Atzo

Atzo nodded “Sure thing, I will be back shortly. Oh, and you don’t need to us formalities with me. You can just call me Atzo” He then made his way down the stairs to the kitchen. “This has been interesting, at least she seems calmer now though. That is definitely a positive, I need to think if there is anything I can do to make sure her anxiety isn’t going to spike again.” He muttered to himself as he started the kettle and packed the coffee grinds into a filter. He had allowed his emotional fasad to relax, now seeming emotionless and stone-like “I wonder why I was so instinctive to help her as I did. I guess that is something that was unlocked when I started to allow myself to actually feel emotion and not just replicate it. I think the term is sympathy…” As the kettle started to screech, he removed it and placed the filter in a large cup and poured the water into it. It would be somewhat weak but he wasn’t used to making coffee, much less was he used to making it without a machine to help him. He assumed he should just let the grinds sit in the water, separated by the filter for the same amount of time he would his Tea. Once the tea and coffee seemed to be ready he added some milk to the coffee and some sugar to both the tea and coffee. Finally he grabbed a glass of cold water. While he worked Atzo made sure to listen for anyone coming down the stairs incase he needed to put his emotional mask back on.

@Kievla @Telrenya

Atzo could barely hear the girl but was still able to pick up what she said. He opened the door and let Terlenya in before him. He left the door open as he entered. He saw that Kielva was a bit calmer. He waited for Terlenya to get a response before speaking. “I apologize if waking up here startled you. I would have dropped you off at an inn but I feared that sense it wasn’t your inn room, the door wouldn’t lock and you would be at risk of getting killed by someone trying to duel you while you slept.” He looked at Terlenya, and thought to himself “She will probably be better at making sure that Kielva is okay than I will.” He thought for a few more moments before speaking up again. “Feel free to crash here as long as you need until you feel better. The only people who sleep over here other than myself are my guild mates mostly, and they are all busy so it's an open room. On that note, can I get either of you anything? Tea, coffee, water?”
@Kievla @Telrenya

Atzo attempted to hit the stunned snake, activating Back Rush. The mirrored blade ran passed the stunned creature. “You know, the strangest thing is that I always seem to miss when they are stunned or paralyzed” he called out in a quizatious tone. He wasn’t wrong and it was always the strangest thing to him. He looked about, surveying the battlefield, the sands seemed like they could shift at any moment, Though he was concerned about the heat hitting Hei too hard. “Be careful with your hate, you are already at risk of damage from the heat and the sand, This beast could just make it a lot worse. If I didn’t have a healer with me last time I wouldn’t have survived” He thought back to when Dominion and him took the quest, He was constantly being healed by the blonde haired man. It wasn’t a bad time but there were a lot of flaws with what happened. 

ID# 86652

Stats

Atzo swung by the master bedroom and placed Misguidance on the sword rack above his bed. “At this point, it would be best I not expose either of them to the effect.” He thought to himself “If I did the ramifications could be detrimental” He then walked down stairs, his gem-like cloak rippling like water as he moved. He entered the living room and sat down, returning the smile as best he could to Telrenya. 
“Don’t mention it. I have made it a point to try to help out lower level players whenever I can. Its part of the reason I started my guild actually. Someone helped me out when I was low level, bolstered by abilities and put me on a fast track. He told me that instead of paying him back he wanted me to do the same for others.” Atzo said to her “And with the amount of space I have, its not like I am suffering from this. To be honest the company is nice, I don't get non-guild visitors very often.” He chuckled. 
The was a scream from the upstairs room. Atzo muttered under his breath “[censored]” before standing up and looking at Telrenya “I am going to go check on her, I would appreciate you joining me so that I can cover my butt in case she flips out even more… and just so I don’t feel like I am creeping.” Atzo then walked up the stairs and knocked on the door to the guest room. Before saying in a calm but loud voice. “Hey, Kielva, we heard you scream. Are you okay?” Atzo planned to open the door if he didn’t get a response within the minute just incase something happened.
@Telrenya @Kievla

Atzo watched as Kievla’s eyes closed and she slumped to the table. Telrenya had suggested an inn. Atzo shook his head and sighed “No, I wouldn’t want to leave here there knowing that someone could break in sense she didn’t lock the door herself. I have an extra bed in my house we can lie her in. I would appreciate you following me and assisting me. I will compensate you as much as I can, though I definitely don't have much right now.” Atzo the proceeded to pick up Kievla bridal style, and began walking to the teleporter. “Also, side note, I just met this chick. If you join me, it will hopefully be less creepy when she wakes up in my house if I am not the only one there.” 
Atzo then teleported to the floor two safezone. Once Telrenya had joined him he began to jog out of the safezone. “Follow me, the house is about three hours out of the safe zone walking. Though if I run I may be able to break that in half. I am more than powerful enough to protect both of you from anything we may run into.” 
-----------------------------------------------Time-skip to The Emerald Mansion----------------------------------
The trio approach the large wooden mansion. Atzo opened the door, he turned to Telrenya “Feel free to walk around a little bit. If you want to sit and talk instead then I will be going into be heading to the living room over there after I set her in the guest room” Atzo motioned to the door to the living room, before he walked up the stairs and laid Kielva on the guest bed. He then made his way to the living room.
 

(For referance as to my house: http://www.sao-rpg.com/topic/9096-sword-architecture-online/?do=findComment&comment=508989 Please note that the quoted text is not my current house but instead my house before renovations)

@Kievla @Telrenya

Atzo watched as she seemed to break before him. “Actually… no I haven’t. Misguidance only shows the demons of those who look into it to said person. It doesn’t allow others to see them. Hense why you never saw mine. On very, very rare occasions that rule will break but I wouldn’t bet on it.” He approached the quivering Eatos and embraced her. “I don’t know what you saw, but you are alright.” 
Once he finished hugging her he stepped back to answer her question. “I’d say 25% on a good day 50% on a bad day. I would also say there is about a 45% chance that I can’t actually break my chains and revert to being my old self” He paused and remembered what else she had said. “Oh and on the topic of you not needing protecting, you say that, but that isn’t going to keep me from coming to your aid and attempting to protect you. You cant stop me from doing that.”
@Eatos

A blonde haired woman bumped into Atzo, he remained unmoved. She was apparently quicker than he expected. By the time he had registered what was going on she was already apologizing with a slight bow. “You are fine,” Atzo said to her “No harm, no foul.” He put his hand out to her. “I am Atzo, The Forgotten King and Leader of the Emerald Harbingers. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am currently attempting to help that young lady calm her anxiety down and move her somewhere more peaceful if you are willing to assist me” Atzo looked back at Kievla. That was his main priority at the moment, though he wasn’t entirely sure how to calm her down. He didn’t know her well enough to do anything he normally would and didn’t want to make it worse by approaching her. “This is the start to what will probably become a very interesting day” He thought to himself “I wonder what will come of today, perhaps friendship. Perhaps I can convince one of them to join the guild. Regardless I need to see where this goes and map out my options before I even begin to think of anything like that”

OOC: Kievla asked me to go next

@Kievla @Telrenya

Atzo nodded “You are right, I believe. He isn’t weak willed but I know that he would be devastated by that” Atzo turned back to Eatos. “I tell you who I am, let you hear the story I have never told because I know you won't tell anyone. I don’t run from my past because without it I wouldn’t be me. With all that happened I have to say I am not ashamed of it, then again as I said, I have no regret for what I have done. And to answer your question about why I tell you, obviously by now, if there was any reason for me not to trust that it is gone. I already told you I am a murderer, and do you really think that should you betray me I will just let you go? If not in the game I would surely murder you should we ever leave. Now, there is more to it then that. I trust you, don’t know why, but I do. Plus you have no idea of my name either, so what should it matter?” 
Atzo then opened his inventory and pulled out Misguidance. “Sure but don’t break it, I want to put it on my wall when I get home.” He passed the sword to Eatos. “The crack may get in the way a little bit but it still works for what it is good for. I have no idea what you are trying to do, but I wish you luck. And be careful that blade has a way of bringing memories that are locked away back to the surface.”
@Eatos

Atzo nodded still looking at his reflection “You are correct but there is more to it then that. I chose a mirrored blade not just to remind myself of who I am but to be a visual representation of it. I know how to meld into any emotional situation by mirroring the emotions of others in that situation while hiding my own.” He looked back at Eatos. “I don’t think I will ever make up for my wrongdoings. The things I stole, the lives I ruined, the people I killed. Nothing will ever make up for it. I know that for sure. I never had regret for what I did, and to be honest I don't think I do even now.” Atzo paused as he thought of how to word the next bit “I saw very few things in my blade when I looked into it. I saw the man who abused me, the woman I killed, the man my family abandoned and the man I doomed. But most of the time I only saw myself. I am my own strongest Demon. Evil in my ways, deceiving in my talk and hypocritical in my actions. I wonder what the others would think of me if they knew this. What would Stryder think if I told him I killed my own mother with my bare hands?”

@Eatos

Atzo leaned back in his chair. “I was just offering it as a suggestion, don’t worry I wasn’t trying to flirt” Atzo chuckled slightly “You have a lovely name, don’t kid yourself. Just take a breath, c’mon, let's walk somewhere that has less people.” Atzo stood up and waited for a response. He didn’t care that he wouldn’t be finishing his tea. He honestly wanted to help which was weird but he kept that thought locked away for later. “There are a few good places on this floor don’t worry.” It was going to be a challenge but not impossible. Still if she chose not to join him he wouldn’t force it. Everyone should have a choice in life. And while he knew how to control that choice and use it to manipulate others he didn’t want to. “Just how different am I?” He thought to himself as he awaited a response. 
The crowd didn’t seem to be even beginning to lessen in people, and it wasn’t even dinner time yet. He would need to make sure she got out of here soon so that she didn’t pass out from lack of oxygen.
@Telrenya, @Kievla

“No, my plan wasn’t to push to get out of this game, don't get me wrong. The thing is I know that others will strive to get out of this game so why should I? It takes a lot less work to let others do it for me, even less when I don’t have to manipulate them into it. In all honesty, I don’t really have a plan. I was programed to manipulate others at a young age. It is just what I do, I don’t think I can really stop it. I see someone who is susceptible and it seems like a switch is hit. Why do you think I went after Kyoto and Stryder? They were easy targets. Both had problems from their pasts that made manipulation by someone who could show them what power was and provide them a way to achieve it easier than walking. I didn’t have to fabricate a problem, they already had one. Vargas is similar, but I know I can’t manipulate him the same way. He doesn’t want power, he want’s luxury. That is something that is easy to satiate, I don’t even need to wave a reward in front of him. He just does what I ask with the intention of getting something out of it. Then there is you… In all honesty other than the fact that you are overly trusting and seemingly Naive. You remind me of Solomon who also seems to have gone missing. But at least I don’t have to face him and tell him why he can't remember everything, or explain how I am the reason he is trapped here.” Atzo said as they walked. He stopped suddenly and looked at his reflection in the lake "Do you want to know why I chose a mirrored blade?"

@Eatos

Atzo shook his head. And with a warm smirk said “Take a breath, you didn’t offend me.” he took the seat in front of her. Holding out his hand, so that he could shake her's he said “I am Atzo, The Forgotten King and leader of the Emerald Harbingers. It is a pleasure to meet you” Atzo made sure to move slower than normal, trying not to intensify her anxiety by making quick movements. “Don’t worry, I just saw that you were wearing starter gear and was wondering if you wanted someone to help you out. Also, I know what having anxiety that high feels like so I wanted to try to help you calm down if you will allow it.” 
“She has to be flipping out” he thought to himself “Perhaps this was a bad time for me to approach her. Oh, well in for a penny I guess.” He wasn’t sure he would be able to help her, though he was definitely trying to be a better person and that is what good people did, right? Atzo thought back to when he was in high school and was on the edge of a panic attack from a pop-quiz. Afraid that he would fail and have to face his abusive father. 
“If you would like I could escort you somewhere with less noise, I know of a few places on this floor and a few places on the second floor… then again if we were to go to the second floor I may as well just invite you to my house”
@Kievla

Atzo felt her take his hand and he turned toward her in confusement. It was the first time anyone had held his hand without the intention of hurting him or forcing him to do something. He looked her dead in the eyes with confusement. Observed things he had never once seen before, he also saw ambition which confused him even more. Then she spoke, his confusion went away and returned to the somber expression he had been wearing. “I believe you are to make that decision yourself. You can hate me, most people do.” Then she talked about what had happened with JD. “Well, I will put it this way. He wasn’t as wrong as I told him he was. I am a liar and a manipulator, but most won't hear me admit it. Perhaps I do care for y’all but I am not sure what that means.” 
She then started walking to the lake. Atzo shrugged, put his hands in his pockets and slouched for the first time in years. He didn’t have the energy to keep his perfect posture anymore. He walked just fast enough to catch up with her. “Any other questions you want to ask me? My past? My plans? Or something I haven’t thought of? I have no problem letting you know everything you might feel you should ask me about.” 
Atzo still looked straight ahead. He could here his father's words in his head. “No one will ever care about you, no one should. You were brought into this world to make millions not make people like you now get your nose in that book before I beat you with it”
@Eatos

Atzo found himself in the Town of Beginnings once again. He watched as the town bustled. His Cloak of the Changing Tide was blowing softly in the breeze. The emerald green surface seemed almost gemlike with strands of red and yellow color moving about it, as if they were dancing just below the surface. Misguidance his now cracked mirrored blade hung loosely at his side. He walked slowly and spotted a cafe. A young woman sat on the porch, she seemed to be anxious. He observed her gear as he approached “Either she is a low level player, or she is wearing starter gear for fun” He thought to himself.

Atzo walked past her and into the cafe. He ordered a glass of iced Chai Tea and walked back out to where the girl was sitting. “I ought to be careful not to scare her, she already looks as though she is going to have a panic attack.” Atzo approached and looked at the girl, the hood of this cloak down, exposing his face. He gave her as warm a smile as he could. Most of his smiles looked like smirks but there was good intention behind them. 

“Excuse me, Ma’am. Mind if I sit here?” Atzo motioned to the seat in front of her. As he looked at her he carefully hid each of the emotions he had been feeling earlier that day, making sure not to let anything slip. He waited to sit until she gave him permission. Instead he stood with perfect posture as he normally did and took a drink of his tea.
@Kievla

Atzo looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t think you really want to know the truth about that but I told you I would be honest so here you go. I wanted control, I want control. My end goal is to rule this game, not by being the most powerful in might but by manipulating and using others to better suit my needs. Make people bow to my will… like I did in the real world. I would pick up a few, gain their trust, put them into power and manipulate them to keep my hand. I would give the illusion of freedom and choice by setting up elaborate voting systems that I might even use from time to time. When I started this guild, everyone in my life, everyone I saw, talked to, acted like I trusted, were no more than pawns. Pieces for me to use. If they died then ‘oh well, I will find a new one’. My goal is still the same but my method is changing ever so slightly. I originally wanted to feel emotion to better understand how to manipulate the emotions of others, but the more I did the more I could see what it meant to be ‘normal’. I still plan to take my throne, but for some reason I now have people who I want to keep alive. People who I want to be around. It is the weirdest thing I have ever experienced.” Atzo didn’t look at Eatos, he just walked looking straight ahead. He knew that she would probably hate him, or at least think less of him. But at this point he had to keep to his word. 

@Eatos

Atzo took a deep breath and steeled his mind, regaining his composure as Eatos hugged him. “I know it isn’t weakness. As I always say, Weakness is not having and showing emotions, when you are unable to do so or stop yourself from doing so, then you are weak…” Atzo though for a long while about her mention of caring people “It's hard for me to fathom that people care about me. Never really had that while I was a kid.” 
Then Eatos pulled out a weapon and handed it to Atzo. “Misguidance was nothing more than a reminder of the things I carry, the people I have let down, and my past. I have been cursed since I was born Eatos. Though if you insist on me letting you try and carry my burdens then I will let you. I know you won't let me say no to your help.” Atzo un-equipped Misguidance and took the new blade. He inspected the weird form it took. It was right up his alley. “Thank you for the blade, and your willingness to help… I really do appreciate it…” Atzo looked at the ground, remembering all the times those he considered friends left him to rot.
“We should start walking so we can get out of the safezone and get you that familiar. We can continue our talk while we do so” Atzo said, he waited for Eatos to go first intending to follow.
@Eatos

I'd be down for something, feel free to tag me in something (if it is a quest make sure it is repeatable and not too powerful). or Pm me

Atzo knew this was coming, he was surprised she was the first to ask an not Stry, though he did not show this surprise, “Man how times are changing” He thought to himself. Atzo sighed “While I know you were, I cannot really say that ‘I know how much you were worried’. Never really had anyone worry about me before, I have no idea what worry to another fully is. I know it a little sense this game started, but that is because I don’t have the ability to protect those I wish to protect yet.” 
Atzo then took a second to think. “I haven’t heard from Raina either, I assume she up and left. I don’t blame her, not only was I gone for a month but lets face it, she was way out of my league. In all honesty I think not knowing what love means should probably take me out of the running, if you catch my drift. Not to mention that I am a complete handful due to my past, I don't see why anyone would want to live with someone like me.” Atzo’s eyes showed brief waves of sadness as he spoke. A tear attempted to form a few times but he was able to keep it from falling. “Even if you ask for me to tell you everything that happened I dont think I could. I assume it has to do with me fighting to be able to break free of my emotional prison. There is always something trying to pull me back into it. Never letting me be stable. These binds are very hard to break free of.” 
Suddenly it registered what else she had asked him, Atzo looked at her, allowing himself to show the pain he was going through. His eyes quivered, his body language began to show that of severe anxiety mixed with depression. In the look he gave her, the full weight of his struggle could be seen and probably felt by the look. He was unable to stop the next tear that formed, It rolled down his cheek “No… I am not ok…. I am not sure I ever will be”

@Eatos

Atzo sat on a sand dune outside the main settlement. He was watching the sand swirl across the land when a small hot breeze would lightly blow. “I come out here way too much” He said to himself aloud. His face showed no emotions as he watched the desert. “I really do hate the heat… why do I always come up here? It’s like I am begging to be miserable at this point”
Atzo sat tall, his Cloak moving calmly in the breeze. Two strands of color, white and black, seemed to swim as the moved around the emerald green background. He recounted his life in the real world, it seemed that trying to break free of his emotional prison had cause him to start to feel the pain of his life before the game, and while even the most trained eye, and the most talented ear could never pick up on any emotion he didn't want them to, he still felt so destroyed. 
“I need to stay strong” He told himself “I have people relying on me”
@Xion

Atzo felt something touch him, snapping him back to reality. He took a sharp breath and blinked quickly. He turned to Eatos and gave her his normal friendly smirk-like smile. “No need to thank me, you know I never have a problem spending time with y’all. And yeah, hopefully it does end well for you.” He listened to her warn about the cold and he shook his head. “I will be alright, Survival tends to take care of the feeling of severe temperatures.” 
Atzo took a second to push the thoughts that fought him back, and looked Eatos dead in the eyes. “I do have something you should know, however.” He wasn’t trying to be intimidating but knew it would probably come across that way with how weak his emotions were. Pushing the thoughts back took a lot of work. “I know you have a lot of questions for me. Today is your chance to ask them. I will be completely honest, and answer everything to the best of my ability. However I have two stipulations, first; everything we talk about today must stay between us. Second; you use today wisely, I cannot guarantee I will be willing to be this open with anyone for a while after today due to the shear amount of willpower it takes for me to let myself be open with others.” He broke the eye contact, ran his hand through his hair, and gave the same smirk-like smile. 
@Eatos

Atzo was sitting in the Emerald Mansion, specifically in his study. He had been reading From Beyond by H.P. Lovecraft. He had his windows open, the birds outside were chirping. Finishing the short story he set the book on the counter and looked out the window overlooking the cliffside. It was always so beautiful a sight to see the trees sway. Here he felt as though he were truly at home the feeling was rich with nostalgia. He thought back to the times he would run through the woods to get away from his parents and see his brother who had been disowned. “I am not sure if I miss those times, surely there is something inside me that would dictate and emotional connection to it though I cannot seem to place what exactly it would be though.” He said to himself. He opened his HUD menu and took another look at his stats, he was happy with how far he had come, it hadn’t been that long ago that he was just level one. He equipped The Cloak of the Changing Tides, Faces of the Damned, the Amulet of the Damned, and Misguidance. 

OOC: I got some notes so please bare with me.
1. My Cloak is vanity and the description needs to be changed slightly. Cosmetic distortions cannot come from a cloak. I have yet to get a fixed cloak so until then I wanted to note that the mention of Wold Ears should be Ignored
2. The Emerald Mansion is a mansion that resides three hours (At a walking pace) outside the floor two safezone, on a cliff. Once you make it halfway you reach a clearing that provides a clear view of the Mansion from a large distance, (it may seem smaller than a mansion at that distance). If you want to know more about it ask me and I will pm you the link. It is an upgrade from my old one so trying to find it in the Architecture thread may be challenging, also I made the post weird so there is that.
@Shizua

Atzo arrived at A Hero’s Infinite Arsenal, took a second to observe the building. After a bit he entered the Blacksmith’s workshop. He took some time to look around before approaching the counter. “This is where she wanted me to meet up with her right?” he asked himself. There was a lot around him that he would have to answer to. He knew that. He felt the hesitation but quickly shook it out of his mind. “I have to go through with this” He thought to himself “I know I can have faith in Eatos, if I couldn’t she would have left the guild after the whole JD situation.” 
Atzo could feel his past fighting him, gnawing at his mind. It wanted him to hide his emotions, keep to himself like he used to. He did everything he could to fight it though he knew that he needed to find a better way. With how much time he spent alone recently he knew that he would be overcome by it if he wasn’t careful. He thought back to when he meditated at the waterfall and was forced to fight his inner demons. He remembered the words of the final demon, he shuttered.
 If Eatos had come out by now he wouldn’t have noticed, not until she was either loud enough for him to hear her or she touched him.
@Eatos

Summery

3 SP (2 from quest, 1 from page)

400 Col

Extra Skill

D-Atzo stumbled forward, clearly attempting to attack. Instead he fell at Atzo’s feet. Atzo scoffed at him “How pathetic” A final crash and the scene fell apart around him. He took a sharp breath and realized he was still at the waterfall. “How odd” He said to himself “I wonder what that was about… well, on the bright side, I don’t think I ever have to do that again. I really should get home though.” He took off at full speed, he strangely felt as though he had more energy, He would need to investigate it more later. For now he needed to get home and eat. “I wonder if Raina will be there, that would be wonderful” The run home seemed to blur around him as he remembered what had happened. It was quite a lot to take in, but at least for once he felt as though he could be at peace with himself… at least for now

ID# 86604

Stats

D-Atzo walked up to Atzo “If I am going down I am taking you with me” D-Atzo stabbed his blade into Atzo. Atzo just laughed “If you honestly think that, then you go ahead and try.” Atzo in turn sticks his blade into D-Atzo’s chest. “I wonder what will happen to you” Atzo says confidence dripping from his voice “Well regardless as to what it is, I know it won't happen to me. Because, unlike you, I will be able to live a life that I can call my own. All you can do is imitate, I would feel bad for you, but as we have seen, it is just not in my nature.” Atzo turns his back on D-Atzo and begins toward the door. “H-HOW DARE YOU!” D-Atzo yells He was going to make one last attack, Atzo knew this. He was ready. Though he saw no reason to fight back, The mirror man was going to die anyways

ID# 86602

Stats