NationStates Jolt Archive

The lanky stranger turned to face him, and Marvel was shocked. The Bloodhound Spell that he had improvised that evening had actually worked! This was really Vergil! Same idiotic swagger and everything!

But the eyes held no compassion as they fixed their gaze on the creature whose life their wearer had thought he was saving the day before. The face had only an arrogant sneer. "Your idiocy is amusing," he said. "I knew there was a reason why I let you live."

"Manners, manners," the demon-no-more retorted with a sigh, raising his finger in a half-serious gesture and taking on an arrogant little grin of his own.

"I'm sorry, little man," Vergil replied, his voice taking on a tone of mock concern, like a bully chiding a smaller child, "did I hurt your widdle ego? After all, we wouldn't want you to start to cry, now, would we?"

"Oh well," Marvel said, turning as if to walk away. "I was sorta hoping to let those geeks who were following me catch up someplace where you'd have credible deniability. Now, I'm just going to have to let them find you, just like I--."

"Don't turn your back on me, weakling," he said, turinng quickly harsh. As he did, he drew a daggar.

And, in the next moment, a lesser creature would have lost his hand. To the accompanyment of a loud thunderclap, a bolt of lightning hit him, melting the top of his blade and turning the rest red hot. Behind it, Tess appeared, once againl in her angelic form.

So, Marvel thought, an electrical mage. I was wondering what she did instead of...dating.

"What kind of trick is this?" Vergil demanded, shaking the heat from his fingers as he dropped his blade.

"No trick," Marvel replied. "Women just follow me around. There isn't really much I can do about it."

Another lightningbolt struck him. This time, however, he just smiled...and drew another blade.

"Break it up, you two," Marvel said. Having turned to face them, he pointed the palm of his hand at them. The air around it distorted as the spell issued forth. In a moment, a whirlwind separated them, placing him back against the nearest wall and her a few feet away, in the courtyard.

Yeah, Marvel thought, I could get used to this mage stuff.

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OOC:

Vergil is a non-player character, right? I'm free to RP him like this, right? I don't have to delete this post, right?

Either way, beck, you're free to step in any time you feel like it...at least while Sonny is busy and can't get things rolling...

OOC: dont RP too much on Vergil, he's a perfect villain but RP him if you wish it doesnt bother me haha but make sure he's twisted, classic villain, behind his demanour lies a sinister violent creature with, think sephiroth from final fantasy VII meets Vergil from devil may cry 3

IC:

Vergil stood to attention, his feet now firmly stuck in the roof of the hall of antiquities

"Nice trick... very impressive for a scumwing... and not even a true scumwing... intriguing, nonetheless, if you're wlling to risk your life in a duel then so be it, two against one and the odds are still very much stacked in my favour" Replied Vergil, clenching his fists he seemed to grow somewhat, his strength was amassing and only a small fraction of his power, before he lunged at Marvel levelling him , Marvel squickly rose and noticed the incease in how strong Vergil was...but Vergil wanted to finish off Tess... he didnt liek to leave a job unfinished, as Tess fired another blot at him he dodged quickly before lurhing around her and grabbing her pressure points from behind rendering her motionless

"This is what happens when a scumwing gets in fron of me and my mission, dont you dare try and get between me and that sword, I wont hesitate ins napping your pretty little scumwing neck..and that goes for you to Marvel, yes I know your name & all about you from SmahMouth, my my they really do want you dead it seems... the dawn of a new era approaches young ones, and I shall be at its head and you shall all know fera for it shall be me!" Vergil roared as hethrew Tess to the ground, her body paralysed it seemed

"ENOUGH VERGIL!" a voice screamed from behind... it was Alreic, he was carrying something..., it was bundled in canvas but Vergil knew what it was, Alreic thre the bundle on the floor and quickly reveale his stone, the sword came together

"HAHAA FOOL! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE..DAD!" hissed Vergil with venomous delight

"You think you're old enough to be holding such a big toy there little man, come show pa what you can really do...come on, unless you're a scumwing" Alreic goaded Vergil with these words...the two stood opposite one another, sword clenched in each hand and with the night sky beginning to bellow

"Just a minute, big daddy," Marvel called. "The brat and I have some unfinished business." As he spoke, he rose--levitated--to a standing position, feet just slightly above the ground. His eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flaired slightly. "You like power-ups, brat?" he said. "Good. You're going to love this one." He closed his fists, and his entire body began to glow.

Vergil turned and laughed. He crouched slightly, and then sprung again.

This time, though, he missed. Marvel pointed the palm of his hand at Vergil and then clenched it, and the younger half-breed stopped in mid air, held by unseen forces. Marvel spread his thumb and forefinger, and Vergil's arms spread to the side. The look on his face was of pure despite. Marvel didn't care. He hovered, wings never moving, right up to Vergil, and stood in midair, clenched teeth to clenched teeth, right next to the young vampire.

"So," the demon-no-more said, "SmashMouth is still alive. Your good fortune. It gives me a reason to keep you alive, just as you kept me alive earlier. You need to deliver a message. Tell him that times have changed, and that, when betrayed, your most loyal servant can become your deadliest foe."

Vergil growled.

"We're even now, brat," Marvel said. "Don't change that fact." As he spoke, Vergil lowered, returning to where he had been, facing his father. "He's your brat, Alreic," Marvel said again. "You can spank him."

"When I'm done with him, scumwing," Vergil sneered, "I'm coming for you."

Marvel snickered. "I'll be waiting, brat," he replied. He hovered over to where Tess lie and extended his right hand. Her body raised into the air. The air around her seemed to convulse, and her body snapped back to life. They both landed softly.

"We've got to stop meeting like this, babe," he said. He chuckled. "Tessla the Electrical Mage," he said.

"What's so funny about that?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing," the demon-no-more replied. Then, his glow fading, he rose into the air again.

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OOC:

Mwaaaaahahahahahahahhahahahahaaaaa!!!!

An' YOU thought I made her name up at random! :D :cool: :D

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IC:

"Where are you going?" Tess asked.

"Oh, this is one sporting event that I don't want to miss," he replied. "Besides, I think I'm going to ref this match--you know, make sure that nobody cheats...so I'm just getting myself a nice front-row seat. Besides, wouldn't want to keep the brat waiting, now, would we?"

The darkfigure crouched above on a roof overlooking the Antiquities Hall. Rain had begun to pour and it beaded of the hood of his cloak as he watched the encounter. He moved one hand to rest on his hilt, and traced along the simple Jewled Hilt. Excalibur would draw blood to night.

Draconis drew his mask up inside the hood that covered his mouth and nose. (cloth mask like the Gondor Men in Two Towers, Faramir's men that captrued frodo.) Twin silver eyes pierced the night sky like a hawk gazing out its pray. Ironically enough this Hawk had wings, though he they were hidden. He was fully in his Human Form. He raised his eyes to Another figure standing on a different roof. This figure was clad in the exactsame fashion, black clothes with a black cloak and a mask pulled up over his nose and mouth. In this figures hand was an IronWood Bow and the figure kneeled with the bowdrawn. Draconis smirked at Hunter. He wouldnt miss. He gazed at the building directly across the square from him. Still another figure was on that building dressed exactly the same. But a sword strapped to its back and one gloved hand resting behind its head on the pommel. Kast was ready too. He looked to the building on his left where Kula was clad in teh same clothes as well with her twin short swords drawn and ready to strike.

Draconis drew excalibur and held it in his right hand and slightly back and down as he crouched with his left arm out before him for balance. Kast across the way saw this and drew his family's sword: Andarma. The rain was pouring now. And Alreic and Virgil now faced eachother.

OOC: Well! Lazarus rises! Great to have you back, Sonny! :fluffle:

BTW...This is just a little heads-up. Tess still has to do something that would make the Angels believe that she's turned. She's a spy and she's toast, especially with SmashMouth still alive--UNLESS she can do something that shows loyalty to the Angels. If Draconis intervenes in this match, I expect that she'll step in front of something nasty that's meant for him.

--------------------------------

IC:

"But WHY?" Tess asked.

Marvel smiled. "You'd make a great spy, you know that?" he said.

"I'm serious, Marve. Why do you all have this big thing about trying to kill each other?"

"From what I understand, bratty over there watched as some rather nasty Angelic types killed his mom. It stunted his moral growth. Maybe it even drove him a little crazy."

Vergil hissed. He had obviously heard that.

"But why kill his own father?"

"Because he holds Big Daddy over there responsible."

She gave him a questioning look.

"I TOLD you he was a little crazy," he said.

Vergil hissed again. Marvel was thoroughly enjoying himself.

And then he felt it. There was magic nearby, and it was on the move. He had to find out what it was without letting Vergil know what he was up to.

"Excuse me, Tess," he said, "but could you do me a small favor and check on the weather?"

"But I already know what it's like out there. It's raining cats and dogs."

"Do you, like, recharge yourself with lightning?"

"Hmmmm, no, but I hear that..."

"...well I think that now would be a good time to try it."

"Well, the conditions are certainly right," she said.

"Good. And if you happen to see anyone we know on the way, give them my regards."

OOC: WELCOME BACK TARSONIS :]! AND TESSLA...AH NICE LITTLE IDEA THERE TOO Marionetonia, IMA CALL YOU MAZZ FOR SHORT HAHA LOL

IC:

Vergil dropped to the roof , on his hands and knees, he wasn't none too pleased, Marvel's words and actions infuriated him

"What makes you think that I work for smashmouth, he gives me my information now, he mays till be all too powerful in your realm but I saw him and he trembled..tell him yourself kid..." Vergil sneered as he rose to his feet still clutching the sword his father had just given him, Vergil' stone was embedded within it, its power great...Vergil lifted his free hand to the sky and soon a storm billowed and the rain began to pour

He then faced his father, Alreic was there standing silently, not ushering a word with his eyes closed, the two looked like brother rather than father & son

"Why do you wish to stop me father... mother must be avenged, it is her will and wish I end the lives of those who did not try and those who wished her death... you betrayed mother's will...you left her to die and then you left me...you're not the person I thought you were...you're soon to be another name, another face, another death"

Alreic heard these words and saw the storm growing more violent, the rain lashed down nwo onto the roof..his eyes firmly shut, he was thinking...he was thinking of that day his beloved wife Annalusia was taken from him & how his own child was forced to witness it...and hiow that very chld now swore murder on his own father...what had happened to Vergil

Vergil then faced the others that had gathered there, hidden amongst the designs on the roofs of buildings, he adressed them all, his fathers companions & the angels that gathered there

"Tell me all your darkest feras, your hopes and dreams & i shall tell you mine...you will see what your arrogance has made, what your rulese and laws crafted...your own end..."

As the smirk on Vergil's face increased a huge deafening roar came from behind him

"ENOUGH! How much more of this must I listen to, you pathetic wretch of a being, you want a fight, then son...you've got one, I only hope your mother wherever she is now, is looking down on you and she can forgive us both... this ends tonight..."

Vergil seethed with anger, and what seemed to eb an aura built around him

"Don't you dare speak ill of mother!" Vergil screeched as the two raced towards each other swords in hand as they clashed sparks filled the air

"Sorry son" Alreic said to himself...the others watched on as the two pirouetted and parried non stop with each other, the most powerful of vampires facing one another...tonight a bloodline would be ended by either father or son

OOC: this is what happenes at the end of the dual between Vergil and Alreic. Oh and have to make this more dramatic too. this is how Draconis witnessed it, youll have to rp it from Vergil and Alreics point of view.

Thunder rolled as Draconis watched the dual. Father And son, dueling to the death. Sparks flew from the combatents' swords as they struck again and again. Insults and threats flew nonstop from Vergil's mouth yet Alreic remained stoic as ever. Both were bloody and wounded yet neither was backing down. It was then that Draconis noted the Oil spilled around the roof from th recent paint job. The sparks from the swords fell upon it and ignited creating a circle of fire around the combatents. Alreic was momentarily distracted and Vergil took advantage of this. He had brought his sword up under his fathers and twisted it left and brought his knee up into his fathers chest knocking him to the ground and his sword skitting across the roof outside the circle of flames.

Vergil had twisted his sword and brought his foot down hard onto Alreics back and then kicked him over so he was lieing on his back, and held the sword to his throat. He whispered yet all could here, "another face......." he lifted the sword high "another death...." He brought the sword down.

Draconis however had started moving as soon as the flames ignited. He lept off the roof, landing gracefullly at a run. He ran twords teh dual, the fire parted as he dashed through, holding his sword down low. He watched as Vergil brought his sword down, and Excalibur iginted with white energy, and glowed bright in the night as he brought the sword up under Vergil's blocking the strike. THe blow of energy knocked the sword back up and Draconis took advantage following the blade and pinning both blades between them. Their faces were inches apart, and Draconis' Piercing silver eyes glinted. "You have forgotten the face of your mother Virgil."

OOC: Darktower series reference that line, means...you have shamed your self and your family.



Bit of history, just thought i would tie it together. Annalucia was one of Draconis's best friends, they had grown up together, and had trained together to be ArchAngels. He had loved her, but she had chosen another(Alreic) Eventually Draconis's jelousy had died down, and his romantic love for her had dwindled but he still looked on her as a sister. And he had fallen for another angel, but she was killed in the Vampire Inssurection.

ooc: Looking good I'll RP the POV of alreic and vergil now, and the backstory works :) I'll just have Vergil be very arrogant and egotistical, saying things about the rd hand etc

IC:

Father & son fought as if they were posessed by something more powerful than them, their bodies going through so much, mentally and physically, even the strongets fo warriors would have merely given up by now

"You sicken me father, friends with scumwings...it sickens me to know I have scumwing blood in me, that shall change soon..you and all your friends shall witness the birth of a new era, the dawn of the red hand and the rule of me, Vergil the white, the red hand will soon see it is I who should be their ruler...and you will bow to me before I take your life"

The sparks from the swords clashing fell onto the roof but even in thios torrential rainstorm nothing would stop the flames that roared from out of nowhere, a circle was formed around them the flames were high but the two did not care, the fire only served to make them fight harder until the other was defeated

But a sudden burst of flamer distracted Alreic adn Vergil quickly used that to hsi advantage removing the sword from his hand and forcing it out of the ring, before forcing hsi father to the ground with a knee to the chest

Vergil then whispered to his father "another face......." he lifted the sword high "another death...." He brought the sword down.

It was stopped...Draconis had blocked him, and now stared deep into the eyes of Vergil, empty soullless eyes, he looked at this face and in it he saw compassion, mercy, justice, the things he hated because it was his kind who had caused the death of his mother

Get out of my way...this is between me and my father, unless you wish to be like him, lying on the floor a wreck!" Vergil sneered but as he stare over Draconis shoulder...he could not see Alreic but in the huge wall of fire he could see a towering figure, wings spread apart, a creature he recognised, it was Alreic..he had entered his most hideous form, bloodlust

"This is where the fun begins, this is where the real fun begins" Vergil laughed as Alreic now clenching the sword he had just lost charegd for him

"Bring it old man...BRING IT!" vergil screamed as Vergil assumed defensive position as he watched Alreic but draconis was there also..2 on 1...a tricky situation but a fun one for him

"You gonan stand there scumwing, or you gonna fight, I bet my mother would have loved you fi she knew you're kidn weren't strong enough, haha passed over for a vampire and what vampire, that which you travel with...you know who the real enemy is dont you Draconis..youve known all along...look inside and choose the right path...you want revenge, take it out on him!"

Behind the scene of the battle, things were far from the orderly, predictable, passive watching that one would have expected.

First, Tessla, still appearing as an angel, soared over the top of the Hall of Antiquities. As the pregnant clouds began to give birth, she took upon herself the role of midwife. Spreading her wings and raising her arms in a mage's pose, she chanted a simple spell--actually, more an impassioned plea than an actual spell of command.

And the sky answered. First, the clouds glowed, lighting the grounds beneath them for a moment as if it was the light of day, and then collecting the energy and passing it all in one swift, powerful bolt into Tess' body. She screamed as the power flowed through her. She had never before controlled such might. For a moment, it was she who lit up the sky like a small sun. For that small moment, her true demonic form showed through.

As the glow died down, her purpose became clear. It was as if nature itself had relayed a message, a task to be done, along with the means to accomplish it. In a moment, she dove back to Marvel's side, her eyes aglow with a sparking power. She had returned to her angelic form, but, this time, it was more than an illusion. Neither real nor unreal, it was a soul shadow, a divine indication of the true nature of her soul.

"None of you can defeat him alone," she said, "but the three worlds will never again know peace unless he is defeated. You'll need a sword. Take mine."

She extended her hand, and, as she did, the lightning rose from it to become The Blade of the Lightning, an sword of pure power, never before seen in any of the three realms. Eyes wide with surprise, Marvel accepted the offering.

As he did, the force of the blade bolted through him. A sublime glow, not so forceful as the magical one that had gripped him earlier, but more pervasive, more internal, began to emanate from his entire body. "Yessss," he said. "I understand now." In a single bound, he lept to the edge of the circle of flames. In another, he was through it. The flames burned away the robes that he had hidden himself in, but, himself a hellspawn, they could not harm him. A black cloth around his loins and the blade in his hand remained.

Vergil sneered. "Foolish lackey," he said. "You think you can stand against me? I'm more than all of you combined!"

"That," the hellspawn said, now calm and placid, "remains to be proved."

He held up his free arm. "Shaldon-eh," he said. The Shield of Lightning formed on it.

And, for the first time, Vergil appeared as though there might be a small modicum of doubt within him. Draconis he rememberd, could predict and counteract; Alreic he knew well; but this was not the weakling that he had encountered the day before. This was a being as powerful as any angel, and he could see by the way that this new Marvel-of-the-Lightning moved that the hellspawn's new weaponry had somehow imbued him with a fighting skill that he had never had. He was formidible now.

"Come," Marvel said in a new and deeper voice, the calm at the center of the storm awash on his face. "Let this be decided."

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OOC:

Sorry. Couldn't stay away from the party. Feel free to RP Marvel as a part of the fight.

The weapons will disappear after the engagement, and he will revert to being a mere powerful mage.

OOC: alright so heres my plan, all 4 will fight at once, but Alreic and Marvel will be taken out, and Draconis will face Vergil 1 on 1 but Hell be in his Archangel form. Hes the most powerful angel because hes the Last Archangel to walk anarion. Theres warrior angels in lost Jerusalem but not arch angels. When Annalucia was executed the order was disbanded


IC: Draconis smiled at Vergils attempts to poisin his mind. He slammed a beam of holy energy into Vergils chest flinging him across the roof where he skidded to a halt just before hitting the wall of fire. Steam billowed off his chest from where teh beam had struck.

"Its true Virgil, i loved your mother, But because of her Compassion and Mercy, the very things you lack. You discrace the memory of her with your hatred and evil. And this i Swear to you, on Annalucia's grave, THE RED HAND WILL BE DEFEATED! AND YOU SHALL HAVE NO PLACE IN THE NEW WORLD!"

He stepped aside just intime to let Alreic pass him.

Vergil groaned as he lifted hismelf back of the floor, smoke where he had just been hit in the chest, now they were all against him, he had yet to show any form besides his simple form

"Well, this is a challenge at last, coem father, show me what you learnt in your exile" Vergil cockily demanded as he picked up his sword and began to take a stance

"you will see my next form, impure as it s, it shall show you a mere glimpse of my power!" Vergil declared as an aura agin surrounded him, alreic slowly walked towards hm, demonic now, no longer in the guise of his human form, a form only marvel had previously seen, but he was restrained, not reaching his full potential

Alreic quickly quicked up pace and as he jumped towards Vergil a huge light burst blinding many temporarily before two beams of light burst into the sky, Alreic & Vergil were airborn fighting with one another

Swords clashed and both father and son were fightingf or dear survival, Vergisl first form was much liekhis fathers true vampiric form but much more powerful, how had Vergil amasses so much power so fast, how did this young vampire child become so powerful and no one noticing, the two fought for ages

and then a light fell from the sky and fell to the roof...it was Alreic..he was badly hurt, bleeding with cuts all over him, hsi son circled the sky before landing over hsi fathers body, and picking him up by hsi collar

"Youre a disgrace to mothers legacy, a disgrace,she would spit at you, youretiem is over old man!" Vergil sneered as he took his fathers sword and his own and stabbed him in the chest

He was dead... he was gone... he was... alive..hegrabbed his own son and thre him backwards

"you think you can stop me that easily, I may lose this fight but I wont die by your hand, not now not ever, I may not be bale to fight on but you will bge stopped, the red hand will be stopped, and then I will avenge your mothers detah in the right way"

And with that Alreic fell into sleep, he was knocked out...the rain beat down more heavy now and the stormclouds had gathered over Vergil, the wind howled as he laughed

"Now is the new age of the serpentine...now my kind shall retake what was ours and I shall make her a god... whose next to the slaughter!" Vergil decreed as he took his fathers necklace and attached it to his sword, hsi sword grew in power, Vergil was now growing in power, he could feel it

The necklace! It had a talisman of somekind on it! It had to be neutralized or Marvel no one would have any chance against the thing the Vergil had become.

Marvel reached out with his shield hand and pulled...and the necklace moved toward him.

Vergil's head spun. In fact, it ended up looking almost directly behind him, something that only a few species of demon could do.

"WHAT?!?!" he growled.

Marvel said nothing. You don't give information away to an enemy. Rather, he just put more force into the levitation spell. The sword's power decreased as the necklace's owner came into question.

"Oh no you don't!" Vergil growled. "This is MINE, scumwing!"

"Let's not get hypocritical, now," Marvel replied, "and, again, that remains to be proven."

"HAH!" Vergil called out, and he turned the sword to face Marvel. As he did, a bolt of energy shot out of it. Marvel turned his shield hand, and deflected the blast, but he lost his levitation spell as he did, and the sword began to power up again. "Here's your proof, scumwing!"

Got to get closer, Marvel thought. He levitated toward his quarry, and lashed him with the spell again. Again, the sword's power began to eb.

And that was when Vergil launched into a flurry of blows against the demon. Marvel parried and counterstruck, but the concentration that he used to keep up the spell kept him at a disadvantage. Even the quickness of the lightningbolt could not save him from taking one, two quick hits.

I have to do something before he wears me down, he thought.

And then, the thought struck him.

He centered his sword on his body. The necklace now slunk midway along the sword. It belonged to no one. It was now or never.

Marvel moved in and struck, sweeping Vergil's blade aside and letting him taste the Shield of Lightning. He shrugged it off almost immediately, but that gave Marvel just the time he needed for one quick move. He swung the Sword of Lightning, and it connected--not with Vergil, but with his sword. The chain that held the necklace broke, and it fell limply to the ground.

Vergil screamed and slammed Marvel in the head with his sword hand fist. It hit like a ton of bricks.

And he word an ensourceled ring that drew the power out of the demon-no-more.

Marvel screamed and plummeted to the earth, with Vergil in hot persuit. Actually, Vergil did more than pursue--knowing where the turned demon would land, he moved there, raised his sword and waited. But this was not to be the Creature's day. Marvel was still used to being without magical powers. As he fell, he merely spread his wings and used them to full affect.

Rather than coming down on the ground, where Vergil was waiting, he veered away grabbed the necklace...just before hitting the ground hard. Though he tried to close them, one of his wings was caught under him as he rolled in the landing. He grimaced in pain as the wing muscles pulled out of their socket, and the shoulder over them dislocated. Even without magic to heal it, the injury would fade in a few days, but that left him without the ability to fly.

Vergil turned, his sword less formidible, but ready to reclaim the necklace from Marvel's cringing hands.

"Dra-co-nis!" the turned demon called out.

...but Vergil got there first. He raised his sword to strike--and cried out in pain as a bolt of lightning heated it red hot.

"Noooo!" It was Tessla, coming to Marvel's aid.

Without so much as a thought, he swung the blade back behind him. A wave of energy shot through the air and, even though she got a warding shield up, it broke through the shield and threw the she-demon back against the nearest wall as if she were a rag doll. She slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Still clasping the necklace, Marvel used all of his remaining magical power to form one last levitation spell and push. Vergil was sent back, and lost his balance, but it only took him a moment to recover.

"Dra-co-nis!" Marvel called. "I can't hold him any longer!"

Draconis stood over Aleric his gaze on the unconcious halfbread. He Heard Marvel Cry out but his words were distant as if he were a mile away. He reached out and the necklace soared from Marvel into His outstretched hand. He brought his hand to his chest and opened his palm and stared down at the jewel. He closed his hand and light blazed in his fist as he ground the jewel into powder. He knew the spells on the jewel, it would fix itself, but for now it would not aid Virgil.

He heard a thud as Vergil Kicked Marvel into a wall where the Turned Demon slumbed down next to Tesla also unconcious. Hunter and Kula jumped down to see to them. Kast landed next to him and grabbed Alreic by the collar and dragged him out of the ring of fire.

Draconis continued to look down as Vergil stood across the ring from him. He slowly raised his head his silver eyes glinting as he focused in on his opponent. "For someone who claims to be fighting for his mothers memory, you sure know very little about her." He unbuttoned his cloak letting it fall from his shoulders into a crumpled heap at his feet. He tilted his head to the left cracking his neck and then did the same to the right. He held out Excalibur infront of him, and as he raised it the blade extended to be 6 feet long. From the tip of his sword a transformation flared out as if his old form was swept up by the wind. Holy light armor appeared on his body, a silver chestplate, greivs, armgaurds and a battle skirt. A helm appeared on his head with no eyes yet he could still see. His hair swept out behind him as if blown by the wind with the transformation becoming blonde and long. His wings sprouted out in a similar fasion.


His Warriar angel form resonated with a sense of power. But it was not his final form. His next form, would be one no one had seen in Anarion for over 3 thousand years, Since the Time of Annalucia. And one part of the Prophecy would be fulfilled, And an archangel will come out of hiding, be known to the world.


OOC: i never stated the prophecy before.

The Children of the Eldar shall come,
In the face of Terrible evil,
One shall rule,
One shall run,
One Shall fight
And the archangel will come from hiding and be known to the world.
The stones will be gathered,
The sword unlocked,
A beacon of hope will be kindled
And evils days will be numbered.

Draconis stood over Aleric his gaze on the unconcious halfbread. He Heard Marvel Cry out but his words were distant as if he were a mile away. He reached out and the necklace soared from Marvel into His outstretched hand. He brought his hand to his chest and opened his palm and stared down at the jewel. He closed his hand and light blazed in his fist as he ground the jewel into powder. He knew the spells on the jewel, it would fix itself, but for now it would not aid Virgil.

He heard a thud as Vergil Kicked Marvel into a wall where the Turned Demon slumbed down next to Tesla also unconcious. Hunter and Kula jumped down to see to them. Kast landed next to him and grabbed Alreic by the collar and dragged him out of the ring of fire.

Draconis continued to look down as Vergil stood across the ring from him. He slowly raised his head his silver eyes glinting as he focused in on his opponent. "For someone who claims to be fighting for his mothers memory, you sure know very little about her." He unbuttoned his cloak letting it fall from his shoulders into a crumpled heap at his feet. He tilted his head to the left cracking his neck and then did the same to the right. He held out Excalibur infront of him, and as he raised it the blade extended to be 6 feet long. From the tip of his sword a transformation flared out as if his old form was swept up by the wind. Holy light armor appeared on his body, a silver chestplate, greivs, armgaurds and a battle skirt. A helm appeared on his head with no eyes yet he could still see. His hair swept out behind him as if blown by the wind with the transformation becoming blonde and long. His wings sprouted out in a similar fasion.


His Warriar angel form resonated with a sense of power. But it was not his final form. His next form, would be one no one had seen in Anarion for over 3 thousand years, Since the Time of Annalucia. And one part of the Prophecy would be fulfilled, And an archangel will come out of hiding, be known to the world.


OOC: i never stated the prophecy before.

The Children of the Eldar shall come,
In the face of Terrible evil,
One shall rule,
One shall run,
One Shall fight
And the archangel will come from hiding and be known to the world.
The stones will be gathered,
The sword unlocked,
A beacon of hope will be kindled
And evils days will be numbered.

"Impressive Draconis...impressive indeed, you two seem to possess the same skills to change form..nonetheless it shall not matter, I am the mirror opposite of you.. I am your darkness to your light... the light never fully removes darkness..remember that!" Vergil declared as he saw the jewel crushed into pieces, he was incensed but knew only one jewel could not be broken, the jewel of annalucia, for it was cursed not blessed, it didnt bring happiness and although it had divine purpose, since annalucia's final breathe i cursed all who wore it

Vergil saw Draconis form and rose to meet him, he raised his hands to the sky and as he yelled out his mothers name a great bolt of lightning veered towads him and struck him and then a great whie light and darkness...before he revealed his 3rd form.. a doppelganger form, it looked exactly liek Draconis except for the face, the face was marionette like, no expression, no nothing...

"Shall we dance kind sir or shall I merely skewer you until every last drop of blood is removed form your scumwing body..,.reply soon or I'll think less of you and so shall mother" the new Vergil replied, one more form left, this one was terrifying, the next..unthinkable

Alreic opened his eyes and saw Vergil & Draconis..the two staring one another down, he could feel their power and then it hit him, a vision but this one was confusing, it showed both conbatants being defeated in the same way..it wasn't clear, something was wrong


"Tell..them...to...stop...before it's..too ..late" Alreic muttered before he passed out, Kast heard these words but the ring of fire was too intense

OOC: vergil has 4 forms, kinda doing sephiroth thing now where he just changes after every fight, final form tho ill reveal later on when it seems he's on the verge of defeat and mind if i think of an alternate prophecy that runs alongside yours, every side has their scripture :) and think of vergils sword as the equivalent of draconis'but it cn be used for good and evil but corrupts as it is forged in hate

Draconis held out Excalibur before him. Arguably the most powerful sword in teh world, he doubted Vergil could match its power. Though you should never underestimate your opponent. Draconis fired a beam of holy energy at vergil throwing him off balance he lept still firing the beam and then stopped in less than a seccond before Vergil could react Draconis brought his sword across Vergils stomach.

Vergil was sliced across his chest, he leapt backwards and ina flash swung his sword towards Draconis who dodged only to see Vergil standing there agin with his sword, he cut Draconis across his arm quickly distracting him so he could throw a punch sending him through the air

Vergil quickly assumed a defensive pose and began to speak

"Slow there my dear friend, is that the best you can muster, how is your arm, a mere scratch liek my chest I do believe..now coem fight, there is much for you to learn... " Vergil cockily said as he swung his sword around showing a flash of skill before he began to walk towards Draconis, he began to qoute an ancient saying, long hidden because of its words

"The darkness defeated by light
Born again to end it's plight
A child born between the world pure impure
Shall make amends
To hasten the fall ofa wounded world
Scars remade, deeds overturned...

now you shall see the dawn of the serpentine, the rise of the red hand and the fall of the eldar.. in the distance they march, they come here now..hell has emptied for tonight, they come to finish a job the forgotten race once tried..to bring about the ruin of Lost Jerusalem..now will you fight me Draconis or will you sit and cower liek the scumwing you are!""

Draconis ignored Virgils insults but payed head to the words he spoke.

"You didnt finish that prophecy Virgil..... Do you know the rest of it? for i do.


The darkness defeated by light
Born again to end it's plight
A child born between the world pure impure
Shall make amends
To hasten the fall ofa wounded world
Scars remade, deeds overturned...

but in the forgotten realm
the hidden light shall grow
until it shines anew
and returns to save the warring tribes
and the tears of the fallen shall flow like rivers
day shall be come night,
night become day.
and the impure child will kneel,
to the ones he swore to slay.
a thousand stories will overlap
but at the center
stands the archangel"

Draconis lunged at Vergil and the swords clashed. beams of energy carreened of the swords from each blow. Their swords shined with energy and it illuminated the entire circle. Draconis ducked under a swipe and brought his elbow into vergils face nocking him back. but got kicked in the Stomach. He slashed again but Vergil brought his sword up to parry and struck for a killing blow,.........but Draconis dodged the right knocking his sword in the direction of the strike throwing Virgil off balance. Draconis reacted quickly and followed his strike spinning around and landing another elbow in Vergils face. he then slashed upwards into virgils sword knocking it high and before he could bring it down again Draconis spun halfway bringing his sword around and stabbing out under his arm into Virgils stomach, he then spun back around the way he came and drew the blade down across virgils face and chest. Steam hissed from the wounds as Virgil ducked away from Draconis.

"You have betrayed your mother Virgil, and for such she offers you know protection."

OOC: okay virgil can heal because like it or not he stil has Angel blood in it so hell heal pretty quickly hell turn into his 4th form and be cocky as ever, but then Draconis will take his archangel form and Virgil will know just who he's dealing with, see the Archangels are extinct, except for Draconis he is the last, and when Virgil sees this hell remember the prophecies about the Archangel saving the world from darkness.

A throbbing pain laced through Marvel's body as he slowly dragged himself back to consciousness. His arm was barely usable, and his wing even worse. He was also having trouble breathing because Vergil's kick had cracked a rib or two. And all of his magical powers had been sucked away. He had thought to use the magic of the jewel to augment his own strength, but he could feel the pain that it would inflict upon him if he tried it. It was filled with the worst kind of malevolence. Even if he only used it once, it would have tainted his entire being.

And there was Tess, her small, delicate body bruised and battered beside him. The illusion of her Angelic appearance had faded with her body. She had come to his rescue even when High and Mighty Draconis, who was now quoting prophesy as if he was its sole arbiter, would not.

And there was Draconis. He'd finally joined the battle. It was about time.

Marvel's legs were still good. He tried to rise--and the pain in his head hit him. He must have suffered a mild concussion when he slammed into the wall. It would be a while before he rose again.

So helpless. So...

There was only one source of magical energy that Marvel could tap--and that would be risky at best. The infernal storm that Vergil had summoned had a life all its own--a presence that was angry but not melevolent. It was an abomination against nature itself, and nature had already armed him to smite the creature that had caused it.

But would it aid him again, after he had failed its cause?

And would it offer any help knowing, as he did, that he could not directly aid in this scrum?

His purpose would be simple: bring in the troops. If the brat thought that he was easy pickings, that even Draconis was no great challenge, then maybe he would think differently of an Angel army. Marvel was surprised that no one had raised the alarm yet. He would remedy this, if he could. He doubted that even the Angels would be able to pass through the Wall of Fire--even Hunter's arrows would not make it through. Somehow, the thing had become ensourceled itself. Now, only a hellspawn such as himself--only not so badly injured--would be able to go through.

It merely remained to be seen if he had the strength to...summon the strength.

------------------------------

OOC:

not really doing anything here. Just thought that the battle should have some witnesses, so that, later, the Angel government would be able to sort this thing out and reward Kast & Co. for coming to their aid when they could not be bothered to take care of their own business.

OOC: ok vergil is defeated but ever the bastard he is escapes and shall the city come under attack or not from red hand forces? but yes think of vergils final form as well, a souulless being, no longer hellbent on revenge just slaughter

IC:

A scar now was visible on Vergils face, a mark upon porcelain skin

"Your prophecy...not mine, I do not follow words of yours, I follow the words of the last true warrior... I am his heir...the words passed down from Alreic Neshar, heir to the thrones of the vampire and angel worlds...and his queen, slain before she could take her rightful place as queen and goddess...burn now!" Vergil decreed as the flames rose higher and several nearby buildings began to carry the flames and then...a great thud..the roof caved in from the weight of water, fire and the fighting, the two fell a great height through the hall before landing with a great thud on their sides

"Draconis dont fight him any longer...he's... different..he's the last... he's the last..." Alreic triesd to scream before he passed out, the others rushed to him thinking what could he be trying to say

"Her will shall be carried forth, her words are here...in this very hall..her wishes her desires, I knwo they hold the key tomy rule..herscriptures!" Vergil groaned as he lifted himself up and called for his sword, the sword was on the roof still but somehow began to move and then flew directly at him impaling him in the chest...was he dead, kille by his own weapon...it would be too easy an end

He drew the blade out and then the angelic side began to emerge, his healing skills kicked in, he was getting stronger and now he wanetd to try the side of his power he hated, the angel side and so over the hole in the roof he formed a barrier of fire and all the exits were now blocked by fire

"are you..are you the last of your kind..." Vergil calmly asked

Draconis lept twords Vergil, slashing hard but Virgil got his sword up to block, the to Combatents went at it again. Hacking and slashing all around the chamber. The scrolls and volumes burned their ink turning the fire different colors. Draconis ducked under a slash from Vergil, and extended his wing quickly hitting Vergil in the stomach. But instead of knocking him back Vergil Grabbed Draconis's wing and tore hard. Bones crunshed and Draconis grimmaced in pain. A heavy blow to the side of his head knocked him to the floor, and he was kicked onto his back as Vergil stood over him raising his sword. "Today my mothers will is done. Her vengence on those who could have saved her but didnt shall be committed HERE!" He brought the sword down but draconis was too quick. From under his wrist gard a short armblade extened. He imbedded this into Vergils thigh and rolled away.

Vergil Growled and ripped the blade out. But what happened next no one, not even Vergil was prepared for.

"Today Vergil you witness true power." His eyes, now glowed a bright silver as if energy would shoot out his eyes. Light began to envelop his body and suddenly it shot upward into the sky forming a pillar of light. Draconis's body was raised up, his armor stripping away, and his form fadded into a ball of light. what appeared brought a look of amazement from Kast and Kula, but a look of Horror from Vergil. Draconis had becomoe the Archangel Dragonarus. His armor was Obsidian Black. A full suit of armor this time, not the light armor in his warriar form. It's shoulder gaurds were outilnie in blood red and a huge red cross was painted on his chest plate. Excalibur had gone black and was now had an 8 foot long blade. Holy fire seered along its length. 4 wings extended from his back two high two low, all were black feathers with armor along the edges where the bones would be. His helm was solid black two metal wings extending out to the sides of his face plate, his mask was lowered and from the eye hole, just two red orbs were where teh eyes should have been. They appeared to be suspended in shadow, for his face was undicernable. Long black hair billowed out behind him. He decended upon the pillar of light and when he landed the pillar faded. He was a foot taller now and looked down at Vergil. His voice sounded like the voice of God.

"This day Vergil, you will flee in terror."

"So this is what they spoke of , I thought I'd never see the day this form would be shown in this world once more...and so it is, the dance of fates, angles and demons collide...if only mother could see us now, I know her word would've been..for in this hall lie her own words, in a crimson book...that oen there!"
Vergil pointed towards a statue holding a book , crimson in colour, it was old, it was Annalucia's diary but a blessed book, safe and secure that only her blood could touch it, the very last person to go near it was Alreic himself who through marriage to Annalucia bonded blood

"HER BOOK WILL REVEAL SECRETS TO EVERYONE BUT FIRST YU SHALL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE USUPER, IF YOU WOULD BE THE VOICE OF GOD, i SHALL EB THE VOICE OF HIS FIRST CHOSEN, HSI TORMENTOR..i AMHE WHO WALKS THE SHADOWLANDS... I AM SATANICUS ANGELUS"

and with that Alreic woke up, he knew his son had entered the last form...he quickly rose and entered his vampire form and leapt forwards into the the hall through fire before witnessing hsi son Verfil who now had become the very image of evil

His armour crimson, his hair white and his face remained porcelain, his lips cherry red and his eyes ice blue, at his side was his sword butwere his hands now were, there were claws, he was a beast and he let out a feafening roar before standingat the vry face of Draconis before smiling and speaking

"They are at the door now...they bay for blood...I'm not that evil..I'm informing you that the red hand are here now... prepare yoursefl" And with that Vergilsweeped Draconis' legs befor eleaping backwards on top of a statue, the untrained eye would not see them, their speed was flawless, but Alreic watched on, knowing he could not do anything..except take the book..but how

When Vergil looked upon where Dragonarus should have fallen, there was nothing there. Confused he looked just in time to take the butt of Excalibur to his face. He was knocked of the statue but Draganarus was already where he landed, the infinate speed of the Archangel was greater than that of Vergils, for evil, could not contest the power of Good. Draganarus grabbed Vergil throwing him into a wall. And fired a beam of holly energy into him. His armor was scorched, and smoke rose from it. He fired back with a beam of Darkenergy but it struck Draganarus and reflected off him, though he wasnt unscathed. But Draganrus would not be stopped. He blasted Vergil again and lunged at him striking with his sword and Vergil Countered. The Titans clashed and energy sheared off ripping through book and statue alike. The Statue of Annalucia shattered and the book launched into the air and arced out of the room through the roof. Vergil Flew afterit but Draconis Flew into him knocking him up into the air. The two flew at eachother Swords connecting and energy firing. The energy could be seen for miles. Then one of the siluets fell. The other siluete flew to the other and grabbed him and then Raced to the ground. The two impacted kicking up a cloud of dust. When it cleared Draconis was standing over Vergil Sword raised.

"Demon and Lord of Darkness i banish you from this relm." He began to bring the sword down but someone cried out and tackld him to the side. He flipped to his feet to see that Alreic had tackled him with every ounce of strength left. He looked over and vergil was gone.

"Dont you dare kill him!" Groaned Alreic, "his life is not yours to take..and I will fight you if you try to kill him!"

Alreic was no longer the weak and injured vampire halfbreed, he was a father and although his son had just tried to destroy him and his friends

"He's my son, he can be saved, if he is to die it will be by my hand and my hand alone, so it was written years ago and so I have seen... stand down now or I will fight you here..." Alreci replied, his wounds bad but healing fast, his angel blood was helping him as was his vampire traits, by all respedt eh should have healed but i think the scars brought on by his own child had left more damage deep within than visible

"Annalucia's diary was in two pieces, cut perfectly through the middle, the first half Alreic kept the other half...

Rushing throught the streets was Vergil wounded and nw in his normal form , groaning and forcing several people out of their way, clutched in his hands was his sword..and the second part of her diary, he reached the city limits beforerunning vertically up the walls of lost jerusalem and fleeing into the darkness, miles away deep in ruisn of old empires sat Vergil & from the darkness a figure approached

"You have shamed your mother, she wished the death of them, why could you not complete the task" the figure hissed beforer removing her hood, she was the spitting image of annalucia apart form her eyes, serpent like, her hair was red rather than blonde and her teeth, fangs

"Youll never be the son she wanted!" and with that Vergil quickly moved and sliced her in two,

"Old crones should shut up sooner, you know nothing of mother...and taking her form wont make me feel guilty, there's always another day !" and with that Vergil vanished into the shadows

Gradually Dragonarus changed back into Draconis. He was once again in his human form staring down Alreic. "Your son......your problem....but right now" He gazed up at the decending angels......"weve got other problems."

Pelebrius landed across from Draconis. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!!? YOU HAVE DESTROYED THE ARCHIVES! THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY GONE! ARREST THEM!"

"Pelebreus..leave them be..this is my fault I accept full responsibility" Alreic said as he stood up," it is my fault that the archives were destroyed, I accept any punishemnt you may hand down to me"

Alreic knelt before Pelebreus,he realised that the others had a mission to carry forth and if oen of them were to pay it may as well be the outcast of the group

"Let the others go and let me take their punishment..I am sorry for the loss of our history, the loss..the loss of what our fathers spent many years safeguarding.."

Alreic offered him his sword, "best it be by my own blade..."

Draconis placed a hand on Alreics shoulder. "That wont be neccessary. Pelebreus......You know our quest and what must be done. Don't hinder us."

Pelebreus was furious. They had destroyed the Archives. The history gone....but he knew of the quest.....and would not sacrifice the world just to punish them. "Bring it."

Lucien, Face a twisted scoul, brought forth a small silver chest in his hands.

Pelebreus took the chest and turned to Dracons, "Swear that when this is over you will return it. And swear that Azaroth will shine in battle to save our relm. "

Draconis bowed his head with one fist crossed over his chest. "I so swear it."

Pelebreus opened the chest, and from inside white light billowed out. Lucien shied back shielding his eyes. As did most, but Draconis basked in the light. He could feel the holyenergy pulsing through it. He stared into the light and the image of a pendant formed. It was a circuler jewel with angel wings folded in around it. As he reached for it and lifted it from the box the light died. IN his hand he held the Holy spirit stone and has he held it Pelebreus quoted the last 4 lines in Annalucias master prophecy.

The stones shall be gathered
The sword unlocked
A beacon of hope will be kindled
and Evil's days will be Numbered.

"Pelebrius," a voice called weakly from beside a nearby column, "don't be so quick to pass judgement. If you check Tessla's abode, you will find that she has made an archive, an etherial copy, of every artifact in this building. Your history is not lost.

"Now, could someone PLEASE help me put my shoulder back in and bring a healer? We have TWO here who need it--it seems that the woman who preserved your history is in a coma because she risked her life trying to fight your enemy for you--and I'm not much better off than that."

I have no idea why that idiot left me alive, Marvel thought. All he had to do was draw his sword and slice me up. I'm sure going to make the most of it, though. And I can't wait to see the look on ol' Loosebrain's face when he gets a load of Tess. It would almost make this pounding headache worth it.

There were witnesses. She knew that SmashMouth was still alive, but she fought for the Angels' cause anyway. She had decided to turn. And they had their precious library.

The only thing that worried Marvel was knowing that someone from the Red Hand probably had a copy, too.

Lucien saw the stone and slinked off towards the exit, later that night he wandered the woods nearby and the sounds of the creatures began to worry him until he reached his destination

"What newsLucien ahve you brought us" a voice said, ahead of Lucien was a demon, clasped in armour one of the red hand, "What news have you brought your new masters!"

"They have the spirit stone m'lord, they now have the new piece of their quest within their posession" Lucien replied cowering under the might of the demon lord

"Lucien...go back to them now, do not let them out of your sight, the walls of Lost Jerusalem shall fall under the crimson moon...one more night Lucien, make sure the city is ready to fall" The demon asked, theway they asked nicely still scared Lucien too muhc, but then out o the shadows came Vergil

"Lucien, you betryay us now..and I'll have you gutted like the vile creature you are.." he spoke calmly, he looked different, as Vergil walked towards the demon lord, the demon bowed to him, this showed who was in charge

"Varn... can you bring the city to ruin?" Asked vergil perched now upon a ruined statue

"Sir, the city of scumwings shall fall and fester for the ground for all eternity, the stench of blood shall fill the air, no one not even rats would go near... for the Red Hand!" the demon named Varn roared, "I leave you now sire, the preperations for war begin"

"Very well Varn...i must attend to amtters of my own firts within the forgotten realm, it seems a few of my own kind have an issue with my rule...vampires...wrecthes... I shall see you very soon General Varn, make sure that even the strongest of them perishes...farewell" Vergil spoke before he faded into the darkness

Kast stood in the shadows some 100 yards away. His elven eyes pierced the night and he could see everything. That bastard of a traitor, he was setting up jerusalem to fall. As the others left Lucien stood alone. He grabbed his bow off Cerifis, took aim and fired. Before the arrow struck he had mounted Cerifis and was taking off for the City.


Draconis was loading up his horse. Food, supplies, weapons, arrows. The members of the group were doing the same and were prepaired to move out when. "WAIT!"

Draconis turned to see Kast riding cerifis bounding out twords them.
"We cant leave,.....Lucien has betrayed us all. The red hand attacks tomorrow night.....on the night of the Blood moon."

before he had finished Draconis had spread his wings and was flying off to the Palace.

Pelebreus could barely accept the knews. "But Lucien swore his loyalty."

"His loyalty was to the old kings who believed they were better then all else. He must be arrested and the defenses manned. My friend i wish we could stay to fight, but the sword holds the fate of all of Anarion."

Pelebreus nodded. "Go Draconis, make it out before the demons enter the plane and return. You must make it out. Lucien will be delt with.


2 hours later

The heroes traveled down the mountain path, heading back out to the planes. They had just started when the Sirens had sounded. The call to arms had been issued. Draconis didn't know about Lucien, but war had come to Lost Jerusalem. And once again he and Alreic had to sit back and let it come. The trading town was insight and once again they were off on their journey.


That night
Deep in the woods the air split and a gaping mouth formed in mid air. Demons marched out. Sargents barked orders, the armies assembled. Varn watched his army assemble. 5000 strong. they would take the city of lost Jerusalem.
Ladders had been built for them to scale the walls.
"MARCH TO JERUSALEM!!!"
The army marched for what seemed like forever before the City came into view. The sounds of merry making and the bustle of teh streets could be heard. Varn was impressed. "Well done Lucien..... CHARGE THE CITY LEAVE NONE ALIVE!"
The demon army charged across the fields blood lust alight in their eyes. When all of a sudden, the city went dark, and the sounds ceased. The demons carrened to a halt confused. The looked around their fear growing, what was hapenening. A knew sound grew, light and subtle. One demon turned to the other, and asked "what's that wistling," The demon was about to respond when an arrow pierced his throat. Arrows rained down on teh army. Confusion marred the ranks. The sounds of a battle cry sounded all around them when from the flanks of the fields angels charged the fields. Varn horrified yelled out to his men. "ITS A TRAP!"

"In the end, his racism was so strong that he abandoned even his friends and country," Marvel said. "In the end, he tried to save his people by destroying them. The fool. The walls in Asgoroth are capped with the heads of fools such as he."

It was a grim night. From miles away, the sound of the slaughter still resonated into the darkness. Marvel could use his hand again, but due to something in Vergil's wards, they had been unable to heal him magically. He was forced to call upon his own reserves of strength and the shao lin pain-resisting techniques that Coreval had taught him. He breathed rythmically now--in through the nose, out through the mouth--and concentrated on keeping his heart rate steady as he gently spurred on the horse that he rode now by necessity rather than choice. The bandages helped a little, and the potion that he had drank had pretty much cured his headaches, but he was going to be tired for a long time.

And to think that, if it wasn't for that bratty kid's wards, Marvel would have taken him.

Tessla was behind them, in Lost Jerusalem. Marvel had high hopes that they would do for her what they had done for him long ago. She had earned it. Somehow, they had been able to awaken her. It had twisted Marvel's heart to have to leave with the party. He had not realized how fond of her he had become.

Still, he was getting stronger--and now, with his newfound magical prowess, he was able to stand with this merry little band in battle, and was, indeed, the missing piece of their little puzzle. Without him, they lacked a true mage. His powers were drained, but they would return--he could feel them already beginning to come back to him. And he had business to tend to.

With SmashMouth still alive, and, from the sound of things, still holding signifigant power, there would be preparations to make. Marvel would have to explain to the others how SmashMouth worked--and why he was such an arrant danger. He would have to do this...later, when it didn't hurt for him to talk.

Without his voice to warm the group's spirits, it was a cold and silent march that they made their way through the foothills that led out of Lost Jerusalem and into...they knew not what.

Alreic rode with his companions, he knew that their good luck streak would not last much longer, the red hand had just attacked the city of Lost Jerusalem, the city could hold but not a second time, by the time they would return there, if they ever did would the city be ruins or still standing, for now it was not his concern, he had a quest to complete and as much he wished to help that city even though it had made him the enemy he wished to help his birthplace

"Marvel..I am sorry for my son...he's angry..& I fear for him he, he knows too much too fast, he gets stronger but does not know how to control himself..& I'm sorry for what he has done to you" Alreic calmly spoke, he was tired and drained but healing fast, he turned to the others and saw them riding quietly as to avoid detection

"Where are we going next?" Alreic asked Kast, he had no clue where the journey led next

Underground, the demon answered telepathically, so that no enemy could hear. It was a new power that he had acquired. He only hoped that there were no telepathic enemies nearby. He was trying to keep the conversation private, but there was no guarantee of this. The last stone is underground. Can't you feel it?

Marvel hoped that the stone was what he felt. It was a great source of magical power--and something was wrong--and it was ahead and below.

The party crested a hill, and they were greeted by the grim sight of their future. A volcano, mightier than all the mountains around it stood stark against the sky, but from its crater billowed not magma, but fire blacker than night. Morflame Isto Around it the plains of Mornaria cutted out of the green earth like a tumor, the darkest part of Anarion, even darker than the vampire lands of the east. It was there that the first leg of their journy would end, and the battle for Anarion begin.

From his place near the back of the pack, Marvel called the group to a stop.

"Gentlemen," he said, "this place is awash with malevolent magic. Do not stray from this path, for I fear what you may encounter. If--just a moment."

He fell as much as climbed off of his horse. His head was mostly better, and he had done much to heal his own injuries, but he was still a bit tender in a few places. Even so, he walked to the head of the pack with his hands outstretched.

"There's an illusion spell at work here," he said. "I can feel it."

He closed his eyes and spread his hands out. The air around them seemed to convulse with magical power as he felt--tasted--the spell. In a moment, he had opened his eyes again and began a slow chant.

The path in front of them shimmered, then disappeared. In its place was a gorge, about fifty feet wide, where the living rock itself had split apart. At its bottom, a river of black magma flowed. Across it, at a slight angle, was a rickety old bridge. The ground shook slightly as he stood before it.

"If we had continued as we were, we would have fallen straight into the magma," the hellspawn said. "There was even something in it to delude us into believing that the ground was steady.

"I'm going to put a time freeze spell on the bridge. That should keep it from falling apart while we cross it. Be careful not to fall over the edge, though, or you'll be caught in the spell, too."

He continued his chant, and the strange refraction of the world around his hands continued. Finally, he balled his hands into fists, and, squeezing them tight, brought them both to the center of his chest. As he did, rays of clarity seemed to come from his hands and strike the bridge, until it was enveloped in mystic power.

He opened his hands and his eyes. "That should do for now," he said. He went back to his horse and climbed back on.

--------------------

OOC: Just a little reminder that Marvel can pull his own weight with the group now. :) :) :)

thats cool, but i think on the way out, your spell will wear off when kula is on the bridge and well get a glimpse of some of the side effects of Azgoroth.

thats cool, but i think on the way out, your spell will wear off when kula is on the bridge and well get a glimpse of some of the side effects of Azgoroth.

OOC:

I don't understand. Side-affects in terms of the time Kula spent there, side-affects in terms of Marvel having lived there (remember: he actually born on Earth) or side-affects in terms of the bridge and/or the magma and/or something else in or about the mountain being somehow influenced by Azgoroth?

I mean in terms of powers that Kast has always had but become unlocked when He Gains possesion of Azgoroth and control of the Dragon army, such as, oh elemental magic of ice that cools the magma, (very huge blast though) or something like that, ill think of something cool.

Meanwhile in the Vampire landx, the forgotten realm in the east the great ruins of Ashnakh, the fallen vampire city

The city was rebuilding itself, the city was marble white, towers rose from the city, it was reborn after so muc strife and civil war and the eventual conquering of them by the alliance

In the chamber of lords sat 13 elderly men, vampire lords themselves..the highest seta though belonged to the Serpentine... a messiah of sorts to the vampires reborn every time great strife arrived

The lords spoke in their booming voices and then ...he arrived, clad in armour, black white and trimmed in crimson, his face hidden by a crimson mask..this was the serpentine

"LORDS...REMAIN SEATED...AS YOU KNOW NOW THE RED HAND APPROACHES...AND AS I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU CONSPIRE TO RETURN THE FORMER LORD TO RULE..H SHALL NOT! HIS VILE WRETCH OF A DAUGHTER...SHE NOW TRAVELS WITH THE ROYAL BRAT OF AN ELF AND THE ANGEL, SEVERAL MISCREANTS AND THE FABLED ALREIC NESHAR... IF HE CAN BE TURNED..THE DAYS OF THE EMPIRE SHALL ARISE ONCE MORE...BUT FATHER WONT TURN YET..TILL HE SEES THE TRUTH...AND WHEN HE DOES..THE RED HAND WILL SERVE US!" the serpentine boomed, it seemed it was Vergil..but hwo had he asecnded to serpentine and how was he going to bring hsi father to jon him after what had just happened..it was easy...but for now that secert remained hidden

As the last of the group finished crossing the bridge, Marvel, atop his horse, raised his hand and gently closed his eyes. For a moment, space itself seemed to swirl around his palm, and the world seemed to change.

When it was done, the revine had disappeared--it was all back to its more-or-less original form.

"Why did you do that," Kula asked.

"Because I don't want whoever cast that spell to find it broken--if I'm not too late already. If they see the spell here, same as always, it won't be as easy for them to tell that we've been through, and they won't be able to tell for sure that we have a mage in our group." And there was the rub. No one could tell. The stupid little prophesies said nothing of poor Marvel. For all his hard work and determination, it was as if he didn't even exist--and, though he had no idea why, he could only think of one explanation: blatant, bald-faced racism. Demons--even turned ones--just weren't good enough to take part in the Ultimate Battle for the Future of Anrion.

He fought against that idea, but knew that, if things didn't change, it would win out eventually. He fought anyway. He was the ornery sort.

----------------------------

OOC: actually, I'm just posting this to keep the thread from sinking into the "last week" category. As I wrote in the OOC thread, the reason why the prophesies don't speak of Marvel have nothing to do with racism. Turned demons are so infrrequent that the probability isn't worth mentioning--and prophesies are, at their basic level, about probabilities.

Enjoy your thanksgiving, folks. :) :) :)

The path did not wind--rather, it went straight to the mountain. As the group reached the mountain, a huge stone door, cut into the living rock so as to be invisible if not viewed from a specific angle, rose up in front of them. Twin orbs glowed red upon the center of the doorway.

As they rode up to the door, a tiny voice whispered, "Welcome, friends. To enter, you need only say the magic word."

"Careful," Marvel cautioned the group. "There's a powerful spell on that door. We'd better not try to force it, and I don't know what would happen if I tried to unravel the spell."

"So what would you have us do, turned one?" Tarsonis asked.

"Right now, if it were up to me, I'd start guessing magic words."

-------------------------

OOC: thread started drifting into "last week" again.

Magic word is EASY to guess. For a gentleman like Kast, it should only take SECONDS. :) :) :)

A half hour later, they were still trying to solve the conundrum.

Then, two glowing blue orbs appeared in the center of the door.

"Why, this is sensational!" it exclaimed. "It has been such a long time since I entertained guests! Welcome! Glad you could make it! I would offer refreshment, but I currently lack the means. Please do try to make yourselves at home, however!"

Marvel turned to the door.

"You're sentient?" he asked.

"Hmmmm," the door replied. "In a manner of speaking. I exist to help those who would deign to enter through me."

"Well, thank whoever put you here for small miracles."

"Ohhh," the door said, "you're a polite one. You should have no trouble at all."

--------------------------------------------

OOC: Does anyone need another hint?

A half hour later, they were still trying to solve the conundrum.

Then, two glowing blue orbs appeared in the center of the door.

"Why, this is sensational!" it exclaimed. "It has been such a long time since I entertained guests! Welcome! Glad you could make it! I would offer refreshment, but I currently lack the means. Please do try to make yourselves at home, however!"

Marvel turned to the door.

"You're sentient?" he asked.

"Hmmmm," the door replied. "In a manner of speaking. I exist to help those who would deign to enter through me."

"Well, thank whoever put you here for small miracles."

"Ohhh," the door said, "you're a polite one. You should have no trouble at all."

--------------------------------------------

OOC: Does anyone need another hint?

sry im suffering from severe writers block give it time.

"The door talks...well even thats surprising to me..possibly brought to life millenia ago..how it..um..hanging?" Alreic replied unsure of what to say..to the door

"The door talks...well even thats surprising to me..possibly brought to life millenia ago..how it..um..hanging?" Alreic replied unsure of what to say..to the door

"You'll have to excuse me," the door replied, "but I do not understand your question. Could you please rephrase it so that I might be able to give you a more helpful answer?"

-----------------------------

OOC:

OK. You've worn me out. The Magic Word, of course, is "please."

:) :) :)

"god forbid...let me rephrase it as so an ancient being liek yourself could understand...o' great door, wouldst thou let us venture past yonder lmits as so we may continue our quest to vanquish our ungodly enemies...PLEEEEEEASE!" alreic asked...using all of his sarcasm in one go.. he thought even a door could notice the way he spoke

"I hope it listens, im sick of waiting here, even im feeling the cold..and im essentially dead" Alreic remaarked to Marvel chuckling to himself..and then..the doors openeed

"god forbid...let me rephrase it as so an ancient being liek yourself could understand...o' great door, wouldst thou let us venture past yonder lmits as so we may continue our quest to vanquish our ungodly enemies...PLEEEEEEASE!" alreic asked...using all of his sarcasm in one go.. he thought even a door could notice the way he spoke

"I hope it listens, im sick of waiting here, even im feeling the cold..and im essentially dead" Alreic remaarked to Marvel chuckling to himself..and then..the doors openeed

As the twin doors parted outward at the center, the two lights on the door changed from blue to green. "Ahhh," the door said. "So long it has been since I have heard even the pale shade of proper manners that you have delivered, that I thought it had departed the world. Now, your party may depart the world and enter our humble underworld. Enter in peace, friends."

"We'd better be careful," Marvel said. "Whoever put this thing here would have to be a mage of phenominal power. I've been looking this thing over, and I think it's a single, monolithic spell."

"You are correct," the door said.

"To put it in perspective, if I tried to do something like this, I'd have to use smaller spells, working in tandem. It would take me months to get something that would speak a few words, let alone understand etiquette. The spell on this door was cast in, at most, a week, and it looks like it worked the first time."

"Also correct," said the door.

"I don't know about you guys," the demon-no-more summarized, "but I, for one, do NOT want to get on the bad side of someone who could cast a spell like that."

"Thank you," said the door.

"Door," Marvel said."

"Yes?"

"After we've passed, would you mind closing again. There may be some...beings...following us who...are positively rude in comparison."

"I always do," replied the door. With that, the stone door began to swing slowly, silently shut.

"Just for my curiosity," the red gargoyle said, "what would've happened if we had tried to push through you without...showing proper respect?"

"Why," the door replied, "that would have been rude."

"Yes."

"Unfortunately, I would have had to give you a lesson in manners."

"Oh."

"I had to give the one on your left a lesson in manners."

"But that's just a pile of shale."

"It is now," the door said. "Once, it was an Ogre. Sad thing, really. I had such high hopes for him."

------

OOC: We're through the door now. Hopefully, I've given the others enough of a chance to rest, and we can get a few posts about the inside of the mountain, and that which awaits inside.

Vamp Daddy's right, Marvel thought, but why would someone feel cold on the edge of an active volcano?

The ground shook. It felt like someone had taken the entire mountain and given it a little

BUMP.

Another tremor shook the ground. Marvel felt another

BUMP.

kast led the party down the corrider that remained on the other side of the door. Unfortunatly the lights at the door were the only too. He reached into his pack and pulled out an oiled brand and a flint. Pulling his knife he slid it across the flint shooting sparks onto the oil which flared to life. Creating a torch. He held his torch out to kula and Draconis and hunter who all light their own torches off his. "Let's keep moving, Anarion doesnt have much time left." The party moved down the passage. It was cold and damp, odly enough for being in an active volcano. Soon the Passage gave way to stairs which led down into the abyss of darkness. The torches light barely penetrated the depths of it. Yet there was no turning back and down they went. Kast noticed that the lower they got the darker it got. Even with the torches you could only see about a foot in any direction. Kast was wondering what to do when he hit his head on something hard. "MOther above." Kast held his head as he looked up to see what he had hit. "Its a torch of some kind." He lifted his own torch to it, the result of it was explosive. Powder ignited causing him to stumble back. But fire raced down a line of placed powder circling across the walls lighting the whole chamber. It was round and in teh very center stood a gigantic granite statue of a dragon poised to attack. At his feet stood a plack that said in the common tounge "only the 4 spirits may pass"

"if ever there was a benefit of being a vampire it was being able to see in the dark..even this dark is easy..I'd hate to be you right now people" Alreic said as they negotiated their way through the dark maze as it were

Soon they found themselves being trapped and trapped before a statue of a great dragon..Alreic stared at it and noticed something about it,something familiar

"Tell me, correct me if I'm wrong but is that not the guardian of this realm..if so..he's a fool...ppft bloody dragons, awful manners"

"It's not just a statue," Marvel said, holding his hand out, as if he could feel something in the huge work of stone.

"Look!" he continued. "See how it's so lifelike! There's a line of scales under its right forearm with a dent in them, as if the skin under them was injured in battle and then recovered. And the scales are transparent there! An injury would cause the scales to be thinner for a few sheddings. You can't carve something like that! It would require you to be able to form the stone in discrete layers. Either this thing is a magical reconstruction of somekind--or it's a metamorph--a real dragon turned to stone. And there are magical tendrils from somekind of spell all over it. We need to be incredibly, incredibly careful. Coreval, bring Alreic back to the door, please."

Marvel watched as the human led his vampiric friend back to the entranceway, being careful to keep both of them away from the churning tentacles of the spell that he could feel.

"Pfft why do WE have to remain here..that dragon or lack of a better word for it is a liar and a damn cheat.. long story form the underworld but anywya..the 4 spirits?" Alreic asked

"We should stay here," Marvel replied, "because we have no way of knowing what that spell can do--and, if it can turn a dragon to stone, we don't want to find out. I don't need to remind you that dragons are magical creatures. Any spell that can hold one even long enough to make an image of it would have to be immensely powerful."

OOC: u know not EVERYthing is magical, but your right this is a slumbering dragon.

IC: Kast paced around the statue with Draconis. "the four spirits......We dont have any spirits." Pain answered him as Draconis slapped the back of his head. "Are you Daft? obviously it means the stones." He pointed to the sign. "See that lever? pull it" Kast reached out and pulled the lever. Sounds from inside the walls as ancient gears groaned to life. From the center of the floor pannels fell away and a large statue of a sword inbedded in a stone rose from the depths of the floor. Kast recognized the hilt. It was a stone replica of Azaroth. While the group was admiring the sword they failed to notice the spell fall away. From behind them a thunderous roar sounded. THey turned to face a terrible sight. Ormus, Gaurdian of Anarion and High Dragon General, had been reborn. "WHO BE YE? AND WHAT BE YE QUEST?"

OOC: dont RP Oramus, hes a main character for me

"Shaldon!" In a moment, the Shaldon Shield came up around Marvel. In another, it was expanded to encompas the entire team. The dragon would no doubt notice, but, if it was as smart as the turned demon thought it was, it would also notice that it was--deliberately--no threat to the dragon itself, a purely defensive measure.

It would not know--but would no doubt find out very quickly--that the Shaldon Sheild was SmashMouth Diplomatic Magic, and that, like all of His Excellency's Most Excellent Spells, it had a fatal flaw deliberately worked into its very fabric. The Shaldon Shield was a magical shield. Non-magical items--the dragon's huge claws, for example--would pass right through it.

This thing meant business. It wasn't bluffing. As such, Marvel's negotiator training took over--and that told him that you never just give away information. So, looking up at the beast, with his best attempt at bravery, he, softly and politely, said,

"Pardon me, but, before we can give a proper answer, we'd like to know the terms in which you have asked. Could you please introduce yourself? That way, we will understand, for example, how detailed an introduction each of us should make."

----------------------

OOC: Oramus has been named OOCly, but not ICly. It is legitimate that Marvel would ask his name. It also gives us a chance to hear Oramus speak, and for the members of the party to get some idea of how it thinks.

Heh heh heh. Now, Sonny Boy is going to have to write another post! SO THERE!

"Shaldon!" In a moment, the Shaldon Shield came up around Marvel. In another, it was expanded to encompas the entire team. The dragon would no doubt notice, but, if it was as smart as the turned demon thought it was, it would also notice that it was--deliberately--no threat to the dragon itself, a purely defensive measure.

It would not know--but would no doubt find out very quickly--that the Shaldon Sheild was SmashMouth Diplomatic Magic, and that, like all of His Excellency's Most Excellent Spells, it had a fatal flaw deliberately worked into its very fabric. The Shaldon Shield was a magical shield. Non-magical items--the dragon's huge claws, for example--would pass right through it.

This thing meant business. It wasn't bluffing. As such, Marvel's negotiator training took over--and that told him that you never just give away information. So, looking up at the beast, with his best attempt at bravery, he, softly and politely, said,

"Pardon me, but, before we can give a proper answer, we'd like to know the terms in which you have asked. Could you please introduce yourself? That way, we will understand, for example, how detailed an introduction each of us should make."

----------------------

OOC: Oramus has been named OOCly, but not ICly. It is legitimate that Marvel would ask his name. It also gives us a chance to hear Oramus speak, and for the members of the party to get some idea of how it thinks.

Heh heh heh. Now, Sonny Boy is going to have to write another post! SO THERE!



Draconis shook his head, "his name is Oramus, Defender of Anarion, he is this relms gaurdian. "
"THAT IS CORRECT!" The dragon stretched its neck. 10000 years in slumer makes the body kinda sluggish. "ONLY HE WITH THE FOUR SPIRITS MAY RETRIEVE THY SWORD! HE WHO DOES NOT SHALL PARISH!" Kast nodded and stepped forward pulling his knecklace off. He found the hole it fit and placed it in. IT fit perfectly. Hunter following suit pried the Jewel out of his sword and placed it in its slot. Kula and Draconis placed theirs and stepped back. At first nothing happened. "maybe its broken?" Hunter said mockingly, just before a blinding white light erupted throwing the party members to the wall. Kast shielded his eyes and when atlast the light faded The statue was no longer a statue. Azaroth stood before them. The long two hand sword with its gold and silver hilt with the dragon base with a silver orb in its moth. However one subtle difference from Daramus' conjur and the real thing.... the blade was made of diamond. Kast stepped forward drawn to it. His blood boiled with its call, and he continued helplessly. He watched his hand erach up for it and pull it free of the stone. He stumbled back released from the trance, and stared at teh prize in his hand. "Its......beautiful....."

"YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND WORTHY!" Oramus eyes shining with pride, kneeled as a Dragon would. "I AM YOUR SERVANT AND HIGH GENERAL OF THE DRAGON ARMY! MY ARMY IS YOURS! HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT HELP YOU NOW."

Kast started. "WHAT!?!?!?!"

"THE ELVEN ARMY HAS ALREADY SURRENDERED. THE FORCES OF THE RED HAND MARCH ACROSS ANARION TOWARDS YOUR CITY. YOU'RE TOO LATE!"

Kast fell to his knee's. "Then all this....for nothing." "THERE IS STILL HOPE BUT YOU MUST FLEE ANARION."

"Why?" Kast asked.

"PROPHECY

but in the forgotten realm
the hidden light shall grow
until it shines anew
and returns to save the warring tribes
and the tears of the fallen shall flow like rivers
day shall be come night,
night become day.
and the impure child will kneel,
to the ones he swore to slay.
a thousand stories will overlap
but at the center
stands the archangel

"YOU MUST FLEE TO THE FORGOTTEN RELM!"

"What, the vampires wont give us safe haven."

Oramus laughed. "THAT IS NOT THE FORGETTEN RELM! THERE IS ANOTHER PLANE!"

Kast looked up, shocked. Forever he had known two planes of existance. The Anarion, and the Izagoth.

"But,?"

"THERE BE NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS!, Vergil's army,......is outside."

Vergil stood ahead of his army, an army that had incorporated countles tribes of Anarion and also conquered warriors, elves & men stood side by side corrupted by the red hand and corrupted by the lies of Vergil

"You stand here..as beings under the rule of the red hand, as beinsg looking for power and todays..I can give you that power, no longer will one race rul over you all..no longer will feathered scumwings place their nose up at any of you..we fight for the red hand a nd a new dawn..NOW MARCH TO BLOOD AND VICTORY IN THE NAME OF A NEW DAWN!" Vergil roared as he and his men moved towards the gate, they had just taken most of Anarion..their forces coming out of nowhere and sweeping across the land

Inside the cavern Alreic waited impatiently, he ahd come all this way for what, to wait whiel the others talked to a dragon

"I cant wait any longer I'm going down there" but before he could move much further he fell to the floor in pain clutching his head , "he is near...VERGIL is near! we must warn the others..quickly!"

"The brat is back, huh?" Marvel, standing beside Alreic, asked. There was no answer. He didn't expect one.

It was time for the last piece of the little puzzle to be put in its place--the piece that Marvel had saved for the moment when it would be needed. He reached down, grabbed Alreic and dragged him--quite gently--toward the others. "Let's tell 'em together," he said.

"Marvel," Coreval said as he reentered the room, "where were you? Oramus was describing the Forgotten Realm to us and--."

"Thanks, but I don't need a description of the place," the turned demon said. "I won't be making the journey."

"What?" Coreval gasped.

"Now, I know why fate--or Tarsonis' God, or what have you--put me here in this group. You need me much more than you think. I'm the one who's going to have to hold the door open so that you can get through. With the possible exception of Orazmus, I'm the only one with that kind of magical skill."

"So, you'll be staying, then," Coravel said.

"Yes," Marvel replied. Then, he glanced back at Alreic. "And we'd better hurry," he said. "The Brat is nearby and getting closer. In fact, I bet his armies are already starting to fall into the gorge by that bridge that we passed over on the way in here."

Marvel waited for that last to sink in. And I'm going to summon an army of my own, he thought. You know--some friends--one, or two...or ten million...

-----------------------

OOC:

Yeah, that idiot is going to try to summon a hive or two of thulu ants.

He doesn't know it yet, but the demon army has a Bugger Demon or two in its ranks. Because they're very insect-like, they can communicate with insects better than he can. Bugger Demons even look like big insects. I was figuring that, if the Buggers took control of the Thulus,
it could well turn the tide of battle against our little group. Only problem I'm having with it is how
Marve is going to deal with the Thulus and hold the portal open at the same time...

Boy, is he in deep doodoo--IF this is OK with everyone else. :) :) :)

OOC: dont forget thet Vergil wins though as they return form the forgotten realm eventually to find the red hand was won etc etc

"The brat is back, huh?" Marvel, standing beside Alreic, asked. There was no answer. He didn't expect one.

It was time for the last piece of the little puzzle to be put in its place--the piece that Marvel had saved for the moment when it would be needed. He reached down, grabbed Alreic and dragged him--quite gently--toward the others. "Let's tell 'em together," he said.

"Marvel," Kast said as he reentered the room, "where were you. Oramus was describing the Forgotten Realm to us and--."

"Thanks, but I don't need a description of the place," the turned demon said. "I was born there."

"What?" Kast gasped.

"There was an old portal--hardly ever used. My parents used it once. They ended up dead, but not before I was born. Then, just after I emerged from my host, I was brought back here, and the portal quit working.

"But I know why fate--or Tarsonis' God, or what have you--put me here in this group. You need me much more than you think. I'm the one who's going to have to hold the door open so that you can get through. With the possible exception of Orazmus, I'm the only one who knows where the door will lead."

"So, you'll be going with them, then," Coravel said.

"No," Marvel replied. "I was there once. They don't take kindly to my kind--and, as I said, you need someone to hold the door for you."

Marvel glanced back at Alreic.

"And we'd better hurry," he said. "The Brat is nearby and getting closer. In fact, I bet his armies are already starting to fall into the gorge by that bridge that we passed over on the way in here."

Marvel waited for that last to sink in. And I'm going to summon an army of my own, he thought. You know--some friends--one, or two...or ten million...

-----------------------

OOC:

Yeah, that idiot is going to try to summon a hive or two of thulu ants.

He doesn't know it yet, but the demon army has a Bugger Demon or two in its ranks. Because they're very insect-like, they can communicate with insects better than he can.

Boy, is he in deep doodoo--IF this is OK with everyone else. :) :) :)


not really, okay, one, dont RP Kast hes my main character even though Draconis has been getting mor attention, 2. No one knows about the other relm, because all connection to it had ceased to exist since the time of the Eldar ,atleast all known, there is one portal and their right on top of it. THey sealed it up in order to make sure that Anarion could exist in peace. and if you want your party members to die thats up to you, Hunter will not survive this battle. Hell try to take on Vergil, stupid prat. But the Portal is activated by teh three spirits as well. I only plan to have Kast Kula and Draconis go through.

"If anyone is going to fight this battle I may as well do it!" Alreic replied, he's my son & if I have to fight back and show him he's wrong but this tiem..he wont be that easy to beat..this will call for me to give my all and learn form our last encounter...this will end here with a life taken...Kast you and the others flee..this is my battle more than anyone elses..no one stop me..just wish me luck" Alreic spoke as he picked himself off the ground, the pain in hsi head removed and all that remained was a determination

"Kast I gave you my oath I would stand side by side with you and die for you my lord & I must break part of that oath..I will die to see you continue your quest but I shall not be by your side..take this pendant..it was a gift from my mother and father Ulric Konin, the first vampire to side with angels..he was a good man...and now I give it to you may it bring you luck.." Alreic spoke before turning his attention to Draconis..

"Sir Draconis..our time travelling has opened my eyes and removed my predujices which I carried..I apologise for whatever and any transgressions against you, I see you as a brother, we share the same blood, we fought for the same cause to both sides of me..you are a brother in arms" defiantly spoke Alreic...and then Kula caught his eyes, the vampil, he whispered in here ears something in old vampyre, a dialect rarely spoken unless it was out of great urgency and then he planted kiss on her brow before turning to marvel

"you willing to risk life and whatever limbs I see and the ones you may or may not be hiding? if so follow me..this is a war were gonan fight, we may lose..but i dont care..if only for ME and ME alone to wip the smug look of my brats face!"

Kast took the pendant from Alreic and nodded his thanks. The road had been long and hard and now their time for fellowship was at an end. The goodbyes were heartfelt and slightly tearsome, but the moment was cut short, when a voice cut through the chamber. "How Sentimental...." Vergil, clad in the armor of serpintine had arrived. Oramus Growled his threat but then turned to The 4 eldar, "RUN YOUNG ELDAR! FLEE WE SHALL GAURD YOUR BACK!"

Kast drew his sword to fight but Draconis and Hunter Dragged him down the steps that led to to lower chambers. "You cant save Anarion if you Dead Kast" Draconis said. They fled down the stairs and emptied into another chamber. ONly in this one there was no statue, only ring of gold laid into the opposite end of the chamber. Above them, a battle raged.

"Father can you hear it, the sounds of justice above our very heads... it were as if that which has come to pass has been set in motion...join me father..and together we can rule..even the elves and men once so proud and noble flock under our banner, they follow me, to them I am the god they seek...but I need your guidance and strength to make them see that the Red Hand is a force worth bowing to" Vergil replied, his armour was designed to give him the sleek appearance of a snake but also the jagged edges of a dragon

Alreic took his sword and stared at his son and then tossed to the floora small book...

"your mothers diary..the second half you didnt have..the second half asking for her son not to seek revenge, the second half hoping her husband would not seek revenge...she knew she was to die..and she knew what we would become but she never envisgaed this...you wish to fight me then so be it but I shall not kill innocents in the name of injustice..and I will not let you pass...I will bring death to those who would try to kill my friends..even if that measn my son!"

Vergil stared at Alreic...his words seemed as if they had no effect on him...a cold steely face stared back and a grin appeared on his face

"Oh father...lest thee know your own kin, nay your own child, lest theee who walks in the footseps of angels be lied to and consumed by their arrogance disguised as truth, lest they who know the truth forever be blackened and their eyes blinded..when only they embrace the works and words of those deemed lesser do they know the truth...and then they shalt inherit the earth and all its power...I do believe you said that Father..right before you executed one of the kings of men...you had such a way with words whatever happened"

OOC: im RPing as vergil and alreic only ok people :)

"You willing to risk life and whatever limbs I see and the ones you may or may not be hiding? If so, follow me..this is a war were gonna fight, we may lose...but I dont care...if only for ME and ME alone to wipe the smug look of my brat's face!"


"Oramus, you sure you're not going to need me to help hold that portal open?"

"THAT IS CORRECT. THE MAGIC HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE EPOCH."

"Damn. Looks like it doesn't really matter what I do, then, does it?"

"THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICES; THEY ARE MERELY NOT APPARENT HERE."

"Wonderful. Well, in that case, I'm going to take another shot at the brat. I owe him one now."


Kast took the pendant from Alreic and nodded his thanks. The road had been long and hard, and now their time for fellowship was at an end. The goodbyes were heartfelt and slightly tearsome, but the moment was cut short, when a voice cut through the chamber. "How Sentimental...." Vergil, clad in the armor of serpintine, had arrived. Oramus Growled his threat but then turned to The 4 eldar, "RUN, YOUNG ELDAR! FLEE! WE SHALL GAURD YOUR BACK!"


Alreic turned and faced his errant-no-more son. There was a brief exchange between the two, but Marvel could tell that both were just sending and neither one was going to bother to listen. Vergil was the funnier of the two, though, and Marvel, now in a foul mood, wasn't going to let him off the hook for it.

"You had such a way with words," the arrogant oaf said. "Whatever happened?"

"Well," Marvel broke in, "whatever it was, it certainly wasn't his son inheriting the talent. Did you massacre Old English that way by mistake, or were you just that desparate to finally finish off something? Are you not bothering with that book because you don't care for the last words of your own stinkin' mother, or is it because you don't know how to read?"

Marvel closed his right hand, and felt a nice little kinetic spell starting to build. In a moment, it was straining against his tendons, trying to tear loose from his palm. In another moment, he'd be ready to hurl it into the brat's belly, or use it to send every stone in the chamber straight into his face plate. Strike that. If he got rid of the face plate, he'd have to look at the face. Still, there were enough other places to target that it would be fun. While he was doing this, he was also planning out a few spells of his favorite type--illusions--to use to confound the little gasser. When they'd met before, Marvel was still bound by his pledge not to use them in Lost Jerusalem. He had made no such pledge for here, and, after more than a week without a good El Confuso, he was itching to use one or two of them.

"By the way," he finished, "say hello to a few of my friends. You have an army, so now I have an army." They're not real, he broadcast to his friends. Even Oramus appeared to heed his telepathic signal. He raised his left hand, and a giant horde of Thulu ants appeared to start crawling out of the walls. "If I were you, I'd be leaving while there was any flesh at all left on my bones."

"Thulu ants..pathetic you conjuror of spells that wouldnt even scare a five year old child... listen here child...unless you wish to be torn asunder by your own minions I suggest you call them back now..because they could crawl over every inch of my body and still nothing would come of harm to me..I learned many things from the fall of the elves & the city of Lost Jerusalem..and that many of the marvels they perform are simple things in the guise of ancient and complicated sorcery...fools..they knew better than to hide their secrets form me and you father..you could've risen to rule the scumwings if you wer given the chance..and none of this wouldve happened...and mother would be alive" Vergil sneered at Alreic & Marvel before emitting an aura thats eemed to affect the ants as he walked through them closer and closer to the two of them

Alreic stared at Marvel, annoyed at the fact eh had just called his wife "stinkin"

"Watch your tongue Marvel...say another thing liek that & I will cut you down and thats a promise , no one speaks ill of Annalucia..and not even friends...you understand me? & Vergil... we cannot take back the past and those words I spoke were said by part of me that was demonic the part of that ruled , and they were lies and lies I cannot allow you to continue" and with that Alreic charged at Vergil but as he brought his sword down to his face his sword stopped..he couldnt..part of him couldnt do it and part of him knew there was soemthing at work..soemthing guarding him..something otherwordly

"Don't get me wrong, Alreic," Marvel retorted, "I meant no disrespect for your late wife. Only for the idiot that she brought into this world. He never learns, and he never knows when to keep his mouth shut." Alreic had no idea how much more powerful Marvel had become in the last week--and, hopefully, he wouldn't have to find out the hard way. He was a bit quick-tempered, but Marvel liked the old codger. He could talk with him and not feel out of place.

His kid was an idiot, though. He'd fallen for the phony ants hook, line and sinker--and that meant that he was completely vulnerable to other illusions as well. And he'd only gotten the Angels' magic half right. It wasn't that it was little spells they used, so much as subtle ones. The Angels had a reputation for blowing away entire armies with the equivalent of a spitball. It was cruel.

And Marvel had started to pick up on it.

The demon-no-more raised his hand and released the kinetic spell. It had worked the last time he and The Brat had squared off, too. Sure enough, in a moment, The Brat was flying across the floor, right--whap!--into the back wall.

"Don't learn, do you," he said. "I didn't give you permission to walk up here, brat. Now watch your mouth. I'd hate to have to beat your skull in. The implosion could wreck the place."

Somewhere in the process, the phony ants disappeared. The illusion had served its purpose, and its caster could better use its magical energies for other purposes.

"Now why don't you come back here, Alreic, and we can talk this over."

---------------------------

OOC: They said Marvel had to lose the war. They didn't say it had to be a quick battle, or that he couldn't enjoy himself a little in the meantime. (Quite frankly, I'm a little tired of having ol' Marve lose every scrum he gets into.)

Vergil picked himselfup and began running towards Marvel and then vanished..only to reppear behind Marvel and sending him flying upwards into the cavern ceiling

"Howdo you liek it know..and as Marvel, his body paralysed by some spell of ancient times veered downwards he connected with the boot of Vergil and slammed into a nearby wall

"Pathetic creature...stand and face your god!" and with that Vergil's aura increased creating a sound that peireced his fathers ears forcing himto his knees and clutching his head

"You wish to fight me, then bring it, this war is almost over...but..I must do one thing to ensure the red hand prevails" Vergil decreed and then he he lifted his ahnd and brought the ceiling down, with the two of them incapacitated he fled towards Kast and Draconis knowing he could finally destroy them

Vergil picked himselfup and began running towards Marvel and then vanished..only to reppear behind Marvel and sending him flying upwards into the cavern ceiling

"Howdo you liek it know..and as Marvel, his body paralysed by some spell of ancient times veered downwards he connected with the boot of Vergil and slammed into a nearby wall

"Pathetic creature...stand and face your god!" and with that Vergil's aura increased creating a sound that peireced his fathers ears forcing himto his knees and clutching his head

"You wish to fight me, then bring it, this war is almost over...but..I must do one thing to ensure the red hand prevails" Vergil decreed and then he he lifted his ahnd and brought the ceiling down, with the two of them incapacitated he fled towards Kast and Draconis knowing he could finally destroy them

Marvel was so angry that he could barely contain it! By the time he reached the Brat, he already had a shield around his body. It protected him from harm as the roof came down. Actually, this was a good thing. A hole in the roof would make it easier for him to depart after he had taken care of his...unfinished business.

With barely a thought, he blew away the rock around him. Then, he picked up the loose shards and sent them all into The Brat's miserable armor. Not one of the stones reached their target, but it got his attention--and, as the arrant fool looked back, Marvel, who had climbed out from under the rocks of the fallen ceiling, collapsed the door to the chamber behind him. As it fell, Oramus' head poked out of the rubble.

"I thought you said 'god,' not 'clod,'" the demon-no-more intoned, spreading his wings in an gesture of pure spite. "And I'm not impressed. I can vanish and reappear, too." And the next time he tries that retarded stunt, he's going to run into an electric force field the moment he tries to touch me.

He didn't vanish, though. Instead, he hit Vergil with another kinetic spell, slamming him into the wall behind him. Then, he followed it up with a sequence of lightning bolts, which drove the beleagured brat to his knees. He felt the aura around his foe, though--and knew instinctively that it prevented him from using direct physical illusions on the armor-clad idiot. It would have been incredibly entertaining to give him an instant case of diverticulitis and watch him squirm in pain, but his aura prevented Marvel from doing that.

"I'm a powerful mage now, brat," Marvel said, "and all your dumb parlor tricks are going to do is vex me." Just to illustrate the point, he unleashed another lightning bolt.

"So how does it feel to be on your knees, god?" Marvel said with a sneer.

Vergil said nothing--not with words, anyway. Instead, his aura merely increased around him. A moment later, he rose to his feet, whole again. "I feel fine, child," he said. "It will take more than your parlor tricks to harm your god."

Marvel grumbled something about brats and gimmicks. Vergil laughed.

"But I will always have a source of power over you," he said. "Real men fight with their minds as well as their weapons--now be a good child and stand aside."

Marvel closed his fist and prepared another onslaught.

Vergil didn't wait for it. Instead, he drew his sword and fired a mass of kinetic energy straight towards his latest rival. Marvel didn't even flinch. He uncoiled his fingers and bent the space in front of him. In a moment, Vergil's blast was headed straight back where it came from.

At the last moment, he lept aside. The energy blast zoomed past him and slammed into the wall behind him--reopening the doorway that Marvel had recently collapsed. Vergil laughed again. He had used Marvel's own magic against him.

"And real men beset their snares with other snares. I'll be back for you soon! Try not to sulk too loudly, child!" With that, he turned and ran through the doorway--and, when Marvel tried to collapse it again, he found that the remnants of the kinetic blast neutralized his space-bender just long enough to make it useless. Ohhhhhh! That guy really could get aggravating!

Kast! Draconis! his mind called out, the Brat got past me! He's coming up on your tail!

Which left the turned demon with only the army of his former peers to take his ever-increasing anger out on.

-------------------------

OOC:

Now that's how a hero goes down! He gets manipulated!

ooc: nice use of language and tactics for vergil, good job :)

IC: Alreic looked at Marvel..they were stuck now, stuck inside a chamber made many eons ago by ancients, Alreic paced around,he was resigning himself to defeat it seemed

"Marvel..what if we followed him..what if what were doing now isn't the right course of action..after all..they say it is better to rule in hellthan serve in heaven..why should we allow ourselves to fight endless battles for acceptance when we can make them see we are the strongest and that we are worthy of their respect already!"

OOC: thanks for the complement, Bek. You should've seen the TG I got from Sonny Boy, though, just before Act II. Basically, he wanted Marvel to fall flat on his behind, curl up and make Vergil look good. I was of the opinion that he could do a better job of making Vergil look good if he looked good himself, though... :) :) :) Mind you, Marvel's still going to keep on doing those little double-takes of his, but he's going to have strong enough combat skills to make the bad guys exert themselves a little--like Vergil ended up having to do.

There is another part to Vergil's paradygm, though--one last part--and that gets spelled out here.

-------------------------

IC:

Somehow, the way in had gotten sealed. Somehow, only Vergil had broken through. Marvel still wanted to know how the Brat had gotten past the door, but that would have to wait.

Marvel was SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY VEXED! "Ooooooo!" he said, squeezing his fists. "That stinkin' son of a--" He looked at Alreic. He smiled. "--rare and fine woman!" he finished. "He has it out with me, he has it out with you, he has it out with me again! Not once in all that time did he think so much as one move ahead! THEN, all of a sudden, he's thinking three moves ahead! He can't do that! He's a complete idiot! What in the world does he think--wait a minute. Of course!"

He turned to Alreic.

"Buddy, it won't do a bit of good to follow him. Someone else is pulling your son's strings right now, and, whoever it is, they're more powerful than you, me and him put together. What we have to do is dig Oramus out and get out of here before--"

There was a loud crack behind Marvel as the demon army made its presence known.

"--they break through and cut us off. How are you doing, anyway? Did those rocks from the ceiling do anything that you'll need help with?"

---------------

OOC: Please insert conversation here.

---------------

IC:

"OK. How about you, Oramus? Can you get the rest of yourself out of there?"

"MY LEFT WING IS INJURED. I CANNOT FLY. I...DISLIKE PAIN. BUT I HAVE FAILED IN MY DUTY, AND IT IS A SMALL BURDON IN COMPARISON."

"Well, they don't know you're hurt. That's the important thing for now. And you can redeem yourself by helping us break out of here. I've got a tiny little plan."

Please...

Beautifully
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It seems that we are once again

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Bump #3. Please do not let this thread die.

The fourth and final

BUMP.

Alreic turned to face the demon army, he knew they could not win so he signalled for Oramus & Marvel to at least make their escape somehpw

"I'll stay..fathers must pay for the sins of their children, i always though it would eb the other way around & it was..nowI must make amends for the deeds I wrought which created this being and I must make amends for his deeds"

And with that Alreic drew out his sword and walked steadfast to the oncoming horde, not looking back he just walked towards the vile horde