The Half-Moon Inn and Fest Hall Part 4

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"Ha! Preaching to the choir, my friend," the drow replies. "Stealth tactics and shall we say, less obvious methods of slaying one's foes, are taught to every young drow as well. Poison is usually the method of choice, though garrotes, traps, sniping, and a simple dagger in the back are not uncommon, either. Personally, I prefer a more honest approach. You'd have had fun in my home, I think. Thieves and assassins galore."

He pauses, brow furrowed in thought for a moment. "Come to think of it, there are more pirates and just plain cut-throats there than anywhere else I've ever been... And that's saying something." He shakes his head, as if vaguely disturbed by that thought.

[veraka]

The clone chuckled at Lothir's response, "perhaps you should take me to your world one day, there's a very specific reason why I'm still alive after seeing more than a thousand battles in my lifetime."
Onix then gave his OMNI armor a meaningful tap on the chest plate.

"I'd like to see your kins blades puncture [b:8t0nap01]this[/b:8t0nap01] armor with their little poison daggers and crossbow bolts, and that's assuming they can get past these," he pointed to the twin katanas on his back; "plus all my hidden blades on this armor. I know am sort of intrigued by the idea of fighting your kin. From the sound of it, they don't seem to have much to lose."
The clone gave a cynical laugh to the last part of his comment; Onix definitely had a dark sense of humor when he wanted to.

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"Oh, I don't know. Don't sell them short, abbil- it may not sound like it, but they are also some of the fiercest fighters I've ever crossed paths with. Take my father, for instance. An unrepentant murderer and traitor to his country, banished and transformed into one of the "Nameless Cursed"- that's what the surface elves call us, because it is quite literally a curse by their gods on those who turn against their kin. Not only did he murder his own family in the name of greed and ambition, but then he proceeded to gather a band of ruthless mercenary warriors, steal a heavily-armed warship, and sail it to Argonia."

He continues in a tone so matter-of-fact that it is clear he has embellished nothing. "There he managed to get himself and his crew adopted into one of the most powerful Houses, given the position of Weapon-Master and Ship-Commander, and used that position to start his own 'guild' of afore-mentioned thieves, spies, and assassins. Then he built an alliance of dissatisfied and frustrated males of every House he could, both common-born and Noble alike, and staged a coup against the Matrons that led to the destruction of eight of the top sixteen houses, and the deaths of more than a hundred Matrons and priestesses before they could even begin to fight back. He set himself up as the new ruler, and his alliaance now has control of more than half of Argonia's forces. The remaining Matrons who surrenedered are NOT happy about it."

He gives Onix a serious look. "Make no mistake, the ones you've seen here are amateurs compared to the folks back home. I've seen what he's done there, and his goal is nothing short of building a force powerful enough to go back to Sylvaerandor, and wipe it off the earth for what they did to him. And if I know my father, he'll do it, too. The man's a power-hungry, cold-blooded monster, and THEN some. My mother's not much better, either- a scheming snake who just wants to find a way to bump him off so SHE can take over and rule. Fortunately, she's not into world-domination like he is, so it might not be a bad thing..." He shrugs, as if to say he no longer cares what either of them does.

"Anyway, I doubt I'll ever go back there- I like it here too much. Fewer headaches," he says, half-joking. "That, and I get more respect and acceptance here. It's refreshing not to have every person I meet tryingto kill me on sight, actually!"

[veraka]

Onix smirked at the bard, leaning back and folding his arms behind his head. "Well, Lothir, seems to me, that I've just got myself a fun idea of new mission; overthrow your father," Onix laughed at the notion; "ahh, that'd be the fight of the day; the [b:eyvcv5lx]second[/b:eyvcv5lx] realm I travel to and then fight my way to your kin, whether or not your there, well, that'd be your choice."

Veraka looked over to the armored clone, and shook his head; "do you have any idea how skilled dark elves are in sword play; and if what our bardic friend here said is true, then I would seriously consider your statement."

Onix cocked a brow to the aasimar, and smirked; "light-weight, if it's one thing that you learn when you're a clone like me, is that no matter what you do, you will never find a way to settle down, like you might do or have done, I don't know. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't, as you say, find a good wench and have a family, despite my desire to do so. So I live to fight another day, or fight to die that day, either way works for me."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"OH? Why is that?" Lothir asks curiously. "There was a fellow student in the Academy that was, shall we say- removed of his manly parts by his Matron for accidentally breaking a statue of the Venom Queen. did those who made you do something similar? Or is it simply a matter of not having the interest in finding a mate?"

"And what Veraka says is true. You'd have little luck gettingto him, I'm afraid. Many of the most skilled in assassination and murder who are NOT among his allies have tried the same, and none has ever managed that feat. Even I can't get that close."

[veraka]

Onix looked at Lothir with a lop-sided grin; "if you're asking if I was castrated when I was born, then no, everything's still there. As to whether or not I'd choose to be interested in the opposite sex, then again, no. I'm plenty interested any female that I'd chance upon; but here's the problem, curious Lothir. What woman do you know that can put up with the fact that she will [b:1r8oe45i]never[/b:1r8oe45i] be able to settle down and live someplace quiet and away from danger. What female do you know can accept that fact that I am completely artificial down, to the finest detail in my body, and the fact that I refuse to believe in any higher power, god, goddess, or whatever, and third, what lass would even accept me knowing the fact that no matter what I do, I will [b:1r8oe45i]always[/b:1r8oe45i] be on the front-lines of some war being fought wherever it is, because that's who I am, as a clone, I've been programmed to always seek out battle if it does not come to me, and with my ship and squad gone, I think that trying not to fight for me would drive me up a wall. I told you this once before, Lothir, all I know how to do is fight; it's what I was bred and born for."

Onix let what he just said sink in for a moment, then continued; "and Lothir, here's a question for you, what young lass would be interested in the likes of me, hmmm?"

"Oh and don't worry about me trying that, I was joking with ya."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

He thinks for a long moment, and finally answers. "Hmm. As to the first, that's easy enough- if you'll look around this inn, I'm fairly sure you'll see not one, but several lovely ladies who are of the same mind, at least for the present time. People with our restless nature are more common than you might think, my friend, especially in this little corner of the world. Sometimes I'd swear you can't take five steps without stumbling over an adventuring party. Besides, if I could find one willing to put up with that kind of life, so can you, I'm sure."

He looks a little more serious as he continues, and finally shrugs. "For the second, I'd have to say that it shouldn't matter to a woman what you believe in, so long as you stay true to your beliefs, or are at least at home with them. By that, I mean comfortable in your own ideals and morals. I've never heard it said anywhere in this vast multivers that a person HAD to follow a deity at all. Most simply choose to because the alternative- not beliveing in ANYTHING- is simply to depressing to consider. Personally, I've SEEN my goddess, so I have no doubts on that score. It's up to you to decide for yourself, and if a woman can't accept that, it's not worth wasting your time in the first place." he says with a shrug.

"The last one's the hardest, but I think something needs to be said here." He pauses, as if trying to decided how to put it. "Clone or not, whatever you were MADE to be is not ALL that you are. I was BORN to be the heir to an entire kingdom of ruthless, cold-hearted, sadistic butchers, and raised and trained to fit that expectation. But it wasn't what I wanted, so I made a choice- to turn my back on all of that. Believe me, I could have had more power than any other male drow ever DREAMED of, back home, and it was mine for the taking. All I would have had to do was murder my own father, and take his place. But I didn't WANT it. It meant very little to me, so I walked away from that life. I can't help but notice you're still here, even though all your comrades have left. So I have to ask- why? Why do you stay? your mind and soul are your own, regardless of where they came from. Pyro was different from you, and so were all the others. You may all share the same shape, but you all have seperate minds, that much is clear. So why should any woman care that you have hundreds of identical brothers? The way I see it, unless she was in a room with all of you naked trying to figure out which one was you by sight alone, no woman would ever care less!" The last part comes out half jokingly, but it's obvious what he means by it.

"Long and short of it, friend, I think if you really wanted to, you could have any life you choose. I understand about having war in the blood- Hells, it's been bred into us for millenia- but there's more to life than that. Life has to be WORTH fighting for, or the fight itself is meaningless."

[veraka]

Onix can't help but laugh at the last part of Lothir's statement. "Well, that's all fine and dandy, and perhaps there is truth to your words, my friend."

To the bards question, the clone looks at him with a slight smirk on his lips, "Truth be told Lothir, I'm not a hundred percent sure why I'm here, but I suppose I started like who I met, especially when I met the Dark Dancers on that last mission of ours; I guess you could say that they made somewhat of an impression on me. Though I'm not one to complain, given what i saw among them, but if I'm going to find any nice lass among Toril, I'm not going to go searching, I'm just gonna let it happen by itself, if such an event [b:346m3a81]does[/b:346m3a81] ever occur. I guess you could say I wish it to be a mutual attraction."

Onix looked away, then returned his gaze to the bard "I'm not sure I should be saying this, but I guess you could probably relate to it, well. . . you used to able to," the clone indicated the two sleeping younglings.
"I've been alive for well over 65 years and fighting none stop, from one battle to another. Yes, me and my brothers were given the praise for what we did, and the thanks whenever we accomplished an objective or saved a squad of marines from a Leecher." The clone's eyes went from stern to near sad.

"Through it all, every battle, with every bullet that came screaming out of my rifle, I asked myself the question, "Why me, what did I do deserve this?" Every time I looked into a mother whose child my squad kept from near death, I asked "Would I ever be able to have a child of my own and a wife with me?"; to have a reason to keep on living in this synthetic life that I'm in. Every time I've looked into the eyes of the people that I've saved from instant death, be them Marine or civilian, that question rose up and made my gut twist in knowing that no matter what I did, that would never become a reality, and Lothir, I might add, I've only stayed behind because my ship is going out scouting this system and its galaxy. Once they come back with a solution to whatever it was that sent them here, it's back to the battlefield for me."

Onix let out a sigh, "You see Lothir, I don't have a choice as to what I can do with my life, it's already been decided for me. As a clone, I'm not a person, not a sentient, thinking creatures. To the ones that created us and the powers that be in my realm, I am a biological weapon, a tool of necessity, born and bred to fight because of a threat bigger than any of my superiors could have imagined. Yes, Lothir, I was created out of necessity to fight, a means to an end, as the old saying goes; it is through that mentality that I am deprived of whatever it is that makes a person a person. I am not a free, thinking being. Because, my friend, if I do in-fact, choose to go on with my own life, my own squad will be ordered to kill me, and should I destroy them, another squad of clones will come after me. Oh, yes Lothir, we have squads that hunt down renegades; I should know, I've been on one such mission before. So now you know it, Lothir; in my realm, humans, elves, hell, even dark elves are treated with equality, and are as such, living beings, but me and my brothers are 'biological weapons', tools that are a means to an end, and at that end, if it ever comes, I don't know what will become of me then."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

He considers the last bit for a moment, nodding as if it has occured to him before. "I seem to remember you mentioned something about that once before. But if you really wanted to have a life of your own, there ARE ways. I'm certain there are plenty of wizards who would be willing to help you if you wanted to, shall we say, be someone else?" He lets that sink in for a moment before continuing.

"Or if that's too drastic for you, what if your ship came back, and you simply weren't here? I could always show you the gate to my home. You DID mention wanting to have some fun there, right?" He says with a hint of a grin. "For that matter, there are plenty of other planes and worlds you could go to where no one would be able to find you."

Then he goes on, still looking thoughtful. "Truly, if you were to disappear, what could they do? Hells, man, you could simply slip into the Underdark here, and it would take a hundred lifetimes for anyone to find you! It's really just a matter of deciding what you want, I suppose."

He claps the clone on the back, and looks at him seriously. "No matter what THEY say, your life and mind are your own, my friend. THEY said the same thing about most males back home, and look what happened!" He grins at the irony. "Don't ever let someone else dictate how your life is run. That sort of thinking keeps one from ever really living AT ALL. Clone or not, you ARE a living being, and you have as much right to your freedom as the people you protect. There are slaves who are treated as little more than property back home. They are seen as no more than tools to be used and discarded at will...." He breaks off, a look of pain briefly crossing his face. Then he shakes his head, and gives Onix a friendly smile. "It's your choice, in the end. They cannot take that away from you. No matter what they do. don't forget that."


OOC: Yeah, I know- he's waxing philosphical. The boy has a tendancy to do that sometimes. That's him- party psychiatrist!! Call it his "life's calling"!!

[veraka]

"Bah, running from my problems is never gonna be a solution. It just creates more of a problem. Also, I find the idea of. . . .being someone else, as you put it, not that appealing. Yes, it's inventive, it just wouldn't be me then; I'm Onix Theta-180, not Onix Shadowmirror."

At Lothir's second suggestion, the clone chuckled slightly, then replied, "yes, Lothir, that I did, but you said you wouldn't want to come back, so I see that being a real interesting adventure; 'Clone makes his way to uncharted, new plane, only to end up assaulted within the first few minutes of setting foot there; besides if I recall, the portal or gateway is temporarily out of service, if what Palax and Vala said is true."

The clone gave Lothir a very long stare when the bard clapped him on the shoulder, and with an exasperated sigh, said "Alright then, Lothir, but then [b:236ffk19]how[/b:236ffk19] am I supposed to lead such a life, when all I know how to do is fight, I'm no artist, bard, or leader, I'm a fighter; all I'd be doing is transferring my fight from one realm to another, which has already been accomplished, due to powers beyond my control. So then what, besides I'm able to call myself my own boss. Lothir, let me in on a little secret after so many years of being used to following orders to the letter, one starts to adapt to that environment. I assure, my bardic friend, that I will not know the first thing as to what to do if I choose such a route in my life."

[Aylstra Illianniis]

OOC: *sigh* Gee Veraka, he's not making this easy at all, is he?!


IC: He lets out a deep breath, and begins drumming the fingers of one hand idly while he thinks over what Onix has said. "I understand that 'running away' as you put it is probably not the best solution. Mind you, I was simply throwing out options. Perhaps you could just ditch the armor-" he holds up a hand, knowing Onix would likely object, "and walk away. Notice I did not say hide or run. As I understand, those toys you run around with are useless without someone actually USING them. Much like ANY weapon. If the weaon refuses to do what it was made for, would they REALLY waste much time or effort trying to force the issue? Surely there must be 'rogues' that have remained unaccounted for. for that matter, why can't they just replace you with another? If there are as many as you say, and you truly are expendable to them, what is the point in wasting their resources to hunt you down in the first place?"

He shakes his head, as if not understanding the logic of that notion. "I suppose it comes down to what would you LIKE to do with your own life? We are never too old to learn a new trade or skill- and you're a much better leader than you think, for the record. For that matter, there are plenty of people you could learn from, if you wished. I'm sure you would make a wonderful knight. Or blacksmith, or anything else you wanted to try. Come, you don't think I was BORN knowing how to play this, do you?!" He grins, holding up his lute. "It took years of practice to master it, much like any skill. Same goes for fighting. I trained for most of my life to wield those blades of mine, and never mind that I never actually killed anyone until just a couple of years ago. The point is, you probably have far more skills and talents than you realize, and you could follow any one of them to see where it takes you. Even if it's just fighting as a mercenary for whomever you feel like giving your service to."

"That's a simple version, of course, but take some time to think about it. Decisions like this are not made on a whim, by any means. How long do you think it took me to decide what to do with mine? It was not merely a simple case of 'I think I'll become a bard and go out into a world that hates me'!" He chuckles, but the meaning behind the jest is clear.

[veraka]

((OOC: Aylstra since when has being a clone been easy; being stubborn is one of his best traits, like me ))

Onix didn't say a word until after the bard was done speaking; though he may have a been a clone, respect and dignity came with being in the forces.
When Lothir was done, he again looked away, actually out a window.
"There's been only two cases of a clone actually going rogue, and disappearing from the ranks, but one of those cases I've dismissed as pointless, simply because of the fact that the commando in question lost his entire squad in one battle, and if you have [b:37r7je6n]ever[/b:37r7je6n] lost a family member, then you'll know exactly what I'm referring to. Imagine knowing only four brothers your entire life and within an instant, they're all gone. It can ravage the very core of anyone's being seeing that happen. For 20 years, all 50000 of us clones were trained together in our squads, and for 20 years, each squad became a family, at least to us clones, that's what we are."

"As to why our superiors spend so much on us and invest so much technology and resources into us is because we are their final hope to stop or at least slow down those damn bugs, like the one that you and I fought together a while back. As to your second question, they can't merely replace us, because it would take another fifteen years to perfect the batch of DNA that created me and my brothers to begin with; our superiors used up all they could without completely destroying the first batch. Also, do you know how long it takes a half-breed like us to mature to infancy? Two years is what it takes for a clone such as myself, and then another 20 years to train them to become the equivalent of what I am right now. The point I'm making is that our superiors just don't have the time to grow more of us. You could say that we're the first and last of our kind."

At Lothir's last statement, the clone raised an eyebrow; "you honestly say that I've more talents than I know, perhaps that is true, but up until now, I've not had the time to discover them. What would I [b:37r7je6n]like[/b:37r7je6n] to do, well. . . " the clone pondered the question, then spoke up; "I suppose I'd like to see more dark elves of this world become like those Dark Dancers we encountered back then, to prevent them from becoming like [b:37r7je6n]me[/b:37r7je6n], in all reality." The clones tone was dead serious and iron-hard, but a smile was forming on his face.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

[quote:1kk52m7x]"No more than there was before, but perhaps better to say, my clan will not accept me back until I have finished the journey I am upon. Until then, even if human standards say I am an adult, I am considered a child still, neither a true warrior, nor an adult. With all my exposure to humans, and similar races, I came to appreciate what they consider beauty. So you see, I am a child no longer, a bull with desires and needs. This is why I find myself so vulnerable to your charms, even if it is not your intent to draw my interest. I suppose though, I like you also on a simpler level, and among my people, those who make their way sneaking about, stealing, or assassinating, they have no place, for they are cowards, and weak. Theft and murder, we usually punish with stoning." Finally he lifts his head to look her in the eyes, "My honor won't allow me to leave you you up here, while trouble-makers are lurking about." [/quote:1kk52m7x]

she listened to the large barbarian and gave a warm friendly smile then blushed.
"I can understand some of your clan's ways. We lythari are at times, odd in how we do things as some might say. but it is how we survive. and to be distinguished from those who are simular yet different (read evil)."
she looked out her small window as she rubbed her head. she was curious what time it was.
turning back to the barbarian, "there are times for stealth. and times for blunt approaches. but if you worry of my safety, I can tell you you dont have to worry. but i appreciate it."
to help him not worry, she whispers the words to a spell and a faint aura of magic filled the room (santuary- cleric spell).

((i dunno if your character would know what a lythari is...few do))

[Aylstra Illianniis]

"Ah, then it seems we have much in common on that count. I too would like to see that. Particularly among those on my own world- there are very few indeed, there, from what I've heard. Perhaps a hundred or so, if even that many." He shakes his head, looking almsot sad at that thought, and sighs.

"I DO know what you mean about losing someone close. I lost the one person I cared for the most not so long ago. It was just before I left home- actually, it was the main REASON I left home- and I still have not forgiven those who murdered her. I was not there when it happened, but I saw the result, and it made me want to do the one thing I swore I never would- to murder my own family. What they did to her- it was unforgivable. Perhaps a slave meant nothing to them, but to me, she was everything. And I- I had promised I would find a way to free her, and keep her safe. I could not keep that promise..." Pain fills his voice, and for a moment, he seems on the verge of losing it, but he sucks in a deep, ragged breath, and slams his fist on the table as if in protest. Then he sits silently for a few moments.

"I do have brothers," he says after a long time. "Half-brothers, really- but they do not even acknowledge me as kin. They were born long before my father was cursed, so I suppose I don't blame them for not wanting to be reminded of that shame. I had a twin sister, too, but she died while still in the womb. Probably a blessing, since my mother would have just corrupted her into another vile spider-kisser." He shrugs, as if to say it's in the past. "It's truly a pity that the people you were born to protect have so little regard for their own defenders. I wonder, though. Do you think they would feel the same if ALL of you chose to simply leave them to fight their own battles? Not sayig you should, of course, but it's food for thought, no?"

He gives the clone a half-smile, then suddenly gets a puzzled look. "Exactly who ARE they fighting, anyway? You said that it was the ones who made those bugs, but who are they? And why do they fight? I don't mean to be nosy, it's just there are things you never fully explained before. Blame my insatiable curiosity- but then, I'm sure you know the saying about that..." He says, with a lop-sided grin.

[veraka]

"In my professional opinion Lothir, you should've just killed your friend's murders right then and there. I know I would have." The clone ejected one of his gauntlet vibroblades to emphasize his point.

"Perhaps I'm not the right one to be saying this but if they took away the one person that you cherished, the one person who kept you from becoming like them away from you, why not return the favor in kind, hmmm?" Onix asked in a dark, very cynical voice, his eyes narrowing at the bard. The clone wasn't the only one familiar with loss, it seemed, but Onix had never known the presence of someone who cared about him or his brothers in this fashion that Lothir had just described. "If those who took away your only true friend, then why not do the same to them, huh? Why not take away what they truly cherish from them, and then destroy them when they have nothing left, I know for a damn fact that I've done it."

Right then, Veraka unfolded his arms and his eyes shot up as he noticed Onix's aura begin to change. If Palax was as true of paladin, then'd he'd likely notice the change as well.

"If they're true brothers to the very idea of the word, then they'd look past the heritage within your blood, and see the person for who you are; believe me when I say this that to truly be a brother to someone else, they must fight beside you in true combat, only then will they realize their error of their ways and show you the respect and trust that you've earned and deserve. I consider anyone who fights honorably by my side and comes out with me on top a brother; every single marine who I've fought beside I consider a brother or sister."

When Lothir asked his question regarding who Onix fights for, the clone narrowed his eyes, looked away, and balled a fist until one could here the creak of the glove crushing in upon itself.
"It's not because the people we fight for are not caring about us, it's becasue officially to them, we don't exist, we never did. Every kill against the Leechers goes to the Marines. We are what you would call the 'black ops' of our military. What we are, who we are, and even our very existence is kept from the general public. That's what it means to be a clone. As to if we abandoned our post, then the general public would have to rely on the Marines to really pull all of the action against the Leechers, in which case, I'm not sure I'd want to imagine our galaxy with that situation. If all of my brothers and I choose to leave our posts, I'm pretty sure that those whom we protect would either be dead or be nearing death soon enough; we clones may not be treated like real beings by our superiors but its the thoughts of what would happen if we weren't there that drives us onward, besides it's not as if we have no thanks at all; you remember the marines we fought with; every single one of those grunts looks at us as equals and comrades in arms, it may not be much of a life, but we fight knowing that if we don't, the people whom we protect might not exist period."

At the bards last question, the clone looks at him with a confused expression. Then he spoke up; "truth be told, Lothir, the only thing I know is that those who created the Leechers are of demonic descent and that like your father that you've mentioned to me, they aspire to dominate the galaxy that we have, but they do not wish to expend those under their rule to do so, so they created the Leechers just before initiating a full scale galactic war with us. The real motivation to why our enemies come after us, I'm not to sure of that myself."