Nogare grumbled his anger out. Offense was useless here! He stepped back, now knowing fully that the being were made of nothing but flame. He stepped back, thinking of using defense for his team mates rather than offense. But that was when the last one fell.

Nogare looked upon his sword. I suppose this is my new weapon for a time... he thought to himself. He waved it through the air, for a second, at looked at it again. Its thick waving sound told him that this was a worthy sword to have by his side in the future.

He sheathed the blade, and was surprised that it fit well enough to stay in his sheath. It wouldn't stay there for long, but until he made a new sheath for it.

"What were those?!" pressed Nogare. "Those were no Hakiems... were they?"

"Certainly no Hakiems I have ever seen, Sir Blade," General Noval replies. The Hylian turns his head back to where his Zora friend stands, breathing in solemnly, a troubled look on his face. Noval quickly walks to him, placing a hand on his robed shoulder. "Are you alright, Kamas?"

The Zora closes his eyes momentarily, then nods. "They were not living," he says softly, regaining his composition. "Magical," he adds as an afterthought, and his meaning is not lost because of it. Whatever those flaming creatures were, they had no life of their own, but rather were magical creations of somebody, probably someone skilled in manipulating fire. Magical . . . it didn't fit his style, but the very word reminded Noval of something he had heard before the fight had begun.

"Wraith!" he yells out in anger as he dashes forward to where the now no-longer flaming debris from the explosion lies. His sword comes down in a flash -

- hitting some sort of shield that stops him from getting within a foot of it. Stopping cold, the General lets Koura say what he was thinking. "What in the world?" The Gerudo steps forward and throws a fist, slamming it into the barrier . . . and regretting it as the stinging sensation spreads over her. "Goddess of the Sand! What is this?"

"Does it matter?" comes the voice of the Colonel, kneeling as he attempts to catch his breath. "Disregarding the fact that Wraith is behind that mound, we have no reason to go back there. What we have to do is continue heading for the throne room like Lady Rose has said. And we need to do so now," Horren stands up straight again, "before these Hakiems of yours get here to investigate this place and find us. Quite frankly, we just got our butts kicked; we're in no condition to fight again so soon."

Noval clenches his teeth. Despite his deep-felt desire to face off against Wraith - even if he was an impostor - Horren's correct. "Very well then," he says, turning away. "Let's move."

Fang's eyes dimmed to their normal appeal, and he landed on the ground, angry that he hadnt been able to wipe out more enemies. He considered that fact that the flames were merely puppets of a greater force, and tossed the idea around.

Alpha wrote:"Wraith!" he yells out in anger as he dashes forward to where the now no-longer flaming debris from the explosion lies. His sword comes down in a flash -

- hitting some sort of shield that stops him from getting within a foot of it.

Fang felt the need to try it out for himself, but decided not to waste what energy he had left. He knew what Horren said was true, and also knew that it would be the best plan of action given their limited options. Nodding, he he followed Noval down the hallway.

Karuna nodded towards the gilded sword that Nogare had. "Where did you get that? It would be a good weapon to use; much better than a wooden deku sword."

Nogare snapped his head in the direction of the swords. "There are three of them over there." But his full attention was not on Leth; he had to look forward. "What kind of devilry is this? What wraith?!" Nogare pieced together the words within it. His pupils seemed to shrink as he discovered, and he raised his sword, and looked around cautiously.

[Awareness Check]

OOC: Woah, now hold on just a second. Look you guys, I don't actually want you to use the Gilded Swords. I described them as worn down to try and discourage the using of them. I've allowed Nogare to use them once, but I really don't want you guys to start grabbing them. The Gilded weapons have not been developed by the mods - there's no telling how much DMG they'll do, and I'm not the one to create the standard there.

So that's a NO on the Gilded! Pick up your Deku stuff again.

IC:
Unlike before, now it is Kamas and Horren that lead the way towards the throne room. Richarn Noval stays to look at the pile of broken wall and ceiling for a few seconds. 'So close . . . I could have him in my grasp if not for . . . whatever it is . . . that keeps me from attacking that wreckage.' His fists clench so much that they begin to shake, before finally he turns away with rage-filled determination: he will save the King, and then come back to this area immediately so as to investigate what has happened, and see if he can get anything - anything at all! - that might allow some hint as to how Wraith operates . . . and how to capture him.

"Wraith is the greatest Assassin of our time, Nogare," the disgruntled General says as he reaches him, slowing to walk beside. "Perhaps the greatest of all time. There is so little information available about him in the entirety of the world . . . about a week ago, in Parapa, he appeared and fought several of your friends. The very fact that they survived an encounter with him is . . . miraculous."

Nogare's Awareness Check succeeds (12+4[Roll+INT]). The knight is fortunate to notice nothing around them unusual. At least, not in the hallway.

At the end of the hallway lies a corner to the right. Taking it, Horren rushes forward and travels about a room's length down the corridor before actually reaching a room. "And here we are, the entrance to the Thr - oh, dang it." As soon as one was to emerge from the hall, they would see what he's talking about: two group of chains span across the entire width of the doorway, making it absolutely impossible to open. Not that Horren doesn't try, but this doorway was designed to protect the king himself. A sword could not pierce through the thickness of the doors, even if it could penetrate the hardness of it.

There seems to be only one possible way to open them: find the keys to the two locks on the doorway. But who can say where they even are?

"Damn it," Rose muttered under her breath. Louder, she said, "Maybe one of the Hakiems we fought earlier has a key. Do you think it would be safe to go back and look?"

Karuna notices the state of the gilded swords and decides to stick with his deku sword. As the group approaches the locked door, he whistles loudly. "I forgot about the locks." He said. Leth looks at him in confusion. "I used to be a hylian knight." He explains. "I still am, actually, but I don't work inside the castle anymore. I am a scout knight. Free to travel through the kingdom, driving out evil wherever I see it." Leth nods and turns away. "So how do we find the keys?" He asked.

OOC: Actually, we could use gilded weapons. Think about it; we can't say their stronger officially, of course, but still, we could still use them as non-flammible swords. Aye?

IC: Nogare's back shivered as Noval walked beside him, thinking about this Wraith. He found the word wrath in Wraith, which was of course no good to hear. He glanced around at his group in amazement when Noval mentioned that their companions had encountered this terrible man in Parapa. I suppose I was fortunate to be elsewhere. He only thought that for a moment, recalling what he had seen and felt and suffered while elsewere. But the greatest assassin of all time?! There was no way. Could there be? The more Nogare thought about it, the more his spine shivered.

"If I should ever encounter him, which I hope I don't, I will be sure that I will put my life down before letting him live." That was not dying needlessly, he knew. Kill the worst assassin of all time?

He looked around, the hall, and saw nothing. That's good... no more fire things coming to attack us...

They then came to the door. As Horren began to say 'throne room', Nogare's hopes grew. But they were lost when he saw them locked. Desperate, he searched the room. "We need to find it! Help me, would you?"

[Awareness Check]

OOC: Guys, this is posted at school. Something's screwy with the internet at home. So I may take a while to come back. But continue on anyway. This is not the end of me! In fact, it is far from it!
-Nogare

OOC: I only have two words to say, followed by a brief exclamation.

SPRING. BREAK. HECK YEAH.

IC:
As Noval and friends look upon the locked doorway, the temperature suddenly skyrockets in the room. Whirling around, Koura and Shada simultaneously let out a gasp at the sight of a pool of magma having appeared from nowhere in the center of the chamber. A pillar of the stuff shoots upward without warning, and when the flames finally die down, a man stands there, posture suggesting that he is perfectly calm even though he is standing on a molten floor – and indeed, the lava fails to penetrate the soles of his shoes.

He nods to the understandably stunned Richarn Noval. "We meet at last, General, face-to-fa . . . well, face-to-mask I suppose would be a more appropriate term in our case." General Noval stands speechless as his conscious mind looks at the being before him in shock. His subconscious, on the other hand, works at lightspeed, memorizing every detail about this man now blocking their passage. Black cape and hood, a long metallic staff in hand, and a mask with a T-shaped visor – this is most certainly the one called 'Wraith'.

"I see that my Dusk Infernas were met with considerable resistance, General," Wraith breaks the silence spitefully. Raising a hand, two trails fire appears from nowhere around his elbow and snake their way up around his arm, forming a molten orb in his palm. "You'd be surprised how long it took for me to learn to manipulate fire in a way that makes a semi-sentient creation. And you slaughtered six of my beloved Infernas without a second thought . . . how rude." Abruptly the orb transforms into another of the flaming creatures – a 'Dusk Infernas', according to the Assassin – appearing in a sitting position in his hand. It’s a miniature version to the ones the group has just finished fighting, and the Assassin seems to have no trouble holding it. Wraith closes his hand into a fist, and the Dusk evaporates like water into the air.

Noval's conscious finally catches his body up with his thoughts. "Wraith!" he cries out, drawing his Iron Sword without a second thought. "I'm ready for you, Wraith – it's time for me to take you down!"

"What a name can do . . ." the Assassin says wistfully. "You've already come to the conclusion that I am not the Wraith you once chased down – and failed – to capture – and these beliefs are well founded, and quite true. Yet you still face off against me with the same angry disposition as if I was the legendary killer." A laugh escapes his lips, and beneath his mask he adds a smile to it. "How perfectly predictable.

"Regardless, you all probably want something, right? You need to get into this room, right? - this is the throne room after all. And now the Hakiems have blocked it with lock and key. Very well then; I'll be happy to tell you."

"Why should we believe you, Wraith?!" Shada yells in anger, daggers drawn.

A shrug is the response. "Despite what some of your number obviously believe, I have no connection with the Hakiems Tribe. I'm utilizing the little disturbance they've started here, but they aren't even aware of my presence in this area. You want to kill them? Fine by me; I get more jobs that way.

"So, you want the two keys? They were given to two of the stronger Hakiems that have accompanied this infiltration. One of them will be that way," he points down the other hallway, towards the left of the two doors, "probably around the garden area of the castle where he can utilize his powers without fear. The other's gone in that direction with a large group," he moves his finger to the right door. "They're going to try and get their hands on the Triforce of Wisdom, most likely, since that path leads to the Triforce Tower."

Lifting his hand up again, he gives an exaggeratedly mocking salute with two fingers. "Now then, if you'll excuse me, I have some prey to return to. Yuenbri isn't one to be kept waiting, after all." A pillar of fire once again rises up and engulfs him instantly, and when it collapses away and the flames disperse, the Assassin is gone. The pool of lava begins to shrink, and within moments there is no evidence that Wraith was ever even there.

Nogare's eyes shot wide open when the assassin appeared. Something kept him silent... he was so eager to just jump up and end it, but he felt as though he was being held back, either my magic or by his unwillingness to interrupt the person who was telling him where to go to save his king.

After the person was done speaking, he murmured, "Who was that...?" But he wouldn't want to waste the time of having wait to hear the answer. "No matter! I am taking the pass to the right! I am not about to let the Triforce go into evil hands." Nogare looked to the pass that which he spoke of, and bit the side of his lip. "Come! Those who will accompany me may come. Others will go that way! Bestir, afore the king is bloodless!" Without else ado, the knight ambled to the passage to the Triforce Citadel, Belegcam ascended, towards his front.

OOC: I know, I love thesaurus.com! Don't you?

Rose is taken by surprise as the imposter Wraith appears from a pillar of lava, tell them where the keys to the throne room are, and then leave. What surprised her the most, however, was that instead of killing them, he told them the locations of the keys. I can try to figure out why he's helping us later, she thought. Right now, we need to get those keys.

Then she heard Nogare speak. "'Others will go that way?' I don't think so," she said. "Not if the keys are with the stronger of the Hakiems who stormed the castle. It would be better if we stick together. And going after the Hakiem heading to the Triforce of Wisdom sounds like the best plan, if what the legends I have heard of the Triforce are true."

Leth nodded. "I completely agree with rose." He stated. "Protecting the Triforce is probably a very large objective, here. I for one don't want the Hakiems to get their grubby little hands on the power of the Gods, and I think you all can agree. So how about we all take a vote, although I think I know where it will take us. Who votes for the Triforce tower." He asks, raising his hand. Karuna and Drom do the same. Leth looks down, and little Polari is also raising his hand.

Noval shoots a quick glance to Kamas as the group begins discussing the protection of the Triforce, and he receives a similar look in return. Both know exactly what the other is thinking: 'Should we tell them?' The truth was that the Triforce of Wisdom had been realized as too open to Ganon's many aerial minions long ago, and therefore King Harkinian had had General Noval personally move it to a new location - and though only the highest-ups of the Royal Court were aware of the switch, the King and Noval himself were two of a much smaller group. They actually knew where the Triforce was being hidden . . . and Noval was sure it was in no danger.

But should these adventurers be left in the dark? Probably so, Noval thinks to himself. Once this is all over with, he will allow King Harkinian II to explain if His Majesty so desires, but until then Noval has no intention of letting loose with the secret. With a subtle shake of his head, the General informs the Zora of this thought, and Kamas merely nods before turning away.

"I agree with you all on the matter of protecting the Triforce; however, we must also consider protecting the King," he says finally. This probably won't go over terribly well with the adventurers, but . . . "And on that end, we need those two keys as swiftly as possible. Therefore . . . you all head to the Triforce Tower. I will head to the garden, by myself if necessary. Whoever this second key holder should be, and however strong he is, I think I can best him if I put my mind to it."

Shada looks on the General in shock. What could he be thinking - for one, not choosing to guard the Triforce, and for two, thinking that he can take whatever Hakiem this is by himself. The Sheikah woman rocks back on her heels for several long seconds. She believes the best course of action would be to gain protection over the Triforce. But she isn't about to let this man go sacrifice himself because of some, prideful thoughts.

Good thing is, she can rest assured that both will be accomplished. Koura and Calla both step forth from the group, and the Golden Gerudo gives him a wide grin. "Alright then, we're with you. What we lack in numbers, we can make up for with the Gerudo Goldforce." She looks down at the Rito girl, also smiling broadly. "And Calla and Skye want to get back out into the open air as well." Calla's grin breaks into a full-fledged smile as Skye gives out a squawk in agreement.

Veldam simply shrugs his shoulders, and walks to where Nogare, Leth, and others stand. "I'm going with you guys," he says calmly. He can't for the life of him understand what the General is thinking, not choosing to go for the Triforce, but experience with the man tells him not to worry too much about it. Noval often does things that make no sense until after the fact. (Horren, Noval recalls, does not know about the Triforce being moved.) Shada strolls in behind him. "I'm with Nogare too."

Richarn Noval just nods in understanding. There are several confused looks in the crowd, and he can't exactly blame them for that. Suddenly, Kamas taps him on the shoulder. "Garden," the Zora says. It seems General Lion shall be accompanying the Hylian as well to the outside regions of the castle.

"Very well," Noval says at last. "Sir Nogare Blade!" he calls out in a commanding tone, amused as Colonel Veldam reflexively snaps to attention at the tone of voice. "I place you in charge of this expedition to the Triforce Tower, and charge you with the retrieval of the key, and the defeat of whatever Hakiem may be guarding it." True, the non-Hylian Knights probably won't be interested in that order, but at least there will be a chain of command should discrepancies arise.

Glancing at Fang and Denning, Noval wonders what those two will choose to do . . .

Leth's thought's were in turmoil. What in the name of the godesses? The general, not wanting to protect the Triforce? He must know something that we don't... no matter. I the general thought we would be in danger or need him, he would come. I'm still going to the tower. So thinking, he tuns to Nogare, and glances back briefly to General Noval. "Alrighty then, Nogare. Shall we head up?"