***Game On!***
*The party has just been teleported out of Vane and are standing on top of the Lost Ruins. Before them sits a large machiene covered in moss and vines; the Dragonship Destiny.
* Zepp_Delinius lets out a long whistle.
* Donovan looks at the run down ship. "This is supposed to help us?"
<Tala^Pelagic> "Should I be impressed?"
<Donovan> Well I'm sure it must have been a lot better when Leo used it 1,000 years ago. But now...?
<Zepp_Delinius> Oh come on you two. With a little elbow grease, and a spit shine or seven, we'll have this puppy up and running in no time!
* Donovan sighs.
* Raena shakes off the dizziness of the teleport, and focuses on the delapidated vessel...
<Donovan> Shall we then?
<Raena> So this is the legendary ship of White Knight Leo.
* Zepp_Delinius happily skips onto the ship.
<Donovan> It must be. I doubt that Ghaleon would have directed us here for no reason at all.
<Raena> Can we really make it work? I'm not exactly an engineer...
<Donovan> We have to try!
* Zepp_Delinius screams out in pain as there is a bright flash eminating from the ship.
<Tala^Pelagic> "Is that supposed to happen?"
* Raena draws closer hopefully, then shields her eyes from the flash. "What is that? Zepplin?"
<Donovan> Huh?
* Donovan runs up the ramp onto the ship.
<Donovan> By the Goddess Zeppelin, what did you do to yourself this time?
* Donovan stops just after the ramp's end.
* Tala^Pelagic pets Amadahy.
* Donovan smaks his forehead.
* Raena joins Donovan, trying to pick out what exactly happened to their companion..
* Zepp_Delinius is in a stupor on the floor. "...Control pannel...electricity...owie!"
<Donovan> Hmm, I wonder how on Lunar that this thing is still active after all this time?
<Tala^Pelagic> *to Amadahy*  "I'm assuming that wasn't supposed to happen.  Think we should follow them or stay here?"
* DD_System talks in a robotic voice. "UNAUTHORIZED BREACH OF SECURITY WAS ATTEMPTED. DEFENCE SYSTEM TEMPORARILY ACTIVATED."
* Amadahy looks at Tala then looks at the ship
* Raena goes over to Zepp to aid him in recovery. "You shouldn't have rushed in so fast..."
* Raena blinks
* Donovan looks around to see who was talking. "What the heck?"
* Zepp_Delinius groans and stands up slowly.
<Tala^Pelagic> <Tala>  "You're just as indecissive as me.  We make quite a pair don't we?"
* Zepp_Delinius calls to Tala. "Are you two coming up or not?"
* Donovan moves over to the control pannel.
<DD_System> UNIDENTIFIED INTRUDERS ABOARD DRAGONSHIP DESTINY. IDENTIFY!
* Raena looks around the ship for the source of that voice. "I didn't read about it having anything like this on board..."
<Donovan> "...Me either Raena. Leo must have added a security system when he left it behind."
* Zepp_Delinius rubs his head
* Tala^Pelagic shrugs and walks up the ramp. "Hello Dragonship Destiny, I'm Tala. It's a pleasure to meet you
* Raena considers the request, caling out to noone in particular. "We are members of the Church of Althena and the city of vane! We bear no malice!"
* Amadahy walks behind Tala
<DD_System> SUBJECTS TALA, CHURCH MEMBERS OF ALTHENA, AND VANE RESIDENTS ARE UNKNOWN. REASON FOR PRESENCE REQUESTED.
<Donovan> "Wierd little thing isn't it?"
<DD_System> "WIERD LITTLE THING" DOES NOT COMPUTE.
<DD_System> RESON FOR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED.
<Raena> I.. we have come here to use this ship to rescue the Dragon auras.
<DD_System> DRAGONSHIP DESTINY CANNOT BE CONTROLED BY CURRENT OCCUPANTS.
<Zepp_Delinius> Can't this thing give a straight answer?
<Raena> It is an urgent mission of world safety, which you and your master were sworn to preserve...
DESTINY.
<DD_System> FORMER MASTER OF DRAGONSHIP DESTINY NO LONGER OCCUPIES AVALIABLE RADIUS OF DRAGONSHIP DESTINY.
<Donovan> Okay then...define your master!
<DD_System> MASTER OF DRAGONSHIP DESTINY MAY TAKE MANUAL CONTROL VIA VOICE COMMAND FROM RECOGNIZED WHITE DRAGON HERO. THIS IS REQUIRED FOR MANUAL USE OF DRAGONSHIP DESTINY.
* Raena doesn't know what to say to the final query. "The White Hero..."
<Zepp_Delinius> Crap. So we need a White Dragon Hero then!
<DD_System> AFFIRMATIVE!
<Donovan> But we don't have the aura Zeppelin!
<Zepp_Delinius> ...Oh yeah.
<Zepp_Delinius> So what to we do?
<Raena> We need this to help with the search, but it needs someone blessed by the white aura to operate...
<Tala^Pelagic> Um, What's an aura?
* Raena thinks. "Tala, it's the ssence of a Dragon's power, bestowed upon a person as their chosen champion.."
<Tala^Pelagic> "How would one aquire an aura?"
<Raena> It draws from a fundamental elemental power of the world, or so it has been written. ^^
<Donovan> The question is, where is it?
<Raena> Zophar had siezed most of them in the Zydean war, with his own anti-dragon heroes. I don't know where the white aura is now...
<DD_System> ...SYSTEMS SEARCHING...
<Raena> Donovan has the red
* Raena blinks. "Wait, what was that?"
<Zepp_Delinius> System wha? This thing can find the auras?
<Tala^Pelagic> "Can I have the white?"  or the purple?  is there a purple?"
<Donovan> I wish we knew about this a couple of months ago!
* Zepp_Delinius looks at Tala. "The only two left are white and blue!"
<Tala^Pelagic> "Alright, Can I have one of those?"
<Donovan> It's up to the Dragon that controls that aura.
<Tala^Pelagic> "But you get one! *slight pout*"
<DD_System> SEARCH COMPLETE. LOCATION OF DRAGON AURA OF WHITE NALL HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
<Zepp_Delinius> So did I! Heh heh.
* Raena bows her head. "Nall... he is still alright?"
* Zepp_Delinius smiles proudly.
<Zepp_Delinius> {Actually Zeppelin, you aquired my spirit, not my aura!}
<Zepp_Delinius> SHUT UP!
<Tala^Pelagic> "So do I get one?"
<DD_System> LOCATION OF WHITE DRAGON NALL IS UNKNOWN. STATUS IS UNKNOWN. ARUA LOCATION HAS BEEN COMFIRMED.
<Donovan> We can't say for sure Tala.
<Tala^Pelagic> "...Oh well"
<Raena> Where is the Whire Aura, Destiny? if you can provide this information?
* Tala^Pelagic sighs
* Tala^Pelagic pets Amadahy.
<DD_System> VISIUAL MAP LOADING.
* DD_System displays a map on a screen that is created in thin air. A red dot points to where the aura is located.
* Donovan gets a good look at the map.
<Donovan> "...!"
* Donovan starts to go pale.
* Raena is a bit confused at first, then tries to equate the map with paper ones.
<Zepp_Delinius> Hey, I've never been to that area of Lunar before!
* Donovan chokes out a few words. "Destiny, identify that location!"
<DD_System> LOCATION NAME IS UNKNOWN. REGION HAS BEEN ABANDONED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. ACTUAL DATE IS UNKNOWN.
<Zepp_Delinius> Well what are we waiting for?
<Tala^Pelagic> "Well, They say ignorance is bliss....maybe I just shouldn't ask this time"
<Raena> It seems familiar...
* Donovan takes a deep breath.
<Donovan> ...Let's get going then. The sooner we get htat aura, the sooner we can find the Blue one and stop those gods!
<Raena> Donovan.. are you alright?
* Donovan shakes his head yes, slightly uncontroled.
* Zepp_Delinius holds his hand out. "Alrighty then. Let's book it on ovre there!"
* Donovan puts his hand on Zepp's.
<Raena> Sorry Tala, this must be a lot to take in... let's all be careful
* Zepp_Delinius gets ready to teleport.
* Donovan stares off into space.
* Tala^Pelagic nods
* Tala^Pelagic looks very laid back. "Hey, ignorance is pretty blissful, at least I'm not worried like everyone else seems to be."
* Zepp_Delinius teleports the group away to the location.
* DD_System begins to work again after the heros teleport away. It says, "PRESENCE OF RED DRAGON HERO AND BLACK DRAGON HERO HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND CONFIRMED. UNIDENTIFIED ENERGY SIGNATURES OF INTENSE POWER DETECTED. FURTHER SCANNING IN PROGRESS..."
*Scene cut to an unknown area. The soil is free of plant life and is very squishy for some reason.
* Donovan digs his foot into the soggy ground.
* Tala^Pelagic stretches. "It's good to be back out in the open. Though I wish this place had trees or something"
* Raena looks around as they blip into existance. "That's strange,"
<Zepp_Delinius> What is Raena?
* Donovan walks forward on his own.
<Raena> I don't feel much life at all here. *testingly walks several paces on the soft earth*
* Zepp_Delinius looks at Donovan. "Hey Donny, where ya going?"
* Donovan continues on his own.
<Raena> Donovan?
<Zepp_Delinius> "...What's with him?"
* Raena begins to look concerned, taking another look around.
* Donovan stops a small distance ahead. Before him is an open field of makeshift graves, all poorly done. Each is marked with a weapon.
* Amadahy whines a little
* Tala^Pelagic snaps around to look at her with a curious look on her face...
<Tala^Pelagic> "oh.  that can't be good"
<Zepp_Delinius> "What's with your dog Tala?"
* Amadahy whines some more
* Donovan clentchs his fists, but does not move.
<Tala^Pelagic> "She's a wolf and.....She's um, Kinda hungry."
* Raena steps toward the garves somberly, trying to make out who or what they might be for.
* Zepp_Delinius reaches into his pouch. He takes out a piece of dried meat and holds it out to Amadahy.
* Amadahy  takes it and starts to eat it while she walks around to keep from sinking.
* Tala^Pelagic looks around nervously.
* Old_Zydean walks into the grave yard from the the end.
* Donovan looks up and sees the old man.
* Zepp_Delinius joins Raena and Donny.
* Old_Zydean stops half way into the grave yard.
<Zepp_Delinius> Hey, isn't that the old man from the prision in Merbia?
<Tala^Pelagic> "Yep, looks like"
* Raena is still by the grave, looking up to the other person. "...you... the man from the cell?"
* Old_Zydean nods.
<Tala^Pelagic> "Wonder how he got here....Is it ok if I go say Hi?"
<Zepp_Delinius> "What are you doing in an unholy place like this?
<<Old_Zydean> ...
<Donovan> This place is far from unholy Zeppelin!
<Zepp_Delinius> Hey, the silent man speaketh! What are you talking about Donny?
<Raena> ... *looks at the weapon on a nearby grave*
* Old_Zydean calls out to Zeppelin and the others. "He means this is a holy place!"
* Zepp_Delinius walks over to Raena. "Whatcha lookin at?"
* Old_Zydean is holding an old cane in his hand.
<Old_Zydean> Why have you come here?
* Tala^Pelagic walks over to Old Zydean "Hi, Why is this place holy?"
* Raena bows her head. "These are the graves of warriors of the Althena shrine..."
<Zepp_Delinius> "...oh"
<Raena> I would recognize those consecrated weapons anywhere. *hodls up her staff, which has the same inscription in very tiny letetring upon it*
<Old_Zydean> ..My buisness is not with you little girl. I am here for the Vile!
* Raena looks across her shoulder. "The Vile?"
* Donovan stares at the old man.
<Donovan> ...?
* Zepp_Delinius looks closely at the staff, then at the old guy.
* Old_Zydean calls to Donovan.
* Tala^Pelagic sighs and walks away from the group to sit in the mud and wait for them to be done.
* Raena shifts an eye to Donovan.
<Donovan> Don't sit down Tala!
<Tala^Pelagic> "Alright, I'm game.  Why can't I sit down Donovan?"
<Donovan> ...Because the ground is soaked with blood!
<Tala^Pelagic> "I figured there would be a reason."
<Zepp_Delinius> How do you know that Donny?
<Donovan> ...I grew up here!
<Old_Zydean> I didn't recognise you at first when I met you in Merbia. But then again, you're much older now, and your markings have shown through.
<Raena> The sins committed here do not need to be compounded... I... what?! o_o
* Donovan stares at the Zydean.
* Tala^Pelagic stands up and where she was sitting appears to have been frozen and it starts to melt back into whatever.
* Raena draws back from the tomb. "This is your hometown?"
* Donovan nods.
<Donovan> This was where my shrine used to be. And these graves...I dug with my bare hands to bury the others!
<Zepp_Delinius> ...Whoa! Holy shit!
<Raena> ...Donovan...
<Donovan> It was a rogue shrine! We weren't accepted by the other churches...because of me; because I was a monk!
* Old_Zydean bows his head in silence.
* Raena doesn't know what to say, standing there in muted shock for a moment.
<Zepp_Delinius> ...So f you were part of the shrine that was here...what does that mean about the old guy?
* Donovan shakes his head. "...I don't know"
<Old_Zydean> I know why you are all here!
<Tala^Pelagic> "Are you guys waiting for me to react in some way?  Because I'm not really gonna, considering how weird everything else has been for me this is about the normalist thing that has occured, from my perspective that is"
* Zepp_Delinius whispers to Tala. "Not that I think that Donny is a soft kinda guy, but could you be alittle more aware that this was once his home!"
<Old_Zydean> There is only one way I will give up the aura to you!
<Raena> So that's the way it was... *turns to the Zydean*
* Old_Zydean looks at Raena.
<Zepp_Delinius> Oh boy, here coes another battle!
<Tala^Pelagic> "My home was torn apart by wood cutters."
<Zepp_Delinius> And his was torn apart by Zophar!
<Zepp_Delinius> Don't you have any feelings at all?
<Tala^Pelagic> "I don't even know who Zophar is"
<Raena> So you hope to finish what your fellows started? Are we still stuck in the endless cycle of the past?
* Old_Zydean reaches up to take off his cloak, but stops.
<Tala^Pelagic> "Not really anyway, all I know is that some freaky guy sealed me in a weird energy field to freak me out and said Zophar made people feel like that."
<Zepp_Delinius> Well then take that and apply a lot of years of that feeling to Donny!
<Old_Zydean> Here's the deal: I'll meet you by the ruins that are not too far from here. If you can find my grave here, then I will show you where the aura is.
* Old_Zydean walks off.
<Tala^Pelagic> "Okay, got it.  It's not like anything I'll do will help anyway."
<Zepp_Delinius> Well not now it won't. Jeez, you remind me of my dad!
<Donovan> ...
<Donovan> ...His grave!
* Raena watches him go, looking awash with conflicting emotions. "If this is the way, then..."
* Tala^Pelagic just shuts up
* Zepp_Delinius grunts and starts to look at each grave.
* Donovan is standing like a statue, slowly closing his eyes.
<Zepp_Delinius> Hmm...let's see.
<Raena> Not every battle ends with just a sword. Not every life ends with death... the white aura is about hope. Locked in ice. We have to break through and find it...
<Zepp_Delinius> ...You know,I just realized something!
* Raena puts a hand on Donovan's shoulder.
* Donovan reaches up and takes Raena's hand.
<Zepp_Delinius> This would be so much easier if the old guy had given us HIS NAME!!
* Donovan can't help but to crack a smile at Zeppelin's childish ways.
* Tala^Pelagic starts whispering to Amadahy so as not to disturb anyone. "I don't get it. How did they expect me to react?"
<Raena> I might be able to do something about that.
<Zepp_Delinius> How?
<Tala^Pelagic> *still whispering*  "Was I supposed to be shocked or something?  I mean, honestly, I've never been very good at emotions, yeah, I know....you aren't either.  Is this actually any different from when our home was destroyed?"
* Raena steps back from Donovan to a rather clear, central spot, and begins to concentrate her senses... there's a grey haze that begins to eminate from where she is.
* Donovan walks ovewr to a grave that has been marked with a long gold staff with black runes written on it.
<Donovan> Reana, check this one for me!
<Tala^Pelagic> "Before I forget, do you know who Zophar is?  Because I'm still more or less drawing a blank."
<Tala^Pelagic> "Well, that makes two of us...."
<Raena> If I can find the... strength to locate the spirit... that matches... *actually begins to step towards Donovan's grave before he asks, as if guided by something*
<Donovan> What do you think Raena?
<Zepp_Delinius> Is that it?
* Amadahy walks over to Donovan and Raena
* Tala^Pelagic gets bored and stares off into space.
* Donovan pets Amadahy, not worried about getting his hnd bitten off or anything.
<Raena> It's definitely different than the others. The resonance is... the same as that man's.
* Donovan pulls the staff out of the ground. "...I should have known!"
* Donovan takes the staff in hand and heads towards the ruins.
<Zepp_Delinius> Whoa! Slow down Donny!
* Zepp_Delinius follows quickly.
* Amadahy follows Donovan
* Tala^Pelagic stays staring off into space.
* Raena pats Tala a moment to snap her back to reality, and towards the ruins. ^^
* Tala^Pelagic jumps when Raena pats her and Amadahy whines for a second.
*Scene change. The entrance of the ruins leads into a large room filed with rubble. The Zydean is standing at the other end of the room.
<Old_Zydean> So soon?
* Donovan holds the staff out for a moment and then lets it drop to the floor.
<Raena> Tala? We've found it...
<Old_Zydean> Hey, be careful with tha! They don't make them like they used to you know!
<Tala^Pelagic> "I know- I mean, I'm coming."  *walks towards the ruins
<Donovan> I never imagined that you of all people would convert! How could you help Zophar after devoting your life to Althena for so long?
* Raena enters the ruins soon enough
<Zepp_Delinius> ???
<Old_Zydean> I don't think you'd understand Donovan! You're even more hot headed about battle now then you used to be.
<Raena> A lot of things have changed since then... I don't think people are much different.
<Old_Zydean> The people no loner matter little girl!
<Donovan> ...ANSWER MY QUESTION!
* Tala^Pelagic looks at the ground and starts humming quietly to herself.
* Old_Zydean reaches for his black robe. He pulls it off to reveal a bluish robe, one of Althena's priest's!
* Amadahy hides behind Tala
<Zepp_Delinius> ...Whoa!
* Raena shakes her head. "The war doesn't matter any longer either... we both have something much greater than our little ideological war that claimed so many lives."
* Old_Zydean readies his cane.
Old_Zydean> Come Donovan, let's see if you have improved any over these years.
* Donovan moves into a fighting stance, not using his powers.
<Donovan> As you wish...Master!
* Raena raises her staff defensively, looking to him with a question in her eyes, wishing to fight by his side yet knowing this might not be her place to.
<Master_Tamen> That is right! I am Tamen, priest of Althena, teacher of Donovan Aleron; the first monk to arise since before Dragonmaster Dyne, and keeper of the ruins of Altha's shrine!
* Master_Tamen runs at Donovan.
* Donovan charges forward.
***End Session***