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>>41044910

When we last left our protagonist, Akayama Kaito, we had just helped the defenders of Earthrealm finish off the forces of Shao Kahn and his second tournament. With victory declared and the Emperor thrown off of a cliff, the portal to Earthrealm lay open. Most of Earth's heroes went through the portal, but Kaito has elected to stay, for the moment, in Outworld to finish up a few things before he would return to Earth.

"I think... I'll stay," Kaito says to Kitana. The Edenian Princess seems pleasently surprised.

"You don't want to go home?" Turana asks.

"Not at the moment. There's more to do here."

Kitana looks towards the horizon. "The Emperor's fortress will be crawling with his enemies, but if we're going to stop the civil war that is about to brew in his absence, that is the place we'll need to start."

"Not to mention that the map in the war room will tell us all of his army's movements," Kaito points out.

"But we're low on allies," Kitana says. "Before I take the fortress, I need to rescue my friend Jade. She was imprisoned during the tournament."

"We do have our allies in the southwest," Kaito says. "Yanake and Asgaarth, but they're a good boat ride away. Can we send word to them?"

Kitana nods. "I'll do so immediatley to keep them abreast of the situation, but without a portal, I don't think we can move them quickly enough from there to here."

Kaito crosses his arms and thinks.

>A) Volunteer to Rescue Jade
>B) Hunt for Shang Tsung, who can make portals
>C) Head for Shao Kahn's Fortress to begin clearing it out
>D) Take some time to relax before jumping back into battle and planning

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>>41044925
>>A) Volunteer to Rescue Jade
Let's go find Jade.
Speaking of Jade, didn't she fight against us at the end of the first tournament? What happened?

Also, good to see you Damashi. I look forward to this every week.

Also, Also, can we like yell until Raiden shows up, then tell him to go back to having a sense of humor and being played by Christopher Lambert?

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>>41046522

"Jade... Jade... Do I know her?"

"You may have seen her during the first tournament. She is edenian, like myself, though she favors the shadows and green garb."

"Oh yeah! I remember her. What happened to her?"

"She was torn between loyalty to the Emperor and to myself. Ultimately, she chose to help me, but I was busy with Turana when she was captured by Shao Kahn's men."

"And where is she now?"

"She wasn't taken to Shao Kahn's dungeon. She was brought to the Dark Prison, beneath an ancient palace far to the west of Shao Kahn's fortress."

"And who owns this palace?"

"Shang Tsung. He may have retreated there to rejuvenate, but he may have gone to the Emperor's palace as well."

"Rescue your friend, with a chance of fighting Shang Tsung? I'm down for that. That sorcerer's gotten away too many times for my liking."

"Then I will send word to Asgaarth and scout the Emperor's fortress. When you have Jade in tow, I will meet you there. Good luck."

She takes out her fans and whirls them around, creating a small cyclone of blue energy that she vanishes into, whisked away on the wind.

"So, how to get there?" Turana asks. "I could fly us there, but we'd likely be seen coming, or we could walk, if we want to remain inconspicuous."

>A) Fly to the palace
>B) Walk to the palace
>C) Fly partway to the palace

>>41046880
>>C) Fly partway to the palace
I wish we could do that whole "Long range teleportation" thing that everyone else seems to be able to.

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>>41046901

"Well, how about we just fly halfway there and then we walk the rest of the way?"

Turana nods. "I can do with that. Step back."

She closes her eyes and focuses her magic to increase her size, growing nearly twice as large.

"Are we ready, then?" she asks.

Tortek and Kaito are about to climb onto her large, comfortably furry back when suddenly they hear a voice.

"HALT!"

They all turn to see a shokan standing on the bridge. Sheeva, the warrior Kaito fought before they stormed Quan Chi's fortress.

"You! Our fight is not concluded!" she says, pointing a three-fingered hand in Kaito's direction. "I will not let such a stain on my honor fester! I challenge you!"

Kaito holds up a hand. "Woah, look, I'm sorry I cut off your friend's leg, but I--"

"Silence!" she says, cracking all four of her fingers in front of her. "Fight me!"

>A) Talk her down
>B) Get on Turana and fly
>C) Accept the challenge

>>41047016
>>A) Talk her down
"Seriously? Why is it every shokan I meet is "Honor this and fight me that." I throw one off a mountain and he shows up at the least opportune moment to fight me. I fight you on the bridge and now this."

>>41047016
>A
Things to do and all that
>C
But I understand your situation, and I don't hate you or anything
Just not the face huh? It's how I pay the bills.

>>41047244
>>41047016
Changing my vote I guess.
>A if we can
>C if we can't

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>>41047131
>>41047244
>>41047521

Kaito looks at her. "Seriously? Why is everything about honor with you shokans? I threw one of you off of a mountain and he came back to finish our fight, and he's still out there with a grudge against me."

Sheeva stomps a foot into the ground. "There is no living without honor! Honor dictates ones actions, honor keeps one humble and reminds you of your place! Without honor, one is nothing! My honor demands that we do battle!"

"I mean, I understand it, but it would be nice if we didn't have to fight. Maybe get something to drink, and--"

"There is nothing 'nice' about honorable kombat!" she interrupts him. "You and I must battle! And the victor must honorably decide the fate of the defeated!"

"So if I beat you, you'll take your punishment with dignity? Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes, but you won't," she says, getting into a combat ready stance. "Now, no more prattle! FIGHT ME!"

"Alright, if you say so... I was hoping I'd get a chance to relax, but if I have to whup you first, so be it."

He prepares himself.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>41047529
Damashi, I'm totally getting Oglaf flashbacks here. She's not going to demand that we show her our honor, is she?

Also, thunderclap and then thunderpunch to the sternum. Hope the dice don't fuck us like they do every time we fight Shokans.

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>41047529
Punch to sternum, blow to the side of the neck to knock her out. We have things to do.

>>41047654
If we do knock her out we should probably get Taruna to fix her up a bit. She just kinda got in our way at the wrong time. No big deal.

>>41047703
We keep her and tell her she lost and now her honor demands something something.

>>41047729
We could just ask her if she wants an excuse to kick Shang's ass. He seems like the type to make a habit of pissing people off and hiding behind his station.

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>>41047566

Sheeva leaps up high, easily upwards of two stories, and attempts to stomp on Kaito. He rolls forwards and dodges, then turns to attempt a thunderclap.

She grabs both of his hands and then delivers two fierce punches to the face with her other hands. She lets go and punches him with all four, knocking him backwards.

>>41047654

Kaito shakes his head as she prepares to summon up a fireball. She blasts it in his direction, but he teleports out of the way, ending up right in front of her where he delivers a powerful punch to her sternum, knocking her back a few steps, before he brings down a staggering chop to her neck at just the right angle.

The move was more a result of luck than skill, but the shokan's eyes flutter closed and she falls backwards, unconscious. Kaito stands there, panting, wiping some blood away from under his nose.

Turana and Tortek seem surprised. "This usually takes longer," she observes.

"I know. I'm glad it ended quickly," he pants.

"What do with her?" Tortek asks, pointing at the groaning shokan.

>A) Leave her here
>B) Throw her off the bridge
>C) Demand her fealty

>>41047807
>>C) Demand her fealty
Demand she show us her Honor!

>>41047807
On the one hand
>A
On the other hand
>C
...Eh, better long term viability with >C i guess. She can do what she wants mostly. I mean when is the last time we pulled rank on Tortek?

>>41047832
Come on anon...not like this.

>>41047902
>I mean when is the last time we pulled rank on Tortek?
Never.

>>41047926
See? C, when it comes to Kaito, is basically A with a little insurance.

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>>41047832
>>41047902

Kaito lightly taps the shokan's face and she awakens after a moment with a startle. "What? How? I--"

She gets up and prepares to fight. "Prepare yourself!"

"I already won," Kaito says. "I knocked you out and could have pushed you off the bridge."

The shokan's yellow eyes blink a few times. "That... That's impossible! How could you have done this?!"

"I'm just that good," Kaito says with a smile.

Sheeva's shoulders slump. "I have failed... I have brought dishonor to my name by failing to avenge myself. Please, let me die honorably."

She kneels before Kaito and bows her head.

"Woah, woah, woah there, I'm not too keen on playing Dr. Kevorkian today. Can't I just not kill you?"

She looks up at him, confused. "I am your enemy."

"You've done nothing to me personally."

"You are from Earthrealm!"

"Japan, originally, yeah. So?"

"You... you must!"

"Must I?"

"Yes!"

Kaito points a thumb at Tortek. "I beat him in a fair fight and he swore a life debt to me. Why don't you do the same?"

The shokan bows her head again. "A shokan in service to a human... That would be humiliating."

"Oh, come on now! I know you guys must have a lot of pride, but there's no shame in admitting defeat. I would do the same if you had beaten me."

"If I had beaten you, I would have thrown you from this bridge."

"...Duely noted. Look, I don't want you as a slave, but I could use some help in some of my fights to come. I don't look at Tortek as a servant, he's a friend. I wouldn't mind if you could be my friend. What do you say?"

For a moment, she is silent.

>cont'd

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>>41048033

After about twenty seconds, she looks up. "I... accept your proposal. On one condition: I will not do anything that will stain my honor. If you attempt to force dishonorable acts upon me, I will break our agreement."

Kaito smiles and holds out a hand for her to shake. After a moment, she takes it and grips it tightly.

"Now then, how do you feel about Shang Tsung?"

"I do not care for those who fight with magic," Sheeva replies.

"Cool. We're going to his house to rescue Jade and maybe bust a few heads along the way, maybe wreck up the joint."

"Jade? She was captured for disobeying the word of the Emperor! I cannot free her."

"Well... YOU don't have to be the one who frees her. Now let's go."

Kaito strides over to Turana and climbs atop her back, as does Tortek. Reluctantly, Sheeva does the same.

The sphinx spreads her wings and takes off, heading northwest. You hold on tightly as the winds rush past, cutting through clouds across the Outworld sky.

A few hours later, Turana lands atop a mountain as the sun sets. She chooses a large outcropping on which to land.

"I require rest for the evening," she says as they slide off. Kaito looks northwest and sees a sea of red liquid.

"The Sea of Blood," he says, remembering when he fought Shang Tsung in the guise of his father there. "We need to cross it?"

"By wing, by boat, or by walking around it," Turana says. "If Kitana's directions are correct, Shang Tsung's palace should be just beyond it."

Kaito thinks about scouting ahead; alternatively, he could set up camp for the night.

>A) Scout ahead while Turana rests
>B) Make camp for the night with your companions; interact with them
>C) Spar with Tortek or Sheeva to hone your skills

>>41048033
>"If I had beaten you, I would have thrown you from this bridge."
We should point out that even if we had thrown her from the bridge, she'd probably survive it and show up latter demanding we fight and blah blah Honor or something.
This way is faster.

>>41048126
>>A) Scout ahead while Turana rests
Outworld has too many seas made of blood.

>>41048126
>B
We're low on electricity and have had a long day. Of our group Sheeva or Tortek are in shape to fight, but not us. We could all use rest. Unless we can get Rain or Shang Tsung to deliver some watts.

>>41048182
Come to think of it Sheeva might not, same with Tortek depending on what the other Tarkatans did to him while he was in their care.

>>41048126
Fine, okay.
A makes sense if we want to be moderately safe, but we better get some downtime soon other anon.

>>41048286
Eh, we don't have to scout too far. Knowing Damashi though, we'd end up captured by Centaurs/Shao Khan/Quilt Ninja or something.

>>41048300
Or Skarlet

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>>41048300

Great, I'll just trash my notes on meeting the next quilt ninja then.

>>41048147
>>41048182

Kaito looks at them. Sheeva is a bit worn down, and Tortek is still rather beaten from his time with the other tarkatans--he even lost a fight to Reptile.

"You all rest," he suggests. "I'm going to have a look around."

"That could be dangerous," Turana warns.

"I won't go far," he promises, before climbing down a path.

As the sun begins to set, Kaito continues making his way down the mountain and searches the area.

As night draws on, he can see fires in the distance; some kind of walled city or fortress amongst the mountains to the south. As he rounds the mountain, he comes across a cave.

>A) Head towards the mountain fortress
>B) Explore the cave
>C) Head back up

>>41048437
>B
What could possibly go wrong?

>>41048437
>B
How many mystic caves could there be in outworld?

>>41048437
>That Spoiler
NOOO! Keep the Quilt Ninja! Trash your notes on meeting the Centaurs instead.

>>41048437
>>B) Explore the cave
Woo! Caves! Nothing bad ever happens in Caves.

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>>41048448
>>41048473
>>41048497

Kaito enters the cave and proceeds down the unworked corridor towards a light. He steps out into a large room with a bridge spanning across a great pit, the only way to the other side and a hallway beyond.

A single mote of the last of the day's light streams in from a hole in the roof of the chamber, but the primary source of light comes from what takes up the center of the bridge.

The bridge is broken, and in-between the two paths of stone is a swirling red-orange portal that seems stable; it hums softly and does not discharge any electricity like most portals Kaito has seen.

Where could it lead?

>A) Head back
>B) Take a closer look inside the portal
>C) Jump in!

>>41048580
>A
We said we wouldn't go far. That's a little too far and we still gotta rescue Jade. This is for after.

>>41048580
>>A) Head back
Might as well. Tell the others later.

>>41048580
So Damashi.
Chameleon when?

>>41049188
ib4 Chameleon now

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>>41048597
>>41048720

Kaito decides to leave the portal for now and head back to his companions, as he promised he would not go too far and mucking about with portals isn't on his list of things to do today.

Heading back up the mountain, he encounters a sleeping Turana, curled up in a big ball of fluff.

Tortek lays not far away, his head propped up against a rock, snoring loudly through his needle-like jaws.

And finally, his newest companion Sheeva sits farthest from the other two, cross-legged and facing the rising moon, apparently meditating.

>A) Sleep alone
>B) Cuddle up next to Turana
>C) Talk to Sheeva

>>41049767
>C)Talk to Sheeva.

>>41049767
>>C) Talk to Sheevs.

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>>41050349
>>41050070

Kaito approaches the shokan and sits down next to her. "Mind if I sit here?" he asks.

"You already are," she shoots back.

He cocks an eyebrow. "So... what are you thinking about? Not plans to murder me, right?"

"That would not be honorable."

"Right, of course not. Do you mind if we talk?"

"I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Are all people from Earthrealm as talkative as you are?" she asks, looking at you.

"No. But I'm the one you're stuck with, for now. What do you say we make the best of it and get to know each other?"

She looks away into the distance. "If you must."

>A) Ask about her family
>B) Ask about her life history
>C) Ask about her interests

>>41050520
>C+B

>>41050520
>C)Ask about her interests

>>41050520
>>C) Ask about her interests

>>41050520
>>>C) Ask about showing us her other honor.

>>41053047
Not
>D) Roar seductively.
Are you even trying?

>>41050520
>>B) Ask about her life history
>>C) Ask about her interests

>>41050520
>B) Ask about her life history
>C) Ask about her interests

Damn North Korea attacking South Korea.

>>41056513

Just had to sleep.

Response coming after morning PT; about two hours from now.

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>>41050893
>>41052640
>>41053026
>>41053047
>>41055371
>>41056445

Kaito leans back as he looks up at the purple night sky. "So, what do you like to do?"

"I don't understand."

"You know, like, what do you do in your down time, for fun. A hobby."

"All shokan are trained to be warriors from a young age."

"That's not really what I meant. Don't your people have artists? Musicians?"

She seems to soften a bit. "Yes, but... such things under the rule of the Emperor are not the focus of our culture. We are the shokan: the strongest in Outworld. We must be warriors."

"Well, the Emperor might be dead now. Where does that leave your people?"

"We shall see."

"You still haven't answered my question."

She is quiet for a moment. She doesn't seem used to talking about her hobbies. "I enjoy pottery."

"Really? You?"

"My hands are suited for it."

Kaito chuckles. "Yeah, I suppose they would be. You know, I have to say, you're very eloquent for a warrior; very well-spoken."

"It comes from my royal blood."

"You? Royalty? Like, a princess?"

"No, not fully. I am merely related to one."

>A) Ask about her Family
>B) Ask about her Life History
>C) Inquire more about Shokan culture
>D) Sleep

>>41059619
>>C) Inquire more about Shokan culture
this follow with more of our wanderer ways with traveling and learning about new people an places.

>>41059619
>>A) Ask about her Family
>>C) Inquire more about Shokan culture
So you're related to Goro then? Do you know anything about Gorbak, or is that like taboo to talk about on your honor?
What's up with the whole Honor thing anyways, I regularly see Shokan get thrown off all sorts of shit and show up later talking about Honor. Is that normal?
You guys also seem to be the only Honorable group amongst Shao Khan's forces as well, everyone else seems pretty underhanded.

How was PT Damashi? Having fun protecting our freedoms and shit?
Did Sheeva show up so you could totally have your Waifu become a good guy?

>>41059811
>Do you know anything about Gorbak
Shit, I mean to ask about Duroc. Rokuro's dad. Just don't mention Rokuro.

>>41059619
>C+B

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>>41059619

Whoops, wrong trip. Eh, doesn't matter.

>>41059681
>>41059811
>>41059844
>>41060080

"The only shokan prince I know is Goro. So, you're related to him, then?"

"He is my cousin. My mother is sisters with Queen Mai. My siblings and I are all considered part of the royal family."

"Well, that's gotta be pretty neat. Who are your siblings?"

"Forgoth and Dromko. Not terribly bright, but good warriors. They say I inherited all of my mother's grace and beauty, and that they were what was left over." She actually chuckles a bit.

Kaito thinks about Goro, and his brother, specifically what he learnt from Duroc's bastard Rokuro. "Say... Goro had a brother, didn't he?"

She tenses up and her smile leaves. "How do you know this?"

"I've picked up on a few things in my time in Outworld. His name was Duroc, right? He and Goro fought in some kind of brotherly duel and he died?"

"Yes... that is what happened."

"I was told that Goro was at his mercy, and that Duroc spared him. Goro killed him and took victory, and this was celebrated. I'm just wondering how that fits into the whole honor thing."

Sheeva is silent for a moment. "I am proud of Goro and his many victories, but that moment was not honorable. Still, it was a duel to the death, and to lose without dying would mean his exile. He took advantage of Duroc's noble heart and killed him. To the shokan, this was a form of strength."

"What would you have done in that situation? If you were Duroc, I mean. Would you have saved Goro?"

"I do not know. I am not as compassionate as he was. Duroc was a very caring soul."

"Did he ever have any wives, or... children?"

Sheeva looks at him. "No."

Kaito nods. "Alright then. He sounds like he was a nice guy. Was he given a funeral?"

>cont'd

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>>41060226

"We bury our dead in lava, in a grand ceremony in which we lower their bodies into the burning flames. We are the shokan: the blood of dragons runs through our veins, and so as we are born from fire, we return to fire. But... there was no body to bury."

"Why?"

"Goro threw him from a cliff in the Cobalt Mines, into a vast pit."

"...So, what you're telling me is that he could still be alive?"

Sheeva looks at him in surprise. "What? I said no such thing!"

"I mean no offense, but I have literally met two shokan who were tossed off cliffs, one of them by myself personally, who came back seeking revenge. I'm pretty sure you guys are immune to cliff-throwing-off-of."

She regains her composure. "The shokan are strong, but Duroc never returned."

"So maybe he lives in self-exile, then?" Kaito asks. "I'm just saying, maybe it's worth some investigation."

"I do not wish to speak any further on Duroc. He is gone."

"Alright, alright... So, are you married?"

"...No."

"Intended?"

"No."

"Any good suitors lined up?"

"There are always suitors. None of them are good."

Kaito laughs. "What's a shokan wedding like?"

"The families gather, exchange gifts, sing traditional songs and any rivals fight for the hand of the bride, should they step forth to challenge the husband. Great drums play and a great feast is held after the ceremony is complete. The shokan are proud of a strong union that will bring about strong warriors."

"Sounds like a nice affair. Who was that shokan with the stripes at the wedding?"

"Kintaro. A tigrar."

"And those guys are what, exactly, in shokan society?"

"A lesser caste. A specific bloodline. Strong warriors, but often unruly and brutish, with little honor."

"And weird cat-faces," Kaito says. "Like, those lips freaked me out."

>A) Life History
>B) Sleep
>C) Write-In

>>41060470
>>B) Sleep
We shouldn't push her too much in one night. Thank her for sharing all of it and then get some sleep.

>>41060470
>>B) Sleep

im suprised no one has really asked kaito why he ask so many questions and is morethen contant to travel the outrealm when he could have returned to earthrelm

>>41060589
It's because everyone in outworld dresses like a hooker, duh.

>>41060775
thats only the female assassin's and warriors.

>>41060470
>Life history
I promise to leave you alone after this. Gotta sleep some time after all. Still, turn about is fair play, I'll answer whatever questions about me you want, if you want.

>>41060543
>>41060589
>>41060868

Kaito thanks the shokan and prepares to leave her to her business.

"I have a question for you, since you asked so many."

"By all means."

"What do you hope to accomplish by remaining in Outworld?"

"To be honest, I'm not completely sure, but maybe I can make some difference here. Bring about good change. My world went through periods of history with tyrants and conquerors, but it's not like that now. Not completely, anyway. All I know is that a rule like Shao Kahn's shouldn't continue."

She is silent and looks back to the horizon. Kaito walks back.

>A) Sleep alone
>B) Curl up with Turana

>>41061154
>>A) Sleep alone

turana might move around in her sleep and i dont want to get rolled over by a sphinx haveing a nightmare

>>41061154
>>B) Curl up with Turana
Cuddles!

>>41061154
>A) Sleep alone

>>41061154
>A) Sleep alone.

>>41061196
>>41061408
>>41061480
And then we wake up spooning with Tortek. Nice work guys.

>>41062721
whats wrong with comedy?

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>>41061196
>>41061408
>>41061480

Kaito elects to sleep alone, using some of his things for a makeshift pillow.

Come morning, he awakens to find his companions, sans Tortek (who is still snoring) up and stretching. Turana stretches much like a cat would, while Sheeva appears to be going through a morning-ritual kata, moving her limbs with fluidity and grace. Kaito walks over and nudges the tarkatan awake.

"So what from here?" Turana asks after she finishes stretching her limbs.

>A) Across the Sea of Blood
>B) Investigate the nearby Mountain Fortress
>C) Search the Portal you discovered

>>41063653
>C) Search the Portal you discovered

>>41063653
heres the issue i have right now we take this portal get and maybe get to where we need to go or we get sent across the outrealm
fuck it
>C) Search the Portal you discovered

>>41063653
>>C) Search the Portal you discovered
We do need to free Jade but...FUCK IT! MYSTERY PORTAL!
Maybe it'll send us straight to Shang Tsung's fortress!

>>41063738
>>41063797
>>41063985

Kaito tells them of the portal he discovered and Turana is curious. Taking Sheeva and Tortek with them, Kaito brings them down the path that leads to the cave and brings them back within the chamber.

The swirling vortex remains between the broken portions of the bridge, stable and still humming soflty.

"Do you think it leads to Shang Tsung's Palace?" Kaito asks.

"That would be an incredible coincidence," Turana replies. "This is not like most portals I have seen. This one seems very stable, anchored almost, though the symbolism of its location I cannot grasp."

"Simple," Sheeva says, crossing her four arms. "A bridge between worlds."

"You think it leads to somewhere outside Outworld?" Kaito asks.

Turana moves a paw close. "I can't quite tell where it leads... but it seems so."

"Perhaps it's not the best idea to jump in, then..." Kaito says.

>A) Jump In
>B) Leave
>C) Send a companion through

>>41064357
>B) Leave
lets comeback after we free Jade.

>>41064357
>>B) Leave
Duty before pleasure then. I wonder if it leads to Rellim Ohcanep. That's the best realm.

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>>41064408
>>41064483

"Best not to look for now," Kaito says. "Later, then."

They leave the cave and climb aboard Turana's back, preparing to leave and cross the Sea of Blood. They soar across the red waves as corpses of the damned reach up at them, futilely grasping at the air.

Through a temporary break in the clouds, Kaito catches a glimpse of the temple where he first met Skarlet and fought Shang Tsung disguised as his father.

He wonders if perhaps she has retreated back to the temple after the conclusion of the tournament.

>A) Investigate the temple
>B) Ignore it; focus on the mission at hand

>>41065053
>>B) Ignore it; focus on the mission at hand
We can sidetrack after we save Jade. Also we have no more booze, so we'd have a hell of a time beating Skarlet this time.

>>41065053
>>B) Ignore it; focus on the mission at hand
i want to but we have to rescue the other hot assassin in green.

>>41065053
>B) Ignore it; focus on the mission at hand

Sorry for the pause; it got very busy at work. Will update soon.

>>41068567
You're fine.

>>41065053
>A
But after we get Jade.

So guys, here's a thought, we could maybe get Skarlet to help out, if she's free, or have Sheeva or Taruna capture her if not, and have Shang release her in exchange for avoiding our patented legacy ending punches. Also, maybe keep his life.

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>>41065174
>>41065184
>>41065523

Kaito instructs Turana to land on the other side of the Sea of Blood and that they'll walk the rest of the way from there. After she does so, she shrinks to her normal size and the four of them proceed northwest towards their destination.

Even from a great distance, they can make out the green soulnado that rises from the palace. "Is that what he uses to recharge?" Kaito asks.

"It is," Sheeva confirms. "The sorcerer feeds on the souls of the damned, and there are many damned souls in Outworld."

As they near the courtyard, Kaito looks around. The palace is grand and ornate, much like his palace on his personal island where the first tournament was held. The front gate appears to be down and barred.

"What now?" Turana asks him.

>A) Frontal assault
>B) Sneak around and look for another entrance
>C) Split up

>>41070724
>B

>>41070724
I bet Sheeva could flat out jump the wall.
excluding defensive enchantments/spells

>>41070724
>>B) Sneak around and look for another entrance

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>>41070960
>>41071710

Walking around the palace, they come across a large garden-like area with an arena of stone surrounded on all sides by green bubbling liquid at its center. Experimentally, Kaito drops a stone inside and watches it slowly be eaten away.

"Acid?" he says. "Who has a pool of acid in their garden?"

"Shang Tsung," Sheeva deadpans.

"Right."

Kaito approaches the nearby door and attempts to open it, finding it unlocked. The hallway inside is dark, save for light that streams in through the windows.

"The lack of guards and how quiet this place is makes me uneasy," Turana says.

"I smell a trap," Tortek adds, sniffing the air. "And acid."

Kaito looks down the dark hallway and thinks about what to do next.

>A) Find another entrance
>B) Head towards the main hall
>C) Proceed carefully and stealthily
>D) Split up; focus on finding this "dark prison"

>>41071851
>>B) Head towards the main hall
goddamn outrealm hope to find something better find worse every time

>>41071851
>A
Kaito's face when this was a double bluff.</spoiler>

>>41071876
>>41071851
Okay, guess we'll go with B

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>>41071876
>>41071908

Kaito shrugs. "If it's a trap, I say spring it."

He walks into the hallway with the others reluctantly following him.

The main hall is massive, with grand staircases leading to a large floor that lies before the spinning green tornado of souls. The room is awash in the green glow of the soulnado and a perverse chill seems to hang in the air. The room is completely empty apart from this, and in fact, seems as though it has had little maintenance in years, with thick layers of dust and large cobwebs in the corners.

"You'd think he could hire a maid," Kaito muses as he wipes a finger across a large bronze snake, observing the dust.

Turana approaches the Soulnado, but keeps her distance, staring into the well of souls. "Such depravity, to draw power from the tortured souls of the dead..."

Kaito looks at it. "Maybe there's a way to dispel it? Send them all onto the next life?"

"It would take a powerful sorcerer," the sphinx says. "I do not know the ritual."

"Perhaps he has a private room here," Sheeva suggests. "A library or study."

>A) Search for the Study
>B) Search for the Lower Levels
>C) Inspect the Soulnado
>D) Confer with Turana more on sorcery and magic

>>41072581
>>A) Search for the Study
then
>>B) Search for the Lower Levels

>>41072581
>C
Then
>B
If we spot her in there, there's no point. If we don't, we can all punch Shang in the dick afterwards. You know, team building.

>>41072627
>>41072742

The lower levels are hidden, and will require a 1d100 roll. Since we have four pairs of eyes searching, I will allow a +10 to the roll. Failure will not make finding the lower levels impossible, but something else may be found instead.

So let's have a roll!

Rolled 18 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>41073006

Rolled 67 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>41073006
ohh boy here we go with rolling in this quest

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>41073006

Rolled 25 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

>>41073006

>>41073015
>>41073050
>>41073099
>>41073101

As they wander about the palace, they discover a staircase that twists downwards. At its bottom, they find a dark room with many shelves lined with ancient books, the room itself lit by grim gargoyles holding torches.

"This must be his library," Kaito says, remembering a similar room he found atop the tower on his island, where he found the book that would eventually lead him to the Sea of Blood.

"Perhaps some of these are spellbooks?" Turana suggests.

Sheeva inspects some of them. "These are from many cultures... I see the written language of the seidan, symbols of the netherrealm..." She looks at one. "This one is written in the Shokan language."

Tortek sniffs the air. "I no like this place," he says.

Turana nods. "He may have some kind of wards on some of these books. Perhaps even curses."

Kaito inspects one of the shelves. Nearby, there appears to be another room connected to this one.

>A) Search the books for something specific (write-in)
>B) Leave the room, search elsewhere
>C) Search the second room

>>41073189
>>A) Search the books for something specific (write-in)
how to release souls form torment and allow them to move on.

>C) Search the second room

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>>41073232

Kaito instructs them to search for any book that may have to do with souls, the binding of souls, or the freeing of souls.

He investigates the next room, finding it to be empty, save for one sole feature: upon a single obsidian altar lies an amulet, wroute of smooth green metal, in the form of twisting serpents around a glowing white gem.

Kaito is entranced by it, and wonders what it may be--clearly, it holds some kind of value to Shang Tsung for him to keep it here, apart from the other items.

>A) Take it
>B) Zap it
>C) Have Turana investigate it
>D) Leave it

>>41073189
>C) Search second room

>>41073469
>>C) Have Turana investigate it
if it a major source of power for him
>B) Zap it

>>41073469
A+C

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>>41073491
>>41073501

"Turana," Kaito calls out, but she is busy. He reaches out for the amulet but before he grasps it, the sphinx calls back to him. "Kaito! I may have found something!"

Quickly, the Earthrealmer picks up the amulet and pockets it. Kaito walks back out to find the sphinx in front of a desk. She is flipping through the pages of a large book. "I believe this is a spellbook. Shang Tsung's spellbook!"

"You mean, the one he got all of his spells from?"

"No. He didn't learn from it--he WROTE it. He's been around a long time, learned from a great many sources--I believe this is something of a reference guide for him, where he recorded much of his knowledge of magic in the common Outworld script. It would take years for me to learn all of this, but this could be very useful to us!"

>A) Ask her to search for a specific spell or ritual
>B) Show her the amulet
>C) Search for more useful spellbooks or scrolls (1d100)
>D) Head back upstairs

>>41073649
>>A) Ask her to search for a specific spell or ritual
>>B) Show her the amulet

i think we already found Jade

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>41073649
>D) Search for something more useful.
> Complete Idiot's Guide to Disrupting Soulnadoes and Freeing Beings from Dark Magic.

>>41073720
I meant C, if there's any confusion

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>41073649
>>B) Show her the amulet
>>C) Search for more useful spellbooks or scrolls (1d100)

>>41073680
>>41073720
>>41073774

"Neat. So what do you make of this?" Kaito shows her the amulet.

The sphinx immediately backs away. "Kaito! Drop that immediately!"

"What? I think it's kind of cool."

"QUICKLY!"

>A) Yeah
>B) Nah
>C) Why?

>>41073814
>>A) Yeah

>>41073814
>Dropped
Yeah, k.

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>>41073840
>>41073848

Kaito immediately drops the amulet. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"That item could be cursed! Do you recall the lands in which we met? The serpent-folk who resided there?"

"I remember the snake lady with the nice rack, yeah."

"Their shamans use these amulets to perform rituals and cast powerful curses. I have seen great serpents of fire destroy their enemies. Such an amulet was used by my old master to bind me into his service!"

Sheeva looks down at the amulet. "I have seen Shang Tsung become a great serpent, and summon snakes before. He may have drawn such power from this amulet, or learned it from these serpent-folk."

"We should destroy it!" Turana suggests.

"But could it be useful?" Kaito asks.

"If it is not cursed. I say we be safe, and smash it!" Turana urges.

>A) Keep it
>B) Smash it
>C) Leave it where it was

>>41073962
>>B) Smash it
i believe Jade is inside the amulet.

>>41073962
>B
Fuck it. Wasn't that cool anyways

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>>41073986
>>41074109

Kaito brings up his foot and smashes the amulet. A bright flash of green light overwhelms the room and Kaito is thrown backwards.

After a moment, Kaito shakes his head and his vision clears. Lying on the floor where the amulet was is a beautiful dark-skinned woman in green silk--Jade.

She is barely conscious and mumbles something unintelligible.

Sheeva's eyes widen. "Shang Tsung turned her into an amulet?"

"Perhaps he had other plans for it, but no longer," Turana suggests. "Now what?"

Kaito leans down next to her. "Jade? Can you hear me?"

Slowly, her emerald eyes flutter open. "Ki... Kitana... where is... Kitana?"

"Shhh. My name is Kaito. I am a friend of Kitana's. I have come to rescue you."

Slowly, she nods. "I remember... I remember being with her, and then... we were separated, and there was a flash of light, and... emptiness..."

Sheeva crosses her arms. "Shang Tsung was told to execute her. The lying sorcerer said he had her imprisoned, but not in an amulet."

"Seems like something he would do," Kaito says. "Always looking to get some kind of advantage."

He helps Jade to her feet and supports her as they near the stairs. Turana quickly gathers up the spellbook and brings it with her, and Sheeva takes the book she saw earlier written in the shokan language.

>A) Head for the main hall; attempt to dispel the Soulnado
>B) Make for the exit of the palace
>C) Explore the palace more

>>41074253
>>A) Head for the main hall; attempt to dispel the Soulnado

gotta give him the finger also called it.

>>41074253
>A) go home guys

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>>41074277
>>41074383

Together, the five of them proceeded back to the main hall, where the soulnado still spun, the soft screams of the damned whirling about the green cyclone offering a chilling atmosphere.

Turana sets the book down and flips through its pages. "I might be able to find and cast the spell, but... it will take time," she says. "Both to find it, and cast it. I've never done this before."

Kaito helps Jade lean against one of the pillars and the edenian thanks him. He heads back over to Turana. "Well, is there anything we can do?"

"Yes. Die."

Kaito straightens and they all turn to face the voice.

At the end of the main hall, approaching from the primary entrance, was none other than Shang Tsung, accompanied by a compliment of shadow priests.

Kaito's lips twist into a smile. "Oh, I was hoping I'd get this chance," he says, walking towards the sorcerer. 'I'm sick and tired of you running away and worming out of my reach. I'm going to finish you."

Shang Tsung chuckles. "You have survived on luck, and your foolishness has brought you to this, my home. Do you truly believe you can defeat me here, where I am at my most powerful?"

Kaito holds up his fists and bloody gauntlets. "A punch to the nuts is a punch to the nuts."

Sheeva and Tortek stride forward to stand by you. Shang Tsung looks at the shokan in surprise. "My, my, look what we have here. What would the royal family think of one of their own, helping an enemy of Outworld? Of course, I doubt their opinion on the matter will be of any consequence, given what is happening."

"Speak your meaning, you vile serpent," Sheeva demands.

"The shokan are falling out of favor. The centaurs have taken their place."

Sheeva throws out two of her arms. "You lie!"

Shang Tsung smiles. "Do I? After your failure to keep the Earthrealmers from disrupting the wedding?"

>A) Keep him talking, buy Turana time
>B) Taunt Shang Tsung into striking first
>C) Attack the Sorcerer

>>41074523
>>A) Keep him talking, buy Turana time

>>41074523
>A) Keep him talking, buy Turana time
Impossibru!

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>>41074546
>>41074569

Kaito lowers his hands. "You know Shang, I'm curious just how you've managed to keep alive this whole time when you've got so many people gunning for you, present company included."

"When one is clever enough to achieve immortality, one learns to be clever enough to keep it so," the sorcerer replies with a smile. "Immortality is not invulnerability, though frankly, here the two are the one and the same. And I will finally have a chance to collect the last of your bloodline. Isn't that right..."

He morphs into the form of your father.

"...Son?"

Kaito's eyes narrow. "You're not my father. My father was a good man, an honorable man. You're nothing more than a coward, hiding behind false faces."

Fujio laughs. "Nonsense! Remember that time I took you to Mt. Fuji, and we camped halfway up the mountain? You thought you heard monsters in the night. I promised to protect you, remember?"

Kaito's eye twitches for a moment. "I..."

"And your mother, Kaito. She must be so worried about you... How many years has it been, son? How many years have you run away from her?"

"Stop..."

Kaito's father smiles. "It's alright, son. We all make mistakes. Come here." He opens his arms wide.

"KAITO!" Sheeva says, pulling him back. "Enough! It is a trick, you know this!"

Tortek suddenly leaps at Fujio, who brings up a knee and kicks the tarkatan's chin with it before tossing him aside. The shokan comes next, but the old Japanese warrior blasts her with electricity, stunning her.

"No more monsters, son. Come, let us defeat them together!"

Slowly, Kaito nods. "Yes... Yes, of course... Dad..."

>A) Attack your father (1d100)
>B) Pretend to play along (1d100)
>C) Fight your companions

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>41074713
>>A) Attack your father (1d100)
i believe that some ass hole using my father like this would piss me off to no end.

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>41074713
>B) Pretend to play along (1d100)
The longer we can keep him distracted and off of Turana the better.

Rolled 20, 6 = 26 (2d100)

>>41074713
>B
>A
If he thinks we're a moron he can think it to the grave.

can we pretend first then attack seeing as how we have 2 really high rolls

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>>41074763
>>41074774
>>41074816

"Let's destroy them together, father."

Fujio laughs and turns to Sheeva. "The traitor to the royal shokan family..." he turns to Tortek, "or the blindly loyal hound? Which one first..."

Kaito smiles as his father turns his back to him before whipping around and delivering a lightning-charged gauntlet to the side of his head. His father falls down and his disguise shifts.

"As if that would work twice on me. You're running out of tricks, sorcerer. And now it's time to die."

Shang Tsung turns and blasts Kaito with a fireball, knocking him back. Before the human can get back up on his feet, the sorcerer raises his hands and a stream of several souls from the soulnado rush in to replenish him. The ten shadow priests all scatter to corners of the room and begin casting spells, lending him their magical might. Shang Tsung glows with a green aura as he lifts off the ground, discharging flames and electricity as more souls from the soulnado begin to circle around him.

"This is MY home! You CANNOT defeat me here! I have seen the passing of centuries, the deaths of kings; I have feasted upon the souls of thousands! THIS IS WHERE YOUR STORY ENDS, AKAYAMA KAITO! NOW FACE THE POWER OF SHANG TSUNG!"

Kaito leaps up and looks at Sheeva and Tortek. He holds up his hands and smiles up at the sorcerer. "Then let's make it one hell of an ending, old man."

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>41074875
>Red lightning fuckery
You're no god but you'll do for a warm up.

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>41074875
strike his head then sternum fallowed with an elbow to the back of his when he is bent over in pain.

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>>41074914

Kaito immediately goes to charge up his red lightning but Shang Tsung, anticipating this, raises his hands and creates a pillar of flaming skulls that rises from the ground beneath Kaito's feet. The burning skulls knock him onto his back.

Tortek leaps up at the sorcerer, slashing at him with his blades, but the sorcerer is protected by a powerful field of magic. Shang picks him up with a green aura and tosses him aside. Sheeva attempts next, throwing a fireball at him, but he does the same and the two blasts meet, exploding halfway between them.

Kaito gets back up on his feet and shakes his head. He knows that he has to get in close; the sorcerer has a range advantage, especially when he's sucking down souls left and right and eating buffs from his shadow priest buddies.

>>41074942

Kaito teleports in the form of a bolt of lightning right in front of the levitating sorcerer and punches him in the head with a lightning-fist, managing to knock him back a bit. He follows up with a crack at his sternum and then an elbow to the head.

Shang brings his hands in and then flings them apart, creating a wave of green soul energy that knocks Kaito and Sheeva backwards. The sorcerer smiles as he prepares a storm's worth of electric energy and aims his hands at the Earthrealmer.

"Now suffer your bloodline's own power," Shang says with a smile before unleashing it all at once.

>1d100 to absorb it, or dodge!

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>41075016
Absorb

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>41075016
>Absorb

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>41075016
Absorb!

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>>41075035
>>41075063
>>41075085

Kaito holds up his hands in an attempt to siphon the energy into himself, but the power Shang wields is simply overwhelming. Kaito shouts as the lightning pours past his arms and shocks him all over, causing him to spasm uncontrollably for several seconds.

Shang finishes off his storm and smiles as he takes a moment to absorb more souls. Tortek, back on his feet, leaps at the sorcerer.

Shang catches him mid-air and holds him. With his other hand, he casts a spell and conjures forth a metal spike from the stone floor, much like the ones that decorated the bottom of the pit on his island.

With the kind of casual disregard one would show in discarding a cigarette, Shang tosses Tortek towards the spike. Kaito's eyes widen as he tries to move but he remains in great pain from the barrage mere moments earlier.

>1d100 to save your friend!

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>41075140

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>41075140
Elder Gods preserve us!

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>>41075164
>>41075169

Kaito summons up enough energy to teleport towards his friend and push him out of the way. They both land near the spike as Shang laughs.

"Such compassion. I wonder which of them you'll fail to save first..." he looks over at the sphinx, who is still rapidly searching through the pages. "What do we have here? We can't have this, no, no, no..."

Shang throws a fireball her way. Kaito prepares to help her, but to the amazement of all, Jade leaps in front of the fireball! With a metal rod that extends to the length of a full polearm, she deflects the attack and sends it back at the sorcerer, who is hit by his own attack and flung backwards!

Jade lands, spinning the purple-glowing staff around her deft fingers. "Not so powerful after all," she muses.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>41075299
4 kicks one to the legs, one to chest, one to the head, with a final kick to his jaw to send him flying.

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>>41075393

Getting up on his feet, Kaito runs at the sorcerer and delivers four quick and brutal kicks to his leg, chest, head and jaw. Sheeva leaps in and grabs him as he soars backwards, throwing him down onto the ground, giving Jade a chance to dash forward and bring her staff down on his chest.

The sorcerer vanishes into green smoke and rises upwards, where he reforms. He sweeps his hands outwards, creating large orbs of force that knock both Sheeva and Jade aside, so that he may focus exclusively on Kaito.

The sorcerer soars down and tackles him, blasting his chest with a flaming skull before engaging him in hand-to-hand combat. The sorcerer moves with speed and strength that Kaito cannot match and the Earthrealmer is quickly overwhelmed and knocked backwards. Shang Tsung lifts him with his magic and slams him into the concrete, knocking the wind out of him.

"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Shang says, curling a fist. He uses his free hand to spread Kaito's legs apart and Kaito's eyes widen.

Shang flies back and then shoots forward, first first like Superman, aiming squarely for Kaito's crotch in an attempt to gain poetic justice.

>1d100 to make that shit not happen!

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>41075498
can we kill him yet.

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>>41075556

Kaito closes his eyes and shouts as his energy reaches its maximum level. With his electrical power, he destroys the magical forces holding him down and blasts Shang backwards. His blue lightning turns red and as he stands up, his arms are wreathed in red lightning.

Shang looks up at Kaito and smiles. "At last," he says. "At long last, the power I have sought."

He levitates upwards as he absorbs several more souls from the soulnado, which he then uses the charge himself up with. His green aura grows and his eyes burn with emerald fire as he looks down at Kaito.

"It's time to finish this!" he says, lunging towards the red lightning warrior.

>1d100 and an action!

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>41075659
lighting charged haymake to the face

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>41075659
flying kick

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>>41075806
>>41075858

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>>41075806
>>41075858

Kaito leaps up but is put back down by a hailstorm of fiery skulls. Shang Tsung lands and plants both feet on his chest and prepares to pummel him down. The sorcerer lets loose and smashes his fists against his hated opponent's face again and again, reveling in Kaito's pain.

The red lightning warrior brings up both hands and claps them on either side of Shang's head, stunning him. He then blasts the sorcerer off and gets up to his feet.

Suddenly, there is a noise throughout a room, like a crowd screaming all at once. Shang Tsung turns around and sees the soulnado begin to lose its form and the souls break free.

Turana's spell was successful!

"NO!" Shang shouts, holding out his hands. "NO, THEY ARE MINE! THEY ARE ALL MINE, FOREVER!"

As the soulnado dissipates and the trapped souls stream outwards in all directions, the sorcerer holds his hands out and absorbs as many of them as he can. His aura grows brighter and brighter as he consumes more and more.

Kaito's eyes widen as Shang's clothing begins to tear and burn up in green fire, his skin following suit. "I WILL NOT BE DENIED! I AM THE GREATEST SORCERER OF ALL TIME!"

He turns, his skin burning with green fire as he reaches what could be called critical mass, and he prepares to unleash all of his energy in a final blast to destroy Kaito.

The earthrealmer begins to charge up his red lightning and prepares to meet the sorcerer's final attack.

"NOW, DIE!" he screams as he lets loose the power of a thousand screaming souls against Kaito.

Kaito lets out a primal roar as he puts his hands together and unleashes all of his energy against the attack.

>1d100+10!

Rolled 60 + 10 (1d100 + 10)

fucking die already dam

>>41076024
see here >>41076048
for my roll

since i forgot to link

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>>41076048
>>41076134

Kaito's red lightning cuts through the souls and blasts Shang Tsung. The sorcerer's body, already overloaded with power, begins to turn a bright red color. Kaito focuses and teleports right next to the sorcerer and slams his hands down on the ground, summoning forth a red lightning bolt from the sky that pierces the roof of the palace and cracks the ground in half, with Shang Tsung right at the epicenter. The earth shakes and the palace splits in two, with columns falling and windows shattering. The shadow priests flee, teleporting away, as Shang Tsung throws his head back, his eyes burning with red light.

With one final burst of light, the sorcerer explodes, with a thousand souls sent screaming in all directions.

Kaito breathes easy for a moment as the red lightning runs away from him and he falls back, exhausted.

For a moment, he opens his eyes and sees a familiar face drifting away, upwards.

His father.

Weakened, Kaito stretches out a hand and tries to form words, but cannot.

Fujio merely smiles as he looks down upon his son, finally free to join the Elder Gods in the plane beyond.

Kaito watches his father go and eventually his eyes flutter closed.

>Cont'd

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>>41076270

When Kaito awakens, the hall of the palace is dark, with the only light coming from the massive crack in the ceiling from the building splitting in two. Tortek, Jade, Sheeva and Turana are around him, helping him to his feet.

"You did it," Turana says. "I can't believe it all actually worked... he wielded the power of a soulnado, and you held out until I could complete the spell!"

"And in his arrogance, the fool thought he could control all of the souls at once, but they proved too much for him," Sheeva adds.

Jade nods. "Perhaps it is the last we shall see of him in a long while, if we are fortunate. Forever, if we are blessed."

Tortek spits on the ground. "Good he gone."

Kaito smiles and looks upwards at the heavens above, and for the first time in a great long while, feels a moment of true inner peace and fulfilment for having freed his father's soul from the sorcerer's clutches.

"Alright... Let's get back to... what were we doing?" Kaito says, still out of breath.

"We need to return to Kitana," Jade says. "She will need our help."

The earthrealmer nods. "Right. Let's do that. First thing's first, though."

"What?" Turana asks.

Kaito falls backwards, unconscious and utterly exhausted. Thankfully, Sheeva and Tortek catch him and place him down.

"...Perhaps a rest is in order, first," Jade suggests, to which the others agree.

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>>41076394

Well, I think that's all for this quest. I started the thread on a sunday night (stateside) so it probably didn't live as long as some of the others, but that's alright, this feels like a good place to call it for now.

With new friends and an old enemy taken care of, that's two more things scratched off our to-do list.

I'd like to thank everyone for playing, and I'll try to start the next thread earlier this upcoming weekend.

Have a good night, from South Korea.

>>41076445
thanks for running

see you next time.

>>41076445
Well that went a way I certainly didn't expect and even though I totally expect that snake to crawl out of whatever hole he was sent to by MK3, at least we have a slight reprieve and we blew up a Soulnado.

Though I was expecting to have to go all the way to the Dark Prison. Probably should check that out if it's connected to Shang Tsung's palace.

>>41076445
Thanks for putting up with us

>>41079312

Of course, Anon.