Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Feb 27, 2007 3:07:15 GMT -8
Another zombie arose from the ground, wriggling as it freed itself from its earthy confines, strips of its rotted flesh scraping away as he emerged from its grave like a maggot emerging from from a corpse. As it finally freed itself it began lumbering toward him, but was only able to take a step or two before a lance whizzed through the air, tearing through its decayed flesh and causing it to crumble into a pile of assorted organs and body parts.
"Do these vile ghouls never end?!" Arthur said with a grimace, turning an about face and hurling a lance just in time to dispatch another zombie who was just about to grab him from behind. As he was about to start progressing forward once again, the ground beneath him began to give way and crumble. Gasping, he looked down at his feet to discover the soil giving way beneath him revealed a dark, swirling portal of some sort.
"What unholy treachery?!" He managed to utter before falling into the chasm the decaying earth had created. He couldn't think his way out of this one. Was this to be his end? To never hold his beloved Princess Prin-Prin in his arms again? Everything around him was engulfed in darkness, and he thought for sure it was the end. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing himself for his demise.
Suddenly and inexplicably, he was standing on solid ground again. He opened his eyes slowly to find that he was now in completely different surroundings. He looked around in astonishment, utterly perplexed as to what had just occurred. "Is this not the Ghoul Realm?" He spoke out loud.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 2, 2008 17:00:10 GMT -8
"Psst!" a voice hissed from behind the valiant knight, by chance at the same location.
The voice's source was a heavily concealed man, with a large coat, a purple shawl that covered half of his face, a backpack and boots. One would take him to be shady upon first glance.
"Over here, stranger."
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Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Oct 3, 2008 5:37:27 GMT -8
One confusing turn of events lead to the next as he heard a voice from behind him. Ghouls weren't terribly big on talk, so to hear any sort of voice in the Ghoul Realm other than his own was a soberingly strange incident. He quickly spun around, ready to draw his weapon in case the source of the voice was hostile.
His eyes fell upon the man shrouded in black. Though the man had haunting eyes, he otherwise didn't seem to be a creature of the undead, and his ability to speak all but ruled out the notion that he was a mindless, shambling corpse like those he frequently encountered on his journeys to save his beloved maiden.
He slowly and cautiously approached the shrouded man, narrowing his eyes as he looked at him with skepticism. "Declare yourself; friend or foe." He called out to the man.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 3, 2008 13:55:38 GMT -8
His options considered, the man in black responded with a chuckle. "Heh, heh... I'm your friend, and I got somethin' that might interest you."
He opened out the left portion of his coat to the knight. Instead of exposing his genitals (which was not out of the realm of possibility with men wearing large trench coats), the man in black exposed a wide selection of weapons.
"Got a selection of good things on sale, stranger!"
It was evident to the knight that the man in black was a salesperson. The merchant possessed many different weapons, most of which seemingly tailored for the hero. His weapons on display included a hatchet, daggers, a scythe and lances that seemed more durable than the hero's own (it was amazing how the merchant managed to conceal those in a coat), and torches that would emit blue fire when lit (by coincidence, this weapon was the merchant's cheapest) were just a few of the weapons the merchant had for sell.
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Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Oct 4, 2008 8:00:02 GMT -8
He piqued a thick eyebrow in interest. A merchant? Here? He took a moment to glance around, noting that while the area did seem dark and foreboding it also didn't appear to be like an area he had yet tread in the Ghoul Realm. His eyes then settled back on the merchant, and on his wares.
The fact that the dark-clad man had large lances concealed beneath his coat didn't seem too odd to Arthur - after all, he was known to carry a hefty amounts of weapons himself which begged the question as to where he stored them... particularly during times when he had been reduced to nothing more than his underwear by enemy attack.
He put a gauntleted hand to his chin thoughtfully, looking over the man's wares. He pointed out at one of the hatchets. "How much would you take for that?" He asked the man.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 4, 2008 14:00:32 GMT -8
The merchant looked down to the hatchets. "Aaahhhh," he sighed in content. He seemed to like those particular weapons. He then returned his focus to the knight.
"For you, stranger, one-hundred."
In truth, the merchant came from a place with a different form of currency, but after being inexplicably transported to this place he was unsure of the official currency, if there was any.
On the topic of being transported, he knew the same fate befell the knight, who just moments ago had appeared out of thin air.
"Have we got a deal, stranger?" he asked.
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Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Oct 5, 2008 9:04:03 GMT -8
Arthur paused to consider the man's offer before concluding that one-hundred pieces was a fair enough price for a new weapon. After all, one could hardly put a price on saving your head in a pinch, and the valiant knight could always use new upgrades to keep his skin intact.
His hands probed his form for a moment before one of them produced a small brown drawstring pouch. He opened it and counted out the contents in his hand, his lips moving as he silently counted his allowances.
"It would seem that I only have eighty-three." He announced to the merchant. Would this man be willing to haggle? Arthur wasn't sure, but at this news the man could very well make a counter offer.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 5, 2008 15:24:27 GMT -8
"Ahhhh..." The Merchant was silent for a brief moment before continuing. "I never do this, stranger, but I'll do this for you. Heh."
The man in black took the two hatchets from his coat and offered it to the knight.
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Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Oct 6, 2008 4:25:13 GMT -8
He cautiously and slowly extended his free hand toward the Merchant, gently taking the two hatchets both in his one hand so that they stuck out from between his hands in an 'X' shape. With his other hand he handed the money to the Merchant as payment for the weapons.
He immediately stashed one of the two hatchets in whatever mysterious place he kept all of his weapons before he began to closely inspect the second, gliding his armored thumb along the curved blade and squinting as he admired the craftsmanship. After a moment he sheathed the second hatchet, as well.
He glanced up toward the Merchant. "I thank you. What brings you to the Ghoul Realm?" He asked the Merchant. After all, it was in the knight's chivalrous nature to assist the Merchant if he were lost or had accidentally wandered into this nightmarish place.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 6, 2008 12:42:30 GMT -8
The merchant chuckled pleasantly, and slipped his fistful of currency into his money pouch. "Heh, heh, heh, ha! Thank you!" He smiled under his shawl.
When the transaction was complete, the merchant closed his coat and conversed with the knight.
"This is the Ghoul Realm?" the merchant curiously asked. "Is that where that black whirlpool took me?" He looked left and right, further studying the surroundings. "Huh... you've been here before?"
The salesperson was confused; he looked back to Arthur. "But I saw you pop in here outta thin air, stranger. That's what happened t'me before I met you."
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Arthur
Concept
Double-Jumping In Heavy Armor... I Make It Look Easy
Posts: 6
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Post by Arthur on Oct 10, 2008 11:12:45 GMT -8
He glanced around some more, squinting. He could see a castle over the horizon. It sat atop a tall hill near the edge of a cliff. It didn't appear to be the same castle which belonged to Samael. He turned his attention back toward the Merchant.
"Well... I've not been to this particular location before, but due to the eerie and sinister nature of our surroundings I would presume we are somewhere within the Ghoul Realm, yes." He responded. After all, where else could they be? The sky was black and seemed to burn with fire, the bones of demons lay all around them, and he could smell the distinctive odors of sulfur and brimstone.
"Wait, you say you descended through one of those portals, as well?" He inquired. That portal, which he thought for sure would seal his doom, had caused him to appear in this place. If the Merchant had arrived under similar circumstances, there may have been a connection.
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The Merchant
Concept
Reality Crash's Resident Peddler
Posts: 8
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Post by The Merchant on Oct 10, 2008 20:18:11 GMT -8
The merchant nodded. "Ah, I did."
He fell silent when he, too, squinted at the castle in the distance. "We were destined to meet, stranger; you're my first customer here! Heh, heh! And probably th' last."
He stepped closer to the knight and pointed to the castle. "I don't know if I should be happy that we're here, instead of overthere... or not."
Then the merchant fell silent as he stared.
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