The Gathering Darkness [Saga/open]

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Mahajenn explained all she knew, revealing very little in the process. Bear smiled lightly, the idea of being "all Kemuri needed" was a humorous one. Mere days ago Bear had fought and almost perished, and now the very person he fought wanted his help? As amusing as it was, it faded almost as soon as it came, Bear's exhausting reminding him of his very bartering capability at the moment. Perhaps if he could get what he needed and some rest...

Blinking, Bear noticed Mahajenn had left the room, and as various lights and doors danced, realized just where she had gone. As the noise level escalated, Bear reached into his pocket, removing the earplugs he'd gotten from Mahajenn their first encounter. It seemed that Kemuri hadn't found them. Quickly placing them into his ears, He gave a sly smile; maybe he wasn't as helpless as he thought.

It took a while, but Mahajen soon returned, obviously proud of the feat she'd accomplished by opening the cell door. Bear removed the plugs and replaced them in his pocket. Holding his hand out for his own sake, he slowly stepped towards her. Still unsure of his own physical ability, Bear hoped that she would take his hand hand help him to Kemuri. If not, he would probably fall right past her and smash his face into the concrete flooring.

[Delashano]

As Bear reached out to her Jenn immedietly stepped forward to take his hand and allow him to rest some of his weight on her, despite her appearance she would have little trouble managing Bear's weight, it was truly foolish of Kemuri to allow Bear to get to such a state and then expect him to be fit enough to be brought before him, had he expected her to carry his half-conscious body up to the throne room? It was a good thing that Kemuri had left his order vague and evidently didn't much mind the time she was taking to accomplish it, perhaps he had expected her to do something like this? To get Bear fit enough to get to the throne room? Was the whole lack of providing him with food or drink apart of his plan to get Bear to work for him? How would that even work 'do what I say or starve' that just seemed like the most idiotic way of doing things but seemed to be the most likely avenue of how things were going.

"Alright Bear if you're good enough to walk then I suppose it's time to head up." Jenn said not feeling at all comfortable with bringing Bear before Kemuri in his present state. "I don't know what he's got planned but thankfully it looks like he thinks he's got some reason for you to work for him, if it comes down to it I suggest taking what he offers even if you don't actually like it. I don't think Kemuri would be up for being denied and you don't deserve to be thrown back in there or worse." Jenn said hoping that Bear wouldn't try fighting Kemuri again, he'd proven in the last encounter that he was more than willing to fight on even when things were at there bleakest and with that assuming Bear could move and was willing Jenn would begin leading him out of the dungeons and up toward the Throne Room

[Ohkara Minamaru]

Mahajenn quickly too Bear's hand, draping his arm around her neck and shoulders. It was nice to get some weight off his already tired legs, causing him to let out a light sigh of relief. At least he wasn't alone.

The bandaged-clad girl began to explain that Bear should take any opportunity Kemuri gave him. This was good advice, but the truth was that Bear had already decided that same thing. He was currently in no state to argue with the hybrid man; which left him little choice. But that didn't mean he couldn't take something positive from all this.

"Excuse me if I don't explain, but don't worry about me. I have a plan." With that, Bear and Mahajenn would head for where Kemuri was. There was a level of nervousness about Bear, but it wouldn't show. And once he got his whiskey, maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.

[Kemuri]

“You’re hired Anri.” The king smiled an mischievous smile and tapped the tips of his fingers together.

Slay whomever he asked him too? This could get interesting. If the hobo misbehaved or didn’t do what Kemuri told him to, he could have either Anri or the blue one kill him. Anri he would make kill him in order to see what the alien could do… the blue one he would make do it because he knew it would hurt her. It would get interesting that was for sure. Maybe though, just maybe, the hobo would agree to his terms.

Where was the blue one? He had ordered her to go and get the hobo and no dillydallying. There seemed to be quite a bit of dillydallying occurring. There had been enough time for this alien to walk in here and be recruited. His army was growing.

As soon as the blue one appeared with the Hobo Kemuri’s smile would grow all the more fierce.

“You took your sweet time didn’t you my dear? And yet you are forgiven, It gave me the opportunity to meet our newest friend. Anri this is… the blue one. blue one, this is Anri. Hobo, glad you could rejoin the world of the conscious. You are welcome here. Can I get you anything?”

[Deleted]

A grin shot across his face as he was told by the dog man he had gotten the job, of course he was expecting too but it was always a good feeling to hear it. Giving his a military salute too Kemuri it showed his appreciation for the job opportunity.

"Thank you sir, you have made a excellent choice here today." He called out to his new boss.

Kemuri seemed to be waiting for someone else but Anri kept at ready if Kemuri gave a order for him to do. It was his first day so it was best to keep at full attention never knowing what his new employer might ask of him. At this point it was anyone's guess for who he was exactly waiting for, whoever they were Kemuri held them in some aspect of importance even if it was only for some evil plan he had in store.

[Delashano]

"Then I wish you luck with you're plan Bear we will need every advantage we can get." Jenn said with a heavy sigh as they departed from the dungeons, the trip from the dungeons and into the throne room was thankfully not excessively far and they would arrive back in the throne room after a few minutes of walking even with how impaired Bear's movement was. The guards outside opening the doors immedietly as Jenn cast a withering glare at them, they knew she was expected back with Bear and the glare was enough to show them she was in no mood to deal with the idiocy of them delaying her in any manner.

Jenn was surprised to find that upon their return to the throne room that Kemuri was no longer alone in the room, the bastard was not joined by... by... Jenn wasn't actually entirely sure WHAT it was that was in the room with Kemuri it appeared in some manner to be similar to a man in a metal suit but that was definitely not the case, the metal was far to form fitting to be a suit of armor and on top of that there was no visible means of removing the armor her first instinct was to lash out violently at the being as the next possibility on her mind was that it was an android one of UNITY's many metal-men sent to attempt to convince Kemuri to let them 'borrow' her again but the being actually radiated an energy source which none of the UNITY androids had actually done especially not the more overtly metallic ones.

Which raised the question of who AND what the being was, his energy signature didn't FEEL like that of a demons but then again neither had Azazels until she had transformed but of course if he WAS a demon then surely this was his 'true' form as it was certainly not a human guise similar to what Azazel appeared to possess, her first answer was annoyingly provided by Kemuri a few moments after they were inside the throne room as he introduced the being as 'Anri' though that provided no information on what it was it certainly provided a 'who' "You do know he was half dead when I got to him down there" Jenn said casting an annoyed glare at Kemuri while making no real effort to acknowledge the newcomer..

[Emperor Ninjin Hattori]

Posting order:

Kemuri
Anri
Jenn
Bear

[Kemuri]

The mercenary said his hiring was an excellent choice Kemuri was yet to be convinced. The Alien seemed more than capable, but he would need the see the man in combat before he knew if his choice had been excellent. Though Kemuri was optimistic about the whole thing, excited to see what his new purchase could do.

Jenn walked in with the hobo in tow, her looking angry and he looking half dead. Kemuri’s face lit up with smug satisfaction at the duo. She didn’t even acknowledge Anri, and Kemuri made a tisking sound with his tongue. She cast him an annoyed glance as she told him about the condition of the hobo. Of course he was half dead, noone would be fool enough to truly believe one could attack Kemuri and get away with it, whether it hurt him or not.

The king propped his leg up on the other one as he relaxed on his throne. His tail swished back and forth moving much like smoke would. The hyena smirked. The hobo said nothing, but continued to lean on the blue one for support. The king’s eyes flicked from the hobo to the genie to Anri. His troops were all gathered at last. It wasn’t exactly what he had been hoping for, but he could make do.

“He’s looking better already. Jenn dear don’t be rude, say hello to Anri.” The Hyena’s smirk deepened as he knew the woman couldn’t refuse. After she was done Kemuri would lean forward, his eyes locking on the Hobo’s, if he would meet the king’s gaze.

“Greetings Hobo. How are you? Can I get you anything?” He would say it loud and slow, as the hobo hadn’t responded when he said it the first time.

[Deleted]

Still standing the the throne room Anri awaited for Kemuri to give him an actual order, he would often find himself wondering around his new base but since he had not been given such a task he stood at attention in case such a order was to be given. Off from the side of the room two people emerged through another pair of doors across from where Anri stood. A rather well clothed woman and a dirty hairy looking man, he barely looked as though he could stand on his own two feet, it was shocking to see that he had managed to walk all the way here in the first place. Rather than comment on such things Anri for the most part ignored the two new people, he had no idea who either of them were or why they were even there to being with. Though rather than just ask them straight out he listened as Kemuri greeted the two of them, calling the woman Jenn and the man hobo, Anri had no idea what a hobo was but he could tell by the way Kemuri said it wasn't a term that someone would liked to be called.

Asking whether or not the hobo wanted anything, almost straining the words for the man. Wheter it was that the man refused to talk or he couldn't Anri couldn't tell, everyone that he had met on earth seemed rather strange even for his standards. Like the hobo that stood across the room, torn clothes, dirty face and a beard that seemed to better fit an animal that the man who wore it. Looking him over Anri tried to get a better understand of the dirt caked man. The lines under his eyes, dirt coated body, mangled and knotted hair, working the ideas over in his head he came up with a few ideas of what the man was. One possibility that the man was the homeless he often saw roaming the streets of the human cities, but why a man like Kemuri would ever needed the service of such a person was beyond him. The other possibility was that he was a slave or prisoner of sorts, it would make more sense of why he was never here in the first place, no doubt that a castle such as this would have a dunegon to store criminals.

Kemuri had mentioned that they were waitng for two other soilder, but could this really be them? One looked like he belonged in the wilds of earth than holding a weapon, and the woman looked as though she hadn't worked a day in her life. Smooth skin, flawless hands, not to mention her female body parts that would fit her more as a concubine than a warrior. Kemuri ways of think confused him, either he was in more shit than Anri knew, or Kemuri was up to something most cruel.

[Delashano]

Jen gritted her teeth as she listened to Kemuri, just having to be around the bastard was enough to get her blood boiling especially after the small hell she had gone through at UNITY because of him as such she decided to switch her focus off of Kemuri for the moment and back onto the newcomer or 'Anri' as Kemuri had introduced him by not an excessively strange name despite the... man's? VERY strange appearance. The fact that he didn't radiate an energy signature didn't exactly fill her with confidence with the face that he might not be apart of UNITY but of course even if he was not a member of UNITY that simply meant that it was rather likely that he was someone who was actually fool enough to answer Kemuri's call to arms. What sort of person would actually willing join a man like Kemuri? It left Jenn a bit curious about the nature of the newcomer.

He seemed a rather serious sort with how he held himself, almost like the guards that had remained with the castle under Kemuri's command but unlike them there wasn't any of the traditional hints of fear of Kemuri from the man, he stood nearer to the throne than most of the guards dared and his stance was somewhat similar to a soldier rather fitting if he was answering the call as she believed he might. Strength wise he was not amazingly impressive, strong to be certain but she had felt Bear outputting more energy then that when things had heated up and with any luck this would be the bulk of his power, if not and he DID fight then there was always Carla to deal with him.

Rolling her eyes at the order Jenn sighed "Hello Anri, welcome to the team." she said her tone utterly dripping with sarcasm as she moved to allow Bear an opportunity to stand on his own, he had gained a significant amount of strength since she had found him in the dungeons and if he was now capable and willing to stand on his own she would not stop him, the fact that he had remained silent for the moment was a bit troubling but then again perhaps he was simply preparing himself for what was to come, there was significant chance that the conversation to come would have a great impact on Bear's survivability. With any luck if things went sour Kemuri would just send him back to the dungeons, she'd make an effort to keep him healthy enough to survive until Kemuri's defeat.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

There was little for Bear to say as he walked to Kemuri with Mahajenn. He felt alright enough, but used his situation to his advantage. Seeming more out of shape than he was for the moment would aid him, his skin still pale and sickly. Hopefully, this would be enough proof for Kemuri to listen.

Bear noticed the newcomer, a man of some sorts, named Anri, but that was as far as that went. At Kemuri spoke to Bear, the man only bowed until his turn, "Lord Kemuri, I know that you owe me nothing. It was foolish of me to attack you as I did. That being said, I believe I have shown you my drive."

Gulping hard, Bear looked to the floor, as if ashamed of himself, "If you are truly asking if there is anything you can get me, there is. My whiskey. If you do, I will be more than obliged to work for you as you please, in exchange for your training, of course." Being so blunt might be a downfall for most, but Bear hoped that this time it would help, "I would be a fool to not ask for your training after seeing what you are capable of. And I am no fool.

[Kemuri]

Jenn seemed just as pleased as usual to follow Kemuri’s orders, and it did nothing but make the hyena-man’s smile deepen. The sarcasm with which she said hello to Anri was delicious to the smoke creature. The fact that she had no choice but to do whatever it was that Kemuri said was no doubt disgusting to her, and oh so satisfying to him. What happened next however was even more delicious to the man, and no doubt even more horrific to the blue genie.

When the hobo began talking it took Kemuri by surprise. For the first thing it made perfectly audible and communicable sentences. For the second, what he said piqued the king’s interest. Kemuri had to admit that attacking him despite the chips being down was impressive, as Kemuri could have just killed him right there instead of taking him prisoner like he had. The leering eyes of the smoke-hyena flicked back and forth from Jenn to the hobo, as if he was willing her to observe how right he had been.

Excitedly the king rose from his throne and with a flick of his wrist summoned a servant. The servant had with him the hobo’s flasks they had confiscated when they threw him into the dungeon. The king said nothing as he walked up closer to the hobo.

“Welcome to the team.” He said as he took the flasks from the servant and handed them to his new hairy ally. He shot an extra pointed glance at Jenn and smirked then returned to his throne. As he sat he considered them. His three warriors. It was infinitely more than he had had when he started his coup of the planet. There had been five warriors of Earth to oppose him. One had mysteriously vanished, the demon lady and the child had left with Kami, Jenn had been forced into his service, and now the hobo was offering himself over to the service of Kemuri. It was a delicious victory that the King had to take a moment to savour.

“My soldiers we have a problem. No doubt you know that I released Kami in a show of good faith to the people of Earth. And yet… Yet there is still something I so loathe about the heroes that dare thought they could defy me… No doubt they still defy my rule and plan to return here. I would not doubt if others have joined them. No matter. We will greet them only with death.”

[Deleted]

Anri stood quietly as Kemuri had introduced the hairy man and the lady to him, though the woman had acknowledged him he could hear the bitterness that carried in her words, he could tell that she did not care for the new comer. He had not expect such a warm welcome it was something that came along with the work of trade that he did; he never got along well with the rest of the hired work he had been hired along with, but it was alright with the Vennor he rather work alone than with others, his unusual tactics often made it difficult for him to work with others. Shrugging off the cold words from the woman he focused his attention back onto the hairy man, he looked rather sickly in his current condition though alien anatomy was different for every race, certain aliments were shared across the galactic community. No doubt in Anri's crazy mind that the dirty human was a drunk, even from the distance between them he could see the beads of sweat that ran down the man's face, mixed with the pale skin and slight shake to his hands he hand guessed it had been a long while since he had a long cool drink of the substance. It was pitiful too see such a frail weakened creature become subdued to such addictive substances, sure Anri used his own mixture of drugs but he had never gone to a point that withdraws would ever effect him. He was sure it was something about his alien anatomy that caused him not too feel such effects from the substances that he used on a regular bases but he had never gone into deep enough research to find out if his ideas where true, not being a scientist or even having a lab to confirm such things he had never gotten the chance too.

It wasn't until the man had spoke that Anri found out the man had attacked Kemuri such a statement made his eye brow raise in question, either this man was a fool who thought he really could take on a king or...that was it, he was a fool. Listening to the words of the man Anri hid a smile behind his plated face, though the words that came out his mouth sounded sincere in nature he could hear the subtle undertone lies that warped there way around them. Though he had these thoughts he thought it best to keep them to his self, Anri would rather watch the situation unfold before him before jumping in.

With a slight flick of his hand a servant appeared next to the dog man, he had trained his staff well or they were working hard in fear that Kemuri would strike them down if they weren't fast enough. Fear was a great way to control people and the man had a way of distilling fear in such people, his abnormal features were probably more than enough to set people on edge. Carrying a number of flasks that ranged in many different shapes and sizes Kemuri took them and handed them to the hairy man; Anri had been correct in his assumption, the man was a alcoholic. Shaking his head slightly in disappointment he gave a silent sigh of dissatisfaction at the man, great people were brought down by such addictive substances it was a truly sad sight; what could the man have been if he hadn't touched the drink in the first place.  

Taking his place back on throne he cast his eyes down on the three of them as they stood around the room looking up at him, his audience waiting for his words. He spoke but Anri was confused at his words but did his best to keep up with what he was trying to tell him, not have been on earth when such a fight broke out he was confused at what had happened. Though he didn't understand in what context the man was speaking about he fully understood his last sentence, death was something that Anri could cast down on others and he was damn good at it.

[Delashano]

"What exactly are you so worried about, if the last battle prooved anything it was that you hold far to much of an upper hand for them to actually pose a threat. Azazel was the only one of us capable of REALLY challenging your full power and you seemed to be doing well enough against her WITHOUT your full power anyway. I was the only other warrior strong enough to pose anything resembling a challenge then Azazel if I'd powered up to my full strength and now here I am now on your side, we even have Bear who could likely defeat Carla. What actual threat is posed that you don't think you can handle Kemuri?" Jenn asked, she was of course genuinely curious why exactly Kemuri was doing what he was, was it because he believed Azazel alone to pose enough of a threat to warrant bringing together a group to shield him or did he believe as she did, that there was a likely chance that Kami had more warriors on his side than those who had been fielded on that day.

Truthfully Jenn wasn't entirely certain of the second options validity, she wasn't used to the Guardian having this many trainees, for the most part it had been the Guardian, herself, and usually one or two trainees during the course of events, heck many times it had only been her and a guardian facing off whatever threat sought to destroy the world, like Ketsueki though perhaps things had changed during Hazezons time after she had returned to the lamp, Hazezon himself had four trainees but that had been a rather desperate time and the more she thought about it the less likely it seemed that any of them had survived that battle, while they hadn't been entrusted with the knowledge of her ring before she returned it Hazezon would have certainly informed at least ONE of them if it had been an option.

But of course there was always the chance that the Earth had been facing dire times even before Kemuri's ascension even if the threat was not obvious it was not uncommon for the Guardian to receive vague premonitions and omens of bad times to come and anything relating to Kemuri would certainly have been a powerful one, perhaps enough to begin rallying trainees, it was curious though that Kaladar was quite old and yet appeared to have no direct successor or at least none of those she had encountered appeared to fit the role.

[Ohkara Minamaru]

It seemed that Kemuri was please with Bear's offer; and why wouldn't he have been, after all, He had chosen to keep Bear alive for some reason. As the hyena-man called a servant and removed two flasks from his hands, he handed them to Bear, "Welcome to the team."

As the flasks reached Bear, he grabbed them, opening both and inhaling deeply. The whiskey had been untouched; that much Bear could tell from the scent alone. Placing one flask to his mouth, he'd take a swig, then carefully replace it on his person as he swished he alcohol around his mouth. With a swallow, he'd raise his gourd and do the same. A sense of calm came over him as the liquid came down his throat; he was complete again.

The second task at hand was to study this new man Kemuri had hired. He was no human, that was for sure. As he studied him, Bear noticed a look of pity carried across his face. With a scowl, Bear would flip him a hasty finger, then turn his attention back to his new Boss: “My soldiers we have a problem. No doubt you know that I released Kami in a show of good faith to the people of Earth. And yet… Yet there is still something I so loathe about the heroes that dare thought they could defy me… No doubt they still defy my rule and plan to return here. I would not doubt if others have joined them. No matter. We will greet them only with death.”

Mahajenn was next to speak, challenging the so-called King, "What exactly are you so worried about, if the last battle prooved anything it was that you hold far to much of an upper hand for them to actually pose a threat. Azazel was the only one of us capable of REALLY challenging your full power and you seemed to be doing well enough against her WITHOUT your full power anyway. I was the only other warrior strong enough to pose anything resembling a challenge then Azazel if I'd powered up to my full strength and now here I am now on your side, we even have Bear who could likely defeat Carla. What actual threat is posed that you don't think you can handle Kemuri?

Chuckling lightly, Bear would take another drink from one of his flasks, eyes darting from one-another as Mahajenn spoke. Taking a step forward, Bear would place an index finger in the air, as if to say 'one second', before speaking, "Strength is not everything in battle. Kemuri may have proven his own in battle, but you are forgetting one thing. He is right; Demon-girl is most likely training at this very moment, readying herself for the next strike."

Glancing at the new man, whom Kemuri had called Anri, he continued, "We need higher numbers, just to be sure that we can emerge victorious. If our numbers do not increase, we're gonna need some way to train." Glancing around the room, his eyes stopped again on Mahajenn. She possessed some kind of magic, having materialized earplugs earlier. Then his eyes moved back to Kemuri, who would likely see the 'gears' in Bear's head turning as he began to think, "If you have a plan, I would like to hear it, Lord Kemuri."