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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 20, 2018 18:19:12 GMT -5
Earth, Northern RegionAs day begun turning to night and the darkness spread over the land, all manner of evil came out to play. Well, maybe such stories tended to be a bit exaggerated. Still, it was true that honest folk rarely pranced about in the night. Tonight such beliefs would be especially true. Around this quiet northern region, most villagers knew the story... of a castle. Supposedly there was an ancient ruin nearby, hidden behind towering trees. It was said to contain rare artifacts, left in the wake of a witch clan that lived there long ago. Travelers were warned not to seek the place, as it attracted all sorts of cutthroats and bandits seeking easy money... Or forbidden power. The full moon cast its pale light over a dark forest. What few roads snaked through it were thin and treacherous. One of them was peculiar though. Abandoned and forgotten, it had clearly been swallowed by the wild overgrowth. Until recently... Something had hacked through the saplings and bushes. Several something in fact. The muddy path had at least five different footprints to follow. Marching along, one would eventually find the ruined remains of a once glorious castle, with four toppled towers surrounded by a mighty moat and all. The drawbridge was permanently down due to the broken chains. Inside it was a grim sight to behold. The smell of death lingered in the air. Old bloodstains painted the floors and walls, some even accompanied by withered corpses. Skeletons had been shattered and various beasts had been slaughtered in the halls. Beautiful banners were reduced to mere shreds. It looked like something had rampaged through, killing and destroying everything in its path with extreme prejudice. Not even the chandeliers had been spared. Something broke the eerie silence. First... Footsteps. Their echoes carried far in the ruined halls. Then there were shouts, commands to stop right there, demands to hand over all artifacts. Five shadows advanced through the darkness. A closer look revealed a rather suspicious group. Three of them held short swords and one had even found a shield to carry with it. The fourth held a pair menacing daggers, twirling them in his grip. And finally the fifth had a bow trained at their target. They had someone snugly trapped against a dead end, a collapsed wall that closed the hallway. Slowly, meticulously, they held their formation and crept closer. Again the one leading the group, a young man with a cape, voiced his simple demand... Surrender or die. Against the five foes stood a frail, feminine figure. Long, mauve hair framed a deathly pale visage. A crimson eye peeked from behind the parted bangs. Dark robes swept against the floor and a pointy hat, wide-brimmed hat crowned the outfit. In every way she fit the classic image of a witch, but seemed much too young and delicate to be called wicked. Well, looks could be deceiving... Despite being trapped and outnumbered, the lone maiden carried herself with a certain air of grace. She clutched a pitch black tome against her petite chest and held a magic wand at ready. No matter how grim it looked, she obviously had no intention to surrender.
Words: 535 Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 20, 2018 21:03:02 GMT -5
Thunder appeared in the heavens, as the Prophet of Manus emerged from the horizon. His steed emanated with lightning as Sir Gallius pulled back upon his reins. The armor clad champion would lean down and pat his mount’s head. It would appear to be a Golden horse with some kind of bright aura. “Calm ye self beest. Methinks the hevens abof shalt soon split with ye worrien” Gallius would raise his stoic gaze forwards. Forest as far as the eye could see. Gallius sighed and looked up. “Ye best hope the hevens are calmen. I wish not to be stricken bye Manus” He would push his foot down on his stirrups, causing his steed to whine and burst forth a set of magnificent golden wings. “Forwerd!” He shouted as the mount set towards the air with great speed. The darkened sky made it difficult to spot anything aside from gaps in the foliage. After coming across a rather sizable gap, Gallius would pull the reins to make his steed circle in the air. He would hold his sword to the sky, suddenly swinging it down to the gap. A large bolt of lightning would strike at the ground which he pointed at. The sudden flash gave light just long enough to spot a desolate castle in the clearing. Five horses were strung up to a couple of trees on the right. “Down beest, I see the resten plase!” The golden horse would begin its descent, wings slowly shrinking as it drew ever closer to the earth. Gallius upon land would quickly hop off his steed, raising his sword as it disappeared in a blinding burst of lightning. Gallius slowly and cautiously entered into the ruins. Many a Relic seeker had been lost to various traps and vagabonds. Only a fool would wander in without the constant worry of death at every step. Old carpets and tapestries lined the hall which he walked. Mud soiled the dust ridden floors. They were footsteps, possibly from the owners of the horses. Hopefully they had not met an untimely demise in such a place. As he reached the end of the hall, he happened upon a dining room. It was ravaged into junk. “Pity” Gallius murmured to himself. “Such a bulwerk of nobility and defens pervaden by tyme” Quickly he would dash to a wall as he heard various voices emanating from the halls ahead. They were shouting at something or someone. Slowly he would creep towards the halls to spot the source of this commotion. He had to dodge various skeletons and cutlery which was strewn across the ground before finally reaching the hall. What he saw worried him to no extent. Five men, cloaked in rags with a unsightly assortment of weapons. They edged closer towards a small maiden of small stature. She was cloaked in black robes with skin as pale as snow. “Halt!” Gallius shouted before the five men got any closer. “Cease ye hostilities this instant!” They would turn to face him. The shadows which filled the hall helped to disguise them. It mattered not, these men would pay dearly for this unjustified aggression. One of the figures started charging towards Gallius with an intent to kill. So be it. He wielded a short sword, most likely scavenged from the decaying fortress. As he brought his sword to a swing, Gallius raised his shield just in time to deflect it. With the quickness of a cobra, the Knight lunged his sword forward and pierced straight through the man’s kneecap. The man would drop his sword and grasp at his knee from the pure agony, screaming in utter pain. Gallius gave him a swift kick to the face to knock him out. “Now hear me ye vagabonds. Cease this senseless agreshon towerds that Mayden, and canter from this sacred grownd at once. I wishen not to harm ye” 648 Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 21, 2018 2:54:53 GMT -5
Adventurers... What an irritating profession. Always getting in the way. Being a witch, Lilith Nevermore had never been very fond of people who proclaimed to be righteous. Especially not when they had her cornered. She had come all this way to conduct research, only to run into these half-baked excuses for adventurers. They had snuck upon her like the cockroaches they were, too insignificant to notice until they were right under her nose. In typical fashion, they had immediately made some outlandish demands. Utterly disgusting. She had, naturally, told them to get out of her sight and go die in a hole somewhere. They hadn’t taken too kindly that. And thus we get to the present moment...
However, before the young witch could start casting curses and slinging spells, someone else entered the scene. The crimson gaze blinked, slowly, upon spotting the armored figure. And apparently this was now happening. Before she could even find words for the situation, the knight had already downed one of the pesky peasants. While it was admittedly refreshing to be called a maiden for a change, the odd speech still gave her pause. But perhaps she could use this... Yes... Dark intentions bubbled beneath the innocent facade. All of a sudden, the young lady sniffled weakly. Some tears into her eyes, a bit of tremble into her voice and... "Oh thank goodness! O’ brave knight, please save me!" Light like a silver bell, her refined voice chimed through the hall. "These foul bandits seek to rob me and defile my body!" She backed away against the wall, covering herself meekly.
That should do the trick.
The caped man, their leader evidently, immediately began to protest, trying to deny the accusation. Yet his words got stuck into his throat, strangled into silence. Behind him, the witch glared at him with a blue glow in her eyes. That same glow had slyly wrapped around the so-called bandit’s neck. Shush now... Not another word... His unsuspecting friends were hesitating. They were clearly considering the command... But ultimately what passed for a sense of righteousness won. They had to avenge their ally! Shouting, the dagger-wielding rogue and the shield-carrying fellow charged. Their movements were swift, practiced, an excellent match for each other. And from the back the archer launched an arrow at the knight, aiming for the holes in his helmet. Triple trouble indeed.
Meanwhile, Lilith was maintaining the image of a terrified victim. These fools could tear each other apart for all she cared. In fact, odd attire and speech aside, this armored knight might prove himself useful beyond exterminating cockroaches... For that end she was ready to simply sit back and play her role. Suited her fine really. A lady should not have to exert herself needlessly after all.
Words: 465 [Total= 1000] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 21, 2018 14:56:51 GMT -5
The sounds of the maiden screaming for help made Gallius’ blood boil. These crittens did not deserve to live, yet it was against The Code of Manus to kill out of emotion. Gallius closed his eyes as their leader started protesting, suddenly stopping a few seconds after. “Ye haf nothen to say? So be it” He would open his eyes, revealing two burning yellow dots from within his great helm. “By the myte of Manus, ye shalt pay for this cryme!” Gallius rose his shield just in time to catch the arrow in flight. Gallius charged forward with his shield raised, crashing into the advancing shield bearer. The heavily armored knight proved too much of an unstoppable force as the Shield bearer sprawled to the ground. Gallius went to stomp on his chest, only to be stopped by the rouge. He had thrown a dagger at Gallius in an attempt to distract him. It simply bounced off his mail and clattered to the ground. Gallius looked back at the shield bearer quickly. He had risen his shield to block any attacks from the knight but still laid upon the ground. Another arrow whizzed by Gallius’ head as he stomped at the shield. After the second strike the shield would shatter. With a quick pommel strike the Shield bearer would fall into unconsciousness. From the ceiling the rouge gracefully hopped onto Gallius’ shoulder. With his remaining dagger (A punching dagger) he would repeatedly strike into the knights shoulder. A glowing golden liquid would emerge from the wound and upon contacting the Rouge, begin to sizzle and sear his skin. Gallius grabbed the rouge by the head and headbutted him with a loud metallic bang. One more arrow would whizz by, Gallius growled in frustration. He would lean down and grab one of the daggers. With a swift fling it cut it’s way through the archers hand, through the bow, and into his chest. The archer fell to the floor with a dull thud. Gallius raised his sword to the caped man. “I seek not to kill ye, nor ye men. Unless ye leave now, these men shalt dye of ther wounds. I implor ye to leave now an’ never return, lest ye men pay the Reaper’s debt” Gallius would slowly walk towards the leader, shield raised in case of counter attack. The burning yellow glow in his eyes slowly shifted back to normal, once more shrouding his eyes in darkness. “If not, I canot garentee ye or ye men’s helth”
419/1064 Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 22, 2018 8:57:16 GMT -5
Like puppets dangling from strings the fools danced. Lilith was having a hard time keeping the satisfaction from creeping onto her features. It would have been awfully uncharacteristic for the terrified victim to smile. So she kept her head down, quivering and flinching at every sound of clashing metal. It gave her a wonderful chance to quietly study the knight in action. Experience shined in each expertly performed attack. Fighting him as well as these morons would have been such a bother. How fortunate that things had turned this way. One after another the adventurers fell, bleeding and incapacitated.
That left just one foe standing...
Disbelief washed over the leader’s features. Had he gotten any say in the matter, they would have certainly surrendered and cleared this little misunderstanding. In fact, men like these were often quick to find common ground... So before the adventurer could salvage the situation, the maiden’s innocent voice echoed. "Look out, Sir Knight!" A twinkle of blue gleamed in her eyes again. Right on cue, an imaginary hand gave the caped man a violent shove. He stumbled towards the knight, flailing his sword wildly. In the dark, fumbling for balance could so easily be mistaken for a panic-driven attack. It would surely just clash against that sturdy shield, but that would be plenty enough to ensure his fate...
After the towering hero disposed the last enemy, the witch secured her wand onto the belt and quickly dashed over the fallen. "Oh thank you, Sir Knight! I am eternally grateful!" Armor may have been cold and harsh, but she still sought to hug him, to cling to him, to press herself against his mighty frame. "I shudder to imagine what they would have done to me without your timely intervention." After all, what sort of hero would deny a frightened maiden seeking safety? Every action told a tale, you see.
Well, whether the knight allowed closeness or rejected it, Lilith shifted her attention to the downed enemies. They were all badly wounded, but still alive. Unfortunately. "Sir Knight... I fear these fiends are beyond reason and mercy..." She pulled her gaze away and closed her eyes. "Ah, fiends they may be, but I still cannot bear to watch them suffer." The disguised intentions drifted in the darkness. They slithered into one’s ear, meant to poison the thoughts with lies so very close to the truth. "Perhaps killing them would be a kindness..." Slowly... Gently... So a life was taken. A lady should not have to dirty her hands needlessly either.
Words: 427 [Total= 1427] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 22, 2018 23:43:26 GMT -5
The caped fellow stumbled forth. He seemed as if he was struggling with himself, swinging his short sword wildly. “Ye god, man! Calm ye self!” Gallius brought his shield up just in time to block one of the strikes. It bounced off with a loud thud. One of the most important rules for melee combat was never to over swing, and NEVER over strike. That strike could of injured Gallius, yes. But it was choreographed. The wind up alone was long enough for the knight to shield himself. The strike, given it’s over powered nature, bounced off and far. A follow up strike would not be reasonable nor possible. Something was wrong with this man. Even the most novice of Swordsmen would understand these rules. Gallius quick punched the man square in the face, the hilt crashing into his nose and snapping it forty-five degrees to the left. Gallius would then bring his pommel in for another strike, further breaking the man’s nose and crashing him to the ground. The knight leaned down and used the man’s cape to wipe the blood from his sword before resheathing it.
Gallius stared down at the man, still confused by his actions. He would come to his senses when the small maiden came crashing into him for a hug. She was around three feet shorter than the knight and couldn’t be more than 18 years old. The dainty maiden reminded him of the noblewomen of his homeworld, who abhored the idea of having any sort of resemblance to the peasantry. They would cover themselves to stay pale and eat little to stay thin. Gallius was not prepared for this sudden hug, looking down at the girl with both confusion and embarrassment. “Of corse m’lady...uh, it be my sworne oathe to protect the innosent” Suddenly she would shift her attention to the unconscious assailants. She would describe how killing them would be merciful. Gallius’ eyes would shift once more to gold. “That needn’t be, dear mayden. Thanks to the powrs abof, I can silense the reaper an save ther souls” Gallius would gentle pull away from the girl as not to hurt her and wander over to the most injured of the bunch. With bright flashes of golden light the men’s injuries would simply shift into nasty scars. He would then produce a rope which he used to tie the men to a large stone pillar a little ways forward. He wiped his hands and returned to the maiden.
Gallius went to remove his helmet and winced slightly as the wound on his shoulder began oozing more golden liquid. It was a good thing it hadn’t started when the girl was hugging him. Ignoring the pain, he would remove his helmet. Gallius had short silver hair with a small goatee. His eyes seemed to shimmer a dull gold, every so often rising and lowering in intensity. Though he sported silver hair, the knight had the appearance of a young man just reaching his twenties. Gallius gave a dramatic bow and rose. “My name be Nickel Gallius, Son of Leadius Gallius, blood of Titanius. I seek a holy relic of Manus, which be said to rest in these hallowed growneds. What be yer purpes here, if I may gander?”
546/1610
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 23, 2018 9:09:30 GMT -5
Easy... So very easy it was to slip past the fool’s guard. Even with that helmet hiding his face, the fumbling reaction was obvious. All that power and skill meant nothing before a beautiful face and fake tears. Just as planned. Unfortunately, not everything went so smoothly. Somehow the witch resisted the urge to roll her eyes when the knight refused to finish off the mongrels. Worse than that, he went and actually healed them. How typical. If you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself... Not yet though. Had to make it look like an accident. Of course at this range she could’ve finished them off and grievously wounded the fool just as easily... But he was still useful. No need to rush the inevitable.
As the hero revealed his face, the young lady pretended to swoon. A small blush played on her pale cheeks. "I am Lady Lilith Nevermore, the heir of the noble Nevermore family." She pinched the hem of her robes and dipped into a curtsy, a charming little gesture honed to perfection. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sir Gallius." So sweetly she lied. Though this was admittedly far easier when she wasn’t dealing with some fat and conceited nobleman.
Lilith straightened her back and gazed up at the towering man. "Ah, perhaps our paths were fated to cross. For you see, I have come here to seek a heirloom that was stolen from my family long ago." If the strange vagabond was looking for something, he was most likely headed all the way down to the treasury... Just like she was. Lately this castle had become a magnet for all sorts of pathetic peasants and forest critters though. Having to deal with them would have been a waste of her valuable time. And that’s where the knight would come in handy...
Meekly the little lady clutched the tome against her petite chest. "Please, Sir Gallius, won’t you accompany me on this search?" She offered a warm smile with her earnest words. "On my family’s name, I promise I shall reward you..." She leaned closer, carefully, hesitantly. Her breath warmed the cold night air. "...i-in whatever way you d-desire..." It was another test of character, of course. Knowing what a man desired made manipulating him all the more easier. Hmph, then again, all men wanted the same thing, didn’t they? No matter how noble the knight pretended to be, he obviously would be no different. Disgusting...
Words: 420 [Total= 1847] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 23, 2018 22:01:17 GMT -5
Gallius’ eyes began to widen and turn a brighter gold. He would begin scratching the back of his neck out of embarrassment. The knight had never been confronted with such...direct advances as this before. In his homeland, saying such a thing was considered vulgarity, reserved for peasantry. But he was far from home and had to come to terms with these more...direct beings. He turned his gaze towards the hallway, eyes still blazing gold. “Uh, that needn't be nesesary m’lady. I-it be my job to help the innocent in any way I can. It be my, uh… pleshure to asist ye. We be followen the same path anyhowe” Gallius would snap his helmet to his belt and raise his left hand. “Manus Lux. Dirige manus. Ostende mihi caelum” The Knight’s hand would suddenly come ablaze with a golden light, which slew any darkness in it’s path. Slowly he walked forward with a hand on his sword. “Let's be off. Mayhaps dawn shalt break before our qwest ends”
This castle was much bigger than it had appeared. Long winding hallways filled with skeletons, the stench of putrid death wafting in the air. Gallius longed for the old days of simplicity, Fighting, Political intrigue, sermons. After the flood his entire life had been turned upside down. At least he managed to meet a nice person out of all of this trouble. Gallius turned to look at the Maiden and noticed her carrying a strange book. They had yet to meet any threat and the silence was deafening. Might as well start up a conversation. “That be an odd tome ye holden. Is it a jurnel?” He said quietly. “I don mean to pry” He said quickly, fearing she might see him as suspicious. Small talk was not exactly common on his world, most conversations had a very specific point to be made.
312/1922
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 24, 2018 13:24:36 GMT -5
Against all odds, the armored vagabond didn’t take the bait. Lilith was honestly taken aback there, managing only a puzzled blink at the earnest response. Uh... Huh. Perhaps he wasn’t completely detestable... Just mostly. While the knight uttered some sort of incantation, the witch worked her magic in a far subtler way. Blue glow briefly burned in her eyes and danced around her fingers. Near the unconscious adventurers, the support pillar groaned a little. The very same they were tied to. Few pebbles fell from between the stones. In the dark it was impossible to notice, but the entire ceiling was pushed upwards just a couple of inches... And there it stayed... For now.
The young noble followed along, allowing man to lead the way even if it was obvious he didn’t know the path around the castle. And admittedly it wasn’t... entirely unpleasant... Absolute silence was such a rare treat in a busy world. ...So of course the fool had to ruin it with, ugh, chit-chat. Still, she donned that charming smile, a mask so carefully crafted. "Ah, no, it is a spell tome." She lifted the book a little, letting the knight see the mysterious symbols decorating the cover. "I am a sorceress' apprentice, you see. One day I wish to be a respected sorceress, just like my mother." The best lies began with a seed of truth...
Lilith grasped the wand hanging from her belt. "Rather than just taking my word for it, allow me to demonstrate. Behold, my elemental mastery." She flicked it to its full length and stared at it intently. "Ignite." On the command, a small spark flared into a flame at the tip. Puffing her petite chest proudly, she turned an expectant look at the knight, but... Well, it was a bit small, wasn’t it? Certainly no torch. Barely comparable to a candle really. Exactly how she intended it... Wouldn’t do her any good to appear powerful and menacing, even if both were absolutely true. Heroes were so quick to show weakness before those they deemed, hm, adorably helpless.
Suddenly a loud crash shook the castle. Somewhere, few corners away, a rain of falling stone drummed the floor. Like a good portion of the ceiling had come down. Anything caught beneath it was surely crushed. Abandoned and decrepit structures tended to be treacherous after all... To distract the knight further, the witch was quick to seek shelter by his strong side. "W-what was that?" Playing her part, she shakily glanced around. The crimson gaze fearfully swept the shadows. "H-hello? Is there someone there?" Of course she knew the answer that already. No one was there. She would’ve sensed any intruders by now.
However, maybe something was there...
From beyond the corner echoed a strange, huffing, snorting sound. Following it would lead to a long hallway where the shadows on the floor seemed to squirm. Except when the holy light burned the shadows away, the squirming remained. Rats. Dozens of them. Squeaking and bickering over scraps of food. But that was too light and quiet... Next up was a massive hall littered with ruined chairs, destroyed tables and scattered silverware. A crow swooped down from a broken window with and snatched a shiny spoon from the floor. Its mocking caw bounced between the walls. No, that wasn’t it either, didn’t reverberate the same way... The deep, heavy sound was coming from the very back of the room, from the dark depths... of the kitchen.
Words: 589 [Total= 2436] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 24, 2018 19:47:30 GMT -5
The knight’s eyes lit up as soon as Lilith ignited the end of her wand. Magic was widely considered to be a noble practice among his people. Unlike those blessed by Manus, magic manipulation required an extremely focused mind and dedicated studies. Those few who mastered the art served lords with highest honors. “Ye god, that be amasen!” Gallius exclaimed with utter bewilderment drawn across his face. He would begin to grin “Best them vagabonds were felled by me swerd! I shuder at the thouht of what ye wuld of dun to em!” He cut himself off quickly as a sudden crash sounded throughout the castle. Lilith quickly moved in close as Gallius drew his sword. Gallius sword moved forward with his shield raised. He made sure to keep Lilith behind him. Even with magic, a full on charge or attack from some monstrosity could deal serious damage. Gallius however, was built to take damage. As they edged closer Gallius would notice the sheer destruction this creature had caused, just like he had seen earlier. The sound seemed to be emanating from within a dark kitchen. “I implore ye to stay ere Lilith. If any beest makes haste, ye may get hurt without armor” He would then turn to face the doorway, shield raised. Such destruction… The sounds it made seemed… Oh no  Suddenly, a creature which appeared to be of reptilian origins burst through the doorway. It was a fair deal larger in size compared to Gallius and sported a vast array of purple scales. A drakon, and a large one at that. It came crashing into Gallius with enough force to shatter his shield. It pinned Gallius to ground and screeched in his face. He would viciously stab at the Drakon, only for his sword to break in half. Gallius turned to Lilith and shouted “Make haste, Lilith! Find ye relic, I shalt keep this Drakon at bay!” Gallius started punching at the Drakon as it snapped at him. 331/2253 Lilith Nevermore |
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 25, 2018 12:57:37 GMT -5
Another surprise left the witch a little puzzled... But pleased as well. She honestly didn’t expect her misdirection to garner such wonder. Of course she knew she was amazing, but hearing someone else say it always sounded satisfying. She basked in the praise, smiling smugly. ...At least until the knight chose his words poorly. Her eye twitched and smile wavered at the knight’s way of addressing her, but she bit her tongue for now. Patience. She wouldn’t drop her act over a thoughtless insult. With a nod, she followed closely behind the armored meat shield.
Good thing too, because someone was still hungry.
Sheer surprise shattered Lilith’s mask for a moment. A dragon? Ah, one of the family’s guard monsters had actually survived? Her dear aunt would have been ecstatic, if it weren’t for the fact that she was, well, dead. The young witch could have tried to command the beast, by a domination spell if need be, but... The crimson eyes shifted onto the struggling knight. While Lilith didn’t believe in such silly things as karma, this was still a rather delightful coincidence. ...And there it was again. Life or death situation was no excuse for being so familiar with her. Hmph. Without a word she stormed off towards the kitchen, silently hoping the dragon would eat the man alive.
The kitchen was, well, about as ruined as one might expect after a visit from an overgrown lizard. Luckily the dumb beast hadn’t figured out the entrance to the cellar. It was just a simple hatch opening to worn out stairs. They led to an enormour cellar lined with salted meat and barrels of wine. But that wasn’t all... Every mysterious castle had the mandatory set of trapdoors, hidden paths and other magical or mechanical secrets. So Great Great Grandmother had insisted when she conjured the place at least. For instance, pushing a certain tile caused the biggest barrel to slide aside with a mighty rumble. Behind it was another set of stairs spiraling even deeper into the darkness.
Lilith drifted down as if she were light like a feather. Her footsteps barely left a sound in the murky stairwell. Deep into the earth it led. The wavering flame provided barely enough illumination. But she hardly needed it. This wasn’t the first time she had come here after all... After the stairs there was a long hallway lined with imposing gargoyles. Or imposing they had once been, but after the visit of a certain vagabond even they were now just rubble... Oh well. She continued along until she reached a mighty steel door. There was no keyhole to be seen and no handle to grasp. Instead, she uttered a single word, secret and nearly forgotten. With a cry of rust, the final door slid open...
Words: 476 [Total= 2912] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 26, 2018 20:47:24 GMT -5
Gallius held the creature’s head at bay while gazing towards Lilith. Once she made it out of the room, he returned to the Drakon. With a loud shout he would begin to pummel the dragon in the face, cracking a few scales and covering his hands with blood. His plate gauntlets began to melt away as the blood coated them. Typical, Draconic blood was usually corrosive or toxic. But the beast lacked one piece of crucial information: Gallius was much the same. The knight held his unarmored hand up and allowed the dragon to snap at it, sinking it’s fangs deep within. A golden, searing liquid began to pour from the wound. The flames of Manus ran through every Ferian’s blood, those who dared spill it were subject to the Forge. The Drakon’s teeth began to slowly dissolve in the burning liquid, and with a sickening pop Gallius pulled his arm away. As it was distracted he headbutted it and escaped from its vice-like grip. He would drive both hands forward into its mouth and grasp it’s upper and lower jaw. More blood began to spill as the remaining teeth cut him further. Slowly the knight would pry the Drakon’s mouth further and further open. “MANUS VULT!” He shouted at the beast, before a sudden glow of gold burst from his hands. With a wet snap, the Drakon’s jaw was broken open. Gallius would throw his arm to the side, eyes glowing gold. A holy sword would form from the divine glow on his arms. With a swift stab, he ensured the Drakon was dead. The sword would slowly disappear as Gallius fell to a knee. He had to reach Lilith, who knows what else could be lurking in this ruinous place? Gallius limped into the kitchen slowly, firmly grasping his arm to stem the blood flow. He would attempt to walk down the cellar staircase, only to miss a step and fall. The knight struggled to get up, golden blood trailing behind him as he limped through the long hallway. Gallius noticed Lilith at a large steel plate at the end of the hall. She whispered something, causing the plate to open like a door. He quickened pace, reaching the door seconds after she entered. “M-M’lady, the beest haf been slayne” He said leaning against the door. 388/2641 Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 27, 2018 13:11:59 GMT -5
Behind the door awaited a scene of odd tranquility, a refuge untouched by the ruin that had ravaged the rest of the castle. The knight would find a sanctum of sorts with a central shrine depicting a beautiful, regal witch. It was surrounded by a veritable treasure trove. Gold and gems glimmered even in the faint light of the flickering flame. Mysterious artifacts, holy and otherwise, lined the walls. There was a distinct hint of magic in the air, a twinkle of indescribable color, the sort of unnatural tingle that traced its shivers along one back. ...Well, that and dust. Clearly no one had entered this place in years.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Lilith barely spared the knight a glance over her shoulder. "Oh, you’re still alive. Good for you." Her tone held none of the previous warmth. The charming smile was nowhere to be seen. There was no need to pretend anymore. Turning her back to the man, she calmly strolled past the piles of glittering riches. Her attention was focused on the tall shelves full of artifacts, her gaze searching for one in particular. Admittedly she had never seen one herself, but the old texts described a small, round piece of jewelry lined with rubies. Shouldn’t be too hard to find. Fortunately the previous watchers had kept everything carefully in order.
Between the soft steps, the young lady’s voice drifted across the room. "I suppose I should thank you for your assistance. Without you, reaching this inner sanctum would have been... tedious." Yes, she would give credit where credit was due. She definitely preferred to have someone else get covered in peasant blood, lizard guts and devil knows what else. For that the naive knight deserved... a reward. Yes... "As a reward for your efforts, Sir Nickel Gallius..." Giving the armored man another glance, she paused to ponder, but only briefly. "...I shall let you live." An excellent reward, no? Hopefully he understood the honor enough to be thankful. Ah, probably not. He would most likely just ask more of his foolish questions.
Words: 349 [Total= 3261] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 28, 2018 13:12:28 GMT -5
The knight began to struggle forward before finally giving up and slumping against the door frame. The Drakons toxic blood had finally run its course. As Lilith began her gracious offering, Gallius lowered his head. Once Lilith finished Gallius did something strange. He started to laugh. The knights gaze rose to Lilith’s, eyes shifting from Gold to dull and back again. “Ye must take me as a fool. A man of competent swerdsmen skill wuld not lash as a beest, not even wen losen. Me suspicions wer hye, an that fancy magic proved me ryte” He would shift himself to a more comfortable position. “Manus forgives all, me desire was to give ye a chanse” He would begin to turn paler and more solemn. “I care not for me lyfe. Spare the men aboof insted and take myne if ye must. Alas, I wish ye to take no lyfe” Gallius would slowly begin to lower his head. He could feel his heartbeat slow as he slipped into unconsciousness. “Ye can be good, as can all thyngs wich reson. I...bid thee well” He would manage to mutter before finally falling to the Toxins. Thanks to his blood, he would not die from the toxins. But taking in such a large dose of Drakon blood? Not even he could stave off those effects for too long. The battered knight would lay silent against the door frame, barely a breath escaping from him. His Surcoat sported many holes due to his blood, revealing the Hauberk below. 255/2903 Lilith Nevermore |
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 29, 2018 2:06:50 GMT -5
For a moment there, Lilith was mildly impressed. The knight had seen through her guise based on the foe’s unnatural movement? Not bad... However, her impression was dashed the very second the man spouted more nonsense. Manus would forgive all? Even someone like her? "Oh spare me your hollow lecture..." Her voice trailed off and eye twitched as the realization hit. "...Hey! It is rude to pass out when a lady is speaking to you." She glared at his wounds. "And stop bleeding all over my floor." She clicked her tongue in annoyance. Tch, never mind. There was no point in arguing with a stubborn -and unconscious- fool. It would have stained her proud family name to go back on her word now.
The witch snatched her wand into hand and voiced an incantation. "Through knowledge may all boundaries be broken... Magic Mimicry: Greater Restoration." Healing had never been her strong point, but such limitations meant very little to a genius. A bolt of green energy surged through the unconscious knight. His wounds began to close with unnatural speed. "From Hell’s heart I summon thee..." With another incantation an infernal symbol appeared on the ground. "Come forth, herald of death, Banshee." In a flash of flames, another feminine figure appeared in the sanctum. Pale mist clung around her like a cloak, veiling her fair features. Long hair fluttered in nonexistent wind. Her skin was as white as fresh snow, yet her eyes were bloody red as if she had been crying.
Lilith pointed at the unconscious knight. "Throw this trash out." The ghost tilted her head with a quizzical sniffle. Evidently it was a question, because it received an answer. "I don’t care. Somewhere in the forest will do." Despite the weight of the man and his armor, the ghastly creature hoisted him up effortlessly. Before she could leave though, she received one more order. "And ensure that he doesn’t squander the gift of life I have so generously bestowed upon him. Keep him alive. Kill everything that tries to approach him." There was a puzzled pause as the eerie woman shifted her gaze between her mistress and the so-called trash. ...But she didn’t dare to question it.
When the knight eventually came to his senses, he would find himself in the forest some ways from the castle. He had been propped against a tree in a surprisingly gentle position. Yet... Around him were lifeless corpses of mangy, starved beasts. The ghost was floating before him, weeping softly. Only when he stirred would the creepy guardian let out a startled cry and vanish into thin air. Around the same time back at the castle, the witch was finding it difficult to focus on her research. Such secrets were laid bare before her eyes, yet... The knight’s final words echoed in her mind. Hmph, how utterly ridiculous. She could not be good...
For she had to be the best.
Words: 494 [Total= 3755] Andrew C. Creed |
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Post by Andrew C. Creed on Sept 29, 2018 21:40:21 GMT -5
The solemn knight leaned himself against a large Oak tree. A desolate castle stood within walking distance, clouds forming over the dawn sky. Aside from a few trees rustling in the wind all was silent. Gallius closed his eyes and sighed. She had done what she had promised. But had she done what Gallius begged? There was no sign of the previous combatants anywhere. Just dead beasts and a screeching banshee. Whether or not if she did, Gallius would never find out. He was leaving Earth for a good while, off to a realm titled Konats. The knight wished to avoid fighting her. Not out of fear of killing her or being killed, but because there had been enough violence already. If the witch had killed those men… His code would not stand for it. Rain began to pour across the land. The knight opened his eyes, golden light piercing the downpour. When he returned to Earth, this would be his first destination. But for now Lilith Nevermore could live in peace. Gallius would don his helmet and hold up his hand. Lightning struck the ground beside him, forming his Golden Steed. Gallius would hop onto the beast and take one last look to the castle. “Manus tegis aquis” He would turn away and pull on the mount’s reins. “And so do I”
231/3144  Lilith Nevermore
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