KoL

Site Server Issues - 22nd Jan

@Hank

Like I said before, a simple preventive maintenance every now and then would avoid this kind of headache from happening so frequently. That can't be asking too much, can it? I know that issues can happen even in the most well kept systems, but the Guild had been slowing down for weeks before this recent "crash".

Anyway, asking us to wait for God knows how much is the only thing you can do. I understand that, yet it grew old long ago.

I'll do as I said on my post above because the Guild isn't really worthy of my support at the moment. I like your site but it's not the most well handled thing in the world, even for a hobby level project.

Site Server Issues - 22nd Jan

Are we going to have this site fixed within a reasonable time frame, or not? This is starting to become a bad joke already.

Actually, joke doesn't really cut it, for the situation to reach the point it has, many, many things had go wrong and none of them can be attribute to nothing but neglect: A simple preventive maintenance every now and then would have avoided this, in the worst case scenario a back up of the site should exist for easy restoration, having more than a single person (who clearly doesn't care) be able to do the necessary repairs (like an actual "co-admin" should be able to do) and so on and so forth; all basic measure that could avoid this pain in the ass and wouldn't take enough time/effort to justify the "it's just a hobby for Mahz so he's not expected to treat it much seriously" argument that people love to fire around whenever we have this kind of site-wide problem.

Just to be sure, I know it's a hobby to him and all of us have RL to take care of, this is no defense in this case of extreme neglect, though, just cop out to avoid the responsibility he assumed when he made the site public. I respect it if you say that he's too busy to fix the site but: Why not take a look every now and then just to see if everything is alright? Why not hand the access to someone else that can do the maintenance? Or, if all else fails, why not simply be sincere and say that he can't fix the problem and either rollback to a stable version (even at the cost of losing posts), or admit that the site is too much for him to handle at the moment?

I mean, the moment you decided to make the site public, you assumed at least an inkling of responsibility over it, right?

I would prefer to not quit this site, but I'm not seeing many options other than "bearing with you" for an indeterminate amount of time. For the time being, I'll enable my adblock here once again. I didn't use it on the Guild out of respect, but the site is not deserving it for a very long time now.

The War of the Three: Exodus

@Gardevoiran

As Lone said.

Discipline: Hide in the Fairytale

@Poi

No worries. Considering how much we have to struggle just to navigate the Guild these days, delays are to be expected.

The War of the Three: Exodus

VICTOIRE BORDEAUX, THE BLOOD COUNTESS

---

The aroma of her prized Demon Roses and the shrieking sounds of a swarm of shadow bats preceded Victoire's arrival at bowels of Hell. After her latest attempts at finding entertainment failed, the Blood Countess was beginning to wonder if eternal boredom would be the punishment for whatever sin she might have committed. "'Tis on times like this that I wonder if it would be better if I was like my parents," she thought, before heaving a wistful sigh as she walked through the corridors leading to the Throne Room.

Victoire's objective was simple. She came here to report one of her findings that might hold a special value for the forces of Hell in the future. Even though she fully expected that no one would pay heed to her words, it was still better to play her role straight. "After I'm done reporting, I will likely go there on my own, anyway. The Bloodstone Cave and the Crystal Forest, uh? 'Tis not like that power suits anyone but one of true nobility, after all," Victoire mused out loud as she came upon a certain trio blocking the most of the passage.

The look of disdain was clear in Victoire's eyes as she felt the scent of dirty blood and herbicides wafting from them as she stood there waiting for the trio to get out of the way.

DIANA, THE CLAW OF HEAVENS

---

Back in the Kingdom of Heaven, Diana walked the down corridors of Celestia after coming back from her trip with Suparna. It was an awesome idea to take a few days to explore the world and have some wild adventures. Diana would certainly be glad to it again in the future. In fact, the dragon girl thought about the wild possibility of going on such trips with certain others but readily dismissed it, knowing that it wouldn't end too well.

Not in the Nexus, at least.

"Anyway, I didn't think that time would fly by this fast. I mean, Valentines is right around the corner, if I don't get 'that' done soon, I'll miss my only chance," Diana said to herself as she made her way to one of a 'shop'; she still needed to get some items to prepare for the upcoming festivities but didn't have much time to acquire them. On her way there, Diana couldn't help but feel the smell of sweets coming from the direction of the Imperator's throne room and wonder if someone else had the same idea as she did.

Love and War are two sides of the same coin, after all.

EOS, SUPREME QUEEN OF THE MACHINA OF MANKIND

---

The guards that were summarily dismissed by Henry and Karizawa's Assistant stopped dead on their tracks a moment after Henry passed by their side. It wasn't as much fault of his demonic aura, but more of a bit of information that all Machina should know by now, but — as always — was dismissed by TEP's personnel. Before any of them could mention it, a hologram of no one other than the Supreme Queen manifested itself in the hangar.

"Henry, take back your items or I will have to confiscate them," Eos said, addressing the Demon directly. "All of you should know by now that the use of artifacts, spells, technology, and any other source of power from non-sanctioned origins is forbidden. I cannot overlook the dangers that the Angels and the Demons pose to my Children. I may have given the benefit of doubt both to you and to TEP as a whole, but both are still on probation. I believe I told you that before, did I not?"

"This will be the second warning I issue to both of you; please, do not make me do it a third time," Despite her rebuking words, Eos didn't change her usual tone or behaved in any particularly expressive way. She was almost as emotionless and robotic as ever, except for a small tinge of warmth in her speech. In that moment, she was like a mother trying to avoid having to scold her children any harsher. Whether the plea would be acquiesced or not was up to those who heard.

HOHENHEIM, THE ALCHEMIST OF GENESIS

---

"My my, my Dear Titanica, you seem to have misunderstood the instructions just a little bit, right?" Hohenheim's voice came out of thin air to greet Titanica. Whether the derisive tone was meant to mock or was a legitimate expression of grief, only the Alchemist knew. What was certain is that second later, Titanica would find herself teleported to smallish blond's bedchamber.

The lizard woman would land into a rather soft pile of cushions, stuffed with the best of feathers, laying right beside the fireplace, on the opposite wall of Hohenheim's way-too-large-for-her-size bed.

It wouldn't take long for Hohenheim's pajama-clad figure to emerge from the sea of covers, throwing a sideways look at Titanica. "I guess that I cannot fault you forgetting it when I said that you should come here. You had more... important things in your head, right?" the Alchemist said before a long yawn escaped her throat. "Anyway, give me those materials and let's get done with this once and for all. Once I'm certain that you won't try to stab me in the back, I can give you the information that you seek," she added, extending a lazy hand towards Titanica, right after sluggishly making her way to a writing desk that laid close to a window which had a pretty nice view of the roiling chaos of the Nexus' boundaries — as well as an occasional glimpse of that which holds all of this dimension together.

KoL's Test Thread

VICTOIRE BORDEAUX, THE BLOOD COUNTESS

---

It always has been clear to Victoire that the rulership of Hell confused education and manners with groveling and begging. She didn't need to be a genius to see that, nor did she need to address it in any way. It wasn't hard to see who was the superior specimen between her and the other 'subjects' that dotted the Throne Room, after all.

"I bring news of a way for Hell to settle the score not only with those conceited lapdogs of Celestia but also with betrayers like Avaritia," Victoire answered Lucille's question before going silent, waiting for Gelgath to finish his childish ramblings. "During one of my excursions, I have found a secret location within one of the sites that are more likely to hold a major skirmish in the near future. I believe that, with proper preparation, Hell could harness its power to Their great advantage. The location in question is named Bloodstone Cave, according to some old manuscripts, laying deep within the Crystal Forest. The Angels may have a special interest in that location thanks to their alignment, nevertheless, I believe 'tis the Machina who would benefit the most from the focusing powers of the forest's unique crystals which is why hell can use them to craft an even more insidious ploy to achieve much greater heights in the future."

Victoire made a short pause to allow time for the information to sink. A vicious grin appeared on her face as she finished her declaration with a final remark, "Summarizing: With proper planning, I believe that Hell can derive a significant victory in trade of a minuscule defeat. A hammer blow of the likes that the Nexus has never seen before."

DIANA, THE CLAW OF HEAVENS

---

Diana looked up once the newcomer noticed her presence. The dragon girl smiled at the sudden mention and finished her apple in a single bite before replying, "Oh please, don't mind me. I'm Diana, your friendly neighborhood Thief; curious about why someone I've never seen around is here playing music in such an isolated place instead of doing a million other things they could be doing. I mean, it's been a while since I last saw someone doing that, y'know?"

Diana sighed wistfully, Celestia wasn't the same it used to be. It felt kind of hollow for some time—even people like Omega disappeared without saying even so much as a goodbye. However, if this unknown person was any indication, things may be taking a turn for the better.

The rogue propped herself precariously against a parapet using her tail for balance and craned her neck upwards to get a better look of whoever she was talking to before asking, "Either way, what about you? Like I said, I haven't seen you around before and I know pretty much everyone who hangs around the palace on a daily basis, so I'll assume that you are a newcomer. Am I right, or not? Also, it looks like your number has attracted more spectators. If you are going to charge something for it—give me a discount, please?" Diana pointed out to a group of other curious Angel kids and some older ones who seemed as attracted by the impromptu performance as she did, gathering around the once empty courtyard.

EOS, SUPREME QUEEN OF THE MACHINA OF MANKIND

---

The automated hologram sent by the Supreme Queen to address the matters at TEP—once again— fulfilled her obligations and dissipated without saying any other superfluous words. TEP was a problem that Eos could not ignore for much longer. Even if she had an obligation of protecting mankind, she couldn't let hem run amok with subjects such as vassal research and association with beings or items of non-Machina origins. It could spell ruin for Hyperion if Karizawa continued to poke the hornet's nest unchecked. Not to say anything of the way he seemed to treat that poor kid like a disposable commodity. Thankfully there was someone that Eos could appeal to.

While Eos could contact said person at any given moment, visiting her most usual dwelling here in the Nexus, served a dual purpose. With that thought in mind, the Supreme Queen stepped out of her transport and knocked on the door of Bastion's apartment before calling, "Bastion, Roma, are you at home? I would like to ask you something. Also, I have brought a present." Eos could easily have used her powers and connections to verify whether they were home or not and used holograms but not now, not anymore.

Eos had to change if she wanted the Machina and the world to move on, Roma and Bastion remembered her of that with is why she was here right now, waiting for them just like in the old times when they first knew one another. The only difference was the doll she had in her arms and the looks that her 'incognito body' was getting from people in the neighborhood that Bastion chose to live in.

HOHENHEIM, THE ALCHEMIST OF GENESIS

---

Hohenheim's grin didn't leave her face even for a single moment as she stashed the contract away in her desk and scratched the back of her head lazily. The brute lizard was never going to change, was she? Apparently, Titanica still can't remember the most important part of their deal, can she?

"Very well, we can certainly begin at this very moment, my dear Titanica," Hohenheim said as she stepped away from her writing desk to the dresser and began to comb her hair as nonchalantly as if she were alone in her room. "However, there's one small caveat: I cannot offer my assistance to you if you do not tell me what is it that you are looking for, can I?" The Alchemist remarked as she tried a few different hairstyles before deciding that letting her hair loose like always would be the best choice.

CIEL, THE STARGAZER

---

"Harley!" Ciel exclaimed in a surprised tone as soon as the Monochrome Girl manifested herself in the Stargazer's home. To say that she wasn't expecting this would be a lie. Even so, Ciel was so glad that she forgot about Amaterasu and Saef for a moment. "Do you want some tea? I don't know if you still like this flavor but I can have Aquila get you anything else you may wish for," she said excitedly in the moment before Harley's comments and her guests reply snapped her attention back to reality.

Amaterasu and Saef's reaction was deeply unexpected to Ciel. Did no one know about the Vassals; either their roles or their personal selves? Especially beings coming from the Heavens, considering how many of the Court's Vassals make that palace their residence in the Nexus, including Harley. That was certainly baffling. But not as baffling as the possibility of their ignorance trigger Harley's temper which could have some really... unsavory consequences for them.

"I'm sorry, Harley, I was just having a chat with a couple of unexpected guests. It seems like they are not very aware of the reality of the Nexus, or even of You," Ciel said, referring not only to Harley but to the other Vassals as a whole, "I understand that it must be why you are here. I didn't have any intention of telling more than I'm allowed to, but we can't let them face the challenges before them blindly... right?"

"Also, Amaterasu, my dear, that's a long story. I'll tell all of it to you later if Harley is alright with it. For the time being, it suffices to say that you aren't really like 'her'. There's a difference between not knowing where to look for your feeling and being completely Void," Ciel said, answering Amaterasu's question, before addressing both her and Saef again, "Either way, if it's possible for the two of you; could you treat Harley less warily? Not only is she someone very important for me, but also the leader of the Vassals—beings like Iona and Juno— who commands utmost respect from all those in the upper Echelons of Existence. So, even if it's just as a payback for my hospitality: Could you please treat her well?"

The War of the Three: Exodus

Weekend bump.

The War of the Three: Exodus

CIEL, THE STARGAZER

---

"Once again? Why is it that it has to be this way?" Ciel said to herself right after she finished the last stroke of her latest star chart. The platinum-haired girl's eyes betrayed clear concern as she stepped away from her observatory's main telescope.

Ciel took an aimless walk through her home — her gilded, starlit cage. Before she realized, she had made her way to the luxurious indoor bathing pool. The waters sparkled under the starlight that traversed the engraved crystal panels of the bathing room's external walls and ceiling. "I suppose that it's only natural that my feet would bring me here when I'm distressed. I guess that, in the end, I'm really just a small goldfish. Even if I can see the whole ocean at once, trying to swim against fate's tide is impossible for someone such as myself." Ciel's voice carried a heavy self-deprecating tone, almost bleeding a profound sadness.

"Even so, two at once is..."

Ciel's mind began to drift into the soothing allure of slumber not long after she dipped into the warm water, soaking herself all the way up to her chin. She should have thought that they would choose this route. What else could happen, after all?

As Ciel passed into the realm of dreams, chasing a star from a time long since gone, she was certain of one thing. Even if she had to go suffer for it later, her only choice at this moment was to try to defy the fate she gazed upon.

KoL's Test Thread

CIEL, THE STARGAZER

---

"Harley!" Ciel exclaimed in a surprised tone as soon as the Monochrome Girl manifested herself in the Stargazer's home. To say that she wasn't expecting this would be a lie. Even so, Ciel was so glad that she forgot about Amaterasu and Saef for a moment. "Do you want some tea? I don't know if you still like this flavor but I can have Aquila get you anything else you may wish for," she said excitedly in the moment before Harley's comments and her guests reply snapped her attention back to reality.

Amaterasu and Saef's reaction was deeply unexpected to Ciel. Did no one know about the Vassals; either their roles or their personal selves? Especially beings coming from the Heavens, considering how many of the Court's Vassals make that palace their residence in the Nexus, including Harley. That was certainly baffling. But not as baffling as the possibility of their ignorance trigger Harley's temper which could have some really... unsavory consequences for them.

"I'm sorry, Harley, I was just having a chat with a couple of unexpected guests. It seems like they are not very aware of the reality of the Nexus, or even of You," Ciel said, referring not only to Harley but to the other Vassals as a whole, "I understand that it must be why you are here. I didn't have any intention of telling more than I'm allowed to, but we can't let them face the challenges before them blindly... right?"

"Also, Amaterasu, my dear, that's a long story. I'll tell all of it to you later if Harley is alright with it. For the time being, it suffices to say that you aren't really like 'her'. There's a difference between not knowing where to look for your feeling and being completely Void," Ciel said, answering Amaterasu's question, before addressing both her and Saef again, "Either way, if it's possible for the two of you; could you treat Harley less warily? Not only is she someone very important for me, but also the leader of the Vassals—beings like Iona and Juno— who commands utmost respect from all those in the upper Echelons of Existence. So, even if it's just as a payback for my hospitality: Could you please treat her well?"

The War of the Three: Exodus

@Silvan Haven

Saef is ok, I think so.

@Lmpkio

Unit-T/Tina is ok as well.