Tanma

IC: De'kra looked down at the small object he was given, and his movements change. Frantic motions overtook him, as he analyzed it from top to bottom, feeling its every curve and hole. As he assessed the item, his eyes drew darker and deeper, until they were a blood red. Finally he turned back, stumbled into the room and chirped, "Ever-thank you sky-flyer! Great-long I have deep-missing one of these, and to sudden-receive it here? This is best great-reward on whole mad-quest! I can not ever-thank you enough! May Mata-N...Great Beings smile upon you!" The echo studdered slightly at the last sentence, but his eyes remained an excited red. Finally turning to his teammsates he clicked, "Let we go, there whole worlds to save."

We voted to spare Rolando, and our leader had decided to execute him regardless.

IC: De'kra nodded to Nikolai in thanks and clicked, "May the three virtues guide you." The echo departed from the room, ready to return to Uland.

IC: The entity seemed to tremor as he said, "Do not betray him. I s-s-s-saved you for a r-r-reason, one you only n-n-now have begun. You may tamper in darkness a-a-a-all you like, or t-t-turn to the light, I care not. It couldn't h-h-harm him even if you destroy th-this realm. But do n-n-not let him down." "In r-r-return for your cooroperation, added the creature, "I will tell you th-th-this. De'kra is one of a k-kind, we all are. We lack a s-s-species. But w-w-we d-do share relations, we s-s-spawn and c-c-collaborate. We h-h-have too, a-a-all of us are s-s-so weak after we get betrayed. B-b-but De'kra, he is a-a-ancient. He lived s-s-so l-l-long. He is th-th-the only one to-" The entity finished trembling, and started to fade, "No, I can't latch to him any longer! Listen, do not tell him you saw me! It would be very bad for him and your reality for him to know what I said! It could trigger...what is this place? Who are you? Why is this room so colorful? Why are you all so s..." And with that the entity vanished. OOC: well this just happened. Or did it?

...Well someone doesn't believe in democracy...

OOC: hopefully this is okay. Here is the image by the way. I need a camera... IC: As Arthur returns from the marketplace, a voice whispers to him in a grinding voice, "He trusts you." If Arthur was to turn around, he would be face to face with the creature he had witnessed in Quest 17. The entity was constantly flickering in and out, and its very skin was translucent. The entity's eight faded eyes watched Arthur carefully, only his gaze unblinking.

IC: As he looked at the city, De'kra's eyes shifted to default orange yellow. "I agree, his life is worth no more than soldiers we masacure like s-spiders," the echo clicked in a sad voice, "But I fear what his death might bring. He was popular among his people, we saw that in that town. People who also want change might see him as martyr, slain by emperor's hire thugs. And honestly, I think enough people die this day. Heroica does itself no favors to mass murder everyone who disagree and it. But at least all those soldiers were attack we, and we were defend Team. But to kill him would kill unarm foe. And his words are no weapons. I can respect your decision, it just not mine."

IC: De'kra turned around and clicked, "Sometimes dead more significant than live. I know deaths that have push guilt ridden heroes to stand up, and face monsters more evil and powerful than you are likely to see in your lifetime. Monsters that eat gods. Hopefully U'Kin smart enough to be rallied fight back and peace, because after this Dastan will probably crack down on more violent protests. Either way, what happens next is up to you. Whether you repeat this, or leave in solitude, that your choice. If no other hero want to change mind, or if leader has no comment, I think we are done and this fool." The Echo began to walk away, to look over the damage city through his own blue eyes.

I like that the lesson was supposed to be that you can't please everyone and such; but we still managed to save all the NPC characters including Ella, capture Rolando, defeat all the guards, and beat the three quests. The first of which we were expected to fail. I know there were mistakes made in the quest as a whole, but for the final battle at least, that I think was a solid win. In the words of a good man; just this once, everybody lives!

Okay then. Would you estimate that it be finished soon, or would De'kra have time for a quest before sign-ups start?

By the way, are you still working on the Ji Pei quest?

He doesn't know enough about her. A single person shouldn't have mulitple Naming Days, so he needs to know more before he will risk it. He already messed up once with Lewa/Tarn. Plus I blot out 2005 as best I can. (Except Time Trap) But yeah, he would probably call her Roodaka, and if not that then Teridax. This is also why he just calls Xander hammer-hero, he is havimng a hard time finding a match. I think I know what to call him, but De'kra needs to grow more before then. Which reminds me, which do you think would work better for Arthur? Nuparu, or Vakama? I don't think Arthur has enough "it's all my fault" vibes or saged wisdom to be Vakama, but on the other hand Nuparu is not as dark as him. (except as a set) Of course, Nuparu did make police drones dedicated to maintain a corrupt city order, and some were made in secret...

Shush, you will ruin the immersion. ...perhaps Arthur's homeland is made mostly of fishermen, to the point that the common diet is fish and seaweed? That could explain why he could stomach eating the Admiral, he would taste merely like other fish. Forgive me if this idea conflicts with something you have all ready announced. Speaking of backstory being written around events, I have thought of a way for Arthur's family to know so much about Bionicle, despite Word of Great Being saying that Bionicle is not connected to any Lego world. If you are interested, we can take it to private messages.

Good to know that got across, I often have trouble knowing if a subtle message works. By the way, I decided to look over Quest 31, and I am...confused. I can see how Arthur's tension grew with every failure to use a spell, (and got the OOTS reference) but I am a little confused about eating that guy. Specifically, why didn't he cover that guy in leaves before doing it? That way if a hero or a guard asked him what in the world was going on, he could reply, "It's a wrap." But seriously I trust that despite the lost opportunity for a bad pun, Arthur's backstory will explain the reasons for that. Maybe it will come up if/when Arthur and De'kra meet back in the hall.

Everyone but De'kra. Glad to know De'kra had a point, I would take credit or it, but honestly I only came up with it while monologuing as De'kra and I personally doubted it would be so simple.

IC: De'kra paused, his mind grappling with something. Finally he clicked to Deneii, "I...can fathom that a little. I apologize for any deceit we have done, and for time you have spent fight here, not to mention injuries you suffer in help Team. I know not if you people use Uland currency, I people barely use anything like currency, but if you want I am will to give you 115 gold. You two fought and Team, it not fair that Flavius suffer so much, and neither of you get anything to ake up for it. At least I can offer you this, though it not make up for anything." Glancing back at the group, he chirped, "I will agree to banish him as well."

I'm curious Zepher, what are your thoughts on De'kra's guess about Wren's views? Any truth to it?

IC: De'kra's icy eyes gazed at the king for a long time, thinking careful as memories flooded through him. Finally he clicked, "You are not best summerizer, though your words have truth. We call ourselves heroes, but what are we? More often than not "heroes" are hired warriors, used to settle disputes. Honestly we can not hold moral ground for your crimes, each and everyone of we has kill before. All quests have require heroes to kill, expect maybe Quest 3. If what you say is true, you kill for freedom, but we kill for payment." The echo twitched slightly as he continued, "But that still not make what you did right. You have weaken your country by this war. Yes revolution might come, and maybe new order will respect all races equally. But in meantime Dastan's armies are decimate, its capital damage. How many people will be homeless because of war? How well can empire protect its people and maintain order? Oppression is bad, but if Uland example to judge by tons of bandits could exist on Dastan, and now will be less protect against. You may have want to protect you people, but this action weaken them." "I personally agree," the echo stated, "People divide not able to stand. Only through unity and common duty can they achieve their true potential, their destiny. And world should be like that. In Uland commoners can be murder and no one care, and houses can start wars merely for profit. It not right. Olegaia is world of madness, where youth die among trash and people get dangerously obsess and single person. Luve and tyranny haunt this world, and I sometimes wish corrupt leaders would just go away." "But thing is," De'kra concluded, "you can not hurt your people to save your people. That kind of think leads right back to tyranny, right back to oppression. And despite this world's flaws, you sometimes meet true heroes. Heroes who are better than Olegaia, heroes who might improve it. I am glad to have been here and some such heroes. But mass kill not fix this crazy planet, that only continue order of madness. Only way to fix Olegaia, is to break circle of violence." "And that why we can not kill Rolando," said De'kra, "It would only continue madness. Rolando was popular and people of Dastan, we saw that early in quest. Heroes kill him for emperors, it will only weaken faith in empire. And if what he say is true, he at least meant to protect his people. No, he cannot be kill. Perhaps no one should be kill. But he would not be easy to imprision, he could be free if he contain in any known prison. And imprison him in secret might cause further loss of faith in empire. Banishment not work, he could return one day, perhaps and new army of hire help or perhaps by Dastan aiders. But...Rito live far away in remote mountains. Rito not bow to emperors, and they are strong force. They known only in legend, most avoid them, though I not sure why. Just look at them, they are glorious. More to point, Rito could contain him. That way he close enough to be watch, and far away not to be threat. And perhaps by Rito imprison Rolando for empire, contact between both would have to continue and remain positive. It might lead to improve relations between Rito and emperors, which might get people to think about other races treatment. Maybe I overestimate spirits of this world, but it hope. And I will grasp at that.."

I'm calling the finale to Wren's quests now, she will have all the items she needs, the heroes will be defeated. She calls Zoot... ...and nothing happens.

IC: De'kra walked alongside Nikolai, his yellow eyes still gleaming with relief. The war was over, the battle won. Dastan will endure to fight another day. As he reached the corridor, the echo's eyes ignited with a flora green as he spotted Flavius. "Far-flyer!" he clicked, "Thank goodness you survive battle. I...am sorry that we were unable to help you in long run." De'kra glanced at the fallen emperor leaving his body guard to leave the mortal realm. The rogue forced himself to calm, shifting his eyes to an icy blue in the process. "Why?" he asked, his voice steady and neutral.

I have to say it is interesting how many people spell De'kra's name wrong. It's spelt with a lower case k, not upper case. Not a big deal though.

C: De'kra nodded eagerly and clicked, "Yes. Dastan still need to repair itself, and Rolando being traitor won't help people's trust in emperors, but this day is won. I can take hope in that. No use sulk about XX and Wren escape, only solution for that is action."

IC: The echo watched as XX ran way. A part of him wanted to catch the foe, and punish him for those weapons, but now was not the time. Dastan needed to rebuild, it couldn't afford for a new battle to break out here, not with such dangerous weapons and the emperors at risk. And truth be told, XX did not force Tarn or Nyx to use those bombs. Besides, the heroes were victorious. Dastan would not end today, both emperors were saved and the traitor fallen. The city would need repairs, but at least it's leadership remained. And who knows, perhaps the more noble Lion Knights will help restore the city, as their people damaged it. De'kra's eyes glowed yellow as he gazed at the rest of the Team, slowly pulling themselves and their fallen bck up. Despite overwhelming odds the heroes had fought their way through and proven victorious. And at least the ghosts of Quest 4 might be laid to rest. If this was how this adventure ended, even after all the betrayal and mistakes, it would be a good one. De'kra glanced over to Ella, and clicked happily, "We save emperors."

IC: As De'kra moved to attack his target, he heard Arthur conversing with that witch. With a tint of concern he clicked, "I would be wary of Wren, Nuparu. I not the best at understanding people of Olegaia, but it sound like to I that she think of other people as toys. Like she likes to play and people and amuse herself and them, only to cast them aside when they bore her. I might be wrong, as I have only secondary information on her, but that my impression. I would suggest caution when deal and someone who think of people as throwing disks, or worse, that life is big Akilini Match."