Shadows Swarm

*Eve nods*

<I am from quite far away indeed. Thank you for all your assistance.>

*Eve walks out of sight before traveling to Athens via a dark corridor*
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Monu:<We should probably try and blend in here.>
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*Yup. Artexi lands near Axel and shakes his shoulder*

<Can you hear me?!>

Azuma: "We should join the tournament then."

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So Xyukuse follows Lexeaus.

L"Yeah, that's what I just said. Now let's go, the Organization is starting to leave & some of them will be coming this way."

*She heads off & Thiera, Euryale, & Roatha reluctantly follow.*
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*Axel doesn't answer. Genie grabs his lamp to make sure it doesn't fall into the lava.*

Genie<Yeesh. That could've been a disaster.>

*Up above, Iago flies out of the palace, pursued by Nero. Jafar's "tail" stabilizes, becoming more like Genie's. With a wave of his hand, he conjures Archravens to follow Nero while causing buildings to rise off of the ground with the other.*
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*Eve arrives in the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. The people there are dressed similar to those of Thebes, but are a lot scrawnier. Most are carrying scrolls or stone tablets.*
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*Lexeus arrives at a temple that has a "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging off of the door, heavily reminiscent of a modern one, yet obviously a mosaic. He crosses his arms & "Hmms."*

*Artexi flies him to safety then returns and fires on the Archravens*

<Why do you get free reign to do whatever the hell you want?! Shouldn't you be in a lamp?>
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*They follow*
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*Eve looks around for a statue of Athena or something*

Following!

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Xyukuse: "Whose place is this?"

Lexeaus<Gaia. Titan-Goddess of the Earth.>

*Someone with a broom approaches.*

<She doesn't like to be disturbed.>

Lexeaus<Yes, I can see that.>

<But if you had an offering...what is it that you want from her?>

Lexeaus<I seek to join her team in the upcoming tournament.>

<Ah. So you'll have to prove your worth. Which means getting the golden apples from the garden at the end of the world. But only a god can pick them.>
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*She eventually finds [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. In the giant temple at the center of the acropolis.*
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L"They'll be going to the temples. So we should pick the temples that we're interested in joining & head there."

E"What if I don't know anything about the religion here?"

L"I'm sure someone can find you a book, or something."
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*The Archravens mostly swerve out of the way.*

N"Iago has the lamp!"

*Nero fires his lasers, but Iago evades them as well. Jafar begins lobbing buildings at them.*

Azuma: "Maybe that goat can tell us who's who."

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Xyukuse: "Doesn't sound like someone I want to deal with. Hey old man, who are these Gods?"

*Eve kneels on the ground in front of the statue*

<Great goddess of wisdom, I was wondering if I could join your team for the tournament.>
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Safian:<He does seem to be running the place.>
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*Artexi dives after the bird, avoiding the buildings*

Janitor<Ha ha, very funny.>

*He turns, & walks away. Lexeaus opens a Dark Corridor.*
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L"Yeah, like he has nothing better to do than stand around explaining what is probably common knowledge in this world. Why are you making this more difficult than it needs to be? Find a shop. Buy a book."

T"We don't have any munny, though, so hopefully they have libraries around here."
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*She would actually be flying upward. Jafar raises a wall of lava to cut them off from Iago, so Genie arranges the buildings that Jafar is throwing around into a bridge that runs over the lava. Nero lands, returning his Glider to its Keyblade form & casting Magnet to keep Iago in place. Jafar appears in front of them in red smoke & begins lobbing fireballs at them.*
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*The statue glows [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] & comes to life.*

Athena<Are you sure you have what it takes to make a fool of my brother, Ares? What would be your strategy for obtaining victory?>

Azuma: "Because we have time for that and we're clearly from here."

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Xyukuse: "Well, shit. Other than this Terra you seem interested in, who else is there?"

*Artexi charges the frozen Iago, trying to get the lamp*
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Safian:<Like asking would not make it totally obvious we aren't from here? I mean, I sont really have an issue with it, but still.>
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Eve:<I do. I possess the ability to alter space and and time, among others.>

Athena<And what if Ares's champions also possess that ability?>
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*Nero follows along, bunting the fireballs back with the Keyblade & stunning Jafar, causing him to hang limply in midair, shaking his head to try to clear it. Iago lets go of Jafar's lamp, which continues spinning in the magic vortex, so he can fly away.*

Iago<Forget this! You're on your own, Jafar!>
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L"As opposed to having the time to listen to him explain every god in detail? Not that he would, because he CLEARLY said that he doesn't want to spend a lot of time explaining things! And just look at the Organization, they're already out searching. You think we're less capable of THEM? Not to mention, we've already left the Arena!"

*Lilith points in Azuma's face.*

L"You know what? I don't care what you do! But don't come crying to me when it doesn't work & Mom tells you you don't have the Mark of Mastery! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a mission to complete!"

*She stalks off towards the nearest temple. Thiera heads off in a different direction. Euryale looks around as Roatha starts to head off in yet another direction. He stops briefly to look back.*

R"Sorry, but I guess you joined at a bad time."

*Then he keeps going.*
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Lexeaus<It's Gaia.>

*He heads through the Dark Corridor, which begins to close behind him.*

Because entering a tournament is totally going to save any world.

Azuma: "It's already obvious we don't belong based on our attire."

And so he sods off, Hitomi following after him.

Hitomi: "We should find for ourselves."

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Xyusuke sods off as Gaia does not sound like the God of Hitting Things. Or War. Whichever comes first.

*Safian follows after Thiera, while Monu walks beside Lilith*

Monu:<Lilith, are you feeling alright?>
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Eve:<In that case, I would work to disable their abilities, then finish them off with a bit of brute force.>
---
*Artexi grabs the lamp and points it towards Jafar*

<I wish you were back in your lamp!>

*Jafar lets out a Big No as his tail becomes like a tornado again, sucking him back into the lamp. He grabs Iago's tail feathers on the way.*

Iago<Hey! Let go!>

*In a flash of red light & a crackle of electricity, both are pulled into the spout of the lamp, a few of Iago's feathers falling nearby. The lid jiggles a bit.*

Iago<Great, just GREAT, NOW look what you did!>

Jafar<Oh, shut up, you stupid bird!>

*With Jafar imprisoned, Genie snaps his fingers, returning everything to normal in a spiral of blue smoke, including the music. He then flies over to them.*

Genie<Oh, I get it. He wished to be a Genie & got everything that goes with it: Phenomenal cosmic power, itty bitty living space.>

*While he's yammering on, Nero takes the lamp out of Genie's belt. Genie turns around & frowns.*

N"So, whoever has this lamp gets 3 wishes, huh?"

Genie<Well...yeah, but I can't kill anyone, create true love, or bring anyone back from the dead.>

N"What about disbanding the Order? Can you do that?"

Genie<What kind of Order? Order of the White Lotus? Order with a Side of Fries?>

*Genie's head briefly turns into that of an Asian man with a balding head, top knot, & gray, 5-point beard.*

N"Keyblade Order."

Genie<Hmm...no. Whoever they are, they have magic even more powerful than mine.>
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Athena<Hmm...a bit brutish, but acceptable. Consider yourself a Warrior of Wisdom.>
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*Xyukuse & Hitomi/Azuma eventually run into each other.*
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L"Oh, I'M fine! But Azuma is an annoying prat & Thiera needs to grow up!"
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E"So...I guess it's just you & me...do YOU know where we would find a library?"
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*Thiera turns to Safian.*

"You know, I don't mean to be rude, but maybe you should wear a leash. The people here seem to be getting anxious."

Xyukuse looks them up and down, seeing how they stick out like a green hat with an orange bill.

Xyukuse: "Out of place attire, no Black Coat, so you're not one of us."

Azuma: "We're not looking for a scrap outside the tournament. You fall here, you're--"

Xyukuse: "Ha, I already died once. Dying again makes no difference. But you two dying could be signifigant. Not like the Order has replacements."

===================================

Taiyo: "We could ask for directions?"

Safian:<I get it, you're not brig rude.>
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*Monu puts a hand on her shoulder*
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*Eve bows her head*

<Thank you, great one.>
---
Artexi:<What do we do with Jafar's lamp?>

*Athena nods & then resumes her life as a statue.*
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*Lilith looks at the hand with an expression that could be disgust, confusion, irritation...anything, really.*
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*Some jagoff walks up to them.*

<Pardon me, Miss, but I can't help but notice that your lion talked. Was she cursed by the gods, or are you a sorceress?>

"...What?"
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"Okay...hey! HEY! Which way to the nearest library?!"

*Euryale chases some guy down, who points down a street, looking startled. Euryale turns, stumbling slightly, & heads off.*

"Thank you! Come on, Taiyo!"

*That man fucks off as quickly as possible.*
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N"We could take it back to the Organization. Or destroy it. That kills a Genie, right?"

Genie<...Yes, actually.>

N"Well, I have a wish: That Roatha would come to his senses & quit that stuck-up Order."

Genie<I don't know if that's such a good idea--> *His head turns into that of a bald white guy with glasses & a mustache/beard combo.* <Your actions...they affect other people?>

N"Yeah, no shit, I'm wishing for something to happen to other people. Now just make with the magic, already."

*Genie turns back to normal. Grimacing, he points to the sky, firing a bolt of genie lightning.*

OOC: Gonna edit that other reference, while I'm at it.

Azuma: "So what's it gonna be, are you going to keep talking big or are you going to start this fight you're so keen on? We're both in the same boat, y'know? Each looking for a God. And for all you know we know this world better than you. So....instead of causing a rukus and attracting the powers that be, how about you save it for the tournament or another world?"

Xyukuse's hand twitches as of reaching for a six shooter.

Xyukuse: "Whatever."

Azuma & Hitomi carry on their way leaving Xyukuse just standing there. He only decides to follow when they're a ways away.

===================================

Taiyo: "Okay."

And so Taiyo follows after Euryale.

Artexi:<Could... I wish for my heart back?>
---
*Eve dark corridors back to Thebes*
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*Safian lets out a low growl, and rubs against Thiera, staring at the man*
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*A small grin crosses Monu's face*

<Now, let's find a library.>

*He looks around for someone to ask*

*Lilith sees Euryale & Taiyo running down a nearby street.*

L"That's probably where they're going. Let's follow."
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*Not too far away, Taiyurle encounters a building marked by scrolls. Euryale heads inside.*
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*Fortunately, Azuma's & Hitomi's dumb asses are saved by an alley lined with a bunch of Moogles sitting on stacks of fliers. They can only be described as cosplaying the gods--a Moogle in a blue toga wielding a trident has some kind of fish strapped to his head, its dorsal fin acting like a mowhawk & its tail like a beard, another has a pink toga & long, red-blond hair, a 3rd has a black toga & gelled hair stylized like flames & dyed blue, etc. From what they can make out, the fliers each depict the god that the Moogle is imitating, as well as a map, & some other information.*
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<I was just wondering. Oh, hey, are you going to be turning people into animals during the tournament? That would be really neat to watch.>

"Uh...no, I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
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*Eve reappears near some kind of restaurant with outdoor tables, with a large man with unkempt, black hair cupping his hands around his mouth & shouting things like "Get your pitas, here!" or "Go from zero to hero--get your friends gyros!"*
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Genie<'Fraid not, Kiddo. It's stuck somewhere.>

Azuma: "What a peculiar sight."

Azuma steps up to a moogle not like the ones described above.

Azuma: "Who are you supposed to be?"

===================================

Taiyo goes inside as well.

*Eve walks off towards the arena*
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*Monu follows*
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*Safian yawns, showing her fangs*
---
*Artexi looks away*

<Oh...>

*Going to say this Moogle has a green toga & a bunch of lettuce leaves on its head.*

<Kupo! I'm representing the goddess of harvests, Demeter!>

*She flies a couple of inches up, grabbing a flyer from under her & holding it out to them.*

<Want to join her team in the tournament, Kupo?>
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*Behind the main desk of the library is none other than Athena's Moogle.*

E"Have any information books on the gods?"

<Sure do, Kupo! Anything in specific?>

E"Just a general overview, please?>

<Be right back, Kupo!>

*She flies off. Euryale sees Lilith & Monu, & waves at them.*

E"Hi!"

<<<SHHH!>

*Euryale winces.*

E"(...Sorry.)"
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R"Hey! Why are you talking to her? Scram."

*The man backs away from the alley Roatha just approaches from, holding up his hands.*

<Easy there, friend. I didn't mean anything by it.>

R"We're NOT friends. Don't make me tell you again!"

*He runs off. Roatha looks Thiera up & down, grinning.*

R"Turns out this city has a reputation. You probably shouldn't go off on your own."

T"I--I'm not, I have--"

R"Ah. Good Kitty. Didn't see you down there. Find Mortal yet? Oh well, don't worry too much."
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*Eve finds that everyone has basically cleared out. Only Phil is left, pacing around the various arena setups.*
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*Meanwhile, Aladdin, Jasmine, & the Sultan run out of the castle--as everyone is now in the courtyard--& Axel stands up, rubbing the back of his head.*

Aladdin<What happened? Did you seal Jafar? Where's his lamp?>

Axel<Yeesh, not so loud! Gonna be feeling that tomorrow...what did I miss?>

Azuma: "No, sorry. Which God best represents someone with a thing for oversized swords?"

He looks over to Xyukuse who's still keeping his distance.

Azuma: "And someone with a fondness for starting fights?"

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Taiyo waves at the paor while waiting for the moogle to return.