[RP] - The Fall of Crandor

Kikori · **Posted:** June 21st, 2008, 11:47 am

Kratos smiled at Zemdi and, before anyone stood up, he practically threw himself into her in one of the fondest hugs he could manage while still trying to be respectful about it. "Glad to have you back, Zemdi... Let's go. Together this time." He knew Maria would get away from the edges of the ship, and Zemdi would probably do the same, now aware of what she was again. He already had one giant guess as to what it was... that, when Zemdi said she was "engaged", that was back when Djanzad was in love with her and before whatever operation made her shut down for fifteen years. He couldn't pin why Djanzad might love an android, but that was his business.

As soon as everyone was below deck, Kratos looked around, almost uneasily. "Zemdi, Maria, we might want to get below deck. If these engines make a shock that knocks us over, I don't want to risk either of you going down to the bottom." Wherever Alex planned on being was beyond him, Kratos wasn't completely sure he wouldn't get to the crow's nest to enjoy the wind (which there'd be a lot of) in his hair, but... Kratos was more worried about Zemdi and Maria, who had the fear of water. Kratos held open the door leading down and waited for the two women to come.

Znath · **Posted:** June 21st, 2008, 8:43 pm

"Er... I'll stay up on deck with Alex if that's fine." Maria replied to Kratos after getting onto the main deck. "Besides, if the ship starts sinking it'll be easier to get off from here."

Zemdi was not too thrilled by Maria's idea and whispered to herself. 'I wonder if it would be...' She followed Kratos down below. "I do need to change anyway. This outfit is not too suitable on a ship." She finds an empty room and not long later comes out in her uniform. "This is better. You didn't peek hmm? I am sure you would be happier topside. The air is much fresher for you, right?" She finishes and pulls Kratos onward up the stairs. "It seems strange heading back to Djanzad. It may help me finally understand things."

"Errr wait Djanzad? No no no I need to get back to my classes!" David interjects. "I'm sure you guys need to resupply anyway. So it only makes sense to stop back at Corundus first... right?"

Chipp · **Posted:** June 21st, 2008, 9:19 pm

Chipp stood at the new device and glanced over at David suspiciously, "Sorry mate, we've got enough provisions for a trip to Falador and half way back, unless there is a storm or someone sabatoges the food supply. Still it really all depends on how fast everyone wants to go to Djanzad. Besides, we still need your help with this contraption, especially if it breaks, I've kinda grown attached, so even if you do want to hop ship you're kinda stuck with us" he said, and then grabbed both levers and pushed them slowly forward. He ordered his first mate to turn the rudder towards home, then the sails were dropped and the ship was on its way back to Falador.

Kikori · **Posted:** June 24th, 2008, 3:43 pm

OOC: I think Stip's dead.

BIC...

Kratos couldn't help but chuckle, both at Zemdi and Maria's bravery as well as David's being knocked down a peg. No matter what he said, he couldn't help but see the bright side of things again now that Zemdi was back. He walked out and leaned on the mast that he had grown familiar with, sliding down to a sitting position to look around. When his eyes rested on Zemdi's, they never left that spot. All he could think was, "I'm glad you're back." And, as usual, he thought out loud.

This time he didn't notice it, but kept thinking, and this time silently. He wondered about if Djanzad really would be able to explain everything, or if Maria would get whatever answers she sought... Everything that happened was so odd to him, but where it was ending up was turning out to be really thrilling. Friends and quests like these didn't come often, and probably few people would believe him, but it was worth the trip regardless.

Stip45 · **Posted:** June 25th, 2008, 4:53 am

kikori kid wrote:

OOC: I think Stip's dead.

OOC: May he rest in peace.

IC: "Don't worry man, I don't think you'll die if we go there." Alex told David. "Besides, you're not curious to explore the world? If not, you're not actually supposed to be on a boat I think."

As he began toying with his necklace a bit, he suddenly remembered a few questions he still wanted to ask. "Wait, so this Djanzad guy is the person that got us to have to go to go to this area of the world, right? And when we get back to the Runescape area we'll need to use runes for magic again, right? In that case, I want to practice magic a bit here..." He said, closing his eyes. Focussing hard on the magic he wanted to make, he began walking to the mast, and began to walk up it vertically. Because he expected this to not work, however, it caused him to lose his focus and fall on his back. "...Ouch, I'll need to practice that a bit."

Znath · **Posted:** June 26th, 2008, 12:29 am

"Huuuuh?" David says horribly confused. "You've gotta be...Wait maybe..." He swings off his backpack and pulls out a metal box and extending a long antenna. After revving up a crank on the side he says into a mouthpiece. "Hello hello port authority pick up..." Repeating a few times finally it blips a few times and faintly Sjenas' voice can be heard. He takes the radio to the back of the ship and talks a bit to Sjenas.

Zemdi remained close to the forward mast of the ship holding tightly to anything she could replying to Alex. "Yes, Djanzad attacked Falador. I imagine by now he is in the later phases. According to the last plans I knew of, he would undoubtably have taken control of most of Asgarnia by now. Phase 8 would be then rebuilding and preparing for total industrialization of the area. I say this because, I think you should be prepared for what we may see. By now Falador and the port are probably mostly demolished and being rebuilt by my brothers as better facilities." She looked down sadly leaning against the mast. The comforting hum of the engines droned on in her ear as she continued. "I suppose I will not be able to do as much there since I cannot draw power there. It did make things easier on myself."

"Yea, I may have to start killing people again... " Maria jumps in waiting for a few seconds to add. "I'... it's a joke. Comon. Actually now that I think of it. I really can't store as much as Zemdi. I'm gonna starve!"

Zemdi sat down thinking about it for a while. She remembered eating the treats and things she liked the taste of. Providing Maria with power would offer a good excuse to eat more she thought. "I think I could convert other things to energy, probably enough for both of us. It may not be much, but it might work. I wonder if the same nano-conversion would work on you, Maria. It wasn't much fun at all for me."

"It can wait then, I'm fine with how I am right now. Besides, going through something like that would be a lot easier in .... that eastern place with more free of energy." Maria says walking up to the front of the ship to join the crew looking at the dolphins ahead of the ship. She leaned against the railing feeling oddly good that Zemdi would do that for her.

Chipp · **Posted:** June 30th, 2008, 10:53 pm

Chipp glanced at David "what are you trying to pull?" he muttered to himself, then pushed both levers forward a bit farther, He signaled for his first mate to come talk to him. The first mate locked the wheel in place and joined Chipp by the levers. "Get our navigator to take over at the helm, I want you to find the dead-stop lever, David said it was by the furnace, don't let anyone touch it, take two other crew members with you, I think David is more dangerous than he looks." Chipp's first mate nodded and signaled for the navigator to take over at the wheel and then signaled to two other crew members, one with two daggers in his belt and the other with an single bladed axe with a long haft and lead them toward the furnace.

Chipp glanced back at David, he didn't trust him fully, and making mysterious calls with a magic box seemed pretty shifty. Of course, Chipp was a pirate and he couldn't be too overly trusting anyway. Chipp dwelled on these thoughts as he slid both levers a little farther forward.

Kikori · **Posted:** July 5th, 2008, 12:10 am

Kratos poked his head to look at David and tried listening in on the conversation. He couldn't catch the whole thing, but it sounded like David was attempting to get away from the party, for no particular reason that Kratos could hear. Fear? Either way, he wasn't going, there was a whole ship of pirates and the party there to keep him on a leash. Kratos yawned and closed his eyes, listening to the hum of the engines and the waves pounding the boat as it pierced the water. Kratos' eyes were still looking back to Tethe'rant, so he had no way of knowing when the party was close to Runescape.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. From the crow's nest, Kratos heard a gruff "Land ho! Cap'n, nothin's happened t' Al Kharid, an' I can't see past Lumbridge!"

Kratos stood up and wheeled around to look at the landmass. How far did Djanzad plan to reach out? Falador, of course, but if it was mentioned before, he couldn't remember. "Here's to hoping Djanzad won't forget that we're sort of on the same side."

Znath · **Posted:** July 6th, 2008, 8:06 pm

David shook the box and yelled "Yes I needed a research project but I didn't think this would be it! You've got to send a ship or something!"

"I don't care David! This is just how things are, so deal with it. I expect a good report when you return." Sjenas says out of the earpiece loud enough it can be heard by the other people on the ship. David closes up the radio again and sighs. He leans against it and glares at the sea. He goes below deck to be sure the furnace switched on. "Well at least that is all going properly."

Knowing what to expect at the mana barrier, Maria had shut down for a while. Zemdi was resting alongside her when the ship came in sight of the shoreline. Zemdi came over to Kratos as the ship rounded the point and came in close enough to see Port Sarim. Smoke could be seen rising up from the area around there with several metal ships docked in the port. "More fighting happened from the looks of things. I believe he is behind where I thought he would be." Zemdi says.

A metal ship comes up alongside very quickly. It latches on to their ship using an unfolding boarding ladder and lighter armored mechanical soldier climbs aboard. "MISS ZEMDI. I AM SURE, LORD DJANZAD, WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE YOU. DOCK 5 IS OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR VISITING SHIPS." The soldier says pointing out the dock as the ship is led in. "SIX IS HERE AS WELL. THIS CAN BE EXPLAINED LATER."

"Thank you, mark-3, I'm glad you understand." Zemdi says placing a hand on his shoulder. The ship is pulled in to the dock. As people get off, the fields south of falador can be seen with smoking wreckage of several of Djanzad's tanks and many more fallen of the elven armies. "There is nothing we can do here. Lets just go. Djanzad will probably be in falador."

Maria quickly got off the ship and followed. "So the crystal weapons could penetrate the tanks after all. Djanzad isn't gonna blow me up is he? He did think I was trying to kill him... Maybe I can explain..."

Chipp · **Posted:** July 11th, 2008, 9:35 pm

Chipp jumped off the ship and nodded to his first mate, who had appeared from guarding the dead stop lever, to watch the ship. He then slid up to Maria "Anything happens, you're part of the crew. You're working with us and I'm sure Kratos, Alex, and Zemdi, will vouch for you. You've got little to worry about." Chipp walked past Maria, toward the path that lead to Falador, then turned around, "what are we waiting for?"

Stip45 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2008, 4:05 am

"Well shouldn't we go and stock up on runes and stuff before we head out in what could turn out to be a fight? Because if we just march into Falador without any preperations we'd be in alot of trouble if it turns out they're not going to listen to us."

Znath · **Posted:** July 13th, 2008, 1:18 am

"We could get more runes, but that won't help us any here. Our brothers' and us all absorb energy like that anyway. Not to mention, we're hopelessly outnumbered." Maria says to Alex as they pass through the smoking battlefield.

"That is true." Zemdi says walking along side Maria. "If we were in danger, we never would have been let in. Do not worry."

Some of the mechanical soldiers can be seen on high points overseeing the cleanup as other 'labor type' units pull together the damaged and work on repairs. up ahead near the road a badly damaged armored car missing a wheel is being pulled on by two soldiers. After a few hard pulls they rip the dented door off and another metal soldier crawls out. "Ah good to see you back on your feet General. Now if you can just get this heap running again it'll all be perfect." Djanzad says climbing on top of the vehicle's turret. Djanzad is wearing a battle worn suit of armor with his full face mask pulled up to see better."How much longer before we can get everyone to operation."

"I WOULD ESTIMATE: 8 HOURS OBSERVATION DETECTS NO FURTHER ATTACKS." The General replies plainly. "THERE IS THE MATTER OF A GROUP DOCKED SHORTLY AGO: REPORT STATED: BOTH SEVEN AND SIX WERE TOGETHER WITH THE GROUP."

"She prefers Zemdi now, you know that" Djanzad says to the General which shirks it off and sighs. "You take care of the cleanup now that you can do more than listen to the radio." He says to them and leaves to approach the group. He comes closer enough to see Zemdi's bandages and that Mark-6 was truly there. "A long story I presume... Zemdi battered to pieces and Six is here... and operational wh..."

Djanzad is interupted by Zemdi jumping forward and embracing him. He is quickly taken down to the ground by the force of the impact as Zemdi says to Djanzad. "It all came back, I don't know what this all means, but I can remember things. So many things about you and myself. So many things about us. Who am I.."

Djanzad looks into her working purple eye as she says it and at the end realizes what she means. They both get up and Djanzad catches his breath. "I think we should head to the main building now for a proper explanation." He says and leads the group into Falador the walls marked with the distinct impact of many types of weapons. As the group approaches Falador the new large smoke stacks can be seen rising along with the metal framework of new barracks and factories being built. Eventually he brings everyone to the old castle dinner hall. "Ask away.. I don't mean to be rude, there's just undoubtably a lot that you want to know. And possibly too much to explain. I don't know where to begin. It's hard to believe it's happened after all this time."

Kikori · **Posted:** July 13th, 2008, 2:58 am

Kratos watched, with a very tiny possible hint of jealousy, as Zemdi overtook Djanzad in the embrace and stayed as close as she did. He didn't mind, though, and was smiling to see her as happy as she was. Instead of asking Djanzad directly about Zemdi's past (choosing instead to leave that up to Zemdi herself), Kratos took a position by the tower's window and strung his bow. So few arrows left... he knocked one and peered out the window, knowing war had recently happened and might possibly happen again. It was times like these that he didn't trust much of anyone outside his friend list.

While he listened in on Zemdi, Maria, and Djanzad, Kratos looked out the window at the city. It was mildly damaged, very mildly, but... so much... different. It almost matched Tethe'rant's building style with how modern it was, but the buildings were shaped far differently from their original sizes and positions. Falador turned into a warzone now... Kratos had a great urge to ask where the homes were. But Zemdi came first. Her need for knowledge was more important.

Znath · **Posted:** July 13th, 2008, 1:54 pm

After entering the dining hall, Djanzad approached Zemdi and took off the bandages from her neck and hand. He reaches for the one around her eye but Zemdi stops him. "Well, without seeing it I'm still certain. You found it after all." He walks back to sit at the chair meant for the king. "I'd been looking for it for years. I then recieved word somebody found ruins that might be it. You'd expect some fancy name, but really it was simply "governmental store room-5-B" to think after all this time it finally worked as I thought. And you remember everything?"

"I remember many things that make so little sense. Things like us being together, and growing up. What is also strange is that Maria is the same as me, but she has no memories." Zemdi says to Djanzad who looks confused at the mention of Maria.

"That is me now. I thought I needed a real name. Kratos helped give me one." Maria jumps in and adds.

"I see then. Maria is a fine name.... I suppose for it to make sense, I should arbitrarily flash back to the beginning. It had been centuries after the great war, I had left Corundus on my ship for the west and not long after, landed in that very port you did. I did work helping to arm the now white knights in their new settlement, showed them how to make finer steel than their enemies, in hopes that I could live peacefully. As the years went by, it seemed the nobles had forgotten our agreement and gradually I was denied more and more until finally they cut me off entirely in the middle of my research.

They believed that nitromagicite was too dangerous for human use, and in my experience, they were right to some extent. It wasn't even until recently that I made armor that can shield myself from its effects when firing. I moved to that island to the south defeated and angry.

It was there I met you... Zemdi Finelle... Your former self at least. I made your serial number ZmDI to resemble that name. You were more kind to me than anyone and though you didn't understand my work, you did what you could to help make my life easier. Eventually we grew to love each other more and I proposed. The wedding would never come though. We found she was pregnant. To make matters worse, Zemdi progressively got sicker as it went on. I'm no doctor, and the extent of the ones here were... less than even I knew.

"What I did know was mechanics, particularly cybernetics. I didn't have much in the way or resources, but the island was rich in gems silver and gold. Just enough to make one necessary part... the core. I finished just in time it seemed. We all tried our best to keep Zemdi alive and improver her condition, but it only worsened. In her final hours I began the process we both knew what could happen but she insisted.

It seemed to work as it had always in the ages past. With her last breath, I could only wonder if the transfer into the core was complete." Djanzad stopped to take a drink and was then interrupted by Maria

"But.... what about the child she was carrying. And who was the father?" Maria says questioningly.

"Don't you get it Maria... I AM you father!" Djanzad says after taking a drink. "Zemdi isn't your sister, she's your mother. You have no memory because you had not yet been born."

Chipp · **Posted:** July 16th, 2008, 2:42 pm

Chipp had been leaning against a wall with his arms folded listening to the conversation, "Well, that's that then? Problem solved, right? No more secrets, no more mysteries?" Chipp said softly, his eyes narrowed and he looked Djanzad in the eye, "why couldn't you have just told us that in the first place, instead of sending them on a journey where two, possibly three, people died?"

Znath · **Posted:** July 21st, 2008, 7:50 pm

"Lost three?... Last I saw you, you had three. Not to mention I didn't send you there, I had all but given up on finding that one particularly after I had lot Zemdi on the way." Djanzad says back to Chipp.

"Others joined us on the way. Sjenas hired two other mercenaries to join us when we went to retrieve the furnace. We encountered some trouble when a mechanical warrior opened fire by accident." Zemdi says to Djanzad. "We had also found a picture of his daughter there. He seemed so very appreciative.." She adds with a smile.

"Ah, So the old reactor. His daughter worked there during the war. That matter-mana furnace was part of her research. Just as it was finished, the war was already going hard. After that there was no hope in returning home, so I simply stayed around here for well... since it's no longer a secret, centuries before returning.

I thought I'd never love again until I found Zemdi. For years the nobles shoved off my demands for payment. I desperately needed those resources to complete a body prototype for the cores... I had to give up and do what ever I could to obtain enough ore for a few prototype dolls. I managed to produce four prototypes and given life with wandering souls willing to join my cause and binding them into the cores. It was with these four that I seized Crandor and with our crude rifles wiped out the creatures inferfering with mining there.

A while later, I produced mk 5 and mk 6 shortly after. I was so disappointed when it seemed I couldn't get your memories back. i blamed the nobility for ignoring my justified payment, but continued refining the mk 7 final model. Even with this, the memories still didn't return. Just as I was about to finish the mk 7 model for you Maria. That dragon attacked the village. I had blamed you thinking it was some malfunction. Then the murders in Varrok, I had thought my only option was to shut you down.... It was truly a mistake, I hope you can forgive me some day... " Djanzad pauses to lean on the window and look out. "It was at that point I knew the only way I would get what I deserved is taking it. I could improve the land so much if they just let me help. That's my true aim. With my machines I can produce over a hundred times more food per acre and produce mana energy long since gone from this land.

Then the counter attacks... almost non-stop. Even for souls in mechanical suits, this can get tiring. The worst was the elves. The damned crystalic weaponry is about all that... could.... penetrate our armor. Which is why I made the Elven Crystalic Resonator to destroy any crystal weapon. I WANT to get to making peaceful tractors and plows to use this land for more than a battlefield....

Anyway... something more relevant. I do still have that mk-7 body for you Maria and even Zemdi's old form here. I know what I did can't truly undo all I did to you. Hopefully it will be compatable with Zemdi's nanomachines and what memory you had, you will get back." Djanzad finishes and walks back to a heavy wooden case in the corner and pulling it open. Inside packed in straw is the small child form partly resembling Zemdi, but notably different, beside it is the crude Mk-5 model. "It has about the same strength. I had to do some guesswork on how you would look."

Maria still in shock replies "I do like it a lot... but... Father? It's kind of a bombshell. And my sister is really my mother??"

Zemdi winces looking at her old body and holding it up to see the whole thing better and looks back at Maria. "It is a shock, but I am glad we both know now. On one hand, things make so much more sense about my memories,... but on the other I'm not sure who I even am anymore. I can't just go back to being my old self. I've lived as much of my life as I am now."

Kikori · **Posted:** July 21st, 2008, 10:50 pm

Kratos' head turned toward Djanzad, slowly, upon hearing that Zemdi was the mother of Maria. He couldn't utter a word in his surprise, unsure if Djanzad was a monster for tampering with human life or a hero for saving one that way. As he unveiled his plan to better the land, Kratos calmed down a bit and closed his eyes, composing himself. "Zemdi... if Djanzad believes in souls enough to put yours in that body, he believes in their freedom enough to let you choose. You don't have to pick anything now, or even soon, but it's your choice what you do with yourself, whether it be try to go back to an old life or find some middle ground between your humanity and robot body."

Kratos straightened up and looked at Djanzad. "What about you? If this warring continues, you're doomed to never make peace, and without peace even a very efficient farm such as yours wouldn't be successful, it would be a boycot. We both know you can't roll over and die or play dead, but there has to be a solution that convinces everyone you're here for their benifit instead of their harm."

Chipp · **Posted:** August 4th, 2008, 4:01 pm

"Aye" Chipp cut in, "when you want to stop the fighting on the seas, you grab the upperhand and when everything looks hopeless for them, you wave the white flag. That way they won't be in any position to take anything from you and you're in control of the situation. But since this isn't on a boat then I'd give them some stuff to show your good will, unless you don't have one."

OOC: I've really got nothing

Znath · **Posted:** August 4th, 2008, 11:16 pm

Djanzar looks at Kratos. He'd seen that expression before particularly in Zemdi's father. "You don't approve hmm. I saved her life and yet people aren't sure whether it's a good thing. In my age it was a common thing. Either nanomachine integration, or full body replacement in severe cases. It seemed after the 'wars' in this land, the views changed dramatically. When I proposed My and Zemdi's plan to go through with this despite the risks, I got many looks like that."

David steps in front of the group after Djanzad had finished. "I... er sir Djanzad... Sjenas asked me to deliver a message. Sylvria is prepping many of their forces... and there's word of an attack coming. We believe it has something to do with our re-discovery of the mana furnace. This is just the message he wanted me to deliver. If you can aid in any way." David finishes partly afraid of Djanzad's response.

"hmmf... figures. Big brother needs saving. I do have one ship in the works, it'll take a short time to complete. I can send it to at least appear like a warship. And those will work as my trade ships for now. It should give the appearance to the enemy that we have regular patrols on our trade route. I hope that solves things. Should he need more assistance, I'm afraid that's as much as I can do until the power shovel miners are working." Djanzad pats Zemdi on the shoulder while she still is examining her old frame. "Besides, I currently have something more important to deal with. Maria's replacement body. Are you willing to go through with it?"

"Will it really be ok? Will I be the same as I am now?? I don't want to lose that." Maria said, afraid that the change would erase her memory.

Djanzad sighed and looked at the replacement and then Zemdi. "It should work. I believe the memory loss Zemdi experienced was due to the time I lost not having a body to place the core in immediately." He carries the old body of Zemdi's over onto the table and pries open the chest compartment. "This hollowed out area in the middle about where a heart would be, is where the core goes. The four larger cables on the sides are the controls to the body. They provide power to the core and control signals from the core. It's more like the brain than the heart really. I just thought this would be the safest place. My poor Zemdi would have been dead ten times over if it were in her head."

Zemdi shrugged at being portrayed as so clumsy. "I am not really that bad am I? I have only lost my head once since I met Kratos. And it never came off when that bolt hit me through the neck." She says and walks over to look at the old shell and grimaces. "That is still too gross to look at my insides like that. I don't have to be there for Maria do I?"

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6636 ... nd6fc1.png
ooc: for referance Zemdi's old body upper right, six in the lower left.

Znath · **Posted:** August 5th, 2008, 7:44 pm

"Hmm... That is easy enough to say. Sometimes the world chooses where you go for you." Djanzad says walking back to a specially marked crate of items. He pulls out a few small boxes and stacks them nearby until pulling out a black one. He searches it for a while and then pulls out a booklet and opens it up to the front showing a set of pictures. "I took these a while back, the villagers didn't know much of what to think about it but, regardless it's the best record I have. These people are Zemdi's parents. I believe they are still living in the jungles south of Brimhaven in a small village built around an old monostary. My last report I got from my scouting teams was they still lived there, that was a year ago before I started making my big push to build up my army."

"Parents? I had..." Zemdi stands puzzled for a little while thinking. "I always thought of you as my father but... I suppose it makes sense now. I had never even thought about it until now. I would like to see them, is that even possible though?"

"Assuming they're alive still... *seeing* isn't the problem. Your father was extremely against my 'interferance' with the will of something or other, and then naturally, the mother followed suit. Unless you're ready to face a rather possible not-so-welcome greeting, I'd avoid it. I couldn't possibly face them after all these years when you couldn't remember a thing." Djanzad says flipping though the photos finding several pages with Zemdi either sitting or doing various tasks around the house. "I'm sure you'll recognize them whenever you saw them. The choice is yours though. You can rest here the night while I work on Maria. That way she can go with you if you'd like."

[RP] - The Fall of Crandor

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