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Post by Lord Biru on Jan 8, 2015 0:44:03 GMT
Biru--or rather, his Simulacrum--glanced outwardly at the Baron as he spoke, cryptically enunciating syllables important to mostly himself and the Saint, while at the same time grazing the hairline of self importance. He thought rather highly of himself, the Evoker. The Inquisitor chuckled, and even waved off the Plague-Bringer, before returning to his desk and waving the three dolls out of the room.
Now alone, the Simulacrum ushered them closer.
"Your benefactor must be of terrible importance to send a Grand Mage and legendary menace to our doorstep," he thought aloud. "And judging by the fact you came in on peaceful terms--a rarity for those unlucky enough to find us--I feel an overwhelming sense of sincerity in your visit. Hah, little pawns in the shadow of the Shadow...it is poetic, isn't it?
"Midnight hasn't graced our presence in centuries. And although I do not know the purposes my masters abandoned faith, our Order acts in every way for a reason, a motivation. I would very much like to find out why that is. However, the master will wait until sufficient evidence is presented, as you offer quite an interesting boon. A merger between a flesh-and-blood goddess and an order of powerful Mages who could rival one of their own."
The man sat.
"Color me intrigued. Sit, I am interested in terms. I will have demands to ensure our discretion, of course. But I insist. Go on."
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Post by Baron Mordock on Jan 17, 2015 3:12:46 GMT
Pawns? Is that what this man thought they were? Pawns for the amusement of a Goddess? Hmph. Shows what he knew. Was it not Baron Mordock who reached out to the dark one? Was it not Baron Mordock who captured the Conjurer that she might be used to suit the first shadow's goals? And was it not Baron Mordock who would rule over the miserable people when Midnight at last laid waste to the fools who stubbornly refused to allow him to advance any further? The simulacrum before him was a tiresome little know-it-all, but he didn't know THAT, which gave the sorcerer a small tinge of satisfaction.
"Terribly important, yes. She IS a Goddess, after all..." he stated plainly once the man was done speaking. The Baron had a new problem, however... What kind of evidence would they have to present in order for the failed experiment's masters saw fit to meet with them? He mulled this over in his mind a while before speaking. "You require proof before we can go any further? The word of a grand mage and an arcane general is not enough? As to 'terms' as you put them..."
He glanced to Eleisia, considering what exactly it was that they should ask for. Apparently, this was a game of specifics and he needed to ensure that when they reached the end of their negotiations, both of them were free to go. This was just the pre-meeting bartering phase. "We ask to meet face-to-face with whomever or whatever leads the Imperial Wizardry, under the protection of the laws of hospitality, that is to say, that we are to remain unharmed before, during, and after the meeting and that we are free to leave at any time. The 'we' in question is myself, Saint Eleisia, and the Goddess Midnight once she is able to join us. You mentioned a need for discretion and that is not only understandable, but admirable. To that end, might I suggest a guard or two to watch over our movements from now until the meeting? Someone or someones that can be trusted by the Grand Inquisitor?"
He paused, going over his words quickly to see if they needed further refinement. "The purpose of our meeting will be revealed by Midnight herself at such time as she joins us. We are not under liberty to discuss an agenda prior to contact with the Imperial Wizardry's leader or leaders."
The Baron stood up taller, crossing his arms. "As to the time, I am flexible in regards to a schedule, BUT it cannot be in excess of 24 hours from now. Our Lady of the Shadows has expressed an interest in arranging all this 'as soon as possible', is that not correct, Lady Eleisia?"
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Jan 19, 2015 14:14:30 GMT
Saint Eleisia suddenly felt as if they'd stumbled into enemy territory unarmed, or rather, wielding incompetent wooden weapons. Her brow went cold from the small beads of sweat forming, and she silently obeyed as the politicians spoke. She sat at the proffered chair and adjusted her belt, doing her best to ensure the others knew she was still paying attention.
"Hm, yes, that is correct," the Saint said, nodding to the Baron with the grace of a trusted companion, so as not to let on they'd just met and weren't even close to being friends. She gave the Simulacrum a wary look before moving on.
"The terms are parlay, as the Grand Mage says. Our safety is integral to the deal, and judging by our most recent capture, thanks to the man right here, my colleague who stands with Midnight at this very moment will be nearly ready in due time. Of course, you must understand that even an Investigator shall not be privy to information the Great Shadow wishes to convey only to your master.
"And if it is a matter of proof you seek,"
She stood and tossed her cloak over her shoulders and snatched a bronze bowl off the Simulacrum's desk; it was filed with oil, and it had a heavenly scent rising from it, most likely to cover the pungent stench of blood permeating the office. "As one with a deep connection to the Divine, I can commune with the strings of destiny to reveal any answers you seek, so long as you make questions specific. You will know the answers to be true, as even the Divine cannot lie.
"Midnight rears a promising black future, one that could be accomplished without your assistance, but would greatly minimize the Dark One's waiting time dramatically. With the Grand Mage at our side we have an ear in the Rainbow Tower. With your intervention the Imperial Fortress may come out of hiding. As to the Goddess and her agenda? That shall be her secret to tell."
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Post by Baron Mordock on Jan 23, 2015 5:08:44 GMT
The Baron was quite pleased to see Eleisia stepping into the conversation now. Before, he would have been annoyed, demanded that she step aside and let a master do his work perhaps. This time, however, she offered a rather unique and powerful bargaining chip for the Inquisitor before them. A single question to be divined in the full power of the gods. Even he wasn't particularly versed in that field, having chosen to focus solely on the manipulation of the forces about him. A show of power like that might be quite useful and very specific.
To that end, the Baron was quite pleased with his cohort.
However, when she mentioned that the "black future" the Goddess had in mind could be accomplished without the Wizardry, the Baron frowned slightly. That did not exactly go a great distance to their diplomacy, but it was too late to jump in. Showing dissension between the two of them would only weaken their position, not mend what could be mistaken as a threat. Besides, maybe they'd get lucky and the simulacrum would take it more as a declaration of the urgency of the decision and less of a demand for action.
Baron Mordock watched "Lord Biru" as closely as possible without seeming to stare. He was curious about the creature and how it worked, certainly, but right now was the time to focus on the matter at hand. "Well, then?" he asked, playing that charming little smile of his once more. "Do we have an accord?"
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Post by Lord Biru on Jan 27, 2015 13:23:16 GMT
The Biru Dummy considered this for a moment as its rare memories of the woman nearby raced through its mind; Saint Eleisia was once a prophet of the Goddess Creation, a valiant champion to the forces of light. However, she like many before her had succumbed to death by means of a terrible plague, one from which when she finally returned had been changed dramatically.
The Lady of the Plague spread discord through the land for many years after her revival and put an end to those closest to her old life, though the Simulacrum knew she still sought out the witch who sent the disease in the first place.
The creature let out another cool, dry laugh and stood up rigidly, beckoning the Saint closer.
"Then tell me, is Midnight, the true Goddeas of All that is Bathed in Darkness, coming to make a deal with us?"
Simplicity. You could ask a million questions, but they had to be specific. Of course the Simulacrum was just a go-between, capable of knowing only what their prospective allies needed them to know. It was a boon one of them happened to be a divine servant, though, as she would not willingly lie under the trance of her channeling. Obviously it wouldn't be a specific enough question without adding a timeframe, but the creature just simply wished to know the validity of this claim.
He turned to watch the Baron's movements, to see what his fidgeting would make of the situation.
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Jan 27, 2015 13:33:11 GMT
Without warning, Eleisia stood again and craned back her head, and her eyes shot wide opening, with a hauntingly bright, blinding golden light. Her pale skin glowed with a gelatinous aura caking her entire form, completely different than the normal black fog that seemed to permeate her entirety. For a moment she stood there shaking, her mouth open and quivering as silent words tried very hard to form between those lips.
For a moment her entire body seized upward, and then the light in her eyes went a bright, vibrant blue as she dropped her head to face the Simulacrum.
From her mouth came a voice that echoed with that of hundreds more, in a commanding, elegant tone suggesting it could very well be the Goddess Creation speaking Herself.
"Midnight beckons," she said with the holy chorus, bowing her head. "To rally support for the upcoming campaign to mock the true gods, and repurpose the world to establish a new order. With your aid she shall succeed, you need only faith and patience."
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Post by Baron Mordock on Feb 3, 2015 6:59:13 GMT
The magnificently appointed sorcerer took a step back when suddenly the plague-bringer was swept up in the call of the gods. He had only observed something like this perhaps once or twice before, in the presence of Madame Damara. He did NOT expect it from his rather blade-savvy companion on this particular trip. His surprise was as obvious as the nose on his face.
What really confused him was that it was clearly the voice of the Goddess Creation, and NOT the harsh, slithering voice of the Dark One as he had heard it thus far. It seemed that ALL the Gods and Goddesses of the varied pantheon were watching these events unfold... that something far greater than anything on Earth was about to take place, something that would quite literally re-shape the very foundations of what they understood to be the natural order of things. Could the Dark One truly be THAT powerful?
While Mordock knew that he was to get everything he desired from his deal with Midnight... he wondered exactly what would be left behind once she'd been set free. While this was not a sign of doubt on his part, it was a sign of concern. He'd always assumed he could handle whatever madness a deity could bring forth, as he had control over the energies around him. Now he was not so certain.
Once Eleisia had finished, he regained his composure. Tugging on his robes uncomfortably and re-adjusting his collar, he looked again to the one calling itself "Lord Biru".
"I believe that proves it. Directly from the voice of Creation. Midnight is coming. Soon. Do you believe us now?"
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Post by Lord Biru on Feb 8, 2015 13:36:40 GMT
]The false Lord Biru remained quite calm when the Cleric entered her trance, a powerful display of divine authority that would have shaken the very foundation of a typical church gathering, and listened closely as Creation (was it really?) fused with the souls of the world and spoke through Her fallen Saint.
If anything, it was an impressive sight to behold, and an important keystone to whatever their motives were. The channeling was well received, and once Eleisia returned to her body, resuming control over each muscle, the Simulacrum stood again and nodded to Mordock.
"If anything, just hearing the terror in the voice of God was enough to convince me," the fabricated creature said pleasantly, throwing back his head to laugh. "I will arrange a meeting with my Master just as soon as you can produce the Dark One. You are welcome to stay here--just affix that cone device hanging off the wall to the pipe jutting from the ceiling, and call for me when you are ready. It will send your voice throughout the Fortress and alert us."
Lord Biru's clone walked around the table and gave the two one more scrutinizing glance, shook his head and exited the room without another word. It felt something dark, but it felt right. Just what the Wizardry needed to make a real comeback. Perfect timing. The Simulacrum grinned as it marched the dark corridors, making great haste to the hold of the Imperial Wizard. The Master would love to hear this news...
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Post by Midnight on Feb 14, 2015 0:05:19 GMT
((From The Neutralities > Oberon > Back Room Rituals))
Oh how the simulacrum would know when she came. The entire castle would be made aware of her presence as the shadows themselves grew darker and more bold, sliding from the various places they hid when light was abound. The torches would choke, recoiling in terror as something wicked this way comes.
A laugh. A dark, mirthful laugh of pure malice echoed throughout all the halls of the castle, in every secret place and every private chamber. Outside, the howling storm thickened and concealed the windows entirely such that no light came to this cursed place. In the chamber where "Lord Biru" had entertained the Baron and the Plague-bringer, a swirl of shadows would deposit the entropomancer amongst them, along with a quiet tease... "Sit back and enjoy the show, children..." it hinted...
All through the hallways, the shadows suddenly exploded into sharp shards of pure darkness, both solid and impermeable. Some unfortunate enough to not heed the warnings of the growing shades would find themselves rather unfortunately skewered as a result. The screams of the injured and dying would be a musical overture to which the Dark One would make her presence known.
.................................
In the room where "Biru" had gone, a similar effect had taken place, but was sure to leave him quite unharmed. Instead, in near perfect darkness of the room, a single flickering blue flame would hover just before him, dancing this way and that to entice him to follow. It would guide him through the various labyrinth of hallways until at last they were in what could be considered a grand ballroom, only twisted and evil by the chaotic power of the Dark One's mere existence. In the center of the room, a table with a silver tray. And on the tray... the head of Caria the Conjurer.
Slowly, arms would glide over the shoulders of the man and a seductive voice would whisper in his ear. "Like what I've done with the place?" she purred, lips mere micrometers from his earlobe. "I'm thinking about doing the whole world this way..." she mused dangerously...
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Feb 16, 2015 13:34:57 GMT
"I just knew that couldn't have truly been him," Eleisia had been saying to Mordock, offering some context to the awkward little back-and-forth earlier with the Simulacrum. He seemed to be familiar, but even this was beyond his age and understanding. The woman felt now, however, that if the two were cursed to work together, they might as well get to know each other.
"Mind you, this is long before Midnight first came to me...
"At the behest of the Church, I took a ship across the sea to the grand city of Avalon, Namorn's glorious capital. I stood alongside Knight-Paladins Emmaline, Siegfried and countless others as the massacre came barreling through the streets. Lord Biru had been slighted by the High Wizards, most notably the Wizard Pendragon."
Lord Biru had been at war with the Dominion and Maedelsi, but endangered the lives of his entire platoon, and so the lords of Namorn abandoned their warlord; he returned after banishment, only to come seeking vengeance.
"The two of us met on the battlefield just once. After our staggering stalemate, he retreated from the city. But not after taking countless lives, obviously. In revenge for the Church of Creation getting involved, the Wizard loosed a plague in the Church's major hotspots. Our Citadel was one of the largest, and so we were struck first, and with the most aggression.
"Lord Biru was responsible for my untimely death," she said at last.
However, before the Grand Mage could muster any response, a Corridor of refined shadow tore through the veil of reality, crackling with an electricity that seemed to be dimmed by such thick darkness; it was from here Jace was dropped off, stepping out of the portal unharmed and beaming.
"Jace!" the woman exclaimed, taking the young man by both hands and shaking them violently up and down. "You have done it! Really, you truly are remarkable!"
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Post by Lord Biru on Feb 16, 2015 13:48:13 GMT
The Simulacrum had found its way deeper into the bowls of the iron fortress, winding up in a pentagon-shaped room fit with a large pentagram carved at least a foot into the metal floor, with red liquid poured in over it. Upon arrival, the false Biru noted the unnatural darkness permeating the halls, the increased mass of the ship suddenly weighing on the shadows, and their more physical presence made manifest. The Wizard's toy pressed on, following Midnight's strange ghost-light until they met face-to face in one of the many Summoning Chambers.
Standing across the room at least a yard from the Simulacrum, a fully-formed woman bathing in darkness thicker than the night sky, blacker than even the Aboleth's Abyss...beckoned him forward. In response to her first words, the Simulacrum's head ticked to the side and he stepped forward, and unlike his organic allies, he did not bow. Instead, he nodded curtly and smiled pleasantly.
"Decoration is hardly in your portfolio," he mused. "Although you have done enough to our fortress in such little time it would be a miracle if everyone's attention wasn't on this right now. Midnight, the Dark Mistress, the All Mother of Chaos and Night. Well met. Your associates have been biding time."
'Lord Biru' glanced to the discarded head sitting on the plate and moved in to investigate, one bloody hand lifting it and rolling over between its other.
"Two Grand Mages aboard our vessel in one day. You don't like keeping secrets, do you? But this, this is truly art, isn't it. This is the Conjurer, if I'm correct. Old woman, my...you did quite a number on her. Look at that frozen expression. Delightful."
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Post by Midnight on Feb 17, 2015 3:13:11 GMT
"I'm glad you approve... I like a man with taste..." Midnight purred, sauntering over and laying across the table just behind the platter on which the head of the conjurer had been served. She stretched her form enticingly, despite the chance that the man might be seeing something less than savory. Honestly, she enjoyed letting the minds of those around her see her as whatever they could conceive. Change was, after all, the very heart of Chaos.
"But you're NOT a man, are you 'Lord Biru'...?" she whispered, reaching over to collect the head in his hands by the hair, turning it to examine the look on the woman's face. She had only given it half a thought before, but now she was considering what expression that might actually be. Thankfully, it certainly wasn't the peaceful reverie that the old bat had probably wished for in death. No. This was more a look of pain and misery, knowing what she had inadvertently brought forth into the world...
"I wonder... does the puppet want to be a real boy?" Midnight pondered aloud as she set the head back into place. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glowing lightly as she examined HIS features now, as though trying to decide what would look best on HIM should her little enterprise fail. "Because I know how to make that happen... for a price, of course..." she chuckled, then slid off the table slowly.
She began to circle the man, reaching up with her fingertips to graze lightly over his shoulders as she did. "Little puppet... half the man you OUGHT to be... Don't you ever wonder why the mages, so KNOWLEDGEABLE in their craft and so SKILLED in their art, would produce such an utter failure?" she hinted, finally coming full circle to stand face-to-face with him, mere inches away. "Doesn't it infuriate you to think there was something they might have overlooked?"
She chuckled, then took a step back, eyes locked on his. "You call yourself Biru... but you're not. You COULD be though... all fresh and new and in an admittedly good-looking new body to boot... roawr..." Midnight flirted lightly. "And in return... all I ask is a little support. When this meeting with your so-called master concludes... I'm going to be in the market for a few good... men."
She smiled, a hand on her hip as she lifted the other towards the man. "It's a good deal, right? You get the answer you've been seeking... I get another architect for the future I'm planning. And all you have to do to accept it all... is take my hand."
She stood there like a statue, but those eyes... they never wavered. That grin on her wicked features never faltered. Whatever she had planned for this... half a man... she was prepared to deliver on her end of the bargain. After all, it was the one constant in all of chaos that the gods must honor their agreements. Everyone knows that.
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Post by Baron Mordock on Feb 17, 2015 3:28:35 GMT
The Baron listened to Saint Eleisia's story, and his brow furrowed. Strange, this gathering... Imperials, Grand Mages, figures of myth and legend once against one another on the battlefield now joined by singular purpose. No one, not even the most venerable of gods, could have foreseen such an odd coupling of elements. No wonder Creation herself sounded terrified. Midnight had orchestrated by seemingly random events a completely unique and all together horrifyingly perfect situation. Imagine - the wrath of a slighted WARlord, the unbridled power of a master of EMPTINESS, the horror of a woman who commands the power of PESTILENCE...
Midnight was well on her way to assembling her very own version of the four horsemen on the apocalypse!
Was that her end game? Had he, in his foolishness, somehow brought about the end of days? Sweat was beginning to form on his brow as Mordock thought about this all, and what role was his in this grand scheme. Could he be the fourth horseman? Could he be the master of DEATH? It didn't make much sense. Had he been a necromancer, perhaps. Was there some manner of plan for him? What could the future hold when so many of great power were working under the Goddess of Darkness herself? And when all was said and done... what would be left?
Suddenly, the world took on the shape of his nightmares.
Mordock jumped in fear as suddenly the room blossomed into horrible, jagged shapes of pure darkness. He spun on his heel, hearing just out in the corridor the cry of torment as several imperial wizards were impaled or stabbed. He looked to his right as a twisting portal of darkness left behind the OTHER sorcerer, putting Mordock again in unpleasant company. And all the while, he thought to himself, if Midnight was so callous as to randomly kill those who would be allies, what might she have in store for those whom she'd made deals?
Reaching into his robes, Baron Mordock Baal Asmodan produced a silk scarf to dab at his head. He looked to the reunited first two horsemen and swallowed hard. And what were they capable of? Now that he had nothing left to offer and the Goddess was again whole... what was to stop them from doing him in?
Or was it all an illusion? Was he simply over-thinking it all? The shadows were so oppressive, so overwhelming. Might they be affecting his mind as well? He shook his head a little, trying to clear his thoughts. It only helped a little.
Looking to the other two, he reconsidered. Eleisia had seen a FRACTION of his power. She had sound impressed enough not to try something so foolish as an attack, and frankly she had opened up to him quite a bit since they first met only hours ago. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Mordock always knew he had a talent with women.
As to the boy... he was brash. He was impulsive. But he was also at the beck and call of the Goddess. It was rather pathetic, actually. Mordock could use that if he had to protect himself. That thought alone was comforting enough to ease his heartrate.
"Welcome, indeed..." he said at last, the waver in his voice subsiding even as he spoke those two words. "I can feel HER presence as clearly as I feel the air. You must have succeeded..."
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Post by Lord Biru on Feb 19, 2015 15:22:48 GMT
"How can I be of any use to you?" the Simulacrum asked, his hand wavering in the space between himself and Midnight's outstretched claw; for a moment Her eyes twinkled, and he felt sincerity in Her voice, but at the same time he didn't have nearly the level emotion of his more organic allies. How would he truly know?
"After all, even You understand I'm a failure. Begging your pardon, but why not just seek out the real Biru, in all your infinite wisdom? What use is a failed golem--an experiment to reclaim that which was lost?"
His eyes lingered to the skull of the Conjurer, her face contorted in a look of horror, anguish and pain. What had death felt like? He saw many "Lord Biru"s destroyed deeper in the fortress, and was always curious about their final moments; what had they done to warrant execution, and would he be next?
"Regardless, my loyalty is solely dependent on the final decision of my Master the Imperial Wizard...Inquisitors do not have much choice in such matters, as you should know. However,"
The gap between their extended hands closed, and Biru took her hand in his own, solidifying whatever deal she might make to further their agreement, and shook his head.
"I do not care about being Lord Biru, or his successor. If I'm a failure, I wish not to be destroyed. I want to live as my own being, my own self. If comes the time when I am to reunite with my likeness, so be it. But until he is out of commission, I wish to serve myself. A purpose I believe in. What can you offer me, then? The Wizardry will undoubtedly silence me the moment I can no longer support the magic infused within my shell. They are trying to replicate the perfect Blood Magic, one Lord Biru had mastered, at a painfully great cost. All I can do is lead you to the real one, or invite you to speak with the Master."
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Post by Jace McMillan on Feb 19, 2015 15:33:47 GMT
Jace returned Eleisia's cold embrace with an equally warm hug, and when he pulled away his eyes glinted in the wavering light peeking through Midnight's shadow storm; he nodded several times with twitching fingers and began pacing the room, examining the space his two allies had just spent the last few hours. His gaze bathed over all the exotic mixtures, detailed notes and the copious random spots smeared with blood. Finally he turned and cocked his head.
"Well this is a nice room. Who's the lucky victim, Hm? And where's the sadist, I wonder? This is an Imperial office, is it...they certainly could use a housekeeper."
The young sorcerer now faced Mordock, grinning at the obvious disdain in his face, and closed in on him.
"O, how glorious it was. You should have seen it. Your colleague begged and begged for some time, but I finally managed to shut her up. She became helpful after ingesting a volatile mixture the Shadow was more than happy to offer. My favorite part was the end, when your Conjurer's face was forever carved into an enigmatic, blank stare. I could almost feel the life leave her body, and when her soul disappeared, she was no longer anything. It was delightful."
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