Description

Description: The Crimson Twins are both youthful, attractive, and divinely dangerous individuals. They both wear a set of clothing crafted of a unique and extremely rare material known as I’k Ehvn, a material strong enough to deflect bullets so long as they don’t come in on a straight path and which can stop even the finest crafted blades dead in their tracks.

Shadow, the “Red-Eyed Demon,” stands tall and proud at approximately six feet two inches in height. His body is that of a solid mesomorph, boasting broad shoulders tapering down in classic “V” style to his waist which is thin and devoid of any and all body fat. His chest is full and strong, with incredibly defined and large lat muscles (like those of Bruce Lee in ‘Enter the Dragon’). His upper body to lower body ratio is roughly 45/55, making his lower body a bit longer than his upper body. Both his arms and legs are extremely defined and even when relaxed their muscularity shines through.

His face is youthful but mature with no blemishes or scars of any kind. His eyebrows are fairly thick but the hair is quite fine so they do not appear terribly dense or stand out too much on his face. His eyes glow via bioluminescence, the source of which is commonly believed to be the Demon inhabiting his soul. He has high, but not terribly defined cheekbones though he still has a strong cheek. His jawline is strong and well shaped with an evenly thin chin at the bottom. His ears are situated in the natural area and are an even size though they are slightly smaller than the average (though this does nothing to impede his superb hearing).

His attire is composed entirely of an ensemble of I’k Ehvn. He wears a long sleeve and thick jacket with a flared up collar, though he usually rolls the sleeves up to just above his elbows to make room for his armor. Under this shirt he wears a black tank top which is fairly tight to his frame but very flexible to allow complete freedom of movement. Coupled with the I’k Ehvn jacket, this combination alone makes his upper body nigh impenetrable against any conventional weaponry. He wears a belt with a black metal buckle and his pants are fairly loose to his frame though still tight enough to make it clear how muscular they are. His boots are dense and have armored souls and toes, but despite their obvious weight they make almost no sound when he walks thanks to the I’k Ehvn material which absorbs vibrations and impact.

Era, the “Ruby-Eyed Witch,” also stands tall like her brother but is less striking in her features than he is and is considered to be the runt between them by those who know them (a fact she detests). She stands at five feet ten inches tall, which is taller than the average woman. She has straight black hair similar to her brother’s though hers falls down behind her back all the way to her hips (and she keeps it in a ponytail). Her neck is smooth and slender leading down and sloping into her shoulders creating an alarmingly feminine appearance which hides the true depth of her power and aggression. Her chest is full at a solid thirty five C cup and has very womanly features beyond that. Her waist is slender, her hips full but not containing any extraneous body fat, and a taught, round posterior.

Her eyes are the same as her brother’s and glow via bioluminescence which is attributed to the Demon residing in her soul. Her strength is comparable to her brother’s, but because he holds a greater muscle mass than she does her strength does not quite match his though it still grossly outshines even the strongest of even above average strength warriors. Her muscularity is a bit more subtle than her brother’s, hidden under a layer of soft and smooth skin which only gives way to her muscles when she flexes. Contrary to her brother who has a very masculine and powerful face, Era’s is softer and much more feminine despite how equally ferocious and aggressive she is which makes her all the more frightening to observe in combat. Her face is heart shaped with a soft curving jawline and a set of bangs which hover over her eyes that she trims herself to avoid getting in the way of her sight.

Era’s outfit is quite different from her brother’s in that she prefers to wear as little as possible. For Era, the ensemble is that of a single top piece similar to that found in a two piece bathing suit which is just enough to cover her breasts and wrap around her back. She wears pants like her brother’s, but they’re tighter to her frame to show her assets. Her legs are muscular but still feminine enough to attract attention with a one inch thigh gap. Over her hands she wears long and thin black gloves which cover her arms up to her elbows. Her boots stop just below her knees, a bit higher than her brother’s, but are just as armored and soft to the step as his are. She also tends to wear a black hair band as she came to enjoy the style not long ago.

Alias: The Crimson Twins, The Red-Eyed Demon, The Ruby-Eyed Wtich

Age: Unknown
Sex: Male, Female respectively
Birth Date: Unknown
Birth Place: Unknown
Current Location/Residence: Unknown
Height: Approximately 6’ 2” and 5’ 10” respectively
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Crimson Red
Complexion: Fair
Body Type: Athletic
Voice Type: Baritone, Mezzo-Soprano respectively
Blood Type: AB+
Astral Sign: Auxera

Combat Style: Combination of Hard and Soft
Adaptability Ratio: 10

Personality: The personality of the Crimson Twins is nigh impossible to describe, but one must try.

Shadow’s personality is one of mystery, though it becomes quite clear very quickly that he is prone to acts of unprovoked violence simply because he enjoys it. Shadow has always enjoyed violence and the sight of blood spilling from the human body, an unnatural infatuation instilled in him by the Grandmaster of Te’i Sai. His surgical precision with a blade means he can cause whatever kind of damage he wants whenever he wants, and he’s quite fond of opening arteries to watch the blood pour from the body. He is sadistic, merciless, and cares absolutely nothing for the lives of other human beings save for that of his sister whom he is protective of as his only living relative.

Era’s personality is a little more obvious and defined than her brother’s. Era appreciates the finer things in life and has a penchant for jewelry though she never wears it on missions. She enjoys things that help one relax such as charms which bring “tranquility,” “harmony,” “peace,” and “passion.” Even though she is just as ruthless as her brother in combat, outside of battle she is more agreeable and actually has a sense for humanity as she was not raised in isolation as he was. She knows how to mix in with other people by using special eye drops to color her eyes brown so she can walk around in broad daylight without attracting unwanted attention. She even held a romance for a short time before Shadow put an end to it at the order of the Grandmaster.

Strengths: The Demons which inhabit the very souls of the Crimson Twins grant them inhuman strength, speed, agility, flexibly, endurance, stamina, and their senses are greatly heightened. They can selectively isolate the sounds they wish to hear from the outside noise, giving them the ability to hear a pin drop over fifty meters away even during the height of the day in a crowded marketplace. They can see in the dark as easily and perfectly as in the daylight, and they can smell even the faintest of aromas which also lets them smell human pheromones so they can tell even without seeing where other people are around them beyond walls and around building corners. They can taste the changes in air density as moisture either increases or recedes, giving them the ability to predict the weather and make adjustments on the fly to their strategies. And finally, their sense of touch is sensitive enough to detect minute vibrations in the ground which functions similarly and cooperatively with their sense of smell to detect where other people are around them through walls and around building corners.

Weaknesses: Unknown

Quirks: Shadow and Era both have an unnatural attraction to combat, but only Shadow is unnaturally attracted to the idea of watching blood spill from the bodies of his victims.

Likes: Solitude, nature, completing their missions
Dislikes: Crowded areas, other Assassins, and surprises

Special Talents/Traits:

Shadow, when exposed to both the scent of his own blood as well as the blood of another enters a berserker state known as Roda I’l Lousta. In this state he no longer distinguishes between friend and foe, innocent or guilty, and will kill every living thing within his line of sight until nothing remains. In this state his already inhuman strength increases even further making him completely unstoppable until he exits the state once nothing living remains within his line of sight.

Equipment:

Shadow and Era both wear a set of armor made from a legendary and almost unaccessible metal known as Orichalcum.

Orichalcum is the single strongest substance ever known to exist on this Earth, and has no known equivalent or rival in the world. Even a modest blade crafted of this legendary metal is capable of slicing through the most finely crafted steel blade as if it were nothing but air. The downsides to this metal is that it is also incredibly heavy, making weapons and armor crafted of it impractical for use by normal people… but the Crimson Twins aren’t normal, are they? The other downside is that in order to forge anything out of it, one must use the heat of molten magma to bring it to a malleable state. Even the best blacksmith forges do not burn hot enough to bring it to such a state no matter how long it remains situated within it.

Shadow’s vambraces on his forearms both weigh approximately eighty pounds each making them weapons unto themselves and also give him extra protection when his jacket sleeves are rolled up. His greaves over his shins weigh just over one hundred and twenty pounds each. The armor in his boots are also made of Orichalcum, weighing around thirty pounds each despite being thin plates in the bottom of his boot souls and covering his toes. And lastly, Shadow’s belt buckle is made of Orichalcum and weighs fifteen pounds.

Era’s armor is more modest, and crafted to be a bit thinner than her brother’s but is nonetheless just as potent in its durability and ability to protect her. Her breasts are covered by an Orichalcum breastplate, and she wears vambraces and greaves nearly identical to those her brother wears. The final piece of her Orichalcum armor ensemble is her hair band, an unlikely piece of “armor” but nonetheless it is made of Orichalcum and weighs around eight pounds.

The final piece of the Crimson Twins ensemble is that both of them carry a pair of Twin Daggers hand crafted from Orichalcum by Shadow himself. They are of a simple design, but they are more than enough to get the job done right every time and are so sharp and finely folded that they can slice through even other, less well made, Orichalcum weaponry. The two pairs of daggers are respectfully, and affectionately, named “The Twins.”

* Training History: The training history for the Crimson Twins varies quite greatly between the two which is why they ended up as two very different people.

Shadow’s training began the day he learned to walk. By that time in his life he was already smart enough to mimic those who looked after him, and the first things they taught him to do was to hold a knife and use it in a stabbing fashion. In order for him to prove that he was worthy of training on a higher level than other Assassins, he was thrown into a pit as a one year old and made to fight and kill other infants who had also been trained to hold a blade. The blades were small and light weight, and it made the “fights” between these babies all the more brutal and long lived. It was a sick game meant to weed out the weak among those who were meant for something more within the organization, and Shadow excelled on all levels. By the time he was only two years old he had already killed over one hundred other infants who had been thrown in the pit against him.

By the time he was three and capable of training on a more sophisticated level he was being trained directly by the Grandmaster of Te’i Sai. Day one of his training under the Grandmaster pushed his young and underdeveloped body to its breaking point and the boy couldn’t train again for over a week until his body healed. However, such repeated torturing hardened his body and mind and within the span of four months he had grown used to the harsh reality of his new life. During these early years of training he was isolated from all other people and hidden away in a little room with nothing but a bed and a chair for company. The only human being he knew was his Master, and it whenever the boy was brought out for training all other Assassins were given the order to clear his path so as not to be seen. They didn’t want the boy thinking that he was one of them.

On his fifth birthday he was introduced to his sister, Era, but their meeting didn’t go over well. The first thing the two did was fight, and the Grandmaster had to break the fight up personally as the other Assassins weren’t fast enough to catch up to the rapidly moving and combating twins. When it was over, both of them had bloody lips and bruised faces, and the Grandmaster saw immediately that these were no ordinary children. Their eyes had been a clue up until that point, but no proof of any exceptional talent had been observed until that moment. When the Grandmaster factored in that these were other Master Assassins who were failing to keep pace with the quarreling twins, the possibilities became endless. It was at that moment that he gave them their names of Shadow and Era, a play on the concept of the world falling into an era of darkness with the advent of their abilities unleashed.

Shadow’s training was intensified upon his sixth birthday until once again his body couldn’t keep up with the Grandmaster’s regimen. Once he had acclimated himself to it, it was intensified again, and again, and again. By his seventh birthday he was already just as powerful and much, much faster than even the best Master Assassins within the organization. When Shadow and his sister turned eight years old, they were deployed against the Cre’ Itian Royal Guard to display the extent of their prowess. In just one night they killed all four hundred Royal Guards and left the city painted red with blood through nearly every street and alleyway leading up to the front doors of Castle Cre’ Est. Upon the dawn of the next morning they were found standing on the church cross holding the heads of the two most prominent members of the Royal Guard. They tossed the heads into the crowds below and disappeared without a trace.

Shadow’s training from that point on was on an ever increasing level of difficulty to push the limits of what even his Demonic soul could achieve. Eventually it reached the stage where even the Grandmaster was no longer able to create anything more difficult for him and Shadow’s training was officially complete by the time he was only twelve years old. The rest of his life up until this point has been spent on missions and accomplishing deeds the likes of which the world has never seen. His prowess alone is astronomical, but when paired with his sister there is literally no such thing as even a tiny sliver of hope. Nothing short of divine intervention can save someone once both Crimson Twins have their sights set on them.

Era’s training began much more similarly to that of a normal Assassin’s, and as opposed to the training her brother received it was much more humane until she was introduced to her brother at age five. After the two finished their fight and the Grandmaster separated them, she too was trained exclusively by the Grandmaster on ever increasing levels of difficulty until she too had surpassed even the Grandmaster’s creativity. Alongside her brother at age twelve, she completed her Assassin training and became an operative alongside her brother often working together with him. However, she insisted on doing things by herself quite often and only worked with her brother out of necessity and that was not very often. But when it happened, the job was already done even if the world hadn’t caught onto it yet.

Biography: The history of the Crimson Twins is shrouded in mystery. It is a story of deceit, brutality, and tragedy. The horror of the Crimson Twins escapes the comprehension of the human mind, which has been etched and sculpted to believe in mediocrity and contentment. The true depth of their suffering eclipses that of any who have come before or will ever come again, yet they persist and thrive in this world of never-ending darkness. In order for one to understand the Crimson Twins and the depth of their tragic lives, one must travel back to the very beginning.

The birth of the one named Shadow marked the beginning of an era. He was born on the night of September 28, 550 at the very moment the sun descended beyond the horizon to awaken the night. At first he seemed a stillborn, neither affirming nor denying life. No breath, no open eyes, nothing. Then as if by magic he stirred from his silence and as his eyes opened the dimly lit room was engulfed in red light. His mother, her handmaidens, and the doctor overseeing the birth all stared in wonder and horror at what the child’s eyes brought to the world and of what it could mean. When his sister, Era, was born not more than one hour later, hope remained that her brother’s shining eyes were one of a kind. That hope vanished as her eyes opened to reveal the same crimson flare which her brother’s eyes brought.

The twins were taken to an isolated room where the doctor invited several of his colleagues to examine the children. When they concluded the examination they had found no logical reason why the children’s eyes glowed with such a strange bioluminescence, and so the explanation fell to the church to decide. It was eventually agreed to that the children had been possessed by Demons in the womb and that the only way to protect and save their souls was to destroy their possessed bodies. However, one of the doctor’s colleagues did not see things this way and killed all in the room before spiriting the children away into the night. The two children were never heard from again by their mother nor any who were present during the birthing, and the entire affair of their glowing red eyes was kept a tight lipped secret from that day on.

So where were the children taken?

The answer lies in the myths and legends of Te’i Sai, a ruthless Assassin organization founded thousands of years ago as guardians of order over the blind sheep that are the people of Cre’ Est.

So begins...

The Crimson Twins's Story

Seen 48 Times • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-08 01:46:32, as written by Rarikou

Scarlet had surveyed the proceedings with interest. Clearly the twins weren’t as… unified? No , that wasn’t the right world… as close knitted as much of the world seemed to think. Perhaps there was something of use there. Just as she had been about to whisper words to defend the girl, she was surprised to find out that she could speak of herself. She hadn’t seen that coming.

As her objections continued, Scarlet finally decided it was time to speak of. “I can always set up a post out of the way for her… I always thought that the TEC could run an inn or something along those lines. I wouldn’t object to putter her in charge of it. If you need her to do anything shadier, come to me instead… I’m fine with getting my hands a little…or rather, a lot, dirty.” She said.

“Well, let’s get our newly injured twin back into the building, shall we?” She says as she claps her hands once, then goes over to help bring her in .”Who knows? Maybe she’ll become social and realizes that we’re not misfits… pride DOEs come before a fall after all, and she has enough pride for all of us.” She says, allowing herself the slightest of laughs

As she walks, she passes Archie with the slightest of steps. “I’m willing to forgive the whole thing about you stalking me, so give me a hand with getting your crush in, shall we?” She says. There is, of course, no concrete proof that he likes the girl, more of a guess and a desire to take a stab at the man who had bust in Linde’s store claiming she was a criminal. There was nothing else to do at this point but for them to shut up, at least for now. Bad blood meant bad business, and Scarlet could not afford bad Business at this time.

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-08 16:30:12, as written by Beeps

Truthfully she hadn't been paying that close of attention to the exchange between the two redheads, mostly because it didn't concern her and she was waiting for a relay from Z'taro. Though she was figuring now that perhaps their bickering should matter to her. If she was going to be working with, or rather, if these people were going to potentially play key parts in her survival then she should at least learn more about them.

Archie she knew, sort of. He had visited the inn a few times and travelers were always swapping stories of their Red Wanderer sightings. Her own opinion of him was that he was an eccentric and maybe slightly goofy but what she saw of him was sheltered. People tended to let loose and relax at the BBB, she honestly had no idea what he was truly like outside of those elements.

Remiella she had heard of, or at least heard of. A native of Triveila as well and most Triveilans knew of and have either traded with or at least shopped at their stores. A rival family of sorts to the Oorodans, at least that was word on the street. If the twins really killed members of the family, she couldn't help but wonder if this Remiella played a part in it. If so, she would need to watch her back and keep certain secrets well locked away. Another thing she would have to discuss with Z'taro in case his lips proved to be as loose as his wits.

That still left the question as to why they were fighting. She gathered enough that there had to be some sort of unsavory interaction before this forced togetherness. It seemed her chance at finding out more grew when Red seized her hand, forcibly putting her on 'his' side. Grey would prefer to be neutral and would state as much given the chance, but at least she didn't have to walk into the unknown alone.

Leaving Z'taro to stew over her words, she allowed herself to be drug along side Archie for a few steps before pulling out of his grip. "I've been man handed enough for one day, if you don't mind." Once free, she matched his struggled pace, though not without struggle from her short battered legs. A thousand questions bubbled on her lips, but she only let one spill out for now, "Do you trust these people? These... Demons?"

Grey, so far, didn't trust any of them. They were all strangers and even though she knew Red a little, he was still very much as stranger in this scenario. And true, she had spend over a week in close quarters with Z'taro, but everything she did know about him was unsettling. The twins were erratic and brutal and possibly mentally unstable not to mention probably evil. The Remiella family seemed trustworthy enough, as far as appearances went, but something told Grey that was not the case with with woman. The other one, the Doctor, seemed to be the most normal of them all but there was an eerie calm about her that suggested there was much more to her than just stitches and bandages.

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-08 22:26:21, as written by bfb_monster

It couldn't be real. They couldn't be the real demons. Demons was nothing more than mere fiction, a tale mothers made up to scare their kids. But then again, how could a human ever have been able to break a rock like that. It could be some kind of potion that made a person stronger, it did exist, Z'taro had even possessed one himself. But the body still wouldn't be able to handle the trauma, any humans leg would have been crushed completely in an impact like that, although a real life demon was just as impossible. However it seemed to be the only possibility, it was the only thing he could think of that would make everything from the way she broke that boulder to the finger in his guts. He hadn't even realized that until the other demon broke him out of his shock. The pain didn't hit him before the female demon backed of and pulled her finger out. It was at the same time that he realized that the resent events had twisted his broken arm into a rather awkward position. Somehow he managed to avoid screaming out.

There was another feeling growing in him as Gray had her 'conversation' with the Red-Eyed demon. Something far more horrible than pain, something Z'taro hadn't felt in a long time and it was shaking him to his core. Fear. He was terrified of the two supernatural beings. If he hadn't received the River Of Blood's appreciation Z'taro was convinced he could have offed at least one of them, with the poison on his knifes it would only require a small cut. But now, now with a broken arm and a leg halfway there he wouldn't even stand a chance, something the Witch had made quite the point of. All this meant he had no control over anything, not even his own life, and to be honest, it was being so much at others will that terrified him. Of course the demons scared him, even so much that he didn't even hear the Red-eyed demon compliment him.

The fight woke him back up from his second shock in less than an hour. The loud noises from trees and bodies hitting the ground gave him an excellent opportunity to reset his hand without anyone noticing his cry of pain. The hole in his stomach was another story, he had used a piece of his already shredded shirt as bandage, but he would have to stitch it up as soon as possible. Maybe that doctor lady had some needles, he would have to ask her later. Grey spoke to him, but what she said was such nonsense that he didn't even bother to answer, she should have realized that the entire payment rested on her return. Miss Oorodan had made that quite clear.

Z'taro waited outside for a while, searching the area around the cottage for a couple sticks to splint his arm. The battle between the demons had knocked down quite a few trees so it wasn't really a hard task. The hard part was tying them to his arm alone. Unfortunately the only rope he had available was more shreds from his shirt. Whatever the material it was made of proved itself to be a less than satisfying rope, but it did the job well enough and by the time Z'taro followed the rest of the party into the hideout a rough looking splint was on his arm. "Excuse me miss? You wouldn't happen to posses a spare needle and maybe even some tread?" Z'taro approached the medical lady working on the demons. Everyone else in there he ignored. Including the Red-Eyed demon. Right now he really didn't feel like confronting the most powerful of the twins.

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-09 03:36:52, as written by KumoriRyuu

The night is overcome by a sense of overwhelming dread, and I dare not remain out beyond a certain hour. My father says that even in his prime he would not risk the wrath of what lies in the shadows of our world today. I can only pray that the Gods bring a swift end to this nightmare.

Linde completed her work on the Ruby-Eyed Witch, which was just a few bandages and some pain medication when Z'taro asked her about needles. She turned her head to look at him, her face betraying her sense of helplessness in the presence of the Crimson Twins. She was normally a very strong individual and could hold her own against just about anyone, but in their presence, she felt like nothing.

"I can assist you with your wounds. Have a seat please," she asked, gesturing to a bed nearby.

Once Z'taro had seated himself, she walked over to him and had him lie down flat on his back. Arms and legs were straightened, with some help from her, and she sat down next to him and began to gently use her thumbs to feel the bones in his arm leading to the break. His pain was apparent the closer she got, so she stopped and pulled out a special needle from the bracelet on her right arm. It was thin, long, and not meant for sewing.

"You'll feel a small pinch for a moment, but the pain will vanish almost instantly." She reassured him.

She used the trace a line down his arm just below the end of his deltoid muscle, and then poked his flesh. The jab was very quick, and true to her word there was a single moment of pain and then... nothing.

"I have temporarily paralyzed your arm to all sensation. I can reset your bones properly now."

She got to work, closing her eyes and again using her thumbs to feel his bones. Every line of the break was obvious to her trained sensation of touch, and she carefully pushed each one back to where it was meant to be. It took a few minutes, but when she was finished she set his arm in a proper splint and made sure it was tight and ready to resume function.

"Alright. When I restore your arm you'll feel a severe soreness, but it should be manageable once I give you some basic painkiller. But do avoid extraneous movements," she said.

She used her needle to poke his arm again, slowly restoring feeling to it and she moved on.

She attended to the wound on his stomach, stitching it carefully before moving to his leg. She used the same technique of applying pressure with her thumbs to find the areas most affected, and she found out that his leg was out of place as well as fractured. She repositioned her body on top of his, pressing her knee against his hip joint and using both hands on his opposite hip. She thrust forward with her knee and pulled back with her hands, popping the hip all the way back into its proper socket with a very loud 'CRACK' echoing through the room.

That was definitely going to hurt, but it would all be worth it in the end for him. Now that it was back in place a lot of the pain would be relieved over the next few days compared to what it would be like leaving it out like that. She made sure to give him an anti-inflammatory patch which would seep into his skin and muscles over the next few hours to help his muscles around the break to return to their original size and shape and stop putting unnecessary pressure on the fractured bone to relieve further pain. Once she was finished, she sat up and let out a breath.

"All right, that should do. Stay in bed for the next six to eight hours and everything should set properly but leave the splint on your arm for at least five days. I'll see if I can't get my hands on something to help increase the bonding time for your bones, but don't hold your breath all right?"

No sooner had she said that than the Ruby-Eyed Witch opened her eyes and sat up with a small wince. Linde walked over to her and sat down next to her, letting out a small sigh through her nose.

The Witch looked at her for a moment and then beckoned her to follow as she got up and walked back outside. They walked out together and the Witch beckoned her closer to make sure that she was watching the door. Nobody would interfere with or hear anything in this conversation unless she gave them leave to do so. Her brother was inside, blocking the door anyone so if anyone was curious about anything the two of them were talking about they'd have to ask him to move.

"Miss Almna, I apologize for the performance earlier. I watched you during my fight with my brother, and you seemed to be the only one not surprised or amazed by what we did. Why is that?"

"... I have no answers for that question."

The Witch smiled.

"That's all right. I do," the Witch said as she leaned in closer.

"I'm starting to see why my brother wants you around miss Almna. When you analyzed my brother and dressed his earlier wounds... you saw it didn't you?" She asked.

"Saw what?"

"You know what I'm speaking of miss Almna. I can see it in your eyes. You saw what my brother truly is. When you examined his eyes while he was unconscious you saw everything. The burning, the rage, the unquenchable lust for blood. I know you saw it miss Almna. You're actually the first person to have ever seen it aside from me... I suppose congratulations are in order," she said with a smile.

"I don't see why that's worth congratulating," Linde retorted.

"Oh, but it is. Not one person has ever seem my brother for what he truly is. Not one, except for you. Nobody in that room has truly seen him, not even the Remiella girl, who seems to otherwise be the most perceptive of the group thus far, was able to see past the facade that my brother puts out at all times. You're the only one who knows what he is, so you must understand why I had to do what I did earlier,"

Linde was silent for a moment, but then she lowered her eyes.

"... You had to quench the Demon's lust for struggle," she said quietly.

The Ruby-Eyed Witch nodded.

"Yes, I did. My brother and I are as close as two people can get without romantic attachment, but when the Demon's need for combat rises I must take the fall to ensure that my brother remains in control. Another problem with my brother is that when the scent of his blood and the blood of others combines around him, he enters a berserker state known as Roda I'l Lousta where his inner Demon takes full control of his body. During this state, he kills literally everything that draws any kind of breath within his line of sight and it's impossible to stop him as the Demon adds even more power to the already incredible strength he possesses."

The Witch backed away a step, crossing her arms.

"If I do not step in to satisfy the Demon's desire for conflict, the death count across the continent would skyrocket. That was the purpose of our fight earlier, but I ask that you not tell anyone about that. Let them believe that we are conflicted. The Remiella woman especially will likely seek to try and take advantage of our struggle for her own gain, as seems to be her only motivation in life these days. She tried to get my brother to kill the entire Oorodan family in Triveila so that she could take power as her family used to be in charge, but my brother only let her believe he accomplished that task. The heir is alive and well, and under our protection from her and others that would see him dead."

Linde was a bit surprised, and upon seeing this the Witch knew she'd said too much.

"I will leave you to your own devices now, but remember that you may not tell anyone what I have told you here today. My brother's condition is now not only my responsibility, but yours as well. The fact that we are unified is also a secret to be kept, as the conflict that we allow the others to see makes us seem more human and that sets their hearts at ease whether they know it or not. Right now the situation surrounding all of you is one of extreme delicacy, and my brother and I are doing our best to ensure that they are not overwhelmed to the point of losing control of their ability to think clearly. We will give them three days to rest, but then we must leave this place as our little underground fortress will not remain a secret for long. Soon enough it will be discovered, and we need everything to be moved out by then so I need your cooperation in this endeavor. Every secret about us that you know must remain just that, a secret. Can I trust you with this?"

"... Yes," Linde responded.

The Witch smiled, and it was a surprisingly sweet and genuine smile. The Ruby-Eyed Witch was in fact very beautiful when she wasn't scowling or arguing with others, and it made Linde feel a little more at ease seeing her acting a bit more... normal. The Witch put a gentle hand on Linde's shoulder.

"Thank you, miss Almna. I place my brother's secret in your hands, and you must protect it with your life. If the others found out about this condition, they'd likely try to kill him for 'the greater good.' We can't let that happen. He's the only one who has the strength and the determination to overcome what is trying to destroy the world you and I know."

Linde nodded, and the two women returned to the others in silence, entering with the Witch looking the same as when she left, scowling and giving her brother an evil glare as he did the same to her. However, it was a silent understanding between them as to what was going on. Even he knew of his inner Demon and the sacrifices his sister made to keep it in check. They let the others believe they were at odds, as none of them would have been able to see through their disguise. The Crimson Twins were unreadable, and if they wanted everyone to believe that they were at odds then they'd believe they were at odds. Even Scarlet, one of the most perceptive of the group, would see only what they let her see.

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-09 07:05:40, as written by CabbageAngel

Archie went to slick his hair back, but as soon as his broken finger came into contact with his scalp he jolted. Slowly and carefully, he patted his hair down and tried to pull off a shrug. Real smooth, Red Wanderer, real smooth. He huffed and slowed down his pace for Grey to match his with ease.

"Trust them?" He repeated back and tilted his head to think. The answer was so clear he didn't want to say it. No, no he did not trust them. He wasn't so sure he felt safe around them either. Now that the adrenaline had worn off and the reality of the situation was setting in, they felt, well, too real. They were a fantasy to him, and for that fantasy to come out of the blue and say, Hey, we need your help, it was too good to be true. Too good to be true... that's right, everything felt very suspicious.

And then there was the way the very, very familiar looking Ruby-Eyed Witch hurt Z'taro just because he questioned her identity. Archie himself had his identity questioned before, but he never... stabbed somebody with his finger about it. Showed off to prove it, maybe, but never lost it like she did. In fact, he enjoyed the expression on a person's face when they discover that they are in the presence of a story they presumed to be fiction. It was refreshing. So really, did he trust them?

"I don't trust them at all," Archie declared after ten seconds thought, "I don't trust them to say nice things about me - in front of me or while I'm around, I don't trust them not to use me as a throwaway rag, and I especially do not trust them to consider my opinions on the things we are about to do." He stopped and turned to Grey momentarily, putting a finger up in the way somebody does when they are about to say something 'wise'.

"But I do expect, not trust, expect them to try and keep me alive. I can't trust them not to beat the crap out of me every once and a while, but I can expect them to keep us alive." He winked at her and her and did a little secret smile, "They do need us, after all. There's not an awful lot of us, so I'm expecting that they think of us as important. You too, Stoney."

He and Grey made their way inside, Archie hovering over Grey's shoulder protectively just in case that Scarlet should come in and try to snatch her away from him. She already had Linde wrapped around her finger, and if she befriended anyone else that would be... bad. Archie stared at the Ruby-Eyed Witch from across the room nervously. She did indeed look very, very familiar... he decided to keep his mouth shut about it. There was zero way he would ever bring that up. It was his secret shame, and what if she turned out that she wasn't...? And if Scarlet knew, especially after she suggested that he had a crush on the witch, that would destroy him. Archie noticed that he was sweating and he walked over the room towards Linde, trying to distract himself.

"So, you do... healing things?" He asked dully, then pointed at Grey across the room. "Do you think you can help us all out here?"

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-09 19:29:46, as written by KumoriRyuu

Linde walked inside and took a moment to collect herself. What the Witch had said was a lot to take in. The fight she had with her brother was just her trying to protect him from himself, as well as the rest of them from whatever it was he became. It was true that Linde had seen the quiet storm behind his eyes, and that she had figured out there was something more to him... Something... God-like, about him. That hidden storm, the suppressed lust for blood and violence, and power just waiting to emerge from behind those normally quiet though frightening eyes. It was horrifying to contemplate what she had said, that he became even more powerful and completely unstoppable in that stat of Roda I'l Lousta.

However, she was brought out of her thoughts when the red head walked over and asked if she could take care of Gray.

Linde walked over to the young woman and asked her to sit down. She asked where her pain was, and was glad to know that despite her beaten state she had only soreness and general symptoms of short term post traumatic stress. In the short term, it caused weariness, sometimes dizziness as it had during the wagon ride, and general fatigue. Overall the girl was in good health, though looking like she had been put under a stampeding herd of wild horses. Linde gave her a mild sedative to ease her pain and had her lie down in a separate bed in a nearby adjoining room to the main room to give her some privacy before returning to Archie.

She had him sit down as well, and she began checking him for signs of injury and her eyes were immediately draw to his broken finger. She took out a needle identical to the one she'd used on Z'taro and poked his arm at the midpoint of his forearm, numbing his hand so he couldn't feel anything she was about to do.

"You won't feel the majority of this, but it will still be uncomfortable," she warned.

She grabbed his broken finger in her right hand and his wrist in her left, and gave a single jerk to straighten the finger out, hard. A loud 'Crack' cut through the air, but it was over as quickly as it had started. She wrapped and splinted his finger, and finally had a moment to herself to breathe and sit down. She chose to do so at a table in the corner of the room, laying her head in the crook of her arm as she closed her eyes and let out a small sigh of relief. It had been a long day.

Her home... Her place of business... They were gone. She had nothing left now. Her family? She didn't know. Was her mother alive? Did she make it out? What of her younger brother? Was he safe? She didn't know the answers, and the thought of knowing almost frightened her. If they were alive, were they unharmed or did they suffer the same fate as others in that they burned before escaping? Or perhaps caught by Roda Ah K'mht and beaten as she was? It was all so horrifying and fatiguing, and before she knew it Linde and slipped into unconsciousness.

The Red-Eyed Demon took notice of this, and walked over to her table to pick her up. Once in his arms, the Witch opened a door to another room and let him set her on the bed inside before he exited the room and closed the door.

The Twins both advised everyone to find a room and get some rest, as they'd be allowed three days down time to recover before it was time to move on once again. The Twins left the two from Te'i Sai behind to guard the entrance, but disappeared to take care of other business.

Now, it was all up to these mismatched individuals to aid the Crimson Twins in a struggle they still knew next to nothing about. The only known factors were Roda Ah K'mht, Te'i Sai, and the fact that these two warring superpower Assassin organizations could destroy the continent which they all called home. Not much to go on, but it was a start.

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-11 19:47:42, as written by KumoriRyuu

The days passed, three, to be precise.

During that time they had moved all of their supplies out of the underground fortress to another safe location the Twins had in waiting on the border of Cre' Est and Triveila. They'd be going there next, which would be a six day trip via the wagons. The others didn't seem too happy for the most part, but at this point the Twins were giving them no choice in the matter. Not until they reached their destination. According to the Twins, once they reached their destination and resupplied and finished everyone's recovery, then they'd be free to go about their business. However, the Twins would be back to call on them if they needed something. They were only two people, after all, and keeping track of the supplies while simultaneously managing outside resources and assets beyond the group here was something they'd need help with. The few from Te'i Sai who were loyal to the Twins would be helping, but mostly from a distance as they couldn't risk being seen close to these people or the enemy would know right away that these people were enemies too.

When they set out via the wagons, the Twins both ran ahead to ensure the safety of the destination. The two of them could run at speeds of over thirty miles per hour indefinitely without stopping or getting tired, and they would reach the safe house in less than three days compared to the wagon's pace which would be six days. That left everyone with only the two Te'i Sai Assassins loyal to the Twins to guide the wagons and make sure that everyone was safe along the way. They weren't worried about bandits or anyone of the sort who was 'normal,' they were worried about other Te'i Sai Assassins so they dressed in normal clothing to throw off any passing operatives of the organization who might have otherwise recognized them in their robes. Each one led a wagon, with the others having organized themselves in the backs to keep out of sight by day. By night, they were allowed to get out and stretch their legs and do what they pleased, but by day they were back in the wagons.

It was an uncomfortable trip to be sure, but conversation amongst the group yielded some decent conversation... for the most part. Obviously certain people had to be kept in separate wagons, namely Archie and Scarlet. They weren't allowed to ride together.

Over the course of six further days they finally arrived at the safe house which again was disguised from the outside world as a run down and abandoned log cottage. The cottage itself was in decent shape on the outside, but just like with the one in the forest this one was an underground mini-fortress with plenty of rooms for those who stayed, a weapons storage unit, food and water supplies, recreation area to help keep fit, and a lounge for relaxation. The surrounding area was a clearing as far as the eye could see so nobody could sneak up on the place, plus it was on a hill which held the high ground. The outside was kept looking mildly run down to give the illusion there was nobody there, and the Twins had been very careful to avoid being seen near it at all times so as not to let Te'i Sai or Roda Ah K'mht know it was there.

The first night when the group arrived, the Te'i Sai Assassins urged them to rest and perhaps enjoy a workout to make sure that their muscles hadn't atrophied during their trip. Even when they were allowed outside at night they weren't allowed to practice with weapons or practice whatever combat forms they knew as it would attract the wrong kind of attention as they were on the beaten path traveled by numerous people. Now that they were here at the safe house with an underground recreation area, they could work out to restore their bodies to peak condition as it held top of the line equipment and areas dedicated to just about every physical activity the human body was capable of performing.

Linde was the first to try it, and left the group to go practice on her own. When she went to the recreation area she changed into a different outfit from her norm. She wore a purple crop top, cut away just below her breasts which showed the musculature of her stomach and lower back. It was more for breathability and personal comfort than functionality, as she didn't like working out with a full top on. She wore shorts as well, and had changed from her usual wooden sandals to a pair of normal shoes which the Assassins had provided her. She tied her hair back in a ponytail after having let it simply fall behind her most of the trip, and took a breath as she began jogging around the track in the recreation area. It was a look half a mile long which wrapped around the rest of the facilities.

She lost track of time as she went about her jog. She was thinking about a good number of things, but mainly what had been said to her about Scarlet. According to the Witch, Scarlet was out for power and was obviously considered to be a dangerous person tot he Twins if they were watching her like this. She had already gone three laps when she remembered something else that she had been meaning to think about for a while, and that was what she was going to do next. Her home was gone, her Apothecary was destroyed, and she had nowhere to go anymore. She wasn't even sure if her family was still alive back in Valkyom. She finished her fourth lap, checking the clock in the corner of the room to see how long she'd been jogging. She'd jogged four laps around a half mile track for a total of two miles in just under twelve minutes. Slightly under six minutes per lap, but it felt like an eternity.

She grabbed her towel and wiped off the sweat from her brow before she checked the rest of the facilities.

There was a station with weighs for just about every mechanical motion one could imagine. The first on her list was actually just an open area where she found a rope with two handles tied on each end. The Assassins told her it was called a 'Jump Rope,' and that it was meant to work on stamina and the smaller fast twitch muscles in the calves. Holding the handles in both hands, she let it dangle behind her before swinging it forward and around before jumping over it as it passed close to her feet. She stopped after the first jump, feeling a little awkward about this motion. It was new, and not something she'd ever seen done before. She did it again, stopping after five. Then again, stopping after ten. As she got used to it she finally started going until she decided that it'd be best not to stop until she screwed up or became too tired to continue.

She stayed on the jump rope for almost twenty minutes before finally stopping and breathing heavily. She bent forward, hands on her knees as she fought to get her breath back. It was an amazingly effective method of getting the blood pumping to an extent that she dared say it was as good if not better than jogging. With her warm up out of the way, it was time to start stretching. She started with the side splits, going all the way down and basically laying face down as she reached her hands all the way out above and in front of her body. Her torso flattened against the ground, and she slowly turned her body to the right to the front splits, holding for ten seconds then moving to the left side. She had almost perfect flexibility, and hadn't lost any since the trip despite nine days of not stretching out. When finished with her stretching she went to each station in turn, with one of the Assassins coming down to assist her, teaching her how each one worked and what muscles they focused on.

It was no wonder they had become so strong, as they had found rather inventive ways of working both the large and small muscle groups in equal measure to ensure their bodies were perfectly balanced to allow them to achieve maximum efficiency in combat. Not only that, but he even agreed to spar with her to demonstrate some of Te'i Sai's personal combat style. This would come in handy, as knowing an enemy's style of combat was a huge bargain in actual combat situations. If you could predict their movements, even if they were stronger and better trained you stood a much better chance of surviving. Linde didn't do too well in the sparring match, being completely outclassed by this Assassin but even he had to admit that she was much stronger and more skilled than she looked outwardly. She was beautiful, slender, and decently athletic, but still to most men her size or larger she didn't look like she could put up a fight.

When Linde was finished with the sparring match, she thanked the Assassin for his help and grabbed her towel to wipe herself off. He directed her to the bathing area, where she closed the door and stripped down to sit in a nice hot bath tub to soak away her troubles. The hot water felt amazing after the long trip and the workout which was leaving her sore and exhausted. She'd need to eat something soon as well to restore her body's protein levels and give her muscles the best chance to recover and begin building. When one worked out and didn't consume proper nutrition, they basically worked out for nothing as their bodies would eat away at the proteins in their muscles and cause damage rather than a build in strength.

She wondered if the others in the group who seemed to take pride in their strength and skills knew that little medical fact?

Setting

Cre' Est

Characters Present

Tag Characters » Add to Arc »

0.00 INK

#2014-10-21 01:34:55, as written by KumoriRyuu

Shadow and Era made their way to the edge of the clearing where they met with one of their scouts. He'd been on the move for five days now and had just returned to report in.

"So what have you learned?" Era asked.

"My lady, I learned that Te'i Sai is still in shambles trying to replace the Grandmaster after his death at master Shadow's hand. From what I hear, the Wraiths have been summoned to deal with the issue."

Both Era and Shadow's eyebrows furrowed and they shared a knowing glance.

"If they are involved then this just got more complicated," she told him.

"Not to mention more dangerous," Shadow confirmed.

"That's not all. I also learned that Roda Ah K'mht has been on the move since the incident and that they've already taken over half of Triveila. Their operatives are walking the streets in broad daylight like kings oppressing and degrading the people at every opportunity. It was painful not to intervene, but I knew I had to refrain or I would have been killed."

Era nodded.

"Anything else we should know?"

"Yes, my lady. They have officially declared war on you two specifically. They know that master Shadow is wounded, and they will be coming for him in force when next he shows himself wherever it may be. Their operatives have spread throughout Triveila in vast numbers like the plague, and they'll be ready for you no matter where you go."

Era smiled.

"So they think they're capable of defeating Shadow just because of a few burns and cuts eh?"

Shadow's face remained emotionless, but Era knew what was going on inside his head and she couldn't help but chuckle.

"Very well, please continue your scouting and report back at the end of the week. Keep a low profile, and be sure to avoid conflict wherever possible."

"Yes, my lady... But if I may ask, why has master Shadow not looked away from the horizon?"

Era looked at her brother, who was indeed staring at the horizon.

"... Don't worry about him, just get moving," she said.

"Yes, my lady. Farewell," he said as he disappeared.

Era watched him disappear, then turned to her brother.

"So brother, are you that angry?" She asked.

Shadow's eyes flashed briefly.

Era sighed.

"You can be just like a child sometimes brother, holding such a powerful grudge like this."

Shadow turned to look at her.

"You weren't the one who was blown up sister," he said in a low but powerful voice as his eyes flashed again.

Era smirked.

"True. Nobody has set off over one hundred pounds of explosives under my feet before. I'm amazed your body was strong enough to handle it, given how weak human flesh normally is," she said as her eyes glowed and churned like lava.

Shadow's eyes glowed to match.

"I am not surprised, as this body has been raised to its maximum durability. It cannot get any stronger than it is now. Nor can yours," He replied.

She nodded.

"Even with this body as strong as it can possibly be it's still only human. If both Te'i Sai and Roda Ah K'mht are coming after us full force, we cannot afford to use our normal tactics. As much as I hate to say it this is the time to use the Remeilla woman's assets to figure out our next move. Her network is bound to know at least something that our scouts haven't found out yet, seeing as we only have four active in the field at once."

Shadow nodded, and they both turn back to the hidden fortress, checking carefully in all directions before entering. Once inside, they made their way to Scarlet, who was conversing with the silent one. They stood by, waiting for them to finish their conversation before beckoning Scarlet over to them.

Seen 48 Times • Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3