"Apologies," Nogare said, bowing to Veldam. "I was wrong to judge what had happened before I was certain."

Then Nogare rose from his bow and turned to Sovelis. "Good..." Nogare murmured. "But after this, I won't let you keep those; I am a guard myself, and evading the law is not something that tend to enjoy." Then, he began to continue his walking, while still talking. This was a clue to the others that he was still in a hurry. "What will you be doing with those spells, my old friend?"

Veldam nods at Sovelis' comments about his skills, a smile slowly forming on his face. "Excellent. We could definitely use someone with skills like yours, buddy - er, Sovelis, was it?" With a shrug, he turns back towards the end of the hallway, past the side hall Sovelis had emerged from, and begins walking again. Shada comes up beside Sovelis, introducing herself to the Human and quickly giving a brief synopsis of the situation: a group of Sheikah assassins have infiltrated the castle, taken the king hostage (at the very least . . .), and locked the doorway. With some special info, they've learned one of the keys should be being guarded in the Triforce Tower.

At the end of the hallway, just as Horren had been saying, lies the Triforce Tower, where the legendary Triforce of Wisdom is kept safe and secure. An enormous structure, the base area is large enough for a party to be held for about a hundred people without getting uncomfortably stuffed. A staircase spirals around along the walls of the tower, with, as he'd said, enough room for five or so people to walk side-by-side without difficulty. It seems to go up incredibly high . . . and, unfortunately, they're going to need to scale all ten stories.

"Well, here goes nothing," Veldam mutters as he takes his first step and begins the long climb upward.

"Oohh... I'm going to kill that little..." Murmers Leth. "Ah, well. It can't be helped. Onward!" Then Sovelis stumbled into (insert name here, i forgot who it was that he stumbled into ) "So, sovelis. Where did you get the books. And isn't that stealing?" He asks as they ascend the long stairs.

Since his jump spell had already been worded, Nogare Grey's son leaped up from stair to stair. Whenever he landed, he would land on all fours just for better balance.

Nogare could feel the rumbling of warfare even as he shot fifteen feet into the air. He looked back to see how far back the others were. "Come!" he called out. "We cannot postpone!" he knew that they were as eager to get up to the tower as he was, but he knew that the encouragement was needed, for many had no hope, he could tell. And for good reason; the North Citadel was lost entirely, save for perhaps the king. But what would they do to save him? They could not simply retrace their steps and escape through that passage; they had to find their way out some other way. No matter what, it would be risky... nothing unexpected for war.

OOC: I found this picture of a Mage from FE:POT. He looks just like Fang, so I thought I would provide that.

IC: Fang flipped his hair out of his eyes, and listened in on the convorsations that were taking place. He was gathering more information on the situation than he had ever known before. His eyes widened with excitement. They think that the Tri-Force of Wisdom is safe... They have their guard down completely... Its so perfect... He tightened his fists in excitement, taking his first step on the staircase that was wisdom...

The staircase does indeed seem to spiral endlessly - it was meant to deteriorate the resolve and patience of anyone who would dare to approach the Triforce of Wisdom with the intention of evil. Certainly, Ganon seems to have found several ways around that little detail in days past, but the Hakiems don't exactly have much in the abilities of flying so it is more than likely that they were forced up this long, winding path.

After what seems like an eternity of climbing, Veldam glances at a candle on the wall. A grin breaks out on his face. "Hey! We've scaled a whole story! See? This candleholder's painted red rather than brown - that's how you can tell. Only nine more to climb!" Merrily he starts skipping up the stairwell, ignoring Shada's dropped jaw at the news. 'There has got to be a faster way up . . .' the female Sheikah finds herself thinking before she finally summons up more determination and continues following.

The monotony continues until they reach the fifth of these markers.

Upon reaching this point, a slow ringing can be heard coming from a bit further up. After a few more steps a new figure comes into view, wearing the traditional Hakiems' cloak as he sits up against one of the support pillars for the stairwell. Glancing up, he grins widely at the sight of the adventurers. "Ah, it's about time you all showed up!" The Hakiem leaps down from his position on the railing, continuing to twirl something around his finger. Abruptly, you realize that is a key on a metal chain, but his words call attention back to his face over his hands. "I am Karsis Leckmari, known throughout the Hakiems Tribe as 'The Suggester'. I hold in my hand - er, twirl around my hand - one of the two keys required to get through the locks on the throne room; if you want to save your precious kingy, then you'd better hurry up and get it from me . . . if you can."

His hand reaches behind his back, and when it once again emerges it begins twirling his newly retrieved spear around and around, spinning it with graceful speed. But suddenly the Hakiem grows serious, gripping it tightly and smashing it into the stairs. Cracks suddenly run wild throughout the area of stone that the group is currently standing on. Veldam's face grow glum as he shouts out, "Everybody move! This part's going to collapse!"

Karsis merely mimics Veldam's earlier skipping motion as he turns and heads further up the stairs.

OOC: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND FIGHT! (RP battle for now )

"Get that monster!" Nogare exclaimed, practically in a holler. "Rose, shoot him down, as well as any others who can shoot!" The knight drew his new blade, and charged up the stairwell with newfound energy. He commenced to jump fifteen feet at a time. He could see him ahead. He was catching up quickly, and knew that he had to take his chance. He was right above the Haikem when he pointed his spear down, and slashed his spear out as far as it could reach, expecting a splash of red ooze to spatter all over his face.

Sovelis stood back and cast a spell at the enemy Nogare had charged. "Elemental Burst!" he said as he focused his energies and cast his spell while slowly going up the stairs. Sovelis didn't know why, but hew could feel the presence of the Triforce in the tower above, its power called to him. "With that much power and wisdom, I could return home...." he thought out loud as he blasted spells of fire up the stairs after the foe.

Nogare should quickly learn that what one expects and what one gets are not always the same thing. Rather than having a red ooze cover his face, Nogare suddenly feels a strange sensation coming over him. The entire area appears dizzy . . . random objects seem to vanish or appear at random intervals . . . in the part of his mind that retains its sanity he should probably realize that he is hallucinating.

But there are two things he does not hallucinate about. The first is his spear hitting naught but the stone stairs beneath him, and the second is the voice tickling his ear. "I'm not called 'The Suggester' for nothing, you know," Moving with Sheikah speed he has deftly dodged the Hylian Knight's first attack, as well as snuck up behind him - though with the mental disorientation Nogare is experiencing, that second one isn't nearly as great of a feat.

Then Sovelis' Elemental Burst, taking on the element of Earth, lashes towards the Hakiem. Sidestepping out of its way, Karsis seems to think he has avoided it - until the shockwave of it exploding against the wall behind him hits, sending him into a tumble. He quickly transforms this into a somersault that finishes with him directly in front of the last Tempest, with his spear charging down to meet Sovelis' forehead.

"Nogare! Are you alright?" Sovelis shouted as he saw the Hakiem rush him"Do you want to die, little Sheikah? Sovelis raised his hand. "For the honor of the Tempest, I strike at thee! ELEMENTAL EXPLOSION!!!" Sovelis cast his strongest spell at the man running towards him, hoping the widespread power would stop the Hakiem before he reached him.

Fang was tired of walking. So much so that he was actually relieved to run into a battle along the way. When the Hakiem first appeared, Fang knew there was trouble. But wrapping his mind around the fact that he had a nickname, he knew that this guy was nothing to sneeze at. Fang's eyes began to glow a few seconds even before the fight was even declared. The mage levitated above the stairs, and looked down at the Hakiem. "Alright, Suggester... Allow me to make a suggestion of my own. When you go to hell, avoid the blood pit... Nasty beings thrive there..." Fang grinned to an eerie extent, one to which you would question what exactly went through the Mage's mind. Suddenly, and expression appeared on Fang's face... A look as if his best friend had just driven a blade through his heart... A look as if a part of him had just died... and another part had awakened.

Fang's whole personality seemed to change. He seemed not to lust for blood, nor to show off his powers. He seemed actually set on one thing. And then... Something happened that just didn't seem right no matter which way you viewed the issue. Darkness. Darkness began to pour from him as if it were a liquid source, spreading as it hit the floor, and dissipating. Fang's eyes began to glow more radiant than before. Fang's hands appeared from under his cloak, one pointing just down the spiraling staircase. Suddenly, the candles lighting the area behind them stopped burning. From where they fought, on up the stairs, the candles remained lit. But behind them... darkness...

Fang didn't cast his regular smirk upon the group, but rather, he replaced it with a serious frown. Then, his lips parted, and he spoke these words: "Nothing... Not even you... Will stand between me and what I desire..." Fang trusted his hands by his sides making his clothes flutter, which would be okay under normal circumstances. But there was no wind on the staircase... Only rage powered him at this point... Or perhaps a greater power was behind the mage. Whatever the case, he meant buisness... and he was about to give the meddling Hakiem all he could possibly take. Englulfing the rest of his group in a shield of darkness, he began forming multiple various hand signs that changed everytime his hands clashed together.

Fang Gengai's hands began to glow with an odd, yet familiar darkness. "Prepare for departure..." Fang spoke, a light voice cutting the air. Slowely, and softly, a rumbling was felt on the ground beneath the group. And then it grew stronger, and a noise was heard from the stairs above... The sound... of water... Rushing water shot down the stairs, flooding the stairway. Fang knew that his... aquaintances would be safe from the cascading waters under the dark shields placed on them. Fang intended to sweep the Hakiem out from under his feet, and down the stairs. During the commotion, Fang shouted over the waves, "Down in the darkness of the hallway below, your worst fears will come to life, and drag to the eternal pit of carnage and suffering commonly refered to as Hell...

OOC: Let me just say " "

Karsis rushes towards the Tempest, rolling his eyes as the Mage once again attempts to hit him with the magically charged blast. The black element of Shadow erupts forth from the powerful ball in his hands, which is soon launched at the Hakiem with all the skill of - in the Suggester's eyes - a pig trying to wield a blade. Even had the element not been of the Shadow element, that which Sheikah like Karsis are resistant towards, a midair dodge is a simple task for such expertly trained beings as the Hakiems Tribe.

This time, rather than being thrown off balance when Sovelis' attack hits, the blast exploding on the stairwell above them only serves to force Karsis downwards even faster, feeling the satisfying SMASH as his spear comes down on the Human's forehead.

And then suddenly there is darkness all around him, and a chill running through the air that emanates from the floating form of Fang. Karsis' eyes widen at the shadows that he finds the lower realm engulfed in. Then his hand reaches up and scratches his head. "Didn't think you were so desperate to get this key of mine. Doesn't sound at all like the Fang Gengai we've learned so much about." His voice abruptly becomes sarcastic, with a laugh punctuating each sentence. "Nice plan, sorcerer . . . I fall into Hell, and the key you need goes with me. Course, that's not a plan I'm willing to follow."

Without a second thought, as the water comes crashing down towards him, Karsis simply jumps. For a member of the Hakiems Tribe, scaling the distance between one section of stairs and the other is no problem at all, and with the hole blasted through the next story's ascension by Sovelis' Elemental Explosion, he finds himself outside of that strange magician's powers' range. "Nice try, though," he shouts down as he turns away and starts climbing once again.

Karuna sees the Hakiem, and rolls quickly out of the way as the stone stair crumbles. Stone... perfect. He thinks to himself. Closing his eyes, he raises his hand calmly. All of the stones from the stairs, down to the last pebble, stopped falling. He then pulls his hand backward, then thrusts it forward violently. The rocks and stones fly toward their target, the Sheikah... Mean while, Leth draws his two daggers. [duel wield] He raises them, smirking. Suddenly, a completely Identical Clone of Leth forms, and the two wait for Karuna's attack to hit before striking.

Sovelis's forehead was bleeding badly as he got up. "Ow...I'm going to kill that guy..." Sovelis said as he Jumped (Lvl 1) and tried to follow the Hakiem that assaulted him. "Equal trade, Make me bleed, and I shall take from you tenfold!" he yelled after Karsis.

Alpha wrote:Nogare should quickly learn that what one expects and what one gets are not always the same thing. Rather than having a red ooze cover his face, Nogare suddenly feels a strange sensation coming over him. The entire area appears dizzy . . . random objects seem to vanish or appear at random intervals . . . in the part of his mind that retains its sanity he should probably realize that he is hallucinating.

But there are two things he does not hallucinate about. The first is his spear hitting naught but the stone stairs beneath him, and the second is the voice tickling his ear. "I'm not called 'The Suggester' for nothing, you know," Moving with Sheikah speed he has deftly dodged the Hylian Knight's first attack, as well as snuck up behind him - though with the mental disorientation Nogare is experiencing, that second one isn't nearly as great of a feat.

Visions shot through his mind... First came an image of an arrow coming at him... Then the second came; an elder getting stabbed through the skull with a twisted longsword... and the third and final one was a dark abyss and spirits lingering around him, calling out familiar names, urging him inward...

Nogare took absolutely no note of the enemy's speech, but after his visions, he recovered wearily. It was then that he heard a huge Bang!

He looked up. Cried he a curse in the Ancient Tongue as he leaped up to avoid being struck by the marble of the citadel walls. He landed to safety, fortunately. He did had paid little attention to his visions, though remembered them nevertheless. He was prepared for battle, to kill the one who was keeping them from reaching one of their destinations.

"Fool! No! Do not send thing to Ganon! If you bring him to hell, you only bring him to where the Exiles council, for it is Ganon's former keep! He is the Prince of Darkness!"

Then the water fell down at them. Nogare took his chances and attempted to jump through the descending liquid, for his jump spell was still active. He leaped, and reached for the ledge. (In slow motion, it would have looked cool! ).

OOC: Alpha, are you keeping track of how much SPL I still have? I cast Jump twice, and I'm expecting that to add up! And did Nogare make it? If he doesn't, don't say he descends, because he won't.