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  1. Xannytoes
    Xanatos waved his hammer at Jaden.

    "Look carefully heretic, and see that the Xanahammah is whole and powerful, as am I. The artefact you hold is from another time, broken when I was broken. It is fitting that a true Demi God wields a weapon, true and whole."

    The Demi God remained strangely silent as Jaden spoke, observing the Inheritor from behind his blue veil. This was the man who opposed his heir. The leader of the Shards of Hope, the only remnants of Alpha's empire. In all fairness, they weren't exactly remnants. They were the most powerful force ever assembled to topple the Demi God's reign. Even Nighthawk hadn't come this close, and he'd been closer to a God than anything else. Since when did humanity grow so powerful?

    "I want to talk. I want to understand you, and why you felt it necessary to continue that feud. I want to understand why you fled. I want the chance to see history for myself. To see it through your eyes."

    Huh. He'd been expecting insults. Bold claims and bragging rights. They were winning this war, on the cusp of destroying his race forever. Yet there was none of that. Did Jaden truly wish to speak with him? He searched his eyes for hints of gloating, and perhaps the laggy connection hid it, but he could find nothing lurking in those orbs. Well, if it was only to talk, perhaps he could honour this ancestor of Aidan...

    "I killed Alpha's wife," Xanatos began, "it was not intentional of course. You hate Demi Gods, but you know we don't go around murdering innocents. I journeyed to his fortress, after receiving word that Alpha was plotting against me. I have no idea if that was the case at the time, but I journeyed there anyway. Killed his men and broke into his sanctuary, whereupon I engaged him in a brutal battle. Before either of us could gain the upper hand however, she got in the way of one of our attacks."

    I can't even remember her name.

    "I left Alpha with her corpse after that, and warned him never to cross the Demi Gods again. He obviously didn't take too kindly to my words, and began a war to bring me down. I responded with my own forces of course, and we waged a war that stretched from Arkan all the way to Sarn. We both won and lost many battles, and the conflict saw a great many of our allies perish... including my wife. The war began with a kingdom prosperous and proud, but as the years went on, barely a husk remained."

    "Eventually, Alpha and I met for a final battle with our armies. Both armies clashed in what is perhaps the bloodiest conflict I've ever seen. Both sides suffered greatly, but my own forces found themselves facing new technologies from the foundries of Sarn. My men took a beating, and I knew that if I didn't do something, we would lose. So I took to the front lines and found the great and might Aidan Samarost. We fought as Sarn and Arkan collapsed around us, landing many painful blows, until I finally managed to overcome him with one of my attacks..."

    Xanatos paused, slowly turning his head from Jaden and gazing at something far away in that unknown world. A flicker appeared below one of his eyes, but a rush of static later wiped it away.

    "Both sides retreated after that. The Sarn Insurgency had lost their leader and The Order of the Hammer had taken too many losses. We regrouped and restored a fragile peace to the world, and after that I left for... my current home. I thought I'd beaten Alpha for good, I didn't expect him to become a martyr to his followers. A very effective one at that. And now we're here. The Shards are on the cusp of destroying The Order, and I'm sure if you have it your way, Jayce will die."

    "So I'll make you a deal Inheritor. You can destroy The Order and the world I worked so hard to build. Each and every one of them. All the champions Jayce has brought to his side, you can slaughter them. Just promise you'll spare my son. And in exchange..."

    A grin formed on Xanatos' face.

    "In exchange, I'll tell you how to save Arkan."


    [​IMG]

    The flames licked his body with the same gentleness sandpaper would lick wood.

    He hurt. He f*cking hurt all over. It had been bad enough with that fire god blasting him with a flamethrower. Without his magical armor, nothing had protected him against the car exploding. Horrific red blotches had splashed his form, transforming him into Frankenstein's monster's ugly twin. One that would be needing a long trip to the healer if he was going to recover. Speaking of which, he was fairly certain bones weren't suppose to poke through legs like that.

    As of that moment, he was crouched behind a piece of fallen metal, the heat melting further into his skin. Even the slightest movement blasted pure hellfire through his crippled form. It was all he could do to keep his gun gripped, his tear-filled eyes scanning the environment for Carissa or anyone else who would attempt to finish him off. Once he was certain no one would disturb him for the moment, Jayce whispered a croaky, broken message into his communicator.


    "Emergency... evac... my location."
    Post by: Xannytoes, Jun 2, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  2. Xannytoes
    ERROR!

    XANATOS.EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING AND WILL NOW CLOSE.

    WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEND AN ERROR REP-


    "NO, DON'T SEND IT! REBOOT!"

    From behind his computer screen, The Creator was furious. Just one post from The Remnant had resulted in a total character crash. How one could withstand such an onslaught of meaningless b*llshit was beyond him. Even he couldn't program the characters to survive such an attack. Swearing under his breath as the error report did send itself, The Creator brought up a programming screen and tapped in a few commands, which quickly resulted in Xanatos restarting once more. He made sure to add a filter, so the worse of Cal's drivel would be blocked out. Speaking of which...

    "I should kill you right now," The Creator muttered, his finger hovering over the button to call in Champain. Something else caught his attention however. Something that would make the game MUCH more entertaining. Yes, that was it. True, he'd been hoping to bring in his little project much later in the game, but he supposed it wouldn't hurt if they made an appearance now. It'd pose quite the challenge to the participants, and with any luck, would eliminate The Remnant before she did anything else to wreck with the game. Yes, that was it!

    The Creator opened up the MainAntagonist tab, and lowered the timer from 1000 to 50...

    Back with Xanatos...

    Ugh, my head.

    What had happened? He felt as if the total amount of b*llshit in the universe had just been compressed and shoved into his head within the span of a few seconds. His vision blurred, he was able to make out Samarost, the scientist and... oh, her. She was still here. His sudden headache was starting to make sense. He thanked Arceus that his brain had been able to repel her mental onslaught, only keeping the essentials in mind.

    "Good to see you too Calxiyn," Xanatos moaned, "now to answer your questions. No I don't recognize you. It's only been a hundred and fifty-ish years, don't exaggerate. I never bite off more than I can chew. That never happened, that would contradict all logical reason. I never thought with my d*ck, such a thing isn't possible. No you couldn't have fixed anything, you tend to break things."

    "The frig is a Mark of Mastery? Actually, don't answer that. Becoming a Key master isn't that difficult, I'm very good at unlocking stuff. I didn't realize Disney was such a money-loving corporation to sell Keyblades. Congrats on the daughter, could have done a better job choosing the father."

    "You know, saying you're inside your daughter isn't very safe for work. I didn't miss you that much, no. The others are all dead, Aidan and I saw to that..."

    He paused for a minute, taking a breath and glancing off into the distance. If one had looked hard enough, a glint in his eye might have been visible.

    "Sport's gone too. We had a son and a daughter, but only Jayce is left now. I believe he's currently trying to put an end to Samarost's emprie."

    He glanced at Jaden, his blue eyes flashing red.

    "I won't be coming to your kingdom, kinda busy in another dimension right now. Nor will I partake in its brothel. And I was hardly the type to stare at girls. I was married at a young age, foolish girl. God-father, wow, haven't heard that one before. Please don't give me a mental image of Aidan jacking off. There aren't any exceptions to rules, only people who break them. I didn't need a duel with pistols to beat Aidan, my hammer beat him just fine."

    His gloved fist was clenched, and for a moment a flash of blue iron filled the screen as Xanatos smacked something down in front of him. His tone, formerly bored and mono, was tinged with anger and pain.

    "My friends were there Cal. They helped me, and they died. Aidan had allies too, and they too fell. Though if memory serves, you weren't there for either us. Yet here you are now, still alive somehow. Not entirely sure how that works. Can't say I've heard of two spirits of the same family inhabiting the same body."

    "As for what's happened, I don't know. I've been away from Arkan for some time now. As to where I am... that's a story for another time."

    He glanced to Jaden once more, his expression now pleading.

    "Perhaps you can tell me why you called, Samarost. What do you want and how did you acquire this crystal?"

    [​IMG]

    Shnk!

    Was this was it felt like to be mortal?

    Jayce fell to one knee, an arrow protruding from his leg. To his right, the roar of engines and the squealing of tires on corpse signaled his approaching adversary. He had to hand it to Carissa, she was determined to put an end to the Order's leader. Hah. Fat chance of that. He was Jayce Reaver. Son of the invincible Xanatos Reaver and...

    And...

    Oh who was he kidding? He was a child playing with a toy gun, in the grand scheme of things.

    Was this how his sister had felt in her final moments? Was this how each of Carrisa's victims had felt? So... so... blind? His senses felt buried under mountains of cement. His body burned with the sting of hundreds of viruses he'd never built an immunity against. His breathing was heavy and everything hurt like hell. How did one describe it? Being so open to the vast universe, only for it to be shut off to you, suddenly and without warning. Carissa had done much more than put a few holes in him. She'd stripped away what made him a Demi God. His resistances, his magic, taking away everything until little more than a shell remained.

    Still, what was it they said in the old shows? If he was going down, he was taking him with her. Carissa had killed many Demi Gods, but today would mean the end of her hunt.

    He raised his gun, put his magical shield forward and used the last spell in his arsenal that wasn't dependent on his energy.


    "Demi God Technique - Scatter Shot!"

    And the bullets flew forth from his gun, smashing into the engine, the wheels and (with any luck) Carissa herself.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 23, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  3. Xannytoes
    Champain, the god of Champagne, appeared out of nowhere. He raised his hand and fired a bullet into Onamakritos' side, before disappearing in a cloud of mind-erasing smoke.​

    [​IMG]

    Shnk!

    Oh, that was going to leave a scar. Jayce groaned, clutching his side as one of Carissa's bolts wormed its way into his body. Immediately, he felt his already limited magic supply slip away. What kind of weapons did she have in her arsenal? He'd heard all the stories of course, listened to how Carissa had felled his sister... but he'd never been on the receiving end of her accursed weapons. Worse yet, he had a feeling her quiver contained even more surprises.

    One such surprise was intercepted by Rose, who flung herself in the way of Carissa's next bolt.


    "You better get the hell out of here and not let your damn pride win. No use us both being caught."

    And another one down. Not that Rose had been in a real fighting state to begin with. Now he was truly on his own, facing off against Carissa and that f*cking fire mage. Speaking of the latter, he was fairly certain his injuries weren't causing him to imagine the black flames descending on them, threatening to surround both Jayce and Rose. Oh s*it. Already they were licking at his weakened form, promising to consume him if he didn't escape now.

    Flinging Rose over his shoulder, he danced forward, leaping with his formidable speed and agility whilst attempting to maintain a good grip on his assassin. Even so, he wasn't quick enough to escape unscathed. The flames briefly smashed into him from both sides, and were it not for his enchanted armor he would have been consumed. Speaking of which, most of the robes on the upper-half of his body had been burned away in typical anime fashion, exposing his lean, yet somewhat muscular form.

    Damn it. He was so close. A few minutes ago, he'd been tearing through the Shards left and right. Yet now he was here, his injuries burning his body and mind away. The flames behind him would give him a brief moment or protection against the fire mage, maybe enough time to find and kill Carissa.

    No, remember what Rose said. Get out of here. Get to the shuttle. This was still a victory. They had Rose, the mission was a success.

    ...No.

    This could very well be the final chance he'd have at ending his sister's assassin. All the years she'd slipped through his fingers, now she was here. Wounded and on the battlefield. He had to end it. Had to send a message to Samarost. Had to avenge his sister. Only he could. Kalak wasn't here, and the others were wounded or dying. No, he was the only one left.

    He gently set Rose on the ground, cast his Arm Shield spell (the golden barrier was dimmed slightly) and began searching for Carissa among the fires and the dead.

    ...

    At first, nothing seemed to happen. The crystal glowed for a few moments, before dying down once more. Like someone had just left the phone to ring, unwilling to answer. However, not a second later, the room was illuminated by a brilliant, blinding light and Xanatos Reaver was born again. Or at least, his hologram was.

    "Oh for goodness sake," he huffed, "here I am trying to murder the Guardian of the 7th Dimension and you just decide to spam the call b- oh."

    He glanced around the room, his blue eyes the only visible surface upon his face. He drank in the visages of those present: a Samarost, some scientist and...

    "Oh sweet mother of Arceus no!" Xanatos fell to his knees, "I'll give you what you want! Money, power, anything! Just remove THAT from the room!"

    His gloved finger was extended towards Calxiyn.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 22, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  4. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    Where was he?

    It was difficult to say, what with the ringing of his ears and the choking of his lungs. Think clouds of dust which pushed even his godlike body to its limits. A murky brownness covering his form, with the only thread to the outside world being the clash of swords and the woosh of fla-

    ****.

    Jayce instinctively jumped upwards, compressing his form by bringing his knees up to his chest. For a moment, he broke free of that airtight prison, and saw the beauty of bloodshed. Dying men and bullet casings, littering a burning battlefield. For a moment, he might have enjoyed it. Perhaps smiled. But as the fires below cleansed the battlefield, Jayce was returned to reality once more. He had a task to finish. Carissa needed to die. He was certain he'd seen her fall from his bullets, but he had to make sure. Needed to assure that the job was done.

    He landed, firing a couple of bullets in the sorcerer's direction. No need for him to send his fires forth once again. He needed a few more seconds to find Carissa's corpse and put a bullet in her head if she wasn't behaving as a dead body. Oh, and Rose too. Had to find Rose. Gently clutching his side, he surveyed the battlefield, searching for his sister's murderer. She has to be here. There was no way she was getting away this time. I'd make certain of that.


    Movement from his right caught his eye, and he brought his gun up to fire off a few shots. He halted on that action however, once he spotted the familiar garb of his assassin, the Black Rose. Broken and beaten, a flower plucked and left to wilt in the dirt. It hadn't been that long since he'd last seen her, yet she looked so different. Fragile, helpless even. Her eyes seemingly begging for help, emotion that would never slip past her lips. Despite the battle roaring around him, he was too captivated to move. Too entranced by some strange magic to even realize the doom approaching him.

    It was around that time Carissa had hit him with the immuno-bolt.

    His place on the pedestal above all life, looking down at all below him, was over. The support crumpled beneath him and he was pulled back to earth at a frightening velocity. But he didn't crash into the ground. That at least, would have been swift. No, instead his pride and superiority were stripped away in one swift motion, bringing with it a burning stomach, shaky hands and the feeling of a thousand diseases attempting to worm their way into his body. For the first time in his life, Jayce felt human...

    And he hated it.

    His defenses stripped away, exposed to the world at last, all Jayce could do was put an end to the one who had made him suffer so much pain. He brought the gun up one final time and fired at Carissa with everything he had.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 12, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  5. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    And just like that, it was over.

    His side burned, and the last attack had left him a little drained, but the demon was down. With two Shards out of the picture, the tide was starting to turn. Kalak was still engaged against the Lancer, meaning the path ahead was clear. Jayce analysed the situation a short distance away. Teliana had managed to make it to the shuttle, but now Rose was locked in a battle with... with...

    Oh this was too perfect.

    Carissa, slayer of Demi Gods, facing off against his assassin. Like with the robot, she was distracted. He could put an end to this little rebellion here and now. Carissa defeated by a Demi God... it was so fitting. If she couldn't defeat Jayce, then who could? Who would dare to stand against Jayce Reaver in the aftermath? He had to hide a grin. One half of the remaining Samarosts would be dead by the end of today. He was going to enjoy this little battle.

    For my sister.

    Strolling back over to the robot, he removed his scythe from its mechanical form. Then, after firing a round or two in Reitan's general direction (not to steal his nephew's glory, but he couldn't resist shooting at the Lancer), he put his great speed to good use and charged down the battlefield once again. Scythe extended, he focused on the target before him. The great huntress, her hunt about to come to a swift and gruesome end.

    Rather than perform a spectacular leap like he had with the robot, this time he stayed low. No need to give Carissa an easy target. Once he deemed the distance closed enough, he pulled the trigger on his gun. Once, twice, three times, aiming for her legs and arms. Even a slight injury could give his assassin the upper hand. And once Rose had the advantage, there'd be no stopping her.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 5, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  6. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    The situation had transformed as quickly as he'd arrived.

    The mechanical construct was down. Apparently he'd hit some vital point, or perhaps overloaded it with electricity, but either way it wouldn't getting up anytime soon. That however, left Jayce with a new problem. Some sort of... demon. One look at it brought nothing but confusion to his mind. How did one describe such a creature? Beast like and feral and with hunger etched into its very soul. A dangerous foe, one that was currently latched on to Jayce's wrist.

    Luckily, it was right where Jayce needed it.

    Letting go of the scythe embedded into the robot's body, Jayce used his now-freed hand to deliver a swift, brutal blow to the creature's stomach, putting his Demi God Taijutsu to good use. With his other hand, he gripped Kala's forearm tight, keeping her in place. His eyes didn't leave the beast's face, as to not give away the attacks that Kalak had sent in her direction.


    "Demi God Technique - Lightning Spliter!" Jayce yelled.

    He was loathe to use such a technique twice in a row, considering he didn't want to spend too much energy. However, he figured eliminating his opponents as quickly as possible was the way to go here. The robot was experiencing a 404, and this creature would soon be joining it. He tightened his grip even further, as electricity poured from his hand and into Kala's body.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 5, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  7. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    A few minutes earlier...

    "Sir, we're coming up on the battlefield," the pilot yelled to the Demi God other the whir of the engines, "about a quarter-mile left to go."

    "Very good. Set me down here."

    "But sir..."

    Jayce said nothing, instead rising from his seat and checking his gun over for the hundredth time. Examining the sight, counting the clip size, polishing the few scars which bore upon the metal. His hand drifted towards his back, feeling for his scythe hilt. Assuring himself it was there, he nodded to the eight or so soldiers he'd brought along with him.

    "Alright chaps, here's what's about to happen. As soon as the shuttle touches down, open fire on any high-priority targets. Basically make them think I've decided to come and beat them to a pulp. As soon as you've landed, the shuttle will provide a bit of air support, before heading to a new location where we can extract Rose and our surviving forces. Speaking of which..."

    Jayce brought his communicator up once more, "Kalak, have you managed to retrieve Rose?"

    No answer. The Demi God could only hope his nephew was merely distracted, hopefully with the slaughter of Shard forces.

    "Alright, you know the plan, now get moving!"

    Jayce hit the button to open the ramp, hopping down to the battlefield below. Throwing his hood up and wrapping his lean frame in his cloak, he began quick march to the gunfire coming from the east...

    Meanwhile, in the present...

    Observing the battlefield, crouched behind what looked to be the rusted frame of a tank, Jayce's hopes weren't exactly high. True he was here to provide a bit of help, but the situation itself was dire. His nephew appeared to be engaging three of the Shards' best troops. He thought he could spy Carissa's crossbow, and the lance of a familiar warrior, but where in the hell had they acquired a giant freaking robot!? At least the metal hulk seemed distracted, carrying what looked like a body... a body of a woman who was more than likely to have a date... oh ****.

    Teliana.

    Great. Another one of their fighters down. One of their more proficient ones as well. Jayce couldn't tell if she was dead or alive from his current position, but he did catch sight of an all-too familiar assassin. Excellent. So Teliana had managed to rescue Rose. The roar of an engine from overhead swiftly formed an idea in his head, and he sprung to action.


    "Pilot, touch down by that little dune over there," Jayce signaled a nearby area where Rose and Teliana could safely extract, "wait a minute or two for my return and any surviving soldiers. If I don't make it back by then, take off.

    Satisfied that Rose and Teliana would now be safe from danger, Jayce still had to save his cousin from the immediate danger. Four on one was not spectacular odds, even for a Demi God. However, if Jayce could take one of them out, he was confident even all of the remaining Shard forces would fail to beat them. A smile spread across his face as he eyed his target. The same metal robot from earlier.

    Time to reduce the electricity bill.

    Xanatos would probably have slapped him if he'd heard such a joke spouting from his son's lips.

    Jayce drew his scythe, running his hand across it and whispering Demi God Technique - Lightning Splitter. Jolts of electricity sprang from his fingertips, bathing his weapon in a beautiful blue arc. The moment his weapon was ready, he leaped from his hiding place and dived into the fray of battle once more. The robot was currently racing towards Kalak, turned away from Jayce. He couldn't ask for a better opportunity. With his enhanced speed, he quickly gained ground on the mechanical creation, before leaping up into the air and swinging his scythe down, aiming to stab the robot in one swift blow.
    Post by: Xannytoes, May 2, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  8. Xannytoes
    "Their defences aren't much to look at," the soldier informed Ashleigh, "some wooden walls and a few barricades. However they're positioned on top of a hill, with the remains of destroyed vessels littering the battlefield. And nay, we don't have a map of the camp."

    Upon hearing about the idea of a diplomatic mission however, the soldier froze in place.

    "M-my lady, I must insist otherwise. It is highly unlikely the heretics will accept to meet with you. Even with the Knighthawks, you will be at a great risk... if you must go ahead with this idea, at the very least let me send some guards with you."

    [​IMG]

    "Commander! Commander Reaver! Please come in!"

    Something told Jayce that the man on the radio required some help. He wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was the sound of explosions and gunfire ringing in the distance. Possibly the screams of people getting ripped to pieces. Either way, he was most likely going to have to do something about it. He tapped on his wrist communicator.

    "What's going on soldier?"

    "It's a trap! The prison transport... it's being protected by the Shards' best forces! We need backup, and now!"

    Damn it. If Kalak, David and I've totally got a date couldn't handle it, then the situation was worse than he'd imagined. Jaden had played a careful hand. If he'd outmaneuvered them here, then he'd surely have his fingers in other pies too. Most likely at the Shard encampment. He brought the communicator up to his mouth once again, his fist clenched once more.

    "Ashleigh, Veera, be very careful. The prison transport's turned into a bloodbath. Watch out for any traps Jaden might have lain in your neck of the woods. I'm gonna go help Kalak before it's too late."

    Jayce set off for the shuttles, a thin trail of blood running down his hand.
    Post by: Xannytoes, Apr 21, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  9. Xannytoes
    “Good thing you’re here,” the officer in charge at the encampment replied to Ashleigh, “the enemy hasn’t acted since we took Sky Tower. Not entirely sure of their numbers, but nothing significant. However, we may want to hurry with our attack. Reports coming in from the tower that an enemy shuttle slipped under the AA gun, heading in this direction. Most likely with reinforcements.”

    [​IMG]

    The trip to the healer’s was finished, and Jayce felt… marginally better. True, the slash across his chest was now sealed (and would hopefully remain as such). Yet the pain lingered, a bitter reminder of his clash with the Ancient God. He was back in his room now. His bed remained made, as his eyes flickered across the reports being sent directly to him. Kalak and his forces had just engaged the prisoner transport, and Ashleigh would soon engage the enemy stationed at the encampment. Things were proceeding as planned.

    "Captain, do we have a lead on the base yet?" Jayce asked into his communicator.

    "Negative sir, but we're working on it. If The Shards get the crystal, we'll be able to track the circle."

    Speaking of the crystal...

    "I want half of our uninjured guards stationed at vital areas. We are not having anyone else steal items from my ship. Are we clear?"

    "Understood."​
    Post by: Xannytoes, Apr 11, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  10. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    It was only after his troops had left the room that Jayce replied to Theodosia.

    "Last I checked, flying the ship was the helmsman's job... though I will take your offer about getting some rest. Just monitor the console here and let me know if it picks up a signal on my crystal. If that idiot thief activates it again, we can track him down and break his legs."

    With that lovely comment suspended in the air, Jayce departed the bridge. He supposed he was a little mean to Theodosia, but nothing like a bit of brutality to keep his men in line. Still, he'd have to thank her for the brief break he was about to receive. A warm bed in a room that had just been broken into... on second thought, he didn't think it sounded all that appealing. Perhaps a trip to those blasted healers to calm his mind and ease the stinging in his chest. His thoughts briefly rested on the Ancient God, and his trigger finger twitched.

    "Commander, might I have a word?"

    El Capitane didn't wait for a response, instead joining Jayce in walking down the halls.

    "What is it Captain?"

    "Well Commander, I was hoping we could discuss the results of this recent battle."

    "We won. Discussion over."

    "Well not the victory... mainly the casualties."

    Jayce's wound pained him again, and his fist clenched. He didn't need to be reminded how many good men had died to give them this chance. Quite possibly their last chance at defeating The Shards. Of course it wasn't something he was going to admit out loud. Not when he could see it burned into their wrinkled faces and weary eyes. The momentum they'd gained here had to propel them all the way to the finish line, if the Demi Gods' legacy was to be preserved.

    "What about them?" Jayce finally asked.

    "I had some of the soldiers document who died. You know, name, age, rank, that sort of thing. As is normal."

    "I'm well aware of how we document our dead Captain. What's the point of bringing it up?"

    "I'll just cut straight to it... more than half of our officers were killed."

    Jayce's boot squeaked against the chrome floor of the airship. His hand grasped the wall, and he caught sight of his wide-opened expression in the window. El Capitane was regarding him with an expression mixed with exhaustion and pity. Not that Jayce was paying him much heed. His mind was a blur, his thoughts a storm, his sanity a tiny island in the middle of it.

    "Captain, how is it possible we lost more than half of our officers?" Jayce finally managed to speak, "I keep them near the back for a reason. Unless they charged Sky Tower themselves, which I very much doubt, how did we lose so many of our commanding forces?"

    "We're still going over the bodies, and it looks like most of them were taken out by a sniper rifle."

    "So we just happened to miss one of the Shard members that was targeting our officers?"

    A pause.

    "So it would seem, Commander."

    A few more moments passed, as Jayce ran the facts through the grinder. Over a hundred men dead, many more wounded, and now he learned that more than half of his officers had been slaughtered in the battle. As if their cause hadn't been looking grim enough a few seconds ago. Decisions were springing up in his head now. Decisions he should have made. He shouldn't have attacked the tower. He should have retreated his troops. He should have kept his room safe from thieves. He should have shot down the Shard's escape craft when he had the chance. He should have done a million different things, and he hadn't.

    "Send word to HQ. Tell them that training new officers is a priority. Tell them to send whatever they can here. We can't let this war drag on any longer. As soon as we find out where they're hiding out in the area, we're going to burn everything they have to the ground. These heretics will learn what it means to rise against the Demi Gods. Let it be a lesson to anyone who dares challenge us."

    Jayce left the captain where he was, thoughts of rest gone. A quick trip to the healers and a few minutes to clear his head.

    There was work to be done.
    Post by: Xannytoes, Apr 2, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  11. Xannytoes
    OoC: Posting on behalf of Cal.

    [​IMG]

    Onamakritos looked at Jaden with a cold expression, though the corners of his mouth twitched. He didn't want to express the extreme amount of excitement and fulfillment. "I do as you command."

    His hand touched her skin, running his fingers gently down her hand before the fire slowly started in his finger tips, until it engulf his own wrist. Worse then a hot iron, his touch would be gentle if not for the fire. He looked into Roses eyes, his cold stare having an eerie light within them. The eyes of someone who enjoyed torture, who liked to play with his food. If his poor sister could see this girl now, pathetic even to the touch. He gave her a calming smile. He wouldn't let her see the craze look he hid inside of him. Instead, his expression was calm, though not uncaring, almost sincere in a way. The expression he would have conversing with a friend.

    Magic was his only friend.

    He knew when it was time to let go. He hoped that she would struggle more, in other to get Jaden to do it again. He hadn't overdone it, just as Jaden wanted. He looked at Jaden, nodding calmly again, making it look like no big deal for him.

    It was blood he wanted, and blood he saw.

    In all its glory.

    [​IMG]

    Jayce debated criticizing Teliana's sex life, knowing full well that as a Demi God, he got more action than her in five minutes than she did in an entire year oh god he'd wasted his life. Thankfully, he was saved by the timely arrival of his cousin. Perhaps the first time he was actually happy to see her.

    "Where are we going, what's our objectives, and who's accompanying me? If I may, I'd like to request the presence of Veera"

    "I'm sure she'll be happy to join you," Jayce nodded, "you two will be targeting a small Shard outpost. Just to keep our enemy on their toes and to free up some of the nearby area. Wipe them out, capture their officers and find out what you can about the main base of operations they have in the area. If either your group or Kalak's can discover its location, we'll strike quite the blow against them."



    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 30, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  12. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    Jayce somewhat doubted the validity of Teliana's statement that she had a hot date. With the amount she ate, it was a turn off for any man or woman in a fifty mile radius. Then again, she did hold some wisdom in his words. He hadn't considered the possibility of a trap. But his sources were well-placed, so he wasn't going to waste a chance at saving Rose just yet. If they transferred her to Shard HQ, he doubted they'd get her back at all.

    "What we know about the Shards is what we've always known. They're a bunch of heretics who've got their hands on some powerful technology and allies. Be very careful when you engage them. I managed to wound the Ancient God they've got on their side, so I doubt he'll be making an appearance. Carissa shouldn't be too difficult either. She's anti Demi God, not anti... Hamerkop. Still, watch the others. As for the prisoner transfer, nothing appears to be out of the ordinary. Standard transfer, probably to a more secure facility. I'm guessing they've got her hidden in a camp we haven't found yet. No matter. I'm sure the three of you can torture the information out of some Shards. If you get that information, I'll move The Valiant in to blow their little base to kingdom come."

    Jayce hit a button on the console before continuing.


    "You'll find a shuttle awaiting you in the docking bay. That'll take you to the transfer site. The Shards have a slight advantage now, but if they lose Rose AND give up the location of their base, we can inflict some hefty damage before the sun dawns."

    Which couldn't come soon enough. His arms and legs were sore and sluggish. His eyes fluttered constantly. He wasn't sure how much longer he could remain in the world of the awake. Still, he'd have to push on a little bit longer. They still had some work to do before he could embrace that sweet gentle slumber and maybe get some goddamned sleep. It was here in his tired, battered and breaking mind that thoughts swarmed like hornets. Amid the storm, a single idea ran true in his mind. Another plan to strike whilst the Shards licked their wounds and admired their soon to vanish prize.

    "Theodosia," he turned to his 'assistant', "get Asleigh up here. I'm going to need her for a mission."
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 28, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  13. Xannytoes
    Attention to all members of the Order of the Hammer (who weren't captured like little b****es). Jayce has requested thine presence on the command bridge. If you're not already there, move your asses!

    Love,
    Xannytoes
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 28, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  14. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    Jayce said nothing more as Telina volunteered herself for the mission. Inside however, he was smiling. Kalak and Telina, a very formidable team together. They would prove to be more than enough to handle a simple prisoner transport. Still, it was Rose, so it was best to be safe...

    "Take Sophia Hamerkop with you as well, along with two-dozen soldiers. This is a chance to strike against the Shards before they can lick their wounds. Whilst this is happening, I'll send another group to attack some Shard outposts. We'll gain momentum, throw them out of the nearby regions and bring more support to our cause."

    "Do you two have any questions before I send you off?"
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 23, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  15. Xannytoes
    [​IMG]

    Whilst waiting for tree-girl to respond to his comments, Jayce was somewhat happy to see his nephew join him on the bridge. Right up until he revealed everything that had been kept hidden from him.

    The Valiant broken into? A thief who had managed to slip into his room and the museum exhibit? Who had taken both the broken Xanahammah and… and…

    The crystal. The trans-dimensional communication device his father had oh-so kindly left him before buggering off to Subspace or wherever the hell he was now. A lovely going away gift, which mainly served to allow Xanatos to criticize Jayce when he screwed up.

    Figures. I earn a victory and I don’t even get the chance to gloat about it.

    “We have to get that crystal back,” said Jayce, moving towards the door as if to pursue the thief himself. He made it about two steps before his shaking legs and bleeding form got the better of him, and he was forced to seat himself.

    His injuries. He’d ignored them for the most part and refused every offer of healing he’d been given. Now he was paying the price. His immortality was taking just a bit longer to kick in than he would have liked. He motioned for one of his guards to fetch the healers. One he actually liked.

    “I’ll go after it later,” he decided, “in the meantime, I have a way of monitoring it here. The Valiant can scan for signals produced by the crystal. If and when the idiot activates it, we’ll know where to go looking.”

    Looking around, his loyal council of warriors seemed to be slow in gathering. Ashleigh had fled the scene, but what of the others? Veera was nowhere to be seen, and Rose-

    Gone. For now. Jayce had a half-fledged hope she’d cut her way free herself. Maybe even turn up on The Valiant before they left for the next mission…

    Or maybe not.

    “Well, we may as well get this meeting started. First, congratulations to all of you. Your efforts today helped to secure an important front for the Order. For the first time in a long time, we have an advantage. One I intend to press.”

    His voice was not flecked with joyful tones, but painted with grey. This was not the voice of a man who had just scored an incredible victory. This was the sound of a boy, beaten and bruised.

    “Our casualties may have been high, but we have secured a great deal of reinforcements from our Northern allies, which will do well to help our cause. Furthermore, aside from a few pieces of resistance, we should be able to take majority control of this area. It’s a more significant gain than anyone realizes. Before the Shards know it, we’ll have put an end to their little rebellion.”

    A little rebellion which had outnumbered The Order for many moons now.

    “Now then, for our next move. I’ve spotted several targets which I believe wil-“

    “Sir, we just intercepted a Shard transmission!”

    “What’s it about?”

    “Prisoner transfer.”

    Rose.

    “Bring it up!”

    The table they were seated at sprang to life, presenting a holographic image for all to view. A land, dotted with a few scant towers to represent fortresses, and a red line joining two in particular.

    “This is the route they’re using the transfer the prisoner,” Jayce mused, “does it mention who the prisoner is?”

    “It’s your assassin sir. Looks like they plan to move her very soon.”

    This was it. Their opportunity to get Rose back before she was gone too long. Before they could interrogate her. Not that they’d get any information from her form… but Jayce would rather his best-soldier remain in peak condition. He turned to Kalak.

    “Nephew, are you fit to lead this operation?”
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 18, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  16. Xannytoes
    Hmm, Dragon Eyes may need to be nerfed somewhat, but otherwise accepted :)
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 18, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  17. Xannytoes
    It was impossible to see, but there may have been a moment where worry would have crossed Xanatos Reaver's face. That the trans-dimensional crystal, the only form of communication with his heir, would be destroyed. That this ******ed quack was going to blow all his plans to smithereens. All because Jayce had forgotten to lock his room. His grand scheme, built upon a mountain of corpses and decades of work, reduced to nothingness...

    That was before Xanatos realized the airship had yet to depart. Ransak had jumped from the window to the ground, a distance which measured approximately 2ft.

    The Demi God struggled not to chuckle (he didn't do that anymore), as the thief faceplanted against the ground after attempting to utilize blackmail. With the humorous moment over, Xanatos waved his hand, binding Ransak to the ground. So long as the thief didn't have any sneaky tricks, the spell would keep him routed to the spot until the guards could take him into custody.

    "Surrender," Xanatos told the thief, "it is imperative that this crystal remains on board The Valiant. The fate of the universe depends on it... and you not receiving any more broken bones."​
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 11, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  18. Xannytoes
    The great form of Xanatos first turned to Kalak, before glaring at Ransak's comment. Was this swine daring to question his sexual exploits? He could count the number of bedroom dominations on one hand, and was about to tell Ransak as such... before realizing that probably wouldn't be his smartest decision.

    "You were not sired by me," Xanatos replied, "nor would I name you my son if you were. However, it would appear you've chanced upon the transdimensional communication crystal I gave to my son... along with my old Xanahammah. Perhaps you would care to return these items, before I unleash my true powers."

    He discretely signaled for the guards to beat up Ransak some more.

    [​IMG]

    "I have no concerns as to what Ashleigh thinks of me," Jayce replied to Theo, "she might be a spiteful *****, but she still must answer to my command. As must all Demi Gods. Speaking of which, I trust the others survived the battle?"

    He only glared at Sophia, preferring to stitch up his wounds himself rather than rely on her healing magic. It was only then he realized the tree was talking to him.

    "Ms. Spooks," Jayce nodded to her, "I am Jayce Reaver, Commander of the Order of the Hammer. It is a honor to meet you. As much as I would enjoy peace, it is an impossibility. The Shards of Hope oppose everything I stand for, and seek to dispose of my kind. There is no possibility of peace with such people."

    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 8, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  19. Xannytoes
    Champain, the lord of Champagne, appeared in the prison cell. He absorbed the fireball, moved Rose about an inch to the left and then rewinded time by about five seconds. He then disappeared in a cloud of mind-erasing dust.
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 6, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home
  20. Xannytoes
    Meanwhile, thousands of mil- Just kidding

    The button had been hit. The button that should never have been pressed. The button that Jayce had warned would result in a swift and painful beating were it ever to be pressed...

    And that moron of a thief had gone and done it.

    A low humming sound bounced off the walls, producing a very irritable noise. A few of the guards shook their heads in annoyance, as they kept Ransak pinned to the floor. The Captain, identified by his fancy cape, heavy pauldrons and hawk helmet, marched forward with a gun drawn.

    "Do you have any idea what you've done?" Le Capitano asked, shoving the gun in Ransak's face, "HUH!? CUZ I DON'T HAVE A BLOODY CLUE!"

    Boom. The humming subsided. The crystal in Ransak's hand exploded in a blinding flash of blue light, nearly vaporising the eyeballs of anyone present. The glow of the crystal flashbang remained for a few moments, before dissipating completely. The crystal shook about in Ransak's hand for a second, as if attempting to escape, before resting, and blasting a massive holographic projection in the second of the hallway.

    The figure was huge. Towering over all present. The guards paused, briefly staring at the giant's face, before cowering in fear.

    "It's him."

    "Him!"

    "Oh god, he's returned!"

    The figure was draped in a long cape, flowing from some sort of distant winds. His hands were gloved in the finest mail, clenching a weapon in a slightly better condition than the one Ransak had stole. Beneath a hood of cloth, a pair of piercing blue eyes surveyed the room. Taking in the sights. Searching for something. Eventually, the figure spoke.

    "You... are not my son," he said to Ransak, in a voice which shook the hallways.

    [​IMG]

    So many dead...

    Jayce, after arriving at The Valiant, had met immediately with their reinforcements. Three airships stocked with the finest warriors from the Northern Regions. Discussions with the commander had been brief and business-like, with two hundred soldiers to accompany The Valiant and a hundred to remain guarding Sky Tower, along with fifty of Jayce's own troops.

    And yet, despite replenishing their badly-depleted forces, driving The Shards away and even beating their toughest warriors, it felt like their greatest loss yet. Over a hundred men were dead, and a great deal of their own forces had been badly injured. Worse yet, Jayce's own assassin had been captured. Distantly, he heard Theodosia telling him to rest. He felt her hand briefly on his shoulder, before he shrugged her off and carried on without her, at a much faster pace.

    "Son of a *****..." he muttered, taking his anger out on the metal hull of the ship's corridors. Distantly, he could hear the sound of arguing and a dark voice which promised pain to those who had angered it. Probably some of the troops who'd drank a bit too much. He'd deal with it later. For now, he had someone to confront.

    "All forces, this is Commander Jayce, meet with me on the bridge," Jayce spoke into his headset, before bursting into the room where Ashleigh was stationed.

    "You have a lot to answer for cousin," the young Demi God hissed, before noting the guest she had with her, "And who might this be?"

    Meanwhile, thousands of miles away (this time for real)...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Awaken.

    They were three. Overlooking a vast expanse of nothingness. Beyond which, no one could say. Some claimed it to be their doom. Others attested there truly was nothing lurking beyond the veil. He, however, had a different word to describe it.

    Freedom.

    "Brother, are you certain this is the decision you wish to take?" one approached him, clad in a suit which no blade could ever hope to break.

    "He's the boss here, I say let him do it," another clad in loose fighting leathers.

    He merely turned, keeping his gaze to the gatekeeper of their reality. The shroud. Taunting and teasing them. For how much longer, he couldn't say. However, he had a feeling their release was approaching...

    Arkan was calling.
    Post by: Xannytoes, Mar 1, 2016 in forum: Retirement Home