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Post by Taiga on Sept 8, 2015 22:21:15 GMT
The small spirit cloud that is Taiga's soul floats along a cliff face, watching the other souls go about their own mundane existences. How long has he been here already? Time did not really seem to pass here; there is no concept of day or night, and no one tires. Except for the Ogres, that is. Watching them, Taiga came up with a rudimentary measurement Basing it on Arcosian time tables, Taiga came to notice that some Ogres switched positions every twelve hours or so.
Despite his efforts, he still had yet to figure out a way to escape this Hell; this Home For Infinite Losers, as some Ogres called it. In his time here, he had not yet found any souls that belonged to fellow Arcosians; neither had he found Yu Yezi's soul. Hell must be extensively large, so he isn't really surprised. As long as he is in this powerless form, Taiga understands that he is doomed to the same monotonous, pointless afterlife as the rest of the souls here.
But this would not do; the Arcosian Empire has been shattered, but his drive is still as strong as ever. The Saiyans defeated them, just as he knew they would. He had even knew why. It is not his own sin, but the great sin shouldered by all Arcosians. The sin of betrayal. But this sin has now been repaid. Just as the Saiyans were destroyed once, now so has his people. Blood has been paid for with blood. But unlike the Arcosians, Taiga knows that the Saiyans will not stop there. The Saiyans crave battle; they need it. It is the only thing that gives them purpose.
So what gave Arcosians purpose? Wealth? Power? Control? These questions and more occur to Taiga as he watches the other souls. If Taiga still had eyes, they would have narrowed; yes... that was it... His people no longer had drive, no reason to remain strong. They weakened because they believed themselves the ultimate beings. And so they are. Saiyans are, for all intents and purposes, soldiers. Soldiers need directing, and only the strongest may direct their might. Weak Arcosians had no place commanding soldiers.
Death is not going to be his end! No, this was a new chance, a new beginning! Hell is a prison, but no prison is impenetrable! And there was no way he would allow himself to suffer for the errors of others! He had soldiers who looked to him for leadership, people who looked to his for protection! The Arcosian Empire has fallen, but all Empires rise and fall, only to rise again! Not only would he find his Empress, but he would ensure her escape from this place; and then one day, he too would arise again. Death cannot stop an Arcosian; this the Saiyans, no, the universe would soon learn.
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Post by Wyntre Cold on Sept 10, 2015 9:22:11 GMT
'Control' is a concept very important to Arcosian culture, as it is to the very fabric of reality. Control and order are what prevents entropy from taking over. Entropy, the chaos that devours, is best represented in physical terms by the saiyans. The saiyans, creatures who inadvertently proddle chaos along. They are, by their very nature, chaotic creatures. Do they even know how they are causing their own undoing? Of course not, it involves too many large words.
Order and chaos had always been in some form of collision, even before life had even considered existing. When life did come along, though, some species were chosen over others. The saiyans need battle, it is in their very quiddity, their very essence. If you take violence away from a saiyan, you get what a saiyan could be: competent. This is shown very well by Zucceta, the current queen of the saiyans, who is currently in the process of causing her own death. The crystal ball showed it clearly, Zucceta was attacking earth. The disappointment continued.
Death is a prison with an open door, if the shown examples were not something to go by. She was sure she'd find a way to bring justice some way or another, the righteous order needs to be brought so that evil can be destroyed. The Arcosian Empire is not yet gone; it will always stand for as long as there is order, the indestructible, omnipresent order that keeps the universe being itself!
Death? Hah! Death, be not proud! Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men!
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Post by Taiga on Sept 14, 2015 1:09:13 GMT
Hell seemed to stretch on forever; Taiga saw thousands of souls scattered across the vast barren landscape. It was maddening; could he possibly find a way to escape this place? Perhaps he is simply looking at it wrong, after all; either his eyes are deceiving him, or he was occasionally finding spirits that possessed bodies? They certainly are not ogres; as they appeared in various shapes and sizes.
And then... could it be? It is! As fast as his little spirit cloud body could go, Taiga races towards a familiar form... The Empress Wyntre! With each foot closer the Arcosian spirit gained, the more convinced he becomes, until finally, Taiga comes to a halt before his lost Empress.
"Empress Wyntre, at last I have found you!" Taiga says in a squeeky voice that certainly had not belonged to him in life. The little spirit cloud attempts to bow. "Though my form has changed, my loyalty has not! I am Taiga, of the Lower Clans; I served as the lead in the Imperial Communications Tower on Arcose before the Saiyans attacked us."
Sorry for the wait Wyntre, RL kept getting in the way.
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Post by Wyntre Cold on Sept 14, 2015 8:59:20 GMT
((Forgot to mention, 1,883,688PL))Well, this certainly was a surprise. Wyntre was caught off guard, quite shocked, as she was surprised someone was disturbing her peace. Hell is a place where people stay out of other people's way, in the general sense. What came as an even greater surprise was, seemingly, the spirit's position before 'passing over', if you will. Yes, Taiga of the Lower Clans, Taiga of Imperial Communications. Wyntre remembered his name, even his face. After all, she tried to know many of the important people under her rule. Or, rather, were under her rule. "Taiga. Yes, I remember you well. You have been loyally diligent during your time alive, I thank you." Wyntre looked over to the spirit, the bauble of light, the orb of essence. The quintessential differentiator. The soul. It saddened Wyntre to see not only herself, but also her followers, down in the deep reaches of hell. It gave her an unsettling thought: am I to blame for their 'falling'? Am I to blame for his falling, would he be in heaven now if I never came to power? Perhaps. Perhaps. "Have you lost hope, friend? I certainly do hope not; for, in the end, almighty order will prevail. Kindred spirit, do tell me what you did when the saiyans attacked, unprovoked?"
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Post by Taiga on Sept 15, 2015 3:09:51 GMT
No doubt, without his eyes he would be hard pressed to show his determination.
"Lost hope? Never, my Empress." Taiga replies. "If nothing else, I have learned from this trial, and shall continue to do so."
The little soul cloud seems to tilt somewhat, apparently thinking back.
"I remember the day vividly... Nothing was amiss, and our scouts reported nothing; perhaps they were already killed." Taiga begins, recounting the invasion. "I remember being at my station, waiting for word from other worlds as per the usual. But, there was no warning. Nothing to suggest that the Saiyans were coming, how that is possible, I know not."
"I heard dulled, repeating explosions from great distance; and my operators reported that Arcose had come under attack." Taiga continues. "I was told that the Palace was under attack. Immediately, I assumed my full power, and flew to join your side; but I was intercepted by a Saiyan."
Taiga seemed to droop in the air somewhat.
"I fought the Saiyan on equal terms; neither of us budged. But, I failed you... I betrayed my people..." Taiga admits. "I decided that my defeat was likely, so I fled... I fled the battle, and I fled Arcose... I showed nothing but shameful cowardice that day, while you stood alone against the Saiyan onslaught."
If he had his body, he would be prostrate on the ground before Wyntre, his heart and body heavy with shame.
"From Arcose, I fled to Kanassa, thinking I could somehow build up your army and retake Arcose from those monkeys." Taiga explains. "There, I took command of your forces and discovered another of our people. I began training him, hoping to have a fellow stand with me when we retook Arcose, but my hopes were in vain. The Saiyans sent a powerful agent, who only too late did I realize was not what it seemed. A being with black eyes, and the ability to change it's form. I should have known... But I wasn't able to see through the ruse until the agent began its attack."
"As if facing the infiltrator wasn't enough, a Super Saiyan joined the battle. My troops... over a thousand of them... they were slaughtered because they followed my lead." Taiga laments. "I tried to hold off the invaders so that the others could escape the carnage, but despite my own skill and power, the Saiyan pair made short work of me... I could barely damage just one of them... the next thing I know, I am being judged, and then sent here."
Taiga seems to regain his confidence, and floats back up a few inches.
"And I thought, perhaps there is still something I can do!" Taiga adds in. "Perhaps I can find my Empress, and find a way to break free from this prison! I knew that my Empress would have the power to come back from this defeat, and that I may yet atone for my sins and my failures."
Taiga seems to become curious.
"If I may ask, my Empress, how have you retained your physical form?" Taiga inquires.
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Post by Wyntre Cold on Sept 18, 2015 7:11:04 GMT
It certainly was good to hear that Taiga had not lost hope. In a way, it brought Wyntre hope to see that she did not stand alone. It made her many shades happier to see that a follower of hers, nearly three times her age, was not going to let death take him down with it. Not mentally, at least.
"The Saiyan's attack and its oddities are easily explained, even in the area of prior detection. By their very nature, while they do love to fight, saiyans will do anything to get what they want. They dishonorably invaded without a declaration, we were caught off guard by the skills of thieves. Everything they do further demonstrates how ignominious they are. Have you come up to one of the crystal crystals around? They will show you the saiyan invasion of earth."
Wyntre was no soldier, nor was she a warrior. She was not well versed in combat, she didn't exert herself in any way during gravity training. It saddened her to find that she was the only confronter of Zucceta, perhaps, but she was the only being even near that power. Wyntre was a natural prodigy, only training by standing and sleeping in a gravity chamber; the rest was completely natural. She was 25 years old, which was very young for an arcosian, and yet she had such power. Some believed that she was a gift from the gods, meant to direct the universe to divine order once again. Some believed that she was an Arcosian goddess (although no one was sure which) who had descended to bring justicial glory to the AE. Wyntre was none of these things.
"Taiga, my friend. You strategically evacuated yourself in hopes of reclaiming Arcose later in greater numbers. You had done no wrong. If you had, though, listen closely: your Empress forgives you."
Wyntre vividly recounted what she saw not too long ago, through a crystal ball: Kanassa and its invasion. She looked down, to the ground, and signed in grief. There is no end to the misery the SSE causes.
"There are ways to defeat death, I know a few that have done so. If you want to know about the physical body, simply let me tell you: there was a demon called Paimon who desired to steal my powerful body and use it as his own, however due to his complex magical limitations he needed the original soul in the body to swap. There was an exact copy of my body from twenty four hours before my death that he forced me into, I mastered my True Form and defeated him, keeping the body. You, though, I'm sure you can find a body another way."
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Post by Taiga on Sept 22, 2015 4:37:18 GMT
Taiga tilts a bit to the left quizzically.
"A crystal that shows the goings-on of the living?" Taiga inquires. "No, I haven't seen something like that yet. But, if the Saiyans have attacked the Earth, then they are fools. Even our Empire knows better than to attack a planet with such powerful warriors such as that world. As long as they are left alone, those warriors keep to themselves."
It was ludicrous, even for the Saiyans. Why attack a planet with such obviously powerful fighters protecting it? When the Empress addresses his personal reflection on leaving Arcose, he is surprised. She forgives him so easily, despite having ended up here? She then explains her account of having gained possession of a physical replica, rather than having kept her own, making the soul wonder if there are others who are able to construct physical bodies as well.
"I see. My Empress, I must implore you to allow me to help you return to the living realm." Taiga suddenly insists. "The Saiyans are rampant; and if left unchecked, our people..."
Taiga stops mid sentence, recalling a tragic memory.
"My Empress... You must stop the Saiyans. It is already too late for our people; the last reports I received on Kanassa about Arcose, was that the Saiyans were slaughtering everyone, including those who surrendered." Taiga informs Wyntre solemnly. "I don't think many were able to escape the extermination, such as it was."
Taiga flits about, as if having a small fit.
"If I had been stronger, if we had been prepared, maybe the Saiyans would not have dared to attack us... But that was then." Taiga says angrily. "But... I do not blame the Saiyan race; I hold those who attacked us accountable. My Empress, if our vengeance is to have purpose, it cannot be perpetuated against the entire Saiyan race. I may sound foolish, but I believe that what happened was possibly karma at work. Our people once enslaved, and then nearly eradicated the Saiyans, and now that has come back full circle, with the Saiyans trying to wipe us out. The chains binding the hatred between our peoples are strong, but not unbreakable!"
"My Empress, you are young and powerful, but I am certain that a new, stable universe can come about if you are able to make peace with the Saiyans." Taiga tells his Empress. "I probably sound insane; considering what they have done... But I feel that this is the best course. A war with the Saiyans... would never end."
"The Saiyans are warriors, there is no other path for them. But they are soldiers following a War Lord, if left unchecked, they could destroy every other race in the universe." Taiga continues. "Checks, and balances. We Arcosians must serve the universe as the balance to the Saiyans. Not through war, but through an alliance. And... this possibly means returning to an old way; the way that allowed our Empire to become so strong. Planet Trade. Buying and selling worlds, and occupying new ones for other races to settle."
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Post by Wyntre Cold on Oct 7, 2015 21:16:35 GMT
"Yes, there's a few of them around," started the Empress in a referral to the crystal balls, "And yes, it was a stupid mistake by the SSE, although I suspect the silly idea was made by Zucceta. After all, she was on earth for a while: we even fought one another. There's a quote by an ancient human general, I believe his name was 'Bonaparte', and it went as such: 'Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake'. I can only assume it holds true for females, too."
It was an interesting development. Earth was a planet of such little political significance, after all. It was an unlabeled dot on the galactic map, despite how it attracted attention and action like an overreactive toddler. Why one would reach so high for a stale political fruit is anyone's guess. Zucceta was going to lose many of her mindless swarm, the bad part was the damage earth's heroes would likely take. Not every one of them had millions of millions of Power Level Units, some had only ten thousand or so, so said both her scouter and experience. Oh dear, I'll have to share HFIL with Zucceta! No, I need to escape before then.
"The damage done to Arcosian bloodlines can and will be replenished. There are many Arcosians living among agricultural planets, nearly as much as there were on Arcose. I even know of half a dozen or so living on earth, one of which is my cousin. The Arcosian species will not go extinct."
What came next surprised the corporeal figure, even though, visibly, not a single thing has changed in her face, body or apparent composure. It wasn't quite the Kanassa and Arcose incidents, although that did shock her greatly, it was rather Taiga imploring her to let him help her escape the surrounding hell. She was sure that she could find her own way out: escape through recognized meritocratic value, perhaps. Oh, and diplomacy, but mostly recognized meritocratic value.
((By the way, the Frieza incident is not common knowledge, if that is what you're referring to))
"Karma? You think this is 'karma'? Karma is a silly principal. Taiga, there are reasons Planet Trading simply was not working. Much like the mindless growth of the saiyans, Planet Trade requires new worlds to properly sustain itself. The problem is, there aren't all too many new worlds, by no means enough to sustain an Empire."
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Post by Taiga on Oct 11, 2015 6:50:27 GMT
((Taiga is not aware of the Frieza incident. Saiyans have long been disregarded by the PTO/AE as weaklings, and it would be known, if not widely than at least vaguely, that the Saiyans and Arcosians were once in a business/military alliance at one point in history. Taiga knows only that, as well as a betrayal that occurred that sparked the hate-feud between them, which is all I was trying to have him say. Sorry if I didn't relay that as well as I had tried. OwO))
Taiga listens intently to the Empress, but finds himself at odds with her views. She is young, though. Things are best learned through experience. He disagrees with the Empress' assertion of there not being enough planets to sustain the Empire is such a fashion; it worked for hundreds of years before the Empire set the practice aside, and there are many galaxies in the universe, and billions of worlds to mine, conquer, trade, and colonize for other species to live on. But rather than argue this, Taiga droops in the air, in an attempt to bow.
"I will defer to your better judgement on the matter, my Empress." Taiga replies passively. "I merely offer my knowledge and experience, nothing more."
The small spirit lifts back up, fixating on the Empress.
"At any rate, I am going to be useless to you in this form." Taiga surmises. "If this being you defeated was able to create replica's of another's body, then it would make sense that another may also possess such a talent. I would do best to seek out a way to regain my physical form, so I may better serve you."
Taiga lists slowly to the left, and then to the right, seemingly thoughtful.
"But, is there any way I may be of use to you at this time, my Empress?" Taiga asks.
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Post by Wyntre Cold on Oct 11, 2015 21:43:26 GMT
Yes, there are billions of stars in the universe: there's 100 billion in the galaxy alone, each with an average of at least one planet. However, to assume that a planet-trading system would work indefinitely is, simply put, ludicrous. With hundreds of billions of planets about (in only one galaxy), we can assume we have a few billion which are habitable. The PTO had run into another problem, a lack of customers: only so many aliens have need of a new planet. Sustaining an Empire through the trade of planets is like sustaining a planet through a few lemonade stands in the middle of nowhere.
Despite this, an analogy can be made. In evolution, experts think the saber-tooth tiger had become extinct at least five different times. How? Because they'd evolved at least five different times. That isn't the analogy. Each time, the saber-tooth tiger relied almost entirely on one hunting strategy: go for the neck. This was effective for a while, until the situation changed somehow and their one source of food became increasingly unobtainable until they died out multiple times. Or, as the ancient primate king of the solar system God-Emperor Charles Darwin would have you know (records were unclear, assumptions were made), adaption and flexibility tell what lives and what dies, which explains perfectly why he invented rubber bands. Or, in more clear terms, planet trade is an entirely valid option as long as you have another option alongside it: agriculture and (non-planet) trade, the former of which is severely underestimated in universal events. Even the mightiest alien warrior is left begging if he/she/it has not been fed.
"Alas not, my friend. Do try to obtain a body quickly, but no: you are of no use to me in that state."
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Post by Beryl Roarke on Dec 15, 2015 19:31:02 GMT
Wyntre – 4,135+2441 SHOKI = 6,576 SHOKI
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Post by Taiga on Mar 14, 2016 20:30:28 GMT
Taiga bows his little cloud-like form respectfully.
“As you say, Empress.” he replies evenly. Since Wyntre had no actual use for him in his current state, the spirit turns and moves away.
As he moves across the barren landscape, thoughts fill his ethereal mind. The Empress did not seem to understand the truth of his suggestion. A galaxy split between empires would invite more destructive wars; each side growing their hatred for the other, and eventually lead to the destruction of so many more worlds.
The Arcosian Empire was meant to be the source of order, the beacon of sustainability. Wyntre's youth prevented her from seeing not just this, but her misguided view of galactic economics was frustrating to Taiga. Planet trading was an immense part of the old economy, but not the whole of it. So many more factors came into play that he simply could not state them all. To think that she would be content with not expanding the Empire's borders, and aim to reclaim the Saiyans as their ultimate fighting force further frustrates the small spirit.
Taiga floats up to the top of a plateau and looks over the landscape of Hell. In all honesty, he had seen planets in worse condition. And Hell didn't seem to be the tortuous sentence many galactic religions considered it to be. Although, the thought of being stuck here eternally while the once great Empire he belonged to was picked apart by the Saiyans. If he had lips, he would smirk; the Saiyans are truly a ferocious entity. Such power, though, was like a wildfire. Without direction, without limits, the fire would consume all things in its; so too will the Saiyans if left unchecked.
The Empress seemed to have little regard for his opinion on the matter, but it would likely not matter. Meeting her provided Taiga with an interesting, if not otherwise vexing, opportunity. The Empress told him that she had regained her physical form, and had plans to escape. This means that, potentially, so too could he regain his body and return to the realm of the living. If such is indeed possible, then he would not allow such an opportunity to pass him by. Not that Hell wasn't accommodating, but he simply could not fathom permitting the Saiyans to eradicate the Empire he served, not if the option to return to it and save it was possible.
Silently, the little Arcosian soul-cloud floats forward, seemingly aimlessly, lost in thought. Perhaps there was some measure of merit to the young Empress's words. But, for now, he could not understand the point of weakening an Empire that once used its brute power to instill order throughout the galaxy. For now, Taiga decides, it is perhaps best to do things one step at a time. He needed to regain his body before anything else, so that will be his focus. Other things, the more complicated things, can come after.
- ----- I am SOOOO sorry about the wait! I really have no proper excuse for disappearing for such a long time. I hit some writer's block, and then RL things started happening. Getting a new apartment, getting engaged and such. But, hopefully, I can start posting somewhat regularly again! And, uh, I guess I'll ask for my grade in the proper thread.W XD
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Post by Beryl Roarke on Mar 15, 2016 17:14:53 GMT
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