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Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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Chapter 6
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“Sacrifice is Power. Power is key. Three keys were created as such, and three keys we hid. But the Fates have frowned upon our Sacrifices, and thus have split one key into three, and another…a lost soul, no less…into eight.

One Dark Spirit. One Soul. One Power. When all three are present, the Oubliette shall awaken once more…what happens next shall fall on the shoulders of those brave…or foolish enough… to confront the primordial powers of the Ninth King contained within the vile prison.”

~ Skarjil Datashade Glyph [Lore]: Returning I
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A flash of light streaked across the sky of the Fade Realm that night, a byproduct of the “festivities” held by the Red Queen and her vile minions. Though not many would openly admit their disgust with the Archfey, all would readily admit that the light which would soon mark her passing and the subsequent destruction of her alien Arena proved a good sign for the natural denizens of what amounted to the personal hell of many throughout the planes.

And the scene seemed fitting, the lone female demon thought to herself as she watched her potential host whisked away by the magic of Mokosh’s gauntlets shortly before the Yautja’s failsafe ward activated. Though she was never fond of the arrogant Queen, she had to admit that the Archfey had a good taste for lavish interior design, which was a welcome oasis in the middle of a hellish world populated by abominations that would be better suited to the imaginary ravings of the mad rather than actually existing in a world created by old beings out of sheer boredom.

“Pity,” she muttered to herself. “I imagine he would have liked to sit on that throne too.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 03:56:38 - Last edited on 03-May-2011 04:02:25 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The demon enjoyed bathing herself in the warmth of the Yautja’* explosion- an easy task, given her kind’s elemental affinity for fire- and waited until the subsequent light began to fade to make her escape. A simple thought was all it took, and soon enough the world reformed around her to show a sponge-like interior decorated with bejeweled skulls and other baubles that her master had managed to acquire over the years.

The room was a simple reception hall, complete with pillars made of bone and muscle that stretched from the floor to greet the ceiling, torches lit by demonic hellfire, and a simple yet ornate rug that was said to have been woven in the world of the Efreet and their Genie allies.

The centerpiece of the room was no other than a curved throne made of an assortment of bone, greenish metals of unknown origin, what she supposed was strands of human muscle, and even bits and pieces of the pure elemental force of fire that seemed to shimmer in the reflection provided by the fragmented materials.

The throne’s inhabitant looked just as fierce as the throne itself. A massive form with a bull’s face sat hunched over on the seat, revealing a set of curved goat horns which lined its head and went down the creature’s back. Coarse, white fur covered its body in patches which would seem unruly by mortal standards, but it ended where curved horns emerged to serve as the monstrosities “hands”, and the diamond-like hooves which served as its feet.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 03:56:40 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:25:01 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“So I take it your little plan is coming along well?” Belial asked of the demon as she bowed at his feet.

“In a way,” she replied. “It seems that things have taken an…interesting turn of events. Her power is now heightened by Yautja gauntlets that once belonged to Mokosh the Damned himself!”

Belial’s eyes widened at her statement. “But..but…Mokosh and his artifacts were supposedly buried. Or at least destroyed. How the hell did those manage to avoid being noticed? Are you even sure they’re his?”

“If I wasn’t sure, I wouldn’t have reported it,” the demon replied. “I managed to sneak a peek in the girl’s mind before she left. Her Yautja ally had confirmed it, and you and I both know the Hunters are keen enough to recognize artifacts of such power.”

Belial looked to the ground as he mulled over the development in his mind. “How?” he asked. “How did that…witch even come into possession of them?”

“My best guess would be she didn't know what she had,” the demon said. “If she did, she probably would’ve used them to confront you by now."

"Sounds true enough,” Belial agreed. “But that begs another question…Mokosh is dead. So how did one of his artifacts manage to avoid detection for so long?”

“I can explain that,” a voice rang throughout the room. Both of the Inner Demons looked around in alarm, ready to tear the intruder apart at a moments notice. A tattooed man in blue robes stepped out from behind a pillar near the entrance of the room, and held his hands in the traditional sign of peaceful intentions.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 03:56:41 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:26:05 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“You?!” Belial roared. “I thought you agreed to stay away from this world?!”

“I did,” the man replied as he walked towards the throne, a staff that was hidden in his hands somehow tapping against the floor as he did so. "But that was in exchange for a deal that I have not yet collected my dues from.”

“Ah,” the female demon said. “That’s right. The girl.”

“The Fade Witch, more specifically,” the man replied with a smirk. “I trust that her power was drained as we agreed?”

“It is,” Belial responded. “And my consort here has already begun the process of siphoning it into a new host.”

The man tilted his head to the side. “Curious,” he replied. “I believe I was the one to distribute the power in that manner. Or did I mishear something when the deal was first made?”

“You’ve disappeared for centuries without calling on us,” Belial retorted. “We’ve decided to act when a curious woman appeared in this world, but not on our own initiative at first.”

“I was there,” the consort said. “The Fade Witch’s power began transferring itself to the new host when she came into contact with it. We didn't even realize it until too late, at which point we decided to go with the development.”

“That…sounds interesting,” the man remarked. “Tell me, do you at least have the Witch’s body still? I wish to inspect it.”

“Of course,” Belial replied. “Follow me.” The Inner Demon stood up, and magically conjured a red portal which all present stepped through.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:05:18 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:26:54 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

After the initial inertia of teleporting by demonic magic faded, the blue robed man beheld a strange yet familiar sight. Gone was the throne room of the demon lord, and in its place stood an altar set on top of a rock. Gusts of wind attempted to tear the man’s robes from his frail humanoid body, but he ignored it as he approached the altar.

The altar itself was made from a crystalline blue material with strange, curvy symbols that he had only seen very few times in the past. And not many of them were pleasant from what he could recall.

“Yes, it’s Darksime,” Belial said, confirming the man’s suspicions.

“So I see. Now I wonder...why would you have a Darksime altar when you know the risks of having the material in the first place?”

A cough interrupted the conversation, and the man’s eyes were drawn to a dark humanoid form tied to the altar that he hadn’t noticed earlier. The figure was obviously female, but one would think that she was already dead if they hadn’t known any better.

“Your answer lies with that damn witch,” Belial spat. “Earlier altars were destroyed because of her little tantrums while trying to escape, so we took a gamble with one made of Darksime.”

The man nodded as he inspected the female. Her pale skin and dark, gangly hair reminded him of a feral vampire, and it was only the faint glimmer of the mysterious shadowstuff dancing across the exposed skin of her body that managed to convince him that the demons weren’t lying about their reasoning for the altar.

“I see that she’s almost dead,” the man said absently. “Is this because of the Darksime?”

The two Inner Demons glanced at each other nervously. “Well,” the consort began.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:06:13 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:27:48 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“We believe that her power transferred a good majority of its being into another host,” Belial finished. “Like we said, it happened so fast that we simply couldn’t react fast enough to stop it from bringing her to death’s door.”

“But she barely lives,” the man remarked. “Interesting. If what you say is true, then she should be dead now."

"If I may,” the consort said. “What if she’s hanging onto life because she’s waiting for something?”

“I have no idea what she may hope for,” Belial said with a dark chuckle. “Everyone she knows is probably dead at this point. Or those who are still alive may have resigned themselves to her passing, or maybe they think she’s simply dead. So all hope is lost for her after this much time.”

“That may be true,” the man agreed. “But still...this one in particular interests me.” Turning to face the demons, he added, “I shall attempt to find this new host that you spoke of. If I don’t find her, I shall return in two months time to reclaim her body and destroy this damn altar so I can pursue the matter on my terms.”

The demons nodded. They knew from past experience that arguing with the mysterious spellcaster was futile. If he wouldn’t be able to destroy the Fade Realm itself, he was at least capable of destroying the demons themselves with nothing but a wave of his hand. And that wasn’t counting the pact that they had made with him so long ago, either.

“Good. So now we understand each other,” the man said. He turned to the woman on the altar and shook his head. “Sorry you had to go through this, girl,” he muttered. “But remember what I told you about making choices that have no good outcomes? This is a fine example of the results of such situations.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:07:19 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:29:00 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The man raised his staff in the air. He regarded the demons with a hint of disdain in his eyes as he said, “Oh, and about Mokosh and his artifacts. I cannot say more than this: it’s all a part of the grand scheme of things. But they do not cross paths with you, so do not worry about confronting the Betrayer just yet.”

“Gods damn it,” Belial spat. “Samael, just listen for once! The man managed to bring about the fall of your own kind somehow! Not only that, he also became a part of the Cycle! Do you really believe that the grand scheme of things will really put an end to what’s been coming since time began?!”

“Unfortunately, the plan laid down by the Magistrates of the past has been in motion for eons,” the man replied. “So yes, I truly believe that the nightmare will end at last once Mokosh realizes what’s happening. The Geas simply won’t allow him to act otherwise.”

“You play a dangerous game,” Belial replied flatly.

“Such is the nature of the whole idea,” the man said. “However, unfortunately for those like me, I must put my own Damnation to good use as well. Who knows…I may even be able to rest in peace at long last after this whole tragedy comes to pass." The man cracked his staff against the ground, and vanished in a flash of light.

Belial’s consort sent some gravel scattering over the side of a nearby cliff as she turned back towards the still open portal her lord had conjured. “So…what now?" she asked.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:07:53 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:30:25 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Belial shook his white mane in confusion. "I'm not sure. Part of me wishes to believe Samael but another part of me is screaming to back out of this whole mess before things get worse."

The consort sighed. "If thats the case, then I shall keep an eye on the new host," she said. "I dont trust him to do anything sensible now. He seems almost desperate. Its like somethings about to happen, and even he can't say what it is."

"Then do so," Belial replied. "In the meantime, I shall go and see what other lords I can convince to rally together. We simply can't survive whats coming alone, and it is a task that Ive been putting off for so long anyway"

~^+^~

Unbeknownst to the Inner Demons, a lone figure on the cliffside watched as they stepped through the portal, which closed with a wink. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, the figure scrambled up the side of the cliff and managed to haul himself onto terra firma once more with a sharp breath.Its ok, he told himself. Crawler cant get to you from here. Hes at that arena, doing whatever he does there.

The knight let that knowledge sink and as he felt himself relax. He waited for a few moments before getting to his feet and dusting his white armor off. He wasted no time in hurrying over to the altar, and really, who could blame him? He had waited lifetimes and sacrificed the lives of many men just for this chance, and if what he had just heard was true, he would probably have to wait longer and spend many more lives if he was to get his hands on his former ally.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:08:25 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:34:22 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The knight felt his heart drop as he looked at the woman lying prone on the altar. Despite her disheveled appearance, she still looked as beautiful to him as she did so many years ago before the Hounds came to Ukrosha.

A gauntleted hand reached out and stroked her cheek, causing her to open her eyes and look at the newcomer with a mix of terror and amusement.

“It’s alright,” the knight said. “It’s me.”

“Y-you,” the woman stuttered.

“Who else could it be?* the knight asked.

“N-no!" the woman gasped. “Not..no..again.” The woman began coughing and shook slightly, causing her body to strain against the manacles holding her place. “T..trick. Bad one..to..too.”

The knight shook his head as the woman stared off into space, lost in her own twisted thoughts of reality.

“Damn,” he muttered to himself. He stared at the woman for a while longer before deciding that she was lost to him. “I’m sorry, Kaz,” he said as he drew a dagger. “I was hoping I could get here in time. I really was...but I think this will be better in the long run…for…for both of us.”

Kaz’s eyes widened as the dagger slashed across her throat.Fear left her eyes, and in its place was something else, something that the knight had never thought he’d see after all he had been through.

"T...thank…you,” she managed. The knight only stood there as her eyes began to glaze over, forever capturing that last bit of happiness that she had realized in her final moments.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:09:36 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:35:07 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

Forum Moderator Posts: 9,861 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

When grief finally came over him, the knight turned away from her body and drew a small orb from a hidden pocket in his armor. It only took a small thought to activate, which caused a vague, feminine face to appear amidst a swirl of fog.

“Ah, it’s you,” the face said. “What happened? Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Calm down, Savant,” the knight said. “I found it, but it took the lives of my entire unit. I’ll fill everyone in during the debriefing when I get back.”

“That’s good to know. I’ll send a unit to pick you up at the rendezvous point, so hurry up and just get out of there before anything goes wrong.”

“Don’t bother,” the knight said. “With the Inner Demons wandering around this place, they won’t last long. Besides, I have my own way out. But what you can do to help in the meantime is pull up any information on two people.”

“Oh?” Savant asked. “And who might they be, pray tell?”

“Samael and Mokosh," the knight replied. “I heard some…denizens…talking about those two, and I think they may have something to do with those pillars you said were popping up everywhere on your world."

"I don’t see why they would, but what the hell,” Savant said. “I’ll see what I can do. But do us all a favor and just get out of there, Hound.”

“Right. Agent Hound out,” the knight said as he cut the transmission off. He took one last glance at Kaz before bounding down the side of the cliff that he had climbed up mere moments ago, muttering to himself as he went.

“Not this time,” he said. "I don’t know who that demon’s going to torment next, but I swear…they won’t end up like this. I owe that much to her at least.”

He prayed to any gods that might have been listening at that moment that he could keep his promise this time.

^+^ The End of Chapter 6 ^+^

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

^+^ If the Gods see fit to curse us with the Blood, then we shall raise ourselves above them ^+^

03-May-2011 04:10:48 - Last edited on 25-Nov-2011 03:36:06 by A Mad Hatter

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