Wild ARMs: Rise of the Devil ARMs

[Kaori]

"this could get interesting, I'll tag along anyway" announced Ashley.

[Zorolo]

Zachary grabbed his gun and grabbed Laz's collar as he dragged him along. "I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. This guy will make an excellent meat shield," Zachary stated with a laugh.

Zorlo adjusted his glasses and looked at Zachary. "Hmm... he's right. Also, I'm sure these two are just as revenge intent on that man as we are. After all, he stole our pay and our mission. There is a way to track him, though," Zorlo stated, pulling a map from his pack with a smile as he rested his rifle against the wall. Zorlo placed his finger against the map and slowly dragged his finger down towards a town in the south. "This town has a Sea Train run by the Veruni. It will likely be both hard to get to and expensive, but it's the fastest way to get to the other continent and chase after Luca. If things are as you say, Mr. Reynard, then Devil ARMs are involved."

Zachary looked at Zorlo and shrugged. "I don't give two damns about Devil ARMs or anything like that, but that LUca guy stole the treasure, and I wanna make him pay."

[GamerKale]

"It's Captain Close, not Mr. Reynard, nor Mr. anything else." Reynardine got behind the counter and mixed something red in a small glass and placed it near Ashley. "It's a strawberry daiquiri. It's very fruity, and no man would be caught dead drinking it." He sipped on a larger glass just over half filled daiquiri. "What do you mean by Devil ARMs? Is that what the gorramn marionette was?"

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Laz did nothing as he was being dragged along, it pissed him off that a little brat was telling him what to do, and he needed to think of a way to get back at her. “Hey, whitey,” Laz said referring to Zachary’s white hair, “If you even joke about that one more time, I’ll run away, plus, I can get us on the Sea Train… well I can get three people without any trouble. But I want pay for it. Pay and food.” Laz said looking up, pointing Joker at Zachary, “And this time, I won’t be taking no for an answer.”

[Zorolo]

"Well then, it is decided. Ms. Aria and Ashley will enter with this gentleman," Zorlo said, gesturing towards Laz, "and Captain close, the young man, and myself will find other means of entering the sea train. That sounds like a fine idea to me," Zorlo said with a smile.

"Well that's just great, but are you sure we can trust him?" Zachary asked, gesturing towards Laz. "And my name is Zachary, by the way."

Zorlo nodded as he adjusted his glasses. "Yes, I think we can. A man like him doesn't have any major demands. As long as we give him some food and pay him once in a while, he won't try to be too sneaky. Plus, with Aria with him, if he tries anything particularly dastardly, he won't live long enough to regret it," the green haired man said as he smiled calmly.

Zachary's face paled noticeably at the way Zorlo was handling this whole event. "All right then... but you didn't answer the other question..." Zachary said as Zorlo nodded.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry, Devil ARMs. It's been a while since I've heard of them," Zorlo said as he removed a book from his backpack and dusted it off a bit. Opening the book, he pointed to a number of diagrams and pictures. "Devil ARMs are weapons from the Demonic realms. You see, Demons can't freely cross borders between this world and their world. However, when they're materialized into our world, they take the form of an ARM. They function a great deal like Relic ARMs, the weapons a number of you use, but they have one major difference."

"And?" Zachary piped up, annoyed at the fact Zorlo used dramatic pauses.

"Devil ARMs don't choose their wielder... they take control of their user's mind. You see, by bonding with a user, a Devil ARM slowly corrupts the human body and turns the wielder into a demon. If the weapon has long enough to mature, the vessel will eventually die and the demon will be born into this world. Still, such a thing hasn't happened in a long time, seeing as it takes centuries to cultivate humans into demons. If a little girl possesses a Devil ARM, I don't think we need to worry about her becoming a demon any time soon," Zorlo said as he showed a picture of a human's body being twisted into a demonic form.

[Kaori]

"as long as there's treasure mister" replied Ashley.

[nekoryuuha]

"Tch...." Aria wasn't happy about getting stuck with Laz, especially as she'd already decided that the crossbowman was either mildly retarded or acted the part very well. But there were more important things then this right now. The girl that Reynard described sounded familiar in uncomfortable ways. Could it really be ...? But then, how many people could really fit such a description. "I see..." Well, considering I've heard of weirder things, I'll bite. So, we're going after Luca, the Death Merchant, and a little girl with a Devil Arm. Well, This promises to be interesting indeed." Aria stated as she finished the drink and smiled. "So, when are we starting?"

[GamerKale]

Reynardine quietly sipped his daiquiri while Zorlo took charge of the situation. "I don't disagree on any particular point, but I do have a couple concerns. First of all, are you sure none of that is misinformation? The part about it taking centuries is where I'm most concerned, if it took that long for a human to be corrupted they would be long dead before even getting a fifth of the way there, unless they can transfer the corruption from generation to generation or change the wielder's lifespan." He looked down into his drink contemplatively, "And the other thing is, I think you're underestimating her because she appears to be a child, that would be folly, if anything that makes her more dangerous. Children kill people in the most imaginative of ways and people rarely suspect them. Even if you're watching them kill a friend of yours, most people don't have the stomach to kill a kid."

[Kaori]

"Ugh, sounds like that kid needs help, and a straitjacket" replied Ashley.

[Zorolo]

"Most information of Devil ARMs is from the ages long ago when people had interest in demons. Their failing to bring the demons into this world effectively brought need to create Devil ARMs. In truth, there is only one person that knows anything about Devil ARMs in reality, and that's Shinu. STill, said person is... almost impossible to locate. That name has existed since the end of the Dark Ages, though, so it's easy to imagine that the demon-craft has been being passed down for generations. That's all I know. As for when we begin, Captain Close will tell us. He's the one with the most leadership expertise, so I think he should lead us," Zorlo said with a sagely nod as he stood up and grabbed his weapon.

Zachary crossed his arms and nodded. "Sure, yeah, this is all well and good, but we're dealing with things that have existed since before humans have. What the hell do you suggest we do?"

Zorlo shrugged. "Try to stop them? After all, we have a way to get where we're going, right? Might as well take advantage of that fact," Zorlo stated with a smile.

Zachary sighed. They were all morons... but at least they were good hearted morons. "Fine, so we're heading into Veruni lands... sounds dangerous... mostly since they look down upon humans."

Zorlo sighed. "Yes, that is a problem, but they do allow people to use the Sea Train if we agree to help them. That's why Captain Close, you and I shall be guards. IT will also allow us to sneak our friends in."

Zachary nodded. "Yeah."

[Kaori]

"as long as the ride doesnt smell" muttered Ashley.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m not killing no kid!” Laz responded, “I’m just a humble thief, not a kid killer.” He wasn’t the slightest bit happy about being with the two girls, but this new predicament struck him worse. “Can’t we just take her ARM away? I mean if she’s a kid she should listen to adults right?” Laz pondered aloud. “Oh and regardless, I’m Laz!”

[GamerKale]

((I love how he says Close should lead, but goes on to say what they're going to do.))
Renard burst into laughter, I haven't even said I was going to take part in this and I'm already supposed to lead the charge? I guess that's what we cavalry men do. "Sorry, nothing to do with you, Laz. But no, I don't think we can. You've obviously never tried to tell a child what to do though, and little Ashley here doesn't count. They don't listen, and that's the non demon possessed ones. You do prove my point though, but don't worry, you won't have to deal with her." He finished his daiquiri, "So does everybody have a horse, or equivalent, and know how to ride? If not, you're learning on the way to the sea train. We'll also discuss general tactics, and maybe teach you some riding tricks if we have the time."

[nekoryuuha]

Aria smiled to herself at Laz's comment about simply taking the Devil ARM from the Girl. If anything, It might be easier taking the the girl from the Devil Arm.... "Actually, It doesn't even sound like killing the kid would stop an ARM like the one Reynard just described. Probably continue to gut us and go get a new owner But that's neither here nor there right now," Aria commented in as she stood up. "Though I don't have a horse, I know how to ride well enough to get somewhere and defend myself if needed. Although, if you're teaching, I don't mind learning a few things, Old Man," she finished, somehow making that not sound disrespectful. "So, we done planning? Or are we gonna talk until the villagers return and ask why the town's destroyed?"

[Kaori]

"I say we run, the last thing I want is to get lynched" spoke Ashley, "that and even worst would be them demanding us to pay" she added.

[Zorolo]

(It's what strategists do. )

Zachary looked and nodded. "I've got horses," he stated as he gave a sharp whistle out the door. A handful of horses slowly trotted over towards the door and stopped. Zachary began to pet one of the horses with a smile as he went outside. "How are you, sprinkles? I hope you're doing fine," the bandit said with a smile.

"Well, that answers that question," Zorlo said as he picked his weapon up and moved over towards where everyone else was. "Shall we get going, sir? I do believe that we've got a bit of traveling to do," the green-haired man said as he adjusted his glasses. Oh this was turning into something strange.

[Kaori]

"care to give a lady a ride?" asked Ashley.

[GamerKale]

He smirked at Aria's old man comment. Did I just get myself some new recruits? Guess I'm commited to this fool endeavor now. "Right, let's get going. Ashley, why don't you ride on Sprinkles with Zachary? Aria, you'll ride with me, rather I'll ride with you. I want to see what I'm starting with." Reynardine took Aria's hand in hers and walked over to his big gray and nuzzled it, he put her hand on the horse's nose. "This is Aria, Aria this is Avanzi. Don't make things too easy on her." Avanzi snapped at Aria. Renard held the reigns and waited to mount Avanzi until after Aria had climbed up. "Zorlo, tie the extra horses to yours. And Laz, you have point."

[Kaori]

"you're not a pedophile are you?" asked Ashley uncertain about the offer, there have been close calls but she got through them.

[Zorolo]

Zachary looked at Ashley before punching her on top of the head. "No. No I'm not," Zachary said as he climbed onto his horse and held his hand out. "COme on, let's go," he said, mumbling something completely incoherent under his breath.

Zorlo nodded and tied the extra horse to his and looked at Laz. "Now then, sir, if you would be so kind as to take point, we would gladly appreciate your assistance," Zorlo said as he adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Well, we've got business to attend to, such as getting that treasure that Luca stole thanks to your aid, so I do believe that you should be ready to keep an eye out for possible dangers, mostly, but not limited to, bullets and monsters. Got it?" Zorlo asked with a smile.