Jjz_Ranma@hotmail.com

Or, if that one has problems...

Jjz_Ranma@rocketmail.com

I am the Imperial Hentai warrior Jesus "Jesse" Zamora.

Visit my homepage at
Http://members.tripod.com/~Jesse_Zamora/index.html
______________________________________________________

() Soundtrack info
<> Character thoughts
[] Notes

                         "Let's get it on!"
                                   -Mills Lane
______________________________________________________

                        B L O O D    O M E N

                  L E G A C Y    O F    K A S U M I

     Based on "Blood Omen:Legacy of Kain" from Crystal Dynamics.
______________________________________________________

                              Chapter 7:
                        The Oracle of Nosgoth

Open on the Pillars of Nosgoth, where Mana waits eagerly for
Kasumi to arrive.  She sees the girl in the distant forest.

MANA[concerned]:Kasumi!  How did it go?

Kasumi walks to the platform and climbs up the stairs to meet
Mana.

MANA[dissapointed]:I see.  So, you've returned empty-handed.

KASUMI:He pulled some weird energy beam on me.  I was lucky to
get out alive.

MANA:Your arrogance led to your defeat.  Just be thankful I'm not
Rezo.

KASUMI:Whatever.  At any rate, I'm gonna need some help to kill
him.

MANA:Hmmm... There is the Oracle of Nosgoth.

KASUMI[intrigued]:Oracle?!

MANA:Yes.  He is a hermit who lives in the mountains east of
Kuno's fort.  Perhaps he can help you.

KASUMI:East of Kuno's place, is he?   Well then, it's time I were
going!

MANA:A moment please, before you go.

KASUMI:Yes?

MANA:... Have you been able to adjust to your new state better?

KASUMI:I... [nods]... I think so.

MANA:... That is all.

Kasumi turns into a bat and flies away, sword in her claws.

MANA:<She carries a heavy heart, that one.  However, I believe
she can make it.>

In the skies over Nosgoth, Kasumi speeds toward the mountains
east of Kuno's fort.

KASUMI:<Funny how I'm going to a mountain range so close to my
last battle.  Perhaps I will have another chance at the bastard.>

Farther along, she notices a light eminating from the tip of one
of the mountains; a small, pathetic little spark, but enough to
catch Kasumi's eye.

KASUMI:<That may be his place.  Perhaps there is a passage at the
base of this mountain?>

Kasumi descends close to the ground and speeds the rest of the
way to the foot of the suspect mountain, then lands and returns
to normal form.  She smells blood east of her and follows it for
a few feet.  It is there that she finds a man doubled over in
pain on the ground, his knee badly bleeding and his eyes gouged
out.

MAN[struggling to get words out through clenched teeth]:Who...
Who's there?

KASUMI:Just a traveler from nearby Coorhagen.  My name's Kasumi. 
And you?

MAN:My name's Ryuji, and I... also come from Coorhagen.  I was
sent by... Lord Soun Tendo to search for the man who killed
Nabiki Tendo.  Some monsters got to me first, however.  No
matter, the... pleague would have gotten me... sooner or later. 
Say, aren't you... Nabiki's sister?

KASUMI[cooly]:I am.

RYUJI:I'm not able to move anymore... And I'll probably bleed to
death in a few hours.  Could you do... Something for me?

KASUMI:What?

RYUJI:Find the bastard... That killed your sister...

KASUMI:Too late.  I know who did it.

RYUJI[hope seeping through his pain]:Really?  Who!?

Kasumi kneels down next to Ryuji and bends her back over him, her
mouth over his neck.

KASUMI[icily]:It was _I_... [Bares her fangs, then pierces
Ryuji's neck with them, slowly draining his remaining blood from
him].

Ryuji feels his wounds go numb with the all-too-rapid loss of his
blood, but doesn't care.  Rather, the only thought in his mind is
of the one feeding on him.

RYUJI:<My god, Kasumi's a vampire, the one who killed Nabiki no
less.  I pray that Lord Tendo never finds out...> [dies].

Kasumi releases her fangs from Ryuji's throat, a look of disgust
on her face.

KASUMI[affronted]:So little left in him, and so much wasted! 
These rediculous wild monsters!  I'll kill the thing that ruined
this meal!

REZO'S VOICE:Having fun yet, Kasumi?

Kasumi turns around, only to find nothing.

KASUMI[enraged]:Stand and face me!

REZO'S VOICE:The game has become very interesting indeed, but can
you find the true player amongst the pawns?

KASUMI:Stop following me, dammit!

No response.

KASUMI:<I'd better not let him get to me.>  Now to find a way up
that mountain.

She circles around the mountain, but doesn't find an entrance.

KASUMI:I certainly don't want to be caught with my guard down and
end up like Ryuji over there.  Looks like I'll have to chance it
after all.  [Turns into a bat and flies up the mountain, her
sword with her as always]

As she speeds up the mountain, the light gets closer and
brighter, a strange-looking, unorganized mesh of yellow, white,
and light aqua blue.  Going farther up, she sees that the light
isn't eminating from any sort of structure, but from a small
chasm at the summit.  She gets to the summit and looks in awe at
the chasm before flying into it.  The light does not shine within
here.

KASUMI:<What the... How does the light come if not by here?>

She flies onward.  The cave is just barely wide enough to allow
her to fit and, as Kasumi realizes, goes on for miles.

KASUMI:<I hope Mana got the directions right!  I certainly don't
want to starve here and die as a bat!>

She goes onward for what seems like an eternity before the end of
the tunnel comes into view, and eagerly glides through it,
revealing what appears to be a museum of sorts within the rock
walls of this place, a wooden door at the far wall.

KASUMI:<I see this Oracle of Nosgoth fellow has something of a
collection, here.>

She turns back into her vampiric state and grasps her sword with
her left hand, then walks over to a book that lies upon a stand
near where she entered.

KASUMI:This is interesting.  [Picks up the book and opens it to a
page in the center].  [Reading] "The Saraphan Warriors were
establised in the time of the ancients to combat the undead hords
that had laid seige upon the land.  Led by the Paladin, Tatewaki
Kuno, they were victorious in countless battles against the
unholy legions, cleansing their souls with fire and sending their
souls to more blessed realms."  [She puts down the book, offended
yet intrigued by the material].

She goes over to the side wall and examines a shield, the crest
of which cathes her eye.

KASUMI:The white lion of Willendorf.  Looks like this sheild's
been freshly made and polished.

Kasumi walks about, looking at a tapestry with a signet that she
can not recognize, a rusty sword, and a suit of armor that
catches her interest.

KASUMI:Kuno's armor?  No, this is newly fashioned.  Perhaps I
ought to speak to this weird Oracle person now.  [turns to the
door].

Determined to get some answers, she goes through the door, and a
plain room surrounded by gold marble walls opens up to her, a
black cauldron in the middle.  There is a man behind the
cauldron, dressed in a white imitation of Rezo's garb, with wild
white hair, paper-pale skin, and penetrating aqua blue eyes.

MAN[deep, foreboding voice]:Well, a young noblewoman?  What a
surprise!

KASUMI:I take it you're the Oracle?

MAN:Indeed, I am.  So, you seek wisdom?  [sarcastic]  Death has
taught you well?

KASUMI[indignant]:I'll have none of that from YOU, sir!  Just
answer my questions before I smite you here!

ORACLE[MAN]:Patience, little one.  You must learn to master
time... [Distant] Yes... Before IT masters YOU...!

KASUMI:Cut the games!

ORACLE:What are the questions for these answers, dear girl?  Do
they involve the Legions of the Nemisis?  [A hologram depicting
hordes of knights in spiked red armor marching forward appears
over the cauldron, catching Kasumi's eye].  Do you wish to know
when they'll invade?  [Chuckles].  What of King Gaia of
Willendorf, the only hope of destroying them?  [The hologram of
the legions is replaced by an image of a massive man, King Gaia
of Willendorf, slouched on his throne, a great wide sword behind
him.  He has his face in his hands, and appears as though he is
crying].  Pathetic little fool, paralyzed by the malady of his
duaghter, the Princess Ellis.  King Gaia the WORTHLESS!!

The Oracle stands there, his arms outstretched and a wicked,
toothed grin on his face.  Kasumi begins to tap her left foot
impatiently.

KASUMI[annoyed]:Are you done just yet?

ORACLE:Indeed.  And now it's TIME for your question...

KASUMI[sarcastic]:Yes, I nearly forgot that while listening to
your rhetoric.  Anyway, who is Kuno, and how do I defeat him?

ORACLE:Kuno, the last of the Saraphan Sorcerer-Priests.  [Gaia's
image is replaced by one of a human Kuno in his armor, without
the unnatural gleam that would later mark him, face down,
kneeling at the feet of a vampire with a black pigtail].  His
VANITY led to the slaughter of the Circle at the hands of the
vampire, Ranma.  For his failing, his spirit was fused to a set
of holy armor. [The image becomes that of Kuno as he is now, a
fleshless suit of armor with an unnatural gleam].  He has allowed
no member of the Circle of Nine to fall since.

KASUMI:Slaughter of the Circle?

ORACLE:While the Pillars give them agelessness, the Circle is no
more immortal than you, little girl.  Save for three who
survived, the present circle is composed of people called forth
to replace those murdered that day so long ago.

KASUMI:I see.  Do you know of a way to defeat Kuno?

ORACLE:I fear that I am unable to help you, girl.

KASUMI:You say this Ranma defeated him.  Anyone else?

ORACLE:Never before or since.

KASUMI:Well then, how do I find this Ranma?

ORACLE[amused]:You wish to find the legendary vampire, Ranma? 
[The Image of Kuno is replaced by one of a desolate road with
black stand lamps along it's sides, all emitting an eerie green
light].  Well then, go to the Termogent Forest, where the Ignus
Fatuous will guide you.

KASUMI:Ignus... Fatuous?

ORACLE[wickedly]:The Ignus Fatuous lights the path to HELL,
girl... YOUR path!!!!!

Kasumi steps back, her sword in front of her and ready to use.

ORACLE:Don't worry, [sarcastic] Lady Kasumi Tendo of Coorhagen,
[distant] I shall not be the one to send you upon your path. 
Until next time...

The cauldron explodes, emitting a blinding white light.  Kasumi
covers her eyes with her right hand.  When the light subsides,
Kasumi lowers her hand from her eyes only to find that the oracle
is gone, as is any trace of the cauldron.

KASUMI:I see he beat a hasty retreat.  What does he hide?

Kasumi walks out of the room, the answers to her questions
forming new questions in her head.  Fade to black.

______________________________________________________

     COMING SOON!!!!     CHAPTER 8:A Vision Worse Than Hell.
______________________________________________________

          Can you guess who the Oracle is?  Anyway, I'm gonna post the 
next chapter now, so wait up!!

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com