Black Forest - First chance to do a little Role Playing

[Musashi]

Musashi picked up his battered body from the floor watching Sperrit and Alerea combine their powers. For a moment he could do naught but stare in awe at the revival of his friend and comrade. But as the floor erupted, Musashi snapped to his senses and dove for the one person he knew he had to protect. He rushed at Sakura her eyes wide, pulling her to the ground, shielding them with both with his wings from any stray debris.

"...See...I told you I'd protect you."

As the dust clears, Musashi stands with Sakura amazed by this recent turn of events.

"...Is...he dead?"

[Sakura]

Sakura, being protected by Musashi looks around, "I-I-I don't know..." She sees Sperrit and gasps, but realiazes that he is busy. She looks at Musashi, "Thanks for protecting me. But are you alright?" Sakura looks around at the other people. "I hope everyone else is ok." A sad face crosses her and she looks worryingly around the room.

[Sperrit]

Sperrit glares down as Baltonar, his eyes still burning with green fire that slowly fades to his normal color. The rage in him does not. Sperrit holds out his hand and Terramyr flies into his waiting palm. He points the sword at Baltonar.
"Now, Baltonar, you will face your punishment."
"NO!"
Sperrit feels a strong hand on his arm. He turns to face Alerea's bright blue eyes.
"Do not stop me!" Sperrit yells, startling himself. "This man has destroyed my home! The one thing I had left of my people is gone! Corrupted by this FIEND! I CANNOT LET HIM LIVE!" Tears run down Sperrit's face. "I cannot...."
Alerea touches Sperrit's cheek with her hand, her eyes full of compassion. "Love, you have never killed a living thing. You have never even stepped on an ant. You have devoted your life to healing the weak, protecting and helping those who needed you. This scum's blood is not worthy of your blade, and not worthy of tainting and making you defy everything that you ever stood for."
Sperrit's face twisted into a grimace as tears began to flow more frequently. He let out a piercing scream and thrust his sword down.

Missing Baltonar's throat by less than a centimeter.

Sperrit grasped Alerea's hand in his own and pointed to Baltonar, still alive and held captive by the seamless blending of the two opposing Elements. A faint green glow covered Baltonar's body, and there came... not exactly a sound, but the feeling of a snap coming from Baltonar. Sperrit then swung his hand away and all the rocks and metal and crystal flew out of Baltonar, his wounds healing instantly.
"Go, Rune Mage, but Rune Mage no longer. You are hereby stripped of all your power and all the potential for ever having power again. You have also been stripped of all ability to lie or cheat. You are condemed to wander the Earth for all eternity, helpless as those you had once controlled. So decrees the Earth Counsil."

[Shino]

Shino woke up several minutes ago, but his body was in shock. He is finally able to move and he walks over to his comrades and puts his hand on Musashi's shoulder.

"Is he really powerless now. Can you really take the power away from a former Dragon Esper?"

[Shino]

RUNE MAGE

"... ... No ... ... He can't." Baltonar pants as a white light begins to glow around his beaten body. It begins to morph again.

The final form is not seen at first due to the amazingly bright white light that surrounds him. A large figure can be seen. It rolls over and attempts to stand, but falls down. The light dims and a grey dragon lays in the place where Baltonar once was.

"Thank you my friends," the dragon gasps for air after every few words. "You have released me from my prison. What the evil mage told you was only partially true. I am the Esper of the Espers. The dragon that controls all elements. I am Grislam. Baltonar was an evil rune mage back in the time when rune magic was common and feared. He was the most powerful of Rune Mages. He turned on his King and tried to overthrow him. The king sent all of his best knights to destroy the Rune Mage, as well as his own rune mage. The king's mage was killed by Baltonar, but he was chaced into my lair. Just as the final blow was about to be struck, he cast his final spell and took over my body. He used his evil ways to try and destroy the other espers, but he was unsuccessful. But now I am free, to say these last words, and to thank you for your bravery. Unfortunatly, as I couldn't control anything during his take over of my body, I was aware of all of his evil doings. The villagers he has taken are down the stairway at the end of that hallway."

Grislam points his head at a wall and fires an energy bolt at the wall. More powerful then anything that the fighters could possibly put together. A long hallway reviels itself.

"Baltonar sealed it off when he felt you enter his relm. Go, Finish your quest. I will fall into my final rest. I'm sorry my friends, but I am dying."

Grislam looks at Musashi and Shino, then turns to Musashi and speaks once more. "Musashi, great Dragoon Knight, you must find Sekundes, the Dragon Esper of Shadow. He is the only one that can save my dragon soul. Because of my banishment, I will not be aloud to join the other espers in the afterlife. Sekundes is the only one that can save me now. Take this..." Grislam closes his eyes and mouth and noises can be heard inside his body. He spits out a large jewel about the size of Musashi's hand. Musashi catches it and looks on in awe. "Give this to him, this will prove to him your story. Thank you my friends. My journey through this life is complete."

With that he laid down his head and lifted up his tail and waived it. I wind went through the room and small starlike light photons surrounded each of the fighters. All of their wounds were healed and their total strength returned. Grislam's tail suddenly lost all strength and fell to the ground.

A voice could be heard in the echo... "Re... mem... ber.. me... al... ways" then it faded away.

[Musashi]

Musashi clutches the crystal, staring in awe at the dragon who even he had never been told about. After a moment, Sophia's human spirit appeared next to Gryslam, a hand on his back as she spoke.

"Gryslam...the dragon of all elements. Before time even existed the 7 Dragon Elders were combating the void. Together, they created the dragon you see before you. He has a portion of all 7 of the elements and helped to bring down the former rule of the void so that life could begin. Naught was said of him after the dawn of time. Many thought he gave his life to conquer the void, others said he kept watch over the world. Even we, the Dragon Elders, lost all contact with him after his final battle against the void. Who'd have thought he would be controlled by this Rune Mage for so long."

Sophia stepped forward to Musashi.

"Please...Musashi, grant his dying request. Help his soul to find peace."

Finally, Sophia turned to Sakura who was standing beside Musashi.

"Alexander chose Musashi, the last of the Dragoons, the Time Elementals, to be his chosen hero. Now that I have been freed, I will choose the hero for my tribe of elementals."

Sophia held out her palm and within it a ornate light blue staff appeared. At the top of the staff, it was ordained with two white angel wings. Above the wings, on the tip of the staff, a light blue orb glowed with energy. Wind energy pulsated off the staff, leaving a ripple affect in the air around it.

"Sakura...you are my chosen hero. Please accept this staff and allow me to awaken your hidden power."

As Sakura accepted the staff, her body began to glow with light blue energy, the powers of the Wind Element awakened within her. Finally Sophia turned to both Musashi and Sakura.

"You are two of the Seven Heroes who are destined to save this world. Others will be revealed by their chosen Esper. Who knows? Perhaps some of them stand in this very room with you. Musashi, be sure to protect Sakura, you will both need each other ere this is over."

Musashi smiled and looked at Sakura before turning back to Sophia.

"I will Sophia, I swear it."

Finally, Sophia stepped back to Gryslam's body, laying a hand on him, as she spoke to the rest of the party.

"Your task is nearly complete. Go now, and save the villagers who have been imprisoned."

And with those final words, Sophia's spirit disappeared, taking Gryslam's body with her.

[Sperrit]

The moment that Sperrit had cracked the shell of power that had held the Elder Dragon captive he had known of that the Elder Dragon would die. So while the others listened to the Dragon's story Sperrit went alone out of the room. He felt empty, devoid of thought and emotion. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Alerea, her eyes full of understanding and grief. Sperrit quickly embraced her, holding her so tightly that he thought he would hurt her, tears streaming down his face.
"I have killed, love. My vow... as a healer... is... gone.... I now have nothing left. Not my brothers, my Elder, my home, or my honor. There is no recompense for this, love."
He released her and stared purposfully into her eyes.
"There is only one thing that I can do to make up for this terrible act. I must find he who had destroyed my people. There must be a greater plan. That Rune Mage, no matter how powerful, could not have taken control of the Elder Dragon on his own. It's impossible. There is a greater force at work here, a mysterious force, elusive. And the man who killed my people is the key, I know he is! I am going to follow his trail right off. You can come with me, but I know that it would be very undesireable to travel with an unhonorable man..."
Alerea kissed him. "I would go with you anywhere. My only regrett is that I must remain a bird for a while longer. It felt good to hold you again."
Sperrit smiled. "I know, love. I know," he said as she changed back into a bird and settled on his shoulder.
Sperrit began to walk away, but stopped just outside the Temple. He looked down at his hand. He was still holding Terramyr. Sperrit's eyes clouded over again. He held the sword up to his face and looked at it as one looks at another person.
"Terramyr. You have been as an extention of my body for ten years. We have seen and done things that no one would ever believe. You are part of me, and I am part of you. But I am now no longer worthy to weild you any longer. I have no honor left. So I am asking you, as a warrior, a comrade and a friend to do me a favor, though I have no right to ask it of you." The sword trembled and there came a vibration from it's core. Sperrit sighed and smiled. "Thank you, old friend. Please, stay here and watch the Temple. Keep guard over our home and the resting place of our Brothers' souls. Wait for me. Perhaps one day I might be worth enough to weild you again."
The sword quivered, and from the core of the sword there came a mournful note. It sounded almost human and full of sorrow at their parting. The sword then rose and flew to the spot between the two hills, planting itself point first into the path leading to the Temple. And there is stayed.
Sperrit smiled and sighed, and turned mournful eyes to Gira. "I felt his tracks before we went into the forest. He went west, towards the sea. He cannot run forever. I will find him. Even if it costs my life."
The two left the ruins of Sperrit's childhood home, the place that he had always felt would stand forever. As they walked back out of the forest Sperrit could see places of his childhood. Memories encroached upon him like fog, but he did not let that delay him. He had his quary. He was the best Tracker of his people. The man would not escape. The two left the forest, following the path to the rocky beach where a small boat was waiting.

(OOC: What Happened After: The Story of Sperrit is the continuation of this tale. Thank you all for letting me RP with you. It was the most fun I've ever had!
Join the Fun )

[Shino]

Shino stepped forward and picked up Terramyr. The power of the earth flowed through his body. He slid the sword between his gi and belt and attached it securely, then walked over to Musashi.

"I feel responsible to a point. If I had not been so arrogant and tried to blow the wall up, I might not have been knocked out and could have helped with the battle. I could have spared Sperrit the pain. Baltonar could have died by one of our blades. I'm sorry my friends. But I don't think he realizes that Baltonar... Grislam allowed himself to die. I don't think he realizes that he finally freed the dragon... not kill him. I will hold on to Terramyr and return it to him when the time is right. We should allow Sperrit to have his time to himself."

Shino turns and looks down the hall created by the powerful blast that Grislam fired.

"Come let us free the prisoners."

[Sperrit]

Terramyr allowed himself to be picked up. While still sad over his parting with his master, he was always planning for the future. He knew that Sperrit had to find his own honor, and that until that day he would never take Terramyr up again. But that day would come. Terramyr could think of no more honorable man, so finding his honor should take no time at all. He just needed to make sure that he was accessable to Sperrit when he came back, and this warrior seemed to be close to his master. When the time came he would be there for his master yet again. He just hoped that he wasn't too late....