Support Squad Felicity Posted December 30, 2014 Support Squad Share Posted December 30, 2014 "and how many times have you seen Death?" Darius aksed Zolivar, looking on at the masses of souls. "Actually, that begs the question, why has he appeared before us now? Why can we see the pale rider?" Darius then asked of Leon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 "You can see me and my other selves," the Pale Rider said as he trotted within earshot of the men, looking down at them all with those eyes of contrasting silver and gold, his face an unreadable mask as a portal bathed in light opened before him and thrust his crook forward, beckoning the souls following him within. "Because of the massive amount of life that has been stolen in this place tonight... that coupled with the fact that you are all in the presence of a man who has mastered Spectral Magic and the way of the Ghost Blade." He lifted a withered, brittle looking finger and pointed it directly at Deric as the souls swimming around the magistrate deviated from their revolution and began filing into the portal along with the souls Death was guiding. "It is his ability to see the dead and the departed," Lord Death continued. "That man tis an old soul, his days reaching far back in history... reaching all the way to a time when heroes fought and died to defend the world from crises..." he moved his pointer to Leon as well. "As is he... but that one's spirit burns hotter than any others. He has the light of experience, the light of life everlasting within him. He has died and returned from the valley of death time and time again... unlike the Spectral lord who has yet to fully return from the abyss." Before long the souls had all made their way into the After Realm through the ethereal opening he had made. With the symbol on the ridge of his nose blazing brightly and nothing more than a few quick motions of his hand, reminiscent of a person sewing up a tear in a fabric, the thing collapsed in onto itself without a single noise, leaving the air rippling for a little while before even that tiny trace vanished as well. The glow of his sigil died down once more as he turned his attention back to the party. "You had best make haste with his revival. For he shall be a powerful ally in this war, one who can see the dead and myself. Something is coming, something great and at the same time terrible. I can feel her cry, her pull even now... She is Zero. She is pure nothingness, the beginning and the end. That is what thou art fighting in this war, Lady Zero. The cries of suffering and pain in the hearts of mankind are what have drawn her attention over all these millenia, as they did before, when I went around guiding the dead of yet another world like this one...." he looked right at Leonidas, as if glaring at his very soul. "You know the state of God at the moment, Leonidas... you know that he can fight no longer, that he can hold her back no longer. The cries of suffering grew too powerful, nad down was the lord cast from his lofty throne amongst the stars, down to the earth, to have what was left of him sealed within a tomb of knowledge... a tomb which has been received in the east..." "So the book has been delivered then?" the Hero asked, obviously having some inkling as to what the specter was saying. "Indeed, it has," Death concurred. "And with the Lord cast down from his former power, the only hope is that those in the east can keep the Keys safe from her grasp, keep them safe from the void... but there is one matter you must be made aware of, old friends," he looked at Deric as well as he continued. "Rossephus, his life lays waning, I knowith not if he shall pull through... for an agent of Zero has stricken him down with magic. The prognosis looks bleak. and another matter...The rebel, Zartana... she has stolen the blessing of Key Bearer from Samiel's son." "WHAT!?" Leonidas shouted in a fury that made his spear blaze with a crimson hue as he slammed the but of it into the ground, eye's flaring with wrath at the news, which not one of the men standing there could likely understand the true significance of... "That winged Triatorous whore! she stole it!?" "Yes, Leonidas," Death said in a calm tone. "and she nearly had the boy killed afterwards, though she was stopped before she could finish her plot. Calm yourself though, I do not think she did it for the sake of betraying our cause for that of Lady Zero..." "Then why?" the man snarled in his gravelly voice, so ferocious it could've sent a full grown wyvern scurrying for the hill. "Why the fuck would she have any reason to do it if not that? What makes you think her aim is not treachery?" "Now, I did not say it wasn't treachery at all..." Death corrected. "I said she doesn't intend to side with Zero... but rest assured, there are dark things on her mind. I fear that she intends to do what she has been preaching of for so long among her Seraph brethren... but for now, she will likely co-operate once it becomes obvious we know of her actions this night. For she gains nothing if Zero wins, for she shall cease to be right along with the rest of us... rest assured, Leonidas, if the need arises, she will stand beside us when it matters in this war... but afterwards...." "Afterwards...yes, indeed, afterwards..." the hero said, chuckling in a rather dark manner. "afterwards, I would tear her apart myself, were that I would still be existing after this war is over..." He turned his attention to the group, his eyes stormy with what looked like a mix of wrath and amusement... which when on the face of the Sky Slayer, the most dreaded man the world had ever known, was a rather frightening sight indeed... "We need to have a discussion after the Dragons and Lupai are all dead... don't bother trying to ask any questions right now though, because I'll give you no answers; now is a time when it's more important to focus on the fight immediately ahead of us, rather than that which is waiting long down the road... Do I make myself clear?" 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Ragnar Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Gideon simply nodded and was ready to go. The Turk shows little interest about this supernatural stuff going on around him. Let alone questioning the pale rider about this rebel Zartana or what this Lady Zero can really do. It doesn't matter to him, just as long as he knows the names and the location of their targets, that's all the information that he will ever need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Squad Felicity Posted January 2, 2015 Support Squad Share Posted January 2, 2015 "Clear as crystal sir" Darius replied, ready to go at the word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 "Understood." Zolivar said, confirming he's paying attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 7, 2015 Author Share Posted January 7, 2015 "I must take my leave now," Death said before anyone else could respond with their affirmative. His hands were griped on the reigns of his steed, his Crook nowhere to be seen now. The beast snorted and began trotting forward as it sensed it's master's intention to set off again. "There are still so many to guide this night... hopefully the Light that destroyed Cithalos hasn't burned too many of those lost. But I fear that to be an empty wish, false and sour... for if not even I could brave that sea when I tried before, then surely they were all swallowed and absorbed by it." He looked down at Leonidas as he passed, genuine anger on his strange face, despite how friendly he'd been with the man just moments before. "I hope you and the judges are pleased with this outcome, Leonidas..." he snarled quietly, so much so that the hero was the only who could even catch what he uttered. "You've gotten your chosen ones, but how many innocent people, men, women and even children, paid the price tonight in order to buy their presence in all this? How many of them were erased, wiped out of existence, with no hope of a second life in the afterworld?" "I'm sorry it had to be this way," Leon admitted, in a volume mimicking the Apparition's, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper "But there was no other route than the one we were already on. It was either delay breaking the spheres and save a few tens of thousand while letting millions more die and be erased on the spot, or do it now and sacrifice a few thousand to save many more as a result. Now tell me which clean up job you would've preferred?" Death said nothing in response. What could he say, honestly? That was actually a solid argument Leonidas had just presented. His steed kept trotting forward as he broke off their conversation, snorting puffs of black mist as it went. "A great many were sacrificed this night in order to bring you lot together," He said as he passed by Darius and the others, fixing them with his mesmerizing, conflicting gaze of silver and golden light. "See to it that their loss was not in vain. I will be following all of you far more closely than you could ever fathom..." Just as he trailed off, the wind rippled and blew some loose grains of sand through the area. The tempest grew even stronger as they watched, howling like a pack of savage Mountain Wolves and obscuring their view of wherever Lord Death had rode off to, all the while tearing at the cloths like grasping fingers and sending chills down their spines that caused the party members to each break out in a cold street, goosebumps raising on their arms. The scent of roses and posies wafted in on the breeze, so strong one would think they were standing in the middle of a wild meadow rather than a dessert city. Then as fast and sudden as it had come, the windstorm died down and the apparition was gone; Rider and Horse in all. The scent of wild flowers stayed in his wake though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 The scent of the flowers reminded Zolivar of when his sisters plucked some freshly bloomed flowers during the spring time. Though something felt off, as if something was missing in the area. He turned towards the group, "Hey, doesn't something seem off right about now?" He asked them with a whee bit of concern. Then he noticed that the sounds of the dragons has stopped, "What happened to the roars of the wyrms from a moment ago?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 "They probably got scared by Death's presence". Gideon said to Zolivar. "Anyways we should probably get going, death is watching and expects nothing less from us." Gideon solemnly said as puts on his facemask and waited for the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 "And he's not the only one..." Lucian said, drawing his gun quick as lightning as his gaze was fixed on something in the distance. If the others glanced over, they'd see exactly what he was on guard about; They were supposed to be hunting the dragons... but the dragons had spent the time men had wasted chitchatting hunting them instead. Right there, behind a nearby ruined building, must've been the fire one, Scales a bright scarlet like blood with a creme colored underbelly, a bulky build and thick neck with powerful looking jaws and small, red eyes that burned like the sun as they sized up the Party. It's wings burned with solar light, giving day tot he night with it's intensity, and the barbs at the end of it's thick tail held just as strong a luminense. It's Scales were slotted in certain places, each one bearing light like that of it's wings, tiny windows into to great star itself, pulsating as the beast tensed it's body, preparing to attack... ((To give a better idea of appearance)) but...the most intimating fact of the whole situation was that the thing was bigger than a house while on all fours "Oh how right you are about that, Gunslinger," a voice which only Sinabd, Boho and Deric would recognize called out in the night. On a further glance, the men could spot someone standing atop the Wyrm's head, arms crossed and a smirk on his face as he shook his head and chuckled. He wore a sleeveless, Collared Long Coat the color of emeralds, gold embroidering on the fabric with complex and expertly wrought straps and buckles going down it's length and stopping just above the waist. Underneath his outer wear lay a long sleeved shirt of similiar quality, tan like leather, with a sash resembling blood in it's vivid color running across the waist of his pants, which were just as impressive for a man of common blood like himself. On his arms he wore Leather padded gauntlets, fingerless to provide ease of dexterity, yet still offering substantial protection for the hands. An impressively engraved sword lay strapped against his back, likely pilfered. His face was adorned with a slight five o clock shadow, his Raven black hair blowing in the wind as he peered down with his grey eyes, looking at every member of the Travelling party for a few seconds before moving on to the next... only lingering longer when he found Deric. "Ah, there you are," He said. "I was a bit worried after our last little bout. Thought you might've been wounded and gone off to die in the dessert," The Dragon he stood atop off gave a fearsome roar in concurrence. "Theos here was still hungry thanks to you; had to kill and eat poor Tibus, but he's more than happy to indulge himself a little more by feasting on all your corpses." "This ends tonight, Marca." Deric said solemnly, his blade beginning to glow hazily again. "All of them... all of the people we both ever called friends, you killed them all, struck them down one by one as if they were nothing. First our mutual love Lucretia, then her brother, then Decate and Marshall... even Royce, old, quiet Royce." "Oh please," Marca retorted. "Friends? they were never my friends, and Lucretia was never my lover. They were all in the palms of your hand, remember? I was nothing more than a pariah after a while, an outcast, an unneeded wheel. Each and every last one of you left me behind in the past, forgot about me, ignored me... even Lucretia, thanks to you. If that's what friends do to other friends, I'd much rather just stick with having enemies." "you're so blinded by your own anger and frustration that you can't even see that you're the one who isolated himself," Deric sighed, shaking his head. He lifted his gaze again, this time filled with a familiar fury. "But nothing can excuse what you did to her that night, you monster..." The smile instantly vanish from Marca's mouth, face going just as solemn as Deric's was. "I know it doesn't." Was all he admitted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 "Deric, you said there were two wryms right?" Zolivar asked the man ask he kept his focus on the one ahead of him, "The one of fire is in front of us, but what of the ice one?" He wanted to make sure he wasn't hearing things when he heard two wryms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 As Deric and Marca talk, Gideon takes a glance at Lucian and the rest of the group with a particular look on his face, like he was signaling them about something, his eyes turns to the side like he was telling them to attack from all corners and take down its master asap. The turk prepares his throwing knives behind back discrete as possible to avoid any suspicion. and why shouldn't he? after all they are being watch by a gigantic dragon, any sudden movements will mean their demise. Gideon was ready to attack Marca as soon as Lucian or any of the marksman of the group gives the first shot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 "It must've been devoured...like he claims." Deric answered, nodding to the beast before them and completely oblivious to Gideon's plotting nearby. "Not very surprising, honestly. In a fight between a creature that can control fire and heat, and one of the cold and snow... well, deciding who would be the winner doesn't exactly take an accomplished scholar to figure out." "Indeed it doesn't," Marca agreed. "And I have to say, it was quality entertainment for me, setting those two against one another after you up and fled the field. I was honestly surprised by how quickly the Ice one fell to Theos here though... a pity it couldn't have gone on longer." Leonidas, meanwhile, gave a stern halt gesture to everyone who'd seen Gideon's silent proposal, nodding his head quickly to the Dragon and it's apparent handler and mouthing 'No, get the information about how he's doing this in the first place before you go attacking, morons...' Whether or not they knew it, the Dragoneer had a damn good point. Sure, they could kill Marca right here and now while he's distracted... but what good would that do if whatever he'd done to the dragon didn't wear off with his death? They'd all be hunted down and torched immediately afterwards if the charm was something permanent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Zolivar hopped Gideon would sheath his weapon as he tried to communicate with the man. He then turned to the man on the wrym, "Marca, I believe your name was if I'm not mistaken." He said keeping his eyes locked on the beast seeing as it's the only left now. "How are you able to control these wryms? its hard enough to kill, let alone tame one." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 "Hell, you're about to join the sky lord in a few minutes," Marca chimed arrogantly. "I guess there's no harm in telling you lot before you die." He reached into the folds of his coat and produced a scarlet jewel, expertly cut and catching the light of the moon on it's many exquisite faces, giving a red glow to the Theif King's face. "If you must know, it's this little jewel right here. I whip it out, focus on someone... And bwamo!" The stone flashed with bright light as Absalom's eyes blazed with a similiar color before returning to normal. The next minute though, he was charging at Gideon, sweeping down with his arms as he ran and collecting a shard of glass from the ground, rotating it in his hand and holding it like a dagger as he went in to kill the turk... "I can control anyone or anything I want, like they're a puppet!" Marca proclaimed as he watched the Dirosi boy about to murder Gideon from behind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Gideon drops his knives from behind like a bunch of falling coins as he removes his facemask and raise his hand and cancel what he is planning. "Oh, how low can you go... you truly are despicable" Gideon said to Marca as grinned his teeth. surely he won't attack one his own ally as Absalom circles around him. "You prove your point, release the boy from you sorcery." Gideon snarled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 "Oh fine..." Marca sighed, lowering the jewel and releasing his hold on the child. The next moment, Absalom collasped to the stones beside Gideon, the bloody shard of glass falling from his grip and shattering. After a mmoment or two, he began stirring... though he was faint. Luckily the boy wasn't very adept at using knifes; the wound he'd dealt Gideon didn't do as much harm as it could've... "I promised Theos he could have you alive anyway..." "How about you stop hiding behind your damn mount and come down here?" Leonidas taunted the man strategically. "Fight us like a real man instead of leaving the lizard to do all the work. Unless you're too afraid of being torn apart by us?" Well, this was certainly a different tactic... If the fool could be convinced to conduct a battle on the ground instead of his Wyrm... and if they could get his control gem... but how powerful could Taunting and shaming really be? Especially against someone with such apparent little regard for shame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Zolivar grew a smug grin as he saw Leonidas trying to convince Marca to fight not using the wrym. He also noticed how the when the pendant of mind control was used it let out a trail of light, he ingrained this into his head so if he happened to be shined with the light. The glass on the floor might be able to redirect the red light if he happened to use it again. Though Zol's grin soon faded as he regained his composure there was one thing that still bothered him. "Where did you acquire that pendant anyway? Someone obviously didn't just give it to you as a gift." Hopefully if they know a little about it's origin they could get a better feel for the pendant itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 "It doesn't matter where he got it..." Leon said to Zoliver through gritted teeth and with a hoarse whisper. "Whether he got it from a king or pilfered it from the church archives themselves, the thing's still illegal by the laws of True Magic, Mind Rape is almost as grave an offense as Necromancy..." Marca though, answered Zolvier's question with a smug grin. "Why, I stole it just this morning," he said proudly. "Yes indeed, pilfered it from the halls of the Great Samiel himself, I did. You remember, Deric, don't you?" "Look at you," Deric shook his head in disgust, ignoring the question. "Stealing, killing, raping minds...what the fuck went wrong with you, Marca? I know you loved her just as I did, but if this what that love drove you to do over time... then it was not love; twas Love's ugly impersonator; Obsession. How much do you think Lucretia weeps now, looking down from the starry heavens and having watched all your crimes? do you really think you're actions would make her affections for you grow if she were still alive? Do you think she'd condone any of this? The smirk faded from his mug at that. his face looked uncertain, and his eyes with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Squad Felicity Posted January 16, 2015 Support Squad Share Posted January 16, 2015 Darius had been quiet throughout the interaction, trying to assess the situation as best he could. "How dishonourable can you get? I doubt a common whore could fall for you, even if you coerced her with that trinket you pilfered. What chance could you ever have with her, the unfortunate target of your pathetic infatuation?" Darius called, his voice raised. He didn't have to try to act disgusted as he spoke, it came naturally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Gideon carries Absalom and lays him at a nearby spot as he follows the group's taunting and tries to provoke the Thief King as well, hoping that he will lose his focus or better yet lose control of the gem. "now, now.. don't be too harsh on the boy, Darius.. that's right a boy..I don't see a man on top of a wyrm, I see sad pathetic little boy who wouldn't man up and hides behind others, he needs that trinket more than he needs his balls to face us." Gideon cracks a smug smile. "Deric was right, Lucretia must be weeping so hard right now knowing that her lover is reduced to a spineless scum" Gideon added to Darius remarks as he adds more fuel to the fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 "You..." Marca snarled as the mericless insults were hurled at him left and right. He leapt off the top of the dragon's head, somersaulting through the air with frightening dexterity and agility before landing in between Gideon and Darius, sweeping his foot around in a low arc and sending both the men to the ground in a single swift motion. He held up the Sorcery jewel as he glared down at the two, a red glow beginning to bath his face. The dragon roared and a fire was seen beginning to gather at it's maw as he began to activate the artifact. "YOU!!" The sound of a gun shot. a quick bang. Like thunder in the wind. That was all that was heard afterwards, cutting the man off and leaving him standing there gazing dumbly at the empty palm where the control jewel used to be just moments ago. On the ground all around him was thousands of twinkling shards of red... The dragon suddenly collapsed onto the stones just like Absalom had, seemingly unable to move itself...and Marca was just as frozen from the shock of how easily he'd just been tricked by this lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragnar Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Gideon falls flat on his face as he watched the unthinkable happen, He and Darius were saved by some gun shot from outta nowhere. But they are not out of the woods yet.. they are still in front of a dangerous man. ever the opportunist, the Turk reached down one of his dagger and stabs Marca's foot, trying to cripple the infamous Thief King from escaping, "Someone suppress him!" he cry out as he barrel roll his way out to safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Squad Felicity Posted January 17, 2015 Support Squad Share Posted January 17, 2015 The opportunity was there, Darius pounced. He scrambled to his feet to then thrust his sword towards Marcas shoulder and force him to the ground, making sure to try and force Marca to put weight on his wounded foot, courtesy of Gideon, or fall completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutoratosu Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Marca was shocked, but not paralyzed, The King of theifs saw the turk winding his attack the moment the thought had entered the man's mind and within a split second kicked the knife out of his hand before it could impale his foot. A quick leap backwards followed, resulting in Darius's steel striking nothing but air. Marca snarled at the two of them, withdrawing a Pure Muinnat dagger from his side and sizing up which to slice and dice first. The heroe's were unknowingly in great danger, for the magic metal, in a purely wrought form, without being alloyed with steel and other metals and having it's natural magic vibration diluted by it, as it commonly was when made into weapons because of which... well, one could say that Muinnat had a tendency to... cut through steel and wood and flesh like they were nothing. "So you call me a boy, eh?" Marca said to Gideon. "Well, this boy is going to turn you into a Eunuch, you Dirosi pile of shit. Tell me, which would prefer, root to stem, or just the stones to be taken?" Before either man could comment however, there appeared Deric behind the criminal, Lucretia's Muinnat sword in hand as he stalked up to her killer in complete silence, using the window of opportunity Darius and Gideon had created. The scarlet blade, reminiscent to that of Rosefeller, Atton's great sword, took on a familiar hazy glow of white as Deric held it up and wound it back behind his neck as if about to arc his arm to deliver a decapitating blow to his old friend. Gideon and Darius both noticed he was increasingly gaining speed in his pace. And then there came to strike. Bright as the sun, a hazy white arc hurtling towards Marca's jugular with wraith-like speed... But contrary to what the men would've expected, the strike did not kill him... nor was his head rolling. But nevertheless, the look of pain on his face was exquisite and intense, as if he'd felt every single nerve ending in the strike zone flaring at once. Deric stood frozen in his strike position, watching as the thief stumbled and fell to his knees. The magistrate had no mercy however, for he then proceeded to drive Lucretia's weapon through the assailant's back, the tip and length of the blade exiting through his solar plexus, still cloaked in white. There was no visible wound left when Deric drew it back out of his foe-man though... but Marca clutched his chest regardless, as if he had been impaled and was actually bleeding out. The ground was what caressed his face as Deric finished his assault with a swift and low round house kick connecting to the jaw. "How....how...." Marca could barely get the words out in between his pained breaths. "What... are you...? How....?" "Figured out how to use these abilities a little." was all Deric answered with, sheaving his blade and looking at Darius and Gideon as he collected the knife Marca had dropped. "This fight's over. His dragon's incapacitated and wouldn't even listen if he were conscious, his jewel's been destroyed, and he's pinned." He walked over and placed an armored boot on the thief's chest, making sure to put all his weight on it. "All of you, get over here," he ordered, glaring down into Freyal's face with a mix of anger and solemnity. "Freyal is going to admit his crimes before he meets his fate." ((Do note: This boss battle is not over. It has just transitioned into a Shatter Point moment as well as a boss fight. What you say and do in the following scene will determine whether or not Deric awakens into Arthur before or after Marca has been dealt with for good and for all)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurorix Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Zolivar nodded as he walked towards the pinned down man looking down at him as he stood near him without saying a word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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