Dolor: Stigma Vitae (Pain: Stigma of Life) - RP Thread

[Rammerrush]

Camas Rikehart.png

The three had just exited the arena. Bird was leading them with Clarissa while Raul wasn't too far behind. Camas on the other hand held back until he was well out of earshot of the other two.

"Thanks for not talking Essie," Camas whispered while gripping his blade. "I'm not sure we should show all our cards to these people just yet."

"Okay, I understand, but why are you whispering?"

"That shiny guy, Bird, I'm not sure why but I feel like he can do things that are beyond human." Camas watched as Bird tilted his head at an inhuman angle at the sound of something in the woods. "I mean he knows exactly how far away water is."

"I see what you mean, but maybe he's not a bad guy." Essie said showing her ever trusting nature.

"Well all I know is I hate that douchey kid back there." Camas said spitting back toward the arena. "I really wanna give that kid a much needed punch to the face."

"His names Red," Essie pointed out.

"How'd you remember that?" Camas asked, surprised.

Essie scoffed as if it were obvious. "Unlike you, I pay attention."

"Hey Camas! Get up here!" Raul shouted from the front.

"Yeah I'll be right there!" Camas shouted back. Before running to catch up with the rest of his party he whispered to Essie, "I'll talk to you later just take a nap or something."

[Redhollowlives999]

Red's stomach growled as if it were speaking a language unknown by humans. After eating a few berries, it wasn't enough to calm him down. Red unfroze the water blocking the hole and looked out. "Wouldn't hurt to catch up, maybe they will find some juicy apples." Just the thought of apples made Red smile. Red decided to take what water he could find in the vicinity and formed a small vortex, no bigger than 3 feet, but still good enough to ride on. Red jumped on top of the vortex and controlled it so that it moved towards to the direction Raul pointed to earlier. "Hope they have some grub."

[Zup]

"How much farther is this pool?" asked Raul.

Bird's computer kicked into gear. "Approximately 0.8 miles southwest."

The robot turned to look at Clarissa, who was silent the entire walk, hugging Flint. He couldn't help but think what would happen when it actually came time for fighting, or when permanent shutdown was a possible outcome. Could he protect her the entire tournament until the end? Should he?

Bird lead the way through the dense forest, and thankfully, he hadn't detected any life other than squirrels once again. It was quiet, and though he truly didn't like vegetation, he still couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the quiet environment.

As they made their way closer and closer to the body of water, Bird couldn't help but turn around and scan Raul and Camas. There wasn't much his scanners could tell him in that brief instance, but what caught Bird's attention was when his computer focused on Camas's sword.

Scanning...Sentient sword...unable to determine hostility...dormant in sleep state...no threat detected...

Bird's curiosity was piqued. A sentient sword. What could that mean. He was about to question Camas when he detected more life a bit in the distance behind them and to their left. It was moving fairly quickly in mid-air.

Scanning...Red...target does not appear hostile...no threat detected...

"Red," chirped Bird, his head cocking to the side.

"What about him?" asked Raul, who stopped as the robot did.

Bird pointed to the trees off to their left. The group turned to where he pointed and saw Red speed by them on a vortex of spinning water, unaware of their presence.

"Oh, man," said Raul. He shrugged. "I'll go get him! You guys head to the pool!"

Bird, Clarissa, and Camas nodded and the robot continued to lead them to the unidentified body of water.

As the shrubs were pushed aside, the pool was revealed. It was a pond bordered with almost perfectly-smooth, spherical stones. The water was as clear as any they had ever seen, and it gave off mirror-like reflections.

"This is...*click*....the pool."

"Looks special to me," observed Camas. He stepped up to the water and crouched down, taking some in his hands and drinking it. Within seconds his face lit up and he nodded, fatigue gone from his body. "Yeah this is definitely-"

Bird suddenly grabbed Clarissa and activated his thrusters, throwing the pair a few yards to the side. As he landed, he drew his saber staff and activated it, barely in time to block the slashing, nearly invisible sword aiming for his neck.

Camas and Clarissa couldn't see the foe, but Bird could. His thermal goggles had kicked in when they detected a rustle in the leaves of a nearby tree, and allowed him to see the stealth camouflaged ninja staring him down.

The invisibility was turned off and the ninja jumped backward, her sword still at the ready. Bird kept his eyes glued on the target, his thermal vision shutting off.

"Who the the the the the are you?" asked Camas, his hand gripping his sword. At the same time, Red and Raul appeared in the pool clearing, their eyebrows raising at the sight of the female ninja and Bird.

"Who are you?" asked Bird. "A competitor?"

The woman didn't move for moments, but ended up nodding. "I am Ryuka. Who are you all?"

"Why are...*click*...you attacking us?"

"That is none of your concern."

The ninja quickly reached for a shuriken on her belt, and one of Bird's reactionary defense systems kicked in. He turned off the saber staff and replaced it on his back, his open palm glowing purple. Before the throwing star could be launched, his magnetism pulled it in, and she was left without it in her hands.

Bird's other hand opened at her too, but this time it glowed blue, and the sound of a repulsor blast preparing for fire could be heard by all of them in the area. "Talk...*chirp*...now."

[Redhollowlives999]

Red watched as the event between 'bird' and this ninja occurred. Whoa, he would make a great ally.

"Red," Raul said while moving close to Red, "Can you freeze some of that water into a drinkable bottle or something?"

"I will do better than that." Red pulled out his Brotherhood sword and stuck it into the water. The blade began to absorb what Raul could guess was a quart.

Red gave a puzzled look, and grunted harder. "What the hel-" Red was interrupted by bird questioning the ninja. "Talk... *chirp* now..."

The ninja looked away from Bird and answered with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. "No."

Raul walked up to Bird. "Let us handle her." Red walked right next to Raul. "That girl over there doesn't look like she belongs here..."

Raul looked carefully at the girl. "Red. Give her some water for later."

Red looked nodded as Raul turned to the water. He powered up two flame balls, one in each hand, and shot 2 fire streams out of his hands; evaporating the water. Meanwhile, Red froze the steam into a 2 bottles of ice with at least 3 gulps of water in each. Bird used his thrusters to grab the bottles before they hit the ground.

"Who are you?" Red started.

"Tch, as if I'd answer to some kid."

Raul took his Key of lorelei and pointed it towards 'Ryuka'. "Then try two kids."

Red spat towards a nearby tree. "I hate that word."

"..." The stranger took a fighting stance. "I'll kill you both."

"She can turn invisible, we don't know anything about her. And we don't know if we really are invincible like bird said. Watch yourself Red."

"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself."

Red prepared his Dagger of Time incase Bird's info on death was incorrect. He gave a big smirk. "Ladies first."

"You'll regret that."

[Rammerrush]

Camas watched as the ninja girl turned invisible again, part of him wondered how two things so huge could vanish so easily. But he quickly shook the thought and focused on what was more important.

"Bird!" He called out as the ninja girl reappeared to slash at Red, who quickly blocked it with his odd water blade.

The Shiny man turned at the sound of his name, still keeping Clarissa behid his back, away from the fighting. "Bird, we need to get the girl to safety." Camas gestured to the frieghtend girl, squeezing the brown creature in her arms until it seemed to take on a bluish hue.

Bird looked down at Clarissa before examining the fight again. "What about *click* Red and Raul?" The Ninja had just vanished from sight once more just before Raul and Red had slashed at her in a motion mirroring scissors.

"They can handle it, let's go!" Camas pushed some foliage out from the way they came and waited for Bird to lead the way. After a few seconds he led Clarissa away from the danger and Camas followed suit. The last thing he saw of the fight was Raul on the ground, a chain held by invisible hands constricting his air flow.

Bird beat back the leaves and branches as he rushed through the forest, toward the stone building. Camas couldn't help but be impressed by his speed, but he had a feeling that if he wasn't making sure Clarissa was okay, he could get even faster.

There was a second when he lost track of Bird and Clarissa amidst the great greenness of the trees and plants, he started to slow down and look at his surroundings, but nothing looked familiar. It was starting to look like he was lost.

However, luckily Camas made his way back to the Arena building before long. He stepped out of the trees and into the small clearing outside the building. Bird was already there with a winded Clarissa, and Camas could tell they hadn't gone into the building yet.

With a quick glance to make sure Bird and the girl were okay, he made his way to the large wooden doors. He was about to open them when he heard something coming from within.

Gently he laid an ear to the door and listened. "How can you be so strong!!?" Shouted one husky, obviously male voice.

"You can thank yourself for that, big guy." Laughed a different, oddly familiar voice.

Then Camas remembered why that voice sounded familiar. He pushed the doors open and was astounded to see a green, hulking, giant of a man, his hands locked with that of the thin, fair haired boy he had encountered in the woods. At the sight of the two youd assume the giant would easily stomp the boy, but clearly he was having trouble.

[Redhollowlives999]

"Raul!"

Red was abit too far to break the chain in time before he lost air. Raul pointed to the dagger. "You sure? Alright." Red pressed the Jewel at the end of the blade, and suddenly his spirit 'left his body' as he saw time rewind, Red waited until the moment right before Ryuka reappeared. Then he let go of the jewel; stopping the time rewind.

"Oh no you don't!" Red sent a giant wave right towards the ninja, washing her away.

Raul recovered from the slight accident he just had. "Deja vu, did you use th-?"

"She tripped you was later gonna suffocate you." Red informed his friend.

Ryuka stepped back alittle. "How'd you know I was gonna do that?"

Red and Raul looked at each other and chuckled. "Man," Raul started, "That never gets old."

The ninja jumped back and became invisible once again. "Red! Alpha all-round 7!"

"Got it." Red jumped into the pool right beside him and slowly sunk into the shallow pool. Which seemed deeper now that Red was sinking in it.

"Oh no you don't." Ryuka yelled as he Summoned a huge hammer to fuse with the end of her chain. She then tried to slam it into the water, but Red froze the pool before it touched the cool surface of the water.

"PAY ATTENTION!" Raul yelled at his opponent. Before Ryuka could turn around to look at Raul, he had already powered up some spin kick, 360 fire crap on her. The force of the blow disabled her invisibility and sent her flying into a bush. Red emerged counting to 15.

"-14, 15. Times up."

Raul put away his blade, "Finish it."

"Tch, leaving the dirty work to me." Red walked up the semi-unconscious women and froze her whole body to a nearby tree. As Raul started to brush the dirt off his shoulders, Red gave the ninja a quick message before turning around an walking away. "Now be a good little magical ninja while we get the others."

[Zup]

Bird had picked up Vulres and the boy from outside the arena, but he had made no moves to encounter them while trying to protect Clarissa. When Camas arrived and opened the door, he ushered her to safety before preparing himself in case of another fight.

As soon as the doors opened, Bird's scanner went straight for the white-haired boy, adding him into his computer's database. It picked up on his surprising amount of strength, and calculated that it was in no way natural - his body would not be able to stand against Vulres. He had to have had some sort of strength additive in order to be locked in a strength hold with the giant orc.

The strange boy turned directly to Camas and Bird, a cocky grin on his face. His look caused Vulres to do the same, who glared at the sight of Bird once again. This rage enhanced his strength a bit, and he caught the strange boy off guard with a skilled martial arts throw that forced the kid to roll back to his feet, pushing his glasses up into position.

"Again with you, bird-thing."

"Vulres."

"What do we have here?" asked the strange boy, eyes locked on Bird. "A robot, eh?"

Bird's scanners detected major hostility and threat from the boy with the glasses, and his defense systems were ready to kick into gear if need be. “I am Two-Nine-Eighteen-Four...*chirp*...Codename: Bird.”

Camas looked to his robot companion, whispering, "you're just gonna tell him your name like that?"

The boy raised an eyebrow. "Huh. You're different than typical robots."

"How...*click*...so?"

"You seem far more...advanced. Ah, I see."

Bird's head cocked to the side in confusion. "I have not revealed-"

"Save it, scrap metal. I've already scanned you. You've got some kind of armor underneath your plating. Hm...plus that pole on your back's got some sort of plasma inside of it."

"Scrap...*click*...metal?" asked Bird. "I may not...*chirp*...be in pristine-"

"Oh shut up!" yelled the boy. "You might be better than those buckets I've seen but you're still beneath breathing, organic, intelligent life like myself. Sit still while I Draw that odd little energy in -"

The boy didn't have time to finish as a repulsor blast fired straight at his head, striking the wall behind him as he dodge rolled to the side. At the display, Camas drew his sword and Vulres clenched his fists, ready to attack. Bird looked straight at the boy. "I can decimate you in nanoseconds...*chirp*...human."

"Not right now," said Vulres. He chuckled. "I see you've adopted a more killer instinct, bird thing."

"Right...the invincibility threshold," growled the boy with the glasses. He got back to his feet, dusting off his pants. "Don't get cocky, Bird. Once death-"

"- Permanent shutdown."

"- Whatever. Once death is on the table you can bet I'm coming for you, first." He began to walk off when Camas called for him to stop.

"Who are you? You're that guy I saw earlier..."

"Hmph. I suppose it's fitting to know the name of the future champion of this tournament. Kors."

The data was quickly added to Bird's computer. The robot was intrigued by Kors, but felt insulted as well at the mention of him being "scrap metal." He watched as Kors walked away, and he suddenly realized...

"He...*click*...has more intel on me than I have on...*chirp*...him..."

[Redhollowlives999]

Raul and Red walked causally beck to the arena. They exchanged a few glances, but they didn't need to speak more than that. The 2 know each other better than anybody else; it only takes a glance to know what one wants.

Red stopped walking, extending his arm to block Raul from moving as well. Raul looked at Red in confusion. "Wh-"

"Sh!" Red slowed his breathing; Raul did the same. It was a little faint, but they both heard footsteps. They were getting louder as time went by. Red lowered his arm. "Somebody is coming."

"Should we ignore it? Or should we hide?" Raul scanned the area. Not too many places to hide.

"Well, I'm lazy, so lets confront it."

Raul sighed. "What great logic you use. You have water on you?"

Red took out his sword. "Sorta."

"You know you're sword doesn't count!"


"HEY! WHO'S THERE?"

Red closed his eyes and covered Raul's mouth when he was about to respond. Raul looked at Red's face and knew what he wanted. Don't answer until they show themselves. Red knew Raul's response when he grabbed/moved his hand. Okay okay I get it.

After a few seconds, Raul could see 1 figure, a really short kid looking one. Raul tried to figure out who it was; Red on the other hand never bothered looking at them.

"Thought I heard something."

"...."
"...."

"Tch. So what have we here?"

The younger one walked up to the two and investigated the two. Raul let him get close without saying a word. Due to his appearance, he looked rather harmless.


After 5 seconds, Raul started. "Ahem, may I help you?"

The weird boy turned his full attention to Red. "Shut up Raul."

Red opened his eyes. "Raul, you know him?"

Raul looked at the boy in shock. "No. Who ar-"

"Red hollow. Interesting, it seems you can control water, while Raul controls fire. I suppose it will do."

The boy started to slightly glow. After 3 seconds, Red and Raul started to glow as well. Red clenched his teeth. "What the the the the the?"

Two seconds later, Red got a face full of fire and Raul got a huge splash of water.

"What the the the the the?!" Red yelled while cooling off his face.

Raul tried to figure out what happened, but he was coughing up water. The strange boy looked at Red once again. "Oh crap!" The boy dashed away.

"Oh no you don't!" Red tried to run after him, but after seeing he was too fast, Red decided to use the Dagger again. Red watched as the scene plays again backwards, he waited until the end of the sandslot; which was around when the boy walked up.

"I suppose it wil-"

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Red slashed down at the boy, who dodged the attack.

Raul jumped at Red's sudden mood change. "What happened?" Raul looked down at the dagger and saw it was less bright then it was a few seconds ago. "What did he do?"

"He...started glowing... and next then I know he copied our powers.. and attacked us with the opposite element."

Raul took out his blade and got into a fight position. "You bastard. We want answers!"

"Seems like he can scan better than me." The boy looked down and noticed the light of the blade. He re-positioned his glasses while he looked at the dagger. There was a twinkle in his eye right before he looked away. "Interesting; I like this guy."

Raul raised is eyebrow in confusion. He was becoming irritating; though he didn't show it.

"It seems like this one can control time. And the other one has such destructive power, but it seems he can only use it as a last resort."

Raul knew what he was talking about. "I suppose it is destructive, but even I can't handle it. My-"

"That enough Raul."

The boy looked away in a arrogant kid like way. "No go on, I already know why anyways."

Red looked at the boy in anger. "You're bluffing."

"Am I hollow? Am I?"

"My gosh that just creepy. Lets get back to-"

The boy interrupted Red once again. "To the Arena? Nice little hole you have there. Know I get why there was ice around the hole."

"You little bastard."

"When I finish that bucket of wires and steam, I'm going after you two."

Raul walked up in front of the boy; who barely reached his pectorals. "Big talk for a little boy."

Red walked past the boy in white. "Why don't you go clean the stains of your little dress."

Raul also walked around the boy and walked back towards the arena. "Watch your back tomorrow."

"Tch. We'll see."

The boy waited for the two teens to leave. "Those guys will be trouble; the sooner I kill them the better."

[Zup]

The first thing Bird did when Kors left was to make sure he went nowhere near Clarissa. His scanners watched as he left the arena, only to meet up with Red and Raul. Content that there was no threat to the girl, Bird excused himself from the arena and went to the hiding Clarissa.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

Bird nodded, grabbing her hand and escorting her out of the bushes. Nothing was picked up on his scanners.

"Tomorrow...*chirp*...permanent shutdown...*click*...is viable"

"I know," Clarissa replied. "Bird...I'm scared."

Bird cocked his head. He could understand fear, now, yet it still wasn't the first thought to cross his mind. "Of what?"

"This...this is a fighting tournament...I...I'm not a fighter."

The robot looked away. He usually had the answers to everything, but this was an issue of an entirely different caliber. It was true - survival depended on your ability to fight for your life. But...Clarissa had not displayed any fighting prowess at all. She didn't seem like she could bring herself to hurt or kill any of the other contestants.

But something else didn't make sense to his computer. Bird turned to look the girl in the eyes, not saying anything. He could detect some sort of innate energy within her, and he knew he couldn't be mistaken. Logically, it made no sense for the overseer to enlist her in this tournament if she couldn't fight.

"Clarissa...*chirp* *chirp*...do you have no fighting capabilities...*click*...at all?"

The girl shook her head, but hesitated in the midst of it. "Well...I have Flint."

Bird's eyes darted to the little brown creature in her arms, his computers picking up on as much information on it as possible. "What are Flint's...*click*...capabilities?"

The girl shrugged and squeezed the Djinn tighter. "I don't know...but I know he'll help me."

"Is there...*chirp*...anything else?"

"Well..."

Bird's curiosity was piqued yet again. His computer whirred to store everything.

Clarissa slowly put Flint down on the ground and picked up a rock near her feet. She moved over to a tree and touched her left hand onto the ground. The grass was covered in a swirling yellow ring. She then touched her right hand to the tree bark, and a blue circle of light appeared, but this time, the bark was replaced with what looked to be the sky.

"What is...?" Bird began.

The girl then dropped the rock into the hole in the ground, and it flew out of the tree bark, horizontally. Unfortunately for her, the rock struck her in the head, and she fell to her knees, clutching the spot. Bird moved to her and inspected the region, but it wasn't wounded.

He was incredibly interested in what she had displayed, however. It defied physics completely, and he formed a renewed interest in the girl. "Clarissa...that was...*chirp* *chirp*...fascinating."

The girl giggled at his bird-liked mannerisms. She picked Flint back up and Bird lead her back to the arena, intending to take shelter there and to rest. It had been a rather long and eventful day.

He couldn't help but plan his defense systems for the next day...

[Rammerrush]

Camas turned to watch Bird leave, probably to go check on Clarissa. He made his way to the green giant, who was now leaning against a doorway leading deeper into the Arena. The green man seemed to pick up on Camas's approach and began to glare at him intimiadatingly.

"What do you want!?" The giant asked with a scowl on his face.

Unfazed, Camas walked in front of the man, looked up into his eyes and smirked before saying, "You're not going to win this thing, you know?"

With a mighty laugh, the ogre of a man leaned down until he was eye to eye with Camas. "Oh, and I suppose you'll be the winner?

With a blaze in his eyes and a rush of adrenaline, Camas slammed his hand into the giants face. "Thunderbolt!"

In the blink of an eye, a flash of light erupted into the giant's face. It was immediately followed by a searing pain that launched him through the doorway and into a curved hall. Camas quickly rushed after the man, hit him while he's down, not the most noble of strategies. But he wasn't about to lose for nobility.

Camas reached the green giant as he was picking himself up. "So you wanna play huh?" He noticed there didn't seem to be any sign that the Lightning damaged him. The man grabbed Camas by the wrist and flung him into the floor. "I like to play too!!" With a laugh only a giant could muster, he lifted Camas into the air and readied for another slam into the ground.

But as Camas was held there by his wrist he unsheathed Essie with his free hand and sliced at the mountainous man. He recoiled as the blade bit into his skin, leaving a slim red gash along his torso.

Camas wiped at his face, his hand coming away red with blood. "I can play this game all day, You big green waste of space." With a sneer, he lifted his blood covered hand and shouted, "Transform!"