Down a hallway with nothing out of the ordinary, one can see a rather uninteresting door. Upon drawing nearer however, strange symbols appear on the edges of the door, and a cool breeze can be felt in the vicinity. Upon opening the door, you can see many shelves filled with numerous trinkets and gadgets. One wall in particular holds strange clear boxes filled with the most unusual objects, each seeming to tell a story with a glance. A tall man with long, dark hair and pale skin can be seen arranging the various items. He turns toward you, a smile on his face.
"Oh, a visitor? I don't get too many of those...If you're interested to learn some of the history of this Guild, I'd be happy to enlighten you." The man then seats himself upon a floating box and proceeds to introduce himself. "My name is Xashowd Nocturne, and this is my Closet. It's not much, but it's home."
Welcome to Xashowd's Closet! Here one can learn about past Events the Guild has had and one of the fans of the Anons. Feel free to explore and chat, though mind the renovations, as the Closet is ever expanding. Occasionally I'll post some story for Xashowd and the others, give some insight into what's going on with them and what can be expected from them in the future.
Table of Contents: gaia_nitemareleft Introduction gaia_nitemareright gaia_nitemareleft Brief Bios gaia_nitemareleft Event History
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 4:41 pm
Table of Contents: gaia_nitemareleft Introduction gaia_nitemareleft Brief Bios gaia_nitemareright gaia_nitemareleft Event History
Brief Bios
Here you can learn about the user, the character who resides here, an ally who occasionally visits, an old friend with a haunted past, and all of the Reaplings!. To prevent page stretching, the Bios are in Spoiler tags. Walls of Text incoming!
Xashowd (User)
Hello there! I've been a user on Gaia since '08, with my activity fluctuating over the years. With the obtaining of my own personal Laptop, my Activity has reached peak levels, though I do get distracted by video games and such...cat_sweatdrop
I was invited to the Guild during...I think it was Gaia's Easter 2k14 Event. I've been a fan of the Anoning in Events for a few years, and the messages are what I look forward to most every event. So when I got invited to a Guild about them, I leaped at the chance. I don't do a lot of Anoning myself, but I support the cause and hope that they'll be around for Gaia's foreseeable future.
Likes: Scythes, Watermelon, Cats, Video Games (Especially RPGs), Winter Snow, the cloudy time before it rains, nighttime, positive people.
I do spend a lot of time on Gaia, but as an avid Video Gamer I have a few other online hobbies. Be sure to PM me before adding me to your lists!
3DS Friend Code: 3695-0746-1582 Steam: Xashowd
OoC Posts during RPs are surrounded by **.
Xashowd (OC)
A Vampiric Wind Mage from another world, his village was destroyed by a creature known as the Dark Fenrir, and amidst the chaos his Fiance, Selena, was killed. After that he went on a journey to find the beast and met up with other elemental users from different walks of life. Karen, the hot-headed Fire Elemental tomboy with a penchant for trouble. Laguna, the Water Elemental Drow with a complex personality filled with flowing emotions. Darxian, the Chrysalian assassin who keeps his emotions to himself and wields the Earth Element. Though often apart due to their separate paths, they came together to defeat an entity known as Seraphos, who had in fact been the Dark Fenrir. Though often at odds with one another, they eventually became friends and decided to keep in contact after the Fall of Seraphos.
Xashowd was born a Vampire, and is 158 years old with Waist-long Black hair, pale skin, and crimson eyes. He most often wears a black cloak and gloves, though on Gaia he has and does change his outfit from time to time. Bearing the element of Wind, he is a free spirit who travels the world in search of meaning. His curiosity often gets him into trouble, though it gained a sentience of its own after a failed Animal Transformation. Since then Xashowd tries not to stay in one place for too long, as when he rejects or tries to escape his curiosity it assaults his mind with intense migraines. After losing his fiance, he also avoids relationships with women beyond platonic friendship, out of fear of losing another person. This fear also drives him to protect anyone he considers a friend.
Xashowd's Vampire heritage grants him not only the skills and strength of a vampire, but also certain special abilitoes that his ancestors once possessed. During his travels Xashowd likes to learn about these skills and tries to use them if he can. He has access to Mist Form, which allows him to phase through semi-solid objects and bars. He also has limited Animal Transformation, though its power seems to vary based on the world he's in. His first attempt to use it ended in massive failure, but when the Animal Avaters came to Gaia, he found that he could turn into a Gaian Cat with ease.
As a Wind Elemental, Xashowd has direct control over the Air Molecules around him. If he can conceive of it and utilize logic with it, he can do anything with the Wind and Air around him, though some uses of it expend more energy than others. His mental and physical state also affect how powerful his magic can be, and when he is weakened, so is his magic. Xashowd can also utilize limited Summoning magic, but can only summon Wind Spirits or winged entities that he has befriended and made a pact with. Grendel of Horodyn is his primary summon.
Grendel
Being a Vampire, Xashowd has not only the positives, but also certain negatives. Though he is a daywalker, if he stays in sunlight for extended periods of time his skills weaken, and thus he stays in shaded areas like forests more often than not. Extreme Heat causes discomfort, and makes him more prone to anger and Berserk Rampages. He still requires Blood every few months in order to survive, and even that length of time is only due to his body accepting Watermelon as a viable substitute due to the amounts he ingested as a child.
Xashowd's weapon of choice is the Scythe, which he chose due to its precision and graceful nature. Though typically an unwieldy weapon, Xashowd has trained almost all his life with it, and even created his own personal Magitech Scythe, which he has named Nightwind. He can perform numerous feats of physical skill with this weapon, and when combined with his strength and reflexes he becomes a force to be reckoned with in battle, flowing and spinning around foes while delivering precise, crippling strikes. Being a Magitech weapon, he can channel his element through it for specialized attacks, and when a battle gets intense he will often do so. His Scythe is also the only weapon he uses when Berserk.
Xashowd does his best to keep a calm and positive exterior around others. He tends to play well with others who are positive or open, but not so much with those who are cold, antisocial, or consumed by hate and anger. Having lived with his own anger at the Dark Fenrir and a desire for vengeance upon it, he does not wish to associate himself with those emotions again, and thus tries to stay away from those who would incite it. His Curiosity makes this more difficult, as it has a thing for angry and tortured souls. When extremely thirsty or angered beyond the point of reason, he will enter a Berserk Rampage and focuses solely on that which angered him or the nearest source of edible blood, often foregoing Wind Magic and instead manipulating his body in ways inaccessible to his normal state, such as Blood Manipulation, High-pitched Shrieks, and Bat Summoning. However, as Xashowd's favorite food is Watermelon, he literally cannot be angry around it due to his positive association with it, and as such Watermelon is the fastest way to calm him down from an enraged state.
Xashowd's history with the Guild is brief, as he was granted access shortly before the Grunny Invasion. He is on good or speaking terms with most of the Guild members he has met, is friends with Monster the Werehog, and is on very bad terms with Daenes, whom he now avoids as much as possible. He was friends with Princess Voltari, but after an incident with Laguna he is unsure where their friendship stands. He makes his home in the guild, though he has not roamed its halls in a while, as everything has been peaceful for some time.
Lastly, During the Grunny Invasion Xashowd found this closet, and decided to spruce it up and make it habitable for him. One Grunny in particular that he killed he kept as a macabre reminder of a mass extermination of Grunnies, but has decided to make something positive of it and has made himself an unofficial Guild Historian, keeping track of all the events that have happened in the Guild, starting with that little Grunny in the Box...
Darxian (OC)
Darxian the Earth Elemental Assassin is an old friend of Xashowd's, and one of the first elementals he met. Darxian is actually rather cold and antisocial, and naturally he and Xashowd butted heads quite often during initial encounters. With time and many missions together, the two began to trust each other and became friends, often aiding one another in various situations. Darxian is an assassin of high renown, though he doesn't care one whit for the praise or fame, believing it a job to be done and little else. He has accumulated an Intelligence Network over the years and prizes knowing everything about an opponent before setting foot on the battlefield. Due to his knowledge, Xashowd and the others call on him often for advice and intel, and, though sometimes reluctantly, he shares this knowledge in the hopes of keeping them alive. He's a no-nonsense kind of man, never sugarcoating what he says and speaking his mind with little regard to others' emotions. His favored weapon is a Soul Dagger that can drain the life essence of those he stabs or scratches with it. He pops by Xashowd's Closet from time to time, mainly to help him expand it since he can manipulate Earth and Metal.
Darxian also mentored Laguna Nocturne after the death of her brother, giving him an emotional tie to her like that of a father teaching a daughter. The two were close until a reappearance by the Exodus Dragon, whose words filled Laguna's mind with doubt. This resulted in a chain of events that had driven Laguna to insanity, and Darxian feared he may have to kill her before long.
With Laguna settled in, Darxian's visits are less frequent. The last major visit was to help Xashowd make a room for the Reaplings, which are rather fond of Darxian. He checks in on the Gizmo once a week.
Laguna (OC)
Laguna the Drow is a Water Elemental with a complicated past. Chosen by Seraphos along with the others to be guardians of the elements, she and her brother Viscus traveled to various worlds hoping to find a home to call their own, far away from the city they had fled. She butted heads with Karen, the wielder of Fire, many times, and between the four their catfights were legendary, though Laguna often won. With her brother at her side, she felt they would find the home they sought.
Then an entity called the Exodus Dragon stabbed her brother in the back.
That dagger was possessed by a water demon, which took over Viscus' body and mind, acting as a servant to the Dragon. Desperate to save her brother, she traveled to many lands in search of a way to rid the demon from him, meeting Darxian a few times in her travels. Laguna was impressed by the assassin's skills, though she preferred her magic. Finding no answers, she resolved to save Viscus with her own power, and ascended the tower where the Dragon made its home. That dragon pitted the siblings against one another, and in the end Laguna was forced to kill her own brother, an act that left her emotionally scarred...and with a desire for revenge.
She asked Darxian to teach her his skills and his knowledge so that she could grow strong enough to defeat the Dragon. Laguna was a quick learner, her drive pushing her to test the limits of her body, mind, and control over her element. When the Dragon reappeared, She made her move, and fought Exodus with everything she had. During the battle, Darxian and the others appeared, having found out Seraphos had been using them the whole time, and passed the information onto Laguna. It would take all four of them to defeat him, so Laguna chose to do the right thing...but not before leaving Exodus with a nasty scar across his back. He took the opportunity to slip away, and wasn't heard from again for some time.
A year ago, the Dragon resurfaced. He went right to Laguna, revealing what he believed to be the secrets of existence. He relegated to her that life was meaningless due to the greed of Sentient Beings, and that as long as Want existed, there would never be peace. But Want was integral to the survival of all, for without it nothing would want to live, and thus Exodus found life repulsive, requesting that Laguna kill him. He continued to taunt her until she snapped, lashing out at the monster responsible for her brother's death and ending his existence. The Dragon fell with a smile on his face, yet his words hurt Laguna the most. Determined to prove the Dragon wrong, she set out to end any source of greed and evil she could find. Her mind was still clouded with doubt, and so during one hunt she let her guard down, and an Incubus was able to surprise her.
In the ensuing months she turned into a Succubus, her body changing to accommodate her new needs. She hated what she had become, but after a stint in a demonic prison and a meeting with Lilith, Queen of the Succubi, she learned to use her new powers to her advantage. With those powers came a different mindset, one she warred with day in and day out, until Lilith revealed that Laguna was a descendant of hers. With the evidence piling up, Laguna's mind snapped from the pressure, and she decided that she would live by her own rules, and not the morality that the world had set upon her.
Thus, she began living as a true demon, with little regard for the lives of humans, but having a soft spot for other drow and demons. As the body count piled up, Darxian was forced to hunt her, and so she has been on the run, training herself and increasing the scope of her Elemental powers along the way. She has few limits in regards to her Water Magic, and pushes herself to break those limits with every passing day.
Now, her current course puts her on a one-way route to Gaia, where she hopes to put an end to Darxian's chase once and for all. Laguna has tasted true freedom, and after everything she has endured, she does not wish to lose it.
As a Drow, Laguna has dark purple skin, pointed ears, and is on the skinny side, but was born with blue hair and eyes, which makes her stand apart from the rest of her race. She is 83 years old, though looks 20. She is rather pessimistic due to her experiences, and after spending time training under Darxian adopted a few of his mannerisms, such as bluntness and rather brutal honesty. After becoming a Succubus she has been occasionally flirtatious, though usually when hungry. Most of the time she just likes flying/swimming around and challenging others to assorted contests of endurance, always trying to see how much she can get away with before pushing others too far. She also adores anything with the color Blue on it, often trying to get her hands on whatever it may be.
Her skill with Water, and by extent any liquid she can find, is like Xashowd's with Air. If she can think of it, she can do it. She can mold the water molecules in the air around her, and control the water inside living things, bending it to her will. Laguna is a fast learner, and takes few tries to learn a new spell or combat maneuver, though she sticks to her element. After becoming a Succubus, she gained the power to shapeshift her body into whatever form she wanted, and even change her clothing at will. This also has combat applications, as she can turn her arm into a blade, or mold her form to evade attacks.
Being Water Elemental, she is notably weak to Electric Magic, and stays away from any sources of electricity that aren't contained. Extreme heat also weakens her skills, as it becomes harder for her to fight with less water in the air. She is also strong-willed, and has a severe problem with authority, though isn't afraid to open up to anyone she doesn't see as a threat to her freedom. Her relationship with Darxian is strained at best, but she's amicable towards anyone she hasn't met.
He weapons of choice are a pair of Daggers. Until recently she used a standard pair, but decided she wanted a ranged weapon that complemented her magic. Thus, with the help of Lilith's Sisterhood, she created a special pair of Magitech Daggers that not only channel her element, but can transform into a Bow when the Hilts make contact with eachother. She makes Arrows out of the Water Molecules around her, condensing and hardening them. Once the arrows hit something they evaporate after a minute, returning the molecules to the air and making Laguna's arrow supply nearly limitless. If she rapid-fires them in a short time frame, or is in a dry area, she won't be able to fire as many.
Laguna has settled in at Xashowd's Closet, having a room of her own complete with indoor waterfalls. She works for Hell as a Specialist Hitwoman, taking on assorted jobs that relate to her skillset. She and the Reaplings get along well, but no one knows of the Angel she keeps in her closet as her own personal toy.
The Reaplings
Reaplings that Xashowd found during the Beach Party of 2014 and onward, they follow him and aid him in both his life and his battles. Thanaphyr was found by sheer happenstance, and the two got along very well, but Etheria was sent by Death to help Xashowd find a purpose in life, and informed Thanaphyr of Death's decision. Phantasia shipped herself to her older sister Etheria, always wanting to see the outside world. Pumpgeist however eluded the four for days until Phantasia literally bumped into him, and the two became fast friends. Scythifer emerged from the shadows of Hell upon hearing a Halloween Reapling had Bonded with a Reaper-in-Training, and Xashowd had to earn his loyalty through combat. Hallowkin is Pumpgeist's Sister, and came to visit her brother upon hearing he was Bonded. She decided to stay with Xashowd as well after seeing how well Xashowd has taken care of her brother. Soulriel the Heaven Reapling came down after learning Xashowd had bonded with a Hell Reapling, and demanded that balance be restored. To that end, she Bonded with Xashowd. Being Reaplings, they are typically happy and enthusiastic about their job, and care for Xashowd's Soul and his mental state. Thanaphyr is male and tends to be straightforward with a spunky personality, though he isn't fond of boring work. Etheria is female and lighthearted, though has been accused of being too fond of her work. Phantasia is the youngest of the group and is female, eternally curious about the world outside of the Reaper Realm and thus asks many questions. Pumpgeist is male and the Holiday fanatic, while also very OCD about what he calls The Holiday Order. He speaks with an advanced vocabulary, and is a skilled mediator. Scythifer is aggressive and foul-mouthed, traits he picked up due to being a Hell Reapling. The opposite of Pumpgeist, he relishes a challenge and isn't afraid to let others know what he thinks. Hallowkin is a compassionate spirit who enjoys the childish aspects of Halloween. She cares deeply for the well-being of the other Reaplings, and helps Xashowd with chores around the Closet. Soulriel is a determined spirit believing in maintaining the Balance of Good and Evil, and she sets herself as Scythifer's opposite as a result, though the two often have heated arguments. She knows where Xashowd typically sides himself in conflicts, but aims to ensure he does not fall too deep into darkness.
Table of Contents: gaia_nitemareleft Introduction gaia_nitemareleft Brief Bios gaia_nitemareleft Event History gaia_nitemareright
Event History
Having made himself an unofficial Guild Historian, Xashowd keeps a token from every event and attaches a story to it, summarizing what went on. Each artifact is listed in chronological order, and again are under Spoiler Tags to prevent page stretching.
4/14: The Grunny Invasion!
Token Description: A White Grunny preserved in a clear box of air. It looks like it's sleeping, but upon closer inspection one can see signs of a broken neck...
Fanonymous' first event! Two Grunnies got into Caedere's Basement during Breeding Season, and multiplied like...well, rabbits. For almost a whole week shenanigans ensue, with numerous Anons and Fans fighting for their lives against the Grunny and Grombie menace.
The Hunt for the Astrolabe!
Token Description: A flyer depicting a map of an abandoned amusement park. There are signs of decay fraying the edges, much like the park itself...
Hosted by Radiant Anon Solsi during the Summer Months of 2015, multiple Anons and fans hunted for a powerful artifact stolen by a thief, which was said to be hidden within an abandoned amusement park. Lasting a couple weeks, there wasn't much conflict, but with the full moon high in the sky no less tension. A battle did ensue, and near the end our resident Lorekeeper was left incapacitated. What happened that night still haunts part of his mind...
Open for posting! I'll be editing in the Bios, but I wanted to get the main posts and a few Reserved (just in case) out of the way. Remember to watch your head!
After his chat with Sciurus, Xashowd decided to pop by the closet right quick to see if anything new had happened. Sure enough, he saw his friend Darxian standing in a bigger version of the closet. The shelves were unchanged, but there was noticeably more room.
"I was wondering when you'd show up. Surprised no one did, considering the vibrations that were made." Darxian explained. Xashowd chuckled at his old friend. "Thanks for that, by the way. Anything I can do in return?" Darxian held out his hand, palm facing Xashowd. "No need. I'm surprised someone as flighty as you decided to put down some roots, so consider this one on me." Darxian walked over to the shelf with the Grunny on it. "I'm also surprised about this...Didn't think you kept souvenirs." "You should see my Magitech Holding Satchel sometime. I keep a lot of stuff in there." Xashowd sat down on a chair he'd put in over the weekend. "What's new?"
Darxian glanced over at him with a serious look on his face. "I did some digging on what you've requested...but I haven't come up with much. About Daenes...I can tell you that she's an Elf with demonic powers. Some kind of blood manipulation, though we can't confirm what kind. You'd better be careful should you ever face her." Xashowd nodded. He didn't intend to go near Daenes for a while, but he'd need the information. "Oh, and she has a thing for that blue elf...Gypsy, you said? I'm not sure how far their relationship goes, but they act like nervous lovers around one another. I'd say if anything were to happen to Gypsy, Daenes would go berserk, so if you don't want a fight on your hands, make sure Gypsy stays safe." Darxian paced to another side of the room. "As for Leviathan...that's where the trail ends. All we know is that it's a high-ranking demon with connections to Daenes. Not an actual Leviathan, just a powerful demon that fancied the name. Beyond that, my intel is as good as yours, since that demon hasn't appeared in quite some time. All I can tell you at the moment."
"Your suggestion, if I should ever run into it?" Xashown inquired.
Darxian smirked. "Knowing you, running into it will happen someday. Keep your guard up, remember your skills, don't go in on an empty stomach, and don't tick it off if you can help it." Darxian's face turned grim as he continued. "As for Daenes, just don't run into her at all. You might think it'll blow over in time, but both women and demons excel at holding grudges. She's gonna remember you for a long while. And from what you told me about her personality, unless Gypsy's there she'll most likely attack you considering how much you riled her up. Sentient Curiosity or not." Darxian gave Xashowd a hard look. "I'm only looking into this in the first place because the knowledge will help in the event of fate giving you the finger. Normally I'd avoid it because I don't feel like having a Demon on my a**. They tend to be hard to kill." He pointed at Xashowd. "Don't make me regret it."
Xashowd nodded. "Believe me, I don't want to cause trouble here. I think I've found a place that'll accept me, and I don't want to ruin that. I'll do my best to avoid Daenes. Should be easy, considering she radiates anger..." Xashowd explained. He'd recently seen an area of the Guild called "Chatter Hangout" that he'd wanted to check out, but he'd felt Daenes's presence, so he hadn't ventured in just yet. Didn't want to create an incident or make tension in there. "Anything else new?"
Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 8:47 pm
"Actually, yes..." Darxian pulled out a spare kunai he kept on hand and, in one swift motion, flung it at Xashowd's coat to pull part of it to the side, revealing Nyx's Token. "That."
Xashowd tensed. He'd made the choice to side with Nyx in the upcoming battle, but Darxian preferred things orderly. And Nyx was considered the villain, which Darxian wouldn't like. His face confirmed as much. "You've never sided with the 'bad guys' before. I don't know whether you're stupid or insane. And I've done my homework on this world's Nyx. 'Bad Guy' is written all over him. He was made an outcast for a reason. Whatever he did, he deserved his fate." Darxian glowered at Xashowd. "So why are you siding with him?"
Xashowd stood up, determination in his eyes. "Because first and foremost, I'm a Vampire. A creature of the Night. I know as well as you do his 'side', but I can't betray my nature...I can't deny the truth." He sighed. "I'm tired of the conflict, to be honest. Knowing that there will never be true peace because of the way beings are just makes it harder to want to be the subjective 'good guy'. I actually thought we were making a difference when we fought Seraphos...Now I'm not so sure." Xashowd turned to his old friend. "You know it as well as I do. So what's the problem? Why do you fight?"
Darxian sighed in exasperation. "The problem is that this isn't like you. You don't kill without reason, you don't feed unless you have to, and you don't enlist in causes that upset the balance of nature itself. This..." Darxian explained, pointing to the Token. "This troubles me. I'm worried you'll end up like Laguna."
"Wait, what happened to Laguna!?" Xashowd asked surprised. He hadn't heard much from Laguna recently, but things hadn't sounded good.
Darxian gave him a solemn glance. It spoke volumes. "Nothing...Yet. But with the way she's going..." Darxian gripped the hilt of his Soul Dagger. Xashowd understood what he meant. "I need to get back, follow more leads. Just...Keep yourself out of trouble." And with that, Darxian walked into a wall and vanished, warping out through the earth.
Xashowd walked over to his recently installed bed and flopped back on it. Things didn't seem to be going so well. He wondered what Monster was doing at that moment. Maybe he could pay the Werehog a visit and go on a run or something...Xashowd was antsy. Sure, he'd fought some Grunnies during the invasion, but he hadn't been in a real battle in quite some time. His body yearned for something to do. Maybe that's why he sided with Nyx...there he'd get all the battle his primal instincts craved.
Xashowd got up out of bed and headed out the door. He'd go fly around the outside of the Guild for a while, get some practice in. Maybe summon a few things, see Grendel again and ask his opinion on the matter. Something besides this...stagnation he suddenly felt. It might do him some good.
After flying around for a while and getting in some practice, Xashowd returned to his closet for some rest. But what was supposed to be downtime turned into something quite different...
From: An anonymous benefactor Message: Well hello there sweetie~ whispers a voice inside your head. You turn around in alarm, but no one is there. I hear you were talking about me&�& its an eerily calm voice, almost like a midnight jazz singer. It giggles, Im flattered you&��d take note. you feel an odd pressure on your neck, like sharp nails carefully grazing over vain and muscle, but&�& it paused, and the sensation became stronger. You look down to see a slender hand, nails like claws&�&stained black with something you thought might be old, dead blood.
Youre very wrong, love. with that, her body presses against your back, breasts heaving with her new breathe. This isn&��t just a name, dear. a warm slip of the tongue darted up the back of your neck, slow and dangerous. I am that which I am called. that same giggle echoed, and her hand became tighter around yur neck. I will devour the world, soon. you look down to see a large slithering tail creep up the side of your legs, clenching and pulling you down.
Youre in her cowls now as she stares down at you, her claws still around your throat. You both presume so much~ Its rather cute. but she didn&��t seem amused. Getting a better look you see her lips drip with something that you wish it didn&��t&�&she smiles, showing off her sharp fangs, split tongue sliding over her teeth, lapping up the last of her previous meal.
Her eyes, blood red, stared down at you, she leaned down, her snake like body, twisting tight around your torso. I am no demon&�& she seemed&�&anger, nails digging, causing driblets of blood to bead from the skin her nails claim, I am Leviathan. she slowly turned her neck, cracking it, eyes never leaving yours.
Archivists&�& her lips pierced in anger should get there facts right! she howled in anger, her face splitting like a broken zipper, revealing a mouth filled with an impossible amount of teeth, all surrounding a throat and mouth like a tunnel. Within her could be heard the screams of Hell. She pick you up by the neck, slamming you against your closet walls, I am the beginning of the end! The devour of souls! Beelzebub, Ashtoreth, and Azalea dare not call me their rival! she hissed, the screaming within her getting louder and more painful to hear, Satan himself will soon bow before me!! she pressed harder into your neck with this I DO NOT FANCY, FOR I AM! the room thundered.
And just like that, she dropped you to the floor, her face returning to a normal, beautiful stare. She smiled, folding her arms over her chest, So perhaps write that down~ and she vanished back into the nothingness, leaving you.
Leviathan
...After the encounter, his body aching from the thrashing and his ears ringing from the screaming, he made his way over to where he'd last placed the Gizmo. Only his anger at what should've been a safe place being so easily invaded kept him going, as the rest of him begged for rest. He had Darxian on speed dial, and used that function now.
His face popped on screen after a few moments, irritated for some reason. "Dammit Xashowd, this is not the best time for a- Wait, what happened to you?" "Who...gave you...that intel on...Leviathan?" Xashowd struggled to ask, though his struggle was more with remaining calm than with any sort of physical trauma, his Vampiric healing sped along by the rush of adrenaline he had. "I'm not sure I understand the need to know." Darxian replied, clearly annoyed though concerned for his friend. Xashowd wasn't taking no for an answer, and he wasn't very patient at the moment. "WHO GAVE YOU THE INTEL!!!? He shouted at the screen. Darxian visibly flinched. "A reliable source whose name I cannot disclose. Why is this so important all of a sudden?" He inquired.
Xashowd tilted the screen at the walls he'd been slammed against. "Because I just got a visit from Leviathan herself. And their intel is Dead. Wrong." Xashowd fought hard to stay awake, but he couldn't deny his body any longer and collapsed from exhaustion, the Gizmo still on. "Xashowd? Xashowd! ****....Guess Laguna will have to wait..." Darxian spoke over the Gizmo before turning it off on his end.
It was going to be a long day...
Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 7:27 pm
Screams. All he heard were screams.
Everything burning around him, buildings collapsing under the feet of a giant beast. The screams of his friends and family piercing the night.
Xashowd recognized this nightmare. As he looked around, he saw the Attack of the Dark Fenrir playing out in his mind again. A memory he'd long since buried.
He ran towards where the beast was, where it trampled everything he cared about. Scythe in hand he ran towards the beast, intent on ending its rampage.
When he looked up, he saw...what?
It was a giant serpent, wide gaping maw devouring everything in sight. Amid the screams a hellish laughter could be heard.
This wasn't the Dark Fenrir. This wasn't a massive, snarling wolf with gray and silver fur, patches of which were twisted to form symbols of various religions and organizations.
This was all wrong.
Xashowd's mind wanted to run, realizing the difference, but his dream-body acted as though nothing had changed. It charged headlong at the beast, intending to cleave its head in two.
He felt the claws around his neck again. Heard the fury in the creature's voice.
"I DO NOT FANCY, FOR I AM!" It raged at him before hurling him upwards. The maw opened wide as it awaited his inevitable descent.
Falling...falling...
Xashowd awoke with a yell, his hands moving in front of him as though he was holding Nightwind. When he realized the dream was over, he sighed heavily and clutched his head.
This was not going to be a good night.
He looked around and saw Darxian standing against a wall. Before Xashowd could say anything, he held up a hand and turned to him. "Tell me what happened. And don't leave anything out."
Xashowd gave him the full recap of the events leading up to the call. After that, Darxian echoed Xashowd's earlier sigh. "Damn...That makes the second." "The second what?" Xashowd asked him. Darxian shook his head. "Not important, at least not to you. But what you're telling me is that this investigation has riled up something we may not be able to fight." Xashowd glared at Darxian for a few moments, then calmed himself. "We've fought bigger."
"Are you insane!?" Darxian asked him with the most anger Xashowd had ever seen him use. "What you just described isn't some demon lord, or some creature that people call a leviathan. From what you've told me, we're dealing with THE Leviathan, as in biblical. As in something that rivals Elder Gods. Seraphos is cake next to something like this!" He explained. Xashowd had never seen Darxian so...livid before. Not even when he'd faced his brother in the past. Darxian put his hand to his face in exasperation. "In my line of work, I've dealt with some strange ****. I've had to assassinate archdemons, I've dealt with warlocks who could raise the dead, and I've even seen some...thing that to this day I cannot describe. But if there's one thing I've learned from any being I've spoken to, it's that you don't mess with the primordial. Not even if you have nothing to lose."
Xashowd stood up in a flash. "That thing just invaded my safe haven!" Xashowd shouted. "You wanted to know, now you know." Darxian replied coolly. "Consider yourself lucky you're not dead. Or worse."
Xashowd walked over to a wall where he'd placed his Satchel and threw it around his shoulder. Darxian stepped in his way. "Whatever you're thinking is being fueled by rage. Calm yourself so we can think this through." Darxian gave him an even stare. "Last I checked, you didn't want to jeopardize your chances of staying here."
That brought Xashowd to a halt. He hadn't had a place he could remotely call home in some time. The guild wasn't it yet, but...it could be. And Leviathan had just invaded it, even if for but a moment. A moment of Hell.
Torn between a desire for home and a desire for vengeance, he stood there for some time.
Darxian stared at his friend. He knew Vampires felt emotion more keenly than other beings, and were easily influenced by it. Putting on a calm face and softening his tone, he spoke to Xashowd "We have time, and we have options. There are a lot of entities among the worlds that are either called or call themselves Leviathan, so making a mistake like that is simple. Activity from the Leviathan hasn't been recorded in quite some time, mainly because no one goes looking for it." Darxian motioned Xashowd over to the bed and sat him down. "You wouldn't be the first to chase a Leviathan of some kind, but you're among the few who has found the Primordial. And the only one I know of still...intact."
"I cannot let this go. I cannot just run from this..." Xashowd glanced at Darxian. "It appeared in the Nightmare, Darxian. And I haven't had that nightmare in years. I will not let this go until I face it. Until I-"
"Kill it? Xashowd, we're not talking some psycho here, this is an entity that has lived for Eons. If it could be killed, chances are it would've happened already." Darxian sat on the bed beside Xashowd. "If you were to fight it, the most you could do is wound it or entrap it, if that."
Xashowd's eyes were filled with a mixture of anger and resolve. Darxian sighed, he'd seen that look before. It hadn't been that intense in years, but he'd seen it. "Alright...If you're going to be crazy, best to be crazy smart. I'll go dig up whatever I can find on Leviathan's legends. But don't do anything stupid until I get back." Darxian stood up and walked over to a wall, giving Xashowd one last look. "That means don't go looking for Daenes. It's obvious she has a connection to it, but I doubt she'll tell you anything you want to know. And you might end up causing trouble for your new friends." With that, Darxian melded into the wall, leaving Xashowd to his own devices.
Xashowd was torn. Darxian was right, but part of him wanted to march right up to the elf and demand answers. Part of him wanted payback for the intrusion. But following those urges would just cause more tension, if not a fight. He couldn't do that to people he wanted to be friends with. He'd end up having to leave.
He flopped back onto the bed, angry at everything and nothing all at once. When his Curiosity had driven him to this, he hadn't thought it'd get this bad. And after his curiosity was dealt with, he'd only been preparing for "What If" scenarios. Now it felt like he was preparing for the last fight of his life.
Xashowd growled, a low noise similar to that of a feline. Many times he'd thought his Curiosity would get him killed. Now it looked like he was right. And it was because of the last thing his curiosity did of its own volition. There was an Irony here somewhere, but Xashowd couldn't think of it...
Darxian warped into Xashowd's chambers...well, if they could be called chambers. They were more spacious, granted, but they didn't seem very organized. He'd come to bring Xashowd the information on Leviathan he'd gathered (and that he'd gathered himself, not wanting to make another mistake like last time), but the vampire wasn't here yet. Darxian sighed. What the hell is taking him so long? He knows this is important.
He walked over to the shelf with the boxed Grunny in it. Nasty things, Grunnies. One bite and you were a glorified door stop in a few hours. This one looked like it was sleeping, but Darxian could tell Xashowd had only positioned it to look like that. A snapped neck, huh? What was so special about you that he didn't bisect you with his Scythe? Shaking his head, he walked over to the wall Xashowd had been slammed against. It was fading, but Darxian could sense the energies in the ground near this spot. It was ancient, and filled with the power of devoured souls. Only thing he didn't know was why Xashowd hadn't been killed. Demons had many reasons for killing beings that insulted them, Lords of Hell even more so.
Based on his intel, Leviathan was an ancient demonic entity that came from the sea, serpentine in nature and massive in size. It once had a mate, but that mate was killed to ensure they wouldn't breed, as Leviathan's strength was deemed too great for the world to handle more of them. At some unspecified time, Leviathan began to represent and lord over the Sin of Envy, and alongside Lucifer, Mammon, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Satan, and Belphegor became one of the rulers of Hell. However, the seven often competed with one another to see who was best fit to rule all, and would try to accumulate as many Souls as possible to that end.
The last part explained why Leviathan was here in Gaia. It connected to myriad worlds, which ensured a massive population. It was likely the Lords of Hell used it as one of many Soul Gathering hubs. It also explained how Daenes fit in. Demons liked using proxies to collect Souls for them, mostly for the thrill of dominating another's will, but also because it meant more souls could be collected in a shorter amount of time.
However, it did not explain why Xashowd was still alive. Darxian knew Xashowd had a soul, his Dagger had activated when injuring Xashowd in a scuffle they'd had. That only happened when there was life energy to steal, and that energy was always kept in a Soul. Xashowd and Darxian had apparently insulted Leviathan with their false information, which led to a horror show Darxian had avoided solely because he hadn't been there. Leviathan had motive enough to end things there...so why didn't she?
A dangerous question, given the whims of Demon Lords.
Darxian pulled out his Soul Dagger, glancing around the room. Xashowd had been caught unawares. He would not. And if Leviathan showed up, he intended to get answers. Xashowd wanted to bring Leviathan down for invading his "safe haven" (not that a closet with a few minor warding spells was very safe), but all Darxian cared about was keeping his friend out of trouble. He'd defend himself, but he preferred talking to fighting when it came to the denizens of Hell.
They were very hard to kill.
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 10:50 pm
After numerous moments of expecting Leviathan to show up unannounced, Darxian sighed and grabbed a chair, sitting down on it. He pulled out his Gizmo and sent Xashowd a message. In your closet, waiting on you. I have the Intel. We need to talk ASAP. He put the Gizmo back in his pocket and went over the events of the past few days. Aside from gathering any intel he could find on the biblical Leviathan, he'd also been trying to track Laguna's trail again. His old apprentice-turned-succubus had gone full demon, forsaking any sort of morality in the pursuit of her desires. And said desires got people killed. As a result, he had been tasked with bringing her in...dead or alive. To Darxian alive was preferable, perhaps he could knock some sense into her, remind her of why she had asked him to be his apprentice in the first place. She had wanted to help people...now she hurt them for fun.
When he saw the Exodus Dragon in hell, Darxian intended to make him suffer for it. It was his words that drove Laguna to go out on her own, trying to make the world better by killing sources of greed. It was that pursuit and her jarred mental state that caused her guard to drop, allowing an incubus to get the drop on her.
Darxian wished he'd actually tried to get Laguna to stay that night, to sort things out. But he'd known the day would come when she would go her own way, and he had thought that she was ready. Her decision had been made, and though what she told him had troubled him, he trusted her.
Now he might have to kill her.
The Gizmo buzzed in his pocket. He thought it was Xashowd, but when he turned it on it was something else. An informant letter. He opened the file and read through it. Laguna had found a way to warp off-world with her Water Elemental powers, which were growing rapidly based on the...explicit details within. She could now control any liquid she knew of. Darxian cursed at the ill luck, but his swearing was put on-hold when he read the next paragraph.
Laguna was traveling across myriad worlds in sequence, wreaking havoc as she went. She was now classified as an Intergalactic Threat Rank 2, the second highest threat level he knew of. Only one man held a higher rank...and the name of Racai was feared throughout every world. She was no longer to be captured, all orders were to kill her on sight. The informant, knowing of Darxian's plight, added an apology after that statement. It seemed to Darxian things couldn't get worse, but then he read the last sentence.
Estimated Course: Gemstone Islands, Eternia, Earth Copy 387-Vegas 16, Gaia, Earth Copy 1204-Succubi City, Elysion. Will provide more details as they arise.
She was on her way to Gaia. Darxian swore vehemently. He was going to have not one, but two Demons to deal with...
He hoped the Leviathan situation would be dealt with soon. He'd need all the time he could get to prepare for Laguna's arrival.
Xashowd warped into his closet. He made a note to look for a nice, large, juicy Watermelon for Volt to try after his conversation with Darxian. He was in a pretty good mood after hanging out with the princess.
Darxian was not in such a good mood. "It's about damn time you showed up. What kept you?" He asked, more than a little irritated. "Sorry...I met this princess and we had a nice chat. You know where to find some good Watermelon, right?" Xashowd asked him. Darxian's expression lie somewhere between anger and amusement. Overall, he was just glad Xashowd was fine, but the situation they were in wasn't a happy one. "You still sure about taking on Leviathan?" Darxian inquired, just to be certain. Xashowd's expression hardened in an instant. "You know I am. That snake isn't getting away with this without a few scars." Darxian just sighed.
He told Xashowd everything he had discovered about the biblical Leviathan, letting the information sink in before making another comment. "Based on this, we know the Leviathan is mostly aquatic. If she has any weakness, it'll be Lightning Magic. Even then, she may have built up a resistance, or worse an immunity, to it over the eons. It's still worth a shot." Darxian pointed at Xashowd. "But therein lies the problem. Neither of us can use Lightning magic, and in your case it can be lethal. And unless you've heard from Raxard recently, we don't have any options." Xashowd thought it over for a while. It was true that he hadn't heard from his doppelganger in some time. Voltari could use Lightning magic though, and her Yo-yo was quite the weapon...he shook his head. Leviathan was a personal matter, he didn't want to involve half the guild in a battle that could mean the end of him.
"No, I haven't heard from him." Xashowd replied. "I'm guessing that means I'll have to stick to what I've got." Something came to Xashowd just then. If they couldn't hit its weakness, maybe they could deny Leviathan its strength. "If Leviathan is Water-based, what about Laguna? She could even the odds for us."
Darxian grimaced. "She's of no use to anyone in her current mental state..." He held up his hand. "And don't ask what I mean. You've got enough on your plate as it is." Xashowd frowned. He wondered what Darxian meant, but his friend had a point. One problem at a time. "So, how do we find Leviathan again? I'd like this to be settled as soon as possible." Darxian raised an eyebrow. "We could try insulting her in a place of our choosing. That certainly got her attention last time." Darxian replied. He wasn't eager to face the creature, but he wanted this done as quickly as Xashowd did. Still, his idea was more of a joke. The whims of demon were hard to predict. One day's insult could mean nothing the next.
Xashowd shook his head. "No. We need to get a message to her...a formal challenge. Something Leviathan can't ignore." "Unfortunately for you, that means a bet. Most demons, especially the Lords of Hell, love nothing more than a gamble. It adds a layer of excitement, and to them a hold over their opponent, since they win 99 times out of 100. And with your life already on the line, there's not much more you can bet." Darxian explained. Xashowd thought it over for a few moments. "Then what about my Soul? The Lords of Hell desire souls above all else, right?" "First off, they care about dominion over everything more than anything else, Souls are just how they get it. And second, No." Darxian replied with a scowl. "I'll grant you that Leviathan would find it tempting, but given your odds you'd lose more than you'd gain. And all you want is a temporary sense of satisfaction. You'd be offering something permanent, and at worst making yourself her servant. That's not going to happen on my watch."
"Then what am I supposed to offer? You know I don't have much else a Lord of Hell could desire." Xashowd asked in exasperation. Darxian smiled. "Well, we've got time to think about that. In the meantime, here." He threw a small piece of paper at Xashowd. "I've been meaning to give that to you. It has the coordinates of the best Watermelon farmer I know of, and he's got some very nice ones. Get yourself one, think happy thoughts, and stay out of trouble. I'll try and make contact with Leviathan, hash things out. If all goes well, next you see me I'll have your battle set up." "And if everything doesn't go well?" Xashowd asked, worried about his friend. "Then you'll be seeing me much later. If Leviathan attempts an attack, I'll book it out of there. I'm not one to take foolhardy risks. I'll go in prepared." Darxian replied with a confident smile. In truth, he was dreading the upcoming encounter because of how cumbersome it would be. Demons weren't easy to negotiate with, as they always wanted the bigger half of the bargain. With that, Darxian phased through a nearby wall.
Xashowd hoped his friend would be fine, then looked upon the paper and memorized the co-ordinates. Before he fought Leviathan, he had a promise to keep. He Wind Warped out of his closet to go get a Watermelon for Volt.
Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:34 am
...Out in the hallway, Darxian sighed. Seems he'd been doing that a lot lately. Truth be told, he had no idea where Leviathan made its hideout. And when he'd "asked" various demons, he'd gotten no answers. Which left only one other option.
Daenes, the demonic elf.
She had clear ties to Leviathan. If anyone could get him an audience with the Lord of Envy, it would be her. Darxian knew Daenes didn't know him, which was fine in his book. They wouldn't need introductions, all he needed her to do was deliver a message to Leviathan. The first step would be finding her. The second would be getting her to listen. From what Xashowd had told him, Daenes was obstinate. Darxian didn't plan on getting to know Daenes, right now she was the means to an end, so it didn't matter much how she responded so long as she listened. Then it would be a matter of time to see if Leviathan would agree to meet with him. That part was the hardest. Even if the message was delivered, there would be no guarantees.
He pulled his hood up to cloak his face in the shadows, and roamed the halls. When Daenes showed up, he would find her.
When Xashowd warped back to his room, he couldn't be happier. In hand he had a massive Watermelon, 3 feet long and big enough to share. Next chance he got, he'd bring it to Volt for her to try. In his other hand he had a box with a Refrigerator/freezer appliance inside. It was easily set up and very cost effective, so he picked it up knowing he'd need a place to cool down the Watermelon so that it reached perfect eating temperature. Plus, every habitable area needed a place to store food, and his had been sorely lacking. With as often as Darxian showed up, he'd need to keep a few beverages handy for his friend.
"Hello Xashowd."
If it weren't for his excellent sense of balance and his love of Watermelon, Xashowd would've dropped the fruit in surprise. Instead, he put it down gently before turning to his friend. "Darxian! How'd it go?"
"Before you get all excited, it didn't. I went to see the elf Daenes, see if I could get a lead on Leviathan's whereabouts." Darxian pulled up a chair and sat on it. "You were right about her stubbornness. She's not going to tell me where Leviathan makes her hideout. That woman's a lost cause if there ever was one...I wonder what Leviathan sees in her." Xashowd frowned. "Considering how Gypsy makes her act, I doubt she's a lost cause...she just has a lot of anger issues." Xashowd replied, pulling the fridge out of the box and setting it up. "So when will you be able to meet Leviathan?"
Darxian frowned. "Not sure. All Daenes really said is that she's busy. That, and a healthy dose of snarkiness. Along with a death threat. The usual I get on the job." He replied, pulling out his Soul Dagger and flipping it over and over in his hand. "You won't be getting your battle anytime soon. Just going to have to wait."
Xashowd wasn't happy to hear that, but he'd try to be patient. "Did you learn anything?" "Matter of fact, Daenes did let slip that Leviathan is a Demigod. Could be useful intel in the right places. I didn't see that cat you spoke of, though. Little disappointed about that, given your description of it." Darxian flung his Dagger at a nearby wall, making a 2 inch puncture. He then willed it to return to his hand, and it warped back over. Xashowd noticed the thin hole. "Could you try not to make any dents in my closet?" "Just restless. I haven't had a decent battle in months. Suddenly I find the urge for a challenge rising in me..." Darxian looked over at his friend. "I'm guessing that's because of Daenes' aura. It sparked your curiosity and now it has me itching for a real fight. I'll have to be more careful around her."
Xashowd paused in his work to give Darxian a stern look. "You're not seriously considering meeting her again, are you? I thought you didn't do anything crazy." "Says the Vampire who wants to battle a demigod with incredible power at her fingertips." Darxian replied. Darxian needed to at least find Leviathan's lair if nothing else. Even if he couldn't meet her yet, when the time came he could make a house call. Daenes clearly wasn't giving anything up, so that left two possible sources of information. Spice and Gypsy. In order to meet Spice, he'd have to head back to where Daenes was, as the cat only hung around Daenes. As for Gypsy, the other elf roamed around various places in the Guild from what Darxian had heard. She'd be easier to contact.
If both options failed, it'd be back to square one. Maybe he could find a suicidal Demon Summoner...or just a crazy one. Create a link to the plane Leviathan made her home, and then Darxian could warp through the earth there. Solid back-up plan.
Xashowd frowned. "Point taken." He said as he finished installing the fridge. He then pulled out an Infi-space crystal from his pocket and put it in the top of the fridge. It was the same type of crystal that made his Magitech Holding Satchel into a portable pocket dimension that he could manipulate at will. Putting one into the fridge would allow him to make the internal space as big as he wanted it to be. He opened it up and placed the Watermelon inside so it could cool. After closing the door, he turned to his friend. "So, what now?"
"Now I keep following leads, and you just try not to antagonize any more deities." Darxian replied with a smirk. "See you soon." He stood up and phased out through a wall. Xashowd just shook his head. He was glad Darxian was helping him, but his friend seemed...preoccupied. Like he had something bigger on his mind. But what could be bigger than a soul-devouring Demigod?
