The Mana-Verse

[Fxeni]

"Well figure something out... for now, lets get out of this forest. Even though the tear is closed, I still feel uneasy around here," Fxeni said as he hopped back on the Cheval yet again.

[Sakura Leic]

"Yeah...let's go Epee." Sakura said before she slightly kicked her to give her the physical command "Yah!"

Epee neighed as Sakura and Pema started to go at a reasonable speed.

[Blue Valkyrie]

((Journey there will likely be uneventful, just need to wait for Quickie to type up an opening post for the prof. Then we stroll/crash into town!

Quickie up to you if you want to name the town being as it's your origin point.))

[Quickman]

((I'll think of something, just give me a few.  At relatives' and the kids need to get to bed.  I've got all RPs on hold for now.))

[Quickman]

Iron Gate was a small hamlet and one of a handful of papal states ruled by a larger theocracy.  It had many of the same accoutrements as other villages, but its landscape was dominated by the monastery; an imposing citadel of a building housing both the cathedral, a school, and the monks' quarters.  The tower's loud bells would strike every hour and blanket the surrounding countryside in its peel.

Mass had come and gone and many of the village's citizens were milling about in the market causeway, with vendors at their stalls touting their wares.  It was a quiet day.

The ground shook with a rumbling thud, and shortly thereafter, a plume of thick, black smoke began to billow out of one of the tunnels that led to the basement levels of the monastery.  After a moment, the smoke began to lift as a short, robed figure stumbled to the surface and staggered out onto the road.  His hood was blackened, as was his face, but it was obvious that he was one of the monks.

After coughing a few times, he lifted the soot-stained monocle from his eye, and then threw both arms into the air.

"IT WOOOOORRRRRRRKED!  IT WOOOORRRRKED!"

Sputtering and coughing, the short monk half-limped, half-trotted to the tavern to boast of his success to any who would listen.

[Blue Valkyrie]

The journey from the Emerald Forest was mostly uneventful if not a little slow, by the third day Iron Gate had finally come into view, the thought of comfortable beds and a hot meal likely crossed the minds of more than a few of the team. Aya looked upward as the town became more than a blur on the distance, noticing the black plume of smoke she leaned forward over Fxeni's shoulder.

"Uh--is it normal for that to be over a town?" She asks.

[Sakura Leic]

"Nope....I think that's a fire." Calien stated.

[Dr. Wily II]

(I take it there might be some mountain/hilly places flanking Iron Gate?)

[Blue Valkyrie]

(yeah the idea is the group would need to pass through the Jagged Peaks to get to Skull Cove, part of the reason why no one has tried to take back Skull Cove from White Beard, it's protected by said mountains.

Also hey the Emerald Forest and Jagged Peaks were also from Blue Valkyrie Adventure  )

"Oh no! D-do you think another breach opened there?!" Aya expression became worried.

[Sakura Leic]

"I don't sense anything like that." Calien shook his head.

"Neither do I." Sakura replied as she looked to Yin who was keeping up with them "And Yin doesn't seem to be reacting to it for some reason."

"Maybe it's a house fire, I knew a guy who once set his house on fire trying to cook for his wife." Calien suggested "It took days to rebuild it, I barely had help too."

[Blue Valkyrie]

"Yeah--I don't sense any of the corruption from last time. Guess I shouldn't panic."

[Dr. Wily II]

(Either way, good for me. Meet up with Quickie... And then just before you all leave...)

[Quickman]

Halfway toward the tavern, the monk stopped and spun around and ran straight for the monastery, screaming about his work.  Disappearing into the smoking tunnel, there was more screaming, and then another loud thud, followed by another plume of smoke.

[Blue Valkyrie]

Eventually the group manage to enter Iron Gate, the guards insisting that all mounts and vehicles be kept in a safe area near the gate as to not congest the streets further. Iron Gate seemed to be an important stop for traders and other travelers and would likely have stores for any of their needs. If the party required a place to stay an inn near the plume of black smoke still rising into the sky was not to far away.

[Sakura Leic]

"I hope Epee will be okay." Sakura sighed "I know she's not a normal horse but hearing so many stories of horses getting startled worry me."

Yin in the mean time looked around warily due to her unease with humans.

[Quickman]

There was another deep thud, and one large cloud of smoke came floating out of the monastery.  By this point, the other monks had congregated around the entrance and were chatting wildly before two of them entered the smoking room.

After a few moments, they emerged and tossed the short monk out onto the street.

"Get out of here!" One of the abbots swatted at him. "Get out of here so we can clean up your mess!"

[Sakura Leic]

(Dude we had her use the side car and second it's the monastery that's on fire.)

[Mr. Haxwell]

(Oh. Didn't read that clearly. Things like this happens when I'm in a hurry. I'll edit that last bit out.)

[Quickman]

((I have no idea what's going on with the last couple posts, so I'm just going to move along and get the Prof where he needs to be.))

After coughing some more and gathering his bag—which was tossed out with him—the short monk staggered to his feet and looked at the others gathering around the monastery.  The abbot swatted at him again as they dealt with the fire.

"Get out of here!  Go!"

The short monk gave a nod as he adjusted his blackened hood.  Coughing some more, he slung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the tavern. "They simply don't understand... No one understands my work..."

[Sakura Leic]

(Yeah Tenk deleted his post, what happened was that he had Toshi fly, via ninja kite or something, to the city even though we had her use a side car on Fxeni's motorcycle and she was already in the city waiting for us and said the tavern was on fire not the monestary.)

[Blue Valkyrie]

((I guess I missed something?))

[Quickman]

((Not really.  Monastery is in flames.))

[Sakura Leic]

(I'm just waiting for more people to post.)

[Blue Valkyrie]

Aya glances back "More fire--what is going on here?" She notices a shorter cloaked individual making his way toward the inn as well. "Um-excuse me sir? What is going on, why is the town on fire?" She asks politely.

[Quickman]

((Ack! Didn't realize that it was my turn.))

The short monk looked at Aya.  his face was blackened with soot and he smelled of burnt chemicals.  Taking a moment, he lifted the monocle from his eye to reveal pink skin beneath it.

"Oh!  Oh, oh, it's n-nothing to worry about!  My work, you see, my work is a bit, eh, dangerous?  But, but, but look!  Look!"

Digging into his bag, he pulled out a smaller sack.  He sprinkled some powder into one palm, and then tucked the sack away.  Slapping his palms together, he rubbed them vigorously until sparks came from his fingertips.  Pulling his hands apart, he formed a ball of lightning and tried to throw it, but it exploded into a puff of smoke that knocked him backwards.

"Ah-heh-heh-heh... *cough*  It, it needs some p-practice, you see...  But, it worked!"