Music of the Heart

"And that, my people, is why I am pleased to announce the beginning of the young highness' second birthday. May your joys and happiness fall upon her and lead her through another bright year." Applause. Though his words had been happy and very well received, he could not help inwardly grimacing. These past two years had been frightful ones; not for the kingdom, but for the man who led it. Protected though his daughter was, he spent every day fearing for the young child; her fate was sealed in stone, their safeguard would not keep her from it.

And yet a smile remained on his face throughout the festivities, his form not straying from that of the young princess. With him were not only the council, who had provided the spell, but also a group of three; specially selected for their skills, they had been charged as being guard for the young maiden. Though the festivities were about, and trumpets played as though it were the day she was born, they would need be on guard. There was no room for such a would-be happiness to catch them off-guard; if the princess' fate was sealed in such a way that there was an offender to take vengeance on, then vengeance would be had.

As the festivities died down though, it seemed that Princess Cordelia would be safe for yet another day. But as night came upon the wondrous kingdom, darkness began to seep into the world. King Abner stood at the top of the tallest tower in his castle, his smile from earlier having faded entirely. He knew not what to make of the dark storm that appeared far in the distance. "Tonight?" he whispered to no one, brow furrowed with great worry. He would have no answer.

It was not much longer before each member of his royal guard was called in the middle of the night, each roused from their beds by nearby servants. Each gathered in the throne room, awaiting the king's presence to make sense of their midnight awakening. They waited for the longest time, but when another entered the room it was not the king. Rather, Lady Asura, well known as probably the most powerful of the King's inner council appeared before them, her stoic visage seemingly masking something. "King Abner apologizes for disrupting the little rest you get, but we have a situation."

- - - - -

(Maren is not part of the royal guard, just so y'all know. Please go ahead and post~)

She was always very good at dressing and grooming herself very fast and efficiently. That proved most useful now. She had woken up from a most...troubling dream, still wondering if she was really under that fatefull tree. It took only a few moments to realise the truth. The city. Yeah, she remembered. She had nodded to the servant and waited for him to leave her room. She had quickly found a bucket and a sponge to clean herself of what sweat she could, slipped out of her night robes and into her standard dress. All ties tied, she had put her socks and boots on and taken her pouch and the good old jewel box from her end table, and put both in a concealed pocket in the dress. Finally she had taken her locket from the same table. She always took a little long to put it on. Always.

All that process had taken no longer than a few minutes, and she was out, her face almost-perfectly fine. She had followed the path to the keep hastly, worried about the call. She had refused to sleep within the building ever since her ties with the king started. She would much rather make her a cozy, simple room in a nearby inn. At last she had arrived at the throne room, found herself a wooden chair and waited there, sitting down with her legs crossed, staring lost at the colors and reflections inside her jewel box.

-What value has a stone that loses it's shine?...

Eventually, Lady Asura came into the room, stoic as always. Alex got up and greeted her shortly, paying attention to her words.

The woman was already wakening when the servant entered her room. Her spirit body felt the disturbances in the magic in the air, and reacted almost violently to them. The servant rushed forward to help, but she was stopped by a strong, invisible barrier. Callisto the Rock did not need the help of medicine or support, her reactions to the magic in the air were natural and could only be suffered through. Callisto immediately dismissed the servant before she had the chance to hear what her orders were. She knew something was wrong the moment she woke up.

Callisto quickly composed herself and changed her attire to that of her usual uniform. A blue and purple dress, with a neat white handkerchief tucked in just below her chin. She wore gauntlets, but was no soldier. She was a mage who used conductive material to cast spells. And not only was she a mage, but also a demi-spirit, or a human that taps into the raw power of a certain element.

Callisto brushed past her door, not bothering to close it behind her. She held nothing of personal value, and owned nothing but her clothes. She was the only one who could wear such heavy clothing in the castle anyway. She arrived at the throne room just moments before her partner and comrade, Alexandra. A much younger, more support-based mage.

When the King didn't show up, and instead Lady Asura greeted them, Callisto knew that what she sensed had to do with their charge.

Knock knock-

He stood, glancing outward from his dormitory's sole window and toward the virulent storm of shadows, ears perking in anticipation and excitement as a knocking sound echoed through the wooden planks of his door, "Who calls Joseph at such an hour?" He beckoned heartily, rushing to the doorway, where he found a measly servant, gazing up to him in shaking desperation.

"Do not speak!" Joseph commanded endearingly, putting his finger to the young servant's work-worn lips as if to silence her, "I can see it in your emerald eyes-"

"Mine eyes are brown, sir-"

"I can see it in your emerald eyes! I can see the despair - the desperation!" Joseph turned his chin far afield, finger still perched upon the servant's dry lip, "You need me! You need a hero like Joseph the Fighting Wonder to purge the world of thieves, and of gremlins, and of everything that strikes fear and agony into the hearts of children and women alike!" He smirked, removing a golden comb from the innermost pocket of his jacket. A true man never went anywhere without his comb.

"Sir, we need you-" The young woman attempted to speak, forcefully removing Joseph's finger from her lip, but to no avail.

He turned back to the servant with a whiff of his comb, which glided over his gel-slicked hair with ease, "Speak no more, damsel." He took his free hand and caressed the back of the woman's auburn hair, "Withdraw coolly and return to Asura. I'll be there." A wink. A flash of his boyish smile, and a slave's blush. Another woman fell to the suave, dashing thunder-gaze of Joseph.

Joseph emerged from the arched doorway with a flutter, his jacket emanating sequences of sparkling dust in his wake, and his newly donned cap of victory covering his eyes with a shadowy aura of anonymity. Though, when Joseph entered a room, there was no such thing as anonymity. The people knew his name throughout the lands:

It was a name spoken of by the fairest women of all the lands, and by the most jealous of men. With a thundering swoop of his muscular arm, the dark storm outside the throne room seemed to spit fumes of lightning and destruction. The world was at his knees, and nothing could stop the almighty Joseph.

"This must be pertaining to the storm outside the keep, is it not, dearest Asura?" With a tip of his cap, Joseph revealed his eyes to the lady, as deep and perplexing as the farthest galaxies of the great beyond.

Asura nodded in response to Joseph, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. "That is correct." she spoke quietly, only opening her eyes after a few moments. "His majesty believes the day has come. Although we know not the cause of the storm, we can only assume it to be directly related to the fate of our princess." she explained, glancing at each of the guard for mere moments before looking out to the darkness. A flash of strange lightning occurred in that moment and she frowned. Lady Asura never frowned. Her gaze fell back on the guard, "His majesty requires you to travel out into the storm and see what you can find. If it is indeed a murderer, please end him." She looked at each of them individually again, not saying anything for the longest time before nodding. "The rest of the King's council and I will remain behind and guard the princess' chamber." And with that she left the guard to their task.

- - - - -

Prologue: Darkness Surrounding

They set out immediately, heading straight for the storm and taking no detours. Everything seemed to grow more violent as the group inched closer and closer. At the closer distance they could just barely make out some strange formation in the clouds, blackness literally spilling out to form a strange column in the distance. Unable to take in much else, the guard hurried themselves in getting closer, but before they could get much farther there was a sudden movement in the darkness. Two eerie yellow eyes suddenly glowed and a frog-like creature thrust itself in the party's direction. The group was quick to dodge and reform, only to have the creature meld into the ground and shift back over to where it came from. When it did, eight more eerie yellow orbs appeared in the night.

Their enemy was found.

Prologue-I: First Encounter
Objective: Defeat the unknown enemy
Atmosphere: Kingdom Outskirts - Road to the Kingdom (There's a strange storm raging and darkness is rampant! +15% Dark Damage; -15% Light Damage)


{ } { } { } { } { } {D} {t} { } {r} A
{ } {r} {r} {S} { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } {B} { } { } C
{t} { } {F} { } { } { } {r} { } {b} D
{ } { } { } { } {N} { } {r} { } { } E
{ } { } {t} { } { } { } { } { } { } F
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } {t} { } { } { } {r} { } { } H
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } {t} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9-


Nyx
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Shad
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Black
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Dex
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Frog
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

{t} - Tree
No Occupy.

{r} - Rock
No Occupy.

{b} - Bag
Trigger Command: Pick Up!

You may start in Rows G-I; Columns 4-6!

Alex starts on H6!

Alex had just nodded in agreement with Lasy Asura. She had been keeping her hopes up that the storm was just that: a storm, but she could not deny that ominous feeling.

-Let's make haste.

They took some time to approach the coulds, even going in a straight line. The whole situation seemed more and more disturbind the closer they got, and Alex could feel the disturbance. It was not good. She was somewhat confident, however, as she knew that the three of them had not been chosen at random. They could take on whatever darkness threw at them, so she could only trust their might. She sure did trust Callisto, but sometimes she wondered how much of his pose Joseph could back up. Sure he was fabolous, but that didn't necessarily mean he COULD fight.

Eventually, the trio was ambushed, rather unsuccessfully, by a group of shadow creatures, and Alex has to dive out of the way to avoid the initial attack. She did, however, catch a glimpse of Joseph's fabulous dodge. Ok, the man could fight, now he better start throwing some punches.

She got up, clened her dress a little and drew out her jewel box. It had begun.

Joseph starts at H4.

A flash of darkness, golden light - Joseph's keen eyes could see the attack coming from a mile away, and with a quick step the the left, he completely avoided the shadow creature's strike. "YOU!" Joseph pointed his finger declaratively at the frontmost shadow creature, "Do you even know who I am?" His lifted his head, gazing at the shadow beast with that same ol' sparkle that was always in his eye, "My name's Joseph." A sudden gust of wind burst through the kingdom's outskirts, almost as if it were response to hearing the name of the great Fighting Wonder. His jacket fluttered amidst the ferocious winds, and his jet-black hair flowed with glory. It was time to fight.

Prologue-I: First Encounter
Objective: Defeat the unknown enemy
Atmosphere: Kingdom Outskirts - Road to the Kingdom (There's a strange storm raging and darkness is rampant! +15% Dark Damage; -15% Light Damage)


{ } { } { } { } { } {D} {t} { } {r} A
{ } {r} {r} {S} { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } {B} { } { } C
{t} { } {F} { } { } { } {r} { } {b} D
{ } { } { } { } {N} { } {r} { } { } E
{ } { } {t} { } { } { } { } { } { } F
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } {t} {J} {C} {A} {r} { } { } H
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } {t} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9-


Joseph
HP: 25/25
MP: 20/20
IP: 0/10
ATK: 5
DEF: 4
INT: 1
SPR: 3
CRIT: 5%
EVADE: 3%
MOVE: 4 Cells

Callisto
HP: 22/22
MP: 22/22
IP: 0/10
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5
Crit: 5%
Evade: 2%
Move: 2 Cells

Alex
HP: 15/15
MP: 35/35
IP: 0/10
ATK: 1
DEF: 2
INT: 5
SPR: 3
EVD: 2%
CRT: 5%
MOV: 2 Cells

Nyx
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Shad
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Black
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Dex
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Frog
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

{t} - Tree
No Occupy.

{r} - Rock
No Occupy.

{b} - Bag
Trigger Command: Pick Up!

Player Phase - I

- - - - -

The IP Mechanic

Zeri and Durn /should/ be familiar with the IP Mechanic, but just in case everyone is not, it's fairly simple. IP works similar to the Death Drive in Masq's roleplays, however it has several different features. First off, IP can decrease and the full spectrum of your IP is from -10 to 10. At -10 IP your character is severely crippled for the rest of the battle (-25% Atk/Def/Int/Spr), and you start at -10 IP the next battle–although before you'll be hit by a slump again, you'll have to get back to 0 IP. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have two options available at anytime afterwards (your IP will be locked at 10/10): 1) The ability to use your D-Ability, or 2) The ability to use the Special Trigger Command: Unleash Power (which grants +25% Atk/Def/Int/Spr for the rest of the battle.) Once you use those, your IP is returned to zero and locked until the next battle. Most enemies won't be able to use D-Abilities, but everyone has access to Unleash Power, so be wary.

Alex moves to G7.

Alex summons a Crackling Amethyst on Cell E5!

The Crackling Amethyst's light energizes nearby allies!

MP: 25/35

Alex chains Lighting Rod at Callisto!

Callisto is Hasted!

MP: 17/35


The fight was on, and Alex had better start her job. She caught a glimpse of a lost bag in the middle of the battlefield. Well, she was not a fighter, plus she could use her power just as good from there. She started running for the bag, thinking to herself.

Gem...what gem? No one was wounded yet, so a Sapphire would be wasted. A strong initial offense could make the fight really fast, so that was probably the best course of action.

She took a purple gemstone from her jewel box and focused for a second, her eyes closed. When she opened them, they were lit with a bright violet. She tossed the gem to the closest monster, but it came to a stop just above him, floating ten feet above the ground, and immediately started casting a bright purple light. A charge of static surged to the ground and up through Callisto, lifting her hair a bit. Pure energy.

The violet in Alex's eyes shone brighter as she pointed her hand at the fellow mage. "Just a little reinforcement."

-Shine! Lighting Rod!

The amethyst tossed a jolt of electricity to Callisto, but instead of burning or pain, the energy surged across her body, lighting up every muscle. She was all alive.

-Well, that should do it. Take care of them, I'll check the...thing.

Joseph moves to E3.

Joseph uses Dazzle Fist on Frog! -8MP! 6 physical damage! 50% disable!

There it was, sitting with its little, pathetic, bug-like eyes, hunched over and gazing right into Joseph's face. "Be prepared, scum!" Joseph pointed at the centermost shadow insect, who twitched its puzzled head to the side in response to Joseph's actions, "Now, I strike!" He had been too quick to notice, reappearing behind the beast within the gust of a single wind, "I bet you're wondering how I got behind you so quickly, little demon!" He smirked, "I simply concealed myself within my own jacket's coattails as soon as the wind hastened!"

"But wait..." Joseph's fist halted, mid-motion toward the beast, "I sense another beast's measly eyes glaring at my beauty from behind a tree!" His head quirked, and he pointed, "There!" Another gust of wind, another dash. Joseph reemerged from the shadows as quickly he disappeared, launching a swift punch to the hidden shadow beast's gut. With a flash, and with a sparkle, the unsuspecting insect fell back into the tree behind it, leaving behind an imprint of its presence as it fell to the ground.

"If you wish to look at me, do so in plain sight, bug!" Joseph smirked, "I cannot afford to have my beauty tainted by the vision of stalkers!"

Prologue-I: First Encounter
Objective: Defeat the unknown enemy
Atmosphere: Kingdom Outskirts - Road to the Kingdom (There's a strange storm raging and darkness is rampant! +15% Dark Damage; -15% Light Damage)


{ } { } { } { } { } {D} {t} { } {r} A
{ } {r} {r} {S} { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } {B} { } { } C
{t} { } {F} { } { } { } {r} { } {b} D
{ } { } {J} { } {N} { } {r} { } { } E
{ } { } {t} { } { } { } { } { } { } F
{ } { } { } { } { } { } {A} { } { } G
{ } { } {t} { } {C} { } {r} { } { } H
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } {t} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9-

Crackling Amethyst is placed at E5! (Alex)

Callisto gains Haste! (Alex)

Frog takes 4 Damage! (Joseph)

Frog is disabled! (Joseph)

Joseph gains 2 IP!

Frog loses 2 IP!

Callisto's Mediation takes affect! (Callisto)

Nyx takes 6 Damage! (Callisto)

Callisto gains 1 IP!

Nyx loses 2 IP!

Enemy Phase - I

Nyx moves to G5!

Nyx uses Pounce Claw on Callisto! 4 Atk Damage!

Callisto takes 1 Damage!

Nyx gains 1 IP!

Shad moves to E4!

Shad uses Pounce Claw on Joseph! 4 Atk Damage!

Joseph takes 1 Damage!

Shad gains 1 IP!

Black moves to F8!

Black uses Pounce Claw on Alex! 4 Atk Damage!

Alex takes 2 Damage!

Black gains 1 IP!

Alex loses 1 IP!

Dex moves to E6!

Frog moves to A4!


{ } { } { } {F} { } { } {t} { } {r} A
{ } {r} {r} { } { } { } { } { } { } B
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } { } C
{t} { } { } { } { } { } {r} { } {b} D
{ } { } {J} {S} { } {D} {r} { } { } E
{ } { } {t} { } { } { } { } {B} { } F
{ } { } { } { } {N} { } {A} { } { } G
{ } { } {t} { } {C} { } {r} { } { } H
{ } { } {r} { } { } { } { } { } {t} I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9-


Joseph
HP: 24/25
MP: 12/20
IP: 2/10
ATK: 5
DEF: 4
INT: 1
SPR: 3
CRIT: 5% --- 25%
EVADE: 3%
MOVE: 4 Cells

Callisto *Meditation (3)* *Haste (3)*
HP: 21/22
MP: 4/22
IP: 1/10
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5 --- 6
Spr: 5 --- 6
Crit: 5% --- 25%
Evade: 2%
Move: 2 Cells

Alex
HP: 13/15
MP: 17/35
IP: -1/10
ATK: 1
DEF: 2
INT: 5
SPR: 3
EVD: 2%
CRT: 5%
MOV: 2 Cells

Nyx
Hp: 9/15
Mp: 14/20
IP: -1/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Shad
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 14/20
IP: 1/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Black
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 14/20
IP: 1/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Dex
Hp: 15/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: 0/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

Frog *Disabled (3)*
Hp: 11/15
Mp: 20/20
IP: -3/10
Atk: 3
Def: 2
Int: 1
Spr: 2
Crit: 5%
Evade: 29%
Move: 4 Cells

{t} - Tree
No Occupy.

{r} - Rock
No Occupy.

{b} - Bag
Trigger Command: Pick Up!

{ } - Alex's Crackling Amethyst
+20% Critical Hit Rate; 3 Cell Radius.

Player Phase - II

Flash of Brilliance activates! Joseph gains Haste!

Joseph moves to C1!

Joseph moves to A3!

Joseph uses Dazzle Fist on Frog! It packs an unexpected punch! 9 physical damage!
MP: 4/20

Joseph attacks Frog! 5 physical damage!

Joseph's Haste fades.

A condescending smirk crawled across Joseph's face as he looked down upon the retreating shadow beast, who paid very careful attention as to not put too much weight on its left paw (as Joseph had completely decimated its femur, intentionally, of course). "What's the matter, gremlin who dwells within the night?! Have you not come to incite fear unto our children and wives?!" Joseph smiled a little when he spoke of children and wives. After his dashing performance that night, certainly that gorgeous, exotic servant would sleep peacefully, "You can't crawl away from me! Come on! Fisticuffs! Let's settle this like men, little gremlin!"

Another gust of wind, and another crack of the thunder in the skies, and Joseph faded from view once more, only to reappear, fist deep in the gut of the critter he had wounded beforehand, "DAZZLE FIST!" Almost as if it were upon command, the skies burst into an ultimate, crackling air of lightning, within which Joseph landed a second punch against the shadow creature's cheek. "AN UNEXPECTED PUNCH, AN EXPECTED VICTORY! ANOTHER ONE FOR JOSEPH, VIGILANTE OF JUSTICE!"

Joseph.

Alex's plans to go for the bag had just been spoiled by one shadow creature. She decided to continue with her support, then. She adjusted her position a little, not really getting out of harm's way, but still in a better place, and took a beautiful blue gemstone from her jewel box. She tossed the stone next to the previous one, and it fixated itself ten feet in the air, casting a strong light at first, and then becoming smoother.

A thin fog started to come out of the blue gem, spreading over the battlefield. The humidity seemed to gather more around Callisto and Alex, soaking their scratches and soothing the pain. Moreover, both the girls could feel their hearts lighter and their souls brighter in the presence of the gems. The mage smiled to her companion.

-Come on, it up to you too to do the killing.

Alex moves to H6.

Alex sumons a Tidal Sapphire on Cell F5!

MP: 7/35

The Crackling Amethyst energizes nearby allies.

The Tidal Sapphire releaves the pain of nearby allies.

The gemstones strengthen nearby allies.