VG Rumble

"Remember, they're all human so don't over-do it," Luke warned. "We don't want bounties on all our heads."

The first thug came forward, swinging his sword wildly. Luke sidestepped and parried the attack. With his free hand he grabbed the thug's wrist and twisted it until he heard it crack. The man let out an agonizing scream and dropped his weapon. Luke did something with his feet and broke the thug's leg. He dropped to the ground and rolled around in pain.

Luke raised his sword and waited for the next opponent.

While Warren was astonished with Luke's attacks, another thug moved in. Ilum darted in front of Warren to defend him as Karana took on another thug, using speed and her small stature to avoid him. Once she was behind him, she took her bow and slapped him across the head, temporarily stunning him.

Ilum used ice to freeze two of the others' feet in place before jumping at them. Using a simple move, he planted both of his fists against their noses, breaking them.

**It's been three days since I posted. Where is everyone?**

Sorry, was a bit stuck on what to post and finding it hard to keep track of how many thugs have been taken out.

Raven

"They keep getting up!" Izuki grumbled as she dodged one of the thugs and kicked his leg hard in just the right place to send him sprawling across the ground. True to her statement, he stayed down a moment and then clambered to his feet and charged back at them, his dark eyes wide with fury and frothy spit tangled in his brown, bird's nest beard. "Ewww, this one has rabies!"

A few hesitant giggles accompanied this statement as a group of street urchins and tired, weary looking women began to gather round, most ballancing great urns of water on hips or shoulders, clinging to them fiercely. Why don't they put them down? Raven wondered as she carefully knocked one of the thugs out with the side of her mace.

"Who'd have thought not killing people would be harder than slitting their throats," Warren joked with a wry grin as he began prodding the seven, fallen thugs, hitting those who moved with the hilt of one of his swords.

"...four...five...six...seven." Luke finished the count with a slight frown. "Their leader is missing," he mumbled. "Did anyone see him? Or actually fight with him?"

"He's probably gone to bring re-inforcements," Karana realised.

(Sory for the delay, I was camping with my folks this weekends.)

Ilum gained Level 3 Burst of Strength!
Karana gained Level 2 Burst of Strength!
Raven gained Level 2 Metaphysical Shield!
Warren gained Level 3 Enhanced Sight!
Luke gained Level 2 Intimidate!
Izuki gained Level 2 Wind!


Current Abilities:

Ilum:
Level 3 Ice
Level 3 Fire
Level 1 Gravity (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Strength (Skill) UP!!!

Karana:
Level 3 Fire
Level 3 Lightning
Level 3 Ice
Level 2 Meteor (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Speed (Skill)
Level 2 Burst of Strength (Skill) UP!!!
Ifrit (Summon)

Raven:
Level 3 Healing
Level 3 Water
Level 2 Lightning
Level 1 Holy (Advanced)
Level 2 Empathy (Skill)
Level 2 Metaphysical Shield (Skill) UP!!!
Shiva (Summon)

Warren:
Level 3 Wind
Level 2 Lightning
Level 2 Time (Advanced)
Level 3 Enhanced Sight (Skill) UP!!!

Luke:
Level 3 Lightning
Level 2 Void
Level 2 Healing
Level 2 Earth (Advanced)
Level 3 Shadow (Skill)
Level 2 Intimidate (Skill) UP!!!
Leviathan (Summon)

Izuki:
Level 3 Void
Level 2 Wind UP!!!
Level 1 Bio (Advanced)
Level 3 Unlock (Skill)
Level 2 Burst of Speed (Skill)

As the crowd began to die down Luke and the others asked Warren what he had been doing since they went their separate ways. Apparently, after trying to keep the town they had left from falling into complete chaos he felt like he had a higher calling. Luke and the others were going around trying to find these stones so they can save the world, he wanted to at least do something to, even if it was just keeping the people in a small town from killing each other.

One day he started hearing about a gang of crooks called the Black Sept who were taking advantage of the fear the black sun was creating. Instead of trying to help the situation, these thieves were stealing from others and killing people for money. Warren wanted to put a stop to them, so he began tracking down these crooks so he could find their boss and stop them.

"...and then my search led me here," Warren finished.

"So you ran around Arcadia looking for this gang's boss while calling yourself a wind god?" Ilum asked.

"Pretty much."

"Is that why they said you had a bounty on your head?" Karana asked.

"Being a protector of the peace has its prices," Warren said. He turned to Luke and said, "Speaking of which, didn't they say there was a bounty on your head, too, Luke?"

The others turned to face Luke. "That's right, they did," Raven said.

"Why do you have a bounty on your head?" Ilum asked.

"It's not something I wish to speak of at the moment," Luke said.

"Fair enough," Warren said, "can I ask why you guys are in Karavia?"

Luke explained to Warren about the stones and the soul forge. He told him that the Pyrolith was in Drokonia and they needed a ship to get there.

"Well, good luck finding one," Warren said. "The docks have been shut down, there's no boats coming in or going out."

"Why not?" Karana asked.

"The Black Sept has shut down all navel activity in Karavia, which means trade routes have been cut off. I don't know why they would stop their own flow of income, but you won't be able to get to Drokonia if the docks are closed."

"So, if we put a stop to the Black Sept's activity in this town we'll find a boat that can take us to Drokonia?" Ilum asked.

Warren nodded. "That's right."

"Look's like we don't have much of a choice," Luke said. "First we'll need to go to the docks and find a ship with a captain willing to take us to Drokonia. After that, we'll have to put a stop to the Black Sept in this town."

(Just so you know, the Black Sept gang had shut down the docks because the dark knight told them to. The gang's boss wants Warren and Luke dead and the dark knight told him if he shut down the docks they would come to him.)

**Good plot twist!**

Karana and Ilum listened intently, but she could not help notice Ilum's smile fading. He seemed thoughtful, worried, maybe even suspicious.

"Ilum? What's the matter?" she asked.

The others turned to listen as he spoke. "Closing the docks, the Black Sept, the soul forge...it all seems to be connected somehow. But...how?"

She looked around at her friends, absently taking his hand in hers. Any form of comfort should work!

"Any ideas?" Izuki asked.

"If we ask around at the docks we may be able to find some clues," Luke said.

They went to the docks at the other side of the town. As they looked for a ship with a captain that was willing to take them where they wanted to go they asked around for clues on the Black Sept's whereabouts. As luck would have it they found someone who gave them what they wanted in both categories.

"My name's Raynor, and I can get you to Drokonia," the man said. They found this man tending to his ship at one of the docking platforms. It was a ship large enough to fit at least fifty men.

"That's great!" Karana said. "What do you want in return?"

"Those Black Sept bastards have kept me docked here for weeks. I have a family back in the city of Arcadia that I haven't seen in months. If you can somehow get the docks open again so I can finally see my loved ones I'll take you to Drokonia free of charge."

"Do you know where we can find them?" Ilum asked.

"They're base in this town is in the Cracked Pot Inn just down the street. get rid of the Black Sept boss and his lackeys in there and their power in Karavia will perish."

Warren

"Sounds simple enough," Warren decided, "we'll be sailing in less then an hour, come on." He set off striding down the street and after a moment's hesitation, the others followed. The group moved as quickly as the crowded streets would allow, walking close together and watching the ragged, hard looking people warily.

"Let's not get over confident," Luke suggested, keeping a particularly close eye on a huddle of men wearing slightly patched clothing and all openly carrying knives and swords at their belts.

"Over confident?" Warren laughed scornfully. "After the way you guys fought back there, I'm certain we're more than a match for a few gang leaders." He shook his head with a grin and then stopped outside a tiny building, the crooked sign swinging over-head with a squeak and a groan. The Cracked Pot Inn.

The outside of the building was painted black and such a thick, dark shade that it appeared to absorb the light, draining all sunshine from the air around them. The door was metal and guarded by a bulky, black-robed man who watched them with grey eyes shadowed by a baggy, black turban.

"That must be pretty hot in this heat, huh?" Warren asked, pointing at the turban. The man grunted and directed a little more attention their way. "Have a nice sleep." The man's eyes went wide and both hands sprang to his neck, groping for the invisible force that was choking him as Warren drew the air away with his wind powers. The man gurgled and at last fell with a soft thud, at which point Warren released the wind and stepped over, checking his pulse.

The inside of the tavern/inn was just as gloomy as the outside. The floors, walls, ceilings, even the chairs and tables were all painted black. The air was thick with smoke from people smoking their tobacco, is if fog could form inside a building. All eyes in the building had turned to Luke and his group when they came through the front door. They weren't friendly eyes, either.

Raven saw two posters on a nearby wall. One was a picture of Warren in his new poncho, the second was of a young Luke. Both of them said, "Wanted: Dead or Alive." The prices for both of them were pretty high, although Luke's was a little higher than Warren but she didn't say anything.

"Listen up!" Warren began, "We're looking for the head honcho of your little gang. If you guys value your lives, you'll tell us where he is!"

The entire room burst into laughter. A man from the closest table got up and walked over to Warren. "So, this is the guy who's been causing us trouble? He doesn't look so tough to me!" He prodded Warren in the chest with his finger.

In a blur of speed Warren grabbed the man's finger, snapped it, twisted his arm and threw him to the ground. He brought his attention back to the rest of the thugs in the room. "Who's next?" He was answered by the sound of twenty or thirty swords coming out of their sheathes.

"Enough!" All the thugs put their swords away as one man emerged from another room. He was clad in heavy armor most commonly found on the shoulders of Arcadian knights and other law enforcers. "I see you've all finally come. It seems that man Ethric Vanhiel was right, I closed the docks and you came right to my doorstep."

"You must be the boss of this here little gang," Warren said.

"And you must be the one who has been getting in the way of our raids, Warren the so-called Wind God." He looked over everyone else in their group, his eyes stopping on Luke. "Well, if it isn't Lucas Arakor. How long has it been, three years?"

Luke acknowledged the man with a nod. "It's been a while, Caim."

"You know this man?" Raven asked.

Caim answered for Luke. "He is the man responsible for the failure of many of our raids three years ago. Has he not told you how many men he has killed in the past?"

Raven looked back toward Luke who would not meet her eyes. "I killed over fifty men three years ago, but only to protect those they wished to kill themselves."

"You seemed to enjoy it at the time," Caim said. "Tell you what, I'm a fair man. Instead of just killing you all why don't you join our ranks? We could use men like you two on our side, and I'm sure your companions have amazing strengths as well."

"And if we refuse?" Ilum asked.

Caim snapped his fingers. Every sword in the room was pulled out of its sheathe. "Then you will die."

(It's been two days, people.)

Yeah, sorry about that. I'd post right this minute except that I'm practically asleep and the quality would be dreadful and sadly I'll be out quite literally all day tomorrow but expect a post saturday morning at the very latest and hopefully Ayumi will write one between now and then xx

**Since I won't be on at all tomorrow or Saturday, I'll go ahead and post.**

Karana stood rigid. What a hell of a predicament! Either join them, become outlaws, and lose the world, or die. Not too great a choice.

But we can take them. We've handled far worse.

Instinctively, she took Ilum's hand, gave it a squeeze, and then reached for her sword. A bow would be useless unless the fight spilled onto the road.

"Luke?" Ilum asked, shifting his hand toward his own sword.

Luke looked at Ilum, then back to Caim. "Tell me more."

Everyone in Luke's group gasped their disbelief. Ilum came up to his side and said, "Luke! What are you saying!? We can't join them!"

Luke grabbed Ilum by the collar of his shirt. "Listen here, Ilum! We're severely outnumbered with no way to escape. I don't know about you, but I'd rather the choice that involves me keeping my head on my shoulders!" Then Luke did something Ilum never expected, he winked.

At that moment, Ilum understood exactly what Luke was doing. He winked back and began to act. "I can't believe you, Luke, we trusted you! We looked up to you for guidance and you betrayed us!"

"Then I guess you have a poor judgement in leaders," Luke said as he pushed Ilum hard enough for him to lose balance and bump into a nearby table. "Do what you will, I care not." He approached Caim.

Caim was outright beaming when Luke came to him. "Well, it looks like you've made a smart decision today." He extended his hand. "Put it there, partner."

Luke smiled and shook the man's hand. About three seconds into the hand-shake Luke twisted his arm behind his back, causing Caim to yelp in pain. Luke drew his sword just as the nearest bandits began to draw their own swords and held it up to Caim's neck. "Move another inch and your leader is as good as dead!" he warned them. The bandits were hesitant at first, but soon backed off.

Raven

"And bring your weapons over here," Warren added, closing the doors behind them with a heavy scrape before turning to lean casually against the wood. He, Raven observed, was all about the theatrics now: hooded poncho, gleaming swords and cocky smile. She was surprised he hadn't bought himself a cape for a little added glamour and yet... and yet there was that arch to his back and the tight muscles in his legs, as if he were ready to move at a moment's notice, ready to flow into action and cut those bandits down. Perhaps the theatrics were a show in themselves, to hide the hardened warrior he'd become. "Well come on then, bring those pretty, flimsy little swords over here!"

The bandits looked to their leader whose face was twisted into an expression of deep hatred before he nodded, teeth gritted and cheek muscles drawn tight across his sallow face. One by one - as Warren commanded - the weapons were stacked up beside the door and guarded by Warren, Karana, Ilum and Raven.

"Any more demands?" Caim snarled.

"Why yes, I think there's the matter of the docks to be decided?" Warren grinned, selecting weapons from the pile and then shrugged as Luke raised a questioning eyebrow. "Doesn't hurt to have the better ones re-distributed... for a price. There's some decent resistance groups around, you know." Luke turned his attention back to Caim.