The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

Just now, Immortal Platypus said:

"I see... I wouldn't know. I'm not a Narrator," he said sadly, but he immediately brightened. "Thank you though! I can finally live in a nice, quiet area." 

He walked off to go to his house.

"Oh- apologies! I assumed you were someone else! Nice to meet you though! I'm Sequence. And you?"

[Immortal Platypus]

1 hour ago, Sequence said:

"Oh- apologies! I assumed you were someone else! Nice to meet you though! I'm Sequence. And you?"

"I'm Steven. It's fine. There aren't very many non-Narrator characters that are seen around. It's not your fault."

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

7 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

"I'm Steven. It's fine. There aren't very many non-Narrator characters that are seen around. It's not your fault."

Sequence nodded. "I suppose that's fair. Anyways, nice to meet you Steven! I hope you enjoy your house!" She smiles and promptly falls fast asleep in her porch chair.

[Immortal Platypus]

"I will!"

[ʟɪɢʜʈ]

“So, since everybody else has their  own plots…”

@Scars of Hathsin

@ ancient elantrian

@Invisible

[strmblsd he/him]

then some random dude named allan walks in and falls down dead

[ʟɪɢʜʈ]

18 minutes ago, strmblsd said:

then some random dude named allan walks in and falls down dead

“You ok?” Falvan asked?

[Scars of Hathsin he/him]

"I dont think so", Arranis mentions back handedly. "He seems to have died, but maybe he will come back. Those things do happen"

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

Thaidakar looked up from his computer in the afterlife, glancing at what he had been making Darkness say in the plot. "Well, storms, I should finish up this post."

[Immortal Platypus]

Steven took a break from whatever he was doing to agree with Thaidakar.

[strmblsd he/him]

Allan suddenly sat up and gasped for Breath.

Edited March 13, 2024 by strmblsd

[Scars of Hathsin he/him]

"I told you so" Arranis said to Falvan. @ΨιτιsτηεΒέsτ

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

Thaidakar scratched his head, glancing at his computer, "I hate being a writer."

Two hours later he was staring at the page. "I swear..."

Five hours later. "Come on!"

Six hours later. He was slamming his head into the desk.

Eight hours later. The Tetris theme is playing "Aha! My creative juices are flowing! The straight block goes there!"

[ʟɪɢʜʈ]

On 3/13/2024 at 3:16 AM, strmblsd said:

Allan suddenly sat up and gasped for Breath.

“Ah, how are you?” I have some Breath, but you know… I got to know you first.”

47 minutes ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

Thaidakar scratched his head, glancing at his computer, "I hate being a writer."

Two hours later he was staring at the page. "I swear..."

Five hours later. "Come on!"

Six hours later. He was slamming his head into the desk.

Eight hours later. The Tetris theme is playing "Aha! My creative juices are flowing! The straight block goes there!"

Sounds like a career change. 

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

On 3/16/2024 at 1:42 PM, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

Thaidakar scratched his head, glancing at his computer, "I hate being a writer."

Two hours later he was staring at the page. "I swear..."

Five hours later. "Come on!"

Six hours later. He was slamming his head into the desk.

Eight hours later. The Tetris theme is playing "Aha! My creative juices are flowing! The straight block goes there!"

Everyone stirred a cup of tea, sitting on a desk on the other side of the room. "How goes it, Thaidakar? You've been here quite a while."

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

*screaming in I had to rewrite a part of this thanks to it not loading up again after two weeks*

On 3/1/2024 at 4:15 PM, Immortal Platypus said:

"What do you want now? I need to continue. There's so much to do. I need to organize the resistance. I need to check in on Spook, Micheal, Rond, Sequence, Subversion, and many more, maybe even Onyx. I don't have time for much more."

The apparition on the fountain smiled unnervingly, "Dear Platypus, time is short for everyone. Time is flexible, time is what we make it to be. What will you do with your own time?" She stood, walking towards Platypus. Her dress was like a waterfall of phantom energy, falling for eternity, never given relief from its constant motion. Her hands moved fluidly to Platypus' shoulders, "You must choose a door, Platypus. Choose and you will learn knowledge that was supposed to remain deep in the past. Choose, but beware: what is behind the doors had a right to remain unknown for time eternal. Hold to what you believe with a fastness and never let go. Hold, Platypus, hold."

On 3/1/2024 at 4:15 PM, Immortal Platypus said:

"Great," Hacob grumbled. "A quest. What could possibly go wrong? Quests always go exactly as intended, after all. Fine. But you owe me."

"Yes," Shadow said evenly, "Yet I would require one more thing of you. Take Thaidakar with you, teach him how to use the blade. He may need it, and I need him if I am to fix what Darkness has been doing to our world."

 

The wind danced through the valley, catching falling cherry and apple blossoms in its weaves. The wind caressed its passengers as it ferried them over farms and houses, over guards posts and hushed voices. They drifted through bustling halls of the large compound in the center of the deep valley, it had tall walls and deeper secrets within. The wind fell upon Micheal's face as he stood above the portcullis, his back to the valley and the wondrous sights beyond.

A sigh escaped his lips as children played below, watched by guards determined to keep them safe. In their midst was Mythos, wearing a tight fitted uniform of silver and green. Micheal wore a similar uniform, yet it was more rugged and worn. His beard was scraggly on his face and his eyes were gritty and hardened. Micheal was a different man, a far different man than who he'd been a few months ago. He was harder, stronger. That was what fighting against Darkness and his priests did to a man. He wished he could do more, truly make a difference instead of lingering here and there as the council wished. They needed to do more...

Memories flickered in his minds, dull flashes of pain, now almost washed away as spring rain. The air was sharp and fresh, biting into his cheek. A cherry blossom fell onto his wrist and he shook it off, jerking his sword out of its sheath and feeling the stretch of the blade with his thumb. A fleck of blood sprinkled off from his flesh. He cursed the smudge of crimson on the ground. 

Laughter rose from the ground as Mythos gave a surprised shout. Micheal didn't look down. "My son..." Micheal whispered, "If you could be here now... Lindy... I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. I will avenge you both, I will save our family and all of the families! Vengeance will be ours..." 

His plan would work. It had to. Otherwise, he would be dead or worse. 

His temples pulsed with thoughts of what the council had done as he walked away from the portcullis. He had work to do. Micheal didn't have time to brew over the past. he was a shepherd of the future, and the future held the key to the past.

The council members needed shaking up. They were good people, but, often, you didn't need just good people in times of need. You needed good people who had the strength to do what was necessary. Micheal wished fervently that they had just listened to him... but he needed to avenge his family. He owed it to them. 

As he walked through the hallways of the compound to the council chambers, he summoned his soldiers to his side, men and women he trusted with his life. He'd fought with them personally, all had been by his side in different times and different places. They had all seen friends and loved ones perish because of Darkness' regime of terror and pain. And they all saw the need for action, for speed!

Micheal raised his hand, halted in front of a door. Muffled voices drifted from beyond the door, arguing, fighting, discussing. "We are about to change history," Micheal said to the soldiers, "this moment is when our resistance stops being a resistance. This is where it becomes a war. We need this to work. I need each and every one of you to follow my orders exactly. I hate what we have to do here, and I know many of you agree with me. However, a poison can be used as a cure when in moderation." He looked from one soldier to the next, seeing half smiles and nods, yet there were also the frowns and stone faced silence.

"When we are done here, when Darkness is in the grave, I promise you here and now this will be stopped. We will let the council continue. They are a civilian council for governing in times of peace and minor strife. This is neither. This is a war. Darkness is not a common criminal to be thought of as a minor inconvenience. He has taken our homes, he has taken our families, he has taken our friends and he has taken our futures. We will carve a new future from the ashes, we will rise again! We will kill him and any who stand with him because he will do the same to us. We must destroy him at any and all costs. If you are not with me, leave now. Think that I am doing this wrong, as is your right. But today," Micheal's sword hissed as it emerged into the air above his head, "Today we begin a revolution."

There were no cries, there were no shouts, for each and everyone of them knew the importance of silence. They would not be in the room if they did not, and Micheal was proud of them. They were the elite of the elite, and that was what was necessary. 

"For our families, for our friends and for TLT," Micheal whispered. "And for Lindy." 

He opened the door, charging into the room. stunned silence greeted him. Men and women, both wizened and young looked up at him form a large, round table in the center adorned with maps and pieces representing soldiers and other resources. Guards jumped up, drawing weapons. The room was tall, dark and blue. A stained glass dome, decorated with scenes from the many peoples' history that resided in the valley was portrayed here. Torches and electric lights lined the walls, yet there was a murky darkness just outside of their bounds. A faint glimmer of a dark blue wall here, a flicker of shadow there. It was mysterious and pretentious and, so, Micheal loved it.

"Commander..." a woman said, standing from her seat, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I should say the very same thing to you," Micheal said, "While you are sitting here fighting, our friends, our families, our brothers, our sisters, those we love! they are dying. You sit here and do nothing. We need action. We need to kill Darkness, not suffocate ourselves in diplomacy and democracy!"

"There was a time when those were the ideals of our resistance," General Kupanhow said from his seat at the head of the table. "You seem to have forgotten that, Commander." Kupanhow was the official leader of the armies from the alliance, thus he was Micheal's superior. They'd fought repeatedly over strategies. 

"I have not. Ideals are for idealistic times," Micheal said. "Your ideals blind you to the reality of the situation. We need bold strokes and decisive action! There is a time for democracy and a time for action! This is a time for action, dear friends and allies. Give me command of our armies and the freedom to strike against the enemy. Give me this power."

"I am surprised at you, Micheal," Tabitha, the elderly woman who'd stood earlier, said. "I am surprised you are not asking to be a dictator."

"I am asking to lead our people into the future, and that future can only occur when we destroy Darkness," Micheal explained, eyes hard on the map. "I need control of our resources. This council can handle the civilians, our farming, our infrastructure. But I need them for the soldiers and our campaigns against Darkness."

"We have been discovered," said a tall man in black. It was a Shadow. "We have reports that Rond was killed and that his council has been nearly destroyed. We need spies if this is to work."

"Then we will get them," Micheal said. "It is a sorrow that Rond is gone, he was a good man in his redemption. Yet, we cannot dwell on the past and what our ideals are. We cannot be blinded! We are a people of action! Can you not contact your shaded brothers, Shadow?"

"We have all agreed not to contact eachother," Shadow explained, "It is too dangerous. Darkness could read our thoughts if we reach out across the multiverse."

Before Micheal could reply, General Kupanhow drew his sword, "You cannot seize control of our armies! It is not your right!"

"My right," Micheal said, "Is to avenge my wife and my son! My right is to do what is best for TLT, not for you, not for this council, not even for this people! We need to do what is best for us all! It is better that we all die defeating Darkness and destroy our society as we know it than to let Darkness win and our traditions endure."

"Ideals are what define our causes," Kupanhow said. "Guards, we must not let this usurper enslave us to his suicidal cause! We are a free people! He would submit us to a dictator!"

"That is what you do anyways. You dictate us to your whims! You whittle on things that do not matter!"

"We discuss the future of our morality and to what extent we can go. We need more people on our side before we start a war. You know this, Micheal," Kupanhow said. "We will go to war, but first we need more allies. We are close to-"

"Duel me," Micheal said quietly. His voice was the snap of a bow, tense, firm and deadly. 

"You would desecrate this sacred council room?" Sarah said. She was a young woman in a white dress. She was the heir of her father's company, heading the farmers in the area. "Would you shed blood here?"

"Sacred?" Micheal spat, "You desecrate it with idealistic beams of wood as you stick them in your eyes. Duel me, Kupanhow. Whoever wins leads the armies."

"Kupanhow is the greatest swordsman in this room," the elderly woman said, "You would kill yourself, Micheal."

"I would rather die than stop trying to avenge my wife and son," Micheal said. "I will save TLT, no matter what you think of my methods."

"I would do similar to keep a dictator from ruling my people," Kupanhow said.

"You do not have our authority to initiate a duel," Sarah said, standing. Her guards neared her, holding their swords higher. 

Micheal smiled as he saw the tensions growing between his soldiers and the council's guards. They glared at eachother as they recognized who the other was. If a mouse had squeaked between them they would have broken into fighting. A soldier walked to Micheal's side and whispered in his ear, "We can't hold this position longer now, Commander. They're getting-"

"Tense," Micheal said dryly, "I noticed."

"What can we do?"

"When I give the signal..." Michael explained the plan to the soldier and the soldier nodded. The soldier spread the plan through Micheal's soldiers.

Micheal watched Kupanhow watching him. Kupanhow paced back and forth as the council conversed in hushed tones, surrounded by their soldiers. He looked like a caged lion. He was easily angered, yet thoughtful and philosophical. Micheal loved the man. It would be a tragedy if he died. If Micheal died... Micheal glanced to the soldiers. They had their orders. 

Finally, the council divided to their seats once more. The elderly woman, whose name was Tabitha, said, "We have decided. You will fight Kupanhow in one weeks time in the auditorium. At this-"

"No," Micheal said, cutting her off, "It will not be one week. It'll be today, in this chamber, right here, right now."

"I agree," Kupanhow said. "We need unity in our people. The sooner this usurper and his ideas are put to rest, the better we can go forth in this endeavor against Darkness."

Micheal bit his tongue, forcing himself not to reply. Tabitha mused over it and said, "Yes, perhaps it would be best if you fought right now."

"You cannot truly be considering letting them spill their blood on this floor?" Sarah said, turning sharply to Tabitha. "This council was founded on peace, prosperity, security-"

"We are in a war, Sarah," Tabitha said wearily, "We need solutions. Micheal is right in one way, the sooner this is dealt with the better. We need unity, as Kupanhow said."

"They will disturb the sanctity of this room," Sarah said.

"I know," Tabitha said, "But there will be new rooms and new chambers to sanctify." After a swift argument, Sarah agreed.

Tabitha turned to Micheal, "However, we need you to agree to a few terms."

Micheal nodded, "What terms?"

"You will only use a sword for fighting, you will not allow anyone to interfere in the fight," Tabitha dictated. "You will not leave this room, you will not kill anyone else besides the other duelist and the duel ends when one of you dies."

Micheal smiled charismatically at her, "I accept on one condition."

"Yes?"

"The general must be held to these same rules, this is non negotiable," he said.

One of the council members scowled, giving Micheal a sense of satisfaction.

"Agreed," Kupanhow cried and the council begrudgingly nodded. 

Micheal stripped off his cloak and shoes, letting a soldier take it from him. Kupanhow did likewise, braiding his long gray hair into a bun atop his head. The soldiers formed a ring around them, as was the custom in the valley. 

"I fight for my ideals and I will not settle for less than them, my friend," Kupanhow said.

"Your ideals a wonderful, I will never say otherwise," Micheal said, falling into form, a hand on his sword and sheath. "Yet there is a moment where you have to set aside the bindings of idealism and fall into doing what is right."

"Your morals are tainted. Your hypocrisy is blatantly shown!" Kupanhow prowled forward and fell into Vine stance. "Doing what is right is following your ideals and your beliefs no matter how you could have accomplished something otherwise."

"We'll see," Micheal said.

They circled around as Tabitha, acting as the judge, counted.

"Ten."

Micheal tightened his grip on the sword handle and sheath, letting his muscles relax and his breaths move slowly and completely. 

"Nine."

Kupanhow smiled confidently as his bare feet fell on cold stone. Micheal returned the smile in an emotionless manner.

"Eight."

Micheal's heart thumped faster and faster. Adrenaline pumped into his blood. He remembered a time when he would have echoed Kupanhow's words. Oh how much he had changed...

"Seven."

Today, the valley and its alliances would change. Either Kupanhow or Micheal would emerge victories, democratic or dictatorial.

"Six."

Micheal closed his eyes, depending on muscle memory to move about. He could hear the shattering breaths of soldiers, the cat like movements of Kupanhow and the flickering of the torches. He could hear Tabitha saying-

"Five."

His muscles ached for a fight, fluid and strong. 

"Four."

Micheal eased a section of his blade forward, hearing its familiar hiss.

"Three."

Excitement rippled down his spine. He felt goosebumps travel on his arms and legs as his vascular drum pounded again and again, beating to the rhythm of dueling.

"Two."

Micheal snapped his eyes open, watching Kupanhow. The general's eyes were trained on Micheal's every move, never blinking. He was a tiger and Micheal was the one with the gun.

"One!"

There was a moment of silence as Tabitha adjusted her glasses. Micheal stopped in place, as did Kupanhow.

"Are you ready, old friend?" Micheal asked, drawing his sword.

"As ready as I will ever be, traitor." Kupanhow bared his blade with a hiss. "You can still change this. We can still do this the peaceful way."

"Peaceful solutions are for peaceful times," Micheal said. "And, as we know, this is not a peaceful time."

"Be careful, else you will become that which you seek to destroy, usurper," Kupanhow said cooly. 

They examined each other as they fell into their sword forms. Kupanhow was tall and firm, his blade held at a neutral position, ready to defend and attack. It was a form of waiting, and Micheal was not fond of patience.

Micheal whipped his blade with a crack on Kupanhow's defense. Sparks flew as Kupanhow pushed him back. His speed was quick, supple. Micheal had felt a great sense of tension when their blades had hit, guessing at a greater strength than he'd suspected initially. perhaps this wouldn't be as easy as he'd thought.

He divided out a few more strikes, the legs, left arm, head. Kupanhow blocked each one with expertise. Micheal smiled grimly falling back to circle. Kupanhow followed suit. 

It was then when the fight truly began.

Kupanhow crashed forward, nearly landing a strike on Micheal's shoulder. He caught it with his cross guard and pushed the general away as he launched a counterstrike. Kupanhow blocked with a twist and advanced, so as to raise Micheal's sword higher and Kupanhow's towards Micheal's neck.

Micheal leapt back, stabilizing himself. Kupanhow was fast and eager. He was like a coiled snake. Micheal blocked a few hits from Kupanhow, leaping back or to the side each time. He needed to find a chink in his armor and widen it. Either that or create one somehow. 

As the fight progressed, Micheal noticed a repeating pattern. Kupanhow would block a blow from Micheal then launch an attack immediately, after which he would press forward a few attacks 'fore stepping back into a waiting position with blade raised. He would occasionally break the pattern and made Micheal wary.

As they neared the edge of the circle, Kupanhow curved away. Micheal saw a gap, lunged. Kupanhow parried narrowly in time, pushing Micheal back. He had been close to hitting Kupanhow's arm... his shoulder. Micheal could manipulate that.

It had to be perfect. Kupanhow was impeccable, the greatest swordsman, truly, that Micheal had ever fought or seen, barring magically assisted fighters such as Thaidakar, Platypus, Nameless, and more. The stone felt cold on Micheal's feet as he danced back and forth, striking and parrying at Kupanhow, yet, instead of previously, Micheal pushed him steadily towards the edge of circle. 

Micheal chanced a glance over to the council members. Tabitha was whispering to a servant. Micheal didn't have much time to think about it though because Kupanhow struck Micheal's arm. It spasmed with pain and Micheal moved to one handed fighting. 

He grunted. So close... just a little further... we're almost to the edge! He pushed as hard as he could, but Kupanhow was close to victory. Aha! they reached the side. He struck and was parried. However, as Kupanhow lunged, Micheal slipped to the side and the ground, stabbing forward with his blade into Kupanhow's side. 

The general gasped, pulling himself off of the blade. He was badly damaged, but not dead. Micheal cursed his luck. Kupanhow slammed Micheal's arm down with his foot and put his sword to Micheal's neck. Micheal spat at him. 

Micheal looked into Kupanhow's eyes and nodded. Perhaps he would be killed. Maybe his dream would die... maybe he would never avenge them. But he would, at least, get to see Lindy and his son again.

However, as Kupanhow moved to stab him, he saw a change in the general's eyes. His muscles slacked and the tension on Micheal's wrist lightened. Kupanhow tossed his sword to the side and walked to the center of the circle. "I am not a killer!" Cheers from the council members and their guards erupted around him, a sullen silence from Micheal's soldiers. Yet they didn't move. they had their orders. "this man is an usurper, yes, but he is a good man! I will not kill an innocent man for our cause! We will have victory, but not at the cost of-!" He widened his eyes and looked down. 

Micheal tried to stop himself from breathing so hard as watched the blade he'd thrown at Kupanhow sink into the general's chest further as the old man crumpled to the ground. "You might not... but I will."

Silence greeted him for a moment; then the door slammed open. The guards moved away to places around the council members, leaving Micheal's soldiers to look around wildly.

A messenger with a large group of guards, nobles and... Mythos behind her. She said, "Look! Look! He's assassinated the general! He's threatening the council members!"

And Micheal sighed and said under his breath as he raised his sword once more, "Well, rusts." 

With his luck, he should've known it couldn't have been this easy.

 

Darkness fell back, grunting. Micheal hit him back once more. He fell into sleep and woke up again in the same scene. He was tired. Weary. It had been... what... a year? Two years? Three? Four? He didn't know. "I will..." slash "avenge..." slash "Them!"

Unconsciousness overcame him and he woke in a white room. A man sat in a chair and he smiled, "Sit down, my friend." A chair appeared as he pointed to it.

Darkness sat, "Who are you?"

"I am Balance," said Balance. "No need to introduce yourself, I've known you for a long time. I have been watching you, Brighton."

"Then you know what they did..."

"I know."

"I will never surrender to your stupid game, Balance."

"I need you to learn, Brighton. To improve! Change! That is balance. Can't you see?"

"I don't have time to adapt, I need to finish the mission, I need to save them all."

"You," Balance said, drumming his fingers on the side of the chair, "Are as stubborn as a mule."

It was then that Darkness realized that he could not see Balance's face. He could see expressions, but they were somehow faceless, without recognition. If Balance had any discernible features apart from his smiling mouth, they were swiftly forgotten. 

"Free me," Darkness said, "I will save TLT, whether they like it or not. You know I will."

Balance sighed, "You have no idea..."

[Immortal Platypus]

  

Quote

The apparition on the fountain smiled unnervingly, "Dear Platypus, time is short for everyone. Time is flexible, time is what we make it to be. What will you do with your own time?" She stood, walking towards Platypus. Her dress was like a waterfall of phantom energy, falling for eternity, never given relief from its constant motion. Her hands moved fluidly to Platypus' shoulders, "You must choose a door, Platypus. Choose and you will learn knowledge that was supposed to remain deep in the past. Choose, but beware: what is behind the doors had a right to remain unknown for time eternal. Hold to what you believe with a fastness and never let go. Hold, Platypus, hold."

...

I definitely glanced over this and saw "Hoid, Platypus, Hoid."  

Platypus shrugged off her hands and pointed to a door at random. "I'll go through that one," he said gruffly, nearly hiding how shaken he was. "I can handle it"

Quote

"Yes," Shadow said evenly, "Yet I would require one more thing of you. Take Thaidakar with you, teach him how to use the blade. He may need it, and I need him if I am to fix what Darkness has been doing to our world."

Did he have a blade?

"This 'Thaidakar,' " he said, clearly disliking the word choice, "can come with me. I will teach him what I have learned of the art of the Blade. He will be one to reckon with once I am finished."

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

49 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

Platypus shrugged off her hands and pointed to a door at random. "I'll go through that one," he said gruffly, nearly hiding how shaken he was. "I can handle it"

She smiled, "I'm sure you are. Now, run along! You've got work to do, after all." She turned to the door, pointing, "This is the path you have chosen, now follow it." She walked to it and opened it. It was void of all color except... a spark. In the very center swirled one spark after another, forming a pathway constructed of energy into what seems as space and void. "Walk and discover, for this is the third trial."

49 minutes ago, Immortal Platypus said:

"This 'Thaidakar,' " he said, clearly disliking the word choice, "can come with me. I will teach him what I have learned of the art of the Blade. He will be one to reckon with once I am finished."

Hehehehehehehe, time for some genuine cognition for our boy.

Also, no, this Thaid does not have a plot blade, nor a Narration blade, if that is what you mean.

Now we must remember our friend, Thaidakar, for he had had quite enough of this talk to last him a year. He stood and walked around to where they were talking, "I do not know what is going on here, but I would rather that someone take the time to explain it to me because last thing I know I was helping with a trial, then you people ship me off to this- this- this place!" He threw his hands in the air.

"Thaidakar..." Shadow said soothingly. "I've told you why I brought you here."

"All you've said are cryptic hints!" Thaidakar said, "I know about as much of why you brought me here as I know what supercalifragilisticexpialidotious even means!"

"you are here to save the world, my friend," Shadow said. "You will go back to your world around the same time you left once we are done with you."

"Once you are-" Thaidakar sputtered. "What are you doing with me?"

Shadow sighed, "Listen, you just have to trust-"

"Trust-" Thaidakar almost punched Shadow clean in the jaw. "You grabbed me and dragged me to this forsaken place!"

"Listen and listen well, Thaidakar, you are here for a reason. You are a lawyer and we need a lawyer now more than ever," Shadow said, "the contract laid forth by time is being threatened by a loophole deliberately snuck in by Darkness and he is using the loophole to make the contract void. This contract is what holds together space and time and lets people stop dangers in time. I need a lawyer, Thaidakar, and you are that lawyer."

Thaidakar fell silent, unsure of what to do, "Fine, then."

"Good!" said Shadow cheerily. "Then you will go with Hacob and learn how to fight."

"Why do I need to know that?"

"You need to know some at least. It will help you."

He sighed, sitting down, "I... fine. fine! It's not like I have any say in this anyways."

Nowhere, meanwhile, was trying not to choke from the laughter welling up in his throat.

Edited March 20, 2024 by Thaidakar the Ghostblood
forgot to finish it.

[Immortal Platypus]

9 hours ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

She smiled, "I'm sure you are. Now, run along! You've got work to do, after all." She turned to the door, pointing, "This is the path you have chosen, now follow it." She walked to it and opened it. It was void of all color except... a spark. In the very center swirled one spark after another, forming a pathway constructed of energy into what seems as space and void. "Walk and discover, for this is the third trial."

Platypus walked through grimly, ignoring the being's taunts.

Quote

Hehehehehehehe, time for some genuine cognition for our boy.

Also, no, this Thaid does not have a plot blade, nor a Narration blade, if that is what you mean.

Now we must remember our friend, Thaidakar, for he had had quite enough of this talk to last him a year. He stood and walked around to where they were talking, "I do not know what is going on here, but I would rather that someone take the time to explain it to me because last thing I know I was helping with a trial, then you people ship me off to this- this- this place!" He threw his hands in the air.

"Thaidakar..." Shadow said soothingly. "I've told you why I brought you here."

"All you've said are cryptic hints!" Thaidakar said, "I know about as much of why you brought me here as I know what supercalifragilisticexpialidotious even means!"

"you are here to save the world, my friend," Shadow said. "You will go back to your world around the same time you left once we are done with you."

"Once you are-" Thaidakar sputtered. "What are you doing with me?"

Shadow sighed, "Listen, you just have to trust-"

"Trust-" Thaidakar almost punched Shadow clean in the jaw. "You grabbed me and dragged me to this forsaken place!"

"Listen and listen well, Thaidakar, you are here for a reason. You are a lawyer and we need a lawyer now more than ever," Shadow said, "the contract laid forth by time is being threatened by a loophole deliberately snuck in by Darkness and he is using the loophole to make the contract void. This contract is what holds together space and time and lets people stop dangers in time. I need a lawyer, Thaidakar, and you are that lawyer."

Thaidakar fell silent, unsure of what to do, "Fine, then."

"Good!" said Shadow cheerily. "Then you will go with Hacob and learn how to fight."

"Why do I need to know that?"

"You need to know some at least. It will help you."

He sighed, sitting down, "I... fine. fine! It's not like I have any say in this anyways."

Nowhere, meanwhile, was trying not to choke from the laughter welling up in his throat.

I meant a blade in general, like a sword. Shadow said "Teach him how to use the blade." Does he have one, or will we find one, or what?

"A contract," Hacob muttered, trying to avoid laughing. "Of all the things he could have described it as, he chose a contract." Raising his voice so he could be heard easily, he spoke to Thaidakar. 

"For the record, I had no part in Shadow's decision. However, much as I hate to agree with him, he's right. You're here now, and you'll grow to love TLT. But it's time to go. Unless you have anything else you want done?" he asked, looking at Shadow. "Perhaps you want us to go shopping?"

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

Sequence raised her hand. "Who are these Shadow and Darkness characters everyone keeps mentioning? Could someone catch me up? I can pay you in hand-knitted sweaters for squirrels if you'd like!"

[NameIess]

13 minutes ago, Sequence said:

Sequence raised her hand. "Who are these Shadow and Darkness characters everyone keeps mentioning? Could someone catch me up? I can pay you in hand-knitted sweaters for squirrels if you'd like!"

A mysterious voice popped in. I don't have much time, listen carefully. Darkness is an evil guy from a long time ago, part of some sort of prophecy. Long ago he attempted to conquer TLT, but was stopped and sealed away, his power splintered into many Shadows, the inter-thread beings that Thaidakar's Author had. When Thaidakar was killed, Darkness was unsealed and now he's been hunting down Shadows, regaining his power and preparing to finish his plans. Platypus is fighting him, and others are fighting Darkness's armies. Also, sort of related, Moni is-OHSTORMSTHEHOMEWORK'SFOUNDM-

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

3 minutes ago, NameIess said:

A mysterious voice popped in. I don't have much time, listen carefully. Darkness is an evil guy from a long time ago, part of some sort of prophecy. Long ago he attempted to conquer TLT, but was stopped and sealed away, his power splintered into many Shadows, the inter-thread beings that Thaidakar's Author had. When Thaidakar was killed, Darkness was unsealed and now he's been hunting down Shadows, regaining his power and preparing to finish his plans. Platypus is fighting him, and others are fighting Darkness's armies. Also, sort of related, Moni is-OHSTORMSTHEHOMEWORK'SFOUNDM-

Sequence gasped and looked around. "Moni? What about her? Wait... where..." Sequence scratched her head, quite confused. Eventually, she shrugged and summoned a stove to make some tea.

[Thaidakar the Ghostblood he/him]

On 3/20/2024 at 7:18 AM, Immortal Platypus said:

Platypus walked through grimly, ignoring the being's taunts.

"Goodbye, Platypus," She said, bowing her head.

The door slammed shut.

As Platypus walked forward, the path reached further with crystalline hands seemingly constructed of rainbows. With each step, the path way grew longer and longer. On either side, glowing walls formed. A mess of colors, muted and dull, swirled in a mirage of energy below the path. It looked both like it was everything at once while also being a lack. A nothing. Nothingness incarnate. 

Over time, a light grew at the end of the pathway. Soon it outshined the noonday sun and sprayed light as confetti around it. In the midst of the light was a door. It was worn, old and dusty with a knob that seemed to almost fall out of its socket. In the middle of the door was a drawing plastered onto the wood. The drawing was one that seemed done by a child and on it were three people in crayon. Two taller, one shorter. The two taller ones seemed to be holding the hands of the smaller one in between them. 

Something tugged on Platypus, pulling him ever towards the door. It was as if the universe itself was saying to him: Go! Go!

On 3/20/2024 at 7:18 AM, Immortal Platypus said:

meant a blade in general, like a sword. Shadow said "Teach him how to use the blade." Does he have one, or will we find one, or what?

"A contract," Hacob muttered, trying to avoid laughing. "Of all the things he could have described it as, he chose a contract." Raising his voice so he could be heard easily, he spoke to Thaidakar. 

"For the record, I had no part in Shadow's decision. However, much as I hate to agree with him, he's right. You're here now, and you'll grow to love TLT. But it's time to go. Unless you have anything else you want done?" he asked, looking at Shadow. "Perhaps you want us to go shopping?"

He does not have a blade.

Thaidakar remained silent, watching Shadow and Hacob with suspicion.

"No," Shadow said shortly. "You can start as soon as you would like, but I would offer you some food and rest. And, further, there is one thing you need to know before you leave: Thaidakar's mansion has degenerated since his death. Darkness has been there and I know not what all has occurred. What I do know is that several Shadows have vanished from existence in or near that place."

 

"Look! Look! He assassinated the general! He's threatening the council members!"

Mythos watched as Micheal tightened the grip on his sword and raised it, ready to fight. A large group of soldiers grouped around Micheal, drawing their own weapons as the council's soldiers surrounded them in a larger circle. How grizzled Micheal looked with his bloodstained weapon, his sweat ridden beard and his wild, yet focused, eyes. Mythos didn't know what to think. What was going on here? Why was Micheal doing this?

"Valerian," High council woman Tabitha said, standing from her seat at the table, "As you are King, will you execute this traitor for us?"

Mythos looked from Tabitha to Micheal, from Micheal to Kupanhow's corpse to Tabitha again, "Your... councillor-ness... I am not a king. I have not been king for many long years. I do not have authority to lead here. I am merely a relic of times long past. What would you have me do?"

"I would have you kill this man." She gestured to Micheal. "He has attempted to stage a coup."

Mythos looked to Micheal to see if he had anything to say. Micheal looked steely at the council's guards, avoiding Mythos' eyes.

"Micheal..." Mythos said, walking through the ring of soldiers and towards Micheal and his guards, "Did you do this thing?"

"Yes, Mythos," He said, finally meeting Mythos' eyes. His eyes were full of pain and sadness. He still mourned, even after all this time. "They haven't done anything. We need to save TLT! We can't do that by sitting down and doing nothing!"

"The answer," Mythos said, "Is not to attack. You should have tried to change their minds first."

"They would not have listened."

"You can't know that."

"I can and do."

Micheal glared at Mythos. Mythos searched Micheal's face, looking for a trace of regret of what he'd done, a trace of humanity. Mythos looked and looked long. Finally, he turned away and looked to the council. "By my authority as a previous king, I propose that we have a trial in three days time to try him for his crimes and decide on a proper punishment."

"No! Here and now!  he has killed one of our own!" One of the older one on the council proclaimed. "We must execute the usurper, as the late general said."

"All are worthy of a fair trial," Mythos said smoothly. 

"And Kupanhow?" Tabitha asked, gesturing to the corpse.

"Kupanhow agreed to a duel," Micheal said drily. "I fought him. I killed him. I have not broken any rules."

"You struck down a man who gave you mercy!"

"And so I returned the favor. He won't have to live through another minute of your squabbling because of me," Micheal said. There was a murmur of agreement from Micheal's soldiers.

"Foolishness!" Sarah, a council member, said.

"Enough!" Tabitha said. "We will try you now for your crimes and-"

"In three days," Mythos said. "Three days to allow him to come with his argument to explain himself."

"Too long," Tabitha said. "He is slippery and we cannot let the eel escape before being put to trial. 12 hours."

"One day," Mythos said firmly.

"Agreed."

THe council nodded. "During the time, we will keep Micheal and his soldiers in our prison," Sarah said.

"Micheal needs to prepare for his argument," Mythos said. "Let me take him with-"

"No," Tabitha said sternly. "he can defend himself with whatever argument he has had for coming here in the first place to defend his actions and his morality."

Micheal gritted his teeth, "I will not be subdued."

"You can do this, Micheal," Mythos said with a sad look. He turned back to the council, said, "Are we all in agreement?" A chorus of yes (and no) returned to him and he left the building as Micheal was drawn away.

In the next few hours, rumors spread of the goings on in the council chambers. And, before long, there were two phrases moving about the Valley.

"Justice for Kupanhow!" and "General Micheal!"

 

Spook stood in the shadows, watching as the stuffy group of priests arguing over what to do since both Rond and Darkness were missing. Spook had had enough of it.

he strode forward and hither table with an armored fist. A steely ring echoed through the room. "Enough."

He had not spoken loud, yet they remained silent. A priest leaned forward towards Spook, "You have, ah, a suggestion, Hasty One?" Hasty One. They had called him that ever since they had learned how he had killed Rond. The cowards. They needed to squash all rebellion, not let it fester. 

"I am Spook," He said. "There is no other name I will be called by, Cowardly Ones." They glared at him as he looked to each and every one. "We need to kill them all. It does not matter if Darkness is here or not. We will continue with our plans. We will sacrifice the Shadows as we find them. We must find them all!"

"how do you propose that we do it?" a weedy looking priest named Ferrill said, "We have run out of sources and informants!"

"We need a show of power," Spook said. "We need to convince the masses across TLT that if they hide a Shadow or if they associate with any of his allies, they will perish. We need to kill someone important to their cause."

"Who?" asked a priest named Yelenara. "We do not have access to more people!"

"Next time we fight those rebels, we need to take prisoners. We will not kill them." Spook said shrewdly. "We need to know where their base is. If we can find their base, we can take their leaders and execute them each before the crowds. They will come fight us then and will be as rain plinking off our walls. They will die."

One after another, the priests agreed. And Spook sat back in a chair, thought back to Platypus. "Stay out of all of this, old friend. Stay away. I do not want to kill another friend."

[Immortal Platypus]

  

1 hour ago, Thaidakar the Ghostblood said:

"Goodbye, Platypus," She said, bowing her head.

The door slammed shut.

As Platypus walked forward, the path reached further with crystalline hands seemingly constructed of rainbows. With each step, the path way grew longer and longer. On either side, glowing walls formed. A mess of colors, muted and dull, swirled in a mirage of energy below the path. It looked both like it was everything at once while also being a lack. A nothing. Nothingness incarnate. 

Over time, a light grew at the end of the pathway. Soon it outshined the noonday sun and sprayed light as confetti around it. In the midst of the light was a door. It was worn, old and dusty with a knob that seemed to almost fall out of its socket. In the middle of the door was a drawing plastered onto the wood. The drawing was one that seemed done by a child and on it were three people in crayon. Two taller, one shorter. The two taller ones seemed to be holding the hands of the smaller one in between them. 

Something tugged on Platypus, pulling him ever towards the door. It was as if the universe itself was saying to him: Go! Go!

Platypus walked on until he reached the door. Resisting the urge and stopping it from acting on him, he stopped in front of the door. Studying the picture, he suddenly punched it, attempting to put his fist through the door.

Quote

He does not have a blade.

Thaidakar remained silent, watching Shadow and Hacob with suspicion.

"No," Shadow said shortly. "You can start as soon as you would like, but I would offer you some food and rest. And, further, there is one thing you need to know before you leave: Thaidakar's mansion has degenerated since his death. Darkness has been there and I know not what all has occurred. What I do know is that several Shadows have vanished from existence in or near that place."

"Storming rusting light blasted sparks!" Hacob muttered. "I hoped it hadn't come this far yet. I've had my theories, somewhat confirmed by knowledge Platypus sent me, and this all but confirms them. We have maybe an hour, then we must be off. I believe that Platypus will finish whatever he was doing soon, Darkness as well. They were together, and I expect they will be back at around the same time. Thaidakar, prepare yourself." Hacob stalked off, summoning his Blade and going through a kata to calm himself.

[NameIess]

On 3/1/2024 at 10:31 PM, The Bookwyrm said:

Avatar stood silently. He could feel that line, that connection, that connection that leeched away his life, his mind, his soul...

His soul...

Avatar grabbed that line and poured himself into it. 

The outline around Nin's master began to solidify. He poured his own mind into Nin's master's through the connection he'd forged. He began a rampage, tearing through memories and thoughts, lessons and dreams, re-molding Nin's mind as he saw fit.

Here's the problem with trying to make yourself someone else;

That person has power over you.

Nin’s master smiled, and a warm, contented light radiated through his being.

To think, after all these years, that I would finally meet someone capable of countering my abilities. That Blade you wield… it is quite the weapon. 

Something in Nin’s master’s mind shifted in a way that Avatar couldn’t quite comprehend, and a sound reminiscent of shattering crystal radiated through the soul of the ancient hero.

As that weapon’s wielder, however, you are a disgrace. You barely scratch the surface with what you can do. You don’t even understand the simplest of that Blade’s powers. You thought it would let you absorb my memories? Technically true, but it won’t let you separate those memories from my consciousness. It will merely allow you to unify my soul with your own.

Avatar’s vision of the physical realm returned just in time to see Nin’s master’s body finish crumbling into black ash.

Anyways, I must congratulate you Avatar. you've managed to defeat me. I'm certain that the world will tremble with fear at the knowledge that you've killed an old man that used to be a mighty hero. At least a few smart ones might.

Edited April 3, 2024 by NameIess