Lugubrious

World of Light

Hoping to jump in here! Since, uh, there's slots open, supposedly?

From The Ashes

Name: Phoenix Wright

Game Origin: Ace Attorney

Appearance: "Objection!"

Personality: Phoenix is calm, cool, and collected, an easy-going guy who likes to roll with the punches life deals him and go with the flow. Or, rather, he'd like to be that. In low-stress situations Phoenix is as relaxed as he seems, his guard a bit too down and a tad gullible, though when the stakes get raised or he comes to task, any semblance of 'chill' quickly leaves him. While this does mean that he's fairly reliable once things get serious, it also drives him to bouts of internal panic and impulsiveness. His natural cleverness and sharp intellect tends to make any quick judgement the right call eventually, however, and despite his seeming immaturity in most situations, Phoenix is capable of stunning feats of competence and intelligence! Even when he bluffs his way through everything...

Background: It might not seem like much just by looking at him, but Phoenix has gone through quite a lot. Everything started when he was a young kid, a day in elementary school when his entire class labeled him a thief after a fellow student's lunch money went missing. At the time, he felt utterly alone, at the mercy of a group who would never believe him... And then the very same student whose money was taken came to his side in defense, one Miles Edgeworth. The two were quick to become friends.

Miles soon left school, him and Phoenix growing apart. As he grew older, Phoenix took an interest in law and the arts, and during his time at college (studying for the latter), he once more ended up accused of a crime he didn't commit: murder. He was defended once more, this time by rookie attorney Mia Fey, and from then on the young Phoenix grew a passion for being an attorney just like her, and soon became her apprentice. The time came when Phoenix, a newly-minted lawyer, went to court, where he met his long-gone friend Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor now, unlike his defense attorney father. After his first trial, Mia was killed, and her younger sister, Maya Fey, was the suspect. Phoenix defended her, of course, and the two grew a liking to each other, becoming partners in (un)crime.

As Phoenix waged legal war against Edgeworth, the two traded blows both in and out of court, with Phoenix wanting his friend to return to his normal, justice-seeking self. Things took a turn for the dramatic when Edgeworth himself was accused for murder - the murder of his late father! - and Phoenix defended him, exonerating him of his crimes and guilt.

His reputation made, and strengthening as he took bigger cases and went up against harsher prosecutors, Phoenix was on the rise to become an incredibly successful attorney. And just before the trial that would have dashed his career on the rocks, things got a lot brighter...

---

Specialty: Tactics, figuring things, people, opponents out. And, uhm... moral support?
Level: 1
Experience: 0/10
Powers:

• Psyche-Locks: Phoenix possesses the power to see Psyche-Locks, a psychic manifestation of a person's lies, taking the form of chains and locks. The more a person has, the closer the secret is being kept, or the harder the person is trying to keep it. They break as Phoenix delves closer to the root, though the act of breaking them doesn't force the person to spill - rather, it's just a representation of how tight-lipped they are. They only appear in response to a question Phoenix asks, too, and depending on how he words the question, could not appear at all.

Strengths:

• Sharp Wit: His time as an attorney has left Phoenix with a very sharp head, metaphorically speaking. He's quick to catch on and notice things others miss, and his sense of deductive reasoning is unmatched.
• Bluff: Flying by the seat of his pants more often than not, Phoenix has an impeccable poker face. Sudden shocks, surprises, and etc still make him react - he is human after all - but it can be pretty hard to tell what he's thinking, especially if he doesn't even know it himself.
• Born Lucky: It seems that along with his stunning spiky hair, Phoenix was gifted with immense luck at birth! It isn't the "find 50 bucks on the ground" kind of luck, but things tend to fall into place for him, or seemingly fatal accidents and injuries could leave him with little more than a scratch.

Weaknesses:

• Only Human: For all his quirks and lucky breaks, Phoenix is just human after all. He's not particularly strong or sturdy, incapable of anything truly impressive, and can go down in just a few solid hits. He's not much of a fighter!

Spirits:

Kindred Spirits:

• Maya Fey, the young spirit medium. Phoenix's closest friend and trusted partner.
• Miles Edgeworth, the determined prosecutor. A friendship from childhood newly revived, and with added rivalry.
• Mia Fey, the late mentor. Phoenix's role model, and as helpful beyond the grave as she was above it.

Inventory:

• Attorney's Badge: Proof of his status as an attorney, and symbolic of what it means to be one. Loves to show it off, though usually by accident.
• Magatama: A special stone ornament imbued with spiritual power. It allows Phoenix to see the Psyche-Locks, though anyone who holds it can see them as well. May or may not be needed anymore.

@TruthHurts22

There are indeed open slots, and I'd be happy to have you. The application looks good. I'm down for you posting him over in the Characters tab, and I'll send you a PM soon about getting Phoenix into the mix, as well as an invite to the discord if you'd like it.

The Good Guys - A Hero Academia RP

The GM's been quiet for a while now, though I can't speak to the Discord server, since I felt it would be inappropriate to join until my character was accepted. Vinsmoke and I were reviewing her for a while, but he stopped talking to me before it could be finalized.

World of Light

Tora & Poppi

Level 5 Tora - (8/50) EXP and Level 4 Poppi - (7/40) EXP
Location: Forest Ravine, the Land of Adventure
Word Count: 734

Powered by Poppi's energy, Tora's drill tore through the earth and stone, ripping heaps of it from the ravine walls. After trying with astonishingly little success to excavate without her Blade energy, and realizing the incredible tedium that would be, Tora was having fun now. A bit too much fun, in fact; Poppi watched with an annoyed expression as the bit veered through some exposed iron ore, cutting a groove into it. “Masterpon, please stop playing and focus on not damaging ore.”

“Tora know, meh.” Sighing, the Nopon reigned himself in and focused his energy on extracting the iron from the cave wall. With the current dig site only a dozen feet below the ravine's top, the plentiful sunlight -even through the trees of the forest that surrounded the ravine- made it pretty easy to see what he was doing when he wasn't in his own shadow. After a few moments, the energized bit lopped off a load-bearing prong of rock to send the ore chunk tumbling to the ground. Poppi lurched to get it, expecting Tora to fall off the nearby edge in his attempt to save the material from falling to the canyon bottom, but he scooped it right up in his wing. “Nice! Meh meh, three down. Still, even with Poppi power, job is tedious, meh.” He offered it to Poppi, who held open her burlap sack for her partner to dump it inside.

Tora turned around to find a pillar-shaped green creature staring him in the face, dead silent. “Muh!?” It didn't move, its empty black features fixated on the Nopon before it. Composing himself, Tora gave a weak wave with his free wing. “Uh, hello...?”

In reply, the creature began to hiss, swelling up. Tora held up his shield, drill extended, just in time before the creature exploded. The force sent him flying out over the edge, eliciting a cry from Poppi as she dropped her sack. “Masterpon!” She snatched at his wing, but her metal fingers closed just short, and Tora sailed -screaming- into the void. A second later he smacked against the ravine's opposite wall, sticking there for a moment before he started to slide down. Poppi grit her teeth, mind racing, and grabbed a rock. Energy flooded her systems, charging it with the power of earth, and with explosive power she hurled the stone at the wall below her master. The impact blew apart the rock, creating a crater, and as he fell past it Tora reached out with his wing to latch on. When the dust cleared, Poppi spotted him hanging there, breathing heavily.

After a moment, he grunted from the exertion, then called out, “Am okay! But grip not going to last, meh.” Nodding, Poppi launched from the canyon wall she stood atop, carefully maneuvering in the cramped space to get close without a collision. Once near enough, she simply grabbed Tora and carried him back. After setting down his drill on the solid ground, Tora wiped at his brow and gave Poppi a solid pat on the back. “Whew! Great thinking, Poppi. Not know what would do without.”

Poppi smiled, closing her eyes. “Poppi not know what Tora would do without, either.”

Ignoring the snark, her companion pointed at the wall. “Look! Boomy thing destroy rock like was paper.” He stepped forward and peered at the remains. Instead of normal debris and dust, the blast left behind perfect cubes of stone, and a few of ore. “Ooh. Boomypon blast excavate ore very easily!” Excited, he scooped up the ores and turned to Poppi. “Tora know exactly what should do!”

Brows furrowed in disbelief, Poppi ventured a guess. “...Masterpon want to get blown up more to make digging easier?”

Tora flapped his wings in anticipation. “Meh meh meh! Poppi right on money. Find enough boomies and we get back in time for lunch with motherlode of metal!” The shake of Poppi's head prompted him to wave a stubby hand dismissively. “Meh! Poppi know we can take it, no problem. Is great idea!”

Discreetly, Poppi peered over the edge of the ravine cliff. At the very bottom, red-hot lava churned and sputtered. She then glanced back at Tora, her dubiousness more than apparent. The Nopon had, however, resumed his descent, the promise of untold riches obliterating what little common sense he possessed. With a breathless, theatrical sigh, Poppi transformed into QT mode and followed him.

Forest Temple

Location: the Land of Adventure
@Dawnrider

“Thank youuuuuuuu!” Sang the orange spirits as Hat Kid flung the troll painting into their flames, shortly before combusting themselves. The demise of the orange fire marked Hat Kid's trial one-fourth complete, and with all haste the left the central chamber and its frolicking fire foxes behind in favor of the one indicated by the blue brazier. At the end of the hallway, empty except moss, mushrooms, and the odd crab, she found a dark curtain she could push through in order to entire. Inside, an incredible sight filled her eyes.

On the chamber's domed walls and ceiling lay the image of the cosmos. Planets, meteors, and countless stars dotted its curved surface, glimmering in the dark. From the central point shone a single, larger light, meant to emulate the sun. It was a far cry from the dingy cavern of the first puzzle. The child knew space well, of course, so what lay beneath held more intrigue. The entire floor appeared to be a perfectly flat plane of glass, and beneath it lay a world in miniature. Rolling waves, islands, active volcanoes, and more formed an area that would have stretched miles were it real size. In the very center of the room a mountain rose from the see above the glass floor, and on it rested a tablet.

The villagers await you: the Breath. Answer their summons by placing your hand over their ritual, and bring their god to life. You must guide them to the passageway, but it is a long way away, and will open only once the totems have been reclaimed and the earth blanketed with green. Shape the land, give commands, and beware the coming disasters.

At the foot of the mountain, on a large bank of vegetated sand, lay a village, its people not an inch high. Nearby, a group of them surrounded a floating black orb with lanterns and horns, inundating it with prayer and song. Not far off, the sea turned restlessly, trapping the people on their island home. To the south, across the shallows, a desert island lay with a pool of water at its center, a long white totem within. In the map's northwestern corner, on the other side of a volcano island, stood the vital passageway on a tall, lonely isle.

---

The green brazier lit the passageway into a third chamber, small and square in layout with a grassy floor and walls of impenetrable hedge. The ceiling extended upward so high that it might as well have contained the sky, but other than that the room sported just one anomaly: the five black monoliths arranged in a semicircle near the room's middle. On the ground in the semicircle's center was a giant, five-petaled blue flower, upon the center of which words were scrawled in chalk that moved ever so slightly in an impossible jitter.

Puzzle is five. Five is win is you is winner.”

A few seconds after arrival, drawings began to appear on the first monolith, in the same living chalk. First, there appeared a flower, which broke apart to reveal the word 'BABA' in red. Immediately after, a white rabbity thing appeared on the monolith. Next, the word 'WALL' with an accompanying stone wall drawing extending in horizontally both above and below BABA. 'ROCK' appeared from another flower, and three rocks materialized in a vertical row to block BABA's path. 'FLAG' heralded the arrival of a glittering gold flag on the opposite side of the rocks from BABA. More words came after all together, creating 'WALL IS STOP', 'ROCK IS PUSH', and 'FLAG IS WIN'. Lastly, a big red flower appeared near BABA, and when it came apart the words 'IS YOU' were left behind. After that was nothing, leaving the visitors to make the first move.

Ryu

Location: Lumbridge, the Land of Adventure
@Stekkmen

While his potential challenger's look didn't bother Ryu, the subject of a fight to the death constituted a cause for great concern. The fighter crossed his arms and, with a worried look, explained, “I do not know where you hail from, stranger, where that would even be a question, but this is not a fight to the death.” Raising a fist, he clenched it. “There is nothing like a fair fight. It improves both competitors.” After moving down the hill to the flat ground, Ryu held his fist out for Agoston to bump. “Let's begin.”

When the Centurion accepted, Ryu stepped back into a ready stance, his well-trained muscles filling with power. Immediately he jumped, vaulting over Agoston's head and twisting about midair to fall with an extended kick on his opposite side. After landing, Ryu transitioned near-instantly into a one-two punch. For a moment it looked as though an opening had appeared, but with incalculable expertise the wandering warrior rerouted all of his momentum into an uppercut, rising from a crouch. “Shoryuken!” His fist blazed with flame as he launched upward, impervious to attack but vulnerable after as he came back down to earth.

Chronicles of a Lost War

With a heavy heart, Malachi swallowed. The food, so good moments before, tasted like ashes on his tongue. And it wasn't the booze that roiled his guts. He kept a hold of himself, but it took a lot of strength—almost everything he had. While he could never boast that he knew a lot, Malachi kept track of the year in order to be aware of people's ages, and on this fateful day he stood on an earth three hundred years older than he'd seen it last.

A few still moments later, Malachi gave the bartender a weary smile. “Yeah, sounds great. If I'm still 'round, I'll be 'ere.” Fishing some coinage out of his pouch, he recalled how much Byron's silver piece astounded the young village guards. It'd been why he opted for large quantities of the establishment's priciest fare. Placing a single silver on the counter, he explained, “For this time, next time, the information, and this. Cheers.” So saying, he swiped the half-filled tankard itself, trusting in his payment to cover its cost, and headed toward the door. “Be seein' ya.” With a wave, he stepped outside.

The huge man got one step before collapsing against the side of the building. Suppressed emotion washed over him like a crashing time. “Three...hundred...” he wheezed, cackling at the insanity of it. And to think he'd been worried about his family getting older. No, no, no. His wife and daughter were dead. Long dead. He'd be lucky if a single person drawing breath today knew had ever heard his name. Every friend he'd ever had was history, and so were their great grandchildren, from the kindly villagers to the royalty of his homeland. Hell, Sydane itself might have been conquered, reduced to rubble, or swallowed by the sea during those centuries. Delirious, Malachi looked around. Things looked so similar, but this wasn't his world. It wasn't his land, nor his sky. He buried his face in his hands. How had he let this happen!?

The Good Guys - A Hero Academia RP

Pardon me @Vinsmoke Goji, but did you get my application? I sent it through a PM.

The Good Guys - A Hero Academia RP

I'd like to apply. Working on a sheet now.

World of Light

Lumbridge

Location: the Land of Adventure

Din's initial response left Menat feeling a touch put off, since 'confidence and practice' was something anyone could tell her, if by some incredible fluke she didn't realize it herself. When the dancer launched into more thorough advice, however, the fortune teller listened at rapt attention and with gleaming eyes. Clearly, the enthusiastic girl was no stranger to instruction. She made mental notes of what Din said about how to approach fighting versus dancing, and when Din mentioned using her sash as a literal veil to mask her movements, Menat nodded vigorously. “Ah, that makes so much sense!” However, before she could say anything else, a number of other strangers appeared from the guildhouse, not too far away. Din headed over, beckoning, so Menat followed behind.

As she got closer, she recognized Geralt, though not from having met him personally. The witcher's entourage had subsided by now. Everyone had got their fill of him, it seemed, which meant he could enjoy more professional company. Apparently the man would be aiding the strangers with a quest that involved the restaurant owner, but not before Menat -at Din's suggestion- would be reading them a fortune or two, despite the scar dragon-turtle's irritating attempt to tug everyone along.

While not yet an expert, the purple-haired girl was happy to help as much as she could. “Of course! I may look young, but don't underestimate me.” With a flourish, she threw up her hand, and a see-through orb of bluish-purple energy, like a glowing bubble, appeared above it. “I shall present your prophecy!” Lowering the orb, she caressed it with her other hand, causing its energies to spin and undulate. When they settled, they took form without changing color, leaving a little bit of interpolation to do with the figures that appeared within the orb. The shapes moved and flashed in quick succession, offering just a momentary glimpse at the future.

First came a tall, slender figure with what appeared to be long sleeves. Menat narrowed her eyes. “I see...fear. You'll come to understand the task you've been given.” She appeared to be running from something, and after a moment, a wave of flame blanketed her, consuming her completely. Next came two humanoid figures, both with long ears atop their heads. The one with thinner ears had a smaller cape, while the other, with ears more like a giant cat's, wore a cloak that obscured her body. “A betrayal that will somehow work in your favor.” As the heroes watched, two giant blades lashed out from behind the cat-eared one and into the other, but then the scene faded. After that, a large shape that could only be Bowser stood atop some promontory, with Kamek hovering by his side on a broom. “Taking sides. A discovery, long avoided, of your own nature.” Many other shapes surrounded them on all sides, some familiar. After that, a glimpse of a smaller, stubbier shape staring at a bright spark in its hand, which it then placed into its heart and began to grow. “Becoming not what was supposed to be, but what was meant to be.” Finally, a man and a woman talking a short ways apart, matching swords drawn. “A single thought: how could it have come to this?”

Menat blanched. “Whoa!” Hastily, she shoved the orb aside to float behind her, devoid of any contents. “...Sorry to say, it looks bad. B-but don't worry. Fortune telling can be a guide, but the path is yours to walk. Just be careful, alright?” Looking sheepish, she took a step back. “Er, maybe I should...you know, be on my way. It was nice meeting you, especially you, miss Din. And thanks for the advice. But I need to find my master.” With that, the fortune teller left, leaving nebulous fates hanging in the air.

It didn't take long for Geralt to lead the others to the cookhouse. Stylish and cozy, it was a home and restaurant combined, not the sort of thing one would expect in a civilized place but not too unusual for the World of Light. There, a number of patrons were wrapping up their midday meals, and Mina herself could be found in the kitchen working alongside a fellow chef. A server bid the newcomers remain in the public space while she went back to fetch Mina, and the battlechef appeared a few moments later. “I'm so glad you're here!” she sang, clearly thrilled. “I was starting to think nobody would take my quest! I've been so busy that I haven't gotten a chance to go out and restock, but the best dishes need the freshest ingredients. And for the adventurers taming this land, I'll accept nothing less. I do have a list for you, here.” She produced a rolled-up parchment and, rather than giving it to Bowser, handed it to Geralt.

“Aptonoth meat is...fine, but it gets bland quick, and it's a bit gamey. Food needs to have spirit! So, the number-one thing on that list is Baurun meat, both ribs and steak. They're actually from my home world, so I'll really be able to whip up something special. There forest near the mining canyon out east that'll have plenty, plus beans and herbs. We've got some wheat fields around town, but the scouts found wild wheat a way south-southeast of that forest. That'll be just the stuff for my noodles. Get everything together, and I'll treat all of you,” she gave Bowser a sidelong glance, “to Baurun spare ribs and steak noodle soup. Please bring back as much as you can!”

A thought occurred to her, and she crossed her arms. “I forgot to tell you. If this is your first time, you should know how hunting works. Getting one portion from breaking a spirit isn't enough. The most important thing is precision. If your rough an animal up, its body will dust quicker once it's dead, so you need to be careful. Take it out without a lot of damage and you can get pieces before they dust.” Mina looked a touch worried, no doubt unhappy to be putting so much of a burden on these strangers. “I'm sorry to make you do this, but I'm so busy that there's really no other way.”

Grocery List

Canyon forest: baurun steak and ribs, king beans, cheepchi eggs, ginger, rhubarb, basil

Plains: wild wheat, basil, bay leaves, turnips, chocobo meat, tropius bananas

Caves: slime gelatin, spotted red mushrooms, low brown mushrooms, candle gourds, lantern fruit, lapizard meat

---

The guildmarm answered Agoston's query with a nod. “Yes, I believe he spends most of his time training around the hill by the town's eastern edge. It has a couple trees on it, there's a pond nearby, and water flows from a spring in the hill.” She pointed the Centurion in the right direction, helped him sign the quest card, and waved him off.

True to the guildmarm's word, Ryu could be found on the hill across the town's titular bridge, resting in a meditative position in the shade of the nut tree growing from the hilltop. Even at peace he looked intense, as though strength and fighting spirit filled his entire building, and when the Centurion approached Ryu seemed to sense it. With a grunt, the man rose from his position, no consideration given to the long white bag laid beside him. Turning to look down at Agoston, Ryu crossed his arms. While stern, he bore no trace of aggression or boisterousness, instead wearing a polite smile and giving the impression of a quiet, steadfast, humble soul. “Good afternoon. Are you here to help me on the path of my destiny?”

Chronicles of a Lost War

After draining a portion of his tankard, Malachi answered the bartender's question with a nod. "Ya got me. From way down south, actually. Thought I'd roam 'round the country to see what's goin' on." He wiped the foam from his lips with the back of his hand, then took a giant-sized bite of the first sandwich. Even simple ingredients tasted great when one was hungry. A few chews later, he maneuvered the food into a cheek and replied, "As for why I'm here, I spent a looong time wanderin' out in the wilds, survivin' on my own."

He paused to wonder why he was taking pains to construct a story when it would be easier just to be honest. Did it really matter, after all? Strange things happened all the time in a magical world, and it wasn't like he was going to just out himself as a one-time enemy of the empire. An old Sydane fairy tale came to mind, and he started work on an idea. After a moment or two spent with his mind in overdrive putting together what he wanted to say, Malachi continued. "To be honest, I'm real lost. Was up in the mountains when I heard these loud cracking noises. Found these little bearded men playing...some kind of game. Seemed alright, so I joined in. Had some of their drink, too. Guess I fell asleep. When I woke up, they were gone, and things were different. So, if you can tell me anythin' about the country, what's going on, even what year it is, I'll be real grateful." Wearing a distressed look, he put his sandwich down, and looked to the bartender for help.

World of Light

Forest Temple

Location: the Land of Adventure

Confused by its brush with an intrepid child, the parasite spider was on edge, but that didn't mean much when two men arrived with guns. It released a horrific hissing noise from its mouth as it advanced, only to be met with a torrent of small arms fire. While it took a good few shots, the carcass-spawn went down without much of a fight, oozing vile ichor from its wounds. The smell, if not the very sight of the wretched thing, drove the two men to figure out a way around the collapsed staircase and into the next room.

There, the same scene awaited them that Hat Kid beheld not long before. Within a bizarre, rather unnerving arrangement of colorfully-burning braziers, the still form of a young girl could be glimpsed. To someone with their modern sensibilities, the hazard seemed minimal, but any amount of inspection would prove the flames uncommonly difficult to breach, let al one quash. Whatever the solution might be, it lay not in this central chamber.

Without the kid's familiarity with such flames, however, the two friends were at a loss long enough for the fires to begin contorting in fascinating shapes. In a matter of moments, distinct creatures could be seen dancing within the blaze. They twirled and frolicked in merriment, and over the low roar of burning, eerie voices sang out one after another.

“We want to die...! Yaaaaay! We want to burn bright, then burn out. Become a cloud of smoke...! Our bonfires needs more fuel...only the finest paintings will do...” So saying, the fox spirits laughed and whirled about their respective fires, eagerly awaiting their demise.

---

The orange flame brazier pointed Hat Kid down a corridor, straight and bare of obstruction save for plant growth and cobwebs, until the hall opened up to a larger, cavelike room of dirt and stone. Well-lit by torches, it sported a single distinct furnishing: a tall hut of irregular stone bricks bearing ancient -in fact, nonsensical- machinery of rock and wood. On its side were a number of large wooden buttons, each adorned with a painted depiction of a pizza with some sort of topping, including pineapple, bell peppers, sausage, mushroom and cheese. Heat, noise, and light from inside the hut indicated the presence of an oven. Beyond the pizza hut, three trolls could be seen languishing atop some boulders, which along with the painting hanging above, suggested some semblance of a living room.

Upon seeing Hat Kid, however, the shortest, roundest troll leaped to his stumpy feet. “Fleen!?” he exclaimed, before narrowing his eyes and getting a better look. “You're not a fleen,” he remarked, confused, before giving an exasperated shrug. “Well, whatever you are..” he knelt, wringing his hands in a desperate plea. “MAKE ME A PIZZA!”

The others looked on, probably not hungry. Smirking, the thin one announced in a creaky, female voice, “I'd hop to it if I were you, miss. Arno gets awfully cranky without his pizza.”

Stuttering slightly, the last one piped up, “B-but he's very picky! W-well, we all are, really...” he gave a bashful grin. “He'll only likes one t-type, though he won't know it 'til he gets it. B-but you can probably figure it out. If you do, I'm sure he'll be r-really grateful.”

Nero

Location: Intersection outside fire station, Dead Zone

With the Tank primed and ready to explode, a short window had opened for someone else to get in there and show his stuff, and Gene stepped up to bat. The sight of him caused Nero to look twice in disbelief. Just what was he wearing!? His eyes widened. Had...he used the van's shower? That meant possibly infectious zombie gook in the plumbing, and more likely than not he hadn't cleansed himself of the disease, either. Gene could present quite the problem, Nero guessed, if his party ignored the chance of contamination. For now, however, he stood back to watch Gene fight.

At first, his blows practically bounced off the monster, even in its weakened state. Once the brawler dodged out of the way and collected himself, however, he re-engaged the raging Tank with a comically-effective move aptly named the 'ball buster', compromising the rotten hulk completely. Nero snickered, unable to deny the technique's humor, if not its crassness. He kept his eyes on the visibly-glowing, beeping Exploder, however. Gene proceeded to unleash a cascade of blows, growing in strength and volume, but not in situational awareness. Seeing this, Nero furrowed his brow. “Hey...” Beep. Beep. Beep. “Don't you think...?” Beep-beep-beep-beep. “You oughta get outta there, pal.” Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep.

He put out a hand, but the Exploder went off with theatrical aplomb, reducing the battered Tank to odious chunks and sending Gene hurtling off to the side. Waving at Blazermate to come over, Nero jogged to the fallen fighter's resting place, worry etched on his features. When Gene's first sounds were a complaint, however, the demon hunter knew he'd be fine letting the medic patch him up. “You saw me stick it on,” Nero replied, incredulous. “Plus, I thought you were a professional. If you can't avoid one bomb with a ten-second fuse, or survive being near it, you should ride back to Hammerhead.” Nero didn't exactly mean for his Exploder to serve as a test, but if worked well enough, and Gene failed it. That sort of situational awareness would make him zombie chow before nightfall.

Nico's van pulled up, and the four friends gathered near. One by one, they expressed their thanks to the heroes, while Nero slid up to the van's window to receive a new arm from its driver. The green-colored device socketed neatly into its port, and he flexed its fingers experimentally. Once the kids' leader said his piece, Nero strolled back over. “Yeah, yeah. Look, you're good fighters, but this place is a hellhole. We're not here to save anything or be heroes, so if something looks rough, you run. Okay?” Noctis nodded. Then, after a moment's hesitation, he offered a hand. Nero shook it without a second thought.

The silence that followed proved awkward, so he pulled away, raising his voice to give instructions. “Alright, people! Let's move out. Street are stuffed, so we'll go slow and quiet, takin' out whatever gets too close.” Using his new arm, he pointed out a twisted organic spire rising into the sky not too far away, near the steeple of a large church. Though like the towering Qliphoth in appearance, it was clearly much, much smaller. “Over there. Guy I'm meeting said to meet by the closest one.” It lay on the other side of the market district, which would no doubt have more clutter, but fewer cars. Three such spires dotted the city, roughly equidistant around the unholy tree in its center.

Visiting them, however, was not on the four boys' radar. “We'll find some other monsters to take out. Not getting sick if we can help it,” Noctis told him. After a few moments, he returned to the Regalia, and the fancy car sped off the way it came.

As everyone else packed up, Nero happened to glance at the remains of the Tank. Even in pieces, the wretched thing kept moving. A couple things had emerged from the remnants of its torso, little pods with lots of legs and a few red-fronded antennae, like those protruding from the monster's belly early. Sighing, Nero pulled out the Blue Rose and fired, turning them one after another into flesh-colored splats. “Time to get lost,” he advised before climbing into the van. Before long the noise from the Exploder would bring a horde here, but there would be no heroes left by the time it arrived.

The Master of Masters

Location: Peach's Castle, the Mushroom Kingdom

The loss of Kamek's attention led the Master of Masters to assume he'd be stepping out and warping right back to his master's side, but instead he gave the room another thorough look. From the start the Master noticed his guest's interest, not too unlike the curiosity of an apprentice upon his or her first admittance to his old study. His remarks provoked a pleased chuckle from within the black hood. “Heh, well, I'm glad you think so. From one magician to another, I know you mean it. Betcha woulda blown your mind seein' my old stomping grounds.” Beyond that, however, he did not seem eager to recall it. Instead, he called upon his full focus to answer Kamek's next question.

“Darkness, huh? Ya don't know? Well, it's a subject near and dear to my heart, so pull up a chair while I bend your ear.” After standing up himself, the Master of Masters flipped his chair around and leaned forward across its back. Straightaway he began gesticulating, using his hands to punctuate every point. “Well, it's basically a universal force, opposite light. There's a whole realm of it, but it can be found anywhere. Even in here.” He prodded the koopa's shelled chest with his finger. “There's dark and light in every heart. It's natural, but that doesn't mean ya get to rest easy. It can be dangerous, ya know. Certain people might use it for power, throwin' crazy dark spells! A sure road to great power, if one's willing to lose oneself along the way. But it can be tricky for normal folks, too. Slow knife cuts deepest, and all. If people give in to darkness, they become Heartless. Then there's Nobodies, and...well, I could go on.:

Laughing, he gave shrug. “To put things short, it can be a kind of magic, influence, or place. Corridors of Darkness, through the dark realm, are a real easy way to get around, but'cha need something like this if you're gonna waltz around in there. Capiche?”

Chronicles of a Lost War

After drawing near enough to the settlement to catch a glimpse of its guards, Malachi slowed up a touch, inadvertently letting Byron steal ahead. Whoever got there first concerned him not, but something had occurred to him upon seeing a couple ordinary-looking strangers. The huge man carefully removed the Heavies, one after another, and stowed them in the pouches he wore on each hip for that purpose. While the 'heroes' might not think to give the onyx-black cestus a second glance, they were not meant for the eyes of normal folk. Just the sight of them could render some people queasy, or unnerved, like something in their midst that just didn't fit in. Malachi only hoped that the townsfolk couldn't feel them.

The brief delay allowed Byron to take the initiative, and it was he who spoke for their bizarre party. Clearly quick-witted, the catman played off the lucky tidbit of information the gatekeepers let slide, working up a just-vague-enough story to explain their group. As sure as death, however, came taxes, and while Malachi carried a decent sum with him, he remained taciturn long enough for Byron to foot the bill instead. Of course, he noticed straightaway the taken-aback looks on the guards' faces, which told him that Byron just forked over a much larger sum than they ever expected. Fluctuation in currency didn't come as a surprise, but did one silver coin really spark that much of a reaction?

As the party advanced, he followed up the beastman's weak smile with a hearty one of his own, giving the gatekeepers a wink. "Don't spend it all in one place, kids!" he joked, knowing as well as they that it'd be their bosses raking in the bonus. Perhaps they'd resent him for that, but a little personality went a long way. Once within the village, Byron suggested a split-up, which suited Malachi just fine. He had, after all, never conceived of himself as 'together' with these illustrious heroes, after all. Izel suggested pairs, but after she'd ignored what he had to say completely a few moments ago, he didn't care much what she thought. With a casual wave, Malachi set off by himself. The others could pore over all the records and consult all the officials they wanted, while he got down to brass tacks.

A moment later, Malachi pushed into the local bar. The sign outside, remarkably plain and ordered, read 'Croaking Duck', and the inside lived up to the name. With deep brown and pale green wood, it was full of earthy, dark colors, yet not so stark as to be depressing. His eyes fell on the long shelves behind the counter, where multicolored candles and bottles created a singularly gorgeous display of light and color. It seemed like a place where people could come to be alone or together, to fill an evening or to regain strength. Business must be good, Malachi reflected, for a small-town establishment like this to be able to achieve any kind of atmosphere other than 'place to die'. At this hour, what patrons sat at the bar were chowed down on lunch, mostly thin sandwiches with sliced produce and cured beef. Food and drink sounded pretty good after a long rest, and conversations often followed.

Malachi treated the few curious individuals who looked his way with a broad smile. "Now that's more like it!" he exclaimed, swaggering up to the counter. "Bein' out in the wilderness for so long, I came in expectin' dirty water and smelly bread, and instead I find a bonafide country tavern. Hey, mister!" he called out as he seated himself. The portly, gray-whiskered fellow behind the counter sidled on over, put at ease by the stranger's gregarious manner. "Two plates o' the best ya got! And a tankard of your sourest beer!"