Phoenix Phire

Nix stepped onto his houseboat with the intention of grabbing a nap. He muttered under his breath while walking up the steep stairs, he could hear the distinct sound of conversation coming from his bedroom.

"You dealt that off the bottom Ronnie." Sharl frowned at her turn-over card, she had just lost a King-tie.

"Oh-ho! Did I?" Ronnie grabbed another card and flipped in on the mattress.

Nix's foul mood faded when he saw who his visitors were. "Hey... Playing war?"

Ronnie nodded, "it's the only card game you know."

Sharl handed Ronnie all her cards so she could reshuffle and deal Nix in. "We'll wait, go get changed."

Nix nodded and grabbed some clothes before heading into his bathroom. Splashing cold water on his face and changing into comfortable clothes seemed to revive him. He climbed onto the bed and picked the cards he had been dealt. "Did you cheat me?"

Ronnie shook her head. "Now you're saying it? Where's the trust guys?" Ronnie's dark face had a hint of devilry in it. "I just like playing."

They were halfway through the first round when Nix fell asleep. Ronnie shrugged at her sister and yawned sleepily.

************

Tess glanced at Semmi, her pale face turning slightly red. "He's with both of them."

Semmi pushed her face against the glass trying to get a better look. "What's with this tinted window?"

"Nix is sleeping. Changing forms is exhausting." A quiet voice from behind them caused them both to jump. Fajii was sitting comfortably in the hot tub with Wind and Banz. The two peepers had come up the side ladder and had decided the back deck was empty with a quick glance.

Semmi played with a lock of her short blonde hair. "Oh... We were looking for Nix but we didn't want to wake him."

Fajii nodded like the excuse was passable. "Ronnie and Sharl are in there also."

*********************

The sound of voices on the back deck caused Nix to slowly wake up. Sharl was lying sideways across the bed while Ronnie had snuggled up next to him. Each of them had their own blankets. There were cards everywhere on the bed. Carefully he extricated himself from the bed and exited the bedroom. There were a half dozen people in his hot tub and another three sitting in his lounge chairs.

"Don't you guys have your own places?" Nix scowled at them before taking a seat on the only empty bench.

Jun Li held a bottle of wine in one hand and had the other around Tess's shoulders. Her face seemed more flushed than normal. "We are celebrating Nix! Sulane sent me a message congratulating us."

Nix leaned back in the chair and put his feet up on the rail. "We are f*cking awesome. You in particular Junie."

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] Was there a particular reason you asked me to escort Festa?

[Whisper: Nix to Donri: Not really. I often avoid my responsibilities by pushing them on other people.

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] I helped her and some of her Knights get a guild card. They tested to the 25th floor.

[Whisper: Nix to Donri] Good job. I would have done it but I had other things going on.

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] Can I have the Seneschal position?

[Whisper: Nix to Donri] It's yours if you want it.

[Whisper: Donri to Nix] I'll accept then. Thanks, Nix.

/Inferno: Nix: All Inferno members now have access to the 70th floor, regardless of what floor you are individually on. Please do not attempt to enter until we are all together.

/Inferno: Nansu: I heard you are bringing the lifestyle players also?

/Inferno: Nix: Correct. As soon as Morti wakes up.

/Inferno: Tess: Damn it. I want that bear.

/Inferno: Sajana: Me too!

/Inferno: Pon: Did you see him get all raged up and bitch slap that Ape? Most awesome thing ever.

/Inferno: Sajana: Why is he only level one?

/Inferno: Jun Li: Huh?

/Inferno: Semmi: What?

/Inferno: Tess: You drinking Pinkie?

/Inferno: Sajana: No. He showed me his stats. Level 1 Cave bear.

/Inferno: Nix: She's right. He's only a cub.

/Inferno: Tess: Bullshit!

/Inferno: Jun Li: The f*ck?

/Inferno: Pon: What kind of bear cub slaps Ced' Far the Magnificant around?

/Inferno: Nix: The badass kind.

/Inferno: Mina: We going to have that meeting Nix?

/Inferno: Nix: All the officers are on my houseboat. Come on over.

Nix shoo'd the non-officers away before gently waking up Ronnie and Sharl. By the time Mina arrived a few minutes later, everyone was ready.

/Inferno: Nix: I don't really have much. I've decided to appoint Donri to the Seneschal position. I'll bring him and the letter to the Central Kingdom to finalize the position.

/Inferno: Jun Li: Link the items that dropped off the Boss. I'm really curious.

/Inferno: Nix: Sure.

Oasis World Seed

Description: A large forest instance,

designed for the New World.

Escalade Guild Token [Inferno Only]

Description: A pass to enter the

New World and register your guild

at Parliament.

/Inferno: Jun Li: A World Seed that we can't use here? That's BS.

/Inferno: Pon: That token means we don't have to defeat the Escalade boss?

/Inferno: Semmi: Wow, that's pretty amazing... Anyone but me been looking at the forums?

/Inferno: Pon: Nope.

/Inferno: Wind: That's your thing Semmi.

/Inferno: Semmi: The guilds that have crossed lose guild chat, messaging and all guild event rights. Supposedly there are huge benefits to being in a guild, however, no one can reach the registrar office.

/Inferno: Pon: That sucks. So they are just roaming around hunting?

/Inferno: Semmi: It's way more than that. I'll send a brief out in a few days regarding the details. The Registrar office is rumored to be on the big central continent of Inuit. The natives are very powerful and do not allow visitors.

/Inferno: Wind: So the New World is hostile?

/Inferno: Semmi: Yes. The guilds that have gone there all say the same thing. "Don't come to the New World."

/Inferno: Nix: It's a safe bet that since the two drops from the 69th-floor boss are directly related to the New World, then the 70th floor is also somehow related.

/Inferno: Fajii: Are there Aquarions in the New World?

/Inferno: Semmi: Unknown. The only known race is the Dhassi. The Dhassi or Dhass, have three distinct subraces. They are called Fir'Dhassi, Ain'Dhassi, and Su'Dhassi.

/Inferno: Wind: These Dhass are hostile?

/Inferno: Semmi: From all accounts, yes. The Ain'Dhassi inhabit the North and South icecaps. They are referred to as Ice Dhassi. The Fir'Dhassi inhabit Inuit, they are called Forest Dhassi. Lastly, since most of the New World is Desert, the Su'Dhassi are the most common and are called Sand Dhassi.

/Inferno: Nix: The sub-races look different from each other?

/Inferno: Semmi: Yes. The Su'Dhassi or Sand Dhassi look a lot like Ronnie does now. Dark skinned, pointed ears and very acclimated to their environment.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Awesome, I'll head over and start my reign as Queen.

/Inferno: Semmi: The Ain Dhassi or Ice Dhassi has white hair and blue eyes. If you covered an Aquarion's ears, they may pass for one.

/Inferno: Mina: There are no Water races?

/Inferno: Semmi: Unknown. The Fir'Dhassi are the most secretive. Rumors say they are the most varied in appearance. I would expect that they would look much like Chael or Darsi.

/Inferno: Nix: Let's put this on hold for now. Semmi, please prepare a full brief before we enter the 70th floor.

/Inferno: Semmi: You got it Nix.

/Inferno: Mina: The reason I asked for this meeting is to share the news. The three Aquarion women who are pregnant, are all saying the same thing.

/Inferno: Ronnie: SAY IT!!

/Inferno: Mina: They are all sure that their unborn children are female.

/Inferno: Ronnie: Hell yeah!

/Inferno: Sharl: How accurate is their feeling?

/Inferno: Mina: My mother once told me, that she could feel my presence the moment the Cai'Song was used on her.

Silence settled on the group. It was a reminder that every female Aquarion birth was the result of a human girl being sacrificed.

/Inferno: Milat: All girls? That means our race won't die out after we destroy the Artifact!

/Inferno: Fajii: Regardless, they'll be sweeping changes once the Cai'Song has been destroyed.

/Inferno: Nix: We could be looking at all-out war. We'll have to make sure we are prepared before we take that final step.

/Inferno: Mina: It's a chance for survival. It's good news.

/Inferno: Nix: Very good news.

*******************

Four days passed before Morti woke from his slumber. During that time Nix took Donri to the Central Kingdom where he accepted the Seneschal position. The former crafters of the Gladis hub all decided to become adventurers and follow Darsi on the Path of Scorched Earth. Wylie finally returned from the Gladis Ice Temple. With all Inferno members present, the Embassy elevator attendant gave them access to the 70th floor.

Nix and Morti stepped out of the elevator together. They were in the middle of a large grassy clearing. At the end of that clearing was a stone wall that seemed to extend to the sky. In the middle of the wall was a large iron portcullis. One person was standing in front of it.

Inferno walked towards the person, they stopped about 10 meters away, Nix, Semmi, Jun Li, Rhy, and Shae walked the rest of the way.

A slender blonde-haired man with pointed ears bowed to them. "You have defeated Ced'Far and earned the right to enter Parliament. All of your weapons will automatically be placed in your inventory and locked there until you exit through this Portcullis. All spells and abilities of a combat nature will be disabled. No one is allowed to behave violently in Parliament."

"I am Nix. The Leader of the Inferno Guild. May I register my guild here?"

"Well met Nix. I am Bael Strom of the Fir'Dhassi. You may register your guild with the token you have on your person.

/Inferno: Nix: How does he know that?

"Anything else I should know?" Nix could see a sleek looking bow hanging across the Dhassi's back, he was also wearing chainmail armor.

"You may explore the Parliament building at your leisure. You may also explore the connecting courtyards. A magical barrier will prevent you from entering the forest beyond the Courtyards."

Nix bowed slightly. "Thank you Bael, we shall enter now."

The Dhassi stepped to one side and opened the portcullis. "You may exit and return whenever you wish.

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