NationStates Jolt Archive

Driretlen followed Sulla across the warehouse floor, drawing out his desert eagles and unleashing a spate of bullets.

"Die, dream creature, this plane of existance belongs not to you."

Driretlen did not take his eye off kain...

"I'm coming for you next, Kain!"

Driretlen followed Sulla across the warehouse floor, drawing out his desert eagles and unleashing a spate of bullets.

"Die, dream creature, this plane of existance belongs not to you."

Driretlen did not take his eye off kain...

"I'm coming for you next, Kain!"

Marius tossed the container of blood to Sulla. The report of Marius's weapon joined that of Driretlan's. The wyvern tipped back its head and roared as a hail of bullets peppered its body. Sulla dropped the shotgun and ran full tilt, diving between the wyverns legs. He was up and running in an instant, he dodged around the tail and was out into the chill night air of the courtyard, without hesitation he made for the tree in the center; breaking open the container of blood, he began to chant. He could only hope that the true demons within the warehouse might distract the wild hunt and buy him just a little more time.

The wyvern charged at Marius and Driretlan but was turned aside under a fierce rain of lead. Blinded by rage, it continued its charge, striking out at the nearest demonic presense. It picked up Okalisk in its jaws, chrashing through another wall and falling out into the street.

Marius turned and ran for the courtyard. His extended clip was finally empty; he dropped the M16 and scooped up Sulla's shotgun on the way. He came running out into the courtyard, turning, he took out the two stymphalian birds that had followed him. When he reached the center Sulla had already painted the necessary runes on the tree. The tree burst into magical flames as Sulla smeared the last of the blood on its trunk. Marius glanced around for Driretlan.

Back in the warehouse, the door through which the three vampires had come still hung open. In the doorway, sillouetted by the moonlight, there stood a foul thing, a great black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon; the wild hunt had come...

OOC: Have to cite sources: part of that last little descriptive clause, ("there stood a foul...upon")I got from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

(OOC Can someone care to explain what the hell is going on? I am very much confused here. give me an overview of what has happened recently.)

(OOC Can someone care to explain what the hell is going on? I am very much confused here. give me an overview of what has happened recently.)

OOC: I'd be happy to. I've had way too much time on my hands recently, and I felt that this thread had kind of been put on the back burner by a few people, so I may be a little guilty of overposting. I should have my part of the story wrapped up soon though. Kain is still standing in the middle of the warehouse, no one has directly interacted with him since your last post about a third of the way through page 12. If you want the full story, start there.
The quick recap: Driretlan has sort of teamed up with my characters, their car was destroyed by a yeck. They were looking for another yew tree and, as it turned out, they had to cross the warehouse that you're in to reach it. Some stymphalian birds, a wyvern, and Okalisk arrived and a battle ensued.

(OOC What is attacking Kain? Who is with him?)

(OOC What is attacking Kain? Who is with him?)

OOC: Nothing is currently attacking Kain. He's just kind of in the middle of a battle (some of the stymphalian birds might be, but that's your choice, there were two dozen to begin with, at last count there were 16 left). Oh yeah, in the recap I forgot to metion that Maximus is hiding in the rafters and the golden fleece has summoned the wild hunt (out of british legend, it's my personal favorite of all groups of legendary beasts you can read about it at this link:
http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/hunt.htm
This is an incomplete description of the hunt., but it gives you an idea.

In this case, I have chosen to go with the myths of southern England; the hunt is lead by Herne the Hunter, he rides a grey horse, wears a gray cloak, and has antlers; you cannot make out his face.

On a side note, most of the monsters I've used here have come from this web site:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~donlong/monsters/monsters.htm

It's awesome, the real life, though obviously mistaken, sources for many of the monsters are well documented.

Kain saw this conflict around him....he heard none of it. He simply smiled and sighed. It was like he was underwater, he heard none of it. Sitting himself down with his legs crossed, his silvery white hair around his body, he closed his eyes. It was though he was meditating.

He was in fact recalling some of his most powerful spells to memory, going over those arcane words which could bring terrible and wonderous events to come into reality.

Kain's hair shimmered with the moon upon it.....he was oblivous to what went around him.

Maximus crouched down on the rafters, still hidden in the shadows, as he watched the carnage below him. A number of ferocious creatures ran about, attacking the group of four in which Drirethelen was a part of.

Suddenly a loud screech came from below. One of the birds shot skyward, in an attempt to escape some of the attacks by the four. The beast flew up, hovered, and then noticed Maximus. It looked at him, puzzled, as it tried to determine the threat of the vampire.

This was getting to annoy him, this vile creature of the skies, and so Maximus drew Glamdring swiftly, and cleanly cut through the beast's neck, severing the head. The corpse plummeted into the ground far below landing close to Drirethlen.

Drirethlen looked up, surrprised at this, and noticed Maximus in the shadows from the light reflecting off the blade. He smiled.

Maximus communicated to Drirethlen silently:

"Drirethlen, you seem to be doing just fine. I wish to keep in the shadows, until absolutely needed. Think of me as your ghost guardian...Do not tell of my presence to the others, it will be to your advantage."

Drirethlen turned back to the fighting at hand, slashing away with his Upir.

-Damn Forum-

-Damn Forum-

OOC: Since ATG has not responded to Whiptail's presence, I will have him travel to the warehouse. If anyone objects, feel free to voice your opinion.

IC:

A strange scent drifted to Whiptail, the scent of mythical blood... this was not a good sign. Acting swiftly, Whiptail holstered his mini-PDW's, bounding over wrecked cars and piles of refuse in his hurried exodus from the junkyard.

The chill night air stung his eyes as he moved, more like a beast than a civilized being, bounding along on all fours, leaping across rooftops. The scent drifted in from the east, and Whiptail followed it like a possesed being, his mind trying to determine the exact type of creature he was dealing with, and what had made it bleed...

At last he reached his destination, in time to watch a great wyvren scale the warehouse walls and slither into the warehouse proper. Whiptail followed, his claws latching into the brick surface of the warehouse walls. With a mighty kiai, he crashed through a window, landing in a shower of glass on the bare concrete floor. He opted for his katanas this time, deciding to save what little money he had to buy something other than bullets.

Whiptail squared off with the wyvern, his golden eyes taking on a slight reddish hue. Whiptail let his mental block against his blood hunger lessen, feeling the unadulterated lust for death pulse through his veins. He would need the extra energy and strength it gave him for the coming fight...

A phantom hound runs through the warehouse, it is followed by ten more, then a hundred, then a thousand, till the whole warehouse is full of the phantom pack. They run in a circle, surrounding the man who sits quietly in the center of the room; Kain Irenicus. A phantom man, on horseback, cloaked in gray, his head topped with the antlers of a stag, pushes forward through the throng of dogs and stops directly in front of Kain. The rider locks gazes with Kain, his face is like mist, but his eyes are fathomless pools of darkness. Inside Kain's head ideas form that are not his own, it is not a voice, but a raw emotion, a thought untouched by civilization that thunders through his skull. In an attempt to understand it his mind assigns it words, "This is your omen, your death has been foretold." The rider looks away, then spurrs his phantom steed. The rider dissapears when he hits the far wall, travelling strait through, the hounds follow him like a river, each one an incarnation of death.

In the courtyard, Marius and Sulla grip the fleece together. Chanting, they slowly push the fleece toward the tree, their skin bubbling and melting as they force it further into the intense flames. Out of the corner of his eye Sulla sees thousands upon thousands of fiery eyes now ringing the courtyard.

The gray man on the gray steed raises his spear toward the two vampires holding the fleece, the wild hunt charges in for the kill.

"This is it" Sulla whispers as the fleece comes into contact with the tree. The fleece immeadiatly begins glowing brighter than the sun, the two vampires' retinas are instantly seared to oblivion by the intensity of the light. Time stops, a hound freezes in mid leap, the instant death promised by the touch of its fanges is put on hold. The voice of a woman, heavy with sleep, echoes in his head, "What do you want?"
"Immortality" Sulla breathes.

Suddenly he can see again, the hounds are gone, he and Marius are alone in the courtyard, holding their now empty hands against the charred trunk of a dead yew tree. Sulla turns to Marius, a look of triumph in his eyes, but Marius does not look exultant, he looks relaxed. Starting with the hand still touching the tree, then moving quickly up his arm, the substantive flesh of Marius fell away, revealing the vibrant soul fettered beneath.

"Marius, my old friend, you wished for release?"

In the instant before last of him fell away Marius smiled, "No Lucius, I wished for...transcendance."

With that, Gaius Marius, consul of Rome, passed from this existance.

Sulla sighed, he wondered if his friend was truely gone or merely transformed, he guessed that he would find out sooner or later. He leaped onto the roof of one of the buildings and sat down facing the east, for the first time in two millenia, he would greet the dawn, feel the warmth of the sun on his skin, now flush with the color of renewed life. He closed his eyes and waited.

OOC: The other creatures haven't dissapeared, but they will begin to leave now, with the exception, perhaps, of the angry wyvern.

Maximus watched the fighting below suddenly stop, all movement of the beasts frozen, then they began to slink away, heading back where they had come. Drirethlen stood down below, breathing heavily. Around him lay a large number of dead bodies.

Maximus was slightly impressed,

He may be getting old and sick, but he sure knows how to still fight...

Maximus's attention was drawn to the source of the halt in action, the waning light of the mysterious object held by the two vampires just outside the building, under the only yew tree there. Maximus watched as he saw one of the vampires simply fade away...or so it seemed...

What the hell is that thing? Whatever it is, it contains great power...and great power is to be watched closely...

Maximus then finally noticed Kain sitting on the ground, completely calm, despite the mayhem that had surrounded him. How had Maximus not realized that this was the same place he had met Kain earlier? Then a troubling thought crossed his mind...

No...

Driretlen slowly lowered his sword. It was covered with blood. Fortunately, very little of it was his.

Sulla was gone, away to feel out his new immortality. Marius too was goneDriretlen looked around for Maximus. He could not see him, so decided to send a thought message.

"My friend. Will you not come out now..."

Driretlen turned around and saw an Argonian come crashing through a window to the warehouse. In front of him stood a massive Wyvern.

"... I believe that there is still another battle to be fought..."

Driretlen, heaving his shoulders in a sigh, took off for the new fight. He did not know this Argonian, but if the game had changed. He would help those in need, whther they desired it or not.

Recruiting for the Hyraphore was the last thing on his mind. So was Kain...

The Dark Argonian warrior circles his opponent, the tips of his blades moving in intricate patterns, then his right arm shot forward and the booming report of a shotgun sounded. Whiptail lowered his smoking right arm, a 12 gague shell ejecting from his punch-gun as he did so...

OOC: I'm not sure what he's fighting, or if that will kill it.

Dekker glares at the sword-wielding woman.

"Hey, I've got the f**kin' gun, here. I'll ask the questions."

Dekker stands tense, ready to open fire if a move is made.

Kain opened his eyes....and got up. He smiled at this challenge, like some sort of madman.

"Death? You offer me death!" Kain began to laugh, not in mocking...but to everyone else this laugh was chilling.

It was one of joy from this death sentance being sent down upon him.

"I welcome death into this shattered corpse fervently! Grant me release from this existance noble warrior, for it has been too long that I have accompanied Death, I wish to enter the sweet plains of oblivion!" Kain said, his voice sound chilling to anyone who heard it. It was Kain asking for death!

Kain outstreached his cloven hand. The Brightblade was summoned, the dark demonic blade heeding the call, the dark silver blade coming into existance. The skull hilt flared up, the eyes narrowing with thier white hot demonic fire, as if to say "You cannot kill him yet. He is my being to keep!"

Kain, forming from his own armoury, became ready for war. War with theses spirits. Kain was smiling in anticipation of it all, welcoming death. But of course, he could not die without a fight. He had to try his hardest to survive for the demon, to survive to forfill his vow binding him to it...and to existing against his will. Kain was smiling all the way through this, smiling as though he was going to meet an old freind.

He wore dark black plate mail, which had tinges of red within it. It had a taint of a demonic nature about it...small eyes within it if one looked hard enough. All of those eyes seemed to follow you...

He wore this darkened plate mail all the way down, it was constructed of a rare metal from another plane, one which the demon within the Brightblade helped him to obtain. It went all around his body, he even had special gauntlets and shoes for his talons. He did not need to add any runes to it, it already had enough...those eyes would serve him far better than any rune that he could enchant the palte with. Those eyes went all along the plate mail...

Kain wore in stark contrast to the shadowy cloak, a massive white cloak which dominated behind him. It was crisp and seemed to completely counter balance the nature of the armour. Indeed, Kain thought it would not be possible to use such a item in combination, but due to the Demon's and Kain's unique relationship, such a combiantion was possible.

The cloak had goldern runes upon them, which seemed to have a light of thier own. They lapped around Kain's feet, all around the border of the cloak where these runes which were Kain's own design and creation. A product of his teaching during the War...War in Velmora against Xzar...a past object.

Kain had within his left hand, a long golden staff, one which again had the same runes upon it. On the top of it was a blue crystal which glowed softly, giving a warm light. It tudded with a light ring upon the floor as Kain walked. In his other hand....

The Brightblade.

It seemed simple. A strange and exotic design, a wave like blade which curve. Totally of silver, and with a skull hilt...which within those sunken eye sockets breathed terrible life. Those burning eyes...

Kain had it upon his shoulder, the siver blade giving not shine from it. It's presnace could be felt...the fear....that terrible mind numbing fear. It intimidated the rider, challenging him to fight to claim Kain as the prize. Kain was simply a unwilling host to this demon now, bound to it by obligation.

"Have at you!" Kain roared , his staff raised in responding to the challenge. It thundering with raw magic, the golden staff filled with this fabric of reality.

Kain's face was one of a smiling madman at this rider, one of joy and happiness. He charged forward, leaping towards the rider staff outstreached.

"VAE VICTUS!" Kain resounded through the room in Latin, meaning suffering to the conquered, his own face welcoming death knew no fear and leapt into this phantom things with joy.

His staff bellowed in magic, a high pitched whine as the runes around the staff flared up in golden glory, Kain's creation sparking itno life. It charged up, glowing a pure white and released a blast of white light, harming the phantom in front of him. Incredible power was within it, yet it was only the smallest of Kain's attacks. As Kain was face to face with one of the phantoms, he ripped through it with the Brightblade, the unholy sword unbinidng the phantom, in blue cursed flame as the Demon ripped thier existance apart.


Kain prepared for the full charge of the hunters.....

OOC: Kain...um...what? Are we assuming that the hunt came back into the building after the courtyard scene? I can work with that, if need be

To aswer your question Whiptail, a 12 gauge would probably break the wyvern's skin if you were using a slug instead of some type of shot, but shotguns are severly lacking in penetrating power, dealing mostly surface damage. This wyvern is very old and protected by natural magics, so it will heal very quickly, you're going to have to hit it with something a lot bigger.

IC: The wyvern roars, whippping its tail at...well...Whiptail.

OOC: Kain...um...what? Are we assuming that the hunt came back into the building after the courtyard scene? I can work with that, if need be

To aswer your question Whiptail, a 12 gauge would probably break the wyvern's skin if you were using a slug instead of some type of shot, but shotguns are severly lacking in penetrating power, dealing mostly surface damage. This wyvern is very old and protected by natural magics, so it will heal very quickly, you're going to have to hit it with something a lot bigger.

IC: The wyvern roars, whippping its tail at...well...Whiptail.

(OOC Yes assume that, I am sorry I lose certain details due to fatigue)

OOC: I tried to submit this earlier, but I got an invalid session meesage which also deleted my entire post, I am very unhappy right now as I have just had to retype all of this from memory.

IC: The forces used to unbind the phantom hound worked perfectly, it ceased to exist. The vision of all in the room dimmed for an instant, when it returned to normal, the same hound stood there as if nothing had hppened.

Sulla was well aware of all that transpired in the building below him. He would not care, but that this Kain now threatened to bring down the whole building, disrupting his view of the coming sun. He spoke to the man aloud, knowing full well that his own magic would allow Kain to hear him. "Would you unbind the very world itself, for that is what it would take to destroy that which you now face. The wild hunt is woven even more deeply into the fabric of the universe than the magical forces that you now weild, to destroy them you would have to reforge the entire universe from scratch. Have no fear for yourself this night, Herne, the hunter, merely foretold your death, he did not name the cause. At any rate, stay your hand! You are disturbing my peace."

The wild hunt ignored Kain flowing again through the warehouse and then up and out through the ceiling.

OOC: I guess the Forum ate my last post. In it I explained I was going to be gone for the weekend. I went to a concert. Linkin Park!!!!!! Okay, well, obviously I am back. Yet, I seem to be confused again. Where is my character? And who is with me? Can I just jump in some where? Some one please inform me, thanks.

Whiptail deftly backflips over the large tail swiging in his direction, slashing at it with his blades as he passes overhead. He lands in a crouch and swiftly rises, ready for the beast's next assault.

OOC: The Wind and Thunder katanas are forged from a black meteorite's metallic core, and honed to a near-perfect edge.

Whiptails blades cut in underneath a scale, slicing deep. Another roar, the wyvern shifts its weight, attacking in short jabs with its massive talons, it backs Whiptail toward a corner.

Maximus watched as Whiptail began to be backed into the corner by the wyvern. Whiptail was beginning to look like he was running out of options with each step backwards.

Maximus was getting tired of waiting and hiding in the shadows. Making up his mind, he drew the sword, Glamdring, and jumped straight down toward the wyvern directly below him. Glamdring sang in the air as the blade sliced through the wyvern's tail, angled correctly to bypass the scales, cleanly severing the tail from the body. An ear piercing scream sounded from the beast, as it whipped itself around, and roared in his face.

"To hell with you foul beast!" Maximus yelled back, slashing Glamdring toward the beast's head. His face was fixed in a snarl, his eyes ablaze with the heat of battle.

OOC: I guess the Forum ate my last post. In it I explained I was going to be gone for the weekend. I went to a concert. Linkin Park!!!!!! Okay, well, obviously I am back. Yet, I seem to be confused again. Where is my character? And who is with me? Can I just jump in some where? Some one please inform me, thanks.

OOC: Err, I believe that you are still in the junkyard :D Come on down to the warehouse. It's a good 'ol fashioned barn-burner!

IC:

""To hell with you foul beast!"

Driretlen looked over as Maximus launched himself at the Wyvern He smiled. At least they were working together again.

Driretlen stashed away his Upir and drew both of his desert eagles. As Maximus and the Argonian attended to the beast, Driretlen slid in fresh clips. He fired both in a steady volly, making sure not to hit either of his allies.

OOC: I'm assuming .50 bullets won't do anything?

IC:

Driretlen looked back at Kain, who was now grabed in a strange looking armor.

Driretlen hesitated, and then cried out to him.

"Kain Irenicus... stay thy hand and help us with this foul beast. We shall fight amongst ourselves after this last one is finished."

"Very well." Kain simply said and turned his attemption to the wyvern. He walked calmly forwards, his staff ringing high pitched above the chaos around him.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Kain looked at the beast, looking at this creature which looked like a degenerate of a dragon. It's brown scales looked rust like, it's poisoned tail slashing with lighting accuracy.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/eo_wyvern_med_dh292.jpg

Kain raised his staff, a blinding light shaking the wyvern's mind, making it stunned from thi flash of magic. Blinded and enraged by this, it went into a warpath, it's attacks further feriocus now due to it's stunnded state, it's great wing span snapped out to hit any being all around it.

Kain was satisfied. The others could take care of it now easily. He did not want to be realied upon, this gesture would allow them the upper hand for a moment. Kain wanted to use his armours enchantments next....the eye encrusted piece of plate, which kain had not used in battle before.

--Double post--

The wyvern schreeches, thrown off balance by the loss of its tail. It turns away from the warrior with the mythical blade, its head jerking under the impact of Driretlans assault. Flapping its wings it turns and charges at Driretlan, ready to seize him in its gaping maw, when Kain's attack hit it. It's mind frazzeled it continued its charge, steping over Driretlan and slamming into the far wall. It sunk to the ground, stunned but not quite unconscious.

Driretlen saw that the Wyvern was stunned. He too was in awe. He did not truly believe that Kain would help in their cause.

Still he was not in the mood to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Now, before it regains its energy. Attack!"

Driretlen continued to fire upon the downed beast, while his allies continued to hack away at it with their blades.

Driretlen saw that the Wyvern was stunned. He too was in awe. He did not truly believe that Kain would help in their cause.

Still he was not in the mood to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Now, before it regains its energy. Attack!"

Driretlen continued to fire upon the downed beast, while his allies continued to hack away at it with their blades.

Collecting his demonic power into his hands, Okalisk glared at the wyvern. As the demonic power entered the hands, a massive ball of dark energy appeared between the hands.

With a grunt, Okalisk threw the shadow ball towards the wyvern, hitting it in head. As the ball hit the wyvern, the head began to dissolve.

Ignoring the wyvern for now, Okalisk turned to Maximus.

Foolish vampire, you dare challenge the being known as Kain. I, Okalisk the Deceiver, the self-proclaimed servant of Kain, shall obliterate and eviscerate (sp?) you...

OOC: I can't decide; should the wyvern now magically burrow into the ground to regenerate for a few centuries, or should it self-destruct? What do you guys think?

OOC:Is "the Deceiver" good nick-name for someone who threatens people? :wink:

Maximus was caught by surprise by the threat from Okalisk. He turned toward him, Glamdring at the ready.

"I do not seek you. I have no business with you two. After all, it was I that warned you of the coming of another. The one you seek is him."

Maximus gestered over to Drirethlen.

"However, I do know his business is not with you, but Kain alone. Do you not think that Kain can deal with this situation on his own?"

OOC: Monkey in a Barrel: Do as you wish, though I think that self destruction would be interesting...I'm one of those people that say, "The bigger the bang, the louder the "DANNNNGGGG!!" :lol:

As Whiptail's back hit the wall, he tensed to use it to launch himself directly at his foe, blades pointed forward like an arrow. A small leap allowed him to momentarily go vertical, but he stopped short of kicking off of the wall as a ball of destructive energy slammed into his inteneded target.

'Dishonorable to rob me of a kill... but softskins do not subscribe to the same brand of honor as I. It is nice to be thought of as valuable enough to be worth assisting, but I am far too old to not have more than a few tricks handy for when my back is to the literal wall...'

Whiptail sheathes his blades, thinking that his foe is defeated for the moment. If need be, he would open fire with his PDW's, aiming for the eyes and other weak points...

Okalisk laughed at the pitiful attempts of Maximus to confuse him.

You say that this matter does not concern me, I think otherwise. For it could be said that I and Kain are one... For we share the same blood... We are both addicted to the power of the Brightblade and sustained by the demon trapped within the blade...

Cocking his head at the Argonian, Okalisk said simply.

I did not intend to steal your kill, leatherskin..., and with a sarcastic tone, Okalisk continued, It has been a pleasure to assist you...

Maximus glared at Okalisk, speaking in a low tone, fangs bared slightly,

"I did not challenge you nor Kain, nor will I deal with your false claims. You two may share the same blood and lust for the power of the demon within the blade, but Drirethlen has business with Kain alone, none other, not even you."

"Now...I will respectfully take my leave, you shall not have to worry of me any more."

Maximus stepped back a few steps, then turned and walked out the hole in the wall created by the wyvern. He did not wish to engage in a battle with Okalisk or Kain. He respected the mysterious power the two drew from within the sword, from the demon, and knew when he was in over his head, and this was one of those times. He simply wasn't powerful enough to even truly think of fighting Kain, and survive.

One just had to know when to pick their fights. That was the true nature of a survivor.

"Drirethlen has business with Kain alone, none other, not even you."

"Now...I will respectfully take my leave, you shall not have to worry of me any more."

Driretlen looked at the back of Maximus. He was glad that the two of them had come to somewhat of an understanding. Turning back to the figures in front of him, Driretlen hesitated, looking back and forth at the near-omniscient Okalisk and the equally as powerful Kain.

With a silent sigh, Driretlen slid his coat aside and slipped the desert eagles back into their holdsters.

"Kain... in lieu of what I saw here tonight... I'd like to believe that there is hope for you yet. I... thank you for assisting myself and the others in our battle with the wyvern.

"I no longer see any need to conduct business with you, Kain. Please see to it so that our paths not cross again. The next time, I may not be able to walk away so easily."

Before he departed, Driretlen looked at the Argonian.

"You know, Argonian? The stories about your race's honour and fighting prowess... they are true. I am honoured to have fought beside you."

With that, Driretlen leapt towards one of the holes in the roof one of the dream monsters had created. Without a backward glance, the vampire was gone.

OOC: Ok, guys, looks like a pretty neat way to tie up the thread. Go at it :D

Okalisk shivered... Stunned by some sort of physical presence that destabilized him, Okalisk fell to the ground. Groaning heavily, Okalisk stared at Kain and spoke four words.

We are not alone...

As he tried to stagger up, Okalisk fell back to the ground...

Kain looked at Driretlen in somewhat refuting his remark. "I only did what I did due to the fact that Whiptail and Okalisk were there. it might have turned out far differently should he not have been here. I am neither your ally, nor enemy. I am observer." Kain said softly, yet hardily towards him as he left.

Kain raised his cloven hand as Okalisk gave out his threats and retorts.

"There are times in which intimidation does not work, and is not desirable. It can teach one disrespect for ones enemy, to make us arragont for the simple assumption that he may appear weaker. The rat, although small, is vast in number and brews a terrible revenge. Disease. it has lain waste to entire cities, making them crippled. To underestimate even the smallest being, is a mistake. Understand them, respect them, yet do not allow them to defy you. Do not mock Whiptail. He has been an ally to me in my years, and I intend to keep him as one. And this is my buisness, watch and learn, protect me if you must, but do not speak for me." Kain instructed his soft voice.

At this point, Okalisk collapsed and stared at Kain. Kain looked quizically at him, being upon his guard.

"We are not alone..."

Kain knelt beside Okalisk, looking around for any sign of a enemy or force.

"What is the danger Okalisk?" Kain asked calmly, looking at the situation with his usual air of calmness and control.

The bloody corpse of the wyvern heaved, tendrils of telluric energy flowed off of it, rooting deep into the earth. Deeper, and deeper still, probing through bedrock. They hit the mantle and slid down like lightning bolts in slow motion, seeking the core.

Sulla could sense full well what was going on, "When they hit the core, they will tap into its energy, causing a backlash;" he thought, "in a few days this city will be a smoking crater. A perfect way to test my new immortality."

OOC: We can't let this die out yet. I haven't been able to post. The forum has been eating up my posts. Well, I suppose I will join the party in the barn. Here I come.


IC: Sonia had suddenly been aware of something else going on, what that was, she was not sure off. She speed off in search of it. Waiting for that vampire could come later. She was looking for some excitement and she thought she found. She came closer to a barn. Hmmm. She heard noise from within. She crept about and into the barn, unnoticed.

Sonia remained quiet, but her insides were screaming at her. So, many people here. So, many VAMPIRES. A lizard, hmmm. Her eyes feel on the green vampire. He seemed to call a lot of attention, not wanted, but still recieved. She had no idea who he was. She didn't care. She would get him and avenge her family, but before hand she would see if he had any knowledge that would be beneficial to her.

Sonia skirted in and out of people sight. She almost ran into the one called Maximus. She shifted back in time. There was an crowd around this Kain person, the one she would get first. She had a feeling he would take a lot of her energy. She drew her katana, the sound mixed in with their words. She hoped and prayed the creature did not hear her and she advanced until she was seen. Her katana at the fold in his neck. "Beast I warn you not to move."

OOC: It's really more of a warehouse than a barn.

IC: Suddenly Sulla had an uncanny feeling, like something was about to happen; he looked down through an open skylight. The demonling had fallen to the ground for some reason, Sulla found it unlikely that the demonling and Kain had fought, but what other force could bring this man to his knees? Sulla had a bad feeling about this. That was when he spotted the hunter; she was not the source of this feeling, merely a pleasant distraction. Pulling out the police revolver he was still carrying, he aimed it at her temple, he was a darn good shot with a pistol.

--Double Post--

OOC: Sonia's now threatening Kain right? Or is it Maximus?? :?:

OOC: I didn't mean for it to come off as it dying... just as a way to wrap things up like a good litlle story :wink:

If this is still on, I'm sure that I could find a way back :P

IC: Sonia had suddenly been aware of something else going on, what that was, she was not sure off. She speed off in search of it. Waiting for that vampire could come later. She was looking for some excitement and she thought she found. She came closer to a barn. Hmmm. She heard noise from within. She crept about and into the barn, unnoticed.

Sonia remained quiet, but her insides were screaming at her. So, many people here. So, many VAMPIRES. A lizard, hmmm. Her eyes feel on the green vampire. He seemed to call a lot of attention, not wanted, but still recieved. She had no idea who he was. She didn't care. She would get him and avenge her family, but before hand she would see if he had any knowledge that would be beneficial to her.

Sonia skirted in and out of people sight. She almost ran into the one called Maximus. She shifted back in time. There was an crowd around this Kain person, the one she would get first. She had a feeling he would take a lot of her energy. She drew her katana, the sound mixed in with their words. She hoped and prayed the creature did not hear her and she advanced until she was seen. Her katana at the fold in his neck. "Beast I warn you not to move."

(OOC I assume you do mean Kain)

Kain felt the touch of the blade against his neck, and he simply glared at Sulla. No fear was within his eyes.....only a grim reflection of herself....

Of her dying! The sight before her was ghastly, her form was crumbling, rotting away, her soul flaking away at it's very core, the sight which Kain saw in all beings. It made her want to withdraw, she did not want to stare into those eyes, she would go insane!

"I would not advise you to do that. Do you know even whom you are trying to intimidate? Please, grant me the courtesy of knowing why for the countless time why you want to do this to me? What have I done to you?" Kain said, completely calmly and in control. He never lost that sense....as though he could make time stop if he wanted to, or at a single whim the sky would turn purple for his own grim amusement. Those eyes continued to harrow through Sulla's soul...

(OOC If you do not mean Kain, I will change it. If it is not, assume Kain simpyl stands quietly and watches.)

OOC: Kain I meant to fight you. My character almost ran into Maximus. My katana is at Kain's neck. Plus, Sulla is a guy. Sonia is my character and a girl. Go read the previous statement from The Monkey in the Barrel. The author states...."That was when he saw the hunter." I would assume Sulla is a male then.

OOC:I'm sure Kain just mispoke, I think he knows who Sulla is by now.
(This is Monkey in a Barrel, I just forgot to log in under the right name.)

IC: Sulla pulled the trigger...

--Double Post--

--Double Post--

OOC: Did you just shoot Sonia in the head? Couldn't you have thought of a more creative way for her to die. That was very disrespectful. She is a hunter and she deserves to be killed by her hunted. Now, she is an innocent and will come back. Oh well, I guess that can be another story and this time she will be immortal.

OOC: gotta agree with ATG. Pretty harsh for a person's main character to go down like that... :shock:

(OOC Agreed. Cahnge that post so it has something else in it, because that is just a terrible way to do it. If a main character is going to die, it should be done correctly, and with the player's permission for it. Of course in certain circumstances this is impossible, but try and draw it out you know? With some dialogue?)

OOC: Did you just shoot Sonia in the head? Couldn't you have thought of a more creative way for her to die. That was very disrespectful. She is a hunter and she deserves to be killed by her hunted. Now, she is an innocent and will come back. Oh well, I guess that can be another story and this time she will be immortal.

OOC: I'm sorry if anyone missunderstood, I did not intend for her to be shot in the head; if I had, I would have written "Sulla shot her in the head." A dozen things could have happened after he pulled the trigger that would not result in her death, she could have jerked her head to the side in shock from Kains gaze or something. But here, I'll fix it for you.

IC: ...Sulla heard the click of the hammer, but no bullet issued from the barrel of the gun, "Damn," he thought, "misfire."

OOC: Thank you.

IC: Sonia's eyes narrowed at this one called Sulla. She laughed within herself, using a gun and it missfired. Those things were faulty. She grabbed her katana, this would never let her down and swung it up and connected with his chin. With her right leg, she kicked his hand that was holding the gun and it flew a few feet away. Then she pounced on him, his back flat against the ground. She dug her boots into his chest. "Aren't so hot with out your machinary." She grabbed her small knife that was placed in her boot and put it up to his throat, "I should bleed you die, but I have more important things to deal with. So, wait your turn." She withdrew her knife and with one punch in his temper to had rendered him unconscious for a moment. She flipped over backwards and was back in her previous position, infront of Kain.

OOC: Sulla was on the roof, but I'll assume that he jumped down.

IC: The woman punched Sulla in the face, he went limp and closed his eyes. "She thinks that I am a mere vampire." he thought. He doubted that he could take her on physically, especially unarmed as he was, but he had no fear for hisown life. Still he could not allow himself to be insulted so, "You're living on borrowed time, mortal." he whispered.

Driretlan was walking down a dingey alley, when suddenly he was standing in the courtyard of an Italian villa. A small stone fountain gurgled in the center, and the sun shone down brightly, but Driretlan felt no pain from its rays. Gaius Marius appeared before him. "Have no fear my friend, that sun in the sky is no more real than any of this," he spread his hands in an encompassing gesture, "I have discovered that my trancendance has severly hampered my abillity to touch the waking world. All I have left is pleasant illusion. I must thank you sir, for your assistance back in the warehouse, I regret that you could not join us in making your wish. I have a gift for you though; when I trancended I dropped the yeck cap next to the tree, it should still be there, and wearing it will make you invisible. But that can hardly make up for your lost wish. I feel that I owe you a favor; please, tell me how I can repay your kindness."

Whiptail silently bows in respect at the words of Kain and the Tarlachirain. As he rose from his bow he noticed a new scent in the stagnant air of the warehouse... the scent of expensive shampoo, the kind used by female humans... Warily he brought his blades up into a guard position, tensing his body to be ready for an attack. The attack came, but not at him. The one called Sulla recieved a punch in the face, following a weapon malfunction. Whiptail raised his right arm, attempting to get a clear shot with his punch-gun...

OOC:Ammunition jams are more common in semi-automatics, another possible and more likely malfunction that occours when one does not clean their weapon after at least two extended periods of firing.

OOC: Thank you.

IC: Sonia's eyes narrowed at this one called Sulla. She laughed within herself, using a gun and it missfired. Those things were faulty. She grabbed her katana, this would never let her down and swung it up and connected with his chin. With her right leg, she kicked his hand that was holding the gun and it flew a few feet away. Then she pounced on him, his back flat against the ground. She dug her boots into his chest. "Aren't so hot with out your machinary." She grabbed her small knife that was placed in her boot and put it up to his throat, "I should bleed you die, but I have more important things to deal with. So, wait your turn." She withdrew her knife and with one punch in his temper to had rendered him unconscious for a moment. She flipped over backwards and was back in her previous position, infront of Kain.

Kain raised his eyebrow, still crossing his arms. He simply said.

"What is this? Some kind of circus act? Because I am finding this very amusing." Kain chuckled darkly to himself.

Whiptail fired his hand-mounted weapon, into the ceiling rather than into this new opponent...

"Now that I have your attention... Leave or face the wrath of those gathered here... or at least show some civil behavior that is befitting of your kind."

"At least someone has some sense. I seem to rely upon it, the voice of clairty within a mist of confusion and maddness." Kain commented, keeping a backseat in all this, leaning against a wall in observation.

Sulla opened his eyes, put his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling.

"Sense tells me to eliminate those who would have me dead, does it not do the same for you Kain? Let's take a vote, I say we kill her now and be done with it. People in her profession have hunted us through the millenia, we don't owe her any more of our time."

"Oh please. To quote, "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you." Wise words. To kill them so mercilessly as they kill "us", would we not become as sinful as they?"

"Death offers no lessons, only the lingering prejudice of hatred of this vampire race. Verily, I have often laughed at the weaklings who thought themselves good because they had no claws. Let the irony be, that the beast is more humane, than the human. Such action, teaches far greater things, than death's icy breath, and a lesson few have the courage to teach, or at least the wisdom to carry out. Let us not fall prey to that prejudiced illusion to which the nercous man has summoned in order to fight his own fears and insecurities." Kain said softly, urging for mercy.

"I do not think it wrong for man to fear the predator, or despise the parasite. I would not argue over the justification for the slaying of vampires, the humans should have no wish to have us in their midst. As a race, vampires are weak creatures, parasitic to the core, sunlight, perhaps the the greatest available comodity in our solar system, kills them. They have natural aversions to running water, salt, garlic, silver, and half a dozen other common substances and phenomena. They can overpower their hosts, and age does not touch them, but they can never surpass or outnumber humanity, else they destroy themselves. Vampirism is not the natural progression of evolution to something better, it is a highly contagious disease. It is a trade off, a few strengths come with a thousand weaknesses. I do not blame humanity for trying to root us out, for trying to cauterize the wound. No, what I appeal to is something far less high flung than the timeless ethics to which you subscribe. Simple and natural vengence against one human for her intent to end our lives.

"But I digress; how about a comprimise, this woman has a philosophy that has called her to kill vampires, let us test her beliefs. We could make her one of us, she could experience it from our point of view; and if she is still determined to kill vampires, then she can kill herself and rid the world of one more blood-sucker. She would be tormented at being what she hates most; a suitable, and perhaps even ethically justified, revenge."

Dekker Bray moved silently into the warehouse, his M4 sweeping across the darker corners, moving by the book with practiced speed and sure-footedness. He climbed atop a large shipping crate and lay prone, nearly invisible in the darkness... his M4 lacked a 3.5x mini-scope that he was used to, but he might be able to hit a target at this range... There where several vampires gathered in the warehouse, along with Whiptail, which Dekker found odd...

From the shadows behind the female, the same familiar vampire emerged, his nickel-plated Berretta M96 leveled at her head. His long, culrly black hair was mangled and matted with dirt from his previous scuffle in the junkyard, but other than that he had regenerated nicely...

"Pull the trigger bitch! Do it! So I can gun you down!"

He shouted angrily, his green eyes alive with raging fury...

Sulla heard the shout and raised an eyebrow. Unfortunately he did not have his usual equipment with him, but the looting of the police station had yielded more than just a pistol and a shotgun. In one fluid motion he leapt to his feet and pitched a tear gas grenade toward the source of the voice. He began walking with the intent of retrieving the revolver. He spoke to Sonia as he moved.

"You would hold a wolf by the ears, but you may find that your grip is looser than you think."

OOC: Sulla was on the roof, but I'll assume that he jumped down.

IC: The woman punched Sulla in the face, he went limp and closed his eyes. "She thinks that I am a mere vampire." he thought. He doubted that he could take her on physically, especially unarmed as he was, but he had no fear for hisown life. Still he could not allow himself to be insulted so, "You're living on borrowed time, mortal." he whispered.

Driretlan was walking down a dingey alley, when suddenly he was standing in the courtyard of an Italian villa. A small stone fountain gurgled in the center, and the sun shone down brightly, but Driretlan felt no pain from its rays. Gaius Marius appeared before him. "Have no fear my friend, that sun in the sky is no more real than any of this," he spread his hands in an encompassing gesture, "I have discovered that my trancendance has severly hampered my abillity to touch the waking world. All I have left is pleasant illusion. I must thank you sir, for your assistance back in the warehouse, I regret that you could not join us in making your wish. I have a gift for you though; when I trancended I dropped the yeck cap next to the tree, it should still be there, and wearing it will make you invisible. But that can hardly make up for your lost wish. I feel that I owe you a favor; please, tell me how I can repay your kindness."


Driretlen blinked once, then twice. Not at the sun, but simply at the thought of having a wish be granted...

"I... I wish... give me the power to revive the Hyraphore to what it used to be... give me the power to lead my people..."

"I do not think it wrong for man to fear the predator, or despise the parasite. I would not argue over the justification for the slaying of vampires, the humans should have no wish to have us in their midst. As a race, vampires are weak creatures, parasitic to the core, sunlight, perhaps the the greatest available comodity in our solar system, kills them. They have natural aversions to running water, salt, garlic, silver, and half a dozen other common substances and phenomena. They can overpower their hosts, and age does not touch them, but they can never surpass or outnumber humanity, else they destroy themselves. Vampirism is not the natural progression of evolution to something better, it is a highly contagious disease. It is a trade off, a few strengths come with a thousand weaknesses. I do not blame humanity for trying to root us out, for trying to cauterize the wound. No, what I appeal to is something far less high flung than the timeless ethics to which you subscribe. Simple and natural vengence against one human for her intent to end our lives.

"There must be balance. Although my aims are harmony between the two beings, vampires and humans working together, such a thing I doubt will occour here for a long time. Hatred breeds hatred. But...we should remain in balance, and encourage it. You see, as you say, the irony is, that the predator needs to maintain it's prey, although I have never fed upon a being....not mortal anyway. I had the oppertunity for another path, and I was sired by.....Nevermind. I had ways around such matters, and I still do." Kain paused for a moment.

"Vengence? What will vengence do? Inspire fear into the other hunters? Inspire respect from your fellow vampires? Feed your own hatred of them, satisfy your own anger and feed theres in the process. The wheel of hatred and anger continous, no-one stopping the cycle in it place. This, this is the destruction of many. Including....nevermind....such things would take too long to describe, and the hunters know it too well, damn them."


[qupte]"But I digress; how about a comprimise, this woman has a philosophy that has called her to kill vampires, let us test her beliefs. We could make her one of us, she could experience it from our point of view; and if she is still determined to kill vampires, then she can kill herself and rid the world of one more blood-sucker. She would be tormented at being what she hates most; a suitable, and perhaps even ethically justified, revenge."[/quote]

"You dare!" Kain said, getting closer to the speaker, staring at them in anger of this proposition.

"Vamprism should never be forced upon a being, I had choice and chose this existance, I only hope that all vampires could be sired under the same circumstances. If you sire this hunter, against her consent I will kill you myself. I did not falter in my beliefs against the hunters when they captured me and tortured me, for a vampire directly in front of me to go against that same belief which shattered a nation's prejudice against our kind. Siring a unwilling body, to force it into this existance, for all eternity is wrong! Surely, you must understand this! The monumental decision to enter this other world to which we exist....we cannot force this upon her, for all the lessons it would teach, it would teach her a aborring hatred for the unlife you forced upon her unwilling body! No....I suggest something else."

"I have lived with mortals, humans when I was a vampire. It taught me much. I suggest that I, if none of you would prefer, and seeing as I am the eldest in my experiances, would have this human and show her, our world." Kain approached the hunter, and spoke.

"Would you find this agreeable? Indeed, you might be in luck this day. At the very least, you would understand your foe better, see in the ways which you can defeat us. But you can also see who we are, without the illusions of prejudice. You cna see us for what we are, nothing more nothing less. How about it? I would ask for your permission for this to occour. You would stay with myself for a short while...a week perhaps? It depends on what occours."

--sorry again--

Sulla sighed, "Vengence for the sake of vengence. No one would have to know about it, either vampire or human. But fine, I will step aside if she takes your offer."




Marius looked down sadly. "Your wish is noble, I only wish that I could grant it. I have no control over fortune or fate; but I can create perfect illusions. If I can use these abilities to help return the Hyrafore to greatness, simply tell me how and I will do it."

What a weird thought. Have the hunter of those stinking blood suckers become one. Well, that went against all she believed in, all she ever fought for, and well herself. She went with in herself for guidance. That always seemed to work. Seconds later, frustrated, all she thought was of being one of them. One she called monster. If she allowed herself to become one of them, she would just kill herself. But the thought of what her mother had always told her came back to her. Never hate something you have never tried and experienced for yourself. She saw her mother's sweet smile behind that saying and irony had just slapped her in the face and it hurt.

Please forgive me father for I have sinned.

Sonia began to unwrap her black scarf, layer by layer was shed. One remained. Did she dare expose herself to them? As if to jump out of the frying pan into the fire. She sighed and released her hold on the scarf. It feel in slow motion to the ground. She had revealed her face, her identity, which she held so dearily.

Her pale oval face surrounding her green eyes. Her thin red lips drawn straight. An arch of her black eyebrows and her eyelashes drew black shadows on her raised cheeks. Her black hair flowed down her back. She pulled her hair out of the way and exposed her pale smooth neck.

Marius looked down sadly. "Your wish is noble, I only wish that I could grant it. I have no control over fortune or fate; but I can create perfect illusions. If I can use these abilities to help return the Hyrafore to greatness, simply tell me how and I will do it."

Driretlen turned away from Marius.

"Perfect illusions are illusions nontheless. I don't need fallacys to ease my hunger. I want reality..."

"Release me from this... illusion Marius. I thank you to do that much."

Driretlen walked away, never looking back.

OOC: Cool post ATG :wink:

Selphi stands outside her house staring at the light from the lamps luminating off her skin. Her eyes like two moons slowly move from her skin to the lamps, and then to the mortals walking the brick-clad streets of her village.
Her heels click on the ground, her black dress flows behind her with the gentle breeze, and feels the air through her long dark hair.
As she walks towards the town square. At lightning speed she grabs her victim and drags him to one of the dark alleys. She holds him against the stone walls, her victim still stunned, and slowly going pale with fear. Her eyes grow wider with excitment, and she opens her mouth to pierce his skin. Her mouth gets closer to his bare flesh and her fangs dig into his flesh. He screams: part fright, part pain. His blood flowing into her mouth. She turns him around, to see if anyone is about and drinks from his veins. He grows weak, as she becomes more energized. She un-clasps her mouth from his throat as he slowly dies before her. She holds onto him until he takes his last breath.
Tears of blood rolling down her cheeks and she reflects on what has just happened. The people who will miss him when they find him dead in this alleyway, "I'm sorry." She whispers in his ear, and places the white corpse on the ground, leaning him on a stack of wooden crates.
She wipes the blood from her mouth and runs her tongue over her teeth savouring the blood, while at the same time feeling sympathy for the man laying on the cobblestones.
She runs into the night to try and get away from it all screaming, "WHY AM I TO SUFFER LIKE THIS?" She falls to the ground, her tears dripping on the stones, she whispers, "Why...?"

OOC: Xerxes Xavier, you're quite late posting your first post, but I can work with it, my character is just roaming the city right now. Next time, try to bring yourself into the thread within the first 5 pages, otherwise, it is usually a good bet that you cannot really take part effectively.

IC:
"WHY AM I TO SUFFER LIKE THIS?"

Maximus heard the sharp scream of agony, carried by the winds swirling their way around the city. Intrigued, he follows the voice, and the whimpers, until he finally comes upon the alley of the source.

Walking up silently, he reaches down and picks up the girl, and looks her in the face. Her eyes, surprised by his sudden arrival, widen in fear as she realizes that he is another vampire, yet more powerful.

"What troubles you child?" he asks, before finally noticing the dead body slumped behind her on the ground. The man's face was twisted in agony, his skin unnaturally pale. He continues speaking, allowing his own fangs to reveal themselves in the pale moonlight:

"A vampire are you? Most interesting...who are you?"

OOC: Maximus the ladies man... :wink:

I'm out of this thread, but still keeping tabs.

OOC: Yeah I know. It's just so hard these days...

IC: "A vampire are you? Most interesting...who are you?"

"I....I....I come from a small village not far from here." Tears rolling down her face as he look into his eyes, feeling somewhat comforted that for the first time in decades she's not alone, "My name is Selphi, I've been roaming the world for a century as a vampire. The latter half I've been roaming alone. My love was taken from me, burned in the flames that were sparked by a vampire we were running from for so long.
I escaped but they burned Azarea and scattered his ashes." She put her head in her hands and wept openly... "I've wandered for so long trying to find someone, but alas, everywhere I went I was shunned. I felt like an outcast - So I gave up and I've lived alone."

Her face stained by the blood of her tears. She stopped crying and looked up at him, for an instance she felt embarassed and look away into the distance, "I'm sorry."

OOC: Valient, of course hehe!! :lol:

IC:
He held her close as she wept the tears of her past. He felt sympathy for this one. It reminded him of the connection that he and Skadi had now, and how he would feel if she were to be taken away.

"It is all right. Your past has indeed been a dark one, but you must not look back and dwell upon it, lest you miss what is coming at you. Yet I do not understand one thing. You screamed loud enough to wake Dracula himself of your suffering, yet it is not of this past. Why did you do so?"

He sat her down on a crate, picked up the dead body, and tossed it farther down the alley, out of her sight, and then proceeded to sit on another crate, across from her. He waited patiently as she sorted out her thoughts.

I'd like to get into this RP but how would i do so? Talk to ya soon!

OOC: Ahh geez hehe

IC: She looked in the direction that the body had just been thrown across the alley:

"I feel for them. I cannot help it. Everytime I kill - Everytime I drink from them, I feel their pain, their sorrow... What have I done but bring sorrow to the people, friends, family of whom I've killed. It plays on my emotions.....And I guess....I just felt like I couldn't take it anymore.
Not to the point of suicide, I don't want to die - but I...." her voice trailed off. She couldn't put into words what she felt. She paused to find her words, "I feel like I take away something beautiful."

She stood up and turned to walk down the alley...

It was all clear now. Maximus understood why this one had cried in agony. As he thought of her words, he thought back to the numerous people he himself had killed for the sake of feeding. His thoughts took him back to the times of his mortal life, when his own wife was snatched from his side by a vampire. He had become a vampire hunter then, only to be given the Kiss by Skadi.

A pain of hurt flowed through him, as he awakened the long dead pang of lost love of his ex-wife. It died down just as quickly as it had come, as he thought of his current love, Skadi.

Getting up, he followed Selphi down the alley, allowing her space to herself as she came to grips with herself. Perhaps it would be wise for him to accompany her until she was prepared to travel alone again.

She walked past the open bars, listening in on people joking with one another and laughing loudly. She looked at the rows of street lamps leading down the road to her house.
Brushing her hand against her face, taking away the hair from her eyes she thought of Azarea. His dark wavy hair, his clear grey eyes. She reminiced about his love for her for a moment. Then she found herself at her front gate. She walked towards the doorway and sat down staring at the street.
Nothing but silence.
She put her knees up to her chin and rested her head on the doorbehind her...

She see's a sillouette in the distance...

Maximus stopped just within the shadows of a nearby building, as he kept an eye on Selphi. He didn't bother to try to keep himself hidden, it wouldn't serve her any good.

He watched as she lay her head down upon her knees, and staring out into the dark night.

She saw the sillouette step into the shadows and knew it was Maximus. She walked towards him in the shadows. He stood still, no expression.
She put her face close to his and her hand on his cheek. She lifts her other hand and strokes his hair.
She romanticises with the fact that this is the closest she's been with anyone for so long. Selphi kisses him and then lets go.
"I'm going on my way....I think I'll leave this village. Take a step onto a new journey a better place. I liked our talk, you listened.
Goodbye."

Selphi walks down the street into the shadows and leaves everything behind.

"Goodbye Selphi, I hope you find the peace of mind you seek."

Maximus turned and lept to the nearest rooftop, and moved from rooftop to rooftop, in no particular path.

Suddenly, he stopped. Drirethlen was near. Scanning the streets below, he finally saw him, talking with...a ghost??

He crouched down, watching the scene below.

Marius watched Driretlan walk away, he had dropped the illusion at the man's request. He was sure that this would not be the first frustration he would face due to his new form. Suddenly he turned, looking Maximus directly in the eye. He did not want to startle the man, but he was impatient. He appeared on the roof directly behind Maximus. "You, what is your name? Are you the one called Maximus? The one whom Driretlan called to?"




Sulla's eyes widened in genuine suprise at the hunter's action. He had found Kain's claim that he had chosen this life almost unbelivable, but now this woman was actually willing to try it! He stared at her slender neck and licked his lips, then frowned. The transformation had left him with the ability to drink blood, but if he made her a vampire, it might have unforseen effects in the future.

"There you have it Kain, she is willing."
He took a step toward her.
"Do you trust me to do it?"

Kain looked at her, his eyes critical. He felt something, it was visible for a second but then it fade as soon as it had appeared. Her apperance reminded him of his daughter....his dead daughter.

"You...you are very beautiful I must say." Kain commented quietly.


He shuddered, for a second there, thinking of the past. He quickly said, "How old are you both?" It was very important to him, for he did not want the same rule which he had broken and paid for go on before his eyes.

Surprised, Maximus turned quickly toward the ghost-like man, in which he swiftly drew Glamdring and held it out agressively. He replied cautiously:

"I am a creature of the night. My name is Maximus. Why do you ask?"

He didn't like the fact that this one has teleported so effortlessly, and he definitely didn't like the ghost's decision to appear behind him. It could be seen as an agressive maneuver. No matter, he would fight if necessary, to the best of his ability.

Surprised, Maximus turned quickly toward the ghost-like man, in which he swiftly drew Glamdring and held it out agressively. He replied cautiously:

"I am a creature of the night. My name is Maximus. Why do you ask?"

He didn't like the fact that this one has teleported so effortlessly, and he definitely didn't like the ghost's decision to appear behind him. It could be seen as an agressive maneuver. No matter, he would fight if necessary, to the best of his ability.

Marius winced when Maximus pulled the sword. "You can put that away, I assure you I'm no threat. If you are a friend of Driretlans, then you must know what he wants, I feel that I owe him a debt, and I must act on his behalf."

--Double Post--

Sheathing Glamdring, Maximus stood, facing the man.

"Yes, I know the desires of his heart. Yet, how do you think you can repay him for your debt? He seeks something I do not know if you can provide. Speak, I am listening."

After a moment of quiet he added:

"If you would be kind enough to provide me with your name..."

Sheathing Glamdring, Maximus stood, facing the man.

"Yes, I know the desires of his heart. Yet, how do you think you can repay him for your debt? He seeks something I do not know if you can provide. Speak, I am listening."

After a moment of quiet he added:

"If you would be kind enough to provide me with your name..."

"Names, your name, Maximus, I have not heard that one in a while. My name was Gaius Marius, it probably still is. While I have great limits, I have great powers as well."
The world around them changed instantly, they now stood on top of an ancient temple in the center of a huge city right out of a history text book, it was a bright and sunny day, they were watching as a procession marched along the road towards them. As far as Maximus could see the road was lined with people, cheering and celebrating. Suddenly all noise was muted, except for Marius's voice.
"I was once a vampire also, now I am a master of illusion. This is one of my fondest memories from when I was still human, the celebration of my triumph. I show it to you now as a demonstration of my abilities, this illusion is not just visual, but auditory and tactile as well. I'm sure I have the power to help your friend in some way."

Kain looked at her, his eyes critical. He felt something, it was visible for a second but then it fade as soon as it had appeared. Her apperance reminded him of his daughter....his dead daughter.

"You...you are very beautiful I must say." Kain commented quietly.


He shuddered, for a second there, thinking of the past. He quickly said, "How old are you both?" It was very important to him, for he did not want the same rule which he had broken and paid for go on before his eyes.

Sulla looked at Kain and his eyes narrowed, he considered what he should say. He finally settled on the truth, "I don't see as how this is any of your business, and I doubt that you will believe me when I tell you but, I will be 2142 years old this year."

Maximus watched as the illusionist transported them to stand upon an ocean's surface. Below, they could see the sea life moving about their lives.

"Your skills are impressive, yet I must point out one thing. They are only illusions. They are not the truth, but merely a reflection of reality. Drirethlen seeks the reality that I am beginning to doubt you can provide. Now, I have a question for you. You said you were a vampire once, and now a master illusionist. How did you remove yourself of the curse the darkness? As far as I know, there is no possible way to do so. I do not seek this method for my own gain however, I am content as I am."

"Also, you say that your illusion of a memory of your human life depicted a triumph. What is this triumph you speak of?"

Sulla looked at Kain and his eyes narrowed, he considered what he should say. He finally settled on the truth, "I don't see as how this is any of your business, and I doubt that you will believe me when I tell you but, I will be 2142 years old this year."

"It is greatly of my buisness. I believe you. Just I wanted to make sure the same action I took was avoided. Proceed...." Kain almost whispered, allowing Sulla to do the action.

Kain watched the entire event, in the background. He had his two arms wrapped around the ther behind his back, his white hair flowing down his shoulders, glisening in the moonlight softly. His green-flesh seemed sllightly gholish in the moonlight, his face gained shadows which were never there in sunlight. The wind howled softly above them, not affecting Kain or any vampire with it's chill touch.

OOC: I'll get back to you Tarlachia, but it will have to be tomorrow.

IC:
...eyes gleaming, Sulla buried his face in her neck. He felt her blood flow into him, mixing with his own. Perhaps ten minutes later he stepped back, "It is done." He let out a sigh of contentment and briefly wondered what Freud would have said about vampires.

Maximus watched as the illusionist transported them to stand upon an ocean's surface. Below, they could see the sea life moving about their lives.

"Your skills are impressive, yet I must point out one thing. They are only illusions. They are not the truth, but merely a reflection of reality. Drirethlen seeks the reality that I am beginning to doubt you can provide. Now, I have a question for you. You said you were a vampire once, and now a master illusionist. How did you remove yourself of the curse the darkness? As far as I know, there is no possible way to do so. I do not seek this method for my own gain however, I am content as I am."

"Also, you say that your illusion of a memory of your human life depicted a triumph. What is this triumph you speak of?"

"My first triumph, a small thing really, the defeat of King Jugurtha of Numidia. If you want to see a real triumph let me show you the one they gave me when I defeated the Cimbri and the Teutoni, I paid them back double for every life they took at Arausio...perhaps later. I am indeed no longer a vampire, but you'll have to forgive me if I don't explain the circumstances by which I reached my current state.

"As for the power I now wield, what is reality but perception, what action can not by predicated by sensation?"

They returned to the roof.

"That fire escape there, if you were to walk down it, you would fall quite a ways, it is not real. The thing is, untill the instant that you hit the ground, you would be under the assumption that you were calmly walking down a staircase. But really, that's not a good example..."

Marius disappeared and Maximus suddenly found himself in a dimly lit corridor stretching in both directions as far as his vampiric senses could see. From one direction, at the very edge of Maximus's vision, a rolling, cloudy black mass began to move toward him. He reached for his sword and immediatly lost all tactile and auditory perception, the world took on a dream like quality as his body reacted to his instructions as though he were trapped in mollasses. The darkness got closer, he finnally managed to get his sword into a guard postion. "It's just an illusion." he told himself. A tendril lashed out from the darkness at an agonizingly slow speed, still, Maximus's body would not respond fast enough, it would not obey his commands. The tendril slashed across his face, Maximus could feel the blood driping down from the cut. He took a step backwards; the shadow moved closer, the shadow began to glow a dull red. Another step backwards and the shadow moved closer still. Then he was back on the rooftop, the darkness was gone, as was the cut on his face, as if they had never existed; indeed they hadn't. He looked down; he had backed to within a few inches of the steep edge of the roof. Marius was again standing in front of him.

"Of course the creature could not have actually killed you, or even caused your body any real harm, but that fall would kill a normal person. There are more subtle ways I can affect the real world too. What if, for the next few weeks, every time you thought you were feeding, you were really drinking in my illusions. You would slowly starve without even knowing it. I think I can help Driretlan, perhaps not give him his ultimate desire, but at least help him. I cannot believe that a man of his age has no enemies."

(Urm....I would have thought that siring somwone would be slightly more....dramatic? :? And also, remember the sire has a responcibility for it's fledgling....you need to teach.)

Kain looked on, and saw the process take place. For some intangible reason, he could not watch it....it made some deep part of him well up and want him to run away from all of this. Instead, he simply looked away. He knew what thoughts....rather feelings would be racing through her body.

First immense fear as the fangs bite into your neck, an uncontrolable urge that this is going to make you die, your heart begins to race. If the sire is not old enough, the fangs will bring pain to the fledgling...if not the action is peaceful.

Then, a sense of vertigo. The world around you begins to whirl and become blurred, you are the epicenter of a massive whirlpool. You feel as though you are flying.....yet tied to the earth completely. It is a most strange experiance....

Then......calm....the calmness after a storm. Immense inner peace, thoughts become clearer...part of the process. It would take an afternoon for the entire process to be completed....

Kain imagined the thoughts which had run through his head which might be going through hers. No....he very much doubted that she would imagine the same things.

Vampirism had been his escape. it was either becoming a warped individual and dying to Rave's hand as an act of mercy, or removing the purge of the spirit which had ravaged his body after the massive conflict, and in the process become a vampire.

Kain knew what choice he would make should he had to make it again....

OOC: I don't think it would be all that dramatic for a vampire of Sulla's age. In this case I chose to yield to character sovereignty; I was going to let ATG describe her end. Sulla's experiences with other vampires is in the more traditional Rumanian style, but he will of course take responsibility for anyone he sires.

OOC: I think there is some confusion on your behalf Monkey in a Barrel. I was meaning for Kain to be the one to change her. She does not know Sulla. She did not attack him first, but I am going to change this a bit if you are okay with it Monkey in a Barrel, not that I do not want her to be connected to Sulla, but in a different way. Look back at Kain's post when he saw her face. He thought of his daughter. That is why I would like Kain to change her. Maybe this could be a character development for Kain and her. If that is okay to change it please read the following IC post if not I can always change it. Sorry about the confusion. Plus, I had wanted to post earlier, but the forum would not let me.

IC: As Sonia felt his fangs pierce her now frail skin, she knew something was wrong. No. This didn't feel right. She screamed out, not out of pain of physical, but more psychological and emotional. She pushed him back before he said done. She was alive, barely. Her heart had slowed dramatically and her respirations were forced. Her fingers and lower extremities tingling and were pale white, an ivory colour.

She walked over to were Kain was watching. Her knees buckled. She feel to the ground and then tried to get up, gravity was winning. Finally, she stood up and swayed. Double vision occured. She began to laugh hysterically. "Two Kains. As if one was too much now two." Her eyes began to roll back and then she regained her balance. Luckily she had conditioned her body to be dehydrated and almost at death. Her mouth dry, she couldn't swallow. She reached Kain and raked her nails into his skin just to stay up on her feet. There were tears streaming down her face.

She spoke softly, but clear enough to be understood,"You were supposed to do that. I am not dying, either way I am still human. I am glad. I would not want to be sired by him. I do not know him,"she looked over at him, "as of yet. Can you fix me?" Her last statement sounded more like a three year old girl with a scrap on her knee, asking her father to fix it.

OOC: Again if you don't like the way I changed it let me know Monkey, but if it is okay, Kain see what you can do with that. She still wants to become a vampire.

OOC: That's fine, sorry for my presumption, I should have waited for you. Do you want me to edit my posts, or shall we just leave it?

IC: Sulla stepped back, he wasn't sure whether to feel embarassed or angry. So he wiped her blood from the corner of his mouth and stood silent.

OOC: It is okay. There was just a lack of communication, forum keep eating my posts. I still hve things in store for Sulla and Sonia. So, just be patient. She needs to be a vampire first and then things will develop. Its okay. Just leave it. People can just ignore it. It would be just a lot of more work necessary.

IC: She looked over at Sulla, "I did not mean to embarrass or hurt you. I just did not feel fit with you. I do not know you." She winked. "But I will very soon." Her face as smooth as silk. She looked back at Kain, "Now, how about my problem?"

Maximus looked at the illusionist carefully, searching his face for any tell-tale sign of deceit.

"What do you have in mind?"

The wind suddenly shifted direction, whipping Maximus's trenchcoat around as it waved in the air.

IC: As Sonia felt his fangs pierce her now frail skin, she knew something was wrong. No. This didn't feel right. She screamed out, not out of pain of physical, but more psychological and emotional. She pushed him back before he said done. She was alive, barely. Her heart had slowed dramatically and her respirations were forced. Her fingers and lower extremities tingling and were pale white, an ivory colour.

Kain looked in alarm of this event. He was concerned...and curious to what reason could trigger such a reaction. He watched her endure this as she recoiled away from him.

She walked over to were Kain was watching. Her knees buckled. She feel to the ground and then tried to get up, gravity was winning. Finally, she stood up and swayed. Double vision occured. She began to laugh hysterically. "Two Kains. As if one was too much now two." Her eyes began to roll back and then she regained her balance. Luckily she had conditioned her body to be dehydrated and almost at death. Her mouth dry, she couldn't swallow. She reached Kain and raked her nails into his skin just to stay up on her feet. There were tears streaming down her face.

She spoke softly, but clear enough to be understood,"You were supposed to do that. I am not dying, either way I am still human. I am glad. I would not want to be sired by him. I do not know him,"she looked over at him, "as of yet. Can you fix me?" Her last statement sounded more like a three year old girl with a scrap on her knee, asking her father to fix it.

Kain did not wince from the pain, he allowed her to dig into her skin. He put his strong arms around her weak and cold body. She felt his flesh constantly regenerating as her nails were enbedded into it.

"Yes...yes I can fix you Sonia. Everything will be fine....shhhh..." Kain said quietly, his words soon becoming a gentle song to her. His words soothed her pain, the soft words of seeming childhood filling her mind and warming her body. She felt calm and at peace, as though a rushing river had gone over her entire body, cleaning all of the dirt and grime off of her body and mind.

The words were in fact magic. The spidary words came from Kain's mouth in a soft lullaby. She soon went limp, going to sleep. Kain took her in his arms, holding her sleeping form. She would dream of happy days, possibly her childhood Kain thought.

Kain received the incessant message from the dmeon within the Brightblade which co-existed with him. Kain rarely enjoyed them, but they were sometimes enlighting, if biased.

Why the hell are you doing this? You are not seriously considering this Kain....

What....what if I am? What the hell is it to you?

Oh you bastard Kain. You real bastard.

That is slightly rich coming from a demon who masscres and enslaves without a single moral qualm about it. *a pause, some satisfaction gained from Kain* I might do...I will need to think about it....but I care not of your opinions on the matter.

Priorities Kain. Remember them.

Oh I remember them alright demon. I remember them very well. Except we might have different ideas about what my ones are.

You have become willful. Remember that I could kill you at any moment. Do not even think of siring her. It is a distraction which will make you miss your escape from this world!

Silence. I know damn well what I am doing. Allow me to think about this. Alone. I am tierd of demons, spirits, bastards and tyrants all singing thier own agendas into my ears all wanting thier precious pawn to act out thier own game plans for thier own ends! Well I am tierd of being the puppet, I do not know who is pulling the strings, but I am cutting them. You might be a string, you might be the puppeter, it matters not. Leave me alone if you want me to do anything which you want, I mean it. You may be keeping me alive, but I am the only one who can release you. Without me, you are doomed. Remember that before you throw empty threats at me demon! Begone!

Silence once again within Kain's mind.

He continued to look at Sonia, that face once filled with pain and troubled thoughts now calm and sleeping soundly in his arms. A twinge of longing, a reminder of the past came to Kain's mind. He held onto it longer, her face turning into someone elses.....

No!

Kain ripped his gaze from her. She was not Daniella. She was gone. She could never replace her. But it would be so easy for it to be so....so damn easy....

Kain looked at Sulla and simply said, "I will talk to her....educate her. Alone."

He began to walk off into an ally, intent upon leaving. He would soon cast a spell to teleport himself back to his home.

(OOC Sorry about being so late in responding I had some difficulties with my internet connection.)

Sulla watched Kain leave slowly. He glanced at the body of the wyvern, still heaving silently as it prepared to level this entire city in one gigantic explosion. He figured he had a few days at least before the city was gone, so he might as well make the best of it. He strolled out into the chill night air. It was now the wee hours of morning...


Two blocks away and ten minutes later a man steps into a booth in a church and sits down.

"Bless me father for I have sinned, this is my first confession."

"How old are you my son?"

"I am 2142 years old, and my sins are many, shall I start at the begining?"

Kain walked away into an ally, and looked at Sonia for long moments again. He treasured the moments, but he knew for all of the wrong reasons. He could not allow himself to fall prey to his own mind.

Is this your socery which makes her appear as Daniella? Kain said frustrated at the demon.

Not my magic Kain. Your own mind. Such a fragile and horrible thing love.

Kain did not retort angrily at the demon. He reflected upon the words carefully.

He looked at her for some time under that allyway which had the sound of water running through drainpipes above them, and the damn and cold enviorment around them. It was an enviorment which would dampen most spirits, but Kain found no such feelings. He felt uplifted in the serenty of this moment.

"Time to go home." Kain whispered, and the two faded into nothingness....

(OOC I will create a new thread for us both, later on. I will give you a T-gram of what you want to do with all of this.)

OOC: if this thread is over, let me say that i throughly enjoyed this.

Rp with you all soon.

(OOC Pretty much that. I enjoyed it too, and now something new and refreshing has happened, or rtaher will happen.)

OOC: Hey Monkey, let's finish this thing out between your illusionist and Maximus.