OoC: So, we can't beat Xamnial, is that it? -_- Should've known. And... Tayro the Talker...? XD

IC:

"Yeah, that's a good motto to go by."-Tayro replies, thinking wether he'd use it for himself or not... but not in an 'assassin' way, of course. Agility and stealth were definitly not this Hylian's strength, and for a simple reason - his long blue cloak and heavy vests really didn't let him have a great mobility. Without it, before, he could climb to trees, do backflips and all, but these things really slowed him down.
It's my heirloom though, so I can't just turn it away...- he thinks inwardly, as his mind begins to drift again, not realizing his surroundings.

The boy is sent back to reality when Karunik's assistant spoke again. He seemed to speak about the Hakiem Leader with such passion that it looked like he had a great admiration for him. In the way that Coby talked, it seemed like Karunik was quite a nice person to his allies, buit strong and fierceful against his opponents. A good role model... piy that he's siding with that fiendish Zora.- the Hylian thinks, before finally speaking his mind up: "Yeah, you're right. Don't worry about it."- a smile also implanted on this kid, thinking that his inner senses were right - Coby was really nice.

Tayro's sight fixed in two places - the Colossus statue and the entrance of the maze.
The first, because of its ability to mantain itself so unharmed from the brutality of the fight, and the scond because it seemed like the only way to flee from the Beastmaster if they get in a pitch. But right now, he still has no will to leave, as he wants to continue his chit-chat with his new-made friend.

Tayro also shakes Coby's hand vigorously, and gently at the same time. You know - the regular shaking. "It's a pleasure to meet you too Coby!"- the Hylian tells him, in a quite friendly attitude. Maybe the Hakiems are just being manipulated by Zaboorak... - he thought, and in his heart, he truly wanted to believe that. It just fueled even more his will to defeat that diabolical Zora.Tayro was a it shocked at how his new friend talked so boldly and nonchalantly about death, one's demise... Although he decided not to take it in too much regard, as it probably was due to his involvement with assassins. He was, however, a bit confused about certain factors... He knew Zaboorak named Alpha nº1 public enemy, but why did they follow him so blindly? "Alpha an enemy? That's something I really can't understand... He only fights people in the defense of others or in self-defense... I really can't picture him hurting a fly if it hadn't done anything... But you probably have your own reasons, and I won't argue about that. Oh, and I must say that you're really nice too!"- Tayro tells him. The boy then also leans his back agains the wall, and raises his arms, putting them behind is head as well.

The battle once agains catches his attention, as the Beastmaster, or maybe only the Beast part now, just layed impact against Azador, also rendering the latter loss of consciousness. Ow... that must hurt!- he thinks, as he once again rubs the place where the creature's horn impacted against his own body. It still hurt quite a lot, but, even though he was quite exhausted and had pain all over his body, it was bearable. He looked once more to Coby, and smiled at him.

Aria had already began to get angry, and xamnial only angered her more. The young shiekah aimed another arrow at her enemy, and let it loose, screaming viciously.

his strength. Bring him away from the light..." (OOC: I know he isn't dying, but I'm making it a bit cooler, you know? ) Without looking back at Alex, Nogare grabbed his sword, and smirked to see the Scizorn defeated. But it was only on his face for a moment, for he had other things to deal with...

Alpha wrote:Rose's sword slices into the Hakiem (19+4[Roll+AGI]), dealing 7 DMG. Crimson eyes glowing with a fierce hunger, he once again strikes Rose with his staff, this time coming down with ferocious speed upon the woman's shoulder (20+4[Roll+AGI]). Another 13 HP is deducted from the Human as payment for her own strike.

I am one of the only healers here, if any. I need to help her! He hurried to Rose's side, and murmured the same words, but slightly refraised. When the favour was complete, he watched something he knew that should never be seen - Xamnial Scizorn! But what's this?!

Kasei wrote:bastard. Enraged at his own failure at the assasins battle, the shiekah kasei decides to make up for it here. You all die! The servant rips out a bow and arrows, and fires furiously at his enemies, all of them. he then decides he doesn't care who wins, and prepares to shoot those he was just working along side...

Kasei's leaving the scene with a volley of arrows! Two come his way! How can one such as him be so cruel to all? How can anyone choose the paths of evil...? Knowing he was good enough with the sword yet, he dodged them both. He jumped, just enough for the arrow to pass by, and landed quickly. He snickered briefly when he saw that the Xamnial Scizorn didn't get hit. But an unfamiliar Gerudo who was with them all, and another baing that he didn't spend enough time looking at were hit. Nogare wanted to go after Kasei, but there was a battle to be fought, and friends to help.

"Begone, sworn beast!" yells Nogare as he jumps at Xamnial Scizorn, blade down. He felt himself off balance as he made his way down at the foe. He did not yet realize that Shada and Alpha had fallen.

OOC: Alright! Onto page 5!

IC:

Alpha wrote:Next, those whom he can't eliminate with a single attack. He inwardly chuckles as he examines Nogare. As a knight, he is no doubt well acquainted with the legends of brave men slaying dragons...but Scizorn is far from a dragon and could avoid the sword with ease. More importantly, the son of Greyblade retains the most health of the entire group. There is also Aria, who might have already proven to be nowhere near as mighty as her guardian Kasei, but her health is notable as well. Finally there is the Deku Yukie. It certainly would not hurt his reputation in the Hakiems to bring back the Deku that Dessil had been tasked with finding, but again, Yukie has too much HP...though just barely.

Those remaining are Tayro and Azador. Tayro is speaking with Coby, and Xamnial has no desire to hurt Karunik's assistant, even if it is just by accident. But Azador is a secret ally with Master Zaboorak...whom Xamnial never really liked anyways. What's more, Azador retains the most magical power, which is the weakness of this body. The mage will go first, he decides. Launching forward towards his chosen target, Xamnial's horn smashes into him (18+9[Roll+AGI]), sending him flying into the wall without a shred of consciousness remaining in his body.

In his mind, Xamnial grins again. Another one bites the dust...

Nogare was ready to attack the enemy, but he saw as it went for Azador. Nogare would have protected him, but it was too late: Azador was at the other end of where he stood now. He couldn't help him. And so, he could only watch as the dark mage soared across the shrine, and the ultamitely loud crush made the Vassal almost gasp. Without a moment of staring in astonishment, he threw himself at the defeater of the dark mage.

"Dearou maro eb bachiatari, bakemono!" Nogare exclaimed, absent-mindedly speaking in Ancient Hylian. 'May you be damned, beast!' As he flew, his blade waved in the air, and when he was at his foe, it went to where the foe was.

OOC: Horray! I'm back yet again! And all caught up! (Man, who could have thought that only 2 days of HA2 has all of this happening! Holy mooly!

OOC: Well, sorry Tayro...it has alliteration in it...yeah, it's bad. Since I'd used 'mage' on Azador, I really couldn't think of anything better for you.

IC:
The young Hylian simply shrugs at Tayro's concerns. "Well, we understand that Alpha fights to protect people, but he's killed some Hakiems before. Not nearly as much as his master, however. By the code of the Hakiems, when one of our members is killed by a man, we have to hunt down the killer and put him to death, along with all of the killer's friends. So we try to capture you all so that we can let the Golden Sheikah watch you die and know that he's responsible for it. And then we'll kill him too."

Coby is still smiling broadly. He might as well have been telling Tayro the latest joke.

Aria's arrow flies straight towards the transformed Hakiem, who easily dodges the bolt (2+5[Roll+AGI]). Lurching downward, he grabs the Sheikah in his mouth and begins to chew. Once he has felt and heard a bone or two snapping, he spits her out and on to the floor.

Nogare's first sword attack catches Xamnial off guard. The sword's sharp edge digs into the serpent's forehead (19+5[Roll+AGI]), plummeting him down and into the flooring just as he had just done to Aria. But losing a mere 8 HP is hardly worth the sacrifice Nogare is forced to make. Bringing his tail around, Nogare is caught in midair and thrown into the far wall (15+9[Roll+AGI]).

Raising his head from the ground, Xamnial is both surprised and impressed to see Nogare already flying forward once again. The Hylian is truly deserving of the title of Knight, that is to be sure. But he is not nearly as lucky as he was before. Wings beating rapidly yet again, Xamnial Scizorn quickly rises away from the swipe of the sword (11+9[Roll+AGI]). Suddenly the wings stop, and Xamnial performs a body slam the likes of which Nogare has never felt before (18+9[Roll+AGI]). The last of the Hylian's strength is completely gone by the time the Hakiem lifts himself back into the air.

Alex - unconscious
Rose - unconscious
Nogare - 5 HP
Raven - 1 HP
Azador - unconscious
Koura - 3 HP
Yukie - 20 HP
Alpha - unconscious
Shada - unconscious
Tayro - 3 HP, 3 SPL, talking
Aria - 3 HP

Xamnial Scizorn- 65 HP, 0 SPL

"Ahck!" coughed Nogare as he was crushed to the floor. Was there still hope for him? When he landed, his arms snapped, as did his legs. But he needed to live, for the others...

There was only one thing he could do...

"Favour of the goddesses..."

Nogare's body lays cold on the ground, and nothing comes to heal him. The Favor of the Goddesses spell has failed (8+4[Roll+INT] vs. 15), and the only thing that has come of the attempt is that Xamnial has noticed how weak the knight has become. With an ear-shattering whack! his tail smashes into the Hylian (20+9[Roll+AGI]), knocking him out cold.

Yukie can only watch on in horror as ally after ally falls to the Hakiem's might. His sight drops down to his feet as he wrestles with a decision he had hoped he would not have to make so soon.

"If you ever need my help, old friend, just call out...and I will be there..."

But it is far too dangerous to have his best friend expose himself. So the Deku grabs both of his swords and charges forward rather irrationally. But his unexpected burst of recklessness catches more than just him offguard, and the two blades slice into Xamnial's skin (18+5[Roll+AGI]), dealing 16 DMG to the beast. With a mighty roar of anger, however, Xamnial Scizorn lashes out, smashing the Deku into the wall with his horns (4+9[Roll+AGI]), and bringing him almost to the point of death.

Not content with mere weakness, Xamnial grabs the Deku with his teeth again and slings him against the far wall. Slamming into the surface (13+9[Roll+AGI]), the Deku doesn't even have time to think before the darkness takes him entirely.

Four remain, and all are weak.

Alex - unconscious
Rose - unconscious
Nogare - unconscious
Raven - 1 HP
Azador - unconscious
Koura - 3 HP
Yukie - unconscious
Alpha - unconscious
Shada - unconscious
Tayro - 3 HP, 3 SPL, talking
Aria - 3 HP

Xamnial Scizorn- 49 HP, 0 SPL

OOC: I'm thinking...one more post from one of you guys and then I'll finish this battle up with my...secret weapon. I suppose a few of you should still be conscious so you can witness it and tell the defeated about it.

ahh! Aria hits the dust, then runs a few feet from her foe, and tries a new tactic. With the little sreangth she has left, aria tosses a small bags worth of bombs at her foel, then collapses from her wounds, barely concious.

As Nogare flies and lands, he thinks, I can't fail... this is for you, father... sister... Hyrule... my friends. He attempted to push himself up, but he could not withstand. He fell down, eyes closed, on the Shrine floor...

Aria's bombs soar forward, but none come even close to their mark (8+5[Roll+AGI]), as Xamnial merely flies around each and every explosion, avoiding them with ease. A quick smack is all it takes to send the Sheikah girl off to the land of dreams and darkness (18+9[Roll+AGI]).

Alex - unconscious
Rose - unconscious
Nogare - unconscious
Raven - 1 HP
Azador - unconscious
Koura - 3 HP
Yukie - unconscious
Alpha - unconscious
Shada - unconscious
Tayro - 3 HP, 3 SPL, talking
Aria - unconscious

Xamnial Scizorn- 49 HP, 0 SPL

It is now that some of those who were the first to be defeated stir. Alex, Rose, and Alpha all manage to open up their eyes once again to find Xamnial gazing over the bodies of those he has defeated. The beast's mouth opens up slightly and a horrifying laugh emerges from Scizorn's throat. Tayro and Raven still remain conscious as well, watching the serpent while he begins looking over the group for his next target.

"Enough."

The word resounds through the room, drawing looks from everyone. The voice stops with that, and all motion ceases at the lone word's conclusion. But the owner's thoughts continue onward. 'Am I truly ready for this...can I actually do this?'

'You are ready. Your lessons have been well learned, and your mentor taught you well. I am only sorry that you must reveal yourself to the Hakiems.'

'That's no problem. Anything to kill a Hakiem this powerful, Zaris.'

A laugh could be heard from the Golden Sheikah. 'Thank you...for protecting my students and friends.' A mental nod was all that was needed to say, 'You're welcome.'

* * *

Far, far away, Zaboorak's meditating form ceased its stillness as his eyes shot open. "Ssshe ssshowsss herssself...

"The Gerudo."

* * *

Swinging her arms around her body like a dancer, her movements captivate the entire audience. As she spins around, her hands begin glowing with a magical light, the kind that only three of the Sheikah, Raven, Alpha, and Shada, have ever experienced. Alpha's eyes open wide in realization. "There's no way..."

Koura grins.

"GOLDFORCE POWER - GERUDO!"

Shooting her palms outward, the magic of the Goldforce erupts out of her hands. Coby shoots up as the energy completely envelops Xamnial Scizorn, blinding him and forcing him backwards into the wall above the entrance. The Hakiem's screams are all that can be heard over the roar of the Gerudo Goldforce...an Energy Sandstorm. Somewhere in the midst of the storm, Xamnial's cries shift back from beastly to humanlike - his original form has been regained.

After almost a minute of releasing the glowing power from her hands, Koura slowly lowers her arms and allows the blast to cease. Exhaustion has come over her, but at least she managed to take the Hakiem with her.

Small rocks fall from the ceiling and the wall where Xamnial lies imbedded in the structure. A large crater exists above the entrance where Coby and Tayro have been chatting, and in the center of it lies the Sheikah. His clothes are ripped apart in places, his hair has been burned away in some spots, and his red eyes are no longer visible - they've rolled upward, signalling that death has either taking him or is currently knocking on his door. His mouth is opened wide in shock, and all over his body are burns the like of which normally take several days of sunburn to achieve.

Coby slowly runs his left hand through his hair and down to the back of his neck. His smile has vanished to be replaced by a surprised look...but one that still lacks anything along the lines of fear or anger. "Well," he says to Tayro after a few moments, "that was unexpected." His voice sounds almost...naive...

...as if he doesn't see the Gerudo slowly raising her hands up to point at the Hylian. "Leave now," Koura says softly. "Go, and I won't have to kill you too."

"Well, alright," Coby responds. Koura's eyes widen as she swiftly turns around. One second Coby had been standing on the stairwell...the next he was mere inches from her back. He simply grins at her stunned look, then suddenly vanishes from sight.

Alpha sees movement from above, and spots the boy having reappeared in Xamnial's crater. Not even bothering to see if the Sheikah is alive or not, he hoists the form onto his back. Peaking over the edge of the crater, he glances down at the other Hylian boy. "It was very nice talking with you, Tayro. I'll make sure to see you around again, okay?" He gives his friend a happy smile, then disappears. But he does not ever again reappear in the Shrine of Spirit, though Tayro could easily feel a strong breeze rush past him going back through the entrance...

Koura slowly collapses to her knees, worn out beyond belief. This marked the first time she has ever used the Goldforce Power...and it was more of a burden than her teacher had ever made it out to be.

Nogare, suprisingly, was still gasping; still awake. There's no hope for us... WOAA?! He looked up, although he didn't have much strength, and was only enough to see at the top of his brilliant Hylian view, the unknown Gerudo cast an amazing burst of power out of her hand. He inhailed though his nose with one breath through the entire casting of the spell. Wide-eyed, he attempted to ask how she did it, but only a croak came, and he finally fell into unconciousness: he was breathing to hard, and was lying on his stomach.

Rose struggles to her feet. "Damn," she croaks. "So that's the power of the Goldforce. I'd hate to be your enemy. Now then, two things. Can someone make a sling for my right arm and can we go look for Master Zaris somewhere else? Preferably without being follow, but I don't think there's a chance in hell that's going to happen now."

Alex now was sitting in a corner, still having problems breathing because of his ribs.
It was the first time he watched a Goldforce Power working, or at least he was sure of it, all that great power, kept by an Exile.'After all, our powers really are a burden and a curse' he thought remembering what he told to Blank earlier.
"Nogare, ... you wouldn't mind helping me...out, would you? Uh!" he spit another amount of blood, making more obvious the state he was in.
"Why... didn't you told us? Koura" he said slowlly to the now known Golden Gerudo.

OOC: Because that would have taken the taste to the story, duh!

'Heh, should've known.' He then turns to the latent psychic ability which they all seem to have and meantally projects his question. 'Any chance that either of you can use that Goldforce power for healing purposes? Those of us still conscious aren't in what you'll call great shape.'

His back still to the beast his uses his hands to inch himself into a more-or-less standing postion. Although it looks as if he could collapse at any moment, he is depending on the Scizorn - the one who put in such condition - for support and to keep him upright.

Alpha sits back and listens to all the other adventurers as they voice their own opinions on what needs to be done. A chuckle somehow manages to escape his lips at the sound - all of them are using horrible grammar. That's fine...he's feeling too weak to concentrate on speaking correctly too. But there are ways to fix that.

He still has some energy left for spellcasting. Placing his hands onto his chest, he slowly feels the Life spell flowing through him. Within a few moments he has enough physical energy to rise up again and brush himself off.

Koura falls backward from her kneeling position to lying on her back. "Risk exposing myself to the Hakiems, Alex?" she asks the Zora. "I couldn't afford to do that unless there was no other choices remaining...and there wasn't.

OOC: Yes, and because it would have ruined the story.

IC:
Alpha looks to the Hylians in the group. With their Favor of the Goddess spells, they should be able to help him with the others. Walking over to where Nogare and Tayro are, he quickly heals both of them, then moves on to the others, all the while thinking...

Koura was the Golden Gerudo...this made things both easier and more difficult. The Hakiems were sure to be after them all now, and yet the power of the Goldforce would certainly be useful when it came time for them to fight the assassin group again.

OOC: Wow! FoG without answer for more than 24 hrs. I'm gonna write that down the records.
IC:
The blood in the Zora's wounds disappeared in an aura of white light, thankful that Alpha healed him to full health.
He gave a big, deep breath, filling his lungs with the so much appreciated air, he stood again feeling his mind getting rid of the dizziness caused by the lack of oxygen. He watched the damned monster that knocked him down, mostly by anger and the little feel of revenge, he felt the impulse to kick the reptile, so he did.
"He he, you were killed anyway" he felt stupid talking to the Scizorn, but he usually did to a new hunting prey.
Alex turned to Koura, he was ashamed that he didn't trust her at first, but he felt it was useless to apologize now, so he only said "Now that the Hakiems know you are the Golden Gerudo, what are you going to do?"