Kyngdom Survival Guide
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
Chatterbox: KYNGDOM™ Power of Hoof
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
*TALE: TWO KYNGDOMS
A Tale of Two Kyngdoms, Part One
By Zephyra
It was the worst of times. That much was obvious. Chaos everywhere. Claaws was dead. Jaaws roamed our land, jaws dripping with Brazen Goo. Catastrophe was always lurking, ready to fight anyone at the slightest provocation. I heard whispers of a “Mutant Army.” And B.I.G. crept ever closer to finding and activating all four of the Powers, which would lead to--what? Utter global destruction? To be honest, I was finding it harder and harder to go to sleep. Dark thoughts swirled through my brain at all hours of the night.
On one particularly hopeless mornings, as I was drooping over a mug of oak root coffee at the Bog & Burrow, I received word from my faithful network of spies that Dr. Cornelia Hornshaw was heading north, toward the Decoy Forest. My go-to tech wiz, Techibeetle, quickly tapped her phone and, after listening to a very disgruntled conversation she was having with one of her chief scientists, we learned that she believed the fourth Power--the Power of Hoof--was located there. In the forest.
Now, this was a little too close for comfort for me, my fellow spies, and the other Guardians. Because we knew that while the fourth Power wasn’t actually in the forest, it was nearby--very nearby, on the hoof of Regina the Silver Reindeer herself. I sent a message to Regina begging her to retreat to her mansion, and then I began planning my trip to the north.
(Another complication: I was supposed to be planning my nephew Little Crow’s Naming Ceremony. It was time. He was of age. But the party would just have to wait--and I felt terrible about it.)
After another mug of oak root coffee, I hit upon a plan that was simple, but so daring that it made me nauseous. I was going to do the unthinkable. I would try to intercept Cornelia before she went into the Decoy Forest, and I would…talk with her.
Yes, talk. A dialogue. I figured that I could use B.I.G.’s technology to make Cornelia understand what I was saying, and then I could explain how dangerous her behavior was. How it would put us all at risk--animals and humans. Naïve? Maybe. But sometimes the best route is the most direct, no? There’s a reason for the phrase “as the crow flies.”
Of course it was a terrible shock when, while flying over the Labyrinth, I heard something rustling about in the suitcase that was strapped to my back--and out popped Little Crow, squawking that he couldn’t let me go alone and he was practically an adult and why did I get to do all the fun stuff? I was furious that he’d snuck along, but it was too late to turn back. Cornelia’s train was literally zooming below us as we flew. Besides, I’ll admit it: sometimes it’s nice to have a sidekick.
When we arrived at Jökull, the mansion of the Silver Reindeer, Regina greeted us joyfully and gave us each a huge, steaming mug of Black Winter Cherry cider. Little Crow was shivering. I was exhausted.
“She’s coming,” said Regina, giving me a meaningful look.
“I loathe Cornelia Hornshaw,” spat Little Crow.
“Little! She’s done some terrible things, but she is a very lost, very confused woman,” I said.
“She thinks we’re stupid. She doesn’t respect the world we’ve built. Why do I have to like her?” said Little Crow.
I was flustered, jet-lagged, but Regina jumped in with grace. “You don’t have to like her, Little Crow,” she said, her mother-of-pearl horseshoes twinkling. “But what Cornelia Hornshaw lacks is empathy. She can’t put herself in our horseshoes, so to speak. So she’ll never truly understand us--or anything about the world, really. Zephyra is saying that if you try to empathize a little with her, no matter how much it angers you, then you will have already won part of the battle.
“And for the other parts--if empathy and reason fail, at least you have an entire network of spies and warriors on your side,” I added.
Little Crow’s eyes were drooping.
“Let’s go to bed,” I said. “Cornelia is probably staying at that human eyesore, the Wayward Villa, tonight, and won’t be striking off toward the Decoy Forest until morning.”
After Little Crow went to sleep, I turned to Regina.
“I’m worried,” I said. “The Decoy Forest never shows travelers the truth. But who knows what she’ll see there? Sometimes half-truths and white lies can lead to the real thing.”
Regina looked down at her fourth horseshoe--the one that was old, rusty, nondescript.
“I am prepared to fight,” she said, simply.
submitted by Zephyra, Decoy Forest
(January 4, 2017 - 1:39 pm)
(January 4, 2017 - 1:39 pm)
Thanks! You're welcome.
(January 7, 2017 - 10:13 pm)
@Thimble, it's not controlling at all! I actually like being controlled just a little bit, so here's my RP...
Catastrophe---
I stand in silence for a moment, until I begin to laugh.
"Smoke?! Smoke?! What will smoke do to help me win the war?"
Then I realize that I'm going to need Jaaws if my Master Plan is to work.
If I were Jaaws, where would I be? That's it.
In an instant, I am off.
(January 8, 2017 - 1:49 pm)
I was supposed to meet the guardian of the power of hoof in Jokul.
Note how I said supposed.
I feel so bad for doing this to Anwen. But I feel fine. Honestly I feel fine. They have her in a cage. They have Regina. There has to be some way to get out of here for her, and for my friends. They were taken by him too. I hear yelling and roaring and see the army assembled, tearing up everything in sight. My friends must be buried deeper.
Before my very eyes, a rope slides down from the ceiling. It's heading towards Regina's cage, a hook on the end. Whoever it is trying to hoist her up. A rescuer. But I see no powers.
Until I hear the enraged Roar.
I tiptoe around the perimeter. The rough log walls seem to be well fortified. They're covered in snow, bloodred catastrophe banners standing out on the pale white, snow covered log wall, graffiti, and so much more. Then I spot where the Roars are coming from.
it's up high. Uncomfortably up high. But I was never not comfortable with Heights. So I do the impossible period but no other girl could do.
But I'm not a normal girl. I'm the power friend. I was raised in the woods by animals, and will be as sweet as pie to you, not acting like an wild animal. But being sweet won't help me now.
I sent to work quickly. I take off my jacket quickly, tugging at the frosty zipper. It's considerably more cold with just a shirt and jeans on, but I rip up the jacket until it's shreds, and wrap the makeshift gloves around my hand. Then I grit my teeth. I see a lone figure on the roof, pale in a lab coat, but I'm not distracted. I grit my teeth, ignore the man, and climb.
My hands find every crack and grip in the wall, my feet braced against it, tightly scrambling up, nimble as a squirrel.
I slip once and immediately regain my grip.
I am finally on a window ledge, of the tallest log tower on Jokul, snow crunching under my feet.
I look through the window.
The small round space is dominated by the huge forms of two mythical beasts. Two Powers.
I slip through the open windsill.
"CAELANI! ECIO!" I scream.
They're perfectly still, although breathing, Caelani snarling with malice in his eyes, Ecio quieter.
I see it now.
Caelani's wings, legs, and neck are bound with a fragile glass chain. Ecio is completely wrapped in it.
It's not attached to something, then why is it so--
The glass chains are filled with bubbling, churning liquid. Brazen Goo. So fragile chains....if they move, they die immideately.
My blood boils as I slide through the windowsill and run to Caelani, my heart pounding. "Catch...there has to be some trick to this..." I murmur, looking the chains over from every angle, my hand skimming the air over it, never touching it for fear of breaking it.
Caelani and Ecio simultaneously let out a roar of warning.
I whirl.
Behind me is the boy king himself, bearing a hugd sword.
(January 20, 2017 - 11:59 pm)
~Caelani
I watch as Icy whirled to face Catastrophe. We had to help her. Some how. I shifted slightly, the light chains scraping the open wounds underneath. If the liquid got into our blood, well, Claaws wouldnt be the only one who had died a second time.
"Where's Ayearth?" I whispered to Eico. This was probably the thousandth time I had asked, but it was important. Was he in a different cage somewhere else? Did his sideaffecetd power take him prisoner in her own layer?
Catastrophe walked foward, ignoring the Powers in the background, knowing they couldnt do anything. I snarled and cawed, my voice echoing across the small room. The chains vibrated, Eico hissed at me and I fell silent.
Icy narrowed her eyes. Catastrophe's dagger caught the light of the sun outside. I was blinded for a moment, and my ears echoed with a strange sound, seemingly comeing from my mind. Eico could hear it too, anf from the look on Icy's face, she heard it also.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
I soon reconized the sound. It was Sylvia trying to cling back to life.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
Her time was coming near. She will be here soon.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
And with her influance, maybe the fighting will cease and Catastrophe will be forced into the shadows for a bit so we can regroup.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
"Hurry, Power of Hoof."
(January 21, 2017 - 8:29 pm)
Caèlani and Ecio's growling filled the background, and I barely notice the hoofbeats around me.
I take the opportunity to study the boy king.
A sweep of blonde hair, a childlike fringe, glinting gray eyes that remind me of strormclouds swarming over the horizon, half-armor--a leather shirt from the dzays of old underneath, and half a chestplate on his right side, with a spiky shoulder pad, hammered from steel, and gauntlets on his right arm. And a sword. Did I mention the huge, scary, totally gonna kill you and steal your soul sword!?
The one with the golden, glimmering under the light coming from the huge, Church shaped window, and the song of War Bird pin pinned to the hilt?
Catastrophe gives me a daredevil grin, his eyes glinting playfully with a hint of evil Danger, a cat and a mouse, his face lighting up with a grin of pure thrill, smirk, and Evil.
Caelani lets out a dismayed Roar. No, Caelani, I should be protecting you... my heart freezes to a lump of cold iron inside my chest.
I hear Ecio say something, a small hiss, and I slowly back towards the powers, laying a hand on the one part of Caelani, laying hand on the one thing that isn't covered in delicate, clear glass chain-- his beak, a smooth ebony curve to it, warm and warlike, like a weapon ready and begging to be used...but Caelani was in Chains. I was here to help him, not the other way around.
My wings burst into appearance with a glow of blue humming in the air and swirling everywhere, Illuminating my thoughts and clearing my mind giving me slight bravery.
For a moment betrayal and a sense of hurt, maybe a bit of regret crosses his face, then he hides it in well behind a self-satisfied grin.
"Enjoying my pet's attention?" He asks teasingly, that glint of evil and darkness still there at a wicked, evil, seductive tone that sounds like warm, liquefied honey that comes out from the depths of his cruel Soul when he asks a question. They're the first words I hear out of his cursed mouth, and I automatically loathe them.
" I would prefer if they weren't your pets." I said lightly, my knees buckling slightly. Courage. What would Anwen do? She was always much braver than me. Oh, and Mina was braver than me. And Shadow was braver than me. And Scarlet was one hundred percent braver than me. And Eliyana Fur was braver than you--maybe tied with Mina as the bravest. And Ronan... basically everyone I knew was braver than me. Well, I could still fake it.
He smiles seethingly. "Not going to happen." he says, taking a step closer to me.
In a strange feat of Bravery, I take a step closer to him, as well. I'm not letting him get to those powers. I'm not going to let myself have to be saved by the powers--I'm their Guardian, not the other way around.
"You see, to make them pay, I'm going to give them a little bit of revenge. " Catastrophe hisses, malice in his eyes.
I don't want to know, I don't want to know, I don't want to know how badly I've failed, please is shut up and let me take them back... I chanted silently in my head.
He sees the expression of fear on my face and grins, his eyes why do like a predator before I kill, taking pleasure in his hunt, and taking one step closer. So close now.... Too close now.
"I'm going to slowly kill them, one drop of Brazen Goo at a time, dripping and sizzling in the most painful places..." He whispers softly, seductively, getting closer and closer.
"Maybe I'll pluck the Gryphon like the oversized chicken he is--" --a defiant roar-- "--and remove some of the idiot snzke's scales and pour brazen goo in the exposed spot."
"Of course I'll stab the most painful weapons that I have access to into them...again...again...and again...as each drop of the Brazen Goo hits, making every stab the most painful Kyngdom has ever felt..." Catastrophe whispers.
I plug my ears, but I can't get his words out of my mind, they cut through like a stone through berries. I try my hardest to distract myself with my thoughts.
THINK ABOUT SUNSHINE SPILLING THROUGH THE WINDOW RIGHT NOW, LOOK AT THE WINDOW, NOT AFRAID SWEET DELICIOUS SUNSHINE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER...
"The instant they're done with that and have died, it starts over again. " Catastrophe whispers,. "And it gets worse. Every. Time." He whispers softly, getting close to me, his hand brushing against my cheek.
He's killing me, I swear... His Whispers cut into my mind, even the softest, most teasing and evil touch is like a slap to my face.
"Tonight I was going to do it. I was going to parade them on display like the prize butchered meat of a feast, have the men jab at them while they were helpless. I put a sedative, or at least try to, on them, break one link of the chain at a time... And you're here to ruin my spectacle." He whispers, withdrawing his hand.
Caelani 's roars rice to a crescendo. My Cypher bleeps in my pocket, Translating that, but I know it's just an outpour of outrage. The powers can Converse in human dialect if they want to.
"And you know what would be even better than killing you here on the spot?" He asks me.
I left my chin up, empowered by Caelani's Roars, and glare at him.
"Making you watch as I kill them." He whispers, smirking. "And I get what I want when I want it."
Think about nice things. Think about happy times like being in the forest with your adopted family and Ronan , and why did Ronan come to mind...
He smiles and lifts his help slowly of my head. I prepare to Dart away, but instinct tells me that catastrophe is faster than you'd expect.
Catastrophe please with me One Last Time, delivering the stunning verbal blow to me that leaves me just standing there, dumbfounded for a second--"By the way, my son doesn't return the feelings you have for him. Hmm, strange calling that boy son."
His son!? Who?! The only person that have ever had feelings for you really--then again, Ronan and Catastrophe did look alike-- no, they didn't, he must be wrong, what's going on!?
The hilts comes down towards my head to knock me out I can't move it's too late, too late--
I hear a roar, a final, and rage Outburst of saylani as he can't hold himself back anymore and the chains burst into shrapnel and glass shooting like darts, and Amber liquid flies through the air, in an explosion, everywhere. My wings and blue glow immediately disappear as an army crawl through the goop where Caelani and Ecio were being held, both of them gone, turned into instruments in the explosion.
Catastrophes face is completely covered in the poop, yes please let it be a while before that gets off, and twisted into an outrage expression.
For some reason I realize that I'm going to have a long and painful death if he finds me. Or an internity of torture.
I just got my teeth and get up, we're running to the shape of a stone, a flute only playable by one with the lungs of a bird, being up and then skipping up the Limestone xylophone.
I shove them in my shoe, that seems to be good hiding place, and then everything goes black as something pounds into my head.
(January 22, 2017 - 6:40 pm)
Hey! Sorry I was gone for such a long time, I had caught a cold.
Catastrophe---
Icy is running away, up into somewhere else, Claaws knows where. Instantly I try to chase her, but only one thought is pounding through my head.
Ronan. Where is he? I must find him, I must, I must, I must, and then I can find out everything I want to know! I MUST, I MUST, I MUST!
And in an instant I am in the forests, lurking everywhere, looking for him. Where could he be?
Ronan---
I stumble through the trees, looking for a place to rest. The forest makes no noise at all.
At least until I have Catastrophe on top of me, yelling, yelling, smacking me with a huge sword and cutting me. And every time he cuts me, I feel a little piece of myself leave my body. And I'm dying, and I manage to scream, "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE MY FATHER! I KNOW ALREADY! I DON'T WANT YOU TO WIN AND IF I HAVE TO BE A MARTYR, SO BE IT! SO BE IT, CATASTROPHE!"
The pain stops. Catastrophe is looking at me with a mixture of high disappointment and eagerness on his face. "You knew? Well then son, let's see how much else you know. How on earth did you bring me back to life? Wait, don't anwser that. I shall hold a public event, and show what happens to anyone who resists me. Anyone at all."
Then I am whicked away, and it feels like we're flying, and then we stop and I'm thrown in a cell. This feels like it happened in the space of five seconds, and maybe it did, and maybe it didn't, but all I know for certain is that Catastrophe says, "Your execution is in a week, Ronan."
(January 25, 2017 - 12:59 pm)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Catastrophe will pay.
(January 25, 2017 - 4:19 pm)
Icy's going to be ticked about this, returned feelings or not. Probably. I shouldn't speak for her.
(January 26, 2017 - 1:26 pm)
Wow, Catastrophe. Your own son.
(January 25, 2017 - 6:35 pm)
I am on the run. Catastrophe took my my family away. I know he will do ANYTHING to get me as well.
Catastrophe kills
Anybody in his path
Kyngdom is in danger
(January 25, 2017 - 7:50 pm)
UG! WHY CAELANI?! NOT AGAIN *facepalms*
~Caelani
In a flash of light and a fierce roar, everything is dark.
I hear a symphony, a light howling in the darkness. It sounds like the forest, our home before this awful war started. The awful never-ending war with human kind. Lunne? I whispered into the darkness. It echoed across the darkness. Is that you, sister?
Yes, I'm here, brother. She answered calmly.
Is Ayearth here also? I asked.
No. She responded. He's our only hope now, I'm afraid. Unless some human accidently activates us.
That's when I heard the hoofbeats.
Thump thump. Thump Thump. Thump.
It was Sylvia. I'd reconize the kind-hearted Unicorn anywhere. She was running in this dark space, and Lunee stopped to listen. She was hitting against our prison, demanding to be let free. Her time was near, and she was our only hope of survival. YOU DIM-MINDED LOW-BEARING SKY-CREATURE! A booming voice echoed across the darkness. YOUR IGNORANCE GOT US BOTH KILLED!
I hissed angerly in responce, brow furrowed. Shush, brothers. This isn't the time for bickering. We must plan how we will take back Kyndom. Red eyes flashed over my darkned vision. Claaws. Claaws was here.
Clearly your idea of sideing with the humans didn't work. Eico hissed angerly. SO let's take a differnt aprotch. When we're activated, we vanish. Dissapear so that when we kill Catastrophe, it will be easyer killing the rest of them.
We WILL NOT kill all of them. Claaws roared, anger seething like black smoke and clouting the darkness with darker smoke. I have gotten fond of the Boy King's son, and Celesti's relitive. Plus, they will be helpful when we need background information when we come back.
If we come back. Eico growled.
We shall kill the others. Infact, I would likley do it myself. We still need them for a little while, though. So my newest plan can take full effect.
Will you tell us this? I asked demandingly.
Yes, here it is.....
But suddenly a corse note echoed around us, and I felt a slight wind under my wings. Brother! Claaws called after me. A blinding light opened up in my vision, and slowly grew as I was summoned back to consiousniss. The instrament blew again, and I practically flew from the darkness. But as I did, I heard an echo of Claaws' last words to me: Don't forget us.
I blinked open my eyes to a soft grassy clearing. Infront of me was a crow. A small crow with worried eyes. "Why did I have to summon him again? I was supost to protect his instrament from being summond!"
Celesti's girl, Icy, rolled her eyes. "I already told you. Without the Powers we can't defeat Catastrophe, and take back Kyndom."
I shook my head, remembering what Claaws had said. "Have you found the carryer of Sylvia, yet?" I asked.
The little crow's eyes flashed. "You mean, Regina's not the carryer of the Power of Hoof?"
I exchanged glances with Icy.
~~~~~~~
Alright, here ya go guys! If anyone wants to come into this secne and continue, go ahaid! The crow is Flash (Little Crow) and Zephira could be close by. Icy will not be able to RP for a week or so, so I would like some help continuing this!
(January 26, 2017 - 7:53 pm)
So are Cealani and Ayearth the only ones activated right now? I could post Ecio if he's out of instrument form also.
(January 29, 2017 - 11:23 am)
I think Ecio is activated, too, but I'm not sure.
(January 31, 2017 - 7:58 am)
Kymira~
My paws race across the ground. I am in animal form—a clouded leopard. I am determined to defeat Catastrophe and help Icy.
I see her. Icy is with Caelani. I gasp. What willl happen now?
I then change into human form. "Who are you?" Icy asks.
"I'm Kymira. Don't worry; I'm on your side." I say as I hand her a chestnut with an Resistance symbol engraved on it. Icy smiles. "Glad to meet you." she says.
But then I look around, feeling a sense of urgency. "We've got to find the others. And Zephyra; I have a plan I think she should know about." I say.
Suddenly, Zephyra flies up to where me and Icy are standing. "I'm here," she squawks. "And who are you?" she asks me.
Icy explains for me. "This is Kymira," she says. "She's in the Resistance and she wants to help."
"Hey," I murmur nervously.
Zephyra looks happy. "Great!" she squawks. "Do you have any plans?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," I reply. "First of all, we need to rescue Regina—and find out what Jaaws and all of Catastrophe allies might do. We'll definitely need a spy."
"I will be the spy," Flash (previously Little Crow) volunteers. I shake my head. "I will have to be the spy this time. We need someone that Catastrophe definitely doesn't know—and he doesn't know at all about me."
(February 20, 2017 - 5:45 pm)
Amazing parenting skills, Catastrophe. A for effort.
(January 26, 2017 - 11:47 pm)