Lugubrious

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

Pretty much intentional. Kinda highlights her tendency to go along with her own whims rather than focus on those around her.

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

"Phil, huh? Maybe I was a bit...excessive with my partners name. Nah, it suits him completely! Yours does too. Seems like a jolly little fella."

Jess watched the Gastly and her own Zubat play around as their trainers walked. Bailey was speaking, but Jess was more absorbed in the joyful Pokemon. She figured that the purple-haired girl would only be relaying information that Professor Apple had already given her, at any rate, and that didn't need to be listened to again. Thus, Jess remained with her eyes fixed on the Pokemon -mercifully not running into any snaring plants during this time- until forward progress stopped as Charlie did. Curious as to the cause of the interruption, Jess diverted herself from Belial's entertaining loop-de-loops and glanced at Charlie. She found him stock-still, with the same look of consternation that he had worn a few minutes ago plastered on his face. Instantly, the girl's energy was replaced with irritation. The notion of shoving him to knock him out of it popped into her mind and, without hesitation, she prepared to do exactly that.

Before she got the chance, however, Charlie regained his normal composure on his own. Jess halted with her arms halfway-extended, and quickly crossed them to hear whatever he had come up with in his miniature trance. "Sure, go ahead and call whoever. We can't wait long though."

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Gah hah hah! Yet another page I'm the first post on. That makes four out of six!

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Jira, the more physically capable of the two, stirred first. Still in a drunken sort of haze, he trundled around the room in search of his things, pawing at each several times before he collected them. Cain watched him impassively, debating whether or not to jump into his shadow or remain with Felicia, who might need additional goading. When the Rain Spider, now masked once again, made his way outside, the Twili decided to go with him instead. There was really only one direction the fish vendor could conceivably go: toward the light.

Once inside Jira's shadow, it didn't take long for Cain to realize that something was off. Aside from the manner in which he moved and his obvious migraine judging by how he held his hand to his head -which, Cain knew, would not mitigate the agony at all- he appeared to be moving in the wrong direction. There were a few other people around, all more or less preoccupied in their business, though none as much as Jira. Cain decided a little encouragement was in order.

“I don't know much about Kakariko,” he began, enunciating each word to a degree that would likely make his host's head pound. “But I believe the graveyard is to the east. I didn't save your life and your property so that you could traipse off to Hyrule Field. Let's make sure your girlfriend is coming, too.” Cain sincerely wished that he was able to use Dark Travel in shadow form; sadly, his magical ability was simply not of that caliber.

Dungeon Keepers

Yeah, yeah. It's been four days and my post is measly. I'll do better next time boss, please don't hit me.

Dungeon Keepers

Truthfully, Conquest had expected more of a lair from Calvartem than simply another town surrounded another Death Spire. Given the mystique of the necromancer, it had seemed only reasonable to assume that he'd have an appropriately fearful, dreary base to call his home. Still, the impostor was glad enough to have something else to see aside from smoldering timber and bland, grassy knolls. The hours that had trudged by while the minions his new 'master' created the black tower to consecrate his victory over the village had been nothing short of monstrous. Were he capable of crying, he may have been bored to tears.

After listening to Calvertem's brief instruction, Conquest pounced on the chance of action. “The only sustenance I need is destruction. While I'm sure floating around this town and raining fire on anyone I see would be entertaining, I would be only too glad to accompany you to this port town. I could even go it alone or with a few troops—I'm a capable leader.” Realizing an error, he rethought his statement. “Capable of leading more...mundane troops, at any rate. I expect your undead hordes will be less likely to follow fire than shadow.”

Conquest held a forearm up, inspecting it. Fierce orange flames shown from between the cracks in the glassy black stone that made up his corporeal form. “Your call.”

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Reap, is Jira ignoring Cain's request, or simply not registering it?

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

Good to see you, RBY! And I'm liking the look of your character as well. I wonder how she'll get along with Veitaru and Mila...?

You've also got the incoming Wizzrobe, Baklava, though only Jon knows when the sheet will be complete.

For the title of the first chapter, my nominations are 'Adventures Assemble' (I couldn't resist) and 'Heeding the Whispers'.

Pokemon: The Spectre Conspiracy

So what's the verdict? I've got the feeling that signups are going to close soon.

.::Legend of Zelda :: Whispers in the Night::.

As the pitiful flame was extinguished and the wax that had held the burning wick in place splattered over the damp, lichen-encrusted cobblestone floor, the room was plunged into total darkness. The two master thieves were acolytes of the shadows, bound to it not only by trade but by sinister preference, mirroring the void within their own selves. This, of course, was only figurative; while they operated in the night and the alleys, preying on any unfortunate enough to come into their paths, they were far from actual beings of darkness.

And yet, when the gloom settled over them, it felt strangely unnatural. The hairs on the backs of their hands and necks rose like the shackles of dogs on the alert. Though they knew themselves to be alone -such professionals would never have allowed themselves to be followed and certainly never retreated to a lair where there was any chance of intrusion- neither could shake the feeling that there was something in there, something aside from their victims bound helplessly to the wooden column. With the only source of heart gone and this cellar inaccessible to sunlight, the air should have been cold and still, no different than a tomb. Instead, the air felt strangely warm, and moved every so slightly, tickling those raised hairs and thoroughly setting them on edge. When the candlelight vanished, so to did the thieves' sense of security, despite their years of experience and confidence in their abilities. It just didn't feel right—and the feeling persisted until one of the men, Rigby's more intellectually gifted companion, made a sort of connection.

The darkness felt alive.

“No,” came a voice, louder than a whisper and full of smugness. Instantly both men were on alert, each scrabbling to arm themselves with the nearest available item (the grappling hook for Rigby and Felicia's longsword for Mordecai). With no light available, their eyes were useless, so each retreated until the found a wall. From their they had one less angle that needed defense from, and both put all their effort into hearing so as to identify the location of the interloper. For a moment there was no sound whatsoever except for the faint moaning of Felicia and the Rain Spider.

“You both are.”

A sense of helplessness, strangely ironic for those who had just moments ago abused the helpless, pervaded the thieves' minds as they realized that the voice sounded from all around them and it would be impossible to pinpoint the intruder's location. Though a sense of rising fear couldn't be avoided, neither shouted out into the darkness, opting instead to wait for the owner of the voice to come to them.

They didn't have long to wait. Without any warning the room was suddenly illuminated by harsh orange light. The thieves' darkness-adjusted eyes were agonized by the sudden glare and were unable to act before a huge, sun-colored fist smashed Rigby against the wall his back was against, dazing him. Mordecai, recovering from the blindness, managed to make out a dark figure silhouetted by the light his own hair was giving off. Silently, the man lunged forward, and plunged the stolen blade through his nebulous enemy's chest. To his dismay the steel passed right through Cain's body. “What!?” he cried, beginning to lose his control.

The shadowy figure turned and regarded the man with red eyes. He seemed to be smiling. “Really isn't fair, is it?” Mordecai, growing desperate, unleashed a wide slash with the longsword, which severed a few glowing hairs. Before the thief could exploit the knowledge that he could actually do damage to Cain, the Twili brought the hairhand crushing down onto the forearm of his sword arm. The blade clattered to the floor and, Mordecai, holding his injured arm, retreated back to his original position. He said nothing, only glaring into Cain's eyes, green on red. By this time Rigby was on his feet again, and -having apparently not learned from his first attemp- fired his grappling hook at Cain's exposed back. The tool shot straight through him and instead clattered against the wall near Mordecai's head. Thinking quickly, Cain grabbed the chain and pulled, causing Rigby to stumble forward. The fist smashed against the back of his head, rendering him unconscious, before scooping up Felicia's blade. Before Mordecai could move, Cain buried the weapon into his leg. The man screeched in pain and fell to the floor, unable to stand up. In a few moment, Cain judged, the loss of blood would make him pass out.

Leaving him to do so, Cain floated to where Jira and Felicia were bound. It looked like they were just regaining their senses. The Twili ripped off their restraints and then left to search for the trapdoor by which they had entered. In a few moments he had both located and destroyed it, allowing the sunlight to pour in. He was satisfied with himself; he hadn't needed to kill either of the men or use his full-bodied form to do so. With an air of satisfaction he returned to the others and melted into Felicia's shadow in preparation for travel. “Get up,” he said, irritable, “I've saved you. All is well. Come come, get up, grab your things. You need to get to the graveyard before their friends arrive.”