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Post by Midnight on Mar 3, 2015 4:57:59 GMT
With a grin, Midnight acknowledged her followers gracefully. She rewarded their patience and their hard work with kindness, an extremely unusual commodity to come from the goddess governing Chaos, but one must consider carefully that one cannot always predict the whims of one such as her. To Jace, she offered a gentle caress of his cheek with her hand, careful not to cut the flesh there by accident as her fingertips were prone to ripping and tearing. For Eleisia, Midnight patted her shoulder briskly. "Well done, my loyal children. You've done exactly as I have asked and have each performed admirably..." She even spared a look to Mordock, offering a hand to him that he might kiss in his usual show of over indulgent womanizing. "Even you've proven your worth, Grand Mage... well done, bringing me the key we needed to unlock the doors to your realm. And trust me, I have not forgotten our agreement..." she offered.
Turning, she nodded to Lord Biru, who had indicated where they were to go next. "Shall we?" she said to the others, tilting her head to indicate they were to follow. Except for Jace. For her special boy, she'd wrap an arm around his and hold him close. She knew the spark of resentment would begin to well in his heart soon for the others now that she was not exclusively tied to his existence. For him, she'd have to take special care. He would have to feel that they were still close, no matter how far she drifted or how long she stayed from him. She had been his shadow for so long, the separation would have to be carefully handled.
They walked along, the goddess hovering mere centimeters off the ground. Around them, the shadowy spikes undulated and twisted in her presence, as though bowing to her as she glided by. Some were coated with blood from the fortunate few that were only scratched by her entrance. Others had grisly ornaments now adorning their length, as though offering their prizes to the dark one with pride. Quietly, Midnight knew this would probably be brought up by the head honcho of the tower, and she already had her reasons prepared since simply demanding he shut up and accept his place at her feet probably wouldn't go so well. Even with the gathered four at her side, it was a very close call whether or not they would be able to come out of a confrontation unscathed. She would be able to handle it... but even she might have some difficulty in a new body she was only just getting used to. Hell. She wasn't even entirely sure she was completely deathless while on the material plane. What WOULD happen to her if this body gave out, anyway?
She shrugged these thoughts off as they were brought to the double doors. With a wave of her hand, she compelled them to open and stepped right inside, gesturing for the others to follow suit. "You too, Lord Biru..." she offered, seeing him stopped there. "I want you close by when your 'master' starts asking why he should do anything for me..." she said offhandedly, as though she were asking him to be ready to hand her a piece of paper or something.
"We're about to get ourselves the beginnings of an army, my dearests... Can't have my military leaders off in other rooms when THAT happens..."
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Post by Baron Mordock on Mar 3, 2015 5:48:11 GMT
Following the Goddess was a terrifying experience. Even in the company of these EXTREMELY powerful beings, he felt that familiar prickling sensation of eyes everywhere, as though the very walls were watching them. The strange, undulating movement of the shadows made this feeling worse, as though he now had to worry about the very shade at his feet as a spy watching his every move. He hated that even something like that could be made to betray him, but so long as he played his part and played it well, there should be no reason for the queen of chaos to ever question his loyalty.
He walked along, carrying up the rear. It was a habit of his. He liked to keep everyone in eyesight at all times. It also allowed him to check over his shoulder every now and then without drawing attention to his nervous ticks. He was deep in enemy territory, surrounded on all sides by people that could do horrible, unspeakable things to him. Certainly he had the power to fight back, maybe even escape with his life, but that didn't take away that nagging sensation in his brain that he had lived with for so long. He recalled that know-it-all Damara had once called it "irrational paranoia". He called it "prudent caution."
Into the elevator they gathered, now forcing him to be near the front, tucked in a corner off to the side. He purposely put his back to it, making sure the others never once left his vision. He did not trust Lord Biru, and he had a distinct dislike for Jace even after his statements had seemingly quieted the boy. Eleisia... was proving to be something of an enigma. When they first met, the woman was cold and forceful with him. However, ever since he began to prove his competence, she seemed much more at ease, or at the very least less judgmental. The Baron at first chalked this up to his natural masculine appeal, his way with women. At first, anyway.
If he was honest with himself, he would admit that she had a certain appeal herself. She was strong, confident, faithful to the one she served, and seemed to know what she wanted in the world. Usually, the kind of women that the Baron was able to woo and subdue were the doe eyed idiot types that fawned over anyone with a few coins in his purse. Not this woman. She was interesting, intelligent, and-
Mordock looked away before giving the woman the opportunity to catch his eyes lingering on her. He shifted his gaze to the others, notably the Dark One. She was a terror, yes, but moreso she was a mystery. He couldn't read her. She seemed interested in brokering an alliance, even stated that they were here to gather an army, so why did she just up and murder a large number of them? She had what could be an easy to control minion waiting to happen with the simulacrum since it did not have the full soul of a man to become independent, but she chose to give him free will and more power than the Grand Mage had even imagined. Gods, he could actually FEEL pain radiating off the man. What was her end game? Why was she doing all this?
Of the other two in the elevator, one was easy to place. Jace was just a boy, a cocky, self-assured, arrogant little annoyance. He was involved because he'd obviously been brainwashed by the Goddess, made to believe her path was the only one he could follow and probably spoon-fed a diet of lies and deceit so that he believed she cared about him. Boy, Mordock sure hoped he was there when that illusion came crashing down on the boy and he was forced to face the reality, that he was just a tool for the dark one's schemes.
And then there was Biru himself. What kind of dark magic could bring a man like HIM into this alliance? What were his goals and what were his ambitions? What did Midnight promise him that he would stand by her side and declare himself? Or had he even done that? Mordock had no reason to distrust what Midnight had said, that he was on their "team" now, but where exactly did the blood mage's loyalties lie when all was said and done?
All this, the Baron considered as the elevator made its trip. Once he'd taken the rounds of those inside, his eyes would again fall on Eleisia... though he'd consciously take note of how long he watched at any given time...
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Post by Lord Biru on Mar 3, 2015 14:02:46 GMT
Lord Biru stood alongside Midnight and her "family", he imagined, silent as the grave and with both hands folded dutifully behind him; facing the iron doors, the man could only feel the others' eyes lingering on him, and for those who stared too long he would tilt his head slightly at them and scowl. It wasn't animosity the man felt, but the very nature of his art; he was the Hemomancer, master of rage and pain, passionate devotion and most importantly: life. Asserting himself as the subject of fear was how he acquired strength, and it was only a matter of time before he would show his new associates the great feats he had in life, before this compound locked him away.
There was no sound, no recognizable signal the elevator had stopped, but the man stepped forward anyway, and almost as if in response the doors peeled open, revealing a dim hallway opening up into a brighter, bronze-colored room. At its center was a U-shaped control center and an egg-shaped chair nestled behind it. Lord Biru walked beside Midnight as the five exited the elevator, passing what guards the room once offered (who were currently bleeding out impaled on tall spikes borne of shadow]. As they moved, so too did the victims' blood, trailing behind the Blood Magus in a morbid fashion similar to a whining pup.
Once they emerged into the large room stretched out before them, the walls on either side were revealed, with monitors stationed here and there, several small windows that peered into the sea, and at least a battalion of heavily-armored robed figures dotting the catwalks above.
At the seat of power was a being pale as the fullest moon, with dark hollow eyes and irises glowing a ghostly white. The creature had no hair to speak of, and in lieu of skin bore many wires and other such robotics, though most of them were hidden beneath vibrant silver and orchid robes. As the five progressed inward, closing in on the master of the fortress, they could see the face was inorganic, made of ivory, and attached to a series of black mechanics; it was meant to look human, and perhaps once it did a fine job. But now the being looked like a shell of what it was, a monstrosity only the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus would spit out. Accidentally.
Lord Biru bowed his head low.
"Master Lucian," the man said. "Tidings, from the Mother of Night."
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Post by Midnight on Mar 6, 2015 4:51:39 GMT
Midnight was not accustomed to following anybody, but for her purposes she did just that. She needed to appear ignorant, or somewhat uninformed. Naturally, had she wanted to upon her emergence, she could have just popped in on the master of the wizardry unannounced. She could have brought her soldiers along nice and neat and strong-arm her way into taking what she wanted... but that would not suit her plans at all.
As they strolled along, Midnight with her arms wrapped about Jace's arm, she reflected somewhat on why she had chosen to take such a long route through this mess and reviewed every decision she made thus far. She grinned a bit to herself, pleased with her work as she eyed the blood trailing along in Biru's wake. He was the first of the big reasons she had chosen to take this route. Not only was he a fine addition to her collection of extreme powers but he was a fantastic bargaining chip in the meeting to come. After all, THEY had failed to recreate the one true blood mage.
She eyed the death in the room, suppressing a sadistic giggle as she quickly moved her eyes away from them. Best not to linger on the one detail that seemed out of place. With any luck, the tick-tock king in his throne wouldn't even bring it up. Either that or he'd KNOW that she had purposely separated the wheat from the chaff, so they say. What she had in mind required only the strongest. These dying few were not strong, they were dead weight... no pun intended. That aside, the chaos energy brought about by their pain and suffering fueled her, gave her the strength she needed to pull Biru's soul from his near-living corpse. The spilled blood would in turn make HIM more powerful, like winding a long discarded clockwork toy.
And then there was the matter of her little "family". Yes, she could have just torn them across the realms with a little shadow-walking, but judging by the amount of guards patrolling above, it really would have been like dumping them right into an ambush. They were good, but these WERE Imperial Wizards we were talking about. It was best to have them secure the parlay and by so doing ensure their OWN safety without her having to waste precious energy covering for them. Goddess or no, in this body she still had limits.
Thus bringing her mind to the original point. Anyone studied enough in the mystic arts to have eluded the Rainbow Tower and their collection of weirdos this long would KNOW a physical form on the material plane came with a price. Why do you think Gods and Goddesses choose not to visit so often? Their powers, while still beyond the imagination of even the greatest of mortal beings, were stunted. Their omniscience blinded. Yes, she maintained her ability to speak with and manipulate the darkness, but she couldn't tell you exactly what was going on across the planet while she was busy negotiating the rights for an army, for example.
That was why she now walked as though considerably weaker than she truly was. She purposely shifted her appearance to make herself thoroughly unremarkable. This would reflect in the eyes of the others, as she now willed the darkness to project the image she desired rather than that which the fragile minds of the living world could withstand. She wore a simple, form-fitting, long sleeved, deep purple dress that covered every inch up to her jawline. Her hair she commanded to lie still, much like black ink that had spilled over her head in its appearance. Her face was pale and plain, her eyes dark but still un-extraordinary. This was the image she wanted to portray before the Imperial Wizard so that if he tried to do anything foolish, the effect would be far grander when she showed how beneath her they all truly were.
Lord Biru announced her presence just as the transformation had ended. She stepped forward then, glancing at the monitors along the walls. She smirked to herself. She wondered how long they had been watching and exactly what they had seen? Nearly the entire time she had been there, she had kept to the poorly lit areas of the castle, purposely evading anywhere one could get a good image of her without being directly before the goddess herself.
She trailed her sight down over the walls of cable and onto the creature wired into his throne as though he were the living mainframe of the entire castle. She chuckled slightly as she looked him over, shaking her head slightly as she did.
"My, my..." she said at last, her voice smooth and almost seductive. It bounced off the walls strongly despite being almost a whisper. "That explosion sure did a number on you, Lucian... Does anyone in that clockwork hell even KNOW you were there?" she asked teasingly...
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Post by The Imperial Wizardry on Mar 6, 2015 15:15:56 GMT
A very raspy, human chortle passed through the pipes serving as the automaton's throat as its flickering eyes traced the fragile Goddess's frame. A wayward glance to at least acknowledge the presence of the woman's minions was all the creature would offer, before locking back on to the matter at hand.
"They don't," it wheezed, a series of tubes puffing out steam as it let loose another series of grisly chuckles. "And I intend to keep it that way...I have done an excellent job maintaining perfect cover for more than four centuries, evading the Inevitables and fooling those ignorant Specialists. Of note, we seem to have one here. Hello, Mordock. It has been a while."
The creature went on to describe its journey over the last few hundred years, explaining the trials "he" endured avoiding reprogramming at the hands of the omnipotent Creators back in Mechanus; obviously the Kolyarut fell victim to its new identity, and over time was hard-wired to fit that role completely.
"For some time in my guise I truly thought I was Lucian, Specialist of the Transmuter's Tower, until I came into possession of something richly valuable. A vessel, a curious little thing who in the end actually saved my from my illusion. I eventually found my way back here, the very place I had come originally to put an end to. But there was the matter of diverting my brethren still, and I knew they still investigated this legendary group. I have been assisting them ever since I ran away, and with my knowledge and skill, we are due to succeed. And now the very shadows seek to embrace me, how poetic."
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Post by Midnight on Mar 11, 2015 6:10:02 GMT
"Poetic indeed..." Midnight admitted, an amused smile crossing her lips as she listened. His story was certainly an interesting one, begging so many questions and offering so few answers. It was almost a shame she had practically no interest in HIM per se but rather the forces he controlled. Maybe the others would love to hear his ramblings, but she had business to attend to at the moment. She cast her eyes upward at his guards again before pacing a little in place... like a jungle cat on the prowl.
"Still, you've done quite well for yourself SO FAR..." she mused, inspecting the room with a casual gaze. "A nice, big castle... Lots of strong allies to keep you hidden..." She paused, looking over to one of the dead before chuckling and adding, "And some not so strong ones..." With a chuckle, she continued.
"Lucian, baby... or should I call you something else? I imagine you're sick to your core of that mask after all but losing yourself to it. Whatever the case, you must be tired of running... hiding away and slowly rusting on the inside. You're going to tick your last tock if you just keep sitting there..."
Slowly, she walked forward. She had no fear of the things above, like they didn't matter to her at all. She strode right up to the control panel and leaned forward, her fingertips trailing over the metal there and brushing away any dust that had settled. She looked dead into the eyes of the old cog seated there. "Seems FREEDOM is a rare commodity here... It's good for you that I came along."
Midnight smirked, her head tilting slightly to move the black strands of hair from her vision so that the machine could see for himself that he was looking into the eyes of eternity. The colors there blazed different colors all at once, constantly changing in hue and composition. It was like watching a kaleidoscope of miniature universes in a never-ending dance of death and rebirth, over and over.
"I have great plans for this planet, my friend. Plans that involve a dramatic shifting of power and a drastic re-imagining of the very terrain. I'm going to change the very state of your world and when I am done, the very leylines of the universe will be stretched so thin that no being - not even the Creators of the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus - will be able to fully mend the damage. All things will be free from the influences that seek to enforce some misguided concept of fate and all that exists will understand the pure and true freedom that is pure anarchy... pure, unbridled chaos. And for all this, I require as many hands working upon the material realm as I can gather. Skilled hands, dearest. I need your Imperial Wizardry to serve the darkness fully."
Midnight slowly stood to an upright position, her arms crossing lightly about her deceptive frame. "Help us build this future, and I will personally see to it that you need never fear reprogramming ever again. Of course, I don't expect you to simply believe that I am sincere in my desires. That's why I brought you a few gifts of my good will..."
She gestured over her shoulder as though beckoning the blood mage forward. The gesture was quick and light, easy to miss if one was not paying attention. She knew he was. "Call it a peace offering of sorts. I want you to see that I'm quite sincere in my desires and that you and yours really only stand to benefit from cooperation in the long run. Mecha man, allow me to present the one true hemomancer, fully restored and capable. As I'm told, you've had some issues in this area. Your other two gifts you may recognize. The first is your former colleague, the Conjurer..."
Midnight nodded to one of the monitors. The shadows in the room peeled back to reveal the ballroom where she had first met the simulacrum. Without their interference, the image was much easier to make out, of the silver tray holding the grand mage's head, still frozen in that expression of fear. "I imagine the look on her face would have matched her expression had she learned of what became of you after the unfortunate loss of your tower..." she jested. Moving right along, she looked right back to the "man" in the chair.
"The last is your still-living friend... the 'cannon', I believe he was called? He will make an INTERESTING little puppet..." she mused, then looked over her shoulder directly to the one behind Mordock. Instantly, a strange device dropped into Eleisia's hands, like a collar that was marked with dwarven script. Similar devices were used in various places throughout the world for the express purpose of enslaving the magically inclined. It was obvious what Midnight intended when she called to her General of Pestilence. "Eleisia, darling, be a dear and bring the Evoker forward for inspection?" she said with a dark chuckle.
Looking to Mordock, she decided to cut off his inevitable complaints before they came. "As I seem to recall, you and I made a deal. In the course of the past few days, you've kidnapped and murdered a fellow Grand Mage, committed treason against your country, aided in the act of breaking the natural laws that prevent gods and godlike beings from crossing onto the material plane, and have entered open negotiations with known criminals... These are serious crimes, Baron Mordock, or should I call you Marcus? Any right-minded official would kill you on the spot and save the executioner the trouble. I on the other hand put you before a being born of Mechanus for Judgement. It is, after all..."
Midnight paused, leaning forward slightly so that her next words could carry with some manner of additional venom.
"... MORE than you deserve."
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Mar 11, 2015 14:36:51 GMT
What respect she had for the Grand Evoker was dwarfed by undying lotalty to the Mistress of Night, and for the unsuspecting Mordock, the Plague-Bringer's next move would come as an unfortunate shock. She only took one step forward to indicate her role in this betrayal; she threw her arms over the man's broad shoulders and immediately pulled back, sealing the deal in cold, dwarven metal. With a resounding click, she came around his side and pulled the man forward, only slightly shoving him before the Kolyarut without a word.
Satisfied she retreated back alongside Jace, whose malice had been culled the moment his apparent rival was given the shaft, and inwardly she pondered the boy's enthusiasm. The Cleric herself never took pride in the torture of others, nor did she enjoy watching them suffer before dying; it was simply a result following the use of her divine power. But Jace, he seemed to enjoy what he did. This Mordock wouldn't last long under his sole care. At least traveling with her he'd had a chance.
If she had warned him of the proverb 'Be careful what you wish for', then he may have given it a second thought. But now his fate was sealed, and so it had to be. Should she care, it wouldn't matter. The whim of the Goddess outweighed the singular hopes and dreams of one insignificant mortal. And so it would be for all time.
She paused in her silent contemplation to monitor the Mage's reaction, and for a moment she wished to apologize. Instead she wavered and caught Midnight's pleased glance, and instead nodded with pride.
"Exactly what you wished for," she said, regretting it instantly.
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Post by Baron Mordock on Mar 11, 2015 18:36:04 GMT
The instant he had stepped into the room, Mordock knew that things were going to go poorly. His eyes had widened with the realization that his paranoia had been well-founded. The monitors all over the rooms walls were sure proof that the sense of being watched had been very real the entire time. He should be less frightened by this, but there was something to the confirmation of your greatest dread that drives you into a cold sweat. The image of the conjurer's head on the screen made his stomach flip. Instinctively, he rubbed at his own neck, as though seeing his own mortality laid bare, made less than the smallest creature by the Goddess who so wantonly murdered without care. Add to that the identity of the man seated in the position of power, THE Imperial Wizard. Of all the people it could have been, of all the possible identities...
"By the gods... Lucian..." Mordock whispered, producing a silken handkerchief to dab at his forehead. So THAT was why they could never find this place. The man was privy to all their methods, all their secrets. If he wanted, Lucian could have attacked their most vulnerable spots at any time! Why had he waited? Moreover - hearing the man's story made Mordock realize that nothing he even knew about him from the time they worked together was actually true! Perhaps even THIS could be the very source of his sense of paranoia, seeing as the... CREATURE that was his colleague was in fact one of those damned monsters that judge people from a dimension away. It was all too shocking.
But that was by no means the last of the great horrors today would bring. Soon after introducing the blood-o-mancer to the fallen Grand Mage, the Goddess turned on Mordock with the sudden strike of a viper. "What??" was all he could get out before his neck was enveloped in a slaver's collar. "NO!" he cried out, attempting to pull it off but to no avail. Not even magic would leap to his assistance now. He was pulled forward by the Plague-Bringer, a fact that made him most resentful.
He had thought they were building a rapport. He had thought that after his show of power that he'd earned some respect in her eyes. Now? Now, he was just a pawn in their game. When the woman decided to rub a little salt in the wound after her mistress had already spat her poison in his direction, the Baron cut the fallen saint an angry glare. He could see just the faintest ghost of regret in her eyes, but he KNEW that she was loyal to only one person in this room - the goddess. He should never have thought for even a second that they had any kind of camaraderie. He had let his guard down just once and this is where it landed him.
He was placed before the creature, bound at the neck and helpless. He looked from the "saint" to the dark one who had tricked him then finally into the face of the mechanical monster. "Lucian, my friend..." he attempted to plead, holding his hands open with their palms up as though to show himself harmless. "You know I would NEVER murder one of my own! I had no idea she would actually kill old Caria... Please, old friend, you have to know that I am telling the truth!" he said, looking about at the guards high overhead, reacting as though he were on trial right this very second.
"Don't do anything rash... I could be a great asset! I could spy upon the Grand Mages, I could serve as a general in your armies! Just don't do to me what SHE did to HER!" he added, pointing to Caria's head on the monitor...
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Mar 12, 2015 19:40:11 GMT
Lucian leaned over its wire-cluttered desk and Eleisa nudged the Grand Mage closer for a more detailed inspection; against her thick boot she could still feel his body quiver, not yet ready to meet a justly deserved fate; if she were a gentler being, she might save the man, for his skill did show promise, and he was a keeper of his word. Then again, like the Kolyarut in shambles before them, they had both broken their Oath of the Circlr, betraying their colleagues at the Rainbow Tower.
But what was she if not a prime sinner? When the Imperial Wizard took a moment to ponder the man's futile plea, the woman was busy herself concocting a sort of out for him.
"Mistress," she said at one point, removing her foot off the man's back. "This man is indeed a fowl little insect, a traitor to his own kind, and due for an ending far more absolute than what you could offer."
She stepped around the man to throw herself at the Judgemaster's mercy, although kept a proud stature of the champion she once was.
"But, if I might offer another option. The Baron's exceeding cruelty and inhuman power is nothing if not a boon to the organization, and I insist we put it to good use. His raw power is uncontrolled, so he surely deserves a swift death. However the man's crimes are severe enough to warrant a more...thorough punishment. I find his capabilities lacking without the proper Master giving the orders, and would ask to be given this burden. My mistress knows how much I enjoy breaking in new toys. Before you slaughter him, please consider: there are fates far worse than the death that will eventually come. Waste not, want not."
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Post by Midnight on Mar 13, 2015 6:59:06 GMT
It really was kind of pathetic when you think about it. Here this great man was, having built for himself a title and the power and the privilege that came with it but his greed drove him to ruin. It was a common tale, and one that the Goddess of Chaos enjoyed seeing play out, but really. Was it necessary for the man to actually, literally grovel like that? Not that it wasn't entertaining to see the mighty fallen but the man could have at least tried to preserve a little dignity. The goddess literally had to hide a chuckle behind her hand when he all but threw himself at Lucian's feet to beg for his life like a wretch. The great Baron Mordock, now laid low.
Then something completely unexpected happened. A little twist to the plot, a new subtext for the grand play of life. One of her own, one of her best, stepped forward to offer a case for the man's use. Midnight watched with interest as this happened, eyeing the face of the Plague-bringer closely. An eyebrow slowly lifted in curiosity. What an interesting little drama we have going here, thought the goddess. Oh, how she put on a brave face but there was nowhere for the truth to hide from the eyes of the mother of night. She perhaps knew more about Eleisia than the woman knew about herself in this given moment. It would be amusing to see how it played out.
Those eyes like storms of unrest turned to the mechanical beast upon the throne. That hand which covered her lips only moments ago now rested at the other arm's elbow as her arms crossed lightly about her form in a careless manner. She wanted to see what he would do, but could sense the question before it came. After all, it was a question she had herself for just a moment: What good is a gift if you expect to have it returned immediately? Eleisia was her soldier, and to have Mordock working under her... well... that was practically take-backsies! Midnight did not want to seem unfair nor unreasonable, not during these highly sensitive negotiations...
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Midnight looked away as though the matter was none of her business. "He's yours to do with whatever you please, Lucian... You decide what you want to do," she offered, speaking of the Evoker like he was property, which in her mind he was, ultimately. If the steam-piped wire-man was feeling so inclined as to share his toys, that was his business. It had nothing to do with what she was after currently.
"Once you make up your mind, we can get back to the matter at hand... my army, Lucian?"
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Post by The Imperial Wizardry on Mar 16, 2015 14:05:33 GMT
Shadows moved about the Imperial Wizard's form, although instead of emanating from the Mother of Night, it was the shifting from the guards hovering above, restless in their silent waiting, eager to swoop down and move at their Master's directive. Lucian itself stood rigidly from its mechanical bed of wires and pipes, steam pumping from three back tubes as it straightened, and again when it bent forward over the large desk. Its white eyes scanned Lord Biru, the Mother Herself, her minions...and then finally, the Baron Asmodan.
"Such gripping emotion," it wheezed. "For the first time in your life, Mordock, I believe you've made a true connection with another living being, and it strikes me as ironic--poetic, yet again--that it comes in the form of your executioner's right hand."
The automaton shrunk away from the desk and stepped down off its platform, wires spitting out as they disconnected from its calves, pipes bursting as Lucian tore away from the wall.
Steam rose and quickly enveloped the room, obscuring shadows and shedding only milky white mist. In that haze the Kolyarut's hovering eyes met the Baron, and it knelt at the base of his own knee.
"To my most esteemed guest," Lucian said, tilting its head upward in the Goddess's direction. "Quite a gift you have given me--and what good fortune that one of your own has elected to take care of it. Perhaps if I were organic, I may have felt just a twang in my heart, as the notion seems genuine, oh so sincere, but I cannot help but feel the angle is only just that." Reaching out, Lucian grabbed hold of the collar around Mordock's neck and pulled him close to meet its gaze.
"You have done me great wrongs in the past, Asmodan, crimes against my person I shall never forget, that I will judge accordingly. Your punishment should be taken swiftly to the Clockwork Nirvana, tossed between the spinning cogs and endlessly crushed to death until the end of time, incapable of dying, only suffering...you are a monster to your own people.
"And yet I will not shake the fact another mortal being has requested leniency on your behalf. As appalling as it is, I am curious to see the end result."
Its menacing gaze now turned to the former Saint Eleisia, and its metallic face bent into a smirk.
"Midnight, if you have no objections, I would very much enjoy seeing a woman's form of punishment. Do you have what it takes to keep this dear poison in check, wrapped about your finger flawlessly? Can you ensure my new property is under her full control? If so, then we have a deal. I haven't been amused in over two hundred years.
"A world-shattering performance, and the Imperial Wizardry is at your disposal."
Finally, Lucian stood and turned to where Biru stood, invisible in the mist. With just a wave of the creature's hand, it dissipated, and the Kolyarut stepped forward and folded its arms.
"As for you..."
Lucian looked the Lord over, and gave him a few prods here and there, before turning back to the Mother of Night.
"The real body is decayed, and yet you have managed to awaken his soul in this puppet. Truly the feat of the Divine. Now that I can finally speak to the Hemomancer in person, I wish to know:
"How did you construct the Blood Elemental?"
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Post by Baron Mordock on Mar 16, 2015 18:46:05 GMT
By the gods... Lucian was walking about free from the wall now. The Baron fell back in his attempt to retreat somewhat from the frightening mechanical mockery of the former master of transmutation. His scooting backward would avail him not, however, as the machine loomed over him and plucked him from the ground as though he were of less substance than a spring flower.
Held by the collar, he was forced to look into the face of a man he believed dead, now twisted and contorted into something cold and unfeeling. He could almost see his breath fogging the metallic surface of the creature's face as he struggled and kicked against its grip. He listened with horror as it outlined a punishment worse than death for his deeds in the past, a punishment he truly deserved but would do anything to avoid. He listened in terror as the kolyarut asked the women if they could "handle" him as though he were some kind of mongrel dog and at long last he was released, falling at Eleisia's feet. Her property.
Mordock shuffled to his feet, his breathing still erratic and raspy. He attempted to reach up and tug at the collar once more, hoping it had come loose at some point during his mishandling. It had not. He growled lightly in frustration before looking to the plague bringer. In his eyes burned a question, seared by anger, mistrust, and more than a little embarrassment. He wanted to understand WHY she had done what she had done. They barely knew one another, and now he was tied to her, made her servant, her lapdog by forces he had no hope of overcoming. Fate was indeed cruel after all he had built for himself.
Of course, he wouldn't say a word just yet. He didn't want to draw Lucian's attention any more than he had to and frankly the collar had already shifted its loyalty to the woman he had been given to. He couldn't demand anything of her now, not even an explanation. He would have to wait and watch for an opportunity. He'd play his role for the time being, praying that one day their goals might align and she'd see fit to take the damn thing off. In the meantime... he'd have to just see just how low she was going to bring him...
It wouldn't be the first time he rose from less than nothing...
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Post by Midnight on Mar 16, 2015 18:59:11 GMT
Midnight couldn't help but grin at the grand drama of it all. Lucian was quite the impressive player in this all, finally free from his seat of power where he was about as threatening as a catatonic old person in a retirement home. On his feet he was quite lovely, actually. Steam rose all about them and obscured her shadows nicely. She almost purred at that. He was exerting an air of dominance, or at least perceived dominance. By bringing the area into mist, he was giving the illusion that she was cut off from her power, alone. Had she come by herself, that might have even been true. It really was a master work of subtlety and strength. She loved it.
The mist had them surrounded, providing a curtain between them and the sentinels above. Midnight could still sense them, supernaturally aware of all forms of darkness even through the ethereal steam that powers the Clockwork realm's soldiers. To explain how would be time consuming, but it had much to do with her special connection to the plane of shadows. Whatever the case, she was momentarily distracted by Lucian's move and had to refocus her attention when the mechanical marvel addressed her once more.
"Hm?" she asked, eyes drawn back to his frame. "Oh, objections? None, dearie. As I said, he's your pet to do with as you please, so if you want someone else to take care of it, that's really none of my business. I will say that the lady will take good care of your property. If he breaks, I'll replace him... with her..."
She looked to Eleisia, making sure the woman understood the point she was making. She was being trusted by their ally to keep the grand mage in check. Failure was not exactly something Midnight smiled upon, so the consequences had to be laid out early. Not that she felt her general would fail... but one must lay the ground rules if one is to play along.
Once she was certain the fallen saint understood her responsibilities in this matter, she turned her focus with Lucian to the blood mage in the room. She crossed her arms and grinned a bit. "Ah yes, the other gift. I'm actually rather proud of this one. Since there is darkness in some measure in every human soul, I was able to draw him from that rotting husk and combine him with the... rather incomplete version your underlings were toying with. The result is a full and aware man..." she mused, then cocked her head to one side.
"Be careful, Lucian. He can make his own decisions now..." she warned.
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Mar 16, 2015 19:24:59 GMT
"Understood, Mistress..." Eleisia said, dropping to one knee just beside the Baron, her eyes wide and focusing intently on something invisibly fascinating on the floor. In her heart, she felt a sudden chill at the Goddess's threat, a slight shiver and then nothing. Her responsibilities had now doubled dramatically, and if she weren't frozen in place she may have smacked herself in the face.
You foolish little girl, she thought to herself, glancing only briefly to the Evoker at her side, offering him a hopeful look for the both of fhem, bemoaning her fate should this fail. Undoubtedly she would face some manner of punishment from the Mother of Night, once this meeting concluded...and it would be warranted, as the Saint spoke out of line, an embarrassment to the Lady of Shadows.
Her shoulders slumped and her head fell even lower. Why had she done this, saved a man whose worth had been expended, served his purpose? The man deserved death, and even punishment, but she agreed no more than the rest of them. In fact, they all were due for something far worse than a swift demise, and some day their destiny would be revealed...
Another peek at her new subordinate and she frowned, sorry for him and questioning why. "Do not make me regret this," she hissed quietly to his ears alone. "I simply feel you haven't yet met your potential, and I won't be satisfied until then..." She smiled a barely recognizable grin showing she was content the man still lived, but there was something else in there spelling out a completely different emotion: terror. She had sacrificed potential standing for him, and he would be smart to remember that. She wasn't in control so much as Midnight, or perhaps Jace, was.
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Post by Baron Mordock on Mar 17, 2015 21:30:10 GMT
Mordock was confused to say the least. This woman, who had nothing to gain by helping him, was all but defying her Goddess on his behalf. What started as a glare of anger at the woman's treachery became the knitted brow of a man trying to read a woman's thoughts. He looked into her face, seeing for himself the confusion she held for herself. He may not be the most empathetic of mages (that honor belonged solely to Madame Damara, in his eyes), but he recognized the terror she held of an implied punishment coming her way from the lips of the one true darkness. He listened to her explanation, though he felt it was more a cover than an actual truth.
"Satisfied..." he repeated, an eyebrow lifting. Why should she even care? He was obviously fodder to these people. What was her end game? What was she after? He couldn't tell just yet but at the moment he had no options available to him. All he could do was stand by her side when she rose to her feet.
He would glance sideways to her as they stood. He caught that smile on her lips, though it was more of a grimace on the features of a woman who had no reason to smile for so long. She said she wouldn't be satisfied... but she surely seemed pleased with herself now. The Baron frowned thoughtfully, looking forward. Was he to be a pet now? Was he going to be this woman's property from here on out? He didn't know what his fate had in store for him, but he was sure of one thing...
As far as owners went, he could have done worse. At least he wasn't under the command of that upstart with the entropy shards. Also, he had already earned some measure of respect for his powers in her eyes... even if he might've spent that throwing himself to the ground and begging for his life. She knew he was strong, and that was a good start toward building a case for not having to wear the collar in the future. Happy masters tended to be generous ones. He had some experience in this regard.
Quietly, the Baron bemoaned the fact that he would have to repeat his past all over again and climb his way free of his current position if he wanted the kind of life he had always dreamed of. And when he did, he'd show everyone who slighted him who was TRULY in charge... though he may spare the lovely Saint Eleisia...
He did, after all, owe her he supposed.
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