open To justify the means ( IC RP)

[Literally Snails 2,307]

Lorec gave a long, harsh look to femi, and snorted in an annoyed sigh that minotaurs were known for when distressed or somewhat fed-up with the current situation.

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Lorec:

" If he does betray us, then he is truly a vainglorious fool. That phoenix knight Zephrael keeps speaking of a 'test'. Look, I don't understand fully why this is happening. No one does. But one thing is certain. Zephrael, and his master are leagues of power above any of us. Not to mention that Kazas has been lost to us, and has even ascended to stage four of the seven, surpassing everyone within the DRO. that creature has two phoenix knights serving him, and even still, he seems to have enough power to hold dominion over the world itself. If mason betrays us, it will not be forgiven, nor forgotten. That creature probably won't take him, and we won't welcome you all back. You will be on your own, ostracized by both sides and possibly even targeted for elimination by Avaerus. Remember, they said we are expendable."

 

---------( the old castle )----------

 

Alrahm:

" I think we had a slight misunderstanding. Its not kazas that is your target, it is one named Terminan, his father. And the reason I'm wanting samurai equine to be the main fighter against him is for his ability to absorb fire. What you don't understand, is this; Terminan is an awakened keeper, and quite possibly one of the deadliest inheritors of the Azarith line. His Dark flame is powerful, and he is Kazas's polar opposite. Where as Kazas is forgiving, general Terminan was absolutely ruthless. Where kazas had faith in Vakor, Terminan has none. I think you two would get along, afterwards, actually.... Anyways, I know exactly how to anger him. You can threaten his wife, Lucretia. Or you can take a swing at Kazas's name. Or if you'd prefer... Kazas's wife Iria or his three children Damia, Kalin, or Belzac. Any threats to these names, and it will anger him. And mason... If when we meet and he can still call forth the dark flame... DO NOT. LET. IT. TOUCH. YOU."

________________

 

Alrahm had talked as though he knew this Terminan very well. Indeed, he did. Of course, that information was irrelevant unless mason really wanted to delve into the past... Something Alrahm did not like talking about. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead and unto his brow. Rarely did alrahm show anything other than a cynical, planning personality along with the ocassional but needed seriousness. Alrahm didn't know mason's true power. And it was true that terminan would be in his mid 50's by now, along with still being leagues below Zephrael along with everyone else , but it could not be denied that Terminan would make a formidable ally, along with the remnants of the griffon empire.

 

@@Samurai Equine, 

 

"Interesting how you act as if you know what I mean, when I do not." Femi said with a glint in her one visible eye. She didn't answer Samurai's question and she didn't respond to Lorec further. She left along the same path that Kierro had taken, entering the woods to regroup with the other Yokai. The numbers of Mason's army gathering in the Everfree became larger. Anyone with a hint of spiritual awareness would have felt the gathering of low level demons.

 

 

 

Mason listened to Alrahms warning and took it to heart. Alrahm hadn't been wrong about something like this yet. Soon after, Snowstorm, Havoc, and Roto re-entered the castle, leading to several refugee's parting from their way, clearly intimidated by the massive minotaur. They walked up to Mason's side.

 

"I heard what you discussed. The last part of your conversation, at least." Snowstorm said. "Are we really going to risk our own lives for them?"

 

Mason didn't answer, he was still looking back at Alrahm as he walked away.

 

(If this ever picks back up, how are we going to advance in the plot with us all at the castle like this?)

[Vae Victis 742]

@@Samurai Equine,  "Interesting how you act as if you know what I mean, when I do not." Femi said with a glint in her one visible eye. She didn't answer Samurai's question and she didn't respond to Lorec further. She left along the same path that Kierro had taken, entering the woods to regroup with the other Yokai. The numbers of Mason's army gathering in the Everfree became larger. Anyone with a hint of spiritual awareness would have felt the gathering of low level demons.   Mason listened to Alrahms warning and took it to heart. Alrahm hadn't been wrong about something like this yet. Soon after, Snowstorm, Havoc, and Roto re-entered the castle, leading to several refugee's parting from their way, clearly intimidated by the massive minotaur. They walked up to Mason's side. "I heard what you discussed. The last part of your conversation, at least." Snowstorm said. "Are we really going to risk our own lives for them?"Mason didn't answer, he was still looking back at Alrahm as he walked away. (If this ever picks back up, how are we going to advance in the plot with us all at the castle like this?)

( don't worry. Almost everything is ready. A time skip will come soon, and then, your event.)

 

Lorec simply snorted and turned away. Syuren was waking up. It was about time, anyways. He found himself, laid against the wall, with his spear in tow. Everything seemed alright. He arose from his resting place near a building, and set out to find lorec. Lorec turned to the soldiers, and started to speak in an agoraian-like manner.

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Lorec:

" If you all truly wish to be efficient in helping us..."

_______

 

He paused. He knelt down, on one knee, the other bent. He closed his eyes, and placed his palm on the ground. When he was absolutely sure that Femi had cleared ponyville on her journey into the forest, he started working his plan into fruition. A brownish-gold soul could be seen snaking from the zweihander on his back, and into his chest. Soul infusion. With his right palm still on the ground, he unleashed a mighty roar.

____

lorec:

" GROUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"

____________

 

As he screamed with all of his might, an aura of the same color as the soul that entered his body surged around him, and the ground started to shake violently. An earthquake of a great magnitude that could be felt miles away. But this was not lorec's true goal. Around the entirety of ponyville, stone was raised around it. A barrier. A wall. This was Lorec's plan, to take what remained of ponyville and turn it into a fort. Such was the way of the hunter, to leave nothing useful behind. After all, samurai and the others had managed to stop the inferno that Kazas had wrought. It was only natural not to let it go to waste. The circular wall around ponyville reached higher and and higher. Soon all of ponyville was surrounded by a twenty foot tall stone wall, 10 feet thick. The earthquake subsided, and lorec stood, albeit panting and gasping. While it was true that the primal soul that he possessed allowed him to bend the Earth to his will, moving such a great amount of stone in one action was immensely taxing, and required a great deal of life force energy. Lorec, after finishing his wall, finished his sentence.

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" then help me salvage what we can, and build this place back up. From now on, this is no longer ponyville. This is the Three Saints' Vigil, in honor of Equestria's fallen. I will need you all to gather any and all civillains from the ruins, and send them toward the everfree's direction. I will make an entrance route that faces the Everfree.once all are found, you soldiers will escort them to the old castle of the sun and moon. Then, come back. This place will bask in glory once more! Are there any objections?"

 

_____

 

Soldiers:

 

"No."

 

"Nope."

 

"No..."

 

" no time to even mourn our people...."

 

" he is right. We have to save who we can. No time for tears."

 

________

 

And just like that, the soldiers, about 110 in number, scattered, searching for trapped civillains. Lorec had turned and started walking the other way, forward the everfree. He was going to make the entrance as promised. He sure was proud of his work. The wall was strong, tall, and imposing. A simplistic masterpiece in Lorec's mind. The primal soul exited out of Lorec's back and into his zweihander once again, its job done for now. Lorec heard trotting behind him. A mischevious smile appeared on his face. Joke time.

______

Lorec:

" so you're finally awake, lover boy?"

______

Syuren:

" well yeah, I, not a punk a-... Wait... What did ya just call me?"

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Lorec:

" lover boy. You know, because of what happened?"

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Syuren;

"WOAH... WOAH. back up a bit. What the hell are you gobbing about?"

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Lorec:

" you don't remember? Fine, I'll tell you. You didn't completely pass out after the attack. That demon, with the mask, held you up ever so slightly. You were so thankful. He gently laid you on the ground, but didn't leave your side. You said that you didn't know how to thank him. He leaned in closer, saying that he didn't need thanks. You both looked into each others' eyes, and then...."

______

Syuren:

" then what? What happened?"

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Lorec:

" oh, you kissed him. It wasn't just a peck on the cheek either. Your tongue was practically dancing. Honestly, I think he suits you well. Two sides of a coin. You loved it. He didnt seem to mind, either. After that, he left you by that wall. Shameful. He didn't even leave a number."

_____

 

Syuren's jaw dropped. Gullible and naiveté were easy cards to play on him. His jaw closed, his eyes flashed green, and a green, raging aura surged around him. Without warning, he took off flying so hard, the ground cracked under the force. But when syuren yelled, lorec couldn't contain it anymore.

_____

Syuren:

" HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo......"

___

 

The yell, thanks to the Doppler effect, was all the more comedic to lorec.he was rapidly flying toward the castle's direction. Lore was luaghing excessively, almost unable to breathe.

Samurai Equine continues to travel through the Everfree forest. On his way, he encounters a manticore, one that would have easily been recognized by a famous soft-spoken mare. And he looks angry, like a beast ready to pounce. Samurai holds his ground with a determined look in his eyes. "Go on. Give me a reason to make a fur coat tonight..." Samurai thinks to himself, but the manticore backs away, somehow sensing Samurai's abilities as a warrior. When the manticore breaks away, he reveals a stone water well, as if he was guarding it for some reason. Still, Samurai walks up to it, lowers the bucket, draws some water, and takes a drink. "Hmm... Wonder why someone would build this out here..." But Samurai does not have time to rest.

 

It isn't long before Samurai finishes his trek through the woods. The distance between the two locations isn't far. Still, he sees Lorec, Oni, Kierro, and Femi. He stops to observe them talking to the guards before he casually makes his approach. "Do you know who will die?" Samurai asks, wanting to know more about this strange prediction. "Will it be me or one of the other warriors, or someone defenseless?"

 

Lorec:

" Ahahahahahahaha! Payback for dropping rotten tomatoes on my head!"

_________

 

Lorec was smiling, when he turned to face samurai equine. He spoke. This was the first time lorec had a true smile on his face.

 

" samurai! Walk with me! We have to discuss some things."

 

He turned away again, so samurai could follow. As he walked, he could only relish the thought of what would happen when syuren got to the castle. This was lorec's humorous way of sending Alrahm word of what he was hoping to accomplish.

 

------( the old castle )------

 

Alrahm then spoke out loud, directly to mason and his group, before leaving them to their own devices.

_____

Alrahm:

" the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We must allow the soldiers a few days of rest. While time is of the essence, let us not forget the needs of others. I suggest finding a room, and relaxing. Plan what you need to. If I am needed, you can find searching for a library, or in it if I do find it. We are taking a census of civillains and soldiers, along with figuring out how to distribute rations and gathering food when those run out. On top of that, we are building shelters for the civillains that can't fit in the castle. It will take awhile. Anyways-"

_______

 

A loud screaming could be heard in the distance.

 

".....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!"

 

*CRASH*

 

 

through a nearby glass plane, syuren smashes into it, and lands in a heap of broken glass. He turns to find mason, and yells.

 

_____

Syuren:

" ALRIGHT, WHERE IS THAT BLACK-HAIRED SLEEZEBAG OF YOURS, HUH?!? I GOTTA BEEF WITH HIM!!!!!"

[Samurai Equine 50,661]

At the old castle, Samurai's spying Kuroko decides he has heard enough from Mason and Alrahm. He slips away and returns to his duties.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Samurai's eyes shrink and his ears lower with the surrealness of the situation. This is all too new, and all too fast! Lorec makes a giant city-encompassing fort out of nothing, becomes a lot more vocal, teases Syuren, and laughs uncontrollably! Is this still the same strong, stoic warrior that Samurai originally met? Then sees Syuren flying away! "No, Syuren, wai--!!" Samurai reached out, but too late. Syuren is gone. And now he is left alone with this completely new version of Lorec.

 

"Eto (Umm)... Sure?" Samurai says with an uneasy smile and an uneasy nod. He starts to walk off with Lorec, but part of him wonders if he should keep his guard up.

[Vae Victis 742]

At the old castle, Samurai's spying Kuroko decides he has heard enough from Mason and Alrahm. He slips away and returns to his duties.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Samurai's eyes shrink and his ears lower with the surrealness of the situation. This is all too new, and all too fast! Lorec makes a giant city-encompassing fort out of nothing, becomes a lot more vocal, teases Syuren, and laughs uncontrollably! Is this still the same strong, stoic warrior that Samurai originally met? Then sees Syuren flying away! "No, Syuren, wai--!!" Samurai reached out, but too late. Syuren is gone. And now he is left alone with this completely new version of Lorec.

 

"Eto (Umm)... Sure?" Samurai says with an uneasy smile and an uneasy nod. He starts to walk off with Lorec, but part of him wonders if he should keep his guard up.

( sorry everyone. Things have happened. I'm back.)

 

Lorec returned to his stoic state. While it may seem to samurai that he may be schizophrenic, lorec had his reasons for his actions. He could hear the reluctance in Samurai Equine's voice. He kept walking, slowly, toward the wall around ponyville, looking to explain his plans.

_____

Lorec;

" you know... Syuren taught me a very important lesson some years ago. That even in the bleakest of situations, its best to smile and have a laugh. This is my way of sending a smile to others, with an ulterior motive, of course. Once he calms himself, he will explain to alrahm what I have done here. We need a vigil in case more of those enemies come. I am providing it. If anything were to happen, the bulk of our force will know. Thanks to you, this town can be reborn when this is all over. Until then, it is our eyes and ears. I have a request, however... I need you to carry a message to alrahm. I request 200 D.R.O. personnel. Syuren would screw up a simple order like that, even though he'd have his heart in the right place. And samurai... What do you think of that Zephrael?"

 

Lorec questioned as they walked.

[Samurai Equine 50,661]

Samurai scratches the back of his neck and shakes his head. "Talk about a complete personality shift..." Samurai mutters to himself, not really wanting that part to be heard.

 

Still, Samurai listens to what he has to say. "Find Alrahm, 200 DRO... I think I got it, but aren't you coming back too? We really need you with us to--" Samurai begins, but is interrupted by Lorec's final question. Samurai nearly stops in his tracks at the mere mention of that name. "Zephrael? ... I just don't know. My mind is too focused on my mission right now to really think clearly. When I think of him and Avaerus, my mind only replays the scene where they carelessly and heartlessly killed Celestia and the other princesses... But I also remember how halfhearted Zephrael has been about defeating us, about wanting to achieve some ulterior motive. I think there is a story behind the both them, and I want to believe I'll learn the full story the more I travel with the new friends I've made, but... No matter what, they still need to answer for their crimes against mortals, and the princesses need to be avenged." Samurai begins.

 

As they continue walking, Samurai looks up at the new stone wall protecting Ponyville, remembering the sun-filled sky. "All I ever wanted to be was Princess Celestia's loyal soldier, the perfect sword for the sun's use. However, things have changed, and it has fallen unto me to become the envoy of justice instead. I hope that answers your question. That's really all I feel." Samurai says.

[Vae Victis 742]

Samurai scratches the back of his neck and shakes his head. "Talk about a complete personality shift..." Samurai mutters to himself, not really wanting that part to be heard.

 

Still, Samurai listens to what he has to say. "Find Alrahm, 200 DRO... I think I got it, but aren't you coming back too? We really need you with us to--" Samurai begins, but is interrupted by Lorec's final question. Samurai nearly stops in his tracks at the mere mention of that name. "Zephrael? ... I just don't know. My mind is too focused on my mission right now to really think clearly. When I think of him and Avaerus, my mind only replays the scene where they carelessly and heartlessly killed Celestia and the other princesses... But I also remember how halfhearted Zephrael has been about defeating us, about wanting to achieve some ulterior motive. I think there is a story behind the both them, and I want to believe I'll learn the full story the more I travel with the new friends I've made, but... No matter what, they still need to answer for their crimes against mortals, and the princesses need to be avenged." Samurai begins.

 

As they continue walking, Samurai looks up at the new stone wall protecting Ponyville, remembering the sun-filled sky. "All I ever wanted to be was Princess Celestia's loyal soldier, the perfect sword for the sun's use. However, things have changed, and it has fallen unto me to become the envoy of justice instead. I hope that answers your question. That's really all I feel." Samurai says.

Lorec simply returned to his normal stoicism, contemplating. As he walked with samurai, flashbacks played in his mind. Duke Jirrah's head, held in that creature's claw, the ambush and escape,his broken arm, and how Zephrael mended it.

_______

 

Lorec:

" while I don't care much for that eight-winged... Thing, I guess you could call it, zephrael intrigues me. I won't bother explaining the whole concept right now, but Kazas once explained to me about phoenix knight abilities. The purer the soul, the more potent the healing power is. The more corruption that the knight has within his soul, the more dangerous the flame he can produce. Kazas was-..is, a noble soul, able to heal most injuries.... But not broken bones, at least, not that quick. And his predecessor, Terminan the Hell-pheonix, while noble as well, performed many actions that stained his soul, granting access to the dark flame. While powerful, I could sense that Zephrael's was even stronger than that. This means that his soul is even purer than Kazas's, and yet stained worse than Terminan's.... Zephrael is unique, Samurai. What I'm trying to say, is that we could learn more from capturing him, than killing him.... Something is very wrong with the relationship between that griffon and his god."