Topic: The History of Dameon and Jonas

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:32 EST
Preamble

Normally, a character history is written for a single character, where other important characters are also documented and kept track of as well. In this case, the two characters of Dameon and Jonas cannot have their histories told separately, as their relationship over the years has always yeilded one common storyline for both.

This written history is being documented because I was talking to Jewell's mun about some past events of each of our characters, and then I realized that there was no solid history written for Dameon and Jonas. So, while important events can still be remembered, it was decided to put a storyline-synopsis down into writing to that there can be something concrete to go back to.

Another important character to note is Jupiter Taelgren the Warlock, who I actually played back on AOL as Dameon's supposed twin brother (not even having completely worked out how he played into Dameon and Jonas' history, only the fact that he was evil incarnate), as he is actually probably the most important character in Dameon and Jonas' entire story, playing just as big a role in their history as they do themselves. Jupiter hasn't been RP'd since the first time Dameon and Jonas left RhyDin, as I didn't decide to play him in the other "realms" the brothers ended up at. Though since their return to RhyDin, he has been an active, though written-in, part of their SL.

The first section will be their written back-stories, before they were played on AOL. Then their stories after they arrived in RhyDin the first time in the random taverns and forest settings they inhabited. It gets rocky after that, as they left RhyDin and were played in a few other "realms." Once it gets to the point where they come back to the realm, there will be written accounts of important events in the Live Chat, and posted links to Forum SL's.

Also, there will be random "Mun's Interjections" throughout this history, where little personal thoughts, insights, and tidbits will be shared about particular SL's, characters, and events.

So grab a sandwich and a Coke if you actually plan to read this. Odds are you'll have to stop at some point and finish later.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:34 EST
((Note: These first handful of Chapters are chronologically before Dameon and Jonas existed in RP terms, and are their written backstory))

Chapter 1: Dameon Phoenix

It began when a young woman from Earth's country of England happened to be sucked up by the Nexus along with her older brother, and land herself right square in the middle of a strange and foreign land she'd never seen before.

This land was, you guessed it, RhyDin.

Her name was Fiona De'Mero. She and her brother, Thomas De'Mero, sought out social establishments and managed to piece together what had become of them, and where they currently were. Being told there was no known way to return from whence you came, lest you posess the energy and knowledge to manipulate the Nexus itself (as few do), they settled into a peaceful life as farmers on RhyDin City's outskirts.

One night in a seedy tavern, Fiona found herself idly flirting with a young dragon named Lance Rubyscale. The two courted, as young people do, and eventually were engaged and wed in a small ceremony in a forest clearing outside of town.

Fiona, of course, left the farm her and Thomas had run to go live with Lance in his mansion on the north end of town. Thomas chose to continue the simple life of a farmer, wishing his little sister all the best as she began her new life in the big city.

Eventually, as would be expected, Fiona found herself in a motherly way. She and Lance were overcome with joy, as they had both been trying desparately to start their own family.

However, things are not always happiness and cheer in stories of love and babies. The doctor charged with caring for Fiona's pregnancy and labor concluded to the couple that Fiona's heart was growing weak as her small human frame supported the growing half-dragon inside of her, whom they'd decided to name "Tamia Jade Rubyscale" in the event of a girl, and "Dameon Leopold Rubyscale" in the event of a boy. It was told to them that there was a chance that Fiona would not survive the birth.

After her pregnancy came to term, Fiona's labor began. It was a feverish and long delivery process. On March 17th at 4:26pm, it was announced to the anxious Lance that he was the new father of a healthy baby boy. Lance confirmed then that his son would be named "Dameon Leopold Rubyscale," and then inquired to the condition of his wife.

The doctor, with his head hung, informed Lance that she had died during childbirth. Lance being left a single father, and the sadness of his wife's passing burning his heart, he cared for young Dameon for only a few weeks before deciding that he wasn't fit to raise the boy, lest his depression and sorrow leave a negative impression on his young son.

He turned to the RhyDin Orphanage, leaving Dameon in their care until a suitable and whole family could be fostered for the boy. Lance then departed, never to be seen in the realm of RhyDin again. Some say he journeyed the Nexus itself until he found his way to the land of the departed, where his beloved wife lie waiting for him. Others claim that he managed his way to a small and isolated realm, and has lived out the duration of his life alone and heartbroken ever since.

Needless to say, it mattered not, as Dameon was now under the care of the orphanage's Donald Dawson until a suitable foster family could be found.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:36 EST
Chapter 2: Enter Jupiter

A little more than a year later, a dark man with dark intentions found his way to the lands of RhyDin. He had lived for thousands of years, travelling from realm to realm, the Nexus as his vessel, and sought only to bring ruin and chaos to the lands he visited.

His name was Jupiter Taelgren. He was known in the lands he visited as "Jupiter the Sinister," or "Jupiter the Warlock."

A man of patience, this villian had a plan in place for this particular realm. Using his own vile and dark energy, he would fashion a synthetic Demon in the body of an Angel. A soldier that he could manipulate to command his troops of lesser demons and bring anarchy to the realm. He knew that his plan would take time to complete, as he would have to seek out an Angel young enough to be succeptible to his plans, and not retaliate against him.

Jupiter was in luck, as he'd heard whispers of a new baby on the way, courtesy of James and Rebecca Jonas, a married couple living on the outskirts of RhyDin, and ecstatic over the upcomming birth of their baby.

Jupiter spent the meantime in RhyDin, taking time to learn about the realm's inhabitants. Who was powerful, who was not. Particularly he was interested in who could stand in the way of his plans. Unimpressed with what he'd heard, having seen the same things over and over again in other realms, he scoffed to himself as to the ease of his plans.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:37 EST
Chapter 3: Michael Jonas

It was announced at RhyDin Hospital, on April 12th at 1:37am, that Michael James Jonas was born to James and Rebecca. The couple was overjoyed, and once Rebecca was cleared for release, the two returned to their humble home just outside of RhyDin City, where they planned to raise their son with all the pride and hope two new parents can have.

It's amazing how a single unfortunate coincidence can completely alter the flow of so many lives. A week or two after the couple took their son home, a drifter came to call. Claiming that he was a weary traveller, the Jonas' let him into their home.

It didn't take long for James' perception to mark the man as an evil being, his senses detecting him as something more powerful than he himself would have expected.

It was a short struggle as Jupiter dispatched of James using bolts of dark energy and running him through with a cutlass kept underneath his cloak. Rebecca, who could do little more than scream in horror and run to protect her baby, was also quickly slashed, her blood spraying onto Jupiter who grinned with devillish delight.

He scooped up baby Michael, and made his way to RhyDin Orphanage in the dead of night. Finding a lone caretaker named Donald Dawson looking after the children, Jupter handed him baby Jonas and told him to admit him properly, but not to allow anyone to adopt him. A quick show of his magic and Dawson was unfortuantely on board, not wanting anything to happen to the orphans or himself. Jupiter told Dawson that he would be back to check on the baby, and stole away like a thief in the night.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:38 EST
Chapter 4: An Uncle's Love

A year passed and a farmer from the outskirts of RhyDin named Thomas De'Mero showed up at the RhyDin Orphanage. He explained to Dawson that he was the brother of Dameon Rubyscale's biological mother, and wished to become Dameon's legal guardian.

Dawson, joyous that an orphan's blood kin would show up to care for him, quickly went through the proper paperwork and saw to it that Dameon Leopold Rubyscale became Dameon Leopold De'Mero.

Thomas only had one request, and that was to not inform Dameon of their biological relationship once he was old enough to remember. He reasoned that it would be less painful for the boy to assume Thomas was a generous adoptor as he grew up, than find out the truth about what happened to his poor mother, lest the boy go on to blame himself.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:40 EST
Chapter 5: A Warrior's Cultivation

Two years after leaving Jonas at the Orphanage, one year after Dameon's adoption, Jupiter Taelgren returned to see his future warrior. He delighted in the fact that Dawson had not adopted him out. Dawson, however, was curious as to Jupiter's intentions.

In a private back room of the Orphanage, Dawson stared in horror as Jupiter began surging dark energy into the toddler. Jonas would lay prone, unable to resist as the evil ichor began coursing through his body, infesting his young and fragile spirit. These visits went on each night for the next two years of young Jonas' life, until Jupiter reasoned that it was time to let the energy cultivate on it's own within the boy. He told Dawson to still refrain from adopting Jonas out, that he would return one day to collect his warrior.

Dameon grew up on Thomas De'Mero's farm, taking a quick interest in the art of sword-fighting, and idolizing the knights and warriors he would see on trips to the RhyDin Marketplace to sell their harvests. At night, when he entered his teens, Dameon would often sneak out of the farm house and visit taverns on RhyDin's outskirts, watching as men duelled each other, and mimicking their movements and attack patterns with sticks or whatever he could procure.

It was also during this time that Dameon learned that he had the gift of Pyromancy: The ability to manifest and manipulate fire at his will. And thus, he took any opportunity he could get to conjure up fireballs and launch them at random non-flammable targets as practice for his aim and control.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:42 EST
Chapter 6: The Ruse

When Dameon was fourteen, and Jonas twelve, Jupiter was visiting a tavern in RhyDin City when he chance happened to overhear people murmuring about Magus Darklor, head of the Darklor Clan, a family of Dragons, and how his ruthless and criminal ways would soon bring the RhyDin underground crumbling into chaos.

Jupiter, liking what he heard, decided to take advantage of this man, Magus Darklor, and possibly use him to infiltrate RhyDin's seedy underground as a lauching pad for his assault on the realm. Although he had no leverage. Seeking such leverage, he asked around to anyone who might have heard of the man, asking for every little detail of his history and life.

It was then uncovered by Jupiter that Magus had once taken a human lover more than fourteen years prior, and she became pregnant with two children of his. Their relationship, as Jupiter found out, did not end on pleasant terms, as the mother did not want to permit her children be exposed to Magus' nefarious dealings in RhyDin City. Thus, Magus Darklor's lover ran away, disappearing and taking her twin boys with her.

Jupiter decided it would benefit him to find some way into Magus' good graces. Thinking a masqueraded infiltration was in order, he broke into RhyDin Hospital after hours and managed to procure birth records from the correct time frame, seeking out any male half-Dragons that were born in RhyDin City.

It didn't take him long to find a record for a Dameon Rubyscale, whom he kept the record for, and seek out information in the RhyDin City's Town Hall annex, where he'd learned that Dameon Rubyscale was delivered to RhyDin Orphanage by his own father shortly after his birth.

Moving swiftly to RhyDin Orphanage, Jupiter paid a visit to his old friend Dawson, who explained to him that Dameon was adopted by a farmer named Thomas De'Mero, who lived on the outskirts of town in a farm house. Jupiter wasted no time in making his way to said farm house, watching to catch a glimpse of the boy sooner or later.

Jupter did, indeed catch sight of Dameon during one of his late-night outings. Seeing Dameon as the perfect counterpart to his scheme, he used his dark magic to shift his appearance to look identical to Dameon.

Returning to RhyDin City, Jupiter sought out Magus and introduced himself as his long lost son, even retaining his name as Jupiter. Explaining that his mother had delivered his twin brother to RhyDin Orphanage short after she gave birth, only being financially able to support one of them, he told Magus that his mother had recently died of illness, and spoke of his father living in the city.

Jupiter then began spending time with Magus posing as his son, to gain more in-depth information about RhyDin's underground dealings and shady happenings.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:46 EST
Chapter 7: Dameon and Jonas

The next two years went by, and Jupiter found it fit to advance his plan. And so, with Jonas having recently turned thirteen, he neared the Orphanage and began sending his evil influence into Jonas' mind. Jonas, already having a gift of telepathy from his father, was easily perceptive of the dark will. Slowly, he began to change in form until he took on the appearance of a pale demon with glowing orange eyes.

He fought off caretakers and guards, blasting his way out of the Orphanage using bolts of dark-based energy. Escaping out into RhyDin Forest, he was quickly pursued by Jupiter, who began leading him through thought-manipulation toward the Marketplace, where he knew the De'Meros would be selling their goods that day. Once Jonas neared the city again, and the Marketplace was in view, Jupiter subdued the demon within him, and he reverted back to his normal state.

Jonas, being severely physically drained from the demon's control, staggered his way to the Marketplace where he hid within barrels and crates of goods near a produce cart. It wasn't long before he met the proprietor's son, Dameon, and begged to be taken with him, explaining only that there were people from the Orphanage no doubt after him, and he wasn't entirely sure what had happened.

Dameon, being a generous boy, quickly found Thomas and asked if it would be okay that they adopt Jonas for an indefinete period of time. Thomas, having missed his family and enjoyed raising Dameon thus far, agreed to take Jonas in as his own foster son.

Jupiter, meanwhile, simply looked on with a devilish grin, as his plans had gone exactly how he'd hoped. Now, both the soldier he was raising and the pawn he planned to manipulate the Darklor's with were together in one tidy little package. This would, indeed, make things much easier for the Warlock to work out.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:47 EST
Chapter 8: Becomming Brothers

As the two boys lived together as brothers, they learned a lot about one another. Dameon told Jonas of the sword fighting duels he'd seen in RhyDin City during late-night sneak-outs. Jonas in turn told Dameon about life at the Orphanage, and how he'd spent his entire life so far living there. Living with an actual family now was a new experience for him, and he expressed his gratitude to the De'Meros every chance he could get.

Dameon would soon take Jonas into the city with him to witness the theatrics and excitement of nightly drama. Jonas quickly took a liking to the magic-weilding crowd, taking a fast interest in learning to manipulate the elements. It came almost easily to Jonas, finding that he had a certain inner energy that he could not explain. He practiced almost daily, manipulating water from the streams most often, finding water to be his favorite of the elements.

Jonas also found that he could conjure and manifest white energy as well, using it at times to heal minor cuts and bruises he and Dameon would sustain during their occassional rough-housing. This was unexplainable to Jonas as well, as he had no comprehension of what he was, and so did not realize that his Angelic heritage lended itself to his inate abilities.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:48 EST
Chapter 9: A Family Torn

Two years eventually passed by the boys, and they were very close to each other as well as to their foster father. One particular day, Thomas decided to send the boys to a store in the city to run errands and buy a few tools. Jupiter saw this as his perfect opportunity, as he'd been monitoring the boys' progress when he wasn't further engaging himself in Magus' dark circle.

While they boys were out, Jupiter forced his way into Thomas' farm house, offering no fanfare or dramaticism as he simply dispatched of Thomas with his cutlass, leaving him slain in his home's den. Jupiter then proceeded to ravage the house, and took a few valuable baubles when he left, leaving the scene looking as though thieves had broken in and killed the boys' father.

The brothers returned home, and were horrified at what the found. As they discovered their father, they were heartbroken and lost. They had no idea how they would carry on, or what they would even do. They alerted the authorities, and informed them of the break-in at the De'Mero farmstead. They then snuck out of the house, hiding in the woods until they saw emergency crews take their father's body away so that it could be properly handled and laid to rest.

The boys were only sure of one thing: They did not wish to return to the Orphanage. Dameon, having just turned seventeen, told Jonas that they should go into the city, and find a place to stay for the time being. He assured his younger brother that everything would be alright, and told him that he'd learned enough by watching the men at the bars and training in their styles to defend them both if need be, not knowing the hidden dark power that lurked within Jonas.

And so the boys ventured into the city of RhyDin, to find their place and attempt to begin a new life of their own, never knowing that all the while they were being watched by the man who single-handedly had shaped their destinies...

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:49 EST
((Note: From this point is where Dameon, Jonas and Jupiter came into existance in RP-land. This next handful of Chapters takes place back in AOL RPing chatrooms, and only important storyline information will be here, as that is really all that can be remembered anymore.))

Chapter 10: Coming to the City

Dameon took the lead on the trip to RhyDin City, as the two passed through the deep forests alone. They took back ways and strayed from main roads in attempt to not be taken by the "thieves" who had killed their foster father.

Once they reached the City proper, it was the first time either of had ventured past the outskirts without Thomas with them. The promptly went to discovering Taverns, Inns and Markets, as this world was completely new to them.

Jupiter, meanwhile, looked on intently, as luck smiled upon him. With the boys frantically exploring every possible establishment, they were bound to run into Magus Darklor at some point.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:50 EST
Chapter 11: The Darklors

Dameon ventured himself into a Tavern one day, and was quickly noticed by a large and imposing man, who spoke to him as though he knew him. Dameon, having no memory of this man, explained that he must be mistaken, and introduced himself as Dameon De'Mero.

The man, introducing himself as Magus Darklor, told Dameon that he bore an identical resemblance to his son Jupiter, who had a twin brother that they did not know the whereabouts of after being placed in RhyDin Orphanage.

Dameon explained that he was orphaned as an infant, and knew nothing of his biological parents. Magus, overjoyed, came to the conclusion that Dameon must be his long lost son.

((A Mun's Interjection: Yes, I was segwayed into this SL. I originally had no concrete back story for Dameon, and wanted to mold it as I went. Magus-mun decided he would help me, and I was a dumb kid so I went along. Thus his involvement with Jupiter in what I eventually wrote as Dameon's ACTUAL back story, and coincidentally what helped Jupiter's back story be shaped, as Jupiter was played as Dameon's "twin brother" with no real explanation at the time, other than the fact that Magus found him first, which was also segwayed.))

Dameon was shocked to find his "actual father" after coming to the city, and both he and Jonas were welcomed into the Darklor family with open arms. It was also here that Dameon met his "uncle" Chaos Darklor, who vowed to be a good mentor to him.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 20:51 EST
Chapter 12: Jupiter Sets the Stage

Shortly after the "reunion," Jupiter came into the picture in his guise as Dameon's twin brother. Jupiter played off a clashing rivalry with Dameon, choosing to use a "sibling rivalry" as a way to keep tabs on Dameon and Jonas' progress as they grew, wanting full-well to use Dameon in his plans as well, once Jonas became his "perfect warrior.

((A Mun's Interjection: Fights between the brothers and Jupiter, mainly Jonas and Jupiter, were apparent throughout most of their RPing history. I mention the instantiation here, but bear in mind that other non-mentioned fights ensued.))

In a "friendly" scuffle with Jupiter, Jonas jumped in and transformed into his Demon form, fighting Jupiter tooth and nail. Jupiter allowed Jonas the victory, not wanting to reveal his full power.

((A Mun's Interjection: Throughout their time in RhyDin back then, Jonas would transform into his Demon form a number of times, each time ending with him going on a destructive rampage and having to be subdued physically by Dameon. They were at random intervals.))

Jonas, weakened, reverted back to normal. Magus was then led to question Jonas' transformation, to which Jonas had no explanation. Chaos and Magus, after conferring, determined that Jonas must have had one Demonic parent, and one Angelic parent, due to Jonas' demon form, and his alternate ability for healing.

Jupiter, of course, was ecstatic about this. Magus had just unknowingly solved how he would keep Jonas from questioning his Demonic tendancies. Now all Jupiter needed to to was wait for Jonas to cultivate his powers.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 20:58 EST
Chapter 13: Dameon Learns His Power

Eventually, Chaos took Dameon aside for a talk. Inquiring if Dameon knew of his own lineage or genetics, Chaos was recieved with a definete "no." Chaos then explained to Dameon that he was half-Dragon, and that he was gifted with the ability to shift into the form of one when need be, and revert to his usual human form as well.

((A Mun's Interjection: This was bound to happen, since the Darklors were dragons and Dameon was segwayed into being one of them, as this was before I'd written the "true" birth history of Dameon. Had I not been talked into the "Dameon is Magus' son" SL, I'm not even sure what race Dameon would have been. Regardless of how badly I wanted to completely detach Dameon from the Darklors once they were out of the picture, there was no way to get around his racial heritage, and so Dameon will always be half-Dragon/half-Human, and a constant reminder of how a dumb kid can be easily coaxed into someone writing an SL for him.))

Chaos eventually taught Dameon how to shift into a half-Dragon form, drawing his red-scaled wings from his back, and his eyes becomming a glowing crimson from their normal sapphire. Dameon also found that he was able to fly in this half-Dragon form, and his skill with Pyromancy was heightened. Dameon tried shifting into his full-Dragon form a few times, but found that it made him too sluggish, having grown accustomed to his sleek and agile Human form, and feeling much more comfortable fighting in it or his half-Dragon form.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:01 EST
Chapter 14: Enter the Redferns

Another Clan close to the Darklors was the Redferns, headed by Kalika Redfern. They were a vampiric and demonic family, though they posed no real harm to anyone, only wished to live in peace for the most part.

((A Mun's Interjection: Over time Dameon ended up being romantically involved with damn near all of the Redfern sisters, and also with Kalika's daughter Lilyana. These weren't important, and I don't remember the exact points in time, but just a good tidbit for future reference. Also interestingly enough, while searching for their players, I found out where the characters' inspirations came from. =D Go me!))

Unfortunately, Kalika's husband Danny had no such plans. He was almost as battle-hungry and thirsty for destruction as Magus. He liked Dameon and Jonas' fighting abilities, having seen them fend off enemies of the Darklors a few times, and offered them a place with him. The brothers declined, and Danny held a bitter grudge from then on.

Due to this grudge, Dameon and Jonas found themselves fighting Danny every so often, though Danny claimed he still wanted them on his side.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:02 EST
Chapter 15: Romantic Entanglements

Another friend of the Darklors was a young woman named Skyrithial Danaki, or "Skye." She was the girlfriend of a long-time aid to Magus named Dice McKlain. Skye disagreed with Dice's helping Magus, as Skye was aware of how shady the Darklor patriarch was. And so Dice and Skye parted ways.

Once Skye was her own woman, Jonas quickly took a liking to her. The two were close, but never anything serious. Jonas did, and still does, regard Skye as the first woman he's ever loved.

Also finding himself in the field of love was Dameon, who, after having several short-term stints with several young maidens of RhyDin, met a particular girl named Christine who fell deeply in love with him.

((A Mun's Interjection: Amusingly enough, I still talk to Skye-mun every so often, but haven't had a chance to coax her into coming back to RhyDin at this point in time... and I also think anyone who's seen Dameon in the Live-Chat bring up his first marriage is reading this and going "HA! HERE IT COMES!"))

Their relationship moved fast, as opposed to Jonas and Skye's that went relatively nowhere, and Dameon and Christine were wed in a small ceremony involving the Darklors and Redferns.

Dameon and Christine got a flat together, but Dameon was soon to find out the Dr Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde that he'd married. She was prone to forbid him tavern-hop, paranoid that he'd have an affair. She was also against his dangerous battles for the Darklors, who Dameon still held some loyalty to as his "family." Dameon tried his best to keep his freedom intact, but one night Christine finally snapped.

She attacked Dameon viciously, unleashing dark powers he didn't even know she'd posessed. Unwilling to hurt her, an altogether freaked out Jonas managed to subdue her with magical attacks and spells. Shortly thereafter, she was dispatched by Magus and Chaos themselves, in a show of family comradery.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:03 EST
Chapter 16: Dameon Takes a Stand

Eventually, Dameon grew weary of Magus' constant battles and Clan quarrels. Jonas and he sat back one day, and saw how miserable it was. They also questioned whether or not they were fighting on the right side. Seeing Magus' stranglehold on so many, and his thirst for power... family loyalty wasn't worth sacrificing their integrity. Throughout their time in RhyDin, they'd managed to fight off the occassional criminal, save the eventual damsels in distress, and do the right thing when away from the Darklors.

Dameon and Jonas then decided to go into hiding. Dameon procured a small establishment on RhyDin's outskirts, turning it into his own bar called the "Ruby Light Tavern." Changing his last name from Darklor back to De'Mero, Dameon hired a couple girls he'd met in the city to help him run the place.

Jonas decided he would stay with Dameon, having no one else he could call family, and he didn't feel right with the thought of him and Dameon going separate ways

Eventually, Chaos sought out the brothers, finding them after a long and tiring search. Dameon explained that he and Jonas no longer wished to fight for Magus, and that they could have Jupiter take his place as "favored son." Chaos explained that neither of the "brothers" was favored, and that Magus wished to have both of his "sons" together.

Dameon and Jonas still refused, and Chaos vowed that if they were not with the Clan, they were against it.

For this, Dameon became fearful of the girls working at his tavern, and Jonas suggested they find another place to roam to. But they both knew that no matter where in the realm of RhyDin they went, the Darklors would be close behind.

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:04 EST
Chapter 17: Leaving RhyDin

Feeling it safer for everyone they knew, Dameon and Jonas decided to put themselves at the mercy of the Nexus. Isolating themselves from the city, they meditated for hours upon hours, sending their call out to the Universe, for some transport out of RhyDin, into a new world, a new realm, where they could experience new adventures.

Their prayers were eventually answered. It's unclear whether it was the brothers' will, the Nexus wanting them to quiet their calls, or just a random fluke that pulled them out of the realm. Judging from the fickle nature of the Nexus, any of these is a possible theory.

But no matter which theory was true, one thing was for certain: Dameon and Jonas were about to embark on a strange and marvelous journey outside of their home realm.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:18 EST
Chapter 18: The Lost Chapter?

((A Mun's Interjection: Can we break free of the OOC bubbles for this bit?))

*POP!*

Ahh, better. Okay, this is a bit of a change. But let's get right down to it. There's no specific thing here. This is probably the one open-ended thing left in Dameon and Jonas' lives. Right here, between RhyDin and Anaroch.

This would-be chapter actually takes place during a period of time where the two weren't played. Instead, there was just random RP's with random characters here and there, while real-life issues took precedence.

Medical issues first, where I personally was shelved. Then Prom, Graduation, moving into a new house, things like that.

And so what does this leave us? With a loosely-aluded-to side-chapter that I've yet to put into concrete writing. Eventually, actually, I do plan to write this chapter. Put some solid basis to this jump in their realm-hopping adventures.

Dameon and Jonas, however, have explained a period of time during their travels where they worked as Bounty Hunters, hence their saying that their eventual Mercenary business when they're back in RhyDin is them going back to what they do best. That would be what happened during this Chapter, in whichever realm I decide to create for them to have been in for the story.

Okay, now, where's that wand and the bottle of liquid soap? I need my bubbles back!

*Dunk! Swirlswirlswirl... Inhale... Blooooowwwwwwwwwwwww!*

((Here we are. Much better.))

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:19 EST
((The stories of the realms other than RhyDin will be one and two chapters respectively, as nothing really important to Dameon or Jonas' storylines happened there. Only a few locations/people/events that they occassionally alude back to.))

Chapter 19: The Realm of Anaroch / The Phoenix Army

((A Mun's Interjection: No. Not the current website for the RPing community called Anaroch. There was one before it, much like RhyDin, and you can still find traces of it on Google. It was a simple text-based game with character stats, group formations, and a bunch of green fonts. It was odd, now that I think back on it, but fun nonetheless... mainly because my Clan ended up owning the place. Think of this game as a more midieval-based, less flashy version of RealThugz.))

Dameon and Jonas found themselves in a small realm with a single central city. The sign read "Welcome to Anaroch," and so that's where they determined they were. Exploring the city a bit, they realized that this place was very much Clan-controlled as well, with Clans constantly fighting one another, and those without Clans being persicuted and attacked mercilessly.

The brothers saw this as their call to duty. With Dameon having changed his last name to Phoenix to escape his horrible family relations, he began recruiting riff-raff from around the realm, calling them the "Phoenix Army."

The Phoenix Army soon began fighting other Clans, gaining reputation and a name for themselves as they grew quickly stronger.

Eventually, more people wanted to join Dameon's army, and escape the dangers of other Clans. The group eventually became so big that Dameon split it into two factions, one led by himself and one led by Jonas. As their power grew, and they kept knocking down violent and nefarious Clans, more people thirsting for justice wanted to join.

The Phoenix Army ended up having five separate factions, each with their own unit names, and all of them were now the law in Anaroch. Dameon and Jonas knew that this venture was why the Nexus had brought them here. So that they could prove to themselves that their purpose is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and also to bring unity and loyalty to those who've never known it.

And then the brothers disappeared. Taken, by the Nexus. The Phoenix Army continued to thrive, and the realm of Anaroch now had a new collective Sherriff.

((A Mun's Interjection: I know it sounds like I'm glorifying myself, but I honestly exaggerated nothing here. XD This was a relatively small game, and small community, so when I stormed in and started building my own group, I decided to ravage it. The factions came about because I kept hitting the maximum amount of players to a designated group, so I kept having to appoint Faction leaders and have them start a new "The Phoenix *Insert Name Here*s" I remember three, which were "The Phoenix Blood Knights," "The Phoenix Dark Harbingers," and "The Phoenix Love Kittens," the last of which was created by my girlfriend at the time, and was actually one of the top-ranked...))

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:20 EST
Chapter 20: The Realm of Gaia / Phoenix Incorporated

((A Mun's Interjection: ...yes... THAT Gaia. Shut up, okay? I know. So little happened here, that these next two chapters actually sum up a few YEARS.))

After the Nexus had swept them up again, Dameon and Jonas found themselves in a town called "Barton" town. This realm, which they soon learned was called "Gaia," seemed much more peaceful than RhyDin or Anaroch. It seemed it was filled with people living out carefree lives and not really fighting one another.

Dameon and Jonas liked this. It was a good chance. No danger, no suffering, just a free and peaceful existance once again.

So, shedding his sword and tunic, Dameon bought himself a button-up red t-shirt, a black necktie, black slacks and a black long coat. He decided to open business for himself, and try out the life of an entrepreneur. He managed to convince Jonas to join him, having Jonas end up wearing similar garb as himself, only blue instead of red.

Their business was a small advertising business, creating posters and such for peoples' businesses, stores, lotteries and whatnot. They made a decent amount of money doing this, enough to procure their own plot of land to build on, and each a house in Barton Town itself, both of which were lavishly furnished.

Though, as a year went by, the two eventually began missing the heat of battle...

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:21 EST
Chapter 21: The Realm of Gaia / The Firebird Guild

Seeing that there were oppressed peoples in Barton, Dameon took up his sword once more, and Jonas took back up his staff. The property they bought saw a large castle built on it, and they decided to build an army as they did in Anaroch, to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves, and uphold justice in Gaia.

This army was to be called Firebird, and they began recruiting immediately.

They had several people join them, filling their castle nicely as they attented Gaian social events, ran to the scenes of disasters, and generally kept an eye open for ne'er-do-wells and criminals. It was good, for a time.

As Gaia went along, the bad people seemed to weed themselves out, not being nearly a big enough threat to require an army of vigilantes. This was how Firebird saw it, at least, and Dameon and Jonas quickly saw their guild disbanded.

Taking solace in a local bar called the Dragon's Tavern, Dameon and Jonas soon became regulars there, stopping in for Midori Sours and Screwdrivers, and eventually ended up discussing the old days of living in RhyDin. They would sit and talk about the people they knew, the people they missed, and how sometimes they'd actually like to go back.

Little did they know that the Nexus works in mysterious ways...

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:23 EST
((And it was around this time that, poking around the Internet, the discovery of RhyDin's current website was made during a random string of Google searches. It was decided then that Dameon and Jonas should go home. Also a sidenote, it gets much more detailed from here on out for two reasons:))

((One, it's recent, there are records in the form of logs and forum postings to go back to and keep this accurate, and also now it can be written chapter-by-chapter as it happens, and be constantly updated.))

((Two, ever since coming back to RhyDin, Dameon and Jonas' storyline has been happening constantly, not so much random things happening that don't make any difference. Everything that's happened to Dameon and Jonas since returning has been able to translate into something else, surprising even myself with how well it's worked out to mold into these new SL's they've had.))

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:24 EST
Chapter 22: The Return to RhyDin

One fateful day, as Dameon ventured away from the Firebird Guild HQ, he looked up into the sky with a shake of his head, wondering what his place was. He and Jonas' Guild crumbled fast, and he was at a loss for what to do.

As fortune would have it, he soon found himself once again swirling within the grasp of the Nexus, a feeling he'd actually become accustomed to by this point.

He then looked around, recognizing the streets he now stood within. This was RhyDin City. He was standing directly in front of the Red Dragon Inn, RhyDin's most famous tavern. Sauntering up the stairs, he threw the doors open and stepped inside, almost ecstatic to be home.

He made his way to the bar where he met Erin Dunbridge and Jewell Ravenlock, two tendresses at the bar. Jewell quickly took an interest in the tale he told. How he'd once lived in RhyDin, and had spent the past several years jumping from realm to realm with his "travelling companion" Jonas. He and Jewell made fast friends, but he was forced to leave, as he had a feeling there was unfinished business back in Barton.

Exiting the Inn, he walked back out into the street, where the Nexus swept him right back up, leaving him in the middle of Barton Town once again.

Fearing he had precious little time, he ran quickly to Firebird Keep, writing a letter and sealing it with the Firebird Insignia, and stole away to the Dragon's Tavern where he knew Jonas would go looking for him.

He crept in during the middle of the night, and left the letter on the counter, with a note that it was for Jonas and Jonas only. He then returned to Firebird Keep, where the Nexus picked him up just as he was feeling it was time to go back to RhyDin.

He appeared in RhyDin Forest, where he ventured back once again to the City. Spending the night and the following day reacquainting himself with RhyDin, he found himself again in the Red Dragon Inn.

Meanwhile, Jonas found himself at Dragon's Tavern, where he read Dameon's letter that told of being thrown back into RhyDin, and he would probably be sent there again soon as well.

It was no sooner did Jonas leave the Tavern that the Nexus did, indeed, sweep him up and drop him off in RhyDin, where he began seeking out his brother.

By this time, Dameon had met a woman in the Inn by the name of Lerida On'Esand. She took Dameon to the Marketplace, and spoke of a wild and untamed beach, swirling with magic and beauty. No sooner did she paint the picture in Dameon's mind than they found themselves fallen into the ocean of said beach, tumbling to shore, and peering about the shining and blue environs.

Lerida peered into the distance, and saw a young Faerie by the name of Gentlefrost Shimmerwing flying toward them. Shimmer, after introducing herself to the two, told Lerida of her capacity for love, feeling the woman's spirit and embracing her soul. Lerida eventually tired, and she embraced Dameon, sending them back to the Marketplace.

Dameon, feeling warmth in the fact that Lerida had shared that place, and part of herself, with him, bowed his head, and for the first time in years gave his wings a stretch, letting them thrust out from under his cloak, extending out to his sides as Lerida looked on in amazement. She embraced him again, and he wrapped his wings around them both, as a familiar young mage came trotting along the road.

Jonas just watched the two curiously, until Dameon noticed him and beckoned him over. He introduced his brother to Lerida, and at long last the brothers were together in RhyDin once more.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:25 EST
Chapter 23: Whispers of the Past

Dameon and Jonas spent some time bouncing back and forth between RhyDin and Barton once they found a new house on RhyDin's outskirts that they could bring their belongings to. Once their errands were done, the Nexus seemed to be satisfied in keeping them there, as they no longer felt the creeping sense of Barton coming upon them anymore.

The two made frequent visits to the Inn, where Dameon spent a lot of time with Lerida, as did Jonas. Dameon's feelings began to grow, though Lerida told him they could never be anything more than what they were. Dameon accepted this, and life went on.

Jonas took ventures into the woods, and at one point managed to coax Dameon along. It was there they they ran into a beast that they'd never encountered, and fought it vigorously as it seemed to be on a rampaging offensive. Dameon ended up suffering a serious wound, at which point Jonas shifted into the Demon, something that hadn't happened to him in years. He quickly dispatched the beast, and surprisingly reverted back to normal, and transported himself and Dameon back to the Inn to find help.

((Lurking in the Forest - Full Story))

When they returned to the bar, tendress Lydia Loran was horrified to see Dameon in such a condition, and she quickly moved to begin bandaging him up, after Jonas explained that his healing abilities required more energy than he had left. Lydia, at a loss, was assisted by Kairee and Knite in bringing Dameon back from the brink.

Dameon, naturally, made his way to the bar and drank to celebrate being alive.

They ventured back to the Inn, where Dameon reacquainted with Lerida, as did Jonas. Shimmer eventually came to the Inn, and took a fast liking to Jonas. She almost seemed to fall in love with him at first sight, as she perched herself on his shoulder and gently played with his hair, relaxing and exciting him all at once.

This went on for a little while until Shimmer and Jonas finally admitted to one another how they felt, and decided to make their love official and become an item. And that's how it was.

Jonas later ventured back into the forest where they were attacked. He wanted to unravel the mystery of why he only destroyed the beast while he was in his Demon state, where normally he would go on a destructive rampage until he was stopped. It was here that he was accosted by a strange man shrouded in a cloak. He directly questioned Jonas' memory of his past, inquiring of the time-frame of he and Dameon's parterhood, and claiming that he was told nothing of the truth. The man disappeared with the cryptic message that Jonas had something that belonged to him, and he would have it back.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter One for the Full Story))

The following night, Dameon found himself in the back alley behind the Red Dragon, where two thieves were hurting an innocent woman. Dameon quickly dispatched of them so the woman could escape, and rounded the corner to be met by the same figure who accosted Jonas. The man told Dameon that he wasn't who he thought he was, and that Jonas' thirteen-year stay at RhyDin Orphanage was not a coincidence, and reminded Dameon that he was never told how Jonas escaped. The man then threw a stack of file folders down at Dameon's feet, claming that they were the pieces to the puzzle before disappearing into a black portal.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter Two for the Full Story))

Meanwhile, Dameon was becomming less and less able to find Lerida, until word reached the town that she had died, a victim of substances and ether.

This put Dameon and Jonas in a sad state until Lerida managed to contact Jonas before drifting off to wherever her spirit went, assuring him that she did not want them to be sad or grieve terribly for their loss, as it would shatter the very things that made them who they were.

Jonas took this word to Dameon, and the two promptly lit incense at the bar, and drank to the memory of the woman Dameon felt himself falling in love with.

A few nights later, the two ventured to the RhyDin Public Library to research these documents. What they found were birth records of Jonas showing that both of his parents were Angels. They also found documents of someone named "Dameon Rubyscale," but nothing of a "Dameon Darklor." The biggest commonality with them all was the fact that both of their adoption papers contained in the files showed their caretaker as a man named Donald Dawson. They knew he would have the answers, and so vowed to some day find him and get the answers they needed.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter Three for the Full Story))

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:26 EST
Chapter 24: A New Clan

Dameon and Jonas spent several nights at the Red Dragon, all the while Jonas' relationship with Shimmer grew stronger. It was a good time for the two. They were on the road to unravelling a lot of mysteries from their pasts, and they were making friends with anyone and everyone they could.

As chance would happen, a young and quiet girl found her way into the Red Dragon, and meekly ordered a glass of Cherry Juice from the Tendress. The girl caught Jonas' eye, as Jonas too suffered the occassional bout of shyness. She explained that her name was Kira Aso, and that she had somehow stumbled upon this realm, having come from a place called Earth. Jonas explained the Nexus to her, letting her know that, sadly, there might be no way home for her.

Kira was decidedly sad, explaining that she had no place to go and that she'd been sleeping on park benches since she arrived in RhyDin.

Jonas was not about to let this go on, and with Dameon's approval adopted Kira into their family. The two brothers now had a sister, and so they were three. Kira from that point on took up residence in Dameon and Jonas' small shack on the outskirts of RhyDin City.

Shortly thereafter, Dameon met a girl in the Inn named Serenity Kiern, or "Sera" for short. Dameon and Sera flirted back and forth with one another, until they finally ended up going home together at the end of the night. A few more nights of this and they were declared a couple. And so it was Dameon and Sera, and Jonas and Shimmer. Along with little sister Kira, they were building quite the new family.

But every family needs a wildcard. And during an awards event in the Red Dragon Inn's Great Hall, that wildcard was found. Dameon hung on the wall, making frequent trips back into the bar, as Jonas found a table and was approached by a teenage boy named Ness Bell. He explained that he was a telepath, and had sensed Jonas' similiar abilities. The two became fast friends, and decided they would find partnership in their shared mental gifts.

It didn't take long for Ness to join Dameon and Jonas, along with Sera and Shimmer, at what would become their official booth in the bar. Kira arrived eventually, and the realization was had that Ness and Kira had already met, having become friends via both being thrust here from Earth.

Soon after came Valentine's Day. And in a surprising move, with Ness on guitar, Jonas sang a love song to Shimmer which concluded with a proposal, which she accepted. Jonas was now engaged.

The group was the six, until one night Dameon walked into the bar and found a surprising sight. He saw a man named Yuki Hiroshima talking with Sera, who eventually expressed a closeness that he decided he would pretend threatened him. He accosted Yuki with drawn sword, and reduced Yuki to not knowing what was what. Dameon eventually yeilded, explaining that he was just having some fun with the man. Ness was quick to invite Yuki into the group, explaining that they could always use one more.

And so Dameon and Jonas had found a new collective in Sera, Shimmer, Kira, Ness and Yuki. This was to be the beginnings of their new family. The new era for the brothers.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-03-21 21:27 EST
Chapter 25: The Road to Truth

One evening at the Inn, it was revealed that a man had been looking at Kira and frightening her. The man seemed malicious and unyeilding, which prompted Dameon and Jonas to have a "friendly word" with the gentleman once Kira had left for home. After all, two men like Dameon and Jonas weren't about to let their little sister be treated this way.

The fight led to a veritable melee, where it was the harassing man pitted against Dameon, Jonas and Yuki, with Ness and Sera watching. The man revealed himself to be very much into the magic of darkness, which prompted the Demon to release itself from Jonas and do the fighting for him, tapping into it's own dark powers and Jonas' holy abilities. The fight was one-sided once Jonas had changed, turning him into a one-man assault on this beast, who he felled with a massive blast of holy energy.

The celebration would be short, as the Demon menacingly accosted Dameon, and attacked Ness and Yuki, who were too shocked to defend themselves. Dameon rendered the Demon unconscious and watched as he reverted back to Jonas. It was clear now that the Demon was growing more powerful than Dameon would eventually be able to subdue, and that the two needed to uncover the mysteries that their cloaked friend had put before them.

Dameon and Jonas knew they needed to find Donald Dawson. So they managed to get themselves into RhyDin Orphanage after hours along with Ness, and accosted the record-keeper of the establishment, asking the whereabouts of Dawson. Ness tied the clerk to a chair with a yo-yo, and Dameon unsheathed his sword. The man knew they meant business, and Jonas promptly coaxed the information out of him. Dawson was living in a mansion in the forest, and told the clerk to never tell anyone with Dameon or Jonas' names where he was. The three, satisfied, left the man and headed for home.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter Four for the Full Story))

Dameon sat on the roof of their house the following night, contemplating the things that had happened, and what their strange visitor had told them. Jonas told Dameon he should get some rest, and Dameon then asked him the question the man had brought up to him. How Jonas escaped RhyDin Orphanage. Jonas then told him it was the Demon. The first time he'd ever shifted. The two then went inside to rest up for the next evening's mission.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter Five for the Full Story))

Dameon and Jonas, along with Ness, triumphantly returned to the Red Dragon, where they were promptly given hell by Sera and Kira for disappearing. Shimmer was conspicuously absent, as she would prove to be for a long while afterwards. The girls told the boys that they were required to at least notify them of following missions.

And so they did. The next night, they left notes for Kira and Sera, and prepared for the next day's mission: Storming Dawson's mansion.

At nightfall, Ness masqueraded as a pizza delivery boy to gain access to the house, where he, along with Dameon and Jonas, subdued a gathering of guards and went inside. Jonas found Dawson, who led the three into a basement, presumably trapping himself. He then explained the truth about Dameon and Jonas' births. And told them about Jupiter's true identity. He explained that Jupiter had been stringing them along this entire time, and was now set on finishing his intentions now that Dameon and Jonas were back in RhyDin. He then trapped the three in the basement, and escaped through a hidden elevator in the wall. The house then collapsed on itself, but they were able to take cover underneath a staircase until the coast was clear for Dameon to free them in his full dragon form.

((Whispers of the Past - Chapter Six for the Full Story))

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-03-21 21:28 EST
Chapter 26: The Rebirth of Firebird

Dameon, Jonas and Ness returned to RhyDin City to find out that Sera had been kidnapped by a slave trainer named Lord Travanix for attempting to defend Kira.

Firebird managed to accost the man in the Back Alley, trying to negotiate a peaceful return of Sera. However, Sera bore a trinket from Icer Shimmerscale, a regular at the Red Dragon, and broke free of Travanix's control, causing him to begin suffocating Sera with what control he still had on her. Dameon and Ness attempted to stop him, but he escaped as Sera fell lifeless to the ground, and promptly burst into flame, disintegrating into ash underneath the sunset.

The Clan mourned, Dameon having lost yet another lady in his life, until a small bird bearing flaming hues and orange coloring landed amidst the group. Suddenly, Sera reappeared before them, revealing to the group that she was half-Phoenix, and would die only to be reborn of the flames. She also revealed that she and Yuki had discovered that they were brother and sister, sharing a common mother.

The Clan felt a new sense of unity, and Dameon and Jonas officially retook the banner of Firebird as being their Clan's official title.

Unfortunately, Dameon and Sera had an ensuing arguement in the alley after everyone had left. Sera wanted rightful assurance that Dameon had future plans for their relationship, but given Dameon's past he was disinclined to confirm such a request. The two parted ways on angry terms.

Dameon, though, procured a new place for Firebird to call home. He bought a large manor and dojo up the street from the Red Dragon, where they could live and be close to their usual gathering place. They were affectionately named Firebird Manor and Firebird Dojo, respectively.

It wouldn't be long before Firebird would retake up it's justice-upholding ways. A few nights later at the Red Dragon, following a few more encounters between Dameon and Sera, the "Dark Lord" Veighn attempted to cause trouble at the bar, directly accosting it's proprietor, Icer and Jewell. Dameon and Jonas, feeling a certain debt be paid to Icer for helping defend Sera, and viewing Jewell as a close friend, jumped into the fracas and showed what they were made of in the midst of the bar itself.

Such a battle the two hadn't experienced in quite some time, fighting the forces of pure darkness once again. Unfortunately, darkness bred the Demon, who forced his way out and nearly helped Veighn fight Dameon. However, Jonas managed to break back through, regaining control of himself but at a cost. The tremendous drain of his energy caused him to collapse just in time for a protector named Firesong to arrive and hold Veighn at bay. Dameon then took the opportunity to recover Jonas and take him back to Firebird Manor.

After the battle, Dameon saw it fit to begin adding to what he'd now come to call the Firebird Compound. On the same lot of land, he also purchased a lab for Ness to store a flying ship he'd brought from Earth, and to house his computer equipment and technological items that he'd bought from the Spaceport. He also bought an office with a storage room, that he planned to turn into a new central headquarters for he and Jonas' vigilante and mercenary work once Jonas recovered, dubbing them the Firebird Hunters.

Things were not all well with Dameon and Sera. Two nights after the battle, Dameon and Sera managed to be at the Inn together, on separate sides. Dameon was sitting with Ness and their friend Victor Walsh, and Sera was being counseled by Kira and Yuki. By an unfortunate chance, Dameon and Sera both found themselves behind the bar, where they very brutally, and very publicly, dissolved their relationship, and Sera declared that she would be moving out of Firebird Manor that night, and Yuki agreed to go with her.

Jonas came to the Inn shortly after the brouhaha was ended to console Dameon. It was then decided that they would focus on their work, to help Dameon get back on his feet after the Sera break-up, and to get Jonas' mind off of Shimmer having been absent for a long time.

And so they did. The next day and the day after the two set up the Firebird Hunters Office, hanging a large sign and declaring themselves open for business.

((The Hunters - Full Story))

The next day, coincidentally, was Dameon's twenty-fifth birthday. Little fanfare was had, as Dameon and Jonas were tired from setting the office up. However, the entire household was awakened by a clammering downstairs. It was Sera, having let herself in with her keys, and leaving a gift for Dameon on the coffee table before sneaking out the back and leaving her keys behind. Her present was a set of business cards for the Firebird Hunters. Kira also came downstairs to give Dameon a present from herself, since everyone was awake and downstairs after having heard the back door shut. Kira's present was Dameon's traditional black armor, but repainted and shined, and with the Firebird Insignia emblazoned across the front of it.

((A Stranger in the Night - Full Story))

Dameon, feeling an overwhelming sense of appreciation for Sera's gift, and also appreciating her place in the Clan, went out the next day and promptly bought a townhouse next to the Firebird Tech Lab, expanding even further onto Firebird Compound. The Firebird Townhouse was more or less a smaller version of Firebird Manor, and he couldn't wait to give Sera and Yuki their keys, putting them in charge of a secondary living place for Clan members.

And thus, Firebird was restored to the glory Dameon and Jonas had once planned for it, and it seemed things were looking way up for the brothers.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-05-01 14:02 EST
Chapter 27: The Return of Jupiter

A few nights later, Dameon found himself at the Red Dragon enjoying a drink or two. It was self-serve hours, so he was standing behind the bar and helping himself. A man in a dark cloak came in and sat down, addressing Dameon by name. Dameon knew immediately who he was talking to, and called Jupiter out right away. Jupiter explained to Dameon that he wanted the demonic energy back from Jonas, and would stop at nothing to have it returned. Dameon refused to entertain his notions, and dismissed him, saying that he would never get that power back. Jupiter left, vowing to persuade Dameon by any means necessary.

The following night, Ness and Kira were having a discussion in their booth at the Red Dragon, when Jupiter walked in and sat at a table, eyeing Kira intently. Neither Ness nor Kira recognized the man, so wrote him off as a mere annoyance. That is, until Jupiter began walking toward the two. Turning his gaze to Kira and charging a blast of dark energy, Ness leapt in between them and told Jupiter that he would not harm the girl. Jupiter, having wanted to send a message to Dameon and Jonas through their little sister, was angered by this, especially after Ness' intrusion allowed Kira to escape the bar.

In a short fight that spilled out into the back alley of the Inn, Ness found himself impaled by a short sword of Jupiter's, and was thrown back into the bar just in time for Jonas to arrive, having gotten word from Kira of what was going on. Jonas healed Ness up and thanked him for protecting Kira. Jonas, at this point, new that Jupiter was serious.

The following morning, the Firebird Clan awoke to find a pile of twenty dead bodies in the courtyard of Firebird Manor. These bodies enough would have been enough of a message, except that there was also a note written in their blood on the side wall of the red dragon reading "I will have what is mine."

Maven Jonas

Date: 2007-05-01 14:04 EST
Chapter 28: Calm Before The Storm

Shortly after the events of Jupiter's rage, Dameon and Jonas disappeared from the City of RhyDin. They went off in search of answers. Researching warlock magic, demonic spirits and the Angelic nature of Jonas' lineage. Through this they hoped to find a means by which to stop Jupiter.

They realized after careful thought that the only way to stop Jupiter was to not allow him to regain the demonic energy which he'd infused into Jonas' body. Should Jupiter regain that power, they knew he would be nearly unstoppable, considering how much the demon had strengthened itself through using Jonas.

Upon their return to RhyDin City, Dameon ran into an old friend in Feilas Wyndael, whom he'd known during his old days in RhyDin under the Darklors. The two quickly caught back up, and had a good time flirting with a couple of girls in the bar. But, as luck would have it, Lerida showed back up on the scene and stole Dameon's attention away. Dameon and Lerida retired to the counter where they discussed possible activities to engage in after the night was over, when a large man named Mish burst into the bar, and burst Dameon's bubble. He claimed Lerida to be "his woman," and Dameon was finally fed up with not being able to engage in a relationship with Lerida outside of being her object of lust. He promptly left the bar after harsh words.

The next night, Dameon returned to the Inn and met a friend of Feilas' named Reanna Falassion. Dameon and Reanna began flirting and having their own bit of fun, and at the end of the night, Dameon walked her home politely. The next night, Dameon, Feilas and Reanna were back in the Inn, when Reanna explained to the two that a drove of demons had been chasing and attacking her and her feline travelling companion. Dameon fetched Jonas, and together with Feilas and Icer's sister Storm, the group took to Reanna's room in the Inn and rescued her cat Akasho, and slayed the demons attacking her.

Upon the next few nights in the Inn, Dameon and Reanna became remarkably close, as did Feilas and Sera, who still remained a part of the Firebird Clan dispite her and Dameon's prior relationship. Ness also returned from an outside excursion he'd sent himself on, much to the delight of Kira. A deal was also struck in the Inn with a half-demoness named Marie, who might be implored into helping Firebird with Reanna's attackers, and eventually offered to be a part of Dameon's Clan as well.

And so it went that the Firebird Clan had grown even larger. Dameon, Jonas, Ness, Kira, Yuki, Sera, Feilas, Reanna and Marie. But Shimmer was nowhere to be found, to the dismay of Jonas.

Dameon Phoenix

Date: 2007-05-24 15:21 EST
Chapter 29: Of Fallen Angels and Rising Demons

The battle was prepared by Dameon and Jonas. They knew that they had to take Jupiter on themselves. If the rest of the Clan was involved in the battle, then Jupiter was free to wreak havoc upon RhyDin and those the brothers held dear. So they charged Ness with taking up arms in case they fell, and they went into the forest to draw Jupiter out.

They did find Jupiter in the forest, and he explained that he wanted his demonic energy back from Jonas. The brothers refused, and Jupiter conjured up a group of demons to attack Dameon. Jupiter then began attacking Jonas with dark magic, who countered with his own holy magic. While Dameon was fighting the demons, Jupiter explained that his dark magic would draw out the demon in Jonas, and that he would fail. Jonas called to Dameon to prepare a strike, and let Jupiter's dark wave of energy overtake him. Dameon swooped in and delivered the fatal blow to Jupiter, destroying him. But it was too late, and Jonas had fallen. Dameon took him to RhyDin hospital for examination, and the next morning the coroner was alarmed to find out that Jonas' body had disappeared.

((Fallen Angel - Full Story))

The following night, Dameon returned to the Clan, and informed them of the news. They were in shock that Jonas had not been ressurected, and Sera was in disbelief that Jonas would have requested not to have one. It was then revealed by Ness that word had let loose about the Coroner's office misplacing Jonas' body. Reanna, furious, declared that she would go to the Coroner's office herself to inquire about it.

And she did. Reanna went to the Coroner's office and spoke with the employees there, and managed to physically accost the lead Coroner. After an intense interrogation, Reanna surmised that they truly did not know what became of the body, and that it must have been stolen.

((A Trip To Town - Full Story))

In the following nights, Reanna began suffering severe headaches. Sera offered her an herbal remedy, and Dameon suggested she see Ness about it.

Reanna went to see Ness, and while Ness was scanning Reanna's thoughts to try and discern the cause of her headaches, he was jolted back mentally by the demon that Jupiter had put into Jonas' body. Ness then realized that the demon wasn't dead, and that it was using Jonas' body somewhere. This was, they concluded, how Jonas' body disappeared from the Coroner's office.

((Into One's Self - Full Story))

The Clan converged at the Inn to discuss the matter, and were astounded that the demon was still using Jonas' body. In the following days, Dameon took to training Ness in the way of the sword, and found themselves in a confrontation in the alley with Feilas' brother, Nathanios. During the confrontation, Reanna and Kira arrived, and the demon arrived in Jonas' body to attack Reanna. Nathanios held the demon at bay while the others escaped.

And so the Clan had a new foe to contend with. It was a dire time for Firebird now, as they had to decide how they could combat an enemy that looked exactly like Jonas.