OOC: It signed you out? That's just weird :p . He's safe, though, so don't worry. I'm pretty tired too... last post of the night
IC:

In the stairwell, the stairs leading to the upper levels of the castle have been blocked off by the magical barrier. Most of the lower levels are the same. The third floor basement, however, is accessible. Rather than the intersecting corridors found on the other floors, the stairwell leads to one large room on this floor. Battle maps and other strategic oddities fill the room. It is as if a full-scare war has been called for, but fortunately that is not the case.

A hooded man is sitting in a large chair at the end of a large strategy table. His face is not visible, but he can still see Victor from where he sits. His voice is calm, and it reflects great wisdom.

Do not worry, Victor. Those... accursed beasts will not find us here. Come now, sit down. Darizan and the others will be along shortly and we can get this "meeting" under way.

The intelligent stranger leans back in his chair casually, and points to a chair of equal comfort at the opposite end of the table. There is a great air of mystery to this individual. His thoughts reverberate inside his head as he watches the bard. He ponders the obvious question that will surely be asked.

Any second now... "Who are you?"

OOC: I'm putting together a full journal of this part of my storyline, it can be viewed in my profile, at the bottom. It's still under heavy construction, so it's not nearly finished yet. Just so you know, in case you miss something at some point

OOC: Thank you, THANK YOU for putting a link to this topic in your profile! Now I don't have to walk all the way here.

IC: Taking the chair and smiling at the man, Victor sat and got comfortable once again. Looking around at the maps, he wondered if there happened to be one of the complex itself, but decided against asking the man. Instead, the Bard did exactly as was expected of him:

"Thanks... who are you, again?"

OOC: Don't you just love shortcuts?

The cloaked man laughs a little, then lowers his hood to reveal his face. Only one scar graces his face, a small scratch on his left cheek that appears to be quite new. A very thin layer of black whiskers dots his chin, indicating that it has been a day or two since he last shaved. His hair is similar in features to Jett's, but is not spiked. His navy blue eyes glow with a passive emanation, and a thin, content smile hangs loosely at his mouth.

Just another of the commanders of this faction. My name is Solstrem Maverick. I am a scholar from Calatia who served in the ranks of the Royal Calatian Army as a cleric and frontliner. I am pleased that Selerovisk chose you, Victor. You are a Hylian of interesting sorts. Now, tell me, what did the Intelligent One say to you?

Victor shifted uncomfortably as the Calatian asked him about the Intelligent one. Looking around nervously, he wondered if he should say anything before the others got here, but decided that there would be no harm in it. Sighing, he thought back to the encounter with the skeletal man and cringed, then began in a solemn voice very unusual for the Bard:

"Well... it... he pulled out a sword and threatened me, asking for the pendant that we found in the colosseum. He... he said that the pendant was a Stone of Curse, that this city was cursed, and that we were behind it. He showed me its face, his... his horrible, skeletal face, not alive... but not dead... pulsating, thinking... ugh, it was terrible... He told me to give him the pendant, and I couldn't help it. I... I just had to give it to him, I couldn't stand it any longer. And then... well, he said that I had sold out my friends, and dissappeared, taking the shroud of darkness with him. Oh, I don't know what I've done now... should I have given it to him or not?"

Trembling a bit, Victor looked up at Solstrem with sorry eyes and hoped that he- and the rest of the leaders- would be as sympathetic as his group members had been...

OOC: Yes, shortcuts are excellent!

Maverick's eyes show deep feelings of sympathy and shock. He shakes his head slowly and solemnly, crossing his arms and staring into Victor's eyes.

This is indeed a terrible thing, Victor. Of this entire organization, you are one of three still alive to have gazed upon the face of an Intelligent One. All the others who have had this chance encounter were killed. Ugly, wasn't it? Do not regret giving the Stone of Curse to it, though. The life of an ally is far more valuable than a trinket of evil.

As the scholar wraps up his condolences, Darizan strides into the Tactical Office and takes his place in one of the comfortable chairs. Following behind him are Serin, Lara and Tristan, who fill all but one of the remaining seats. Serin looks at Maverick and explains the absence of the missing leader.

Wolfeye couldn't make it, Maverick. He sends his regards and explained that he will meet with Victor eventually. He had to leave to aid Thespin on the surface. I imagine they will both arrive tomorrow.

Turning to Victor, Darizan nods and greets the bard.

I am pleased that you were able to find this chamber, Victor.

Maverick interrupts the typical reunion, heaving the long-awaited gathering under way.

Victor, Darizan can not explain things very clearly. We will tell you everything in full detail as best as we can.

A) All About the organization.
B) About the City
C) About the Motives
D) About the Intelligent Ones and their minions.

Bowing his head and thanking Maverick, Victor stayed silent until Darizan and the others arrived. It was then that he looked up and his smile returned, and when he was given the chance to finally understand the situation a little more the Bard was quick to speak up.

"Uh... I'd like to learn a little more about the motives, please..."

Maverick nods to Serin, who nods back before explaining Victor's query in detail.

It's quite simple, vagabond. As an adventurer, you should know all about The King of Evil, the Hero of Time and the Princess of Destiny, as well as other entities associated with those tales. Given your ethnicity and race, you have more than likely been exposed to the knowledge of these legends. Therefore you know about Ganon's many attempts to conquer this land and all other lands alongside it. In doing so, he disgraced the Goddesses that created this world and cast Hyrule, Calatia and the other kingdoms into ruin. Although the Heroes and the Princesses over time have been successful in preventing Ganon's wishes from coming true, the lands are scarred by the havoc created by the evil King's multiple reignings. Our alliance stands as a full acting force in removing the scourge of Ganon from the world forever. When we have gathered at least one person from every deserving race around the world, every kingdom will be cleansed and the order of the Golden Age will be restored. A world with no Moblins, Goriyas and other ill-begotten fiends. A world without evil. The ideal world for raising one's children in. The goddesses will have forgiven us for allowing their creation to be infected with evil.

Lara the Trinian woman interrupts abruptly, branching into a separate explanation to answer Victor's question.

While that is the motive that we fight for as an organization, most of our members are here for their own personal reasons. Serin is the King of Kydaria, a small country to the south. He is fighting for his people, of course. Tristan here believes that he is bringing honour to his tribe by serving this purpose, and Darizan...

The dark, red-haired man finishes her sentence, explaining his own reasons for being involved in this secret organization.

Ganon cast the Gerudos into ruin with his selfish actions. My people were his followers, and they had no choice. Gerudos all over the world are stereotyped as traitors, looked at as exiles and thieves without deeper consideration. I wish to end this. But, there is a personal motive. I was never meant to exist. only one male Gerudo can be born in a century, and I am an exception. I am fighting for my right to exist.

Maverick sits in his chair quietly, allowing his comrades to divulge their tales and explanations. When his Gerudo ally finishes speaking, the scholar comes to attention and continues the discussion.

I trust you now clearly understand our motives, Victor? Ah, but I fear you will be quite shocked when you are told who this organization serves...

As each leader explained their seperate motives, Victor smiled. He was happy that everyone had such good reasons for joining this organization, and happy that he was now part of it. Satisfied, he settled back into his chair as Darizan finished up his interesting reason; but as Maverick spoke up again a bit of a frown appeared on the Bard's face.

"What? Why? Who does the organization serve?"

They eye's of the five leaders sitting in front of the bard in this Tactical Office show signs of uneasiness. Tristan the Goron fiddles with his fingers, and Lara glances off to the side as if expecting a harsh reaction. Serin sighs and stares at the ceiling, arms crossed and waiting. Darizan sits still and nods to Maverick, who leans forward to answer.

Well, it's... it's difficult to explain this. You see, our leader, he...

Tristan looks up from his fidgeting and grumbles impatiently.

Just say it, Mav'rick, I haven't got all day.

The scholar glances at his Goron comrade, sighs deeply and nods. Turning back to the confused vagabond awaiting an answer, Maverick utters a short sentence.

His name was Carock.

At the sound of the organization's leader's name, Victor gasped. He began to tremble again, and looked around nervously at those around him. Then, turning to Maverick with fearful eyes, he spoke.

"Carock? Carock?! No! Why, why Carock!?! Wait..."

The Bard then stopped his trembling and sat up straight, one of his eyebrows raised and a puzzled look on his face.

"Who's Carock?"

OOC: Nice dramatic reaction
IC:

Maverick sighs heavily with annoyance, although he is somewhat relieved that Victor doesn't even know who Carock is. As he is about to speak, Darizan pounds jovially on the table and laughs.

Ha! Well, bard, I am surprised. For a person of your ethnic descent, it is quite odd for you to not know who Carock is. But before I am able divulge, I am afraid I must now ask: are you familiar with the more recent escapades of Link, the Hero of Hyrule?

OOC: Thanks!

IC: Glad that the leaders hadn't been too annoyed by his ignorance, Victor was quick to answer Darizan and prove that he wasn't that dim:

"Why, yes, of course. Who hasn't? Link saved Hyrule from Ganon, and now he's dissappeared... I believe Ganon's minions formed the Exiles and still exist today, right? Where was it that they exist? Pa-"

Suddenly donning a look of realization, the Bard took a moment to silently remember where he was. Still, he remembered that the organization was created for the good of Hyrule, and so he quickly regained his usual smile and looked up at Darizan.

"So... yeah. I believe that's all there is to it. Did I forget something?"

Darizan shakes his head, believing that all has been covered, but then looks over to his comrades and receives a stern glare, at which time he insantly changes his mind and nods instead, remembering the rest.

Then I trust you know of the trivialities endured by The Hero in reclaiming the Triforce of Courage? Of his great adventure throughout Northern and Southern Hyrule, as well as his journey to the distant continent?

As Darizan spoke of Link's quest for the Triforce of Courage, Victor nodded as well. But when a distant continent was mentioned, he stayed silent for a while, a puzzled look on his face. Suddenly the Bard realized that he probably looked confused, and quickly smiled and spoke:

"Yes, yes, the Triforce of Courage! I can't believe I forgot that! And the distant land, yes, I should have known! Though... my memory is a little fuzzy on the subject. Perhaps you could remind me about this continent?"

Attempting to look serious, Victor hoped that the leaders would not see through his charade, and would assume that he really did know his stuff...

But it is not to be, as it would take a very persuasive person to fool these five intelligent individuals. His original confused expression is what gives away Victor's disposition. Maverick sighs again, this time covering his eyes with his hands in a tired manner.

Never really payed attention to Hyrulian history in your travels, did you? Were this a less delicate situation I would probably feel compelled to lock you in a room and force you to study the texts of your homeland. As it is, there is no time for that. I will just have to explain.

Before the events leading to Link's retirement and the disbandment of the Royal Expeditionary Force of Hyrule, the Hero sought out the Triforce of Courage, the only key to awakening Princess Zelda from a deep, unbreakable sleep. Six powerful forces stood in his way along the journey. Their names were Horsehead, Helmethead, Iron Knuckle, Carock, Gooma and Barba. Link was successful in destroying these enemies, and was enabled further passage along his quest. The tales of the second half of Hyrule are nothing special. In fact, they are not spoken of often anymore. The only significance is that much of Link's questing was on that beast-ridden isle.

Serin interrupts, his voice hinting severe impatience.

Ringing any bells, bard?