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Joseph Brown Vice Captain
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 Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:42 pm
arrow Outside Teh Haven
Insanity is a weird thing, the more it's suppressed the more it tries and breaks free. Rigel had learned to work with his insanity and not against it a long time ago. The drugs were more of a compromise between him and his insanity, they gave him control while indulging his mind an increased amount of vices. Increased lust for increased control.
Tick
Something was different now, something surreal to Rigel. Everything was happening fluently, no distortations, nothing. He clearly saw the solders filing out of the building as a burly man pulled his arms behind his back.
Tick
He felt the strain of his mussels being held where he didn't want to be. It was uncomfortable, the way a person should think of it. Rigel was curious now. He had been in this position before.
Tick
It wasn't uncomfortable then why is it now/ He wondered this as an imaginary solider began to walk up to his restrained body.
Tick
When in truth he was standing there dumfounded, not moving even though his mind thought it was. No, nothing made sense... It was like how he was as a child, denying what he was. And suppression always led to.
Crack
In the real world Rigels Eyes glossed over. Perhaps giving the impression that the solider had connected his paralyzing blow. It wasn't to be, the illusion had been infected by Rigels insanity. Just like he had created his own fake worlds to live in, Mick had created one for him.
Crack
But Mick had one inconsistency with Rigel's world. Mick had created the illusion the way he would see the world, normally its safe to say everybody's perception of how the world looks is the same. Not to Rigel though, Rigels world is different.
Crack
Once again the shadows jumped out at Rigel, Stark and black as they should be. To him these areas resembled the thick ink outlines of eastern artists using thick brushes. These were the safe spots, where darkness could surround him. But just like a good illusion things had changed in the real world.
Thump
The pretend soldier had somehow ran into a metal spike that shot up from the ground. His blood dripped down the shiny spike and he coughed up more as his pretend life drifted from his eyes. Rigel watched him with a certain satisfaction before he looked at the spike. Two streams of crimson liquid were frameing the distorted reflection of the murderer.
Shatter
Insanity and Mick now had joint control of Rigel's perception. But only insanity had control of Rigel's reactions.
Rigel felt the man behind him shaking in fear as solder's last breaths gave way to the cold embrace of death. The Good Samaritan was about to run to save his own hide, at least thats what Rigel was conditioned to believe a human would do. He took the fist moment of relaxation to grab his cruel looking dagger and jab it deep into the mans arm.
In the real life, Rigel had just lightly stabbed himself in the arm for no reason, without a flinch.
It wasn't long before he removed the dagger from his arm and grabbed it with both hands. After a quick foot pivot he slashed upwards into open air.
But to Rigel he was cutting through his captors flesh. The cruel dagger with its hooks and barbs tore from the fake do-gooders pelvic bone to his neck. Rigel felt the warm splash of blood against him and the tension when one of the hooks grabbed an organ. Rigel's response was always to pull harder. He heard the sound of the mans intestines being liberated through the open wound and falling in a heap on the city street. Pulling the now dead man after them like a fish on a hook.
Rigel was pleased.
He walked around the fake spike that didn't exist and faced the platoon of solders that might as well been a platoon of tooth fairies. He smiled smugly and taunted...
"I will kill again."
Undoubtedly if Mick went to check where his illusion went wrong he would be tied to Rigel's world as well as the real one. It would almost appear if they were two transparent overlays on the same background.
But the only one who could find out how far Rigel had been pused would be Espa. If she tried to enter that mans mind, she would know the one thing preventing him from going into a full-fledged psychotic rage was Mick's control over the illusion.
"I will kill again..."
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Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 5:26 am
arrow With Mick and Rigel
After Mick set the scene, it was easy for the psychic to lull the guards asleep. People responded to certain things and the scene Mick had set was ripe for inducing sleep. One by one, the guards drifted off. All they needed was a nudge in that direction and they were out. Espa smirked to herself.
She heard the sound of a blade cutting through the air and the sounds of exertion. She turned and saw Rigel slashing through the air. 'Gods, his grip on his sanity is slipping,' she thought.
Instinctively, she clutched Mick's hand.
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Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:21 am
Mick had been watching Rigel's actions with growing nervousness. What the hell... is he doing?
Mick took a deep breath and began to concentrate. When he snapped his eyes open, he was using a lower ability of his: to view the illusion he had created. Mick was used to small alterations to his illusions, it happened when they were cast upon strong-willed people.
But never had he seen this hellish of an alteration.
Instinctively he tried to escape the vision. He couldn't. He was caught in the middle of the world Rigel had created and the real world. Mick didn't panic, but instead calmly closed his eyes, raised his left hand to his mouth, and bit down upon it hard. The mage felt his teeth break through the soft flesh, the taste of copper (that was what Mick always thought blood tasted like) filling his mouth.
When he opened his eyes again, he was thankful to find himself in the real world. He spat out his blood and heard Rigel mutter, "I will kill again." There was no mistaking it; Rigel was trapped in Mick's illusion.
Espa's warm touch upon Mick's right hand was a comfort, as always. He switched his staff over to his bloody hand, taking a firm grip of Espa's hand. "Yes, he's beyond our help now," Mick said with a sigh.
But it wasn't over, or at least that was how Mick saw it. With one last effort, Mick shot a new illusion to the hitman. It was a black void. There was nothing to this world, and no real way to manipulate it. It would only last for a few seconds before it would send Rigel back to reality, but that would be enough time. In the illusion, a bright light would appear in the distance, Mick's voice echoing in the darkness. "You want satisfaction? A satiating of your bloodlust? The light is your way. But the light will disappear if you lose focus. You can't do that... this is your only chance to-"
Mick disliked such cryptic messages, but he had no idea where the light pointed. All the mage knew was that it pointed away from here, and probably outside the city. Or at least he hoped.
Mick squeezed Espa's hand.
As they fled, Mick looked back at Rigel, who would be awaking at any moment. The mage knew one thing to be true, and that was that Rigel was no fool. His concious state of mind would realize that the worlds Rigel saw were illusions conjured up by Mick. Mick almost felt certain about that and his next thought, though it wavered on improbability.
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Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:04 pm
Viken wandered the streets, looking around for something to occupy his waiting time. He didn't want to run into that dark guy anytime soon, so he decided to go relax someplace.
Excuse me, sir?
Ah, welcome traveler. Would you care to invest in one of me fine maps?
No thanks. I was wondering where the best place to relax would be.
A lookin' for some R and R ere ye?
Yeah.
Try t'e bathhouse, Hefter's Haven. I hear t'ere be some fine ladies there. *wink*
Thanks friend, I'll do that. Where would I find this place?
On one of me fine maps. All of the popular locations in Laburnum are written on t'em. Only 5 gold a map.
Oh fine.
Viken paid the man and recieved a map. He nodded and walked on to where the map said Hefter's Haven was. He felt a need to bathe and relax since his near-fatal encounter.
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Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:56 am
arrow Somewhere in Laburnum
She ran with him, not quite sure where they were going but not caring either.
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Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 8:30 pm
arrow Approaching Hefter's Haven
Viken approached Hefter's Haven thinking of what he'd do first...
But his ideas were interrupted by the sheer presence of many guards.
I take it the bathhouse is closed today?
Yes. Some maniac tore the place up.
Eesh. Well... where would you suggest I go for an hour?
Passive or active activity? The guard said with a mischevious smile.
Passive... with a possibility of active.
There's another bathhouse in town. You got a map?
Yeah, some piratey fellow sold me one.
The guard handed Viken 5 gold and a map.
His maps are crap.
Viken raised an eyebrow.
Oh thanks...
It's "Lucrecia's Lair"
Nice name...
Nicer service. *wink*
Viken shook the man's hand and walked towards the Lair, smiling internally.
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Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:21 pm
arrow The Labyrinthian Streets of Laburnum
For the first few streets Mick ran as fast as he could while keeping hold of Espa. His puppetry clattered in its bagged as he wedged through crowded market areas and sprinted down unoccupied alleyways. After a few minutes, he slowed to a walking pace as to not attract any unecessary attention. Soon he came to a full-fledged stop, bending over and letting himself breath again.
When he stood upright again, he checked his surroundings. "We made a good distance from Hefter's, I believe." Mick pointed to a clocktower no more than a few streets away. "I think we're close to our inn. It may be best to get back there, stay low for a while. Maybe we'll find the elusive mayflies that are Rym and Saruo..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 1:26 am
Owle Isohos Master Brooks stared at these odd people in consternation. "Who are you people? Dark magi, I take it...I'm afraid I can't let my daughter go off with just anyone. I have heard tales of the magi the Temple of the Dark turns out...how am I to know you are any different?" Tiel only stared at the kind women at first, unsure of what to say or do. But the shadows around them felt warm, comforting... "Will you teach me...." she asked hesitantly. "To make beautiful things?"
Ryvin replied to the man. "Actually, only I am a mage of the Dark element. Additionally, we do not represent the Dark Temple. We are of an independent sect following a different Dark spirit than the Temple does. We would never associate with those of the Temple of Dark," and he said this with apparant disdain for the Temple, "unless it was to attempt to convert them to our side from their corrupt ways. As for introductions, my name is Ryvin Mathios."
"My name is Estella Alasdair." Said the black haired girl with a small curtsy.
"And I am Lady Marie Eleanor Goodwin, Night of Nyx." spoke the blonde. "I am a paladin representing the Temple of Nxy at Noxhaven. Our city is a seperate following of the goddess of night, Nyx. It is a society of Dark magi and similarly aligned people who have split off from the corrupt Dark Temple. We follow a more holy and pure path and teach people how to use their gift to help others, defeat the wicked, and" she continued, turning to the girl and smiling, "how to make beautiful things with your magic, not the abominations created by the magi of the Dark Temple."
The end of Marie's explaination was almost immediately drowned out by the screaming of the girl. Owle Isohos "Go away!" Tiel screamed at the voice in her head, her head lifting up to stare right at the spot on the roof where Sacros was perched. No, she couldn't see him, in fact, she had no idea he was there, but the shadows had a wrongness, something that wasn't right just there. "This isn't my darkness. Go away." "Please..." she turned to the magi around her. "Make him go away." Her eyes were frightened, and she didn't know what she was asking. She just didn't want that voice in her head, dripping with thinly concealed malice toward the entire world. Her father, meanwhile, had put an arm around her shoulders at her scream. "Tiel, what's wrong? What happened?" He followed her gaze, but could see nothing. He stared accusingly at Rhyvus. "Is this your doing?"
Though the Dark priest could neither see nor knew if there was something there, he had sensed something about the larger than normal amount of dark spirits he noticed gathering at that point. As such, the spell couldn't hurt any. Even before he finished, he could feel the same presense gathering around the scared girl. Slifer_Ozura Sacros smiled as she panicked "My child, if you won't join me" his voice now he a scary kindness to it. Haunting almost "Maybe, you will join THEM!" as he said the last word images of people he had killed flashed through Tiel's head. They kept flashing for about a minute. Sacros smiled, standing up and looked at Tiel "Embrace the darkness, before it consumes you" he said looking at her "It is in you to be dark, others will try to stop you getting to darkness, i will help you embrace it, be one with the darkness, come with me my child, follow me" his voice now had a touch of mesmeric to it. Trying to lure her to him.
Marie, realizing what Ryvin meant and what was happening, turned to the girl. Closing her eyes and guesturing at her, she called out "Evil presence, Leave this girl be! Release her mind from your influence or face the fury of Nyx!" She wasn't sure if it was just teh mind, or if she was fully possessed, but as Ryvin was concentrating efforts elsewhere, she assumed it was, for now, a remote influence over her mind.
Estella, meanwhile had went towards the girl when she cried out, but had stopped, not wanting to seem threatening by the confused father. Her sapphire eyes moved back and forth from her two associates to the girl and her father. She had a worried expression on her face, as she wanted to comfort the girl but wasn't sure the father would let her. She shifted uncomfortably, but decided to just let the others handle it. ((Allright sweatdrop Hmm... spell wise, Ryvin cast a general spell over the area, trying to see whatever was there. If it didn't outright destroy an illusion spell, it would have covered the area in black, revealing a presence. It doesn't matter now, as the needles will collide with a spot that contains him so they will give a general location momentarily. Marie's thing is just an attempt to break the control over Tiel's mind.))
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:52 am
Master Brooks was just about convinced by the explanation; these people sounded sincere enough, and he prided himself on being able to tell when people were lying. But his daughter's scream had driven all that out of his head temporarily. His only thoughts now were for her immediate well-being.
Tiel had just begun to smile at Marie when she had sensed Sacros' presence.
As the horrifying images flashed through her mind, overwhelming the child's senses, she cried out once more. "No..." The very fact that he was making his voice mesmeric caused her mind to rebel against it. She didn't want to be one with his darkness, the malice she felt from the shadows around him. She didn't want to see these once-people any longer, didn't want to know what he had done to them. "No, no, no..." Her own shadow grew deeper, darker, as she subconsciously cried out to the dark spirits for help.
Then the images stopped, terminating long before Sacros had meant them to. Tiel looked up at Marie. "Thank you..." she said softly, her voice shaking as much as her body. Her father pulled her closer to him, murmuring comfort, trying to ease her panic.
((I just kind of assumed Marie's spell would work... sweatdrop Since Sacros is going to be a bit busy dodging Ryvis's spells to focus on defending his mind games. If I'm wrong to assume this, I'll edit my post.))
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:51 pm
Sacros glared at Ryvin as his mind link was cut off. He jumped up as soon as he sensed the presence of the magic projectiles, trying to avoid them. A few caught on his feet, although they did minor damage, as he is made of the same material of which was thrown at him, it was almost an opposite effect, it seemed to give him strength. As he was travelling back towards the ground he shifted his centre of weight, moving forward of the edge of the building, and toward the group of Magi and Tiel. He landed just outside the grouping, his illusion gone now he looked at the magi, a smile forming on his lips.
"You fools" he said as he looked at them, eyes slitting into a glare. "Your magic is shameful, you turned your back on the way of darkness, to worship another God" he said, anger seeming to rise in his voice. Although it was not just anger that rose in his voice, it was also a tone of power. "How could you lean towards another, an idol of light. This Nyx is pale in comparison to the power of Nightmare. You have turned your back on the way of darkness, and only wish to convert another to your pagan cause" his eyes seemed to glaze over now, an light aura surrounding his pale body.
He looked toward Tiel and smiled "My child, how can you fight the darkness in your heart. I can sense the darkness within you, it is strong indeed. Do not fight it, but embrace it." he then looked at her, smiling "These fools only wish to take away your powers, come with me, and i can show you whatever you heart desires" his palm opened up, and a stream of dark energy flew up, it slowly began to take shape, into a black rose, the petals delicate and beautiful, the stem thin, yet strong. It shon out in the day, smiling he looked at her "I can show you everything" he then let the flower dissapate "if you come with me, that is..." he added grinning.
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:02 pm
Tiel looked up as the creature smiled at her, shrinking away from him and burrowing into her father's arms. The rose was beautiful, but the images he had shone her earlier were still fresh in her mind, and all she could see were the thorns. Sharp, cruel, wicked...made for harming, made for killing, made for twisting the faces of those people he had shone her into expressions of horror.
"That is not my darkness!" she shouted, made bold by the presence of her father, the shadows, and three friends of the dark who would not let harm come to her. "Please," she whispered to the shadows gathered in hers. "Show him what you are."
As Tiel struggled to shape the shadows, her father held her body tightly. His eyes glared at the creature trying to lure his daughter away. "Let her be, demon!" he growled. "She'll have no part of you."
A small cry from Tiel caused him to glance down at his daughter. She was lifting something from the ground, cupping it in her two hands, and holding it up for all to see...a dark, oblong shape, something curled up within, struggling to break free. As the light glinted off it, the iridescent colors of crows and other black birds shone on the surface of the creature within, revealing a pattern like a butterfly's wings. Slowly but surely, a crack appeared in the coccoon, growing ever wider as the creature within struggled and struggled...
At last, the butterfly pulled itself free. It stood in Tiel's cupped hands, flexing its dark wings, but did not fly.
The triumphant look in Tiel's eyes, and the challenge they held when they met Sacros', should be more than enough to tell him that she would not go with him.
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Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:08 pm
Sacros looked at the dark butterfly in disgust, he looked at the butterflies delicate wings, his eyes seemed to flash, a arrow of darkness went through the butterflies wings, disrupting the energy, allowing it to dissolve into the air. Sacros then looked at Tiel "You can go with these people, but remember this, little one," he said with some kindness, and some viciousness "You are turning your back on a powerful god, to worship some idol. I doubt the dark goddess would be pleased with you, what i show you, is what you will learn to crave. Come with me, so i may train you." he then smiled, an idea coming to his mind "You know what those images were, they were the people these magi take in. They kill themselves, as these magi are false, they will try to cleanse away the darkness in you, they dont want you to have the power of darkness!" he said now looking at Tiel "Join me, this is your last chance, or you will suffer just as those before you did" he said grinning.
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Joseph Brown Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:46 am
The darkness enveloped Rigel like a sudden total eclipse.
The voice came as a surprise still. Rigel was still unnerved by disembodied voices, they disrupted his sense of security. Besides, hearing voices wasn't Rigel's type of crazy.
He followed the light silently, hoping he wouldn't give away his location to the strange voice. But he didn't deny that the light was probably his best option.
Wherever there's darkness there's light, right?
He wasn't sure how long he walked but the light was definitely getting closer. Then even closer. Closer still. Then Rigel was engulfed by light. A bright flash then...
He was standing in an alley way, shaking. He only shook after an episode and he knew that those were under control because of drugs. It was brought upon him, probably by that illusionist. Rigel knew that the magician didn't know the potential effects of containing the assassins mind in an illusion. Rigel did know that he was trying to do it just so he could get away from the killer and save his own behind.
By Rigel's standards, if he had standards, that was petty.
"I won't go out of my way to kill him," Rigel muttered to himself, "He did help me out."
"Wha!" There was a sudden gasp behind Rigel, he turned to look before it could run. It was ink, the informant from before.
"Rigel! I didn't think you were alive. When I heard about the incident I figured they got you."
Rigel could tell she was lying, there was only one person that could set him up.
"Yes, fancy we should meet here." He replied with a smile.
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 9:09 pm
:Arrow: Hefters Haven
In short summary after the incident at bathouse Lupin came out of the building quite happy. He had a mischevious grin on his face and didn't seem to eye the women so mutch as he usually did. He had a new set of of clothes witch were offered to him, if it was part of the package or not he wasn't sure but he didn't really care, his old clothes chaffed in certain areas he rather not mention. He waved a goodbye to his new 'friend' and made promises to return witch both knew it was unlikly but there was still a chance. Lupin now wandered the streets with a little more vigor he was clean for a while he didn't need to act like dirty old bum till he started getting dirty witch meant 2 nights on the street. As he walked around the on the street looking to the other people who were no longer giving him the strange look of pity or fear he became accustomed of seeing he wondered if he could find a bed to sleep in for the night... hopefully a partially occupied one.
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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:43 pm
Clip Clop Clip Clop the sound of the horses hoofbeats against the stone roads seamed to echo in Rose's head. She had an immense headache and she was more tired than she had been in a long time. She knew now why so many people drank to get rid of the problems, but she knew better than that and would not subject herself to the problems that could arrise if she started. She let out a heavy sigh and looked to the remodled inn that she had to start calling home. The long hours of her trade would proably force her to stay there burning midnight oil more than weekly and right now she was considering just quiting. She closed her eyes and memories of old caming flooding through her, she opened then again wishing she hadn't closed them in the first place.
She stabled her horse and groomed it a bit and fed it herself, she wanted to be alone and away from people and beleived being around the horse would give her the excuse for a bit. She tryed to forget her anger towards the nobles and how they treated her like she was nothing, it pained her to think that they proably beleieved they were born differently than the other people here and should be treated that way. When she was a bit calmed down and little at ease with heself she left the horse and went inside the building, she was greeted by no one they could already guess what happened if she was back this early. Though it was a slight releif no one had said something, she also wish they sorta had but thought how things were going were proably better. She moved to man behind the desk his name slipping her mind for the moment as she spoke "I'll need someone sent to my room, someone who deals with the Mayor( * ) of Labrumn on a frequent basis, its time we made our mark on Labrumn.." she wanted to finish the sentence and say 'the world' but she didnt want to raise her own hopes. The man quickly replied with "Right away, madam" and went away to his task. Rose then rose silently to her room rubbing her temple the headache still pounding at her head.
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