Topic: Final Resolution

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2013-03-28 14:57 EST
"If you start at the beginning, then perhaps you'll find your way?"

"Someone else told me that as well?"

"And you finally listened, somehow. Otherwise, you would not be here before me, would you not?"

"Bound are you both still yet, and more so due to that rather rash decision of yours, back when."

?"?"."

"If you are recalling that which was lost, then you have to realize that he will be doing the same, since you are literally a part of each other."

"I don't believe that he?"

"If he fully recalls the events that led to his current status, then it will begin again and again, until one of you are no more. You have to know this, as there is no other way. From Tyris to Darkenwood, Bale to Rhy"Din, the valley and everything in between. None of you will be safe, from his machinations, or those of that which resides within you. You have to sever that limb, permanently. If you do not, you will all be consumed in the fires of vengeance with the most extreme of prejudices. Mind you, if that came to pass, intervention may not be the course of action, that would be afforded to me."

"He has the mind of a child, I just saw him not a few days past! He doesn't know what?s going on!"

"And you are willing to risk everything you have on that little detail, hmm' Have the events of the last few weeks become lost on you, Mister Ravenlock—-Brian' Have the recollections of the last few hours, become so lost on you, that you are willing to risk, everything that all of you—- not to mention myself and my own, had fought so hard to contain all those months past?"

?"??"

"Granted, my reasons were more—-personal in regards to my rather timely intervention, that benefitted you, and your allies on that most fateful of evenings."

"That's an understatement, Myllyanna."

"Agreed, but you have to admit Mister Ravenlock. With one of my own, so deeply rooted within that chaotic web that had been woven about you and yours, there was little choice save to directly involve myself. After all, my Garet was there at the behest of your Lady—- well that, and the fact that he too sought to stop that momentum that brother of yours slaved so hard to attain."

"Point taken, but that doesn't chang—-"

"It doesn't Brian' No, I am afraid that and a great deal of other variables are what change everything in this predicament of ours. Make no mistake about that, there are no more personal reasons than the ones we carry ever so close to our own hearts, or lack thereof in my case. You have several reasons, some of which may I add, are directly tied to me. So yes, everything has changed and the time table you see before you is rapidly shrinking."

"I know?"

"Of course you do, Brian. You have felt it for a while now, and you haven't been the only one. That Tiefling, that likes to parade around as a Drow" She felt it, and tried to exploit your brother's "gifts" during that little incident that took place in her manor within the glen. Before that, the witch"Ella was her name, no' She felt it as well, of course that little mark of hers assisted with that I am sure. Your little skirmish with the girl called Katt' Not to mention your rather nasty outburst, within the confines of the Red Dragon Inn—- the result of which was that little "outburst' of hers, which nearly cost that poor dear Race his life, not to mention your newly scarred chest. Luckily for you, we can work on that as well for you, along with the capacitor you carry within that hand of yours"for no additional cost, may I add."

"Yes, yes I know—- How benevolent of me, one would normally say, or even think, but rest assured Brian Ravenlock, I already understand that you know far better than to believe such a foolish notion, such as myself being purely benevolent for the sake of doing so. A price was agreed upon, and I know you will deliver. Not only for your good word, but for the sake of your family, should your brother be allowed to regain what he once had, which we agree would be disastrous for all parties that were involved in his fall."

"I know you're right, Myllyanna. It can't be allowed to happen again? We"I made that mistake once before, and it cost so many. I can't risk everyone on this—- I can't risk losing Jenai and the girls again."

"Would you not do anything for the ones you hold dearest to you? Would you not strike down the very heavens themselves, to assure your children have a tomorrow to see" Would you not sacrifice all you had, for the sake of the Jen—- Actually, we have answered that before. However the point still stands, Brian Ravenlock. There is nothing we as parents, or lovers would not do for the sake of those we cherish. I tell you and you alone this tiny fact' There is nothing I would not do—- anyone that I would strike not strike down, any family that I would not decimate, for the sake of my own son. I also know, the same stands for you, when it comes to your Jenai, and daughters."

"I will return, when it is done?"

"Yes you will, Brian Ravenlock. Because it is fate, you understand that all too well. We will be awaiting your return, and my staff will procure that which is mine, and return to you that which was taken. Until then?"

"Yes, until then Lady Myllyanna."

Upon being escorted from the halls of the Onyx Lotus, Brian Ravenlock was joined by the Dark Knight Garet Jax, who then walked him towards the main gates of the Lotus, itself.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, Garet. Thanks, but you've done so much. I could never ask you to join me for what I'm about to do."

"So you are going to do it' You're going to end him, tonight?"

"There is no other way, Myllyanna is right. Besides that, the only to take the Gauntlet, is to—-"

"End the life of the bearer."

"Exactly' And I have an idea as to someone who would accompany me, for this—- issue. I just need to find him."

"Who?"

"Lupinius?"

Myllyanna Lotus

Date: 2013-03-28 16:42 EST
She watched them leave and held up her hand, silencing Chong before he could say anything. A flick of her wrist sent him leaving the room in a single bow and step backwards.

After they were out of her sight, she turned and approached a small little round table with a most peculiar map of strings and marks. Little glass beads of various shapes, sizes and color, each with a soft inner glow, randomly laid about.

Of all of them, six shone brighter than the rest....but it was the one that flickered that had her eye.

Garet

Date: 2013-03-28 17:40 EST
Silently the man called Garet Jax had appeared at the side of his mistress, the Lady Myllyanna. Darkened eyes watched the lady with much interest, as the dark knight opened his mouth to speak, yet no words came forth. Garet it seems, could not find any.

So watch the lady he did, taking the occasional glance to the rather interesting map upon the round table. The same map, Myllyanna herself was currently fixated with. The beads were taken note of, as the dark eyes of Garet came to rest upon the lone bead that flickered. How long the silence had lasted was beyond the man, as he finally spoke.

"I offered to accompany him, and he refused. Part of me is glad for that."

Garet stood more so, next to the Lady as it seems they were joined by yet another.

"Makes two of us there, Jax. Specially, since he's gotta get this outta that monkey off his back. Still, I wonder if your people here can really pull this off, yanno' I mean, we're talkin' something that's already been through the paces realm to friggin' realm, with gods know what. I really had to ask myself, why you all would be interested in the Gauntlet, knowing what it is and what it can do."

"Kerri, if it wasn't for Myllyanna and her interven—"

"Oh I know, Jax. Like everyone else I appreciate the hell outta her for it, and you for steppin' up to the plate in the abbey. Look, I really don't care what happens, after Jacyn is 86'd, save getting the family together again and getting' this &#@! past us. Jen deserves that, along with the kids. Hell, we all do. So make sure no one screws it up. No offense to you, Lady. I know you took care of everything after with the legal eagles and stuff, an I'm grateful."

Bowing before the lady and Garet, Kerri turned to take her leave.

"Thanks for lettin' me crash here, till he gets done too. That means a lot to me. I'm gonna head out and find Junbao, he said something about learnin' me about a fish pastry that apparently some people sell their own kin for. Smart kid, that one."

Garet simply stood there with Myllyanna, as Kerri took her leave.

"Whatever your reasons, I am with you always..."

Garet let the words flow where they would, knowing she above all would understand.

Myllyanna Lotus

Date: 2013-03-31 11:26 EST
"Of that fact my Garet Jax, I am most certain of and rest assured your mistress does not doubt you at all in that manner, or for that fact so many others, if you must know."

"Of course, my Lady. I am thankful for that, as you no doubt are aware of."

"Of course Garet and here we are, you and I speaking in circles again, hmm?"

"I apolo—"

"Garet Jax....My Garet Jax, we are past apologies for such smallish matters, you and I. We have been through far too much, have we not' So do not worry on such things, besides—- I admit to enjoying it somewhat when you become unnerved. Especially, when you somehow manage to 'revert' to that young man that first walked into this hall with no true idea as to what he was getting himself into."

"....."

"Precisely, my point."

The Mistress of Shin'Ka, turned more so to the man she had recently titled her 'hand', as a hand of her own lifted to allow fingers to caress that cleanly shaven cheek of his. The eyes of Myllyanna, looked to those of Garet as her lips curved into a slight smile. The caress ending as that hand lowered once more, while the Lady turned to the table again. "Tell me, Garet...Tell me what you see here, please."

Garet had frozen right there, somehow. The man could not explain it, but she had done exactly as she said. She unnerved him and thoroughly enjoyed doing so, quite obviously no less.

The question asked by the Lady drew Garet from his rather frosted state as the man then moved tableside with her, his dark eyes taking in the scope of the table a moment before answering. "I see what looks to be a map of some type" Marks, and are those strings" Several beads as well, some glowing more than others, do they represent something?"

"Look closer, Garet. Look sharper, my hand. Tell me, what you see."

Garet did exactly as she asked, and after a few moments, those eyes of his widened at the realization, of what he now saw"what had finally come to light. Those were not beads the dark knight saw, instead it was" "People, those are people and they are bound by the strings. Strings of fate, they are all bound together, back and forth and some more so than others. That's why they glow?"

The Lady smiled, "Very good my Garet' Especially given, that this is the first time you have seen my little relic here. You are right this is a map, a map of Rhy"Din and its people. A map that is a mirror reflection of time and space here, as it actually occurs. Those beads are in fact people, and they are bound by those strings as you stated. Those strings are indeed those of fate and as you said before, some of those people are more so bound than others."

Myllyanna turned to Garet with an approving nod, and then looked back to the table as her hand reached over the table in a somewhat sweeping motion. "This Garet Jax" My Garet Jax, is a phase of Suikoden."

"Suikoden?"

"That is what I said, was it not' However, I will answer for you since your reply was not for lack of hearing, but understanding."

Myllyanna leaned a bit towards the table whispering softly to the relic, which cause a near instant reaction as the table came to life, in the form of a sweeping storm of what looked to be a glittering dust that enveloped the map for a few moments. As the Lady became upright once more, the dust settled on the map, eventually fading from view. In its wake were several symbols of Kanji that began to shift back and forth between the various beads that represented people, and the strings of fate between them. Myllyanna smiled once more.

"These beings"these stars are tied by fate, Garet. For good or bad, they are bound and have been since the beginning. They revolve around one another, and will continue to do so, until fate deems it is no longer to be. Which would mean the end of certain beings of course, but where one door closes, another will always open. When one of these fade, another will shine and reveal itself and the cycle will begin anew."

Garet simply listened intently to the Lady's words, with his eyes glued to the relic map before them.

"Ancient texts tell of one hundred and nine of these "Stars of Fate", fated to assist in the shaping of the world with their actions, be it good or evil—- chaotic of what have you. These stars gravitate and revolve around one another creating such amazing events that affect not only themselves, but the entire world around them. Some have been hailed as saviors, others harbingers of doom. Of course, I am simplifying a bit, so forgive me."

"Do you see the kanji, Garet' Those beads that now bear names?"

"Ravenlock, Jax, Al"Tuatha, Angelique, Renna, Jacyn and—-"

"There are many others as well, Garet. That Tiefling / Drow I mentioned before, the Shimmerscale Dragons, our own Onyx Lotus, and even myself. Not to mention the little baker with the darkness that carries a saddened case of self pity, the Scathachian sisters, the "Avengers" along with many of the Bristle Crios as well. Of course there are many others, but these here have our current attention, and are tied to one another in some way, shape or form."

"One of those that have my attention is set to fade this very evening, granted I believe another that has risen to shine will interfere with that fated fading. Still in the end it will fade, my Garet Jax. Because that is fate, and it simply shall be."

"Jacyn" He will fade, correct' But his bead"his star is so dim."

"That is correct my hand, Jacyn Ravenlock will fade and that will be at the hands of his own sibling. Yes, his star is dim, and has been for quite some time, now. That is because of what Brian, and Jenai with the help of so many others made possible. It is because what is left of the man is a mere shadow of what he once was. Because he is a simple husk with the mind of a child, and no true recollection of what was, before that evening when he fell. If you look at Brian's you will see that he carries a much brighter hue, even if it is a darker one. That is because he carries more than he should—- a fate bound to two individuals, yet reserved for one. He carries more than, that which is allotted."

"The Gauntlet' Jacyn's—- Brian carries what Jacyn?"

"That is correct Garet, and we made that possible—- I made that possible, my hand. Because, it was in my best interest, and the interests of all of you that I hold ever so close to me, that I saw fit to personally intervene and bend the flow of this phase of Suikoden to my advantage. Of course that was fated to be as well, or it would have never been allowed. What Brian Ravenlock carries is fated to be mine, and that was agreed upon long before the events of "Raven" had sorely spun out of control. To certify that end, it had also been agreed upon by Brian himself, just as it had with Jenai—- via a slight case of deceptive bargaining, I am afraid. But rest assured Garet, that I bear no ill for the Clan of Ravenlock or their allies. In fact I am thankful because it was Brian Ravenlock who led you "my hand" to me, not to mention that wonderful "Ark of the Covenant' that he convinced that kind soul Scotty to leave in our care. So you see, we are all fated to gravitate to one another—- to revolve around one another, until that day comes when fate somehow deems otherwise."

"Jacyn's star, it's location' I know that place, why is he there?"

"It is because I placed him there, Garet. Those who watch over the fallen Raven, are in my employ and care for him at my sole discretion. They had done so at my request, and a considerable payment arrangement. I had other locations in regards to the placement of him, but issues of motivation and control came to mind and I do not deal in any control save my own, as you no doubt understand. So Jacyn had been placed there with those monks watching over him, awaiting the day it would all come to an end. An end, that I admit to having sped up the process leading to, but with everything that had occurred recently in regards to the recollections of Brian, and Jacyn one could hardly blame me, for assuring that what is promised to me is delivered with all due course."

"So you had given Jacyn who has the mind of a child, to be watched over by people in your employ, to be served up to his own brother, much like a baby calf set to be slaughtered for veal?"

"That is correct, although it was not my original intent. Personally I wanted him cared for and in truth—- rehabilitated somehow, perhaps to my own ends. However with this flux in balance between the brothers, and Jacyn somehow recalling what was, as Brian also had, the process had to be abandoned and we are left with no recourse, but to end Jacyn Ravenlock's life, thus allowing the Gauntlet or what?s left of it, to be surrendered to me. Because if Jacyn Ravenlock is allowed to retain fully what was, that cycle of chaos and destruction will no doubt begin anew and we do not want another Raven, Garet. I know personally my hand that you do not want or need another Raven."

"So yes, I have arranged for it—- and in doing so, I am also eliminating a future issue with those monks."

"Because Brian will have to deal with them to get to Rav"Jacyn?"

"Brian and his guardian Lupinius will do whatever they have to do to see that end met, Garet. Jacyn Ravenlock's death will be a benefit to a great many, and at the same time to me. Raven will never be allowed to move against the Clan of Ravenlock, or anyone else and Darkin's Gauntlet will finally be at peace and in my care. Those affected by Jacyn Ravenlock before will also benefit, and those ties that were once diminished and or severed may somehow find a chance for renewal."

"Will they truly have that chance?"

"Of course my dear Garet, it is fate?"

"And the other Raven, there on the map" That small star there, is that related—-"

"Yes and no Garet. It is related, and it is not. The sentiments may ring close to home, and the machinations may yet involve Brian Ravenlock, but that is not related to Jacyn Ravenlock. But as I said, my hand" When one star fades, another yet rises. So perhaps, when one Raven fades, another may find light' But that may be a tale for another time, yes" In any event walk with me, my hand. Let us talk you and I, of things unrelated to all of this that I have shown you, even if for a brief time."

"Of course, my Lady."

"In circles are we again, my Garet Jax" Of course you would say "of course", after all it is fate."

adapted from live play, and a special thanks to Garet Jax

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2013-04-02 22:57 EST
An undisclosed location somewhere south of Rhy'din, directly after the rescue of Claire on the docks.

"Who're you, mister?"

I'm...

"Are you my daddy' Have you come to take me away from here?"

"Would you like me to take you away?"

"Uh huh! I would!"

"Why?"

Cause there's no one left to play with here, that's why. They just sleep all the time now, and they won't wake up anymore. I try to wake em up, honest I do! All they do is lay all over the place, and that's boring!"

"I don't think they will be waking up anytime soon. I am sorry."

"Why's that' Why won't they wake up" Are they dreaming, like I dream' Is that why, maybe?"

"You dream' Of what?"

"Oh I dream of all sorts o' stuff! Adventures, and battles! Dragons, and people made out of fire! A big castle in the woods, and a dark lady who's real scary! But then she's real nice, and she loves me! She says I'm a good boy, and she protects me."

"That sounds—- nice."

"Oh it is! I have this big castle, and a buncha other people come at it, and try to take me down from it. It's like 'king of the mountain', an there's horses and skeletons! They're not so scary you know" And the dragons are the coolest! One's blue, and there's a green one and a biiiiig black one! An all the little dragons too. I like dragons, you know! They can fly, and breathe things like ice and fire. I wanna be a dragon one day, what about you? Do you wanna be a dragon too?"

"I think being a dragon would be very neat, but I can't be one—- I'm sorry."

"Is it cause you're hurt, mister?"

"Hurt?"

"Yeah, your arm! It's messy and you have it wrapped like a it's got a band aid. An I see red, that's like when I played with the monks here. They got red like that— but they didn't get a band aid though, do you think that's why they won't wake up" Do they need band aids mister?"

"Well, I am hurt. But it'll be alright."

"My hand got hurt too! This one right here, my right hand. See" See that mark" That's a scar, that's what they called it. Sometimes it hurts a lot, mister. Other times it doesn't hurt, and I dunno why."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"S'okay, I'm just glad I can talk to someone. The monks, they didn't like to talk to me much. An they never told me why. It wasn't nice of them, don't you think that wasn't nice of them' I think it wasn't nice of them and that makes em mean."

"Does your hand hurt now?"

"Huh' Ummmm, no. Why does yours?"

"Actually, it does. It hurts a lot."

"I'm sorry."

"I am too."

"Why are you sorry, you don't need to be sorry. Cause you came here, and talked to me. So don't be sorry, okay?"

"Tell me, what?s that you have there" On that table, next to you."

"Oh this" That's a picture I drew. I got lots of em here, lots. Wanna see some" I got, lessee....Oh here, that's— yeah here! I got a folder of em here! Look at these, come here and see."

"See" See this one" It's okay, you can sit. Okay, neat! So yeah, this one is the Fire Lady....She got angry and turned into fire! Isn't that neat! Fire! But she wasn't always that way— she got that way when the Dark Knight and king hurt her heart."

"They hurt her heart' How?"

"They became darker, and darker and she's light! She can't like the dark, can she!" So they got darker, and meaner and meaner and they started to hurt people. Well not the dark knight at first, but the dark king did. But at the end, they both hurt a lot of people and her the most of all!"

"So she got dark too, like them. Until, she saw the light again and turned into fire!"

"And where is she now?"

"After the dark king fell, she cried and cried— she'still cries."

"Why does she cry?"

"She cries because, she is alone that's why. Because the dark knight never came home to her, when the king fell. Why didn't he go to her" I dunno."

"And where is the dark knight?"

"Oh him! Lemme see— oh yeah, here he is! See, look at him. That's the dark knight! See, he has dark hair and eyes that are blu— hey, mister. You look like him a little, neat huh' So where was— oh yeah! That's him, and he was lost. But he came back, and he was with the dark king's daughter! Well, the dark king and lady— you know that scary one I talked about, that loves me too' Yeah her! She and the dark king had a little girl, and that girl— see here she is, and she's a cat!"

"I see her, and she was with the dark knight, right?"

Uh huh, and sometimes they fight too. She gets dark, too. Everyone seems to get dark, why is that' Wha— so yeah! There's more! See here's a blue dragon, and she's a momma with a ton of kids! Lots of em! She's got a daughter too, but she got sick real bad. She got dark too, but momma dragon, she saved her! Isn't that neat!"

"That is— neat. So where are they now?"

"They live in a cave somewhere, and in a big city too. Her and all her kids, and their daddy too."

"The dark knight and dark king's daughter, where are they now?"

"Which ones?"

"The dark knight and—"

"No, no, no! I mean which daughter."

"There's more than one?"

"Yeah there's more than one! He's got— lemme see, yeah! There this girl here, she's a—-a whatsit— yeah, a romani! They wander around you know" She used to be with the dark knight and his family, and then she went away. Then there's the little ones who look like the cat daughter, they live in the ground. There's four of em I think" They're little though. They live under the ground near a hall for the town."

"These are very good pictures."

"I know, cause I drew em."

"What about that one, that boy there holding that crown" Who is that?"

"That's me."

"It is" Why do you have the crown, and is that—- is your hand" One bigger than the other?"

"Cause I'm gonna be the dark king, one day. I'm gonna be a good dark king one day, and I'm not gonna make people cry, and I'm gonna have a big family and we're all gonna live together."

"And your hand?"

"That's the darken glove, it makes dreams come true. That's what I'm gonna use to make all my dreams come true, and save my family"- by punishing people who were bad to us."

"How do you know it makes dreams come true?"

"Cause it told me so! I'm not stupid you know....It talks to me, and today it talked to me again, and it told me to play with the monks and that after that, it would come to me. It said, someone would give it to me, and all my dreams would come true."

"It told you that?"

Uh huh, it did. Why, do you have it' Did you bring it to me" Cause if you did, I have to play with you too, and then you'd give it to me and it would be mine again."

"No I don't— wait, can I tell you a story' You do like stories, don't you?"

"Course I do, but can I draw while you tell it' I wanna add more pictures to my collection."

"S'sure."

"Okay, let me see— where's my pencil and colors— ah here! Heh, so tell me."

"It's a story about two brothers, who were the best of friends. They did everything together, and had many adventures."

"They did" What did they do?"

"They— chased dragons, and played tag. They, roamed the woods making friends with all the animals, big and small."

"Why did they do that?"

"Because they protected the forest, and the animals were their friends. So they protected the animals."

"A forest like this?"

"That's good, I know that fore—-st....How did you?"

"The darken glove told me, it said some people lived there and I'd find them someday, an play with them like the monks."

"When did it tell you this?"

"Just now."

"Ooops! I'm sorry, I knocked those colors down there, can you— No I'll get them for —"

"No, no I got em!"

"What's that, there" On the wall—"

"Where—?

*Crack!*