Welcome to Gaia! ::

The sigh was felt more than spoken, seen more than heard, but there nonetheless. ::Time cannot fly fast enough.:: But Tellus busied herself with other things, mainly looking at the dress that had been chosen, chuckling over it's cut and the things it revealed. She then moved over to another article, that she had chosen as well...Whatever Ra'kar had in mind should be very....interesting...She hoped she could live up to her lady's ideas.

She lifted the locks of white, blue and black hair up off her head, trying to decide upon a style. It was as she twisted her neck that a edge of a shape caught her eyes. She moved closer and turned her neck, trying to get a closer look at what appeared to a be a small tattoo on the back of her neck.

"A mirror...!" She ran around the room, flinging cushions left and right, though more from a sense of impatience then anything. Finally she found a small hand mirror and went back to the the larger mirror, using the old reflection of a reflection technique...and what she saw, made something small and warm curl inside her stomach. It made her feel just a bit happy.

"Yes... my dream... the dream of this planet, that I have seen!"

He raised the blade on high, a thunderous clap sounding across the entire island, as a calm blue sky spread above. There was no sun, no light-- yet that clear blue sky came into existence.

The space all around Eden began warping, even as Victor plunged the blade back earthward.

"Time is of the essence. Time is the key."

Reality folded, the lines blurring heavily.

"And it's time to act."

Eden would begin slipping through the very fabric of the Void, like a great vessel passing through crashing waves, to emerge into calmer waters.

The power that coursed through that blade would bleed into the very core of Eden itself, as a series of hieroglyphs and unknown language appeared in a several circles around Victor. The sounds of mechanical gears became audible, as he created something on the spot-- a mechanism through which he could use the blade to manipulate Eden (think access point).

And the moment that the island broke into our reality, like a beacon, those attuned to the Forgotten would come to know that it's great power had suddenly been birthed.

"Let those who would uphold my cause know my existence."

Eden would be in the Northernlands, right over a certain group of ruins...

And they would.

Eden entering the physical world so intimately connected to the Forgotten acted as a beacon. Within moments agents of The Forgotten would know the location, and not long after that they would be bathed in their masters power. The Forgotten called, and they would come no mater how large the path of destruction in their wake.

A cackle of warp would rip through the ground near the crater, a second storm bringing agents of the first. Humans, all wearing red and black robes, all wearing masks the colour of jet, all perfectly obedient. They were silently gathered around the one obviously non-human figure silent and still. That creature was one of power, one of strength, but no less obedient to its great master The Forgotten.

That creature was known as Alpha, the first Shadelord.

Like all shades, Alpha was made of the black material spawned by The Forgotten. That matter was hardened into metal like plates, giving the Shadelord the look of an armoured knight. Furthering that image was the mantle it wore draped over it's armour like shoulders. It was uncomplicated and practical, the colour of rust with a hood to keep the elements off. A cape off the same material draped down to its calves, trimmed with a softer crimson material. If the Shadelord was not so proud it could wear the hood, pull the cape across its shoulders, and masquerade as a dark knight. The reason it would have to hide like that was as clear as the lack of nose on its non-face. Instead of the normal features decorating a human skull, the Shadelord had a single red eye, oversized and glinting oddly in the tundra's light.

It alone would step forward, taking proud strides towards the crater in which victor stood. Alpha would loom over the edge and look through Victor with his one optic. Then without a mouth it spoke with regal voice loud enough to for all nearby to hear.

"Champion of the sword. I am Shadelord Alpha, commander of the armies of the Forgotten. I serve the entity that has aligned itself with your cause, and by that alliance I now serve you. I am yours to command Champion."

He placed the timepiece gently into her hand. The thing had been abused to the point of collapse - but somehow it remained intact. If she could, she would even still feel it ticking in her palm.

The clasp was a little fiddly, the silver cover having been warped inward a little, but if she managed to open it, she would see the cracked glass, the slightly bent hands twitching around the face...and an engraving on the inside of the clasp.

I will love you until the sun no longer sets and the waters upon gaia dry. No matter the way the winds flow in our lives, know and treasure the time we have together.

A finger would suddenly be placed against the engraving, and she would look up to see his old eyes narrowed as he looked down to her.

"This...is power." He growled down to her. "I have never fixed this, i've never tried to keep it safe...yet its remained with me, it still works. Its closer to me then anything else...it is my one possession."

His eyes narrowed further, cold slits which dug into her skin. "A woman gave it to me, many, many years ago...a testament to our love. I carried it on me always, from that day forth, through other lovers and trials you cannot imagine."

He suddenly leaned forward, his breath warm against his ear. "It may mean nothing to you...but think about what i've said...and ask yourself if you have someone who can say the same for you."

He would slowly lean back, dragging his fingers across her palm to retrieve his watch, slipping it into his pocket. "Ask yourself this, Ra'kar. Love conquers all. Time. Space. Flesh. Even dreams...if the love is strong enough. Do you have that love?"

And the doors to the center chamber would be flung open, heavy groans of protest echoing out, as the shadows seemed to come to life.

Footfalls were heard, many in unison, as a lone figure appeared. Soon the many that followed behind him made their presence known as well.

Shades, the formless given shape; the shadows given life. The masked followers, the so called 'Devils' of Victor's group, watched wistfully, intrigued. They had been at some point or another human-- but through Victor's manipulation of the same binding spell that Ashe had created to imprison Efreet within Vahn, they all demons merged within themselves.

Thus the birth of so called 'devils', fallen sons and daughters of man.

However, for the few succesful merges that had been made, there had been countless failures... and it was these that lurked and toiled in the backdrop of Eden, relegated to nothing short of an enslaved workforce.

A workforce which was gladly given up to the Shades. They would be worked over, perfected where imperfection lay.

And backing him, were the pure Shades themselves. Followers of this so...called... 'Watcher'. This.. Forgotten One.

"Alpha... the Island is as old as the books claim. Fortifications may be necessary, for any unwanted guests."

What force... what ancient force is this... that even I would have overlooked... yet here it is in my grasp...! And I can do such marvelous things brother... they think me foolish... coy enough to tamper with and use as they see fit... but it is I--- who shall be the victor in the end!

"Ra'kar... it's time you made use of your diplomacy. We are at my father's old grounds... I have need of something within the family vault."

Ancient Tomorrow watched Ra'kar alight to Victor, the man surrounded by wraiths and demonic figures. Indeed, to the old Tribal, he looked like a demon lord. What have i gotten myself into... He thought to himself, watching the mis-happened figures skulk around and away from Victor.

John could not feel 'energies' easily - he barely had a magical bone in his body - but he did sense something different in the man from when they'd spoken earlier. A sense of determination.

Pulling his shades from his pants pocket, he placed them onto his face and ran his fingers through his long ashen-blond hair, letting it fall naturally around his face. He tried not to let his unease show - he was bonded to the man now, he had given him his boon - he had to see it through.

He sighed inwardly as he watched Ra'kar's slight form slink to Victor. Quite obviously she had missed his point about the watch.

Just how long did Victor need them...

"It appears this part of the world hasn't been left as alone as people were led to believe... evil thrives where light can't touch it... or so they say."

He stood there, his clothing radically more different than before.

He seemed to be wearing a form fitting armor made of the same things the Shades around him were. The armor seemed keener in the moonlight, if that were possible, the blade sheathed at his side claiming its own pull--- an emotional gravitational force which captivated those near him.

"It's actually my father who I need.... or at least what's left of him.. imprisoned within his very own fortress.

But I doubt whomsoever decided to take up residence there will kindly allow us to simply walk in."