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Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

One of the ‘tattoos’ on the man’* left arm began to convulse, which the mage noticed as it took a step back. The man swung his arm, which caused a slick, dark tendril to materialize from his arm. It wrapped around the mage’s throat, and brought the robed figure to its knees.

The man muttered something, and the tendril began to contract, dragging the mage towards him, but the mage had somehow managed to stand up long enough to throw its hand out towards him. A bright ball of colors erupted from the hand, and streaked towards the man almost instantaneously.

At first, Uthalion couldn’t tell what the spell was meant to do, but then he saw the tendril release the mage and reform itself in the shape of the tattoo from which it apparently sprang. The man cursed, and turned to run.

The mage once again attempted to conjure some magic with its hands, but it was too slow, for the man’s form suddenly blurred before disappearing completely. The mage looked around, and when its gaze hit the iron door, it stopped.

Uthalion felt that the mage saw him, but for some reason he was hoping it didn't, even though he didn't know why. He had seen Chantry mages in the past, but something about the figure seemed...out of place.

The mage started towards their position, but stopped just short of the doorway. The figure let out a groan before slumping unceremoniously to the floor, and Uthalion saw the man standing over the mage with a triumphant grin on his shadowed face.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:50:50 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:40:09 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Hey now, looks like I win after all,” he said in an oddly smooth voice. He drew a knife from a sheath on his leggings, and spoke some arcane syllables. The blade flared up with a greenish glow, and then sizzled out. He turned it over in his hand with a surprised expression. “The hell? That’s never happened before.”

The shadowstuff tattoos began to squirm and wind their way up the length of his arms. He dropped the blade with a yelp, and began clawing at them with the determination of a madman in a feeble attempt to tear them from his skin.

A voice sounded from nowhere, a powerful, thundering sound that Uthalion swore had shaken the room itself. “That’s enough, Marik. This training simulation is over.”

The man-Marik, Uthalion corrected himself-looked around the room in search of the person speaking. A bald man in red robes stepped out of the shadows near the enclosed box in the stands. Even though he appeared at first glance as just a normal Chantry mage, there was an air of power about him that seemed to radiate from his very being.

“Ah, but I was just getting started, Romulus” Marik said.His shadows had apparently calmed down as Romulus appeared.

“I see that, but we have guests. You two can finish your duel later,” Romulus replied. He made his way to the edge of the stands, and the bricks on the wall separating the arena from the stands arranged themselves into stairs as he approached. He was in the arena as they finished forming, and he looked towards the door Uthalion and Mori were watching from. “Mori, Uthalion…I know you two are in there. Don’t worry; it’s safe to come out now.*

The duo stepped cautiously into the arena, the door closing with a bang which reverberated through the room for a short second. It seemed like an eternity to Uthalion, but then again any social encounter with an Archmage had a tendency to seem like it took forever.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:50:52 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:41:16 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Uthalion turned his gaze to the collapsed figure of the mage he witnessed in the duel a few seconds ago. It didn't seem to be breathing, but Romulus interrupted his thoughts before he could come to any conclusions.

"Uthalion...I’m sure it’s a pleasure to see you under normal circumstances, but I have to ask...why did you use the code that was only supposed to be used when you came to pick up my daughter? You know she’s no longer with the Chantry, so don’t take my suspicions personally.”

He cleared his throat and met the Archmage’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but it’s important.” Motioning to Marik and Mori, he added, “If it’s alright with you, I’d rather do this somewhere private and away from prying ears.”

“Understandable,” Romulus replied. “Mori, thank you for bringing our guest to me. You’re free to go back to whatever it was you were doing before I pulled you over in the hall.”

The girl nodded meekly, and hurried off back through the iron door. He motioned to Marik, and added, “Marik, you know what to do. Take your simulacrum back to your quarters and repair it for a rematch.” The man nodded, and gathered up the body of the mage in his arms. He too hurried through the iron door, and Uthalion sighed with relief.

“Come with me.” The Archmage said. Uthalion followed him up the stairs, which reformed back into the wall as they passed each step. Romulus led him towards the box, and walked right through a wall. Uthalion hesitated for a moment, and then followed, finding that the ‘wall’ was merely an illusion.

The interior of the observation box was surprisingly plain, with only a countertop built into the wall with a few cushioned seats arranged in a neat line behind it. Other than that, the only distinguishing feature was that of a curved rune engraved on the wall, which Romulus was working over with his magic.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:53:08 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:42:36 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Romulus motioned towards Uthalion. “Come closer, lad, or else this won’t work.” He didn't bother arguing, and stood next to the Archmage as he finished his incantation.

The world seemed to shatter before reforming itself, and the pair found themselves in a room that was much more lavish than the nearly bare box they had just been in. Bookshelves literally lined the walls, each seeming to thrum with the power of ancient and untold secrets which were kept safely hidden behind musky old tomes from ages past. A desk was in the center of the room, which was surprisingly neat in comparison to the shelves, and only had a small crystal globe sitting on the corner. Uthalion didn't notice any chairs, which seemed odd for an office.

Romulus made a slicing motion with his fingers, which caused the rune from which they emerged from to dim down, and then suddenly two circular platforms of cerulean energy manifested near the desk. The Archmage seated himself in the one behind the desk, which caused the energy to meld into the form of a chair as he sat down. Uthalion did the same, and was surprised to see that it worked for him as well, and was in fact quite comfy.

“So,” Romulus began. “Care to explain yourself? I have to admit, you’ve managed to peak my curiosity now."

Uthalion sighed, took off his helmet, and placed it at his feet. “I know this might sound crazy, but I have nowhere else to go,” he started. “For the past few days…hell, it might’ve been weeks for all I know…I’ve been hearing strange voices.”

The Archmage only stared at the hunter. “Alright, that’s…interesting, I’ll admit. But I’m afraid the secrets of the mind are beyond my powers to deal with.”

“Let me finish," Uthalion shot back angrily. “It all started back when I took the job for that contact you set me up with…you know, that old guy who runs the magic shop in the Bazaar?”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:53:49 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:44:00 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Ah, yes, I remember. How’d that turn out anyway?”

“Horribly,” he answered. “I think my best friend got killed by some…wolf thing. I have no clue what the hell it even was, but I think it was related to the object we were supposed to find.”

He rummaged through his pack, and drew out the Talisman. The eye in the center opened up immediately, and began looking around frantically. Its gaze landed on Romulus, and froze, seeming to bore into the Archmage’s soul.

Romulus drew back with a start. He roared furiously, “What the hell? Is this some kind of sick joke?”

“You know what this thing is?* Uthalion asked.

“Hell yeah. Hold on a second now." Romulus held his hands out in the manner a child would in order to catch the summer rain in his hands. He rapidly hammered out arcane syllables, and a box of force appeared around the Talisman.

The eye seemed to break its gaze from the mage, and resumed looking around in a confused manner. “Alright, *now* you have my attention. Explain what the hell you’re doing carrying He’rkhine’s Talisman, and you better have a damn good reason as to why I shouldn’t kill you on the spot!”

“I’m carrying it because the guy you set me up with wanted it!” he shouted back. He began to shake as he related the events that led to him coming into possession of the Talisman. Romulus listened to the story, stopping Uthalion to clarify some vague aspect, or to ask a question about what he saw. As the hunter finished his tale, the Archmage sighed and said, “This is dire news.”

“Yeah, I kind of got that when the ghosts started talking about their world getting attacked. So, what does it all mean?”

“It means that we’re in a whole lot of trouble.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:54:59 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:44:56 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Uthalion met the Archmage’s gaze. “This thing just put me through hell for who knows how long. I want to know everything you know about it. No holding back.”

“Are you sure? The knowledge may be too much to bear, which I fear might eventually put you on the path to an unsavory fate.”

Uthalion thought for a moment. He knew that Romulus wouldn’t warn him about magical knowledge if he wasn’t serious. He remembered various tales about those who’ve delved into esoteric lore and met an unkind fate thanks to a folly of their own making, but at the same time he felt that knowing the cause of his recent troubles might give him some closure at the very least.

“Yes,” he decided. “I understand that there might be some kind of risk, but I’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

“Well, I guess it’s your funeral, then,” Romulus said with a hint of sorrow in his voice. “Let’s start at the beginning. Are you aware of the Skarjil Sovereignty?”

Uthalion shook his head. “No. I’ve never heard of anything like it. Why?”

“Well, it was a plane-spanning empire for its time,” Romulus replied. “For centuries, they’ve ruled peacefully under the rule of an Elder Council, and made various advances in both the art of war and magic. Everything went smoothly for the Sovereignty, but all of a sudden they just...disappeared.”

“At first, sages and other scholars had speculated that a magical experiment had gone horribly awry. It wasn’t uncommon for magical research of the time to try and tap into the powers of the gods, or even outside beings from realms which are completely alien to all but the most insane of minds. But then, records were found from a city under the Sovereignty’s rule around the time the Skarjil rulers vanished. It spoke of a ‘Dark One’ who had rode forth on a tide of his hounds, and brought a time of terrible darkness to all who stood in his path, but yet also brought forth a great change which has benefitted someone or something at the same time.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:55:52 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:46:17 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“Yeah, some of the ghost voices mentioned a ‘Dark One’. Is that He’rkhine?” Uthalion asked.

“We can only assume as much. Research into Skarjil ruins eventually turned up more interesting reports from the Sovereignty which had described the ‘Dark One’ as a demon lord of unimaginable power. Religious texts at the time indicate that the demon had eventually grown so powerful that the Demons of the Abyss and the Devils of the Hells had put aside all of their feuds and blood wars between themselves, and their eternal war with the Celestial Powers, and in fact had reportedly worked together alongside agents of the Sovereignty itself in an attempt to deal with the threat it posed. Whether they met with any success or not, nobody can say.”

“So what exactly does this talisman have to do with anything?”

“I’ll get to that in a minute. Now, apparently other texts which were found on different planes a long time ago-almost millennia ago, really- had reported encounters with a similar figure. This one went by the name of ‘The Huntsman’, and was supposedly even revered by various religions in the areas. It was described in the same manner as the demon lord, and even was credited with the same powers. In fact, I believe I have a picture of it somewhere around here.”

Romulus turned his energy chair around, and scanned the bookshelves. At first he didn't seem to find what he was looking for, but then he waved his hand, which caused a book from the shelf to his right to fly into his hands. The Archmage turned around and placed the tome onto the desk. The book looked almost dry, as if it had gotten wet and someone had carelessly left it out in the sun for too long, and had red markings seemingly stretched across the cover, which gave the impression that it was bleeding.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 01:59:26 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:47:30 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

Romulus flipped through the pages, mumbling to himself as he came to a stop at random pages. From what Uthalion saw, there were pictures of beings he had never seen before. Some seemed to be composed completely of eyes, while others looked like a sort of humanoid mixed with an aquatic being. Others he recognized as Lesser Demons, and he even saw an image of a cat-like creature with spikes lining its back.

At last he came to a stop, and turned the book so Uthalion could fully view its contents. The demon he saw didn't look like any demon he was familiar with. It possessed a well muscled body, with strong arms which looked akin to tree trunks due to their bulk. The legs were just as muscled as the arms were, and he noticed that the feet and hands ended in cruel claws which would make even a Black Demon think twice about picking a fight with it.

What caught his attention the most was the head. It seemed to look like a distorted skull of a massive dead cow, with red eyes glaring maliciously from the blackness of what he guessed passed for the eye sockets of the skull. The figure was depicted standing in moonlight, which complemented its form with a silhouette of its giant bat-like wings. He noticed that the creature was wielding a spear of sorts in one hand, and it seemed to be in a victory pose.

"That’s ‘The Huntsman’ that was mentioned. Now this is He’rkhine, or the ‘Dark One’. Whichever name you prefer is up to you.”

Romulus flipped the pages over, and stopped at one which had a picture that was very similar to that of The Huntsman. Uthalion had noticed that the main differences were in its head and body build. The Dark One seemed slimmer than The Huntsman, and the skull seemed more organic in a twisted way. The demon also bore a tattoo on its chest, which depicted an eye set in what looked like a dark sun.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 02:00:05 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:48:51 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

“The symbol on the creature’s chest is supposedly from an ancient prophecy that we’ve managed to gleam from the datashade glyphs from Skarjil ruins,” Romulus said.

“Datashade?... Wait, what prophecy would this be, exactly?” Uthalion asked.

“You’ve already encountered datashade glyphs in the tomb you’ve explored,” the Archmage replied. “They’re more or less glyphs that record whatever the caster wishes, and identification spells are able to interact with them and unlock whatever information the things hold. I assume from what you’ve told me in the past that your unique condition allows you to use an innate scanning spell similar to what golems and other constructs use to interact with security wards in the course of their duties, which yields the same result as reading them by using an identification spell.”

“As for your second question,” he continued. “The prophecy is rather...incomplete, as you would say. So far, all we have is records saying that the Dark One will return to the world alongside his master and its servants. I have it here if you wish to see it.”

“I would like to see these records then,” Uthalion answered.

Romulus waved his hand once again, and another tome flew past Uthalion’s head, barely missing him. He didn't have time to be startled, for the book immediately settled itself on the Archmage’s desk, and opened to reveal yellowed pages lined with mysterious runes. Romulus slid the book closer to Uthalion, and he noticed that the runes had words scribbled underneath them, which he took to be translations. He read the words aloud, just to be sure that he and Romulus were on the same wavelength.

“An Invader shall come from the stars,” he began. “Peaceful intentions are but a lie, and the Empire shall come from its efforts.” He noticed that the runes seemed to fade away as he read further down the page, and in their place strange markings were present.

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 02:01:09 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:50:23 by A Mad Hatter

Dec

2005

A Mad Hatter

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

He continued to read the translations anyway, hoping that they were accurate. “It shall begin with a flash in the sky. The Sleeping Eye shall awaken The Huntsman, heralded by his Hounds. Skilled warriors shall ride to confront the Invader. The Elder shall identify them as such: Two who hail from the path of Light. Two who hail from the path of Light, but walk in Darkness. Two who hail from the Darkness. Two who hail from the Darkness, but stand in the Light. And one shall stand apart from them all, between life and death. He shall decide the fate of the Old Gods and their Returning to the world.”

He looked at the next page. The strange markings continued to spill erratically over the page, and the translations seemed even more erratic at best. “The threat from the stars shall be curbed by Living Bones born of magic. Draconian betrayal shall follow, and the shadowed reign shall fall.”

Uthalion saw that the translations ended there, and lifted his head to meet Romulus’ gaze. “I think I’ve seen prophecies written like this before. It’s possible that this one is broken up and mixed with other sections in order to confuse anyone who could use it against the writers."

"That’s entirely possible,” the Archmage admitted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case, because the Sovereignty was bound to have enemies looking to exploit a prophecy they felt applied to them.”

“This also seems to match something I was told by the ghost. Could the Empire mentioned here be the Empire of the Sleeper?”

Romulus shrugged. “I guess it could be, but what it is could be anyone’s guess. Hell, I’m not even sure what this ‘Sleeper’ is.”

^+^ Antediluvian of the Draculesti Bloodline ^+^

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

03-Aug-2010 02:02:36 - Last edited on 20-Dec-2010 00:51:43 by A Mad Hatter

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