Fantasy Destiny Court: Guardians of the Arcana

[Larry]

"One does not request of an animal to stray from it's instincts, nor should you ask a fool to stray from his folly. Call him what you will," he uttered forth his stance on the Guardian's actions.


Of course people had reason to be upset by his words and actions, simply because it does not agree with them. These people have ties, ties they do not want to see insulted. You can not blame them for being upset, he mentally murmured as his fellow seat-nestled companions watched the other for some sort of reaction. Indeed, these were dark times. This could be seen on the expression of all who attended. They may have different reactions to the loss of Dunya and Visi but the common consensus was that they will be dearly missed. Although Coren himself wasn't exactly close with the either of them, the fact that they were missing just makes the whole proceedings some out of sorts with itself. As if an essential cog was tossed from the machine.


A catalyst was missing.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Upon hearing the Hermit, Coren, speak, Deje merely nodded. She had nothing else to add. A bell rung over The World's chair - a sharp reminder - and a moment later a young servant bustled into the room. She curtsied and said, "The Horse has just arrived." Deje thanked her and said, "Send him in." Turning to the rest of the group, she said, "It seems any more questions will have to wait til later. We have a guest." As she spoke, the Horse stepped into the courtyard, walking towards the chair in the middle. She noted that when transforming he had missed a hoof, but she refrained from saying something as it wasn't really posing any kind of problem. Still, the corners of her lips tugged up in amusement.


The Horse bowed and took a seat. "Thank you for having me, Destiny Court."

 

[BloodThunder27]

Tasha continued to keep quiet as the Horse had arrived. Although she felt intimidated, she did her best to maintain her composure and hope that he wouldn't criticize her because she was with child. She took a deep breath through her nose. Suddenly, she felt her little girl kicking again. She held her stomach again to calm her baby down, just so she could focus on the meeting, then rest when it is over. Perhaps the baby felt the intimidating vibe coming from The Horse as her mother did? Tasha didn't know for sure. Not like she'd want to know, because it was so far a good first impression.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Deje was quiet a moment before jolting herself into action as no-one deigned to respond. "It is our pleasure, Horse."


The Horse smiled. "In many ways, little has changed since last year's meeting. Things have been running smoothly almost all across the board. But I look around at your faces today, and I see that at the same time almost everything has changed. Dunya and Visi are missed. I recall the emergency communications saying that the two did not show up for any arrangements or meetings three days ago and upon search were found to be missing. I seek to understand better - were their lodgings examined?"


Deje nodded. "Yes. At first there were no signs of a break-in, but we found sleeping powder on their sheets. None of us were aware of any insomnia they may have had."


The Horse nodded thoughtfully. "Surely you each have your theories. Who would do this?" He made a sweeping gesture towards the few Guardians seated around.

 

[Girouette]

Mosath let out a small laugh at the horse gesturing about. He'd get the same answer from all these fools. But no. The fool spoke, in his foolish tone with foolish words, and he began to see a bit of a trend of his foolishness.


"I think they got bored of this. Hahahhahaha." The laugh was a bit playedo ut. and seemed to lose much meaning as he realized what he had said.


"That said, My masters are capable people, I'm sure no one tried to harm them."


Mosath, very much loved to be rude, but in the presence of the horse, things were different, he couldn't offend them too much, even a fool knew when to stop.

 

[Tugboats]

Kemik cracked his knuckles slowly, thinking.


"I worry that this may not have been a break-in. It pains me to think so, but it could have been one of our own who put Dunya and Visi to sleep. Now, with as many of us out looking for the two of them, The Court is weaker than it has ever been since I joined on. I hope that it isn't true, but there could be an attack on us. If ever there were a time to do so, now would be it."


Kemik leaned back into his chair, waiting to see what The Horse would think. As he said the words it all seemed to make more sense to him. It may have been coincidence, but the pieces fit decently well.

 

[BloodThunder27]

Tasha shot Mosath a fairly nasty glare, showing that she was irritated with his antics. Even though he was The Fool, she would at the very least for him to behave himself, especially in front of The Horse. As The Horse and Deje seeked answers to the disappearances of Dunya and Visi, Tasha wanted to know why her Predecessor left her high and dry, then disappearing in a time of crisis. She already knew that Tasha was with child, which stressed her even more. While doing her best to keep her attention on the Horse and Deje, Tasha started cradling her belly because the baby was probably feeling the intimidating vibe coming from The Horse as well and Tasha just wanted to calm her down.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Deje had not wanted to believe it, but much the same things had crossed her mind as Kemik was saying. She had loved Dunya - more than she probably should have. The idea that it might have been someone from Destiny Court, someone right under her nose, made her fingers itch for a throat to strangle. She kept her demeanor calm, though, not wanting to end the relatively relaxed tone of their meeting with the Horse.


The Horse, however, had other things in mind. "I had suspected as much as well, Strength. So little notice or warning - it could only be one of your own. And with only this rag tag bunch in court, the Guardians of the Arcana are quite week indeed. Right now, to me, you are nothing but trouble." He paused for a minute, letting the words to sink in. Deje felt that things were getting off to a very bad start indeed, with a sinking in her stomach. "I'm sorry if that's harsh, but it's as you said. Destiny Court has never been weaker, so there's little you can do for me, and in any case I can't trust any of you either, for any of you may have been involved in the World and the Hierophant's disappearance. I come to you today as a representative, not only of the Chinese Zodiac, but also of the Astrological Zodiac, the Elements, the Colors - any of the groups you could possibly think of. We've all reached an agreement on this - Destiny Court is a liability." With that, he stood again and bowed. "Thank you for your hospitality, Guardians."


Deje looked at her few companions in horror. She knew what this meant - it meant they were on their own.

 

[BloodThunder27]

Tasha was in disbelief. The Destiny Court was now forced to fend for itself. Sensing her Mother's feelings, Tasha's baby started kicking. She held her belly in a protective matter. Soon her facial expression went from disbelief to distraught. She then found herself unable to make eye contact with either The Horse nor Deje or any of their companions. She was now scared for the Future of the Destiny Court, her Guardians, herself and her child. "Oh no..." That was all Tasha could say, having been rendered speechless.

 

[Tugboats]

Kemik was appalled. To be left to fend for themselves at a time like this was unimaginable. A burning rage began to build within Kemik, his hands gripping the armrests on his chair. "I would have aided any of them in their time of need. In return we are left to the wolves. Your lot of honorless cowards don't measure up to a single member of this court."

 

[Girouette]

The Fool scoffed as the horse turned and left, he himself was foolish, but the horse had earned the petition to change his name to ass. And Mosath was extremely unpleased that the horse had been acting more foolishly than himself.


"Leaving us for dead? Hmph. It's much more likely it was one of them then us...


The horse should be able to easily realize that none of us did it.""


he reclined farther back in his chair.


"Then again, I don't know if I would have wanted their help if they are so readily allowed to leave us for dead, and we can't put it past one of them from malicious sabotaging either"

 

[Dusky]

Deje watched the Horse's retreating back - he waved off all comments directed at him. She rarely felt hopeless, but this was a slap in the face. It was a long moment before she spoke.


"Like I'm sure many of you might, I fear this could be the end of Destiny Court. Those of you who feel this is a lost cause should probably leave this minute. I, for one, will do my best to see this end as a beginning and struggle on." She had been doing a lot of talking recently, she mused as she spoke. It did not suit her; already her throat was growing sore. Speech was not a strong suit of hers.


The Hanged Man and The Hermit quietly got up and left, avoiding meeting anyone's eyes and bringing their number to six. Deje was sorry to see them go.


Sighing, she turned to Mosath with a small smile. Loudly, so everyone could hear her try to break the tension, she said, "So, Fool, about your petition to change the Horse's name... I've a pen here." She conjured one into her hand.

 

[Tugboats]

Seeing there numbers dwindled made Kemik's heart sink. Not often was it that he was depressed, he typically left that to others. But at this moment he saw his word begin to collapse. For the thousand years that he had served in his position, never had they been at such a terrible point. Neither had the Court been abandoned by those it called allies. Deje had spoken up, asking those who felt it was hopeless to leave, and the true colors of both The Hanged Man and The Hermit showed. He felt himself heat up and, not wanting to harm anyone, stood up.


"I need some air." With that he walked out, tempted to toss over the chair of The Hermit as he passed it. He made his way out to a balcony, finding himself, for the time being, alone. "Damn it all. Damn it all!" With the last word his fist hit the stone of the balcony, and other than a pang of pain that went up his arm, and a couple cracks, he gained nothing. For everything that had happened, Kemik had failed to keep his family together. Those that remained were likely in danger now. Tasha, being pregnant, wasn't exactly going to be at her full fighting potential, and Kemik doubted that Chai knew what a sword even was.


"We need some help. But there's nowhere for us to turn to."

 

[Girouette]

Chai....Well He wasn't exactly...Involved currently, and felt almost as if he was simply watching the events unfold from the sidelines.


He didn't really understand what had just happened and the seriousness of it all.


What he did know, was that two people had left, and the horse had abandoned them And that it wasn't good.


He also realized that with the absence of two, it left their numbers at 6, and that pushed more responsibility on him to speak up...


"Um...Would...Is that...All...Our help...Gone?"





Mosath on the other hand, seemed uncaring that they had just been abandoned.


"Sadly, the petition seems to have been revoked in lieu of a new one to rename him...Well, I wouldn't want to upset the children. But if everyone would be nice enough to sign it..."


He laughed at this new joke, more heartily than before, despite it being mostly the same, most likely because of the fact his fellow guardian would find it funny too.


"But even a fool knows when to get down to business, the other guardians may have abandoned us, and we might no longer have any outside help, but that does not leave us without allies...Correct?"

 

[BloodThunder27]

It wasn't long before Tasha came down with a headache. "You give me headaches..." Obviously, her comment was designated for Mosath. After getting up from her seat, she left the room in search of a place to rest. She was very irritable right now and didn't want to be a burden on the other guardians. It was already bad enough that they had to keep an eye on her. When she got into her bedroom, she decided to go ahead and take a nap and sleep off her headache. "Okay, mommy needs to rest, so please, no kicking." she said to her baby before closing her eyes.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Deje waved gently at Tasha as she exited the circle. To Mosath she said, "There is one thing... but it is all theory. We should discuss it with Kemik around."


"Chai. Mosath. I will be back momentarily. You may wish to follow me."


She followed Strength's footsteps, passing almost two dozen empty seats on the way. She found him on a balcony, looking very upset indeed. Deje settled herself next to him, staying silent for a moment before saying, "There is still something left."

 

[Tugboats]

Kemik glanced over as Deje settled in. She must have known what he was thinking. After all, he wasn't all that hard to read. Wearing one's heart on one's own sleeve was no weakness, but it it occasionally bugged him that the others, especially Judgement, seemed to know what he was thinking. He turned to the much smaller guardian, sighing.


"All of our official support seems to have been withdrawn. What are you cooking up?"

 

[Girouette]

Mosath. For one, was not one to be sitting around with a 'small child' whom he did not entirely like. and as soon as Deje stood up. He flung himself from his seat, and followed Deje outside.


"I'd rather be part of the the proceedings, and sitting in a large empty space is worse than sitting in there when it's crowded."


And so he followed, uncharacteristically silent, even a fool knew when things looked dire, and when to step back and listen.


That said, he was also extremely curious to the alternatives to official support. As it would most likely make the newly claimed 'ass' zodiac ruffled at the fact his message would not deter him, and if Mosath liked anything in the forsaken undead life he lived, it was ruffling people.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Deje gave the Fool a small smile as he entered behind her. "Good," she said, "you two are the only ones who will know what I'm talking about."


Uncharacteristically, she fidgeted. "It would be dangerous...." She was silent for a few moments, but continued shortly thereafter. "You all know why we guard the Arcana - because, for one thing, their power needs to be kept in the right hands, and for another, they are simply put dangerous. Our bodies house them to keep them from hurting others. And as a result they boost our capabilities. However... there is more they can do."


Deje met Strength's and the Fool's eyes before returning her gaze to her hands. "The power they wield is immense, and if we release them from our bodies but maintain the spiritual grip we have on them, they can defend Destiny Court alongside us. But should that grip loosen..." Deje didn't bother finishing the sentence. Kemik and Mosath knew how savage the Arcana could be.

 

[BloodThunder27]

Despite wanting to rest, Tasha was feeling restless. Her headache had worn off. She wanted to sleep, but couldn't. So instead of staying where she was to take a nap like she had originally planned, she decided to rejoin her fellow Guardians; Deje, Kemik and Mosath, even though the latter seemed to have the tendency to give her headaches. For the most part, she remained quiet. Because the Destiny Court was practically left to fend for itself against the Arcana, Tasha really was afraid that she wouldn't be at full strength because she was pregnant. But if she didn't stand and fight, then her child wouldn't have a chance at life either, so she did feel like she was in a tough spot.

 

[Tugboats]

Kemik stared at Deje. Her idea could only be a last resort, if ever used. He couldn't believe that she wanted to use the Arcana. They were unable to be trusted. Her idea was against much of what the Court was supposed to do.


"I don't even want to consider that. Perhaps as a last resort we could use the Arcana, but even then they could get loose. That would only create a much larger issue for us all. You and I both know what they can do."

 

[Girouette]

"Hahahahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaah"


More laughter burst forth from Mosaths mouth than should have in the situation . Although he had quite the reason to laugh.


"Your suggesting we do the impossible? If there was way to get rid of them I'd have done it long ago. The very idea we could get rid of our binding to them is foolish." He burst into laughter again "Your humor is very funny, but don't you think we should be considering possible things?"


The Undead wished it was possible to free himself of this bond. But as far as he knew, there was no way to separate himself from the arcana.





Moving over to someone less foolish and currently sitting alone in the large room of the court, the rest of the guardians left to discuss important matters, and leaving a 'child' to sit and wonder at nothingness...Or the architecture of the court, which he was currently wondering about now. As he had resolved to not go and interrupt the important works of the more established Arcana, as he didn't have much input on the situation, and even if he did he'd probably end up not talking at all, and doing the exact same thing he was currently doing, which was nothing.

 

[Dusky]

Deje - Death

​

Deje smiled as Tasha joined them, glad that she had found the energy. To Kemik, she said, "As you wish. An option only for if we need it." As the Fool began laughing, she turned a piercing gaze on him, with half a mind to glare but not quite the heart to follow through with the thought. "Mosath, certainly you realize that of course you would be told there was no way, regardless of whether or not there really was? If the time ever comes, I will consult with the other Guardians in the absence of Dunya and Visi. I, for one, would trust you with the knowledge. But, as the saying goes, everything in due time."

 

[Tugboats]

"We're done talking about this. I'd rather die fulfilling my duty than live on having freed one willingly. If we have to fight, I'll fight. Nobody frees an if I have any say in it."


Kemik was upset to know that Deje and Mosath wanted to do something like this. Were they insane? He left with that and saw Chai off on his own.


"Hey kid. How're you holding up?"

 

[Girouette]

Mosaths head tipped forwards. Still laughing under his breath.


"How about...We...Hah. Talk about it tomorrow when everyones not...Exhausted and making crazy statements."


He was obviously not impressed and didn't believe Deje in the slightest.


"I think we have other allies besides the faceless bindings we cannot unshackle. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to turn in for the night so I can contemplate some more realistic ideas."


He then let out one last short chuckle, and turned his back to Deje. And made his way back into the court the way he came





Chai, on the other hand. was not doing any backing away of the sort. And was just idly twiddling his thumbs when the hulking figure of Kemik startled him enough to make him recoil in surprise and a slight bit of fear.


Now, I will mention, Chai is only around 4'5, and compared to the 6'10 of Kemik, was was an ant to a giant.


"O...Oh...Hi...I'm..Um...Letting....Doing....Sitting...I can't hold things up..."