The Black Rose Festival (Open)

[vincent]

"I just, I...I don't know. I feel bad, I should go do it myself," Vincent argued, being the stubborn guy he was.

[Yeligar Maelstrom]

"No, I insist." He said as he gave him the rose. "Tell Hala, I said hi." He then walked away trying to find another stand to win a rose.

[Maliciferum]

Malice smiled coldly. "When you were alive, you sought the destruction of this worlds people, and I most vehemently opposed you. You may be interested to learn that I am now seeking the destruction of the entire world. I've one-upped you. And there is nothing you can do about it!" Malice cackled, the sound of his laughter echoed within the grand hall.

[Bartholomew]

Bart didn't have the look of despair, rather a look of happiness. "So, you followed my path, after all." Bart said, as he chuckled, "It looks like the weed is killing it's own kind. The angels called me insane for wanting to destroyed the weak beings. They serve no purpose in the world. Yet, in the group I thought that we could accomplish that goal, it was filled with weeds that wanted to save the other weeds." He looked at his 4 arms, and made fists with them. "I wonder if a weaker weed will kill you too."

[Maliciferum]

"I believe I have proven my strength many times. And I doubt you would really want to face me again if you had the chance. I've undergone a few...enhancements...courtesy of Trucido Damnedblood. Oh, and my darling plants will be safe under my power."

[Bartholomew]

"So, did you give up on your old allies for a bunch of plants, did ya?" Bart asked him, with a grin, "Most of them were weeds anyways. So, I guess those plants are more important than they were." He then looked at him, and asked, "Trucido Damnedblood?"

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Nothing? Hmm, perhaps there is more to this. Still, an ally is an ally... Seigmand pondered as he took another swig of his drink. "Ahhhh, well now that is interesting. Still can't say I'm too surprised. Get too involved with this stuff and I forget not everyone lays right in the middle of it." Leaning close to Kaku he began to whisper once more.

"To make a painfully long story short, this man named Trucido wants the world destroyed. He got all the royalty of Crepusculum but one to agree to a partnership in exchange for control over the new world he'd create. See, he's searching for the special power that will let him kill the old gods and take over the heavens to shape a new world of his creation. So this angel called Profeta came down and brought a bunch of chosen people from our planet and others to fight him and his team, a group he dubbed the Sumata XIII." His voice droned with the details, as if merely speaking of the tale tired him out.

"All of that though, the names, the people. It's all just backstory. The only real question left to ask someone strange to our world is this; are you the special blend of crazy and strong enough to fight a terrible group of villains you have no history with to save a world you don't belong to? Are you willing to put your life on the line to save people you've never met, all in the name of supposed good?" Seigmand leaned back, smirking to himself and his diatribe.

[Maliciferum]

Malice smirked, "Yes...the god of chaos himself granted me great power to add to my own. I help ensure his victory, and my plants survive to thrive in the next world." Malice took a step closer to Bartholomew. "There is one more aspect of this story you might find interesting...."

[Bartholomew]

"What else would I find interesting?" Bart asked as he looked at him.

[Kaku Rokkakyu]

Kaku leaned forward to catch what Siegmand was saying, and he replied in the same hushed tone, sensing that this conversation was one of confidentiality. “If you ask me… This whole circumstance sounds like a rather big scam…” He paused and stroked his chin in thought. “However I suppose I can’t judge too harshly, as there’s a similar problem where I come from sadly.”

Kaku adjusted his glasses and straightened his posture. “I’m going to be honest, your highness. I’ve no interest in fighting anyone if I can help it. If what you say is true, and that we have been supposedly summoned by Profeta, I would very much like to meet her....I Simply wish to collect my cousins safely and find a way to return to Mageia as soon as possible.” This last statement seemed surprising, and almost cowardly in a sense, considering.

[Maliciferum]

Malice stepped even closer to the ghost of Bartholomew. "Betrayal is something that I am quite good at. You see, Trucido has no idea that he is the one being played. Once his back is turned, he will fall." Malice turned away from Bartholomew. "You may wonder why I'm telling you this. It's just another example of how I am superior to you." Malice turned back to Bart. "And as they say...dead men tell no tales." Malice raised a small crystal in his hand. The clear quartz began to glow as it sucked Bartholomew's soul into itself.

[Bartholomew]

Bart eyes widen as he felt himself being dissolved, as he felt he was going into the crystal. "Before I go to your little crystal realm, let me tell you something; one of these days, your betrayal will make you into the lonely weed you once were, and I will be there. I will claim the superiority from you and taunt you with it, until we meet up in Hell." He said as he then vanish into the crystal.

[Maliciferum]

Malice stroked the still glowing crystal. "Oh, I imagine we'll be seeing eachother again soon enough."

[Seigmand Dezmar]

Seigmand chuckled to himself. "Hmm, somehow looking at you that doesn't surprise me. Personally, I don't get what drives those earthlings either. Maybe they like the danger, maybe they like the powers. Hell, maybe they were just bored on their planet and were glad for the change of pace. Whatever the reason, everyone that's come here has fought against Trucido."

Seigmand paused, gulping down the rest of his drink with a relaxed sigh afterwards. "You know what i do know though Kaku? After all the other-worlders I've met I know that not a single one of you are here by accident. You and your friends are all here for a reason. Maybe it's not to beat us Sumata, or save the world, but you're all here for a reason. And pending this place lasts long enough, you might just get to see what that is." Seigmand spoke, his eyes glinting either with wonder... or the onset of inebriation.

[Kaku Rokkakyu]

Kaku sipped his drink in his usual dignified manner, and pondered all that Seigmand had to say. "Perhaps You're right, dear sir. Now that you mention the fact, it does seem rather strange that we've ended up here by chance."

He cleaned his glasses and sighed. "Whatever the reason though, I trust it will reveal itself soon enough...Or at least hopefully so." He put his glasses back on and turned to face Seigmand once more. "I'll fight if I must, but that would be the last possible option."