After this series of crushing defeats, this independent Ray faction, known as the ODRL (Old Dynasty Restoration League; their leader claiming to be a descendant of the original Imperial dynasty that was overthrown by the Mantaxes) retreat to their main base; Gryphon Island, which they'd forcefully claimed several years ago by taking advantage of the Empire and ET's peace treaty at the time, preventing either of those factions from fighting back.
ODRL 'Admiral-Emperor', Macabre: "If this keeps up, we won't last for much longer... It looks like the ET has bolstered its numbers with beings from that eastern continent we've heard about."
ODRL Captain: "On the bright side, at least the ET are the only ones who've broken the peace treaty. The Empire hasn't made a move to attack...well, anyone."
Macabre: "For now, but how long do you think that'll last...? Those accursed Mantaxes are probably waiting for the ET to weaken us just enough to swoop in and finish the job themselves."
Captain: "So you think the Empire's indirectly using the ET to weaken us, while still conserving their manpower and resources?"
Macabre: "Precisely. We can't hope to ally with the ET against the Empire either, since they're just as opposed to the origi--to the true royal family, as they are to the Mantaxes. We need to look elsewhere for reinforcements."
Captain: "What about The Fangs?"
The Admiral-Emperor snorts.
Macabre: "Those kids? Not only are they principally anti-Empire, meaning they wouldn't fight to restore me to the throne, they're also completely under the boot of that old lion they rescued. I'd trust that Luggington fellow as far as I could throw him...without having chi plugged."
OOC: I'm not introducing the Manta Ray Empire proper just yet, because of an agreement with the other RPers that I wouldn't start the West Sea Wars until after the Fire vs Ice story line is over, and also because I'll need time to make the HQ topic and set everything up (there are going to be a lot of characters) before the Empire gets plunged into conflict. Fighting the ODRL for now is still providing the ET with important victories, as they claim more islands.
OOC:by the way are the mantaxes the second dynasty? this plot can work well, I can work it out with saying the outer ET tribes would want an alliance with the ODRL, while the holeowls would want to avenge horiax,the frigatebirds franis, the eagles the gryphons and the tigers would want to help their loyal allies(I’m only speaking about colony tribes)and defeat the old dynasty too
OOC: Yeah, the Mantaxes were the family who thawed out Faerin and her phoenix, so she manipulated half the Empire into supporting them. The Imperial Civil War ended 215 years ago with the defeat of the original dynasty, and it took over a century for the Empire to become mostly unified and rebuilt (explaining why the Empire didn't do much in the 200-100 BR era).
There are other gryphons? I'd originally intended for Galvanor to be the only one within the RP, but of course, anyone else can feel free to use the species after I got it approved by the FAC. Sounds like that'll make for a good twist.
OOC:by the way are the mantaxes the second dynasty? this plot can work well, I can work it out with saying the outer ET tribes would want an alliance with the ODRL, while the holeowls would want to avenge horiax,the frigatebirds franis, the eagles the gryphons and the tigers would want to help their loyal allies(I’m only speaking about colony tribes)and defeat the old dynasty too
OOC: Yeah, the Mantaxes were the family who thawed out Faerin and her phoenix, so she manipulated half the Empire into supporting them. The Imperial Civil War ended 215 years ago with the defeat of the original dynasty, and it took over a century for the Empire to become mostly unified and rebuilt (explaining why the Empire didn't do much in the 200-100 BR era).
There are other gryphons? I'd originally intended for Galvanor to be the only one within the RP, but of course, anyone else can feel free to use the species after I got it approved by the FAC. Sounds like that'll make for a good twist.
no I meand the reasoning is: outer tibes:defend chima holeowls:avenge horiax frigate birds:avenge franis colony eagles:avenge the gryphons colony tigers:help their loyal allies rebels:probaly place a democracy only the outer tribes want something for which helping the odrl can help see no gryphons at the left,but I can do something with an island colonized by the gryphons
IC:on the island ryzarlian used as main base while waiting for the storm the ET starts building a semi-naval area-integrated stronghold that is meant to become the equal of the hollow. mountains, to break the dominance of the colony over the ET a little and house an invasion or anti-invasion army from chima. OOC:I will post the lay out later, maybe even on an apart topic.by the way if the sea wars start at last,the chimean troops will have to go through ET or rebel territory to unboard safely.the hollow mountains are the key to reach the southern rebel walls safely from the sea and this base will be needed to wait for the torms to lay off and if you want to safely reach the coast and the northern rebel territory you need to go through it and the fortifications at the other islands against the manta’s
IC:on the island ryzarlian used as main base while waiting for the storm the ET starts building a semi-naval area-integrated stronghold that is meant to become the equal of the hollow. mountains, to break the dominance of the colony over the ET a little and house an invasion or anti-invasion army from chima. OOC:I will post the lay out later, maybe even on an apart topic.by the way if the sea wars start at last,the chimean troops will have to go through ET or rebel territory to unboard safely.the hollow mountains are the key to reach the southern rebel walls safely from the sea and this base will be needed to wait for the torms to lay off and if you want to safely reach the coast and the northern rebel territory you need to go through it and the fortifications at the other islands against the manta’s
the base is still being built and changes to a movable floating detachable stronghold. OOC:this will become an apart topic if you say you want so or if it becomes to busy
OOC:this will be the demographic centre of the ET,an attack centre in the sea wars and I want a semi-superweapon/movable base too IC:the city consists from ships and temporary neighboring islands connected with bridges and a maze of canals and a few ships have buildings and walls on them.in the centre lies ryzarlian’s government base.the city/stronghold is made to crash on the shore and become a change base for fleets of chima to unboard
ET ships conquer the islands and are let into the city of cronois by rebels,the ET troops start an amphibious attack on a big part of the coast and then go on to liberate the rest of the territory with high influence of cronois and his rebels, in the rest of the are ryzarlian finds much resistance and he decides to build a wall around the ET/rebel territory.the rebels start a republic and decide to make cronois their leader, while he is still at the great crater.OOC:someone please do all the battles, only two terms:no important deaths and keep up with the ultimate outcome I write.(if I write the ET wins, the ET can still lose the battle if you say they win another battle that decides the outcome)
After this series of crushing defeats, this independent Ray faction, known as the ODRL (Old Dynasty Restoration League; their leader claiming to be a descendant of the original Imperial dynasty that was overthrown by the Mantaxes) retreat to their main base; Gryphon Island, which they'd forcefully claimed several years ago by taking advantage of the Empire and ET's peace treaty at the time, preventing either of those factions from fighting back.
ODRL 'Admiral-Emperor', Macabre: "If this keeps up, we won't last for much longer... It looks like the ET has bolstered its numbers with beings from that eastern continent we've heard about."
ODRL Captain: "On the bright side, at least the ET are the only ones who've broken the peace treaty. The Empire hasn't made a move to attack...well, anyone."
Macabre: "For now, but how long do you think that'll last...? Those accursed Mantaxes are probably waiting for the ET to weaken us just enough to swoop in and finish the job themselves."
Captain: "So you think the Empire's indirectly using the ET to weaken us, while still conserving their manpower and resources?"
Macabre: "Precisely. We can't hope to ally with the ET against the Empire either, since they're just as opposed to the origi--to the true royal family, as they are to the Mantaxes. We need to look elsewhere for reinforcements."
Captain: "What about The Fangs?"
The Admiral-Emperor snorts.
Macabre: "Those kids? Not only are they principally anti-Empire, meaning they wouldn't fight to restore me to the throne, they're also completely under the boot of that old lion they rescued. I'd trust that Luggington fellow as far as I could throw him...without having chi plugged."
OOC: I'm not introducing the Manta Ray Empire proper just yet, because of an agreement with the other RPers that I wouldn't start the West Sea Wars until after the Fire vs Ice story line is over, and also because I'll need time to make the HQ topic and set everything up (there are going to be a lot of characters) before the Empire gets plunged into conflict. Fighting the ODRL for now is still providing the ET with important victories, as they claim more islands.
Vergere, using magic to protect herself from the constant storms around Gryphon Island (by channeling and redirecting the lightning away from herself), passes through the dark clouds until she's hovering above the jungle.
Vergere: "What a gloomy place; no wonder Macabre chose it as his HQ."
The vulture glides down, hiding in a palm tree as Rays patrol on the ground below.
Vergere: "Let's see...it looks like there's a town here, but it might just be populated by ODRL soldiers--"
Vergere's head snaps back to the patrols on the ground, and she sees that the ray looking straight at her is wearing green goggles. Scat! I should've known they'd developed goggles to let them see better in the Stormy Sea! I left my swords at the Colony...
ODRL Ray: "I repeat, identify yourself! Or we will shoot--!"
While plugging chi, the witch simultaneously launches a bolt of magic lightning straight into the ray, after which the others immediately open fire. They've probably never seen anything like that before, yet they're not missing a beat; Macabre has well-trained soldiers, indeed. Too bad he'll never ally with us.
Vergere leaps out of the palm as it's decimated by five simultaneous laser blasts, and she swoops down to grab another of the rays by his goggles, keeping her momentum going to smash him into a tree. She then turns around immediately, her hand still on the disoriented ray's goggles, using his back to shield her from the other four rays' blasts. While throwing her captive ray into another, she launches an immediate blast of magic lightning from her left hand, electrocuting both of them at the moment of impact. A shot from one of the remaining three rays' blaster hits her left leg at the same time. Vergere grunts and lifts off into the air just as the other two rays' lasers scorch the ground where she'd been standing a second prior.
All aiming for my legs; they're trying to capture me. No sooner does she think this, than one of the rays raises his blaster in time to shoot her left wing, and Vergere yelps as she falls to her right; the magic bolt she was about to unleash on the enemy being misdirected and shooting off into the sky at the same time. The vulture's back hits the palm tree that she'd slammed the ray against, and she falls on her stomach, her beak clamping down in front of her. Before she has time to even try pushing herself up, the barrel of a chi laser blaster touches the bridge of her beak, where it connects between her eyes.
ODRL Ray: "I suggest you stay still, if you want your beak to remain affixed, bird. You've taken out three good men today; you're lucky His Majesty ordered us to capture any and all intruders alive."
The ray, who seems to be the Captain of this squad, orders the other two survivors to quickly cuff Vergere's hands behind her back, so she can't use magic blasts without electrocuting her legs and back. Well, at least I have one 'friend' here; let's see how reliable he is.
After this series of crushing defeats, this independent Ray faction, known as the ODRL (Old Dynasty Restoration League; their leader claiming to be a descendant of the original Imperial dynasty that was overthrown by the Mantaxes) retreat to their main base; Gryphon Island, which they'd forcefully claimed several years ago by taking advantage of the Empire and ET's peace treaty at the time, preventing either of those factions from fighting back.
ODRL 'Admiral-Emperor', Macabre: "If this keeps up, we won't last for much longer... It looks like the ET has bolstered its numbers with beings from that eastern continent we've heard about."
ODRL Captain: "On the bright side, at least the ET are the only ones who've broken the peace treaty. The Empire hasn't made a move to attack...well, anyone."
Macabre: "For now, but how long do you think that'll last...? Those accursed Mantaxes are probably waiting for the ET to weaken us just enough to swoop in and finish the job themselves."
Captain: "So you think the Empire's indirectly using the ET to weaken us, while still conserving their manpower and resources?"
Macabre: "Precisely. We can't hope to ally with the ET against the Empire either, since they're just as opposed to the origi--to the true royal family, as they are to the Mantaxes. We need to look elsewhere for reinforcements."
Captain: "What about The Fangs?"
The Admiral-Emperor snorts.
Macabre: "Those kids? Not only are they principally anti-Empire, meaning they wouldn't fight to restore me to the throne, they're also completely under the boot of that old lion they rescued. I'd trust that Luggington fellow as far as I could throw him...without having chi plugged."
OOC: I'm not introducing the Manta Ray Empire proper just yet, because of an agreement with the other RPers that I wouldn't start the West Sea Wars until after the Fire vs Ice story line is over, and also because I'll need time to make the HQ topic and set everything up (there are going to be a lot of characters) before the Empire gets plunged into conflict. Fighting the ODRL for now is still providing the ET with important victories, as they claim more islands.
Vergere, using magic to protect herself from the constant storms around Gryphon Island (by channeling and redirecting the lightning away from herself), passes through the dark clouds until she's hovering above the jungle.
Vergere: "What a gloomy place; no wonder Macabre chose it as his HQ."
The vulture glides down, hiding in a palm tree as Rays patrol on the ground below.
Vergere: "Let's see...it looks like there's a town here, but it might just be populated by ODRL soldiers--"
Vergere's head snaps back to the patrols on the ground, and she sees that the ray looking straight at her is wearing green goggles. Scat! I should've known they'd developed goggles to let them see better in the Stormy Sea! I left my swords at the Colony...
ODRL Ray: "I repeat, identify yourself! Or we will shoot--!"
While plugging chi, the witch simultaneously launches a bolt of magic lightning straight into the ray, after which the others immediately open fire. They've probably never seen anything like that before, yet they're not missing a beat; Macabre has well-trained soldiers, indeed. Too bad he'll never ally with us.
Vergere leaps out of the palm as it's decimated by five simultaneous laser blasts, and she swoops down to grab another of the rays by his goggles, keeping her momentum going to smash him into a tree. She then turns around immediately, her hand still on the disoriented ray's goggles, using his back to shield her from the other four rays' blasts. While throwing her captive ray into another, she launches an immediate blast of magic lightning from her left hand, electrocuting both of them at the moment of impact. A shot from one of the remaining three rays' blaster hits her left leg at the same time. Vergere grunts and lifts off into the air just as the other two rays' lasers scorch the ground where she'd been standing a second prior.
All aiming for my legs; they're trying to capture me. No sooner does she think this, than one of the rays raises his blaster in time to shoot her left wing, and Vergere yelps as she falls to her right; the magic bolt she was about to unleash on the enemy being misdirected and shooting off into the sky at the same time. The vulture's back hits the palm tree that she'd slammed the ray against, and she falls on her stomach, her beak clamping down in front of her. Before she has time to even try pushing herself up, the barrel of a chi laser blaster touches the bridge of her beak, where it connects between her eyes.
ODRL Ray: "I suggest you stay still, if you want your beak to remain affixed, bird. You've taken out three good men today; you're lucky His Majesty ordered us to capture any and all intruders alive."
The ray, who seems to be the Captain of this squad, orders the other two survivors to quickly cuff Vergere's hands behind her back, so she can't use magic blasts without electrocuting her legs and back. Well, at least I have one 'friend' here; let's see how reliable he is.
Immediately after her capture, Vergere is taken before the "Admiral-Emperor" in his command room.
Macabre: "I've heard about you. You're that...bird with a very long beak..."
Vergere: "Vulture."
Macabre: "Right, 'vulture', that's what you're called. You're from the eastern continent, yes? No use denying it. Your appearance is nothing like the Owls and seabirds; which is exactly why I have an offer for you. Act as a mediator between the Old Dynasty Restoration League and the eastern continent's tribes, that we may form an alliance against the Mantaxes' Empire. My goal is simply to reclaim the Imperial throne and restore peace; note that the arbitrary invasion of the east is, and always was, just the Mantaxes' intention. In return for bringing us in contact with your people, I will let you live, and chalk up slaying three of my men as an honest misunderstanding of us being part of the Mantaxes' Empire. What say you?"
Vergere: "The biggest problem with this offer is that I don't represent my homeland; but rather, the Eagle Triumvirate."
The ray's amicable expression morphs into a glare.
Macabre: "I see... That is most unfortunate. Schedule her execution for tomorrow morning. It will take place in the town center, and we'll make it a point to the people that she represents the ET, not the eastern continent; I still intend for that alliance. Get her out of my sight."
Ray Captain: "Yes, Your Excellency."
The Rays bow and walk Vergere out of the throne room. Good, that brought a swift end to the pointless meeting. Now to meet with Morn and make the magic happen; Macabre has given me the perfect opportunity to test "it"...
That night, Morn arrives at Vergere's cell.
Vergere: "Where's the guard?"
Morn: "I am the guard. As soon as I heard about your capture, I convinced Macabre to station me here."
Vergere: "Very good. We don't want them thinking anything is amiss before the big event in the morning. Do you have the canister?"
The ray carefully pulls a small, transparent tube filled with green gas out of his pocket.
Morn: "Are you certain? I've been saving this for months as an absolute last resort."
Vergere: "If you broke me out right now, we'd both be captured before we even got off the island; I can't exactly hide in plain sight here like you can. This is the only choice. Plus, it's by far the best opportunity to test this. You're not certain it works, right?"
Morn: "Obviously not. Who would I have tested it on? Myself? I also have no guarantee that Vultures are immune, so--"
Vergere: "Yes, yes. We won't know if it works until the exact moment. Ah, I love this thrill! This tension! It reminds me of the Age of Warlords--"
Morn: "Anyway, here."
He slides the thin tube between the cell bars, and Vergere carefully takes it in her beak (her hands are still chained behind her back), swallowing it.
Vergere: "You have a gas mask, correct?"
Morn: "You need me to stay on the island?"
Vergere: "Of course; who else will unchain my hands and wings?"
Vergere, using magic to protect herself from the constant storms around Gryphon Island (by channeling and redirecting the lightning away from herself), passes through the dark clouds until she's hovering above the jungle.
Vergere: "What a gloomy place; no wonder Macabre chose it as his HQ."
The vulture glides down, hiding in a palm tree as Rays patrol on the ground below.
Vergere: "Let's see...it looks like there's a town here, but it might just be populated by ODRL soldiers--"
Vergere's head snaps back to the patrols on the ground, and she sees that the ray looking straight at her is wearing green goggles. Scat! I should've known they'd developed goggles to let them see better in the Stormy Sea! I left my swords at the Colony...
ODRL Ray: "I repeat, identify yourself! Or we will shoot--!"
While plugging chi, the witch simultaneously launches a bolt of magic lightning straight into the ray, after which the others immediately open fire. They've probably never seen anything like that before, yet they're not missing a beat; Macabre has well-trained soldiers, indeed. Too bad he'll never ally with us.
Vergere leaps out of the palm as it's decimated by five simultaneous laser blasts, and she swoops down to grab another of the rays by his goggles, keeping her momentum going to smash him into a tree. She then turns around immediately, her hand still on the disoriented ray's goggles, using his back to shield her from the other four rays' blasts. While throwing her captive ray into another, she launches an immediate blast of magic lightning from her left hand, electrocuting both of them at the moment of impact. A shot from one of the remaining three rays' blaster hits her left leg at the same time. Vergere grunts and lifts off into the air just as the other two rays' lasers scorch the ground where she'd been standing a second prior.
All aiming for my legs; they're trying to capture me. No sooner does she think this, than one of the rays raises his blaster in time to shoot her left wing, and Vergere yelps as she falls to her right; the magic bolt she was about to unleash on the enemy being misdirected and shooting off into the sky at the same time. The vulture's back hits the palm tree that she'd slammed the ray against, and she falls on her stomach, her beak clamping down in front of her. Before she has time to even try pushing herself up, the barrel of a chi laser blaster touches the bridge of her beak, where it connects between her eyes.
ODRL Ray: "I suggest you stay still, if you want your beak to remain affixed, bird. You've taken out three good men today; you're lucky His Majesty ordered us to capture any and all intruders alive."
The ray, who seems to be the Captain of this squad, orders the other two survivors to quickly cuff Vergere's hands behind her back, so she can't use magic blasts without electrocuting her legs and back. Well, at least I have one 'friend' here; let's see how reliable he is.
Immediately after her capture, Vergere is taken before the "Admiral-Emperor" in his command room.
Macabre: "I've heard about you. You're that...bird with a very long beak..."
Vergere: "Vulture."
Macabre: "Right, 'vulture', that's what you're called. You're from the eastern continent, yes? No use denying it. Your appearance is nothing like the Owls and seabirds; which is exactly why I have an offer for you. Act as a mediator between the Old Dynasty Restoration League and the eastern continent's tribes, that we may form an alliance against the Mantaxes' Empire. My goal is simply to reclaim the Imperial throne and restore peace; note that the arbitrary invasion of the east is, and always was, just the Mantaxes' intention. In return for bringing us in contact with your people, I will let you live, and chalk up slaying three of my men as an honest misunderstanding of us being part of the Mantaxes' Empire. What say you?"
Vergere: "The biggest problem with this offer is that I don't represent my homeland; but rather, the Eagle Triumvirate."
The ray's amicable expression morphs into a glare.
Macabre: "I see... That is most unfortunate. Schedule her execution for tomorrow morning. It will take place in the town center, and we'll make it a point to the people that she represents the ET, not the eastern continent; I still intend for that alliance. Get her out of my sight."
Ray Captain: "Yes, Your Excellency."
The Rays bow and walk Vergere out of the throne room. Good, that brought a swift end to the pointless meeting. Now to meet with Morn and make the magic happen; Macabre has given me the perfect opportunity to test "it"...
That night, Morn arrives at Vergere's cell.
Vergere: "Where's the guard?"
Morn: "I am the guard. As soon as I heard about your capture, I convinced Macabre to station me here."
Vergere: "Very good. We don't want them thinking anything is amiss before the big event in the morning. Do you have the canister?"
The ray carefully pulls a small, transparent tube filled with green gas out of his pocket.
Morn: "Are you certain? I've been saving this for months as an absolute last resort."
Vergere: "If you broke me out right now, we'd both be captured before we even got off the island; I can't exactly hide in plain sight here like you can. This is the only choice. Plus, it's by far the best opportunity to test this. You're not certain it works, right?"
Morn: "Obviously not. Who would I have tested it on? Myself? I also have no guarantee that Vultures are immune, so--"
Vergere: "Yes, yes. We won't know if it works until the exact moment. Ah, I love this thrill! This tension! It reminds me of the Age of Warlords--"
Morn: "Anyway, here."
He slides the thin tube between the cell bars, and Vergere carefully takes it in her beak (her hands are still chained behind her back), swallowing it.
Vergere: "You have a gas mask, correct?"
Morn: "You need me to stay on the island?"
Vergere: "Of course; who else will unchain my hands and wings?"
The ray sighs.
Morn: "Very well."
New post:
The next morning, at 10 o'clock when all the ODRL citizens are awake, they gather in the town square at the center of the island. Vergere is brought into the middle of this gated-off area, where the crowd on all sides is booing the ET "terrorist" and hurling insults.
Vergere suppresses a grin, so as not to cue Macabre in on the fact that she's planning something. So many Rays here...The perfect testing ground. She spots Morn on the outskirts of the crowd, anxiously gripping a bag that doubtlessly contains his gas mask. Good, he knows to wait until the absolute last moment to put it on, lest he arouse suspicion.
Vergere is walked up a stage to a waiting guillotine by Macabre himself, as he makes a generic speech about her being an "evil" Eagle Triumvirate operativeand an "enemy of peace", stressing that she doesn't represent the eastern continent's interests despite being native to it. I'm impressed that a leader has the guts to carry out the execution himself for once. Luckily for Macabre, he won't go down in history as a coward unwilling to dirty his hands. Just as Vergere's head is lowered to the guillotine's base, she regurgitates the vial as she'd trained herself to do, catching it with the tip of her beak.
Macabre: "Wait, what's tha--?"
The vulture bites down hard on the vial with her sharp beak, and as the glass shatters, sickly green gas explodes outward. Macabre and his guards on the stage immediately start to get woozy, but Vergere feels fine. Instant effects for Rays, yet I feel nothing; so far, so good.
Macabre thinks: I should've seen something like this coming. So, this is how the true royal bloodline is to end...? I should've prioritized marrying and having heirs, instead of fighting this war...but then again, my family probably would've been here when this happened anyway. Perhaps I wasn't meant to lead the Rays after all... Curse you, ET...! May the Empire crush you--!
The last "true" Ray Emperor falls, at the same time as the guards around him, before they can even try to help their liege. The other ODRL soldiers and citizens panic and run away in all directions, but the gas is all-consuming, more than enough to go around. The green cloud envelopes all beings on Gryphon Island. When it dissipates, Vergere sees a gas mask-clad Morn walk up the stairs onto the stage. He slowly takes the keys to Vergere's chains from Macabre's belt, and unlocks them. The vulture stretches her arms and wings with a smile, as if it's a completely average morning.
Vergere: "Ah...what a nice day, and what a fantastic start to it!"
Morn: "You feel fine? No symptoms?"
Vergere: "Nothing! The results couldn't be more satisfactory!"
She looks all around at the fallen Rays, and takes a deep breath in, as though the air is clean.
Vergere: "You've outdone yourself, Morn! Though of course, the toxin still needs more refining to be perfected."
Morn: "Yes...I did this..."
The ray looks around sadly at the sight.
Vergere: "Why so glum? This is the result of years of work for both of us; the entire ODRL, defeated in minutes, and all without an ounce of pain! Had this been a brutal fight to the end between them and the ET or the Empire, that would've been cause for profound sadness, but we've done it! We've ended a war painlessly!"
Immediately after her capture, Vergere is taken before the "Admiral-Emperor" in his command room.
Macabre: "I've heard about you. You're that...bird with a very long beak..."
Vergere: "Vulture."
Macabre: "Right, 'vulture', that's what you're called. You're from the eastern continent, yes? No use denying it. Your appearance is nothing like the Owls and seabirds; which is exactly why I have an offer for you. Act as a mediator between the Old Dynasty Restoration League and the eastern continent's tribes, that we may form an alliance against the Mantaxes' Empire. My goal is simply to reclaim the Imperial throne and restore peace; note that the arbitrary invasion of the east is, and always was, just the Mantaxes' intention. In return for bringing us in contact with your people, I will let you live, and chalk up slaying three of my men as an honest misunderstanding of us being part of the Mantaxes' Empire. What say you?"
Vergere: "The biggest problem with this offer is that I don't represent my homeland; but rather, the Eagle Triumvirate."
The ray's amicable expression morphs into a glare.
Macabre: "I see... That is most unfortunate. Schedule her execution for tomorrow morning. It will take place in the town center, and we'll make it a point to the people that she represents the ET, not the eastern continent; I still intend for that alliance. Get her out of my sight."
Ray Captain: "Yes, Your Excellency."
The Rays bow and walk Vergere out of the throne room. Good, that brought a swift end to the pointless meeting. Now to meet with Morn and make the magic happen; Macabre has given me the perfect opportunity to test "it"...
That night, Morn arrives at Vergere's cell.
Vergere: "Where's the guard?"
Morn: "I am the guard. As soon as I heard about your capture, I convinced Macabre to station me here."
Vergere: "Very good. We don't want them thinking anything is amiss before the big event in the morning. Do you have the canister?"
The ray carefully pulls a small, transparent tube filled with green gas out of his pocket.
Morn: "Are you certain? I've been saving this for months as an absolute last resort."
Vergere: "If you broke me out right now, we'd both be captured before we even got off the island; I can't exactly hide in plain sight here like you can. This is the only choice. Plus, it's by far the best opportunity to test this. You're not certain it works, right?"
Morn: "Obviously not. Who would I have tested it on? Myself? I also have no guarantee that Vultures are immune, so--"
Vergere: "Yes, yes. We won't know if it works until the exact moment. Ah, I love this thrill! This tension! It reminds me of the Age of Warlords--"
Morn: "Anyway, here."
He slides the thin tube between the cell bars, and Vergere carefully takes it in her beak (her hands are still chained behind her back), swallowing it.
Vergere: "You have a gas mask, correct?"
Morn: "You need me to stay on the island?"
Vergere: "Of course; who else will unchain my hands and wings?"
The ray sighs.
Morn: "Very well."
New post:
The next morning, at 10 o'clock when all the ODRL citizens are awake, they gather in the town square at the center of the island. Vergere is brought into the middle of this gated-off area, where the crowd on all sides is booing the ET "terrorist" and hurling insults.
Vergere suppresses a grin, so as not to cue Macabre in on the fact that she's planning something. So many Rays here...The perfect testing ground. She spots Morn on the outskirts of the crowd, anxiously gripping a bag that doubtlessly contains his gas mask. Good, he knows to wait until the absolute last moment to put it on, lest he arouse suspicion.
Vergere is walked up a stage to a waiting guillotine by Macabre himself, as he makes a generic speech about her being an "evil" Eagle Triumvirate operativeand an "enemy of peace", stressing that she doesn't represent the eastern continent's interests despite being native to it. I'm impressed that a leader has the guts to carry out the execution himself for once. Luckily for Macabre, he won't go down in history as a coward unwilling to dirty his hands. Just as Vergere's head is lowered to the guillotine's base, she regurgitates the vial as she'd trained herself to do, catching it with the tip of her beak.
Macabre: "Wait, what's tha--?"
The vulture bites down hard on the vial with her sharp beak, and as the glass shatters, sickly green gas explodes outward. Macabre and his guards on the stage immediately start to get woozy, but Vergere feels fine. Instant effects for Rays, yet I feel nothing; so far, so good.
Macabre thinks: I should've seen something like this coming. So, this is how the true royal bloodline is to end...? I should've prioritized marrying and having heirs, instead of fighting this war...but then again, my family probably would've been here when this happened anyway. Perhaps I wasn't meant to lead the Rays after all... Curse you, ET...! May the Empire crush you--!
The last "true" Ray Emperor falls, at the same time as the guards around him, before they can even try to help their liege. The other ODRL soldiers and citizens panic and run away in all directions, but the gas is all-consuming, more than enough to go around. The green cloud envelopes all beings on Gryphon Island. When it dissipates, Vergere sees a gas mask-clad Morn walk up the stairs onto the stage. He slowly takes the keys to Vergere's chains from Macabre's belt, and unlocks them. The vulture stretches her arms and wings with a smile, as if it's a completely average morning.
Vergere: "Ah...what a nice day, and what a fantastic start to it!"
Morn: "You feel fine? No symptoms?"
Vergere: "Nothing! The results couldn't be more satisfactory!"
She looks all around at the fallen Rays, and takes a deep breath in, as though the air is clean.
Vergere: "You've outdone yourself, Morn! Though of course, the toxin still needs more refining to be perfected."
Morn: "Yes...I did this..."
The ray looks around sadly at the sight.
Vergere: "Why so glum? This is the result of years of work for both of us; the entire ODRL, defeated in minutes, and all without an ounce of pain! Had this been a brutal fight to the end between them and the ET or the Empire, that would've been cause for profound sadness, but we've done it! We've ended a war painlessly!"
Vergere and Morn gather all the research materials from the latter's office, and leave Gryphon Island aboard a submarine (or rather, a ray ship, which all have sub-aquatic capabilities); the only way to get to and from the eternally-stormy island aside from being a mage and redirecting the lightning. After crossing through the Stormy Sea, they surface and Vergere flies out of the vessel, after having given Morn directions to the Colony. The ship continues on.
I'd originally intended for Galvanor to be the only one within the RP, but of course, anyone else can feel free to use the species after I got it approved by the FAC. Sounds like that'll make for a good twist. ![[y]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/WYWPH2VRo26pOFDid7QZ.png)
I'd originally intended for Galvanor to be the only one within the RP, but of course, anyone else can feel free to use the species after I got it approved by the FAC. Sounds like that'll make for a good twist. 