[RP] Behind Sealed Doors...

[Kieve]

[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. ]

[Kieve]

...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. ]

[Kieve]

...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."

[Kieve]

[Xathen's misadventures continue tomorrow, including the much-anticipated fight with Xeonart.]

[Kieve]

...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.]

[Kieve]

[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*]

[Suno_Regin]

[Boo, cliffhangers are bad! ]

[Duraza]

[Darn and it was just getting good. Almost as good as when it actually happened  ]

[Camazotz]

[why not try poking him? that always works]

[Kieve]

...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...

[Kieve]

"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"]

[Suno_Regin]

[I winned you ]

[Suno_Regin]

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.

[Raa]

[That's gross.]

[Suno_Regin]

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.