The Dark Shards (IC)

[Ouearotion]

Etani smiled as he read Heinz's message. Finally I'll get some back up here. He thought to himself as he took note of Shade's power. "If I'm right that kid copies powers, the shadow kidnaps shadow powers, and the kid with the knife has some sort of enhance spew or something. Heinz and I could liberate their artifacts and keep them safe from the cult, or even better we could recruit them into the protectors." He whispered to himself as he continued his spying on the rouges. Etani then frowned as he saw two people, a man and a woman pass by the alley. "Damn, I have to sad those innocent people before those rouges kill them or something."

[Liriena]

"Thank you, Lucius." Serafim smiled warmly. "So...why are you here? Why did you join the Cult?"

"Hereditary position. Parents. You know the whole spiel. 'You're our child', blah blah blah, 'Mushussu is your master,' rah rah rah, and so on. When they died, it fell upon me to keep the Cult library up and running, in which I found books that led me to believe what I so do now. When the time comes to reveal the Master's grace, those who covet leadership positions for the power will be struck down and embarrassed. I think those who truly look forward to a better future under Mushussu will be the ones who gain the greatest importance. I look at the Cult for it's character, not it's optional career gains. But enough of my philosophy, I'm rambling, like my intrepid mind enjoys doing."

Serafim chuckled. "Don't worry. I enjoy your ramblings...I must say, though...Your words convince me...I...I like what you believe in...and I like you."

Serafim's smiled was bright again.

"Well...you already heard the story of my life...The organization seldom allowed me into their library. They worried I would develop 'dangerous' or 'disturbing ideas'...I bet they were just trying to keep me from realizing that what they were doing to me was immoral and illegal...But the one time I managed to sneak in...I stole Victor Hugo's Les Miserables...It has been my favorite book ever since."

He suddenly looked away, his eyes sad.

"When the organization found it, they burned it before my eyes...I never finished it."

[Carathon]

Heinz quickly came to the alley. He scanned the area for Etani, unable to find her. He then remembered the pictures, knowing they were from her view point. Looking towards were the pictures were taken from, he quickly spotted Etani. Using minor illusionary abilities to help him blend in abit, he quickly slithered to Etani's side.

" Three of them... you confirmed they all have artifacts, correct? "

[Aldares]

"Hereditary position. Parents. You know the whole spiel. 'You're our child', blah blah blah, 'Mushussu is your master,' rah rah rah, and so on. When they died, it fell upon me to keep the Cult library up and running, in which I found books that led me to believe what I so do now. When the time comes to reveal the Master's grace, those who covet leadership positions for the power will be struck down and embarrassed. I think those who truly look forward to a better future under Mushussu will be the ones who gain the greatest importance. I look at the Cult for it's character, not it's optional career gains. But enough of my philosophy, I'm rambling, like my intrepid mind enjoys doing."

Serafim chuckled. "Don't worry. I enjoy your ramblings...I must say, though...Your words convince me...I...I like what you believe in...and I like you."

Serafim's smiled was bright again.

"Well...you already heard the story of my life...The organization seldom allowed me into their library. They worried I would develop 'dangerous' or 'disturbing ideas'...I bet they were just trying to keep me from realizing that what they were doing to me was immoral and illegal...But the one time I managed to sneak in...I stole Victor Hugo's Les Miserables...It has been my favorite book ever since."

He suddenly looked away, his eyes sad.

"When the organization found it, they burned it before my eyes...I never finished it."

"In order to keep a populace under control, keep them hungry, ignorant, and give them another to blame it on. That has been the motto of many people, those people who start such destruction as the Holocaust and the October Revolution. While their ideas may have been great, and their charisma greater, tyranny will always find a way into the hearts and minds of the human people. Or, at least their leaders. Mushussu is a god, who cannot be corrupted. He is the only real hope for humanity." Lucius reached over and grabbed Serafim's hand.

"But you shall behold the grace that is literature once again. If I'm not mistaken, there happens to be a section of French classics in the library here. Shall I retrieve Les Mis?"

[Ouearotion]

Etani smiled as he watched Heinz, "Yeah all three of them, I think they are trying to bring both the protectors and the cult down." He said before turning his head towards the three rebels. "They haven't spotted me yet, but the one with the knife will just put his knife to your throat everytime he would get the chance." He said with a smile. "I say we liberate their artifacts so the cult wouldn't get their hands on them."

[Liriena]

Serafim chuckled. "Don't worry. I enjoy your ramblings...I must say, though...Your words convince me...I...I like what you believe in...and I like you."

Serafim's smiled was bright again.

"Well...you already heard the story of my life...The organization seldom allowed me into their library. They worried I would develop 'dangerous' or 'disturbing ideas'...I bet they were just trying to keep me from realizing that what they were doing to me was immoral and illegal...But the one time I managed to sneak in...I stole Victor Hugo's Les Miserables...It has been my favorite book ever since."

He suddenly looked away, his eyes sad.

"When the organization found it, they burned it before my eyes...I never finished it."

"In order to keep a populace under control, keep them hungry, ignorant, and give them another to blame it on. That has been the motto of many people, those people who start such destruction as the Holocaust and the October Revolution. While their ideas may have been great, and their charisma greater, tyranny will always find a way into the hearts and minds of the human people. Or, at least their leaders. Mushussu is a god, who cannot be corrupted. He is the only real hope for humanity." Lucius reached over and grabbed Serafim's hand.

"But you shall behold the grace that is literature once again. If I'm not mistaken, there happens to be a section of French classics in the library here. Shall I retrieve Les Mis?"

"Unless it's in Russian, I doubt I'll be able to read it..." Serafim told Lucius with a light blush forming on his cheeks. "The organization preferred to keep me bilingual. Russian and English only."

Serafim turned his eyes to the older man, his smile half-way between embarrased and childish.

"You might have to read it to me..." He said, his hand gripping Lucius'. "Thanks, Lucius. I don't think I can quite share your faith in Mushussu just yet...but by the way you put it, it sure sounds like something I would be willing to live and die for...maybe..."

[Carathon]

Heinz nodded " Indeed, the artifacts would be much better off in our hands, instead of in the palms of greedy, idiotic rogues. " He reached into his suit, sending out an gas mask seemingly out of no where, fastening it to his face. It stood to a stark contrast with his civilan garb and decorative longsword. " Attack when you feel the time is right. " He moved into the alley, over towards the independents.

" Hello, dear friends. "

[Boriem]

"Oh, why if it isn't a baboon in a gas mask. What is that? German nineteen-forties issue? I have a Soviet one." Henry stopped and pulled his own gas mask out from a side bag. before laying his left hand on his basket-hilt claymore. "Now what would a German be doing in Venice if he wasn't working for the Protectors or the Cult?" Henry continued, "Now then, I suppose you wouldn't show up in a gas mask just to say hello, correct?"

[Aldares]

"In order to keep a populace under control, keep them hungry, ignorant, and give them another to blame it on. That has been the motto of many people, those people who start such destruction as the Holocaust and the October Revolution. While their ideas may have been great, and their charisma greater, tyranny will always find a way into the hearts and minds of the human people. Or, at least their leaders. Mushussu is a god, who cannot be corrupted. He is the only real hope for humanity." Lucius reached over and grabbed Serafim's hand.

"But you shall behold the grace that is literature once again. If I'm not mistaken, there happens to be a section of French classics in the library here. Shall I retrieve Les Mis?"

"Unless it's in Russian, I doubt I'll be able to read it..." Serafim told Lucius with a light blush forming on his cheeks. "The organization preferred to keep me bilingual. Russian and English only."

Serafim turned his eyes to the older man, his smile half-way between embarrased and childish.

"You might have to read it to me..." He said, his hand gripping Lucius'. "Thanks, Lucius. I don't think I can quite share your faith in Mushussu just yet...but by the way you put it, it sure sounds like something I would be willing to live and die for...maybe..."

"Make that decision not, for you are young. I will read it to you, as it should be. If the Boss gets on me for spending time reading to a pathetic child, so be it. In the name of artistic progress, my name shall live on as the greatest! Reader! Of Les Miserables! Of all time! I shall return shortly. Stay put, and keep hydrated." Lucius nodded and smiled at the young man who he had found such a connection to, while standing to begin his walk to the library.

[Lucantis]

Heinz nodded " Indeed, the artifacts would be much better off in our hands, instead of in the palms of greedy, idiotic rogues. " He reached into his suit, sending out an gas mask seemingly out of no where, fastening it to his face. It stood to a stark contrast with his civilan garb and decorative longsword. " Attack when you feel the time is right. " He moved into the alley, over towards the independents.

" Hello, dear friends. "

Gas mask, I thought. I quickly moved back into the shadows and past the Protector. "We'll continue this later, Alex and Henry," I shouted. Then I was gone like wind.

---

Close one, I thought. But I can't have the Protectors stealing my artifact. I entered the nearby shop and went into the bathroom. I tried to get the artifact out of my body, but couldn't. That's when it hit me... That's why it disappeared the next morning, I thought.

[Ouearotion]

Etani chuckled as he heard this. "It seems that these routes are pretty paranoid too. They think that if someone says hi to them that they are instantly labeled either protector or cult." He whispered to himself before he continued his spying. "Though it doesn't seem like they are using their artifacts too irresponsibly so I won't attack for now."

[Liriena]

"Unless it's in Russian, I doubt I'll be able to read it..." Serafim told Lucius with a light blush forming on his cheeks. "The organization preferred to keep me bilingual. Russian and English only."

Serafim turned his eyes to the older man, his smile half-way between embarrased and childish.

"You might have to read it to me..." He said, his hand gripping Lucius'. "Thanks, Lucius. I don't think I can quite share your faith in Mushussu just yet...but by the way you put it, it sure sounds like something I would be willing to live and die for...maybe..."

"Make that decision not, for you are young. I will read it to you, as it should be. If the Boss gets on me for spending time reading to a pathetic child, so be it. In the name of artistic progress, my name shall live on as the greatest! Reader! Of Les Miserables! Of all time! I shall return shortly. Stay put, and keep hydrated." Lucius nodded and smiled at the young man who he had found such a connection to, while standing to begin his walk to the library.

"Thank you, Lucius..." Serafim said once more, his hand squeezing Lucius' slightly before letting go. As Lucius left, Serafim relaxed on his bed, no longer wanting to be freed from the straps that held him on that bed. He felt a little thirsty, and decided that, for once in his life, cold water sounded better than warm tea. He drank a single glass...then another...followed by another. He had never felt so thirsty...and hot. He felt hot. Too hot.

"Ugh...what is this feeling? I better ask Lucius to remove some of these covers when he gets back...I'm boiling."

[Carathon]

One of the rogues immediately fled. He let him, better for the rogues to be seperate rather then to band together and stop them from liberating their artifacts. He nodded to Etani and motioned to the rest of the rogues, of course this was masked by the shadows of the alley way and his power of illusions. To the other rogues, it only appeared he was twitching unreguarly.

Then he quickly disappeared out of the alley way, following the rogue who left into the shop, noticing the bathroom door closing. He entered the bathroom door, his hands held up passively. " Im not with the cult or protectors, im independent, kinda like you, right? " His accent was one of a teenage american, rather then an thirty two year old Prussian. As was the powers of his artifact. " Let's talk, alright? " His charisma seeped into the mind of the rogue, affecting him abit.

[Boriem]

"You know, I wonder..." Henry said before dealing a light blow to the German's shin.

Henry began to think about his next stop. If he could get the other two rogues to come with him his odds would improve greatly. Perhaps a good place to find that shard he needed would be the worst place on the planet.

Chernobyl.

[Aldares]

"Make that decision not, for you are young. I will read it to you, as it should be. If the Boss gets on me for spending time reading to a pathetic child, so be it. In the name of artistic progress, my name shall live on as the greatest! Reader! Of Les Miserables! Of all time! I shall return shortly. Stay put, and keep hydrated." Lucius nodded and smiled at the young man who he had found such a connection to, while standing to begin his walk to the library.

"Thank you, Lucius..." Serafim said once more, his hand squeezing Lucius' slightly before letting go. As Lucius left, Serafim relaxed on his bed, no longer wanting to be freed from the straps that held him on that bed. He felt a little thirsty, and decided that, for once in his life, cold water sounded better than warm tea. He drank a single glass...then another...followed by another. He had never felt so thirsty...and hot. He felt hot. Too hot.

"Ugh...what is this feeling? I better ask Lucius to remove some of these covers when he gets back...I'm boiling."

The Englishman returned with a golden-spiraled book that just spewed elegance from it's cover. He saw the empty glass nearby his friend and laughed, thinking back to his previous comment.

"I see you kept hydrated! Heh, I would have never taken that as a cue from myself to begin ingesting liquids, but that's just a personal qualm, I guess. Do you need any accommodations to be met before I begin? My French is a bit rusty, so if my grammar doesn't make sense, please notify me, before I go on a tangent."

[Liriena]

The Englishman returned with a golden-spiraled book that just spewed elegance from it's cover. He saw the empty glass nearby his friend and laughed, thinking back to his previous comment.

"I see you kept hydrated! Heh, I would have never taken that as a cue from myself to begin ingesting liquids, but that's just a personal qualm, I guess. Do you need any accommodations to be met before I begin? My French is a bit rusty, so if my grammar doesn't make sense, please notify me, before I go on a tangent."

Serafim giggled girly. "I'm alright, Lucius...Just a bit hot...Would you mind getting rid of some of the covers? I feel like I've been drinking entire gallons of vodka...Not a nice feeling."

[Aldares]

The Englishman returned with a golden-spiraled book that just spewed elegance from it's cover. He saw the empty glass nearby his friend and laughed, thinking back to his previous comment.

"I see you kept hydrated! Heh, I would have never taken that as a cue from myself to begin ingesting liquids, but that's just a personal qualm, I guess. Do you need any accommodations to be met before I begin? My French is a bit rusty, so if my grammar doesn't make sense, please notify me, before I go on a tangent."

Serafim giggled girly. "I'm alright, Lucius...Just a bit hot...Would you mind getting rid of some of the covers? I feel like I've been drinking entire gallons of vodka...Not a nice feeling."

"I've never before had the displeasure of having that feeling. Perhaps one too many pints at the pub, but surely not something as skin-boilingly destructive to my internal organs, specifically my liver." Lucius removed one layer of cover, then a second, leaving only a sheet over the gleeful boyish-man.

"Well, without further ado, Les Miserables.. Ahem..." And with that, Lucius began his best rendition of a dramatic reading he could, stopping every once in a while to catch his breath or add effect to his dialogue.

[Carathon]

Well, stalking the fleeing rogue was the plan atleast. That was interrupted when one rogue kicked him in the shin, rather lightly just to stop his advance. He turned around, raising his hands passively and using the same accent as he planed to use on the other rogue. " Whoa man, im not an Protector alright? Im being... hunted by them. Im just trying to find some more of my own kind. " He sounded desperate and his charisma influenced it's believablity greatly.

OOC: With my power of unbelievable charisma and illusions, I believe I can change my accent abit.

[Liriena]

"I've never before had the displeasure of having that feeling. Perhaps one too many pints at the pub, but surely not something as skin-boilingly destructive to my internal organs, specifically my liver." Lucius removed one layer of cover, then a second, leaving only a sheet over the gleeful boyish-man.

"Well, without further ado, Les Miserables.. Ahem..." And with that, Lucius began his best rendition of a dramatic reading he could, stopping every once in a while to catch his breath or add effect to his dialogue.

Serafim had always loved Les Miserables, but Lucius' reading of it had made it even better for him. At times, he found himself barely containing laughs when the British man's voice became downright ridiculous, while other times he just smiled with warmth, letting his mind become lost in the sound of Lucius' voice and the universe of expressions that the man's face provided him.

After an entire hour of reading, Serafim finally found the strength to stop the man and call for a "tea break". He would never admit it...but Serafim's stomach was growling with hunger.

[Boriem]

"Oh really? Tell me your power then. It's for a, uh, project." Henry said, "Oh, and if you'd please, show it to me as well."

Henry was wary about this, but he had willpower better than most people. Of course, if an idea started to latch onto his mind he could always steal the power and neutralize the artifact. He could feel the effects of the Stalin's Knife begin to wear off as well, so he hoped this confrontation would be quick and easy.

[Carathon]

"Oh really? Tell me your power then. It's for a, uh, project." Henry said, "Oh, and if you'd please, show it to me as well."

Henry was wary about this, but he had willpower better than most people. Of course, if an idea started to latch onto his mind he could always steal the power and neutralize the artifact. He could feel the effects of the Stalin's Knife begin to wear off as well, so he hoped this confrontation would be quick and easy.

Heinz faked suspicion backing away, slowly putting a hand on his sword. " No way, im not telling you my powers you cultist scum! " he yelled, it was rather convincing since even without his power he was a good liar.

[Aldares]

"I've never before had the displeasure of having that feeling. Perhaps one too many pints at the pub, but surely not something as skin-boilingly destructive to my internal organs, specifically my liver." Lucius removed one layer of cover, then a second, leaving only a sheet over the gleeful boyish-man.

"Well, without further ado, Les Miserables.. Ahem..." And with that, Lucius began his best rendition of a dramatic reading he could, stopping every once in a while to catch his breath or add effect to his dialogue.

Serafim had always loved Les Miserables, but Lucius' reading of it had made it even better for him. At times, he found himself barely containing laughs when the British man's voice became downright ridiculous, while other times he just smiled with warmth, letting his mind become lost in the sound of Lucius' voice and the universe of expressions that the man's face provided him.

After an entire hour of reading, Serafim finally found the strength to stop the man and call for a "tea break". He would never admit it...but Serafim's stomach was growling with hunger.

"Oh, yes, of course. My voice is tired, anyway. Of the three things a man growing up in London learns to do well, one is making tea. The other two include a homeless child and angry Scotsmen, so I don't think that information would be of much use to me now." Lucius called for a lackey, who showed up quickly with a tray containing a small bread-cake thing and two cups of tea, slightly warm.

[Boriem]

"Oh really? Tell me your power then. It's for a, uh, project." Henry said, "Oh, and if you'd please, show it to me as well."

Henry was wary about this, but he had willpower better than most people. Of course, if an idea started to latch onto his mind he could always steal the power and neutralize the artifact. He could feel the effects of the Stalin's Knife begin to wear off as well, so he hoped this confrontation would be quick and easy.

Heinz faked suspicion backing away, slowly putting a hand on his sword. " No way, im not telling you my powers you cultist scum! " he yelled, it was rather convincing since even without his power he was a good liar.

"Well then, run off. We aren't looking for trouble. And we especially aren't looking for another rogue. I only believe in the three-man team." Henry said, clutching his folded-up spear in one hand and his sword's hilt in the other. "Oh yes, just FYI, here's a little something to give to your "enemies"." Henry handed him a note of ones and zeros:

010101000110100001100101001000000110100001101111011101010111001101100101001000000110111101100110001000000110100001101111011100100111001001101111011100100111001100100000011010010111001100100000011010010110111000100000011101000110100001100101001000000110100001100001011011000110110001110111011000010111100100101110

[Ouearotion]

Etani smiled as he watched Henry and Heinz. "I guess he must know that he is a protector, well he should've just left the gas mask in London." He whispered to himself as he continued watching the two. He then unsheathed his gunblade and began cleaning it with a cloth. "I would hate to use this, but rouges usually never give up their artifacts easily." he said before going into stage two and climbing the building left of the alley.

[Liriena]

"Oh, yes, of course. My voice is tired, anyway. Of the three things a man growing up in London learns to do well, one is making tea. The other two include a homeless child and angry Scotsmen, so I don't think that information would be of much use to me now." Lucius called for a lackey, who showed up quickly with a tray containing a small bread-cake thing and two cups of tea, slightly warm.

"I should marry you..." Serafim said with a joking smirk as he relished his tea and cake, somehow managing to preserve some manners as he ate and drank like it was the last tea and cake on the face of the Earth. "It sure would make Francesca forgiving me easier...Not to mention it'd give you an excuse to read to me and feed me."

He set his cup down after drinking the last drop of his third serving.

"Back when I first joined the Cult, it was in Moscow...That Cell was heavily infiltrated...which was both a good thing and a horrible tragedy. Good, because it meant that if my cover got blown, it didn't matter. And a tragedy because, just like back in St. Petersburg, I had little to no freedom...and everyone treated me like a pet dog...They didn't give me tea or cake. Mostly just warm water with some leaves from some random plant and old bread."