The World that was Broken (Carpe Noctem)

Carpe Noctem aka The World That was Broken

And the Coming of the Storm, ahem, saga *cough* continues...

Introduction

For information about this world, read the first post in the database.

Partly, this text is taken from the Coming of the Storm introduction and slightly edited. If you find any mistakes or would like to change something (even grammar or spelling), then contact me per PM or via the Chatbox of these forums. Thank you, and have fun.
Elynae

Rules
These rules apply to all posts, links, and out-of-character speak in the Carpe Noctem thread. They will be divided into three categories: Behavior, Roleplaying and Special Rules.

Behavior

1) No extreme violence in this thread, as in the the rest of forum. Events should be kept suitable for twelve-year-olds, wich is the minimum age on this forum. We want to enjoy roleplaying and not have it spoiled by this.
2) No explicit sexual content.
3) No excessive or inappropriate swearing.
Naturally, a rough character will use the occasional swear word when the events no not go to his liking. This is realistic and appropriate. However, this should not result into non-appropriate content, spamming or excessive usage of vulgarity.
4) No spamming.
5) No flaming, racism, homophobia, etc. in out-of-character speak.
6) Roleplaying and out-of-character speak are subject to the general forum rules.
7) Please do not overdo it with OOC or make purely OOC posts. This enhance readability and clarity.
8.) Please do not make only two-line posts. They cannot convey anything relevant to the plot. (EXCEPTION: Certain PvP situations or dialouge between player situations)

Roleplaying

1) How to roleplay

Many users who want to start roleplaying ask themselves: What is roleplaying? Or if they have made experiences with computer or pen & paper RPGs - How can I roleplay in a forum?

You create characters. In this roleplay, generally a race / empire, a patron deity for the race (see more below under "Special"), and some main characters and personalities of the race. Of course, only a deity, only a character can be played; this decision is left mainly to the player.
Then, you read the summary in our RPG's database which is quite short or just all that has been written here, though that might take some time, and start roleplaying by posting in here. You just say what happens, in a nice writing style and correct English language (no chat speak or always spelling every lower case, please, and only use non-English if it is appropriate to the situation, e.g. the casting of a magic spell or communication with a race that nobody knows about and thus has an unknown language).
An RPG consists of characters (Your race, you (your main character, I like using the term "you" or "your character"), your patron deity, etc.), a setting (The Storm galaxy, you may freely add planets, solar systems etc. for your race) and the relationships between the characters, which form the plot.

There are following symbols:

OOC - out of character, usage: offtopic speak, explanation, etc.
IC - in character, this is used after OOC to make clear that you are roleplaying on.
AM - accompaning music: we are about to test a system that we can, if we like, post a link to some music to accompany your post. This adds atmosphere. HOWEVER. Read the rules to music before you do this. Later in the rules (Special)

I also advise that you read one or two RPG posts first, if you are totally new to roleplaying, to get the image better. Also, PM me or any of the other players for help, if you should need help.

2) No character control.
Players tend to be protective of their characters; also, they know them and their behavoiour best. Never make other player's charcters make important decisions by yourself. Everyone has their own chars.

3) No overpowered characters, races, deitys, etc. ("Godmodding")

Special Rules

1) Music
If you read the part about AM, you will have seen that we support music as an atmosphere-adding part of roleplaying. Please keep it appropriate, though, and we prefer non-lyrical music or music where the lyrics do not ditract; we also generally prefer classical, game or film music to other styles, as they are often less "loud" and more in the background, especially film / game music. We do not want you to distract people from reading your posts, remember.

To post music to accompany your post, give a link to a place where that music can be listened to online, or give a link to a place where it can be downloaded.
That download cannot be illegal. If you send a link where music is illegally downloaded, I will sadly have to ban you because of that. Download music as you want at home, but in an RPG, we want to have fun. We do not want to break the law. Full stop.

2) Magic
Magic exists in this universe. Spells are cast not through magic formulas though, but by cncentrating, reaching inside yourself mentally and grasping the source of magic inside you. Then you release the magic. Some magicians will say mantras to help them concentrate, but words do not make magic.
Notable exception: Magi who have no inner source of magic, but use external supplies for their means.

3) Rules on combat

First, remember this is not a hack&slay RPG, and combat is NOT compulsary. You may fight, but you must not. And it is easier if you do not fight other players.

In a non-forum RPG, RPG systems usually have rules for combat. Like in Dungeons & Dragons. I'll describe it to you in a VERY quick and simplified form: You make a dice-throw if you hit, then you make a dice-throw for damage. This totally disregards magic, circumstances that change the normal rules (armour, darkness, a broken wrist, etc...) and lots more, but you get the general image.
Here, we have no rules for combat like that. Here, player versus player (PvP) is present. PvP in forum RPG systems is hard to play. Please read the following rules, they are very important if you want to engage in combat:
1. No overkill.
Unrealistically stamping someone into the ground, sometimes without even allowing them to react, is TOTALLY forbidden.
2. Main characters cannot be killed in combat by someone else.

This sounds silly, and needs further explanation.
a) If your main character is surrounded without any means of escape, it belongs to the general etiquette and realism that, in a combat situation, he or she should die. And you as a player should allow that. Keep the survival of your character realistic.
b) As this galaxy has magic in it, your character can become potentially immortal (= does not die through old age). But generally, this is not the case. Normally, races have a fixed lifespan (with humans, it's about 65-100) with a few exceptions (you can also survive till 120 as a human, in seldom cases). Sometimes, the patron deity affects length of life (mine doesn't), but there is death through old age in RPGs.
c) Your patron deity is a way to escape some situations. But remember, your deity is restricted as well.

4) The creation of the galaxy, and the rules to patron gods.

The Broken galaxy is polytheistic - which means that there are a multitude of gods, in this case, a very large number. In the beginning, there was one god, by the name of Elyn, who made the Storm galaxy (the name by which the players refer to the galaxy where this takes place.). She created a number of deitys that represent the elements the galaxy is made up of. A deity for Life. Death. Nature. Water. Fire. Space. You get my meaning. Personificated elements that have control over the part of the world they control. Many of them also represents a race in the Storm galaxy (a creation of their own). Each player who creates a character to RP in here generally creates a new race.
Now, back to the topic of gods. Each race has a patron deity. This god can help their race in critical situations, but here, the rules must start. The topic of gods easily causes misunderstandments. So -

Possible misunderstandment no. 1: The gods do not exist.

Here, we have to clearly distinguish between this world, and the world where The World That was Broken takes place. In this world, we have no clear confirmation that there are gods or one god. (If I may differ between fact and belief. This topic is a little hard to define in RPGs without the possibility of offending anyone. I respect your beliefs, whatever they may be, and wish no discussion on the topic in this thread.) In the Storm galaxy, that is different. The patron deitys of the races make appearances, and they do that often, often with a clear form and in reality, not only in dream. Here, atheism is totally unreasonable. The form that comes closest to that is the thought of a few individuals that they do not want to serve a god, and therefore do not worship any god. (I say this as an atheist myself. As with beliefs above, I respect any non-beliefs. Remember, this is not this world.) In conclusion: There are hardly any atheists in this world, as there is proof for the existence of Elyn and the other deitys.

Possible misunderstandment no. 2: Gods are omnipotent.

Many people who believe in gods, especially in monotheistic religions, have a clear belief. There is a god, he is omnipotent (=has all power in the world, can do everything and knows everything), and he has always been there. Here, this is not so. Every god, or deity, as I prefer to say in these cases, as the word "god" often refers only to the Christian religion, has a part of the world that he or she controls. No more, there power is restricted to there. Even Elyn, the creator of the other deitys, was restricted to the area of creation. No more. This is especially important if your race's patron deity wants to intervene in the plot - he or she may only do so in his or her element. This also applies to things associated with the element; a deity of Spring stands for progress, new beginning, etc. as well as Spring as such.

Possible misunderstandment no. 3:

Every race has a patron deity.

In general, this is true. However, there are exceptions to this rule -

a) Your race comes from an other universe.
b) Your race refuses to worhip their deity, for whatever reasons. Poor deity. You're so ungrateful.
c) Mechanical or biomechanical races created by other, non-godly sentient lifeforms.


Now have fun roleplaying!

The world trembled and broke, shattering into pieces as Elyn's wrath struck it. Like a glass marble cast on a stone floor with too much force, it burst.
Planets were torn in twain as if a giant had pulled them apart. Smaller shards crashed into greater ones and were smashed into debris and dust, the laws of gravity being their demise. Whole worlds were consumed by the sudden burst of suns erupting, spending all their flame in one terrible blast as the force shook them.
A single shriek of shock and pain that rung every world in the galaxy. Elyn, who had sough to unmake and reforge creation, had only caused yet more suffering.

-Shards of Planet Zháril-
The tremors came suddenly and unexpectedly. One as the sun of the system burst, flaring up in the sky like a gargantuan ball of fire, a herald of doom.
The second as Zhárill itself was torn apart.

Two minutes ago, Zháril
Najien ran, heavy footsteps echoing behind them on the cold marble floor. His long-toed feet made a soft, scraping noise on the stone. The gilllike flaps of skin that covered his face shook up and down as he sped down the alleyway. Only to come to an end before another sterile marble wall, like a silent mocking to all who dared to become criminal on Zháril.
"Stop now or we will end this with force!", one of his pursuers shouted. He turned around.
Slowly, the Internal Security forces came closer. They were clad in heavy, black protective clothing and helmets that covered their faces fully with mirrored plastic. Their guns were drawn and pointed at him as they entered the street, enclosed between two rows of houses. "Hands up!", the one at the front roared, more like a beast than an Iyrlen. The voice echoed behind the visor, no mouth and lips visible.
Slowly, Najien raised his hands above his head, dropping the still-smoking pistol.
Life-long at least, he thought. Or execution.

Then the sky lit up with a fierce orange light. All lifted their faces to behold the sight that unfolded on the sky. The sun expanded to a spectacular nova, consuming the skies and shaking Zhárill.
Then the planet was cloven into a multitude of shards and a deafening noise. A gaping chasm opened where the defying wall had stood seconds before.
Najien leapt, seeing his last chance in this unexpected catastrophe. The crack of pistolshots rang out behind him. Pain in his arm, warm blood running down it and gathering in the bend of his elbow.
The houses collapsed, burying the policemen under stones and dust.
Najien ran, gsping with pain, his arm dangling limp by his side. The bone has been shattered, shot through his head. But it did not seem to matter. He only wanted to put as much space between him and the supposed earthquake as possible.

The sky flared again, the explosions silent as he beheld them though space. Debris came hurtling onto the surface next to him. He turned in shock. The whole planet was drifting apart. People were screaming under him as the shard he was on rose. A smaller piece crashed into the bottom of it.
Then another shard, a gargantuan piece of stone, water and earth came hurtling down only miles away. Dust engulfed his vision. Najien fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for brath and not knowing if he would ever see light again.

- Protis, Darkai Vaula -
An Avian rushed ahead of his group.
"Sire, please stay with us!" The Royal Guard captain said.
"I know this place... the Library?" Another Avian said.
"The Darkai Vaula, It shames me to admit, but we must use the knowledge of our Dark Ancestors" The Emperor said.
"Sire, please! We don't know what is down here!"
"Only the Librarian and our guest"
"A guest in the Darkai Vaula?"
"Yes, she'll meet us soon"
To everyones suprise a guard droid flew past them
"Librarian must of been repairing the Darkai Vultans" A guard hissed.
"My people?"
"Sire, they are well protected under our cities shields" The captain replied.
"I hope so"
The group walked to the door and the emperors wing touched it. It opened.
A floating droid came to greet them.
"Emperor, it is fortunate you have come, our guest has grave news indeed, yes, are you aware of the location of the Tome of Shadow Galaxies is?" The Libarian asked.
The Emperor thought for a moment.
"... Section five hundred, shelf fifteen" He replied.
"Thank you, I will recover it immediatly, you should go to meet Inaethi, she is not very patient right now" The Libarian flew off into the numerous bookshelves.
The Avians walked towards a small area with some seats.

-Planet Zenalath, two minutes before the disaster-

The Sethlan.
This world had been created by the ancients so long before...

Zer's overly-large claw twitched.
The ship he was aboard had just been hit by something huge, a wave of some sort?
The stars in the vacuum beyond spun, dizzying him.
Zer sighed. It was probably nothing...

Then the disaster, the destruction of their star - Alatox.
Zer's mouth-tentacles flopped silently.
Gas and flame exploded outwards in a ring, ripping nearby planets apart and searing the others.


Ern looked up from the rock he was sitting on.
There was a soundless eruption from above, then there was nothing.
They could pray all they wished, but even Xal could do nothing for them now.

Elyn
And so it ends, she repeated in her mind, over and over again.
But it would not end. All remained, collapsing, burning, shattered, but none was unmade.
"Miriel!", she roared and turned to the figure lying next to her. "What have you done?"
But Miriel lay dead. A last, triumphant smile on her face, a smile that was only mock to Elyn.

AM: Can Still See the Light

IC:

Zháril
His wound seared with pain again as the salty dust mingled with blood and sinew.
Death. Death everywhere. Rocks falling.
He could feel the catastrophe above him, not knowing if he imagined it or not.
Wake up, he urged himself. This can't be real. Moments ago you were still running...

Groaning, a wounded and torn Najien pulled himself to his knees and, blinking and shocked, looked around. The city was collapsed. Skyscrapers had tumbled, the river ran brown with mud and dust. Houses lay smoking.
The planet was drifting apart further.
Will the atmosphere stay here, or will I suffocate? Did anyone else survive or am I alone?

Another spasm of pain. When he was on his feet, he cradled the injured left arm with the right one, trying to ease the discomfort.
Najien took a few careful steps through the debris, realising how lucky he had been. Smaller boulders, some only as large as a man's hand, were scattered around the ground, and every on of them would have killed him in an instant.
Than he felt a cry from beneath a fallen building. "Heelp!"

As he stumbled towards the house, it began to grow darker.
The sun was waning.

-Protis, Darkai Vaula-
"As you can see. The Galaxy is tearing itself apart Emperor Protoar" Inaethi began.
"I have a solution. I imprisoned the Darkai Loran's and the Protoans in a pocket universe, we could use the same method to avoid this... disaster"
"I see..." The Emperor said.
"What about my people?"
"We will be able to help them"
"I do not think a pocket universe is the best option currently, recall all our fleets to Protis Admiral"
"It shall be done Sire"
The Librarian floated down and placed a book into Inaethi's hands.
"The book, as you requested"
"Thank you Librarian"

OOC: Time for some celebration that we got this going, but, err... run out of ice tea. Oh well, I'll be content with crisps and, erm, tap water.

AM: Nunc Dimittis

Former city, Zháril
The cries came faintly from under a house that collapsed. The higher floors had fallen down onto the ground and smashed, rubble covering basement and ground floor.
A corpse lay on one of the stones, a deep gash in the feathered chest, empty eyes staring out wildly in shock and horror.
Drops of blood covered the dust by its feet.
Najien slunk past the dead body, trying not to look. He had caused death himself, and guilt pained him every night because of it, but this was different.
The door hung in the frame, held only by one small piece of metal. Najien pushed the metal and plastic aside and entered.
The room's ceiling had been ripped off, but otherwise, the slab of rock that lay in the middle of the hall had left this flooor untouched. He wondered where the person he sought was.

Another "help". From deeper down.
A door stood open, a white staircase leading downwards, made of the typical plastic used in cheap building on Zháril.
As his feet touched the first steps, an uneasy feeling crept across him. He pushed a lightswitch on the clean but hauntingly sterile wall.
Of course electricity is gone, stupid.
The bottom of the stairs. All was dark, only the steps shining put in the abyss.
What if another one of these chasms opens up?

"Who is there?" The voice again, a small girl's voice as it sounded. "My leg hurts. Mummy, is that you?"
The voice almost tore his heart in twain.
The children. The old people. The helpless. Why, oh why did this happen? What happened?

"Where are you, child?"
"Here." The voice sounded scared now. "I am here..." From the left. He stumbled into a small room, tripped and stared up at a small girl, her leg trapped under a large slab of rock. She had tears running down a dusty face, drawing small tracks of glistening wetness with them.
"Who are you?"

-Protis, Darkai Vaula-
The earth above shook violently and a strange thing forced its way into the vault.
Five drones started to fire Lazers at the emerging plant life.
"I was informed this place could not be breached" The emperor said coldly.
"Class 55, Tamala Taomis. Poisonious blade arm. Very strong though their size suggests otherwise. Smaller version of Class 5, Indar Taomis" The Libarian stated.
The two royal guards lifted their sabers and charged at the creature.
"Type 75 Parasitic Droid Confusion spores" The Libarian said needlessy at one of the beasts attacks.
"Yes Librarian we are-"
"Hostiles dectected in level two, class 4 Batnara Taomis"
"Multiple Novala Tamaii signatures also detected"
The Emperor sighed.
"Then close that door, and find out where they are coming from, and get us down to level ten!"
The Proto's and the deity ran to a elevator and activated. It lit up and began to desend into the Darkness.

"Najien, I..." He stopped in mid-sentence. "Let's get you out of this mess first."
He bent down to lift the slab covering the small girl's leg. The fingers of his unhurt right arm slid under the rough stone, trying to find a hold. Then, with effort, he pulled it up a few centimetres. "Come out", he groaned, trying to hold the tremendous weight on his fingers.
The girl crawled out from under the stone and pulled herself to her feet, face contorted with pain as she put weight on the leg that had been trapped. "Thank you, sir", she said hastily, wiping the tears out of her face and smudging it even more.
"What are you called? And how old are you?", Najien asked. He had an uneasy feeling about this scene. What should happen to the girl? Her parents were probably dead. "Kianne. And I'm seven."
Only a short pause, then she asked the question he dreaded.
"Have you seen my mother?"
Why me? "Kianne, I... I think your mother is dead."
A look of shock and disbelief spread out on the girl's face, her beak open as if she had been interrupted in mid-sentence. "Why?"
How should one explain this to a seven-year-old? "Come. I'll show you."
Now she looked scared.

Najien led Kianne back up the stairs, supporting her as she stumbled on her injured leg.
"Look." The city lay in ruin. Far more shocking was the fact that all lay in a flickering darkness, only widespread fires illuminating the now sunless planet. It was drifting apart into pieces, how many Najien could not tell, but he could see a dark cleft cutting through the ruins like a gaping wound.
"Are all dead now?" Kianne's question made him jump. He had almost forgotten about her as he beheld the horror that lay around him.
"Not all..." But he did not sound convinced.
Then suddenly, she sobbed. Kianne had seen the corpse that lay, rigid and bleeding, next to the collapsed tower block. "Mummy", she shrieked. She ran towards the body, tripped and fell moaning onto the street, clasping her leg in another spasm of pain.
"Don't look!", Najien cried, holding her back as she scrambled to her feet, tears running down her cheek. "Come. Let us go somewhere else."

But there was nowhere else. No place of comfort, only darkness and despair.

-Utardonal-
A few fellow scientists were gathered around a large machine.

"Sir, we have but a few preparations to go"
"But a few?, What are these problems you speak of?"
"Well sir, that would be our lack of partimunal, this machine requires an excessive amount. We've already harvested many of our own fertile planets, to get the rest we are going to need to trade."
"Trading is unacceptable, the outside cannot know of what we're doing here, it would endanger this race to its upper limits"
"Sir, we need the Furthernals help to get out of this solar system, their not going to give us that help if we don't tell them what we're doing, perhaps sir....."
"Yes, what is it? Speak up!"
"That Furthernal you once knew, perhaps she could do us this deed without asking questions"
"How did you know about this?!"
"Well, you see sir..... its common knowledge around these parts"
"hurrmmph, so be it. I'll see if I can contact her"

OOC: Reintroducing the:
AM: Revolution to the Origin (Part Two)

- Protis, Darkai Vaula -

The elevator stopped five floors down. The Libarian floated down a shaft and rejoined the group.
"Indar Taomis detected, Five Xiitai also reported"
The Emperor was suprised, One Xiitai Taomis was rare, five was almost unheard of.
"More then a 'ordinary' raid I assume?"
"One Indi Sorceror and two Indi Golaths detected, and I can assume, Yes" The Libarian replied.
"I assume this is because-" Inaethi began.
"That, is the correct Question" The Libarian replied, humming.
"Every five hundred years, the particular item of interest weakens slightly..."
"...It is safe to say four hundred and fifty two years has passed, meaning..."
"The Taomis wish to weaken there enemies" Inaethi replied.
The Emperor ran ahead of the group and his guards rushed forward to catch up.
Two Shadow Sorcerors appeared in front of the Emperor and his guards, their magic teleporting them in.
They lifted their Four crystals and two fireballs and two frostballs flew across the room.
The first guard slashed it with his sword and then jumped at the First Sorceror.
The Sorceror however, had its own ideas and teleported just as the sword was about to hit what could be its head. The Sorceror reappeared behind the guard and hit her with its Shadow Energy Staff before Teleporting again. The Royal guard got up and released a auto-targeting drone. She got out a Light Directed Energy Pistol and looked around for the Elusive Sorceror. The Second Sorceror had not shared its Brothers fortune. It was immediately greeted by a blast to the stomach and its Shadow Crystal faced its early demise. The Sorceror, enraged used its fire crystal to fling a fireball at the unsuspecting Guard before teleporting across the room. The guard was hit immediatly and fell to the floor dead. A group of Drones entered the Large Hallway and fired their lazers at the Sorcerors. The First Sorceror raised its Shadow Crystal and four creatures, three Menians and one Diminion were summoned into the room. The Diminion charged at the Libarian who floated away to let the drones deal with it. The drones beams seared at the Diminions scales and it fell to the floor. A strange plant creature crawled from its body and latched itself to one of the drones and exploded. The drone fell to the floor, malfunctioned and exploded while the Plant left poisonious clouds to mark its passing. The first Menian threw itself at the Emperor and threw itself into the grasp of a hidden dagger the Emperor had carried. The Second and third one Launched themselves at the Guard Captain. She dodged the second one but the Dark-Energy Blade arm of the third slashed into her right wing. The shot the second Menian with a directed Light Energy Pistol and then stabbed the third Menian with her Light Saber. The Two Shadow Sorcerors teleported out of the room. "There will be more of them ahead" The Emperor said.

Deep Space

Jackoy. That was his name. He was a Terraki. He opened his eyes, and looked around in the room. Yes, it was the sleeping quarters. He sat up, and rubbed his eyes. Slowly, he dressed, and walked to the little room with food called kitchen. He poured some water into a cup of denzium, and added heat dust. The water immedleaty boiled, and he put some teapowder and sweetner into it. Ah... Tea he thought for himselves.
Slowly he walked out of the kitchen, and into the cockpit. Vhor were sitting in the chair by the control panel.
"Good morning Jackoy" he said. "Morning" yawned Jackoy. "What is the status?" he asked. "Well" Vhor began. "We have 8,37% of the speed of light, which will say that we have lost 0,21% the last 24 hours. The hull is still being repaired by the robots, it's going slow because the power level is down at 46%, so we have entered power saving mode for most of the systems. We are still in deep space, and i have no idea where we are". Jackoy sighed: "As usual. Damn... If we only had a faster ship, or any idea of where we were". The cockpit was silent for a while, and only the humming from the energy generator was the only sound.
"Do you want to play Borah?" Vhor asked. "Why not?" said Jackoy. He drank a little from the tea, and went to find the game.

Jackoy sat in his chair an thought about what had happened three years ago. The space pirates which came from a close galaxy, had invaded theirs. Many planets had been destroyd. Kids were brutally murdered, and nobody were left alive. Only a few managed to escape, and maybe just five of them were Terrakis. Two of them were him and Vhor. And his beloved Moona, got taken away, just in front of Jackoy's eyes. It was a horrible sight, and still a brightly clear memory. A last memory.
"Always believe in yourselves" she had said.
Then Vhor entered the room. "Are you OK?" he asked. "You don't look too good, i think you should get some sleep" Jackoy nodded. He stood up, walked to the sleeping quarters, and went to bed, only to get six hours of bad sleep.

-Utardonal-
"Sir, the deity requires your presence"
"Very well, tell her I'll be a second"
"She was most insistent sir, It would not be a very good idea to disobey her"
"Fine fine fine, I'll take a ship"
The scientist stepped inside a large metal ship, one of the few working on the planet. The pilot needed no instructions, and set off towards the chambers at once. The scientist sat back in his chair, and wondered what he was going to tell the deity.
He remerbed when he had first been called to the chambers, not long ago.

"You, mortal servant, what be thy purpose?"
"To serve you my lord, as always was and as always shall be"
"It seems you have not lost faith yet mortal, but I do worry over you, more so than my other children. This is why I'm setting you a task Align, one that must take priority over everything else"
"What is this task you speak of?"
"We need a hero Align, someone that the people look up to, the last remaining hero's died in the great divide, since then our community has crumbled, we have nothing, no one knows us, no one trades with us, that's why I need you"
"Me lord?! I am no hero, just a mere scientist"
"Of course, I know that. But you dear and faithful Align have the ability to create a hero. I've been watching your lab, the things you've done are incredible, just simple amazing"
"I.... I see..."
"You don't sound so confident, but you must try anyway. Dismissed"

Align woke up to a sound of the ship making a sharp landing. He guessed he was near the chambers. He slowly took himself off the plane, and walked into the chambers.
"Align!, requested in chamber 156! Align!, requested in chamber 156! Align! Requested in....."
"Yes yes, I've got the message" Align said, interrupting the announcer. Giving him a look the announcer walked off, and began one again to read from his script.
On his way to chamber 156 Align passed by one of the training rooms, 14 hopefuls where stood there, apparently not doing much. Align looked in closer, and recognised the instructor. It was Gartan, the last remaining hero in Utardonal. Mortally crippled he could no longer perform the heroic deeds he once did, but he still made his contribution to society, seeking and mentoring potential heroes, known as hopefuls.

Align slowly opened the door, careful not to disturb Gartens teaching. Noticing his presence Garten quickly hurried over to him.
"Align! Its been a long time, a long time indeed. What brings you to these chambers?"
"Surely you should have some idea Garten, you were a hero once after all"
"My power is not infinite as it once was, so I do not wish to waste it making petty assumptions! But in any case I know its the deity you wish to seek. I was the once who recommended you for the project after all"
"That was hardly a succsess, and you know that"

- Shadowed Peak -
The door hissed open and a thing walked in.
On the other side of the room the shadows gathers and formed into a creature.
"Davori... I see......" The Shadow-Creature hissed.
"I want to know exactly why you attacked the Proto Empire" He said angrily.
"You... can... not hear it... can you... brother... the Lamentation of the Dark One echoes past the stars..." The creature hissed.
"And Yet... here I am... I can not touch that seal... but there are those who can... No... not the Proto's, they cannot be permitted... to taint... the resting place... I need........."
"Nal-Naythia... shall... find... a suitable... creature... if we cannot open the seal... Another race will..."
"Daerius... has... also... fought such... creatures... he will find one... for me..." The Shadow Creature finished.
"Yes... Daerius... I will send him Davori... and nothing will stop me... not even you..."

"Yes yes, lets forgot about that shall we?" Said Gartan "We Kartraxes need to stick together in these hard times you know"
"Yes Gartan" sighed Align, hearing the lecture again wasn't exactly his idea of fun. "I need to be off now dear fellow" Align said, not waiting for an answer before he exited the training room. As the door shut he could hear the hopefuls beginning there daily routine. Having seen real heroes Align could easily see that all the hopefuls were empty cases. None of them had the spirt or the soul that made a hero what they were.

OOC: Sorry for the short post, time is limited.

Deep Space

Jackoy woke up by the alarm that recntly had got activated. "What is it now!" he groaned. He quickly put on his space travel suit, and went out of the room. Seconds later he arrived at the control room where Vhor were standing. "What's wrong?" asked Jackoy. Vhor turned around. His face showed that he was scared and frustrated. "A meteorite has destroyed our sun sail, and we will quickly loose speed soon" he sighed. "Damn!" shouted Jackoy.
"Damn me! Why didn't i take an anothther ship! One that was made for travveling over vast distances! This sunsail crap only works when crossing space between solarsystems!" Jackoy shouted.
"We didn't have time, if we had waited one minute more, we wouldn't have been standing here now" said Vhor.
"I know, but still..." sighed Jackoy.
"So what are we going to do with the sail problem? Do we have anymore sail material?" asked Vhor.
"No" replied Jackoy. "We used the rest on the last damage". Suddenly the screen on the wall flashed, and it came a beeping sound.
"Galaxy detected!" said the Computer. Jackoy turned against Vhor.
"You know what that means?" he said.
"Yes" smiled Vhor. "We can make it!" Jackoy nodded. Then he couldn't hold it in anymore. He jumped around Vhor's neck, and hugged him.
"We are gonna make it my buddy! We are gonna make it!" Jackoy shouted. And together they sat there.

Jackoy and Vhor were sitting and drinking tea, when it happened. The lights flashed and tured off, the course of the ship changed, and the gravity generator stopped working. Jackoy teacup started to float away, and his tea were everywhere in the air. Now they were without power, and with a broked sunsail in the middle of the universe.

-???-

The surviving few ships drifted.
No-one knew what had happened, and Xel was not talking.
It was so quiet in the ship.
Everyone had lost a home, a family, a friend...
Kal shrugged.
She flexed her claw, her talons clicking on the floor of the ship.
On a screen she saw the other ship's statuses, crew... everything.
And there wasn't much 'everything'.

Zháril, Day 1 after the Sharding

It seemed as if the two, deserted refugees on a fallen world, were the only people still on the planet. They heard cries of pain and fear from deep beneath slabs of rock and piles of rubble, but they seemed more like pure fear and hopelessnes than Iyrlen's screams.
Najien shut them from his heart and mind, constantly trying to convince himself that it could not be real, but knowing he was lying. He led Kianne, who was still staring at her mother's body, sprawled out against the slab that had fallen beside their collapsed house, with a look of horror and disbelief, away, but the scenes of despair would not cease wherever they went.

The two wandered through the streets of the ruined city, without hope or aim, Najien lost all sense of time. there was no sun or moon to guide him, only the darkness that cloaked all in black since the sun had been extinguished.
When tiredness came onto him at last - he thought he had never welcomed sleep as much as now - Kianne was stumbling beside him, clinging to his hand with her eyes half-closed already.
"Kianne?" She shook her head in surprise.
"It is cold", she complained.
"The sun is gone, Kianne."
Najien looked around. They had come into a richer part of the city; the grey concrete blocks had ceased to houses that stood alone. Some even had gardens.
"Shall we find a place to stay for the night?"
Kianne remained silent. She had drifted back into lethargy and tiredness. "Come."
Najien led her towards the nearest house. It has been cloven in twain, a crack dividing the two parts, but otherwise it seemed relatively undamaged. Through the darkness, he could see the shadows of the kitchen, the living room. A sofa had been smashed to the ground and lay their like a fallen beast.
"When will the sun come back?"
"Soon, Kianne. It is still night." Why me?

Another body lay on the way to the house, crumpled up into a squatting position. The young girl shook his shoulder violently. "Wake up", she wailed.
Najien jumped as the man shook his head and stood up slowly. He was clad in heavy, dark clothes.
A bullet-proof vest. And goggles.
Internal Security. Terror leapt through Najien's body. He was torn between an impulse to run away and hide or raise his hands and surrender.

The man pushed his goggles back and scratched his head beneath the heavy protective helmet. He blinked, the bright gleam of his eyes in the dusk vanishing for a moment.
Kianne clapped her hands together. "Mister Paevarn!", she squealed in delight.
"Kianne?" The policeman lowered his eyes and looked at her. "Are you hurt?"
"No. Najien helped me."

At that moment, Najien cursed himself for telling the little girl his name. He clung to the hope that the man had never heard of him. But as he knew and dreaded, he had.
"Najien?" A mixture of surprise and disgust. "The Najien?"
Instinctivley, he grasped for his belt, fingers searching for his pistol. But the Internal Security officer was quicker. Reaching for his own weapon, he grabbed Najien's wrist and forced it upwards.
Najien twisted and tried to break his iron grip. "Let me go", he growled between clenched teeth.
Paevarn pressed his gun to his chest. "By right I should shoot you."
"Don't... times have changed, Officer... look at this chaos, we need everyone..."
"We don't need murdering scum like you."
"I didn't want it... oh damn, why must I tell this tale all over again! I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER, NOR DID I WANT TO KILL YOUR COMRADES!" His voice broke into an angry scream.

The man lowered the weapon. "Quit the sermon", he spat. "Now help me look for survivors."
"I've been wandering through the streets of the whole damn city for the whole day, and I have this little girl who wants the sleep she deserves! Go yourself, but for heaven's sake leave me alone!"
Tension lay in the air, only increased by Kianne, who was crying again. "Stop...", she trembled. The IS officer's face softened. "Tomorrow", he said, quietly and defiantly. "But one of your dirty tricks, Najien, and you're dead. I swear you'll be dead then."

- Unknown Taomis Hive -
Daerius walked though the hallways of the hallways of the Infested Ship. Poisonius Purple blood still dripped from one of his battle wounds.
"That... Those... fools... Soon though... revenge will be mine..." His blackened Sword slashed a random Taomis which fell to the floor and the body was absorbed into his dark sword.
"Stillaka, thana la clicaka" A Taomis Creature said, coming out of the floor.
"Gaghan, tee narcarka, teal Idolia Iat Shallia de doan" He replied.
The Plant disappeared into the Hive flooring.
"They want me to capture a non-Avian Sentient... easily done..." He hissed.
"And maybe... revenge will be mine"


- Protis, Desert of Ghosts -
A Protis captain dived into the sand as something crashed into the ground. He looked up to see a Purple Plant and something emerging from it.

Zháril, Day 1 after the Sharding

They laid Kianne on the sofa in the house. She was almost asleep when they half-dragged her up the mansion's stairs, the cold air biting into their cheeks. The moment the little girl's head had hit the soft cushions lying on the sofa, her eyed closed.
A battery-powered alarm clock annouced the time in a mechanical, commanding alarm-clock voice, the red numerals on its display softly illuminating the room. Dawn should have come by now.
If the sun was still there, Najien thought sleepily. The carpet looked soft, inviting. Altough he was freezing, sleep descended on him before he even hit the floor. Paevarn was forgotten.

He woke, hours later, in utter darkness. The sanguine glow omitted by the alarm clock had faded as the batteries run low during the night. It was still as cold as it had been before.
A light touch on his shoulder. The small figure of Kianne stood behind him. "Wake up", she said with a pleading touch to her voice. She was huddled in a blanket but still shivering, hugging her arms under her armpits in a fruitless attempt to keep warm.
Najien turned around. He had been lying in front of the dining-room table, the shape of his body pressed into the thick carpet.
"Where is Paevarn?", he mumbled sleepily, pulling himself to his feet, groping for the table. His cold and stiff joints cracked in protest, and a sudden pain shot through his injured arm. The blood had caked around the gaping wound, rendering it a hideous sight.
"Gone", Kianne replied, pondering on her words. "He didn't like you, I think." Her face was shadowed, and Najien could not see her expression clearly. "He said you killed someone?", she continued with a hint of accusation in her high, almost squeaky voice.
The silence hung in the air like a heavy, suffocating gas, Najien's heart leapt at shock. The question hung in the air, and he did not know how to handle it. "I did not want it..."
Quit the sermon, rang in his ears. Quit the sermon Quit the sermon Quit the Quit Quit Quit Quit..., Najien repeated in thought, qualing mentally like a fish in the net. The words changed and suddenly became attractive, welcoming. Quit duty. Quit pressure. Quit life. Peace at last.
He opened his eyelids, not even recalling that he had closed them. Kianne's eyes peered out at him, expecting an expectation. "I'll tell you... when you're older. You couldn't understand, you're too small..." His voice drifted away. Empty words, and Najien knew it.
A cross flicker in the eyes, orbs of silver light, alone in the darkness and seeming almost incorporeal.
"I wish I could've gone with Mister Paevarn." The verdict had been spoken, and it seemed ultimate. Unchangeble despite her seven years.

Mister Paevarn was an arrogant bastard who licked the government's shoes so he could get rich, Najien wanted to scream, disbelief welling in his blood. THEN GO AND SEE HOW YOU FARE YOURSELF, GO AND FIND YOUR DAMNED MISTER PAEVARN, another part of him threatened with an angry voice.
When the worrds finally passed his lips, they were different. "Kianne... Mister Paevarn is not here. He left without telling us before he went. Kianne, I rescued you from your home, I took you with me and I wouldn't leave you in the middle of the night without telling a soul before I slink away." His voice was shaky, the feathers on his neck ruffled with tension. Why am you doing this, a small voice in him pleaded. She'd only weigh you down.
The white edges of her beak glittered in the light of a solitary start that shone throuh the clouds of dust, through the shattered window and into the room, as Kianne spoke again. "But..." She seemed at a loss for words. When she still said nothing after a few moments, Najien softly grasped her shoulder, still covered by the rough blanket she must have found somwhere in the house. "Come", he said softly. "A star is out."

Day 2 after the Sharding

They walked back down the sqeaky old stairs and onto the street. The lampposts stood like sentinels on the sides of the street, straight and unyielding, the faint starlight reflecting on their polished steel surfaces. Najien looked around, helf-hoping, half-dreading that he would see Paevarn. But no soul could be seen.
Water trickled through the gutter, probably from a broken pipe. Scooping up the liquid in clasped hands, Najien drank with greed, gulping the cool water down and only now realising how thirsty he had been. Kianne copied him.

A few stars, twinkling through the clouds of dust, shone and illuminated the streets - it was not a lot of light, but Kianne and Najien were grateful after the long time of darkness.

It was no time to mourn, to hide in a corner and hope that one would remain unseen, no time to reheat old feuds - it was time for a new beginning, however hard it may seem, Najien thought.
As the two wandered through the streets yet again, they seemed less deserted than before. More people had come out of hiding, more people had managed to free themselves or had been freed. They saw an old man who was pulling angrily at a hand buried under a pile of rubble with tears running over his faze and a maddened expression on his face. A small group of people sat - in shocked lethargy or waiting for someone, he could not tell - in the middle of the street, huddled together for warmth.
One of them beckoned to Najien. "Come here and sit with us."
He stood for a moment, pondering, then moved towards the man, taking Kianne with him. "Your arm is injured", the man said. "We are trying to stock supplies. Come with me."
"Shall I take her -"
"Leave her here", the man said shortly.
With a beckon, he led Najien into the house behind him. It was a large, grey and rectangular building, with only one floor and a large ramp leading into it. A storage hall.
It was illuminated by flickering flames. A large fire was burning on a slab of rock that had crashed through the roof, smoke drifting through the wound-like hole. Boxes were standing in many places.
"Here." The man, probably about forty-five years in age, nodded at a box with his beak while his hands nimbly opened the catches. He took a spint and bandages out of it. "The hospital has burned down. We saved what we could, but it was not enough."
"Are you a doctor?", Najien asked as the man placed his arm on the box. The pain came suddenly; he had got used to the regular spasms, but this time it was worse.
He nodded. "Keep still". Najien cleched his teeth as the doctor examined the bone. As he readjusted it and finally straightened it, brushing the feather out of the wound and cleaning it with a substance that smelled strongly of alcohol, he whimpered. "There. You were lucky." He placed a small, metal objext on the makeshift table. It was red with blood.
The man scanned his face. A hint of recognition passed over it. For a moment, he looked unsure, then averted his glance and pressed the splint onto Najien's arm.

When they left the building, the refugees that camped outside had started a second fire. It threw an orange light that flickered over the street, throwing eerie shadows on the cracked walls, but more importantly, it gave out a homely warmth.
Kianne ran up to him as he walked back to the group and threw her arms around him.
But suddenly dread filled Najien as he saw whom she had been sitting with while he was gone.

It was Paevarn.

Jackoy sat in his spacesuit inside the ship. Because of the undescribalbe loss of power, they had been forced to put them on, because the oxygen level got too low. And now Vhor was out cheching for issues. Jackoy assumed that the speed had dropped down to 3% of light speed. If the ship continued to be without power, they would die, they couldn't eat or drink, and if they managed to survive without food or drink, the oxygen in their suits would get used up. Jackoy turned and saw Vhor came floating against him.
"No external damages detected," he said over the radio.
"What could it have been then?" asked Jackoy.
"I don't know..." said Vhor. Jackoy nodded. The hope they recently had got, was now disappeared in a mist of hopelessness. They were silent for a while, before Jackoy broke the silence.
"Do you think we will make it? I mean, do you think anybody will find our ship out here?" he asked. Vhor just stared out of the window.
"We will need a miracle then. A 'god' or something must help us, but hey? How realistic is that?" questioned Vhor. Jackoy nodded as a sign that he had understood. They were doomed

"You called me?" Whispered Align, as fearful as ever of the deity.
"Yes, I have recently been discussing with the Furthernals, more importantly about the trip you wish you wish to take" so my assistant must have informed someone "Thankfully they still owe me a few favours, and I've managed to organise your trip for you, but you must be aware that this is the last time you'll be able to make use of the Furthernals resources"
"I understand" confirmed Align, feeling slightly uncertain the decision he had made.
"Do not worry my child, I have examined the planet my self, and I can confirm that there are adamant amounts of partimunal in it. However its will take several days to extract, so I suggest taking some overnight equipment, and being very hasting with your mining, our "friends" are very rushed when it comes to these matters".
Align stuttered, tripping on his words "I... I.. s... see..." he finally said, not being his usual arrogant self in-front of the deity. "And Align, one last thing.."
"Yes ma' lord?" Said Align
"Take this anti-matter deportation device"
"I do believe that that's..."
"Yes, its one of your own inventions, I managed to scavenge it before the great divide. Be frugal though, it contains only use. And remember this, your mind is the most important cargo that ship will ever carry. There is more partimunal in the galaxy, but only of you. So take care out there okay?"
"Yes, I will make that a priority"
"Good, I believe one of my securities will inform you of your flight dates, till then, goodbye" Not wishing any pleasantry's Align quickly exited the room, confused about the Deity sudden care over him.
While walking back to the waiting ship, he heard a familiar voice. "Align, come hither quickly, there is something I need to tell you" It was Gartan. Align had hoped to get back as soon as possible, he had some pre-flight preparations to make, but whatever Gartan had to say must be important. Feeling annoyed Align walked to Gartan, who was standing to one side of the hall. "The deity, it has realised something about you, which is why it was being... nice" Said Gartan, in hushed tones.
"No, it can't be, that... experiment, I neutralised myself, I didn't want that sort of thing happening to me".
"Alas something has happened Align, this makes your journey even more important than before. Go, go now and I hope you come back alive."

- Idolan System -
Daerius entered the relic control room.
"We have some time, randomize a vector and send us their to check all systems"
"Yess..." A plant moved around into a computer and coordinates appeared.
The Ship lurched violently and forced itself in a jump brutally.
"For such a advanced... race... they use primitive methods" Daerius noted before the ship stopped again.

- Unknown Coordinates, probably nowhere -
A ship pushed itself into the area of space from the technology it was using.
The old looking ship was covered with Various form of a eerily familiar Plant life.
It had appeared into the view of another ship.

Zháril, Day 2 after the Sharding

Paevarn was hunched close to the fire, his rigid vest making his position uncomfortably rigid. Gogglees and helmet were lying next to his feet; his head with short-cropped feathers rested tiredly on the rough wall of the storage hall.
As Najien apprached, Kianne still clinging to him, he lifted his head in anger and disbelief; if at his very presence or the little girl's affection, he could not tell.
The policeman's beak opened, eyes glittering with contempt, but he did not seem to find words. In silent rage and frustration, his fist slammed against th floor.
Trying to ignore the man's anger, Najien sat down at the other side of the blazing fire with crossed legs. He felt Paevarn's glare in him as he defiantly stared into the orange flames as if he could solve his problems by doing so.
Kianne sait miserably between the two. Everyone had noticed the two men's hostility that dominated the scene.
Pavern broke the silence. "Kick him out", he spoke, voice thick with hate.
Don't listen, Najien prayed. Kick his own damned self out.
"Go youself if this isn't to your liking", someone replied sharply.
Najien sighed with relief. But it was not to last.

The clatter of metal upon metal. A hand stretched out to Najien, holding a soupplate. "Here." A soggy, soft mix of vegetables lay on it, already half-cold and not appetising. A lump of grey bread lay by the side of the battered and deformed boul like a whale stranded on a beach too small to take its bulk.
The man next to him interrupted his loud chewing and spoke. "Why does the IS over there want to kick y' out?", he asked in a husched voice.
Najien's brain worked frantically, searching for an answer. "I... I don't know", he replied, knowing how stupid it sounded but not able to think of anything better. "Perhaps he is, erm, confused by all this." He made a cague movement with his hand. He only received a sharp, suspicious glance. "You", he said, pointing at Paevarn and beckoning. "Come here."
Paevarn stood up, glee spreading over the hard-cut lines of his face. He walked over slowly, studying Najien's trembling face closely.
Najien could not hear the words they softly spoke after the man had asked Paevarn his question. But when the IS grinned triumphantly, he knew their meaning. Kianne, who was watching the scene with widening eyes, stood up uneasily. "What is -", she began, but was interrupted by Paevarn, who walked up to the two.
"Najien", he proclaimed loudly, savouring the name - for it was his victory - "go now, and never come back to us again."
The world swam before his eyes. He did not hear the sharp intake of breath around him, nor the cry of surprise uttered by at least half a dozen mouths.
"Go to hell", he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "We don't need your opression here." Najien's eyes darted from face to face, from eye resting on him to eye staring at the ground and timidly trying to avoid the scene; but he found no sympathy, only blank expressions, horror or contempt.
There is no "we", he realised bitterly.
A sharp, sudden impact tore him from his gloomy thoughts. Paevarn's fist slammed hard against his jaw. The metallic taste of blood running down his split lip tore the last shred of hope that he had still been clinging to from him.
Still noone stirred.

The next moments were a blur of disbelief and the will to run away, to hide and shut his eyes from the world. Why do they still obey the bloody IS, he screamed to himself. Cowards. Cowards. Cowards. He ran down the streets, arm in splint throbbing, tears of anger welling up in his eyes and mingling with the blood stinging and tasting of salt.
A cry of shock behind him, Paevarn screaming "Where are you going?", but he quickened his pace, swerved into the next alley to be away from their gaping eyes.
Only when he, with throbbing sides and gasping for breath, leant against the wall beside him did he wonder what caused the uproar. Surely not him. They wanted me to go! What happened?"

Then he heard soft, rapid footfall behind him. Surprised and suddenly joyful, he turned around.

The edge of "The broken galaxy"Jackoy stared out of the window, when suddenly a ship appeared out of nowhere. He was suprised that anyone would find them out here. So Jackoy floated to Vhor and woke him up.
"Hey Vhor! Wake up, there is a ship here!" Jackoy said over the radio. Vhor didn't answear. Jackoy tried to shake him, but he wouldn't wake up. Then Jackoy saw the flaw in Vhor's spacesuit. It was just a small rift, but big enough to slowly drain the oxygen from your suit without noticing. Sadness filled Jackoy heart, and tears fell from his eyes. They two had hoped to make it together, and such a stupid thing had been enough to kill him.
It must have happened when he was out checking for external damages, thought Jackoy, and he loosened the grip around Vhor.
"Im leaving you forever now my friend, here in this spaceship," whispered Jackoy. And he prepared an intergalactic emergency flare to fire. With a last look at his friend, Jackoy accepted it and he floated against the exit. He could lament later, but now it was time to save his own life. Carefully, he opened the hatch, and fired the flare, then he used the thrusters built in the spacesuit, he moved into sight for the other ship, and he activated the lights on his suit too. He was getting out of here now. He was saved, or so he thought.