Seeking of the Butcher

[Rigwyn]

Let's see what you can do, Rigwyn. 

* Rigwyn wanders around muttering something to himself about the ninth proverb...   

More crazy talk perhaps?

[Aramara Meibi]

the notice was removed, i don't know if it was done ICly or OOCly, but you might wanna replace it and ask a GM nicely to nail it down until after the event is over.

[Mariana Xiechai]

As a heads up I may be somewhat late to the planned RP. (May be, it's unlikely, but just in case I'm not there exactly at 11 pm CST, or 5 GMT, as it were, nobody panic.)

[Mariana Xiechai]

Barsidious circled Evirea where she hung, staring up at her feet, which were twitching erratically. The cave was shrouded in darkness, and they occupied a small corner, obscured by amorphous rock formations that magnified  the reverberating hisses of the Velnishi. Blood dripped down the klyros' leg, slowly, pattering to the floor in a steady rhythm, but her eyes remained open, and she gripped the metal hook that was imbedded in her shoulder harshly, trying to keep calm.

She smiled tensely, and her lips spread thinly over her teeth. She took in a sharp breath as the chain swung back and forth, the links connecting her to the ceiling of the cave jangling innocently. "You know," she rasped. "Your habit of drawing this thing out is really starting to make me think you're more of a sadist than I had predicted. What's the matter, precisely? Hm? Not satisfied with our discussion?"

Barsidious stopped beneath the klyros and grabbed her foot, giving it a sharp tug. He seemed to take no pleasure in the resulting shriek. "You're a smart woman, Evirea," he replied. "You no doubt understand how this must work. You are my final kill, and you will understand your darkness before we continue this encounter. Before I dig into your mind, I will force you to understand it."

Evirea managed to laugh, and marveled at how genuine the sound was. Inside she was terrified, terrified at the symbolism of the hook in her arm, nearly panicked, hysteria rising in her throat. Flashes of her parent's disembodied heads were floating in the back of her mind, and she tried to suppress them. The pain certainly wasn't helping, but thankfully she was resourceful and had shoved a numbing agent in her mouth before allowing herself to be kidnapped. She chewed it slowly, and willed herself to last just long enough for others to arrive.

If they were going to arrive at all.

Barsidious reached up to grip at Evirea again, and swung her agonizingly, listening to her screaming as it echoed through the cavern. He stood back and admired the fact that she was still quite awake, though her eyes were tight with pain and her breathing was verging on hyperventilation. Much more and she'd pass out...which would not pose well for his plan.

Evirea focused on her vital signs, slowed her breathing, kept her heart rate low to slow the loss of blood. "You're nothing more than a killer," she panted. "A killer, you know, like the dozens that I have already slaughtered. The dozens I'll slaughter in the future. You are no different, you are no better." She knew this last bit was not true. She expected to die, but she'd be damned if she died before she saw the life fade from Barsidious' eyes.

Barsidious frowned quietly. "You know that's hardly true, now," he said. "You focus only on a logical premise, but I...I dabble in the darker realms of the psyche. I manipulate philosophy, and I twist minds towards an understanding of the evil that is innate in every single heart. You know this to be true...it's present even in you. After all...you are a killer too, aren't you, Evirea?"

Evirea spat to the side, noting the blood that congealed in the spittle and realizing she'd bitten too hard on her own tongue. "Yes," she admitted. "I kill killers. I'm the hunter's hunter. You think that makes me evil? Tell that to all of the lives I've saved."

Barsidious let out a deep-throated chuckle. "Ah, yes, of course. Because you are not a killer if you kill the culprit. And yet..." he narrowed his eyes slowly, "You don't really think that, do you Evirea? You feel guilt....ah, and the core of it is failure. You're a failure Evirea. Because no matter how many people you save, you could not save the ones that counted. You let them down, because you are worthless. Isn’t that right?" He turned his head towards the entrance, twisting his fingers slowly, in a circle, a faint blue light appearing, hovering, over the tips of his fingers. "Well," he said. "It would seem no one is coming for you, Evirea." He turned back to her, smiling with the realization that she had fallen silent. "No one is coming for you. You fail, yet again."

Evirea smiled coldly at Barsidious. "Oh," she replied. "I think not. Even if they don't come now, they'll find you. Your death is coming to you, Ylian. Even if I don't get the pleasure of seeing it." Internally she felt her confidence waning. She pleaded for the Ylian to try to enter her mind, to spring her trap, and her faith fell as he simply continued to circle below her feet like a featherless buzzard.

Barsidious resumed his pacing. "A very stubborn woman," he stated. He got closer to where the woman hung, and the blue light glimmers more starkly, traveling up her leg like an infection. "If you aren't going to cooperate, we might have to find other means of having our discussion. I'd rather not resort to them, but if I have to...well, it could be unavoidable.

Evirea let out another blood-curdling scream. She did it for effect, of course...she nearly smiled from her elation at the Ylian's implication. A part of her briefly worried for the safety of Travosh, but she was overjoyed anyway, knowing that Barsidious would have something of a surprise awaiting him.

Barsidious paused for a moment. He tilted his head slightly to the side, as though he was listening quietly. Again, the swirl of blue intensified, and again he turned his gaze towards the entrance. "Well well well," he said. "It seems we haven't much time."

Someone was coming after all.

<><><><><><><><>

Travosh had found the note on the fountain,  and he followed the indicated path now, rage evident on his features as he summoned his drifter. Finally reaching the second plains of Ojaveda, he slowed down the relentless marching of the drifter, slipping off and readying himself for what was hopefully a final encounter. "I really hope he falls for it..." He heard the vaguest hints of something on the wind...screaming...as he climbed the hollow mountain the map indicated, wincing in anger as he withdrew his staff. Preparing his spells as early as possible.

<><><><><><><><>

Aramara found herself standing in the Ojaveda plaza much quicker than she had imagined. She must have been daydreaming the whole flight, thinking about Fyrre talking about jumping off the Eagle Fortress falls. That fenki could use some adjusting, she thought, as she dusted herself off and walked through the town. She paused as she exited the narrow pass leading from Ojaveda, the mountain crater in view across the plain. A whisper to Xiosia escaped her lips and she began the long hike up towards the mountain.

<><><><><><><><>

Sarras had only a rough idea of who this Barsidious was, and, to be on the safe side, donned a leather cuirass before leaving Hydlaa on a pterosaur. Once in Ojaveda, she hastily dismounted the flying beast and ran to the specified location from the note. She had to take a small breather before trekking up the mountain.

Aramara too stopped to catch her breath as she reached the foot of the mountain. Seeing Sarras run past her she raised her paw to call out to the elf but stopped. Maybe it's for the best, send in the cavalry first? besides, she'd told Sarras of her visions, given her the warning. Perhaps that in and of itself was enough to prevent the omen.

Travosh could hear someone clomping around behind him up the mountain path, he muttered curses under his breath as he stopped and turned around to await whoever it is before they could make a mess of things.

Sarras passed Aramara, too concentrated on the climb to notice the fenki. Up ahead, she saw Travosh. Her pace sped up so she could catch up.

Aramara trudged up the mountain path on foot, having to stop frequently to catch her breath, the whole pregnancy thing really taking its toll. Each time she stopped she seems to be passed up by someone new. What is this? a parade? she mused to herself, the chuckle giving her the strength to press onwards.

Travosh was not exactly happy to see Sarras, "What are you doing here?"

Sarras' voice mirrored Travosh's unwelcoming expression. "What are you doing here?"

Travosh replied, "I've been working with Evirea for some time now, the final trap is in place. Tore down the note for a reason."

Sarras 's eyebrows raised. "So, that was you?" She joked, "Think you can take him on your own? So brave."

Travosh was not amused. "I'm alone. And I don't think, It is a very good plan. If you MUST attempt to be here and meddle, at least let me clue you in."

Sarras waited for Travosh to clue her in.

Travosh started to talk, but stopped himself. "Wait. Even more people meddling in my business. If I'm saying it, I'm saying it once. Might as well wait till they get up here."

<><><><><><><><>

Evirea drew in a sharp breath. Steeling herself, she lashed out with her foot, managing to kick Barsidious harmlessly in the back of the head...a blow meant to cause more anger than damage. She shouted again as the motion tore at her shoulder, and more blood pattered to the floor. Her vision started to blacken, and she struggled to stay awake.

Barsidious slapped at Evirea's legs. "Ah ah," he said. He stooped down and picked up a bucket, filled to the brim with icy water. He tossed its contents onto the fading klyros and she gasped as the salted water aggravated her wounds, her eyes widening as another raw-throated scream filled the cavern. "Bastard," he heard her say, pointlessly.

Evirea tried to get a grip on herself, but she felt herself fading. 'c'mon, use your mind,' she thought, hissing between her teeth. 'C'mon.'

Barsidious hummed to himself as he began to slowly coat a blade in a black, viscous liquid. "Now," he said. "I'm sure you are already perfectly aware of what this is...no explanation needed. But when I am finished, you will be thanking me, in whatever afterlife lies beyond us." A smile tugged at his lips, and he ran his fingers over the wooden mask resting on a large stone. He donned it, content.

Evirea tried to look brave, but her face faltered. She didn't really want to die. Not really. But she didn't want to see more bodies, either, and more bodies had been piling for far too long. A kill made by this beast may as well have been a kill made by herself, marked and murdered by her own clawed hands. She choked down a sob, shocked at herself for falling apart.

<><><><><><><><>

Sserp headed toward Oja on foot, still weighted down by the curse on his flesh. The note on the fountain and the map were enough to send him off, in hopes of covering the story, if not being able to offer much aid. Too delectable a possibility was this breaking news to the reporter, and like a fat happy bee to honey, he was traveling merrily towards it.

Timil saw Sserp on the road to Oja, and slowed as he recognized the Klyros. "Are you headed for Oja as well?"

Sserp glanced up to Timil and smiled. "Yes, and I'd ask for a ride, except I'm cursed and cannot touch anyone, lest they get this rotting of the body."

"I'm already surviving the plague... I'll take that chance." Timil spread a blanket over Serit's back and offered Sserp a hand up to ride behind him. They continued until they reached the base of the mountain, and started riding carefully up the path to the top.

Sserp nodded to the Ylian. "Thanks."

Herihi was on her way up the winding path into the heart of the mountain to the caves she visits from time to time when she catches site of others on the way up to.  She nervously tried to think what to do, afraid people would get suspicious of the reasons for her to up here.  She considered leaving before anyone noticed but curiosity gets the best of her so she followed them. She noticed one of them on the mount was Sserp who recently joined her guild. "Sserp" she shouted happily. “Where have you been?"

Sserp glanced down at Herihi from atop the mount. "Herihi! Sorry I've been away... I've been looking for a way to treat my curse...that and sorta hiding out."

Herihi smiled "Well I missed you...." She tried to act as if she actually knew what is going on here. "So you came as well? And I see Timil as well."

Sserp smiled and nodded back to Herihi. "Likewise. But right now is not the time for catching up. At least not with each other."

Aramara caught wind of Sserp's rotting scent from downwind and she gagged, almost losing her lunch on the rocky path.

Herihi nodded "Oh I agree.  Let's be on our way."

Timil nodded to Herihi. "Hello! Are you here to help save Evirea too?"

Herihi took a second or two to nod as she tries to figure out what is going on here. "Of course."

Timil nodded, but is too concerned to smile. "Great, she and Barsidious should be down in the cave by now."

Aramara reaches the trio of Herihi, Timil and Sserp and offered them a friendly smile, recognizing timil and the other two somewhat, "hello there fellow travelers." she gagged, "Urp... Umm I suppose you saw that map."

Herihi nodded and a hint of worry one could easily mistake for concern for Evirea crosses her face "Yes we should go help her at once if we can."

Sserp noticed Aramara gagging, and hopped down from the rivnak, trying to move downwind. "I apologize for the stench. I'm working on it."

Herihi grimaced as the sudden movement of Sserp made the stench worse for a moment but stayed where she was by Sserp's side

Timil rode onward at a slow trot, until he caught up with Travosh. "Okay, you have backup. What's the plan?"

Sarras sighed and turns to face the newcomers. She asks Travosh, "Did Aramara tell you what she saw?"

Aramara waved one paw and shook her head, placing the other paw upon her knee, "Oh... no... it's ok... urp... I'm just... I'm a little sensitive is all."

Travosh shook his head at Sarras. "I'm not interested in that fenki's inane and particular brand of crazy."

Sarras said, "Alright," and decides to not bother.

Aramara lifted her head to see the group progressing onwards and waved Sserp and Herihi along, "Come one let's *urp*... let's see what they're doing."

Sserp awkwardly cast a defensive wind spell to try and blow some of the stench away, at least temporarily.

Herihi nodded and follows quietly, a look of apprehension still on her face

Sarras sniffed and suddenly gagged. "Gods, what is that?! They haven't brought a grendol along, have they?"

Travosh did finally allow himself one smile. "I wouldn't doubt it. Hydlaa is full of idiots."

Sserp frowned "I heard that," he said.

Sarras suppressed a giggle.

Timil drew his longsword and readied his shield.

Aramara tried to stay far enough ahead of Sserp to not be bothered by the smell, she reached the other trio now, giving a nod to each in turn, "Travosh, Sarras... how nice to see you two here."

Sserp frowns "I heard that," he says.

Travosh returned to his glare at the new company. "Welcome to meddle central. Hold your rivnaks and any other notions you have of charging in their like a shining knight, and know you're stepping all over a plan I've got in place with Evirea, one I am willing to explain to you."

Sserp shrugged. "Maybe I'd better stay outside of the cave. I don't want the smell tipping Barsidious off."

Timil nodded to Travosh. "I learned not to meddle previously... same for charging in without a plan or backup... I'm all ears, friend."

Sarras wondered why Sserp was even there. "That would be wise..."

Aramara gladly took the opportunity to sit on a rock and catch her breath after the climb, bowing her head to Travosh, "Please... explain away."

Travosh took in a breath to begin his explanations. "Evirea is wearing an amulet, one I stole from a rather potent warlock some time back and repurposed. Barsidious is fond of breaking into his victims minds, as it is a realm few are capable of resisting him in. With this amulet, he will bypass Evirea's, and enter mine instead. I will attempt to keep him busy until she can accost him, however if you wish this will be an opportune time for your own entrances."

<><><><><><><><><>

Barsidious gave Evirea's foot yet another tug. "Ah ah," he said, speaking over her muted wailing. "That's the guilt again, isn't it? The guilt over your parents. You know, you might as well have killed them yourself. It was your fault, after all. If you had been able to be better...if you'd captured that Butcher, they wouldn't be dead. But no...you are worthless, and so you failed them."

Evirea took in another shuddering breath. "Shut up!" She shrieked. "Shut up, I say! You don't know anything! Nothing!" She could hear the hysteria leaking in now, past the carefully placed barriers, the solid walls of level-headedness. And he hadn't even tried to enter her mind yet. He was right, she was utterly pathetic, a waste, a worthless and scorn-worthy waste.

Barsidious twirled the knife in his hands, considering, weighing. He smiled quietly to himself, admiring the way the dull black sheen reflects the vacant space above his head, the stalactites that have surely taken years and years to form. "So easily broken, yet you try to seem so strong. But you're not strong. You're weak. So weak you chased that killer down, didn't you Evirea? Did you turn him over to the law, as your instructors commanded? ...Oh no, I think not."

Evirea tightened her grip on the hook, weeping quietly. Her tears found their way down her cheeks, slowly, a drizzle as sluggish as the blood that was still oozing from her wound. "Oh, I killed him," she replied, her voice rough, words forced through a tight throat. "I killed him nice and slow. Peeled off his skin...dermal layers...epidermal. He was delirious with pain, and even then, I kept going."

Evirea threw her head back and laughed forcefully, her countenance nearly crazed. "Oh yes, I killed him. What of it, murderer, you think that makes me like you?" She jerked her head down and glared at him. "No, I will never confess that. Never."

Barsidious leaned casually against a stalagmite, folding his arms over his chest. "Oh?" he replied. "You know...I think you'd like to know something." He took a step closer. "I'm afraid you missed one of my kills...a particularly satisfying one." He dug around in his pocket, and drew out a small pouch. Slowly, he opened it, and dropped sets of gnarled stitching into his palm. He hummed softly. "A rather interesting fellow, that Sillamon Sallow. Tragic, his death. A far better man than you. Such a kindly old blind dwarf...Xiosian to the core. He revealed to me the truth depth of my depravity...I shall be forever grateful to him."

Evirea let out another scream, this time filled with rage. "YOU BASTARD!" she shrieked. "YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING SONOVABITCH!" She struggled frantically, adrenaline and anger coursing through her veins, before she fell limp again, panting, twitching, and sobbing quietly.

Barsidious chuckled quietly once more, stepping forward and grabbed hold of Evirea's foot. In one swift flash of azure light, he entered her mind, and at the same instant, the amulet around her neck began to throb. After all, she was distressed, and the timing was ripe.

<><><><><><><><>

Timil looked genuinely impressed as Travosh relayed his plan to the group. "Wow, that's quite brilliant! And an elegant trap, I must say."

Aramara nodded to Travosh, "Can you guarantee both their survival?"

Sarras asked, "Both? We want this murderer to live?"

Sserp spoke up. "I wonder... would we be able to use my curse as a weapon against him? It has a weakening effect on the body."

Aramara nodded again, leaning back on the rock she had perched herself upon, "Yes, it is very important that they both live. That's why I've come here."

Sarras argued with Aramara, "Don't bring honor into this. If anyone gets a chance, they should kill him."

Travosh shook his head. "I intend to kill this man myself if Evirea cannot, it is what she wants, along with myself."

Herihi chimed in, "Will not death just send him to the death realm and then back here again?"

Travosh grinned sadistically. "Not that death."

"Unless you have a way to give him a taste of his own medicine,” Timil said.

Aramara stood and approached travosh, trying to meet him eye to eye, "Travosh, you must listen to me... Barsidious is not all that he seems. There is a greater darkness that dwells behind him. It wants his death. You must not kill him."

Herihi nodded "Permadeath would be justice for that creature, from what I have heard of his exploits.  Though we may lose valuable information from him.  What if he isn't working alone?"

Sserp nodded. "Yes, information is a valuable commodity. I should know."

Travosh gaave a simple shrug. "I do not care, Aramara. He will die by somebodies hands, myself or Evirea's."

Herihi shrugged, "Well then his accomplices or ones he work with will get away with causing more death and more harm.  I think he works with at least on other...but it's your plan Travosh.  If you want to kill him by all means end his miserable life."

Aramara turned then from Travosh and looked at the others, "Yes... I'm sure he has much information to give."

Timil heard shouting coming from the cave, and fought to keep himself from rushing in to help.

Travosh shook his head. "If he is indeed a pawn, he will not have been told anything. Let alone would a madman care to tell us."

Timil glanced urgently at the others. "I agree with Travosh." Timil seemed momentarily taken aback that he has just uttered those words. "Uh.. yeah... We should kill Barsidious before he can find a way to escape to kill again."

Aramara shook her head, speaking firmly, if not cryptically, "His death dooms us all."

Travosh laughed at Aramara. "Such predictions I'd expect from the sister of Icerra."

Timil interjected, glancing repeatedly at the mouth of the cave. "Right now I'm more concerned that our delay will doom Evirea."

Sarras held up her finger and opens her mouth as if to speak but decides against it. She tilted her head at Aramara. "What sort of doom? You're being vague."

Herihi nodded in agreement with Aramara. "Actually from little bits I have gathered there is a darkness that seems to be behind many of what is going on in Hydlaa lately.  Behind Barsidious as well and maybe even the plague."

Sserp pulled out his journal and starts scribbling some notes.

Aramara turned her head sharply at Herihi, her eyes narrowing on her briefly, before answering Sarras, "A greater evil. The evil that controls him. it will use his death as a gateway to our world."

Travosh suppressed his laughter. "And I'm sure it has tentacles and will strike down the gods and ten thousand cycles of blackness. Anyone who wishes to do more than try and cause mass hysteria, may want to move closer to the cave entrance below. I fear it is nearly time."

Sarras asked curiously and somewhat skeptically, "Are you speaking of some..." Her hand twirled as she tries to think of the right words. "...Some otherworldly... demon... or... thing...?"

Timil was no longer paying attention to the chatter, but now waited for Travosh's signal.

Sserp glanced up from his note-taking as a scream exited the cave. "Oh my..." he gasped.

Aramara unshouldered her bow and notches an arrow, beginning her descent towards the cave below

Travosh widened his eyes, his own amulet beginning to emit an azure glow. "Take a few minutes, then go! Its time!"

Timil nodded, and started a mental countdown.

Herihi followed Aramara and Timil into the cave

Travosh was forced to sit, eyes drooping low. "And for gods sakes, kill him once and for all!"

[Mariana Xiechai]

This RP was a load of fun. Thanks to everybody who showed up and participated, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I'll post it in pieces....as together we made more than 20 or so pages of text and putting it all down at once would be more than a little overwhelming

[Timil Deeps]

That was a blast, Mariana!  Those few hours felt like they flew by, and it seemed like everyone was really into the plot. I can't wait to read the mind-side of the RP!   

~Timil~

[Aramara Meibi]

agreed! I had tons of fun. Thanks to Mariana and everyone else who took part!

[Phantomboy86]

Time did go a-sailing away. Was like... what, 2AM before we ended?

[Aramara Meibi]

Time did go a-sailing away. Was like... what, 2AM before we ended?

what time is that in GMT?

[Mariana Xiechai]

what time is that in GMT?

Whatever you do, don't ask me.

[Knightspark9]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB1xS0UqtHo&feature=rel (How could you leave me, Bar!? (Epic overly dramatic moment.)

I feel sad that I wasn't there with Bar's apprentice, but I'm sad that he's most likely gone now... He was a sadistic master, but Jeb will miss him.

Barsidious, remember those lessons that we had? The ones that involved us talking of the evils at the core of the heart? I'll never forget them.-Jebediae

A little hint for those of you who had your suspicions.

[Mariana Xiechai]

Aramara stopped at the entrance of the cave, peering inward and letting her eyes adjust to the dim light.
Behind her, Sarras was moving on with the group. The platinum steel of her longsword flashed as it was drawn from the scabbard on her back. She took an almost worried glance at Travosh before descending with the others. The klyros was remarkably still, though close inspection revealed his eyes were moving rather spasmodically under the lids. Timil moved closer to the cave's entrance as well,  fitting his shield to his back and using his free hand to hold a torch. He attempted to call forth some magical flame to light it, but instead a flash of brown turned his leather armor into a rock-hard substance. "What the?"

Aramara glanced at Timil and his new duds, but she raised her finger to her lips to remind him to be quiet and crept into the cave, keeping to the walls as she moved into its depths searching for Evirea and Barsidious. Sarras, with her nightvision, was able to see Timil's mistake. With a small grin, she whispered, "Shhh, quiet." Herihi readied a couple spells as she followed close behind Timil, her white armor seeming to glow in the darkness of the cave. Sserp followed behind the others, eager to get more information on the story that was developing below. Timil pondered the misfiring of his spell, but then snapped his attention forward as a faint azure light illumines the room just ahead, revealing the scene before them. Sserp saw the room with the Azure light ahead. He held back and tried to peer within to watch what would happen.

Evirea 's head shifted towards the entrance as she heard the faint rustling of the group moving in. Her eyes widened in shock as not one, but many shadows appeared on the wall, eerie and malformed. She blinked to try to clear her clouded vision, keeping Barsidious always in her peripheral, trying to decide what it is she could do. The killer's brow was furrowed as he stood, head tilting to the side. He appeared to be sifting slowly through whatever mind he was currently linked with. Perhaps confused.
She knew she couldn't move or make a sound, doing so would reveal the plan, and he was not yet fully immersed in the trap. He was not yet incapacitated, and if these approaching dunderheads made much more noise, they would ruin everything...

Never should have left that note, Evirea thought, cursing herself internally. She began to shake her head adamantly as the shadows advanced. She twisted on the hook, and a gurgled sound escaped her throat. Her eyes practically bulged out of her head.

Aramara moved carefully towards the rear of the cave, avoiding any arangmas and velnishis along the way until she spotted Evirea. She crouched down behind a low boulder, scanning the scene and taking note of the state of both killer and klyros. Evirea 's hands, coated with blood, continued to grip at the metal hook that was imbedded in her shoulder. She gritted her teeth painfully and opened her mouth, forming silent words, her expression not imploring but urgent. She shook her head yet again, and gestured with her foot at Barsidious, who still remained unaware of the other's presence...for the moment.

Aramara could see that Barsidious was unaware of his immediate surroundings, and she decided not to place an arrow anywhere in him, for fear it might break the connection with Travosh. She could only hope this creep was not winning over the klyros, however unpleasant he may be. But noticing Evirea's predicament, she rushed towards the suspended klyros, to try and lift her from the hook

Sarras sidled along a wall, a couple meters from Aramara. Peeking out, she saw Evirea and Barsidious. She looked back to the others and urgently motioned them to approach. With quiet footsteps she followed Aramara and tried to help with her free hand.

Timil saw Aramara rush forward, and decided to help, sheathing his sword to free up his hands.

Barsidious stood silently by with his knife in hand, still coated with a True Death poison. His head was still canted to the side, the mask on his face a hideous scar-like visage, craggy and slitted. His fingertips twitched, but he does not move. Evirea was swearing quietly beneath her breath. She continued to watch Barsidious, clapping a bloody hand over her mouth to muffle any sound she might make as she was lifted down from the hook. She was colder than is usual for even a klyros, and she trembled from blood loss. "Don't...make...a...sound..." she whispered. She glared at Herihi.

Aamara paused briefly as she reaches Barsidious's vicinity, shocked to be peering into the same haunting mask that had pervaded her vision. She shook the fear from her mind and concentrated again on saving Evirea from the fate she foresaw.

Sarras heard Timil arriving to aid Aramara and turned her focus to Barsidious. Her eyes caught the knife in his hand. Quickly, she motioned Herihi to circle around Barsidious with a hand. Herihi nodded to Sarras and did what is told, ready to move whenever needed.

Timil cast a wary glance at Barsidious, and as he felt Evirea's weight come free from the hook, he mentally prepared a spell and put his free hand on the hilt of his sword. The klyros gripped her injured shoulder, the bone lifted at an odd angle, the blood still seeping, the muscle mutilated. She continued to glare in Herihi and Sarras' direction, but she was too exhausted to make a move. She mouthed something quietly, but it was not audible. Timil leaned in closer to Evirea, and mouthed silently, "what was that?"

Aramara caught sight of Timil reaching for his sword, but she tried to direct his attention to the suffering klyros with a jerk of her head. She struggled to lift Evirea and motioned again for Timil to help her.

Herihi positioned herself so that if Barsidious did wake up she wouldn't be the first one he saw as she noticed the knife is his hands.  She assumed the poison he used for his killing was on there and didn't want to be the first one he tried to attack with it. Sarras 's gaze floated up toward Barsidious's mask. A shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly focused on the knife again. She cautiously reached toward his wrist with her own free left hand, but did not touch, believing it may wake him.

Barsidious breathed evenly and slowly, lost in whatever world is being presented to him. Still, he seemed unaware, though his fingers twitched with every sound the group subtly made. The slightest mistake could rouse him, it seemed. And yet still he remained unaware, and the amulet that hung inconspicuously around Evirea's neck, hidden beneath her tunic, was beginning to glow brighter.

<><><><><><><><><>

Barsidious tore through the amulet's current of power, his presence alerting itself quite loudly. It reached towards Travosh's mind like a ravenous hunger, a predator eager for the game of the hunt to begin.

Travosh was nothing if not prepared, and had set up a nice little welcome room inside his head for Barsidious. Within it were bright blue walls, reminiscent of scales. Three doors stood along the walls. One was plain and wooden, the ground where it sat seeming more like solid ground than the blue floor. The second was almost cruel looking, made of steel with a bar slot covering whatever lies within. The last, probably most inviting door, was already ajar. It appeared to be made of a pleasantly orange glass-like substance, swirling brown designs within it.

Barsidious looked at the doors. He could sense a trap well enough, but curiosity had always been a weakness of his. He had to figure out precisely what sort of cards Evirea was playing with, and this orange-tinted door certainly seemed a good way to begin. He moved towards it, wafting over like an intangible wraith, and passed through.

A voice seeped out from the darkness of Zetch's mind as Barsidious stalked its corridors, if Barsidious could remember a time when he spoke to Travosh, he could note the voice is deeper, unlike what it was before. 'Not in cruelty, not in wrath, an angel entered my gray path, the Reaper came today. Not from hate, nor for me to say, he took the girl away.' Travosh 's mind corridors vanished utterly, a scene laid before him.

Barsidious focused on the scene that was presented to him. As his curiosity grew, he was drawn more and more out of the situation in the cavern, out of the things going on in the room.

Before him stretched a strange scene indeed. Waterfalls perpetually pounded in the distance, the air was thick with mist. A gathering had come together near the walls of the great stalactite. A diverse group of individuals; Ynnwn, Enkidukai, Nolthrir, Lemur and Klyros stood conversing before a strange piece of architecture the likes of which the Ylian had never seen before. Totally confused, he continued to dig into the memory. He seemed to have no idea what this had to do with Evirea, he could connect her previous memories to any of the characters. Yet he still moved closer, having never encountered something like this before, still believing it was the woman's mind he invaded.  Ripples finally pervaded the scene entirely; whoever owned this mind had sensed the intrusion and was fighting back. The scene was encompassed in a bright, overwhelming light, and everything in it became indecipherable.

 "You have gotten farther than I anticipated, Barsidious."

The single voice spoke amidst the backdrop of eerie green, masculine, not feminine. The ruse that Travosh had set up was lost. “You're interfering in important matters here,” Barsidious said, fury rising, enraged that he had been tricked. “I'm afraid that...just won't do.”

The klyros from the memory before turned, became defined from the blurry mess, and stared directly at the ylian. "It will have to. It is about time you met someone capable of resistance to your tricks."

<><><><><><><><><>

Herihi shook her head at Sarras, trying to tell her that would probably be a really really bad idea, gesturing at the hand that was stretched out to touch the Ylian's wrist. Sarras waited, and did not make a move. She only seemed to have placed herself as a barricade, in case Barsidious became aware.

Evirea gurgled and renewed her grip on her shoulder, trying desperately to stop the blood flow. She tried to focus on Timil's face, but judging by the way her eyelids were fluttering, she was having trouble doing even that. She seemed barely coherent.

Aramara tried to keep her breathing and heartbeat steady as she and Timil carried Evirea away from Barsidious so that they could begin to heal her. She was lifted quite easily, lightweight as she was. She hissed again, a sharp intake, a pained breath. A trembling overtook her body, a deathly ashy gray present in her scaly skin. She clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. Timil glanced down at the amulet on Evirea's neck, and motioned for Aramara to wait. Aramara stopped at Timil's signal, her heart too racing. She could tell Evirea hadn't much time left and needed immediate attention to her wounds.

Barsidious 's breathing caught in his throat, and his head gave a slight jerk to the right. The grip on his knife tightened, but still, he did not move. Frozen as a statue, his eyes shifted rapidly beneath the narrow slits of the mask: dreaming awake.

Sarras 's heart raced at the sudden movement. Herihi moved back a bit when Barsidious started to move a little, ready for a fight if it started.

Evirea opened her eyes and looked towards Barsidious, her gaze glaringly white. She wass waiting for something, it seemed, waiting. Her eyes shifted towards the knife in his hands, still dripping with black poison. She panted again as she looked at Timil. The woman tried to get to her feet, tried to move forward, but she could only manage a shifting of her shoulders. "Heal it, stop the bleeding," she rasped quietly to Timil. "I need to kill him."

Barsidious 's head jerked from side to side, first to the right, and then to the left, precisely three times. Again, his hand twitched, and again his grip on the weapon tightened. He muttered something gruffly, and his tone sounds almost confused.

<><><><><><><><><>

Barsidious narrowed his eyes. He began to fade from Travosh's dream realm as he attempted to simply leave the mind, realizing full well there must be something on the other side of his facade. A taste of his own medicine, as it were, being caught in an illusion. But Travosh lunged at the man, claws grasping at him to try and force him to stay. "Where are you going ylian?” The klyros mocked. “Don't you remember me? Have a chat with your old friend!"

Barsidious leaped backwards. "Hardly," he replied. And clearly he wouldn't, since the klyros had gained a foot in height and his voice had changed. He fell to the ground, struggling and trying to  pound at the phantom on top of him. He let out an infuriated growl and tried to attack the mind he was occupying, to make it feel a splitting ache.

Travosh brought his splitting ache to a headbutt, trying to share the favor. "How about the name Travosh, eh? I've used that moniker quite some time now." Barsidious's head snapped back, and he wavered, trying to re-concentrate on what was going on. The reality and the facade started to mix, and phantoms of Herihi and Sarras appeared behind the raging klyros' wings. "CEASE THIS NOW!" He shouted, grappling with the klyros, opening his mouth in an attempt to take a bite out of his headfin.

Travosh was grinning, fury and glee mingling as one. He jerked his head back and delivered a rather unglorified punch to the man's biting mouth. "You don't remember that name? A pity!"

<><><><><><><><><>

Aramara decided they'd waited long enough to begin the healing; she was not going to let Evirea die. She placed a paw on the klyros's shoulder and cast a healing wave of crystal energies over the klyros. Timil hoped that they were a sufficient distance from Barsidious to keep evirea out of harm's way. He looked down at her as she made her request, realizing that even in her wounded state her obsession with being rid of the killer was in no way depleted. "I...You...Alright."

Sarras bit her lip impatiently. Her hand hovered just above the killer's wrist.

Evirea 's eyes jerked to aramara and her flesh slowly closed, one new layer of skin developing, the scales growing into place. It seemed hollow beneath, as the muscle and bone was still effected and badly injured, but the bleeding had stopped. "Can you channel heat," she asked the fenki. "Do it now, to me. I need strength to stand."

Aramara nodded her head but glanced back at Barsidious with Sarras and Herihi nearby, "What is he doing? Travosh? What is he doing to him?" she awaited the answer before casting her spell.

Evirea staggered to her feet. She dug around desperately in her bag, pulling out a small knife of her own, and dipping it a jar of her own killing potion. "Distracting him," she whispered, answering the fenki, and begins to advance with an agonizing slowness.Timil attempted to cast a Redway Strength spell on Evirea....but a CW Invigoration spell issued forth instead.

Aramara turned and grabbed Evirea by her injured shoulder, knowing full well it'd cause her enough pain to stop in her tracks. Inwardly she thanked Xiosia timil's spell backfired.

Sarras grew tired of waiting and finally grabbed at Barsidious's wrist. All in the same motion, she dropped her sword, stepped foot between his feet, and grabbed at his collar with her right hand. If successful, she tried to lift him cleanly over her body and slam him on the ground. Herihi rushed in to  help Sarras wrestle Barsidious to the ground.

Evirea let out a shout, a loud and interruptive scream, as aramara's fingers dug into her shoulder. Her scream echoed about the cavern, cacophonous in the near absolute silence, and Barsidious's head snapped up, fighting against whatever is holding him. Fighting against the link the amulet had formed.

<><><><><><><><><>

Travosh was sent rolling off the ylian, and he pulled himself to his feet. Anger burned in his eyes. Anger and a brilliantly large red way glow. "A fool I was! Fooled us all didn't you, walking around as a scholar amongst us dirt grubbing peasants!"

Barsidious rolled to his feet as well, crouched, waiting. "Hardly," he said. "You're all dirt you see, all blind and needing to know the Truth of your own dirtiness. I already know of mine...why don't you let me show you yours?" The Ylian charged forward, legs pounding as he closed the distance between them, and tackled the klyros himself.

Travosh let the aura coming from his eyes bleed out over his body, awaiting the ylian's tackle as it the steady glow pulsated. "Such arrogance! The only thing you know is the lies you've told yourself! You're a sad, scared little man in a big world Barsidious!"

Barsidious bowled full force into Travosh, unable to halt his acceleration in time in response, and not fully understanding what that red light was. He wrapped his arms firmly around the klyros' skinny neck, intent on breaking it or at least cutting off his air. "You know nothing of life, you pathetic klyros," he spat. "Nothing but bitterness and pain, you are."

Travosh burned brilliantly, aura converting to the fire of his anger. Not only did he not try and stop Barsidious' choking, he actively held the ylian to him in a vice grip, pulled in into the growing heat of the flames that were enveloping his body. "I know TWO lives you miserable fool! More than you could EVER hope to see. My bitterness and pain are the fruits of a full life you couldn't hope to understand, yours is cold and alone, madness for company!"

[Mariana Xiechai]

Barsidious was flipped by Sarras and bowled into by Herihi, and his breath left his lungs. His eyes snapped open, but the blue sheen remained, as though he could not break whatever connection he had formed. He flailed wildly, slashing blindly with his knife, unable to see whoever was accosting him.

Aramara kept her grip on Evirea's shoulder as long as she could, her eyes wide and intent on the struggle taking place deeper in the cave, now that any effort to remain silent had been nullified, she snapped her head to Timil and shouted, "We can't let her kill him!"

Timil hesitated, unsure what to do. His eyes widened as time seemed to slow down in that instant. He attempted to cast his strength spell again, this time on Sarras...but instead, a Relaxing Sleep spell drifted from Timil's fingertips and settled over his own head. Timil staggered with dizziness for a brief moment. He also lost his grip on Evirea.

Herihi tried to grab Barsidious' flailing arm holding the knife as Sarras sent him crashing to the ground.

Evirea growled at aramara. "YOU ARE A FOOL!" She cried, and fighting her pain, she tried to plant a kick at the woman's abdomen. "That man needs to DIE, I don't care about your damn RELIGIOUS beliefs. KILL HIM!"

Aramara swayed her hips out of the way of Evirea's kick, but the klyros's scaly foot still partially connected. It's wasn't really that the kick hurt, it was the very, very precious cargo that she had just endangered that sent Aramara into a protective pseudo rage. She tightened her grip even further on Evirea's shoulder and pulled her near, thrusting a headbutt at the klyros's head.

Barsidious laid sprawled out on the ground, unable to move due to the weight of the women. He ceased flailing as he tried to reorient himself, frustration and fear evident in his somewhat erratic movements. Sarras swiftly restrained Barsidious's arm holding the dagger. She seemed unafraid, probably given her thick leather vambraces. The killer swore again, panting, and beneath his mask his eyes were shifting from Sarras, to Herihi, to some phantom thing that could be seem by the others. He let out a rage-filled howl, arching his back and kicking wildly with his legs. A strong wind began to build in the room. Sarras jabbed her knee into Barsidious's stomach, mostly to cause pain and pin him. She kept hold of his arm to help Herihi, who tore the weapon out of his grasp. He continued to twitch erratically, feeling phantom pains. The amulet around Evirea's neck grew increasingly brighter, and hotter, the blue azure energy pulsating with a vengeance.

<><><><><><><><><>

Barsidious tightened his grip on Travosh, still grappling with him, still desperate to choke the other man out, to silence him. "You know nothing of being alone!" He cried, the aura blinding him, filling him with a wrath of his own. "You know NOTHING." The words Travosh uttered certainly sounded like nonsense to him, and he only redoubled his efforts to be done with him, unable to tolerate the dual-pain of two different realities.

Travosh blazed bright, his mouth ceased its movement, but the voice continued nonetheless, projecting from inside his mind. "You were always alone, it is as common to you as dirt. I was not always alone, I've had what you can only wish and had it stripped away. I can taste its true nature, you can only strike out like a child at a cruel world! I know your Truth! The Truth is that you can't face reality like man!"

Barsidious screamed, a totally animalistic sound. The control melted away, and scenes flash by in rapid succession: a strange childhood, an orphanage. A man with a whip and a cruel smile. Graves, masses of bodies piled within, nameless things. Again, his grip tightened on the klyros as the barrage flashed brilliantly past the klyros' wings, assaulting  him, and the blaze began to consume his phantom form...and with it, the vestiges of his mind. The scenes continued to play, disjunctive, perpetually over and over again, lips whispering hateful words that were rendered more horrendous with the fact that they were memory and not dream. It was the realization that the horrible klyros was right that made him snap, and as he did, he felt the heat in his veins and arteries, as though molten lead were being pumped through his blood. The pain became unbearable, but just before he was lost to oblivion because of it, Travosh leaned closer to deliver one final verbal blow, his fury beginning to ebb as the fire burned:

"Remember me, Barsidious. Not Travosh, remember it is Zetch who doomed you. Remember the man who struck down Truth for himself and others."

<><><><><><><><><>

Evirea 's head snapped forward with the impact of Aramara's blow. She snarled in rage, having no idea what was WRONG with this insane fenki. The pain Aramara caused with her grip only served to further raise her ire, and she shifted her elbow around, shoving it directly into a nerve in the akkaio's shoulder to get her to release her grip. Aramara lost her grip on Evirea as her arm went numb. Her eyes quickly moved about the room, taking in the whole situation, systematically weighing and dismissing options before she settled on one. She again unshouldered her hunting bow and swung it at Evirea's head, hoping to knock the klyros out and remove her from the variables. But she didn't act fast enough and is taken down by Timil, of all people, who in the meantime had been glancing between Evirea and Barsidious, and decided to do what must be done. Timil had dropped his sword to tackle.... Aramara!...  to free Evirea.

Herihi pulled back after gaining control of the dagger,  giving her enough to secure the dagger on her person where it couldn't be seen before she went back into the fray to help Sarras again. Sarras removed her knee from Barsidious's stomach, but only to kick her leg up in the air, over Barsidious's neck, and bring it down to pin him again as she fell back, clutching his arm to dislocate his elbow.

Evirea flinched as Aramara's bow whizzed over her head, and continued to run forward, the knife in her hand, dripping poison. "Just hold him," she commanded, drawing nearer. "Hold him down." She smiled coldly as the man let out a pained scream, a reaction, no doubt, to the loud pop that followed the dislocation of his elbow. It was cut off short by Sarras' leg on his neck.

Aramara struggled under Timil, trying everywhich way to get him off her, "HER! Stop HER! STOP EVIREA!" The Ylian shouted back at her, eying the klyros from his vantage over the fenki. “No! She needs to do this!”

Herihi made sure no one was watching her and she wiped most of the poison off on her cloak she had on along with her armor.  After that she rushed back in to help restrain Barsidious again, following Evirea's command.

Aramara continued to struggle, but it just amounted to a lot of wiggling, "You don't UNDERSTAND! We can't let her do this! This can't happen! It can't!"

Barsidious, meanwhile, was immobilized. He could not actually see Evirea coming towards him with the knife, so he did not know to be afraid of the impending blade. He shouted lunacy into the air, trying to grapple with this unseen force, saying over and over, "TRAVOSH, YOU MEDDLING BASTARD!"

Sarras let go of Barsidious's now useless arm and pushed herself off the ground, to dig her knee into Barsidious's diaphragm, so that she appeared to be kneeling on top of him. For Evirea, Sarras would be an obstacle. Evirea had slowly dropped to her knees beside Barsidious. She poised the knife above his chest, looking first at Herihi, and then at Sarras. She ignored entirely the advice of aramara, and with her good hand gripping the blade, she thrust downward--meaning to sheath it in his chest. She stopped just short of killing the dermorian. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

Aramara cried out from where she's being held, appealing to the only person in the room who seemed to be listening to her. "Sarras! Hear me Sarras! Don't let her! Don't let her kill him!" Evirea attempted to shove the elf out of the way. "He's a KILLER," she asserted, countering the akkaio's words. "He will kill more people, he will not stop! Their blood will be upon your HANDS. NOW MOVE!"

Sarras had not expected Evirea. A chilling realization that she could have been killed just then hit her, and her face lost its color. But, Sarras regained her courage and, following Aramara's advice, stood her ground, or rather on top of Barsidious. "This is not the way justice should be served!"

Evirea panted, still trying to shove the elf aside. "For FIVE CYCLES I have chased him. He's taken fourteen lives, maybe more! You, Sarras, you live in Hydlaa. Surely you know of the incompetence of the guard. This is the only JUSTICE we can provide. Fourteen times over he has earned this death. This is JUSTICE."

Timil suddenly mumbled a feeble "Sorry," to aramara, and scrambled off of her, attempting this time to tackle Sarras. "Glad I have that rock armor spell after all," Timil thought grimly. Sarras apparently didn't want to hear any of what Evirea had to say, and so brought an arm back to likely punch the angry klyros. However, Timil got to Sarras first, and she went tumbling off of Barsidious. "Ah!" Instinctively, she covered her head, expecting vicious blows. Instead, Timil connected with Sarras, and tumbled away from Barsidious. He did his best to avoid injuring her, and rolled away from her once they came to a stop.

It was in the midst of this chaos that Barsidious gave another erratic twitch. Suddenly, his head jerked to the side, and he let out an agonized scream. He strained against Sarras' hold, and she could probably feel his skin growing hotter and hotter before she was knocked off of him by the persistent Ylian Timil. Smoke literally started pouring from his flesh, splotches forming on his skin, revealing layers of muscle.

Herihi watched Barsidious melting and stepped back a ways, not trying to save or help him at all.Evirea 's jaw dropped as she watched the spectacle in front of her. With her grip still present on the knife's handle, she began to breathe shallowly as his eyes melted from their sockets, a biodegradable ooze that dripped down his cheeks like water. He stopped moving, and his chest collapsed, as though he had literally been melted from the inside out, internal organs, blood vessels, and muscles in all. Evirea plunged the knife into Barsidious's deflating chest, adding insult to injury, as it were, or just making sure the job is truly done. She scrambled back from the deflating corpse on hands and knees, wavering, eyes wide with shock.

Aramara was left on the ground where timil left her, feebly whispering, "No..no...no...no.." repetively. She could sense the heat rising within Barsidous from where she lie, "Travosh you fool... you damned, damned fool."

Sarras felt Timil roll off, and quickly tried to scramble to Barsidious's rescue. But she stopped seeing the knife sink into his deformed chest. Her eyes trailed down to the rest of his decaying body. "What the hell?!" An appropriate reaction to say the least. Herihi watched curiously then muttered about wanting to learn that spell, which sadly wasn't a spell at all, but she'd probably figure that out at some future date. They were privvy to the sight as Barsidious continued to fester and ooze. Pretty soon his skin resembled nothing more than a husk, a hollow, fleshy husk. His body, clearly, did not fade, and he remained sprawled on the ground, truly dead.

Evirea sagged against the wall tiredly, exhausted from the endeavor. "Thank you Travosh," she breathed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Her fingers curled around the amulet, and suddenly her eyes flashed open. "TRAVOSH!" she shouted. "Oh gods...someone check on him, someone check on him now!" Her panic grew stronger as she pulled her hand away and examined the powdery substance the amulet has been reduced to. She redoubled her urgency, scrambling to her feet. "Damn, damn, damn," she said, over and over, trying to run towards the exit. Worry was clear in her expression, probably the strongest it had been up till that point.

Don't you die on me, you stubborn bastard. Don't you dare die.

[Phantomboy86]

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how you start some sick fires.

[Knightspark9]

Travosh is too stubborn to die.