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**Kairu** · 09-08-2013, 11:52 AM

Rhykim, who was still dumbfounded by what he had witnessed, began to focus on the fact that some of the Gerudo guards in the adjacent room began to be concerned. There was a loud ruckus, as though someone had busted in unexpectedly. The two Iron Knuckles that stood outside the prison room, began to head into the ruckus as the other Gerudo women were dispatched with haste by the anonymous Stari.

"Amaya," Rhykim muttered, putting the pieces together. He then turned to Xeonph, "It's time to move, Commander."

Rhykim fazed out of his cell and on the other side of the door. Previously, Rhykim had already broken the enchanted lock on Xeonph's cell, so the Dracos could freely leave as he wished too. Rhykim, although physically unarmed, moved to the door the Iron Knuckles were previously guarding. The Stari and Knuckles were headlocked into a stalemate when Rhykim decided to tip the odds for the Stari. Rhykim closed in on the skirmish, summoning a fireball in each hand and he began to launch them at one of the Knuckles. Although it didn't do much in the way of damage, the heat began to increase drastically for each fireball that hit the iron-plated armor. The Knuckles Rhykim was attacking began to scream in agony as the sound of flesh being burned continued. The Knuckles dropped her axe and Rhykim moved to pick it up, using it to slice the Knuckles in half with all the might Rhykim mustered.

Rhykim then turned his focus to the other Knuckles.

**Shadow wing** · 09-15-2013, 03:45 PM

Narus slashed down another Gerudo and looked around. The alarm had been raised about the same time the gate had been opened. Oh, well. It was bound to happen sooner or later, Narus thought. And besides, this sneaking around just does not suit me. Another Gerudo charged Narus as he stood lost in thought, snapping him back to reality. Narus quickly sidestepped and placed his hand on the woman's head, focused, and shut down her brain's electronic impulses, effectively shutting down her body and killing her. Narus dropped the corpse and continued running to where he presumed the guardhouse to be, easily dispatching some more Gerudo as Felgrand caught up to him. "About time you showed up," Narus yelled to his partner.
"It was hard to find you among all this chaos," Felgrand replied.
"Whatever. Let's keep moving." Narus rounded a corner, only to come face-to-face with a pair of Iron Knuckles. Narus dispatched one with several bolts of lightning, then stabbed the other in every gap in the armor he could find.
Felgrand rounded the corner just after and saw the bodies. "You don't waste time, do you?"
Narus didn't even bother responding, as he had just spied Rhykim outside a building, killing his own pair of Iron Knuckles. Narus's eyes narrowed as he drew his second sword, not fool enough to try to take him on with just one. "Let's go, Felgrand!" Without waiting for a reply, Narus charged, building up power in his blades. As soon as he was in range, Narus swung a devastating overhead slash with his sword, while at the same time sneaking in a stab with his katana. If it connected, it would surely be a fatal blow...

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 09-15-2013, 05:58 PM

Zariel and Reuben, the fire Stari, and eventually the cheetahs followed Amaya as she raced through the fortress. Water, fire, and the shape-shifter's arrows took out Iron Knuckles and Gerudo alike, while the cheetahs focused on finding any foes that were attempting to hide and attacking them. Their race won't survive this, Amaya thought with a mix of savage satisfaction and sad guilt. She didn't dwell on it too much, she had a mission. Her first goal was to find Rhykim, her second, the leader of these fool women. She was going to rip him to pieces for imprisoning Rhykim. It wouldn't even be any problem, with her water ability. The desert might not have enough for her to completely destroy him, but she had two water skins with her, and she was continually pulling water from the bodies she left behind. Soon she'd be completely unstoppable, and dead tired, but in her blood-thirsty state, it would be awhile before she noticed the latter.
The group was swiftly moving higher and higher in the fortress, but no sign of Rhykim or the Gerudo commander. Zariel had led the way to Rhykim's cell, but it was empty. The Imperator and his assassin must have escaped already, and were making their way outside to join the main force. Satisfied her master was safe, Amaya was determined to find to the man in charge of the Gerudo. "I want him captured alive," she ordered Zariel and Reuben. "If you find him before me, bring him to me." With that, the three Stari separated, their respective cheetahs following close on their heels.
Eventually Amaya found Akbar on the roof of the fortress, commanding the Gerudo forces with codes relayed through colored lanterns. He turned on her in surprise as she stepped onto the roof, the mass of water she had pulled twisting and churning behind her. "How did you get up here?" he hissed.
"Unimportant," she answered. "All you need to concern yourself with is how you will be dying. With a sword in your hand as a man, or cowering on the floor like a dog."
"Amaya! In the courtyard!"
At Solar's hiss, Amaya whirled, her eyes narrowing as she noticed Narus launching an attack against Rhykim, who seemed unaware of the Stari as he attacked an Iron Knuckle. Without even thinking about it, she sent her water down to quickly surround her master, solidifying into an icy dome. The thick barrier deflected Narus' katanas and the Iron Knuckle's ax, but it left Amaya without any water to command. She was armed now only with her sword.
Akbar smirked at her perceived vulnerability, drawing his sword. "I'll show you who's a dog!" He charged her, sword raised to cut her down.
Only he didn't get close enough to use it. Dropping her own blade, Amaya threw both hands up, focusing through them on the water in Akbar's body. The human body is roughly seventy-five percent water, and Akbar was a large man. Amaya was still unskilled at this particular talent, but she could still put him through a whole series of torment simply by manipulating the water inside him. "It would be so easy to kill you now," she told him with savage delight as his body thrashed against her control. "Just pull all that water from your body right now. You would implode as I pulled the water straight through your skin, and the Gerudo wouldn't even have a body to bury. But that would be too easy," she purred, "too merciful. Instead, I'm going to take you apart, piece by piece." She picked up her sword again and, with one hand still focused on keeping him twitching in agony, proceeded to plunge it into his body, until his body was completely lacerated and the water drained out with ease.
Her foe now dead, Amaya threw back her head and howled her victory to the vanishing stars and rising sun.

**Kairu** · 09-15-2013, 07:26 PM

Rhykim, encased in the icy dome, was shocked. He wasn't sure what was happening. First a Stari attacking him, and then a magic ice barrier trapping him. Either someone was protecting him to be killed for later or to keep safe. Not liking his odds, Rhykim fazed out of the barrier. He battle-hardened himself for the fight with Narus. He was ready for when the young man charged at him, which Narus did when he realized that Rhykim was out of the protective shell. Rhykim held the axe watching Narus charge and when Narus closed, he simply side-stepped, swinging the flat part of the blade at Narus, preventing any killing blow he would deal, a simple slam to thrust Narus to the ground.

Rhykim, however, wasn't unaccustomed to sparing with a Stari. Often times, Rhykim pushed Nyx and Amaya in practice battles to ensure they kept their skills sharp. After a charge missing, the cheetah would leap to stall time and allow their handler time to recover. When Rhykim side-stepped and paddled Narus, Rhykim swung the axe's blade at the pouncing Felgrand, maiming him at his tail. The force of the swing managed to knock Felgrand out of the air and the force from the swing and Felgrand's size allowed for a distance to gather between the cheetah and Rhykim.

Rhykim turned back to Narus who was charging at Rhykim again. Rhykim assumed that like all Stari, they were adaptable to a situation. Instead of repeating a side-step, Rhykim fazed out of the way at the very last moment before Narus connected the blow. The faze lasted long enough for Narus to pass all the way through Rhykim's last spot, only to reappear back at the same location. Rhykim however kept caution about him. He was unsure as to Narus' motives for the sudden turncoat attitude, but he was certainly going to find out.

Narus charged once again, and Rhykim grabbed the man and swung him into the ground, but not without landing a wound on Rhykim first. With Narus down and winded, Rhykim kicked Narus' blades from their owner. Rhykim then proceeded to step on the man's throat, starting to choke him. He wasn't pressing hard, just enough to barely let enough air to flow.

"Tell me why you are attacking me!" Rhykim didn't hold back on the torture. He asserted more pressure on Narus' throat to show that he had no problem killing him, if he failed to cooperate.

Narus' response however, was garbled and unintelligible. Rhykim lifted his foot off of Narus' throat enough to allow more air to flow so he could speak clearer.

"Speak!"

**Shadow wing** · 09-26-2013, 06:26 PM

Narus felt Rhykim lift his foot from his neck and gave a small smirk. Big mistake, Narus thought, and looked up at his tormentor. "You shouldn't have done that!" Narus said, giving Rhykim a look of pure evil before pouring electricity into the man's foot, sending him flying several feet into the air. Narus quickly leaped to his feet, grabbing his katana as he went. I can't run away now, Narus thought. Felgrand is in no shape to travel, and even if he was, we wouldn't get very far. Heh, as if I would even run from a man like this anyways. Now, what to do? I should probably just stick with my katana and use evasive tactics; the sword would just get in my way. Narus's eyes narrowed as he saw Rhykim getting to his feet. "You won't get me this time," Narus called out, and powered up his blade, while at the same time creating an almost invisible electric barrier around himself. If Rhykim hit it, it would be all over. Well, guess that's all the preparation I can do. But as long as Amaya doesn't interfere again, I should at least be able to do some damage. Narus charged at his full speed, watching every move Rhykim made, ready to dodge any attack, ready for any opening to sweep into and strike, and especially ready for that phazing ability he had used to escape the ice. Narus ran forward and wipped behind Rhykim at impossible speeds, swinging at the man's head in what would be a lethal attack, while also keeping half an eye on Amaya and the surrounding battle.

**Kairu** · 09-26-2013, 10:41 PM

Rhykim dispatched the slash at the head with his sword. The electricity jolted through the man. Although it was a weakening sort of shock, Rhykim's metal armor amplified the damage. "I'll admit, that's a pretty neat trick." Rhykim stood up again, "But I hate to break it to you, Kid, you just shocked my tenacious side." Rhykim was no longer going to hide his power. He let the fire inside him consume him. His arms and helmet soon became engulfed in flames. "I will give you five seconds to run. Otherwise, may you find peace in the afterlife." While he was raging, Rhykim held up a smaller blade and cut his hand open, allowing the wound bleed. Instead of wounding, it fed into Rhykim's power surge. He turned the smaller blade on his other hand allowing that one to bleed and energize him too.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 09-30-2013, 06:03 PM

"Amaya!"
The Stari turned at her cheetah's warning and saw that Narus had attacked Rhykim. Her teeth bared in a snarl and she leaped off the fortress. Water rushed after her and broke her fall as she landed between the combatants. "How dare you attack your master, Narus Storm! Rhykim is king of this country, and your father has sworn the Stari's loyalty to him. Whether you like him or not, you are bound to your father's oath. By attacking Rhykim, you declare yourself traitor not just to the Logatan ruler, but to the Stari tribe as well." Water rippled and trembled with her anger as she glared at her tribesman. "Leave this to me, Master. You are weakened from your loss, and I will not let you sully your hands with a man who betrays his own people." The liquid suddenly launched itself at Narus, gripping his hands and forcing them together, then freezing solid. It also trapped Felgrand, gripping his paws tightly. Solar moved to stand by Rhykim's side, watching his mistress in case he needed to pull her back from her fury.

**Kairu** · 09-30-2013, 08:33 PM

Rhykim stayed next to Amaya. His rage and fury wouldn't let him stand down. "No, I will fight him with you. He's a traitor to me and I will also participate."

**Shadow wing** · 10-25-2013, 10:34 AM

(Sorry it took so infernally long to post, but i've been buried with school lately.)

"Traitor? Me?" Narus chuckled, completely nonplussed by both Amaya's sudden appearance, as well the manacles she put on his wrists. "Actually, if anyone is a traitor, it's you, Amaya."
Narus let that sit for a bit, a confident smile on his face, then turned to Rhykim.
"I'm surprised you didn't know already. I would think you would have spies who told you. I only found out recently. A few days ago, I recieved a message from the Stari camp. My father somehow got himself killed in the forest. A pack of bears or somethingfoolish. As embarassing as that is, it means that I am now the chief of the clan," Narus said, his voice rising in tempo to further hammer in his point. Narus snapped his arms apart with apparent ease.
"And as new chief, I declare that the alliance between the Stari and the main body of Logatans is officially broken!"
He smashed the remainder of ice around his wrists for further emphasis while Rhykim and Amaya stood there, shocked by his words.
"Narus, you can't beat them. Not on your own," Felgrand said, still lying on the ground where Amaya had pinned him. Narus's eyes narrowed. He knew Felgrand spoke the truth, but still... he hated to give Rhykim the satisfation of seeing him flee. He gritted his teeth. He could see Rhykim recovering from his initial shock, getting ready to launch an attack, or maybe to just insult him. Narus lowered his head, closed his eyes, and tried to think of a way out of this.
"Narus, please. This is a losing battle!" Felgrand pushed.
"...I know." Narus's head snapped up and he launched a massive bolt of lightning at Amaya, who barely had time to create a shield from the ice keeping Felgrand. Felgrand limped over to his partner and rubbed his leg. Narus bent over and rubbed his cat's head, grabbing his dropped katana while he was at it.
"Well, Rhykim, Amaya, I guess I'll be seeing you around!" He called, then let out a surge of energy, kicking a large dust cloud. By the time it settled, he was gone, along with a few other stari who had been listening in.

(You hate me now, don't you, Kairu?)

**Kairu** · 10-25-2013, 11:16 AM

(Nah, if you and your sister worked it out, I'll go with it. I'm curious as to where you take this path.)

Rhykim stood next to Amaya. He looked around at Falldell. Most of the fighting had been reduced to trivial skirmishes. "Amaya, finish the fight and kill every Gerudo here. When we're done, we'll leave their heads on a bunch of stakes lining the town and we'll burn their bodies." The Gerudo had quickly became disorganized and rigid in fighting. The Logatans soon had overwhelmed their opponents during Rhykim's fight with Narus. The few pockets of resistance were mostly Knuckles, but some of them were the most experienced soldiers of the Gerudo. Now, Rhykim knew his order would ensure the Rebellion would end, but also solidify a tyranny the island has never seen before. He knew he tread a dark path and that by the end, he would now have to commit. He offered the Gerudo a chance and they denied and in his mind, they deserved nothing more than death.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 11-04-2013, 07:14 PM

Amaya hissed in fury as Narus made his escape, even more when she noticed that several Stari had vanished with him. "They'll regret turning on the master of Logata," she growled.
"Doubtful," Solar commented. "The Stari have kept themselves alive by hiding in the shadows. They will not be easy to find and punish. This might destroy the tribe, though."
Amaya didn't get a chance to reply as Rhykim ordered the death of all the Gerudo. She raised an eyebrow. "Every Gerudo, Master Rhykim? That seems a little harsh, even for you." Without waiting for his answer, she raised her voice and yelled his order to all the Stari and freed Logatan forces. However, she also added a command that those who surrendered were to be captured to be dealt with by Rhykim personally. She didn't mind so much that he wanted to burn their bodies, after all, Stari considered this an honor, that the spirit wasn't free to leave this world until the body was burned. But killing off the entire race, and staking their heads outside the fortress? That was perhaps too far. Savage though she was, Amaya would not allow it, and resolved to take a few of the Gerudo away, to preserve the race, if only in slavery. A cruel smile parted her lips as she thought of how she'd break their spirits, these powerful women, as she made them into slaves for her master.

Tara had watched the proceedings with quiet rage. She might have joined Rhykim's army and learned to appreciate the Stari and their talents and traditions, but in her heart, she was still a Gerudo. Destroying her people was going too far, even if they held the Imperator captive. But he had attacked them first, for no reason that she knew of. He was his own fault that he had been captured, his own fault for underestimating her sisters. The Stari might be exceptional archers, but he had taken very few of them, and with their horses and Iron Knuckles, the Gerudo could easily squish Rhykim's forces.
This Narus person seemed different. He was aggressive and didn't give up easily, but then, the Gerudo weren't weaklings either. They had to be strong to survive in their desert home, stubborn as well. And if he really was the leader of the Stari... Perhaps she could use her mixed blood to convince him to protect her people. Or maybe merge the two races? It seemed as if the Stari were going to take a massive hit to their own population if only a few chose to remain with their true leader. And the Gerudo would need some way to survive.
Decided, she hastened after the Stari, using her sand gift to make herself seem as a dust devil to avoid being attacked.

**Kairu** · 11-04-2013, 08:47 PM

Rhykim was curious as to why even Amaya was reluctant to his orders; however he had come to trust in giving her some flexibility and loose interpretation of his orders. He accepted her refusal and allowed her to do as she felt was better. Rhykim felt that the Gerudo would be a menace again in the future and he was merely resolving a problem before it starts. He watched as those who were still loyal to him did as Amaya ordered, unaware that Rhykim just ordered a genocide. He then began to wonder how Nyx's group was faring. His plan didn't go as well as he hoped and the lack of reinforcements didn't help things. When everyone would be gathered at Logata Castle again, he would be sure to express his full anger about the matter.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 12-06-2013, 05:49 PM

The Logatan forces went about their grisly task with enthusiasm, wanting to achieve their revenge on the Gerudo for their time imprisoned. The Stari were less pleased about it. They knew their orders, but they disliked having to kill the Gerudo, especially with such greater ability than the weakened and dispirited women. It was an unfair fight, and many Stari went out of their way to only wound the Gerudo or knock them out.

Amaya watched the proceedings with an air of disgust. Killing without mercy, and enjoying it, was something she could understand from the Logatans' point of view. And she could likewise understand the Stari's reluctance, as killing an enemy who was not prepared to fight whole-heartedly was not worth it. But above it all, she knew Rhykim wanted every single one of the women, and that was what really annoyed her. There was no point in eradicating an entire race, no matter how vile they had treated him. And considering he was unmarked, they hadn't been very vile. "They don't deserve to be completely destroyed," she growled.
"So don't," Solar said. You are the second most powerful person in Logata. Don't let them all be killed.
"Easy for you to say," she grumbled.

Eventually the fighting stopped and the remaining Gerudo, the few who had surrendered, were brought before Rhykim and Amaya and made to kneel before them, their hands bound with heavy chains. Amaya saw the anger building in her master's face as he beheld those who remained of his enemy and, fearing he would order their execution then and there, stepped forward and spoke first. "Gerudo. You are defeated today. Your master has been slain by my hands. Your uprising is at an end. You must acknowledge Rhykim as your new master and ruler of Logata."
One of the Gerudo, a younger one who looked barely old enough to even be considered a woman, struggled to her feet, but she was forced back down by a firm Stari behind her. "I will never serve the usurper," she said angrily. "While there is still breath in my body, I will defy him."
Amaya raised an eyebrow at the girl and walked towards her. "Defy him?" she repeated. "Defy the one who commands the Stari? We, who are the most powerful race of all Logata? Defy the one who has command of the entire Logata forces, saving yours? Defy the one who even now, wants nothing more than to spill your blood for the carrion birds to grow fat upon?"
"Better death," the girl said, "than a lifetime of servitude for a man who has destroyed everything I know."
I think I'll keep you, Amaya thought a little viciously. It would make the perfect punishment for someone who disliked Master Rhykim so much. "Well then, girl, if no one else cares to show more sense then you..." She paused to glance at the line of women before her, then smiled as not one dared meet her gaze and continued, "all of you will be made slaves to serve Master Rhykim. Oh, maybe not all of you will serve him directly, only a few I select will be given that privilege, but you will do work around the Castle. After all, we don't have any servants there yet," she added with a look towards Rhykim. Don't you dare order me to kill them all right here, she warned him with her eyes.

**Kairu** · 12-06-2013, 05:59 PM

As much as Rhykim detested his orders being undermined, he had trust in Amaya who brought up a point. Logata Castle was very empty as of late, it was time to change that. "In addition to sparing your life, I will even allow you to one day earn your freedom. Obey faithfully and loyally to myself or the Generals, and you will be rewarded in time. If you so much as attempt a rebellion or escape, you will die." Rhykim met Amaya's glare. He then placed all of the Gerudo's actions on her and those she makes responsible for them.

The soldiers that were holding the Gerudo women in place on their knees shackled the women. "Prepare to move out!" Rhykim hollered to his forces. "We're going back to the Castle!"

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 12-16-2013, 04:54 PM

Amaya breathed a quiet sigh of relief, glad that Rhykim decided not to argue with her. It would not have been a good thing to argue in front of the subordinates, and neither of them would have given ground willingly. Fighting like children in front of the prisoners was not a good idea either. Besides, he would have been completely wrong and too hard-headed to see why. It was annoying that he placed all the Gerudo under her charge, though. She'd have to find someone she trusted enough to take over responsibility of the desert women. It was too much of a chore for the Stari to have to pay attention to who all did what, where they slept, who needed fed when, and all the other little details that she had no patience for.

Still, that one Gerudo who had spoken out would be the perfect little slave for her. It would be fun to torment the girl, especially if she charged her with taking care of Solar. Most people felt the star cheetahs were wild creatures, which they were. They were just more intelligent than others. And if Amaya convinced Solar to play along, it would be especially amusing to have the Gerudo brush his coat out.

Grinning to herself about all the things she'd put the Gerudo girl through, Amaya raised her arm, signaling for the troops to move out. "Back to Logata Castle," she commanded. "We need to celebrate our victory over the Logatan Royal Family and those loyal to them!" This earned her a cheer as they headed for home.

Announcement

Verass Diplomacy

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