Kingdom of Skulls - The Age of Virtue

[Anthor]

The Avatar Returns from Temptation

After forty days and forty nights living in darkness, I have returned. I have been tempted beyond reason, and in the darkness of my temptation I slipped from the path of Enlightenment and I walked through ten portals. Each one changed my personality. I saw through the eyes of nine men and one woman. Much blood was spilled, the terrors of this time still haunt my sleep. In the end though, I held onto those three principles that are close to my heart... for verily it is known that the three principles are Truth, Love and Courage. Many times our enemies have tried to tempt us into throwing out these principles, into putting out the light inside us, and stepping full fledged into the darkness that lies within their hearts.

Truth

And that from Truth arises Honesty;

Love

And from Love arises Compassion;

Courage

And from Courage arises Valour;


And that Truth comingled with Love gives rise to Justice;

And Love comingled with Courage gives rise to Sacrifice;

And Courage comingled with Truth gives rise to Honor;

And Truth, Love and Courage all united create Spirituality;

And the absence of all three principles leads to the vice of pride, which leads us to think of the virtue that is its opposite, that of Humility.



The relationship between the Principles and Virtues:

    * Honesty is respect for Truth
    * Compassion is Love of others
    * Valor is Courage to stand up against risks
    * Justice is Truth, tempered by Love
    * Sacrifice is Courage to give oneself in name of Love
    * Honor is Courage to seek and uphold the Truth
    * Spirituality is to seek Truth, Love and Courage from one's own self and the world around
    * Humility is the opposite of Pride, which is the absence of Truth, Love or Courage

Humility is the most difficult Virtue to describe, as it cannot really be understood without its Anti-Virtue, Pride. Pride merely has nothing to do with Truth, Love and Courage; Humility is similar, but rather than being a complete antithesis, it exists independently of the Principles and acts as their foundation.

Humility: The absence of Truth, Love, and Courage is Pride. Pride is the surest measure of goals never attained. Pride goeth before, Shame cometh after. This Shame leads to awareness of Humility, the root from which all Virtues grow. Humility is to strip oneself of all conceits.

I am reborn. With virtue.

[Keiichi]

A rat scurries into the throne (room?) to deliver a message. On a pale sheet of paper, sealed with odd scarlet wax, is a small letter or perhaps notice written in a refined script.

"Hello. While your enemies may not follow such honest virtues on the battlefield and off, I do not condone these practices. Truth? Love? Courage? There is only strength in the heart of darkness and in the midst of absolute chaos. These emotions you feel, are only a weakness, a prison of the mind. There is no beauty in order. Truth is an abstract concept twisted by ideals and customs. We of York do not need these things. We have freed ourselves and seen the.....light? Yes, for lack of a better word, light. I ask you to turn yourselves over to freedom, we'd love to give you a helping hand."

Pain

Wrath

Instinct

Deception

Envy

Keiichi.

[CyAdora]

We All Come From The Same Truth

You carve The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. onto the wall.

The ghostly voice of Hexoatl says “sup Freeks”

You chant and try to focus the negative energies but they fade. Perhaps there aren't any spirits nearby.

Hexoatl says “If you wouldn't mind, I've got some paper work to do, and also some local is going to try and make me do stuff...”

You say “hello Hexoatl, you are looking lovely today.”

Hexoatl says “...and so what if I lose my flag, I can just sit here until it comes back.”
Hexoatl scratches out what was carved on the wall.
Hexoatl carves something onto the wall.

You say “paperwork ? You are a Wiksikian, we do not 'have' paperwork to do.”
You say “are you a native or are you just wearing costume ? You act like an pale-face, Hexoatl.”

Hexoatl says “This is the New World. New technologies have arisen. Embrace it, free yourself from the old ways.”
Hexoatl says “I'm a native through and through. I just embraced the technology. We can live in peace beside them.”

You scratch out what was carved there before.
You carve Free your mind so that you can know the truth. onto the wall.
You scratch out what was carved there before.
You carve Free your mind. onto the wall.
You say “technology, yes... the mindless following of one who thrives in anger and hatred, that is the disturbing part.”
SillyLilyPily looks around the Throne Room and remembers all the happy times.

Hexoatl says “The new ways are kinder. The new ways allow us to go in and out of that Sacred portal freely and leave whenever we want, without harm.”
Hexoatl says “It is better to embrace them, than to be dead underneath them”

You say “once there was honor here. Now, it is replaced with hatred and grief. ”
SillyLilyPily looks into Hexoatl's eyes and wishes she saw more.
You say “you killed more than spirit, you know. You have only a negative effect on what is around you. Soon you will be alone.”
You say “you are stagnant, festering with blind obedience. Wild animals with passion are more successful than yourself.”
You say “you are not a native, born of this land.”
You say “you are something from the tunnels of hell, a plague upon this earth.”
You say “and you are a good person, Hexoatl.”
You say “what is the madness that has winched your sole?”
SillyLilyPily walks over to Hexoatl and takes their head into her hands, reaching up, she kisses Hexoatl on the forehead.
You say “the light is cloudy, but it is epervesent. Please surface from your mad delusions. Come home.”
You say “we miss the Hexoatl that once ran free through these lands.”
You say “I hope to hear your unique and unbiased thoughts, ideas and brilliance soon. You are one of the chosen ones. Please come back.”
SillyLilyPily walk over to a small wooden bench by the door and peers out over the light undergrowth, watching a monkey scavenge for food.
SillyLilyPily sits.

Hexoatl says “It is not my mind or soul that is corrupt.”
Hexoatl says “The Kingdom of Skulls I once proudly called my home, the Necromancer's Guild, proud to be a member of. But I was betrayed by them both. I went to the tower on the south island.”
Hexoatl says “What I saw on the horizon was the might of the Outsider. I compared them to us and saw that we were clinging to our way of life by an invisible thread. I let go of that thread, but I did not fall”
Hexoatl says “into the firey pits of the UnderWorld. Instead I was embraced as a brother by those we were taught to hate and fear.”
Hexoatl says “And if I were to go back to the Old Ways. Why would I? What does it hold for me? I have been slain many times by my own people. Why would I go back to those who did that to me?”
Hexoatl says “I have been betrayed many times in more than one way. I am free as I am.”
Hexoatl performs a successful invocation ritual and summons 1 spirit.
Hexoatl says “Ahh, our good friend.”
Hexoatl chants, focusing negative energies at the spirit.
You hear Etherdrifter let out a banshee wail coming from all around you.
Hexoatl performs a successful exorcism ritual and casts 1 spirit outside and away from here.
Hexoatl says “he's gone!”

SillyLilyPily gazes upon Hexoati as they speak, listening carefully.
You say “thank you, Hexoatl, I appreciate your sharing with me.”

[Anthor]

Life & Death

SillyLilyPily, your words and those of Hexoatl's show such a sadness to the situation that Wiksik has become. I shall make a renewed effort to bring life back into Wiksik.

* Anthor sends a Carrier Parrot to King Keiichi in York, carrying a parchment written in some kind of red ink... is that... blood?

Dear Keiichi,

It seems that although our paths have crossed in the past, our current paths diversify from each other at an alarming rate. I believe that order can come out of chaos, with the help of those basic tenets of Truth, Love and Courage. I offer you my hand, to pull you back up from the Darkness which has corrupted your mind, and quenched the light from your soul. It is not too late. Grab my hand, I will save you.

Your friend in Light,

Anthor

[Keiichi]

A head is carried back to Raktam, courtesy of a messenger from Wiksik. The eyes are gouged out and the tounge pulled free. A scroll of parchment sticks from the mouth.

This fool decided to befoul my brother's homeland. This will not go unpunished. For you, my queen. ~Taka The head is none other than John the Baptist's.
http://www.shartak.com/profile.cgi?id=14334
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In response to Anthor, a scared looking man, poorly dressed (a vagrant, it would seem), brought fourth two heavy plates, one silver, one gold. Words were inscribed on both.

On the silver plate

The key to destruction is this
My heart is not clear
Nor is your own

On the golden plate

The seeds of eden are cast
The embers ever-glowing
No matter what we do in life
We never know where we are going

[AliceBeth]

A head is carried back to Raktam, courtesy of a messenger from Wiksik. The eyes are gouged out and the tounge pulled free. A scroll of parchment sticks from the mouth.

This fool decided to befoul my brother's homeland. This will not go unpunished. For you, my queen. ~Taka The head is none other than John the Baptist's.
http://www.shartak.com/profile.cgi?id=14334

Butterfly Li has a question for you. If you're loyal to the Queen, why did you murder her several nights ago?

[Keiichi]

Differences that have now been resolved between us.

[CyAdora]

Note:  This is an IC thread.

Differences that have now been resolved between us.

Nothing has been resolved.  I have not seen your face in-game since this happened. I require an explanation or the sword.  Your choice.

[Anthor]

WE'RE BACK, BABY!

Some heads roll

You attack akanthor with a heavy sword for 5 damage. They die.
You say “Juicy!”
ou attack Black Jack Pershing with a heavy sword for 5 damage. They die. You gain 43 XP.
You say “Not on my watch, matey!”
You collect the head of Black Jack Pershing and clean it up before adding the skull to what you're carrying.

A Meeting of the Kingdom

You say “I'm back! Took out Akanthor and Black Jack Pershing tonight! Wooo, the blood flows strongly!”
Tiacapan says “You have given a great insult Anthor!”
Tiacapan says “I am here to reclaim my place in the kingdom.”
Tiacapan gives you a poisonous snake.
SillyLilyPily stumbles into the Throne Room, tired and overheated.
SillyLilyPily takes a gourd of water from her pack and dumps it over her head and face.
SillyLilyPily gasps as the cold water runs down her body, making a small puddle on the ground at her feet.
SillyLilyPily looks up and smiles at Anthor, giving him a respectful curtsie.
SillyLilyPily says “disregarding recent memories, this feels like old times.”
SillyLilyPily nods to Eyes of a Hawk and Iwashere, delighted to see her bretherin again.
SillyLilyPily smiles to Tiacapan and hands her an apple from the Orchards of the Ancestors.
SillyLilyPily gives you a skull.
SillyLilyPily takes a tiny skull from a chain around her neck and hands it to Anthor.
SillyLilyPily says “for you, most honored Avatar, my most difficult kill, Gluttony.”
SillyLilyPily drops to her knees and looks up to Anthor, seated high on his throne.
SillyLilyPily says “I am here to serve you, Avatar. How may I honor and please you?”
Anthor surveys his wonderful people, thanking Tiacapan for his gift, and then whispers something in SillyLilyPily's ear
[censored whisperings]
You say “Gather together here, my friends. We must enjoy our time here while we have it. With my execution of Akanthor yesterday, I doubt it will be long before the scum appear again.”
Anthor thanks SillyLilyPily for her gift of the shrunken skull of Gluttony.
You say “My, he has such a small... head... for such a fat [censored]!”
[censored scheming and planning]
Anthor smiles and sits back to relax, in his rightful place on the throne of skulls.

I guess we didn't cook our dinner properly!

Monopod chants, focusing negative energies at the spirits.
You hear Dysentery let out a banshee wail coming from all around you, and lose 4 HP from fear.
You hear Black Plague let out a banshee wail coming from all around you, and lose 4 HP from fear.
You hear Slaughterhouse let out a banshee wail coming from all around you.
You hear Spook let out a banshee wail coming from all around you, and lose 4 HP from fear.

Haha! That's awesome. It takes 5 GSUC to kill little old me!

You die of fright.

And 5 to kill Iwashere and Tiacapan

Iwashere turns white as a sheet, and keels over dead.
Tiacapan turns white as a sheet, and keels over dead.

And 6 to kill Eyes of a Hawk and SLP

Gluttony kills Eyes of a Hawk with a dagger.
Gluttony kills SillyLilyPily with a machete.

Superb! GSUC should be very proud!

Depodded
You attack Monopod with a heavy sword for 5 damage. They die.
You collect the head of Monopod and clean it up before adding the skull to what you're carrying.
You say “Sic Semper Pod! And you are a sick one at that!”
You say “Obviously can't kill anyone by yourself these days, seems like you need 4 spirits and Gluttony to help you.”
You say “And as for you lot... *stares at the spirits of the damned*... off with you!”
Your exorcism ritual is a success! You cast 2 spirits outside and away from here.
Your exorcism ritual is a success! You cast 1 spirit outside and away from here.
Your exorcism ritual is a success! You cast 1 spirit outside and away from here.
You say “For those here that know not of my latest plan... PM me on the forum for more info. This'll be a good one. And for you Pod, take back to your handlers that the spirit of the KOS will never be broken.”

Time for some mischief

To be continued...

[DLC]

Bi-polar much...

[Etherdrifter]

Bi-polar much...

*Raises an eyebrow*

[Anthor]

Bi-polar much...

Are you referring to Anthor the character, or Anthor the player?

If it's the character, I'm not sure what there equates to bipolar but please elaborate... if it's me, the player, then I'd suggest that comment was inappropriate and ask you to remove it.

[Anthor]

Wicksick Island Returned to the Kingdom of Skulls

For many, the stories of the Kingdom of Skulls were told to them as young natives, over the last vestiges of light from the fire.

It was born out of destiny, and a rebirth of the Ancient Ones, those who lived on the island thousands of years previously.

Through trials of fire, through torture and oppression the Kingdom was born, screaming, ripped from the womb of an Island in the midst of its darkest hour.

In a psychotic blood bath, Wicksick Island was retaken by KOS native forces. The few outsiders who survived the onslaught were driven from Midway Island, those that were left behind were ripped apart. Their limbs torn from their bodies savagely and without mercy. Their heads sliced off in one twirling motion of flashing steel. Their skulls forced on to the driftwood stakes that are positioned facing outward, a warning to all that arrive on Wicksick Island.

The KOS has returned; to take back what is rightfully ours; to bring Shartak back to the Natives; to walk into the mouth of Evil, and render it speechless as its tongue is ripped out with our bare hands.

[AlexanderRM]

We really need to conquer someplace larger next. Or we could make a skull with signposts rather than jungle-chopping, which would allow us to extend the image onto the beaches.

[Foo]

Neat! It's called 'Babakiueria Island', though