Golden Sight of the Saints [Plot]

[AmberVael]

Rafael finds himself outside of a small, white castle erected somewhere in the layers of the abyss.
Its pretty quiet, and the area seems to have been long inhabited by the celestials.

[Kyrian]

Rafael looks around, before walking towards the castle doors.

[AmberVael]

Or rather, the castle gate.
For what self-respecting castle doesn't have nice thick walls?
That being said, they certainly aren't very tall or wide walls. Its pretty small.
He is hailed by a sentry atop the walls.
State your buisness and name, stranger.

[Kyrian]

Rafael. I need to speak to the celestial in charge.

[AmberVael]

Do you have a Mark?

[Kyrian]

A mark? Rafael would look confused, but determination keeps his face straight.

[AmberVael]

Or any other sort of pass into the castle.

[Kyrian]

Does the fact that this mission basically decides whether the woman I love lives or dies?

[AmberVael]

What proof do you have of this?
The sentry narrows his eyes down at Rafael, while a fellow sentry starts moving down off the wall.

[Kyrian]

Rafael's shades appear, covering the pain in his eyes, the pain the rest of his face refuses to betray. None.....except my word.

[AmberVael]

The sentry frowns, and his fellow reappears.
Said fellow seems to be opening the smaller side door in the gate.
You will be escorted under heavy guard to our commander.

[Kyrian]

Fine. Rafael steps inside and waits to be escorted.

[AmberVael]

No less than ten celestial guards surround Rafael, four at a distance (two in front, two in back) and six surrounding him in a rectangular pattern.
The two next to him do a quick weapon search.

[Kyrian]

The only weapons they find are the three on him. Gram and Ruination strapped to his back, and the knife strapped to his thigh.

[AmberVael]

They attempt to relieve him of said weaponry.

[Kyrian]

He glares through the shades at any that dare try to touch the weapons.

I come here, meaning no harm, looking for Tyrelus' help to save the woman I love.

[AmberVael]

And we're protecting our commander.
We've had assassination attempts before. It is only your plea that has gotten you in.
Do you want to keep going without your weapons or go back with them?

[Kyrian]

Rafael's upper lip curls up in a snarl as both massive blades drop from his back and in a flash of movement, he flips the knife out, and offers it handle first to a guard.

[AmberVael]

((Assuming Rafael doesn't do anything... if he does, just interrupt any part of this post))

The guard takes the knife, while his fellow picks up the swords. They then escort him to the main building.
Once they get inside, the two guards in front stay near the doors, and they keep going. They then get to two large doors, which one of the guards moves towards.

[Kyrian]

Rafael follows.

[AmberVael]

The guard opens the doors, and six of the guards move inside, keeping Rafael in their midst.
The two guards who remain outside happen to be the ones with Rafael's weapons.

The commander, who is at a main table discussing something with another officer, looks up, rather confused.
Who is this? A prisoner?

[Kyrian]

Hardly. I need to speak to Tyrelus.

[AmberVael]

The commander subconciously puts his hand over the golden badge he is wearing, and his guards shift uneasily.
I'm afraid thats really out of the question...

[Kyrian]

The woman I love has her life on the line! Rafael growls.

[AmberVael]

And we would be putting more than one life on the line by just unquestioningly allowing you access to Tyrelus!

[Kyrian]

I mean no harm. Only Tyrelus can help me.

[AmberVael]

All we have is your word.
How can Tyrelus help you? How do we know that he is all that can help?

[Kyrian]

Unless you can point me in the direction of another crystal ball...

[AmberVael]

The commander leaps to his feet.
Absolutely not!
That scrying device is all that is winning us this war, and that is saving far more lives than just one.

[Kyrian]

In turn, I'm willing to provide your army with weaponry capable of winning the war.

[AmberVael]

Winning the war and winning the war with fewer casualities are two different things.
I've had enough of this. Take him away.

[Kyrian]

What are you fighting, and where's the next attack?

[AmberVael]

The guards take Rafael's arms and begins to lead him out the doors.

[Kyrian]

The spear Hiko turned over to him meshes and fills in Rafael's hand, and he spins it to knock one of the guards away from him, but not to deal damage.

[Rebonack]

((That isn't going to turn out well for him >.>

Or them.

We'll see.))

[AmberVael]

The guard crashes into the wall and is mometarily stunned.
There is a ringing sound as five guards, the commander, and the officer draw their swords as one.
Stand down and the punishment you receive will be lighter.

[Kyrian]

I've had a really bad evening...don't push me. The spear vanishes, being replaced by Gram. Oh, and the guy outside the room holding Gram, he's still holding it.

[AmberVael]

The five guards surrounding Rafael look between each other, then the two behind him try and strike him down from behind with the flat of their swords.

[Kyrian]

Rafael growls as one hits, forcing him to take a step forward. He swings Gram in a circle, aiming only to make all five guards go from wielding whatever type swords they are, to wielding metal stumps with handles.

[AmberVael]

Luckily, the celestials don't have that tight of a grip on their swords, otherwise their wrists would be broken too.
However, it doesn't prevent Gram from disarming one of them, and pretty much rendering two more into extremely notched and bent weapons.
One goes to retrieve his sword, while the two behind him attack again. The other two (with messed up swords) back off.

[Kyrian]

Rafael takes the hits on his shoulders, forcing him to stumble forward again.. He turns and growls. I don't want to hurt any of you!

[AmberVael]

Then stand down!

[Kyrian]

Why, so you'll allow the woman I love to die!? Rafael's determined attitude breaks, and several tears push past his eyes and shades, and roll down his cheeks.

[AmberVael]

I fail to see how a crystal ball will save your love.
Furthermore, keeping the crystal as it is is the greatest good.

[Kyrian]

Rafael throws Gram to the ground, falling to his knees as his composure breaks. Because...she won't let me see her again unless I have the crystal ball...I don't want to kill innocents, but I don't want her to die.....

[AmberVael]

Their methods are weak and ineffective.
I am the goddess of Changing Fate, Rafael. If I possess the crystal, far more lives will be spared and saved.
Don't let their moral posturing dissuade you.

The commander sighs.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Two guards move forward to take Rafael's arms.

[Kyrian]

Rafael rolls forward, standing up with Gram back in hand. No. If the goddess of Changing Fate possesses this crystal, many more lives will be spared and saved. More than you all are saving now.

[AmberVael]

What the hell?
The commander moves back.
Guards!
The five run towards him, trying to tackle him.

[Kyrian]

With a fierce battle cry, Rafael swings the sword in a circle, meaning to strike all five with the flat of the blade.

[AmberVael]

Rafael knocks two out cold, dislocates one's jaw and sends him flying, knocks the other off his feet, and the fifth dodges.
The commander lunges in with his sword, trying to disable Rafael's arm by severing the muscle.

[Kyrian]

Rafael moves his arm, but still loses a chunk of skin. He swings the flat of the blade at the commander's head.

[AmberVael]

The commander ducks under the blow while one guard gets to his feet and the other tries to trip up Rafael.

[Kyrian]

Rafael trips, and swings the flat of the blade for the guard's legs.

Any bright suggestions?

[AmberVael]

Steal the badge and run?
The guard falls to the ground with Rafael as the commander moves over and tries to get his sword to Rafael's throat.

[Kyrian]

Rafael tries something he's only done once before, as he rolls back from the commander and gets up. He tries to force the commander's sword to empty out into a 3d mesh and vanish. At the same time, he swings the flat of Gram's blade at the commander's side.

[AmberVael]

The commander's sword slowly changes to a mesh, and while it doesn't empty just yet, its pretty much useless as it is.
He uses it to block Rafael's attack and it shatters and fades away.
One of the other guards gets behind Rafael and tries to gete an choke hold.

[Kyrian]

FINE! We'll play your games! As the guard grabs him, spikes shoot out of Rafael's back, aiming for the man's arms, legs, and chest.

[AmberVael]

The celestial screams and falls away, while his fellow swipes his sword at Rafael.
The commander moves back and draws a dagger as the doors open and the two guards from outside come in.

[Kyrian]

As the two guards are let in, all of Rafael's original weaponry vanishes. Rafael takes a cut in his side, and whips the flat of the blade against his attacker's face. STAND DOWN.

[AmberVael]

The guard crumples, and the two that came in hesitate as they stand with ready swords.
The commander keeps backing off.

[Kyrian]

The spikes recede into nothing and Rafael sheathes Gram on his back. He starts towards the commander. Give me the damned badge.

[AmberVael]

Why, so you can kill Tyrelus to get it?
The commander holds the dagger out in front of him.

[Kyrian]

I only wish to talk to him, work out something. Rafael steps up closer, and grabs for the commander's wrist, turning it if he gets it to force the commander to release the dagger.

[AmberVael]

The commander slashes at Rafael's hand with the dagger.
I'm warning you...

[Kyrian]

...and I'm through warning you. Hand it over. Rafael rapidly withdraws his hand before it gets cut.

[AmberVael]

No. I won't.
The commander takes off his badge and holds it tight in his hand.

[Kyrian]

Rafael snarls as he brings his foot up to the commander's chest at the same time he reaches for the wrist of the hand holding the badge.

[AmberVael]

The commander slashes at Rafael and backs against a wall.

[Kyrian]

The slash cuts Rafael's left cheek. He snarls again and draws Gram, swinging to take the hand with the dagger.

[AmberVael]

The dagger drains at Rafael's strength as it hits him, but then clatters to the ground as it is hit out of the commander's hand.

[Kyrian]

GIVE ME THE DAMNED BADGE! Rafael snarls.

[AmberVael]

The commander's hand clenches tighter.
I'll destroy it first.

[Kyrian]

Then may the gods forgive me. Rafael swings the gram at the wrist of the hand holding the badge.

[AmberVael]

...and the commander's hand is cut clean off.
There is screaming and blood. And a hand on the ground.

[Kyrian]

I'm sorry...she means more to me than anything. Not that I trust you to even be listening to well, with all the screaming... Rafael looks sincerely pained as he collects the badge. Aesa, bring me back.

[AmberVael]

Rafael vanishes in a flash.

[Kyrian]

Rafael appears, and looks around.

[AmberVael]

Rafael finds himself in a place that looks oddly similar to Aesa's realm. There are gentle, grassy plains, then a tall hill with a white tower atop of it.

[Kyrian]

As he approaches the tower, all his weapons vanish.

[AmberVael]

As he gets closer, he becomes aware of a shimmering, almost invisible wall that surrounds the tower with a very large radius.

[Kyrian]

Rafael approaches said wall.

[AmberVael]

The wall shimmers, obviously magical, but it doesn't appear dangerous.

[Kyrian]

Rafael reaches out to it with his left hand, seeing what the reaction is.

[AmberVael]

The wall lets out an audible ringing sound and sends out a light, stunning pulse.

[Kyrian]

Rafael gives a small scowl, and steps through.

[AmberVael]

The wall becomes solid as an angelic guard appears.
Who goes there?

[Kyrian]

Rafael. Take me to Tyrelus.

[AmberVael]

What buisness do you have?

[Kyrian]

Something to be discussed between me, and him.

((Which side of the wall is Rafe on?))

[AmberVael]

((The wall is solid, so going through might be difficult))

On whose authority do you come?

[Kyrian]

Aesa...on whose authority is it that I come?

[AmberVael]

If you can believably stall him for just one second I'll get you a perfect name...

[Kyrian]

Ok...I can try. Rafael shows the badge. Look, I really need to speak to him.

[AmberVael]

I can't tell whose badge that is from here.
The celestial looks closer, but its obvious he is having a hard time.

Captain Avrael. Tell him you have news of Captain Avrael.
Avrael is currently deep in an enemy warzone, and has been cut off from them, so...

[Kyrian]

Captain Avrael. He's deep in an enemy warzone and has been cut off.

[AmberVael]

He's still alive?
There is an audible hum as something about the wall changes and seems less tangible.
I'll escort you directly to Tyrelus. How far have you traveled?

[Kyrian]

Rafael attempts to step through. Far enough.

[AmberVael]

Rafael hears a hum as it snaps back "shut" behind him.
The celestial begins walking quickly towards the tower.

[Kyrian]

Rafael quickly follows behind him.

[AmberVael]

The celestial gets to the doorway, and two more celestials move out towards the wall. He leads Rafael quickly up towards the top of the tower.

[Kyrian]

Rafael follows wordlessly.

[AmberVael]

He opens a door, and there is a celestial dressed in white robes in the center of the room, staring into a small golden orb.
What news do you bear?

[Kyrian]

Rafael looks to the celestial that led him here. Lord Tyrelus, if you don't mind, I'd like to keep this private.

[AmberVael]

Tyrelus frowns, but sends the first celestial outside, how shuts the door behind him.

[Kyrian]

Rafael turns back to Tyrelus. Avrael is in deep shiite, but I come with other news.

[AmberVael]

And what is that?
Tyrelus seems slightly suspicious.

[Kyrian]

What do you know of the goddess of Changing Fate?

[AmberVael]

I've heard things about her. She aided us against the fiends, but that was of her own initiative...

[Kyrian]

Well, she's willing to aid again.

[AmberVael]

Really now? And why come to me with this information?

[Kyrian]

Because there is a small price. Both for you, and me.

[AmberVael]

What is that price?

[Kyrian]

For me, it's the woman I love. For you?... Rafael points at the golden orb.

[AmberVael]

I don't think her questionable aid is worth this cost.
Why didn't she come herself?

[Kyrian]

Because that's my price. If I don't get that, the woman I love will die. She assured me that she could win this, with less casualties than are already being suffered.

[AmberVael]

How do I know? What proof do you have? What can assure me of this bargain?

[Kyrian]

Aesa? Just a moment.

[AmberVael]

Just grab the damn thing and go.

[Kyrian]

Fine, let's see how fast you can react... Rafael dives forward with his vampiric speed and tries to touch the orb. If he can get his hand on it, Now!

[AmberVael]

Rafael barely gets a finger on it, and he instantly vanishes with it in his grasp.