Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Episode 14 "The Millennium Tree"


Photo Source: http://gundamandrevolutionarygirl.blogspot.com/
2013/06/initial-reaction-gargantia-on-verdurous.html

January 15, 102 P.A.

The Pacos Empire Logistics and Movement Infinity Company has TW wizards of their own but they are often pre-occupied and need to hire outside help. They often hire new TW wizards to do some of the smaller maintenance and repairs needed. They give the temps little to no information about the clients that they are working for and often don't even tell them where they are being sent to work. The company figures this information is irrelevant since the temp repair man is to fix the stargate and return straight back, never leaving the stargate room. Oliver McPherson has recently been hired for one of these temp jobs. Earlier today Oliver drove his vehicle to the PELMIC headquarters in the Pecos Empire (America). He checked in and was walked through a large building and taken into a room with six stargates in it. Two scientist worked the controls, the man who lead him in tell him, "This is the one, you have to fix the other stargate in the room that this one will take you to. Here is our radio frequency. As soon as you are done radio us and someone will active this stargate and bring you back home. You will receive your pay when the job is completed." Oliver takes the radio frequency and walks through the stargate that the man had pointed to.

Oliver Mcpherson emerges on the other end and find himself in an empty room almost identical to the one he was just in. Except in this room there is only one other stargate at the other end of the room. Oliver walks over and gets to work. He fixes the problem with the stargate no problem (high roll). As he is working the stargate he came through activates. Oliver isn't expecting anyone else, and knows protocol doesn't include random visitors. He actives his shadow cloak and sits still. Out of the stargate comes a wagon with a strange assortment of individuals, Oliver remains still. Takeo and Runick both sense the magic being used in the room and they ride the wagon right up to the edge of the darkness. They then introduce themselves to the darkness and Oliver removes his cloak of darkness. The party begins to tell Oliver that they are in the 1st Ring of the New Empire, that its has been a difficult journey, and they wish him no harm. While they are talking Frank gets the scientist and asks him to tell them where the other stargate goes. The scientist sends a message to his boss Jeff back at PELMIC headquarters and responds, "Hades." Oliver walks over and offers to help, he notices the scientist sent a message. The party threatens the scientist and he begs for his life. He tells them all he wants to do is return home, he promises he won't return. He says he will even quit his job if they will just let him go. The party agrees to let him go, he turns on the stargate back and runs through it. Oliver McPherson closes the stargate behind him and opens the large blast doors. Thee party gets in the wagon and ask if Oliver will stay or join them. Oliver figures they are going to know he helped them so he might as well go with.

Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle

They ride the wagon through the pathway of cement hallways. Every time they arrive at an intersection they hear marching coming from all directions except one. They always turn down the one hallway that doesn't have the marching sound coming from it. Unbeknownst to the party they are being led out and followed. They finally reach the end of the tunnel hallway and another set of blast doors on a ramp leading up. Oliver McPherson has to machine ghost to go into the computer and battle the security program. After a short melee battle with the security defense system Oliver is able to access the security code and open the blast doors. When the wagon comes out they see a beautiful garden and cherry blossom orchard. They ride away and look back, they see the palace of the emperor. They travel through royal garden and reach a large stone wall. Oliver borrows Trevor's power armor to fly the wagon and the horses over the wall and they continue straight for the Millennium Tree. Frank Hamilton has a suspicion that they escaped from the palace way too easily (streetwise). He asks to be dropped off at the next intersection. Frank gets out and waits after a short time he sees an orb of surveillance following them. He hurries to catch up with the wagon and tells the party that they are being followed. Not wanting to lead the Emperor to the tree they change course and head to the outskirts of town. Just outside of town they stop the wagon and decide to send in scouts. They leave Trevor with the wagon, Ryoko and Shonen, becuase he has passed out from a combination of passing through so many stargates and being nueral striked. Frank leaves him a message saying. "Trevor we had to finish the Takeo and Shonen's quest since we are so close. Had to leave you behind, you are locked in your suit sit tight if you can we will be back as soon as possible. you can radio us at frequency 1200." Runick stays behind and wanders through the nearby farms. He comes out of the corn field and is spotted immediately by a farmer doing his laundry. The farmer offers to help Runick because he looks lost, and is told to be careful the woods are filled with demons unlike those we are use to here in Japan. Runick returns to the wagon to share the information with the party. Trevor wakes up and gets his message and radios Frank. The rest of the party returns to the wagon. Takeo successfully camouflages the wagon and the entire party travels back into town on foot to avoid the surveillance orb. They notice that the town has surveillance orbs patrolling the streets. The towns people seem to react as if they are use to the orbs in town. They travel to the market and purchase more rations and traditional robes to blend in. They travel to the tree, they arrive at a massive empty fenced off lot in the center of town. Ryoko points at the empty lot and says there it is.  


Photo Source: http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/archive/alpha-
survival-single-player/820529-project-wow-teldrassil-world-tree

Runick, having to avoid patrols back home, advises that they wait a minimum of three days to properly learn the patrol patterns of the surveillance. Especially since they are trying to sneak into a place that none of them can see. Runick spends three days watching the orbs and determines when they have the best opportunity to do it. Ryoko leads them in single file, Oliver stumbles on his way in but is helped through. Once inside two large monks wielding halberds stop them. Ryoko goes up to talk to them, they lower their weapons. Ryoko tells them, "Ok, You are free to walk around Shonen and I must go tend to some business. We all thank you very much for escorting the chosen one here. There will be a ceremony later tonight, we would like you to attend if you wish. Just make sure you speak with the high priest before you leave." The party walks around and talks to a couple random people. They then go to talk the high priest, in the high priest quarters they see a tengu talking to the high priest. The tengu leaves and the party comes in.

The high priest tells them, "Thank you all for escorting the chosen one here to the Millennium Tree Monastery. We the the monks and priests have combined all of our strength to cast the spell Mist of Legend. This spell was our last line of defense once that demon from another dimension impersonated the emperor. This spell is all we could do, it makes the tree invisible to even the most powerful of mages and clouds the minds of all the citizens in the New Empire. We have been waiting for Ryoko the Legendary Hero of Kyoto to train the chosen one and prepare him for his destiny. Now with you have delivered to us our salvation. The millennium tree itself wishes to thank you, for it gives what it wants to whom it deems worthy. For the role you each played in the safe passage of the chosen one the tree has a gifted each of you a reward. For you Oliver McPherson the tree gives this bark shield and 2 healing leaf blankets. For you Runick Skyknight the tree has sensed you desires and has presented you with a branch so you may whittle what you heart tells you to, be careful the tree does not often give such freedom with its gifts. For you Trevor Burnside the tree wants you to have something to protect yourself when technology can not, here is this bark body armor. For Frank Hamilton the tree has sensed a darkness in you but also a great goodness and the tree believes you can control your darkness, thus you are given this rare corrupt mantel of power that we have kept locked away so it would not end up in the hands of evil doers again. And at last for you Takeo Takahido the tree wishes to express its regret for it can not give you what you desire. Unfortunately all I have for you is information, your birth right lies with the Demon Queller Society. Protect your sword and your father's sword for they are far more important to you than you know, they are your birth right. You can find what you are looking for in Hiroshima that's where it is said the Demon Queller Society had a stronghold long ago. That is all I have for you... oh that and this wooden coin made from the tree. Show this coin to anyone familiar with the demon quellers and they will help you in your quest for your birth right. Also if you are willing to stay with us and train we believe we can train you in one of our signature martial arts abilities known as Shunpo. This is the first level of our signature Kuki-o-ido (move air) abilities. I believe those of you with martial arts backgrounds should be able to learn this ability here at the tree with the monks in three months. Those who choose to study in their spare time may do so with the priest in our library of Kuki-o-ido (move air) magic, you may even learn a spell.  It is your choice but please at least stay for the ceremony tonight and you may leave in the morning, during your stay however long you are welcome to your own rooms here. We hope you choose to stay and help defeat the demons of Hades that invade our empire. Thank you once again, now go relax, I have much to tend to before the ceremony."

They go to their rooms and discuss staying for the three months, they agree. That evening they attend the ceremony, they have reserved seating up front. The ceremony begins and the High Priest comes out and says a few words, "We have all gathered here today to witness the transformation of the chosen one as he begins his journey to becoming the Immortal Guardian Monk. The four immortals once protected this land during the time of the rifts, but when the land had reach a balance between good and evil the immortals left. A prophecy foretold that when evil tips the scales in Japan once again the immortals would return. We know of one! Shonen Kiske! The Immortal of Air! We have made it the mission of this monastery to keep the secrets of Kuki-o-ido, and now we begin to fulfill that mission with this first step. The Hero of Kyoto, the tengue warrior, the one who stood side by side with the first immortals, Ryoko Miagi has done well in training the Shonen. Now Ryoko Miagi will say a few words in his native tounge."  The tengue that the party saw in the office earlier steps out, "I am Ryoko Miagi, years ago I stood alongside man's greatest heroes and fought against your extinction. When the immortals left the prophecy was foretold, I and three others sought out on a quest to find the chosen ones and train them. We swore to get them to their respective keepers of the elemental knowledge at any cost.  We can all hope that the others have succeeded as well. A monk is bound to his staff spiritually, and now the chosen one will be bound to his staff physically, becoming one with a part of the Millennium Tree. Shonen will have a long road ahead of him if he is to succeed in joining the other three elemental immortals and vanquishing evil. Although his training has been vigorous he has much to learn, I wish him well as I can no longer keep over him. I grow weary and must return to the mountain from which I came. I can only hope that someone will stand alongside the immortals, as I did. Even they need traveling companions to keep them on the path of righteousness and remind them of what they fight for. Now let us begin the ritual." Shonen walks up in hooded robes, he offers up his staff. Ryoko takes the staff and lays it on the alter. The High Priest, Ryoko, and 10 other monks and priest surround the alter. They begin chanting, after a short time a bright light appears from above in the millennium tree top and shoots straight into the staff. The staff is illuminated for a moment then the light dissipates. Shonen drops to his knees when the light dissipates, he appears weakened. Ryoko takes the staff back over to Shonen and holds it out in front of him. Shonen slowly reaches out for it, almost as if he is in too much pain to move. When he finally grasps the staff a wind blast of incredible power expels out in every direction. Everyone shields their eyes, and the majority of the people (including some of the party) are knocked down. When Takeo looks upon his brother again, Shonen is nonchalantly holding his staff at ease, floating three feet above the ground with his hood and cloak flapping. He looks healthy and powerful, and is emitting a strong breeze. The crowd cheers!!!


Photo Source: http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/
artists/314632720?view_mode=2

After the ceremony Shonen meets up with the party. They decide to stay and train with Shonen for three months. The monks offer to teach anyone the knows any form of martial arts the technique Shunpo. The best trainer know as Sutikku explains to them,  "Shunpo, or flash step, is an ability that manipulates the air and creates an air pocket under the feet allowing you to achieve short bursts for speed during battle. This is a very useful ability when in defense. I am sorry but I can only teach this technique to Shonen, Takeo, Trevor, and Frank. You two (Oliver and Runick) may study with other monk instructors and learn the basics of martial arts. If you ever manage to learn the first technique of Kuki-o-ido, I might be able to learn Shunkan-ido, or instant transmission. An ability that allows to move so fast, you essentially teleport to any location within eyesight. Like thus..." Sutikku uses shunkan-ido and appears behind the party. "...But lets begin with the Shunpo." They train and learn shunpo or martial arts, Shonen is the only one that learns shunkan-ido. After their lessons an old priest approaches them and offers to teach the magic users; Oliver, Runick, and Takeo. They accept the offer and spend their time learning the spell Frequency Jam. Trevor the Psi-Tech is fascinated by magic and spends all his free time studying in the library and gains some magic lore, he even convinces the priest to attempt and teach him a basic spell. They teach him Breath Without Air. After the three months are up the party thanks the monks and decide to continue on their journey. The monks tell the party of a tunnel that is guarded by a demon and it is rumored that it will travel directly under the 1st ring barrier.  The party sneaks back out of the tree and they go retrieve the wagon that is still hidden. They travel in the direction of the tunnel and when they arrive they encounter a balrog. The party fights the balrog with the help of Shonen and defeats it. 

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