The Truth Within the Truth: A Fullmetal Alchemist RP

[CrazyBlaze]

James pulled out his gun and loaded it with his piercing bullets, and leveled it at Torul.
"Very well. We will respect your final wish. I am not so cruel as to deny you that. Everyone, stand at the ready. When he is done his blood will be on my hands but be prepared for ay tricks he may have," James looked at lines in the sand. They looked suspicious and he was not going to be caught off guard. The old monk was craftier then we was letting on.

 

[Fragrance of Mtn Dew]

After hearing that the squad consensus seemed to go along with massacring everyone inside the temple, Marlin was quite pleased to see that the temple appeared to be deserted. He had been trying to come up with a way to save those he could while making it look like an accident, but now those plans would no longer be needed it seemed. Instead, he would need to find a way to capture the Master Torul who now stood before them.

Torul was old and appeared to be clumsy, but Marlin knew better than to underestimate him based on that after his last battle with an Ishvalan monk. That Torul emerged unharmed from Kallu's attack confirmed Marlin's suspicions. No amount of luck could have saved a normal man from that. Marlin quickly set his jar down and touched the circle to fill it with water, preparing for what seemed like it would be a fierce battle.

But it seemed that Torul wasn't going to fight them. He wanted to talk instead. As much as Marlin wanted to find a compromise, he remembered the look on the Fuhrers face when he ordered Torul's elimination and knew that there was no way the Fuhrer would accept any other result. Marlin could not spare this man, but he could at least hear this lesson.

Thankfully, James seemed to feel the same as Marlin. Marlin kept his hands on the jar and his eyes on Torul. ".... I will listen." He said. "I'm afraid I cannot spare you... But I will listen."

 

[Redryhno]

At the re-emergence of the monk, Kallu had all the answer he needed, this man was much more dangerous than he let on. Nobody sat through a sandstorm and emerged as unscathed as this man did. His respect for the man increased substantially, along with his caution.

 

[CJ1145]

Master Torul smiled, a warmth in his face that showed a deep gratitude for the patience of even his foes. He had wholly expected to speak as he fought them. To have a lesson to relax, and preach as he had in the days before the war was a gift he could not express gratitude for in words. All he could do was speak, and hope that in some way his words would affect them.

"Science, and religion. Two ideologies with no reconcilable factors, true? There is so much different within them, and yet... they are so beautifully the same, in the end. For no matter the words you coat your beliefs in, it has always been about one thing: the truth. What is the truth to all things, and how do we find it? Scientists say through careful research and examination of the world around us. A man like me might be tempted to say it is only through faith and gracious obedience to our God. But in the end, we're all looking for the same thing, that ultimate comfort of knowledge. But truth is... a complicated thing."

He began to draw in the sand again. They looked familiar. There were key differences, but they almost seemed like alchemy circles.

"In our own ways, we find truth every day. How long it takes us to walk from our home to our work, how many pints of blood are in the human body, how many years a man may live... but beneath these observable, physical truths, there is something greater. A knowledge of the metaphorical sense, less precise and yet so much greater in every applicable manner. The truth hidden within the truth. Though we may find truth in our everyday life, it is the truth within the truth that we seek. But this sort of truth is a mystery, an enigma that challenges you to seek its answers if you dare. My children, this can be applied to all things."

He waved his hands around, motioning for them to look at the burning village below.

"Even here in the Ishvalan War, there are both surface truths and hidden truths. On the surface, this is about unruly civilians needing to be put down. But, if you will not agree with me then at least hear me out when I say: would just any rebellion be met by an order for genocide? This is not the worst war Amestris has faced within its borders, nor shall it be the last I believe. And yet, to be met with such harshness makes a man think. So, as my final wish, Alchemists, I ask you to do this poor old man one favor after you have killed him: fulfill your duty and your creed, and never stop searching for knowledge. Find the truth within the truth, and see the reality behind this massacre."

Torul took a breath, and seemed to loosen his entire body at once. No one had noticed him tense up with an inner fervor, only spotting it once it was released. He looked at them calmly, perhaps a bit somber.

"That is all I have to tell you. I cannot order you to do as I say, like your Fuhrer, but I do hope you will consider it. Now then, your orders are to kill me, yes? I would suggest you come and try now, before our sunlight is used up."

It was as he spoke, the setting sun was nearly ready to peek behind the rock cliffs all around them, which would leave them in near utter darkness. If they wanted to end this fight easily, they had to move fast.

 

[Redryhno]

"The problem in your logic sir, is that this is no ordinary rebellion, and was not caused by any ordinary means,"Kallu again started as he stood once more,"The Amestrian responsible for the death of the child has been punished, and his debt to your people paid with his commission and life. Why continue to fight a war you have no chance of winning and no reason to continue to fight?You are the one refusing to search for the truth, Torul."

 

[CJ1145]

Torul smiled at Kallu, and nodded in genuine attention as he spoke.

"Young Alchemist, therein lies the mystery. Your point is valid, but what if I told you the Ishvalans had pushed for peace quite some time ago? And that not only was the war continued, but our diplomat and head of our entire people disappeared and never returned to us."

 

[Redryhno]

"Then I would say that you either are adept at telling lies, or you are given much more information than we are. Either is just as plausible as the other. I know that your people are a peaceful one, but I also know that you are just as fanatical and stubborn in your beliefs as a stone is to the elements. Unwavering,unshakable, and if pushed far enough, unmoving,"Kallu began walking towards the man he believed was Torul, though there was no proof, careful to stay out of the firing arc of James,
"You continue to tell us to find the truth, but what if what you claim to be true, is nothing more than a ploy to buy time for us to be killed by soldiers? What if you are nothing more than a liar trying to fragment the already unbalanced government of Amestris? Tell us, Monk, what is it you are trying to do?"

 

[CJ1145]

Torul did not back away from Kallu as he approached. He only continued to maintain that smile of his.

"I am only trying to do what I have told you: teach. You will find no other Ishvalans here, just a tired old man who would rather spend his last moments for peace than push for everlasting war and decimation of the innocent. If you wish to heed my words, do your research on your own, do not take all I say as fact. And if you do not, then strike me now and end this is you can.

 

[Redryhno]

Kallu's respect for the man continued to grow through his conversation. During the peacetime, he had always held a deep and profound respect for Ishvalans in general, but this man easily lifted the bar by which he measured others. He continued to walk towards the monk, stopping five feet away from him, looking up at him from his small, but powerful frame, smiled, and began to circle the man, continuing to stay out of James' arc of fire.

"You, my friend, are obviously set in your beliefs, but that is just as much a weakness as it is a strength. You may preach to us, but you also tell us that what you know may just as easily be false. You stand strong against insurmountable odds and yet, you know what to say, and when to say it."

Kallu took three more steps forward and offered the monk his hand.

"You are a man worthy of the final embrace of the Stone."

 

[CrazyBlaze]

"My truth is my orders. Nothing more, nothing less. That is my duty and my life. That is my pride. My truth is crystal clear. You have had your last words. We have given you time to prepare. May whatever comes after for you be kinder to you then this life," James fired his piercing shots three times at the old monk.

 

[CJ1145]

Torul looked up at the Stone Alchemist standing in front of him, hand extended. The monk looked ready to return the gesture, but was interrupted by the clacking of a loaded pistol. James rejected his preaching, and fired three shots. What happened next was almost too fast for the alchemists to make out.

Torul twirled his staff the precise moment the sidearm fired. The gnarled pommel flew in front of his face, shattering into a hundred pieces as the first bullet impacted. He dove to the ground before the second and third even fired, and spun in a circle on the ground. Sand and dust flew into the dry air and formed an obscuring cloud around him. His hand grabbed Stone by the ankle. As Kallu suspected, he was far stronger than he let on.

"I am sorry, young Alchemist. This is the path chosen. May your path one day lead you to peace."

Torul pulled hard, and Kallu was flipped head over heels to the waiting sand. He was left there disoriented as Torul charged from the cloud, aiming a swift strike at James's gut.

 

[sage42]

Tasha laughed as Kallu was thrown to the ground, some one of his nature, so careful being caught off guard was funny. She understood what the old man was trying to teach. She now hated this war even more, costing the world a man like this seemed far worse fate than most of what she could imagine.

She watched stunned for a moment and the old seemed to vanish in the sand and deliver the blow to James. He was fast, and relied and hand-to-hand combat. Truly a master as they had been warned. She laughed again. "I'm sorry old monk, this war is costing us much. Listening to you, I almost wish it had been an Ishvalen monk I met on the road a few years back instead of an Alchemist. But my path is chosen, there's no turning back." She touched her coat, sending as much of her bodies energy as she could into the wires along it. Sparks begin to course up and down the coat. She assumed a fighting stance. "Come old monk, allow me the privilege of fighting you before we are forced to rid the world of such a kind soul." She said with a smile.

 

[Redryhno]

Kallu smiled as he was tossed into the air, head over heels, he had met few that could accomplish such a thing. But now was not the time for smiling, and he became the Stone. He watched as the monk disappeared out of the cloud of sand and followed suit, getting out of the small sandstorm created by the monk's speed just as he became to level a blow for the Lt. gut.

He slammed his hand down into the ground and transmuted. The sand between the two men compacted and sprung up, blocking the staff, failing that then catching it in the grasp of the sand. He wasn't sure who was the faster, he or the monk. He charged as soon as the transmutation was complete, using his small stature to his advantage, attempting to take the monk out by the knees.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Spoiler: OOC

I'm sorry guys but I'm having trouble finding a place to get in the action here, so I'll be standing back for a while

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Spoiler: OOC

I feel the same, I'm just waiting for them to get knocked out or something

 

[CrazyBlaze]

James back peddled from Torul and managed to avoid the majority of the force from the blow. James rolled to the side and fired his off five shots at the monk.

"Kallu, Ken stop him! Marlion douses him1 Tasha, Roland electrocute him when he is soaked!" James yelled.

 

[nuba km]

Ken listened to the monks preaching, but at the same time he was thinking about where the people in the monastery went, we would have seen a large crowd of ishvalens leaving the area, they would practically have to have walked right passed us. Before ken realized it a fight broke out and someone told him to stop the ishvalen monk wow with that kind of thinking it is no surprise that he was picked for this team he thought sarcastically.time to see if the monk can call my bluff ken thought, 'IF YOU WANT TO LET THE HELP PEOPLE YOU WILL SURRENDER NOW!' ken shouted 'The other ishvalens have to either be hidden in the monastery or have left out of some hidden tunnel, if you surrender now we will tell our commanding officers that we killed those ishvalens and they will have a chance to escape, if you continue resisting we will track them down and kill them. SO unless you value your life over theirs You will comply to our orders!'

 

[Jedoro]

Elias was about to facepalm at Ken's threat, but stopped himself, as he'd just gotten the remaining dust out of his eyes.

"He could've ran with them," he began, "but instead he's here, fighting to buy them time to escape. You just gave him a reason to fight harder. Now," he turned to face the empty temple, "as entertaining as this is, anyone mind me going in to look for intel?"

 

[CJ1145]

Master Torul did not speak any more words, but he acknowledged Tasha's challenge. He made a charge for her, but stopped as the Stone Alchemist came down and transmuted a wall in front of him. The small man dashed forward and went for the old monk's knees, but the Ishvalan was faster. He hopped, landing on the Stone's back as he went underneath him, and smacked him in the back with a single punch. What nerve he struck Kallu didn't know, but the old man definitely knew where to aim. The alchemist froze, falling as a block of frozen muscle into the sand as Torul leaped to his next foe. The sensation was already fading, but the shock of it was undeniable.

His next target was the Lieutenant Colonel. James fired salvo of pistol shots, and without his staff to block the bullets the old monk relied on speed and agility alone. He spun to his right, then hopped and twirled to the left, dashing back and forth as the bullets zinged across the sand. The final shot nearly made its mark, digging into the monk's robes and shooting out the other side. Alas, no flesh had been hit. Torul threw a hand behind James' head and pulled down, smashing his face into the monk's knee. He then threw the Alchemist's whole body forward, tripping him over the monk's leg and onto his back.

Before he could continue the devastation, Ken's voice caught his attention.

'The other ishvalens have to either be hidden in the monastery or have left out of some hidden tunnel, if you surrender now we will tell our commanding officers that we killed those ishvalens and they will have a chance to escape, if you continue resisting we will track them down and kill them. SO unless you value your life over theirs You will comply to our orders!'

Only James, dazed as he was, was close enough to make out the subdued twitch in the monk's visage. He was not one to be angry, from what they'd seen earlier. But threatening his children brought him as close to rage as he was likely going to get. Torul turned around to face Ken. Instead of charging, he reached inside of his robes, coming up with a handful of steel pellets. With a flick of his wrists the little barrage pelted the State Alchemist. They did not explode, nor did they release gas; but the pain of being hit by a hundred metal balls from the arm of a man who had trained for this sort of thing his entire life was an excruciating experience all in itself.

Torul then turned to Elias, who had made the grave mistake of mentioning his intentions to look inside the monastery. He charged, but as he approached the soldier a bullet grazed the front of his robes. He hesitated long enough for Victor to dive in front of Elias, clutching a bayonet in one hand and his combat knife in the other. "G-g-go!" the nervous wreck of a soldier shouted, before charging at the monk.

Victor swung the knife in his left hand towards Torul, who grabbed the soldier's wrist and twisted it behind his back. Victor responded by swinging back the bayonet at him, forcing him to release his grip and take a swipe at his legs instead. Victor fell to the ground and stabbed at Torul's ankle. The Ishvalan was too fast to be hit by such an obvious strike, and jumped back. Victor rolled onto his side, madly tossing the knife at the monk in a fit of adrenaline.

Torul hadn't expected that, and made the wrong counter. He threw his hand up and parried the knife in mid-air, cutting his hand in the process. A fresh flow of blood seeped out of his hand and into the sand below as he charged again. This time he kneed Victor in the gut right as he was getting up, flooring the young man and causing him to cough up some blood of his own. "Somebody *cough, cough* somebody hit him!" Victor shouted.

Spoiler: OOC

So yeah, Torul is the first of several "boss" characters in this RP. Should you choose to fight them, the Bosses are going to be stronger than any of you by several magnitudes, and can kick your ass 8 ways to Sunday. But they each have their weaknesses, and can be fought accordingly. Since this is the first mission, I'll go ahead and give you Torul's.

When he's focusing on a single opponent, Torul is as capable and untouchable a fighter as King Bradley. He's just too fast and too good at predicting your moves, if not much stronger than the average man. But when his attention is divided by multiple attackers, he starts to lose that cool edge and starts getting sloppy. Momentary lapses in guard, making the wrong counter moves, various little openings that pile up, allowing you to get your shots in. If you exploit those and concentrate attacks on him as a group, he won't be able to keep up for too long.

 

[Redryhno]

The Stone lay on the ground, swiftly considering his next move, when he had a sudden inspiration. He grabbed the smoke grenade from out of his pouch and ran to the temple, transmuted the roof into a small chimney, weakening the outer walls, allowing them to crack under the new strain, and threw the smoke grenade inside the doors.

Stone turned back towards the fight again, and turned just as Victor was thrown to the ground.

"Somebody *cough, cough* somebody hit him!"

Stone grabbed the ground once more and called upon the stone, the sand, and every rock within the area they were fighting in, and lifted the ground in the area up, creating a cave of stone,sand, and bedrock less than five feet high at it's apex, creating a place where his compact form had an advantage and the monk's mobility and wild fighting was severely weakened. He believed the dome was strong enough to withstand the coming bombardment, though he felt the strain of exhaustion begin to take it's toll on him. At the least, he and his platoon would be protected from the brunt of the coming explosions.

The Stone this time did not charge the monk, knowing full well that any frontal assault would end in his defeat again. He instead again slammed his hands down on the Ishvalan sand, and transmuted the stone to create spikes that retreated as the monk dodged them around the perimeter of the created cave as he screamed,"Get him! He can't take much more of this!", leading him between each group of his fellow Alchemists, trying to allow as little room for the man to move around as possible and giving each of them as many opportunities to attack him as he could.