Temple of the Seal(Perma-open!)

[neo]

Joseph returned the bow and looked back up. "I thank you for the hospitality my friend." Joseph said with a smile as he entered the temple. His gaze quickly shifted to the walls and roof of the temple as he witnessed just what kind of place he was in. "This is truly amazing to have just sprung from the ground..." He joked as he looked back at the monk. "I am not entirely sure why I am here but I have foreseen the creation of this..." He tried to find a word to describe this strange place for a moment pausing in thought. "Peculiar temple, I am not entirely sure what I am supposed to do or see here but my eye hasn't misguided me yet!" Joseph said coolly but kindly as he pointed to his covered eye. "Oh my, where are my manners.... I am Joseph Witthoen Cronosi, a Temporis Defender from the world of Destinon." Joseph said formally introducing his name and class to the monk. "Perhaps if you were to explain the nature of this temple to me I may gather a better understanding to why I was guided here... That is of course if you do not mind divulging that information sir" Joseph was trying to be as polite as possible, for after all he was there as a guest. "Oh, do you have anywhere where I may leave this?" He asked as he held up the folded up cloak he wore to travel up the mountain

[nascent]

"It is more than I knew before... you have my thanks." The mage said, taking back the cherished amulet. He was intrigued by Orias' power to "listen", yet with all the monk had already done for him Magus was hesitant to ask how it was accomplished.

"I have no doubt kept you from your duties too long already." Magus bowed once more. "Thank you... for everything."

[prythian]

Orias bowed. "May the ears of your soul, mind, and heart always be open." He left the room, leaving Magus alone to spend the night.

The other monk at the entrance pointed silently to a coat rack nearby. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. "This is the Temple of the Seal. Within these walls we refine the senses from the purely physical into the spiritual, or as some might say, magical. The Temples have temporarily reappeared in what you call reality, so it hardly just 'sprung up from the ground'." The monk chuckled.

[angeal]

Angeal found himself in front of a temple similar to the structures found in Wutai. Curious to what it contained, he went inside. He saw two other outsiders in this temple. He knew they were such because everyone else was dressed like a monk. But that was stating the obvious. Angeal walked up to a monk.

"Excuse me, mind telling me what is going on around here? I'm sorta new around these parts, and I well, have some things to make up for. And I need to find a place where I can do that. Any ideas?" Angeal smiled at the monk, for he seemed like a kind hearted sort. Truth be told however, Angeal wasn't asking this just because he wanted to find a place where he could earn redemption, but because this place had a mysterious vibe to it, and where there was that sort of vibe, trouble was sure to follow. And Angeal figured he'd help out if it came right down to it.

[prythian]

The monk explained what he had told everyone else: The Temple reappearing, it would be for a short time, etc. He smiled at Angeal and said, "While I don't know where you might be able to do your penance, I do know that you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to and the Temple is here." He bowed deeply.

[angeal]

Angeal listened in silence as the monk explained everything. First of all, no fighting allowed. This didn't bother a monster seeking penance. Secondly, this temple wasn't like normal temples. It didn't exist in this reality. Okay, he got that. There were other temples like this one, but each one different, on different worlds. Made sense to him. Then the monk bowed. Sure thing, they always did that to friendly people. But he didn't get one thing.

"If they are so important, why have the temples revealed themselves? And why were they removed from this place to begin with?" Angeal began to walk away.

"And while you answer these questions, maybe you could show me around? This place is similar to temples on my own world, but very much different. I would like to see more of this intriguing place." He turned to the monk.

"My name is Angeal. Do you have one? Or are you one of those groups that has no name except that of the group's?"

[prythian]

"It's a bit too late for them to answer questions." The voice that said this came from outside the Temple, just outside the closed door. It was strange how it penetrated through stone to be heard by all within the Temple, even those in the back. "In fact, it's a bit too late for them at all. All outsiders within the Temple, listen to me. My conflict is not with you, but if you remain within these walls, you will be destroyed. You will be given five minutes to leave however you like. My Heartless outside will not harm you if you do not fight them or get in their way."

The man in black armor turned away from the Temple, satisfied. He knew all had heard the message, and darkness appeared underneath him as he entered a corridor of darkness. As it closed, more darkness appeared on the ground... and what had been a simple snowy day was now filled with a Rapid Thruster swarm.

The only Heartless that stood on the ground was a single Shadow. It flattened itself, blending in with the shadows cast by the Rapid Thrusters and disappeared from sight.

[nascent]

Even before the ominous words echoed throughout the Temple of the Seal, Magus sensed something was wrong. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he had no sooner achieved a meditative calm than that calm was shattered...

... by the familiar, yet ever unwelcome rushing howl of the Black Wind. Eyes snapping open, the mage leapt to his feet and rushed out into the hallway, shouting an alarm at the top of his voice as he raced for the doorway. "Something wicked this way comes!!"

The Black Wind... it's presence on the scene was too sudden, too intense. This was not the lurking omen of eventual suffering yet to come -- this was here, now; a herald trumpet of some impending doom that would not wait passively. That's when the mysterious man's words echoed throughout the building... and Magus' worst fears were confirmed.

"It's a bit too late for them to answer questions."

"In fact, it's a bit too late for them at all. All outsiders within the Temple, listen to me. My conflict is not with you, but if you remain within these walls, you will be destroyed. You will be given five minutes to leave however you like. My Heartless outside will not harm you if you do not fight them or get in their way."

The shadowmancer sensed the darkness take shape outside -- a portal, and then many clusters of living, twitching, feral darkness. This was no idle threat... and the offer, most likely, was also genuine.

Shame he'd have to refuse it.

Nearing the doors, Magus spotted a man -- a warrior, it seemed, by his appearance -- who had apparently been speaking with one of the monks. He ran up alongside him, catching Angeal's attention. "If it's your intention to fight, you shall not do so alone." With a nod at the grim-faced warrior Magus rushed the doors, a burst of crimson light summoning forth Dream Reaper in his left hand. It was no Keyblade, but neither was Dreamstone an element to be underestimated. He'd teach these Heartless to fear it's potent sting...

Throwing open the door, the shadowmage stood in defense of the Temple. Nothing would get in without getting past him first... as the flattened Shadow discovered when it tried to glide past under cover of the flitting shadows of its brethren. It squirmed in shock as Magus stabbed at its pancake-thin body with the edge of his scythe; had he not been attuned to darkness such stealth would have succeeded, but the warlock's affinity to the dark was neither weak nor inexperienced. Without mercy he ground the small Heartless under the enchanted might of his reaper's blade, glancing at it while keeping its kindred shades within his peripheral vision.

"No trespass shall be suffered upon this hallowed ground." Magus declared firmly, now convinced he knew why his dreams had led him here: to protect this place, and perhaps the other Temples as well. If that was his appointed role... he would not falter in his duty.

[angeal]

Angeal was not to receive a reply it seemed. A unseen voice boomed out a warning. And then Magus said that if Angeal was to fight, he wasn't fighting alone. Angeal walked outside, and his wings sprouted out.

"Time to earn some penance." Angeal thought that'd be an awful pun if he turned into his penance form. He shot up into the air, and flew at the Heartless. He began punching them. After he punched ten of them with all of his might, he drew his sword. He then readied it for attack, and defense.

"By the way, I can fly too. And I'm better at it."

[prythian]

The Rapid Thrusters weren't impressed. They quickly sped up and shot past Angeal, hitting him with their beaks on the way past. Singly, they were weak... but they were fast, and they were many.

With the subterfuge for the Shadow gone, Neoshadows began popping out of the ground out of inkblots of darkness. Unlike their Shadow brethren, they literally disappeared and reappeared, not crawled across the ground like vermin. They stood there, waiting for Magus to come at them... claws twitching.

[nascent]

A scoffing expression painted Magus' face as the Neo Shadows emerged to confront him. With his scythe-bearing hand he forced the door closed, quickly conjuring a Magic Barrier upon the entrance. That, he hoped, would help stave off further intrusions. Then he set about the work at hand.

Weaving magical energies with a series of swift hand gestures, the shadowmage generated a large plume of flame that erupted where the Neo Shadows were closest to one another. This he followed up closely, conjuring a thunderbolt to crash down from on high into the midst of the Rapid Thrusters. The magical assault, of course, would only get him so far; it was inevitable that the enemy would rush the doors -- rush him. Magus drew his scythe into a ready position, prepared to cut down whatever foe would dare approach first.

[angeal]

Angeal took a few peckings. He realized there were too many to just punch. He hated doing this to his sword, but he had little choice. He unsheathed it. He charged at a handful of enemies, and swung his weapon at each of them, though sometimes he hit more than one because of the size and length of his sword. He quickly sheathed it, and began to glow yellow. He then shot at another group of them, and punched at each of them twice. Each time a hit was made, a small explosive burst occurred. When he punched twice at one, he would shoot off at another, and do the same to it. And the same thing would happen to them when they were hit.

[prythian]

The Neoshadows jumped out of the way of the gout of fire; two were unlucky and burned up in the blaze. The assault of Angeal with the addition of Magus's thunder destroyed a large amount of the Rapid Thrusters, but there was no large amount missing from the overall swarm. There were simply too many Rapid Thrusters to stop.

The three Neoshadows nearest Magus disappeared into the ground... and reappeared beside him, two of them dissolving into darkness and being absorbed by the third. It grew in size, and its yellow eyes turned a deep dark purple. It knocked him aside with a powerful kick, pushed open the doors, and walked through the barrier as if it wasn't there.

This creature, it seemed, was immune to magic. It was also inside the Temple, searching for something. The other Neoshadows surrounded Magus, seeking to attack with their claws.

The Rabid Thrusters, meanwhile, had reversed and began staying still, their propellers moving quickly. They generated a wind to disrupt Angeal's flying.

[Rocket!]

And then a high, inane laughter echoed around the room.

"Ho`oponopono!"

A small blue motion blur fell from the roof, blasting out green plasma shots at seemingly random. However, each blast was very keenly aimed for only Heartless.

As the creature's downward arc brought it to the ground, the blasting stopped and two small legs emerged from the ball. Landing smoothly, Experiment 626 brought two more limbs out, bringing the total amount of arms to four, with the same amount of plasma guns at the ready.

Twisting his head around to face his foes, Stitch began to laugh once more. This was going to be fun.

[nascent]

(OOC: Welcome to the fight, Rocket! We could use your help. ;D)



Staggering from the kick, Magus looked up to see a new arrival appear in the foggy battlefield: a small, strange creature firing energy weapons in a wild flurry -- cutting down Heartless with each volley. Almost as swiftly, however, the remaining Neo Shadows were on him, claws raking at him like savage beasts. They were too close for him to swing his scythe now, and his efforts to push back those that accosted him were less than successful. Their feral assault tore open wounds all over his body, wounds that bled a liquid darkness instead of blood. Abandoning physical effort, he focused his will upon an exertion of spiritual strength while pointing one finger at the ground directly between his feet.

The Dark Bomb went off like a grenade, its force leaving the shadowmage unharmed while throwing back his attackers -- possibly even destroying them. He didn't stick around to find out, however; his enemy had penetrated the Temple, but he would not let it get far. Magus took his moment of opportunity to rush in after the enhanced Heartless, his hands sliding up Dream Reaper's shaft up near the blade. The hallways of the Temple would not well suit the wide swings of a scythe, so instead he would wield it like a spear for the time being.

His steps were swift with urgency, and it didn't take long before he caught up with the overgrown Neo Shadow. This thing had wrecked its way through his barrier like it meant nothing, so Magus suspected his powers would ill suit felling this foe; the powerful bite of a Dreamstone blade, however...

The warlock leapt at his foe, aiming to stab the scythe's blade straight into the creature's dark-born hide. He wouldn't stop fighting until it, and its fiendish kin outside, were cut down to the last. His battlecry split the air, a loud shout to match the strength of his effort.