NationStates Jolt Archive

Liam was lost in thought and hadn't heard Roman's question. Finally, after a gentle nudge by Roman, he snapped out of his thoughts and looked toward him. He noted that Roman was giving Sheyrena a ride on his Bengal backside.

He apologized telepathically,I'm sorry. What were you saying?

Roman repeated the question. Liam thought for a moment before replying.

We are headed to cease the crimes of Lucifer. He has been capturing an untold, but an incredible number of people from the Earth. We need to stop him, and return the people back to where they belong.

Do not underestimate Lucifer's strengths my friend. He will try even the dirtiest tricks to get what he wants.

The procession continued, as they all headed to a destination none knew but Liam. It would be about another two days travel before they got to the Inchion, a monument built by mysterious beings so long ago that none remembered who they were. None, save for what was written in the Angelic Records. Those records were unaccessible by mortals, and perhaps rightly so. The knowledge that lay within contained information to untold beasts that were locked up, as well as other points of interest. The mortals had no right, no need to know these things. They were not worthy, simple as that.

(OOC: further description of the Inchion will be given in a later post. For now, feel free to wander about a bit, but try to stay relatively close to the rest.)

ooc. sorry. injury getting in the way. will continue hopefully.

As Aeris walked by the side of Liam, she looked up at him hopefully.

"Master Liam.......what is happening here really? I don't quite understand....."

Meanwhile

Zero sat at the table, waiting for the sun to set, even though the curtains are still down, so he couldn't see how much longer he had to wait. No matter, he can feel it........he unsheathed the Dragon Saber, and examined the stylings of the dragon on its well-forged blade......the dragon on the Saber seemed almost alive, with its eye shining purple.......

"Another adventure, huh, old pal?" Zero said to the Saber. Then he drew out his Heaven Sword, and examined it as well. The stylings are a little simpler than the Saber, but no less obviously Chinese in origin.......sheathing his Treasure Blades, Zero felt that it was now safe for him to join the group. Standing up, he shot out through the door, and took flight after Liam......

Liam looked affectionately at the promising young girl walking beside him. He glanced at her staff and smiled as he remembered her first creation of it. Indeed, she had great power untapped, and only time would unleash it to her command.

"My young apprentice, there is much here that you may never understand. But, I will try to simplify it to your mortal grasp."

Liam glanced back to see where everyone was, making sure none were straggling too far behind. Good.

"There is much more to this universe than what lies on this Earth. Planets exist not only in this galaxy, but also in the rest of the world. Planes of possibility give way to different realms of existence, including 'places' such as Heaven and Hell. And that is what I will focus on for the moment.

I am naturally from the heavens, a place that has no real boundaries, and accessible through secret, specialized means. Our enemy, Lucifer was once of the heavens, but cast down for his pride. He was condemned to spend the rest of eternity in the fiery chasms of hell. He secluded himself in the deepest levels of hell, a place only beings such as himself can tolerate. It contains the hottest flames of any realm, and also harbors the ancient evils condemned to its shadows."

Liam paused to take a breath, before continuing,

"There is only a handful of entrances to the realm of Hell. None can be created anymore, as there has been a lock on the seams of possibility, created as such because of the Greater One's will."

Aeris cut in, "And where do we come in?"

Liam smiled in response before changing his face gravely.

"We are headed to the Inchion Gate, a gate that is hidden by angelic magic, but accessibly only to beings such as myself, who remain on the good side of the balance. It leads to the first depths of Hell...

and it will test your survival. Only the strong survive, even if both sides are of the same essence..."

Aeris stopped in her tracks at Liam's words, and glanced up at him with fear in her soft brown eyes.

"Hell?", she murmured. "I.....I.....I don't know......."

Liam placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, child. You will be safe by my side."

Just then, Liam felt something drawing up to him.......but he was helpless to prevent Zero, in one of his cheeky moods, flying up and sitting on his shoulders.

"Boo", Zero said with a grin into Liam's face. Then he clambered down, and his face was serious again.

"By the way, Liam, I can't help but overhear what you said about the Inchion Gate. You might say i'm on the dark side of the balance, vampire that I am. So how do are you going to solve this?"

Liam nodded understandingly, already knowing the answer to Zero's question.

"You may be a child of the darkness, but your heart remains overall on the light. You are of a rare breed of beings, a breed that was never fortold of existing. Yet, you are here, and the world must deal with this twist. You will still be able to enter the Underworld either way Zero. You however, cannot leave without my power allowing you extraction. Such is the nature of all of the Gates."

The path began to widen, the first indications of civilization's touch on the roads becoming more evident. Old worn wheel ruts and footsteps of large long-dead creatures lay deep in the soil, resisting the wear of time and of the elements. The party was forced to pick their way over the road with care, lest one may fall and injure themself.

"Is that so?" Zero asked, then he grinned.

"So we figuratively 'die', go to Hell, and are resurrected like Lazarus from the dead by divine intervention", he joked, and Aeris smacked him on his back for such talk.

Liam smiled warmly at Zero's joke, and even more so when Aeris actually had the strength to bring herself to scold him only as a girl would.

"In a manner of speaking, yes." he replied, before turning his attention back to what lay ahead. In his mind, he could see the intricate, powerful spells that bound the Inchion Gate. He could see each weave of power, each binding thread that dispelled any "saviors" of the hell-kind. Opening the Inchion Gate was going to be difficult for even himself, but it was still possible for him to do it. He remembered that in order for himself to open the Gate, he would have to revert back to his seraphim form. His armor was specially designed to accommodate such an action from a typical "human" form, the form he existed in now.

They will get a brief glance of the power that lies within all seraphims... he thought to himself while maintaining a straight face, so as to not give away his thoughts.

"We are almost there, my friends. Now when we get there, I want all of you to stand a considerable distance from the Gate. I will forwarn you of what will transpire. I will open the gate and natural defenses of the Gate will be activated, which will strike all non-angelic beings within a half mile radius and instantly kill them. It is a power that is not to be trifled with. I will have to deactivate the defenses so as to allow you passage. Once inside the Gate, we must remain close, paired in twos for easier accountability. The Underworld will harbor many strange, exotic and evil beings that will try everything they can to "turn" you to the darkness. If that happens, I may not be able to bring you back to the light. So, take care and have great constitution in your soul! You will be relieved to know that many in the Underworld will not attack you with myself nearby. They fear my power, they fear my wrath..."

"Erm, right. Just try not to pass out from your Mr-Big-Ol'-Me speeches", Zero said, half-jokingly and at the same time half-exasperatingly, earning him another whack from Aeris.

Roman, still walking in tiger form suddenly stopped. He looked over his shoulder at Sheyrena, who was laying down, relaxing on his soft fur.

"Sheyrena, get off for a second."

The girl looked into his dark green eyes, almost begging him to reconsider. Roman stared back, so Sheyrena climbed off. When she did Roman changed back to his normal human form and streached slightly. He looked over at Liam.

"Liam, how do you mean 'turn you into the darkness?' And what kind of creatures are down there?"

Liam stopped walking and faced Roman with a face that could have shaken the souls of even the hardiest travelers. When he spoke, it seemed that the world went silent around Roman as Liam's voice spoke with an unearthly voice to him.

"Do you like what you are now? A human shapeshifter?"

Roman merely nodded positively.

"How would you feel about being turned into a weakling demon, subject to the whims and brutality of the Everlasting Ancients? You would no longer possess your animal morphism skills, and creatures such as myself would become your bane!"

Roman's eyes went wide with shock. Liam continued in the same tone of voice.

"There are creatures that are confined to the Underworld that go beyond your wildest imagination. Creatures that have no description for they are too horrible to describe. They are the creatures that make up the armies of the Underlord."

Liam calmed himself down once again and spoke the last words quietly, "And if you have little constitution in your soul, you will fall under their power."

The world seemed to revert back to normal as Liam stepped away and continued his trek toward the Inchion Gate.

Liam's speech was impressive, and made its point fully to Zero, who immediately respected Liam all the more for that. Unfortunately, it also succeeded in scaring Aeris out of her wits, who put her face into Zero's arms and started sobbing,

"Oh my, it's so horrible!"

Not knowing what to say, Zero pulled at Liam's shoulder, and beckoned to him.

"Hey.....Liam? A little help here? She's kinda freaking out a little."

Liam turned to him. "What do you want me to say, Zero? I thought you know her best."

"Hell, you know her potential far better than I do, and don't tell me that's not a fact. Just say something about her potential or something", Zero whispered.

"Very well then..."

Liam turned to Aeris, who looked up at him through teary eyes.

"Aeris. I know you're afraid. Hell, even I'm afraid of what might happen in there. Things may go wrong..."

He placed a hand on her chin, lifting it up once again, "And lives may be lost. But I don't worry too much about you. You possess a power that will one day become a powerful bane of the Underworld."

Aeris smiled weakly, and wiped her face with an arm, "Really?"

"I wouldn't lie to you." Liam replied, before looking up at Zero, who had a look of gratitude. Liam knew then the next question that burned in anyone's mind.

"I don't particularly worry for any of you. You have proven yourselves to be at the least, resistant to the power of the Underworld, but not invincible. As I said, remain close to me, and you shall be kept safe. You have my word."

Roman stood there thinking for a little bit. The fate Liam had described to him sounded horrible, but Roman wasn't too concerned about his safety. He looked down at Sheyrena. She turned and looked up at him. Roman smiled and spoke in a calm tone.

"Sheyrena, if you don't want to continue, that is fine. I can take you back very quickly and get back to the group. If you want to stay, stay close to Liam and everyone else. Whatever you do, don't wander off or fall behind. Now, do you want to continue or head back?"

Sheyrena looked up at Roman with an indignant expression on her face and stomped her little foot.

"I'm going! And you can't stop me!" And just to prove her point, the little girl brought the force of her mind down upon Roman, immobilizing him.

Satisfied, she crossed her arms and grinned at him.

Roman looked down at the smiling face. This is the second time she had done it to him. He couldn't move, but he still could communicate with his mind.

"Okay Sheyrena, you win. But stay close to me and the group, don't go wandering off. Now, would you please release me? If you don't, no more rides."

"Another encounter will Hell. Wonderful. I wonder if I will meet an old freind or two along the way?" Kain said rather casually. He was not joking, and he seemed not to really make this entire experiance a big deal. Kain existance was riddled with such experiances, this was nothing new. A little bit more up front, yes, but unusual, no.

Kain took his own place, by himself really, but within talking difference. He had no weapon upon him yet, but those black gauntlets were upon his hands, snaking up his arms.

The green skinned vampire knew what was ahead and knew the spells in his mind, and various techniques he had learned against the demon kind. And he also knew that his abilities in combat had severly decreased since last time. Without the demon within the Brightblade, his abilities were much less.

And his enemies knew this, and he was sure that very demon would want some payback.

"My friends, welcome to the Inchion Gate of the Underworld." Liam announced, while simultaneously beckoning for all to halt their progress. With a raise of his staff, he leaned the upper part toward an invisible expanse of space before him. The crystal suddenly glowed not white, but now a deep blue hue. As it did so, the glow rapidly spread before them, revealing the hidden magical defenses that surrounded the Gate.

"This is the first of the defenses, which normally would discourage many a sorcerer or magic-wielder."

The twisting magic suddenly swirled and flickered out of sight, having been deactivated.

"Now comes the more dangerous parts of unlocking the Gate. This is where many have been killed, attempting to access what they should not. I must ask that you all stand beyond the treeline, for it will have drastic effect on you should you be caught unwittingly."

Liam waited till all had done as he requested, then turned to the hidden Gate once more. With a grimace, he bent over slightly as he called forth his holiest form, the body of the Seraphim that he was. Wings protruded from his backside, feathers unfolding and spanning their lengths. A holistic aura surrounded him, his hair turned white, his skin becoming like pearl, so white and reflective of the holy power that lay inside him. His armor glowed and enhanced the raw power that emananated uninhibited from Liam. Finally, he stood before the Gate, a look of concentration upon his face.

He rose into the sky, mounted by his wings, his staff in hand. He began to call out in an unearthly language, as he wove intricate spells that began to unlock the defenses of the Gate...

Zero did as Liam commanded, and took Aeris beyond the treeline. As they watched Liam commence with the unlocking of the Inchion Gate, they stared in wonder at the suddenly increased beauty of Liam. Zero almost lost himself in the magics swirling at the site.......

But he was snapped out of it, by the feel of Aeris' body pushing against him, as if trying to get to where Liam was.

"Stop it, Aeris, you'll die if you get too close!", Zero said, holding her back with one arm without taking his eyes off Liam's work. Normally, that would have dissuaded Aeris, as devotedly obedient to Zero as she was. This time, though, Aeris struggled even harder.

Zero, finally frustrated by her struggling, turned around and grasped her by the shoulders, saying, "What's wrong with you, Aeris?"

Then he gasped.

It was Aeris he held in his arms, of course. But a remarkably different Aeris than the innocent girl he was used to. The Aeris he had in his hands wore the same clothes she always did, and her Rose Staff was still in her hands, unchanged. However, her eyes were deep, unseeing of Zero, despite his efforts, and focused purely on Liam. There was an aura surrounding her now, one which reminded Zero of the latent divinity of Liam, and her hair had turned lighter, almost white. Her skin also glowed with a pearlescent sheen, and Zero noticed for the first time, that her ears had suddenly became pointy, like an elf's.........

Zero gasped again. Aeris is somehow reacting to Liam's angelic power by exhibiting seraphim traits of her own......but the Elvish ears were still a mystery........

Sheyrena relaxed her mind and freed Roman. As the group traveled, she began to have a sense of something ahead of them...something tremendously powerful. It was because of this that when Liam ordered the party back behind the treeline. she immediately complied, clinging to Roman in her fear.

Her blue eyes were wide with fear as she watched Liam work on the Inchion Gate. Too terrified to speak she mind-called to Roman as she held onto him even more tightly.

Mr. Roman? I...I 'm afraid. Where does that gate lead to? I don't understand.

Just as Liam was about to power his way through the Inchion Gate, the large Steel barrier creaked, and groaned, it's metal bars shining and twisting under the majical assault. It's barriers were torn asunder, leaving its true facade of Stonework Metal with runes on its surface.

However, the gate seemed to not like this. With a force unseen yet felt, a strong wall of gravity struck the group, seemingly emanated from the Inchion Gate.

The group was forced down, moved, shaken, and yet fighting to remain upright. Only Liam remained standing, and only he heard the voice of the Inchion, one of the many guardians of the blight.

"WHO DARES TRY TO ENTER THE MOORS OF DREAD? WHO DARES SPY INTO THE REALMS OF PAIN AND TORTURE? WHO DARES!"

Liam continued to pry the defenses of the Inchion Gate apart by sheer willpower. As he worked, he sensed another power nearby, a power he vaguely recognized. Pausing momentarily, he glanced slightly over his shoulder behind himself, only to see Zero holding Aeris in his arms.

Aeris? She bears the mark of the Nephillim! Of course! How foolish of me to not identify her power before!

Yet, Liam didn't have time to ponder this, for suddenly he felt the gravitational pressure exerted by the Gate. Turning his attention back to the Gate, he defied the gravity, defied the power that spoke to only him in the angelic tongue.

"I am one of the Sentinels Guards. My purpose is beyond your comprehension, so stand aside and allow me and those I choose to accompany me, passage into the Underworld!"

The Gate began to protest, demanding reasoning to the company that Liam was referring to. But it had barely spoken a few syllables before Liam raised his staff and swooped closer to the Gate, striking the holistic stone upon the Gate's runic surface. Immediately the Gate buckled under his power and with a powerful vacumm of dimension and time, it creaked open, the gate doors seemingly like sharp fangs ready to clamp down at a moment's notice.

The gravitational effect ceased as well, and Liam returned to the ground, but remained in his Seraphim form. He looked back to his companions and called out,

"You may enter the Gate now. Passage has been secured. Pair up with one another and keep close to myself!"

Liam turned back to the Gate and glared into the fearsome abyss that lay just beyond the gate. Inside, his holistic light drove away the forces of darkness in fear and hatred. None, for now, dared to challenge him...

IC: The gravititional well hit Zero hard, and strong as only a vampire of Ancient years as he is, he barely managed not to fall to a crawling position. As it is, he stood half-bowed underneath the sheer pressure of the gravitional force, grunting with pain. He could only imagine how bad it was for Aeris, unable to turn his head as it is, and thinking that Aeris, being only a young girl, was feeling it worse.......

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped. Liam stood in front of the transformed Inchion Gate, beckoning the rest to approach.

At this time, Zero's thought suddenly flashed back to the angel-like image Aeris exhibited unwittingly, and turned his eyes upon Aeris, half-expecting to see her in her transformed state........

And only beheld an ordinary-looking girl with an ornamental staff. It was Aeris as she had always been, although gasping from the effort of withstanding the gravity. She turned her gaze back on Zero.

"What?", she said, with a questioning look in her eyes, oblivious to the change that had been wrought within her while Liam was at the height of his display of his powers. Without a word, Zero felt Aeris' face all over. The pearlescent sheen on her skin had disappeared, as well as the unnaturally light coloring of her hair, and instead it was the fair, but mortal, skin and hair of the Aeris he always knew. Even more interestingly, when he lifted her hair to see her ears, what he saw was not the Elvish mark, but normal human ears.

"What?", Aeris asked again, perplexed by Zero's behaviour. Then, she turned her gaze back to the Inchion Gate, and with an eep, buried her head in Zero's shoulders again.

"There, there, it's okay", Zero reassured her, patting her head. At the same time, he mopped his face with his other hand. What had he seen just now? Was it a figment of his imagination? Shaking his head, he led Aeris to the Inchion Gate, meaning to ask Liam about it later.

Just inside the Inchion Gate, Zero and Aeris beheld another display of Liam's powers. Zero glanced at Aeris again, wondering if he'll see the vision-Aeris, but Aeris looked normal as usual, although somewhat bolder than before, and clutching the Rose Staff in a ready stance. Assured, Zero reached into his trenchcoat.......

"No, wait. Guns won't work here. The Treasure Blades it is."

And with that thought, Zero drew out the Treasure Blades in either hand. The Dragon Saber is ended with a perfect triangle point, a long sleek blade which would shine brilliantly within the sun's light, matched off with a beautiful spherical hilt design of a swirling elegence. The hilt has one side of golden flair, and a silvery blue of more reserved colour and display. The hilt design is reminiscent of its supposedly original purpose, the slaying of dragons, and is perfectly balanced for it's task. The Heaven Sword is a single edged Chinese longsword, with a dark red tint which suggests more royality than evil intent. It's swirls are impressive to look upon, and such craftwork is admired by all forgers of blades. With these two blades of such beautiful design, Zero was assured of his safety, even in Hell.

"Let's go", he said quietly.

OOC: Many thanks to Velmora for his assessment of the Treasure Blades :p

Roman looked down at Sheyrena, the little girl was frightened beyond a resonable doubt...but Roman knew it was too late to turn back.

"It leads down into the Underworld....a reallly bad place. Now, stick close to me and the rest of the group and keep your eyes and ears open."

Roman follow the group towards the Gate, he pulled out his sword with his left and grasped Sheyrena's hand with his right. They reached the Gate and entered cautiously. Roman felt as though someone had cranked up the heat a bit, but so far nothing else out of the ordinary. He looked down at Sheyrena.

"Are you alright?"

I...I'm frightened.

Sheyrena was trembling as she held tightly to Roman's hand.

I sense evil. Terrible evil. Mr. Roman, I don't think we should go in there.

Roman looked sympathetically at the little girl.

Sheyrena, you can still stay behind if you want to. But I must go on.

Sheyrena's eyes opened wide and she stopped dead in her tracks. She looked up at Roman with determination on her small face.

"No!" she cried aloud. Then she caught herself and switched back to telepathy. "If you're going on, so am I."

Just as the group began its move towards the entrance, the voice of the gate began once more to speak, but this time, it was mingled with the voice of the unholy one, the original sin.

Lucifer Morningstar.

"Your choice is not a wise one, Liam... your words are strong, but your will does it little justice. Still, I suppose there is little I can do to disassuage you now. I cannot wait to see you again..."

And just like that, the voice was silent once more, leaving the group alone with its thoughts.

Then... the sounds began to emanate from beyond the gate.

Shrieks, moans, and terrible laughter, mingled with curses and diablolical apologies and apoplexies. It was a chorus of pain and love.

They always said love was hell...

The agte was revelaeed to Kain;s brown eyes, as they narrowed and contemplated if he should actually go inside. Gone were the days where he was completely alone, having no care but his own hide and his own morals. He could not fall, he had too much to do still. He had Velmora to protect now, to guide and heal from the scars of the past.

He gazed into that strange gate, to a sight which had been forged into his memories from the experiances his demon freind which had once been trapped within the Brightblade had shared with him.

Kain shivered even looking at the place, and his skin grew strangely energised. Kain realised that due to his demonic heritage that this place had a natural affinity to him, and as such, he might experiance things and have more abilities than he might usually. He looked at his talons and flexed them in turn, ready to fight whatever might be greeting them at the other side of that strange gate.

I cannot fall. I have too many things to complete before I die.

Kain sighed, closed his eyes for a few moments and visualised the demonic spells into his mind once more. He remembered counterspell, offense and defense against the spells which he had learned from his previous oppertunististic benifactor, the demon. All placed into the front of his mind, ready to be called upon with ease, for once the combat started, there would be no relent.

Calling upon the wave blade forward into his right hand, the strange and compelling sword formed into Kain's calmly laid out grip. The sword was most alien, and unlike most conventional swords, and certainly not like most in it's enchantments.

To those who had not seen Kain legendary blade, and his namesake, they were strange hypontised by the sword. (http://www.geocities.com/solidbat/reaver.jpg)

"Well, lets get this over with." Kain declared, as he moved his footing, ready to sprint.

Kain opened his eyes again, inhaled and exhaled....brought his spells into readiness....and charged into the portal, his blue cloak flying behind him, the symbol of the Brightblade emblazened upon the back.

The green-skinned vampire flowed into the gate into the next dimension, his sword now glowing a slight crimson and his skin throbbing in the same colour. Kain's demonic body was showing it's true nature....

Well, this is interesting, Kain thought, as his soul tingled with the odd sensation that this place was home.

Roman simply nodded to Sheyrena, he liked the little girl, but she had quite the attitude. As soon as the shrieking started Sheyrena clung to Roman in an iron grip. His eyes searched the darkness, though he could not see anything, spare for massive rock columns.

"Sheyrena, could you lessen your grip? My leg is getting numb."

Sheyrena let go, slightly. Roman smiled at her then turned to Kain who seemed to be at the ready. Roman knew something was out in the darkness, waiting for the group. He looked back down at Sheyrena.

"Get your sword out, and your eyes and ears open. Stay close to me."

"Sound advice.", Kain said rather sincerly as he observed this new place with a curious eye of judgement and assessment. He moved his hands across the handle of his birthright and lighting seemed to course through his green knuckles.

Wait a minute.

"Did you just say that out loud?" Kain asked Roman quizically, then realised what he had just done absant mindedly.

"Nevermind." Kain said, shaking his head, not really offering an explaination of his strange question. He understood now what affect this strange place was having upon him, his senses felt sharpened, certain areas of his memories and abilities felt fresh in his mind and his muscles felt larger than they usually were and contained more power.

His demonic nature was home once more, and Kain felt that odd sensation of nostalga. His mind tingled, and this place was hardly the place in his nightmares. This place was rather welcoming to a certain side of him, that side that loved combat and rage and blood. Maybe it was his vampire side, maybe it was his demon side Kain debated. Maybe even a part of his normal self. Kain tossed the musing aside for the moment, and focused what he could do better now. Well, the first obvious thing was that he could read minds with far greater ease than normal, like a demon would to it's whelp.

Kain did not have nightmares about hell anyways, or heaven for that matter. Only one thing did contain within his rare nightmares, and it involved two very specific vampires. One male, and the other female. Well, three, including him.

Looking at his namesake within his right hand, it seemed to have grown in it's glowing aura. It's edges seemed to change colour from a light blue to a crimson, and eminated a most odd hum. A part of this blade's matierals, like Kain himself, had an affinity with this place.

Good, thought Kain, it would make him even stronger to the forces which would face him.

Zero looked around, surveying the situation. As yet, there were no demons who came out to face them, but he was aware of something else.

The fact that he felt both attracted and repulsed by Hell. And this intrigued him.

He had always felt that, being a vampire, he would always feel most at home in Hell, being a creature of the darkness. And yet now he knew it was not so, for while his darker side found compact with the ideals of Lucifer's own home, there was another side of him which was irrevocably against the place.

Words couldn't quite describe how he felt. The demons of Hell, of which he had only caught a fleeting glance, were the epitome of corruption, decay, and evil-qualities of his darker side. And yet, he was unlike them, for while they were demonic, unpure, and corrupted, Zero saw clearly for the first time that while his essence was dark, it was by no means wholly evil, and in fact was most unlike the hellspawn in one major factor: that while they were corrupted, Zero as a vampire was a representative of darkness, yet also of an inhuman perfection of form. And that is most unlike the hellspawn, in fact, he theorized, he might find most similarity in the fallen, but perfect, form of Lucifer Morningstar. This was a strange theory, but not without logic, he surmized.

Wielding his Treasure Blades, he looked carefully around, not wishing to get himself ambushed.

Suddenly, the group stopped. They looked around in confusion, at each other in mild amusement or abject fear. All drew their weapons.

Something was different than just a moment before. It was Sheyrena who noticed it.

"The screams... they're gone."

"Very good little one. I can see why you are part of this Clan."

Liam strode forward ahead of the group and raised his head, as if to speak to the disembodied voice.

"You know why we are here Prince Lucifer. Must we do this the hard way?"

"But of course, Liam, and please, it is King now. But where are my manners."

Out of the enfolding darkness stepped three massive beasts, standing at least three stories tall each.

They were Langertromper huge engines of punishment. With three massive caverns for mouths and a huge steel pitchfork, they were truly a sight to behold.

Or rather, to fear.

"Aren't they beautiful, Liam? I created them myself, without the help of our holy father. After you all get acquainted, then we shall talk."

The Langertrompers started to moan, and slowly walk forward.

OOC: EDIT: This is Tarlachia...KT was using my comp for her own posts, and the stupid NS server decided to keep her name on...

IC:
Liam scowled, "Calling yourself a King is blasphemous Lucifer! But then again, wasn't that why you were cast into the darkness in the first place?!"

Immediately, Liam suddenly glowed with a heavenly aura, it's light biting ferociously into the eyes and flesh of the Langertromper monsters. (OOC: What the hell would they look like?)

They stopped their slow advancement, suddenly blinded and feeling their very dark souls seared by the holy light. It was too much...too much for them to handle...

So they retreated back into the shadows of hell...

Liam remained where he was, the group behind himself, their faces hidden in the dark shadows of the Underworld.

"Lucifer! I demand you to show yourself!"

... silence fills the void ...

Suddenly, the great light of Liam vanished, leaving the group to fend for itself...

Aeris and Sheyrena screamed in horror and dismay. A strange sight slowly came into being, as Aeris immediately knew what she had to do. Her rose staff tapped the ground, the rose on top glowing with a blue aura as she stepped forward. Zero reached out to stop her, but was shrugged off.

"Aeris! Stay together!" Zero commanded, fear and perhaps love for the young one's life. Aeris turned and looked into Zero's eyes. The voice that spoke was strange, unlike herself.

"I am not Aeris, but Aerial, nephilim of the heavens."

She turned and faced the now standing Langertromper beasts holding their deadly steel pitchforks. She raised her staff and spoke in a commanding voice, surprising members of the clan with the authority that seemed to flow from her soul.

A powerful spell emanated from the staff, forming in the shape of a rose as it grew larger quickly in size. It filled the void between herself and the Langertrompers. Should they be foolish enough to step forward into it, they would find themselves covered by a blood red blanket...of love.

Love was one of the hated passions of the Underworld, where it's nemesis reigned supreme.

"You shall not prevail!"

The Langertrompers began to sway back and forth, as if straining to move forward, but far too hesitant to enter the aura.

http://ishariel.marmagenta.com/galeria/hell_hunter_demon.html (Imagine this monster with another two mouths where her breasts should be.

One demon began to wail, a loud pitiful cry of despair and need. As the others in the clan looked on in horror, the Langertromper crossed over into the threshold.

And learned just how much love could hurt...

Kain. I see you have returned. To mock me? Or to destroy me?

An old familar demonic voice returned to Kain's mind, a voice which Kain would rather have forgotten. It was the demon which he would rather cast out of his memories and mind all together, but alas, his scars still remained. kain ignored it's question.

Demon. I see you still exist. Kain said flatly. It had no hatred, no utter contempt of the witch hunter or the worshiper of goodness. Kain had finished his grudge against this demonic insurrectionalist, this demon was enduring pain as he could tell by it's voice. It seemed broken, bitter and still in controlling agonising pain.

A roar of bitter laughter eminated mentally into Kain's mind, a laughter of a defiant prisoner who was slightly resigned to his fate.

Exist I do. Come and see Kain, what your sire did to me, for I have something which might interest you.

Without chance to protest, Kain was cast into some region of hell, a lower one where the worst of the worst remained in agony, the worst of human kind, and the few traitors to demonic kind. Here they remained, most likely till the end of thier days. Guarded by other demons, tortured for thier amusement. A fitting existance for this demon, he thought.

Although, as the world reformed once more, Kain could not help but feel amazement for this demon. It was like no other demon he had ever gazed upon, and the reminder that the blade in his hand had once contained this demon was a testament to the skill of it's maker.

Kain was utterly miniscule to this great mass of demonic flesh. It was a dark shade of purple, the writhing bloated mass of darkness had limbs with demonic runes upon them, vents which opened and closed with the sound of sucking lips almost. It had many tear shaped eyes which blinked in an erratic way, some blinking rarely and slowly, others blinking with blinding speed, almost like a camera taking still frames. The eyes within all focused upon it's guest, the eyes' pupils being eyeglass in shape, which made the creature so much more bizarre.

The room it was held it, was a deep red crimson, which felt organic to look and to touch. And Kain realised that it was in fact, a living prison. A demon which held a demon, most interesting indeed. There were no doors here, no windows, nothing. For this was most like a creature's stomach in many ways, it seemed to go in and out slightly, contracting and relaxing. It was most sickening to be in.

So nice to see you again. The demon said with some grim amusement. It's body shook slightly in a dark chuckle.

"I wish the feeling was mutual. I did not expect you to appear like....this." Kain said slowly, walking around the demon's massive circumfrence, taking in the sights. It seemed not to affect the demon one bit, those eyes still locked onto him, for they covered his body completely.

Well I am a Demon Highlord. Or at least I was. Demon Highlords are not your average demon which you are accustomed to killing with my assistance. We are much more....magnificant things. The demon said, correcting himself for a demotion which occoured around a century ago.

"Enough of these wonderful pleasantries. Why do you wish to meet me, unless it is simply for the satisfaction of seeing me once again." Kain said dryly and irritably. He continued to circle, the Brightblade still looming in his right hand.

Very well Kain, I will spare you them. I would ask an exchange of information, or rather, a service for a service.

"What do you know that could possibly interest me?" Kain asked darkly.

I know what circumstances brought that blade into existance, and how I was actually trapped within it. Did you ever consider that? How might a mighty demon be trapped within that sword by a relatively weak race in relation to the demonic races? And I know the true extent of your demonic abilities which I granted unto you Kain, and your limitations. You must know your failings and strengths in order to accomplish what you wish to do.

The demon spoke truelly, and without any hint of scorn or hatred. It was most odd. It spoke of things Kain was most curious of, things which might allow Kain more knowledge about Velmora's dark and mysterous path. But at what cost?

After serious consideration, and after Kain had paced slightly more, gazing into those hourglass eyes, he spoke.

"Continue. What do you propose?"

The demon smiled from the numerous mouths it had.

Are you sure this is what you want to do Kain?
A voice...so distant, and undetermable...

As the Langertrompers strode into the void marked out by the rose spell, they let out a horrifying shriek, as the essence of Love bathed them in an agony they could not comprehend. Love, the polar opposite essence of what they were, they could not resist.

In front of the eyes of the rest, the Langertrompers began slowly to rot from the outside, corroded by the antithesis of what they were. Their evil started to dissolve, and for a moment, to the horror of the Clan, dark threads of evil started to contaminate the rose of Love, and tried to reach across the void to them. But with an effort, the Nephilim Aerial pushed those threads back, and the evil dissipated from the rose spell, even as the Langertrompers suffered their demise slowly.

Zero stood agape, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. The simple, innocent Aeris he loved seemed to him to be no more, replaced instead by a powerful, holy Aerial he did not know nor understand. The figure of Aerial before him had the face and form of Aeris, but showing the angelic traits of pearlescent skin , white hair, and shining eyes she had exhibited at the Inchion Gate. Now, however, even her clothes had changed from the simple pink dress she normally wore, and was now a grand, billowing white robe, contributing to the aura of holy power that now surrounded her, and she was heedless of anything else, as she battled the Langertromper.......

As the clan stood behind the nephilim girl known as Aerial, Liam was nowhere to be seen. Aerial glared at the remaining two Langertrompers, her eyes losing their pupils and beginning to glow a pearly white. The nephilim had only begun her defense of the clan, however, it wouldn't be enough to use the rose spell to eliminate all three Langertrompers. She would need the rest of the clan to contribute their efforts...

The group watched as the first Langertromper finally corroded into the ground, its body becoming like sand and remaining still. All eyes turned to the next one that stepped forward toward the weakening Rose spell. It released a dreadful roar that seemed to penetrate the very souls of the clan members...

********

An explosion of light formed into a deadly swarm of painful bolts that hurtled toward Lucifer. Lucifer, caught unawares, cried out in pain as each of the bolts slammed into his eternal form and tore at the darkness inside him. He closed his eyes and struggled against the bolts' effects. However, with each effort, the pain only intensified. Finally he stopped as he opened his eyes once more. Liam stepped forward, his staff in hand, and a face full of anger that could melt diamonds.

"You have committed your last act of maliciousness Lucifer! You will pay dearly for the souls you have endangered..."

Liam raised his staff and watched as the stone in the tip suddenly blasted Lucifer's eyes so painfully that he was blinded. Lucifer groaned as he covered his eyes, attempting to ward away the intensive power of the seraphim before him. Liam suddenly spun the staff and connected it into Lucifer's bent-over torso. Lucifer released a scream of pain as the holy power made physical contact.

"Damn you Liam!" he bellowed as he struggled against the holistic light that burned into his dark, condemned soul...

Liam watched as Lucifer slowly disintergrated before his eyes. Alas, the angel knew that it wouldn't be that easy.

Nothing was ever that easy...

He looked around, and his surroundings had changed once again. This time he was on a beach of some sort. But this waterfront bordered on an ocean of red. Sickly smelling fluid that flowed as freely as those back on earth.

Blood.

He looked to the east, and saw the beach go on until the edge of his great eyesight. The same laid to the west. There were little auditory cues as to where he was, save for some bird cries that echoed without figure.

The waves of blood swooshed in and out without pause. It was very lonely feeling.

"Hey... where'd that last Langertromper go?"

Liam turned around saw Sheyrena standing there, with the rest of the clan behind her. She looked very confused.

Another voice boomed out, but this time it was disembodied. Very distinct. Very harsh.

"You... you... dare attack me in my domain? That... hurt..."

This was followed by a few moments of audible breathing, as if the voice needed to calm down.

"You just made your first mistake, angel. This will be that much harder on you all now."

A pathway was made into the ocean, like the mythical parting of the red sea. Poignant, as it was now a red ocean that made room for the group to descend.

As it did, a single cry came out from the ocean, as if it was spoken by the ocean itself...

"Cthulhu."

Roman stood in a state of shock as he watched as Aeris soon became something completely different. He made sure Sheyrena was behind him, his sword in his hand, ready to attack the Langertrompers. Just about when he was about to move in, they began to disentergrate before his eyes.

Roman's gaze turned to the nephilim called Aerial as she dispatched the three monsters. She definatly has skill.

The man blinked, when his eyes opened he found himself and the rest of the clan on a beach. A familiar smell entered his notrils, he wrinkled his nose as he turned to the foul smelling ocean. Christ. Roman stared at the red water, it only took him a second to relized that it was a ocean of blood.

He stood calmly as the ocean opened and some voice spoke to them. Roman turned to Sheyrena.

"You alright?"

Sheyrena didn't answer. The little girl had gone very pale and had begun to tremble violently. She had never seen anything like the langertrompers before and she stood frozen staring at the red water.

"Sheyrena?" Roman asked again.

This time she turned and her could see the terror in her eyes. At ten years old, Sheyrena was really a little big to be picked up, but Roman scooped her into his arms anyway. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung tightly to him.

"I...I'm scared..."

Oh? Another visitor? Your sire perhaps?

The demon chuckled darkly, it's grim amusement savoured, as his enjoyment was rare in this literal hell hole. The living prison seemed to rumble slightly, getting ready to contort.

"Shut up. Never you mind." Kain snapped angrilly, the words which had floated into his mind being picked up by the demon also. The demon was humungous, the bloated shape which was burnt and scared from torture flopped about within it's organic chains.

Now now. Temper, temper. The demon said, rather sternly, like a teacher to a pupil. Kain did not like the way he spoke, this superity over him. It made his fists want to close and smash into the massive belly of the beast, make it groan further, cause it more agony.

Kain settled with a sterner jaw, and a quick and sharp question.

"What do you suggest deamon?" Kain asked curtly.

Liberation.

Kain raised his eyebrow and balked.

"What? You honestly expect that?"

Liberation in destruction. Allow my soul to be consumed, allow me limbo. Allow mercy from this cruelity.

The walls rumbled omniously, the stomach which held this deamon rumbled, readying another dose of pain. The eyes on the deamon which spoke blinked faster, and fixed upon Kain with more avid interest.

You might think me deserving punishment. But not this. Not this injustice. I suffer the fate of the worst. This moment of respite is one rarely granted, and time passed oddly here as I no sure doubt you know. Grant me mercy. Grant me freedom into oblivion, and the information is yours.

The deamon spoke far faster now, realising that another punishment was soon to strike upon him.

Kain was being caught off foot, the very ground beneath him rumbling and moaning, digestive fluids slowly oozing out the various pours.

"How?"

The blade. It has more abilities than you realise. The Ancients forged it like they were forged themselves. Adaptable to it's user requirements. Draw it, and plunge it into my essance. I shall allow you to abolish me entirely, and by doing so, my knowledge I grant to you.

"You swear to keep it binded?"

I swear. My word is secure, you know this. I might be a deamon of a most high rank, but honor is still within my thunder blood.

Kain made a decision.

The stomach rumbled further, and threatened.


"Agreed. Now. To limbo you go."

My thanks Kain. You always were better than those pious hypocritical bastards. Mercy should be granted to all. Even the deamons have moments of compassion, and angel's thier moments of sin.

"Quite."

Kain stepped forward, willing to commit the deed.....and proceeded to quickly and efficently, the event a blur of emotion and experiance. Kain was confused during it, as energies intertwined and odd sensations did he feel. He gained another three senses, which promptly decayed entirely.

This was frelling odd...or a mistake.

Roman sheathed his sword with his free hand and smiled at the little girl in his arms. He brushed some of the hair out of her eyes and smiled at her.

"Sheyrena, it is alright to be afraid...it is a perfectly normal reaction. Yet you have no need to be afraid here, you are safe with us. Okay?"

Roman looked at her through his cat-like eyes, the warm, friendly smile on his face. She still clung to him tightly and was still shaking slightly, but she turned and stared at him.

"Okay Sheyrena?"

Liam glowered at Lucifer's words. He spoke a brief reply,

"You will fail Lucifer. I will see to that. We will see to that...I promise you..."

Sheyrena clutched at Roman even more tightly. "Yes," she said quietly. She wiggled out of his arms and stood next to him holding his hand. A quiet strength emananted from the girl. "I'm fine, Mr. Roman. I'm brave."

For the first time since they arrived in Hell, Sheyrena smiled up at Roman.

Liam stood silently, waiting cautiously. His mind was connected to his clan as he spoke to them like so quietly.

Watch your backs. We're not at the River Styx...the river of souls anymore.

Aeris intoned a question, Then where in Hell are we? Pardon the pun...

Liam looked at her, This is the Ocean of the Damned, where the blood of the damned is collected and thus becomes as one "entitity". It explains the voice we heard earlier, the moans. We, the pure, the innocent, the holy are whom they seek to corrupt and destroy. But I will not let this happen to any of you. Lucifer is going to try to compel us to his side, and this is what I have warned you of earlier. Thus, if you are not strong in constitution, you will fail, and I will be forced to leave you here--in Hell.

Liam thought the next part to himself, We're going to have to cross that sea, just like Moses and his people...only difference is the blood abundance...and the feeling that I know Lucifer will try to crash the blood-waters down on us...

"Since when have we been the innocent, the pure, the holy!" Kain remarked derisively behind the group, his being forming upwards from the floor.

Kain seemed deeply agitated, enraged at some unspoken thing. His face was contorted in a low snarl, his eyes critical and his hair flaring as if it was his temper. His hair seemed to have flecks of crimson within it, as if flame snow had drifted upon the grandly grown hair. The flecks glowed with a life of thier own.

"To say such things is to be complacent, indeed arrogant. And why are we here in fact? Please explain to me what the frelling hell is going on." Kain demanded, his voice loud and confident. Those eyes held anger within them, a sort of anger which was frustrated with the way of "good" men.

Liam turned away from the red ocean and faced Kain. His eyes flashed a warning as he strode closer to the vampire. He stopped only several feet from the vampire.

"Only the fearful see my words as arrogant! Look at Sheyrena. What do you see? I see innocence, for she has not been subjected to the cruelties of this world. Look at Aeris, I see purity in her, for she has seen the world's cruelities, and yet has remained steadfast in her world as a source of power. Purity is further given to her by her elven and angelic natures combining as one: herself. And myself, for I am seraphim, and I have the Grace bestowed upon me long before your time! Who are you to say that you are better than the rest, you, vampire? It seems to me that already Lucifer has begun to corrupt you, my friend. Keep your heart good, and you will prevail. Now, will you help us stop Lucifer from extinguishing the lives of millions of innocent humans for his sick pleasures? Would you let that happen to your people, the Psi, if that were the case?"

"Let's all keep calm, here! We have enemies enough without turning against each other. That, as I'm sure you all know, is exactly what our foe is hoping for. Division among good has always been one of the greatest allies of evil. There will be time enough to argue about purity or lack there-of after we have come through this alive, yes? But if we let anger turn us from our purpose..."

Earlier in the journey, before the Gate was reached, Jermod had paused briefly to change into his battle gear. He now wore a long vest woven of silver thread and a pale gray cape that looked like fine, light weight silk. Two narrow bladed, single edged swords hung at his belt, one slightly under a meter in length, the other about two thirds as long. Both had blades that gleamed like slivers of a mirror. The Weaver carried a short spear forged from some black metal, about the length the great umbrella he had earlier borne.

OOC: Sorry I haven't been posting; I've been without internet access over winter break. Assume he's been with the group, except for the one pause I mentioned here. The cape is translucent, and his Torendari knife is visible at his back.

"I never said that I was not innocent, but I do question those who presume such a thing. Race decides nothing of purity, of innocence, of goodliness. I know that better than you, for I have known both angel, vampire, mortal, and demon from thier own sides, namely my sire, and my blade. You have existed within the good, not seen the dark from it's own perspective and experiance, Liam Celadrin." Kain spoke deeply, ignoring the protestation from the individual who called out.

"And, you presume Lucifer, as you call him, does not have a reason beside his own pleasure. There could be a very good reason for this action, a rationality which the God you serve supposedly allows him to reside in the current position he is in! Understand your foe, understand yourself." Kain hissed decisively, his open-mindedness rare in such goodly heros of farie tale.

Kain stood, the terrain around the group seeming organic, pulsing, vibrating. The others in the group seemed alien in this place, pillars of another dimension entirely, another world and place, which they were. Espcially Liam, who seemed as different as the daylight to the shadow.

But Kain seemed more....normal here. His green skin seemed to echo the dark undertones of this place. His fangs seemed to be shared with the demons. His eyes seemed to bear the rationality of the foe, but not the heart. The allegance was elsewhere, evidently.

The Brightblade was within his hand, the skull hilt having no life within it, but the sword seemed to be completely refined in this place. The sword seemed sharper, more deadly, more potent in this place.

As was Kain.

Liam thought for a half second before launching his next verbal attack at Kain.

"Speaking of experiences from the other side of the fence...where have you been? Do you not think I didn't notice you gone earlier? Have you betrayed us?"

Jermod made another attempt to quell the heated debate. Liam merely glared at him. He knew that Jermod was right though, but at the moment, he was merely just debating with the vampire, Kain. He turned his attention back to Kain.

"Well? Speak!"

OOC: Hey guys, i'm back, even if only for a little while! I may only come back sporadically at times, but i'll ensure a post here or there whenever I do.

IC: The situation was getting worse. Liam and Kain, through their bickering alone, was threatening to tear the entire Clan apart, and Aeris' sudden transformation was not doing any good for her and Zero either. Even now, the Nephilim Aerial, in her shimmering white gown, and Zero, in his trenchcoat which seemed to suck up all the shadows of hell into itself, were standing apart, as if they were polar opposite entities. But at this time of turmoil in the Clan, Aerial and Zero looked at each other. Where Aeris had become the essence of purity, Zero had unconsciously drawn into himself a little of the dark essence of Hell, and his skin became even paler than before, almost like living marble, while his eyes had become the shining blood red of an evil entity, even though his personality had remained unchanged. Contrasted with the angelic Aerial, they looked almost like sworn enemies, despite their love for each other.

But one glance changed it all. In Aerial's eyes, the old Aeris came back, and the red gleam in Zero's eyes faded away, replaced by the emerald green which was his true nature from the beginning. Thus, even though the angelic form of Aeris, and the evilly-enhanced form of Zero remained, their eyes were what it was, with love for each other, and with a nod, they knew what they had to do.

Swiftly, Aerial strode gracefully in front of Liam, while Zero, with an animal fury enhanced by the drawing in of Hell's essence in him, strode in front of Kain. As one, they took Liam's and Kain's shoulders respectively, and looked them in the eye. With that, the angelic glow of Liam and Aeris combined to form an even brighter glow that stabbed out like a sore thumb in the middle of the blood Ocean, while a dark mist flowed out from Zero's Nightshade Amulet to surround both himself and Kain, such that they could still be seen, two figures in a cool mist of darkness. An attempt by the lovers to calm their kin, by bathing them in the essence which they are born of.

"Liam Celadrin", Aerial began. Her voice was no longer the submissive, polite voice of Aeris, but a more commanding presence that would impress anyone. "Why do you ask of your followers what they cannot give? You ask that they be pure, innocent, and holy.........and yet you know very well that they cannot be all you ask.......except in their hearts. You doubt our dear friend Kain when you see that he has drawn into himself the dark essence, and yet you fail to see that one can do so and keep his heart pure! And it should not be so, Liam Celadrin! You have seen that fact when you accepted my paramour Zero into the Clan, knowing that his heart is pure where all other aspects of him are not! Why can you not see the same for Kain Brightblade Shentavo, a worthy warrior who sacrificed himself by drawing in the power of evil for the cause of good? It is not our place to debate good and evil at this point in time, not when we have a far more pressing objective to achieve! I believe Kain is as pure in his heart as any of us, and will fight with us to the end, whatever that may be. Will you accept him, Liam Celadrin?"

A long pause followed. Then, it was Zero's turn to address Kain. As he opened his mouth, his skin seemed to shine, such that everyone else saw a visage of a dark, yet honorable individual, attempting to convince the demonic visage of Kain.

"Kain Brightblade Shentavo!", Zero began, his voice high and worthy. "Why do you bandy words at a moment of crisis? This is no time to discuss philosophy! We are different, and I understand that you and Liam, being very different entities, will clash from time to time, especially now, when your ideals are in doubt! But hear me, oh warrior Kain! Do you not deny that whatever our differences, we all have a common goal? And would you deny that whatever all else, our common goal take precedence over all else? Now is not the time to debate why our foe is doing what he did! Now is the time to realise that our mutual foe is planning harm on our loved ones, and no matter the reason, we must stop him! For the sake of our loved ones! Do you understand me, Kain Shentavo?"

He stopped there. Aeris' hands on Liam's shoulders, and Zero's hands on Kain's. Both attempting their very best to reconcile the differences in a time of crisis, when the blood-red sea is threatening to overwhelm them............

"I hear you well enough, but your words mean nothing. A warrior without cause is a pawn, a priest without purpose betrays his God. And as these waters rise, and the creature from within arises, I shall defeat it with your assistance. I shall question him, Lucifer, myself. I have many questions for him, and he owes me answers. His answers shall be my guide." Kain said decisively, his own spirit rising to the occasion.

He turned and looked at this rising crimson liquid, the tantalising liquid bubbling forth in an ecstacy of movement, the ocean living and breathing, a thunderous roaring of the life liquid. The vampire's eyes looked mad at the sight, his mouth curved in a most possessive smile. His muscles seemed to pulse in unison with the roaring of the blood as it neared, as it rose to greater heights.

A mocking laugh came from this deranged warrior, his soul emblazing within the immortal body which it inhabited. He brought the Brightblade around his head, limbering his body and preparing for this battle.

"Pmuut Ulayh ehtaat so umt ymmo! Oui ryja bnujetat sa dra ehvunsydeuh E naxiena, yht huf, ouin femm pa tuha. So dryhgc, syo oui huf geht bayla. Ouin umt sycdan E crymm xiacdeuh. Huf, desa du yjahka so yhlacdunc!" Kain's voice barely rose up to the cresendo of rushing blood. Kain seemed idioticly confident, his sword glowing, crackling with blue energy. He spoke in his own toungue, words which had meaning to few. To hear such words, those words which rose imagary in anyone who heard them, saw that Kain knew things about this world, knew things about demons that no man should know. A dark knowledge, a dark experiance. A gratitude to an ally. A battlecry for people past.

As he spoke the words, runic symbols were summoned before him, wrenching into existance against the will of this place. Such power behind these runes.

" E sekrd caa oui cuuh Daneilla Shentavo." Kain said softly, his smile still there. This was a being without fear, without terror, and without concern. Kain had learned things which he should not have learned of, of the nature of his nation, of his people, and how they were betrayed by so many.

The Constructs.

Those bastards.

Liam looked into Kain's face strangely. Something was different, something dark and sinister. He cooled down his temper and closed his eyes momentarily. He could feel his balance returning to stability once more in his soul. When he opened his eyes, he looked over at Aeris and nodded, speaking to all at the same time.

"Let's go save these innnocents." he declared. Liam turned and rose into the sky on powerful wings. An aura shone brightly from his body, a holistic aura that drove the dark creatures of the underworld away. Liam managed to keep the aura from directly hitting his clan as he dove toward the water. His staff slammed into the surface of the water, and immediately a ripple turned into twin waves that swept the blood waters aside in both directions until rock rose from the ground and dammed the waters.

He turned to the clan, "Let's go."

Liam returned to his feet, and led the way by foot. The dark forces, including Lucifer had remained distant after such a defiant display of raw power...

Jermod's pale cloak seemed to glow as he strode after Liam, twirling his short spear with one hand. Gradually, a feeling of power grew around him - the Weaver was ready for battle, and making no effort to hide that fact.

Roman stood from where he was sitting. He had been gazing across the ocean, not noticing what was happening behind him. His catlike eyes scanned the endless red sea, he couldn't see it, but he sensed a great evil.

When Liam created his walkway, Roman took Sheyrena by the hand and lead her after the clan's leader.