OOC: Yes, I am level 8. It's a source of pride with me to finally be the strongest person in one of my RPG's...it's never happened before now.

IC:
Alpha watches as the two guards whisper to each other, and then the one who had remained out of the fight until now began charging forward. He came in a zigzag pattern, wary of Alpha's attacks. 'That would have been a smart move...except that I don't have enough power left to cast another Elemental Explosion. I really need to look into that E. Burst attack sometime...'

Instead, the Sheikah decides to call upon a different magic, one that he has not used in a long time. He hopes it works the way he desires, but with this spell, there's no way to know...

The Sheikah holds his arms above him as the bard continues his approach, and a brilliant circle of light appears on the sandy floor. He yells the attack just as his second foe jabs outward with his dagger: "Spell!"

Victor's attack finds it target (8+3+2[Roll+Agi+Bonus]) and delivers 7 points of damage to the bard's good friend, but Victor is instantly swallowed by the Sheikah's random-effect Spell.

A hazy black cloud surrounds Victor, hindering his movements while working its mysterious magic. A strange bursting sound erupts from the attack, and separates the aura in different directions. When it fades, Victor is nowhere to be seen (14[Roll]).

Mizer covers his forehead with his hand, muttering angrily under his breath. Deciding that he can finish Alpha off without his ally, the Somarian continues his strategy and comes darting at the Sheikah from behind. His daggers appear in his hand as he dashes towards Alpha, and as he comes closer he swings out quickly with both hands in a daring double strike. His right handed slash (19+3[Roll+Agi]) deals 11 damage, and his follow-up with his left hand takes just as much. Alpha loses another 22 points.

Alpha has been defeated. Victor reappears, and Mizer's daggers disappear into the sleeves of his cloak once more.

Alpha tumbles to the ground, clutching his chest where the blades had struck. 'Darn, I was hoping for a Thunder attack...oh well, too bad for me. Wonder if he'll actually try to kill me?' A grin flashes across his face. 'I'd really like to see him try...' He slowly stands up again, and forces the smile away. No reason to provoke his opponent. Who knows? Perhaps the fight had impressed the guards enough so that they'd tell him what the heck they were guarding.

But even as he awaits their decision, his scar begins glowing purplish again, ready to send him straight to the unnatural Void, a land only he knows how to enter...

Mizer stands still, arms crossed. He contemplates killing the Sheikah in front of him, but instead glances in Victor's direction and readopts his calm, carefree voice.

You didn't get much action in on this one, bard. If he's to die, you can finish him of, Victor.

OOC: Oh, and the name is finally revealed Excitement!

You didn't get much action in on this one, bard. If he's to die, you can finish him of, Victor.

Alpha blinks his eyes for a few seconds as Mizer says his companion's name: Victor. 'Let's see: name is Victor and he's a bard...plus that dagger did look kind of familiar...yep, definitely the same guy. Wish I'd realized it sooner...'

The Sheikah suddenly starts laughing. "Well, well, well. Victor? I must say, this is a surprise!" His former grin returns. "Of course, if it really is you, then you know that you can't kill me. Even if you wanted to, you'd fail." Outwardly, he's fully confident in this fact. Inwardly...actually, he feels the same way inwardly too.

A horrified expression etched itself on Victor's face as Mizer finished Alpha off, and the Bard began to wish that he had never returned from where the Spell spell had sent him. To see a friend fall in battle was something he had hoped never to see, but Alpha had always seemed the least likely to fail in a fight. However, as Alpha stood up again a wave of relief washed over Victor and he sighed. When Mizer offered him the chance to kill his own friend, the Bard knew just what to do...

"No."

Victor sheathed his dagger and reached up to his hood, pulling it off and revealing his face. His name had already been mentioned, so he had no reservations about showing his identity, and guessed that Mizer wouldn't, either.

"That man is one of my friends. I wouldn't kill him, no matter what you or anyone else in this organization may say..."

(OOC: ARGH! Alpha, you just HAD to post, didn't you? Well, let's pretend this first part was before your post, or else it wouldn't make much sense.)

Smiling for the first time in a while, Victor chuckled at Alpha's statement.

"He's right, you know. I probably couldn't... under normal circumstances. But I think you're forgetting that you've just been weakened by a battle, Alpha. It wouldn't be that hard to finish you off right now..."

Not really wanting to have to prove himself or anything, the Bard quickly changed the subject by turning to Mizer:

"He deserves to live, and I think... well, I think he'd make a great addition to the you-know-what, if you know what I mean..."

OOC:

ARGH! Alpha, you just HAD to post, didn't you?

Actually, yes. Yes I did. Though if you really wanted, I could delete it...

But anyways -

IC:
As Victor speaks to his companion, Alpha analyzes his words: 'Organization, huh? That's certainly interesting.' He laughs at Victor's next statement. "You don't think I'd be tough to kill right now, Victor?" He sighs and shakes his head in amusement as Victor quickly changes the subject. 'I still have the Void at my disposal; killing me is an almost impossible feat...although I would have said the same about defeating me a few minutes ago...' He pauses to consider this fact, and nearly misses the next sentence. 'The 'you-know-what'? I'd be willing to bet that that's that organization he was talking about a few seconds ago...'

Mizer's jaw hangs down in an astonished expression, his eyes betraying the surprise he is feeling. He coughs a little, trying to grasp the situation while remaining calm.

This is... messed right up.

Well, I... you, you know each other? Awkward...

Mizer pulls his hood down as well, and approaches the weakened Sheikah, envious of the spirit the mage shows even after having lost a battle that could very well have cost him his life.

You do seem to fight exceptionally. But... I can't just let anyone in and, and you don't even know the password. Augh...

The Somarian hangs his head low and reaches out with his hand as a way of apologizing to Alpha as well as becoming formally acquainted. In actuality, he is merely handing a small glass vial of Blue Potion to the defeated Sheikah.

Well, Victor, if you think so... Take him straight to the castle, and try to find one of the leaders. I doubt Maverick would turn away a scholar as powerful as this guy, but just to be sure...

Mizer approaches the sealed entrance to the underground city and pushes all of his weight against the boulder, rolling it to the side to let the Bard and Mage pass. It is an impressive task for someone as thin and weak-looking as himself. He stands by the entrance, shaking his head in bewilderment, amazed at the coincidence of the new member's friend appearing at this coincidental time.

Alpha nods to his opponent, pleased with the fact that he can now see the man's face. He shakes his hand, and it comes away with a Blue Potion. He grins. "Thank you, but that isn't really necessary." He touches two glowing fingers to his heart. "Life." Healing energy flows through him, revealing the reason - other than the Void - that he had been so confident in his survival.

The man reveals a passageway, and the Sheikah whistles. 'So that's what they were guarding...this will get interesting...' And so he waits for Victor to lead the way.

Smiling even wider, Victor nodded happily and accepted the task of leading Alpha to the organization's headquarters. He turned towards the entrance to the cave and began down the small staircase, beckoning Alpha to follow. Halfway down the steps, the Bard turned and spoke:

"You may want to get your staff ready, Alpha. There's a lot of enemies down there, and they're pretty nasty... in every sense of the word."

Unsheathing his own dagger, Victor continued down the steps and to the bridge linking the entrance to the castle at the far end of the cave. The Bard took a moment to explain a bit about the place to Alpha, pointing to each area as he spoke:

"Well, here we are... for the most part. This is supposedly an ancient city, as you can tell from the buildings. To the East is the Hospitality District, which is abandoned. To the Northeast is the Shop District, which they say is abandoned. To the Northwest is the Training District, which is empty. And to the West is the Leisure District which is.... well, I don't know for sure yet, but I think it's abandoned too. Oh, and to the North is our destination, the headquarters. On the way there, though, we may run into some baddies, so keep a sharp eye out..."

Flashing a grin at Alpha in hopes of lightening the dark mood of the cave, Victor then continued towards the castle at a slow pace, watching out for any possible signs of the Cursed Ones...

OOC: Phew... I think that was a good explanation, don't you? If anything, Blank, you could always add something. I didn't exactly have anyone to explain things to Victor and it worked out fine, now, didn't it?

OOC: Couldn't have said it better myself
IC:

All traces of the thick fog are gone, leaving a clear, open path. This will help in detecting the presence of Cursed Ones. Fortunateely, there are no monsters lurking on or around the bridge, so Alpha and Victor arrive at the castle unharmed and energetic. Upon entrance to the courtyard of the impressive castle, the two friends are met by someone who is all too familiar to Victor, but has never been seen by Alpha.

Selerovisk the Zora stands by the fountain - and this scene truly resembles Victor's first encounter with the strange, scarred Zora - with his arms crossed, staring at the approaching Sheikah. He shakes his head slowly and gloomily.

That bard will be the end of all of us. Good.

Selerovisk approaches Victor and Alpha, a look of pure disgust hanging on his face.

Bard... I can not say for sure, but I guarantee you will be on the receiving end of trouble for bringing an outsider here.

Victor's smile diminished a little with Selerovisk's words.

"Why would that be? He could have easily defeated Zayxin as I did, and that was really the only test... I don't think anyone would have a problem with him joining the group. On the contrary, I think he would make an excellent addition!"

Turning to Alpha, the Bard smiled and thrusted a thumb back at the Zora.

"That's Selerovisk. He's the resident 'angry Zora'. I would think he would appreciate you more than I, though... You're the darker one."

Then, redirecting his gaze back at the Zora, Victor pointed to the castle and said:

"Besides, it's not up to you, is it? Let's see what the head honchos have to say about it first, huh?"

The scarred Zora continues to shake his head in wonder. If not for his grim, expressionless face, one might be easily swayed into believing that Selerovisk is amused by Victor's arrogance. Such is not the case, and the Zora remains frosty and unwelcoming.

"Resident Angry Zora?"

I will have you know, bard, that I hold notable grip on the decisions of the "head honchos." It was I who allowed you to be accepted here. I did not choose you to be the newest member of this alliance because of your strength or dark atmosphere - if I had been looking for those qualities, I would have killed you on the spot. So do not think so easily that Alpha will be accepted by the leaders.

Selerovisk unfolds his arms and covers his eyes, obviously annoyed by the presence of Alpha and Victor.

Very well. Tristan and Serin are in the Tactical Office. Lara is in her quarters on the seventeenth floor, and Maverick is in the Gathering Hall. Wolfeye is in a place... that you may not enter. So go.

Victor bowed his head after Selerovisk finished, deciding to remember his place in the organization and keep quiet. Moving forward into the castle's lobby, he beckoned Alpha to follow.

Inside the marble lobby, the Bard looked around for and found the hallway that leads to the Gathering Hall. He walked down the corridor and towards the double doors, but waited for Alpha to catch up before opening them...

OOC: Yeah, it seems to me that most Zoras in this game are angry. Julian, Wyndisis, and now Selerovisk.

OOC: And don't forget Zaboorak, he isn't exactly joyful
IC:

As Victor waits for his companion to catch up, the large double doors of the Gathering Hall swing open, and Solstrem Maverick steps through. A look of surprise and confusion is portrayed on his face.

Victor? Weren't you supposed to be guarding the entrance with Mizer today?