Masked Resistance vs Aradian Tyranny (Closed/Started)

Morgan Darkrai | His Forge

I had to pack away the gold, trying to get back to my work for other clients. The parchment was about levers and gears. Whatever they were needed for, I wasn't sure. However, I had no doubt in my mind about what might happen if I mess up the job. Most of the time, my pay was reduced by half, but in the case of the King, the price is much worse than that. I've heard screams from the castle, so no doubt that would be my fate if I dared to mess up the job. I checked the parchment and frowned. The gears and levers were up to twenty, which is past my range with the metals I had in the forge. I had enough to make five levers and gears altogether. I'd have to purchase more metals to get the job done. With the gold I had, I might purchase enough food for my cottage to last a month and enough metals to do the job in front of me. As for the rest of the payment, I was at a loss. I looked at Nemesis, who was perched on the chest. Help me out, water dragoness. What am I going to do with all this gold? It's my first payment in gold and with up to five million pieces, I'd become the second richest Darkrai in the entire bloodline.
Nemesis tipped her head to the left. I know that, Master. However, you have a family tradition that should be kept. According to family law, a Darkrai should not be making machinery. As passed down from Maximus himself, the Darkrai line has been makers of weaponry and nothing more. The second you start making machinery is the second you break tradition. Are you sure you want to do this?
I let her perch on my shoulder while I open the chest and put some of the gold in a bag. What choice do I have? I need the money to put food on the table and metals in the forge. I could give my adopted children food and clean clothes while I could work in my forge until I breathe my last. I need this money now more than ever. I shut the chest and went out to do my purchasing. I purchased as many metals as I could carry and returned to the forge, only to find someone with broken trimmers, scissors, and a knife. I chuckled. It was just one of those days where I had to fix things. Next to the broken metal objects were three copper pieces. I took the money and objects. "I'll fix these in no time. By the looks of these, I say you're getting ready for apple season. It just so happens that I have an apple tree behind my cottage. I could give you three gold pieces as payment. Three gold pieces a day, no more than three. How did I get gold, it's better not to ask."

Gwendolyn Ekaterina | Morgan's Cottage

I was siting on the steps when the man I assumed was Morgan cam back with an armload of metal. He was kind of handsome for an old guy. He set his metal down ad examined my tools, saying, "I'll fix these in no time. By the looks of these, I say you're getting ready for apple season. It just so happens that I have an apple tree behind my cottage. I could give you three gold pieces as payment. Three gold pieces a day, no more than three. How did I get gold, it's better not to ask." Did he say gold peices? That was worth more than about 3 months of work. In a day.

"Sir, fer 3 gold pieces, I'll tend yer trees, shine yer shoes, and write a book if it pleases ya," I said, wincing a little as my country accent came out. This was why I didn't like doing business in the city. I looked down at my shoes and saw one of the laces came untied. I bent down to lace them up, and to hide a bit of my shame. My dad had said the city was a place of opportunity, but I had found out it was a place of opportunity for city-folk. Not for the country lass, as my grandpa woulda put it.

I figured that i would speed things along and make things a bit more interesting.

Erina

Erina sat in the rafters of the dinning room, another spy job and another long night. After the success of her last mission, Mercury was quick to send her on reconnaissance. Time to see if the deaths of three of the kings four generals raddled his cage. Erina was tired and bored, she had been here all day and she hasn't slept since two days ago. She had to hold in her laughter when Kirby and his sister Garnet spoke of tracking her down when she sat not twenty feet from them.

The dinning room was completely empty, the sun had set and all Erina could think about her soft bed waiting for her in her apartment. She was supposed to visit her brothers today but her mission toke precedence. Besides, Erina had no desire to see or hear her father.

A squeaky voice pierced the silence "but sire, an open attack against the resistance could only anger them and cause them to retaliate." Erina's father was trailing one step behind his Majesty.

"And sit by while they murder our generals?" The king snapped, "no, it is time to retaliate." The king smile, "And I know just how we will do it."

Erina's father looked confused, "sire?"

"I have a spy in the Masked Resistance. It toke some convinceing but our little friend finnaly submitted and joined my side. With the information gathered from my spy, I have the knowlege to counterstrike the resistance right where it hurts."

Erina's eyes became as big as dinner plates. A spy? And worst of all, he was going to attack the resistance! Erina's mind raced and she knew that she had to get back and warn Mercury. She sneaked as silent as a mouse out the window and made her way back to the hideout. She prayed that she could get there in time.

Spoiler

This is a lot to happen. If anyone objects to this let me know. btw, the dads name is Horend if anyone wants to use him at some point.

Deliah

I woke up early, just as the sun began to rise. I sat in the kitchen staring out the window until some the abnormals woke up. When the sun was about half risen I went and woke the others. When father woke up we ambused him in hugs and a dog pile. We laughed until it hurt and started up on breakfast. Sausage and berries which we had collected the day previous. Father hugged me and put me in charge when he left to work. I smiled at my fellow abnormals, my brothers and sisters. We cleaned up from breakfast then went out to the woods to gather more berries. (Although, we ended up running about the woods for a while.)

We soon decided to go home for lunch. All of us had gathered arm loads of berries. We had some berries and soon found ourselfs back in the woods. We danced and played for hours before deciding to go back to the cottage and begin preparing dinner. It was nearly dark when father finally arrived home. I waved at him from the other side of the kitchen and kept working on dinner.

Ace, sorry I didn't post sooner. I'm at a hotel, and the internet is horrible.

Kirby Ashtaroth

"How sad for the generals, isn't it, Erina? ...Erina?"

"I can't talk now, Kirby," Erina hissed, backing away into the crowd. "You might want to pay closer attention to your sister." Erina nodded to something behind Kirby before slipping into the shadows.

Kirby turned around. His sister, Garnet, was walking down the stairs just outside the courtyard. She didn't see Kirby, but she surveyed the courtyard carefully, her eyes lingering on the roof, where Erina had been standing. Kirby growled something under his breath, and followed her into the throne room.

Kirby lost Garnet in the crowd, and by the time he got to the throne room, she was sitting in front of the throne, motionless.

"What are you doing?" Kirby asked.

"I'm meditating," Garnet replied, her voice singsongy. "Unlike you, who goes bird watching and sneaks out of the castle against our father's wishes. Didn't you see the murders from last night? Three of our father's generals lie dead in our own yard."

"I saw that," Kirby said indignantly. "What do you think I was doing all morning?"

Garnet ignored his comment. "Father is sending me to find the assassin," she said. "He told me to take you with me."

"Good for him," Kirby muttered. "I have better things to do. And I don't need meditation to concentrate." He added the last part just to annoy his sister. Kirby started toward the door, but Garnet grabbed his wrist and pulled him out into the courtyard.

"Alright, alright!" Kirby snapped. At least he was getting out of the castle. He'd be able to slip away from Garnet once they were out in the city, and then he could find Erina again.

Tara

Tara watched Theo as he worked on Loik's machine. He looked at peace and at home, and also very concentrated. Suddenly his stomach growled and his concentration broke.

Tara smirked. "Why don't you order something. We're in a tavern after all."

Theo looked around with a wrinkled nose. "Um, no thanks. But no worries, thankfully I thought to bring an apple with me." He stuck his hand in his pockets, but instead of coming out with an apple, he started to fractically search his pockets with a confused look on his face.

With a humorous twinkle in her eye, Tara took a juicy bite of the green apple in her hand. Theo stopped his searching dead in his tracks and narrowed his eyes at Tara. "How did you...?" But then his eyes got big and Tara saw his hand reach for his left chest pocket.

"Don't worry," Tara said, taking another bite of the apple, "I didn't steal it. Although I could have. Why is it so important to you anyway?"

"None of your business." Theo replied quietly. There was a long awkward pause as the hecticness of the tavern bustled around them. Finally Theo said, "So...Nitefox. Interesting name."

"It's Tara actually." The corner of Tara's mouth lifted at the confusion on Theo's face. "Nitefox is my theif name. Wait, seriously, you've never heard of Nitefox? What do you live under a rock or something?" She said playfully.

"Well excuse me if I don't study downtown theifs."

"Touche'"

Suddenly, the doors to the tavern banged open and Tara saw a very familiar very angry man with specticles step in, with a royal guard at his side. They had a quick conversation in which Tara heard the words "Yes, she said she was coming to the Goose and Gander Inn."

"Uh oh, that's my cue. Time to go!" Tara grabbed Theo's hand and started pulling him towards the closest open window, but he stopped.

"Let go of me! I didn't do anything," Theo hissed.

"There they are! She's the one that took it from me!" The cry came from the man and Tara knew it was for her and, unfortionately for him, Theo.

"Too late. They won't listen to reason. Are you coming or not?!" Tara said as she jumped out the window. The guard charged Theo and he had no option but to follow Tara or be falsly accused...

Spoiler

So poor Theo got pulled into Tara's mess X) lol So I don't care where they go from here. Maybe they could get caught and brought to the king for punishment or something. Or Tara takes Theo to the masked resistance, or they run into someone else. Whatever you decide, Kat!

ALEM

Alem has been growling and glaring at everyone who would come close to him or even look at him.
His smirk was ripped off his face and stomped on… he couldn’t get a hold on the king. The prince and princess however were available, but he didn’t think that would help him. If Alem was a little more expressive, he would have been throwing a tantrum by now.
He was not fond of interacting with people but it would dark soon and he needed to find Morgan. Sure his epic plan failed but he could at least pay a visit to an old friend.
He shuddered inwardly when he almost bumped to too people and then almost got ambushed by a bunch of other people chasing after them. This was not a good day for him...
Finally, he made himself ask around for the Morgan Darkrai, which led him to Morgan’s forge. Too bad it was empty.
He clenched his fists in an attempt to control the urge to break something. He took a deep breath and walked out of the forge. A sting of creative curses left his mouth as he thought of what an unproductive day this was. He was just about to pass by a cottage when something made him stop.
A gut feeling, you could say.
He walked up to the cottage and knocked on the door. After a few seconds of shuffling on the other side, the door finally opened to reveal a young lady with short brown hair.
“Is is the residence of Morgan Darkrai?” I asked trying to not sound hopeful and not seem clueless at the same time.
“Umm…who’s asking?”
He was pretty sure he had the right house

Morgan Darkrai | His cottage

I just got home from work early because work in the daytime started to get slow as night began to blanket the land. After mending the country girl's tools, I told her she would start the next day when she had the time. Upon returning home, I was greeted by Deliah and the others along with the aroma of dinner. Knowing Deliah, it'd be something based on the wild berries she and her siblings picked while I was away. My stomach grumbled at the smell of dinner. Working with metal can make a man work up an appetite.
After Deliah waved, I was ambushed by her siblings. Just for fun, I wrestled with them and let them wrestle each other while I had an opening. Deliah was finished making dinner when someone knocked. She answered the door and I heard my name mentioned.
Nemesis took a look and came back to me. An Abnormal boy, Master. He seems troubled.
I snuck away from the wrestling children on tiptoe to reach Deliah. "Your siblings are wrestling again, Deliah. You might want to break it up before it gets nasty." After she left, I turned my gaze to the boy at the door. "I know you mentioned me by name. This is my residence, yes. You just met my adopted daughter Deliah. She's an Abnormal like yourself, but I took her in and adopted her because her original family didn't want her anymore. Come in, if you want to. There's always room for one more in my household."

Mercury

After a good mug or two of coffee I set out to do errands.

I'll certainly need to pick up food while I'm out, I also know I'm missing something. I need to talk back to someone, but of course now that my mind needs that piece of information, I'm blanking.

By mid afternoon I had met with several rebels on business regarding our next move on the crown; considering of course we'd gotten three new recruits that needed to be trained.

"Well I'm waiting back on another operative for recon. When she gets back, I'll send a bulletin." - was my only response.

And shortly after that meeting, none other than the person I'd been waiting for showed up.
Erin's strolled hurriedly up to my table,

"Ah, Erina! The person I really did need to see. Please tell me you have good news." She shook her head, and leaned in closer to me.

"I've recently learned that there is a spy in the Resistance, and he's going to attack." She whispered.

A spy? In the Resistance? No! That could jeopardize everything!

I said nothing of course, I needed to think.

"Okay, we need to act quickly. I need you to keep your eye out for anything else. Meanwhile, I need background checks on all our rebels. I need names, background, officials, I need everything. The sooner we find the spy, the sooner we can make our next move on the crown." she simply nods.

"Other than that, how have you been? I assume you've been well." I say cheerfully.

"I have been well, but I'm afraid I must be going." she says politely.

"Okay, but be safe Erina." I say, and she departs.

I grab the nearest rebel,

"I need you to find the Metal Master, and I need you to bring him here immediately. Tell him its urgent." he nods and goes out the door.

It seems the game is on

Lilith Senka
She silently slips out of the tavern following the two and that group of guards that were chasing them only cause they pry got a hunch on who they were or at least who the girl was. She speeds up and has grabbed a lagging guard then slips on his uniform and joins the others her face perfectly hidden under the hood he had been wearing as a disguise. She runs just behind the group blending in perfectly as they try to keep up with the two, they son lose them though so she slips away and continues after them on her own.

ALEM|Morgan's cottage

Before he could state his name, a somewhat familiar face appeared at the door "Your siblings are wrestling again, Deliah. You might want to break it up before it gets nasty." She left quickly and the man looked at Alem. "I know you mentioned me by name. This is my residence, yes. You just met my adopted daughter Deliah. She's an Abnormal like yourself, but I took her in and adopted her because her original family didn't want her anymore. Come in, if you want to. There's always room for one more in my household." He said and stepped back inside.
He closed the door after Alem entered. Alem stood in awkward silence for a while contemplating on how to address him.
What did I call him the last time… he couldn’t remember.
“Mr. Morgan…” is what he settled for, “I don’t know if you remember me... We met quite a long time ago. My name is Alem Emit.” He said respectfully, quite unlike him. “About ten years ago I think…”
He watched as recognition flashed across the Morgan’s face.
“What are you doing back in this place kid?” he asked in a lighter tone then before as he led Alem inside his cottage.
“Just stopping by I guess... your much older then I remembered.” he grinned
Morgan scoffed, “well, what did you expect.” He said while sitting down, “Now how about you start telling the truth.”
Alem’s eyes widened slightly before he composed himself, “you’re probably not going to like this.” He said taking the seat across from him.
He took his time looking round, watching the other kids like him, some young and some relatively older to phrase his words.
“I went to the palace to talk to the king.” I said looking back at Morgan.
This time it was his turned to be shocked, “you stupid child what were you thinking.” He scolded
Alem smiles,” don’t worry I couldn’t get to him, he wasn’t there. Though I’m sure he knew I was… I could hear a man…screech from inside the place. I believe that’s the king’s doing.”
“Be thankful... The king is not someone you can negotiate with.” Moran said still sounding angry.
Alem tried to defend his actions, “I wasn’t trying to. I was merely…” he was cut off by a fierce pounding at the door.
“Whatever you were trying to do it wouldn’t have worked.” He said as he got up to answer the door.
Alem got up and followed after him. The door opened to reveal a girl clutching her knee as he panted. She looked like she had just run a marathon. She shot up when he notice Morgan, “Mr. Darkrai! There's an emergency! Mercury says we need you at the at the Hideout immediately!” she said still oblivious to Alem’s presence. Even Morgan seemed to have forgotten him for the moment as he began to get ready to leave.
“What should I be doing?” He asked wondering if he could be of any assistance.
Morgan looked back at him, “can you be trusted?” he asked in all seriousness.
“Of course.” Alem answered
“Then you can follow me.”
He pulled up his hood to conceal his face...

Spoiler

*OOC: tenshou, Morgan puts on a ninja suit with a golden mask on to hide his eyes. The suit is total black, for extra stealth.*

Morgan Darkrai | On the move

I donned into my night work clothes. "Deliah, save some dinner for me when I get back. You're in charge until I get home. Duty calls." I put on my mask to complete the disguise. I had to take twists and turns in the streets with Alem on my heels. When we reached the Main Hideout, I had to stop at the door and take the sweat off my body with my Water sorcery.
Alem blinked. "I thought you were a Metal sorceror, Mr. Morgan."
I growled. "When addressing me like that, it's Mr. Darkrai or just Morgan. Never call me Mr. Morgan. It doesn't suit me like that." I took a breath and calmed down. "I was sired by a Metal sorceror, but given birth by a Water sorceress. My mother was a healer and my father was a bladesmith. Working in the forge runs in the Darkrai family." I went inside and slunk around to the halls until I reached Mercury's office. "This better be good. I'm getting too old for bladesmithing all night just like last time."

Spoiler

If it's alright with everybody, Anaki can get Morgan. If not, message me and I'll edit.

The post is starting before Erina's first post.

Anaki Shadowflame

I dove headfirst into the small stream that ran through the castle yards. I swam with powerful strokes, and soon found myself at the grate that I had let myself in by. I kicked the iron bar balancing to the right side of the grate off, not bothering to replace it behind me as I had when I made my entrance. I was beat off of every rock in the bottom of the stream as I braved the rapids, getting pinned to the bottom a time or two.

I finally dragged myself up onto the bank, and dispelled the water from my stomach. When I could supress my retching, I listened for the guards. They were splashing in the water within the castle walls and shouting at one anoter; trying to get another bar loose, so one of the men could get through the grate.

I shook my head and stumbled into the forest.

"How the hell did those fools outsmart me?" I growled, as I listened to a guard screaming as he fell through the rapids.

Sting landed on my shoulder. "They didn't outsmart you. They overpowered your ego."

"Same difference," I grumbled.

"It is not. Had you been smart about it, you'd have simply blasted them. Tiny fireballs to a man's head can do wonders. But what do you do? You go charging in there half-cocked, thinking you can kill three specific guards with your sword, without having the rest of the squadron after you."

I sighed, "You could've dissuaded me, you know."

"I didn't think you'd be fool enough to actually try that. Especially not when you've got Mercury to answer to."

I swallowed. I hadn't thought about facing Mercury. Maybe I should turn around and face the guards...It would be safer than going back to Mercury.

But I continued back towards the Resistence, easily losing the guards in the forest.

~~~~~~
I was right; Mercury wasn't pleased. He had allowed me into his office; but had only sat and glared at me for the past ten minutes. I swallowed. His silence was worse than an explosion.

"I-I-Please give me another chance! I promise I won't screw it up again!" I gushed.

"It's far too late for that. I've sent a competent person in your stead."

I swallowed hard. His words had cut as deeply has he had intened. "You have?"

"Yes. Erina."

I clenched my fists tightly. Annoyed.

"This annoys you?"

I swallowed again, trying to stay calm. "Yes sir."

"Hmm, well you can have time to get over it...cleaning the floors." He looked at me challengingly.

I inhaled sharply, nearly losing control of my tongue.

"You're dismissed."

I turned on my heel and quickly exited his office.
~~~~~~~

I was dusting nearby Mercury's table, doing my best to ignore him. I wasn't about to let him know that the janitor duty was eating away at my nerves. It was best to be mature about it, and, hopefully, he'd let me off early.

I had my back turned to the table, when I heard Mercury say, "Ah, Erina! The person I really did need to see. Please tell me you have good news."

I turned and saw Erina leaning across the table, whispering something to Mercury. She stood up, leaving Mercury thinking for a moment.

"Okay, we need to act quickly. I need you to keep your eye out for anything else. Meanwhile, I need background checks on all our rebels. I need names, background, officials, I need everything. The sooner we find the spy, the sooner we can make our next move on the crown."

Erina nodded.

Ooh, let me help. Let me help. I wanted the job so badly it hurt.

"Other than that, how have you been? I assume you've been well." Mercury said cheerfully.

"I have been well, but I'm afraid I must be going." she says politely.

"Okay, but be safe Erina." Mercury said.

Mercury grabbed my shirt. "I need you to find the Metal Master, and I need you to bring him here immediately. Tell him its urgent."

I nodded and sprinted out the door. Once I was well away from the hideout, I skipped a few steps.

"Yes! I'm back on, Sting!"

~~~~~~~~~~

I finally got to the door of Morgan's door, and frantically began pounding on it. A spasm of pain attacked my knee. I collapsed on the doorstep, nursing my knee and panting.

The door opened, revealing Morgan. I sprang to my feet and threw my hood back, hoping Morgan would recognize me. I didn't have time to prove my identity.

"Mr. Darkrai! There's an emergency! Mercury says we need you at the at the Hideout immediately!"

Morgan immediately began readying himself for the journey, ignoring me; giving me an opportunity to lean against the doorframe and catch my breath. I didn't have any idea how fast I'd have to go on my return journey; but I knew coming here wasn't pleasant.

“What should I be doing?” A boy asked, as he watched Morgan come out into the darkness beside me.

Morgan looked back at him, “Can you be trusted?”

“Of course.” The boy replied.

“Then you can follow me.”

Morgan pulled a mask over his face and started down the the path I had just taken.

~~~~~~~

When we got to the Hideout, Morgan stopped, and removed the sweat from his body. I was suddenly embarrassed that I was so sweaty...and stinky.

The boy with Morgan seemed surprised. "I thought you were a Metal sorceror, Mr. Morgan."

Morgan growled. "When addressing me like that, it's Mr. Darkrai or just Morgan. Never call me Mr. Morgan. It doesn't suit me like that." Morgan took a deep breath. "I was sired by a Metal sorceror, but given birth by a Water sorceress. My mother was a healer and my father was a bladesmith. Working in the forge runs in the Darkrai family."

I quickly opened the door for Morgan, allowing him and the boy to enter before me. I followed them through the halls, until they reached Mercury's office. The boy and I hesitated outside.

"This better be good. I'm getting too old for bladesmithing all night just like last time," Morgan growled.

Gwendolyn Ekaterina | Morgan's Cottage to Home

I stood outside his cottage for a bit. I was still shell-shocked from the fact he'd offered me a job. Even after my accent, which was still pretty rare. 3 gold coins. What would I do with so much money? I hitched a ride back home with the same guy who took me to the city.

"You're awfully quiet this evening. What's up?" he asked me. I seem to remmber this guy buying a few rounds from me last year. Can't say he hold his booze in well, but he did it better than some other people I'd served.

"Oh, I'm justa ponderin' 'bout this new job I got from the blacksmith," I replied.

"Really? And what job is that," he asked.

I grinned at him, replying, "My favorite kind. Tendin' apple trees."

He nodded, "Hey, it's almost harvest time, right? Well, I'm gunna want a few rounds of that drink of yours."

"No problem. Don't worry about it," I replied, getting off at my house, "See ya t'mmorrow!"

"Yep!" came his reply. I'd really need to get that guy's name sometime. Now, I had some stubborn trees to tend to.I looked at them and groaned. "I told y'all not ta grow, ya sorry excuses fer Golden Delicious," I said, throwing my hat on the ground, "Now I'ma have to work all night!" I sighed, picked up my hat, and got to work.

Mercury / Bored and Worried at his table

I waited to about ten to twenty minutes In silence, scratching ancient magic runes I'd once learned into the wood of the table. I looked up to see Morgan walking to my table.

"This better be good. I'm getting too old for bladesmithing all night just like last time," He growled.

I vaulted over my table to face Morgan, pulling him very close.

"A spy has infiltrated the Resistance, and he plans to attack." I say, his eyes widen.

"You're kidding,"

"Do I look like I'm kidding Morgan?!" I whisper harshly at him.

"Well what do we know so far?" he asks.

"We don't know anything but the fact that there is indeed a spy; I have Erina working on it." I say.

"I'll see what I can do."

I step away from him,

"So other than that, how has Delilah been? I never get to talk to her and I haven't seen her around, you've also declined all of my previous dinner invitations."

"That's because you live in that table, you barely eat or sleep. I'm surprised you breath, frankly you're quite mad. So I don't want you around my children. And she's doing well as far as you're concerned." he finishes, and chuckles.

"Well that hurt slightly, but I forgive you. I don't think I have anything else to tell you. But I must be thanking you on behalf of your services as weapons manufacturer-person." I say.

He nods and says,

"Thank You, and if that is wall. I will be going."

"Then it's been a pleasure talking to you. If you change your mind about dinner, you know where I live." I say, and knock on the wooden table.

He nods, and leaves.

The rebel that I had pulled from her duties to fetch Morgan stood silent and motionless as the conversation transpired. I look at her with an iron stare.

"You know I've never been able to stay mad at anyone for very long, so whatever it was you were doing before you screwed up and I put you on janitorial. You may resume that again. But one more slip up, and I'll end you. Do you understand?" I snap my fingers, producing a tiny spit of electricity.

She simply stares wide eyed, and nods.

"Thank You, sir." she says.

I sigh,

"You're dismissed."

She leaves, and I sit back down at my table.