rolled away. The masked man used his robes to wipe blood off his katanas, then pushed the front palace doors open. At this moment his mind went into a euphoric, almost numb, state. The silence of the night became filled with the melancholy sounds of an orchestra. Yells and shouts from guards inside the palace were turned into fine melodies of violins and cellos. He, the masked man, was the conductor of this blood-filled concerto; his katanas were the batons. They were swiftly swung in all directions as he hummed along to the flutes in the background. His eyes were closed, and therefore he could envision the plethora of instruments surrounding him, each being played oddly-enough by an Earth Kingdom soldier who hastily played along to the rhythm...as though their life depended on it. This went on for over a half-hour, until each of the instruments stopped playing, one by one. The masked man sighed deeply and opened his eyes, expecting to hear applause and see roses fall to his feet. Instead, however, all he saw...was blood.

    It was everywhere. Flowing down the staircases, splattered across the walls, stained into the carpets. Everywhere. It seemed that King Tasuki's palace was now the scene of a massacre. The dead bodies of his guards were scattered around the rooms in awkward positions, all missing a limb or two. A few even their heads. The masked man looked over the mess he had caused from the top of the staircase. Counting each of the bodies until reaching the number 31. Did he smile at this realization? Did he frown? Was he laughing? Was he crying? You couldn't tell behind his ridiculous mask.
    As he proceeded into a room on the second floor, an old man in long brown silk robes appeared inside. He sat behind a small desk, holding up a pocket knife, shaking from head to toe. With how terrified the man looked, it was hard to imagine that it was Tasuki himself.

    "You..." the King said grimly. "You killed them...you killed them all. And now...you're going to try to kill me..."

    "No, your majesty." the masked man said. His voice was smooth, velvet, and almost calming. "I'm going to kill you."

    Tasuki screamed at the top of his lungs as he revealed a small boulder from beneath his desk, split it into five pieces, and sent them hurtling in the man's direction. The rocks then burst into flames and were deflected, knocking the King backwards and burning him severely. He could only gaze helplessly as his assassin walked towards him, wielding two blood-soaked katanas.

    "Who are you?" he whispered, his right cheek pressed against the floor.

    Before he could be given an answer, his chest was stricken with a sharp blade, sinking deeper and deeper until escaping out his back. King Tasuki could feel himself disappearing, being engulfed by darkness, leaving his precious kingdom behind...
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 26, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  10. Noteworthy
    "MORE FIRE!" shouted General Kynu at his crew of FNA soldiers. "IF SO MUCH AS A HAND IS LAID ON PRINCESS ADENA, YOUR LIVES ARE AT THE HANDS OF FIRE LORD OZAI!"

    This provided quite a bit of motivation, causing the fireballs to rain down from the ship more rapidly and in larger sizes. Some of the Earth Kingdom soldiers below were forming small boulders and thrusting them at the ship. This, of course, applied hardly any damage to the enormous ship, but Kynu still didn't like it at all and so he yelled down the open trap door. "What the hell are you waiting for, Princess?!"

    His hopes of escaping rose high as Adena made her way up the ladder, but were toppled when she jumped off. What was she thinking? Did she not understand the gravity of the situation? For what reason could she possibly have turned back?

    "You can't be serious..." the General said in disbelief as he realized the cause of the Princess' irrationality.

    He noticed that Adena was standing beside her precious Komodo Rhino, and it was lagging her behind. "Interesting. Her compassion is quite uncharacteristic for a Fire Nation Princess. Well, so be it then."

    With a powerful movement of his arms, Kynu sent a large blast of fire at a towering oak tree nearby. The entire tree immediately burst into flames and slowly collapsed, crushing over a dozen soldiers who could only scream helplessly before being suffocated beneath its weight. "Lower the ship! I want the back entrance perched on the edge of the cliff!"

    "Have you lost your mind, General?! We need to get out of here! If we get too close to the flames our own ship could explode!"

    "That's an order, dammit! Now do as I say!"

    The airship moved forward and lowered while Kynu ran down the halls until reaching the aft of the airship. He then pulled a lever which flipped the metal wall outwards, forming a walkway from the edge of the cliff onto the ship. The General was now at the same level as Adena, and could see her approximately 8 meters away, but that's not what caught his eye. What did, however, were five dozen Earth Kingdom soldiers rushing onto the cliff from the forest behind her. If Adena hesitated even for a moment, they would kill her and most likely ambush the ship. After all, there were only about 2 or 3 dozen FNA soldiers aboard.

    "This is your chance, Princess! Move, move, move!"
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 26, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  11. Noteworthy
    General Kynu scanned the area below him with squinted eyes, trying to make out any sign of the Princess. It was difficult to see anything at a time like this. The sun had just set and the moon was gradually growing brighter in the night sky. Suddenly, large blasts of fire and lightning from the West caught his attention.

    "There!" he shouted without hesitation. "Head West, Captain, she's on that cliff near the shore! Hurry, dammit!"
    The enormous airship slowly veered to the right until hovering above the cliff where Princess Adena along with another young woman were standing, surrounded by Earth Kingdom soldiers.

    "ATTACK!" Kynu screamed at the top of his lungs, opening one of the side windows and sending fireballs raining down on the men. Other FNA soldiers aboard the ship did the same, while Kynu proceeded to flip open the trap door and drop a rope through. It hurtled down until fully extended, forming a straight line for the Princess to climb up. The General was in a state of panick, unprepared for battle and only hoping the Princess would be able to escape.




    Lieutenant Chung made it to the docks where some of the group that Tasuki had assigned him to escort had already arrived. The others were close behind, and he let out a sight of relief to see the large ship was already prepared for departure. Its captain, an old, dark-skinned man with a long scraggly beard, paced back-and-forth on the walkway whistling a merry tune.
    "Captain Harushi," Chung said sternly as he approached him. He leaned into his ear and whispered to him for a little while. The captain's facial expression changed from confused, to scared, to confused again.
    "No, no, that's ridiculous." he said, stepping away and shaking his head fiercely. "There's nothing in that direction, we'd be sailing pointlessly. Not only that, but I've been at sea for weeks now! It's about time I get some vacation on solid ground. I'm sorry, Lieutenant, but I must refuse."
    Chung glared intensely at the captain and grabbed him aggresively by the collar of his jacket. "King's orders, Harushi. You dare to disobey them? I'll have you know he's not in the best mood this evening. Your punishment may very well be your last."
    Harushi's eyes widened with fright and he quickly took a position by the entrance of the ship, gesturing to the gathering group with a wide grin. "This way, my friends! We have a long journey ahead of us!"

    Lieutenant Chung smiled and felt at peace now that the King's group was no longer his responsibility. This did not last long, however, as he began to hear the loud sound of engines from above. He peered into the distance, and gazed in horror as an enormous airship with the Fire Nation symbol painted on its side hovered above a small cliff. Large bursts of flames were shooting down from all sides of it.
    "Dear god..." he said in disbelief. "They've come for her..."
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 26, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  12. Noteworthy
    OOC: Firekeyblade, you're accepted.
    It's been over a week and I'd like to apologize to everyone for my absence.
    Think of the past week as an intermission, and we are starting Chapter 2. (:
    Now, let's get back to the story, shall we?

    IC:

    General Kynu sat grimly in a metal throne-like chair, his eyes closed and his chin resting on his fist. He tried to detach himself from his current environment, convincing himself that it was impossible for him to actually be aboard some enormous machine...in the sky. The introduction of these new Fire Nation Airships was intended to be a revolutionary, incredible advantage in the war, but all they did for him was induce vomiting. At high altitudes, firebending became quite a difficult task and Kynu didn't like the idea of being practically defenseless in times of war. Since the very moment he boarded the airship he had been silently cursing Fire Lord Ozai for making him do so. Although the General played quite a significant role in the FNA, he was in no position to defy Ozai's commands, especially on an evening like this when the Fire Lord was displaying the epitome of rage for his failed attack. As Kynu opened his eyes for a moment and gazed out the window to see FNA ships sailing to the horizon, he couldn't help but give a sinister grin.

    "If only those spineless men knew what horrors await them back in the Fire Nation..." he said with a chuckle. "Ozai will be far from lenient with their punishment..."

    "Sir, I believe we're at the appropriate position."

    Kynu turned his head to see Co-Captain Reeves facing him, standing at attention respectfully for the General. He was a fairly young man, and undoubtedly nervous about the flight, judging by his quivering legs.

    "Are you sure, Reeves?" Kynu asked, but there was no need for an answer as he stepped up to the window and saw Ba Sing Se below them. The sun was setting, so it was a tad difficult to make out the collapsed buildings and lifeless corpses scattered across the center of the city, but they were still visible.

    "So, uh, is...he...ready?" Reeves asked quietly, as though he wanted no one else to hear.

    "How should I know? Ask him yourself."

    The young co-captain gulped loudly and his eyes widened with fear. "Eh...I'd prefer not to...I mean, there's no pressure, after all. Whenever he's ready, we're re-"

    There was a sudden change in the atmosphere of the room. It was now thick and warm, yet chilling at the same time. Kynu and Reeves turned around in unison at the sound of footsteps edging closer. Entering now was a masked individual dressed in tight black-and-red robes and equipped with two katanas that were strapped to his back. Their mask included two eye-holes, a wide charming smile, and the fire nation symbol on its forehead (something like
    this). It was easy to assume that it was man, considering their masculine body structure, firm shoulders, and fairly muscular arms. Reeves stood frozen in fear while Kynu spoke.

    "We've arrived. You know what you have to do. Meanwhile we'll go pick up Adena wherever the hell she is."

    The man nodded and grabbed a rope that dangled from a hook on the ceiling. It hung down until forming a large heap of extension. He tugged at it a couple times, then firmly gripped it with both hands as he stood beside a small platform in the center of the room.

    "G-good luck..." Reeves said as he reached for a lever beside him, then pulled it down, causing the platform to flip outwards and form a square hole in the floor.

    The masked man dropped the heap of rope through the opening, allowing it to unravel until fully extended and straightened, then slid down it elegantly and landing on top of a building just outside the city's center. He then used large bursts of fire from both of his fists to propel himself further into the city. Back on the airship, Reeves flipped the lever upwards again, causing the opening to close. Kynu stared out the window as the ship began to move again, scanning the land for a sign of Adena.

    "C'mon Princess...give us a sign..."
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 21, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  13. Noteworthy
    OOC: Hey you guys, I don't know if many of you are familiar with the MAP of this world, however, the dock is a LONG WAY from the palace (which is where a majority of us are coming from). Not to mention the fact that our characters still need to get through the Ba Sing Se WALLS. That's not so easy of a task, considering the city (as I said before) is in the middle of a LOCK-DOWN due to a prison escapee.

    I don't mean to bother you guys or ask too much of you, but I'm gonna need a few of you to edit your posts. Obviously the trip from the palace to the dock isn't going to take DAYS or even HOURS but it just doesn't make since for you to go from the palace to the dock in one post.

    So, those of you who are at the dock or have passed the wall, PLEASE EDIT YOUR POSTS ACCORDINGLY!

    Thanks you guys.

    EDIT: And as I've said before, make thorough posts. It kind of upsets me to see posts that are only a sentence or two. Please be descriptive.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 7, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  14. Noteworthy
    OOC: I'm guessing we're all just gonna magically get through the Ba Sing Se walls when it's in the middle of a lock-down? lol
    Was the Lieutenant Chung character just completely pointless? :P
    And apparently we all have super-speed, getting across the entire city to the shore of the land xD
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 7, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  15. Noteworthy
    [​IMG]

    The dusk sky grew darker by the minute as it hung over the great ancient city of Ba Sing Se. The sun had set earlier than usual, which could be perceived as a bad omen in some cultures. But then again, what more pain and misfortune could be brought upon this tired place?

    I pray the Princess will be found...at least it would allow these unfortunate people to rest their heads tonight, knowing she was behind bars...
    Draco thought as he took a few steps outside.

    He expected to see them all scurrying through the streets helplessly, terrified for their lives by the news. It immediately came to his attention, however, that the entire city was intensely quiet. No civilians were anywhere in sight. Rather than desperate men and women, tumbleweeds rolled aimlessly across sidewalks in separate directions. The only noise that could be heard was the distant sound of marching boots.

    "The soldiers." he whispered to himself. "They're spreading."

    Surely enough at the Northern entrance of Ba Sing Se, large groups of Earth Kingdom guards and warriors were marching out of the city while others stayed behind to search the homes of regular citizens...as if anyone was going to hide Princess Adena in their broom closet.
    Within a matter of minutes, Draco knew, dozens of them would be flooding into the outer villages and forests. If this manhunt were to fail, then the Fire Nation will have won the day's battle. Even if they hadn't managed to take the life of the King, they will have managed to take the safety of his people, and replaced it with a permanent fear.

    Draco prayed over and over again that the Princess would be captured while he made his way towards the docks, but deep down in his chest he knew just how unlikely that was.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 7, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  16. Noteworthy
    [​IMG]

    A wide grin spread across the King's face as each of the young men and women slowly began to agree to his proposition. Some were quite inquisitive, however, which he did not like one bit. The first to propose a concern of his was the drunkard Earthbender named Rolan. He seemed suspicious about the whole plan, questioning Tasuki's inentions. The King pretended as if he hadn't heard a word of it and proceeded to answer the rest of the questions.
    "The ship is enormous, I can assure you." he said, holding his arms outwards. "Anything you could possibly think of to bring will fit just fine. The only disadvantage to this, however, is that you all must set sail tonight, so you may travel to Kaji Island nearly invisible in the darkness. That gives you approximately one hour to gather all your--"

    The King was suddenly interrupted by the deafening rings of tower bells. Their deep, powerful chimes came from all directions and even caused the floor beneath him to vibrate. Nearby he could faintly hear the front doors burst open as a man equipped in Earth Kingdom armor rushed in.

    "Sir!" the soldier cried. "One of the prisoners has escaped...it's her."

    "Lieutenant...what exactly do you mean by...her?!" Tasuki yelled over the noise. He moved slowly towards him, like a lion stalking a gazelle.

    The man nervously took a few clumsy steps backwards. "Well, uh, your majesty..."

    "Well, uh, your majesty! Don't you dare give me that nonsense! Answer me at once!"

    "Your majesty...we didn't mean to...we took our eyes off her for five minutes...I'm sorry...Princess Adena has escaped."

    Tasuki let out a bellowing scream to the cieling that made the tower bells seem like mere whistles; his fists tightening and shaking. "Well don't just stand there, damn you! I want everyone on alert! Take this group out of the city through the West exit towards the docks, then I want every single soldier out there surrounding the city's perimeter! We need men searching the outer villages, scavenging the forests, and arresting anyone within a 10 mile radius outside these walls! Every inch of the land is to be thoroughly inspected, do you understand me, Lieutenant?!"

    "Your majesty, don't you think that's a little drasti-"

    "DID I ASK FOR YOUR OPINION YOU SON OF A *****?!"

    Tasuki turned to face the group for the last time. "I'm afraid your departure must be rescheduled, children. Due to the current circumstances, those of you who still wish to assist in saving our world... will need to leave immediately. Grab what you can and Lieutenant Chung here will make sure you're taken where you need to be taken. I must go for now, but we'll be seeing each other again someday, I'm sure. Someday soon."

    With those final 'farewell' words, King Tasuki turned his back on the gang and whispered something in the Lieutenant's ear before rushing out the front door.


    [​IMG]

    Draco's mind was struggling to keep up with everything that was going on. It was all happening so fast and he felt a desperate need to just sit down and take a breather--but there was of course no time for that. Just this morning he was perched on a rooftop in the beautiful city of Ba Sing Se, and now he was standing in the Earth King's palace in the center of the rubble and ash that had become of the area, preparing to be shipped off to some mysterious island so he could train for an attack on Firelord Ozai. Reality began to seep in, but he shook it off before the repressed thoughts from earlier that day could arise again.

    "Very well then, make haste!" the Lieutenant commanded. "By the King's orders you all need to follow me."

    So, Draco followed behind a man he'd never met before in his life, with a group of people he'd never met before in his life, to a ship (which he'd never ridden on before in his life), which was set to take them to an island he'd never seen before in his life.
    "What in the world have I gotten myself into..." he muttered under his breath, the painful sound of tower bells ringing in his ears.


    Post by: Noteworthy, May 7, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  17. Noteworthy
    OOC: You're in, master of keyblades. Send me a PM so I can give you a summary and we can discuss how to incorporate your character into the current story line.

    BIC:
    [​IMG]

    King Tasuki faced the back wall of the room and grabbed a long black string that dangled from the cieling. When he pulled down on it an enormous map unraveled from above and hung down for everyone to see; displaying the entire world they inhabited. The map was exceedingly detailed, labeling every city of each of the four nations, and even symbolizing their topography. Tasuki stepped over to the right side of the map where the Earth Kingdom was drawn out, then pointed to a large shaded area with a label in bold letters that read: Ba Sing Se.

    "As you all know, we are located here at this very moment." he said, tapping the shaded area. His index finger wandered in the South-West direction until stopping at a different piece of land. This one appeared separate from the Earth Kingdom, as it was off-coast. Strangely enough, the small island had no labels whatsoever and, also unlike the rest of the map, was discolored.

    "Kaji Island." the King said slowly with a smile. "I'm sure some of you may know of it...or at least think you do."
    He turned to face the group, but maintained his finger's position on the mysterious island.

    "This was a private island owned by the wealthy family of Avatar Kaji, where they would vacation during part of the Spring season. When his father died, the island went under Kaji's possession. Many people anticipated that the great, noble Avatar would make this island public for all to enjoy its beauty, but they couldn't be more wrong. He announced a year later that it had flooded due to drastic climate change, and therefore was uninhabitable and had to be removed from all maps worldwide. That's as much of the story as any of you are familiar with. Now here's the twist: It was all a lie. A big fat lie. The Avatar saw the island as a fit location for seasonal training, but didn't want the world to think he was selfish. After all, as the Avatar, he had quite a heavy reputation to uphold."

    "So, he faked the unfortunate news and paid my father quite a large sum of money to secretly have four colossal dojos built on the island for him to practice each of the elements. It was probably the most selfish, corrupted act performed by any Avatar in all history, and was kept extremely confidential. The only reason I was entrusted with such classified information is because I was the heir to the Earth Kingdom throne."
    "In any case, I believe it is the perfect location for any type of training. The greatest in the world. According to my father, Kaji even developed a small archive on his island where he kept hundreds of
    Bending Scrolls, each containing unknown, highly-advanced bending moves taught to him by the previous Avatars themselves when speaking with them in spirit."

    King Tasuki tugged at the string below the map, and the entire thing began to roll upwards, disappearing back into the ceiling.

    "That is the only map left in the world with Kaji Island on it. I'm aware of its exact coordinates, and I can have you all transported there by ship. Your captain won't know what the island is, who any of you are, or why he's taking you there, but I'll bribe him to keep his mouth shut and not ask any questions. If I am to take such action, however, it needs to be arranged immediately. Each of you must decide right now whether you're in, or out. There's no turning back. Once you agree, you're officially set on the path to take down Firelord Ozai."

    He gazed grimly around the room, looking each of them in the eyes one-by-one.



    [​IMG]

    Draco watched as the Earth King revealed a large map of the world and pointed out Kaji Island. He had heard rumors of the island when he was younger, about its beauty and tropical climate, and how the Avatar was going to make it public to the rest of the world...before it sunk into the ocean. As Tasuki began to speak however, Draco's mouth gradually gaped open and he realized that the devestating tale was nothing but a hoax used to disguise Kaji's selfish desires.
    His mouth nearly hit the floor when Tasuki offered them the opportunity to train on the legendary island.

    "Yes!" he shouted uncontrollably. "By all means, yes! Kaji Island?! I would've never imagined being able to even see it with my own eyes, let alone train there! Absolutely, sign me up!"

    Draco fell to his knees and bowed to the King eagerly, not realizing the true depth of what he was agreeing to. It did not occur to him that the sole reason he was being offered training at Kaji Island was so he could prepare for battle against an extremely malicious, powerful man. A battle he may not even survive...
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 6, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  18. Noteworthy
    [​IMG]

    The King was perplexed and taken by surprise at the announcement by the skinny Airbender that there was no Resistance after all, but rather it was just an "idea". A smirk spread across his face as he watched the young men and women deliver short speeches, voicing their opinions on the matter.

    "I see I've gathered quite a variety here this evening." said Tasuki with a chuckle. "Some of you are far too pessimistic, while others are far too optimistic. Keep in mind, boys and girls, that the Fire Nation Army is composed mostly of Firebending masters. As I'm sure you saw today, these individuals are trained to kill on command. Meaning without mercy. Without hesitation. They are lead by an incredibly sinister tyrant, who grows even stronger by the day and will remain determined to make the world his own. You people, on the other hand, are practically children. If you plan to take down the Fire Nation, then there is much training, preperation, and discipline on the road ahead. Come to think of it...at this very moment, I can say without a single hint of doubt that I could take down all of you at once."

    He began to walk around the room, between the benders, scanning them from head to toe.

    "That being said, hope is not lost. Fire Lord Ozai may be powerful but he is far from immortal. With the right group of fighters I'm quite convinced he can be taken down and the world can regain its balance, even in the absence of the Avatar. And after all, there is indeed much potential in this room. It's in need of some refurbishing, of course, but it's still potential. A diamond in the rough, if you will."

    Tasuki stopped for a moment then turned to face Bai.

    "As for myself, my army shall take no part in attacking the Fire Nation, or seeking the Firelord. That would be considered a direct request for war, which is far more than this kingdom is prepared to handle. We struggle to survive even these occasional attacks. It's in the best interest of my people if we remain on the defense and nothing more than that. If you choose to join together and carry out this great mission, however, you shall have my support by all means. In secrecy, that is."
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 5, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  19. Noteworthy
    OOC: Sokka, really? Well then, my whole life is a lie now lol
    Thanks though, I was convinced it was the other way around
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 4, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home
  20. Noteworthy
    [​IMG]

    Draco's eyelids gradually shut and he took a deep breath before arising from his seat and stepping forward towards the King.

    "Your majesty..." he said nervously, his eyes still closed. "The Resistance doesn't exactly exist, per se. I would know...I sorta...started it."
    The entire room was quiet and all eyes were on him at this point. He could feel their stares and his forehead became moist with sweat, but he knew that he had to speak now, so he opened his eyes and adjusted his posture to appear taller and more confident.

    "The Air Temples where I grew up were attacked by the Fire Nation several months ago." Draco stated in an assertive tone. "Most of my friends, teachers, and family burned to death at the feet of soldiers. By a stroke of luck, however, I managed to escape on an Air Bison which led me here to the great ancient city of Ba Sing Se. I had intended to join the army here, even though the monks always advised against war, but I quickly changed my mind when I found out the Earth Kingdom doesn't even fight. They just protect themselves. Like turtles, taking defense in their little shells rather than standing up against evil. But guess what? Hiding is not gonna stop Fire Lord Ozai's reign of terror. So I started making fliers. Something that could get people's attention and make them want to retaliate. My original goal was to form a group...but that became too risky and difficult, so I ended up forming something far greater than that: An idea. An idea that people started believing, and got them thinking. And that idea was that we don't have to hide from anyone! We can fight back! Sure, I was way in over my head at the start, and I still am now, but does it matter? At least I've set a foundation! Almost all of you here have at least heard of 'The Resistance', right?! Well I think that's how great things start...with an idea!"

    Draco looked around the room, panting and out of breathe, but filled with excitement. His eyes were shining, his mouth was grinning, and his hair was disheveled, revealing his blue arrow tattoo which he usually put in so much effort to conceal. The room was tense, and now that he had officially killed the illusion that The Resistance was a large group of professionals, Draco worried that all he had managed to do was cause disappointment. He couldn't help but consider that maybe opening his mouth was in fact a terrible idea.
    Post by: Noteworthy, May 4, 2012 in forum: Retirement Home