Tempest's Melody

Located deep inside the sands of Vulcan, beneath the heat and Shiian tribes lays a palace of grandeur and dreams, but in reality the home and base for Kuja, an Undead nobleman who plans against the states of Zelpha, in order to create a new dark empire. This is a very lonely place, full of odd contraptions and exotic furniture fit for nobility.

It is unknown for many floors or rooms this palace has. It seems to be larger every visit, or at least change shape. That is due to the magic of Kuja, to ensure that no intruders will be able to enter, and find their way out. Although quite hidden, many Undead nobles know about this place. Kuja has become the pseudo-leader of their kind(in the absence of Lord Garn, whom they hoped would've appeared after Mortikan's death to become their new lord), and he plots to bring about a new dark empire, to save Mortikan from the petty northern Lords.

The staff of the palace are soul-less people, men and women killed by Kuja, but their bodies kept alive for certain purposes. They are not zombies as they never decay; but they lack a soul and thus a personality and lust for living like most people have. Truly, this palace represents a new evil that may begin to emerge, but is not quite done hatching.

Kuja's defeat spelled defeat for defeat the desert Palace. Already trashed by the evil demons of Kuja, the victorious troops of Serdio and Meria took no time in finding the entrance to the palace and doing whatever in their power to loot and destroy it. Despite this, the palace lived on. It's insides were bare and purged of all luxury, but the structure it's self lived on. Following the end of the war against darkness, the palace was left to it's self. Not even the Serdian Revolution and Merian occupation of Vulcan effected the palace in the slightest, for shortly after it's last occupation by foreign troops, it's memory faded from the minds of those few who knew it's existence.

The twenty-three years of war and chaos have ended in the Western Hemisphere of Zelpha. Yet none of this has effected the palace: it continued it exist, although far more decayed and beaten than ever. Darkness still haunts this place, and the few unlucky souls who may find this place probably will not leave.

Kuja sighed wearily as blue mana surrounded him, teleporting him to a different part of his palace. He appeared in his "throne room" although it was more or less a luxurious living room. Kuja was unlike most Undead nobility. He was not a warrior; he strove to dominate through magical means, and deception. That was probally why he had such a large following.

"That man was a little odd," Kuja muttered as he took a seat on a rose colored sofa. "he destroried Odin and our rebellion much too easily..I know he had to be a Celestial, he summoned an elemental."

He grunted, Celestials were what ruined his rebellion! But they couldn't just be killed..they had things Kuja wanted, unlimited power in their grasp, but unable to attain it.

"Most Celestials don't even know they have Elementals..the fools. Soon I shall go to the Holy Lands - as much as I hate holiness, and begin a hunt for Elementals..hehe, yes. They may not be strong Elementals like that one; but I'm sure enough of them will make due."

A dark mist appeared in the throne room and manifested itself into a dark gentleman previous seen in the Holy Lands. In his hand was a small plugged jar.

It was Tasn the Elemental. Smiling, he took a seat on the sofa with his legs crossed comfortably, awaiting the arrival of Kuja.

Kuja appeared, a little bit brazen from his failures in the Holy Lands. Still, he had gotten 20 Elementals(not counting the ones that had been destoried by Jianki) which was pretty good, he guessed. Shrugging, he looked at Tasn non-chalantly.

"What is it?"

Tasn held out the plugged jar and smirked.

"I do believe this belongs to you," he replied, tossing it at Kuja's general direction.

He leaned back and sniffed the air. The Undead had twenty of his kind. Not bad, not bad at all. But did he still have greed?

"Can I safely assume you know who I am? Or at least who I resemble, Kuja?"

"More elementals? Thank you, sweetie pie!" Kuja took the bottle with great amusement. Perhaps this Undead was a worthy ally? Smiling, Kuja shrugged.

"You look alot like the first dark lord, Garn. But you can't possibly be him..you aren't cruel enough."

Tasn laughed out loud at his guess. Yes, he knew his disguise was perfect. Then, his clothing glowed and changed into a more comfortable robe of different shades of violet. Around his head was a headband of amethyst and behind his long raven locks were gleaming earrings of the same stone. His prescence now glittered with immortal power from the appearance of the stones.

He got up, assembling his sashes and robes properly and smirked. His skin was no longer as pale.

"Ah, but close you are. I am Garn and yet not Garn. Darkness is the name some know me by."

However, once he said that, the clothing changed back into the black tuxedo and the jewelry vanished, except a single stone remained around a silvery hair band that held his flowing locks in a loose pony tail.

He folded his arms across his chest.

"And I'll let you know, I'm plenty crueler than the Celestial--in fact, I was the one that made him do many of the things he did."

Tasn let those words sink in for a moment and glanced up at the ceiling for a moment.

"The Talimanc knows of my prescence here and yet, they can't do a thing about it. Lovely how my prescence still commands respect after all these millenias," he murmured.

The Elemental glanced back at Kuja, not a bit weary.

"But that is beside the point. I came here, Undead, not to submit to you--oh no--that wouldn't be characteristic. I'm here because I hate Jianki or Light as you might know him by. And as you can see, I'm not here to harm you either. Darkness does no good unless forced."

"I see.." Kuja said as he listened to Tasn rant on about Darkness and how he was worse than Garn could ever be. Kuja yawned; such talk bored him greatly. He smiled when he heard of the Elemental defying the "Talimanac" to further his own power. Kuja felt glad to have such an.."ally".

"Should I be happy? I'm not so sure at the moment.."

"More or less," Tasn replied with a shrug.

He sighed again and watched the Undead warily.

"I will allow you to continue this little game of yours, Kuja. However, there is one thing you must do for me."

He fell silent once more as if in thought. It wasn't often Tasn spoke to enemies of his host's kin.

"Do not let my host regain the throne to Mortikan," he muttered.

"Done. That throne is mine, I have more legimecy to it than Garn does now. So then, you are going to that Serdian "Masque" Tasn, in honor of the Rlugian Usurpers?"

Tasn smiled mysteriously.

"Perhaps. But I do know ahead of time Jianki and his host will be there. Pardon me, but this might sound a bit odd...since I'm quite sure Jianki will rip me limb by limb, I wish for you to ah...distract his host if you don't mind. I happen to know that Raghnall Zheng is terrified of homosexuals, if you catch my drift," he added.

But before he could say anything else, he felt a jerk in his heart. His host was awake it seemed.

"Excuse me," Tasn said and vanished.

Kuja grumbled at the request, but he shrugged. Perhaps it was time he got ready..

OCC: Yellow/Italics donate Kenjikian, a tongue once used in the Empire of Kenjiko. It's a refined tongue, although it's not spoken much anymore.

In a swirl of a blue light, Kuja reappeared in his Masque splendor. How boring that ball had been! Just a room full of aged aristocrats, absolute monarchs, and other people disconnected from life. It was a pity that these people would be dying, he had yet to teach them how a proper Masque was held.

Sighing, he changed out of his clothes, taking his normal suit once more. At the diasis, Patricia Nuri met him. She dressed a light blue silken dress, her golden locks in a mess. She wearily sighed.

"You have returned Kuja? How was it?" Patricia asked. The magician shrugged. He just watched the whole time.

"Absolutist splendor, as always. They played the royal anthem and they all decended..the advisor was dressed as our lord. He spoke of him as a joke." Kuja muttered. Patricia just gave a weary sigh. Mortikan was no longer alive. How could he be a lord?

"He is no longer our lord, Mon chéri. Why must you appeal to our old traditions? Why must you insist on crushing our foes before your crowning? You will be our roi mauvais in the end..it doesn't matter if you wait or not. You are destined for great things."

Kuja grinned at her butchered attempt at Kenjikian. Patricia didn't need to be cultured. Her well-curved body was enough for any man. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a lovable peck.

"Practicing your Kenjikian? It's still a little butchered I must say...mais c'est la vie. It doesn't matter. You will make a loving Reine no matter what."

Patricia wearily sighed. Did Kuja want to keep her dumb and easily to manipulate? She wasn't going to sit aside and let him control her. It had been her idea to rebel in Ivendell, it had been all hers..why shouldn't she get some credit? She wanted to rule, not just reign.

"Pensées malades de pensée de votre seigneur ma boulette?"

Patricia turned pale. Kuja could read minds? She had never knew..he had never mentioned it before! She bowed low to him, kissing his feet and begging for mercy. Kuja shrugged non-chalantly.

"La mort est quelque chose que vous pouvez ne jamais éviter. Avec reconnaissance, la moissonneuse a a choisi de vous épargner ce jour." Kuja replied in his crisp Kenjikian, strutting away to rest. leaving his lover to sit in sorrow of what she had done.

Kuja emerged from his sleeping chamber, refreshed and repowered. Such strength drawn from darkness required Kuja to rest many times after powerful tasks, or doing many small tasks over a number of days. Pactricia still hadn't said anything to him. She was locked in her room, crying and whining. She was obbessed over betraying her future lord.

"Haha, so manipulative she is. She held some independance, but I have a feeling she will be a willing vessal hence-forth. My plan will be ready soon enough. No, no..I won't be killing Drake Rlugia just yet. That golden bird shall fly into my cage of deception in due time. For now, I need to march unto Estonrell. As I speak, the petty lords quarrel over the remains of Mortikan's empire. I know now since my defeats in the Holylands and Bali, that I cannot succeed without a true base of operations. A base with willing vessals, supplies, and magic. This palace can only offer so much." Kuja sighed and attached a sword to his belt. It was a ceremonial blade, but was still coated with enough deadly toxins to destory those unwilling of life. Still, plans were needed. How could Estonrell be siezed from those rueful aristocrats? He had the elementals, yes. But that wasn't enough. He needed more influence. He needed a base of operations before he could even think of marching into Mortikan.

"The lands of Eden and Vulcan. Fertile, open for business and weakened by internal conflict. The Shii and barbarians - swayed not by word nor gold, but power. I can crush those primitive beings with the Elementals, and recruit as time passes. If that Jianki appears..oh he will not like what will happen. Now then.."

Kuja tossed on a cloak and teleported out of the palace. It was time to subjugate the wild lands of Erindin.

Kalishra blasted her way into the desert palace. She did not have time to look through the tricks of her former vessal! Kalishra knocked past the ancient portraits and other knick-knacks. Ugh! Why had Kuja wanted such things? Perhaps it would've been better to have kept him alive.

"Ragh! I cannot take this. I am too busy to look for Kuja's plans!" Kalishra roared, blasting a hole in the wall, some sand seeping in. The whole palace was a mess; Kalishra needed Kuja's help. True, he had been her vessal. But he had possessed a soul, a soul that could be returned to it's body. With Kuja's manipulative ideals, and Kalishra's strength, they would not fail.

The palace was restored in regal splendor, as it had been some time ago. Kuja was returning from overseeing Serdio. The Undead lords and ladies, those who ruled the empire for Kuja, along with their Shiian slaves gathered in the steppe grass of the palace, with Empress Patricia and Kalishra. While it was known what Patricia did, many were sceptical of Kalishra, unknowing of what she did. They all expected that the goddess had some hold over Kuja.

"Welcome home milord. Has it been a tiring trip?" Patricia asked, raising up from her alofted chair to greet her husband and lord. She bowed low to him, basking in the glory which he was; what Sorthania was.

"Yes, somewhat. But please, keep me up to date. What has been happening since my departure?"

"The Celestials..they have annexed Mistia. There is also a growing conflict in the north, between the Dark Lord Mortikan, and the rebels in Hayholt. I expect that war may erupt there soon."

"Good, good. Aggression fills this land, as will darkness in due time. When did the Celestials take control over Mistia? We've had patrols around there for ages.."

"When you removed the patrols, milord. You needed extra firepower in your naval fleet, remember? The Celestials slipped in. They've taken total control over the isle."

"I see..we must not allow the Celestials to insult us so! We must prepare for war..against our greatest foe..against the Holylands. Only then will Darkness come over this land."

The courtiers bowed low, as did the empress. One of the beaurocratic ministers stood next to Kuja. He pulled out a piece of paper, and a pen.

"Milord, how many quotas of supplies will you need in advance from your fiefs?"

"I think a years worth will do. Extract from each fief 120,000 men, and 12,000,000 in gold. Except from Serdio. I will just require 1200 men from them, and 600 in gold. They need supplies to fend off the revolts." Kuja replied.

"I shall relay these messages to the Viceroys, then. How many supplies shall we gather from Vulcan?" The minister replied.

"As Vulcan is my own, I will punish myself for allowing the Celestials to get in Mistia. I will take 500,000 men and 60,000,000 in gold from Vulcan."

The minister bowed, as did the numerous courtiers. It was a flocking back into the palace, but Kalishra remained behind, annoyed at Kuja's actions. She seemed displeased, and worried all at once. War with the Holylands? Was Kuja crazy?

"You must call off this attack," The goddess hissed. "you won't stand a chance! The Holylands are large and spawling. You won't ever conquer them. And your rule..it is too lax. You will not have the required supplies in time!"

"Quiet! I am the emperor, and I say we go to war with the Holylands.."

Kuja swept into his palace, leaving Kalishra alone.

Supply wagons were arriving in the court quicker than anticipated. Of course, they were not ladden with gold as antipated, and the troops ordered were much smaller than asked. The Viceroys gave various excuses, which was found quite annoying. Even Kuja, the master of Vulcan was unable to scounge up the required men and gold. There just simply not enough supplies laying around to be used for such a costly campaign.

"Sir, the quotas have been counted." A minister stated to Kuja.

"Yes? What is the total?"

"600,000 troops, and 5,000,000 in Gold..I know it is below expectations, but you must know that these regions are not rich in gold, and it's hard enough to collect troops with revolting natives at every corner. Are you still set to invade the Holylands?"

"Yes."

"It would be much wiser to open up a front in the colonies of the Celestials? Mistia and Bali? Or even in the Highlands or ZEAL-"

"No. We must sack the Celestial capital and prove our worth. We will directly attack them."

Kuja said no more, and retired from the throne room to rest.

The troops and gold were prepared. Carts and ships, and various other things were prepared and ready to be sent off. It was a happy day in the frail Sorthanian court. Despite news of a Slave revolt in Alexandria and a massive murder of Undead landowners in southern Vulcan, the attack was too continue. It was no better when there was news of Serdians revolting along the Truce Moutains and retreating to Annona, a sacred city untouchable by evil.

"So, you shall keep going?"

"Yes," Kuja snarled. "despite these problems, I must keep the invasion going. The militia will put down these problems."

Blood, screams of agony, groans, laughter, tears plagued his dreams. The violet-haired man writhed in his bed, hand scrunching up the thin sheet over his body. His eyebrows puckered and he looked like he was in anguish as sweat poured from his brow, making the room smell like blue lotus.

But other than the intermittent groans that escaped his pale lips, he made no other noise. There was a faint whisp of dark mist, which surrounded his person, travelling over and under him in very odd patterns.

One last cold laugh from his dreams and he opened his eyes in alarm. Fathomless black eyes looked up and only saw a grey ceiling. His heart beat like a freight train and the air was moist, it was humid to him.

White-knuckled hands released the mangled blanket and he tried to calm his breathing down. A cool hand reached up to his damp forhead and he closed his eyes for a moment.

Where was he? Who was he?

Oh great, it seemed he had lost his memory. And yet, this didn't make him panic at all.

His brow became smooth again as his mind worked to try to scavenge for memories. The dark mist was gone now and he seemed to be thinking most clearly. However, all he could remember was his name, his identity as Dark Lord, and that he was powerful.

"Hm...Garn Tasn Zheng...yes...I'm him. He's lord of Mortikan...yes...but Mortikan is cold..." he mused to himself, unaware of what language he was using.

But then, his eyes opened in alarm when he heard someone enter his chambers. Hand leaving his forhead, he craned his neck to see who it was.

A woman entered, sleek and wearing a gown of black. The scent of death was heavy around her, and her aura was much too powerful to be mortal. It was the reaper's bride, the avatar of death: Kalishra. Ornamental gold and gems clung to her, but such fortunes she did not seem to mind. She lowered her head to examine the suffering lord. Her eyes were devoid of all thought and feeling.

"Awake? Good." The goddess replied, opening the heavy baroque curtains in the room. A gloomy light filled the bed chamber. It was never happy in Vulcan. Darkness forever lingered. With a slight smile, Kalishra took a seat near the bed, where the lord sat.

"It is of great rejoicing that are you awake Lord Garn," Kalishra whispered into his ears, pouring sweet lies and comments like a golden wine into him. Kalishra needed to work this man to the best of her abilities. There was little time left.

"As we speak, losses pile. I fear that our time in this mortal land is not to last. But..with just a little more I can destory this pathetic world. Darkness will cover all exsistance. Kuja..he has served his purposes and intents. He has carved an empire, one to open the gates of darkness. But..now those gates must open. Garn Tasn, can you accept this fate that has been given to you?"

Garn eyed this newcomer with suspicion. He forced himself to sit up as this woman spoke. She wasn't the most attractive of creatures, but she was clearly formidable.

She spoke of darkness with a caress in her voice and she spoke of power. She also mentioned Kuja--who the bloody hell was that? No matter, he was Dark Lord Garn Tasn Zheng. He was going to become the most powerful of all. With this woman, he can become what he wanted. And perhaps even finally get the Holy Lands.

But then, the Celestial realized something else--this wasn't his time. Where the hell was he? Running a hand through his violet tresses, he fell silent for a moment and looked away to the foot of his bed.

"...first, tell me what has happened to my Mortikan. This isn't my time," he muttered.

Garn strained to remember, but there were large holes in his memory. He didn't remember his spouse nor his deceased son, he only remembered his life before his reign as Mortikan and the years he reigned Mortikan.

[OOC: This is continued from the healing springs.]

Garn returned to the Desert Palace, drenched from head to toe. He left a trail of pink moisture as he walked down the halls, not caring one bit. The former dark lord walked as if he owned the place.

There was an amused smile upon his lovely countenance as he passed through the cooled halls. He'd heard of the invasion in Serdio was he was amused, very amused.

Kuja has nothing left but his puny life. But no matter. I will claim back everything that was his and even the Holy Lands. The thought of him finally acquiring his homeland filled the Celestial with glee as he walked into his room.

Smiling almost as if he'd already taken over the world, he closed the door behind him and tore off his wet toga, tossing it to the floor.

Clad only in wet white pants, he looked through a closet of prepared clothes and commenced looking through all of them with a meticulous eye. He wouldn't wear black, but he had to wear something that didn't remind him of Jianki.

Finally, after a bit of rifling, he cried out in victory and thrusted a green sleeveless robe out into the open air, bumping his head on the top of the closet.

Instantly, flashes of the Dark Lord Mortikan and two women and their wails claimed his eyes and ears. He froze for a moment, fathomless black eyes wide with shock and surprise.

But the next moment, these images faded and he withdrew from the closet, slipping the green robe over his head.

The fabric was light and it clung to his lightly damp skin. He tugged at it and looked at himself in a mirror. But his eyes were distracted. Who were those two women? One called him Tasn. The other called him Lord Garn. What the hell?

Biting his painted lower lip, he staggered over to the bed and sat down upon the mattress. Garn hid his head in his hands, eyes closing for a moment and he tried in vain to make sense of what he'd just seen. Was it a vision? No, impossible. That brat Mortikan was in it.

..Woe. Such woe. All around, the world of Sorthania fluttered and fell. First Poseidon. Then Eden. And now Serdio. But it really did not matter to Kalishra. The dreaded darkness that hung over the world would not end..no, not yet. It was far too early. Destruction would still fill this world.

The goddess waltzed into Kuja's room. There he lay, beaten and battered. Barely alive. His life force was shrinking..he would not live much longer. Removing a sword from her belt, Kalishra thrust down. Crimson flew out, and the struggle to live or die was over. The sword had been plunged firmly into Kuja's throat.

"Sleep tight, my prince." Kalishra muttered, removing her blade. Clasping her hand, she began to mutter strange words as she moved slowly over the dead body. A dark aura roared.

"Yes, yes. Diamatchi...awaken. Awaken to serve your lord.."

The roared grew louder. Kalishra smirked.

"There is just one other. I shall create myself a path into the heavens. There, the final concert shall begin. Light against darkness..only darkness can triumph in the end.."

“So, twenty-three years ago, huh…? Doesn’t look like it.”

“Well, you must account for the aging…”

The Desert Palace had been the former home and center of power from which the demonic Kuja had lorded over Vulcan and nearly the whole of Bellterra during his short period of power. As such, the palace had been constructed with great elegance and pomp, but of course that had been long lost to the tomes of history. The palace was now in serious disarray, the fine walls slowly splintering apart, the tiled floors badly cracked, and sand in all directions. The once lively ghoulish staff of the palace had been reduced to piles of bones, and the place reeked of certain despair, and certainly not the great power Kuja had apparently possessed. The palace was barren; aside from natural decay, Serdian and Merian troops had dealt the palace a special visit following the final defeat of the forces of darkness. All kinds of loot were carried back to Serdio and Meria, leaving the palace in further desolation. The palace was lost to history soon after, slowly sinking beneath the tides of the great desert it was part of.

For the first time since the destruction of Sorthania, some form of life was present in the palace, two to be exact. Firstly was a woman who did not look any older than her early twenties, accompanied by another woman who was far older, garbed in robes and obviously skilled in the arts of magic. Both of the women had to possess some form of talent, as Vulcan was no simple place, and the palace was located in a desolate area, far from civilization and much closer to danger. The younger woman, merely a girl in comparison to much older one, could only flick her hair with a slight disinterest before taking a seat on a pillar that had been knocked over.

”Are you really sure it’s safe, grandmamma? I mean…no offense, but this place is a dump. I’m sure it looked reasonably cute back in the day—after all, that Kuja apparently had some style. But now…ugh! All this sand, it’s disgusting.”

“I could have everything restored and renovated to your tastes in a matter of time. It is all up to you…”

At this statement by the elderly woman, the younger girl grinned, raising up from her seat and surveying the surroundings.

“You could have all this sand cleared out? The tiles restored? Pillars replaced? Walls rebuilt and refurbished? The magical seals re-enchanted? Statues imported? Bloodstones recovered? Monsters revived?”

“Yes,” The older woman replied rather blankly. “And more. If you desire.”

“Oh, grandmamma!” The young woman flung herself around the old woman, giving her a tight hug. “This is possibly the best present I have ever received! I want it done immediately! And I want some changes and expansion, too. The original construction was simply too small, and ill equipped. I want something to be proud of.”

“Of course.” The old woman replied. “It will be done however you desire.”

“Good.” At this, the young girl turned to look at a badly ruined wall. “Twenty-three years…has it really been that long since his demise?”

“Yes, and since your birth. They were wrong to give Kuja such a flippant hand in dealing with the Zelphians…he was too concerned with worldly power, and not enough of the ultimate goal. That is why he got caught up in the mess and met his own demise. You must not allow that to happen to you.”

“Prototypes.” The young girl replied with a great sigh. “They couldn’t have expected him to accomplish everything in such a short time! He was too easily outwitted…he had too many flaws. And it didn’t matter if he accomplished anything or not…his lifespan was limited. He would’ve been gone before anything substantial was achieved anyways. It’s good he has been done away with.”

“They have entrusted you to carry out things now. You were conceived even while Kuja seemed capable of doing things. Yet his death has set back things…it has been twenty years. Twenty years of peace. It will be more difficult for you than it was for Kuja. There is no chaos in this world… Mortikan is vanquished, and the great wars long over.”

The young girl smiled. “I will find a way to accomplish what is needed. But I want this dump fixed up, first. Then we can begin thinking of our plan of action. Until then, I might fancy a visit to Serdio… I hear that city of Esto Gaza has grown leaps and bounds since Kuja’s time. Home to a massive palace, a great home, where the hero lives!”

“Of course. Do as you wish. But do not get swept up in things. You have been sent here for a reason.”

“Right, grandmamma.”

A kiss on the cheek, and the young girl was gone, leaving her so-called grandmother to clean up the mess.