PlaneShift
Gameplay => In-Game Roleplay Events => Topic started by: Kieve on January 06, 2008, 06:36:21 pm
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Whispered rumors pass through the halls of the Eagle Bronze Doors fortress. Tales of misery and death - whole settlements in the Labyrinth destroyed, every living thing turned to ash. And worst of all, that the darkness itself is responsible.
The rumors are dismissed - a military fortification cannot abide such idle chatter. And whoever heard of a shadow that consumes all?
That was, until the screams could be heard through the doors. The nameless horror draws closer.
(17:45:02) Sadenease nods to Anumesa, looking worried.
(17:45:58) Anumesa smiles "Whats wrong?"
(17:46:35) Sadenease tries to calm her breathing, "...heard screams.."
(17:46:47) Anumesa's eyes widen "Where?"
(17:49:01) Sadenease takes a few deep breaths. "...eagle...fort...fortress..."
(17:49:29) Zwenze says: "You heard eagle screams at the fortress?"
(17:49:38) Anumesa sighs and shakes her head "I really shouldnt be doing this....if there are people in trouble then lets go"
(17:50:00) Sadenease shakes her head, "...no no....not eagles...people and guards shouting..."
(17:50:36) Anumesa opens her pack and pulls out a platemail shirt, tugging it over her torso with a bit of difficulty
(17:50:48) Zwenze says: "And they guards there need the reinformenct from the guards here"?
(17:51:17) Sadenease looks worridly at Anumesa. "...ran back to get help..."
(17:51:37) Anumesa says: Ill come
(17:51:53) Anumesa laughs "Just dont tell my husband im fighting, eh?"
(17:52:23) Zwenze eyes Sadenease : "Tell us all you know" and check his armor
(17:53:13) Sadenease nods slowly, "...will go with..." she looks around the crowd "...had dropped off deliverry....was leaving and heard screaming.." her ears lower "....lots of screaming...guards yelling...ran straight here...."
(17:54:36) Zwenze says: "That sounds serious. Unfortunatly the guards had an celebration at Kada els last night. They wont help much today. I can offer myy help. "
(17:55:19) Sadenease nods and looks around "....will need all help can get...."
(17:55:36) Anumesa says: Zwenze, will your guildies help?
(17:55:56) Knipart says: I will do
(17:56:08) Zwenze looks at Thoraro and Knipart : "Can you get all hammers you can find here?"
(17:56:17) Akashani says: do you need my help?
(17:56:22) Thoraro says: yes Zwenze
(17:56:36) Knipart says: At your command.
(17:56:39) >Akashani stands up.
(17:56:39) Anumesa grins "Akashani, your help would be wonderful"
(17:56:56) Yanlora says: I'll come too..
(17:57:05) Anumesa nods "Great...anyone else?"
(17:57:10) Yanlora says: Unless you mind?
(17:57:14) Akashani grins "okay then i'll help you"
(17:57:16) Anumesa says: Of course not!
(17:57:34) Yanlora says: I need a little moment though..
(17:58:27) Sadenease glances worridly at Anumesa.
(17:59:16) Zwenze looks at Sadenease : "My name is Zwenze and if you can wait a few moments, more dwarfs will arrive."
(17:59:24) Anumesa looks at everyone and gives Sadenease a quick smile
(17:59:52) Sadenease nods and returns Anumesa's smile, "...be careful..."
(17:59:56) Yanlora says: Ready to go..
(18:00:32) Anumesa gives a short humorless laugh "Ill use magic..alright? Wont even get close enough to get hit...they will be fine"
(18:01:17) >Akashani grabs hold of Anumesa Cyre and begins to dance.
(18:01:19) Zwenze makes execises to prepare for an eventual battle
(18:02:38) Anumesa winces and passes a hand across her torso "It would help if they didnt kick while im wearing platemail however.."
(18:03:09) Yanlora looks at Anumesa
(18:03:19) Sadenease fidgets and looks around.
(18:03:56) Zwenze says: Brodrs, do you know where the reinforcment is?
(18:04:06) >Yanlora Kithbeth pokes Anumesa Cyre.
(18:04:12) Knipart says: Brought some Backup
(18:04:18) Anumesa says: hmmm?
(18:04:19) >Rheos salutes Zwenze Whitebearded with respect.
(18:04:24) >Zwenze Whitebearded makes a bow to Rheos.
(18:04:25) >Akashani laughs heartily at Didle Sisisix.
(18:04:32) >Raoni Naneipa waves at Zwenze Whitebearded
(18:05:12) Sadenease looks at crowd.
(18:05:12) >Akashani takes a seat.
(18:05:13) >Akashani stands up.
(18:05:14) >Akashani takes a seat.
(18:05:16) Sadenease says: the*
(18:05:42) Myl says: Howedy
(18:05:43) >Knipart Thorsdir greets Myl Toph.
(18:05:43) >Thoraro Vuhilos greets Myl Toph.
(18:05:47) Zwenze says: The hammers are ready.
(18:05:51) >Zwenze Whitebearded greets Myl Toph.
(18:06:03) Akashani chuckles "now i can see the same as i would be a dwarf"
(18:06:10) >Myl Toph greets everyone.
(18:06:16) >Myl Toph raises a drink to the air before gulping it down. Cheers!
(18:06:18) Anumesa giggles
(18:06:21) Sadenease looks to Zwenze and Anumesa, "...go now?"
(18:06:30) Rheos nudges Akashani with his boot
(18:06:40) Akashani says: ouch
(18:06:41) Anumesa says: lets go then
(18:06:47) >Akashani stands up.
(18:06:53) >Akashani makes a bow to Rheos.
(18:07:05) Zwenze says: We are ready
(18:07:54) Sadenease waves.
(18:08:48) Pheoniceous says: hmm... what is going on over here?
(18:09:30) Anumesa nods to Sadenease "Are we going?"
(18:09:36) Sadenease nods.
(18:18:12) Fesek pokes Raoni
(18:20:24) >Akashani stands up.
(18:20:30) Raoni points Fesek "YOU !"
(18:22:29) Fesek manhugs Raoni
(18:27:56) Sadenease chuckles.
[After a great deal of running and OOC chatter, the group reaches the Eagle Bronze Doors...]
(18:36:44) Unidentified shouts: BLESSED LAANX! HELP ME! HELP!!!!
(18:38:03) Unidentified shouts: Run! Don't let it touch you!
(18:39:13) Unidentified shouts: GET IT OFF ME!!!
(18:40:31) Unidentified shouts: AAAGGGHHH!!!!
(18:40:38) >Anumesa Cyre greets Grunn.
(18:40:46) Sadenease sniffs.
(18:40:49) >Yanlora Kithbeth greets Grunn.
(18:40:57) >Akashani greets Grunn.
(18:40:58) Grunn says: Someone needs aid, and I can not fine him.
(18:41:09) Unidentified shouts: KEEP BACK! DON'T LET IT NEAR YOU!
(18:41:15) Zwenze says: SOmeone?
(18:41:20) Grunn says: There are too many echos in here.
(18:41:25) Anumesa's eyes widen
(18:41:51) Grunn shouts: Where are you, sir?
(18:41:54) Sadenease tilts her head, listening. "...voice from earlier...shouting..."
(18:42:16) Unidentified shouts: THE DOORS! KEEP THE DOORS SEALED! DON'T LET IT OUT!
(18:42:30) Grunn says: The voice is closer on this side.
(18:42:33) Anumesa gives a half smile "Well if they are still shouting...then they are still alive"
(18:42:58) Zwenze shouts: Help is coming
(18:43:30) Grunn says: My skills are weak, but I will aid where I can.
(18:43:43) Unidentified shouts: NO! GET BACK! SAVE YOURSELF!
(18:44:18) Grunn shouts: Honor will not let me fall back.
(18:44:40) Sadenease looks around.
(18:44:54) Mirkov says: my swords at your service
(18:44:57) Knipart claspes his axes nervouslxy
(18:45:03) Knipart says: *nervously
(18:45:07) Unidentified shouts: IT'S....
(18:45:17) Zwenze's swords are ready and I am prepared
(18:45:27) Grunn shouts: Where are you?
(18:45:41) Rheos says: What are your orders guildmaster?
(18:46:02) Mirkov says: tis be the fiight worth a song
(18:46:07) Zwenze says: The group needs to agree on how to proceed
(18:46:13) Grunn shouts: He is up there!
(18:46:27) Unidentified shouts: KEEP THE DOORS SEALED! ALL OF YOU, IT'LL KILL EVERYTHING!
(18:46:37) Grunn shouts: Stay there! We will aid you!
(18:46:58) Yanlora says: Maybe we should listen to that brave pal..
(18:47:01) Anumesa frowns "How on earth did he get up there?"
(18:47:09) Zwenze shouts: What do you propose? We cant wait here like cowards.
(18:47:14) Yanlora says: On the other hand..
[The body of an unidentified Ylian falls from above]
(18:47:20) Grunn looks shocked.
(18:47:27) Grunn says: Something pushed him!
(18:47:33) Anumesa tugs a glyph from the pack at her side and runs toward the speaker
(18:47:42) Yanlora says: Not going there is delaying the trouble..
(18:48:09) Mirkov says: we should not hesitate
(18:48:28) >Yanlora Kithbeth greets Unidentified Speaker.
(18:48:40) Anumesa says: Should we climb up there??
(18:48:42) Knipart says: This does not look good.
(18:48:44) Zwenze says: "ARe you allright Sir?"
(18:48:49) Grunn says: Is he.... alive?
(18:48:50) Anumesa looks up and swallows hard
(18:49:06) Yanlora says: I doubt he'll still answer..
(18:49:08) Unidentified's hand twitches slightly, revealing a small note clutched in its grasph
(18:49:19) Mirkov frowns
(18:49:28) Yanlora grabs the note
(18:49:37) Knipart says: What does is say?
(18:50:25) Zwenze says: Yan, what does the note say?
(18:50:26) Thoraro looks up "Rheos how did you get up there?"
(18:51:55) Unidentified's note reads simply "Beware - the shadows are alive. And they feed upon you."
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/Kieve/PlaneShift/xup_note01.jpg)
(18:52:05) Thoraro says: Nice climb Rheos
(18:52:15) Yanlora hands around the note..
(18:52:21) Anumesa frowns and runs a hand across her stomach "Feeds?"
(18:52:27) Mirkov grips his sabres firmly
(18:52:48) Unidentified's body appears dessicated - drained of life, skin brittle and cold as ice.
(18:52:51) Rheos starts peering into the shadows
(18:52:57) Anumesa says: erm...id rather not be fed upon, if you know what i mean
(18:52:58) Mirkov says: we shall not fear the shadows
(18:53:02) Yanlora says: You should go home Anumesa
(18:53:03) Zwenze shouts: "Feed me you cursed shadows and i light a torch and kill you, you lightless shadows"
(18:53:06) Sadenease shivers.
(18:53:17) Anumesa says: I should.
(18:53:23) Anumesa says: What about all of you though?
(18:53:36) Sadenease moves to stand near Anumesa, watching around them.
(18:53:38) Unidentified's body crumbles to ash.
(18:53:22) Yanlora says: You got a kid to take care eh?
(18:53:51) Rheos says: Dwarves do not fear the darkness!
(18:53:55) Thoraro bits his lip
(18:53:56) Knipart says: What does the Note say?
(18:54:29) Mirkov says: and we shall stand to fight the shadows
(18:54:30) Anumesa frowns but says nothing
(18:54:36) Grunn says: Who pushed him?
(18:55:02) Sadenease looks up the hill.
(18:55:06) Yanlora says: I don't know if I want to know..
(18:55:06) Zwenze says: The note says: "Beware - the shadoes are alive. And the feed upon you."
(18:55:17) Knipart says: Oh.
(18:56:01) Knipart says: And now what?
(18:56:05) Thoraro looks up " are we going up there?"
(18:56:09) Anumesa says: We climb?
(18:57:07) Anumesa says: Sade?
(18:57:16) Anumesa says: Do you have anything to defend yourself with?
(18:57:50) Sadenease nods eyeing Thoryte.
(18:57:52) Mirkov says: we should seek the threat
(18:58:05) Thoryte looks cautiously at the ashes.... "I was under the assumption that a corpse passed on whole to Dakkru's realm?"
(18:59:56) Sadenease approaches Thoryte slowly.
(19:00:22) Yanlora looks at Thoryte a little bored "And you might be?"
(19:00:47) Thoryte looks up. "Thoryte. I heard screaming, and was curious about its nature."
(19:00:55) Yanlora sheathes her Sabres
(19:01:23) Mirkov says: we should not believe so easily
(19:01:25) Yanlora says: Well.. obviously someone died?
(19:01:45) Grunn shouts: I do not see anyone.
(19:01:59) Thoryte eyes the ashes again. "So I see... and yet they did not pass on whole. True death, perhaps...?"
(19:03:48) Thoryte says: Did they say anything...? Pass on a message? Or simply die?
(19:04:14) Yanlora says: Who got that paper?
(19:04:22) Yanlora looks around..
(19:04:22) Thoryte says: Paper?
(19:05:13) Yanlora says: Thanks..
(19:27:43) Thoryte looks to Yanlora. "There was a paper...? What did it say?"
(19:27:49) Yanlora says: the darn thing reads: 'Beware- the shadows are aliv. And they feed upon you'
(19:27:58) Yanlora says: *alive
(19:28:33) Anumesa shivers and looks around
(19:29:22) >Myl Toph takes a seat.
(19:30:01) Thoryte arches a thick brow in wonderment. "A shadow... feeding?" He shakes his head. "It makes no sense - but that fellow's body did appear drained."
(19:30:04) Zwenze says: "Gah. Shadows, Give me a torch and I will light out those shadows."
(19:30:46) Yanlora says: Torch eh?
(19:31:01) Thoryte nods to Zwenze. "Torches - and perhaps crystal lights - these might be useful."
(19:31:02) Mirkov says: my sabre will give them some light
(19:31:05) Yanlora loosend the shield on her back
(19:31:20) Myl says: by now my breathe might be flammable
(19:31:21) Zwenze says: "Or my wand. Come here shadows, and I teach you what light is"
(19:32:26) Yanlora looks at Thoryte "Anyways.. he came from up there *points up the approperiate hill*
(19:32:35) >Myl Toph stands up.
(19:33:12) Mirkov kneels and prays"my fair swords be blessed wit the light of crystal to send the shadows to where they belong"
(19:33:36) Thoryte looks upwards. "Odd..." He turns his gaze to the near fortress tower. "Perhaps the guards here know more. I will speak with them, and see if anything further can be learned."
(19:34:06) Zwenze looks at his dwarven brodrs: LEts follow this Kran
(19:34:34) Mirkov says: where did he go Master?
(19:34:41) Thoryte says: ...until we know more, there is little else to be done.
(19:34:55) >Zwenze Whitebearded raises an arm and points towards Thoryte Urion.
(19:35:12) Knipart mumbles to Zwenze: Dare we trust this fellow?
(19:35:40) Thoraro says: i think we have no choice
(19:35:45) Zwenze eyes Knipart : "No. But it cannot hurt following him"
(19:35:48) Mirkov turns to master "we should not believe so easily"
(19:36:04) Myl says: I did not come all this way do not beat something/body up
(19:36:22) Zwenze eyes Mirkov : "After all this is the fortress. If this isn't a save place Hydlaa and Kada els are doomed"
(19:36:37) Knipart says: And with it the Beer.
(19:36:45) Rheos trembles at the thought of the beer being doomed
(19:36:48) Myl says: ah yes, the beer
(19:36:58) Myl says: will no one save the beer?
(19:37:00) Thoryte looks to Zwenze again. "Then you must carry word back. Torches, crystals - light. Warn Hydlaa of the danger.
(19:37:04) Mirkov hides his face in his hands "not the beer"
(19:37:41) Zwenze looks at Thoryte : "And then? Hydlla is habitated with lazy guards and arrogant octarchs. I can better serve here"
(19:37:42) Thoryte nods solemnly to those gathered. "And all of you, be wary of the darnkess. I sense this is only the beginning of things to come."
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[Hmmm......I already have an idea of where this is going]
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[Can't way to get in on this. :P]
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[This is still going on - culminates Saturday in Ojaveda]
(22:55:07) Hangyira says: Sorry... has been rough lately. Guards always questioning... asking things...
(22:55:08) Anumesa nods to Perlan "She will take my ale" she raises her mug and laughs "I am quite happy with my cider"
(22:55:20) Kenzel says: Here...you can have one of mine as well
(22:55:28) Hangyira shudders. "Too many questions about things best forgot."
(22:55:47) >Perlan gave Hangyira 2 Beer Mugs.
(22:55:53) Anumesa looks sharply at Hangyira "What about guards?"
(22:56:20) Hangyira smiles slightly, and thanks Perlan, Kenzel, and Anumesa.
(22:56:28) Hangyira says: Guards... at Eagle fortress.
(22:56:40) Perlan says: cheers, friends
(22:56:58) Hangyira says: T-they kept me there, asking. Wanted to know about...
(22:57:06) Hangyira shivvers again, and takes a long swig of ale.
(22:57:11) >Kenzel Cyre raises a drink to the air before gulping it down. Cheers!
(22:58:26) Kenzel says: Wanted to know about what?
(22:58:36) Hangyira gulps.
(22:58:39) Anumesa looks down at Hangyira and smiles gently, trying to hide the worry in her eyes "What about the Bronze Doors"
(22:59:04) Hangyira says: Wanted to know about a dead Ylian.
(22:59:11) Hangyira says: Well...
(22:59:16) Hangyira shuffles anxiously.
(22:59:18) Perlan says: hey masoj.. have a beer
(22:59:30) Kenzel says: Go on...
(22:59:31) Hangyira says: They wanted to know about a lot of dead folk, not just the Ylian.
(22:59:52) Anumesa says: There were MORE?
(23:00:04) Hangyira says: Lots. All dead, now.
(23:00:07) Masoj says: Thank you!
(23:00:11) >Masoj Foret smiles at Perlan Cernun
(23:00:24) Kenzel looks concerned "Lots of dead?"
(23:00:25) Perlan says: sure thing, ,masoj
(23:00:37) Perlan says: was it during the invasion?
(23:00:44) Hangyira says: Me and Dranesh - that was his name, Dranesh - were the only ones who made it out of the settlement.
(23:00:59) Hangyira shudders again, closing her eyes.
(23:01:01) Hangyira says: The rest...
(23:01:09) Hangyira says: IT killed them.
(23:01:17) Perlan says: IT ?
(23:01:18) Kenzel says: Dead? What killed them?
(23:01:26) Hangyira sobs.
(23:01:29) Anumesa shakes her head silently and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear "I was just there...and i think i met the Ylian..well the dead Ylian that is"
(23:01:29) Hangyira says: I don't know!
(23:01:49) Anumesa says: We couldnt find anything
(23:01:50) Hangyira says: Raithen, Polyuntri, all of them - they all wanted to know the same thing.
(23:01:52) Kenzel says: You were where, Anumesa?
(23:02:10) Hangyira says: "WHAT killed them?" they ask... I-I don't know...
(23:02:14) Anumesa swallows "Erm...Eagle Bronze Doors...Sade was there and heard screams so she came for help and i went..."
(23:02:38) Perlan listens with ears pointed
(23:02:51) Kenzel says: You went...where?
(23:03:10) Anumesa says: To BD
(23:03:24) Hangyira looks from Kenzel to Anumesa, and back.
(23:03:26) Anumesa says: Sade came up to me in Hydlaa and led me and some others there
(23:03:39) Kenzel says: When was this?
(23:03:40) Hangyira says: Best to stay away from the place. Bad things happening up there now.
(23:03:55) Anumesa says: Only a few nights ago
(23:04:08) Kenzel looks very concerned "What kinds of bad things?"
(23:04:21) Hangyira says: IT wants out...
(23:04:35) Perlan says: i feel anothe eclpise coming
(23:04:42) Perlan says: i just feel it
(23:04:44) Kenzel says: Out of the Bronze Doors?
(23:04:46) Hangyira says: I don't know what it is... I don't. But it LOOKED like a Klyros. Kind of.
(23:05:12) Hangyira says: Yes. In the Stone Labyrinth. That was our settlement - the one closest to the Eagle doors.
(23:05:15) Anumesa says: Well..Hopefully the guards there can handle it
(23:05:35) Hangyira shakes her head, and the rest of her trembles as well.
(23:05:43) Hangyira says: They can't. Blades don't hurt it - we tried.
(23:06:07) Hangyira says: Magic works. A bit.
(23:06:15) Hangyira says: It hates the Crystal Way.
(23:06:15) Kenzel says: And magic? Did you try magic as well?
(23:38:46) Hangyira looks at her mug. "...what was I saying...?"
(23:39:04) Anumesa sets her mug on the bar "About being questioned?"
(23:39:32) Hangyira looks up.
(23:39:56) Hangyira says: Yes. Raithen, Polyuntri... others.
(23:40:29) Hangyira says: I tried to tell them - looked like a Klyros. But black - all black, with thin shards of blue for eyes.
(23:40:51) Hangyira says: But that's not right either.
(23:41:13) Anumesa says: You said magic can hit it?
(23:41:14) Hangyira sighs, staring at the mug and swishing her ale around.
(23:41:51) Hangyira says: Oh! Crystal. It HATES Crystal way - made the most awful noise when it took an energy arrow
(23:43:07) Anumesa frowns and twists the handle of her mug indecisively "So you need crystal way mages?"
(23:43:46) Hangyira says: ...Maybe. They didn't exactly slow it down, any. And since swords can't hurt it, nothing to slow it down and keep it away from the mages.
(23:44:25) Hangyira says: It just...flowed from one to the next, draining them dry.
(23:44:39) Anumesa says: wait, more then one?
(23:44:43) Kozr says: Hello
(23:44:55) Anumesa nods curtly "Hello"
(23:45:00) Hangyira shakes her head, and looks up fearfully at the Klyros.
(23:45:09) Hangyira says: No, only the one.
(23:47:28) Anumesa frowns and rubs her chin with a hand "What should we do?"
(23:49:24) Hangyira finishes the ale and shrugs, looking spent. "What can anyone do? It's... monstrous. And hungry. Maybe, it will feed and go back."
(23:50:02) Hangyira says: ...I don't really believe that. But I can hope.
(23:50:16) Anumesa says: Have the guard had ANY success at all?
(23:50:41) Hangyira says: The doors are still shut. And as far as anyone knows, it's still on the other side.
(23:51:16) Hangyira says: Is that success? If it stays there, until the crystal fades and shatters?
(23:51:42) Anumesa says: If its not able to hurt anyone then why not?
(23:53:12) Hangyira sets her mug aside.
(23:54:17) Hangyira says: Why not? No... if it DOES stay sealed away, if the Eagle Bronze Doors never open...
(23:54:26) Hangyira says: No cause for worry, right?
(23:54:44) Hangyira shivvers. "But I don't believe it will stay sealed."
(23:56:31) Anumesa runs a hand through her hair and sighs "Very well then, what shall we do?"
(23:56:46) Hangyira cusses in a most un-ladylike fashion.
(23:57:12) Anumesa blinks and takes a sip of cider
(23:57:15) Hangyira says: I-I don't know. I'm jumping at shadows all the time - everything that moves spooks me. This is no way to live.
(23:57:49) Anumesa says: I know several people that might be able to help
(23:58:29) Hangyira looks at Anumesa with interest
(23:58:33) Hangyira says: Tell me of them?
(23:59:29) Anumesa says: Well there is another dwarf named Zwenze who is very skiled in Crystal Way
(00:01:20) Hangyira says: ...a start, at least.
(00:01:27) Anumesa says: If i can find Sade maybe she can help too
(00:02:29) Hangyira says: Sade? Who is Sade?
(00:02:46) >Zwenze Whitebearded greets Anumesa Cyre.
(00:02:49) Hangyira glances nervously at the dwarf behind her.
(00:02:54) >Anumesa Cyre greets Zwenze Whitebearded.
(00:03:06) Zwenze says: Dovoy
(00:03:09) Anumesa grins "This is the dwarf i was talking about, meet Zwenze"
(00:03:21) Hangyira says: Oh!
(00:03:26) Hangyira smiles.
(00:03:39) Sadenease waves polietly to Anumesa as she passes by.
(00:03:47) Hangyira says: Pleased to meet you Zwenze. This lady here says you know the Crystal way?
(00:03:52) Anumesa giggles and waves to Sadenease "Heya"
(00:04:02) Anumesa says: This dwarf needs our help
(00:04:09) Zwenze nows: "Zwenze Whotebearded is my name. And I know the crystal way"
(00:04:22) Sadenease heads closer to listen.
(00:04:25) Hangyira claps. "Perfect!"
(00:04:55) Zwenze eyes Hangyira : "May I know your name?"
(00:05:55) Hangyira says: Oh! Forgive me, sir Zwenze. Call me Nira - all my friends..." her face falls. "...well, they did..."
(00:06:11) Hangyira looks to Sadenease, then at Anumesa
(00:06:25) Hangyira says: Is this... that other one you said? The Sade?
(00:06:25) Zwenze says: "They did? What happened? "
(00:06:29) Anumesa nods "Well Nira could you explain to them what you told me?"
(00:07:29) Sadenease looks curiously between Anumesa and Hangyira.
(00:07:47) Hangyira briefly recalls her story - a pitch-black figure resembling a Klyros, that slaughtered the Stone Labyrinth settlement that was her home.
(00:08:20) Hangyira says: ...and the Eagle Bronze Doors guards have been questioning me about it for days on end.
(00:08:25) Hangyira hangs her head.
(00:08:32) Anumesa smiles at Sade "Do you perhaps know any crystal way magic?"
(00:08:33) Hangyira says: They let me go when I had no more left to tell them.
(00:08:56) Sadenease shakes her head, "Kieve magic."
(00:09:29) Hangyira looks interested again. "Kieve? Who is that? Can they help too?"
(00:09:54) >Zwenze Whitebearded greets Firarn Brimmstone.
(00:10:00) Sadenease glances worridly at Hangyira, "..maybe.."
(00:10:37) Anumesa frowns and shakes her head "Im not sure where Kieve is though"
(00:10:52) Zwenze bows deeply to Firarn: Thank you
(00:11:12) Firarn says: Take your time with the book. Use it at your leisure
(00:11:20) Sadenease frowns, her ears lowering, "...not seen in days..."
(00:11:37) >Firarn Brimmstone greets everyone.
(00:11:39) Zwenze says: I will, Firarn , thank you
(00:13:05) Hangyira looks around.
(00:13:17) Zwenze says: Nira, this dark Klyros, where did it came from?
(00:13:55) Hangyira says: From...? Don't know. Out of the darkness, I suppose.
(00:14:16) Hangyira says: It's still in the Labyrinth, I think.
(00:14:19) Hangyira says: Behind the doors.
(00:14:20) Anumesa says: Last i heard, Kieve left Hydlaa....
(00:14:34) Anumesa says: I had to leave suddenly, i never got to ask where he was going
(00:14:52) Hangyira looks at Anumesa. "Is it not safe here?"
(00:14:56) Sadenease glances briefly at Anumesa but settles her gaze on Hangyira, "How get away?"
(00:15:06) Zwenze says: "Hmm, maybe we should go for a hunt then?"
(00:16:01) Hangyira looks upset. "I ran. So did the Ylian I was with."
(00:16:05) Hangyira says: He didn't make it.
(00:16:16) Anumesa nods slowly "We found him.."
(00:17:12) Hangyira repeats her question.
(00:17:18) Hangyira says: Isn't it safe here? In the city?
(00:17:32) Hangyira says: I saw the notice. Why would anyone leave?
(00:17:48) Anumesa says: Its safe here
(00:17:51) Anumesa says: He had other problems
(00:17:59) Zwenze says: "Safe is relative. You are relative safe here"
(00:18:15) Hangyira nods slowly.
(00:18:15) Sadenease nods to Zwenze.
(00:18:41) Hangyira says: I suppose... it would be best to stay then. While it's safe.
(00:18:58) Hangyira looks at Zwenze.
(00:19:23) Hangyira says: I heard you mention a book to... that other fellow. Is there a place nearby where one can buy books?
(00:19:54) Zwenze nods: "You had to go through a lot the past days. I dont want you to handle more. Stay here in tavern and take a room. I will speak with Allelia and pay the bill"
(00:20:20) Zwenze says: "And for books, ask Jayose. He has lot of books"
(00:20:34) Hangyira beams. "How kind of you, sir Zwenze!"
(00:20:57) Hangyira moves as if to hug him, and stops herself.
(00:21:08) Anumesa giggles
(00:21:10) Hangyira says: Well... thank you. Thank you very much.
(00:21:10) Zwenze says a bit louder "Hey Allelia" and makes gestures that he will pay Hangyira's bill
(00:21:53) Hangyira says: Jayose... Is he nearby? I should find him.
(00:22:03) Hangyira says: I have a lot to write down.
(00:22:19) Zwenze says: "He can be found in Hydlaa east. You know where that is?"
(00:22:27) Hangyira shakes her head.
(00:22:36) Hangyira says: I only just arrived in the city a little while ago.
(00:23:01) Hangyira says: The guards said "follow the road and run fast" and I did. Didn't stop until I reached the gates.
(00:23:05) Zwenze looks at Anumesa and Sadenease : "Would you mind if I show her the way?"
(00:23:16) Anumesa shrugs and sips her cider "Go ahead"
(00:23:22) Sadenease shakes her head.
(00:23:24) >Liadan greets everyone.
(00:23:33) Zwenze says: "Nira, follow me."
(00:23:42) Sadenease nods to Liadan.
(00:23:47) >Zwenze Whitebearded motions to Hangyira Peirse to follow.
(00:24:01) Hangyira nods to Sadenease and Anumesa. "Pleasure meeting you both. Farewell!"
-
[In deferrence to the recent trend of posting in story-form, these are the final chapters of this RP event rewritten - some small liberties have been taken for continuity, but are more or less true to the logs, which are available on request.]
...after residing at Kada-El's for several days, the Hammerweilder dwarf Hangyira Peirse - the last survivor of the Stone Labyrinth settlement closest to the Eagle Bronze Doors - makes he way cautiously down the steps...
Hangyira looks around, appearing jumpy and frightened. "They're moving," she whispers, then louder - "Can you see them moving?" She holds her head in her hands and cries out, "Make them stop!" In her vision, the small shadows from the candle light become twisted, writhing monstrosities. She shrinks back against the stairwell railing, while below Anumesa Cyre hears her outcry and recognizes the voice.
"Hangyira?" The Dermorian runs upstairs, accompanied by others Hangyira does not recognize. She kneels beside the cringing dwarf. "What's wrong?"
Hangyira looks up, terrified. "No, keep away... they move," she whimpers. "They're alive. Hungry."
Anumesa frowns. "Who moves?"
"Shadows," Hangyira babbles, almost incoherrent. "...Was right to fear..." She seems to shrink into herself, overcome with terror. "It came through. Maybe that very night. Should never..." she trails off, staring at the doorway. "Should never have stayed here." Her unease only increases as she draws attention. Around her, others look on in concern, or curiosity.
"At the fortress?" Anumesa asks, though she already knows the answer. Beside her, Meredee looks almost as confused and frightened. She whispers to Anumesa.
"Do you know her?" The Dermorian woman simply nods, her eyes not straying from the huddled dwarf. On the far railing, Anarkia looks on at the display with derision.
"Dwarf, if you're gonna keep on bein' mysterious like this, then leave; otherwise, we don't need to hear this [stuff]."
In answer, Hangyira draws out a small book and tosses it on a nearby table - Meredee opens it and quickly scans the pages. The first entries are pleasant, hopeful, but as Hangyira's record of her days continues it swiftly becomes apparent that she's lost her mind. The final entry is mostly scribbles, with the most notable words being "Shadow," "Blue Way," and "pl....... metal." Hangyira glares at Anarkia, but has no stomach for confrontation and the fire leaves her eyes. "IT. I don't know - I've never known. Been over this. Call it a shadow, that's all it is, but for the murder."
Anumesa tries to reassure Hangyira. "Look outside! Nothing has changed. It's fine, perhaps only a nightmare?"
"Maybe you should have some sleep?" Meredee adds shyly.
Hangyira looks even more troubled, if at all possible. "No...sleep lets the darkness come. It followed me - I know it did. Followed here... or worse?"
Meredee asks, "What's 'IT'?" But as before, Hangyira has no solid answer to the question.
"A thing without a name, that feeds on life. I don't know what else to call it." She looks up at Anumesa, on the verge of tears. "You can't see them moving? Feel it waiting?" She sighs, trembling, and eyes the door again. "I will leave - maybe to Ojaveda, maybe further. If it follows me, so be it."
Meredee finishes her examination of the book. "Oh, this one... the black Klyros-like creature?"
Hangyira says nothing for a long moment, just looking at those around her. At last, she stands. "I won't trouble you with my insanity. Find me in Akkaio if you ever need a mad dwarf to converse with." Before anyone can stop her, she runs from the tavern, and makes her way rapidly through Hydlaa to the gates. Her short legs hamper her speed, however, and a Nolthrir catches up with her just outside the city. He dodges swiftly in front of her, blocking the Hammerweilder's path, while behind Anumesa, Salona, and Meredee catch up.
"Hangyira?" Anumesa says, panting slightly, "Running won't solve anything."
"D...don't stop me... must go!" the dwarf answers, near panic. She looks from one side of Fesek to the other, seeking an escape route. The Nolthrir opens his mouth as if to say something, but closes it again.
"Why don't you explain what's going on?" Anumesa insists.
Meredee adds, "Just stop, don't run away. You're safe here with us."
A tremor takes over Hangyira and she falls to her knees, blood mixing with bile as she vomits. "No... no, no no no no," she shudders, staring at the ground. "It... it was always...?" She drags herself to her feet and runs again, but Anumesa and Meredee catch her easily, placing their hands on her shoulders. "No! ....shouldn't.... dangerous..." The dwarf cringes away from their contact.
"Look, you're safe with us!" Meredee insists. Silently, Fesek nods his emphasis. "We're all good warriors, when this bad shadow would come here we would kill it easily!"
Anumesa's tone becomes suspicious, however, and a frown creases her face. "Hangyira, did you come in contact with IT when you fled?"
"Did I...? I can't..." Another tremor takes hold of the dwarf's body and she kneels again. A black cloud seems to pass over her face, her eyes going deep black. "Stupid woman. I had her from the very beginning."
"What woman?!" Meredee exclaims.
Beside Meredee, Fesek murmurs, "Posession?" Meredee slowly nods in agreement.
Anumesa meets Hangyira's eyes, demanding to know who speaks, but the fit passes rapidly and the Hammerweilder looks up once more consumed by mortal terror. "Must keep away from me... Please... just let me..."
"What about everyone else?" Anumesa insists. "Clearly something is wrong, why let it get worse?"
Hangyira's voice takes on an otherworldly tone, seeming to echo in the mind as well as the hills around - impossibly deep. "There is no hope for you. For anyone. I will have her, and when I am through the rest of you will perish."
Meredee clings to hope, asking Hangyira, "Could you calm down, look around and think clear for a minute? So that you could explain everything to us?" Next to her, Anumesa puts a hand to her pack, while Fesek crosses his arms. The darkness leaves Hangyira's face again.
"Explain... don't know. No Crystal - Crystal was a lie."
"Crystal is not a lie!" Meredee states plainly. "Look up!" Instead, the dwarf twists as if struck and falls limply to the ground.
But Anumesa recalls a previous talk with Hangyira and thumbs open the dwarf's journal to its last scrawled entry. "Blue Way, then?"
Hangyira slowly lifts her head, eyes black as coal, and glares up at Anumesa. Small ice-blue pinpricks glow in her pupils. "You will be first, elf." Another tremor runs through her as Hangyira fights off the dark presence and pulls herself to her feet. "...no... will not harm her," she mumbles firmly. "Not harm anyone!" The others react predictably, gripping weapons, or in Anumesa's case, a glyphstone.
Salona speaks at last, glaring at Hangyira in frustration. "Stop speaking in riddles. What is it you are trying to tell us?"
Hangyira looks from Fesek to Meredee to Salona, resting an obsidian gaze on the Enkidukai woman. "So she can tell you more? Fine. I shall humor you, kitten." The dwarf twitches slightly, but Hangyira barely has strength to fight down the other within her and it shows.
"Two inhabit that body methinks," Fesek says quietly to Meredee.
"Your energy is delicious Far more so than this dwarf who was raised in the darkness of the Stone Labyrinth." Hangyira turns her posessed gaze to Fesek. "Astute, fish-elf," the presence adds, complimenting and deriding him in the same breath. "Very astute." The dwarf coughs up more blood, and the fit passes once more. She turns, fleeing again for Ojaveda, and is again stopped. Fesek stands with blades drawn, and she eyes them desperately. "Yes... do... better to die... that way..."
Meredee whispers something in Fesek's ear, but he does not yet lower his blades and Hangyira loses control. She takes a few steps forward, placing herself directly in front of the Nolthrir and stares up at him, imposing despite her small stature. "Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps YOU should be the first. But I am not yet done with Hangyira." She throws her head back, laughing, and booms out, "You will all know my true name soon enough. It will hiss coldly between your lips as you die."
Hangyira shudders, looks in terror at them all, and bolts for the gates of Akkaio, not stopping until she stands before Brado's establishment. Outside, Farren, Anarkia, and Saiix stand - behind her, Fesek, Anumesa, Meredee, and Salona arrive hot on her heels. She looks up, meeting Meredee's eyes, and looks confused. "He... we... ran all the way here?" Before anyone can answer, she gives a wet cough, a black inky fluid mixing with the blood that leaks from the corner of her mouth.
"Anarkia?" Farren asks, "What is going on here?" The Clamod simply shrugs.
Meredee leans close to Fesek and whispers something else inaudible - apparently giving him permission to speak, as he finally says aloud, "Okay." The dark presence in Hangyira speaks again, its deep voice chilling the air.
"This wretch's energy is all but spent. Perhaps it is time you saw me for what I truly am."
"What are you telling us?" Meredee blinks in surprise. The dwarf gives a horrid, gurgling laugh, more inky fluid bubbling from her lips.
"That this shell is worthless to me now." She strides boldly through the doorway into The Broken Door and enters the small kitchen at the back. "Ah, darkness," she says, revelling in the shade, "Much better." The others follow, and Meredee takes Hangyira's hand, but the dwarf shakes her off. "Step away, fool. You cannot help her now. There IS nothing left of her."
"Meredee, come away," Fesek asks - whe she doesn't move he says more firmly, "Get over here." Still, she refuses to step back.
"Somebody help me!" she cries out, gripping the dwarf's hand tightly. Hangyira falls to the floor like a marionette with her strings cut.
"...kill... please..." she gasps out.
Those nearby watch with apprehension.
"I think she wants to kill herself!"
"What's wrong with her?"
"And everyone else."
"I'd say she wants death."
"A'ight." Anarkia draws forth her claymore.
Hangyira shudders and lies still. Black smoke begins pooling around her body, writhing across the floor like a thing alive.
"She isn't in control, is it not obvious?" Fesek states, while Anumesa and Meredee back away from the dwarf. "And I think we should have listened." The smoke thickens around the prone figure, and he adds, "It's... too late."
Saiix blinks, a slight grin on his face, muttering lowly "...maybe coming here was a good idea after all..."
"What's this smoke?!" Meredee exclaims. "Fesek! Use your water glyph on her now."
An ethereal, echoing laugh fills the room, seeming to speak from inside the bystanders' heds. "You wished to know what was happening?" it booms. "What awaits you in the Stone Labyrinths the guards watch so closely?" Hangyira's body trembles and the blackness oozes away from it, puddling on the floor a short distance away.
"I don't know if I should," Fesek shivers, replying to Meredee, and begins donning his armor. Nearby, Anumesa has already put on her platemail.
Meredee looks at everyone and shouts, "Why is nobody doing anything to help her?!"
Farren answers calmly, "There is nothing you can do to help her, I think."
"You read the book," Anumesa adds. "We can't use Crystal way."
"Ignore her words," the dark voice booms out again. "Crystal energy is perfect," it laughs. Hangyira's body turns to ash as the last of the black sludge leaves it...
-
...con't...
...From the writhing puddle, a humanoid figure rises up. Its arms are unnaturally long, ending in three-fingered claws, and large black spikes twist from its shoulderblades, vaguely resembling folded wings. Its surface is utterly black, making it impossible to tell if the creature is covered with skin, scales, fur, chitin, or something else entirely. The only true features on its body are the narrow ice-blue slits one might call eyes, and a series of odd glowing blue shapes on its largest back-spines that seem reminiscent of runes or sigils - albeit of unknown origin. The figure twists, seeing Fesek's blades drawn at its back, and faces him boldly. "Go ahead, fish-elf," it taunts him. "Try what so many others have. See where it gets you."
Saiix stares curiously at Xathen, a slight grin on his face "I suppose things only get better." He kneels on the ground, rubbing his chin "Now its time to see how this all works out.."
"Fesek! Don't!" Meredee cries out - the Nolthrir puts his blades away and steps back, slipping a hand into his glyph sack. She is close to panic, seeing Fesek isolated on the far side of the kitchen, but he braces himself on a nearby counter and leaps over the black figure.
Anumesa scowls at Saiix. "If you aren't going to help, then beat it... just standing there running a commentary isnt the most brilliant thing you could be doing."
Saiix glances at Anumesa "I'm sorry but I was taught to fight like a mage. I don't just jump at a foe without knowing what I'm up against." Anumesa gives a dry laugh and turns her gaze back to the strange black figure. "Still," Saiix says thoughtfully, "I suppose if no one else is going to do anything..." He pulls a death glyph out of his sack slowly "Let's see how well this will do.."
Xathen eyes Saiix, then looks at the pile of ashes on the floor where Hangyira's body was. "You can join her too, if you wish. But first..."
Saiix frowns, gripping his glyph "Wait a second! I don't care what you are, no one insults me." Xathen ignores him, extending a hand towards Meredee and Fesek. A malicious grin on his face reveals crystaline teeth, needle-sharp.
"Stay away," Fesek advises, then adds with a forced grin, "That's a general statement to everyone about everyone else."
"Why won't we just attack it?!?" Meredee cries out, bordering on hysteria.
The black fog writhing at Xathen's feet curls foward, following his hand towards Fesek. "Oh I shan't need to touch you," he assures them. "No fear of that." The air around him ripples and the fog shrinks back as Saiix raises his glyph, uttering a spell.
"Taste of Death!"
Xathen grunts slightly as the magic stings him. The fog around his feet boils rapidly. "Hrm. No, that energy tastes foul." He flicks his wrist, sending the stream of black smoke across the floor at Saiix. Nearby, Meredee concentrates, casting a spell of Crystal Way magic on Xathen, but it seems only to invigorate him. "Now that," he says, blinking, "is much-" he breaks off, snarling in pain as Fesek aims a Blue Way glyph at the dark figure and fires a blast of ice into his shoulder.
Saiix jumps up to the side near the barrels behind Fesek "So weak agaisnt dark magic?" the mage says of his own work. "How perfect. This can be a real test."
Xathen shakes off the ice spell, and growls at Fesek, "Bah! Enough games. I did not destroy whole towns to be batted about like an enki's plaything." His body melts into a pool of inky black shadow, and flows swiftly over the floor to the dusty road outside. Dark and Blue Way magics ripple through the air behind him as Anumesa and Saiix hurl more spells. He oozes back upwards, taking physical form again and drinking in the daylight. "Ah... the Crystal's light. Delicious." The others rush outside behind him.
"Pfft, people and crystal energy," Saiix grumbles. "Here even the shadows feed on it.."
Xathen lets out an echoing laugh. "You've no idea how good this energy feels, after being caged in darkness for so long."
"Well how about I fix that?" Saiix replies. He and Fesek both level glyphstones at the shadow, uttering "Darkness!" in unison. Meredee reaches to her pouch, also drawing out a glyphstone with the Darkness sigil upon it. But Xathen lifts his long arms to the sky, raising a sheet of blackness skyward that devours the spells.
Anumesa follows the advice of Hangyira's journal. An icy wind lashes out at Xathen, and the shadow trembles. "Now THAT is just uncomfortable," he hisses. The hiss becomes a snarl of pain as Fesek mutters a curse and swaps his glyph for the previous Ice glyphstone, casting the spell directly at Xathen's center. Seeing the effect, Anumesa levels another frozen gust at the shadow-creature.
Growling, Xathen gestures upwards and a wall of black smoke rises, shaking like a bedsheet as it absorbs the Dermorian's spell. Saiix places his glyphs in his sack "Hmm, seems my dark way isn't any real good here," he mutters.
"No," the shadow agrees, glaring, "but it tastes foul." He is caught by surprise as a blast of water energy from Fesek tears through his curtain, obliterating it, and he barely dodges - the jet flowing past him just above his left shoulder. "Fish-elf," he snarls, "you are REALLY beginning to annoy me." He levels his hand towards the Nolthrir, sending out a black tendril of smoke from the pool at his feet, but is forced to divert it as Saiix hurls Darkness at him again. The Dark Way magic is absorbed, and Xathen's eyes narrow further, barely-visible slits on his face as he glares at Saiix.
The dark mage sighs. "If this is how he likes to play..." Beside Saiix, Anumesa hurls glowing red fire upon the shadow.
Xathen gives a relieved sigh as the heat and flame strengthens him, and he throws Anumesa a toothy grin, but once again Fesek's magic catches him by surprise. He howls in anguish as an orb of water strikes his chest and knocks the black figure off his feet. Anumesa lets out a stream of curses and switches back to her Ice glyph.
Saiix holds his Darkness glyph in his left hand, and Taste of Death in his right "How about double the fun," he ponders, then launches both spells toward Xathen, but the shadow merely flows upright - unaffected save for the angry look he gives Saiix.
"We need Blue Way," Fesek shouts. He shivers a little, looking at Xathen.
"You have it, don't you?" Meredee looks at him. "You're a Nolthrir." Fesek lets out a heavy sigh.
"We need more." The conversation cuts short as Xathen rushes Fesek, swiping at him with a massive clawed hand. The Nolthrir falls back, throwing his arm up reflexively into Xathen's chest and pressing the Blue Way glyph into his foe's chest. Meredee brings her sword to Fesek's aid, slashing at his hand with her broadsword, but the blade passes through the shadow without any effect.
Saiix glares back at Xathen "I'm not done with you yet." He clenches his fists, focusing the last of his mana "I'll hit you with my best glyph..." Then he holds the fear glyph around his neck. Before him, the dark figure is hurled backwards, snarling in agony at the touch of Fesek's glyph. "Taste of Fear, shadow," he declares, hurling his spell forth.
"Anyone!" Fesek calls out. "With any sort of Blue Way magic! Use it!"
Meredee looks put-out. "I don't have any Blue Way..."
Xathen tastes Fear, and bares his crystaline teeth at Saiix. "It's disgusting," he growls, lunging forward at the mage's throat. Saiix falls back beneath the onslaught, and drops to the ground on one knee.
"Well, I'm wasted..." Behind him, Anumesa hurls one last water spell towards Xathen and retreats, taking Salona with her. Fesek fires a jet of freezing water at the shadow, employing Saiix's two-glyph trick to combine spells. Seeing an approaching dwarf, Xathen glides swiftly around him, dodging the spells and using the passerby as cover.
Fesek drops back, clearly exhausted. Saiix glances at him and then back at Xathen "This is not good...." Meredee rushes to Fesek's side, looking concerned.
"Are you alright?"
The Nolthrir grips his Energy glyph, trying to restore himself, and sighs. He looks up to Meredee and nods. "Just fine, never better. Now go into that tavern and buy me some cooled water." He tries to chuckle, but the attempt falls short on seeing Xathen glide up before Saiix.
"You insist on feeding me [stuff]" the shadow snarls. "Allow me to return the favor." He swings both claws at the mage's face - Saiix raises his arm to block the blow and is knocked backwards. As Xathen begins to move forward again, Fesek intervenes, blocking the shadow's path. He takes an offered pouch from Meredee and sips the water, laughing boldly in Xathen's face as he struggles to find humor in their desperate situation. His other hand grips a Dark Way glyph, cloaking himself and Saiix in blackness.
Xathen glares impassively, engulfing them both in his own dark smoke, absorbing the foul magic and crushing downwards. From beneath the black veil, hundreds of ice shards rip out, tearing apart the shadows enveloping them as the Nolthrir's Blue Way magic flares again. Despite having them almost in his grip, the shadow whirls to face Meredee, who stands to the side blasting Weakness at him with all her might. "Won't you fools EVER learn?" he hisses.
Saiix glances at Fesek, a sudden anger in his eyes as he tries to stand up "I never have been able to take lessons from he who calls me a fool."
Meredee grows angry, shouting "What do you want from us? Where do you come from?" Xathen flows like mercury towards her, trailing black smoke behind him as he leaves Fesek and Saiix on the ground. "What are you?! Go away!!!" she screams. Fesek looks to Meredee, then Xathen, and pushes himself from the ground.
Saiix grips his fist tight, black flames covering hist fist "Don't turn away from me!" he growls.
Xathen stops just in front of Meredee, glaring hungrily down at her. "I am Xathen Ut'Phaere, last known Etherwight of the Stone Labyrinth. And you-" he breaks off, hissing as black flames strike his back. He half-turns just as Fesek charges him, pressing two Blue Way glyphs firmly against the Etherwight's surface. The shadow roars in pain, backing rapidly away from Meredee.
"Fesek! Do it again!" Meredee encourages him, and the Nolthrir obligingly punishes Xathen with the two glyphs. Farren, waiting his moment to strike, rushes forward and sweeps his staff toward the Etherwight's head.
Xathen screams in anguish, backhanding Fesek away from him. Through the pain, his narrow eyes take on a confused tilt as Farren's staff passes through his head. Seeing his chance, Fesek leaps to his feet and rushes Xathen again, aiming both his glyphstones at Xathen's head - the shadow's long arms dart up, gripping Fesek's wrists and tossing the Nolthrir away like a toy. "Enough out of you," he snarls at Meredee, lunging at her like a black comet.
"No!" Fesek shouts, hurling a freezing orb of water at Xathen with desperate force. It freezes halfway through its travel, striking Xathen hard and solid with an odd crunching sound. The shadow is blasted aside, and lays on the ground wheezing under the crystal's azure light.
"This... will not continue..." he groans, shuddering in pain as another ice spell gnaws on his ethereal flesh. Surrendering his physical form, the Etherwight becomes a puddle of darkness, flowing into the protective shade of Brado's tavern. His pool of blackness thins out, merging with the shade and becoming indistinguishable as more travellers and citizens draw near to the sounds of conflict.
Saiix glances at the shadow one last time "No point for me to stay here.....I would guess I'm no longer needed..."
The Etherwight's voice growls from the shade. "You are all pointless - all food. And in time, I will hunt you all, and devour you as I did those in the Labyrinth."
-
[In coming through the doors and into Yliakum proper, Xathen knew he would need an ally. He laid his plans carefully, setting the grounds for an alliance that would aid him. And after his initial defeat, the necessity of it was made crystal-clear.]
...through shade and shadow, cloaked in darkness, Xathen passes through the foothills of Yliakum - a barely perceptible shadow flowing through the night. At last, he reaches Hydlaa's gates, pooling himself down the drains and into the sewers beneath the city. Downwards, into the depths, to find the aid his only other servant had promised...
In an alcove deep in Hydlaa's sewer system, Xathen pools out from the shadows, resuming his natural form. Anarkia, Farren, and Nalkorash are present - upon sighting Farren, he gives the elf a needle-toothe grin. It is the demonic Nalkorash that he has come to see, however, and the twisted Diaboli's first words are encouraging to the shadow's purpose.
"If you're who I think you are, I suppose I owe you an apology...I was distracted along the way to the specified location your messenger gave me..."
The Etherwight gives a slow nod. "I was also delayed," he replies blackly. "There are some here beneath the Azure Crystal more powerful than I expected." He holds up a hand to Farren as the elf's eyes begin to shimmer blue, the icy glow concentrating heavily in his eyes. "Ease, elf. I did not come here to feed on you," he assures the blind Dermorian.
Anarkia scoots behind Farren, who answers Xathen evenly. "You'd find me hard to feed on." Xathen studies the three carefully, silently puzzling over the odd alliance.
"I hold no feelings for them," Nalkorash says, smiling as he looks over his shoulder. "If you wish to dispose of them, go ahead." The shadow answers with a hollow laugh.
"In time, if it proves necessary... not now. Not here."
Nalkorash returns his gaze to Xathen and nods. "Very well." An expectant look crosses his face. "Sending messengers to death is an impressive length to go...I hope you have an equally impressive reason for wanting to see me."
"Indeed," the Etherwight agrees, his gaze drifting between Nalkorash and the pair behind him. "This is a new land for me, with new rules. Hunting requires a type of discipline and cunning I have not yet adapted."
Nalkorash grins, "You even look similar in your own way...we are going through the same situation."
Behind them, Farren turns to Anarkia and whispers, "Are you alright?" Xathen turns his focus to the pair.
"...Then it is to our benefit to aid each other. And these," he says, motioning to Anarkia and Farren," -can they be trusted?"
Nalkorash looks back at them once again, "Probably not...for now they are just leeches to me."
Xathen gives Farren a particularly interested gaze. "Truly...? An interesting test, perhaps, to rid you of them then." The demon smiles.
"As I said before... do what you wish."
"Nalkorash," Anarkia hisses from behind Farren. "I thought you were dead."
Xathen waves a hand dismissively. "Another time. Tell me, half-demon... what powers does that corrupt blood of yours grant you?" The corrupted Diaboli ignores Anarkia's statement and recites a brief but impressive list of demonic abilities. Then, noting Xathen's choice of words, he adds a correction.
"Despite my appearance, I am not a half-demon," he says with a grim smile, "I am an unawakened demon. The last time these powers fully awoke, I fell into a deep slumber and lost them." He scowls. "They are returning now, but I'm afraid past events will repeat themselves." He clenches a fist, growling, "It is because of this place."
Xathen looks to the ceiling, nodding slowly. "The Crystal affects your demon so? Perhaps I might aid you in that, as well..."
Nalkorash's face lightens up, "That would be a dream come true...the only place I can fully release these powers is," and looks over at Anarkia, "the Death Realm..."
"You have a fine array of arts, but they seem terribly defensive," the shadow ponders aloud, a touch of sympathy in his voice. He fixes Nalkorash with a fearsome grin. "What would you say to making the shadows your own? To move unseen, undetected, in the presence of your enemies, and strike them down before the shock leaves their cold, dead eyes?"
Nalkorash laughs wickedly, looking at his own palms, "No one could stop me..." He looks up at Xathen, "I crave for a power such as that..."
The Etherwight blends into the shadows, moving as a barely perceptible ripple along the wall, and reforms behind Nalkorash. "A bargain I can make easily, demon," he declares. "My price - your aid in hunting this realm."
"As you wish," the demon agrees readily.
Anarkia shifts uneasily and nudges Farren. "Can we go now?" she whispers into his ear.
Xathen eyes Farren and Anarkia again. "You will not breathe a word of this... or every shadow will become your most horrible nightmare. Am I clear?"
"Yes Anarkia," Farren mutters, then to Nalkorash and Xathen he says, "We shall leave you." They stride from the sewer alcove, every step watched by the two monstrosities behind them.
"Hey!" Anarkia's shout echoes down the sewer tunnels. "A rat bit meh!" A brief snarl and scuffle follows, then her reverberating outburst - "DIE!" An anguished squeal follows, cut short as the rat meets its end. Nalkorash sighs, shaking his head.
"I really wish I knew why I haven't killed her yet."
Xathen scowls, his eyes narrowing to slits. "She is filthy - unsuitable as food. And that elf, though blind, has 'seen' far too much." He looks to Nalkorash. "That is why I would not devour either of them."
The demon nods. "As I said..." he reminds Xathen, "I would do anything to attain these powers."
The Etherwight grins. "Your task is not an easy one, demon. Every life that walks beneath the Crystal has its own energy - its own flavor. Youth and innocence are best. Perhaps you would know this taste as a thick and juicy meat? ...Find me ones such as this to feed upon and you will be well-compensated." He moves forward. "And to seal this bargain..." His arm lifts, gouging his own wrist open on one of his back spikes. Viscous dark fluid leaks down his hand. "This will mark you, and grant you small power over the darkness. The shadows will not obey you fully, but they will cloak you from prying eyes. Where," he finishes, eyeing Nalkorash, "would you bear this mark?"
Nalkorash grins, putting his ight hand on the top of his chest. "Here." Xathen nods and reaches out, his claws gouging the demon's flesh. His own oily black blood leaks into the wounds, forming an inverted triad of three dots. They glow a light, icy blue, and fade dormant. The demon flinches, then leans forward, taking deep breaths. "A-amazing..."
"There. The deed is done," Xathen states, willing his wound closed. "Focus on the darkness, and it will be yours to call upon when needed."
Nalkorash looks back at his hand after fixing his posture, "I can manipulate the shadows in any possible way...?"
Xathen laughs coldly. "Of course not. Do you think I would share all of my powers with you so easily? No, but they will cloak you when you have need, if there is any shadow around."
Nalkorash smirks, "Very well then. I know a few who may be good candidates for this task you've offered me..."
"Prove yourself to me - find me someone youthful and vigorous to feed on - and much more will be yours."
Nalkorash clenches his fist, "Consider it done...I will have your powers for sure." He laughs, "This is the best offering I have ever been given...I thank you for this." His footsteps echo down the tunnels, and Xathen gives a hollow laugh, melting into the darkness again.
-
[The following events occur just after, as Nalkorash goes hunting. Since they are rather horrible, I wish to state clearly I am not Xathen. These are In-Character events, and I am not my character. Do not flame me or hate me for what is to follow, as it is only within Xathen's nature and not mine. I do not endorse any sort of violence against children and would never harm one in real life.
I don't know how much clearer I can make that, so without further ado...]
...at the entrance to the sewers, Xathen meets again with Nalkorash - impressed with his swift hunting...
The demon drags a young diaboli boy into view, releasing his scythe from the boy's neck. The boy, Mahesh, looks around with wide eyes. Xathen examines him closely.
"Hm..." the shadow mutters aloud, looking him over.
Oblivious to the shadow's intent, Mahesh gives a friendly wave. "Hi!"
Nalkorash laughs as he looks straight at Xathen, "It was so easy...I hope this is what you were looking for."
Xathen gazes down at him, a slow smile revealing his needle-sharp crystaline teeth. "Hello, boy..."
Mahesh eyes the Etherwight's teeth, and 'ooo's quietly. His attention drifts, looking bored, and Xathen raises a hand as if to pat him on the head.
To the boy's surprise, black smoke boils upwards around his feet, engulfing him to the waist and holding him in place. "This one will do splendidly, demon," he says to Nalkorash. Mahesh grows frightened, squirming.
Nalkorash laughs wickedly, unable to contain himself. "This will do it!"
"Do for what?" Mahesh wonders, trying to shoo the smoke away. Xathen does not answer, instead tightening his fog's hold on the boy - it thickens like mud, then concrete, crushing slowly as the Etherwight drains him of his life's energies.
"Help!" the young diaboli screams, struggling. Xathen casts a nervous glance at the corner, knowing the guard Percival stands guard at the Winch gates just around it. He glides closer, covering the child's mouth with one hand.
"Yes..." he gives a chilling laugh, "Those under the Crystal are far more sustaining." He glares down at the boy. "Silence, brat. You have an important duty to those in the under-realms... But first..."
"Wait!" Mahesh cries out, voice muffled beneath Xathen's claws. He struggles fiercely.
Xathen reaches to his face, placing the claws of his other hand at the boy's eye. Mahesh starts to shake as Xathen speaks again. "In some cultures, the people believed that consuming a foe's eyes bestowed wisdom." His hand closes, cruelly plucking out the eye in question, ignoring the boy's agonized scream. "For my part, I simply find them sweeter." With a final gesture, he crushes the last of the life from the boy and drops his crumpled body to the pavement.
"Demon... I am VERY impressed," Xathen states, grinning wickedly as he devours the boy's eye. Nalkorash covers his mouth with his hand, then removes it, still unable to contain his laughter of anticipation.
Responding to the boy's last wail, Anumesa rounds the corner. "Still lurking about?" the Dermorian woman states accusingly.
"My first victim," Nalkorash glares back at her, "unless you remove yourself from my sight."
Xathen eyes her coldly. "Begone, elf, or you will share the boy's fate."
"What are you talking about?" Anumesa demands, refusing to move. Behind her, Izzabella appears, looking desperate. Nalkorash turns to Xathen.
"Do it... quickly!" he insists.
"Mahesh!" Izzabella cries out, looking around. Anumesa looks shocked.
"YOU KILLED MAHESH?!" she shouts at the monstrous pair.
"They what?!?" Izzabella cries out.
Xathen wastes no more time. "Very well," he hisses, darting forward and digging his claws into Nalkorash's chest with gusto. Blue lights flare from his hands, sparking as they come in contact with the demon energy. Behind him, Izzabella grills Anumesa rapidly, panicked and unwilling to believe it was her son that just met his end at the shadow's hand. He turns, dodging a sheet of ice as Anumesa takes action. "I have no more time for your games," he snarls, and pools into the cracks of the pavement - a black ripple that flows down into the sewer shadows and disappears.
Nalkorash lingers a moment longer, laughing as the Etherwight's powers join his own. He sinks into the shadows, following suit and leaving the angry women behind...
[Post-script: And so concludes this portion of the story. My thanks to everyone who participated, and an additonal thanks and special apology to 'Mahesh' for going along with that last bit. I would also like to add that you've all given me some valuable insight into roleplaying, and I hope to make any future events (involving Xathen or otherwise) even more inclusive and engaging.]
Since the IC/In-Game portion of this Event has ended, you are welcome and encouraged to post your comments without [brackets] - hereafter, for the purpose of this thread, they are unnecessary.
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[I had a lot of fun with this event. :P
Nalkorash crossed a boundary that I wasn't even planning him to cross in the beginning, can't wait to see how things are in the future. ;)]
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[I had fun battling Xathen as Saiix. Gave me the chance to finally use him in an rp instead of sitting around trying to talk to people who usually ignore me :P ]
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[ ::|
:o
Baby-eater!
:P
That was much easier reading than in normal log form. Goojob.]
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That was so not cool...when asked ooc if I'd participate in an abduction..there was NO mention being eaten or killed..as soon as I get there I get this [you know your gonna die, right?] tell..was not cool :P and you just wait..revenge will be served.
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I am SO in on the revenge party. :P
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[Your baby's next anumesa ;)]
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[I love how you added in the whole rat killing thing xD]
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[That's sorta what kept us from using Anarkia's child as the sacrifice...she's "filthy" and whatnot :P]
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noooo not the babies!!! X-/
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[Hurry up and have the thing Anumesa, we're hungry. ;)]
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Suno, that's horrible... XD
Seriously Izzabella, that wasn't fun or easy for me to go through with - I look forward to putting him at your mercy as pennance. ;)
...Just be sure you have a few Blue Way mages on hand and a platinum sword or two.
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[Psh >.<
Traitor. :P]
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not the babies!!! :surrender:
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[I wonder what fetuses taste like? :P]
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Suno no! No! no! you are bad! shame shame! besides, Anumesa is stuck with that two year gestation haha no rushing that :P *ducks*
And Mahesh liked his visit to the death realm, was much more efficient than the first time he was there when his dad got mad at him as he showed him they way out because the big drop jump scared him so he sat and cried for mommy. And you all just wait, Mahesh will be back with his rat eyes to cause trouble and explore hydlaa, and overall just be a troublesome diaboli boy ;)
...oh and and as far as anything IC'ly goes..Mahesh was too traumatized to remember the event, and Izzy does not wish to speak about, because OOC'ly thats the best idea for our char's to deal with this..cause of.... issues...so yeah :) so if you ask him about it he won't remember.
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but... won't he be missing an eye? O.o;
I thought that particularly nasty on Xathen's part, but to my knowledge lost appendages & parts don't just regenerate...
Not that I object, save for the fact that he probably ought to be IC'ly wandering around with an eyepatch. :( Poor kid.
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*glances Nalkorash's regenerated arm and hand and shrugs amusedly*
Izzy, just make up a little plot and he will have his eyes back magically! :beta:
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[Hey now I have reasons for those regenerating. :P
I doubt even Nal could grow back an eye, though]
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I was told that because he died right after the death realm is supposed to fix any fatal wounds and what not, and him being so small I think had he not been ...err...consumed right after he would have bleed out without attention. Correct me if I am wrong.... But this is what we are going with...to any case I could also point out that he was abducted about ten feet from Jeferca and walked right by Pervical..so if I want to say he got healed...he got healed :P your not helping! the idea is IC'ly his dad does not find out :P
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[Works for me xD]
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Coming soon: Wraithbane
*...evil laughter...*
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[OMG xD]
[Go Kieve, I can't wait. :D]
[The name itself is making me glue my eyes to the screen :P]
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[Bah! Well, I'd figured that the 'event' portion had pretty much ended, but since this seems to be the place for it - I've got a few more incidents with Xathen to post. They're currently being rewritten in story form, so hopefully I'll have those complete by tomorrow. Gives me something to do at work when I'm not working, anyway. :lol:]
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...As Xathen cautiously explores the city, he comes to realize it is a prime hunting ground. Every niche and alley provides ample cover as he flows through the shadows, stretching his ethereal senses in every direction to seek new prey. In the dead of night or at the Azure Sun's peak - no place is safe from the hungry wraith. Hydlaa's guards have not yet learned of his presence, and as they recover the ashes of his consumed victims, their unease builds.
But devouring citizens and homemakers leaves Xathen feeling unfulfilled, and he soon turns his attention to stronger, richer fare. Hidden within the shade of the city walls, he watches as a Ynnwn man exits the North Gate - a Ynnwn with an almost palpable aura of Crystal magic.
He flows outside, a near-invisible ripple through the shadows on the road, and reforms himself within sight of his prey...
"Um... Hello," the Ynnwn, Cruran, says uneasily. Xathen answers him with a predatory grin, sliding fully into the Crystal's light, and Cruran steps back a pace as the wraith approaches.
"It's been some time since I fed, Ynnwn," the Etherwight cackles, rubbing his hands together. "And you have a great deal of energy. You'd make a fine meal, I dare say."
"W-what do you mean 'meal'?" Cruran's eyes dart around, focusing on anything but Xathen. The wraith extends a hand towards him, and oily black fog begins rising from the Ynnwn's shadow, climbing slowly upwards.
"You'll find out soon enough."
To Xathen's confusion, a burst of Crystal energy halts the fog. He prepares to renew his effort when another man approaches - the same Dark Way mage who aided Fesek outside The Broken Door. Saiix.
Saiix halts upon sighting Xathen. "Just about to takea walk out," he mutters, "and look who I find..." He draws two daggers, gaze fixed solidly on the wraith. "You won't be escaping me this time, shadow."
Xathen spares him barely a glance. "Keep your foul glyphs out of this, Dark Mage. I've no taste for dark arts, but I'll devour you as well if you press me." Saiix answers by engulfing his daggers in a Darkness enchantment.
"I won't be stopped by idle threats!" he snarls, hurling both daggers toward Xathen.
The Etherwight remains focused on Cruran, avoiding the daggers entirely as he rushes forward - a narrow beam of Crystal light strikes him squarely in the chest, but the spell only adds to his grin. "I'm not so easily banished by simple light," he growls hungrily, and lunges for Cruran with claws outstretched. The Ynnwn falls back, lashing out blindly as he evades the wraith.
"You idiot! Don't feed him light!" Saiix shouts. "Feed him Blue Way if possible." His hands search at his side, drawing out a platinum shortsword. "Darn it... out of daggers. This will have to do..." He pursues Xathen, delivering a wild slash with his remaining weapon.
The wraith hisses in pain as the blade leaves a shallow gash in his back, and viscious black fluid leaks from the wound. He remains doggedly focused on Cruran however, flowing after his fallen prey. The consuming black fog begins rising again. Crystal energy builds around Cruran, warding off the questing smoke. Xathen's shadowflesh ripples as Saiix pelts him with Dark Way magic.
"I said I won't be ignored!" the dark mage exclaims, slashing at the wraith with his platinum blade. Xathen roars angrily, losing his form briefly as he oozes away from Cruran and reforms hiimself.
"Fine," he snarls, facing Saiix. Twisted black spikes rocket from the ground where Saiix's shadow falls, turning the entire surface into a hellish bed of nails. Several impale his left leg, halting his charge. Seeing his chance, Cruran forces himself to his feet, preparing another spell.
"No more Crystal Way, idiot!" Saiix growls at Cruran, then turns his attention back to Xathen. "I'm not done with you yet." Two Taste of Death spells issue forth as he resumes his charge - slower, but no less determined as he slashes at the wraith.
Xathen grins, hands rising behind his back. Small ripples roll through him where the dark magic strikes ineffectively. "But," he snaps back, grinning wickedly, "I'm done with you!" Two massive onyx blades appear as the wraith draws his twin greatswords, slamming them down at Saiix with earth-shattering force. The dark mage raises his own sword, barely deflecting the blows as he is knocked backwards.
"Damn it..." he curses, "No good if this becomes a battle of strength..."
At that moment, silver-white streaks rain down on Xathen, as Cruran unleashes his spell and draws out a pair of longswords. The wraith hisses with laughter, whirling from Saiix and rushing towards the Crystal mage like an obsidian comet, writhing fog trailing in his wake. Behind Xathen, Saiix rises and hurls the platinum blade with all his strength.
Cruran lifts his swords in defense, retreating again, but gains another reprieve as the hurled blade strikes the Etherwight squarely in the back, sinking deep and lodging there. The wraith lets out an agonized roar, rounding on Saiix with absolute hatred blazing in his slitted ice-blue eyes. "Now that," he wheezes painfully, "is unforgiveable." He hurls his left greatsword in similar fashion, aiming for the dark mage's chest. Caught flat-footed, Saiix is impaled upon the massive blade, his body hurled backwards and pinned against the stone walls of the city.
Dazed, he looks down at the black weapon jutting from his chest. "Damn it..." he curses again, and slumps forward, passing into the Death Realm. Undistracted, Xathen returns his attention to Cruran.
"Now," he wheezes, clawing the platinum blade from his back with an anguished snarl, "it's your turn." Cruran lashes out with his longswords, but they contain no platinum and pass through Xathen as though he were a ghost. The wraith bares his needle-like teeth, reaching out to grasp Cruran by the face. "No platinum... no harm," he informs the Ynnwn. Desperately, Cruran drops a sword and reaches for the smaller platinum blade on the ground, its length still coated in Xathen's tar-like ichor. But the Etherwight lifts him upwards, suspending him above the ground. The consuming black smoke pours over his face as the wraith begins draining his energies. "Noble effort. Wasted effort." Xathen's grip tightens as he draws nourishment from Cruran. "And I've worked up an appetite," he hisses. "Marvelous... Crystal mages have such flavor!" With a sadistic flourish, he crushes the Ynnwn's skull and casts the body aside.
The wraith flows to the wall, yanking his wedged blade free, and dissipates into the shadows again. Unseen behind him, Cruran's hand twitches, closing on the hilt of the platinum blade before the body passes on...
[EDIT: Some... 'artistic' license was taken to preserve continuity and realism. The end results have not changed. ;)]
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...The next day, Xathen grows bolder. Hydlaa's commoners no longer interest him - but there is one spot in the city where all manner of unique tavellers congregate. Kada-El's Tavern.
He ripples unseen through the shadows, prowling the building for likely prey. Instead, he finds the demon Nalkorash in heated arguement with the local tavern wench - he recoils as he recognizes Anarkia's unpleasant aura and remains cloaked in darkness, watching. The discussion fails to grab his interest, but as he considers prowling elsewhere, another enkidukai enters the store-room...
"You should know manners, you don't just barge in on people like this," Nalkorash growls.
"Excuse me," the newcomer says quietly, and taps her paw on Anarkia's shoulder. The angered fenki strides forward, ignoring the girl behind her.
"I work here, I can do whatever I like as long as Allelia lets me. Listen, my son just voimted all over the floor and I needed a towel. You can't lock yourself up in a utility closet like that, whatever the reason."
Nalkorash snorts, unimpressed. "Wipe it up with your own fur," he suggests.
"Get out!" Anarkia growls.
The softspoken girl, Adrina, murmurs again. "Excuse me..."
"What?!?" Anarkia whirls on her.
Adrina whimpers and shrinks back. "I-I just... I just wanted to... help..." She cowers on the floor, whimpering up at Anarkia. "Please, don't hurt me." Her quiet demeanor grabs Xathen's attention, and he begins examining her from his place in the darkness.
Anarkia hisses and turns back to face Nalkorash. "Get out," she demands hotly. Adrina crouches trembling on the floor, covering her head as if expecting to be hit. The demon shrugs, muttering, and dissolves into the shadows. Xathen smiles inwardly, feeling a small measure of pride, but his attention is riveted on Adrina.
"Yo...you're not... going to hurt me?" the timid fenki asks, peering out from behind her arms.
Anarkia looks down at Adrina. "No, you idiot. Why the hell would I hurt you?"
Unconvinced, Adrina gives a quiet whimper. "You... were upset... I was trying to help..." She holds up a towel. "Please, I just wanted to offer... This was on the mantle..." Her words tumble out, confused and nervous. "I was looking for some a-ale... Please, t-take it..." she stutters.
Anarkia snatches the towel and stares at the cowering fenki. "Go ask Allelia. Thank you." Her paws stomp heavily on the foor as she exits, returning downstairs to tend to her son. Left alone in the stock room, Adrina lets out a soft sigh and rises to her feet.
"Must find it... Hrrrm..." she mutters, turning to examine the shelf. Her tail swings back and forth with her curiosity. Seeing his opportunity, Xathen reforms silently from the shadows, nudging the door closed again.
"Well indeed..." he hisses as the bolt clicks shut, "What have we here?"
Adrina blinks, turning to look at him. "Mrrr? Oh... hello sir..." she murmurs, strangely unsurprised by the solid black creature behind her.
Xathen gives a quiet laugh, keeping his voice low to avoid alerting those nearby. "Sir...? Hah, how quaint." He extends a hand toward Adrina, raising black smog from her shadow on the floor-tiles. Oblivious, the girl looks up at him with a soft gaze. "Do you want a drink?" she asks, holding a bottle of dark ale in her paws. "It's the last bottle... But I won't mind..." She glances down at his hand, and adjusts the bottle to reach out with one hand, as if in greeting. "I'm Adrina..."
The wraith narrows his eyes, grinning with needle-sharp teeth as he takes her hand. "Xathen Ut'Phaere..." he growls, amused. The fog around Adrina's feet solidifes, turning thick as mud. "To say I'm sorry would be a lie, Adrina... but we Etherwights feed differently."
Adrina blinks as she looks down at the inky mud encasing her feet. She looks back up to him and murrs quietly. Ignoring the strange substance or questions of his diet, she apologizes. "I'm sorry... I'll put it away for later then..." she mutters, turning enough to place it back on the shelf, and looks back worriedly. "Did I upset you...?" she asks, eying his sharp teeth. "Xhayron grins like that whenever I make him unhappy..."
Xathen gives a low laugh. "Such innocence, such naivete!" He grips her hand tightly, digging his claws into her wrist as he begins siphoning energy. His grin widens, but falters slightly as he tastes an oddly bitter tang in her.
Adrina flinches and cringes as his claws dig in, trembling as he siphons the lifeforce from her. "Gggh... No... oooo..." She groans out as it throbs agonizingly throughout her body. By chance, the weak groans reach the ears of Anarkia as she passes by outside, and her ears perk.
"Hm. They've closed the door again. Another orgy in the utility room." Her knuckles rap against the door.
Xathen ignores the noise, flowing closer to Adrina as he leers down at her. "Foolish girl..." His grip on her wrist tightens further, drawing blood. "It would be a shame to kill you." The fenki struggles weakly, reaching to grip her claymore with a trembling hand.
"L... Let... let me... go..." she growls, but drops the weapon as more of her energy is drained painfully away, and she passes out entirely, slumping against the mantle.
The wraith's gloating is interrupted as the door slams open, its latch broken by Anarkia's heavy kick. Seeing Xathen and Adrina, she shouts, "Stop!"
Xathen turns his head, hissing angrily, and sends thick oily smoke boiling throughout the room and filling the hall with choking darkness. "Tell them the shadows live, when you wake," he growls at Adrina's unconscious body. Outside the doorway, a clamor arises.
"Who's there?"
"What's going on here?"
Somewhere in the confusion, a loud scream fills the air.
Anarkia glares through the black haze, growling at Xathen. "Let her go, foul... shadowy thing!" The threat draws only laughter from the wraith. More tavern-dwellers filter in behind her, hurling their own pathetic challenges.
"Run weakling!"
"Before I draw a weapon and kill ya!"
Xathen releases his hold on Adrina, tossing her limp form away, and lets out a booming laugh that reverberates in the ears of all present. "You're welcome to try," he hisses. "See where it gets you." His amusement only grows as he senses Nalkorash's presence in the gloom. "Remember the name Xathen Ut'Phaere," he cackles gleefully. "It will be your end, in time." He throws a backhanded swipe at Anarkia as she moves between him and the fallen Adrina. "In time," he repeats, fading backwards into the shadows and vanishing from sight.
"Off with you," a particularly stupid bystander calls out, "before I call forth the light." Xathen's answering laugh echoes throughout the room.
"Call the light. It's delicious."
-
[Xathen's misadventures continue tomorrow, including the much-anticipated fight with Xeonart.]
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...Cloaked in nighttime shadows, Xathen meets with Nalkorash at the Hydlaa gazebo...
"I understand you wanted to speak with me," the wraith says. It is a statement, not a question. The demon looks up at him, grinning.
"I was wondering when you would see me. I have a question for you, before I continue with what I wish to say."
Xathen waves a hand dismissively. "I've had my own affairs to tend to as well... this city is prime hunting ground." The casual treatment does not faze Nalkorash, who seems preoccupied.
"You gave me this power. If there was a spawn of myself, would that spawn have this power as well?"
The pieces click easily into place for Xathen, though he is reluctant to believe a woman would willingly carry the demon's child. "If you think to produce an Etherwight for your son, you will be sorely disappointed. He would never know the strength, the comfort of shadows, as a true wraith would."
Nalkorash tilts his head, and tries a different track. "Very well. Do you know of someone named Xeonart? A scrawny young fellow with enormous strength...?" he asks.
Xathen growls. For days, the sour taste of fear has tainted his victims - fear beyond the sudden stark terror of his own appearance. "Is that the name of this taint? Some wretched soul seeping with dark magics and fouling the taste of my prey with his blight?"
"He is bothersome for me as well," the demon confirms, nodding. "This makes things easier... He wears a dark robe and carries a scythe similar to mine. He shouldn't be that hard to pick from a crowd if you have to. I request your help in dealing with him, and his allies..."
The wraith considers for a moment, and gives Nalkorash an answering nod. "Happily. My meals taste better without the bitterness of fear in them."
Confident, the demon grins. "I fought him earlier. He was on the defensive, and could not do much against me. If he hadn't run away with use of his magic, I may have slain him."
Xathen cackles wickedly. "Then he will surely die, for I have yet to see a single wretch in this city who can stand against an Etherwight."
Nalkorash's next words confuse Xathen, though only later would he think to ask about them. "He must face true death. He has died before, but he 'craves the darkness' or something like that. He would return if killed with conventional means." The notion of anyone returning from death is foreign to the wraith, but he seems unconcerned as he draws out his twin greatswords.
His gaze passes over the glowing blue runes on their surfaces. "I don't do 'conventional,' demon." His eyes lift to meet the demon's as he grins. "I will drain him, tainted and foul or not, and leave his corpse as ash."
Nalkorash lets out a hearty laugh. "If you ever need help, which I know you won't, I'll probably be lurking around the commons. I imagine you can track me down. As for the matter of the child..."
Xathen nods and puts the blades away. "You got a woman with child?" he asks, still incredulous. "Mortals have such bizarre tastes..."
The demon smiles. "I was surprised as well. However, this child will most likely grow stronger than I with age. If something were to happen to me, he will no doubtedly be a valueable ally."
The wraith considers his words carefully. "I will watch for his entrance into the world... but he is still fleshling. I will not play surrogate father to one bound by mortal flesh."
"I've been sitting on an idea for a while now..."
"...And that would be...?"
Nalkorash raises his arm in front of his chest. "I've had so many outside strengths. The demon blood, and your power... along with others. I'd been born an 'unawakened demon' they said. This child would have everything from me, but those will not be outside changes. He will be born with his power, and they will mix more fluently than compared to mine, which were by force. This child may not be mortal, to sum things up."
Xathen lifts a cautionary finger. "But still bound by flesh. I will watch for him, and guide his hand if needed. Do not ask more."
The demon nods. "That is enough. Thank you..."
The wraith watches him leave, and dissipates into the shadows again. He reaches out across the dark corners of the city, probing for new prey to feed upon...
...time passes swiftly, and Xathen exhausts himself, spreading his essence so thinly. At the limits of his senses, he detects conflict, and reforms himself in front of the gazebo, preparing to reach out again and probe the disturbance before committing himself to it.
But word of his location has passed to Adrina, recovered from Xathen's predations and seething with fury. Her words startle him as he takes physical shape once more...
"You bastard... You heartless BASTARD!!" she hisses as she approaches Xathen, her eyes burning with hatred and rage. "It's because of you that my life was ruined! I'll kill you! I'll kill you for making me lose everything!"
The wraith whirls to face her, and snarls back, "Did I claim to be aught else?" He melts into the shadows again, flowing through them as a ripple in the darkness, but inwardly he knows he is weary and cannot remain shadowmerged for long.
Adrina crosses her blades and slashes them to dig up the ground, chunks of dirt flying behind her. "Come out so I can destroy you!" She casts a protective barrier of wind and looks about wildly. "Xathen!! You're going to die today! Come out and fight me so I may have my revenge!"
The wraith lets out an echoing laugh. "Die? Shadows never die, kitten," he taunts her from the darkness.
"No, but monsters can." Adrina smirks. "No... You're not even a monster. You're just a weakling!" she laughs hatefully. "You HIDE! And you only attack when it's most opportune for you! You bloody bastard... You can't stop me... And you can't scare me."
Xathen takes form directly behind her, hissing into her ear. "I'm a predator. I strike when I choose to."
"A predator," she spits, her wind barrier whirling more viciously as it repels his presence. The wraith snarls, backing away.
"I should have left you as ash. My mistake."
The dark-furred enki bares her fangs in a grin. "It's the last you'll ever make." She draws out two claymores, gritting her teeth.
The wraith cackles in response. "If you insist." He lunges forward, clawing for her throat, but Adrina's blades flash down. One passes through him harmlessly, but the other is composed of platinum metal. His grim laughter becomes an anguished roar as the blade lodges deep in his arm, delivering a long gash that leaks oily blood to the ground - he recoils swiftly, cradling the wounded limb. "How... in...?" he mutters in shock, then sets his eyes on Adrina with a determined glare. "No, no matter, this." His undamaged hand lifts up, drawing one of the greatswords from his back.
Adrina grins almost maniacally. She holds both blades up, crossing them again, the platinum blade in front. "What's the matter? Realized you're nothing more than a weakling!?" she screams at him, hissing loudly. "I'm going to make every waking moment of your last living minutes painful and miserable, Xathen. Now then... Care to strike at me again?"
"You prolong the inevitable," he snarls, his wounded arm making a gesture against his chest. Massive spikes lift from the shadows directly under Adrina's feet - she leaps away swiftly, but the spires tear at her armor, drawing blood from her right foot. She looks up at him with a frown and slashes once more with the platinum blade, though not yet making the connection between her blade and the damage inflicted. The wraith slams his greatsword down, batting the deadly claymore away from him with punishing force. All around, black fog begins to seep from the shadows - beneath the gazebo, under the trees, and wherever else darkness falls. Soon, the entire field is covered in rolling black clouds, save for the protective shell of wind around Adrina. She smiles grimly.
"I can still see, Xathen." She grasps her sword hard, only capable of seeing a small glint of light in the darkness. His sword, which was just in range... She stabs forward towards the source of the sword. Xathen gives a scornful laugh as her blade sparks off the central and brightest rune-marking on his greatsword. Two ice-blue slits hover some distance away - his eyes.
"Can you really...?" The massive blade flashes out of the darkness, arcing towards her head. Adrina's ears flicker, hearing the air sliced away by his blade, and lifts her claymore to block the blow, but the wraith's strength and force sends her tumbling. She falls back, getting swiftly to her feet again and listens intently for the sound of his movements. Xathen glides over the turf, circling her slowly, as a stalking predator might. A jagged black spike flashes from the engulfing darkness, aiming for her chest. The girl's incredible agility spares her once more however, the spire passing within inches of her. In one smooth, graceful motion, she quickly drops her other sword and plants a free palm onto the ground, lowering and whirling her legs in a circle before standing up and hurling her sword towards the darkness like a disc. The wraithsmoke peels away from the spinning blade as the anathemic metal carves through the darkness. From the opposite direction, Xathen gives an angry hiss, fog trailing from him like a comet as he hurls himself towards Adrina - his blade sweeps out in a horizontal slash, threatening to cleave her at the waist.
The fenki looks up with surprise and leaps desperately out of the way, her foot cut badly as the tip of his blade slices into her ankle. She groans unhappily, kneeling down a few feet further from him. Behind her, guided by an air-spell, the platinum claymore finishes its flight out and begins whirling back at the embattled pair. Forced from her original position, Adrina cannot reclaim her blade, but the wraith moves after her, placing himself squarely in its path. At the hissing sound approaching him, Xathen twists to face it.
He drives another dark spire at her claymore, but the anathemic metal shatters his shadow like glass and slices through his shoulder before spinning away into the darkness. He turns, glaring at Adrina. "You've got some teeth, kitten," he hisses. "But you're still only prey."
"And for a predator, you're really loud..." she bites back. Her sharp ears hear the sword land, some distance away, and begins to focus on the direction of the sound. Her hands glow slightly with azure magic - with enough time, she might cause the sword to return with another gust of wind. "You know... I still can't forgive you..." she stalls, "but... I might let you live if you agree to a condition..."
Xathen extends his sword's tip towards her, pointing. "You're in no position to make bargains." His wounded hand makes another gesture, driving black spires upwards from where her shadow falls, turning the entire surface into a bed of spikes, rising over a foot high as he seeks to impale her.
"Neither are you..." Adrina laughs. Her sharp eyes notice the motion, and again she rolls swiftly from the questing spires - too slowly to avoid them all. A jagged spine skewers her foot, which bleeds profusely as she kneels, growling in pain. The black clouds surrounding them thicken, sinking to chest height as they grow dense and viscous. Having limited her escape, Xathen drives his blade down at her again. Desperate to evade him, the fenki throws herself into the inky sludge, wading through it towards her fallen platinum blade. The tip of the wraith's greatsword bites into her shoulder, returning the blow her own blade dealt moments earlier.
She looks back at him and hisses, spitting at his face with anger. "Damn you! I'll kill you! You took everything I had... Gods damn it!!" Her face is a mask of fury as she struggles through the black sludge towards where her sword fell. Xathen retracts his massive sword, returning it to its place on his back.
"You had nothing... and now, [are] nothing...." he declares simply, watching her for a long moment, letting her tire herself by moving through the sludge. When he judges her too close to the sword, his ethereal grip tightens, turning the sludge rock-solid... it falls to waist height as it grows denser, locking her in place several paces from the claymore. The enkidukai lets out a frustrated growl, clawing at the encasing shadowmass.
Xathen gives Adrina a grim smile, gliding towards her, even as she screams out at the top of her lungs. "SOMEONE!! HELP ME!" The cry rings out in the night, but too little and far too late to save her. Black spires erupt from the encasing shadow, driving inwards to impale her from all sides, some angled upwards to strike at her chest and throat. She tries to raise another shield of wind with her magic, but there is nowhere for the air to move and the effort only prolongs her anguish. One arm rises to block the spires aimed for her throat and the limb is pushed back slowly as they continue to grow inward.
Adrina gags, coughing up blood as her vision begins to fade, her gaze fixated on Xathen. "I... can't... ggggkglgg..." She vomits up more blood. "I... can't... give up..." The wraith looks on impassively, his spires coring deeper through her flesh, seeking her heart and other vitals. She shrieks out in pain, swearing at him between agonized gasps. "You.... bastard... I will rise... from the death realm... And fight you again... I won't stop until... I bring you down... and show you... to my master..." she cries, blood dripping from her maw as she uses her last ounces of strength to make her oath of dying will. "It's your fault... That he's rejected me... And once I... get your head... He will love me... I swear... That I will... hunt you down...!!!" At last, her body jerks, slumping forward slightly as the wraith's spikes strike her heart.
"Finally," he spits contemptuously, banishing the shadowmass and letting her body drop to the ground. From beyond the dead girl, he spies Nalkorash approaching.
"Xathen..." he wheezes, blood gushing from a crater where his arm used to be. The sight answers his previous questions about the conflict he sensed. Between them, Adrina's body fades, passing into the Death Realm.
"You're looking worse for the wear, demon." He narrows his eyes. "And... you lack the shadow I gifted you. What happened?"
Nalkorash coughs, and looks back up at him, "That damn Farren kid...he was about to die, and somehow...he purged the power from me..."
Xathen glares coldly. "...the elf, Farren? Purged it from you?... such a thing should not be possible, save by my own hand."
Nalkorash coughs again, "I don't know what it was...his body gave off that usual blue glow, and he pinned me down. After that...I just couldn't use the power again. He was so heavily wounded, I don't even know how he stayed alive to do something like that..." The demon's stump ceases to pump blood as his healing abilities take hold.
The wraith glides closer, the damage to his right shoulder and arm becoming evident as black ichor leaks to the ground. "My gifts are not bestowed so lightly, demon. You have extraordinary capability already - you should not have let him touch you."
Nalkorash tries to stand, slouching over weakly, "I couldn't even shadowmerge... that magic in his body kept me from doing anything. I tried stabbing at his neck, but then that girl attacked me..."
Xathen's gaze remains unwavering. "To think that blind elf capable of such a feat... he will pay for his meddling. I will drain the life from him until he is naught but ash and pick my teeth with his bones."
"He's not so blind anymore..." The demon stands up straighter, "I don't know what that magic is, but I couldn't do anything against it. The shadows wouldn't go near him..."
"Every light casts a shadow," Xathen growls. "The girl... that one is yours to deal with as you see fit. I would not foul myself with her taste. But this elf insults me with his arrogance, to turn the shadows thus."
Nalkorash raises his left arm slightly, "The girl should be dealt with by now. She has a powerful toxin in her system that should decay her shortly... I couldn't deal a finishing blow because of some friend of hers, and my arm being as it is now..." He looks to the wraith. "Xathen, I need those powers again... the girl must die while she's weak."
"No." Xathen's words of refusal are ice-cold. "Your excuses, your reasons - they mean nothing. I have not tested you since bestowing those powers. If you are to destroy the enkidukai girl, you will do so without my aid. End her life, and we will speak more of this. I suggest," he growls, "that you heal up first. If she is as bothersome as you say, you will need your strength."
Nalkorash scoffs, "Very well...though don't be surprised if the girl somehow saves one you're trying to kill. She always manages to..." He turns and walks away, his shoulder making a strange pulsating movement.
[Pardon my false advertising, but the log with Xeonart was much longer than I anticipated, even without the OOC chatter and nonsense - rewriting continues, and I shall post it as soon as I have the opportunity.]
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[And now I present for your reading amusement, the battle of the X's. Well, two X's anyhow... My thanks to Duraza for giving me such an interesting fight, and helping reveal a couple more of Xathen's weaknesses in the process.]
...Just beyond Hydlaa's north gates, on the road to the Bronze Doors, the roaming Etherwight finds Xeonart. The youth's dark powers are immense, making Xathen ill even as he approaches...
The wraith glides over, staring down at the dermorian. Black smoke trails behind him, writhing across the ground. "You... You are Xeonart, the young warlock, correct?" A klyros male approaches, and Xeonart notices his presence before Xathen's.
"Yes. And I suppose you are some huge awkward creature who's going to either bow to me or fight me?" He folds his arms together, resting his chin on his hands with a bored expression.
Surprised by his casual attitude, Xathen gives a reverberating laugh. "Bold little brat, aren't you? ...No, I request only that you leave Hydlaa. The people fear you, and fear makes them taste... sour." Standing over the elf, he is even more sickened by Xeonart's energies.
The elf points to the gate "I'm not in Hydlaa am I? I see no problem."
Xathen growls in response. "Your semantics do not amuse me, elf. Leave this place entirely, or as foul as your flesh tastes, I will consume it and leave you as ash."
Xeonart rolls his eyes "Its always the same. I'll beat you, I'll win, I'll kill you. I've been threatened and I'm still alive. What makes you different? Nothing."
Tired of the youth's insolence, Xathen makes a subtle hand gesture. "I am not here to bandy words," he snarls, driving black spires from Xeonart's shadow - the elf forces himself to the side, kicking hard at the ground with his feet to avoid the spires and rising quickly to face the Etherwight.
"Oh... So you're a freak like Nalkorash."
The klyros, Daehaz looks at Xeonart then at Xathen. "What is going on here?" He carries little interest for Xathen and so the wraith ignores him entirely.
Xeonart draws his scythe from his back. "A stranger trying to kill me. Almost an everyday event," he tells Daehaz. The wraith snarls, lunging after him with claws outstretched for his throat.
"I am Xathen Ut'Phaere," he growls angrily, infuriated by the youth's casual treatment. His claws strike a barrier of energy as Xeonart shields himself, and the wraith digs into it sharply, siphoning the foul energies away. A sickly green corona surrounds his hands as he draws the power into his being. From a safe distance away, the klyros Daehaz watches with his arms folded.
"Doesn't matter what your name is," Xeonart shoots back, "I'll defeat you regardless." His shield breaks, dropping to prevent further loss of energy, and he slashes his scythe toward Xathen, aiming for the wraith's chest. The blade passes through him without effect, but Xathen makes no move to counter, standing motionless as he fights off the nausea the dark energies created in him. Frowning, the elf moves to the side.
Slowly, Xathen turns to face him, glaring. "You sicken me, elf," he growls, reaching for Xeonart's throat. The elf leaps back, sending a bolt of black lightning into the wraith. Xathen lets out an odd hiccup, oily fluid bubbling from the edges of his mouth as the lightning is absorbed.
Xeonart moves to the right again, looking at Xathen closely. "Great. All I've got is dark magic. This is going to go well." The wraith spits viscious sludge to the ground and faces him.
"Blight... tastes awful," he gurgles unhappily. Again, black spires shoot from the ground beneath Xeonart, the wraith tracking his motion and lunging forward as the elf dodges. Xeonart's scythe flashes again, shattering the spires like glass, but the Etherwight's claws strike out too quickly, drawing a long gash through his robe and leather, right down to the flesh beneath. Blood leaks from the shallow wound, and Xeonart lifts his hand to it, disbelieving.
"This should be a challenge now..." The wraith gives him no time to recover, hounting him mercilessly as his claws slash again. The elf blocks the blow with his scythe, but Xathen's hand closes around the shaft and wrenches it from his quarry, hurling the blade away and behind him while continuing to press Xeonart hard. Black fires spark on the youth's fingertips, engulfing his hand as he continues dodging away from Xathen's blows.
"Get back here!" the wraith snarls, trailing inky fog like a comet as he streaks after Xeonart. Black fires lash out, taking the form of a hand - Xathen meets the questing darkness with his own claws, locking his grip with the black flame and siphoning its dark energy again. A toxic-looking green glow builds around him.
"Maybe a change in strategy..." Xeonart sighs, sidestepping further. His frown vanishes, replaced with a look of interest as the wraith halts his charge and falls to his knees. The perpetual fog at his feet writhes like a pit of serpents, churning while the Etherwight vomits, spilling oily black sludge on the dusty road. The elf takes another step back, wincing as pain from his chest wound stabs through him. "I suppose dark magic has some effect on him after all," he muses aloud.
Xathen gives Xeonart a hateful glare, his narrow eyes having taken on a strange greenish tint. "When I have sucked you dry, I will purge your energies from my body, so that not even your sickening taste remains to taint the world." His hands lift up, drawing both of the massive greatswords from his back - each blade fully as tall as the Dermorian. The elf frowns, dropping his hands to his sides. A flickering gray energy begins coalescing in one palm, more black lightning condensing in the other. "Your blades versus my magic," he says grimly. "I like those odds." The wraith remains silent, using his greatswords to lever himself upright. His eyes narrow further when he notes a poisonous green tint to the runes on their surface. His head snaps upright, fixing again on Xeonart, and shadowspires rocket skyward beneath Xeonart's feet.
The elf dodges sideways, his spells gathered into pulsating orbs, but once more finds himself on the defensive as Xathen rushes forward. Arcs of black lightning play across the ground where he braces himself, leaping backwards as the wraith's massive onyx blades slam down. Dirt and gravel erupts skyward, Xeonart smirking as he lands safely beyond the impact. "Now," he smirks, "lets see how the mighty Xathen stands up agaisnt the power of Xeonart Darkom."
[Gasp! A cliff-hanger? Tune in later for the stunning conclusion! *walks away laughing*]
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[Boo, cliffhangers are bad! :P]
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[Darn and it was just getting good. Almost as good as when it actually happened :P ]
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[why not try poking him? that always works]
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...The wratih presses his assault, giant blades flashing out at Xeonart again. The elf ducks under the first sweep and slams his right hand against the ground, boosting himself skyward with the black lightning as he vaults up and over Xathen. He lands solidly on his feet and thrusts the gray orb forward towards the Etherwight's back.
Following his movement, Xathen turns, but the wraith is too slow to block his movement and the sphere splashes over his right arm and shoulder. An agonized roar fills the air, reverberating from the cliffs. Shockwaves roll through the wraith, his form rippling like water after a large stone has been cast into it, nearly dispersing him.
"Hope that did it..." the elf mutters, backing away slowly as he clutches his chest wound again. Behind him, a dark shape appears. Hearing the Etherwight's bellow of pain, Nalkorash sprints forward - his own scythe in hand. Xathen smiles grimly upon sighting him and glides slowly back, the tremors from Xeonart's dark energy slowly subsiding. The demon disappears several yards from the youth, reappearing as his burst of speed deposits him well within striking distance, his blade already whirling towards Xeonart's neck.
To Xathen's confusion, the elf's shadow rises from the ground, halting the blow with its hands. He glares in fury as he reaches out, seeking control over the manifestation, and lets out an enraged snarl as his powers find no claim on the darkness. "Well I'll be damned," Xeonart scowls. "One is hard enough. Two at once smells like death..." Nalkorash remains silent as he tears his scythe free of the shadow's grip and brings it down swiftly at the elf's head. From the opposite side, Xathen rushes forward, his blades leveled point-first as he seeks to impale Xeonart.
"Way over your head, kid?" Daehaz quips, still standing some distance away.
The youth's shadow bends, deflecting both blows as he turns to glance at the Klyros. "I can bet," he shoots back. Infuriated, Xathen hurls one of his massive swords to the ground and digs his claws deep into Xeonart's protective shadow, ripping at the power as he tries to devour it. On the other side, Nalkorash draws his scythe away and takes a swift leap back, skidding on the dusty road as bright blue arcs of electricity spark and surge around his left arm.
Daehaz grins, closing his eyes as he focuses Azure magic towards the trio. With a burst of energy, he creates an illusion around the three, summoning eight images of Xeonart to confuse them. All eight reform their shadows, staring at Nalkorash. With a grinding laugh, the demon unleashes bolts of lighting at each of them, but all react exactly the same, raising their shadow to take the blow and leaving the visions of Xeonart unharmed.
Annoyed with his interference, Xathen lets out an angry roar and sends spires of shadowmass erupting from the Klyros' shadow. Black fog boils from beneath each vision of Xeonart as he probes the energies - it takes little effort for him to siphon off the azure magics that spawn the seven copies, and one by one they vanish as their power fills him, leaving only the real Xeonart standing. To the wraith's left, he hears a dull crunch as Daehaz shields himself from the spikes.
The electricity stops circulating over the demon's arm, replaced with a poisonous-looking green glow as he channels new power through it. Sheathing his scythe, he rushes at Xeonart, preparing to strike him with the demonic power. Again, Daehaz steps in with his illusions, concealing Xeonart from view while making Nalkorash and Xathen appear to each other as the elf. In the distance, a dwarf carrying a scepter exits the Hydlaa gates, approaching swiftly as he spies the battle and the flare of magic.
The demon's attack does not slacken, striking out at the spot where Xeonart last stood. Xathen backs away slightly, unphased by the troublesome illusions as he senses Nalkorash's familiar energies behind the facade. Unseen, Xeonart leaps to the side and lands quietly. The wraith's senses feel the youth's dark presence nearby, but his focus turns to Daehaz. From behind Nalkorash, a voice declares hotly, "Away with you, fiend!" and brilliant red flare of fire splits the night.
The wraith kneels, gripping his dropped greatsword and giving Daehaz his full attention. "Enough of your meddling," he snarls, summoning more of the black fog from beneath the Klyros. To his right, the demon shrieks in pain as flames splash across his back, and he turns to engage the scepter-weilding dwarf. Red flashes and insults shoot back and forth between them as the pair go at it, leaving Xathen and Xeonart all but forgotten. Encased in his azure shield, Daehaz seems unconcerned, but as the black fog boils higher, he is forced to summon new power into the barrier - Xathen's all-consuming hunger drawing at the energies with frightening strength.
Seeing his chance, a black bolt of lightning erupts from Xeonart's mouth, stinging Xathen's back as it sinks into him with a series of green sparks. Hissing, the wraith whirls to face him, letting the demon and Pennington battle uninterrupted. "...I ...probably shouldn't have done that," Xeonart sighs. He lifts his shadow again, its arms gripping the Etherwight's greatswords as Xathen charges him. He strikes out with another bolt of lightning, throwing more green sparks to earth as the wraith absorbs it with a grunt.
Xathen wrenches his blades sideways, tearing them from the shadow's grip and striking out at Xeonart again - the elf lunges out of the way, breathing heavily as he rises to his feet. "I need to finish this now..."
Xathen gives a hollow, echoing laugh and glides backward. More smog billows around him, climbing up his waist and chest as it builds into a pillar of writhing smoke. Oily clouds flow across the ground in a wide circle where they spill from the rising tower. "Do you now, little elf? Do you imagine you even can?!?" the wraith cackles wickedly.
"Well if I can't running is always an option," Xeonart smirks. "Actually," he says, scratching his chin thoughtfully, "I think I'd prefer running right now than fighting. So how about it? I leave forever, you win. That is what you came here for after all..." his voice trails off.
Xathen's laughter increases, reverberating madly in the ears and minds of those present. Dark smoke boils from Xeonart's shadow, threatening to engulf him as Xathen's own pillar rises high into the air. Green-yellow slits appear near its peak, a magnified image of his eyes as he looks down at Xeonart. "Truth. And if you answer one question for me, you may go, and I will find other prey."
The elf stares upwards, preparing for an attack as he answers back, "Whats your question?"
Xathen's voice booms out from the tower of writhing smoke. "What is the Death Realm?"
"Are you serious?" Xeonart raises an eyebrow.
Xathen's inky fog begins to solidify around Xeonart, becoming thick and viscous. Xathen's tainted eyes narrow as he glares down scathingly. "I have never been moreso. Tell me what it is, or I shall send your corpse there, if that is where corpses go."
Xeonart takes a quick glance at the rest of the fighting before looking back at Xathen "Its a realm of darkness, ruled by the goddess of Death, Dakkru. It is where those who the strength in both body and mind end up, giving them a second chance at life. It's also where the most shards of Dark Crystal lay, the fuel for dark way magic."
Xathen tightens his viscous grip on Xeonart, his tower building even higher as it leans over, staring down from a height nearly as tall as the cliffside. "And if I kill you here, without draining your flesh, your body passes to this dark place?"
Xeonart glances at his bony fingers "Well I have little flesh to drain so either way I most likely will."
Xathen gives an angry snarl and dispels the smoke and sludge, leaving only his natural form standing before Xeonart. He sheaths the twin greatswords, clearly upset at the green tint now evident in their runes. "Go. Find some other place to strike fear into. Do not taint my prey further."
Somewhere behind them, a massive sheet of red flame lights the evening sky as the battle between Nalkorash and the dwarf Pennington drags on.
Xeonart's lips curl up, forming a dark smile as he acts as if he is bowing to Xathen, showing him respect "As the might Xathen..commands." Then he turns and runs off, pausing to free his scythe from the stone and put it back on his back
Xathen watches the young warlock go, but Pennington's words filter back into his consciousness. He turns to see the dwarf-mage standing over Nalkorash's prone form, brandishing a sceptre menacingly.
Pennington glares at Anarkia. "Stay away from my daughter, if you know whats good for you, fenki." He turns back to nalkorash, breathing heavily, more crimson energy flows into the emerald on his staff. "Allow me to end your pain... Diaboli."
Xathen turns, sighting Pennington, and streaks across the ground like a comet, throwing his full weight at the dwarf with claws extended as he roars. "Leave the demon be, dwarf!" Pennington turns swiftly, his Red Way energy already at the tip of his staff, fully charged. He points the staff at Xathen and unleashes a blast of serpentine flames, but his choice of magic does not even slow the wraith as Xathen cannons into Pennington. His claws lash out, slicing furiously at the dwarf. Pennington counters the most critical blows with his staff, his robe in tatters as he wriggles free of the enraged Etherwight and uses the scepter to vault away.
"He means that much to you huh? Back away or I'll finish him for good!" the dwarf threatens. Xathen gestures in response, drawing a tangled, writhing black mess of thorny spines from the shadows beneath him Pennington bellows with laughter and the air around him becomes unusually arid, dry, and hot, the dark thorns withering quickly from the intense heat. Pennington himself seems uneffected as he says to Xathen, "You must be the shadow creature Nalkorash spoke of..."
Xathen snorts, though his featureless face shows no signs of nostrils. He glides up to Pennington, leering down. "And you are a meddlesome pest, nothing more. Leave the demon and I, or I will drain you to ash and pick my teeth with your charred bones."
Pennington glares at Xathen. "Interesting... Your weak pet will live, I suppose hes earned that much...But stay out of my path, or things may get very hot, very fast - shadow." He turns and runs off towards hydlaa.
Xathen laughs contemptuously at his retreating form. "Fool... I find the fires refreshing, after that filth Xeonart used." He turns his attention to the demon, then startles as he notes Lirreka's presence. He gives her a cautious look, and asks, "You are Nalkorash's consort, I presume...?"
"...Consort?" she answers, confused.
"...He spoke of a woman with child, and you have the scent of wraithblood in you. I can only assume you are the girl he meant."
Lirreka opens her eyes slightly and growls. "I am carrying his child, what is it to you?"
Xathen laughs, though his voice is oddly free of malice. "More than I would have expected." He points to Nalk's prone form. "Do you know of a safe place for this?"
Lirreka nods slowly. "I will take care of him."
Xathen holds up a hand. "Tell him this is my thanks for his aid tonight, when he wakes." The wraith kneels, placing his claws to the demon's chest and digging them in slightly. A blue-green glow flares as he pierces the flesh, leaving an inverted triad of dots on his left breast. "Still tainted...?" he mutters, scowling as he notes the greenish tinge. "I should have crushed the life from that little elf." Lirreka glares at Xathen in complete silence as he completes his small ritual and backs away. "You may take him wherever you consider safe, now."
"I've heard of you... I do not trust you," she says hesitantly. "Please, leave."
Xathen narrows his eyes. "Of course you don't. I serve the same master you do." He melts into the darkness, barely visible as he flows back towards the city...
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"May Laanx frighten the shadows from thy path."
A common blessing in Hydlaa, among the followers of Laanx. Xathen Ut'Phaere had heard these words many times in his quiet, sinister observations. The suggestion that anything would 'frighten' a shadow was alien and insulting to him. And where the wraith finds offense, he knows only one course of action - to make a brutal example of the offender...
Sharven watched his congregation exit, allowing a thin smile at their faith, and his own pride as a priest of Laanx. A few remained behind - communing privately with their deity, he assumed. If they had need of him, he was certain they would come forward with their prayers, questions, or requests.
A faint whisper against the floor tiles behind him made the Xacha turn. "...'May Laanx frighten the Shadow from your path,' you tell them," a black shape hissed down at him, its voice dripping with contempt.
"...From thy path," Sharven corrected, taking a step back. "If you-"
"Where is your god now, when the shadow comes for you?" it snapped, its glowing eyes narrowed in a fearsome glare. "Your lies insult me, Xacha. 'May Laanx frighten the shadow from your path, you tell them. Listen well, wretch - it is you who should be afraid, not I. You have everythi-" The wraith's words were cut short in surprise as a dark shape flashed out at him, steel slicing through his midsection. Xathen whirled, facing the newcomer and sizing him up. "What insolence is this?" he snarled, staring at the Ynnwn in front of him. Abnormally long, black horns, stark-white hair, and a large greatsword strapped to his back - both the blade and Ynnwn reeking of Dark Way magic. "...Another black mage come to foul my appetite with his blighted magics?"
A long silence filled the Temple. Sharven and the others looked between Xathen and Suno, uncertain how to react as the Ynnwn faced the strange black creature with a longsword drawn - clutching the hilt with both hands, its tip pointed unwavering at the wraith's chest. At last, he asked the question they all wondered. "...What are you?"
The Etherwight let out an evil laugh, its voice echoing from the pillars. "The shadows your wretched Laanx could not frighten."
"You are what the saying spoke of...?"
The priest's mouth worked soundlessly, trying to form the words to voice his objections. "...would never... have conceived of such..." He fell silent as Suno put away his longsword and extended one hand toward Sharven, and the other toward the few stray folk remaining in the Temple. The Ynnwn's hands glowed a dull red, putting the others into a deep slumber.
"You cannot save them," the wraith hissed, full of menace as he drifted closer to Suno. "I will drain your tainted flesh to ash, and leave their bodies as testiment to your god's failure." With those words, Xathen thrust his hand toward Suno, black spikes shooting out at the Ynnwn's chest. Dodging swiftly away, the mage slid across the tiles into the shadow of a nearby pillar. His greatsword made a heavy clang as it struck tile.
Grinning wickedly, the wraith lunged forward. More black spires shot from the darkness beneath Suno's feet, but crumbled and broke as he raised a barrier to protect himself. Xathen snarled, his smug look gone in an instant as he dug his claws into the shield, siphoning its dark energy away. From within the barrier, the Ynnwn focused on his sword's runes, causing them to glow a dull violet as he lashed out at the wraith with another spell. Nauseated but undeterred, the Etherwight tore the barrier open, and was immediately struck with more Dark Way magic as Suno leapt back out of reach.
Xathen likewise fell back a step, his eyes tinged an unhealthy green. "Enough of your foul blight-magic!" he growled, drawing out both his massive blades and leveling their tips at Suno. To his shock, the Ynnwn shimmered red and vanished - an instant later, his greatsword pierced Xathen's back as he reappeared behind the wraith. Enraged, the Etherwight spun, sweeping his own blades at Suno and smashing him back across the Temple chamber. His gaze fixed on Suno's blade, gurgling, "Dark magic in that too... I see... filthy, vile-" the wraith's words were cut short as he fell to his knees, vomiting black sludge on the tiles.
Painfully, Suno pulled himself to his feet, gripping his blade's hilt with one hand but unable to lift its tip from the ground. "What do you gain from any of this, creature...?" he wondered aloud. Glaring hatefully at the Ynnwn, Xathen likewise rose to his feet, wiping the black ichor from his mouth with the back of his arm.
"To prove a point, wretch - and the Xacha there is my prime example."
"Let them have their false hope - if you really wish to challenge the Gods and show them that they're weak, try to fight them instead of their misinformed followers..."
The wraith gave a hollow laugh. "You misunderstand. It is not the Gods who I challenge..." His laughter increased in volume as his nausea passed, echoing mockingly from the galleries above. "You amuse me, fleshling... so I will humor you in turn." Listening intently, Suno shifted his blade and fixed his gaze on Xathen. "What do you think the people will say if the man who teaches them the words 'May Laanx frighten the shadow' is found drained to ash in his own temple, by the shadows his god could not protect him from?"
The Ynnwn shrugged. "I've come up with a few guesses, but I'd rather not answer since I'm probably wrong of your intentions once again. What will they think?"
Xathen let out a sibiliant hissing chuckle. "That there is no place in this world safe from an Etherwight's hunger. And in that, Ynnwn, they will be correct." With a predatory lunge, the wraith shot forward, his claws outstretched for Suno's throat. The Ynnwn ducked, but too slowly for Xathen's sudden movement - the wraith's claws closed around his head as he drove his palm upwards against Xathen's stomach, the hand pulsating with dark energy. His hand sunk deep into Xathen's shadowflesh, injecting the spell directly into the wraith. Brilliant lime-green flares rippled through the Etherwight, causing him to retch again. The oily sludge spilled down the front of Suno's armor but the Ynnwn ignored it, focusing instead on his spells. Again, his body became a red glow and disappeared - teleporting just behind the wraith to thrust his greatsword at the creature's back.
Wracked with violent spasms, the wraith fell to its knees. Suno's blade swept over him, missing entirely. The Ynnwn's eyes narrowed, and he twisted his greatsword, driving it through Xathen and down into the floor tiles. Twisting his head, the wraith glared up at Suno. "Your... filthy... blight will not stop me," the Etherwight hissed, his voice gurgling with nausea. His body turned, his form flowing around the blade like liquid, and reached up to grip the Ynnwn's wrist - Suno returning the motion and locking his grip around Xathen's shadowflesh. Another burst of dark magic floods the wraith.
"ENOUGH!!!" the wraith roars, digging his claws deep into the other's flesh. In a single, fluid motion, he rose from the floor, lifting Suno bodily from it and hurling him against the nearest pillar. He took several halting steps forward, stumbling as his form rippled with more spasms. "Laanx does not frighten me, whelp. There is nowhere safe from my wrath... Remember that well," the wraith choked out, and collapsed in a pool of inky shadow, flowing erratically across the floor and into the temple's deeper shadows, leaving only a black oily trail behind as he vanishes.
Suno gave a heavy sigh, leaning back against the cracked pillar and sheathing his greatsword and clasping his free hand around the damaged wrist, healing it. From the pit below, Sharven rose unsteadily to his feet. "...in the name of Laanx..." he muttered quietly. "Is... is it gone?"
[Final entry - huzzah! ...I mean it this time. ;) Next up, "Wraithbane"]
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[I winned you :P ]
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Archeron, a Diaboli of great stature, served directly under Nalkorash as his so-called apprentice. In an attempt to try and train Archeron, Nalkorash sparred with him, knowing not of Archeron's corruption. Archeron had once fought Xeonart, and because of the nature of his weapon, a portion of Xeonart's blood was drawn into the blade and held there. Xeonart's blood, corrupted to decay those who bear it, was then infused into Nalkorash upon being struck with Archeron's halberd. While waiting for Lirreka, a young Enkidukai woman, to have his child, Nalkorash fell ill and soon perished from the new corruption in his blood. This was when Lirreka was giving birth. Sadly, because of Nalkorash's nature, the child did not survive, nor did Lirreka. The three corpses sat in the imperial plaza for a few days, until a guard gathered their bodies and threw them into the burial wells.
However...
The child, because Nalkorash had impregnated Lirreka while under Xathen's influence, was made up of a strong portion of wraith. In the few days the fetus had been sitting in the shadows of the imperial plaza while soaking under the Azure Sun, the wraith inside of it grew stronger. Then being thrown into the burial wells, the infant slowly grew into the form of a wraith. Its eyes shot open, revealing ice-blue slits...it was reborn.
The creature slowly glided through the shadows of the well until finally reaching the surface weeks later. It gave out a screeching laugh, a poisonous green ichor filling the air from its breath. It slowly looked around - looked around for its prey.
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[That's gross.]
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For days, the young wraith hunted on the road to the Bronze Doors. At first, he could not grasp how to siphon energy from his prey, latching onto them and holding them still as he examined them for a way to tap into what he was sensing. By accident, he learned his methods, and began growing stronger with time. His language slowly developed, his voice sounding very high-pitched, and his form looking quite child-like.
He traveled through the roads and into Hydlaa, where he could see a cluster of delicious energies looming about. One such aura intrigued him, and he arose from the shadows to confront it.
"You must be him," the wraith spoke, poison ichor spewing from his mouth with each word as he looked at Archeron.
Archeron spun around to see the wraith, putting his hand on the shaft of his halberd. "Who are you?" he asked.
The Etherwight ignored Archeron's question and simply examined him, his grin growing wider and revealing his crystalline teeth. "Yes, yes! You are him," the wraith spoke, flexing his claws. "Do you know that we are relatives? I can sense it." Nalkorash had once given Archeron his blood, allowing him to control the electric and poison-based attacks Nalkorash once wielded. Being Nalkorash's son, the shadowmass inherited a strong portion of the poison element, and was able to differentiate Archeron from the rest because of the energy mixed into it.
"You make me think of someone," Archeron spoke, raising a brow.
"No matter," the wraith spoke, "you are mine now!"
"Xathen," Archeron exclaimed.
The wraith leaned closer to Archeron, examining him from all sides. "You are my slave now, understand!?"
"Me, being a slave?" Archeron asked with amusement.
"You'll do quite nicely!" the wraith exclaimed while looking directly up at Archeron, poison spewing from his mouth into the air around them.
Archeron took a few steps back, waving his hand in the air to blow away some of the gas. "What do you mean by slave?" he asked, looking back down at the wraith.
"Exactly what I say! Does slave not understand?" the shadowmass yelled, his high-pitched voice echoing around them.
"I think I'd prefer to become a subordinate, rather than a slave." Archeron exclaimed.
The wraith's eyes narrowed. "What's a subordinate?"
"It means that I work for you as a servant, but I'm not treated as a slave."
The wraith leaned back to its normal position. "Eh, same thing!" it screeched.
"But fine, I will be your subordinate. In honor of your father, that is." Archeron exclaimed. The wraith stared at Archeron, not knowing the meaning of the word, and therefore not knowing who Archeron would be serving him in honor of. "What do you want, then?" Archeron asked.
"Find me something to eat!" the wraith commanded.
"What do you eat? I don't know much of your type's diet."
"Something tasty!" The wraith pointed at a random girl running by. "Like her! Now be off, sla - subordinate!" Archeron nodded and ran off into the distance as the wraith sunk back into the shadows. He drifted through the town, sensing the various energies running around the town. Not many hours later, he sensed another energy beside Archeron's and rushed over to meet him. He arose from the shadows once more, seeing injured man, Evenelore, on the ground breathing heavily with his eyes shut. "Good work!" the wraith said, not wasting any time and instantly sinking his claw into the man's chest. He stretched them out while digging in the man's chest, starting to siphon energy from the man's body. Seconds later, his body fell limp, and his breathing completely stopped. "Bye bye!" the wraith said, ripping his claw out of the man's body, thrusting it out to the side as shadows slowly engulfed the corpse, hardening into cement and sinking back to the ground, crushing the man's bones into the pavement. The shadows dispersed, and the wraith turned back to Archeron. "Now find me more!" he yelled, sinking back into the shadows to hunt more on his own.
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Topic has been split with the OOC stuff moved to General Discussion. All further posts here should be in-character. Period. This is your first and last warning.
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A few days later, the young wraith came across a particularly uncorrupted energy, and progressed to meet it.
The wraith arose from the shadows, giving off a high-pitched laugh. "Oh, looky looky! You seem tasty," it said.
Zakrei jumped up from where he was sitting. "Tasty?" he asked, taking a few steps back. "What do you mean by that? My aunts used to say that, and then they tried to kiss me. You're not planning to kiss me, are you?"
The young Etherwight slowly glided toward Zakrei, pulling back his claw. "I mean exactly what I say! Does food not understand!?"
"I am no food! Do I look like a rat to you?" Zakrei sneered.
"Oh no!" the wraith taunted, "You look more like a feast!"
"Help me someone!" Zakrei called. "There is a weirdo here!"
"Enough talk!" the wraith screeched. He thrusted his claw at Zakrei, the Enkidukai giving off loud cries as he fell backwards and avoided the attack, quickly standing and running back a few steps. The Etherwight's arm quickly shot to the side as shadows started to appear around Zakrei's legs, soon hardening around him and encasing him in place.
"Help me someone!" Zakrei called again. "This dark thing - !" he said before his words were cut off by his own whimpering. He shook, trying to escape, but to no avail. "Please, someone! Help me!"
The young wraith drew in closer to Zakrei, thrusting his claw back once again. "You're amusing, but it's time you go bye bye!" he said as he shot his claw directly at the Enkidukai's chest. Zakrei broke out into random screaming as the claw dug around in his body, siphoning his energy. "Enough talk!" the wraith said to interrupt Zakrei's whimpering. "Let me enjoy!"
Zakrei started praising Talad, hoping he would receive help, but nothing seeming to happen. The Etherwight slashed around inside of Zakrei, the siphoning progressing as a man rushed to the scene after hearing the screaming. The wraith ripped his claw out of Zakrei's body, turning to face the man as he started casting magic to try and drive him off, the wraith simply enjoying the extra supply of energy. He thrusted his arm to the side, the shadows progressing up Zakrei's shredded body and engulfing him, hardening into cement and crushing on his body. Josel, the man that came to the scene, quickly ran away to get help as Zakrei sat helplessly trying to resist the shadows encasing him.
Josel came back later as Zakrei's corpse sat imprisoned in the enclosing shadows, continuing to feed the wraith with his magic. "That won't work, little toy!" the wraith taunted, turning around to face Josel and progressing toward him, threatening to drain him as he did Zakrei. Josel ran off once again, and the wraith turned back to where Zakrei sat inside of the shadows. Because of the small remainder of energy inside of Zakrei, he thought the Enkidukai was still alive. "You not dead yet!?" the wraith asked, quickly impaling his claw through the shadows and directly into Zakrei's neck, siphoning what was left and ripping out his claw, leaving the remains on the ground. The wraith gave off a crazy, high-pitched laugh, turning and facing the new Enkidukai female arrived on the scene along with Josel. "More food?" the wraith asked, progressing toward Ssar, the Enkidukai girl.
"What is your business here, sir?" Ssar asked, backing away a few steps.
The wraith stopped in its tracks. "Business? What's business?" he asked with confusion over the word.
"I'm asking what you're doing here," she replied.
"I'm hungry!" the wraith screeched at her, gliding toward her once more. "You're next!" More arrived on the scene as Ssar backed away from the wraith's slow progression toward her. Suddenly, the wraith thrusted his claw back and shot it at Ssar. "DIE!" he yelled in another screech, being cut short by the feeling of steel passing through his body. He spiraled around, seeing Keleyid standing behind him. He let out a dissatisfied noise. "Leave me alone! You don't look tasty!" he complained. Many of the people gathered started casting flame-based spells, the poison ichor looming around the wraith's mouth catching in flames and dispersing. He gave off a cough, his head shooting around quickly to look at all of them. "Bothers, all of you!" he screeched, sinking back into the shadows, still satisfied with the feast he had on Zakrei.
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Many energies gathered into the tavern of Kada-el's soon after the assault, the wraith hiding in the shadows nearby in observation. He sensed two, one quite pure, and the other quite tainted, walking into the sewers below. The young Etherwight rushed to meet them, not wanting good food to go to waste.
When arriving, the wraith shot up from the shadows to see a young girl, and an Enkidukai boy about his age doing something together.
The wraith gave off a sneer. "Back off! She's mine!" he screeched at Anarril, the Enkidukai boy.
"Who are you?" the woman asked, glancing at the wraith. Without wasting any time, the Etherwight thrusted his claw at the chest of the woman, his eyes fixed on the Enkidukai boy that had a vicious taint. The woman Kauwela jumped aside and avoided the claw, pulling out a stiletto plated with platinum. "GO AWAY!" she screamed, stabbing at the wraith with the weapon only to be gagged with poison gas exhaled out of the wraith's mouth.
However, the weapon stabbed the wraith's arm, making him recoil and shriek, more of the potent gas filling the air. He sunk into the shadows before being stabbed anymore, reappearing in the corner of the room and raising shadows to try and engulf Kauwela, but only to be thwarted and jumped at again, the onslaught continuing. The boy Anarril watch the fight with amusement, not seeming scared by the young wraith that was attacking the woman he was spending time with.
Kauwela yelled at the boy to help her, but he simply stood making weird gestures as she tried to fight off the Etherwight, his claws darting to try and impale her in the chest once more. She jumped aside and avoided the attack, quickly jumping back and attempting to stab the wraith once again, glancing his arm as he bolted back through the shadows, small black bubbles boiling out of the ground he glided across. The wraith wandered to the other corner, his right arm completely limp from being stabbed so many times. He tried to attack Kauwela as she sat in the corner near so many shadows by raising shadowed spikes to impale her, but they only glanced as she came charging once more.
She attempted to stab the wraith again, him dodging and quickly digging into her wrist with his claw to get her to drop the stiletto, only to have it thrown into her other hand as she made many more stabs at him. By now his right side had nearly become unusable, being struck so many times with platinum, and he screeched as more poison shot at Kauwela, not seeming to have any effect on her other than making her cough. After the first stab, the wraith shot a shadow spike directly at Kauwela from below, but it merely glanced her as she jumped from where she stood and tore her wrist out of the claws of the shadowmass, maneuvering behind him and stabbing at his back with the dagger.
Trying to mimic Kauwela's movements, the wraith sunk into the shadows and quickly shot back up from behind her, darting his claw at her back to try and impale once again, only to be side-stepped away from, but luckily having Kauwela's injuries kick in, making her fall to the ground. "This thing...attacked me!" she yelled to someone else in the small room, swiping her stiletto at the wraith's knees to try and get him to fall as well.
"W-wraith?" the Kran Azeron asked, having walked right into the sewer and witnessed part of the fight. Kra ran back outside to gather more people from the tavern, as Kauwela yelled a few words to the Kran to try and get kra to help her. The wraith flexed his right claw, having feeling in his arm once more, and quickly gliding backwards through the shadows to avoid Kauwela's swipe, then launching himself at her with claws outstretched to try and run her through, but being avoided once again by the woman, having the stiletto coming at him from the side, but missing terribly as he continued rushing and melted right into the shadows outstretched on the wall in his path.
The wraith arose from behind Kauwela once again, trying to run her through like before, but this time she fell forward and spun around, scrambling to her feet in fear of the creature. "I'm hungry again! Stop struggling and let me feast!" the wraith commanded, its tone sounding quite angry as poison ichor filled the air from its words.
"Eat me!? No way!" the girl shrieked, lunging at the wraith once more with the weapon in-hand, the Etherwight avoiding and darting his claw at her stomach, coughing up more of the poisonous gas in her face. The woman jumped to the side again, seeming to push on despite having inhaled so much poison and having so many injuries from simply being glanced by previous attacks, and stabbed at him once more. The wraith sunk into the shadows, being stabbed once again where he'd been stabbed before, in his right side, and sunk into the shadows just as more people ran into the room to come to the woman's aid. "Finish it off!" Kauwela commanded in a loud yell, staggering backwards.
"What are you?" the Enkidukai girl Kamoku asked just as the wraith sunk completely into the shadows of the floor. The wraith arose once again, only to be struck by a burst of flames, the poisonous gas escaping his mouth catching flame in the air and dispersing as he drew energy in from the blast, then bulleting at Kauwela with his claws outstretched to try and ram her into the pit in the middle of the room. Kamoku stabbed at the wraith, but to no avail, as Kauwela dived out of the way of the charge and Aste came to a complete halt, not progressing forward as he did before. The wraith whipped around to attack Kamoku after feeling the steel run through his shadowflesh, also being stabbed by a blade outstretched from the weathered Ylian, Roberet. Kamoku avoided the wraith's attack, but got glanced by his claw, losing a small portion of armor and flesh.
"Recruit!" Roberet yelled, the Kran from before seeming to be the one he spoke to. "Try and push him down there!" Kamoku backed down, not wanting to get tangled up in another attack from the wraith, as his claw progressed at Kauwela only to be avoided once again, the stiletto entering his right side, his flesh boiling madly. Kauwela tumbled behind the wraith and attempted to stab him once again, but the wraith sinking into the ground one final time, evacuating himself from the fight, letting out a loud scream just before completely falling into the shadows, leaving a cloud of poisonous ichor in his wake.
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[Man, Shard is gonna have his hands full. Two to deal with now? :D]