In a cataclysm known as the Nightfall, the worlds were almost completely destroyed by a harrowing surge of darkness.
In the shadows of the ensuing chaos a new group has taken shape. Led by an Aegyl named Kalos, the 11th Hour touts an esoteric knowledge of how to combat the darkness and restore the worlds. They might be the worlds’ best chance at survival; but nobody really knows enough about them to confirm or deny their claims.
On the brink of collapse, the universe holds its breath in anticipation. Of restoration? Of destruction? It is up to individuals like yourself to decide.
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You could see it from here. Radiant Garden had grown so large in recent months, it was like a jewel on the horizon. Even all the way out here, almost two miles out into the empty, harsh wastes surrounding the city, the lights from the town illuminated the higher reaching spires with a soft yellow underglow, a highlighted underlining below a beautiful piece of poetry, almost backlighting it like a stage's set prop. A decade prior, Rook had lived there. Well, the original version of it at least.
Then the Heartless flooded forth from Ansem's castle, sacking the town, sending it all into disarray. He'd known known two people, himself aside, who had made it away. Two people who had managed to run faster than the infection spread before the town was lost, good for nothing but quick forays for goods and scavenging what could be found for shelter and survival. He'd since lost track of both of them. They were either dead or had betrayed him.
He had long since forgotten his own last name, his birthday, the faces of his mother and father, everything. All he could recall was "Rook", a burning light in his hand that he called upon whenever he was in danger, and the determination that if he ever found a home again, he would rather die than let it fade away like the first one did.
Since then, there was adventure. Or he thought. Memories of recent months were a haze. They were fuzzy, distorted images that seemed to come crystal clear for but a brief stitch in time before fading like static into nothing. A girl, a Nobody, a castle under siege, a series of deadly fights, then darkness.
And then that girl again. And then darkness.
Rook stood on the craggy cliffside, staring at the town far ahead of him. From a long sheet of clothing he had fashioned a grey cloak which he draped over his shoulders to cover the majority of his body, folding a section of the back over his head as a hood. It hung over the left side of his face, hiding it in shadow. Torn jean bottoms and old tennis shoes protruded from the base, left uncovered. His forearms bared, a black band and a choker necklace wrapped and tied around one wrist.
With a shudder, he gave a longing sigh towards the city, and turned away, back to the small fire he had stoked just outside of his small shanty lean-to composed of old mortar and steel sheeting, another cloth hanging as a door. A pot of stew was boiling on a spit over the flames.
Post by Jason Arilani on Jan 27, 2011 22:25:53 GMT -4
Jason Arilani "The Wandering Nobody"
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A dark portal appeared a short distance away from where the man was cooking his dinner. From the darkness stepped a man completely dressed in silver. His pants, shirt, shoes, and long trenchcoat were all silver. Even his eyes and hair had the same silver sheen. The staff that rested in his hand was also silver, but his gloves covering his hands, and the ancient, long-lost writing on his staff were black. He gazed upon the man, watching him, noting every ounce of his appearance, and wondering... Just what happened to change him so much?
Jason walked forward to the small campfire and continued to look upon the cloaked and hooded man. It was a gray cloak that shielded his appearance for the most part, but Jason knew, from the scent that came from him, that he was exactly who he had been wanting to see this entire time. Ever since that time in Olympus Coliseum during the Hades Cup, Jason had been meaning to ask him the meaning over why Marluxia had come to his aid. For once, Jason had wanted to come across Marluxia not to attack, but to question. But the time for that would come later. Right now, he had this to attend to.
Stepping slightly closer, words finally left his mouth. "Why is it that you seem so familiar.... Yet look so different?"[/color] He said to the man, knowing who it was, but wondering if the man before him knew who he was, or if he knew who Jason was. Darkness could be sensed around him, and Jason knew that he had steeped to far into it. No doubt Marluxia helped with that, but he would get to the bottom of that later. If something was wrong with his friend, then Jason would figure out how to fix it.
"Why is it that you seem so familiar.... Yet look so different?"[/color]
Rook jumped up, flailing backwards, back pressed to the rocky wall of the Maw. Fists raised, balled and muscles tensed, his eyes grew large and wild, like a wild animal, cornered by something it didn't have the option of running from. Thoughts sped through his mind like dozens of tiny shooting stars as he weighed his options.
Fight. Flight. Fight. Flight. Fight. Flight...
But as his eyes began to settle and relax, Jason's form began to make an odd sense to him. Images bounced about in his head... the Restoration Committee assaulting him, the claymores. Rook had come to his aide... and then Traverse Town. The Darkside. He and Rook had defeated it in the Third District. The same spot where he would later lose--
Her name was gone again. Vanished before he had a chance to grab for it. How could he be forgetting something so important to him? Had the Darkness corrupted him that much? His gaze lowered from Jason, to his wrists, where the black choker necklace sat tied to him.
And then, back to the Nobody, where he attempted to speak to another person for the first time in a long time: "J-...Jay-...son? Jason..?"
Post by Jason Arilani on Jan 27, 2011 23:28:05 GMT -4
Jason watched as Rook seemed to have difficulty with a lot of things. There had to be many things that had just gone through his mind, and he wasn't sure what exactly it was. But he continued to stand there, a very stoic appearance on his face as he showed no emotion. But then Rook spoke, his voice just as familiar as before. He seemed to have trouble saying Jason's name, but he said it nonetheless. A smile appeared on the nobody's face, a smile that was devoid of emotion, if that was even possible.
"Yes Rook... It's me. Jason. Jason Arilani. How wonderful to see you again. But its been far too long... Where have you been?"[/color] He said, remember the times that he spent with Rook. He first met him in Radiant Garden, being attacked by the claymores and the committee. He hadn't been able to convince them from letting him roam free, but Rook decided to go with him to Traverse Town, where he informed him of a lot of things regarding the worlds and the heartless. It was here that they also met up with a darkside in the third district and he helped him take it down.
The two parted ways and met again in Olympus where he showed Rook something that disturbed him before they left for Destiny Islands. Jason left Rook who went to Disney Castle to take care of a problem and was not seen again until the Hades Cup. Since then, he hadn't seen him. So to see him now, standing before him, Jason was simply surprised. Certainly not what he was expected, especially as he was close to going to his old lab not moments ago. But where had Rook been this entire time? That much was entirely unclear to Jason, and he had to know what had happened to his friend.
Rook settled back, falling to the ground on his butt, the hood falling further over his face. He was quiet for a long moment, as if the question took a moment to formulate an answer to, "Hhhhere." It was a few decibles above a whisper, "I stumbled... and it was dark everywhere. So I ran away..."
He fidgeted, his hands rubbing against one another as though he were uncomfortable, "Back here. Back home." He lifted his hand as if to summon his Keyblade, but nothing happened. After a moment, he turned his palm inwards and simply stared at it, I didn't want to be found..."
Post by Jason Arilani on Jan 28, 2011 0:12:25 GMT -4
Jason could see in Rook's face that he had gone through a great deal of trouble. There was little that he could do to imagine what had happened to him. But he walked forward and extended a hand to Rook after his failed attempt at summoning his keyblade. "Well regardless of what happened, you can't do very much sitting down, can you? You must move on and let what happened make you stronger. As for your keyblade..."[/color] He said as he pulled out his crystal ball, focusing on the image of that he remembered back when Rook showed him. It showed itself to Jason, though its location unknown.
A slight smile came on his face. "...Its still out there. Somewhere... Its hard to say where exactly, but its there. Now then... What do you want to do?"[/color] He said as he stood before his friend, a curious look on his face. He would divulge into the past of his friend later. But he figured if he got him away from the place that had caused both of them much grief in the past, it would be better for both of them. But was Rook ready to leave?
"...Its still out there. Somewhere... Its hard to say where exactly, but its there. Now then... What do you want to do?"[/color]
"I..?"
Rook fell silent. He'd never thought of it. Not as an actual possibility. Since falling out of the Dark and back to his own front door, he had considered simply staying here until the end of his days. The last time he adventured out, it almost cost him everything. The few stray Heartless around the Maw kept him busy enough, he could whittle down the days knowing he made some inkling of good for his world.
He raised his left hand to his face, running it through his hair as he grimmaced at the thought of stepping off-world again. But when he opened his eyes, the position of that hand had left the black choker dangling right before his face. He stared at it blankly for a long moment, before blinking back to reality.
"...I want to find her..." For all the good it would do. Every bit of her memory was locked away deep within himself. Far under all the fear and horror he'd come to know when the Darkness swallowed him and spit him back out...
...But...why? How did he even survive? Others, stronger people had fallen into Darkness and never came back out, never seen the light of another day. And though tainted Rook was, scarred inside and out, he was still here. He'd never stopped to figure it out, or ask himself why. He stared at the choker as if it knew the answer
Akira was lying on a dune in the wastelands of Radiant Garden. He was staring at the pitch-black sky, the only thing showing the moon and the stars. Akira's mouth slightly curved into a grin as he looked at the stars and the constellation they created.
Andromeda, Antlia, Caelum, even the Big Dipper. Akira's eyes were wide open while the stars were reflecting upon them. To see almost every star in the night sky, it was well worth the walk from the city of Radiant Garden. Looking at the stars was a tradition in his home world, and Akira wasn't going to end it. But like every other good thing, his star watching had to end, and Akira got up from his resting place. But as he got up, he saw a pair of guys having a conversation, next to a fireplace.
Akira's stomach growled at the thought of food.
He rubbed his stomach and thought Man, I shouldn't have skipped lunch. Maybe they have some leftovers, I mean the worst they could say is no.
Akira began to walk over to the camp, still holding his stomach.
Akira raised his right hand in a "hello" gesture and said in a jolly tone, "Hi there fellows. The name's Akira."
Post by Jason Arilani on Jan 28, 2011 13:51:14 GMT -4
An emotionless smile appeared on Jason's face as his crystal ball was pulled out again and held it out to Rook. "Do you remember what I had you do before numerous times? Allowing you to realize what is necessary to do by looking into my crystal ball? Well perhaps you could find her again if you look in here and see where she might be."[/color] He said, hoping that Rook would take it. But before he could continue his talk, someone else started to come forward.
The man stepped forward and introduced himself as Akira. A soft nod of Jason was given as he said "The name is Jason. Pleased to meet you. Is there anything that we can help you with?"[/color] He said. He didn't entirely wish for him to be here as he was trying to get through to Rook, but there was little he could do about it. He was probably just a curious person, wondering what someone was doing way out here where the heartless could attack at any time. But with luck, Jason would be able to send him on his way soon.
Akira stared at the man who responded to his introduction, a man named Jason. When Jason gave his name, Akira felt a sense of enmity, but Akira didn't mind. He took a glance at the man who was standing at silence, but than looked at Jason once more.
"Um... Yeah. You see I couldn't help but notice that you guys were about to chow down, and I was wondering if you would be willing to spare some to this guy."
Akira pointed his index finger to his smiling face. His smile faded away when he noticed a circular jewel in Jason's hand, pointing at the other man. Akira's curiousity got the best of him.
"And, if it's not to personal, what's that beautiful looking orb?"
Akira's smile returned as he looked up at Jason's straight face.
Jan 28, 2011 18:32:19 GMT -4
Last Edit: Jan 28, 2011 18:44:58 GMT -4 by katmowf
Rook looked up, allowing Jason to deal with the oncomer for the moment, and studied the crystal ball. Traverse Town. The Tournament. He remembered it in their passings. Faintly. The echoes it left in his mind. Possibilities and hints, never actual answers.
Well, when you live in essentially a mud-hut and can't speak much, you take what you can get. Rook's drive to find this girl was strong. He couldn't explain it, he just felt it. A desire in his chest, some unseen string tying him to her. His hand, hesitantly rose up, placing his palm onto the crystal, staring at it.
And oh, it responded. It gave him his answers, and because of them, Rook recoiled, snapping his hand back as if he were touching a burning hot surface that scalded him. He cried out in surprise, kicking his feet against the ground and pressing himself back against the rock wall his back was planted against, as if trying to push hard enough to climb inside of it. His eyes were clenched shut, free hand rubbing at them.
Post by Jason Arilani on Feb 1, 2011 23:42:19 GMT -4
Jason heard the questions from the newcomer, but he quickly turned to Rook who was reaching for the crystal ball. But almost as soon as he touched the glass surface, he recoiled quickly and backed up, crying out in surprise and backing himself against a wall, rubbing his closed eyes. A soft sigh came from Jason as he realized he may have moved too quickly. But he had a feeling that Rook saw what he needed to see. His crystal ball went back to his pocket as he turned to the man who had approached them.
"Sorry, but it would be up to him on if you could get some. This is his camp. As for what you saw, that would be my crystal ball. It guides me and others along their paths and showing where they might need to go."[/color] He reached back in and pulled it back out and said "Do you care to give it a shot? It doesn't hurt... He was just surprised. He's been through a lot and I'm trying to reach him once more..."[/color] He only said the part about it not hurting due to the reaction that came from Rook.
If he would, then Jason would allow him to do so. But either way, he would look toward Rook and sigh once more. Something had happened to him, and he just wasn't sure what it could possibly have been. He would have to figure it out soon before things really went downhill.
Akira saw the silent man tumble backwards, covering his eyes when he fell next to a wall. Akira was worried, and quickly rushed to the man on the ground. Akira sat on his right knee and quickly got out a potion from his bag he carries when he leaves for the wastelands.
"I don't know if this will help, but here."
Akira grabbed the man's arm and opened his clenched fingers. He placed the potion in the palm of the man's hand and stood up again. That was all Akira could do for him. From behind he heard Jason say something.
"Sorry, but it would be up to him on if you could get some. This is his camp. As for what you saw, that would be my crystal ball. It guides me and others along their paths and showing where they might need to go. Do you care to give it a shot? It doesn't hurt... He was just surprised. He's been through a lot and I'm trying to reach him once more..."
After he said this, Jason gave a depressing sigh. Akira was now starting to feel something weird about this guy, something, hollow. Sure enough, what he said caught Akira's attention. Akira looked at his left hand.
It guides people along their paths, and shows them where they need to go? Akira thought, Where, do I need to go?
Akira stared at the crystal ball, resting in Jason's extended arm. Akira slowly begun to walk towards Jason, his eyes locked on the ball. When he got to arms length, his left hand shook as it started to move towards the crystal ball. His hand touched the crystal ball, and he felt a chill run up his spine. As this happened, one and only thought was in his mind.
Rook did not look up until his had was full of a strange fluid-filled bottle. His ears twitched, brow arching in a look of confusion. He blinked at the bottle, then at Akira. His lips began to contort into... a light sob?
A tear began to well in his eye as he stared at the gift, and for but an instant, he was in Traverse Town's 3rd District, prone on the ground, almost unconscious, a girl wrapping her necklace into his hand as she was forced to leave him behind, and with her last moments before being whisked away, asked of him one thing.
"Come back for me!"
And then he was back in the Maw. Standing. He strode towards his pot of stew and boiling veggies and meat, dipped his finger into it to test the temperature, removed his vest, wrapped it around his hand, then picked it up by the handle, grabbing a spoon, and set the entire thing before Akira, before striding back into his lean-to, vanishing behind the cloth door.
Post by Jason Arilani on Feb 3, 2011 20:18:07 GMT -4
Jason managed to watch both things at once. Rook seemed as though he lost himself once more as Akira had given a potion to him. Meanwhile, Akira had looked at Jason's extended crystal ball and reached for it, eventually touching it. Focusing his own being upon Akira, Jason read his mind, knowing what he was asking the crystal ball. Knowing the full workings of the crystal ball, he aided Akira by forcing the same thought as if he was Akira, asking it what Akira needed to, and taking care of the more technical aspects of it's wonder. But what it would show would only be seen by Akira.
While he would be able to see its visions, Jason watched Rook grab the pot of stew and set it in front of Akira with a spoon before he retreated into his lean-to. It seemed that had something on his mind from what Akira had just done for him, and Jason wasn't quite sure what yet. He would have to speak with him again, but for now, Akira would have probably finished his visions, so Jason would allow the Crystal ball to return to his pocket as he said "So, are you willing to reveal what you just saw? Perhaps I might be able to interpret it."[/color] He said, always curious as to what people saw when they looked into it.
Feb 3, 2011 20:18:07 GMT -4
Last Edit: Feb 3, 2011 20:33:41 GMT -4 by Jason Arilani