Eclipse looked helplessley as Max and Riku attacked Taffy with their harsh words, and how Taffy reacted just as viciously.

From listening to their angry words, Eclipse was able to decipher that they must have been talking about their actions that they took sometime last night, and from Taffy's explanation of what happened, it revolved around Eclipse, and how everyone was making actions to help him, but he had no idea that so many of the group had gone to the ends of risking their LIVES to help him.

Suddenly a feeling of guilt came over him, this was all his fault. Him and that stupid curse he had, it had brought trouble with him wherever he went before he met these people. He had wanted so much to help his new friends, but instead it seemed he only brought chaos with him. It was bad enough that his curse had almost meant the death of some of them, but now they were fighting amongst themselves, and they need all the co-operation they can get to reach that city they were talking about.

This made Eclipse think of Caine, and the promise he had broken to him. Something else that was his fault. He still hadn't found him, and now more than ever he had incredible doubt of ever finding him. And even if he did, what good will it do? he'd only be taking Caine away from the danger of that mysterious hedgehog, and into the danger of being around Eclipse and his curse.

A frown came over Eclipse as he stamped the ground and walked back into the kitchen.

"Of course they think you're the leader!" Shouted Max to Taffy, "I've seen you take charge of everything heaps of times!"

"Like we really need someone to babysit us!" Added Riku.

Taffy stood on her chair to look at Riku eye-to-eye before shouting back, "Babysit you!?!? BABYSIT YOU!? I've done whatever i can to help the entire group, but i have NEVER babysat ANYONE!And when it comes to talking about babies, you've been acting like a spoiled brat for a good while yourself! If i'm not mistaken, you tried to kill us once!"

"Hey whoah, that's the past now!" snapped Max.

Riku was struck by Taffy's comment, she completely ignored Max and spoke to Taffy again, "How dare you... you haven't learned a thing about me have you? I fought hard against A.J and you know it!"

Eclipse clenched his teeth and aimed his palm at the space in-between Riku and Taffy. He screamed out an incantation as his shoulders hunched, "Svarminus Paralia!"

Taffy And Riku turned to face Eclipse and both of them widened their eyes. They reared back as the comet passed right in between them and hit the ceiling, causing chunks of it to collapse on top of Jim's stove.

As the dust came down from the new hole in the ceiling, everyone swallowed whatever they had been chewing on last and looked at Eclipse through shocked eyes.

Taffy, Riku and Max in particular looked over at Eclipse and kept silent, their argument was well and truly postponed.

Eclipse breathed heavily, his mouth wide with every breath, exposing his prominent fang. His face spoke out anger, but a tear welled up in one of his eyes and made it's way down his face. His hand was still in the position it was in from his spell. It was curious how he had performed such a spell without his grimoire on hand.

"It doesn't matter what anyone did to help me..." He said in a low tone, a nervous quiver was in his voice,
"but you helped in a crisis in your own ways... as a group."

He held in a sob as he closed his eyes for a moment, his throat began to ache, "We all should be greatful for that!" his voice raised as he said this.

"We can fight here for... for as long as we want but... but where does that get us? does.. does FIGHTING EACHOVER GET US CLOSER TO THE CITY? DOES FIGHTING EACHOVER HELP US SURVIVE THE NIGHT? DOES FIGHTING EACHOVER... does fighting eachover... does fighting eachover cure me...?"

His eyes shifted from their angered position into a look of despair, "I was told... that i was a part of the group... but i... i haven't... i haven't done my part... all i've done is, is be another obstacle for everyone, but.. but you've all still helped me... i dont care who does more to help me... just knowing that... that you wanted to help, that's enough... why be jealous about that?... why?"

He took a few steps backward and lowered his hand, more tears began to form at his eyes, "You can be mad at me all you want... i know i'm a problem... but please... please dont fight eachover... you need eachover... it's me you don't need."

"Eclipse... started Alex, standing up from his chair, Eclipse come back. Eclipse!". But Eclipse had already turned his back and opened the door, he shut it quickly but softly. He took a moment to look down and then ran towards the barn. He frantically searched around until he found it, sunbeams glinting on the metal parts of the decorative front made it stand out amongst the hay that it was sitting in. He picked it up and looked at it for a moment. Tear drops fell onto the front cover and left water stains on the leather.

Eclipse darted out of the barn and ran into any area of nearby forest that he could find, he didn't care, he just had to get out of here. The Grimoire's magic chain appeared around him as he ran, harnessing itself to him.

He ran to a winding mass of trees and kept on running, not focusing directly on where he was going, just running. He began performing his dash-leaps across three branches as he proceeded. The enjoyable experience of the acrobatics didn't shine through his misery.

In his unsound state of mind, Eclipse stumbled while performing the acrobatics, tripping on a branch in midair, causing him to plummet down to the leaf-covered ground.

Upon landing, Eclipse made no effort to bring himself back up, instead he remained in his painful position, thinking only of his inner pains, nothing more.

-------

OOC: Don't worry, i have something planned, Eclipse isn't disappearing from the story, just to let y'all know.

Well, I should hope the arguments over now, right? Alex said, unknowing how to react to this situation as everyone simply stared at the door Eclipse had left through apart from Suzie, who was taking the opportunity to pilfer everyone elses breakfasts while they werent looking. But to finish it, Taffy is right, Riku. Shes never assumed and declared herself the leader, but shes been a darn sight better leader then the rest of us could ever be. Like she commented on, your argument that theres a psycho in the group extends to you too. How many times have we fought when you transformed into your evil state? Twice, if I recall. You can argue that it was because it was controlled by A.J, but similarly Eclipses being controlled by Lunaril. Dont judge him when the same argument can be made back at you, okay?

Alex began walking towards the door where Eclipse had left in. Where are you going? Bucky called out.

To find him. He needs support, just like we gave to the rest of you before. Alex replied. That and I would imagine I have a better chance of finding him within the forest And lets hope thats the only thing I find

Unless of course the rest of you suggest we wait for Cypher to appear and hear what he says?

Lena jumped up. "I'm coming with you too Alex, if you don't mind," She said, looking down at the ground.

Riku stared at the door but Alex's words fell on deaf ears. It just made her more sick of the group and eager to leave.

OOC: I'll be gone the rest of today and almost all of Monday (Get back late at night) soooo...someone is free to control Lena. Riku can stay by herself in the barn and stew...

Eclipse's words were sobering to Taffy, dulling the brief anger that rose up inside of her. She was embarrassed, no, ashamed that she had let herself get so angry, because now Eclipse was blaming himself for the trouble.

And Alex's comments startled Taffy. Oh great, looks like maybe Riku and Max have a point, thought Taffy. Why do people think I'm a leader? Because I can boss them around? Geez...

"Alex, maybe we should-" started Taffy, but then she realized that she was falling back into the behavior that made people mistake her for a leader, and she deliberately pulled the chair back and moved it so she could sit down, crossing her arms as she became quiet.

"Alex, you should stay. I'll go."

Everyone turned to look at the speaker. It was Susie, who stood up after hurriedly wiping off her mouth. Her mismatched eyes were not so dazed and bubbly as they had been before, and for a brief moment she looked older than her years.

"Susie?" whispered Taffy incredulously.

Then the feline smiled at the group as she bounced over to the door. "I'll make sure he's okay," she promised, darting out the door and shutting it before anyone could argue.

"Who would've thunkit?" commented Max sarcastically as he adjusted his hat.

"Well, this is all fine and dandy," said the booming voice of Jim as he stood with bare, huge-muscled arms at the table with a dirty washcloth in one hand, "but who's gonna fix my roof?"

"I will fix it, Jim."

The door had opened, and now the mysterious trench-coated white mouse stood in the doorway, his one good eye twinkling merrily at the stunned group. "Yes, I've finally arrived, and it looks like you all made it through the night."

"Cipher! So you're finally here to give 'em their story, eh?" said Jim. "Pull up a chair, we've got lots of eats in the meantime."

"Thank you Jim, but judging by the looks on everyone's faces, I'll need to explain myself first thing," said Cipher with a roguish grin.

"But we're not all here," Taffy said, her arms still crossed as she eyed Cipher suspiciously.

"Yes, I know about the bat and the cat. And it's more important for me to tell you my story than it is for us to wait for those two. I've delayed long enough.

"Long ago, before Mobius, only Chaos existed. But over time, the Chaos formed this planet out of Order, and all life began. These two forces, Chaos and Order, balanced each other out as they clashed over the ages, and in one cataclysmic battle, Chaos itself was crystallized within seven gemstones of great power. It is within these stones that the powers of creation and destruction are bound, an eternal cycle of limitless power that maintained the balance of Mobius herself."

"The Chaos Emeralds," breathed Taffy, her eyes wide as she surprised herself with her answer.

"Exactly," affirmed Cipher, and his expression soured into a frown. "The Chaos Emeralds exist even today. But over time, an evil spirit from before Mobius, trapped within the planet as its crust formed, has organized an underground organization that is determined to conquer all of Mobius, and...to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" asked Alex, the thought of the forest being obliterated chilling him.

"But what good would that do?" asked Max. "They've gotta live here too."

"They don't care. They have given themselves up to this evil spirit, who only wishes to be free so that it can wreak havoc across all of existence. Some say that the purpose of Mobius itself is to contain this great evil, and the Chaos Emeralds were created as a lock to ensure that such a demon would never get free. But this shadow organization is now making moves to find all seven of the Chaos Emeralds, and should they do that, it would spell doom for all creation."

Cipher stood there for a moment longer, allowing the importance of this sink into everyone's minds. "That's where you come in," he continued. "I have guided you all to come together a few days ago, because you are the ones who are able to find the Emeralds and keep them safe from evil's clutches. With your unique talents, you can protect this world and dispell the shadow organization forever."

He tipped his hat toward Taffy. "And this young woman here is the key to finding the Emeralds."

"What?!" asked Taffy, the chair stumbling back as she stood up quickly, her hands balled into fists. "Now I know you're crazy!"

He matched her eyes with his own, a glare of such intensity that she could almost feel him peering into her soul. "Do you deny the vision you had yesterday as you tried to fight the fires? Your unique gift, your 'extra sensory perception' as you call it, is actually a gift from the Chaos Emeralds to provide clues as to the whereabouts of each of the Emeralds. You are the compass by which this group will be led by. That is your destiny and calling."

Susie adjusted the loose tool belt that hung around her hips before she dashed off into the woods. I can't see him in any other direction around the farmhouse, she thought as her paws propelled her over the lush grasses of the forest that had not been damaged in last night's battle. So there's only this way he could've gone to get out of sight so quickly. I hope he's okay.

Eclipse opened his eyes and saw darkness all around him, and felt the recogniseable chill of a certain marble-like floor.

"no.. not again... i thought-"

His speech was interrupted by a cackling of evil laughter.

He turned to see the source of laughter and was immediately consumed by terror as the sight that lay before him left an immortal image on his mind.

Two gigantic crescent moon eyes against a veil of never ending darkness.

He fell onto his back and nervously shuffled backward, "this is... no... stay away... STAY AWAY!"

The two eyes came together and formed a swirling whirlpool of light blue energy, almost like a black hole in appearance. The black hole then solidified into a streak of blue energy that leapt straight at Eclipse and embedded itself into his eyes.

Eclipse screamed at the top of his lungs as he woke up in a sweat. He could feel sweat all along his forehead. He looked around at his surroundings, trees, lots of trees.

His breathing was heavy, and his heart was racing. He took a moment to think to himself as he came to his senses, "what was that?" he said aloud to himself, "I must have gone unconscious after... after that fall... was i really back there? or.. or was that just a bad dream? is this a dream? i... i don't know anymore..."

He picked himself up and opened the Grimoire in front of himself. He turned to the pages that held his old diary notes... pages that he hadn't turned to face in over a long time... it was almost like he feared those pages. He looked at them now because he felt a need to, perhaps a need to be brave. whatever the reason he was looking at them now.

He closed the Grimoire and a stern look came over him. "What am i doing here?" he asked himself, "why am i still here, in the middle of nowhere? why am i following people i dont even know?... or at least... i was following people... and i did sorta get to know them... i guess..."

He sat down at a nearby rock and supported his head with his arms, "i was suppossed to just come out here, get some bottled lightning, and go home... nothing else. now i dont even know where home is from here! and what am i suppossed to do about my curse?"

a mysterious thought crossed his mind,

"was this all suppossed to happen? Is... is this how i have to solve my curse? is being out here suppossed to help me somehow? how is this possible? WHY AM I HERE?"

His voice echoed out amongst the forest.

he bowed his head down, "just what am i suppossed to do out here? my purpose cant be to help people here, i've already tried that, and i've done more harm than good... dammit, why am i talking to myself? as if... as if the trees are going to damn well answer my questions!"

He sat there alone, a troubled soul unsure of where to go next.

OOC: Don't know if this is what you were wanting, James, but I'll post it and see what you think. We're about to see a slightly different part of Susie's personality.

And I'm thinking that if SL doesn't continue here, I'll reassign Susie's objective to be more in line with the RP. Not sure exactly how at this point, but I'm sure the RP itself will present a good idea.

IC:
Susie's ears pricked up as they heard yelling, and she increased her speed as she dashed toward the noise. It was easy to move about the forest in the bright shiny morning light, despite the trees' attempts to block it out with their massive age-worn limbs. There was a brief war between her curiousity and her fear, and her curiousity won as was often the case when she couldn't see what it was she should be afraid of. That was what impelled her to keep going.

Then she skidded to a halt, her eyes wide and her mouth drawn to a tiny "O" shape as she leaned one hand against a tree. She saw Eclipse, hunkered down onto a rock, and it sounded like he was talking to himself. She was behind him, a rock's throw away. A gentle breeze began to pick up in the forest, tossing leaves about and ruffling Eclipse's and Susie's fur as Susie heard the last words which the blue bat spoke.

He's so sad, she reflected as she watched him. Why'd I come after him? He could throw one of those comets again. Boss never said anything about magic when he sent me out here, no sir...but...

There was something inside of her that ached for Eclipse, hurt to see him hurt. To her self-centered thoughts, this was a different feeling than she had ever encountered. She wanted the hurting to stop, but how could she do that?

Susie's tail lashed once out of the frustration she felt, and she shifted her weight. There was a snapping noise, and her fur bristled as she realized she had stepped onto a twig! "Eek!"

"Who's there?" asked Eclipse, turning his head to look up at her. His yellow ears were filled with tears, and his voice was strained. He wiped his eyes with his arm and blinked, looking up at Susie who stayed paralyzed in her spot. "Huh? You're that girl from earlier..."

"Uh, yeah, hi," she stuttered as she raked one hand through the back of her short hair. "Yeah, you're Eclipse, right? I'm, uh, Susie...sorry 'bout sneaking up on ya. D'you wanna talk?"

This was unbelievable. The things Cypher had spoken about seemed impossible and so great as well an ancient power attempting to rise up, controlling an organization designed to gather the Chaos Emeralds, to break a seal so to speak and release chaos upon the world, effectively destroying it? It was laid out in plain terms, but he still couldnt quite grasp it, no doubt an effect of an isolated existence only within the forest. But, this seemed dangerous, highly dangerous to the forest, no, more then just the forest. The problems of the Overlander assassin, Caine, and anything else so far seemed to pale in comparison. But still, Alex was highly confused. This was much, almost too much.

I had a Chaos Emerald, spoke a voice, interrupting everybody else. They turned, to face Bucky. Oh yeah, Alex thought, that Chaotic feeling that was in my home before But I lost it to some creep called Wraith. Hes the same one who kidnapped Caine, right?

They do exist, then. Alex thought to himself. But still, the story was still too much to swallow.

How can we tell what youre telling us is the truth? Alex asked, and he pointed an accusory finger at him. How do we know this isnt some elaborate story made up by you just to use us as puppets or something for a sick game? And if this story was true, just how in the world do you fit into this? How could we know that youre not a member of this organization?

Alex was beginning to harbour some dark thoughts and serious doubts about Cypher, and the purpose of the group, if in fact there was really a true purpose. He was certainly not trusting of the rat. He needed assurances.

"What Alex said," agreed Taffy, though she was somewhat subdued. Wow, this is the most I've heard out of Alex since we've met him. But hopefully this doesn't become another argument...

Cipher's eyes darkened, but not in anger, in sorrow. "I can understand your doubts. It's pretty crazy, isn't it? You're suddenly heroes in a story that is much bigger than you ever could have imagined could be real, and the only word you have is the word of a one-eyed mouse."

"And if you're th' one who brought us all together, then you're behind those freaks we ran into here in th' woods!" growled Max. Then Max's eyes widened angrily. "You crashed my plane! You were the one!"

Cipher shook his head. "I won't be able to convince you that I didn't bring the others onto your heads. I only wanted to gather you together. But if the truth must be told..."

The mouse reached into his trench coat, and Taffy braced herself reflexively. Cipher saw her reaction and smirked. "I do have a gun, but that was not what I was reaching for. If you concentrate, you can see what I have in my hand, even if you can't see it with your eyes."

"Concentrate? What are you talking-"

"Do you want proof that I am telling the truth? If so, then just think of what is in my pocket. That will be proof enough, at least of your abilities."

Taffy glanced at Alex, Riku, Max, and Jim in turn, before turning back to look at Cipher's coat. "This is crazy," she said out loud as she closed her eyes and tried to think of what could be in the pocket.

The image came quickly and clearly. It was a fine gemstone, the size of a softball, glistening with soft yet powerful yellow light. Taffy let her mouth fall open in awe as she beheld it's multiple facets, carved perfectly into existence without flaws of any kind. It was pure essence of creation itself. "So beautiful..."

"Wait! Who are you?"

"Who is what? Taffy, have you gone loco?"

Taffy's eyes flashed open. She was back in the dining room of the old farmhouse. "A Chaos Emerald," she gasped.

"What color?"

"Yellow. It's the yellow one."

Cipher pulled out a small, cloth-covered object and pulled off the wrapping, and everyone could now see the Chaos Emerald. There were gasps and noises of awe as the light of the sun itself seemed to dim around the majesty of the Chaos Emerald.

"You see, I am a former member of the shadow organization," revealed Cipher. "It was a part of my duties to find the Emeralds and gather them to abuse their powers. But after I found out their true intentions I abandoned them and ran away to try to find heroes I could entrust this to."

He bowed to one knee and offered the Chaos Emerald to Taffy, using both hands to hold up the stone. "I now pass this Chaos Emerald from my hands to yours. May the blessings of Mobius protect you as you protect this from evil."

Taffy stared for a moment. Is this really happening? Why me? But despite her doubts, the reality of the Chaos Emerald was doubly clear to her as she saw it with both her physical and spiritual eyes. This was truth.

She gently placed both hands underneath the Chaos Emerald and raised it up in front of her face. "It's so warm," she whispered.

Cipher stood up slowly, a smile of simple happiness on his face. "You should keep it in a safe place close to you at all times. Your backpack would be a suitable place for it."

The mouse then turned a wry grin to Alex. "Is this proof enough for you, guardian of the forest?"

"Not really," Alex replied, with little hesitation. "So you managed to obtain a Chaos Emerald? So what? I'm sure anyone could manage to obtain a Chaos Emerald, like that hedgehog managed to earlier. The one who took Caine...

"For all I know this could still be some random game that you want us to carry out for your own purpose. Or maybe you still are working for this secret organization, and you want us to collect all the Chaos Emeralds so that you could take them off us when we've got them all. Or maybe, we can never truely get them all and reach the full power of it. This organization could always have at least one Chaos Emerald, which might be surprising. That hedgehog could even be a part of this organization. So, after we've done all the dirty work, you guys just snatch them out of our mitts and there you go, resurrecting Chaos. It still doesn't seem enough to me." Alex explained his views about the matter. "And I'm still curious as to why every single one of us has been chosen for us. I can see how Taffy fits into this, if she has these visions and stuff, but what about me? I'm just an archer rabbit."

Alex fell silent for a while, then sat back down in the chair that he had been sitting in for his breakfast, which had mysteriously vanished, although by now it was in Suzie's stomach. It didn't matter really, he didn't want it.

"I admit, it's sort of a good assurance, but this still seems way too fishy for me to buy, to be honest. But, if anyone else has any views on it they can say them. I don't know, I could be persuaded."

Cipher did not appear offended by Alex's disapproval as he walked up to the door and turned back around. "Whether you choose to believe it or not, is up to you. Our fates are not set; we have control over many things, over decisions that we make day by day. But time is growing short, and it won't be long before the secret group will send agents to recover that Emerald. If you all so choose, you must leave as soon as possible for Danberg, straight north of here. It is a walk of three hours, so you will get there at around midday. Someone has found another Emerald there, and it will be up to you to find it. If you become truly lost, Taffy can guide the way. She has the gift necessary to find the Emeralds. I would lead you myself, but I will be going on ahead to try to distract the agents of the Combine - the shadow organization that seeks the destruction of Mobius. But if you have any questions for me before you leave, I will be up on the roof patching that hole. You may leave whenever you're ready."

And with that, the mouse left out the door.

There was a brief silence as everyone took in what had just happened. Taffy was still holding the Emerald closely, her usually harsh attitude softened by the presence of the natural artifact. The guilt and pain of her past felt lessened by contact with the Emerald, much like when she had been bitten by Riku, except this felt natural. This felt right.

But she also knew she couldn't hold on to it forever, and she made her decision. "Guys, I'm going. Jim, do you have an extra shirt I could borrow?"

"Shore thing, Miss Taffy," responded Jim as he walked out of the room.

"What?! You heard what that guy was sayin', Taff?" asked Max, incredulous and explosive all at once. "He was butterin' you up an' down to make you feel like somethin' special! This just smells suspicious, and you're fallin' for it like rocks."

Taffy glared up at Max. "Maybe it is suspicious, but this is the closest I've ever gotten to figuring out who I am, why I have these seizures and visions. And he's right about the Emeralds, and me."

It was harder for her to stay angry with the Emerald in her hands. She shook her head and looked down at the floor. "We still have to find Eclipse and tell him about this. And then everyone can make their decision. I've made mine." She looked up at them each in turn, from Max to Riku to Lena to Alex, where she left her gaze locked onto his green eyes. "I'd really like it, if any of you wanted to come with me. But this will be dangerous, and I'm not going to ask you to do something you don't want to do."

She didn't want to admit it, but she had gotten to like this little group that had formed in the wilds of the Great Forest. They had been through so much together these past few days that it seemed like they had been through a lifetime of adventures already. But she wasn't going to let those kinds of feelings stop her from doing this.

OOC: Okay, it's decision time for all you folks still participating! I realize that Shadow Lady and Mike are still on vacation, and that's maybe why posts haven't been happening as much lately, so let's try to be considerate of that. If SL or any of the others decide to rejoin this, we can easily retro-con them into this merely by having their characters in the room during the explanation.

And be mindful of the bottom reply button on the pages, that's still giving people problems. Either use the top reply button or, my personal suggestion that I've found to work better, just hit "reply" underneath someone's name in the most recent post you're replying to. This avoids that minor technical difficulty and saves you some time and trouble. And always copy your completed text to your clipboard before posting, in case it messes up the first time. I've forgotten a few times when it would've been handier.

OOC0 First off, i am still interested in this RP. it'd be fun to continue it. Sorry i haven't posted in a while guys, been busy lately. I have read all posts up to date, so i know what's going on story-wise.

Just like to say, to Tergonaut particularly, that my original intention for having Eclipse break off at that point was to have him go and retrieve Caine, it would serve as his means of balancing his own psyche. Before setting off to find him, i was most definitely going to have Eclipse get into conversation with Susie. The thing is, i'm not sure if Bentleee (the player who controls Caine for anyone who has forgotten) is still participating in this RP anymore.

If she isn't participating anymore, then i will have Eclipse talk to Susie and then return to the group, re-assured.

I will have to message Bentleee and wait for a reply to see if she's still playing the RP. I know she hasn't been around for a bit and has been quite busy monitoring her own RP 'The Rise and Fall'.

I would have messaged her earlier on this matter, but amongst all the organising of outings with friends, and searching for places to purchase my Wacom tablet and such, i've been so busy that it slipped my mind entirely.

I sincerely apologise for not acting soon enough, i am aware of the disruption this will cause in the roleplay. This has been a most un-professional mistake on my part and i hope to have my character back into the story with a confirmed course of action ASAP.

Thankyou for your time.

OOC: S'all good, James, I've really appreciated your in-depth posts and enthusiasm for the RP thus far and I'd like to see it continue. I should've tried to be in more communication with you about that, I'll send you a quick EZmail to get that sorta thing started.

I know this is a little unusual protocol for an RP, but I think we should halt the RP itself and just continue OOC discussion until we get back some of our crew. Mike I think was coming back today on the 8th, and SL is coming back on the 10th if I recall reading that correctly, so I'd say we wait until those two get back and see how they want to continue to participate. Of course, I don't want to just halt the RP arbitrarily; I'd like to hear what y'all think about this. In any case it'll only be a couple more days hopefully before Bentleee responds to James and Mike and SL get back.

Let me just tell everyone that this has been one of the best RPs I have ever been in. It's ironic that this is a "newbie RP" because there's such good talent posting here. I really feel like character interaction and relationships have developed more naturally over the space of time rather than hurried and forced into place. And some things ended up happening that I thought wouldn't happen. Imagine my surprise when people both inside and outside of the group started looking at Taffy as a leader! I originally created her to be a "cussin" type of character like Cid from Final Fantasy 7 (except as you notice, I avoid using swear words and substitute other interesting terms). But of course, I also appreciate how others see her orders as "bossing around." Good RP.

Okay, pep talk over, let's pow-wow for a bit. Feel free to bring anything up OOC right now for sure, if you want to RP your character's reaction to Cipher go right ahead but don't go too far without the rest of us.

OOC: I agree in that a little halting for now might be good actually, allowing other people to see if they want to return or not, which is all good.

Despite being a Newbie RP designed to allow those new to it to be able to learn and improve, I feel I've also improved through this RP and the help and comments given by other people has been extremely helpful and I'm at least appreciative of it. I wonder though if it can still have the Newbie status as none of us are Newbies at it anymore and I don't see any wanting to join. The story has also developed extremely far and the fact that a lot of posts were crumpled by the Ezhack could put some Newbies off, since they wouldn't be able to see what had happened and it might seem a bit complex. I was just wondering about that, though.

And it's also interesting to see how far this RP has developed despite the original GM having only posted like 3 times. It's pretty cool.

And it's interesting to see how some characters have changed through interaction with the other characters such as your example and Taffy, Terg. I think all of our characters has evolved in a way we didn't expect through the help of others.

OOC: Hey,

Just got a note off James and replied =). Basically my response was on the lines off, it'd be cool to rejoin, but I have not been reading or keeping up with the RP since I left so I am in the dark with all that has happened since I took my leave.

I am also aware of the fact that the ezboard incident hit quite a few posts here. So even if I did read up to catch up on all the stuff... I pressume some bits and pieces are lost?

I would not mind rejoining. Just bare in mind right now that I am going to be confronting resits in August so that's basically what's stopping me from trying to figure out the bits and pieces here.

And I'm not sure if it would be fair on anyone if I stepped back in here again without prior knowledge to all that has gone on. Because I take it that it's all significant?

That's my 50c.

OOC: I'd post a short summary but I'm short on time now...

OOC: Eclipse, take 5 buddy, we're on hold for a little while *gets hit by a rock*

Ow.

Thankyou so much for your compliments on my posting Tergonaut, i really don't know how to take all this positive feedback, afterall i'm only having fun in a Roleplay here!

I think Pachamac made a fantastic statement when he said that 'this isn't a Newbie RP anymore' (High five buddy! *SLAP*), we have all developed a good storyline here with a range of characters that carry some of the most interesting and unique traits. Tergonaut, i had an impression of Taffy as a 'Cussy' character, and i like the way you have worked around the swearing, one of my particular favourites of her lines was when Max bopped her over the head and she turned angrily at him and said, "do that again if you don't wanna have kids". That line alone is a prime example of the character that is Taffy. Quite interesting how she has turned into a leader figure for a group of oddballs! XD

Well, i think this little 'break period' as an excellent oppurtunity to elaborate on our RP and it's direction, as well as our interests in eachover's characters. IF anyone has any questions about Eclipse at all i'd be glad to answer them, i don't think i need to request sensible questions because i think we have all become good enough RP-ers by participating in this RP to know how to be sensible.

Also, if anyone wants my opinion on anything, once again you are welcome to ask me. Be it about your character, a part of the RP, anything.

cheers all!

OOC: *Highfives James back*
A lot of it has been character subplots that have completed and accomplished many threats that were growing in some of the characters but some of them could no doubt arise again. Its a period which I like to dub the PsyWars. The main Quest, so to speak, is just about to begin.

I think you left after the area in which the wheat field had burned down, right? After that, most of the characters reassembled together in the barn that owned the wheat field under the guidance of Jim. Eclipse and Max had fainted after the attack from Wraith and the disappearance of him and Caine to the graveyard, and nearby Alex and Taffy had encountered Carrion who also held Maxs old gun. He shot at the two, destroying Alexs bow, but Alex was saved from a slash from Carrions scythe by the brave actions of Gavin, who fell unconscious soon after the attack, but not before telling Carrion that not all Mobians were evil, and alike Overlanders there were good and bad. This was screwing with Carrions mind to the fact that he injured another Overlander and he fled to the nearby forest, soon falling unconscious and not having been heard from since. Taffy, Lena, Riku (who resumed back to normal), Alex and anyone else, forgive me if I forgot a character, put out the fire, with Taffy and Lena even fainting alongside other characters who had already fainted, such as Max and Eclipse. With the aid of Jim, Alex and Riku moved all of them to a barn where they could recover, and Alex and Riku set off with Eckli, who had helped to put out the fire, to regroup with Karya and Bucky.

There in the forest they met Kohle and Midnights group (Relm, Factor, Zephron, Suzie and I think that was it) and together they tackled and defeated Kohle. Kohle was left behind, and the group altogether went and moved back towards the barn. Eclipse had recovered by then and joined them in the forest before they set off and basically introduced each other, and Eclipse even had a painful lapse within himself but quickly got out of it. I think they also met Cipher here as well who told them all thatd hed explain what was happening at the barn in the morning, and then took his leave. Uncomfortable with the new faces as per his personality, he decided to head back to the barn first, accompanied by Riku where they had a light-hearted race, and Eclipse found himself getting to know Riku better.

Soon the group had all gotten to the barn and most just chilled out and slept. Something terrible had happened to Lena however, as her mind was being attacked and controlled by an important figure in her life, A.J. Determined to help aid her, Riku was prepared to go within her mind and free her of the controlling force of A.J, and asked if anyone would join her, but wouldnt be surprised if no-one did after all, the mind was A.Js realm and chances of success were minimal. Of course, none of Midnights went with her as they had only met, but Alex, Eclipse and Taffy offered their help and assistance in order to save a friend, and travelled into Lenas mind to confront A.J.

There, they encountered a giant knight type of character created by A.J that seemed to easily best them, being able to recover from the heroes attacks easily. Eclipses magics were extremely limited in Lenas mind without the Grimoire, and it was soon discovered that Lenas mind ran on magical harmonics, of the good things that she was comfortable with and that she had seen before. Alex was able to conjure a new bow and arrow set from this, and Eclipse was only able to do limited spells, but from this received pain within his hands. From the groups limited manpower, it seemed they wouldnt be able to defeat the overbearing A.J.

Just as it seemed that the group would lose against him, Lena had managed to create a magical barrier which protected the group and enhanced their performance, allowing them to fight back against A.J with newfound strength and a resolve to defeat him once and for all, whilst Taffy investigated Lenas mindscape and eventually found her, freeing her as well whilst Riku offered the coup-de-grace to A.J. This only had a limited effect however, whilst it defeated A.J and freed Lena, he was far from destroyed, and would no doubt return in the future. (Is it to my knowledge that Riku also became weaker after this? I cant quite remember. >__<)

The group returned to reality successful and with a friend restored to them, and it was hoped that the rest of the night would carry on well enough for them until Cipher appeared in the morning and told them the severity of what was happening and why they were all brought to the forest.

However, for Eclipse, another internal war with Lunaril was occurring. The unrestrained magic that Eclipse had used within Lenas mind because of the magical barrier had only served to make Lunaril even more stronger, and it was then that he captured Eclipse within his mind and took over his body, preparing to cause as much havoc he could. He first settled on Riku, after remembering fighting her before in the wheat field. The two engaged in combat but Riku was far weaker then she was before and couldnt access her evil form as before, and so Lunaril saw this as a weak battle. As he was ready to create more destruction, a cloaked Overlander from the forest came forward and started battle against Lunaril, displaying incredible magical talents as Eclipse, and the two eventually erupted in a desperate fight. Riku took the time to step back and sensing that something was wrong in Eclipses mind, ventured alone into his mindscape to try and rescue him, much to the same as Lena, but this time only by herself.

Meanwhile, the sound quickly carried to the rest of the barn and the inhabitants, Taffys and Midnights groups, came to see what had happened, and the fight which was occurring. All of them didnt possibly know what to do or how to fight, but Taffy ventured forth anyway to try and do anything to help. Max quickly followed afterwards to try and help her (By this time, Max had managed to acquire another gun after losing his first to Carrion, a futuristic type of blaster given by Riku after she plucked it from a dimensional portal.) Lena also tried to join in on the action and stop Lunaril.

Taffy was unfortunately captured in a gravity sealing attack cast by Lunaril, and was now held hostage. As Max, Lena and the mysterious Overlander helped to distract Lunaril, Alex finally joined in on the action and jumped through from one side of the gravity seal keeping Taffy aloft (It was a reverse type of gravity spell, if I recall)to the other and grabbing Taffy and pulling her out to the other side, freeing her. This helped to distract Lunaril long enough for Max and Lena to pin Lunaril with their gun and sword nicely pointed to his head and in a way, defeated him. But Lunaril wasnt totally defeated either, and within his mindscape Riku had finally found the trapped Eclipse. (I cant quite remember if she actually freed Eclipse did she?) Lunaril by this time had used too much energy and soon resided back into Eclipses subconscious, leaving with a final message: Fools...all of you are fools. It is only a matter of time before I come back, and you cannot stop me because to do so, you would have to harm the boy." A chilling reminder that the curse which plagued Eclipse was not lifted, no way. The cloaked Overlander also mysteriously returns to the forest

Thankfully the rest of the night was uneventful, and the group woke up to breakfast from Jim! Most of them eat it well enough, such as Suzie who devoured most of everyones plates, whilst others didnt such as Alex, who wasnt accustomed to the type of food.

Riku and Max were angry that the leader Taffy were receiving the credit for defeating Eclipse, but she madly responded by declaring that it wasnt her who decided to be the leader, and that someone else could do so if they wanted. Eclipse felt further uncomfortable by this and departed outwards, back into the forest by himself. Alex and Lena were about to go after him and give him comfort, but Suzie offered instead, a strange decision since none of Taffys group of people knew her and she didnt know Eclipse, but she left anyway. Before any of the remainder of people could speak about what to do next, the mysterious figure Cipher finally returned and was ready to reveal the reasons why he brought all the characters within the forest together, for the next great arc The Chaos Emerald quest

I dont really feel the need to summarise Ciphers speech as it happens on the last page I think as well as the remainder of Eclipses fight. You can learn about Ciphers explanation and Alexs response to it there.

Your characters current whereabouts: Wraith and Caine are within the mysertios graveyard along with super-cool Roody and a Chaos Emerald.
Bucky is within the group at Jims farm eating breakfast and listening to Ciphers explanation.
Seipher was left in the wheatfield where he fell unconscious, but as Alex investigated the wheatfield through the crossing of him, Riku and Eckli to the forest and back he found it completely empty and Seipher was nowhere to be seen. Obviously he has gotten away to somewhere but wherever that has been for the last night is up to you.

And for SL if she wants to continue;
Karya, Zephron and Eckli are in Jims farm eating breakfast and having heard Ciphers explanation, her robotic arm fixed by Suzie.
Kohle is still unconscious in the forest clearing near the edge. What he has been doing for the last night is up to you.

Anyone else who wants to know where their characters are after not being in this for a while just need to ask.

If any other RPers here can see any errors in it, just point it out.

OOC: Thanks for writing out that summary Pachamac! I tried summarising the RP in a message to Bentleee, but you're summary is much more precise and in short HEAPS BETTER!

i hope she doesnt get too confused from mine. hopefully she gets to your summary first!

and another high five for writing da cool summary *SLAP*

Yup, thanks big heaps for the summary, that will save a lot of trouble and I'm sure all of us appreciate it as something to look back on.

And, if you haven't noticed yet, I went and edited the title of this RP. It might catch some of you off-guard at first, but I was already thinking about it before and now there isn't really a reason to stop it. 😛

Ironic though, the first newbie thread (I posted it, but discontinued RPing in it after a while) continued on to tens of pages long. And even the Eliteboard RP with the same title as this one has become very active. I don't know whether it's the title or the way things are set up or what, but these topics have a lot of success. And a different person has started each one, which makes it even more intriguing.

I would like to continue the openness and communication that we've shared so far, however. Whether this is a newbie thread or not, I think that has been a major contributor to this thread's success.

For general plot purposes, my goal is to have Taffy and whoever goes with her to go on a sort of globetrotting adventure to recover the remaining Chaos Emeralds. It's clear that Taffy's visionary abilities have some connection to the Emeralds, but there are still questions she has about what the Chaos Emeralds have to do with her. What started as a hike in the woods has now become a quest to forgive herself for whatever happened in her past and to save the future of the planet. And how better to do that than with friends she's made on the way?

As much as she won't admit it, Taffy is getting attached to the other members of the party. She's spent the last two years learning how to make it on her own, wanting to be independent and alone, but now she finds herself in a group that she actually cares about. Even Max is included, although that threat that James mentioned is still in force. 😛

So yeah. Can't think of much else to add, we'll see how this rolls.

OOC: Yeah, I just noticed the change in title as well. Aww, our little baby's growing up from a newbie!

And... *Highfives Eclipse back*

Despite the fact that Alex hasn't seened so keen to believe Cipher I think I'll probably have him go with the group as well on a globetrotting journey. That kid has got a lot of new things to see and experience...

Heh, Alex is quite a lot like Taffy. He's suddenly found himself in a group that he cares about, except he's been relatively alone for as long as he can remember! I think I've got a few ideas on how to get Alex to go with the group after what he's said, but I'll leave the ICing for a little later.

OOC: Heh, I don't know about Riku but we can all basically figure that Lena will tag along with Taffy. Riku despises Taffy too much to tag along and I'm thinking of having her head off for Danberg...

OOC: i'm quite interested in seeing Riku's next course of action, i myself have no idea what she intends to do. If she does follow Taffy i know there'd definitely be some interesting Dialogue. Looking forward to your posts Torn!

And Pachamac, that was an interesting point, i never did see that link between Alex and Taffy, but the way you have described it, it has been quite obvius for some time!

YAY! HE RETURNED THE HIGH FIVE!!! *high seven to Pachamac!*

Terg, like i've said before, Taffy is one very unique character and her actions thus far have been both intriguing and amusing. Keepy uppy!

uhhmm... as for myself, i haven't got much to say. I've pretty much outlined what my next move is going to be, so... howsabout i talk about the RP in general. Has anyone noticed that the RP picked up speed as it progressed? And that people tended to make longer posts around the more recent pages? Yet more evidence of how this RP has turned newbies into full-fledged RP-ers! I know that i myself learned quite a lot from participating here. I remember that when i first entered the Mobius Forums to Roleplay (on the suggestion of Bentleee, thankyou so much!), i was pretty darn nervous. I kept thinking that even though it was a 'newbie' RP i was joining, that i was going to seem below the standard of many RP-ers within it. It was re-assuring when i received compliments on my roleplaying despite my 'newbie-ness'. After roleplaying here for a while, i even joined some more RPs and observed how my posts became more well structured compared to my initial posts (not to mention MUCH LARGER, i made one post in an RP that equalled to 11 pages in Word!).

Anyone else got anything to tell about their first time Rp-ing? i'd love to hear some stories from the pros!

Just a thought for further plot development, we'll want to be careful not to have too many people going off on their own with one or two other characters. We already learned it was hard to keep up with everything that way. I'm not discouraging it, except perhaps to avoid going off and doing something not related to the main plot. For example, I talked about it with Eclipse and we've decided that his subplot with Eclipse going after Caine would fit into the main plot arc because Wraith has one of the Chaos Emeralds, which could be recovered on the way. So unless you want to use leaving the group as an excuse to take your character out of the RP (which might be a good option if you feel overburdened by too many characters), then try to have a reason that connects the subplot to the main plot. It may not be to go after a Chaos Emerald, maybe someone will find out more about the shadow organization that's behind everything. Or perhaps you could bump into that lady who Cipher knows, Jayne, who could reveal some more about the Emeralds and the dangers of carrying such power around. Be creative, but try to have it relate to the big picture.

As for my first time RPing...heh, that hearkens back to the good ol' days of late 2001 when I first became a resident of the MoFo. I remember in my first RP, it was one started by Ruby Kitsune, and it was a medieval quest-type situation where the heroes were trying to gather some kind of crystals or power sources or something, I can't remember exactly what now, but I stepped in with this old man character - who is much like Cipher is now, coincidentally, which shows how some things don't change - who was there primarily to help move things along in a more questerly direction. Never finished that RP, but it was my first shot and I feel like I contributed to the overall plot by having the old man lead the group. Of course, my long-range plan was to have the old man betray the heroes at the last second and reveal that he was actually the wizard behind the evil in the world, and it would have been fun to see that happen, but it didn't get that far. I had already had some practice before that at tribesroleplayers.com, which has a great set of guidelines for RPing that helped me get started with online freeform RP, but that was my first shot here on the board.

Now of course, when I first RPed I didn't quite have as good a grasp on character concepts as I do now. The importance of having a character with discernable, real weaknesses is something that it took me years to understand as well as I do now. But if this goes on long enough, we may see some of my first villains reappear to make things more interesting...ah, the good ol' days right after the "Golden Age" of RPing on this board was dispelled and a lot of lamers still prowled the threads. Things are so much better now...

Okay, I'm starting to sound like an old fogie. 😛 I'm looking to get this going as soon as we have a definite yea or nay from the others who are looking to come back.

OOC: *High-eight to James*

Hmm, my RP experiences, eh? This might be fun to recount
My first RP ever in the MoFo in about 2003-04, can't quite remember, was an anthropomorphic Pokemon style Roleplay, and to be honest, when I first roleplayed I was absolutely crap. I remember my first post was like the second post of the whole thread and I initially viewed roleplaying as simply creating a story together I wasnt overly aware of individual characters etc, so I think I started and contributed some things I otherwise shouldnt have, but it turned out okay, and I believe to my knowledge that the RP really started to move after I posted in it, as it was pretty stale before with no activity. I quickly started to learn though about individual characters and such.

My first RP didnt go anyway and there was no interest in it. The concept was pretty shaky though and in the end there wasnt enough interest in it.

Then I started my next, proper RP Knuckles Heroes: The Master Emerald, which progressed very well, but wasnt very user friendly. It turned out to only be an RP collaboration between me and Bentleee but in some ways I think that this was better for the RP as some of the good things that happened in it wouldnt have happened otherwise. This RP generally followed the story rule which I saw earlier and all the characters were allowed for use by both of us, even such fan-characters such as Wraith whose past and background was fleshed out by the both of us. The Story (since it wasnt really a RP) was very intense and led to some very interesting scenes and interaction, and I believed it worked well. Not one of us ever had true control or more importance then the other, we worked through it together and carried on from each others posts very well. In this regards I think we helped each other to roleplay better. However, the story eventually died out when both of us became too busy to keep up with the story and generally long posts that were needed in order to keep the roleplay at a good pace. The Ezhack finally destroyed whatever was left and no real motivation to go back or continue was found.

My character interaction and learning of not really to use others characters came from Shadows Revenge which earned a lot of support and is still one of my favourite RPs, even inspiring to do a short-lived comic adaptation. I also began to learn about the use of other characters in a limited but controlled way as one character, Elixer left and I used her character in order to keep the story going, but this experience was very limited. However, since there were so many characters there was also the high potential of the RP grounding to an undesired stop if people suddenly left, which they did. Also many werent happy as it seemed as though one of the roleplayers seemed to be taking over the ideas and story and melding it to his own, and any want or inspiration in continuing it sort of fell down and was lost. In this case I think one reason why this happened was because the RPers didnt talk to each other as much, sure there was some, but problems like this were never discussed or resolved unfortunately.

In-between were some other RPs which helped my learning, but there were no real big changes or improvements, but nonetheless all were fun.

My next big growth in ability came through the Newbie RP: Forest of the Future. It was here where my abilty and understanding in controlling others character in a responsible and logical manner really improved and that was through the battle between Carrion and Eclipse, which is still one of my favourites to this day. The discussion and help given through other RPers also helped for me to grow in my RPing skill until what I am to today, so although I wasnt necessarily a newbie when I began Forest of the Future, I still learnt a great deal which I feel helped shape me to a better RPer that I am today.

Btw Eclipse, it might seem a simple or pointless question, but where do you come up with the names of Eclipses spells since they all seem fantastic. Random syllables? Inspiration from oldern folklore, other RPs, etc?

I agree that this RP has been really enjoyable and it's amazing how far it has come and what's stemmed from one basic title and <insert philosophical thoughts from KMcK here...)

However, due to er... certain sensitive personality traits of mine, I thought I may as well get what I feel out in the open. I hope no one resents me for it. But I'm hoping in all due time I will be able to say how I feel, in measured way, on the net and IRL. I can't carry on with something when little things nag me and bug me. That is why one of my RP's died.

Generally, I love how RP's start out. It always seems as if everyone is motivated to put in effort, ideas unravel, it's fresh. Somewhere along the lines, however, it always seems as if RP's reach a threshold where it's diffecult to keep track of things, people tell each other off for neglecting x y and x, and then things become a contradiction. That is what I don't like about RPing and when it comes to that, Rping becomes a chore. And it makes me want to go and do other things EXCEPT RP except I hang around just to please people.

In this RP, I decided, 'No, I'm leaving and I'll tell the people'. I left and I didn't really regret it. I didn't feel as if my characters fitted in that well and apart from you, Tergonaut, I don't believe anyone said goodbye or wished me well or said anything. It's fine in that no one is obliged to, but to be honest, I found it a bit rude that people carried on and said nothing considering I took the time to explain why I was leaving.

And now... coming back, there was hardly much of a welcome or acknowledgement. I am human, not a pawn to keep an RP going. And I would've been happy to rejoin but now I am reminded of why I left in the first place. Is what I do or write really appreciated or taken into account? Or is it just there? I am not fishing for compliments. But as of now I really don't see any value my participation is going to have. And I am being serious.

As for my RP experiences, well I guess I regret none of them ever reached a proper end. But then again, I believe that prospect is rare.
When I started my first RP, it was exciting and a lot of fun and I was honoured to have even one person signed up. But after a while, it became such a schlep to maintain. I really had to do everything from the beginning. Maybe I had set myself for that though... but it was my first RP so I have learnt a lot. I think a lot more came out of it than bad- I'm just being cynical in expressing my points. And when the prospect turned into 'What you going to do with Shadow's revenge?' a message, sulk here and there, I wanted to grind the RP to the ground. It was driving me crazy... and I was a little baffled that people weren't respecting how much work the RP was. I even wrote a 4 hour summary once. And not ONE person said 'thank you'... or anything. Rude. Just rude.
I felt no remorse for ending it. Despite well-intentioned support.

Well, I like my new RP I am running and the communication is excellent. But I'll still be wary. These things are never picture-perfect after all.

Feel free to contradict anything of what I said or to explain. Because right now I feel that maybe I am seeing this all wrong or have grabbed the wrong end of the stick or made many wrong assumptions. But I can't see, otherwise I would have posted yesterday and been all fine and dandy.

I am hoping no one took anything to heart. It is just generally how I feel/how I've felt.

Pach: This is just a guess, but I think that James is using Latin for the words of his spells. Either that or another real or even fictional language. But I should let him answer for himself, that's just what I thought it was.

Ben: Sorry to hear about that, Ben. And that is exactly why I wanted open communication: to try to air things out and make sure everyone was good with what was going on, hopefully to avoid hurt feelings. And I'll tell you straight off that you aren't the only person who felt left out, I talked with another RPer who ended up leaving because their character was left behind. And I think we all felt rather stressed out when we were all trying to do our best and then things kept happening, whether purposefully ot not.

I guess at the same time though, people didn't realize why it was that you were leaving and probably didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary. I didn't think of it that way at the time, and there's a lot of reasons people leave RPs. That doesn't mean we should use that as an excuse - but it does explain I think at least in part why everyone was so casual about it.

And as for feeling like it's a chore to post...I'm tempted to ask if anyone else has felt that way, 'cause I know I have. And I hate that feeling, but sometimes it does feel more like work than play to run an RP, usually to get over past parts of the RP that I feel awkward with. It was a pain to get past all of the confusion we had with everyone's characters going everywhichaway. Definitely sympathize with you there, and I do appreciate that you at least told us that you were leaving.

Now, I'll be honest and say that I felt Wraith was pretty stinkin' powerful compared to the rest of the RPers (well, there were a few moments when Wraith was overshadowed by some other characters, but I think you understand what I mean in terms of overall, constant power). But you also didn't do it just for the sake of being more powerful than everyone else, there was a background and a purpose that has tied somewhat into the main plot at this time. What's more, you brought in some interesting ideas what with Caine having to deal with being called a bioweapon and his sensitive nature in that, among other things. So you've definitely contributed to the RP, and in fact the quest for the Chaos Emeralds is an outgrowth of your introduction of Chaos Emeralds, so the main plot right now is partly a result of your work.

As for your continued participation...well, honest again, I was more concerned about your characters than you for yourself. I was concerned about the subplot that Eclipse is setting up for, since that depends heavily on Wrath and Caine, and since they're your characters that is why we turned to you. But at the same time, your characters wouldn't even be in the RP or even exist if it weren't for you, yourself. And that is appreciated, and we still want to incorporate that into the plot of the RP.

I think it's natural for every RP to start off great, everyone's excited and ready to go...and then it drags on a bit as people try to figure out their roles and start introducing background and such, and it can be boring and painful to go through. I really think it's natural for that to happen, it's happened to the longest RP in the Guild, Evalc's RP, several times throughout it. And in a way, I think it's important to have that period of challenge, because it can weed out roleplayers who are either not really determined to continue, or the ones who have too much on their hands and they can't keep up, or the ones who aren't particularly good. If the rest of the RPers can wade through that time of darkness and boringness, then the RP can actually be the better for it. It is also this time period where RPs that just don't have support end up dying. Most RPs actually never end, though the ones that do can be satisfying enough to make it worth the effort.

I'm kinda dragging on with this, but long story short, I'd be glad to have you back in the RP, but I'd rather have you not join if it would be more trouble for you to rejoin than it's worth. I do appreciate you being honest about how you feel, and hopefully this can help everyone be more sensitive to each others' needs as we are all real people and we do have lives other than RP. Despite what some RPers say, we aren't obsessed with this stuff, we just like to have fun. And we want you to have fun too. My only request is that if you do leave, make it clear about what we should do with your characters so we can handle them according to your wishes. But I'd love to chat with you more about some of the plot stuff regarding Wraith and the shadow organization, there could be some real tie-ins with the Emeralds and why Wraith and Caine were created. I'm actually getting a little excited thinking about it.

Well, there's my two cents. I'm terribly distracted right now with IMs and such, so apologies if some of this sounds strangled and long-winded. I'd like to hear other viewpoints on this, this is exactly what I had in mind when it comes to open, honest discussion. Communication is key.

To be perfectly honest, I completely agree with what Terg has said. I dont see anything else I could possibly add to that since its pretty much what I view as well, especially the second to last paragraph. Id be glad to also have you back in the RP, but if it isnt fun for you and still feels like a chore then you dont have to do so, and I also know that youve been pretty busy as of late. No-ones forcing you, although if you dont wish to participate then information regarding your characters and what you might have wanted them to do in this set-up would be greatly appreciated. And yeah, not all of us are RP obsessed (Well, apart from Harley) and Ive found this RP has been one of the more fun RPs Ive contributed to.

As for the aspects of whether Roleplaying has been a chore to do and to post, I have experienced that, and Im sure all of us have. However I dont feel Ive experienced it as much as you two considering youve been the GMs of a large RP and therefore a lot of responsibility has fallen on to you. I personally apologise if Ive been in the cases where I havent fully appreciated the effort youve put into it, as I can only imagine the frustration and annoyance in something that youve worked hard on took a while and there was no thanks for it. And yeah, summaries can take a while to write, so I can understand that this could add to the frustration greater.

Other then that I dont really know what more to say, as I feel Terg pretty much summed it up well. Of course wed want you back, but of course if you dont want to then you do not have to.

Oh my, everything i wanted to say and more has already been said. All i can say now is that i agree one hundred psercent with both Tergonaut and Pachamac. Roleplays are meant for fun, if ever they become an unenjoyable experience, you shouldn't feel obliged to continue them purely for others.

Once again, as much as i'd like if you continued, i don't want you to be unhappy participating, your well being is much more important to me and everyone here. Just let us know what you want your characters to do and we'll take good care of them.

I apologise if i've ever been a nuisance to you or anyone during the length of this RP or any other RP, i have learned much from playing forest of the future,

On another note, i believe it was Pachamac who asked me where i get all those crazy words for the magical spells from?

Although an interesting suggestion Tergonaut, i know little to no Latin, so Latin words for spells isn't the key here. Interesting point though!

For my magic spell words, 'Daiyoprasius', it's my way of spelling a really cool sounding magic word that the church building from Warcraft 2 makes when you click on it. XD I chose it for the 'moon glow enchantment' because it kinda sounds like 'daylight praise us', afterall it is a light producing spell, but it's also ironic that the light it produces is from the moon and not the sun. But when you think about it, we can only receive light from the moon because the sun shines on it. so nyah.

As for the others, i justuse a combination of things. For instance, 'Svarminus' is just something i thought sounded cool when i just tried speaking out anything off the top of my head. Same with the next verse of that spell, 'Paralia', although that bit kinda derived from a variation of 'Paladin'. Which leads me onto another point, a lot of my magic words are different sounding alterations from existing magic-related words and the occasional anagram.

'Travalia' is kinda from 'travel' as in 'movement', which is why i used it for the gravity manipulation spell. 'Taracta' is the next word in that spell if it is gravity manipulation downward, becase it is increased gravity, therefore stronger 'Attraction', which is why 'Taracta' is kind of an anagram.

If the gravity is negative, thus flinging things upward, we have the next word 'Levitus' as a variation of 'Levitate'.

'Miravu Strala' is the illusions spell. 'Miravu' is a variaition of 'mirror', and 'Strala' is a variaition of 'Astral'. therefore, the spell can be interpreted as 'Astral Mirror', as it creates mirror images using the power of stars.

'Shakula' from 'Travalia Shakula' is a variation of 'shackle', so the spell is 'gravity shackle'. A spell Eclipse hasn't used properly yet. the spell places a magical binding on a target which increases the pull of gravity on that attached limb. if attached to a leg, a target cannot run as fast etc.

I think i covered the majority of the magic words, if i missed one and you are curious let me know.

I just realised i could write up a spell-book archive for Eclipse here so that everyone can see an exact explanation on each of his spells. For instance, 'Svarminus Paralia', isn't just a mere blasting move. there's more to it than that.

Would anyone like me to post that up here? i'm not posting it until i have your opinion because i dont wanna clutter this place up with things people dont want to read.

cheers! btw, Pachamac, best high eight EVER!

OOC: Okay guys, you can stop mourning my disappearance. I'm back from vacation and back from the rift! *shot*

First, I'll say that Kari and Eckli are DEFINITELY going to join in on the quest. Kohle is meanwhile trying to unwrap himself from his little vine cacoon. xD

Just to let it out, I'm thinking of letting Zephron go. I just feel a little....'blergh' at having him in there. I know I'm not going to be able to use him much, and I know it feels like a chore handling him at the moment, so that's prolly what I'm going to do. Meantime, Kohle will be hanging around for the prospect of valuables: AKA the Chaos Emeralds we collect.

Now...phew. Been a while since we've all had a good chitty-chat, eh? ^^

I'll be giving some more OOCs and ICs as soon as I'm caught up and whatnot. Though I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm still up for continuing this wonderful RP.

OOC: Thank you for your understanding replies. Though I think Tergonaut understood where I was coming from best.
Thank you very much for hearing me out and not 'running away' from any misleading tone I might've portrayed there.
Was trying to be honest but not in such a way that it sounds as if I'm 'whining' or being diffecult. If I was, I'd be in denial about being wrong and such. I will accept it when I am wrong or maybe haven't quite seen an angle which I should've seen.
I really respect it when people can give me a genuine explanation and maybe... not so much confront me on certain aspects, but maybe tell me their concerns. Such as what Terg though about Wraith's overall power in comparison to the other players.

Sometimes I think I'm a bit vague in outlining specific reasons as to why I feel resentful. Sometimes I don't even know myself why something rubs me up the wrong way- or sometimes I can be cowardly in being blunt. But maybe that's a good thing concerning the latter...
Ultimately I think I did feel left out. Not the problem primarily regarding the RP being a chore. Don't get me wrong, I believe that Rping relies a lot on 'getting what you give' and getting involved. At the same time, being regarded as background is not fun. I left 'Endangered because of that. It had a lot of players as it was though, it was updated rapidly and the players involved had a particular method of RPing they liked whereas my liking was more towards slower paced RP's in comparison, longer posts and all such things. So it's fine, each to their own.

It would not have been a chore if I continued RPing here. A scarce acknowledgement on me coming or going here makes me resentful though.

It's fine for you to think if Wraith was pretty powerful Terg X). There was indeed a background for it. He did have an 'All or nothing' weakness... but it made things a little strained in past RP's so I removed it. Ultimately, I wasn't out there to be the best player. Out of all my characters, he is the most fun to play and such. I wasn't actually going to bring him in to this RP but I got a couple of notes where people said 'Wouldn't it be nice if Wraith was in the RP?' bla bla bla. So I thought why not? And tried to adapt him into it. Not sure if it worked out. I assumed 'not so', when I expressed the fact that I was apprehensive about my characters here in the RP before I left and not having heard a second opinion. But having heard your opinion, it makes me feel less out of place. So thanks very much for that ^^.
I'm not out to be acknowledged as the best player, or one of the best, but maybe a worthwhile contributer at least. And I am in it for fun as well as working with others if they work with me.

So good stuff then. Feel free to chat to me about what plots you have in mind and we'll see what we can incorporate here.

Thanks for taking the trouble to have written out all of that. I appreciate it. And well done for multitasking like that. Writing a long post like that and IM's would freak me out...

Again, thanks a million for your honest and open minded explanation and opinions. I'm in the RP then (:
EDIT: I'm so rude.
I've learnt a lot from this RP as well. Namely I think it's amazing how you've managed to pick up idol characters when they were idol or hit a 'cul-de-sac' in the RP Terg. I appreciate it must take a lot to get everyone's characters going as well as your own. I think this I can see as one of the diffecult bits of maintaining an RP.
But it's something I'll bare in mind for my RP. Thanks for the inspiration!

Back to the first discussion...god. My first RPing experiences date back pretty well rounded I'd like to think. Which I laugh at when I look back on it. Though some of my ideas and RP's I like to redo sometime. Heh.

My first RP experience dates back to September 2001. And it was not on the internet either. It was a good time. I was in the 6th grade I do believe and my friend Chris started a RP with him as the narrator and the whole "what will you do" questions. It was fun, and he called it Roleplay and that is how my love for it began. Of course when I went on the internet and RPed at SonicverseTEAM in September - I was a n00b but so was a lot of people at SVteam. Who that Roleplayed anyway.

I eventually found a good ole link-a-rooni to Sonic Headquarters. Oh, boy quite the place I have stuck with for four years now almost. I started with a friend now known as Argent Silver in his RP - "The Ultimate RP: Part I" - I followed the series until the fourth or fifth part. It ran for three years itself. Then I joined random stuff, that Terg probally remembered. Ultra Sonic 007's RP series for one.

I also created a few decent ones and made friends with a lot of folks. One of my most promiment RP's was "New Mobius" but the thing about this RP - I was gone often and I wasn't needed to run it. It lasted 12 pages, I believe. Before it died out in early '04. Thoguh I remade it into a more stroy-oriented job which lasted 8 pages before dying because of lack of participation by others.

I'd like to think I learned a whole lot from my RPing 'career' from different boards to great idols who taught me a lot. Heh.

I'd like to think a lot of my learning was from The Ultimate RP, US007's own series, Shadows Revenge, and a lot of RP's not on this site. Shadows Revenge was one of my steps for detail, US007 was a lesson of not to powerplay or put too many chars in a roleplay. And so forth.

With that said I hope to learn more, and continue RPing onward.

(May add to the other dsicussion later.)

Nah, you didn't sound whiny, Ben, you sounded frustrated and you wanted to know if you were justified in that. And that's okay, 'cause we're all human and we all get frustrated. I'm just glad that we were able to get that out into the open and talk about it. And gawrsh, thanks for the compliments, I actually fear that I'm pushing peoples' characters too far when I do that, glad to hear that others think it's a good idea to get ourselves out of the occasional rut.

And Pach, you know what the funniest thing is? I was thinking exactly of the same person when I mentioned the whole "we aren't all RP fanatics" bit. XD I can think of a couple of other examples, but Harley fits right on the dot. I was trying not to mention names, but it's all right, I doubt she'll be offended by this if she sees it since she openly recognizes her addiction to RP. I just think it's funny that we were thinking the exact same thing. XD

James, I never woulda guessed that you just made up those words. XD Shows I don't know Latin either. XP

Okay, I've sent PMs to Shadow Lady and Bentleee (just so you both know I PMed you in case the PMs didn't get to you for some reason), and I think we're almost just about ready to start this up again. I don't think we need another summary since Pack just posted one a page or so ago that covered pretty much everything up to this point, although if people need help figuring out exactly where their characters are, then let us know and we'll work together to figure it out.

So, shall we continue on now, seeing as it's the start of a new week, or should we wait one more day to catch up? I'm certainly excited to continue, but I don't want to jumpstart this before everyone's caught up on things. Any questions or comments or other concerns should also be dealt with now so we don't end up running afoul of something later. We still might have problems, but the important thing is for us to always keep open the lines of communication and try to give each other room to make mistakes. I really think that's what can set an RP apart, is by the communication and friendship shared by members of an RP.

Good job so far, y'all, I'll try to keep tabs on this throughout the day to see what happens. We may continue the RP today or tomorrow, but I'd say no later than tomorrow. Lemme know how you feel.

OOC: Start now please...

(Yes I've been keeping up with the thread but didn't feel like commenting too much OOC because I didn't feel I needed too...or wanted to...)

OOC:
Just a quick note to confirm that I replied to Terg's pm. All sounds brill to me =P

Sorry for the delay, have had to see personal tutors and such again at my Uni, for talk and council and to carry on my 'ethuasiasm' for my resits.
I have a lot of time and will take breaks.

So I'm basically ready when everyone else is (=

OOC: Ready and willing. =D I hope no one minds me starting the IC's off...

And James, very interesting creation of the magical spells, which all works out very well. If you want to you could list the spell book guide if you wanted, Im sure it would be very interesting and could add depth to his character.

IC:
Alex took a moment to pause and stop, thinking about it all. Taffy seemed to believe this Cipher figure, and was ready and willing to go ahead with it, searching for these Chaos Emeralds in an effort to save the world. It all seemed a bit too much for him though he couldnt accept what the mouse had said so easily and was still a bit wary about him.

Excuse me for a moment. Alex said, leaving through the door to take a moment by himself to think.

Alex gradually began walking towards the forest, the place that had been his home for all he could remember, the one constant in his life that never resented or was not never there for him. He trudged through the burnt areas of the wheat field towards the forest, his vision and others senses not focusing on his surroundings as his concentration was placed solely upon his thoughts and his deliberations.

This was home. His home. Alex understood as he reached the border of the forest and stared at the tall and looming trees before him. He had decided to walk towards here to reflect and ascertain his decision more properly, and because this was the direction Eclipse had escaped to before, and now Taffy had said that they should find Eclipse and tell him, so, if he did decide to go, he would be closer to where Eclipse was.

This has been a crazy few days, Alex thought to himself, sitting down upon an out jutting rock and staring down at the grass, again not taking it in but only the images in his mind. The images revolved throughout several different images, first his meeting with Max and Caine, his decision to help Amadeus company, his meeting with Karya, Bucky and Eckli, the short lived battle against Kohle, his awakening from what should have otherwise been a fatal wound, his brief encounter with the dangerous Riku, following after the rest of the group and Eclipse to help Caine and witnessing an intense three-way battle between Riku, Eclipse and Wraith, and the incredible burning of the wheat field, the dangerous and unpredictable Overlander assassin destroying his bow and harming his saviour, Gavin, the journey into Lenas mind and the incredible battle against A.J, and the harrowing encounter with Lunaril. So many experiences in so short a time, and even though he experienced a wide range of emotions from pain, fear, jubilation, anger all of them were exciting. New experiences, of things he had never seen before. They were an interesting bunch of people no doubt, and in so short a time they had become his friends.

Huh apart from Bucky I never really had another friend. Alex muttered, as he looked upwards and through the canopy of trees his could see the glaring sun shining back down on him. Theres a whole new world out there I could only dream of what there might be

The clouds began to pass over the sun and made the bright light against Alexs face less vivid. Alex then lowered his gaze to look at the trees around him. There was no doubt that the forest was still in danger, from the nearby Overlander city to the assassin that had ran off into it, as evidenced from the destroyed ancient buildings corrupted by him they were guarantees. Ciphers words while they were more important then the forest, including the whole world Alex couldnt be sure. There werent any reassurances in them.

Apart from Taffy. She believed in them, was willing to give a chance. Perhaps as a friend he should too. He couldnt be bounded by the forest forever while it was true that it gave a lot to Alex, he too had given a lot back. And suppose Cipher was right, and without Alexs involvement and contribution this dark organisation triumphed he wouldnt be able to save the forest anyway. He sighed again, but then lightly smiled. There was that Overlander as well, the magic casting figure who battled Lunaril. He too did so to protect the forest, and although he didnt know who he was, perhaps he would continue to do so in Alexs absence.

Theres a whole world out there, Alex thought to himself, smiling again. So much to experience, so much to do and to save. I cant be bound by the forest, only thinking of it and myself. I have other friends now too, and its time that I started to believe in them as well.

Alex jumped up from the rock that was located on the outskirts of the forest. He stopped and turned around, looking towards the depths of the forest and his home, the only constant of kindness so far, other then his friends. Although Ciphers words did seem doubtful, he would be willing to trust them, because Taffy did too. The forest would be protected as well, and there was so much to experience as well. Alex also felt he had a responsibility to Gavin to at least get him home in Danberg. This had only been one stage in Alexs life. A new one was now beginning.

OOC: Yep...I shall say this: Zephron is staying, thanks to a suggestion from Terg. ^^ I answered his PMs and although it might take me a while, I'll get back into the loop of things.

IC:

Karya stared at the wall long after Cipher had left, her eyes betraying none of the many thoughts that swirled around in her head. Thoughts of what had happened in the past few days, what was happening now, and what might happen if she decided to go along with it.

At the moment, it seemed crazy. Everything she had gone through went against the rules she had set for herself. Rules she had promised to follow ever since the day her parents had been murdered. She had promised never to make any friends besides Eckli and Becky, promised to never accept help from a stranger. All this seemed so new to her, so unreal...she had never really known people could be kind enough after she left home. Karya had believed that teamwork and trust were fickle things, things she had never been shown most of her life. And love? No one loved her. No one had loved her besides her parents and her brother and Eckli.

Kari lowered her eyes, turning her face away from the others so no one would see a silent tear slip down her cheek. She didn't trust anyone. So why was she so confused about what to do? Walk away! Let this damn world perish! What did it ever do to be kind to you? A small voice kept whispering. But every time Karya shook her head. She wanted to believe she didn't trust anyone.

Noticing Eckli was missing, the mercenary got up and quickly walked out the door without a word.

"What should I do...?" She whispered, walking toward the barn.

Thinking back to what had happened, she half-smiled at the thought of Bucky, coming to her rescue, and Alex....brave, kindly Alex. He had been wounded almost fatally trying to save her from Kohle, and had it not been for Eckli, Alex would have most likely perished. It took only a moment for Kari to realize she had felt most comfortable around Alex and Bucky....she - trusted them. Karya blinked as she leaned against the barn wall, sighing. She was so used to being a loner most of her life.....hiding her pain from the world and refusing to form special bonds with anyone she met. Was she ready for all this to change? Could she accept the change?

I've got to move on...got to start trusting people. She thought, a faint breeze ruffling her hair. I can't stay in my own little world forever. Maybe this is my chance....to forget about all the pain and suffering I've endured........

Karya stood up, smiling. Maybe it's time to come out of my shell. After all, I do have friends now.

Meanwhile, near Alex, the tall grass at the edge of the forest rustled, and a twig snapped. Eckli's brow was furrowed, his tongue sticking out from the side of his mouth in concentration, as he crept closer to hear what Alex had to say. Oblivious to the noise he had made, the pup's ears flickered as he listened to the rabbit and watched him intently, like a predator stalking prey. It was at the exact moment Alex stood up from the rock, that Eckli pounced, tripping and tumbling by instead.

"Never really had another friend?" The pup struggled to get up, as he was upside-down, his back against the rock. "What about me? I'm your friend!" He righted himself, and began to knead the ground with his paws.

"I'm sorry if I snuck up on you like that...I just wanted to know where you were going." Eckli looked up at the rabbit, smiling.

OOC: I'd have to say that everyone's eager to continue, and I'm not one to disagree. We'll get going and let everyone post immediately as they come and see what's going on.

SL, Ben, got your PMs, to let you know.

And I apologize in advance for this post being so Taffy-centric, I was trying to slip in some Jim and some minor details like washing up and extra clothes for others to use if they like.

IC:
"Here ya go, Miss Taffy," boomed Jim as the rugged stallion came back into the room with a bundle of clothes in his arms. "I got some other things that were lyin' around, just in case y'all needed to change more than yer shirts. Y'all can have whatever you want, I'm too big for most'f that stuff anyhow."

"Thanks a lot, Jim," said Taffy as she approached the pile of clothes that Jim unceremoniously dumped onto the floor near the front door. Not being one to be picky, she chose a green T-shirt and a pair of blue overalls (My pants are torn up pretty bad, too) and a few other minor items and tucked them under her arm along with the Chaos Emerald. The clothes were faded, but they smelled and looked like they had been well cared-for. "Jim? Whose clothes are these?" she asked. "And you can't tell me these are yours."

Jim busied himself by cleaning up the finished plates of food at the table. "They's my wife's and three kids'. The kids're all grown up and moved away, and my Beaula, she's passed on." He looked up, somewhat sad in the memories that played behind his eyes, but there was a smile on his face. "It's all right to take 'em, miss, clothes're made t'be worn after all. Beaula would smack me upside the head if she saw me holdin' back those clothes fer old times' sake."

Taffy smiled back. "I think I would've liked her. Thanks again, for everything."

"No problem, Miss Taffy. If'n you like, there's a bathtub toward the back o' the house - no offense, but y'all have been out in th'woods fer a few days."

The raccoon nodded before making her way out the door that led back into the barn, leaving the others to go to where she had left her backpack leaning up against one of the dusty haystacks. She knelt down and opened up the pack, rearranging the remaining supplies to make room before lifting up the Emerald in both hands and carefully placing it inside the pack. Reverently, she looked at the softly glistening Emerald, which seemed to quiet its light to a glow. All this trouble for a bunch of rocks, she thought with a smile, knowing full well that these were much more than mere rocks. She zipped up the bag and brought it and the extra clothes with her. She had a date with a bathtub for a few brief minutes, surely the others would need to use it as well.

Taffy came out of the bathroom dressed in her new garb, with her raven-black hair freshly remade into the long braided ponytail she preferred and her backpack strapped on tightly. I feel like a new woman, she thought. And I feel like I'm finally ready to get this show on the road.

She came back into the kitchen and turned to the others. "If there's anything else you need to get ready, then do it now, because once we get going, there's no coming back."

Lena looked back at Riku, who smirked. "You actually think I'm tagging along with her? What kind of idiot are you?" She asked. She turned away and smiled. "I have other matters to tend to," She said and she began walking off into the forest. Lena scratched her head and looked at Taffy. "Well she isn't coming but I will."

OOC: okay! showtime! ^^ good to see everything is back in full swing. Tergonaut, i'm proceeding as we planned. just like to thank you again for your help!

Also, great to have ya back Bentleee. ^^

oh, Terg, i just noticed something. When checking the last post concerning Eclipse so i could see where to go from, i noticed this little typo of yours
"His yellow ears were filled with tears" XD

It's disturbing and funny at the same time! Heh sorry, just found it funny is all. ^_o

-------
IC:

"uhhmm... talk?" replied Eclipse to Susie, an uneasiness in his voice. He had noticed Susie amongst the large group of new faces, but all he recognised was a brief glimpse, he had taken no real notice of anyone but those that he knew better. Eclipse was hopeless at mingling.

Susie nodded at Eclipse and took a step toward him, "yeah... y'know, cos' you look upset." she said.

Eclipse sniffed and collected his thoughts, "well... uh.. thanks. okay, i guess i can talk..." He looked up at her just standing there and then realised he had forgotten his manners, "oh, sorry... you'll wanna sit down." he got up and gestured for Susie to take his seat on the rock.

Susie obliged and took a seat down, moving about a bit to try and get comfortable.

Eclipse looked around before speaking, "you must have run a fair bit to get here. hmm... i must have been pretty loud you were able to find me..."

"so, why were you upset?" asked Susie, looking curious.

Eclipse looked over at her and then looked down, "well, it's kinda complicated... but all you need to know really, is that i'm cursed."

"cursed?" asked Susie, "y'mean like mummy curses?"

Eclipse couldn't help but laugh a bit upon hearing that, "nah, not like that.", he crossed his legs and sat on a patch of ground that had a lot of fallen leaves. "I'm a Lunar magician. i can use magic."

Susie remembered the magic comet that Eclipse had summoned earlier. She leaned forward as she listened.

"I learned it from my Dad, he's a way better magician than i am. Ever since i was little i practiced magic with him, but a few years ago, something happened to me."

Susie's ears flicked up, "what happened?"

Eclipse sighed, "i started getting these nightmares... every night instead of dreaming when i fall asleep, i'd instantly appear in this weird dark world, and this... this ghost... would be there waiting for me... and he'd always scare me."

Susie's eyes widened, she sat upright and pointed out with her finger, "i once had a nightmare where i was on this weird planet that was run by ice-cream sundaes, but the thing is, they all wanted to eat ME!"

Eclipse started laughing, then jokingly pointed his finger at her, "you're not listening!"

"yeah i am!" retorted Susie, "you were talking about this creepy ghost guy that'd always be in your nightmares! so... then what?"

Eclipse's small moment of laughter died down quickly as his memory sparked up the same haunting images he had dealt with for so long. "Soon the nightmares became more frequent, then before i knew it, i didn't sleep peacefully anymore, i'd always be taken back to this black world. I was scared to go to sleep, so i became very ill sometimes... eventually i leanred to get used to it, but... i don't think i can ever be fully used to it."

Susie's tail twitched, "that's bad." she said, sounding sympathetic.

"One night, i went to the dark place, and the ghost wasn't there. It was good in a way, but i knew something was wrong." Eclipse ruffled the fur behind his left ear a bit, "When i woke up, my hands were covered in blood. And when i looked around, i saw that i wasn't in my home anymore, i was somewhere outside my village... and right there on the ground... were some of the bandits that sometimes go around our village... they were dead, all dead."

Susie sat upright, she raised a hand to her chin.

Eclipse looked up at her, noticed her fear, then looked down again, knowing she would most likely be too scared of him by his next statement to even consider staying any longer. "When i was asleep, the ghost had taken over my body. He... he made me kill them. I saw so much damage around that place... he could use my magic too... he could even use more powerful magic than i could. Ever since then, the ghost was able to take control of me for longer, and more often."

He looked up at Susie, rather than be frightened enough to run away, Susie had actually leaned forward again and her eyes were wide with interest, her mouth in a surprised 'o' shape.

Eclipse continued with a little more confidence, "My Dad tried using a magic seal, kind of like a magic lock over my body, so that the ghost wouldn't be able to take over anymore... it worked first, but then the ghost grew stronger still, and took over again. I came to this forest because my Dad needed me to gather some ingredients for a potion or something to get rid of the ghost. But, i got hit by lightning or something... and i crashed into some of the guys back at the farm."

"Wow... so that mean ghost is making you sad?" inquired susie.

Eclipse scratched behing his ear again, "well, yes. but also because ever since i started travelling with the group, i've been nothing but trouble. That ghost's name is Lunaril, and he's taken control of me while i've been with the group. He made me do terrible things that i'm ashamed of. I've tried so hard to help the group, but instead i just keep doing harm. i couldn't even keep a promise i made to Caine..."
Eclipse buried his head in his hands.

Susie felt some more pain as she watched him, "oh, i'm sorry... Was Caine your friend?"

Eclipse looked up and nodded, wiping away a tear, "Caine was a young hedgehog, much younger than me. Some creep told him he was a bio-weapon, and ever since then people have been after him, people that want to hurt him. I promised Caine i'd protect him, keep him safe. But, i failed, some powerful hedgehog named 'Wraith', took him away. I couldn't get him back. i made a flare using magic and everything but i couldn't find him."

Susie walked over and patted him on the shoulder, "aw, i'm sorry. gosh, that poor kid."

Eclipse clenched his fist, "and if all that wasn't bad enough... last night i got possessed again and almost killed a friend. Then there was that fight that broke out in the farm was because of me too, that human girl Rikku was angry that Taffy was hogging credit for saving me. So now because of me the group was arguing amongst themselves."

He looked up at Susie as she stood beside him, "that's why i ran away... i couldn't stand being a danger anymore. i don't want to hurt anyone... i don't want to hurt anyone..."

Kari, forgetting about Eckli for the moment, headed back toward the farmhouse just as Zephron was coming out. She stopped as she saw him, grinning at her old friend. He was carrying a long-sleeved blue shirt with a small V-neck, and some dark maroon pants. On top of that was a black vest. Zephron raised an eyebrow at her.

"What? I'm going to get a bath, unless you have any other ideas." He grinned as well, a small fang protruding.

"Naaah...just wonderin' what you'd be doin' stealin' Jim's clothes!" The vixen laughed.

"He's giving us extra clothes for the journey. You might wanna pack some away...."

"So you're goin'?" She interrupted.

"Yes...yes I am. After all....I might be able to keep the emeralds afterward." Zephron winked and began to walk toward where the bath was located, passing Taffy along the way.

Sure ya will.... Karya adopted an amused look before jogging into the farmhouse. She chose a green button-up, sleeveless shirt and an extra piece of cloth.

OOC: Man, what a guy. Truly amazing that old Jim is. He gives to a bunch of strangers shelter over them, a large whopping breakfast and a load of his clothes for the journey ahead despite the fact that a lot of the people are dangerous, that they helped contribute to burning his wheat field down and blasting a hole in the ceiling. Seriously, what a guy.

I definitely think FexusFan has found himself some competition.

IC:
Eckli! I didnt notice you there! Alex called out, surprised but pleased. Indeed, Eckli was a friend, and at any rate it was much better to beside someone comfortable like him then a dangerous enemy like Wraith or the Overlander assassin.

Yeah, you are my friend, Alex said, walking up to the pup and smiling down towards him. I meant before I met you and the rest of the guys I was pretty lonely.

Eckli looked up to the rabbit in wonder and took in all his words, his smile broadening.

As for where Im going, Ive decided to head on out with Taffy and whoever else is going on this grand old quest. Take a chance to experience the world, and hopefully do some good. Alex explained. I took a moment to come here and reflect, to decide, and to also say goodbye to the forest. But first theres a lake near here with pure water. I was going to take a chance to clean up since I havent for a good while. You want to come? Alex asked, his smile growing even more.

And one more thing, Eckli, in case I didnt make it clear earlier before, thank you for saving my life before. It was you, right?

Jims farm

Midnight and Relm had left the actual farm itself where the enlarged group had been eating the breakfast and where they had listened to Ciphers tale or impending doom and the dire situation concerning the Chaos Emeralds. Although it did seem distinctively dangerous and there was a connection between their race and the Chaos Emeralds in a way, the two didnt seem comfortable with Ciphers explanation, and as such didnt readily believe it.

Taffy had since walked out to see if she could find anyone else who would join her. Lena had agreed and for that she was extremely thankful, it was already good enough to have one friend join. Riku didnt seem too keen though and that was disappointing. Although Taffy wasnt particularly fond of her after what had happened in their first encounter, any extra muscle would have been welcome. She noticed the two echidnas and began to walk up to them. Although her experience with them was particularly short and she had only seen one of them, Midnight for a short amount of time before the regrouping at Jims barn and that he didnt seem particularly friendly from his hostile like encounter with Max and Alex, she was interested in asking them if they would come and she hoped that any help would be good.

Are you two coming? Taffy asked.

The two turned around towards her, and were to begin with silent, before Midnight spoke up.

To be honest, no, Midnight replied. Me and Relm dont feel too comfortable with the situation, and I have doubts about the mouse as much as the rabbit did. In fact, he was right. Theres not enough information really, no guarantees, and both me and Relm dont want to go on what could be a pointless trip around the world for no reason.

Plus we have our own business to attend to concerning the rest of our race. However even though were not going with you, weve seen that youre allies and that you would be willing to risk your life to save your friends, and in a sense were a bit sorry that we werent able to contribute anything earlier. But this just doesnt feel right. Midnight mused, trusting his senses as he often did. However, if we do meet again in the future and you do need our help, then feel free to ask, we will lend it to you.

Taffy smiled faintly, although she was glad that they would be willing to give help if they met again, she felt they could have been a bigger help if they stayed with them and journeyed with them. She sighed deeply, so far there were only two for definite on this mission, her and Lena, and she couldnt be sure about anyone else, which was troublesome.

"Where are you going?" Taffy asked.

"To regroup with our race." Relm replied.

OOC: We might as well reduce some clutter of characters whose RPers are no longer controlling them anymore... anyway they might be back in the future if Froggy or Seori want to rejoin.

Eckli bounded to his feet, his tail swishing in excitement, shifting his feet constantly. The pup yipped, "Yeah! I shall escort you!" He began to prance around, closing his eyes and adopting some sort of high-classed air, making Alex laugh.

Just then, Eckli paused in his playful antics and stared intently at the rabbit. "Save you? I healed you. I couldn't let one of my friends die like that! 'Specially 'cause of that meanie!" The black pup said, referring to Kohle.

OOC: Thanks James ^^

Necropolis

Caine had eventually fallen asleep outside against one of the tombstones whilst kept captive.
He suddenly stirred in his sleep, and shortly afterwards, he woke up with a start when he saw a projectile thrown at him which hit his head and bounced off before he could react in time. Caine rubbed his head slightly, before picking up the projectile which turned out to be an orange.
"I got you some food..." Wraith muttered, arriving on the scene.
It was morning, so Caine was able to decipher. He was slightly disorientated and hazy at everything that happened. Before it all fell into place. Somewhat.
"Or are you a leech like that... vampire freak...?" Wraith asked, probbing the bite marks where Riku had chomped him.
"Erm... no..." Caine answered, trying to keep his cool.
Caine toyed around the orange a bit, before risking to glance at Wraith.
"So what's this all about? Am I a captive... or do you have plans to kill me?" Caine asked, feeling somewhat stoic all of a sudden. After all that had happened, he didn't really think things could get worse. And he didn't care about his fate right now as it looked to be dead at all ends anyway.
"Possibly." Wraith answered.
"Which?"
"Both."
"Why?"
"Do you HAVE to be so inquisitive?!" Wraith demanded, losing his patience.
Caine yelped slightly, dropping the orange, causing it to roll away. Caine closed his eyes and sighed as he got up.
"Well... it involves my life... doesn't it?" he chanced asking "and if you're keeping me for the sake of making me live in fear... I'd rather you killed me right now and get it over with..."
Wraith looked at Caine squarely in the eye, before sniggering derisively.
"Wow... your lack of self-belief makes you look SO pathetic... it baffles me when I think of it... considering what a far cry it is from who and what you were meant to be," the frosty eyed hedgehog explained.
Caine frowned as he listened on to what the fearsome hedgehog was saying.
"Ultimately, anyone that's so willing to give up should have been killed ages ago..." he said, leaning an elbow against a tombstone his height.
"What did you mean by 'who and what' I was meant to be?" Caine asked confused "who am I?!"
"Sure you know yourself best..." Wraith sniggered.
"You know what I mean! And I meant what I said earlier... I can't remember who I am or my past!" Caine cried out, before calming down slightly "all I know is that my name is Caine..."
Wraith frowned slightly, before arbritarily looking up into the sky.
"Caine...? Caine?! No... that doesn't ring a bell. I think it was more something like..." and as Wraith started that statement, he walked up to Caine and folded the back of one his ears, coming across a brand print on his skin "Factor hash 7...." he read out, before stepping back.
Caine suddenly looked away, even more upset and in disbelief to the fact that evidance his way was proving that he was less and less of a living creature.
"Sounds a bit complicated..." Wraith laughed "7 as in lucky seven... or seven as in..." Wraith paused, as a vague link to the seven chaos emeralds came to mind. He dismissed expressing this prospect to Caine, however.
"So which name of the three will it be?" he joked.
"None of them!" the younger hedgehog protested "I am a living creature... not some bioweapon with a reference number!!!" he cried out.
"Why don't you WAKE up and smell the hard cold truth?!?" Wraith snapped, tired of his whining "you were created for a purpose... not to live like all the other pathetic creatures out there! Where does all this unfound weak compassion of yours come from?!?"
Caine paused as he heard that, his eyes slightly moist from the tears.
He remembered his earlier journey with Taffy and everyone else. All these strange beings he was suspicious off turned out to be so much better than the figure that was standing before him. And yet it seemed Wraith knew more about him than anyone else was able to offer. Or was Wraith lying?
And then when he met people that genuinely did care about him, namely Max and Eclipse, he so badly wanted to be back with them. But at the same time, he wanted some answers... but was this all a lie, or what?
He didn't know why he was the way he was. How was he before he lost his memory?
"Can you tell me what purpose I was created for in that case?" Caine asked "and everything that happened before I lost my memory...?"
Wraith donned a contemplative look, before looking away.
"I can't tell you that much..." Wraith answered "there's a limit to how much I remember myself before the incident occured that meant we were able to... 'flee' as it were from our creators..."
As Wraith looked out into the distance, he suddenly saw a few images flash before him- times when he was vulnerable, had control taken over him, and other foreign and nightmarish images where it was hard to decipher reality from twisted illusions.
"Wraith!" called out a juvenile voice from behind which gained the attention of both hedgehogs.
"I just met some loser... this squirrel geezer not far from here. Has some funny accent. But anyhoo... he says there's a Chaos Emerald nearby..." Roody the Chao said, flying nearby "maybe you should go say 'hello'!" Roody grinned.

Jim's farm

Bucky hadn't really eaten her breakfast. She basically had stood there, just stirring a spoon abritarily as she had listened to Ceipher's explanation. By then, her porridge had turned cold which didn't make it any more appetizing.
She eventually pushed her chair back and walked off. She was the last one to do so incidentally.
She wasn't really sure what decision to make. All her life she had been quite a sound and happy individual, but hearing something like this was really disturbing and felt like a somewhat personal attack. Though it shouldn't have done. EVERYONE's lives were in danger. But still... these doubtful and bleak thoughts weren't really ones she was used to. She wished she could just journey elsewhere and leave it all behind. But logically, she knew it wasn't possible. Mobius was in severe danger- and even if she had taken off elsewhere, it wouldn't lessen the danger anymore.
She suddenly everything in the last few days. Certainly some of the things she had done and said were out of character. Particularly involving this shady deal with Seipher to kidnap Caine. She was quite ashamed of that.
Furthermore, the danger she had brought upon Karya Eckli wasn't something she was letting herself go easy on. That Wraith character was DANGEROUS.
Bucky sighed, before wandering around the farm.
She eventually caught sight of Taffy, and the two Echidnas, Nightmare and Relm she had met earlier. The two Echidnas simply nodded at the arriving deer, before turning to leave.
Taffy sighed wearily, before suddenly seeing Bucky, looked at her as if waiting for her to say something- for better or for worse.
"They're not coming... are they?" Bucky said.
"Nope." Taffy simply answered "we can't really hold it against them- can we? It's a lot to ask... for people to embark on some strange and vague conquest..." Taffy said in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
"It all sounds pretty serious to me chana..." Bucky replied "I met one of those creeps earlier, remember? And he took my Chaos Emerald."
Taffy frowned, causing Bucky to hesitate.
"Kay, brew. Not my Chaos Emerald. Take it easy..." Bucky reassured "but I've thought about it and if it's worth anything... I'll tag along and aid the group in this all of this..."
Bucky paused, wondering whether Taffy was either happy, finding the offer a little stupid, or whether at all she was bothered.
"Well?"

OOC: XD I didn't realize I did that, Eclipse, gah! Hilarious! XD I was wondering when someone would catch me on a typo, it was bound to happen after I started poking fun at others about theirs. 😛 Great job on Susie, too, I especially liked her nightmare. XD

And glad to have everyone back and running again. Let's make some magic.

IC:
Taffy nodded. "The more the merrier," she replied as she walked past Bucky, patting her on the shoulder. "And maybe since you had an Emerald, it could help out. Mobius knows we're gonna need all the help we can get. C'mon, let's go back to the house and see if anyone else has decided yet. We're going to start heading out soon."

Taffy's defenses were rising again. She was really glad to have along another person - she didn't want to face this challenge alone, and even unfamiliar faces were welcome. And she was grateful that Lena had decided to come, as she considered Lena the only one out of the group that she could really share her secrets with, what with them both having secrets of their own.

But she wasn't about to tell the others that.

Susie's face became serious, and she gently but firmly gripped Eclipse on his shoulder. He looked up at her questioningly, his pained utterances stopping.

"Y'know, you're being awful hard on yourself. I mean, it's not really your fault for doing any of those things."

"Huh? But-"

"Butts are for sitting on! You just told me it's this weird ghost inside you who takes over and hurts people..."

Eclipse lowered his head, eyes closed in despair. "But it IS my fault. I'm too weak to stop him from taking control, and I let him hurt people, my friends!"

Susie's mouth twisted up in a determined frown. "That isn't true! It isn't fair to blame yourself for what somebody else does. That'd be like me getting blamed for something I didn't steal, I'd get in trouble and the real crook gets away! That's not fair!"

She stopped, huffing and puffing a little after that tirade of slowly-increasing volume. Eclipse was staring up at her with wide eyes. "And to prove that it's not your fault," she whispered, "I'm coming with you." Then she raised her voice again as she smiled a silly grin down at him. "Besides, I'm not afraid of ghosties!"

The oddly-colored feline cartwheeled away from Eclipse to hop onto the nearby rock, her fists up in boxing style as she whiffed the air a few times. "Yeah, who ya gonna call? Susie the Ghost-butt-kicker! Oh yeah, they don't call me Brave Susie for nothin'! I've never been scared in my life! I GIGGLE in the face of fear!"

She hopped down from the rock and scurried back over to Eclipse with a silly kitty grin on her face as she slapped an arm around his shoulders. "You've got nothin' to worry about now, Eclipse, 'cos I'm here ta see you through this! So's how about we find your hedgie friend now that you're feeling better?"

The sympathy she felt had vanished, replaced by her passionate ignorant bliss.

Max was now outside, leaning aganist an idle tree as he calmed himself down. He had a firey temper, but Riku pretty much went off on Taffy earlier for him. He shook his head, the only reason the rivalary had happened was because she attacked him because she thought he had attacked Caine. Caine. Max closed his eyes painfully, the kid had left a mark on him and that was a first. Caine being a hedgehog was one reason they forged a friendship. Caine also made Max think twice before going off, and acting. But would he ever find Caine again? The red hedgehog sighed painfully as he gritted his teeth. "Caine...." he muttered. With that he opened his eyes as he grabbed a cigarette from his pocket and opened his palm and right now he didn't care. His hand was soon grasping a small fireball and that fireball he used to light his cagarette when the fireball was no more use he clenched his fist and it turned to smoke. Max sighed, he hadn't had tobacco in so long but thinking of Caine, and Taffy.... it made him irritated and nervous. And those two made him feel uneasy. And feeling uneasy made him desire to taste tobacco though he knew that. He knew that it was bad for his health. Good for his emotions he'd like to think.
The taste was like he remembered and the relief was there. The crimson red hedgehog smirked lightly as he looked to the skies as he smoked. It was going to be a long journey to Danberg - that was the name right? And once there he would find a repairer and ask him for parts...or just buy a new plane alone. No. He couldn't buy a new plane, the Biplane had been in his family since the middle of the Great War and had seen too much to be replace. Max sighed once more and smirked mentally. "Too good. Too old. And obviousily too memorable to replace." he muttered under his breath.
The hedgehog then blinked as he heard footsteps. He spat some words. "Leave me be, I need me time."
A vocie he had never heard before reply. "I see, sorry about that." a voice said as a jet-black echidna walked in front of him and leaned on a different tree. A long broadsword hung from his belt and he had purple eyes. And a trenchcoat.
"Isn't it a bit too hot for black, 'nida?" Max remarked. Factor raised a eyebrow at the Downundian Hedgehog. "Isn't it too hot to be smoking?" he spat back. Max only smirked at this and nodded. "Point taken." he said as he clsoed his eyes again, thinking.

Meanwhile in the woodworks nearby the duo stood the same Overlander Mage, he was watching the land forr hostilities. After all he had pledged to protect the forest. The Overlander smirked as he saw the two no trouble at all and went back into the woodwork, well deeper into it and out of sight. Though unknown to the Overlander or anyone there for the matter - a cloaked figure sat on a tree watching the 'heroes' with interest. Blood red eyes examined them, it nodded as it slid down the tree and walked into the deep woods, oppisite direction from the Overlander. The figure had a long brown trenchcoat and black pants. He had large black gloves, and boots as well and a black cloak around his person to hide his specie. It snorted unhumaningly as it disappeared.

Disappeared but it would return.

Alex nodded after Eckli, and then began to look up at the tops of the trees, not paying attention to the ground but finding that he didnt need to since he was already fully aware of it throughout his experiences of his life.

I wonder what happened to him, Alex muttered, referring to Kohle. Eckli who had been looking over his shoulder whilst escorting him wrinkled his nose and then did an exaggerated motion of turning around in a defiant manner.

Who cares what happened to him? Eckli replied. Hes a meanie and thats that!

Alex looked at Eckli for a little while with his mouth opened in a small o, and then smiled and laughed at his mannerisms. Although he didnt particularly care about Kohle, he was still concerned in case the wolverine would return to attack or hurt their group.

Thankfully the lake wasnt too far from where they had been, and the two didnt have to turn corners or meander in different directions, so Eckli was able to lead Alex sufficiently well, despite the fact he didnt even know where the lake was. When they came towards it and Eckli managed to find it, this boosted his sense of accomplishment and made him feel all the more proud for it.

Yep! Here it is! He called out, his face beaming.

Well done, Eckli. Alex returned the smile, and he gazed towards the lake. The surface of the water was radiating with the reflection of the sunlight that poured through the wide clearing of trees and shone upon the clear liquid. It was incredibly beautiful although Alex didnt really pay much attention to that, as he had experienced it all his life, although it still made him smile.

Alex picked up a rickety old bucket Bucky had once made and told him to use instead of them just recklessly jumping into the lake and making it dirty, and Alex, being a protector of the forest and everything that was inside of it, was all too glad to comply. A flannel was also there to wash your face and body. He dipped the bucket into the lake and then brought it out, filled with clean water, and looked down at his own reflection, whilst Eckli was nearing the water, and looking at it intently.

Alex took off his quiver and his top half of clothing, placing them down to the side, and then bringing the water to his face and splashing it against it. He drenched the flannel into the lake, cleaning it as well, and then began washing his upper body, making sure to get rid of the dirt that he had picked up over the past days.

It didnt take Alex long to finish what he needed to do, and then he picked up more new water from the lake into the bucket and then put his cloak and top into the bucket, twisting it and scrubbing it to try and make them clean. Eckli was still near the lake, playing with it slightly by trying to see how close he could get without getting wet.

Well, Im done, Alex said. He slumped his wet top and cloak over his shoulder to let them dry naturally as he also put the quiver across his shoulder and body and he looked to Eckli. Do you want to get washed too? If not, I think we should try and leave and head back to the others as soon as possible, theyre probably getting worried.

Karya headed toward Taffy, holding out her metallic hand to shake. The raccoon hesitated, which made the vixen frown before switching hands. They shook, she the Aussie gal introduced herself.

"Name's Karya...and I just wanted to say that I support thuh cause. I'll come with ya and help you and ya mates, soon as my bud shows up." She smiled, nodding her head toward the forest. "M'gonna warm up a bit, 'zat okay?"

-------

Eckli pawed at the water in the lake, jumping back as a fish startled him. The pup looked on at the clear surface, staring at his reflection so intently he failed to hear Alex's question until the rabbit tapped him on the shoulder. Eckli jumped, causing him to lose balance and and almost tumble into the lake. Alex caught the black-and-white pup and helped pull him backward, saving him the unpleasant experience of getting a bath....the hard way.

"Eckli? Eckli...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Alex crouched down as he apologized.

Eckli just smiled, "It's ok. Those fishies there are slippery critters, eh?"

The rabbit in front smiled. "Yes, indeed they are. Um, Eckli? How 'bout we get going? I'm sure Karya will be missing you."

Eckli perked up, ears pricking, tongue lolling happily. He nudged Alex in the direction of the farm, butting him playfully. "Yes! Let's go! I can't wait to see Kari!"

------

Kohle finally had worked himself free of his bondage, grunting in frustration and fury that a mere yearling pup had managed to subdue the assassin without even touching him! The wolverine snarled and began hacking at a nearby tree to vent his anger, using his unsheathed clasws to gouge chunks and holes in the gnarled surface. How could he let the bat get away!? How could he be defeated three times in a row!?!? First that deer had stopped him from giving Karya Mitsuki the punishment she so readily deserved, then that Wraith freak took the emerald he had managed to steal....and now this! Kohle sheathed his claws as he began to pace around the clearing.

The assassin thought of possibly retracing his steps and reclaiming the emerald but thought against it. Clearly this Wraith character was even too powerful for he himself. And that was a scary thought to Kohle, who took comfort in the way he was feared for his assertive, aggressive nature. Surely he'd earn his way to his deathbed faster that way...

"Hmm...gotta be something I can do. My job's not done yet," He muttered, kicking a rock.

He remembered Zephron, the bat he had set his sights on. The bounty hunter had something he wanted. Something of great importance. Great value. The more he thought about how much he had screwed up, the more Kohle wanted to strangle Zephron and his friends. The wolvering spat, and paused with his pacing, placing his hands on his hips. It wouldn't be hard to track down the little prick, nor, in the bat's state, would it be hard to take him down and get his revenge. Kohle started to plan, a malicious smile spreading across his face as his anger molded into insane glee.....

The Forest pathway clearing

Alex and Eckli had begun in a quick walking pace after Eckli continued to nudge him forward playfully, and then eventually the two had broke out into a jog as they ran down the Forest pathway they had been in before and had started to head back towards the exit of the Forest, towards the barren and unfortunately ruined wheat field and then towards Jims farm, where the rest of the group would have been and where this quest would begin or was it rather to continue? Before now they had all been set up to come to this point, gathered in the machinations of Ciphers plan in fact this quest had begun far earlier then any of them had realised. So, this wasnt really the beginning, just the next stage instead.

It didnt take the hurrying two long before they exited the clearing and began to run down the short, steep hill that was there and which overlooked the wheat field. They began sliding down it, Alexs large ears and top on one shoulder blowing behind him. Their run continued as they got to the wheat field itself and their pace never slackened. The farm was ahead of them and already they could see the others which they had left.

Kari! Eckli shouted out joyfully.

Taffy! Alex said as well, still slightly wet.

The two turned to face them and was a bit surprised with what had happened to them although Eckli looked visibly fine, Alex was topless and dripping wet.

What?! Did something happen? Taffy asked, a bit worried from what had looked like urgency from the rabbit.

No, no I just finally came to a decision, and I had to say goodbye to the forest. Im going with you on their quest. After all, I cant let a friend down, can I? Alex smiled as his gaze turned between both Taffy and Karya.

OOC: Hope nobody minds an official character brought in. Can always change the details if not...

Forest

Wraith, Caine and Roody had made their way out of the graveyard and through the forest, with intentions of finding where this stranger was that Roody talked about.
Caine felt obliged to follow for some reason. A number of reasons as to why this was. For starters, he didn't know where he was- so getting lost in a forest with dangerous beings such as that psycho scythe wielding human wouldn't have comforted him. Albeit Caine being unaware of Wraith's earlier encounter with the overlander- he suspected he might be able to take him on pretty easily.
In addition, Wraith had threatened to kill him if he attempted to run off. He would find him after all...
Caine also wanted to know more about his past. Even if it meant he'd die for it... Wraith seemed to be the only one who could lend some answers closer to the truth.
Roody suddenly stopped, causing the other two hedgehogs to skid to a halt. They stopped before a set of branches and bushes, with Wraith being the first to look through the shady plants.
"There he is..." Roody said pointing.
As Caine pushed some branches out of the way as well, a clear like slope, which looked out to mountains and plateuas into the far distance. On the slope itself, was medium, authentic looking tavern. It appeared to have a pub outside as well. For now, it seemed somewhat empty.
The only figure that was clear was a lone purple, long tailed creature with a potruding fang- who sat on a chair sharpening a knife.
"Roody... you idiot! That's not a squirrel!" Wraith hissed "it's a weasel!"
"Same difference..."
Wraith smacked his forehead, before looking at the Chao in an annoyed manner.
"So... you spoke with him?" Wraith asked.
"Yup!"
"And what did you say exactly?!" Wraith questioned, perplexed at his chao partner being the quite the social individual.
"Well, I was just wandering around the place. Whilst you spoke with him..." Roody said, narrowing his eyes at Caine "and I bumped into that squirrel in the forest. He asked me what I was doing all alone and I said I was searching for Chaos Emeralds. And I told him it was for you. He asked who and I said 'the Enhanced Ultimate Lifeform'. And then he said he'd like to meet you and that he might know a Chaos Emerald nearby!"
"Great..." Wraith muttered, not particularly impressed his Chao having given away so much information to a stranger. Particularly a weasel.
"He looks dodgy..." Caine remarked, worried "maybe we should leave..."
"But don't you want a Chaos Emerald?" Wraith asked insistantly "wouldn't you be interested to know what powers you were truely capable of if you could have one?"
"I..."
"Just come on already!" Wraith muttered, yanking his hand as the figures walked out into the clearing- with Wraith marching towards the weasel, Caine being dragged reluctantly and Roody flying along.
The purple figure probbed his hat, aware of the newcomers, before tossing his knife clumisly behind his back and jumping off of the chair.
"Hey... how ye doing guys? Nice ta meets yers..." the purple weasel said, with a grin "the name's Fang. The Sniper. And yous people are...?"
Caine gave a worried frown, before looking to Wraith and Roody to see what their reactions.
"Regretful to be here..." Wraith murmured moodily, before straightening up and smiling in a change of temperament.
"My chao says you know of a Chaos Emerald nearby..." Wraith began, causing Caine to blink worriedly as he looked from Wraith to Fang.
_________

The Farm

Bucky had made her way back to the farm when Taffy had insisted they went.
In the meantime, she had sat in the kitchen, figuring out crossword puzzles with little success.
She wasn't particularly feeling all that social right now. And didn't feel any lead with this. Just as well, she was still somewhat mentally and physically exhausted. What a convenienve considering their upcoming quest!
She continued to sit there, staring at the crossword clues with glazed eyes- basically until the group had gathered and were ready to make their way.

OOC: howdy all! My long disappearance can be blamed on massive workload from school (even though its just the first friggin' week O.O ), and a super cool outing with friends that happened today. We went to Federation square in the city and saw the exhibition: "Sonic the Hedgehog: Icon of our times" held at the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image). They had a whole bunch of playable games there, including Sonic Adventure, which i havent played... ever, until today. Knuckle's wall climbing kicks ASS! i missed that in sonic Heroes Anywhoo, back now. I think i'll post this in my other RP's so that people know where i've been.

Tergonaut, you've been a great help to this RP, thankyou so much for everything!

Bentleee, i dont see any problems with using Nack/Fang. i think it'd be pretty interesting to see him involved somehow. Those last few posts were an interesting dive into the world of Caine as well, a very thorough and enjoyable read.

------------
IC:

Eclipse was somewhat overtaken by Susie's spontaneous character. one moment she's sympathetic, the next she's logical, and now she's just... weird!

That is to say, Eclipse was not only amused by this individual, but he had been talked some sense into. He felt determined now. he decided upon his next course of action.

He stood up abruptly, causing Susie to look over at him while in the middle of a fighting stance atop her rock, looking curious.

Eclipse turned to her, looking stern and collected, "While i am not at peace, i know i will bring trouble to our group again. If i am to bring trouble, let it be on our enemies."

his speech sounded more steady and confident than it ever has. He clenched a fist as he thought about that Wraith character.

"Caine is till out there, somewhere, and i have a promise i must keep. If we can rescue him, i'll be keeping my promise, bringing him back safely, making my mind rest at ease, and i'll be able to bring hell down onto that Wraith guy. I promise now that i won't return to the group without rescuing Caine."

Susie stepped down from her rock and stepped toward him, "yeah!" she said, raising a fist, "that's the spirit!"

Eclipse smiled at her underneat a determined face, "while i appreciate what you've said... are you sure you want to come with me? you realise i may not find Caine for weeks on end, i'd hate to drag you down my path without warning you first."

---

OOC: Hope that progresses things a bit. sorry again for my absence.

Bentleee, i hope this is okay with you too!