TO THE CITY!...If we live that long, Desert + Pacalon=Death

[-Lix]

(OoC: I will be using Velzok for this, as I have yet to use him at all. The Kels are part of his history, though I haven't added everything yet)

The air from the city, disgustingly vile, was something I became used to in these past months. Serving as a slave for the Kel empire, I became used to such industrial fumes. After traveling through this desert for weeks, I don't even know how I've survived this long. The only thing I have to call mine is the clothes on my back and the axes on my waist. I have scavenged in order to eat, feasting on rodents and lizards, even insects. As the city came into view on the horizon, relief swept over me.

I stood on the top of a sand dune some 20 feet high, allowing me to see the whole landscape around me. Towards the city, about half a mile away, there was a small village. Perfect, just what I needed. Living as a slave for the damned Kels had changed me, though I didn't really care. After destroying their entire Palace, I had become one of them; A savage, blood-thirsty orc that yearned for war. Unfortunately, this new village was about to become my first real victim. But I needed someone's help....

[-Akio Fairchild]

Now, Ripkin was up to what he normally was, trying to become famous. The only problem is, how would one become famous?

Slaying fierce monsters?

Too hazardous...

Becoming rich and powerful?

Too slow...

"What to do???" he asked no one in particular, "If I can't become famous, then all this will have been for naught."

He didn't notice Velzok, as the Raavi was facing away from him. However, it seemed that Ripkin was right in between the Fel Orc and the village, just within earshot of the brutish Druid.

((Sorry, shit post... I never was good with introductories... I can never get into the habits, ya know? It just never... flows.))

[-Lix]

As I stared watchfully at the village, a small flash caught my eye. There was a man (I think) nearly half-way in between me and the village. I couldn't really tell what he loooked like (most orcs have rather bad eyesight), but he wore a full set of heavy armor, and was about average heighth for a man.

Just another obstacle, I thought to myself. Having already made up my mind, I decided to walk towards the man. His armor could sell for a lot.

[-Akio Fairchild]

A feeling shot through Ripkin's head as he felt the presense of another mind. When he turned to look, there was a man. He looked to be an Orc or Troll (he could never remember which one was which), and perhaps... Some sort of monk, by the way he was dressed.

But then again, did monks often have such a venomous expression on their face? And why, exactly, is he coming my way?

He could tell that this guy wasn't on the up and up, so he rose from where he was sitting, hands behind his back, the left hand clutching his hatchet tightly.

[-Lix]

I approached the person with haste, yet caution. I stopped 20 feet in front of him, waiting for any sign of attack. I locked eyes with him for short of a minute, then clenched my right axe. As I drew it out from my back, I paused. He may actually be useful. Still, it had been a long time since I had found someone and NOT kill them.

I pulled back my arm, releasing the axe. I bowed to him, in the manner that was taught to us orcs.* "Hello..." I tried to be as nice as possible, but my new hateful attitude had almost repelled the passive words I tried to speak. I quickly gave up, and spoke as I usually would. "Alright, you have two options. One, you can join me in my conquest of that village over there," I pointed behind him,"Or....I can kill you right now. While your armor is impressive, the size and the power radiating from it just tells me that you must be weak, for a warrior who could beat me wouldn't require such protection...So, what is your answer?"

I had hoped that he would say yes, as I knew myself I wasn't strong enough for what I was trying to accomplish. Mostly, I bluffed whenever I spoke to people, so that they could cower in fear. However, I had also hoped that he wouldn't just say yes without knowing more information. If he did just say yes, it would show that he was afraid of me, so he would be too weak to join me anyways.

[-Akio Fairchild]

"Hello..."

The orc's words seemed forced, and not at all comfortable for him, as he almost immediately abandoned formalities and got down to the nitty-gritty.

"Alright, you have two options. One, you can join me in my conquest of that village over there," he said, pointing to the village that lay not too far away, "Or....I can kill you right now. While your armor is impressive, the size and the power radiating from it just tells me that you must be weak, for a warrior who could beat me wouldn't require such protection...So, what is your answer?"

While at first, Ripkin had wanted to laugh, he found himself unable to. You see, that was quite the interesting proposal, despite the inability of either of them to carry out the first option (Ripkin believed his armor to be far superior to whatever the Orc or Troll could dish out)... To leave the path of nobility... To become... A villain?

It was a thought that had never crossed his mind.

Ripkin whipped his left arm around, embedding the hatchet into his chest plate (a bit too deep, might I add) so that he could remove his helmet from his head. Walking towards the Orc (or Troll, he reminded himself), he placed the helmet under his arm.

"Sir, be you Orc or Troll, my name is Ripkin Glendale, and I wish to help you destroy that town."

As was the custom, Ripkin had learned, in the outside world, he extended his hand to seal the deal with a handshake.

[-Lix]

I was suprised that the man had accepted my offer. True, he was probably weaker than me, but that armor wasn't. I felt a little relieved that he didn't choose to fight.

Ripkin Glendale.... For some reason, that name had sounded familiar, but I quickly brushed the thought aside. As he extended his hand out, I hesitated. Most races had taken the human's idea of a "handshake" for many uses, but the Orcs had kept to their tradition of Kruzjen, or "the joining of souls." The Orcs believe that the forehead was where the soul would make contact with the physical world, and so when two foreheads were joined ( It's similar to a head-butt, but it's not meant to cause harm ), then a special connection would be made. Therefore, I did not see the point in handshakes, but since most saw it as a sign of respect and trust, I returned his gesture, but only for a second until I released from his grip.

"My name is Velzok Ankor, last Orc Shaman of the Kri."

[-Akio Fairchild]

The handshake was over almost immediately after it began, leaving Ripkin a bit dumbstruck, not in his face, but in his body language, which stayed in the same position for a few moments longer before he returned his hand to his side.

"Good meeting you, Good Sir, or, would a better name be Bad Sir?"

Ripkin chuckled uneasily at his own horrid excuse for wit. He had never really talked to someone like Velzok. He wasn't polite, kind, or even clean, it would seem, like everyone who he had grown up with and everyone he had met up until his point in the outside world. So, as you could expect, he wasn't really sure how to act around him. So, he was sorta fumbling his way through it.

"Well, I guess we should try to get to know each other a bit? So we can work better together?" Ok, that didn't sound right, "I mean, we don't want to be stumbling over each other during the battle, right? What's your expertise? Mine's Psychic Sentinel... And I have a pretty decent skill with my hand-axe as well" he said, yanking the weapon from his chest, revealing the deep cut into the armor.

"Yourself?"

[-Akio Fairchild]

topic dead??? Very well, at the very least, Ripkin will have a new purpose in life...

[-Lix]

"I learned to fight as a warrior by a friend, though only for a short while. I am decent with my dual-axes. However, I am a Shaman by heart. You may know it better as a..." I struggled with the word," Droo-ed? My abilities vary. As for my technique, I only have two.. I either stand in the same spot, waiting for my enemies to come to me.....which I only use if I have some form of protection around me....or, I charge in like a tank, giving as much damage as possible, not caring about my own personal safety. It is rather reckless, but it's kept me alive so far.

I do not believe in good or evil, only allies and enemies. If I had to choose....I was born good, but my past has given me no reason to be so kind.

That armor is impressive. Very thick and embued with magic, which means you are physically weak yourself. What are you?

[-Akio Fairchild]

((OoC: I'm sorry, but could you not post in purple? it's really hard to read and it kinda hurts my eyes... I'm sure I'm not the only one))
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"So... You attack head on.... I think I can do that."

Ripkin smiled inwardly. His first attack... His big event. He was going to kill people... He wasn't sure he had the guts... The thought, of killing innocent people, had never crossed his mind, and as such, he wasn't sure how to go about it. Did he simply rush in and end as many lives as possible? Or did he need a pattern to his kills?

"That armor is impressive. Very thick and embued with magic, which means you are physically weak yourself. What are you?"

"A race long forgotten. Powerful magic users who have remained hidden for centuries," Ripkin replied, "Our people are incredibly long-lived, despite our physical weakness. I am but a child by comparison."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
((OoC: Also, I have no idea when you are talking or not... Make sure to put anything where you are speaking in quotes, and, if there's a paragraph break, start the next paragraph with quotes too if it's still a speaking part.))

[-Lix]

(OoC: Sorry, I was kinda in a hurry and wasn't paying attention....simple mistakes.)

Listening to this...Raavi....talk, I could learn much from just his voice. He may not be strong physically, but his mental capacity is far beyond that of normal humanoids. He sounds as if he has had a fulfilling, calm life, neither having to struggle nor getting the world on a silver platter. But..
I sense a hint of sadness. Perhaps he was never able to complete a personal goal, or didn't quite live up to the expectations of his peers. But this does not matter right now. Besides, I may be a blood-craving orc, but I'm not judgemental. Now is the time for battle

I started to walk towards the village, trying to keep my distance from Ripkin. He seems like the trustworthy type, but I'm not willing to take chances. A large breeze came, cooling me off while blowing sand in my eyes. With all the time I've spent in the desert, I'm already used to having sand in my eyes. It feels no different than water.

Not waiting for him to catch up, I walked past Ripkin. "What do you consider yourself, good or evil?"

[-Akio Fairchild]

"Good or Evil?" Ripkin was surprised by the question, "Well... Considering my past... I would be Good... But what I'm about to do? Undeniably Evil. I don't think that Good and Evil can really catch the true nature of a man... At least, not entirely."

Ripkin grew silent. He didn't know what else to say. He didn't know how he was supposed to prepare for such an undertaking... He didn't know how he would handle taking his first innocent life.

"Why do you do it?" he asked, "Why do you kill people?"

It was a simple enough question, but it also asked much more than was shown in the gentle facade. He wasn't asking about his present, about the here and now, but rather, he was asking about his past, his culture, his entire way of life... And why he felt people deserved to die because of it.

---------
((OoC: If you respond with your reasoning, Ripkin will begin to prepare himself for battle. When and if you explain yourself, this will be Ripkin's response.))
---------

After the talking ceased, when they both grew silent, Ripkin nodded to his newfound friend. His helmet found its way back onto his head and his axe was clutched tightly in his hand. His hands were trembling, but he stopped, took a long, deep breath, and strengthened his resolve.

"I'm ready," he said, "Lead the assault."

[-Lix]

It took me a second to think of what he was truly asking me. The only answer I could give is probably one he would think is stupid, and he won't understand. But, its worth a try.

"I have a complicated past, as do most people now. It is filled with deciet, destruction, and death. I wasn't always this way, constantly full of wrath and negative energy. There once was a time when orcs were just as peaceful as elves, altough we did have friendly matches among ourselves. But a group of orcs turned rogue, and with the help of a dark lord, laid waste to almost the entire orc population. I was just a mere child, and yet I had to watch as my Skluun, my home, get burned to the ground. My friends, my companions, my family that I had known my entire life, were slaughtered right in front of me. If it wasn't for my father sacrficing himself, I would not be here today.

"They captured some of the orcs, and took them hostage. I was one of them. We had to traverse an entire desert on foot, with barely any food or water. Out of ten, only I and one other survived that harsh landscape. We were sent to the Rogue Orcs' (Kel) city of Dire, and were slaves. I worked with other captured orcs from all 300 tribes, but there were maybe only 50 of us. We were expected to build a...pyramid?....something I never even heard of again. My 'brother' from my tribe was a warrior, and he taught me the skills he knew. One day we planned an escape...unfortunately, he ended up being the decoy while I ran to freedom."

I stopped for a second and took a deep breath. It was next to impossible to make an Orc cry, but the memories, the scenes, were flashing through my head. I couldnt withstand it.

"Why do I kill? Because some people are too lucky. They go through there entire lives living in peace, free of war and chaos, they never experience true hardship. It makes them forget how blessed they are. Well, I am here to remind them. If innocent lives are taken in the process......survival of the fittest, I say."

----------

The distance between us and the village grew smaller and smaller, and eventually we reached I thought it would be a better idea to survey the village before completely annihlating it. As we entered the town, all eyes stared at us until I gave a sharp look and a growl at the people, who then turned their heads and continued whatever it was they were doing. It was a small merchant outpost, as it turned out, populated mostly by humans and dwarfs. There were no militia around, though some of the merchents did have personal bodyguards. In all the length of the village was a mere 100 feet, and there were three rows of merchants, the middle row splitting the town perfectly in two. A monkey wearing a strange hat ran past me and hopped onto his owner's shoulder.

While continuing to glance around, scouting the area, I asked Ripkin, "How much combat experience do you have. And can you by chance heal?"

[-Akio Fairchild]

"My armor heals myself, and as a Sentinel, I can cast the healing spells as well, if you need it," he suggested, "As far as combat experience... I have only killed as a hunter, never as a warrior."

As he walked, he could feel his blood pounding in his tightly clenched fingers with every beat of his heart. His movements weren't as calm as his companion's, but weren't nervous by any extent of the imagination. In fact, they were anxious.

"But I figure... It's a lot of the same... Just with smarter prey..."

He looked around again, anticipating his every move. He knew exactly what he would do and how he would do it. He saw every face as they begged and died. He looked at it; not anxious, not worried, but scared. He wasn't sure if this was what he wanted.

"They seem pretty defenseless here... Hard to imagine that they ever suspected an attack. Become too trusting in the good of their fellow man... of their safety."

[-Lix]

" Ya, well the more you think about it the worse it is going to sound. The first time is always the hardest....Except for me, I got to kill those who destroyed my life."

This would be so much easier if we had more than just two people, I thought to myself. It's an easy kill, but it will take a while to clear the entire village out. No matter, time for battle.
I withdrew my axes, and instantly the villagers were frightened. I tried to act quickly. A blacksmith appeared, holding a long scimitar. Quickly glancing over his features, I noticed that he had a coin-pouch on his belt, and a foot long scar on his left knee. It probably came from a war injury; it's the perfect weakness.

I charged at him, swing my left axe into his shoulder, distracting him while I swung at his knee. I heard a loud crack, and the man cowered to the ground, writhing in pain. With my entire force, I swung my axe down, decapitating him. Dark blood started to pour out of his headless neck. A brutal kill; exactly what I enjoyed.

If I could find a two-handed axe then I could really do some damage. I look around and saw the dead blacksmith's stall. I walked over there, and found an iron Executioner's Axe. I dropped my two axes, leaving them forever, and picked up the Large Axe. I ran back out into the street, and heard the yells of attackers coming.

[-Akio Fairchild]

As he watched the screaming patrons and merchants being slaughtered by Velzok, Ripkin found that he wasn't sure where to start. Should he simply go for whoever crossed his path first? Or should he seek out those who might cause him trouble before attacking the defenseless?

His question was answered when a bodyguard hurled himself at the young Raavi. He moved without thinking, the axe burying itself into the side of his attacker's head with a sickening thud. His blood spurted over Ripkin, staining his armor as he ripped the brain-splattered axe from the unbreathing corpse.

He looked over to Velzok, who was carving into his next victim, and time seemed to stop to show the blood trailing from his two gleaming blades. Ripkin heard the sound behind him, circling a long arc through the air, slashing across the terrified merchant, attacking an assailant while he was distracted. Blood trailed through the air as the merchant's face turned to terror, and his hands clutching his wounds in an attempt to plug them.

A small smile began to spread over Ripkin's face as poised his axe for a finishing strike. In a moment, it was gone, and Ripkin's full attention was turned towards slamming the axe into the merchant's chest, cutting deeply into his sternum and cracking his ribs. Another stream of blood flew into the air, forcing its way through the slits in his helmet and splashing gently onto his face.

This... This felt right...

[Kit]

OOC With Lix's permission

IC:

There was something wrong people were screaming. The big Elf opened his eyes and looked to his constant companion the human Lec who was sat by the window. Returning his gaze to the celing he asked indifferently in his native tongue

What is it?

The village appears to be underattack. Two men it seems. I can't see any reason for it. No words were exchanged. Unchallenged

Why is it when I want to rest there is always someone looking for a fight...Humans...

One is an Orc in all fairness.

With a rare smile Matti sat up and slipped a shirt over his head. Loosening his muscles by rolling his shoulders and neck he looked over the gaudy shirt that he had picked up. The sleeves were wide and flappy. This would not do. Discreetly tearing them off at the top of the shoulder and throwing a few punches in the air he felt better. Grabbing his two sheathed swords and tying them to his lower back and hip as per his upbringing Matti left the house he was staying in.

Kicking the door of it's hinges completely the Elf let his bloodlust take over as he advanced into the main field of vision. His foe's were armoured like that ever stopped him before. As the villagers ran past him Matti felt his upper lift rise slightly as he caught sight of the Orc. If there was one thing he hated more then humans. It was an Orc. Roaring out his challenge in his heavily accented Common tongue Matti stood impassiveily yet with an air of danger about him

Greenskin. I will wear your skull as a helmet. If you think your armour or your numbers will aid in you this fight think again.

With a loud shout Matti opened a portal to his right and stooping to pick up a large rock he hurled it through the portal, the sister portal was located a good few feet to the right and angled so the trajectory would lead the rock to eventually smash straight into the Orc's right leg. Once the rock had left the portal Matti closed it to avoid reciprocation of his magic. Yes this would be a good fight.

[-Lix]

I felt a hard thud against my leg, as if something had been thrown at it. I looked to the ground and saw a rock that I know wasn't there before. Looking around for the source, I noticed an elf staring at me, a wry smile across his face; That was the source. Now this was a promising opponent; I knew he intentionally threw the rock not to deal any damage, but to get my attention. Well, he had my full attention now.

"HAHAHA! You want a fight, elf?! Well come get it!" I let out a war cry, and charged at the elf. I summoned a tree ent sapling next to me, as well as a leaven aura; the ent wouldn't do any real damage, but may help with distracting my foe later on. The distance between us shortened, until I was in the right distanced, and lifted up my axe to strike. I could feel the potential energy building in my arms

[-Akio Fairchild]

Ripkin's blade arched backward again, this time finding its way into a trader's shoulder. Ripkin's fist arched up, solidly connecting against the trader's jaw. Ripkin was so filled with energy that he could not hear Matii's words, but Velzok's bounced around in his helmet like a trapped insect.

"HAHAHA! You want a fight, elf?! Well come get it!"

Ripkin was surprised. Someone had caught the druid's attention in all the chaos... Obviously it was someone powerful.

He spun, unthinking, sending two Blasts of Energy at the invader. Ripkin's Detect told him that the invader was skilled in Magic, and from the looks of him, he was strong.

He readied his Anti-Magics, watching for any skills that the new fighter was the most deadly with.

As he did, Ripkin grabbed hold of a fleeing woman, pulling her tight to his chest. He found the action natural, using someone else as a human shield... Perhaps it was a side-effect of the plant-man having lived inside a tree his entire life... Perhaps it was because he had found a joy in death, and would welcome to end the life of this screaming maiden.

[Kit]

Feeling his smile form into a battle rictus as he wated both of his challengers. Two different threats, both clearly at home with each others presence. Or were they...Both were clearly infighters, one was an orc and the other was wearing copious amounts of armour. Why he was taking hostages and using magic was the interesting factor.

Feeling a drip of blood slide from his nose as he threw a hand at the armoured man taking a hostage. Several Lances of dark erupted from his hand and curved to the left, right and upwards directions. Keeping an eye on the charging orc he curved the lances to aim around the hostage and strike the more passive fighter. As he leapt back to avoid the energy attacks he muttered in incarnation (Bloodlust) and without a second thought charged towards the Orc. As the dark magic pulsed through his body Matti drew one of his blades and swung it on an intercept course with the main blade of the Ax. Already prepared for the next stage the Elf knew that it was only a matter of time. Ax combat was useless in close.

[-Lix]

As my axe came down with the force of a bull, the elf was able to block my attack with ease. Damn elves, they are small like twigs, yet strong as trees. Our weapons were locked in place for a few seconds, and as I stared into the eyes of my attacker, I revealed my teeth and let out a deep growl. I could tell that he wasn't taking this seriously; it was more of a game to him. Well, then I will treat it as such.

I pushed against my opponent, not only giving me the power to leap back quickly without having my head chopped off, but also hopefully unrooting him. This "man" may be an elf, but I am no weakling human; unless if he is some special type of elf, I guarantee that our physical strength is almost matched.

Well if you want a game, I'm willing to play. I sent my tree sapling after the elf, and I stood many feet away as I watched the sapling climb onto my opponent. I was mainly just trying to annoy this elf.

OoC: The italics are his thoughts, not his speech

[-Akio Fairchild]

Dark Lances smashed into my armor as well as my sacrifice. This guy didn't care about humans... He was a murderer himself. Ripkin dropped the slowly dying woman, a Lance piercing her lung, and moved to attack. As the Lances dissipated into wisps of black energy, he cast Curaga on himself to deal with any injuries he suffered from the beatings he received until they were nothing more than a dull throb. His armor acted in turn, glowing fiercely where the Lances hit. They repaired and hardened: more powerful for the next attack.

When he saw Velzok push back, the Raavi took his chance. He displaced himself, appearing directly before the invader elf, arm swinging his axe fiercely. With his free hand, he cast the Anti-Magic, intending to disable the Dark Lance spell, thereby crippling the elf's long range capabilities. He had two more to go... He had to make them count.

He didn't want to stay close to this opponent long, especially after seeing his brutality in battle against Velzok. At the same time, he didn't want to stray very far, or else he would find himself at the mercy of a long range attacker. Even without the Dark Lance, he could prove to be deadly. He Evocated himself backward with a force he wasn't ready for, sending him sprawling.

As he fell, he shot more Energy Blasts; two shot harmlessly into the sky as he crumpled in the dirt, and another two headed in the Elf's direction. In the next few moments, the Raavi skittered to his feet, axe in hand.

He was beginning to breathe heavily. It was not a workout until the magic user showed up...

[Kit]

Gritting his teeth as the Orc pushed his strength against his own enhanced grit. Feeling his feet slide slightly from the force of the press Matti took the initative and like the Orc retreated a step or two. Taking a breath he was almost instantly beset by a small tree. Growling as he torn the tree off feeling his skin and shirt tear from the grip it held. Looking up from the his adventure from the tree he was faced with another Ax man, this time the armoured man.

With no chance to avoid the blow Matti simply turned away from the blow and felt a stinging bite to his right bicep. The Ax had missed the bone but had still sliced through his arm. As the arm fell uselessly dropping his sword Matti fended off the energy blasts with the summoned tree and biting back his own Bloodlust tossed the burning tree to the ground. Gritting his teeth and drawing a Rune in the air above the cut checking to see that both assailants had given him a few breaths of time Matti finished his spell and with a hand bathing in a rare light blue glow quickly stemmed the blood and repaired the damage. Stooping quickly to pick up his sword and twirling it in a flourish the elf looked at his assailants. Both were magically matched, the Orc having surrounded himself with leaves and summoning a tree was clearly druidic. Odd but still a varied foe. The other, the knight had magical capabilities healing and energy attacks.

Making his choice and drawing his second blade with his now free left hand performed another series of flourishes. Smiling sickly as he felt another warm trickle of blood flow from a now opened cut on his forehead as he opened a second Dark Portal. Directly behind him. His smile widened as he stepped through it and closed it. Standing now about 9 feet behind the man in the armour he charged. Aiming his right hand sword to land a cut on the rear of mans the left knee Matti closed the distance knowing that chances are the weakness was not addressed on this armour. Even if he was wrong he was wielding the swords for the job.

[-Lix]

I retreated behind a tent, and sat down on the ground, closing my eyes. My arms were stretched out, as if I was calling to some God or divine being. I was meditating, feeling for any plant life in the air. Though this was a desert, there is always plant life somewhere, even if it is small seeds or weeds buried deep with the Earth. And that was exactly what I found, a long chain of of vines only 10 feet below the sand and clay surface.

I could feel the energy drain from me as the plants grew in size. I noted where the elf was standing, and shifted the plants to grow right below his feet. Luckily, though the vines were strong, they were naturally dry, and thus required less energy to grow. The plants had reached the surface, and I willed them to wrap themselves around my opponents legs, embracing him in a tight grip. I almost felt as if I was going to faint from the sudden energy lost. This was a pointless move; though the plants are strong and hard to tear, I'm sure the elf will be free of their grasp quickly. This was a great example of me not thinking about my actions beforehand.

I hope Ripkin was doing well...