The Limits of Devotion

*Smax was the first one onto the first floor* Smax: Damn it he's a snitch!

Conani went downstairs perfectly groomed and well-dressed, looking like she hadn't just had a few fearsome battles the day before. She gave a sheepish smile to Smax, and said, "I was expecting it. Pale Master--are you still there?" She grabbed the handle of the basket the skull was supposed to be inside, and shook it gently.

you all notice just now that Zentaku is asleep in the middle of the room upside down suspended by the rafters that he has tied his feet to. (face still obscured by his hood ) he is simply there asleep like that.

Smax: Fucking show off -_-

Zentaku continues to sleep

Smax: Wake up idiot! *bangs his head with his sheathed sword*

Conani just watched from a few yards across the room. She blinked and wondered why she was with these people in the first place, and figured it wasn't really the time to be playing around.

"Well, if the innkeeper is gone, we must find him," Conani said with a sense of detachment, as if not involved in the matter at hand in the least.

as you go to hit Zentaku with the sheathed blade, you see some dark gleam appears within the hood for a moment then quicker then you can react Zentaku dodges your sheathed sword pulling his body up in a swift motion a blade shoots from his left hand cutting the rope on his feet he flips to the ground in front of you thrusting his right arm up a blade shooting from it as he does so and he stops just 1 inch away from piercing your throat.

this all took place in about 1 to 1.5 seconds total

Zentaku retracts both the blades and stands, "You should not wake me thusly... you may not live next time."

Smax: Well you wouldn't wake up >_>

Zentaku says still emotionless, "If you need to wake me just use the following trick. Make an omelet I like them and the scent will wake me or you could just wait." Zentaku turns his head to Conani and just looks at her.

Smax: Well then... i guess you wouldnt have noticed our barkeeping friend of ours has gone and snitched

Zentaku looks back at smax, "Well have you checked the town? If not then maybe he is still here and even if he did leave he is a coward who fears the very death that he serves, he would go into hiding not try to report us."
Zentaku looks back towards Conani again.

Smax whispers to self: Smartass..

Conani brushed her foot on the floor anxiously. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She told herself to keep in mind that she might as well have been staring at these people the same way throughout most of the time she knew them. So she took a breath and said, "What is it?"

"Man that floor is comfortable, well at least better than the rocks back home." Ven stands and looks at you all.(He was still on the floor where he passed out.)

Zentaku quiet simply points to his own head and states without any emotion in his voice, "The others wish to speak with you themselves"

"Oh." She got the message. At that point she released the barriers in her mind and entered Zentaku's conscience while being careful not to do something shifty or invade the privacy of the others in the same room. She wondered if she could do more, but quickly brushed that thought away.

Nosro got up from his desk which he had been at the whole night and entered the main room.
"Where's inkeeper?" He asked.

Smax: Gone I need you to upgrade my weapon *hands it to him*

all the following is within Zentaku's mind and what Conani see's/hears:
She seems to enter Zentaku's mind being welcomed in it is like there is a room inside his consciousness with 4 chairs each with their own unique person.

One chair seems to be very plain and sturdy nothing unusual or defining about it as if it was simply what it was within this chair sat a puppet a very strange puppet that almost seems like a statue as it has no defining features as well.

The Second chair seems to be made of small plush toys and sweets, it is like something a small child would design and that is just what you see sitting in this chair a small innocent child smiling at you.

The third chair seems to be made of constantly moving parts all in constant motion yet it is eradic and seems to be somewhat off kilter. in this chair sits what appears to be a very bored teenager who seeing you looks up with intrest.

the fourth chair you cannot quiet see it is consumed by darkness but you can make out a large silhouette of a tall spire-like chair and some hulking figure sitting in it.

the puppet moves a hand saying, "Welcome do have a seat these two wished to speak with you." Motioning towards the child and the apathetic teen. "but we know this is only like a window so you will have to speak to me for now and they will hear you but perhaps you should not make it very obvious no need to worry the others right."

the child speaks very innocently as his smile grows, "Hello my friend."

the teen looks at you standing up and taking what would be your presences "hand" and kissing it as he bows, "Why hello Miss Conani"

The silhouetted figure just seems to be watching though it is disturbingly large (about 14 feet tall and it is sitting)

Conani's eyes jotted open and she nodded dumbly. "H-Hello," was all she could say. She took a seat on a chair, any chair, and sighed in disbelief. "What did you want to tell me?"

Nosro applies a scroll to the blade.
"Make sure it's not your only one... life won't be too fun if it is."

"I demand we make a stand!"
"You are just too bossy. Maybe we should KILL THEM ALL!"
"Dominant power is not a trait which can be lost!"

as Conani looks for a seat one simple apears for her as she sits.

the featureless puppet sits back and watches as it sits seemingly lifeless and limp.

The Apathetic teen half smiles almost as if it was simply an instinctive twitch that was quickly silenceed and he looks at Conani silently.

The innocent child giggles a bit and says cheerilly, "Good morning I wanted to know how you slept last night did you sleep well, and are you okay even though we had to leave our home?"

you notice something now or at least you think you did for just a moment you thought you saw a figure behind the four that you are with but it dissapeared instantly and was a great distance away.

Conani looked from left to right. "I slept... well." She seemed honest enough, because she didn't look tired at all. "But I'd still prefer to be back at home holed into my little earthen room. This place is too wide--too open. Too... insecure." This was the first time she admitted her concerns to somebody other than herself.

The image of the teen looks at Conani sympathetically for a moment ans says very sincerely, "oh it does? I am sorry to hear that, but don't worry I will protect you!"

the Child chimes in inocently saying, "Me too!"

the puppet simply says without any conviction, "It would be of benefit us to go with the majority of ourselves so I shall as well."

the figure shrouded in darkness lets out a horrible otherworldly bellow, "HA I SHALL USE THIS TO MAKE YOU MY SLAVE AS WILL EVERYONE! BWHAHA-"

the other three look at him angrily hold up one hand each and a box suddenly appears around the shrouded one as he is ejected from the room.

the puppet says, "Sorry he never gets out though for we all agree that he is of no good to us so you needn't worry of him, as we are all of equal power."

the teen seems to be looking intently at Conani as he says, "Well if you ever need anything at all you can come to us."

the child adds happily with a smile, "Yeah!"