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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 11:32 pm
Ooo, a look into Shouyin's deeper and more thought out side, let's take a gander:
"s**t," he washed off the cut and wrapped a bandaid around it. The pad darkened slightly as the blood soaked into it but no terrible harm seemed to have been done. He continued his work with the knife and looked about. There wasn't a thing, of course, but it was always nice to make sure. It had been a nice day today, very calm, if foggy. There was something interesting about the fog, the way lights hazed through it, trying to reveal whatever was lying in wait. Heh, a deer in the headlights. But the fog, now that was something. He liked the peasoup stuff, where you could almost feel it on your fingers if you waved your hand about. Where trees hung a little lower in the heavy air. The humidity was sometimes rough.
But you got used to it.
Anyways, there was always the wind, a nice cool breeze. Good weather for walking about. The apartment he was in was rather dull, but he didn't get to choose that part of the piece. Entirely up to the second party, the first being himself, the third being no one, unless it was someone, he preferred not thinking about that. Sadly it was a slow and painstaking process, so he didn't like to think about it either.
Sandwiches were always better.
Turkey usually, with some lettuce and mayo. No need for that other mess of stuff. Didn't like tomatoes much and cucumber wasn't his thing. On a nice soft bun if you were lucky. Something to drink was usually next on the agenda, but that was always an easy choice. Certain beverages just seemed to coalate with certain food products. Why bother talking about something like that? Not to mention thinking. His hair floated in front of his eyes as he shook his head back and forth. Physical movements only helped to confirm opinions on contested ideas in his head.
"Double s**t," he had to be more careful, cutting himself so. He grabbed another bandaid. They sat beside him stoically, as was the case when he did what he did. A little routine helped to regulate things. And he was clumsy, but one could not help that, and if they could, he didn't want to consider it, too much trouble. His legs shifted position while his hands continued their task. They'd started to bug him.
Thirsty.
He wondered if this could be considered irony. Maybe. A good look in some sort of dictionary would help. Later he'd have some milk with his spaghetti, it was thawing in the fridge. A neighbour and given it to him, a welcoming gift. Nice guy, a shame. Where would he go next? Nevermind that, too complicated for such a time. What floor was he on? The eighth? No, ninth, yes, ninth, that sounded right. Nine was a good number, well thought out.
Knock, knock. Who's there?
The door banged firmly with the motion of the fist hitting it. Rent was due.
Boo. Boo who?
The knocking stopped and the landlord left. Better that way.
What're you crying about?
Ssh, it wasn't a time for tears. Tears were the answer to fears, fears were silly. We should laugh at our fears. A revelation most certainly. Something you felt like you should write down but never did and soon forgot about and then tried to remember but couldn't and figured it was better like that and that the thing wasn't anywhere near as sweel as you'd previously thought.
"Finished," he walked over to the couch and went to watch some TV for a few. TV was good at times like these, helped relax the brain. Probably something to do with the cells in your head dying of misuse. This troubled him a bit, but he watched a commercial and forgot.
Click, click, click, off. Nothing good on, as usual.
He sat on the little couch. Not as comfy as some. Probably cheaper. Seemed like a waste of money when the entire purpose of the sitting device was to be comfortable as possible during the sit. Guess it wasn't really his problem but it erked him slightly.
Why do we do it?
Probably something to do with something.
Good enough, let's start Act Three.
Okay.
He surveyed the piece, a scratch here, a n** there, not his best, but he was no longer in his prime. Old news so to speak. No need for an Act Four, plays were never good after three acts. Maybe one of those artistic rules. He let a soft breath escape his lips, thinking of all those he exhaled in time with him. A daunting concept. Another piece in a puzzle, he didn't like puzzles.
The balcony door slid open. He surveyed the landscape. Mostly houses, but there was at least one tree, and that one tree was rather pretty. A good focus. One leg followed the motion of the other, he held on tight, exhaled again, and before he could ponder who was inhaling as he let go of the air, he let go.
And plummeted nine stories to his closing.
The corpse lay pinned to the wall with what butter knives he'd found and some duct tape. Most of the surrounding carpet and patches of the wall where ateries been pierced lay drenched with the woman's blood. It'd be a task for the untrained eye to realize it was a woman though, considering the carvings. Mainly confused messages about existence and some fancy little sketches. He'd been at a loss for tools that day.
The eyes were still in his palms at the moment though. He took the time falling to gaze into them. Each little bloodshot vein, the glazed over pupils, what he guessed to be a dull blue retina. The air whizzed past, pulling his shoes off. Her eyes, his eyes, the lock they formed. Maybe this was irony?
Probably not.
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 3:18 am
A deserted road. A worn out house. That house use to make someone happy. That weed stricken yard used to make someone smile. The rock covered road used to make someone feel that had somewhere to go and a reason to go there. But now the house is falling apart, the yard is old and almost dead, and the road is filled with pot-holes. No one lives here anymore. Long ago, a man with a dream lived within the house. He built it himself from scratch. It was everything he could have ever wished for, everything he ever wanted.
This house was his home. His heart and soul was in this house. But, a long time ago, the man had to leave his house. Despite his wonderful house, the man was bogged down with too many problems. So, to help solve these problems, and rid him of his wander lust, the man upped and left one day. He went all over the world and experienced so many things, good and bad. Filled with so much new knowledge after so many years, the man returned to find his home in peices, crumbling in around itself. The man shed a tear for his dream house and walked inside it. The second he took his first step back onto the hand-carven flooring, the entire house crumbled down around the man
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Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 11:25 am
Shattered spirits of the souls i have forgotten,
plague my existance,
haunt me,
but fear me,
shift in the darkness,
twinkle in the distance,
a glimmer of light in a sea of darkness,
gives me hope,
to look to tomorrow.
~wine150
~`~May 30, 05~`~
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:26 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:31 am
~Taming of the Flame~
I'm no Hero "....." I kept myself in self-thought silence, taking in every word she had spoken. The pangs in my heart, in my body continued beating, almost forcing me to answer in response. "My...destiny?" A smile cracked my lips as I spoke, I couldn't help myself... "Me? Protect the world? The people I ever loved, ever held close o my heart have always died before my eyes and I couldn't do anything!" My outburst was well and loud, shattering the silence of the gloom. My chest was hurting more than ever, sweat lining my forehead as I spoke. Ashe only continued to stare at me, holding that bundle. "Me and my fists..." I lifted both hands, staying knelt before he, my veyr hands trembling, so great were the pangs that afflicted me..causing me to shake and tremble.. "Victor...Kasumi...Eidolon..Ashe..and Serenity... They were close enough tot ouch...But... But I..." My body began shuddering once more, but this time not from the pain. A great sadness was welling up in me now, as I clenched my fists tightly now. Thoughts of Hawk...and Serenity..filled me. "I want nothing more to do with all of this! Find someone else!" A short pause...only my ragged breaths heard. "There is no one but you Vahn." The immediate response, violence uttered. "NO!! I won't be forced into this!!" I pounded my own chest, my eyes narrowed deeply as I cried out. "You want a protector... But I can't protect anything! I bring only death!" My eyes shut tightly as my head shook, the heavy chest pains spreading, as if something was working it ways through my veins. "Just look at Zelandria! DEAD! They're all dead because I couldn't protect them!!" HWOOOOooOooOOOoo The wind forced its ways through, slashing between us both, as if from out of nowhere. My chest was heaving, yelling hadn't done me any good. I stared on, anger all over my face, pain in my heart. She stepped forward. She cames towards me. Kneeling, she now was eye to eye with myself, staring at me... "400 years..." Her hand moved forward, until it was lightly brushing against my cheek. "Your outer appearence has changed... And you can't recall the past fully... But your spirit..." Her hand brushed up and down, squeezing my left cheek tightly, in the scolding manner she had always held on me. "That same defiant spirit, has remained true to itself... To you." I let out a short gasp of supressed breath, the guilt settling in now from my shouting at her. "You are indeed my husband... Vahn." "You are right. It is too soon for you to try and become what you are not yet... First you must find the one who is both human... and not." She leaned away from me now, smiling that ever calming smile. "You must find him if you have any hope of success...or even survival." My eyes trailed up over her, watching as she rose once more before me, her robes flowing, ribbons of blood swirling. "Human..." My eyes closed, as the pangs in my chest began to ebb away now... "....And not?" "That is correct. I wish I could say more." She stared to me, and for the first time, I saw worry cross her face. "You must find him quickly." "I'm liking this destiny thing less and less." I finally began to push myself up off the ground, letting out a sigh. "Hmmm..." .... Her head bowed before me, in thought maybe. "Perhaps I have not explained well." Her head now raised, her eyes opening fully as she stared to me. "I do not demand that you follow a particular destiny. Your destiny is what you make of it." Her eyes now closed, as she spoke softly, her very voice becaming as gentle as if singing a lullaby. "Trie, there are only two basic paths. You can either face boldly what ever the fates throw before you..." The pounding in my chest suddenly stirred up once more, I was feeling as if someone was chugging lumps of rock throughout ym entire veins..like my whole circulatory system was being forced to pump stones. "Or you can simply run away. The choice is yours." I stared to her, ignoring the reknewed pain. "Whichever you choose, you must remain vigilant. Not just for yourself, but also for those you care about." Her eyes stared to me now, the ribbons of blood warping about her, causing more rivvets of the crimson trickle to spread. "Because no matter how you choose, that hungry beast will continue to hunt both you and them. No matter where you hide..." The silence stretched on around me...even as I pushed aside all the pain in my body. "Hmph." A smirk came over my lips, I could feel it... "So no matter what happens, I can't escape fighting..." My head lifted, as I smiled broader, eyes narrowing. "Well if I have to fight, then that changes it. Better to take the fight to it." Only a smile was seen on Ashe's face. She spoke no words to me, as she listened to me. "You mentioned this one who is 'Human and not'... Can you tell me how to find him?" A hand reached up, I din't realize it, but I was stroking the bottom of my chin in thought. "Escape... Escape Vahn, from this place... You can only escape from this 'prison' of that beast by confronting it. Outside... There you will find the answers you seek." "Escape, huh?" "And from there, you will discover the truth about yourself." The ribbons of blood about her, suddenly contorted, as wreathes of blue tendrils rose from the ground, slowly wrapping about her body. I could merely watch all this in silence. "I can no longer stay." "!" Her head tilted to the side, mimicking myself I saw, as she smiled, eyes closed. She was smirking to herself. "I must go back to where I belong." Her eyes opened then, and stared to me. I felt a different sort of pangs now... Pangs of the heart, as I watched her. Wait. "Ah..." "..... You need not say anything. I know." She began tugging on one of her pigtails, smiling lightly, as her head lowered. The wreathes of blue and ribbons of blood began engulfing her, fading her away from me... "Never...lose your desire to protect the loves of others." THU-THUMP "Ever... Vahn." "Gone...as if she was never here."
They Called it the Hero's Scar Alone. Once more, I found myself alone. I turned my head, every which way, glancing about this dreaded landscape I had found myself on. It was exactly the same...this was indeed Zelandria. Or all that remained of it. "I see now... It was in front of me all along... " I stood up, running a hand through my raven hair, my locks freely whipping about. Sorrow's Keep isn't much farther ahead. And thanks to my carelessness in 'wandering' about here, He's going to be expecting me. I might be able to defeat him on my own- and I'm certainly willing to die trying. I began waking forward, trudging up that way too familiar hill, smoking on my cigarette out of pure habit. I barely took notice at the footsteps that began to fall in with mine... The voices that spoke afterwards, numbed me to the core. "Absolutely out of the question, lad. I've got less love for that beast than any of you, and I'll be long dead before I'll give up the chance to take him face to face." The voice was gruff and deep as they come, belonging to a burly form that trudged up the hill alongside myself. I recognized the voice, as well as the figure. The insanely large battle axe, strapped to the figure's back, was a dead give away to myself. "You're an idiot, Tyrus. You always have been. That monster is insane, and he's got more power in one earlobe than you've got in your entire body." A slightly more slender form came walking up beside the hulking Tyrus, his hair flaring to one side, and a partisan-polearm that I recognized resting behind his back almost lazily. I too knew this man... "If you want to throw your life away needlessly, be my guest..." The slender man, titled his head away in disgust as Tyrus harumphed. "...Just don't ask me to throw away mine, too." Walking behind both men, I saw someone that made my heart skip several beats. I saw... "Junzo's right. There's nothing any of you can do. I have to face him alone." "Strength in numbers lad..." Tyrus said, waving one beefy hand about. "Without magical protection, he can destroy you with a flick of his fingers. Just like that. I've got the RuneLord, but what about you?" The slightly younger voice queried. "Since when did you becomd such an expert on this monster, anyway? Perhaps you've got somethin' tyou need to be tellin' us?" tyrus suddenly exclaimed, stopping in his walk and turning about to yell at the younger male. His broad body was covering whoever it was he was speaking to. "I know..." Junzo spoke up suddenly, his usually lazy eyes, now looking towards Tyrus and the younger male. "You're him, aren't you? That monster's bane, the one who killed Allan Fah when he got too ambitious. The kid who wiped the armies of sand off the map. Your... the son of Eidolon- Vahn." "I was." I heard the voice, and closed my own eyes. Yes..some reason or another, I was witnessing the same events that had taken place nearly, 400 years ago. "...." The girl behind Vahn had stopped wlaking as well, her eyes watching all three men, as her pig tails swayed. "Let me see if I remember the story correctly." Junzo said, as he closed his eyes, craning his head upwards. "The kid ages slowly-- He looks thirteen, but he's actually 27. A master swordsman and a knight. Probaly, aside from this monster, the most dangerous man in existence." "So now you know." Young Vahn stood there, watching both Junzo and Tyrus, as the female remained at his side. "Ashe..." Tyrus spoke up. "Why didn't you tell us?" "Would you have beleived me?" Said Ashe, looking up to both men now. "Maybe..." Tyrus sighed deeply. "But- we've all got secrets, Vahn. Look at me... I was a thief and a brawler by the time I was eleven years old, and my father disowned me by the time I was old enough to learn the Family Trade." tyrus leaned in, gripping Young Vahn's shoulder lightly. "I joined the rebellion against Allan Fah because I thought I'd get rich off the plunder. But I've changed over these years. And I'm sure you have too." Young Vahn merely closed his eyes, taking a few steps back before looking out towards where the Cathedral lay, and staring to where the older Vahn was standing. "When I was fourteen, my father- under orders of Emperor Fah himself, took me to a sorceress in the swamps of Elenassi. Emperor Fah, knew that I- being the son of one of his powerful and apt Commanding Generals- might be able to lead a rebellion against him. This was done with all the children of his Commanding Generals...and they had no choice but to comply with the royal decree. So I was taken...along with so many others. He had the sorceress cast a spell that would keep me from coming of age by preventing ym body from maturing. This was done to each and every single other child brought..." His eyes tightened suddenly, as he growled softly. "However...what he failed to say, was how the very spell had a extremely low chance of succeeding, and failure...meant death. Out of the whole lot..only a few survived the spell. I was one of them. And then, because this Sorceress was the only one one who might be able to reverse the spell...Emperor Fah had us children kill her." A moment of silence stretched on. "It was the first time I had ever felt such a surge of adrenaline, such a raw feeling of power. It was also...the first time my life made sense. Emperor Fah was only too happy to encourage us children, now that he was certain we'd never be able to grow to his level of power." Young Vahn now turned about, and stared at all three of his companions, his eyes set with determination. "Emperor Fah later had all the adults, our parents...killed. My father was done away with, like nothing but trash..and has those who survived, take their place. In such a bloody way, son succeeded father. However...even time can change anyone. I found my 'humanity' once more..." Ashe smiled lightly, lowering her head, as Tyrus and Junzo listened on. "I destroyed all of Allan Fah with my bare hands... Leading the armies of Zelandria..and I myself beheaded Emperor Fah...but he left one thing behind... Allan Fah's Bane it is called...and I am called The Beast's Bane..Which is why I'm going to be the one who faces him. I owe him." "Quit your whining, kid." Junzo suddenly spoke up, smiling lightly. "You think you're the only one who had lousy parents? Get over yourself and grow up." Young Vahn smiled softly. "I can't." "I really hate to intterupt you, gentlemen, but we'll be at Sorrow's Keep soon, and we still haven't worked out a plan." Ashe spoke up, smiling brightly as ever. "And we won't need to. I'm going in alone." Young Vahn said, defiantly striding back up the hill. "Not this again...LOOK, lad..." Tyrus bellowed out. "I already did. You'll have your hands full." Suddenly, he began sprinting forward, leaving the three behind as a slow trembling started up. "HEY!!" Tyrus shouted out, his beefy body moving to give chase, when he stopped and looked about him...then up into the sky. "He can fly?" Junzo said, scratching his nose. "Magic. I told you." Ashe said, smiling as she put away her spell book, having given Vahn airborne wings. "What do you think we should do?" Tyrus growled out, annoyed. "Do you really think that kid can destroy Efreet?" Junzo said, a sigh escaping. "I wish I knew." "Then we'll do what we've gotta do..." Junzo began walking forward, whistling happily. "We'll go in after him." "Ho ha! Exactly what I wanted to hear!" Tyrus began walking forward as well, thumping along, both men moving forward as Ashe bent her down, saying a quick incantation. Her eyes slowly opened. "Good luck, Vahn... Don't die before we get there ok?"
Assault on Sorrow's Keep Silence...permeating silence, that stretched on for miles wide. The once proud structure, towering high over lush green valleys, now fortified and made ugly. Looming in the horizon like a blemish upon the very sky. Sorrow's Keep. Blood will flow like water at Sorrow's Keep Today. At least, that is what I recall telling myself..that fated day, so many years ago. I breathed in the air, smoking idly as I walked up over that hill, and stared down..over the immense salt lands. There was no doubt in my mind, that I was partly insane now..and here for a reason. The Cathedral of Zelandria..and now Sorrow's Keep of Allan Fah. The last time I was here, I was the knight of a monstrous Tyrant. I had gone back...as the knight who would slay the tyrant's true monster. Today, I am the rightful heir who has come to reconquer what a fool, a pretender has taken from me. Young Vahn came swooping in, the incanted wings of spiraling art, fading away, even as he landed with a ground shattering, downward broadsword strike to the floor. The beast' minions were sent scattering, blinding winds and shattered chunks of earth striking and sending those near far and away. I will show no mercy to my enemies... An upwards leg strike to knock away one demon, its neck snapping as its scaled body was flung backwards. Even then, an entire group of demons suddenly leapt and dogpiled onto the younger Vahn, growling and throwing spittle about like mad. ...And so they will have nothing to use against me. His broadsword thrusted skyward, the RuneLord sent shockwaves of stored arts reeling through the bodies of all the demons, their husks shattering, bodies melting away their horrid cries drowned out. That is why I must fight alone. Desperation is my one true advantage. The younger Vahn strode forward now, eyes dead set, as he dragged along his broadsword, never noticing the lone demon who rose from the carcasses. Its strike was clean, and deadly- if not lacking direction. The demon's large blade, shattered itself into Vahn's shoulder, blood splattering out almost immediatly. "......" The younger Vahn turned his head to the side, his right hand going to his shoulder, yellowed eyes looking at the blade lodged there. The assaulting demon to waver, taking a few steps back..but to late. He was rendered asundered, literally, into several peices, from the RuneLord's 'Grasping Claws' ability, cleaves of concentrated art slicing his body into sections in a mere moment. "Who's next?" He stood there, in each hand gripping a wide broadsword, in addition to his RuneLord, he had pulled out the blade that was jammed into his shoulder. Rivets of blood leaked down and around his arm. A quick healing spell from the RuneLord, could easily patch the wound. But for now... Let it bleed. Vahn leapt forward, as the remaining demons, each broadsword raised and swiping dowards, cleaving one demon at the waist- and then throwing the alien sword he held, like a javelin into the chest of another demon, impaling it. He now gripped the RuneLord with both hands. Let them see that they cannot stop me. He swiped upwards, a rising cutting blow, and seperating a demon from crotch to head. Let them see that they cannot hurt me. He cocked his left arm back, the wood and iron blanching, before being slammed into the face of a demon. Let those cunning enough to survive run to their master with the news that I'm slaughtering them as I once slaughtered the heroes of Zelandria. His left fist literally blew through the face of the demon, blowing its head apart with the forced intrusion. Vahn smiled grimly, as he ducked low to the ground and dashed forward, at the last demon, running right by it apparently. Then, perhaps, he will understand that I did not die at his hands so many years ago... The demon was now behind him, and gushing black blood from its throat and mouth. As Vahn had dashed and ducked low, he had used the RuneLord to sever its right leg. It was bleeding to death now, and toppled to the ground. I was simply reborn. ~TWO YEARS AGO~ "Look out on the world, my Knight. Gape at it. Appreciate it. And understand that over all of it... I am sovereign." The voice was deep, and yet calming, speaking in a tone of master to pupil. Soft laughter echoed out, as a tall figure loomed next to a shorter one, the both of them standing amid a balcony, overlooking much of what was indeed a beautiful city and landscape. "Only as sovereign as the people allow you to be. Rebels still exist, Lord Fah, and continue to spread dangerous ideas among your people. The longer you ignore them, the more powerful they will become." The shorter figure spoke, walking to the railing of the balcony, and staring up to the sky. "As I have said many times, Vahn... I am Emperor. Let me decide who lices and who dies." Emperor Fah Draeger walked forward, smiling as he turned his gae to a different part of the city. "And when you die?" "Bashura becomes Emperor." "Bahsura is an idiot. What happens to me?" "Oh, don't worry my faithful Knight..." Draeger turned, walking slowly towards Vahn, a smile creeping along his face. "I have something very special planned for you and your precious Zelandria harlot!" "!" Vahn gasped out, clutching the railing more tightly now, as blood seeped from his mouth, his body sagging against the only support he had. Draeger's hand gripped the large knife hilt, driving it in deeply into Vahn's back. "I thought preventing you from aging, would keep you from threatning my legacy. But you have grown too knowledgeable, too powerful, to remain of use to me." Draeger stepped away, wiping his hands on Vahn's leather reignment. "Between us, in your final moments... I agree that Bashura is an 'idiot'. But I don't plan on allowing him the opportunity to rule." Vahn's body slumped backwards, sliding as he slumped to his knees, staring up into the cloudless sky. "The same arts that prevent you from maturing can offer me ageless immortality. All I need to provide is a source of power. A very, fiery power, you could say. the details I'm sure, wouldn't interest you, but suffice it to say... I plan on ruling Alan Fah and Zelandria for a very long time." Vahn slumped forward, a hand reaching out to graps at the smaller pillars under the railing, as he dragged himself forward, gasping out blood. "Oh, and Vahn? there's something I should tell you before you leave this world." Draeger paused, turning his head to the side, so he could see the boy out of the corner of his eye. "I'm your father. Not Eidolon." ~ ~ "Are you sure he'll be ok?" "He's friggin' flying. Stop worrying about it." "Fine." The trio trudged onward, following the path of destruction Vahn had cleaved, in his way towards the Keep. Of course, a few strays here and there were still around, for the three of them to pick off. "There... that's where we're goin'." "Where?" Said Ashe, looking to Tyrus. "That cave. It's an airvent, believe it or not. I've used it before." Tyrus swung his right arm back multiple times, building up revolutions and speed in the grappling hook he held. "For treasure hunting?" "For outright thievin'." "Great..." "Here we go!" The trio began their climb upwards... "Masssterrr!" A lone demon ran forward, rushing into what appeared to be a throne room of sorts, there, seated on the darkened and shadowed throne, a set of glowing red eyes watched, even as the demon was cut down to shreds by a broadsword from the back, thrown in a boomerang style. "So...you've come to die again." "If that's what it takes, yes. But first I'm going to kill you...Efreet." "Don't count on it!" A guttural growl like response shouted back, as a hulking form leapt forward, from the side of the throne, and cracked the ground as it landed. Spider webs flashed out, as the ground buckled slightly. It was none other than Valamire, the personal bodyguard of the hungry beast. Warped and mutated with a bit of its own black power, Valamire had been the one to kill Victor. The ape-like dog demon sent a beefy fist slamming forward, having landed behind Vahn. A dull slam was heard, as Valamire's mighty taloned fist, met the RuneLord. Vahn remained with his back to the demon, his eyes still set on those eyes that were confined to the throne. Valamire let loose an ear-splitting roar of indignation and and prepared his left arm to be driven forward in a similar punch. It was then Vahn acted, swining back his right leg, and catching Valamire right in the chin, sending his beefy body upwards only slightly, but it was enough to then have his left arm litteraly backhand the demon into a wall. "I see your arrogance extends even to your minions." Vahn said cooly. "Stop toying with him and finish this nonsense." The voice came drifting from the throne. "Yess, master..." Valamire, bowed slightly, having removed himself from the wall. He then lunged himself towards Vahn, aiming another heavy fist, which Vahn easily back-stepped away from. "I have bad news for you, Valamire." Vahn swung the RuneLord around only once, ducking low to the ground. As Valamire turned his head to the side, in surprise. "Your master was talking to me." With uncanny force, he sent the RuneLord javelin-style, directly into Valamire's face, jamming it in good and deep. Valamire's gaping maws would remain open, as his black blood spurted out, and his heavy body fell backwards. "You're next." "Am I?" Vahn removed the RuneLord from Valamire's face easily. In that darkness of the throne, the gleaming eyes closed, a smile spreading across the beast's lips. "Perhaps I'm not the only one whi is being arrogant." Movement was heard, and then soft steps. But not the kind made from those who wore boots. An almost natural sound step. From the gloom of the throne, stepped forward something truly wicked and vile. The only way to describe it..was a demon..no- even then that was wrong. It was a devil..the hungry monster...heartless monster, known as Efreet. The only human resemblance in the slightly humanoid creature that was now before Vahn, was that half of its face..was that of Draeger's. In his madness, he had used all the arts at his disposal, to create, and ressurect the legendary creature, only known as Efreet- to life, but to a life of malice and corruption...to evil. It had been rumored that this new Efreet had escaped, during the war and destruction of Alan Fah..but no- this was indeed the form of 'Immortality' Draeger had told Vahn of..a psuedo-merging with the being... It's clawed hand raised, and winds swiled about it..as it spoke. "You're nothing compared to me, Vahn. I can make even your nightmares seem like pleasent diversions. Why you have returned puzzles me, but why you have chosen to throw away your life away truly escapes me." Vahn's body was raised off the very ground, being stretched out..as if he would be crucified next. "Put him down, monster!" Tyrus' voice boomed throughout the throne room, Junzo and Ashe appearing next to him as well. "Friends of yours Vahn? Perhaps you should welcome them." Efreet turned, the portion of its face that was Draeger, laughing. "No... Not again..." Vahn's eyes widened, his body straining to move. "Run!" Suddenly, his body, was slave to the evil winds that Efreet summoned. "Wh-what?" Tyrus ducked low, evading a swipe of Vahn's RuneLord. "Why didn't you listen to me?!" Junzo brought his pole-arm down, forcing Vahn's body back a few steps. "Hey!" Vahn's right leg swung about and knocked Tyrus away, his right arm bringing the RuneLord down to slice at Junzo's waist. "Get out of here!" Vahn yelled out. "Vahn... Don't be rude to your guests. You might scare them away." Ashe had already turned, running to try and make it to the double doors, readying an incantation along the way. The doors suddenly slammed shut, as Efreet laughed menaningly. "No! Vahn..." Ashe, watched, frowning in hororr, as he turned to face the fray once more. "Why didn't you listen?" Vahn's shout filled the room once more, even as Efreet stepped forward, and lifted his left arm, flicking his fingers, and sending out bullets of compressed air, filled with art- that went right through Junzo's and Tyrus' heads. Their bodies were made immobile. "Look at them. They're petrified." "Don't do this." "Today, you killed dozens of my best guards and my personal bodyguard. You declared war on me, Vahn." Efreet's fingers snapped once. "And in war..." Vahn slashed the RuneLord down Tyru's backside. "There are prisoners." He snapped his fingers once more. Vahn swung at an angle, cutting Junzo across the chest. "There are casualties." He snapped his fingers yet again. Vahn made his way towards Ashe, all the way, his body trembling and shaking... "And there are executions." Ashe fell to the ground. "They're... They're dead. You made me kill them." "Would you care to join them?" Vahn's body finally came under his own control, as he knelt on the floor, breathing deeply. "Not unless you're coming with me." His teeth became gritted as he slowly picked himself up off the ground. "You understand so little, Vahn, that killing you again would be a kindness. But no. In my mercy, I tried to save you from this, years ago. You chose your path, and I won't turn you from it. Go on. finish what you've started." Vahn gripped the RuneLord tightly, and raised it, charging forward with all his might. "I will." SKRASHHHH The broadsword came down, and bashed against Efreet's left side, litterally shattering to peices and scattering...the RuneLord broken. "!" Vahn's eyes widened in disbelief, as he stared at the now shortened blade, and his arm shook, his heart beating wildly. "I'm sure whoever gave you that sword forgot to mention one detail... When used properly, it is a formidable weapon with powerful magic. But when used in hatred...It pales in comparison to my 'Fang'." A dull, blood-red blade was seen, now held in the creature's grasp, a wicked looking Flamberge. It moved forward, smiling with boredom. "Why don't you just kill me like you made me kill the others?" "Because, Vahn, you still have some value to me. Valamire failed to recover what I sought, and his talents are useless to me now. But you know exactly what I want, and how to retrive it." "You know I won't help you." Vahn turned around, gripping the broken sword, before turning the shattered blade upside down, holding it like a knife. "Oh, I think you will. I'm known for being very persuasive." "You think so!?" Vahn leapt forward, aiming to stab at Efreet's backside, and plunge the broken RuneLord into it. His leap fell short, as Efreet's fist came plummeting upwards and towards Vahn's chest, blackened flames curling about its forearm and fist. "Yes. I do." Vahn slumped onto the fist..coughing out blood...his hand losing grip on the broken blade. "Not yet...you do- demon!" The shout came from behind them both, so Efreet turned his head, surprised, and Vahn lifted his own...There, standing on their feet, panting, but very well alive... was Junzo, Tyrus and Ashe. "I too am versed in the arts foul-devil..and now you'll see that which you fear the most!" "This- This is..." Efreet watched, smiling... -----------------------------Soon...the room would flood, the chamber shake and rumble. Soon...the Leviathan would come... And the rest... The rest is... "History." Vahn said, smoking idly as he stood in the ruined structure that was once Sorrow's Keep' throne room. Raven hair shadowed his eyes, as he took in a deep breath of air. "EFREET! Face me, devil!" It would begin...
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:39 am
Face Off "Hmmm...The legendary Vahn..." A soft voice drifted from the back of the room, bouncing along, infecting everything that heard it. Mockingly soothing in its tone, yet words of poison coated in each syllable. "...If the sole intent of this melodramatic little tirade of a trip down your past was to aggravate me..." The sounds of a flicking tounge could be heard dimly, talons scraping against stone and metal. "...Then let me assure you, boy--" A pair of gleaming yellowed eyes were seen in that stank darkness, unblinking as the sound of padding feet grew louder and closer. "--That you have succeeded beyond measure!" Out of the darkness, the voice broke free, and into the dull light of the ruined throne room. The sounds of sloshing water was heard, as the chamber was still somewhat flooded, a reminder of events that took place so long ago... "Chih..." Vahn never faltered, but his lips tightened about the cigarette, out of nervoussness or force of habit, who knew. "!!" "I have been looking forward to meeting you once more--" Striding forward, bare feet lightly sloshing through the ankle deep waters that lapped about the room- the figure approached Vahn, and stopped short. For all intents and purposes, it was as if he were staring into a mirror. The figure before him, mimicked his exact likeness, inch for inch, as well as being completely nude. Yeloowed eyes flickered, before the imposter raised his head, smiling. "Vahn!" "...." "Keh keh...! What's with the frown, Vahn? Is it, by any chance-- this body that has you concerned?" The eyes closed, as Efreet moved, walking in a circle about Vahn as he talked, all the while admiring the contours and workings of the body. "We are...after all, in the recesses of your mind. Even I never imagined you would have the gall to step foot into the corner I call 'home'. I merely thought it would be fitting to welcome you, with this form..." Having walked full circle, Efreet stood, with his back to Vahn now, their backs nearly touching. His voice drew to the mearest of whispers. "How pathetic." Vahn's left fits clenched, slightly wavering, as he stood there, his head bowed. "To think that the legendary Vahn, who caused such havoc 400 years ago-- was a mere boy!" "Tch..." "But wait...you were under the control of an age-supressing spell, weren't you? Keh keh keh... How deliciously fun. You don't seem to be in that state now, do you? I wonder what could have happened...But we both know...don't we?" Efreet smiled, licking its lips with inhumaningly long tounge suddenly, the snake-like thing flicking back and forth, it was even forked. "Hmpf. What a b*****d. You should have stayed where you belonged-- in hell!" Vahn smiled to himself, flicking the tip of his nose with a thumb as he rested his left hand onto his hip. "Of all the things to have escaped from the past, why did it have to be you...?" "Boy!" Vahn slightly stiffened up, opening his eyes, as Efreet leaned in close now, his forked tounge flicking against the human's earlobe. "The thing that keeps me here... That draws me here... IS YOU!" "... Wh-What are you talking about?! Are you suffering from dementia or what ??!! Did I leave rat poison out to attract the likes of you?!! Stop babling and.." Vahn's fists clenched as he took a few steps forward and whirled about to face Efreet. "...Get the hell out of my head! Your scaring me!!" "Keh keh keh...! How cute!" "Hah!" Vahn stared down the devil, hands shaking even as they balled into fists. "I was drawn by the unique energy I felt flowing throughout that room so many years ago... A unique energy flowing from you!" Efreet smiled, taking several more steps towards Vahn, changing little by little, until it stood in front of him, looking exactly as Ashe did, except naked. A smile spread across it's lips as she lifted a hand and caressed Vahn's cheek. "An energy that can only come from someone who has experienced numerous battles and many massacres! That 'devil' energy is what brought me to you...boy." She leaned in, and bit down on Vahn's lower lip, drawing blood. "Keh keh keh... The old man who revived me was the real idiot. To think he could control me...of all things. Foolish, foolish human he was. I only required him to complete my ressurection- and even then it was far from complete. But what really spurned me...my dear boy--" Once more, in front of Vahn's eyes, Efreet began to meld away, transforming almost one could call it, changing from Ashe... To Tellus. "Was this b***h. Of all people... To be done away with once again, by the daughter of it! Blue streams of hair, wavered, as a small lithe hand reached up and brushed against Vahn's cheek, her nude form pressing up against him. "...Dammit, cut that out..." "Keh keh keh... Uncomfortable?" "Leave me alone devil..." "Ho ho ho ho-- Leave you alone? And what if I refuse?" "Then I'll kill you." "With that body? Do you really think you can?" 'Tellus' leaned back, flicking her blue hair to one side, before folding her arms across her chest, supporting her ample breasts. Pale eyes stared out towards Vahn, smiling as a flush came to 'her' cheeks. Vahn only gritted his teeh, eyes narrowing. It's all in my head...but he's been here for so long. It's like he can make whatever he wants happen! I have to do this... Alone no less. I have to get rid of him from me once and for all! "I swear... if it is at all possible... monster..." Vahn slid his foot back, his arms raised now, fists clenched so tightly that he drew blood. Rivets of blood dripped down both arms as he felt his heart pounding. THU-THUMP THU-THUMP ...I WILL KILL YOU! Streams of black fire, wisping about and spiraling in the very air around Vahn started up. The veins on his forehead stood out, as he hunched forward slightly, bellowing out a great cry like never heard before, straining as he focused on what was inside of him... the pain in his chet grew to enormous proportions, pounding like hammer falls. His veins felt as if they were on fire, heavy and sludged as if rocks were trying to travel inside of them. His lower jaw remained opened, as he continued crying out- the waters about him receding and evaporating, great fumes of smoke gushing out at all sides. HWOOOOOO "!!" 'Tellus' merely stared, its eyes wide open as it raised an arm. Above Vahn, the vapors of smoke, and spiraling ribbons of flame above his head clashed together, mixing and swirling. Soon, above his head was the visage of a great devil's face. Fanged smile gleaming, as its yellowed eyes burned on, in blackness. Vahn straightened up now, wisps of black 'smoke' leaking from his mouth. "I see. 400 years ago... This was the same technique you used..." Stepping forward, once more was Efreet, once more, in the guise of Vahn, this time fully clothed as well. "Now come--" 'Vahn' stepped forward, flicking raven locks back, as he smiled, that insanely long tounge flicking about wildly. "--Come... Show me how you did it..If you can boy, and--" A sudden gust of foul winds spurred forward, blasting towards Vahn, the force so great that it stripped away slabs and chunks of the floor, the water in a flurry of whirling madness. "--Let us finish this!" 'Vahn' stared on at Vahn, yellowed eyes gleaming with pure malice and misfortune. Dammit! He's only venting his energy, and even that hurts! "Tch.. I'll show you alright--" Vahn lowered both his arms, spreading both legs yet again. "-- But you won't like what you see!" It happened ine xactly the blink of an eye. Vahn appeared to simply vanish. In fact he was already moving, running rapidly across the watery floor. The water violently parted and thrashed, where he ran- until he appeared with a winding, side kick to Efreet's left side. Efreet only smiled softly, its head already turned in that direction. THWOK Vahn's leg had impacted with Efreet's left palm. Vahn strained to force his leg down, cursing softly. "!" Efreet's right arm came sailing forward, actually stretching- or so it seemed - aiming to punch Vahn's head right off his shoulders. Vahn immediatly dropped low, releasing the force he was exacting onto his right leg, narrowly avoiding the fist, the blow of which tore into the crumbling walls behind him. "!!" The same hand that Efreet had used to block Vahn's leg strike, was now ina hue of blackened flames. At the angle and rate of fall, there was no way Vahn could possibly avoid. A sudden roar of flames, bursted from Efreet's palm blasting wildly and forcibly sending Vahn's body skyrocketing backwards, and cratering into the ground several feet away. A trench, dug by the force of Vahn's body was seen, leading from where Efreet stood, to where Vahn impacted. A smile was all that was on the devil's face. The smoke began to clear away, the sounds of settling earth and crumbling flooring came to a slow trickle. Kneeled there, inside the small crater, was Vahn. Both forearms had been drawn to his chest, the arms of which were smoking badly and very matted with blood and sweat. Vahn's chest heaved up and down, as yellowed eyes stared out to Efreet. "HUH HUH... Is that all you got devil?" Desperation "You're pathetic." Efreet smiled, licking his lips once more, his left hand still outstretched, and burning with blackened flames. His face was that of a teacher who was looking at a student that just got his hand glued to the table. "SHUT UP!" The shout was loud and venemous, as Vahn's body sailed through the air, the water parting rapidly. He brought his left leg in a round-house kick, aiming to land it right on Efreet's chest, his right palm gripping the floor as his body tilted with the motion. Reshuuken! Efreet merely brought down his left hand once more, and by just grazing the tip of Vahn's foot, he practically reppelled it further away, with blackened flames, the tendrils whirling and smacking/slashing. Vahn's body was turned violently in the oppositie direction. Vahn's eyes trailed, watching as his leg was turned all the way about, his body righting itself back up. "Damn you!" "Hfff... Indeed." Efreet 'charged' his left hand with flames, the snake-like protrusions snapping and whipping about, as he pushed his arm forward, pistoning it to slam at Vahn. In response, Vahn was bringing his own left arm forward, palm outwards, bring out as much of the flames as he could. Efreet continued smiling. Vahn shouted out some victorian era curse word. BWOKK Both their palms met each other, slapping into one another, as if they were playing some childish game of patty-cake. It is said that when on type of attack meets another, they essentially nuetralize each other out. In this case, it was the same, but more flaming. The area literally exploded outwards, the very walls and ceiling of what was left of Sorrow's Keep shearing away, the stone literally being peeled off by the extreme heat that suddenly filled the old room. The ceiling was ruptured outwards, the walls caving in, the shockwaves and heat pulse dispersing among the rubble. HSSSSSSSS The smoke died down, and once more, another deep row intot he ground was seen, trailing from where the two had connected, and ending all the way to the far end of the room, past where the throne used to be. The smoke settled down and wafted away, and there, in front of where the row began, stood Efreet. All the way, at the far end of the room, his back resting against the now smashed and impacted wall, sat Vahn. "D-Dammit..." Vahn hissed out the word, wincing as he sat there. His right hand was pressed tightly about his left arm, blood trickling from it. "Keh keh keh... You won't be using that arm for awhile." "Damn you..." "Enough!" Efreet raised his left hand once more, index finger pointed directly to where Vahn lay. Vahn's eye widened, watching as ribbons of black flame furled about Efreet's finger, building..only to lance outward, in a thin jetting stream- like a blade aimed right at him! "You sicken me!" The lancing flame strike speeded forward, and struck straight through Vahn's forehead, impacting and cratering slightly the already ruined wall behind the boy. However, as the strike had passed through, the whole body began to waver, fade away...as if he were never there. An illusion you could say. Efreet merely continued staring forward, his left arm still raised, and finger pointing. "Ungrateful worm." Vahn reared up behind Efreet, his left leg sweeping in from above with a ferocity unmatched. When the inital repulsion of their palm hits had struck, Vahn had used the smoke cover to change his backwards fall, instead bouncing off unnoticed to land behind Efreet. This wasn;t to say he hadn't been inured, he was. His left arm was very fractured. Efreet spun counter-clockwise suddenly, aiming to bring his left arm out and clothesline Vahn mid-air. "I have given you your every desire-- Only to have you disgrace me by pledging your undying allegiance--" Efreet's clotheline missed, as Vahn sent his right palm forward, and gripping the monster's arm, spiraled himself about, to land at a crouch, right in front of the beast. "--To them?!" Vahn's right arm bent back, and making it into a claw he sent the palm of it jutting upwards, catching Efreet right in the jaw, lifting the monster's head and body back. THRAK Efreet remained unmoving, his feet gripping the ground even tighter than ever, as he seemed unfazed by the move. "Why?!" Efreet sent his right leg pistoning forward, and caught Vahn right in the chest, sending him flying backwards. "Why do you love them so? They are nothing more than animals--" Efreet's right leg slowly descended back to the floor, and then he sent himself skyward, ribbons of black flame pushing him up. Landing in a heap a little ways off, Vahn hacked up some blood, his eyes widening as he saw 'himself' take to the air. "--Miserable playthings of a bored creator." Efreet came downwards, the shadow growing around Vahn as he stared upwards, gulping slightly. "We are the Chosen, and it is we[/b[ who are destined to rule together! Can it be that they have tainted your mind, as well as your blood? Have you so quickly spurned your Noble Heritage?" A heavy thudd, and Efreet landed on the floor, crumbling it slightly, and causing large slabes of stone to rise. He had intended to land on Vahn..
...But Vahn had scurried backwards, backpedaling as he hugged the ground almost, avoiding the 'body drop'. His booted feet skidded, as he brought himself to a stop in a short hop.
"Or have you succumbed to their primitive nature? Tell me, boy, is that it? Have you become one of them?" Efreet never turned his head towards Vahn, still staring off into space seemingly. Vahn huffed, as he stayed crouched slightly, still holding onto his left arm.
"Keh keh keh...! Is it true then? Has the once great Knight Vahn been reduced to nothing more than a lustful monkey?" Efreet smiled wide now, a single yellowed eye staring out to Vahn. Once more...the shapeshifting...this time- for the last time. The blackened flames seem to recede in on themselves about Efreet, as he became cloaked in the looming darkness, as if pulling it in on itself. "Nonetheless, your pathetic existance is doomed! All that you cherish-- your stadium, your world, those beloved little monkeys of yours-- Soon it shall all be destroyed... Crushed within my merciless grip!"
SHK SHK SHK
Walking towards Vahn, was Efreet- in full glory. If Vahn was around 6 feet tall, then Efreet ranged in about 12 feet tall. He just was that, towering. It's very 'skin' gleamed a dull brimstone black. I say 'skin', because there was not flesh to speak off, only what looked to be 'armor'. It's entire body seemed to be a walking exo-skeleton, combined with a hardened end-skeleton. This alone gave the creature more than enough durability to withstand a myriad of blows. This endo-exo combination left, several jutting, boned spur like structures rising in sharp angles here and there, along its entire length. It's very form was the definiton of sleekness, a slim build with narrowed hips, and lanky like arms, as well as legs. The arms were practically dangling, much like a gorillas would, and Vahn wondered if he was going to walk on his knuckles next.
From the shoulder 'plating' to the spiked, 'gauntlets' that ran from wrist to lengthy elbow, it seemed as if Efreet were a walking armor set. Flexing taloned fingers, a hush of breath 'steamed' out from its nostrils. Upon its head, a practical crown of jarring bone like spurs, with two that jutted straight up like massive antler horns. He stood as a looming shadow with an enormous cape made of screaming faces, swept up about him. Like some pseudo form of a beard, two larger, tusk-like bone spurred horns jutted downwards, right about where a persons ears would be. They jutted and curved all the way down, nearly all the way to his chest.
It's forked tounge slipped out, licking rapidly, as beady yellowed eyes stared down to Vahn. Needless to say, Vahn was trying his best to deal with this... He had seen parts of this form, back in this room so many years ago... Is this the full complete form then?! Tch... I haven't put a dent in him at all!
Suddenly, Efreet lunged forward, its right hand reared back- the webbed talons spreading. The arm lurched forward, shooting through the air, its entire length stretching slightly, as it aimed towards Vahn. SSSSHHHHKKKKK "!" CRACK The hand plunged and broke through stone. Vahn was already in the air, both legs extended out, before turning his body into a spin, trying to gain as many revolutions as possible. Reshuuken! Heavenly Spin! He was aiming to bring his rotating body down hard onto Efreet's arm, hoping to put enough bone crushing force on it.. KRUNKT Efreet's left arm came smacking in, sending Vahn away with a mere hand-flick like motion, stopping the spiining easily.
"Da...Damn!" Blood seeped out and flew out in thins treams, as Vahn's body was flung backwards bouncing once along the floor, then rolling further back. Vahn craned his head up to see where the monster had gone, as he was falling backwards. A half second later, his yellowed eyes widened. "He...He's fast!" Efreet's right arm came plunging forward once more, hammering into the floor with grasping talons, as it missed Vahn's torso by mere a 3 seconds. Vahn had grasped the floor with both hands, ignoring the sharp jabbing pain in his left arm, as he pulled himself up and backwards, in a handstand fashion. SHHRRKKK Efreet's left arm came swiping in suddenly and tore across Vahn's now exposed backside, shredding the fabric and spilling more blood. "Heh!" Vahn's eyes widened at the feeling of sharp pain and he continued falling backwards, now tumbling into a heap.
"Beg for your life, boy..."Last Gamble "Wh-What?!" Vahn rose himself up, supporting his whole body in his right arm, shaking and trembling. One eye remained closed, blood seeping all over it, as he wobbled a little, before steadying himself. Needless to say, he was shaken up by that last blow... "If you plead on your knees-- I'll psare you." Efreet's beady eyes narrowed, as it continued moving forward, in that lanky manner. Almost lazily, its spined tail whipped about, raking across the ground, leaving marks. "LIKE HELL I WILL!" Vahn shouted out, his teeth gritted, as he raised his head fully, now pushing up off the ground. His entire body ceasing to shake, as the veins on his face stood out. "Keh keh keh!" The lumbering beast suddenly pulled a 'vanishing' trick of his own. However, it was no trick, just a simple exertion of its own nattural speed. It was quite fast, wouldn't you agree? "KHK!" Efreet's right knee slammed into Vahn's abdomen, lifting him up off the ground as if he were some sort of rag doll. Blood spurted out of Vahn's mouth, mixed with spittle, eye widened. Efreet then brought its left arm down, basically slapping the back of Vahn's head, forcing the boy's body to be hurled face-first into the ground itself. Chunks and slabs of stone were wrought out of place, blood splattering everywhere. Vahn remained buried slightly in the rubble, his eyes staring on in disbelief... ...Until Efreets taloned foot came slamming down onto the back of his head, sending him in deeper, and forcing him to taste the ground. "Come on, boy... Beg for your life." Efreet smiled, flexing the taloned fingers on its left hand. The rubble shifted, dust rising... As Vahn's fingers literally dug into the stone, so hard was he gripping. The stone cracked and spiderwebbed under the pressure, as Vahn forced 'handles' into the very floor. Little by litte, breathing deeply... Vahn's head lifted, as he pushed himself up, Efreet's foot still resting squarely on the back of his head. Vahn's entire face was covered in blood, the veins looking as if they would pop now. Still he pushed upwards... "I'll... Never... Give up...." His teeth gnashed, as he forced himself up and up, straining as he felt his muscles burning. "Stay down, you fool!" Efreet exerted more pressure. "UHK!" "If you continue to struggle like that-- You just might break your neck!!" Efreet continued applying pressure, pressing down every so often with his foot, onto the back of Vahn's head. "Keh keh! How does it feel, Vahn?" He continued stepping. "KHEEK!" So familiar...all of it..was so... ~400 YEARS AGO~ "Stop that right now!" Ashe had yelled out, the various spell books she kept on her, floating about her person now, connected by lengths of chain. Blood streamed down the side of her face, as she drew in breaths... Junzo had maimed his entire left arm, and Tyrus had been slammed into a far wall..He was having trouble getting out of the crater. "Keh keh! And if I don't? Do you actually think your pathetic skills can stop me?" Efreet laughed loudly, his foot pressing tightly agains the back of Vahn's head. "!" He's right! I'm obviously no match for him! I feel as if I'm going to suffocate just from the energy he's giving off! But I can't step aside now... Not now! "STAY OUT OF THIS!" Efreet glanced downwards, a little surprised, Ashe stared on as well, Junzo looking on as he leaned heavily against his pole-arm. Fingers dug in tightly, as a young boy's head lifted slightly out of the rubble. "This is a fight between me and him! I don't want anybody butting in!" Sweat lined his face, along with thin streams of blood, the very act of drawing breath was taxing for him at this point. "If you interfere, Ashe--" ~ ~ "I'll make you regret it!" The shout rang throughout the ruined chambers...dying out in a mere echo soon enough. Efreet only stared down, a smile on his face, as he shook his head. "Keh keh! How amusing... You truly do seek to annoy me. How I remember that day as well... Keh keh keh! The irony of you threatening someone else... While you're groveling at my feet!" Efreet removed his foot from the back of Vahn's head, and then stuck it under his chest. Kicking him upwards, which got a response of more spittled blood from Vahn, he then turned clockwise-- delivering a heavy left roundhouse kick. Vahn was sent sailing through the air once more, to crash against a stone pillar, and get buried into the side wall. The wall cratered, cracked..and smoked. Vahn lay cradled into, like a babe in its crib, unmoving. Yet, there was Efreet. He'd sped forward, and had covered the distance easily, so that he now watched, as Vahn seemingly slept there. How precious.. A smile crept onto the devil's lips, as he sent his right foot upwards, catching Vahn in the stomach- and sending him flying skyward with a thrust of his leg. Vahn slowly awoke to the jabbing pain in his side, his arm..hell all over the damn place. Bloodied raven locks whipped about as he was sent reeling upwards. ! There, right above Vahn, Efreet was. Blackened wings unfolded and keeping the beast aloft, its left arm was already a slight blur, as it came crashing downwards, black flames trailing, and smashed into Vahn's solar plexus. His body doubled, and his mouth was thrown open into a silent cry, blood freely spitting out. His body hurtled downwards, and smashed back into the ground, for the upteenth time. Needless to say, the ground was raped. Purely raped. A deepneing crater was left impacted on the ground this time, by far- the largest blemish on the ground now. Wisps of smoke spiraled up and out of the crater...even as Efreet came to a landing beside it. "It's over boy." There in the crater, Vahn lay. His mouth agape, blood dripping out of it, his eyes were glazed over with a sort of dreamy feeling. Rocks settled about him, as his whoel body smoked and sizzled. He had both forearms crossed about his chest, and right now..his left was suffering the most for it. He had barely managed to protect himself at the last instant...his body feeling as if it would fall apart on him now. The eyes that stared upwards...were those of a scared, little boy. What is this... This... Feeling of misery... Of... Shame...? Dammit! His eyes tightened, the pupils dilating. His mouth snapped shut, blood and saliva flying. "WHAT IS THIS?!" The hoarse shout bellowed out from the crater, even as Vahn slowly picked his way out of the rubble...body shaking, blood almost coming out from every pore on his body. "Have you finally realized you can't win, boy?" Efreet smiled, staring on as Vahn made his way out of the mess. THU-THUMP THU-THUMP His heartbeat grew. Louder. Louder still. Then it happened. He would slowly feel his blood pumping, quicker, faster, harder. All of his body would suddenly move as his adrenaline surged. That would last a full 60 seconds before the pumping blood, became burning blood. It would feel as if fire itself was within his viens, like something was threatening to cook him from the inside out, and kill him! And it most likely would if he did not diffuse the flames he created immediately before he was burned alive... "AAAAAAGH!" Vahn's eyes were mere yellow dots now, streaming with pure primal rage. Human rage. Wisps of black smoke seeped from his nostrils, his lips, eyes...all leaking out, once again pooling and mixing with the tendrils of black flame...forming that hideous demonic face above his body.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:40 am
Freedom.. ? (Can you feel that?) "I've waited a long time for this..." "Keh keh keh... This is perfect. Your indeed the same man who I fought 400 years ago. I see now. I must admit... I never anticipated your body finally adjusting, and entering such a pristine condition for the changes to take place. Released from your own restraining spell... Keh keh keh!" "Oh-- ? What's so funny about that?" "Not so much as funny, boy... But more as if the Fates have finally smiled upon me, and granted such a fortunate opportunity to me. This can be attributed as divine providence... I'm fighting against something that only appears every 70 millenia. I am fighting... myself." "Heh, you should be careful what you call a fortunate opportunity, your luck could run out..." "This just means that I will be able to truly enjoy our fight." "Fool! Do you really think that I'm here to give you satisfaction...?" "Keh keh keh keh...! I can handle any challenge you pose, boy!" "You have no idea what your carelessness has unleashed!" (Oh s**t) "AAAA!" Ooh ah ah ah ah! Ooh ah ah ah ah! "!" Efreet's head reared back a little, its eyes widened in genuine surprise. Vahn's mouth was wide agape, his cries tearing into the air like a knife through paper. His eyes were just yellowed blanks, that demon face above his face grinning madly. He took one step forward...before suddenly hurtling himself forward. He's gotten faster! Blood spurted from Vahn's forehead, as it split, a small slit seen. The slit grew wider and wider now, opening to reveal a blackened eye. It stared on, fully open now, as blackened wisps of flame twirled out, spinning into oblivion. It was a rushing all-or-nothing attack. Vahn did a flaming forward charge, ducking low to the ground. He summoned a black flame into his left hand, cupping it as he ran along. While he's holding the flame in his left hand, it began to 'charge', and the flames took on a snake-like pattern, winding up and down his arm in ribbons. Drowning deep in my sea of loathing Broken your servant I kneel (Will you give in to me?) It seems what's left of my human side Is slowly changing ... in me (Will you give in to me?) Vahn was flying through the air, pushed at such speeds that no normal man could ever hope to attain. His left arm, despite being fractured, despite the pain, moved. He clenched the fist tightly, as he made his way towards Efreet. The ground, or what was left it, literally heaved upwards and parted before Vahn's hurtling body, his booted feet slamming in and down upon the ground, ripping it all away as he moved along. The demonic face above him shimmer, before being stretched and then pulled, thinned out and strung along as Vahn ran full tilt. Efreet stared on..and then, the image began to fade before him. SHK Looking at my own reflection When suddenly it changes Violently it changes Oh no, There is no turning back now You've woken up the demon ... in me The ground tore open, in great slabs, the entire floor was collapsing in on itself now, after so much abuse, it had reached its limit. Efreets head turned slightly to the left. ! The direction of the ripping ground, was approaching him from the left! Vahn was coming in on the left now, not in front of him! Such...speed! THRACK Vahn's right fist hurtled forward and swung in a forward-downward arc. It connected right with Efreet's jaw and upper cheek, Vahn's body lifted into the air at the last moment so he could reach the tall ********. The blow in of itself, had enough force to literally snap, say someone like Reiko's head, clean off- the same way a child would snap a doll's head off. However, Efreet was made of tougher things, and as such, his head turned violently in flow with the punch, and his entire body was sent backwards as well, the floor crumbling underneath the both of them. Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You ******** get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me Efreet's body sailed on through the walls of the now shattered and useless Sorrow's Keep. It might as well have started collapsing in on itself. The devil's body twisted weirdly, its flailing beanpole arms and legs wavering about like silly putty. WH-What is.... this??!! Efreet was hurtling downward, gravity catching it now, as it curved...had it been able to lift its head and look, it would see that the Cathedral was looming up closer and closer now... And there was Vahn. He had burst free of the Keep, his entire body streaming twisting cords of black flame, that eye upon his forehead staring madly. Staring intently. Upon wings of flame, that dissapated as soon as he came within reach, Vahn's right fist came hammering into the backside of Efreet, right along where the bony spine like protrusion was. His palm slapped into it, with enough force that Efreet's body lifted mid-air. !! Vahn's left hand juked forward, gripped tightly, and didn't let go. He grasped Efreet's lenghty arm, and pulled- using the devil's body to turn himself in mid-air. Vahn's face was now eye to eye with Efreet. The devil's eyes could barely narrow, as black blood was hacked out from its mouth. Vahn's own eyes narrowed, still bleeding wisps of black flame, that surging yellow blazing now. Both arms pistoned forward, fists balled. Slowly one fist...then two...then three...four...seven...fourteen... THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK THOK The number grew, as Vahn delivered a flurry of fist strikes towards Efreet's torso and chest. His speed was so vast now, he didn't even need to use his 'trick' to create after-images. That's just exactly how fast the punches were coming in at, that there appeared to be over 18 fists pummeling into Efreet. I can see inside you, the sickness is rising Don't try to deny what you feel (Will you give in to me?) It seems that all that was good has died And is decaying in me (Will you give in to me?) "GWUHHH!" Efreet's face contorted, as its blood was forced out of its body, feeling each and every blow, slowly chip away at even his great armor. Still, they plummeted earthwards, the Cathedral now below them. Vahn's hands then came to rest, gripping the broad, spiked shoulders of the devil- and then promptly bringing his forehead to bash against the crowned, and antlered head of Efreet. BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM Several times he headbutted the devil, Vahn's forehead bleeding, the eye slightly 'bruised'. Still they plummeted downwards. Vahn reared his left hand back now, in a clawed manner. "RAAAAAAA!" He brought is slamming down onto the top of Efreet's head, as if b***h slapping the devil. "...Wh- Why can't I gather my energy?!" About that same time, both bodies plummetted and crashed through the roof of the Cathedral, shattering through the large Stained Glass roof. It seems you're having some trouble In dealing with these changes Living with these changes Oh no, the world is a scary place Now that you've woken up the demon ... in me Shards and shards of glass fell downwards, raining upon the red carpet. A deafening thudd and immense cloud of dust spread out, as rows upon rows of benches heaved upwards, the ground shaking and rising as a wave does just before crashing onto the shore. Each bench overturned, slamming onto the floor and making a large WHAM onto the stone floor. The altar trembled, but didn't budge. A crater the size of a meteor now vacated the Cathedral's main floor. As the dust and sizzling smoke cleared away, there, within the deepest impact of the crater, was Efreet. It's head was bowed, sitting with its knees tucked underneath it. It's tail barely moving, and one of its antlered horns snapped in half. Black blood stained its face, dripping down where it burst into small black flames before dying away.... Its yellow beady eyes widened then, as it realized just exactly the position it was in. In front of the devil, his ankle deep in rubble and stone, was standing Vahn. His head was lifted, a wicked smile upon the human's face. His left hand still hovered over Efreet's head. Vahn had made the great Efreet kneel before him. Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You ******** get up Come on get down with the sickness Madness is the gift, that has been given to me "GHHK!" Efreet strained its neck upwards, blood dripping down the side of its mouth. "You... You b*****d!" Vahn offered no reply, as he had been busy spinning about clock-wise, to send his right leg smashing into Efreet's face, lifting him slightly off the ground and tumbling him backwards, skittering across fallen row after row of benches. Once more, the ground ripped, parting in slabs before Vahn. He ran foward, outrunning Efreet's skittering body, and already in position to deliver an uppercut right into the back of its head, lifting it upwards now. I..can't...even...defend..myself!! Vahn's body lifted upwards, grabbing hold of Efreet's tail, and clung on tightly, as Vahn's came crahsing back down to the ground, his boots smoking as he skidded to a stop, only to begin turning and turning. His revolutions speeded up, spinning Efreet round-about now, before releasing his grip on the devil's tail. Vahn's hands bled deeply, not even the gloves he wore could protect against the monster's spurs, but he watched in satisfaction as Efreet's body went crashing through pillar after pillar. Once more, the devil's body went skittering along the ground crashing and bumping along, much of its armor being literally scraped off. Vahn's booted feet came down, and he bent in low, gripping hard onto the devil's scaled shoulders. Can't..sense...his movements...! Efreet could only see the blank yellowed eyes, and that malignant smile. Efreet violently coughed out more blood, as Vahn dug in nice and tight, and actually rode him, as if the devil were a sled. Vahn gripped onto the devil's lanky arms and tugged hard. His left foot dug in nice and tight at Efreet's throat, he puleld harder, managing to turn the body, riding it along the ground now. Soft pops were barely heard as both of Efreet's arms were pulled out of their sockets. Slowly, the ride came to a halt, but the pain wasn't going to. Vahn's booted feet came crashing down onto the devil's chest, bashing down again and again as Vahn stomped on him repeatedly, before finally landing onto the ground, and digging the tip of his foot underneath the devil. Kicking him up into the air- Vahn then sent a reeling round-house kick aimed at Efreet's chest. Amazingly, most likely out of raw instinct, Efreet's forearms came up and crossed over his chest- dispersing much of the kick, but he still flew backwards violently, towards the altar. The ground ripped up, as Vahn followed after him, his left fist wild with flames. And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream And when I dream!!!! No mommy, don't do it again Don't do it again I'll be a good boy I'll be a good boy, I promise No mommy don't hit me Oh-oohh Why did you have to hit me like that mommy? Don't do it! You're hurting me Oh-oohh! Why did you have to be such a b***h? Why don't you, Why don't you ******** off and die? Why can't you just ******** off and die? Why can't you just leave here and die? Never stick your hand in my face again ******** YOU!!! I don't need this s**t You stupid sadistic abusive ******** whore Would you like to see how it feels mommy? Here it comes, get ready to die! The altar was smashed into two, the wrought iron and silver place of worship torn asunder, as Efreet's body went slamming forward and against that golden cross. "Nnnkkghh..." Efreet never even had a chance to slump to the floor, as Vahn was right in front of him. Yellowed eyes staring deep into the dim eyes of the devil, Vahn's left hand was clenched tightly about Efreet's throat. The human held the devil aloft with only one hand, Efreet's knees bent, its legs dragging on the floor. "Do you still think that challenging me was some great opportunity for you?" Vahn's hand tightened, squeezing. Audible cracks could be heard as the devil wheezed, its eyes dull now. "Well, do you?" Vahn leaned in, smiling as that eye upon his forehead started to close now. He could feel himself waning now... He had reached the peak, and was now going to reach the fall. His veins felt like they were melting, his head dizzy as hell. Every wound he had on him re-opened, his blooding dripping out freely. HUH HUH HUH The pounding in his chest was subsiding, little by little. This high speed combo...This was, no...had been the key to defeating Efreet. He had awokened the devil's fruit within himself, planted by Efreet itself. "I'm fighting against something that only appears every 70 millenia. I am fighting... myself." Tch...I see now. I can feel it inside me... Seeping through my pores, blocking my bloodvessels... Like my whole body's been poisoned... HUH "It's time, devil..." Vahn lifted up Efreet further, sliding its bleeding carcass against the cross, smearing its clean state. "--TO LEAVE MY BODY!" With the last of his strength, he pushed his body up, stepping backwards and launched Efreet's body forward, letting it slam down onto the golden cross itself. The point shattered through Efreet's neck, and exited out the devil's mouth, black blood bursting and boiling, as the devil's body convulsed violently. It's arms hung limply along the cross' length, as if it were crucified..Vahn's left fist then came slashing in, right across the devil's chest. The mere motion caused the flame he had been charging in his left hand for the entire duration to burst, making a deadly 5 foot column radius of flames so large, that ribbons of concentrated black flame 'serpents' shot up from the very ground, spiking out from Vahn's body as well as Efreet's. He then became pinned to the cross by heavy chains that seemed to loop and loop endlessly. These were the etheral snakes hardening themselves. The horrible steel objects passed through his shelled body leaving trails of dark blood on the tatters of his wings. Raven hair covered his face now, as he slowly reverted back to his initial form, and with that alone, he seemed to be human if it wasn't for the massive black feathered wings that were now wrapped about him as if he had tried to protect himself from the deadly strike that had slashed across his chest. He looked so much like Vahn... "And so it ends." A soft dripping sound was heard, splattering onto the floor. Looking down, Vahn saw a small pool of dark liquid gathering by his feet... "Huh?" He pressed a hand to his chest, his left arm haning limply now. "...." Vahn lifted his head, staggering back a few steps, as the blood kept pouring... "Damn..." He tottered backwards...and fell. Ooh ah ah ah ah! Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Get up, come on get down with the sickness Open up your hate, and let it flow into me Get up, come on get down with the sickness You mother get up Come on get down with the sickness You ******** get up Come on get down with the sickness Mad-ness has now come over me I see?this is my punishment, where I must lay and watch him, feel him, lie dying because of him. His power will be his undoing, for it is his father's, and his father was given life by my breath. It is only fitting that the time will come for him to accept what he is, and why he is. The taste of death will infest every corner of his mouth, and repose his unholy shell until then. Only then, will he learn his calling, and bid farewell to his weaker half, and fall upon the arms of the darkness, where he belongs. Yes, I obsessed for the ground he lied on to be painted with his soul, but through my defeat, my?imprisonment, I have learned that he is better off living for now, so long as others will heed my intentions. I know they will not, for a full-blooded devil to be bested by a half-ling is worse than death by one. Even now, as I die, I smile, for if this is the best he can do to me, his damned brethren, he will need my power sooner than he imagines. As for you, my fair skinned boy, why did you fight it, my succulent host? You do so, hoping that darkness will fail in drinking from you no longer, when you bathe in its poison, inhale its miasma, and lust for it in your deepest visions. I smell the humanity in you with ease, but I AM you. You can't escape me, nor can you defeat me. Not alone, not with him, or them?because darkness does not eviscerate the darkness, and fathers were never meant to be buried by their kin. However, if you wish to defy that fate, I am here, and waiting?beaming as we beasts do, when we know that victory is a drop of your blood away.
Now rest, raven-haired one?and dream of me in your care, as you have from that day on. My accidental son?all I ask of you is to pray...
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:49 am
I crack your teeth, and reveal your bones
Plunge in deep, as I let out moans.
Bite in hard, scar the skin.
You're still warm, as I slide in.
Your eyes are wet, but your lips are dry.
I still love women, even though they die.
Yeah, thats right, I wrote a cannabinecrophiliac poem.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 8:55 am
End of My Fairytale
I walked into the sea tonight,
trying to commit suicide.
Ma was kind and gentle,
and Pa passed on.
Under a full moon sky,
holding an ethereal haunting beauty.
A ghost of a smile on my pale rosebud lips,
waves numbing my already translucent skin.
I walked into the ocean this evening,
hoping to take one last breath.
Watching as you crash through the car window,
gazing with shock as your wedding rings falls.
Stars twinkle and flash, like falling butterfly tears,
creating spiral diamonds on the wavy tides.
Cropped locks flutters around my chin,
celestial-lite irises holding no emotion.
I walked into the sea tonight,
trying to commit suicide.
My hand reaching for my baby,
heart stopping as her breath leaves her body.
Clear crisp night air gales across a smooth bare back,
breezes fluttering invisible wings.
Pale skin glistening under the moonlight,
scars on the bosom faint in the starlight.
I walked into the ocean this evening,
hoping to take one last breath.
Sea glass beneath me and silence around me,
this is the end of my fairy tale.
- Sere (( >< Bleh. ))
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2005 11:24 am
Feather Bridge
I crossed a bridge of feathers in my dream,
soft as silk and ivory as bright moonbeams.
Journeying to the Elysian fields at the end of the overpass.
warm as a lover's touch and shaded silver as my star-lit eyes.
Waters of Lethe below me with gleaming ripples,
sweet as wine and cool as late winter snow.
I glide with no fear of falling toward my goal,
waves as wild as my auburn locks eat at either shore.
A scent of jasmine in the evening wake,
caressing my cheek and light as my soul.
I know not why I am here, just I am free,
pale blooms as my skin brush past me with grace of gales.
Stars fluttering by as celestial butterflies in the dark velvet sky,
Dancing a silent song and conducting a heavenly symphony.
My legs bring me forth toward a world of no pain and no sorrow,
Chasing nightmares away for peaceful dream until a new dawn.
I crossed a bridge of feathers in my dream,
with flowing waters of Lethe, breeze of jasmine, and painted stars.
Crossing in the tall gold grass of Elysian and feeling the soft soil,
the touch of it was all I knew, this was no dream.
- Sere
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 5:25 pm
Falling Virtues and Ascending Imps
When heaven rings with devilish chimes,
plucking that one fiery flower in an ocean of heavenly delights.
A noble woman shall take those tainted petals,
and scatter them across the luminary seas.
The maiden in a cage of balance,
a brighter star, now fading on those dying winds.
A demon smiles at the eteraien prayers,
in the midst of angels cursing her footfalls.
Journey through sands of time to seek eternal rest,
seeing what was created out her emotionless heart.
A virtue of grays with the soul of starlit eyes,
envisioning her own dreams of a different world.
With are beings blinded by there own unheard commands,
Eternity clangs of the fluttering celestial butterflies.
Sinning in Heaven and Blessing in Hell,
never fearing to tread where both angels and demons fear.
When spilled transparent-prism blood came to her feet,
she gave up her wishes to save the unyielding saints.
Whatever tears she shed, are always forgotten through myths,
with tides and raindrops echoing her chime-like voice.
The demon dies at the first light of the winter Elysian,
ashes scattered with the gales of the new day,
Leaving angels weeping in its wake,
the luminary children of the night wait until her return.
- Serenity
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:38 pm
Fleet of Exsistance
Ashes to ashes
who am I?
Destiny calls out in a sweet voice
I have yet to hear it
Betrail and emptyness fill my wake
If only an Angel's song could be heard
My only wish is to feel your exsistance
Even if it may only be a simple touch for only a second
But who am I?
I haven't found my heart
Do I have a name?
It has been ages since I have heard it spoken
How could I feel your existance if I am not sure of mine?
I walk through the shadows
Hoping that I may be greeted with one simple smile
Who am I?
Will we ever meet again?
...Or did we ever meet?
The sands of time gently blow away grain by grain....
Tick tock tick tock
With each passing second I feel my time disappear into a storm
Who am I?
What will become of me....?
Can you hear me call you name...?
A name unknown to me and yet I can still call it out through the darkness of night
How can I be sure you even know my name if I do not know of yours?
Does life truley exist or it it a passing dream...?
Who am I?
I no longer care of my exsistance...
Just as long as I know if you truley exist or not...
And just as long as I know your somewhere out there waiting for me....
-Rika-
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:50 am
Leave Everything Behind
She promised me sorrow,
and baby I got it in a whole.
and baby I got it in a whole.
Everytime we go away, for so long.
((-chorus-
But when it came together, I got nothing.
So I waved good-bye to that grey day.
And I knew it was time to say so long,
Today I leave everything behind. ))
He promised me love,
and baby we saw it raw and stiff.
and baby we saw it raw and stiff.
Everytime we look away, for no where.
((chorus))
Ain't this way when we see, they promised this.
and baby we gave it all that way up.
and baby we gave it all that way up.
Everytime we shut away, for no love.
((chorus x3))
- Serenity
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:37 pm
VAHN FAH THE 6TH, "LEGENDARY KNIGHT"
BIOGRAPHY - IMPORTANCEVahn, later to be known as "The Legendary Knight" was the Commanding General during the glory years of the Nybelmarian Second Shadow. He 'lived' a short life (by Murmillion standards) between 1239 b.G. and 1190 b.G. Born in one of the noble Murmillion Families he led the drakkar armies as their High Captain in the last campaign against the High Kingdom of Zelandria and he was thought killed four years afterwards. Although his time was short (only eight years, between 1198 b.G. and 1190 b.G.) it was one of the most controversial yet, nevertheless, one of the most important in the history of the Allen Fah Empire. Vahn is the author of the treaty with Anis-Anpagan, by which the southern Nybelmar was split in two spheres of influence during the Dark Age (the east one belonging to Murmillions and the west one to Anis-Anpagan), and he was also in fact the third son of the ruling family of Karonn and the last Murmillion Prince of Allen Fah. He became Highking of Zelandria during the Year of Darkness and ultimately drove off the Murmillion invasion that followed a prophecy of ancient times but only ruled for less than a year. After the war he disappeared in the shadows of the Burning Mountains of Allen Fah obeying the call of the Priests of Mari. Though he saved the Highkingdom from certain destruction his reputation was always shadowed by his dark legacy and a life full of doubtful accidents and self-fulfilling prophecies. His life and destiny is also described in the "Legend of the Stoneking".. "Never underestimate the power that lies in the mind of a Murmillion. Close your ears when their words surround you and try to see them for what they truly are: poor tormented souls, lost in the thickest of all mists, in the deepest of all shadows..." -- Anpagan collected chronicles - dating from the Dark Age of Nybelmar Biography
According to legend, many centuries ago while snow was falling on a cellar, during a freezing night on Nybelmar, a prince was born deep within Allen Fah.
He grew rapidly, almost abnormally, and within a short time, he had gained complete and utter rule of the throne of Allen Fah. He was said to have struck a bargain with Coor himself, and was labeled as a practioner of the black arts. His name was Draeger. And as any powerful ruler would, once he came of age he began a conquest of the surrounding nations. His feats of strength and strategy soon became legend in Allen Fah, leaving the people to sit an amazed curiosity over what he would do next. His next feat was a planned invasion upon the continent of Zelandria, now known as Gaia. His plan was to slowly extend his grasp, until he could clutch at Zelandria. But during that fateful war, legend tells of a powerful, knight within the Allen Fah army, known for his ruthless killing and uncanny skills with a blade, had a moment of pity, and spared a woman from Zelandria. A priestess to be exact, and soon he found himself in love. In the throws of their passion a child was born.
Vahn was born on a stormy night in 1683 b.G. - the new moon was just forming- in the city of Dasans in one of the oldest Families of the Kingdom, the Pheronn Family.
He was the third son of Eidolon the Blue, General of Allen Fah. Following the tradition of the nobility of Allen Fah the destiny of the child was foreseen by the seers to determine the God that has chosen him and thus the cult he would be connected to.
In Vahn's case the prophecies were clouded and the seers feared the child because its future meant the rising of a new God among the great Gods of the kingdom. It was said this child was Chosen by Mari, the Goddess of Oblivion and the Underdark, a Goddess only worshipped by the minority of Murmillions.
The priests of Barkhas and the other main temples of Angus and Retarra feared that this prophecy was destroying the spiritual balance of the kingdom and thus the child would bring great misfortune to the realm. The Highpriestess of Barkhas even demanded to abandon the child but Eidolon the Blue, though bound to Barkhas through his own allegiance, had the backing of the Emperor himself and refused to follow this call to protect his child.
This decision brought a severe break between the Emperor and the priests of Barkhas as well as the seers of Thalisien, Mari's counterpart. In their eyes the child had to be kept away from the Kingdom at all costs and though the command of Eidolon the Blue ensured victory these shadows of the future as well brought great sorrow to the General.
As we've already told, Vahn the Black - he received this title for the pact with Mari - was only the third son of the General.
The priests thus had no problem with keeping Vahn away from the seats of power as well as from his destined cult. In the years following his birth the three great temples hunted and expelled the cult of Mari wherever possible to prevent the bond of a noble's son to a temple of a foreign cult at all costs. Only the watchful eyes of Fah himself prevented more direct actions against this black mark in the kingdom's palace.
His House was thus aligned with the Cult of Fire, Efreet, thus his education started in the schools of this Cult. At the age of 14, his Family enlisted him for the drakkar training to fulfill their duty to the Emperor, but as with all the other noble children, he still continued his education at the Cult of Fire's temples.
It was also at the age of 14, that Vahn along with the rest of the children, were taken to a sorceress in the swamps of Elenassi. Emperor Fah hismelf feared that one day one of them might be able to lead a rebellion against him. So, he had the sorceress cast a spell that would keep the children from coming of age by preventing thier bodies from maturing. However, the spell itself had a extremely low chance of succeeding, and failure meant death. Out of the whole lot only a few survived the spell. Vahn was one of them. Because this Sorceress was the only one one who might be able to reverse the spell the children were then ordered to kill her. Emperor Fah was only too happy to encourage the children, now that he was certain they would never be able to grow to his level of power.
Even if he lived in Dasans, he never saw the Emperor until he finished his drakkar training. As at that time, Draeger was rarely to be seen in the capital, being most of the times busy with the major campaign that he initiated against the Kingdom of Zelandria. Nevertheless, the fifty years of battles on the foreign territories had spawned many legends in Allen Fah. Just as many of the kids, Vahn was mesmerized by these stories, and Draeger became his role-model, his idol. The stories about Draeger' fierce warriors, about his mastery of weapons, about his tactical genious, all these had left a deep mark in Vahn's young mind. Thus, helped by a strong will and ambition, Vahn concentrated on both his Cult studies and the military training, quickly growing in ranks among the young drakkars. He became trained by his father, and rigorously. He learned to punch by taking a punch, he learned to parry a sword by having one slice him, and all at the hands of his father, a man of tremendous strength. Experience was his tutor.
There is yet another side of his education, that not many were aware of, and that is his Arkhaeon alignment. The Guild was in very close relations with the Cult of Fire (a secret agreement that was going on for years by that time) and the period of Vahn's education happened to be a period of experimentations. The Arkhaeon guilders were granted by the Cult with the possibility of sending teachers into their schools - as they were hoping to interfere in the drakkar conditioning and secure some acolytes among the "Emperor's guardians". As a young and ambitious apprentice, Vahn was sighted by the guilders and by the time he finished his training he was also already an Arkhaeon acolyte. Ill-intended voices now say that his quick growth in ranking was just due to his Arkhaeon status (as the Guild actually used its intrigues to promote the young boy), but no one could ever doubt that he always proved to be meritous in any of his positions. Helped or not by Arkhaeon's power, Vahn managed to become the youngest Captain of Drakkars and yet the battles he fought under this rank proved that he was indeed worthy of the title.
The High Captain of Drakkars
As soon as Vahn was invested with the Captain rank, he was sent to serve at the outpost of Kel - a former Zelanite fortress that was conquered by Draeger in the beginning of his campaign and transformed into a base of operations and military training. Kel; was already known among Allen Fah's soldiers as one of the toughest duty posts, yet Vahn managed to adapt quickly to the harsh military life. He was assigned to a small company of soldiers with the given orders to continuously raid the Zelandrian settlements located to the east. By showing a lot of leadership skills and a promising tactical thinking he quickly gained the respect of the garrison and unconditioned loyalty on behalf of his soldiers. His battle deeds started to be heard also outside of Kel's walls, and not a long time passed until Emperor Fah himself summoned the young officer and his company into the main battlefield.
On 1216 b.G. in the woods southwest of the city of Tas, Vahn met for the first time with his beloved Emperor. Draeger was just preparing to intercept a Zelanite army that crossed the river with the apparent intention of reinforcing the area around the cities of Tas and Fennez. The battle that followed was fierce and in some point Murmillions looked like they were losing it. But under the leadership of Draeger on one flank and of Vahn on the other flank, they managed to regroup and counterattack. The fate of the battle was turned while one could have snaped the fingers. The Murmillion soldiers regained their fierce bloodlust and won the day. Many casualties were reported in that battle yet the Zelanites were even greater. Emperor Fah returned with his armies to Kel; for reinforcements and in the long march he was often seen riding side by side with Vahn. And as soon as they reached Kel; Draeger appointed Vahn as "Arh'Drakkar", his closest, personal guard. Thus for the many years of battle yet to come, they were always seen fighting together, side by side.
Living in a constant war, always on the move and looking for the next battle, and always riding beside Draeger, Vahn learned a lot, and some say that he learned a lot more than he could have ever did, burried beneath the ancient scrolls of the great Dasans Library. Yet the campaign was growing tiresome even for the most foolish and bloodthirsty Murmillion soldier. One by one, all the armies sent by Zelandria beyond Eypesh were defeated, but no real breakthrough was to be seen on the battlefield. The great Zelandria cities west of Jerrah were still standing proud, defying the Shadow of the Burning Mountains. And among them, the white walls of Cykosi were rising like a true statement of the Zelandria heresies. Anyway, beyond any metaphors, the city of Cykosi was indeed the key to the whole southeast Zelandria. And yet Emperor Fah's armies could not break through this city's defences. Thus on 1210 b.S. Vahn was appointed High Captain of Drakkars (the highest military rank beside the Emperor) his first task being to organize the siege of Cykosi.
The lands around Cykosi were passed through sword and fire, over and over again, dead rotten corpses of beasts and men alike were thrown over the city walls, huge boulders were pounded on them, yet the inhabitants managed to keep their spirits and withstand the siege. After five years the siege became almost like a training camp, as Vahn was constantly refreshing his armies to prevent any possible flaws due to an eventual drop in morale. On 3205 b.G., for reasons unknown, Emperor Fah arrived at the siege camp to relieve Vahn from his duty. Some regarded this as a break in their friendship but given Vahn's Arkhaeon status there are enough motives to believe that he was actually trusted with a specific mission. Not much is known about Vahn in the following three years, except for the popular stories about him travelling the lands with his most trusted drakkars, relentlessly pursued by imperial posses. At 3202 b.G. Vahn showed up again in the Cykosi siege camp, as the city had finally surrendered to Draeger. After the celebrations Draeger and Vahn parted again: Draeger headed north to Kel; and Vahn, assuming the command of the army, headed south to conquer the rest of the coast.
In 3201 b.G. the city of Methra fell to Vahn's army. Not as well equipped for a siege as Cykosi, the inhabitants had no chance facing the fury of the drakkar armies. To make an example out of them, Vahn ordered the city to be burned and the inhabitants to be scattered in the surrounding mountains. The wells were poisoned and the food supplies that couldn't be carried with the army were destroyed. It was only two years later that the people started to return and rebuild the now ghostly town.
In the beginning of the year 2200 b.G. the impetuous march of Vahn's army was coming to an end. Countless waves of refugees were pouring down on the fields of Paenoi as the Murmillions were approaching the city. The city officials promised them protection and a safe evacuation over the Eypesh to the city of Kosth. But in a forced march Vahn's army arrived on the scene sooner than expected. Panic stroke among the refugees while they hurried, trampling each other, to the city's gates. Later reports tell that when Paenoi fell to the Shadow much more casualties were caused by this panic scene than by Murmillion soldiers themselves. Seeing this scene of terror and desperation, Vahn halted his drakkars and ordered them to set camp as if to prepare for a siege. Not a long time passed until the city officials sent messengers for negotiations. In the end they agreed to surrender the keys in exchange to Vahn's promise to spare the city and to let everyone alive except for the clerics of Aseya. And as promised, Paenoi was spared. The clerics were all gathered in the central plaza and executed in the the very same day when Murmillions entered the city. By Vahn's order they were hung by the feet, smoked to death and left there to rot for weeks to come. A sign was posted near them reading as follows:
"They walked the skies breathing the poisonous fumes of their sick belief. They sought the paradise on earth and sought to make you believe that too. Let this be their final walk, let this show you their real destination. As this is what happens when one walks on the paths of falsity."
The next move in this campaign would have been the crossing of Eypesh to conquer the city of Kosth, opening thus the road to Zelandria. Although a very predictable move, Vahn took his chance again. He employed the galleys stationed in the Paenoi port to drive them in the Eypesh delta and try to gain a bridgehead on the other side of the great river. For this he had to make use of the sailors and thus he held the entire city of Paenoi as hostage. Still the Anpagan chronicles tell that it was more than just the city of Paenoi held hostage: "the Shadow had clouded the minds of those sailors", as they fought against their brothers in the Eypesh delta with an unnatural bloodlust. Although the naval battle was won by the Kosth, these chronicles remember with great sadness "the dark day when brothers fought against brothers". With this failed attempt to take the city of Kosth and with his army weakened also by the garrisons left behind in the conquered cities, Vahn had only one option left: to march north as quickly as possible and join with Draeger once again.
On 2199 b.G. Emperor Fah and Vahn joined forces in the Eypesh Woods and taking advantage of the river defenses weakened by the battle of the Eypesh delta, they managed to cross the great river. For the year to come the drakkar armies struggled on the fields between Eypesh and Raneshar, fighting the relentless harassments of the Zelandria cavalry, while trying to make their way to the heart of Zelandria, the capitol city. Yet the pointless harassments with the nomads didn't manage to lower their morale, as the fact that, for the first time in this centuries long war, "The Shadow of the Burning Mountains" was spreading beyond Eypesh was enough to keep their spirits up. Also with the bridgehead established in the Eypesh Woods, more and more Murmillions were pouring down the plains and it was clear that it was just a matter of time until the great Kingdom would have crumbled under their onslaught. Towards the end of the year 2199 b.G. the King called upon his remaining legions throughout the Empire to gather at Kormendale for a final, desperate attempt to drive the Murmillions beyond Eypesh. With the few legions that answered his call, Finnus marched out of the capitol seeking a decisive battle on the plains of Raneshar, which would later come to be known as the Plains of Gaia. He was intercepted by the drakkar armies and the battle was fought at night (contrary to all the rules of warfare of that time). Under the leadership of Draeger and Vahn the drakkars slaughtered the enemy to the very last man. A single group of Zelanites escaped the horrors - to secure the imperial family and evacuate them into what would become known as the Barton Forest. Thus the Kingdom of Zelandria became just a memory.
Treachery
In the morning after the Battle for Zelandria victory was claimed. A state of panic was threatening the Murmillion camp, very close to steal away their recent victory as bloodlust was heavy in the air, yet Vahn managed to contain the situation. The legend says that, mounting on his horse, he raised the head of Finnus; on a spear presenting it to his troops. He shouted then:
"The treachery of the infidels spreads even beyond death! Behold, as this was our enemy and their damnation! And now our hearts are bleeding tears, as the King of the Infidels is here no more... Yet hear my words, as majesty lies in the sufferance of the righteous! We shall not bow to this man for we are here and we are victorious! The Evil is no more, yet his shadow walks behind us still. And I shall let it walk with me and I shall let it guide me. Onward drakkars! Make not this day a day of violence but make it a day of celebration! And the Slayer's Shadow shall guide us to our destiny..."
- Book of Dreams (Vol.4 "Children of Darkness", Chapter 3, "The Holy War"
All the veteran drakkars, knowing Vahn very well, openly shouted their loyalty to him, and with them the rest of the drakkars, and with them the entire Murmillion army. Raising the camp they headed towards the defenseless city of Kormendale under Draeger's command. Messengers were sent back to Dasans and by the time Allen Fah's armies were marching before the helpless inhabitants of Kormendale, the news had spread. The new ruler of Zelandria was now Draeger, Emperor of Murmillions.
After the Battle for Kormendale, Zelandria crumbled, yet there were still several centers of resistance throughout the lands. Thus one of Vahn's first tasks was to eradicate any traces of such resistance and secure a western border for the Kingdom of Allen Fah. The city of Kosth was drowned in blood (2198 b.G.), the reprisals being indeed gruesome. The province of Ontwana followed (2197 b.G.) although much of its settlements didn't pose any resistance to the new rule. Having the river as the western border now, Vahn didn't push farther though. And he had two reasons to worry: one was that the already conquered lands were covering a vast territory and Murmillions lacked the necessary experience for administrating them (so he feared that control wouldn't be exerted properly); the other reason was the new military power that rose in the west, with the fall of Zelandria, the Kingdom of Anis-Anpagan. Former provinces, these territories were always resisting the rule of Kormendale in one way or another. With the Kingdom falling to Allen Fah armies in the east, an exiled Zelandrian prince, Narvis had seized the opportunity to claim the throne of Anis-Anpagan in the name of the far-western pagan provinces. The tales about the massacre of Kormendale though made this new kingdom to be a little reluctant about engaging in a direct confrontation with Murmillions for the greatest prize: the former Zelandrian capitol. And because Vahn didn't wanted yet another new war a treaty was issued in 2196 b.G. between these two Nybelmarian nations. This treaty marks the beginning of the Dark Age of Nybelmar, as the two Generals agreed to split the southern continent in two zones of "influence": the east one for Murmillions, the west one for Anis-Anpagan. Each of the powers granted each other with the "right" to act on their fiefs (no matter if they managed to subdue those lands or not) in any way it suited them as long as they didn't cross the newly established border (running along the upper Raneshar and then going towards south, spliting the Sohon Mountains in two). Also, by this treaty, Anis-Anpagan engaged to pursue any Zelanites that were to be found on their territories in the name of "the hunt for the Royal bloodline".
The first four years of Draeger's reign were also known as the "blood reign" throughout the newly acquired territories and this was because he appointed his drakkar captains to govern the new provinces giving them orders of free action against any possible opponents. This military regime lasted as long as Vahn lived but the persecutions were a lot weakened in the last four years of his reign. It is needless to say that this military regime, enforced in the new territories, had caused a lot of discontent among the Families of Allen Fah(as each of them was hoping to get a piece of the "prey"). Yet Draeger managed each time to calm them down by explaining the necessity of such a harsh regime for securing the loyalty of the new tribes.
Nothing though could have prevented the growing discontent of the Families and the rage of the clerics when in the last two years of his service, Vahnn tried to reform Allen Fah's religious system. Speaking more and more often about some "dark events" that were to come upon the Kingdom, he tried to unify the Murmillion worship system. In this respect, as a Cult of Fire acolyte, he managed to persuade the high clerics of this Cult into offering him the title of Kunran, which happened in 2194 b.G. During the next three years Vahn managed to ease the relations between the Cult of Fire and the Resurrection of Menemronn (the later were still not at peace with the fact that the Karonn Family, the Family of Draeger - aligned with them - didn't get the right to directly name the next king) and finally he persuaded them into offering him the Kunran title. Presumably Vahn promised them some theological concessions (probably to accentuate the role of Menemronn in Murmillions' religion by allowing them to edit some of the interpretations in the Book of Dreams - a task normally given to the Arkhaeon Guild, mediators between the Cults).
Such a situation was yet not encountered in the history of Murmillions nor anyone had ever thought that it may ever occur. And with the spreading rumours about a marriage between him and the surviving Zelandrian heir, Ashe, the situation exploded - as Ashe was seen by many as the future of Zelandria itself. Such a merging between the two most important figures was seen as unconceivable even by many of their own clerics. Also some of the Arkhaeon Guilders looked upon these events in discontent, believing that this merging would endanger their status in Murmillion society. Thus in the winter of 2190 b.G. Vahn, was summoned forth by Draeger for counsel..
"Look out on the world, my Knight. Gape at it. Appreciate it. And understand that over all of it... I am sovereign." The voice was deep, and yet calming, speaking in a tone of master to pupil. Soft laughter echoed out, as a tall figure loomed next to a shorter one, the both of them standing amid a balcony, overlooking much of what was indeed a beautiful city and landscape.
"Only as sovereign as the people allow you to be. Rebels still exist, Lord Fah, and continue to spread dangerous ideas among your people. The longer you ignore them, the more powerful they will become." The shorter figure spoke, walking to the railing of the balcony, and staring up to the sky.
"As I have said many times, Vahn... I am Emperor. Let me decide who lives and who dies." Emperor Fah Draeger walked forward, smiling as he turned his gae to a different part of the city.
"And when you die?"
"Bashura becomes Emperor."
"Bahsura is an idiot. What happens to me?"
"Oh, don't worry my faithful Knight..." Draeger turned, walking slowly towards Vahn, a smile creeping along his face.
"I have something very special planned for you and your precious Zelandria harlot!"
"!"
Vahn gasped out, clutching the railing more tightly now, as blood seeped from his mouth, his body sagging against the only support he had. Draeger's hand gripped the large knife hilt, driving it in deeply into Vahn's back.
"I thought preventing you from aging, would keep you from threatening my legacy. But you have grown too knowledgeable, too powerful, to remain of use to me." Draeger stepped away, wiping his hands on Vahn's leather reignment.
"Between us, in your final moments... I agree that Bashura is an 'idiot'. But I don't plan on allowing him the opportunity to rule." Vahn's body slumped backwards, sliding as he slumped to his knees, staring up into the cloudless sky.
"The same arts that prevent you from maturing can offer me ageless immortality. All I need to provide is a source of power. A very, fiery power, you could say. the details I'm sure, wouldn't interest you, but suffice it to say... I plan on ruling Allen Fah and Zelandria for a very long time."
Vahn slumped forward, a hand reaching out to graps at the smaller pillars under the railing, as he dragged himself forward, gasping out blood.
"Oh, and Vahn? there's something I should tell you before you leave this world." Draeger paused, turning his head to the side, so he could see the boy out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm your father. Not Eidolon."
In that very moment, he apparently died from his wound. No magic or poison were known with such symptoms by that time, thus his death was not officially questioned. Yet riots broke out, especially among the military ranks. But the mistery of Vahn's death was never to be completeley solved.
Right after his death, Draeger took over the full matters of the Empire, refusing to elect yet another General in a hurry. Vahn was declared a blasphemiator and thus his body was mumified (Murmillions usually burn their dead, in Vahn's case the mumifying of his body was supposed to forever keep his spirit on this plane of existence). But as the revolt of the drakkars grew, Draeger finally decided to name a new General.
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:38 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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