Cyriel

Luckily for Veil, the other Winged Ones had left, forgetting all about the injured Low One in the street, in their haste to aid the woman. Veil had hurriedly helped the Low One to find another transformation...she didn't like allowing them to take other peoples' appearances, but right now it was imperative. She looked away when he slid into the skin, his appearance melting back down to another human's... When he was finished, the blood was gone, and he looked quite normal. Quickly, without speaking to him, she drove him to the closest subway, and let him off, watching the Low One disappear into the crowds. But...the manner of the Low One towards her was still very evident. [I]Which side am I on?[/I] was Veil's whole thought as she drove back to the house where the battle had been. Getting out of the car, her wings were now quiet...and the metal in her blood only murmured comfortingly. She breathed in slowly, and then went up to the house, Dario's house. Then, she smiled, and tried the door. It wasn't locked, and she went in, hardly making a sound. Just as she had guessed, the Winged Ones had not returned to this house. Veil was free to look through it, and she did so slowly, examining each room separately. Her eyes would run over all the belongings, the way the furniture was arranged...she was looking for anything that might afford her clues of who this Winged One was, and his companions. She had to be able to meld herself perfectly with them, as one with their group... So she walked through the house, not touching anything, but seeing everything. Veil knelt on the floor by one of the book cases. She slowly ran her mind over the battle she had seen, stewing in each detail...and then an idea flashed into her mind. A certain being of the Winged Ones, the one that this house belonged to, was clearly very sensitive to helpless beings. Ones that were usually female... She fished her cell phone out of her pocket, and called a number. A voice picked up. "[I]Hello?[/I] Veil smiled, "I need three. Tonight or tomorrow. Corner of Saint and Davison. The plan...will be explained." The voice on the phone confirmed the meeting, and then hung up. Veil was still smiling when she walked out of Dario's house. She had left no trace, and had come up with the perfect plan to meld herself in with the Winged Ones. That is...if one of the Gods didn't screw it up...but she had to take that chance. The metal in her blood picked up quietly, excited now...

OOC: Ok, I updated my little thing in recruitment. And...I thought I should let you all know that.... Karver IS A GIRL!!:D yeah, kinda not a girl's name, but hey, it's ok. IC: Karver looked at Mika, Coje, and Koal. She narrowed her eyes. "Fine. You all can wait for the others. I'm going [I]now[/I]." She didn't wait for them to speak, and instead, leaped into the trees and ran, quicker than lightning. Her thoughts were on her father... [I]Did someone in our pack ally themselves with the children of Naraku and Kikyo?[/I] she wondered. Perhaps those rebelling in their pack had really wanted to rid themselves of Kouga, the leader of the pack... Or was it just because those three, evil children were feeling bored? She felt herself bite her lip in anger...those kids...were going to get it... At this point, Karver could care less about the Shikon Jewel, or her mother. [I]Kouga[/I], she vowed silently, [I]I'll find you, and I'll rescue you[/I]. As she raced among the trees, her nose and ears pricked on Zsuzsanna's scent, a last thought came to her. [I]I'll find him...or I'll die trying...so those three better not get in my way, those filthy b*******.[/I]

OOC: Wha..? Uh, when did Veil's father get there? She's kinda in a bad mood with him right now, and I thought he was back at the village...? How about...we'll just change the father part to the leader of the warriors, Koryu, k? And he'll just introduce her as the princess of the Emish or something like that... Oh, and what the heck? :D You told me not to fall in love with you! So don't say that I did - you're the one making the first moves here. ;) IC: Veil gathered her voice, and scanned her eyes over the crowd. She made her voice strong, and yet gentle and comforting at the same time - these people had so much sorrow in their eyes...they needed hope and peace. "First, I want to thank you all for your warm greeting. Even though you don't know us, you have come out of your way to welcome us into your village. And...I have to say that it shows your people have strength, because even though you fight a war, you still have the time and the generosity to come and greet strangers." She paused, and took a breath. "I must say...that I had my doubts coming to the Unashi. I asked myself, what do my people, the ancient Emish, have to do with these conflicts? Why do we go to their aid? But...now that I am here...I can only say that I'm thankful that I came. I think...that perhaps all of our separate tribes have been...too proud, and too cautious. We're afraid of dipping our hands in conflicts that are not our own, we're afraid of getting involved in battles that we have not started." Veil took another breath. "But...over the years, all these different tribes have forgotten something. It doesn't matter if it's not the Emish that I am fighting for, and it doesn't matter that I'm taking a chance on my life here. What matters, is that a force has come, breaking the peace. The Shogun has violently entered into your peaceful existence, shattering your hopes and dreams, and slaughtering the Unashi. They come not with hands held out in peace, but with their swords already drawn against the innocent." "And so..it is because of this that I have understood something. It doesn't matter if the conflict is not our own. The Emish people are here to aid you in your defense of your people, your ancestors, your way of life. Why? Because...the preservation of life is more important than separate tribes or existences. Life is the most important thing in the world, and those who seek to take it without cause...must be stopped. So...again, I want to extend my thanks to you, not only for welcoming us, but also because you were wise enough to ask for help. So..I thank you for allowing us to come here, and to help you. And...I pledge to you all, that we will fight for your lives, even if it means giving up our own. Thank you." Veil bowed, breathed deeply, and stepped back. OOC: Was that too long?

OOC: I thought it was ok. I mean, you left me in the woods (you little **** ha ha just kidding), and Mya, Kilik, and Hentaro found me where you left me, but then they left me too. And then Sirus found Veil, and away they go so that they can sacrifice her. Although, I have no idea how Mya already knew how Sirus had Veil...since they left her in the woods and haven't seen her or Sirus since then.

Judge Gojo had called a Council meeting, inviting all the Imperial Advisors, and most of his usual associates. He sat at the head of the low table, the others sitting quietly in their silks and fine robes, talking quietly to one another. It was not usually that a Grand Council Meeting was held in the dead of night, in the private rooms of the Judge Gojo. But tonight...was different... "Let us begin," Judge Gojo said quietly, and the small murmurings ceased. All eyes turned to him, and he smiled benevolently. "I believe...that the whereabouts of the Soul Reaver Sade are still unkown." Now all breaths hushed, and the silence was so still it felt like time had been frozen. Judge Gojo continued, "Although her whereabouts are unknow, her activities are not. Our informants tell us that she failed in her mission, and that the [I]woman[/I] ruler of Mertonia, the one who calls herself Fuschia, is still alive." At Queen Fuschia's name, all the advisors bowed their head and murmured, "May the Majesty of the Gods live forever, and bless us with His hand. May the Lord take His enemies swiftly, and seize what is rightfully His." Judge Gojo nodded, and drew his hand across his beard in thought. "So, the Soul Reaver Sade has failed, and she fears to return and meet her retribution in the Lord's court. She fears to face the Almighty Face of Heaven, our Grand Emperor. She has failed...and now she suffers the shame of defeat. We shall find her later, and deal with her then. Our problem now, however, is what to do with the [I]woman[/I] of Mertonia." The advisors whispered amongst themselves, and several ideas were presented at the table...however, none was what Judge Gojo needed. He nodded at each word, politely accepting the others' judgements and thoughts, and then started to speak again. "I believe...that we must send another." All words stilled; the room was like stone again. A reedy voice piped up from one sitting at the table, "Who would we send? Who is there that is suitable, deadly, and yet at the same time, subtle?" Judge Gojo answered, his voice firm and strong. "Soul Reaver Sade is not the only one of her blood, as you all know too well." The whispering commenced, and the voices rose. He continued, "Sade does have one known blood relation...one of the Honor Guard of our Lord...." [I]Serisay[/I]. Replies came firing from everywhere. "You would send [I]that[/I] female to fail like her sister?" "She's not ready! And she is not to be trusted!" "Her skills are less than Sade's; how can we send her??" Judge Gojo's voice stopped them all like a storm, "Hear me! Now, hear me. It is true that perhaps Serisay is not as skilled as her sister, but I believe that she is only not as experienced. In actuality, I believe that she can be every bit as deadly, as we all know..." Heads nodded; Serisay was not a liked figure in the room. "And...I believe that if wielded in the right way, then Serisay will achieve our purposes for us..." Two hours later, the meeting adjourned, plans laid, and a request ready to send to the Emperor. Serisay was to go to Mertonia. And kill the Queen Fuschia.

Veil looked around the corner, hiding from the sentinel. She hadn't been able to speak with the Prof. earlier; he had been busy, and she didn't want to bother him. Taking a stroll in the mall, she had suddenly come upon the Sentinel, but had hidden herself before it could detect her presence. Her mutant abilities were not so easily found. Now, however, she watched in horror as people screamed and started running away. Even normal humans didn't relish the thought of being close to Sentinels. [I]What the heck is it doing?[/I] Veil thought to herself. [I]Doesn't it realize it's in a public area? What if it hurts the civilians?[/I] Then she saw the Sentinel's tentacles grab hold of Jim, and her breath caught in her throat. [I]I know him! He's in Prof. Xavier's school![/I] Her worried thoughts were no longer with the innocent bystanders, but instead with the mutant who was facing off with the Sentinel. [I]Oh, shoot, I have to do something! But, what can I...?[/I] Veil stopped, worry on her face. She rubbed her hands together nervously, and then started to concentrate on the Sentinel... Jim was struggling to free himself. Veil kept her concentration focused on one spot Sentinel: its head and torso, keeping her power from touching Jim. Slowly...she saw the metal start to heat, and little whisps of smoke started coming off from the torso. BOOM! Suddenly, an explosion, and the Sentinel's head and body were separated, the central circuits blown by the heat of Veil's power. Jim flew through the air, released by the tentacle, and landed hard on the ground. Smoke was everywhere, and people really were screaming and running everywhere. Veil could barely see through the smoke, but somehow found her way to Jim. She grabbed his arm, "Come on! We have to get out of here! Let's go!" She pulled him along through the smoke.

OOC: ooo, nice twist heehee. how to get away...la di da...:D By the way, everyone, don't rescue me too soon. I want to see the Roxoski Clan village. Besides, seeing the preparations for sacrifice is pretty cool too. But if you let me die, I will come back as a ghost and kill you all. :D heheh... [I]This is brilliant[/I], thought Veil silently. [I]What have I gotten myself into this time? God, why can't I just keep out of trouble for once??[/I] Sirus laughed, and looked at her. "Didn't I just tell you? I know your thoughts. Better for you not to think at all." She stared, finally realizing the extent of his powers...she had no chance this time. No escape, because...her own mind was betraying her, unable to defend her thoughts and ideas. She was helpless. She bit her lip, and Sirus laughed again. [I]What the h*** am I going to do?[/I] It was her last thought, when suddenly Sirus knocked her out cold again.

Veil's eyes were on the people when she rode through the temple gates with the other warriors of the Emish. She whispered to Koryu, "They're so...happy to see us. What causes them to be so elated at our arrival? Have they been so ravaged by the Shogun?" He answered her quietly, keeping his eyes on the surroundings, "I have heard that the Shogun...is not known for its mercy or kindness. They have suffered much here. I believe that if our village were to be attacked by this Shogun, then even I would offer any help that came." Veil nodded, and was silent. There were so many people, staring and smiling at them, and happy yells filled the temple courtyard. And...so many children, smiling and waving, staring at their foreign weapons and armor. She wondered if they all had parents, or if some were orphans. She dismounted with the other men, and a monk greeted them on the steps. "Welcome," he said calmly, and with a little bow. "Thank you for coming. We greatly appreciate your aid."

OOC: And...what happens to the woman? Is she in the wolf's mouth still?? And there's still a Low One lying on the street, severely injured, but alive. Oh, and there's a Winged One beside it, named Veil, but she's been watching. Did they just...leave??

Veil also nearly avoided the collision, neatly sidling by their little scuffle. She left them, her mind already occupied on other thoughts...like the meeting last night. She had been in the back, behind all the others that were there. The original X-Men, the ones that Prof. Xavier really depended on, had all been there, and her heart had been thumping at the close proximity. She had heard so many stories from the other students and younger children at the school, about how many battles they had been in, how long they had been with the Prof., the extent of their powers. Really, they were like legends to her. She secretly wished that she were close to them, on friendly, close terms like some of the students were, able to randomly wave to them, or go and speak to them about daily things. But... no. She wasn't ready to. They were so...amazing. Why would they ever speak to her? She was Prof. Xavier's "charity project," as some in the school already were calling her. Certain girls...were for some reason envious of her coloring. What was desirable about it? She'd much rather be normal, have brown hair, brown eyes...no powers. Well, her powers were ok - they weren't really noticeable anyway, unless...unless she got really carried away. Veil sat in her seat, looking out the window to the grounds, green and flowering. Her thoughts remained on the meeting... [I]Genosha...now where have I heard of that? I mean, I know it's a slave island of mutants, but...what else do I know? I'll have to go to the library today to see if I can't find something on it... Or even better, why not go to Prof. Xavier? He's always so nice when I come to see him.[/I] She smiled. Yes, she would go see the Prof. today after school. She always enjoyed talking with him.. he always had such a calming presence...

Veil barely avoided an accident at an intersection, almost ramming her car into a semi. All these feelings and whisperings..had turned into much more. Pain kept shooting through her in quick, lightning bursts, paralleling the calls of the Low Ones. They were revealing themselves...everywhere! What was happening? The metal in her blood screeched and screamed, and her head was ringing from the constant cacophany of discord. [I]Why was this happening??[/I] Suddenly, she slammed on her brakes, and looked out of her window. [I]Wings. Those two people have wings!![/I] Veil had driven to the place almost unconsciously, led by her instinct, almost a calling to her. She watched in shock as they flew in the air...she hadn't seen other beings fly yet...even though she had flown many times by herself. Her gaze was drawn to the slime and ooze on the street...a Low One lay defeated on the ground. Helpless. It's silent cries rang in her ears and wings. She slowly got out of the car, and looked up, just in time to see the other Low One leap down from the roof with the woman in its mouth. Veil heard the skeletal Winged One say something to the other about leaving the woman, and slaying the "beast." Her eyes narrowed at the word - [I]beast?[/I] she asked herself. Veil didn't move, watching in silence, and locked eyes with the Wolf. Her wings suddenly vibrated under her skin, and she felt her power yearn to be unleashed, revealed to the other Winged Ones. [I]No[/I], she said to herself, stilling the metal from rising. Her gaze didn't waver from the Wolf, who still stood with the woman in his mouth. And...the two Winged Ones circled around it... She heard the other Low One's injured cries again, and went to it, trying to calm it with her presence. Adjusting her motions, each slight flick of her hand, the weight in each of her steps...all should exude a peaceful presence, a calming air. [I]Like morphine[/I], she thought. [I]Can this one still live?[/I] She didn't touch it, but he quieted, and watched also. [I]The Winged Ones circle around the Wolf like vultures[/I], she thought. [I]Why haven't they attacked yet?[/I]

OOC: Yay! Time to edit..hee hee.:D Name: Karver Age: 15 Parents: KougaxCrystal Bio: Karver is Koal's twin sister, born when her father forced himself on her mother. For that, Koal hates his father, and spends most of his time with his mother, Crystal. He hardly ever sees Kouga at all. However, Karver, on the other hand, was raised by her father, and spends the majority of her time with him and his pack of wolf demons. One of the only females in the pack, she's very strong, having to defend herself against unwanted advances. Also, her position in the pack is secured, as she is Kouga's daughter, and most of the demons in the pack dote on her like their own daughter. They're mostly all quite loyal to her, and she in turn is loyal to her father Kouga. This is because Karver is kind of biased against her mother. She thinks that her mother loves Koal more, and that's why she is with her father. Since Crystal left Karver in Kouga's care, but still took Koal with her, Karver holds a grudge against her mother, thinking that she deserted her daughter. Like her twin brother Koal, Karver is almost fully demon. Being raised with her father, she also has the wolves' instincts and strengths, and is very sure of herself in battle. Over the years, she has had less and less contact with her brother Koal, and now hasn't seen him in over four years. She doesn't really mind, as they weren't all that close since they were raised apart. However, something is going on in the wolf pack, and there seems to be a little rebellion against Kouga and herself. She understands - some of younger wolves have been spurned by her, and they're angry. But now she feels that to secure Kouga's position in the tribe, they need Koal, and is intending to search for him and ask him to come to the wolf tribe until Kouga's position is again secure as the leader of the pack. Description: [url]http://www.atpictures.com/display.php?g=rgveda&img=rgveda003.jpg[/url] Skill(s): Wind attacks, healing abilities, and control over wolves, and demon wolf packs. Also, her speed is death-defying, and her fighting style is very different from her brother's even though they have much of the same powers. Weapon(s): Crystal Blade (look at it in the description link)

Fire erupted around Veil. Yelling out in surprise and fear, her hands came up to cover her head, and she dropped to the street. She looked up, seeing only flames. God, fire was everywhere! And...screams...smoke. She could already smell the stench of burning flesh, and felt nauseated and sick, tears coming to her eyes. "SIRUS! Where are you?? Sirus, tell me where you are!" she screamed, her voice joining others in an inhuman wail. Why was this happening? Did everywhere she went have to have pain and suffering? Couldn't there be peace just once? But no, fire spun through the air, sparks flying and hitting her skin, her clothes. Dust had been churned up from the ground by people in their frenzied flight to get away, fire burning their clothes. Flames licked at all the buildings, and a great plume of smoke hid the stars and moon. It was thick in the streets, black and foul, a plague riding the wind, searching for the living, and bringing death and suffocation. Veil coughed and stood up, waving smoke away from her face. It burned her eyes, and she could only hear screaming and the snap and snarl of flames consuming their prey. She could see dark forms falling through the smoke, buildings tumbling and turning into ash. Sirus's fire...burned with an evil glare, and was much more swift and apathetic than natural flame. She looked around, but couldn't see anything. Blindly, and choking on the thick black smoke, she ran back towards the way she came from..but she became hopelessly lost. "Oh, please...someone help me..." she whispered, sweat rolling off and burning her cuts and wounds. It was a living oven in the city, the fire, the conflagration. More explosions, massive ones, screaming, dying... She tripped over something and fell flat, and then looked weariedly at what it was...a child's arm, its body ravaged by flame, and burnt black, bones showing through the charred flesh. Veil hid her face, tears stinging her eyes... She didn't care if she died...she deserved it...all these poor people. "SIRUS!" she screamed with rage, and her tears came hot and salty, burning her cheeks like the fires that were closing in. And then...she heard it...what she most wanted to hear. Sirus's laugh.

OOC: What's the Hokage? Just refresh my memory, as I feel extremely stupid not knowing... - -;;; Veil left soon after Mya and Hentaro. She had thoughts of her own...and none were good. So she left, taking her glaive with her. And went out of the temple...doing something that she never thought she would do. [I]Time to search for Sirus[I], she thought, biting her lip as she passed through the outer gates. Back into the city, from which she had come from. And not only to search out Sirus, but to think...and plan her next move. She would have to be very careful... Mya already had suspicions of Veil, and Kilik almost had proof that she was involved with Sirus. And...Sinahiro...had acted differently towards her... It wasn't bad, but...something had changed. Did he know? She wouldn't be surprised - he seemed to know almost everything. But...there was still a chance that he didn't know. She had to find Sirus, and... reinforce her act. She had to convince him that she was still on his side, ready to kill Siro. Siro... She hadn't seen him since the first fight with Sirus. Where he was, she had no idea, and was actually glad. It took away some of the temptation, to go and get rid of him during the night. Better that she didn't know where he was, so that she wouldn't be able to harm him, or betray him to others. And..where was she going to find the Siroshima Fire? Veil shook her head. Too many things to find, to be careful of... "Where are you, Sirus?" she whispered to herself as she walked the darkening streets.

Veil felt her bones tremble. A whisper...a thought passing through her wings...folded inside her body. She turned off her blow-torch, and put up the visor on her mask. Others around her worked on their pieces, their imaginations coming to life in jagged edges, smooth curves, burnished metals, and the heat of fire. Nothing seemed out of place...but...there was that feeling that swirled in her blood, something that was barely aware of strange prescences... The instructor came over, looking at Veil's piece, on which she was just touching up, and reinforcing the bonds. "Wonderful! Veil, you never cease to amaze me. The curve here, and rough, browned spatter gives it that depth. Is this for anyone?" Veil smiled automatically, putting the instructor at ease. "Oh, well, thank you. No, it's not an order. Actually, it's something that I wanted to put up in my apartment...but now that I've almost finished it, it seems different than what I had planned, so I'll have to wait and see..." She ran her hand over the bronze, which was still warm from her light going-over with the torch. The instructor nodded, said a few words more, and moved on. Veil didn't watch, her blindsight telling her that he had turned his attention to another student, one having trouble using the metal-cutter. [I]Such a simpleton[/I], she thought absentmindedly. [I]He could have been very good...but his pride gets in the way.[/I] She put away the torch, and hung up her mask and apron. Time to be done for the day - class was almost finished anyway, and probably no one would mind if she slipped out early. Although she usually surrounded herself with people, Veil could walk unnoticed when the time called. It was just a matter of sending off the right feelings and tone, and about movement, gesture, subtle differences in step and weight. As she had known, no one noticed when Veil left the classroom/workshop. She walked slowly on the campus, the sun warming her cool features. This...whisper in her bones and blood...it was...becoming agitated, crawling across her wings, which lay latent beneath her skin. She scratched at the itch. [I]Why is this happening? What is this going on?[/I] She walked towards her car, and whipped out her keys. And then, she stopped. And whipped around. Looked carefully at the scene. Searching for the subtle hints, the infinitesimal clues that a God left behind when He walked the earth. [I]Obsiatum[/I]...her blood whispered, hissed. The God...and others of the High Order, had been here, on the earth. Walking. And waking others of the Winged Blood. And instantly as she realized this, her blood swelled in her veins, the metal and steel of her wings swirling in her mind. Images, her senses calling clues to her brain, the signals her body had received in the strange whisperings of the blood...the places of the others, standing out like bright lights because the Gods had touched those places with their power. And then...Veil's eyes widened. The call of a Low One. He had revealed his true form. "No," she whispered. Instantly, she started to unfurl her wings, but stopped at the warning screech of the metal in her blood, cautioning her. "Ok, too dangerous...I don't know who the other Winged Ones are yet... Oh, but.." She bit her lip, and jumped into her car, taking off for the area in which she sensed the unveiled Low One... and to the two Winged Ones.

Serisay came in quickly, her light tunic and robes making graceful lines in the air. She sank immediately into a bow, her form completely reverent. "Your Grace?" Her voice was calm, graceful, and reverent, but those listening closely would hear the subtle tone of amusement and scorn. Judge Gojo stood, imperious in his regal robes. "Serisay, His Omnipotence the Emperor Shin Ra, Chosen of the Gods, and Child of the Mighty, is displeased." Serisay didn't bother to look up, and didn't move from her subservient form. "In what way may I be of aid?" Judge Gojo's voice was icy and cold. "Where is your sister?" "My sister...your Grace?" The mocking tone was more evident now. "Yes! Your sister! Where is Sade, the Soul Reaver??" He was very angry...and obviously this situation with the failed assassination attempt had stressed his tiny brain. She smiled to herself, but didn't let it show on her face. "Your Grace, forgive me for my ignorance. My knowledge is infinitesimal compared to your own magnanimous wisdom. If the sources of the Imperial Advisors do not know the whereabouts of the Soul Reaver Sade, then this lowly servant Serisay cannot know anything more. Please, forgive me that I cannot be of assistance." He slammed his hand on the table, and the sound echoed in the large room, covered in marble and fine silks. The breeze struggled in through an open window. All sounds ceased. He breathed slowly, very audibly, and then said in a quiet voice, "You may leave. And the Imperial Advisors accept this apology from the Protector Serisay. And...please ask for my forgiveness from the Chosen of the Gods, that His Wisdom will forgive His lowly servant for failing to immediately notice His Bright Prescence at the Assembly of Judges the night before." Serisay rose, and then bowed again. "His Bright Prescence will be informed...and I'm sure that the sources of the Imperial Advisors will have knowledge of the Soul Reaver Sade." She bowed again, and left, a wry smile on her face as soon as she left the room. Another battle won. They had to learn that even though the Emperor was a child, he would be no puppet. Not while under her protection. Back in the empty room, Judge Gojo slammed his hand down on the table once more. Serisay heard it echo, and another smile flitted across her features. The breeze was welcoming to her face.

"Brother! You promised! You promised me! Does that mean nothing??" Veil shouted, her fist clenched. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she refused to let them run. Instead, she let her anger take over a little, and it got rid of the sorrow. Her brother slammed his hand down on the low table, commanding silence. His first lost of control in their quarrel. "I know! I know. Sit." He put a hand to his forehead, trying to ease his tension. Veil sat, cross-legged, waiting for her brother to continue. "Is this...what you really want? Why must you ask for this? This is a man's -" She interrupted again, hissing in her anger. "A man's? A man's job only?? How can you say this? How can you say this to [I]me[/I]??" He nodded, closing his eyes, "I know, I know, I'm sorry. But...you're my sister. I cannot help but worry, and this... This is something that our parents will not accept." Veil looked at him, her gaze scornful, "They are not my parents. Not anymore. But they are still [I]your[/I] parents. They will listen to you, and you know it. And you promised me. If you break this vow, then you are all dead to me." "This is not what I thought you would ask for! To journey with our warriors to a foreign land, to train their people in combat? I would be throwing you in the midst of a battle! How, as your brother, can I do that???" He put his head in his hands, hiding his face from her in the shadows. She looked down at the floor, feeling compassion come back to her. Her brother was always so kind, so level-headed, and she knew that in this he was right...but she had to go. She had to have this one, last freedom. "Brother," she said quietly, inviting peace, "dear brother, I know that you fear for me. I know you fear that my passion and temper will put me in danger. I know that you fear that I will not look forward in my path, and not see the rushing torrents of my enemies. And I know that you fear that my blood will be spilled, that I seek only glory in battle. But...how can I tell you the depth of the sorrow filling my heart, when I am forced to forsake my family name, and take on another? How can I tell you of the hurts and wounds from leaving the homelands of my ancestors and people? How can I tell you of the pain that cannot be expressed in words? Will you also trap me in a cage? Have I not done enough, to accept this forced marriage, and not run away? Will you also leave me no freedom, no last wish?" He sobbed, and she saw his tears on the table, and glistening on his cheeks. Veil cried silently, her tears gliding down her smooth skin, and quickly dried and wiped away by her hands. It was agony causing her brother pain, but... she must have this. If the rest of her life was to be entrapped in a marriage not of her choosing, then she must have this. She had to be able to find her peace in this journey...or...her death. Her brother caught his breath, wiping away his tears. He looked up at her, and her heart broke again. "Do you... must you really ask for this? Is there nothing else I can give you?" Veil bowed her head. "I...I must explain to you. This journey...is to find...my peace. Perhaps I will find something that will allow this sorrow to disappear, to flow out of my heart. Please, I beg of you, let me go. It is the only thing I ask, and the only thing...that will perhaps alleviate some of my pain. Please..." She looked up, and found his eyes fixed on her face. He finally nodded, and then turned away. He took off his ring, carved from cherrywood, and intricately engraved with twisting vines, flowers, and things of nature. On the inside was carved their family name. "Go. Take this to Koryu, and tell him to take you with his men. And...return in peace." Veil took the ring, and slipped it on her finger. It was the emblem of the Prince, the ring that showed his stature in the Emish. He would not be able to rule without it, and if lost, their family would be cast into eternal shame. She realized that if she did not return, then he would not be able to lead the Emish people. She took it back off, and held it back out to him. "Brother, you need not give me this. I promise you, I will return. You know me, I am no coward. I will not run from this, even if it will take away the rest of my life." He stayed still. "I'm not giving it to you so that you will return. I'm giving it to you so that...if you choose not to return...then you will have something of me with you..always." Veil slipped it back on her finger, trembling, and trying not to let the tears run. She bit her lip, and then closed her eyes. Slowly, she bowed her head and lifted her hands to her forehead, and sank in a slow, reverent bow. Her farewell to her brother, a woman's vow of eternal loyalty and servility. She left. Inside, her brother's head sank, the room filled with silent sobs and sorrows.

Uh, Gecko, do you have a sign-up, or are you just...? Or did I miss it?

[B]Name:[/B] Veil Arioso [B]Age:[/B] 18 [B]Side:[/B] Vendetta [B]Rank of your side:[/B] ...Officer...of a sort [B]Weapon of Choice:[/B] Crystal Blade [url]http://www.atpictures.com/display.php?g=rgveda&img=rgveda003.jpg[/url] [B]Description:[/B] [url]http://www.atpictures.com/display.php?g=rgveda&img=rgveda005.jpg[/url] A pic of Veil and Vertigo: [url]http://www.atpictures.com/display.php?g=rgveda&img=rgveda007.jpg[/url] [B]Personality:[/B] Veil brutally controls her emotions, but when she does show any, it's usually scornful and mocking. She's cynical, even at her young age, but others in the Vendetta Council accept it because of her amazing beast abilities. Her power seems to radiate, and others know her well enough not to anger her. She's attached to no one, and is not obedient to anyone except Kaida, because he was her brother's friend. Others accept her patronizing tone because they realize that Veil, even though only a low officer, holds much power in the Council. Although some people may call her cold and distant, she is far from cold - she's a furnace of rage, smoldering and ready to unleash her anger on the world. A dangerous weapon that must be used with care. She has a twisted mentality, and enjoys destroying others - it's the only thing keeping her sane at this point. Drawing out others' most tender emotions and then utterly shredding them is the only way that she is able to feel, because she is not aware of her own emotions anymore. In a way, her destructive brutality is a way for her to search for her own emotions, which are buried deep in the furnace of rage, with no way out. [B]Bio:[/B] Veil was orphaned at a young age, and doesn't remember her parents at all. Instead, she was raised by her older brother Vertigo, who was ten years older than her. However, he had a ... more perverted side. Vertigo loved his sister in.. a really perverted way, and she, being raised by him, didn't know it was wrong. In fact, she thought it was normal, and didn't think twice about it. After all, he was her only family, and the basis of her life. Vertigo was a fervent member of the Vendetta Council, and a good friend of Kaida. However, in the battles to take the spirit of the Gold Dragon, Vertigo went missing, and everyone assumed that he had been killed in battle. He was a bright young man, and many thought that if he had lived, he would have succeeded as one of the leaders in the Council. Upon hearing of her brother's death, Veil showed no emotion, and retreated into herself. However, they were not able to find his body, and she secretly nursed a small hope that perhaps Vertigo was still alive. She found her beast form on the day that he died, and continually transformed, fighting with it for control. However, she finally was able to master it, after keeping her emotions under a tight, iron grasp. She was brutal in her control of her emotions, keeping her feelings at all times under wraps, and so was able to control Shade. As a lower member of the Vendetta Council, Veil showed no signs of ambition, and therefore didn't move up in the ranks. However, Kaida took her under his wing, and she seemed to come back to life, showing a little feeling now and then. Also, she was zealous in fighting for the Council, and showed her beast form to Kaida. He now keeps her as sort of a secret weapon, sending her on covert missions in which he doesn't want their prescence detected. Even though the majority of her emotions are under wraps and tightly controlled, Veil has rage burning through her. Rage that her brother is gone is still a conflagration in her heart, and she loves to cause destruction to others, which makes her perfect for rampaging and consuming villages, and the lives of other people, with her beast form Shade. All done without others knowing that the Vendetta Council was involved. In her odd, varied thoughts, Veil believes that if she masters the Gold Dragon, then she will be able to find her brother, or bring him back. She now searches for it on her own, while still going out under orders from Kaida, but having an independent motive of a sort. [B]Beast Name:[/B] Shade [B]Beast Description:[/B] [url]http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/loth/c/o/courtneyw/dragonperch.jpg.html[/url] [B]Beast Signature Attack:[/B] [I]Meld[/I] - this attack allows Shade to merge with different forces in the earth, such as the earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis, and direct them, or lead them on a path. So if there's an earthquake occurring, then Shade can sort of take on its elements of earth, and direct it to a village or something, as it has done many times. An interesting twist: Veil directed the earthquake that killed Chi's parents.

[B]Name:[/B] Veil Arioso Treble [B]Wing Race:[/B] Steel [B]Gender:[/B] Female [B]Weapon:[/B] A slender machete (Michelle Yeoh's fav. weapon in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.) [B]Signature Move:[/B] [I]Quicksilver[/I] - All she needs is the briefest contact with a person or thing, and then away she'll go, leaving her hidden attack under wraps. It's actually something like mercury poisoning, which she inserts in her touch at times. She can also control the speed of the poisoning, causing it to be swift and almost instantaneous, or slow and subtle. Either way ends in the death of her victim. [B]Appearance:[/B] [url]http://digilander.libero.it/theLastsong/gallery/my_jealous_heart.jpg[/url] Here's another pic, it shows a better pic of her wings, but..um..well, lets just say it doesn't show anything too bad: [url]http://digilander.libero.it/theLastsong/gallery/a_cry_in_the_night.jpg[/url] [B]Bio:[/B] Veil has mostly been a loner her whole life, although no one would really be able to notice it. Her mother always struggled to support them both, and was a normal human. Her father, on the other hand, was partly of steel blood also, but just because he was a Winged One didn't make him any better. Although he knew of his lineage, he was bitter and angry because he didn't have any special powers or skills that were evident. Early in his life he turned to alcohol, and by the time that Veil was 14 he had been an alcoholic for many years. He would beat Veil's mother in his drunken rages, and her home life was a living hell. One day, he turned to Veil, and was about to beat her. His hand swung towards her face, ready to bruise and flatten her, but his hand was stopped. He found himself struggling against his 14-year old daughter, and was unable to get out of her steel grip. She was unbelievably strong, and her gaze was steady and unmoving. That's when he realized that Veil had inherited powers from her mixed blood, and was truly a Winged One. He did more to find out her powers, but secretly, watching her and spying on her, suspicious that she would turn against him. And...envy overtook his heart. As he watched her develop and grow, tuning her power to manipulate metal to her touch, his heart blackened under the dark waste of jealousy. He drank even more, and then one night, when Veil was 15, he beat her mother to an inch of her life. When Veil came home, there was blood everywhere, and glass covered the floor. The furniture had been torn apart, holes were in the walls, and it was utterly destroyed. And...her mother lay on the floor in the kitchen, almost unrecognizable under all of the blood and mutilation and abuse. She was in excruciating pain, and barely alive. If she survived, the scars would remain there forever, and she would have to be in assisted living. Veil saw the expression in her mother's eyes: utter hopelessness. She hugged her mother, and let her [I]Quicksilver[/I] flow into her mother, erasing all the pain, and agony, and...life. Leaving her mother's body on the floor, Veil left the house and everything in it. Covered in blood, she went to hunt. To hunt her remaining parent, her disgusting, pathetic, jealous, immoral father. However, she was unable to find him - he had utterly disappeared into the undergrounds of society, his mind broken and twisted, becoming lunatic. Veil walked through the night, searching the city for her father, ready to kill him slowly and painfully. Finally, however, she fainted from exhaustion and stress, collapsing in a closed subway. Low Ones found her, and when she woke, she found herself in their care. They showed her kindness and friendliness, always cheerful, and always welcoming. But they also insinuated their desire to rage against the Gods. They were aware of her powers, her strange talents, and were very knowledgeable, furthering her training. She was, in a strange way, able to relate to these Low Ones, these outcasts of ancient times. Their pains and struggles were her own, their fallen comrades her own dead hopes. After time, however, after she turned 17, Veil left the Low Ones, opting to go out on her own, and make her own way through the world. Although she's not really as zealous in her opposition of the Gods, she has friends among the Low Ones, and her alleigance, for now, is with them. At this time, Veil lives in a small apartment of her own, which is payed for in part by charitable contacts among the Low Ones. She's currently attending a school for arts, taking classes in welding and metalworks, sometimes using her special talents with manipulating them. As a result, her pieces are extraordinary, and she's begun to sell them, and even gets orders at her young age. [B]Personality:[/B] You would never know that she has rage and hate built up inside of her, or that she's in any way connected to the Low Ones. Veil is friendly and cheerful, the opposite of most that have Steel Wings. However, if you look closer, she has no close friends, and no true relations with anyone. Her positive demeanor is all a carefully laid, and well-planned act that most never see through. And although many people hang around her, upon questioning them, you will see that none of them really know anything about her at all. She has a special talent with people, keeping her own nature hidden, while being able to put them at ease and examine everything about them. She is able to fool them into thinking that they know her, while she's really just perusing their own natures. Sometimes, though, people's instincts will give them a chill, but they will dismiss it, thinking that they know that Veil is a "wonderful person." She's friendly, bright, cheerful, talented, artistic, and also subtly mysterious and alluring, and underneath, a dangerous, hidden fire that will burn any who stand in her way. [B]Ruling God:[/B] Obsiatum

"Sanosuke! Faster! Stop slowing down - don't be weak! Show yourself as a worthy opponent! Faster!" Sanosuke's sweat ran down his face. It had already soaked through most of his clothes. [I]Faster? Is he serious, or is just trying to fool me?[/I] he wondered, quickly parrying with his blade. His master trainer, Anrak, was tricky. Last time he had tired Sanosuke and won the scrimmage, and now Sanosuke was weary of falling to the same trick a second time. But Anrak's blows came swifter and lightning fast, showing that he too was starting to use his reserves of energy. [I]All right then[/I], Sanosuke thought, gritting his teeth. He changed his stances, becoming lighter on his feet and in his movements, more quick, more agile. The sun beat down, and the dust rose in clouds. Half an hour later, and they were still dueling at their quickened, staccato pace. Sanosuke sank inside; Anrak had been goading him again after all, and had fooled him once more. His muscles burned, and he had to keep blinking his eyes to clear the sweat. He was just about to drop one of his weapons... "Weapons-master Anrak!" A voice called out over the training field, and they both immediately stopped and bowed. A woman in fine silks came out, stopping on the edge of the field. It was Sanosuke's aunt, a sweet young woman of 20, and fair hair. She smiled wryly, "How is it that the Weapons-master is trying to work my nephew to death in this blazing sun? He didn't even come to greet his aunt, who is visitng only for a short while." Anrak bowed again lower, and Sanosuke laughed before handing his weapons to the stewards. "Aunt, he's not killing me. Well, actually, perhaps he is. You saved me. I'm grateful, Aunt. And I apologize for my...less than appealing appearance." She smiled, and then declined his dirty arm, "Well, that's fine, but you should go wash up before you greet me properly. Get going now." She laughed before the bucket of water was dumped over his head.

[B]NAME:[/B] Serisay (Seri for short) [B]GENDER:[/B] Female [B]AGE:[/B] 17 [B]APPEARANCE:[/B] Seri's skin is lighter than a normal Archane's, which labels her as somewhat an anomaly. She has straight, dark hair that comes down to her shoulders, and into this is woven and braided in many trinkets and beads of gold. All are gifts from the royal family and young Emperor. She has elegant, almond-shaped eyes, which are a dark, honey-brown, and they have golden flecks of color. Her muscles are smooth and lightly toned from her rigorous life-style, but she's still graceful and lithe. In the palace, Seri will wear a supple cloth of rich, textured browns, burnished coppers, and gold. She wears a light tunic and trousers underneath, and then wears the cloth over, winding and draping it gracefully across her body in a sari-type fashion. Depending on the occassion, however, the colors of the cloth and tunic will change, ranging from sea greens and blues to dark, drab colors. On special occassions, when she is seen with the entire guard, she will wear the uniform of pale yellow and red. When she goes out, she'll usually wear darker colors, and a cloak or cape of some sort. [B]HOMELAND/TOWN:[/B] Archane Empire/Imperial Capital Archabad [B]BIOGRAPHY:[/B] Serisay is the sister of the Soul Reaver Sade. Since she is a sister of this very successful assassin, Seri was also raised in the palace, but raised as more of a protector of the young Emperor and royal family. She received the same training as her sister, but since she is younger and more inexperienced, she was kept more in the palace by the side of the rulers. She is a favorite of the young child Emperor, who looks up to her, and she is loyal to none but he. Very rigid in her code of honor, she is much like a samurai (just to give you an idea of her lifestyle.) Royal Advisors know better than to openly try to bribe and control her, but they sometimes do subtly get in favor with her. For the moment, her sister Sade's whereabouts are unknown, and so the Advisors are considering to send her out to finish the mission, and test her strength, knowledge, and dependability. [B]ALLIGNMENT:[/B] Orderly [B]JOB:[/B] Honor Guard/ Assassin [B]ABILITIES:[/B] [I]Paralyze[/I] - uses a series of quick techniques to the pressure points to produce paralyzation in the victim for a short while, usually enough to deliver the final blow or escape without being trailed. [I]Mimic[/I] - can watch an attack once and then mimic or copy the attack pretty well; not quite perfect, but pretty well so that one would think she had been trained in it. [B]WEAPON:[/B] Seri uses a set of twin machetes, light and elegantly used in her finesse and skill. (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Michelle Yeoh's fav. weapons.)

[B]Name:[/B] Veil [B]Age:[/B] 16 [B]Gender:[/B] Female [B]Social Group:[/B] Shanty [B]Short Description:[/B] Veil is about 5'4", skinny, kind of undeveloped since her lifestyle is kind of malnourished, has short dark hair, and gray eyes. On any average day, she'd wear loose pants that have many pockets, and a dark, long-sleeve shirt. [B]Personality:[/B] Veil is extremely cynical at first glance, and can be a smart alec. She merely likes to combine her wry sense of humor with a pessimistic view. However, when the situation calls for it, she can be serious, and is actually very witty and intelligent. She's quick on her feet, as well as with her head. Sometimes, though, her bravado gets her into foolish places, but that's not often. Another problem she has is that she will cover up her true feelings, just showing what she thinks that people want to see. Thus, her personality can change several times in a day, which makes some people think she's bi-polar or something. [B]Deepest Desire:[/B] Veil's deepest desire is much like Kellan's, except not so violent --;;. She wants to get rid of all the divisions in the human race, and make a stable, flourishing nation of old. However, she's unsure of how to do this, and many times she's so confused that she thinks that she's turning into Kellan. However, this is because she's unsure of how to reach her goal, and is afraid of turning into a monster or tainted being. She holds him in awe because of his vision for the future, but also detests him because of his inhumanity. [B]Bio:[/B] Veil had as normal a childhood that you could get here, but became independent at an early age. She steals as she must, but prefers to run her little business. This business is basically...dressing people up. Sort of. Over her short lifetime, she's collected so many clothes, accessories, and costumes, that she can disguise anyone into another being or person or thing. This is extremely useful in this day. So that would be her business - she's a master of disguises. She also loves to read, and has collected about 1000 works now. Whenever she finds a writing or book, she lovingly restores it and then puts it in her personal library/collection. Her home she has made in a deserted subway station, and her business isn't too far away. She knows the deserted underground systems like the back of her hand, and can travel them in the dead of night. As a result of being underground so much, her eyes look large, and her skin is pale.

OOC: Where's Siro anyway? IC: "CONCENTRATION TECHNIQUE!" Sinahiro's voice rang out, and seemed to engulf everything else. Veil felt like her body weighed two tons more than normal. The force of Sinhiro's technique was like a fierce, gravitational pull, along with a strange, crawling, tingling feeling in her bones and her skin. She shuddered, and tried to stand, but collapsed to the ground. Blood pounded in her head. "Ugh...what ...what's happening?" Her vision started growing dark, and things felt so leaden and heavy... She fought her faint, and managed to barely open her eyes again. She saw two figures: Sinahiro and Sirus. "..Sinahiro...Sirus..." she whispered, and then coughed. Veil could no longer see their faces; they had turned into dark shadows, and she felt her balance thrown off completely. She blinked, trying to clear her hazy vision, but failed, and went into a dead faint. Veil didn't go unnnoticed. Sirus saw her immediately, and knew he had to distract Sinahiro from his Concentration Technique. He yelled to Sinahiro, "Weakling! You can't even bear to kill the traitor before your enemy! Are you so softened and attached to her that you can't get rid of her, even though she betrayed you?" Sinahiro's attack didn't stop charging, but he faltered a little, and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? What are you talking about? What does the girl have to do with this?" Sirus smirked, and then laughed. "You mean... you don't know what she did? Shall I tell you?" He laughed again, and started walking towards her limp form.

Veil looked at the ground. Now that the two were well again, she had no where to channel her worried energy. Her nervousness at leaving Sinahiro alone in the fight swelled, and she began fidgeting. Finally, she couldn't stand it, and spoke abruptly, reaching for her glaive. "I'm going. Stay here, and be careful. I'll see you three later." She left, running out of the clearing before the others could say a word. Veil ran frantically, her adrenaline running through her veins. Would Sinahiro be alright? She was sure he wasn't dead...but then why was she so worried? She was coming close to where she had left him, and then stopped. Sirus's voice. Damn, she thought. Now I know why I was so worried.