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Aqua: Beginning of the End
Topic Started: May 2 2017, 11:57 PM (29 Views)
SirHootsalot
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Resident Owl
[ *  *  * ]
Today was unlike most days, the mysterious Cup of Chilli that had led the Guild since it's founding remained adamant about pushing the boundaries of their individual skill, as did most of the council but SirHootsalot was not 'most' of the Guild Leadership. The Owl Tengu had, in typically fashion creatively interpreted as Photography, Fishing, and whatever other skill he could come up with. Indeed all were 'skills' in their own right but many represented mini-games and distractions from what Cup of Chilli had ultimately intended.

Amongst those under his command was Aquilo Silverwing, recently acquired from the Crimson Scales Guild he was a more reluctant sort picked up only via the Swordsage's 'charm' if you could call it that but like many of the younger less indoctrinated members he enjoyed SirHootsalot's company far more than that of the other founding members, a mentor and someone everyone could aspire to equal not only in battle but in the company of others too.

In what could only be described as a road trip everyone had a moment to relax, and indulge themselves in the simpler pleasures that Aether Online had to offer. It was after all why many had played this game in the first place right? A world where everyone forged their own path without the artificial barriers of a modern world, all were heroes and villains in their own right and everyone knew respect especially within a guild that immortalised it's greatest achievements but today those achievements would be put on hold as everyone had entered the Dragonsteeth Inn. Located within a crag of jagged rocks and active volcanic hazards it was home to many of the higher level players and tonight all would gather her to exchange stories of their victories and defeats within the wilderness and so the show had begun...

"Are you absolutely cer-"

"Absolutely!" SirHootsalot replied taking centre stage within the small theatre guitar in hand as Aquilio watched in dismay from the sidelines he turned his head to a Kitsune at his side the fox, "He's only going to embarrass us all you know?" The fox grinned at this and replied, "Well that's part of the fun isn't it, everyone thinks KoME are supah serious, well time to change their perspective a bit."

"No instead they'll think we're a roaming rock band who-" Aqua stopped as the Fox pulled a microphone to his jaw, "Ladies and Gentleman, Familiars and Beasts KoME proudly presents SirHootsalot's Rendition."

"Oh hell..." Aqua sulked into the shadows trying his beast to conceal himself from view as the music began playing and SirHootsalot raised his hand into the air summoning a 'axe' to his hands.

One thousand years ago, a hero crossed the seas
In search of distant realms to claim his destiny
The land of Unst was not enough, he had to conquer more
Into the Aether the hero quests to far Archeon shores

With his Mighty battleaxe he slaughtered everything
Til all of Aether did call the hero King

[Repeat]
He's the Millennium Hootsman
Hail! To! Hoots!
Mighty Proud and standing Tall
A legend to us all!
He's the Millennium Hootsman
He's! The! King!
Riding from the Virtual Screen
Onto the Battlefield
He's the King of Millennium
Hoots!
[Repeat]

Immortal Warrior with armour made from wolf
His legend grew through centuries with the power of the Hoot
His prowess on the battlefield matched only on the stage
In Aether he found his fame, the finest of his age

The Greatest Star whoever walked this land
If you ever met this Owl I'm sure you'd understand

[Repeat x1]

Now Chilli calls him to join the epic fight
Once more these mighty warriors will battle side by side

[Repeat x1]

Yeah!"

To Aquilo's amazement the gathered host seemed receptive to SirHootsalot's display, thrusting the axe into the air it disappeared just as it had appeared and the Tengu gave a playful bow as the Kitsune spoke into the microphone once more. "SirHootsalot of KoME!" Then as if they'd taken the time to practice he left centre stage and exchanged a smile with the Kitsune who responded with a chuckle, "Excellent show Knight Commander."

Aquilo looked at him blankly as they came face to face the Tengu smiled behind his beak at the Squires disbelief. "What was that business about? You just risked embarrassing yourself and our Guild with it, what would Cup of Chilli have done if he heard of it?"

"That old bean ain't gonna do nothing to the likes of me lad, what fun is a game if you can't have fun from time to time? Now come along let's get a drink before the ale's all gone." Aquilo exchanged a glance with the Kitsune a moment who shrugged and got back to work announcing their next act. He didn't honestly pay much attention to it after that rendition, "I hope they realise you lifted that from Gloryhammer." Aqua said over the drink.

"Oh absolutely." SirHootsalot glanced down into his mug, "So the raiding season is soon to start, and our glorious leader wishes KoME to come out ahead of the pack." This was the first talk of business in weeks and Aqua raised an ear to the subject, "You think we won't be able to achieve the feat, KoME are well known for our exploits."

"Ah lad we're one of the best without a doubt but this obsession with being the 'best' won't get us very far now will it. Use that bird brain of yours, what happens when we surpass everyone's expectations and defeat the final world boss. Nowhere left to go, so we better enjoy the game while it lasts."

"I suppose, but we'll make it into Aether's history books without a doubt, not that it matters I guess with the servers closing down shortly. Any idea why?"

SirHootsalot shrugged and took a deep drink of his ale, "Whose to know, the game is popular enough it's hard to believe they can't maintain the servers. Maybe the developers had a falling out or some such business, least we'll get one final event. Regardless my point is enjoy life while it lasts, especially the likes of you and before you start asking I have my contacts. We're closure than you think."

"Thanks..." Aqua got to his feet and began to walk his way through the crowd catching sight of this the owl turned his head before sighing heavily into his mug, "Bartender another!" He shouted cheering up once again at the very least his master could be cheerful in the face of such adversity. Losing Aether would be a more severe blow than anyone might have realised, their really was not much to reality that could indulge him perhaps that was why he always felt a much stronger connection to his character than most leaving into the volcanic crags his eyes turned skywards as the Cataclysm Dragon soared over head heralding the encroaching doom of another settlement of NPC's.

There was only one truth in that, the dragon was no longer a threat they had discovered it's mechanics and weaknesses months ago and now even the most disorganised of groups. In a few days time they would face their greatest challenge, and indeed that was why the Dragonsteeth Tavern was so packed tonight with Beastfolk and the odd foreign alliance, the breach would soon open and no matter what SirHootsalot had claimed that was their true purpose, many mistook him and surely after that performance many of their opponents would think of them as nothing more than fools who by blind luck had acquired they fame they had. Question was would the man himself show his face, or would they once more be left in wonder who this Cup of Chilli really was?

With this in mind he retreated back to his chambers... another day gone in the insignificant life he clinged onto.

~ Blind Reality ~

Removing the headgear and accompanying equipment Ahote starred up into the dark ceiling his chief comfort a pair of fluffy white pillows behind his head as the only reality he had ever truly known for the past seven years returned to him, the room was silent without much to focus upon besides the feint beep and hum of the equipment that had sustained him rolling his head to one side his gaze fell squarely upon the collection of old figures from a childhood now all but lost to him, and amongst them his favourite a old stuffed crow plushie, it wasn't the toy itself but what it represented.

Crows for hundreds of thousands represented death, birds of Carrion who plucked clean the corpses of those either helpless or forgotten upon the fields of battle a symbol of ones own mortality and yet these very same creatures had a integrity about them. They always knew what they were doing and featured prominently in Nordic Lore as creatures of intellect and a playful curiosity of the world around them. Much like the owl feather tucked behind his ear it held meaning beyond it's plain appearance. It was why he decided to be a Tengu, they represented that very same playful curiosity but equally a sense of wisdom of the world around them and it's finite nature, he could have only wished his time would have been longer.

Aether had become his freedom, he knew it wasn't real but in that world he had the very same freedoms as the people that had now become fond memories. Here all he had was the support of a machine and hospital bed, visitors came only because they felt the need they did not wish to be here any more than he himself desired. Some might have considered the wealth of his family a boon to have kept him alive this long, but without Aether was it really a life worth living... hospitalised until death.

The Owl feathered reminded him of his father's own words, however distant he may now be on the other side of the globe he always loved his family. It kept him going with the will to live, as he recent card had reminded him when it had arrived with the necessary equipment to access the virtual world he now considered home;

"I was once told time was the one true predator, it stalks us our whole lives. But they are wrong, it is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds you to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not important as we lived. After all we are only mortal."

But it was also blind to those who could not spare a moment, those who suffered day in and out only to be given a magic bullet then it be taken away from them. "You are also cruel." He sighed to the crow as if it would ever had replied to him, perhaps he was truly going mad?
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