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 Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:24 pm
'Quickly now' Murai's small head shot up from where she lay stretched across the broad back of a pitch black mare, its head dropped down in quiet slumber. She hadnt been sleeping, No, she didnt trust the dark, Not anymore. To say she was afraid of the dark would have been the highest insult to her. Being under twelve, on your own and vulnerable changes your perspective a bit. A perspective that now included the knowledge that the darkness held dangers, dangers she needed to be wary of. She wasnt quite large enough to do any real damage to an attacker much past injuring them just enough that she could take flight. She was small, and a naturally good runner with long thin legs, which she used to her advantage.
She flipped over, peering into the darkness between the ears of her now awake mount. Flicking some bright, almost red, auburn hair from curiously bright green eyes. She could see the outline of the figures, five, she thought, but she could have been wrong what with her concealment of trees cutting out what moonlight there was to be had. She hoped they were merely passing through, even though it was highly likely they had heard or seen her when she had sat up too quickly. Five, possibly more people was a bit of a high caliber, she wouldnt stand a chance. She was so small, and underweight at that, she'd be finished in moments.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:57 pm
A vast surge of thrill pulsates within Zerlegen's dark spirit. She exhales as the hellhound turns to begin to amble down the correct pathway. The necromancress knows of the area last ambushed and is exceedingly grateful to be going. By being there she can investigate, try and fathom just how their enemy summons the Beast or if it is in fact summoned at all. Being a necromancer truly allows one to branch out over the dusk or dawn of their choosing. Not that just one demolished section will help her in such a discovery. Without warning the hellhound emits a savage howl, spittle spewing in a thick mist. Behind the mount his black snake hisses, whipping itself about as the wretched dog suddenly charges for the woods.
Someone could face demise or I might be gracious tonight.
Ensnaring a great amount of the hellhound's scruff in her right hand, Zerlegen wrenches it with surprising strength to the left to have the dumb thing swerve towards the road once more. In the few moments she's near the foliage the woman calls upon the ghouls of the Netherworld and uses their nocturnal windows. Her own are glowing lightly in their near violet hue which also illuminates her pale face, body leaning over one way until she catches a glimpse of a small figure on what could be another mount or a fallen log.
Peekaboo sweetheart.
She smirks at the thought, Zerlegen has a soft spot for children. Looking away from the child in case fear was to be induced the necromancress slows her hellhound a few meters away from the group now. Lifting her demonic whistle to her shapely lips she blows into it softly but wills energy into it. Her mount utters a yelping whine and cowers where he stands, ears low as his snake writhes and hisses. Once the silent whistle has resonated it's final note Zerlegen pulls her staff back and strikes the hellhound's rump to get him moving again. The drooling beast coughs a few times but composes himself, loping slightly which would be equal to a horse's trot. Behind them the black serpent keeps itself upright for the most part, swaying lightly with the fiend's rhythm. She keeps her eyes on the road. Curse her if she'd arrive at an ill time within the ruins. Right now the darkness ahead soothes Zerlegen and takes down her excitement a few notches. She leans back easily resting her weight on her right arm, hand planted on her mount's haunch. The cool night air is refreshing for now and so far everything seems to be of exquisite unfolding.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:06 am
Angaya followed the group a little behind.
She was humming a soft lubally to herself and her horse, sometimes stopping to whisper at her horse's ear, sometimes stopping to listen to the silence of the night. She felt relieved to be outside of the city and far from so many people. She wished she were more comfortable like Nascha or Zerlegen, but she knew this was something she had to work on.
When the fiend of Zerlegen stormed into the wood's direction, Angaya's horse pricked his ears and huffed uneasily.
"Shh... gentle...there is nothing to fear" she murmured at his ear while caressing his neck.
It did not take long for Zerlegen to take control back over her fiend. And the grey-blue horse calmed down quickly.
When she passed by the bushes, where the necromancress had stopped her mount, Angaya saw the foliage softly moving. She could feel a presence, some fear maybe but mostly some youth. She stopped and putting her hood down, discovering her blue face almost translucent with the moonlight, Angaya asked in a whisper "hey there...?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:27 am
Murai brought her half bare legs up to her chest, and planted her feet just behind her mare's shoulder blades, pulling herself up into a crouching position. This revealing her outfit of worn out shorts that were once blue. The reached to just above her knees and her bulky boots reached about a third of the way up her thigh. Her shirts was baggy, its sleeves long, but pushed up to about her elbows. Her eyes widened at the beast the woman seemed to be controlling. 'Peekaboo Sweetheart' But the woman's lips never moved. She rarely heard things without touching. She turned at the approach of the second. 'Hello there. . . ?' She seemed gentle. But Murai had seen this deception before. Adults coaxing children to believe that they meant no harm, but they were lying. Falsely gained trust. She wouldnt fall for it. Her eyes narrowed on the second woman. Was that. . .blue? Strange, the first woman appeared normal, aside from her beast and that creepy staff.
But maybe they were sincere. She was tired of the vulnerability. And of being alone. Then again, she enjoyed her independence. Making her own decisions. Coming up with her own meals. Even if she appeared to be doing well with the latter. As long as Murai could remember she had been underweight. She was eating healthy, with a big appetite, she always had.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:15 pm
Vincent scolded himself in his mind for acting like a jerk. The girl had been trying to reach out and he slapped away her hand. He really needed to learn some better people skills. Taking a few steps forward to stand alone he suddenly stopped dead looking torn, as if he wasn't sure if he should continue or apologize. He made a huffing noise then looked up at the sky. Then, making his decision, he grunted and spun around and ran after the girl.
He started to jog over to the side of the girl's horse, but stopped when she looked in the direction of a youth. The new arrival didn't seem to be much of a threat, but looks could be deceiving at times. He gripped the hilt of his sword and slowly walked closer to the girl's side. When he was even with her he looked up ahead and spoke to her without turning his head to look at her when he spoke, and he kept his eyes on the ground.
"Let me apologies for my rude behavior, I'm not... used to human interaction. I can be a little blunt and thick headed at times, and I don't have a very good way with words, so if I offended you I am deeply sorry. I understand if your not fond of my behavior and I fully understand if you don't even want to talk to me, but I figured since we haven't formally been introduced I should try and make an effort, like you attempted to do with me before I acted so rudely to you."
With his free hand he extended it up to the girl on the horse and gave a smile of sorts. That was something else he needed to work on as well.
"I'm Vincent Cray, but you may call me Vincent. I never really like the name Cray."
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:33 pm
‡ Nascha watched Sven keep ahead with Zerlegen and only hoped they'd wait long enough for the rest of them to catch up, especially since two of them seemed to be interested in something nearby, this something Zerlegen had already passed up. Nascha had an easier time seeing in the dark necause of the light reflection of her catlike eyes and could see from a distance that the interest was in a small girl trying to hide in the brush.
Pulling her horse over, Nascha jumped down and peered at the girl kindly. "Hello there, why are you hiding, little one?" she purred, her tail swaying back and forth in a friendly way. She only hoped they could see what was going on here and get going soon, they had places to be and things to do.
‡
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:14 pm
Angaya was concentrating on what seemed to be a little girl hiding in the bushes when Vincent's voice sort of woke her up. She jumped and turned to him, crossing his eyes during one second. This, adding to his words of apologies, made Angaya blushed like never before. Luckily a combination of her blue skin and the obscurity of the night, hided it from the icy man.
She gazed at the hand not knowing what to do. *Why does he give me his hand?* she wondered, this was a first time for her. Then an idea crossed her mind and she took his hand to jump off the horse.
Once on the floor she did not really know what to do, after consideration and keeping her eyes on the floor, she whispered "Thank you for the hand. I am Angaya." Feeling that she needed to answer to his apologies she added "and I am not mad".
She passed him to join Nascha. *She can purr!* thought Angaya. *This is amazing!*. She then gently touched the foliage and whispered inaudible words. Softly the bushes seemed to open, letting the little girl and her mount visible to everyone. Keeping the foliage in her hand, she approached the mare, still whispering, until she touched her softly. "Do not worry" she murmured to both the animal and the little girl.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:47 pm
The necromancress doesn't look back but tsks to hear only one steed behind her. Pursuing a steady gait the hellhound erects his folded ears as something flits above in the dark. At first glance one could assume it to be a large bat or an owl, but to assume is to make an a** of one's self. Zerlegen hastily raises her staff and conjures a barrier of bright red with dark purple swirling along the outer layer around herself. The vulture screeches, greatly shocked by this interception and veers off course with some foul feathers drifting behind. From the foliage to her right bursts forth a swollen monster, beady eyes glowing green with envy. Envy for the pure, the lithe and the cautious. Two gnarled tusks protrude from beside a blubbery snout. The behemoth boar squeals in rage and charges at the necromancress. Her hellhound snarls and tries to dodge, but is far too bulky himself to move with grace. Zerlegen grunts as she is knocked to the ground, steel ribcage jolting against her and forcing her to cringe.
"Subsequent, is it not, sister? The master will always fall before their minion and look how yours squirms!" the demon boar's rider guffaws heartily. His eyes are a dark red as is his favored gem, the ruby. The man has a mane of sleek obsidian hair, his clothing just as dark as Zerlegen's but with various belts strapped to his limbs as well as ivory skull clips on his belted boots. Now he chuckles as he approaches the necromancress slowly on his snorting mount, in the background the hellhound whimpers and regains balance, "Why are you shirking in this droll place? Sister, return home with me. Our council have decided to exonerate you as well as give you the supplies you so desire for your apparatus of decay."
Zerlegen winces as she stands, brushing herself off and glancing at her fellow necromancer. "Raum the rogue. How goes your odyssey for massacre and shadow? Ack, no more blathering. I am with this assembled group to cease the rampant Beast. The council will have to prolong my absence...I trust you to attend to such a matter."
"The Beast!? Sister, I beseech you!", the necromancer rogue dives off of his charge gracefully, glimmering hair wildly spreading behind him like a banner before he lands on his knees and looks up mournfully at her, "I beg you on both my knees. Return home at once! We are safe there, the haven, such a thing cannot reach it."
With a soft sigh she has Raum stand before clasping his left elbow with her left arm as he also seizes her left limb. "Brother, don't you think I've considered such? If it weren't for my husband locking me away I would have migrated with the others. The summon also hinders my descent. I am inclined to save everyone's home, not just mine."
"You are far too generous, please be wise and at least visit to observe how our grand underworld grows?" he nearly seems ready to weep.
"Do forgive my striking tongue brother, but I am inexorable to your brimming imperatives. I cannot guarantee any visit sadly, but if you should collect consensus within our looming towers do send for me at once."
This seems to be enough for Raum and he grips her arm tightly as his red energy swirls from his chest, his arm and meets hers at their wrists. With a mild sniffle the rogue nods. "I shall yield to this my sister...travel home with all your stars, Zerlegen."
"And might there be starlight for your heart, Raum." the necromancress responds accordingly.
Soon Raum moves upon his hulking beast with fluidity and tramples off into the dark forest once more. She watches his form until it is no longer visible. From behind the hellhound approaches, his mistress' staff clamped delicately but firmly within his maw. Zerlegen kisses his snout in silent gratitude and accepts her scepter as she mounts the fiend. With a heavy sigh her head lowers, minion loping down the road once more. She wishes immensely that she'll be given a chance to visit her true home during this journey. The underground city of rightful necromancers, Necropolis.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:59 pm
Murai drew back away from the woman. She didnt trust her. Not at all. "Who said I was hiding?" She growled defensively, eyes still narrowed on the third woman, fourth of the group, before her. She was catlike, too catlike. She had always been a dog person, personally, so to the youth found this enough reason for her to not deserve her trust. "And I said" She emphasized the first bit, "Who. Are. You?"
The male confused her. He was talking, but it didnt make sense. She made a face at him, confused, half wandering if he was mental. Raving mad. Her eyes widened as the foliage moved away to reveal her. She felt bare, and she wasnt enjoying it. "What did you do?" She demanded, looking around, her mare too sending slightly confused glances to their surroundings.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:17 pm
‡ Nascha straightened up and cocked her eyebrow at the defense the young girl was taking. Tsk-Tsk, I was only being friendly.
"Oh come now, no need to be foreward." The catwoman said kindly, "I'm only wondering what you're doing in a bush. Might be terribly uncomfortable, I was hoping you and your pretty horse might come out. My name is Nascha, if you please."
Nascha looked up the road to see Zerlegen had dissapeared up the road now and Sven was beginning to fade in the dim light. "Oh, bother it all, they're getting along without us."
Looking to Angaya sweetly she then said, "You keep on and introduce yourself, dearie, but really we should be going. I'll wait here to keep the bulk of the group together but we'll have to ride quickly to catch up."
Nascha backed away from the small girl and her horse then moundted her own and waited patiently with her tail resting up on her lap.
‡ ♠
Sven kept up with Zerlegen without a problem but quickly fell back when conflict arose and he recognized it as her own buisness. Lilahy whinnied in fright and tried to buck but he quickly calmed her and pulled her to the side. As soon as the joined third of the party left and Zerlegen got back to her horse Sven wittingly placed his hat atop his head and gave her a fanged smile.
"Care to enlighten me?"
♠
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:35 pm
Angaya understood that the little girl was strong and proud and did not want to have any business with them...or at least this was what she wanted them to believe.
"Angaya" said the blue skin woman, still caressing the horse. She was surprised by own uneasy she was.
She should be calm by now...this is strange...maybe she experienced something frightening not that long ago...and so did this little girl...
She brushed the horse one last time and her fingers lightly touched the girl during one second. She smiled and turning back to her horse, she whispered "Be safe" as her hand let go the foliage, the bushes hiding the little girl back.
She jumped on the back of her horse and turning to Nascha with a smile, she said "I love cats" before her horse started galloping into Zerlegen and the vampire's direction.
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Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:09 pm
After a few long moments of watching the scene of the first woman and second male. This was all very confusing, she was no longer sure what was going on. But hearing the Beast mentioned in conversation sparked her interest. This is what she was after. Hopes confirmed, Murai was in. She didnt introduce herself right away, though, she didnt feel the need for some reason, but she watched Angaya with a calmed gaze, and a more relaxed stance. Suddenly she found her blue hue slightly comforting and she nodded slowly, acknowledging her introduction. And when Angaya's fingers touched her she didnt flinch away if the chain of events went on the way it were.
As she realized she was being left, Murai sank down to a proper sit on her mare, giving her a gentle nudge to follow the mounts of the group. The mare turned her head to gaze at her rider, in disbelief. She felt her holding back, her distrust, now she expected her to follow them? Murai shook her head in discouragement to her and nudged her again, a bit more force accompanied the second time, and she followed obiediantly at a defeated walk, and she followed quietly hanging back ever so slightly, as she had been properly invited to join them.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:31 pm
Vincent blinked in a confused way as the girl walked past him, he turned to see her going after the young cat like girl. Well... that girl's attention span is a little small. I swear it's like a illness of some sorts. Sighing Vincent started to walk back along the road. He had not even glanced at the new arrival. He wasn't fond of new people, but then again he wasn't exactly fond of the old ones either.
Pulling off to the side enough away from the others, but close enough to stay in their sight, he clicked open is locket again and took a glance inside before snapping it shut and tucking it away before anyone could see. Putting his hand on his shoulder he twisted his arm around like a fan until his stiff muscles became looser, and then he repeated the act with the opposite arm. He rolled out his neck in one direction and then the other. He had to say he was bit uptight; he was used to traveling alone and not in groups. He hated traveling in packs, because though they would be stronger, it would also draw more attention than a single person would. He pulled the flask out from under his robe and removed the cap and took a quick swig of the drink before capping it and returning it to his pocket.
Being the precautious guy he was, Vincent kept a watchful eye on the surroundings. They were on a single path through a forested area, which made him even uneasier. Forests were prime spots for ambushes and sneak attacks, so he kept his senses on full alert as he walked. His hand carefully resting, but not gripping, his sword, so in the event they were ambushed, he would be ready.
Feeling anxious, he started to make mental notes of everyone to keep his mind off things. One thing he noticed was that the group had no defined leader. He figured that anyone who came out and said it wouldn't be taken seriously, but the person who looked the most in charge was the girl who was leading them. He would trust the girl to get them were they needed to be for now, but he wasn't sure how she would react in combat. Try and protect her own skin, or take charge. It was a hard choice to decide, he knew first hand.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:45 pm
Angaya was galloping into Zerlegen and the vampire's direction, when she arrived at Vincent's level. She brought her horse to an halt and looked at the white hair man, avoiding to meet his eyes again.
He tried to apologies and be nice earlier...but I did not know what to do...maybe I should not have taken his hand? What does it mean when someone gives you his or her hand? And I saw his eyes...
Trying to stop thinking about it and blushing at the same time, she sat straight on her horse, looking away from him and said politely "Shall we join the others?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:39 pm
Pleased that the vampire has shown her mutual respect by keeping a distance during the meeting with one of the brethren, Zerlegen now looks at him with an arched brow.
"Hark predator. Give me time I will be clear, given time you'll understand. Now is not the time nor the place in which I can enlighten you about such a delicate subject. Seeing as you are willing to keep with my pace though...I shall give you a petal from my nightshade flower." she coaxes her drooling hellhound to only walk but at a brisk pace, "My people have fled to a nether city I helped build a couple years ago. It's a very small community but highly organized as well as peaceful, I'm revered there since I was the matron of architect for the home of the necromancers, Necropolis. Now let us proceed to our destination. You'll know more of my personal plans once you've proven yourself worthy. I cannot help but believe the rest of our group to have lame steeds..."
Now leaning forth slightly the necromancress is rewarded with a hastened lope gait from her dastardly fiend. Zerlegen begins to ponder and muse over how it all would turn out if she were indeed to have this group agree to go to Necropolis. She could imagine Vincent, snow prince that he is, would be graciously welcomed. Necromancers prefer the cold which is another reason why the city is so far underground, but they also require low climates to preserve their more abundant and inferior dead troops. Nascha would be avoided most likely. Necromancers have a revulsion to felines due to popular necromancy beliefs. Angaya would no doubtly be bombarded with questions as well as curious citizens. Sven would be treated as some sort of deity. Vampires are believed to be the between of living and dead, so they're thought of as lucky and endowed. Zerlegen cannot fathom what would be the outcome for the little girl but knows it would be a kind one. Children are sacred in Necropolis because there are so few.
Necropolis...the grand city of dour. My greatest work yet and my true home.
Having the hellhound charging along now the necromancress slows on a hilltop. Outstretched is the silhouette of the fallen city. Bits of rubble strewn along the roadside and a melancholy abyss greets her senses. That and the unheard cries of the slain spirits, shrieking for Zerlegen to give them a half life. Once the group has all collected she turns her putridly panting mount to face them all.
"I humbly ask each of you to please alert me should you discover something odd and perhaps not to be within a freshly demolished city. Even the most miniscule of details could help me decipher how, if at all, the Beast were summoned. And don't touch any of the corpses as I'll find them first. More importantly, I urge you, keep at least two people within your sight at all times. Quite innocuous if you no longer harbor a will to live."
Now steering away from the party she trots her bulky monster down the slope and into the ruins. Dismounting she allows the hellhound to perform a perimeter check, serpent end hissing as the grotesque dog trudges along the crumbling outer walls. Zerlegen makes her way to the center of the destruction at the town square, moving bits of stone away from the ground to search for anything. The body of a dead man does not spook her. Staff searing with the hellish aura as usual the necromancress lowers it to the deceased man's chest, collecting his spirit. Thusly his body, like the dismissed stitched minion, is surrounded by purple fire before sinking into the ground, joining the other astral plane of Zerlegen's twisted legion.
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