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Description
The Legacy of NinjaEin:
--The Legend of Pandemonium Citadel

By: Ian Bruner

                                                     Chapter I:
                                                 A New Horizon

   “Night, Hank.”
   That was all it took.  Ever since I was caught secretly sneaking into Hank’s store to buy things, he’s been my associate to the more mundane requirements of life ever since.  I’d send him a list, he gets the stuff I need, and leaves it in his office.  I go it, leave the cash, and take my groceries.  That was all.
   “Ah…nice night…it’s a shame I really can’t enjoy it."  I walked on.  I’d love to stay and take in the night air, but I had things to do.  People to see.  You know, a social life.  It’s about time someone talks to me in this town.
   Oh, I'm sorry.  My name is NinjaEin.  I’m a freelance sword-for-hire here in the capital of the New World, Washington D.C.  It’s a nice place, but with some unsightly buildings here and there it’s kind of hard for people to notice me.  That’s ok by me, as my work doesn’t really get appreciated all that well around here anyway.  The “leaders” call me a terrorist due to the fact that I suddenly appeared from nowhere and saved the city from a violent gang war.  They needed a scapegoat for the mess, and I was there.  It’s that simple.
   By the way, some people call me Ein for short.  It’s much more simple to remember.
   “Hold it mister, do you have a moment?”  I stopped.  At first, I suspected some hooker got lonely and saw me as an easy target.  Luckily, I know better.
   “Sorry, I don’t have the time.”
   “Oh, you will.  My master has a proposition for you; one that you won’t be able to turn down!”  By now, I was agitated.  I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get where I needed to be going.
   “And what if I do?  What are you going to do?  Call the police for something I didn’t do?”
   “No…something far more…pleasurable.”
   Her voice was closer.  I could feel her breath on my neck.  To be honest, it scared me.  It was cold, compared to the hot breath normal humans have.
   “I get your soul.”
   “And how do you plan on getting my soul?  I know how to defend myself just fine.”
   “Tell me, have you ever heard of a succubus?”
   I didn’t want this anymore.  The least I could do is to hear whatever her ‘master’ wanted.
   “Hmph.  Lead the way.”
   “Good.  You won’t regret it!”
   To tell the truth, I kind of was.  But, I like my soul where it is.  I already know what happens if you lose it…but that’s another story, now isn’t it?
   I was led to a trailer parked on the edge of town.  I didn’t like the situation; I was vulnerable, without my weapons or armor, but I still knew how to fight without any.  If this woman were telling the truth, I’d be meeting her master when I got inside.
   “Head inside.  He’s expecting you, brave Ninja.”
   I thought that I could run, but my thoughts told me that we weren’t alone.  I could feel eyes staring at me from inside other trailers.  If I had my Esper Blade, no doubt it would be filled with Chaos energy right about now.  Cautiously, I opened the door.  Nothing could prepare me for what I saw.
   Inside was a large chamber, filled entirely with warlock apparatus.  On my left, I saw a massive demonic guard staring at me.  I could guess that whoever summoned these things not only knew about me, but how dangerous I could be if angered.  On my right, I saw what appeared to be an ordinary door, but knowing warlocks I guessed that it couldn’t be normal.
   The guard stared at me, as if expecting a statement.
   “I’m here to see your master.  Is he in?”
   The guard motioned towards the door in the back.  However, he gripped his axe even tighter.  I didn’t think he knew about his master’s invitation to me.  The air grew thick with incense as I neared the door.
   “The door’s not locked.  I was expecting you, fearless Ninja.”
   After entering the room, I felt enormous power fall over me.  My new acquaintance wasn’t an amateur.  He knew what he was doing, how he was going to do it, and something else.  I wasn’t sure…
   “You are well known in the underworld of D.C., my friend.  I’m sure you’ll do your task well.”
   His succubus walked through the door and over to her master.  Shortly afterward, his guard blocked any escape I had.
   “What task?  Since you know me so well, you should guess that I don’t take unexpected calls very kindly.”
   “I know, but I also know about your indomitable adventurous spirit.  I’m offering you a chance to visit a far, far away land.  One that’s much more rugged than this dreary place.”
   His offer peaked my interest.  “Really.  Please, go on.”
   He reached for his glass, and then stopped.  “Oh, where are my manners?  Rhiani, give our guest some…er, what would you like to drink?”
   If he could see my mask, he’d see a smirk.  “You know so much about me.  Take a guess.”
   “Hmm…alright.  Tea?”
   “Fancy water.”
   “Coffee?”
   “I get my excitement from training.”
   He furrowed his eyebrows.  He never would guess what I liked to drink.
   “Uh…I got it.  A root beer float.”
   Damn.
   “That settles it.  You really do know me.”
   Rhiani got me my drink.  I stared at it.
   “I can guarantee you that there’s nothing wrong with your drink.  It’s all local goods.”
   “I don’t even know your name.  How can I trust you?”
   “Names are unimportant.  For now, just call me…Steve.”
   I took a sip from my drink.
   “I don’t like this.  Tell me before I leave.  What do you want?”
   “Always to the point, aren’t you,” Steve sighed.  “Very well.  I want you to travel to a far away land.  My tower is overrun with elementals.”
   He took a drink from his glass.
   “Normally, I wouldn’t bother with off-world people with my problems.  However, I accidentally added too much ingredients to my usual mix, and came up with more than I could deal with.  That’s where you come in.”
   “How would I ‘come in’?”
   “Your Esper Blade can absorb all kinds of elements, can it not?”
   He got me there.  To be honest, I was set on going after he said another world, but I was playing it safe until I got what I wanted to hear.
   “Yeah, it can.  Still, I’m not entirely convinced that I should go.  What’s in it for me?”
   “Always the mercenary…alright, let me see here…Rhiani!  Fetch me my lockbox!”
   Rhiani the succubus left the room.  I heard some rustling in the room I entered.
   “I must admit, this float is really good.”
   “I’m glad you like it.”
   Rhiani’s voice startled me.  I didn’t hear her come in.  I turned around, and sure enough, she was holding a rather plain chest.  I expected more elegance, but beggars can’t be choosers.
   “Inside this box Ninja, is something truly amazing.  I think you won’t refuse after you see the long-term benefits!  Ahrahi!  My key, please.”
   The guard handed Steve his key ring.  After fumbling a bit for the right one, Steve opened the lockbox.  Inside was a rather plain map, with strange markings detailing specific areas on it.
   “This, dear Ninja, is the greatest treasure any world has ever seen.  It leads straight to Pandemonium Citadel.”
   “The what?  I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of such a place.”
   “It was a necromancer’s folly.  Rumors spread like wildfire where I’m from, and it’s rumored that several necromancers got together and conjured up a titanic monument of stone and sorcery.  It changes shape every three years, and each time different challenges await adventures who manage to reach the place.”
   “However, before the necromancers could find it and claim it as their own, the world was lost to war and strife.  Pandemonium Citadel was never seen again.  It’s rumored that it randomly roams the universe, seeking to reclaim it’s lost home.”
   I stared at Steve, and then glanced down to the map.
   “So, this place is where Pandemonium Citadel now rests?”
   “Precisely.  Normally, as I said, I wouldn’t bother off-world citizens like you with the nuisances, but it so happens that my tower lies on the same world as Pandemonium Citadel now slumbers.  I figured-“
   “That I’d be interested enough to find this place for you and take the treasure inside for you?  If that’s the case, then forget it.”
   “No.”
   This was a first.  Greed was the only thing I saw around D.C., so it was natural that I’d suggest such a thing.
   “Just knowing it exists…imagine the prestige that would come!  I don’t care about the treasures inside the Citadel; just the knowledge that it exists will be enough to persuade my fellow magicians to look further into this.  We could learn from races long forgotten!  If we knew a way to hold Pandemonium Citadel in place, thousands of years could be spent on research alone, let alone delving into the magic that summoned the Citadel in the first place!”
   “I get it.  Whatever is inside this place is my reward for clearing out your home from elementals.”
   “Exactly!  What do you say, brave one?  Will you assist an old man in his time of need?”
   Ahrani and Rhiani looked at me.  Steve was on the edge of his seat, expecting a positive answer.  I smiled under my mask.
   “The name’s NinjaEin.  And you’ve just got yourself a hired man!”

Description
The Legacy of NinjaEin:
--The Legend of Pandemonium Citadel

By: Ian Bruner

                                                     Chapter I:
                                                 A New Horizon

   “Night, Hank.”
   That was all it took.  Ever since I was caught secretly sneaking into Hank’s store to buy things, he’s been my associate to the more mundane requirements of life ever since.  I’d send him a list, he gets the stuff I need, and leaves it in his office.  I go it, leave the cash, and take my groceries.  That was all.
   “Ah…nice night…it’s a shame I really can’t enjoy it."  I walked on.  I’d love to stay and take in the night air, but I had things to do.  People to see.  You know, a social life.  It’s about time someone talks to me in this town.
   Oh, I'm sorry.  My name is NinjaEin.  I’m a freelance sword-for-hire here in the capital of the New World, Washington D.C.  It’s a nice place, but with some unsightly buildings here and there it’s kind of hard for people to notice me.  That’s ok by me, as my work doesn’t really get appreciated all that well around here anyway.  The “leaders” call me a terrorist due to the fact that I suddenly appeared from nowhere and saved the city from a violent gang war.  They needed a scapegoat for the mess, and I was there.  It’s that simple.
   By the way, some people call me Ein for short.  It’s much more simple to remember.
   “Hold it mister, do you have a moment?”  I stopped.  At first, I suspected some hooker got lonely and saw me as an easy target.  Luckily, I know better.
   “Sorry, I don’t have the time.”
   “Oh, you will.  My master has a proposition for you; one that you won’t be able to turn down!”  By now, I was agitated.  I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get where I needed to be going.
   “And what if I do?  What are you going to do?  Call the police for something I didn’t do?”
   “No…something far more…pleasurable.”
   Her voice was closer.  I could feel her breath on my neck.  To be honest, it scared me.  It was cold, compared to the hot breath normal humans have.
   “I get your soul.”
   “And how do you plan on getting my soul?  I know how to defend myself just fine.”
   “Tell me, have you ever heard of a succubus?”
   I didn’t want this anymore.  The least I could do is to hear whatever her ‘master’ wanted.
   “Hmph.  Lead the way.”
   “Good.  You won’t regret it!”
   To tell the truth, I kind of was.  But, I like my soul where it is.  I already know what happens if you lose it…but that’s another story, now isn’t it?
   I was led to a trailer parked on the edge of town.  I didn’t like the situation; I was vulnerable, without my weapons or armor, but I still knew how to fight without any.  If this woman were telling the truth, I’d be meeting her master when I got inside.
   “Head inside.  He’s expecting you, brave Ninja.”
   I thought that I could run, but my thoughts told me that we weren’t alone.  I could feel eyes staring at me from inside other trailers.  If I had my Esper Blade, no doubt it would be filled with Chaos energy right about now.  Cautiously, I opened the door.  Nothing could prepare me for what I saw.
   Inside was a large chamber, filled entirely with warlock apparatus.  On my left, I saw a massive demonic guard staring at me.  I could guess that whoever summoned these things not only knew about me, but how dangerous I could be if angered.  On my right, I saw what appeared to be an ordinary door, but knowing warlocks I guessed that it couldn’t be normal.
   The guard stared at me, as if expecting a statement.
   “I’m here to see your master.  Is he in?”
   The guard motioned towards the door in the back.  However, he gripped his axe even tighter.  I didn’t think he knew about his master’s invitation to me.  The air grew thick with incense as I neared the door.
   “The door’s not locked.  I was expecting you, fearless Ninja.”
   After entering the room, I felt enormous power fall over me.  My new acquaintance wasn’t an amateur.  He knew what he was doing, how he was going to do it, and something else.  I wasn’t sure…
   “You are well known in the underworld of D.C., my friend.  I’m sure you’ll do your task well.”
   His succubus walked through the door and over to her master.  Shortly afterward, his guard blocked any escape I had.
   “What task?  Since you know me so well, you should guess that I don’t take unexpected calls very kindly.”
   “I know, but I also know about your indomitable adventurous spirit.  I’m offering you a chance to visit a far, far away land.  One that’s much more rugged than this dreary place.”
   His offer peaked my interest.  “Really.  Please, go on.”
   He reached for his glass, and then stopped.  “Oh, where are my manners?  Rhiani, give our guest some…er, what would you like to drink?”
   If he could see my mask, he’d see a smirk.  “You know so much about me.  Take a guess.”
   “Hmm…alright.  Tea?”
   “Fancy water.”
   “Coffee?”
   “I get my excitement from training.”
   He furrowed his eyebrows.  He never would guess what I liked to drink.
   “Uh…I got it.  A root beer float.”
   Damn.
   “That settles it.  You really do know me.”
   Rhiani got me my drink.  I stared at it.
   “I can guarantee you that there’s nothing wrong with your drink.  It’s all local goods.”
   “I don’t even know your name.  How can I trust you?”
   “Names are unimportant.  For now, just call me…Steve.”
   I took a sip from my drink.
   “I don’t like this.  Tell me before I leave.  What do you want?”
   “Always to the point, aren’t you,” Steve sighed.  “Very well.  I want you to travel to a far away land.  My tower is overrun with elementals.”
   He took a drink from his glass.
   “Normally, I wouldn’t bother with off-world people with my problems.  However, I accidentally added too much ingredients to my usual mix, and came up with more than I could deal with.  That’s where you come in.”
   “How would I ‘come in’?”
   “Your Esper Blade can absorb all kinds of elements, can it not?”
   He got me there.  To be honest, I was set on going after he said another world, but I was playing it safe until I got what I wanted to hear.
   “Yeah, it can.  Still, I’m not entirely convinced that I should go.  What’s in it for me?”
   “Always the mercenary…alright, let me see here…Rhiani!  Fetch me my lockbox!”
   Rhiani the succubus left the room.  I heard some rustling in the room I entered.
   “I must admit, this float is really good.”
   “I’m glad you like it.”
   Rhiani’s voice startled me.  I didn’t hear her come in.  I turned around, and sure enough, she was holding a rather plain chest.  I expected more elegance, but beggars can’t be choosers.
   “Inside this box Ninja, is something truly amazing.  I think you won’t refuse after you see the long-term benefits!  Ahrahi!  My key, please.”
   The guard handed Steve his key ring.  After fumbling a bit for the right one, Steve opened the lockbox.  Inside was a rather plain map, with strange markings detailing specific areas on it.
   “This, dear Ninja, is the greatest treasure any world has ever seen.  It leads straight to Pandemonium Citadel.”
   “The what?  I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of such a place.”
   “It was a necromancer’s folly.  Rumors spread like wildfire where I’m from, and it’s rumored that several necromancers got together and conjured up a titanic monument of stone and sorcery.  It changes shape every three years, and each time different challenges await adventures who manage to reach the place.”
   “However, before the necromancers could find it and claim it as their own, the world was lost to war and strife.  Pandemonium Citadel was never seen again.  It’s rumored that it randomly roams the universe, seeking to reclaim it’s lost home.”
   I stared at Steve, and then glanced down to the map.
   “So, this place is where Pandemonium Citadel now rests?”
   “Precisely.  Normally, as I said, I wouldn’t bother off-world citizens like you with the nuisances, but it so happens that my tower lies on the same world as Pandemonium Citadel now slumbers.  I figured-“
   “That I’d be interested enough to find this place for you and take the treasure inside for you?  If that’s the case, then forget it.”
   “No.”
   This was a first.  Greed was the only thing I saw around D.C., so it was natural that I’d suggest such a thing.
   “Just knowing it exists…imagine the prestige that would come!  I don’t care about the treasures inside the Citadel; just the knowledge that it exists will be enough to persuade my fellow magicians to look further into this.  We could learn from races long forgotten!  If we knew a way to hold Pandemonium Citadel in place, thousands of years could be spent on research alone, let alone delving into the magic that summoned the Citadel in the first place!”
   “I get it.  Whatever is inside this place is my reward for clearing out your home from elementals.”
   “Exactly!  What do you say, brave one?  Will you assist an old man in his time of need?”
   Ahrani and Rhiani looked at me.  Steve was on the edge of his seat, expecting a positive answer.  I smiled under my mask.
   “The name’s NinjaEin.  And you’ve just got yourself a hired man!”