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Post by Jace McMillan on Mar 29, 2015 21:30:52 GMT
Leaning over the spread of the Continent, the young Sorcerer followed the academic's whisper of a limb trail over the particulars of the map, pinpointing several locations that seemed pertinent to the Shadow's goal. In particular, only one of the mentioned symbols really made any sense. Instantly Jace could hear two words Midnight had repeated over and over in his mind: Five Sorrows.
Before she joined them on the Material Plane, sometimes the Goddess would skulk about and pace back-and forth in the shadows on the wall of their hideout. For the most part she rambled quietly to herself, muttering phrases here and there as she plotted her uprising. But those two words, and then "Tiamat"--both terms were used interchangeably and when he once asked, She spun the tale of beasts long-forgotten, of Eldritch creatures that once walked the earth.
Tiamat was the sister-lover of Bahamut, King of the pure and righteous Dragons. She, being born from the Progenitor's dark heart, was crowned Queen of the vile and most evil of dragon-kind. She was a fiend with five heads, each representing the physical traits of her would-be five children, the Chromatic Dragons.
As a living God the titaness ruled over the earth thousands upon thousands of years ago, during the Age of Fiends, and was truly a force to be trifled with
Jace never got a straight answer, or any real response, for that matter, when he asked what became of her. The only thing Midnight offered was, "It won't matter how, soon..."
The Entropomancer spared no words for the researcher, and instead tapped the location marked with five arrows, before the she-elf and her ventriloquist accosted him with a new bit of information.
"You have been commanded to escort me?" He asked, giving the woman a once-over, almost as if he were trying to see where she was useful...past being a source of mattress padding, of course. "Chief Bodyguard...I presume you feel the two of--three of us will be enough, then?"
The raven--Clawfoot--didn't wait for this response and so Jace had to lower his voice and keep focused on that trill passing through its beak.
At last he cocked back his head and shook it grimly.
"Imagine a world without light. And then picture it with fiends that would dwarf any city. Just speculation, but just picture a world ripe for your people to rebuild and repopulate."
His eyes sparkled at his Mistress's dream, and although he didn't kniw the woman, he hoped that Ixis might share his enthusiasm on the destruction of a planet.
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Post by Lord Biru on Mar 29, 2015 21:40:59 GMT
"I'll admit first that I find it strange..." Biru said, trailing off as he and the Mother of Night traveled through the inner-halls of the Imperial Fortress. "It makes me suspicious, that he did not say much to me about his goal, or anything at all, really. I said my piece...but he held on to my body and made copies to provoke another rediscovery. It appears as if he's been at it for some time, if we're really in the six hundredth year. It's been here for centuries. He has me to speak with personally...I gave him an answer and now the thing is dead-silent. Not to mention Lucian has offered you the whole place. I'm inclined to wonder why it's been so easy."
He stopped just short of a flight of stairs, and waited for the Shadow to pass before resuming behind. His eyes lingered on each step as they ascended to the next platform leading to a brand new elevator.
"I'm curious to his decision to run back here after the destruction of his tower, the fall of his veil. Midnight, in my time I have made trails of cogs and scrap metal in my wake, taking down Inevitables as they came left and right to correct all my wrongdoings. I've investigated their very being, and this one in particular is troubling. He wants my ability, but I think it's to become human...or something evolved. What could that spell for a new generation of the Clockwork Mirvana?
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Post by Ixis on Mar 30, 2015 15:34:18 GMT
Upon hearing what the entropomancer suspected to be the Dark One's grand scheme, both master and familiar exchanged a quick look. Their expressions were difficult to read, but if one was to venture a guess in any direction at all, one might assume they shared a moment of combined disbelief. However, the moment was passed just as quickly as it came and the woman crossed her arms to signal her acceptance of the plan while her familiar gave voice to their thoughts.
"That's pretty ambitious..." Clawfoot responded thoughtfully, but nodded as he did so. "If anyone could achieve such a feat, it WOULD be the chaos-bringer herself... Besides, if it is the will of the Wizardry, we will work toward this goal, regardless."
Ixis shifted her weight, which was Clawfoot's cue to leave her shoulder. The bird presumptuously found itself perched upon Jace's shoulder as the woman drew her blade, the Luckless, and held it horizontal to the ground before the weaver of emptiness. The runes along the sword's length blazed with purple flame, giving the woman herself a rather ghostly appearance. The bird issued something like a chuckle as it was presented.
"Ixis is a hexblade, my dear spawn of darkness..." Clawfoot explained. "She wields a great and mysterious power over the forces of luck and chance. Wherever she goes, misfortune befalls. This is a power you WANT on your side, my friend. As to whether or not we are 'enough' as you so succinctly put it..."
Without warning, the woman slashed the blade through the air so swift that the human eye could perceive little more than a trail of violet sparks. With the sword held at her side, the pale elven woman reached up to pluck the single strand of hair she had just sliced from Jace's bangs from mid-air. She held it before his face for observation before lifting her weapon once more to throw the strand into the open flames.
"As you can see, she is deadly accurate and is now bound to your service until she is dismissed or one of you dies. Hard to find loyalty like that these days, hm?" chuckled the darkly-humored Clawfoot. As Ixis swiped the blade into its sheath, she held out a hand for her familiar, who quickly alighted from Jace's shoulder and found himself landing expertly upon her outstretched fingers. She transferred him to his proper space and looked to Jace expectantly.
"So, Entropomancer..." Clawfoot uttered between pecks at his plumage. "Where to first?"
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Post by Midnight on Mar 30, 2015 16:21:18 GMT
"I have my doubts that this particular robot has any interest in doing anything for the Creators of his home land..." Midnight admitted as the two of them stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the elevator. She could have just as easily shadow-walked her way to the torture chamber, but this method gave them time to talk. She kept her arms crossed as she watched the little lights indicating their progress.
"This one's clever, attempting to hide his shadow from me. He didn't want me seeing what his game was. He also made sure I'd see that everywhere in this castle is monitored..." she added, her eyes adjusting slightly to look directly into a hidden lens, as though she were addressing Lucian directly while speaking. "I suspect he wants to keep me under close observation to see what I'll do next as well. It's kind of kinky having a voyeur..." she teased, then looked back to Biru.
"But it doesn't take shadow spies to pick up on subtle hints. Kolyarut or not, I can sense fear in the man's heart and a desire NOT to return to the Nirvana. He probably knows that returning units are stripped down and re-purposed... kind of like dying but your arm still gets to stab things. After losing himself in the persona so much that he even still calls himself by a human name, I'm willing to bet that somebody went and developed an individuality..."
The elevator let out a soft "ding" and the doors slid open. A long hallway was before them, but at the end was a doorway to the torture chamber. Midnight strolled forward, continuing to speak to Biru out loud. She wanted Lucian to hear exactly what she wanted him to think. Her real suspicions she could confirm later, by asking a darkness not even a steaming smokescreen could hide. "As for his attempt at figuring out your blood elemental... well, I believe in this case your goals should align nicely, don't you think? You want to get your wifey back, and that warrants a little investigation into what you've got hiding in that attractive little body of yours."
They moved through a set of old wooden doors with brass rings that served as handles. These doors would be opened by subservient shadows as the woman approached, revealing a medium-sized chamber of entirely cobblestone floors, walls, and ceiling. All about, instruments of mundane and magical torture were haphazardly arranged, purposely so in that there was no way to tell to which a victim would be brought to as a result. Ironwork chains with hooks hung from above and various shackles, tools, and chalk circles adorned the walls. In the center of the floor was black iron grate that lead down into the shadows and out of sight. A faint, coppery scent pervaded the room, emitting mostly from the old, rust-colored streaks along the floor leading to the drain. The goddess strode easily among the larger devices as she spoke. "And I am rather interested in your success as well, dearie..." she mused while her fingertips grazed over the iron spikes that covered a wide wooden chair near the center of the room.
"Well, that's disappointing," she muttered mostly to herself when she examined her unmarred fingertip, indicating that the spikes were in fact rather dull. She snapped her fingers and pointed at the device, prompting several shadowy tendrils to leap from under the chair, each with a file in hand which they immediately set to work with, sharpening those points. The Goddess moved right along, inspecting each piece with mixed reactions of equal parts approval and disappointment as she held her conversation.
"To be more to the point, I want to see the absolute limits of your power. I know a little of blood magic, enough to understand bloodwalking at the very least, but I want to see it in action against something... a little more intimidating than your usual cannon fodder," she explained. When she got to the iron maiden, she barely even waited to jump inside and test fit it for herself. She screwed up her face a little as she wiggled in place, sighing. "Either I'm going to need a bigger body for this one or its going to need longer spikes... no matter. The point is, you're going to have something you did not have last time, my friend... assuming they have anything that can do the job around- ooh! Here we go!"
Midnight nearly pranced over to a pile of various weapons and devices and rummaged about until she produced a large, claw like device that affixed itself upon the torturer's arm. Wearing it, Midnight held her hand aloft to admire the curvature of the sharpened blades and the intricately designed runes to bypass magical protection. "Thaa-haa-haat's more like it..." she near-laughed as she slashed it a few times for good measure. "Mm. You humans can be so wonderfully sadistic, you know that? And this is without getting gross and using something that was previously INSIDE someone else..."
Reaching down with the blade, Midnight slashed a section of her forearm with a loud purr of painful ecstasy. From the wound, silvery rivulets of immortal blood dripped along her arm, though admittedly only a small amount of it. The injury sealed itself almost as quickly as it had been inflicted, leaving only trace amounts of the precious fluid. This, however, would be enough.
The woman sauntered up to Biru with a grin, the weapon strapped to one arm while she lifted the formerly injured appendage to his eye level. She looked into his eyes with a wicked sense of purpose.
"So, blood mage... what could you do with this?"
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Post by Lord Biru on Mar 31, 2015 12:09:55 GMT
Watching the Mother of Endless Night frolicking about the Wrack's funhouse like an oblivious child in a candy store, Lord Biru stood defensively rigid, with both hands interlocking behind him and stiff shoulders broad and restless. It would have been amusing were She not agreeing with him on her suspicions of their host, whom the Hemomancer trusted as far as he could physically throw a life-sized statue.
At least the two were on the same page, and although he should have been grateful to have a Goddess on his side, he was curious of her own schemes; wherever he fit into her plans, it spelled only trouble for the rest of the world. Not that he particularly had any interest in the world's well-being, Lord Biru's tunnel vision led only to securing his wife. Adrianna the Faerie Queen of Flight and Fair Tidings--it was she who quelled his violent nature, who eased the man from the battlements in Namorn, and who agreed to take his hand in marriage. It was she he lived for, and she he would die for, if only to feel her lips against his own, one more time.
Midnight showed some disinterest in the torturing implements, at least until she examined every portion of each and every device--even fixing some of them until she was satisfied, and that kept her busy. All the while Lord Biru made guesses about his involvement with Her.
Finally the Goddess sidled back up to him and produced what could only be a Breast Ripper, and took it to her own immortal flesh. Before blood fell, his trained eye could see the divine liquid swimming beneath Her skin, and already he was wondering what he might do with such a rare ingredient.
Once blood touched stone, however, Lord Biru was no longer in control of his body.
"There isn't much I couldn't do," he said as he was forced to his knees just before the small pool of Crimson, seeing the possibilities in the glaring reflection. His chest puffed outward, and an oozelike trail of blood poured from openings in his robed jacket and slithered across the floor, until it began rising into a more fluid, humanoid shape. Taking on a fey image, the Elemental continued forming until it was the perfect visage of his wife, albeit with predatory eyes bereft of any recognition or emotional capacity. Its gaze never left the Immortal pool of blood radiating with a black haze.
"Immortality, invincibility...the possibilities are endless in mortal hands.
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Post by Lord Biru on Mar 31, 2015 12:11:03 GMT
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Post by Jace McMillan on Apr 2, 2015 23:08:31 GMT
Jace nodded to the bird and gave the Elven woman a quirky raise of an eyebrow; he circled back over to where the scholars poured over the ancient map and shrugged his way by, scanning the parchment with his index finger.
"I'd say we explore this one," he muttered, indicating the Five Sorrows location, but thinking better of it, dragged his finger to the left. "Shorr is familiar to me--whatever this is here, is in Dark Elf territory, deep beneath this chain of mountains. I've heard my Shadow speak of a large black Sun at the crown of their underground city, illuminating the cavern in a violet light. This black sphere here must be referring to it. Though it has no relation to Tiamat, or even an Inevitable gateway. She also attested it was definitely not a dragon's egg."
His finger moved again, to another location in Shorr known as "Cadead's Swamp". And here is a dragon's skull...this is a demon's marsh, ruled by an immortal creature that controls the very nature of his land. None who go into Cadead's Swamp ever comes out. Or at least not many have, are the rumors true. The place is a twisted landscape, impossible to map. Legends speak of a colossal arena somewhere at the swamp's center--which can move, depending on his attitude--where the demon resides. Assuming this is true, the colosseum is the only way safely out of the swamp.
"These are two locations my Shadow will want immediately. Shorr is our roosting ground, and others having dominion there irritate her. We go for this dragon first. And then deal with the demon after. Later we head to the Dark Elf kingdom and investigate the Sphere."
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Post by Saint Eleisia on Apr 2, 2015 23:19:00 GMT
Eleisia took the cloth swiftly and patted her cheeks before the Kolyarut caught sight of her, and immediately stuffed it into the collar beneath her armor until the automaton moved away; she gave the Baron an appreciative nod and bowed low when her Mistress left with the Hemomancer; wherever the path took them, Eleisia just hoped she wouldn't get herself trapped here. A goddess was immortal, all-powerful and mighty, yes, but she had bound herself in material form. This had proved fatal to deities in the past. In legends, Creation once took mortal form and walked the land, but in Her crusade had been mortally wounded. The world ebbed and began to collapse under the pressure, until sages united to free Her from bondage. Had she perished, no doubt the planet might have fallen too.
The demon who fought Her back then, however...was chased to the very edge of the world after that.
"Master Lucian, thank you for your hospitality, but as you can see, Her Eminence has given us an order, one we must get to promptly. If there is nothing else, we shall take our leave."
She turned to Mordock and gave him a look, while nodding her head in the Kolyarut's direction. "I know you're curious. Get it out before you have no more chances. Make it quick, though."
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Post by Midnight on Apr 3, 2015 1:27:49 GMT
While the blood wizard spoke, Midnight's attention refocused on the crimson crawling about his form and into the floor. As it rose, she watched with bated interest and a light grin. It took form as a beautifully painful looking woman, allowing the Goddess her first look at the blood elemental. She whistled appreciatively before giving the man a quick, sly look.
"You devil... you didn't tell me she was so... pointy!" she said, reaching up to poke one of those spikes as she circled around the creature. "I am loving the outfit... I had no idea you had a naughty side, Biru... I'm almost JEALOUS."
With a flourish, Midnight produced a glass vial and used it to collect what little of the silver blood upon her arm there yet remained. Corking it, she lifted it before the creature's face to see exactly how it would react... She had noticed it looking earlier.
"So, our options are wiiiide open. Perfect. Luckily, I heal quickly so that means I can bleed A LOT. You'd like that, wouldn't you, creature?" she said, mostly to Biru but keeping her eyes fixated on the monster's expression.
"You see what my blood does for ME, the healing, I mean. Perhaps it can be used to reconstitute your legendary beloved from within this monstrosity? However, unless you can make more of these sexy beasties, I would hold off on experimenting with this one until we're CERTAIN it will work. I don't foresee you putting your precious in danger unless completely necessary and directly mixing magics is... well, dangerous," Midnight reasoned before tossing the vial carelessly over her shoulder to the man, expecting him to catch it lest he wished to lose something so valuable.
"Keep that for research purposes. I'm sure you're eager to look into it. In the meantime, I'm more interested in destruction than restoration. My blood is concentrated Chaos... so, what would it do to the leylines, I wonder?" she asked, looking over her shoulder with a devious look in her eyes.
What she was suggesting was extremely dangerous magic...
What she was suggesting was borderline insanity, irreversible and permanent.
She was suggesting they cut the material plane completely free.
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Post by Ixis on Apr 3, 2015 1:38:11 GMT
With the binding in place, she was now bound to his service, as commanded by the Wizardry. Under normal circumstances, this would involve more pomp but the entropomancer seemed as moved by this as one would be regarding a stranger offering a courteous nod. That is to say, he did not seem to care at all.
That worked well for Ixis. Emotional displays were never her strong suit and frankly she found them to be a waste of time. She followed along behind Jace dutifully, ready to set to work. Clawfoot similarly took the matter in stride, more interested in preening his feathers than making a grand display of what the magic actually meant.
Ixis did not even have to prompt the scholars to move. They were apparently supernaturally aware of her presence at least and respectfully moved out of their way when she approached. Looking upon the marks and the locations, she considered Jace's suggestion and nodded. If the Goddess was looking to secure these locations, then it would be best they see to the incubation of whatever this force is rather than allow it to be haphazardly looked after by who knows what.
"We can have one of the mages send us there via teleportation," Clawfoot explained as he looked down with feigned interest on the map. "Getting back, however? Trickier. Ixis possesses no real spells for movement. Unless you have a reliable method, we may want to put some thought into transport once we arrive."
Ixis also pointed to the other markings, the ones designated by various question marks or random scribbles. Without words, she was suggesting to Jace that they send research teams to look into those while they set off for Shorr, making the most use of their resources on hand. Clawfoot would remain still and silent, eyeing Jace to see if the boy was clever enough to pick up on Ixis' body language and facial expressions enough to understand her point.
"Shall we get moving, then?" the bird asked after only that moment's pause.
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Post by Baron Mordock on Apr 3, 2015 1:45:57 GMT
Well... perhaps this situation would be more bearable than he thought. Mordock had not expected Eleisia to show gratitude for his gesture and in all honesty had intended nothing more than to secure his current livelihood through it. He was expecting a cruel master, without signs of human emotion or sympathy. What he got was remarkably human. That so much was a relief, but he would not let his guard down.
That is how one finds themselves at the bottom rung, after all.
When the plague-bringer excused them, the Baron was prepared to walk off without asking the various questions he had buzzing in his skull, but was once again surprised. She informed him to get it out of his system, so to speak, before they moved on. Blinking back the vexed look in his eyes, the Baron looked between the woman to whom he was now sworn and the man behind them. When he looked back, he bowed his head lightly in show of gratitude though he would not actually say the words "thank you" just yet. He needed to appear strong now, especially after the display he put on before the mechanical monster just prior...
Striding over, he found himself facing the creature's back, clearing his throat to get its attention.
"So..." he began, not quite sure how to phrase it or even where to begin. "How much of the Lucian I knew is still here? As I recall, you were once considered one of the most level-headed of us... even took that orphan under your wing, for what good it did you. What was the point? Who you were there for, if you were THIS the entire time?" he asked, so many questions buzzing in his mind now that he felt sure the judgemaster would not harm him...
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Post by Lord Biru on Apr 4, 2015 13:28:54 GMT
Caught off-guard, Biru lunged to catch the precious gift, and once secured it closely examined the vial's contents with a Hemomancer's trained eye; unlike traditional blood, Midnight's was liquid silver, thick, with hazy streaks of silver swimming about against the glass; it twinkled like moonlight, and Biru wondered if it was actual silver that pumped through a god's veins.
Looking over Her shoulder, he spotted the Elemental and listened to the Mother's objective, the former of which didn't seem to notice the other two at all; the image of his wife was enamored with the puddle left on the floor, ready to imbibe the most evil blood currently known to man. Of course because of their unfortunate bond, the creature wouldn't move unless unleashed. Instead the monster unleashed a menacing growl, and finally the Blood Magus stepped forward, extending an arm between them.
"What you're asking would sever all connections the Material Plane has--we would be isolated, no longer protected by the endless portals the gatekeepers maintain, but instead besieged by the many armies. The Plane of Shadow would meld with our own, drawn off the living ley lines' power, creating nightmarish landscapes all about the land. Not to mention the beasts that will crawl out from darkness.
"But that isn't all; imagine if the Realm of Dreams found its way here past the manifest zones? That would hinder our movements dramatically. Even a goddess isn't immune to the illusions and dread magic of the Quori. Unlike the nightmare of a melded Shadow Plane, real nightmares would break free--the Elder Ones, for example. Although empowered significantly by the fears of its extraplanar neighbors.
"The Faerie Courts could manifest--although the Syl will probably be angry about the severing of our Ley lines. I don't see them siding with the Inevitables, but I know two forces will challenge us."
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Post by Jace McMillan on Apr 4, 2015 13:51:19 GMT
"I suppose we should deploy at least a few units to some of the other areas outside of our searching ground. This way we'll cover far more ground in less time."
He stuck out a thumb and pointed it over his shoulder at the tentacle-armed scholars, giving the woman and her Familiair an unsure look. "These aren't going to be our sole researchers, are they? Some of the locations alone even I couldn't handle myself. I do hope you've got sentries going with them. That, and I don't know if your master is trying to show off the Wizardry or not, but monstrous humanoids suddenly gathering in specific locations? That will most certainly not go unnoticed, especially by the Inevitables. A Quarut--some of the most dangerous Mechanus has--most likely guards the Five Sorrows location. So I want that place saved for last."
He then shuffled into a bag dangling off his shoulder and hugging his waist. "My Shadow gave me a few scrolls to use in lieu of Her assistance in transportation, but ive only access to five of them. We will have to be decisive about that. As well, one cannot teleport into Cadead's Swamp or out of it. We have tried. Cadead's magic, or whatever keeps that place unbound, won't allow it. We will have to arrive somewhere on the outskirts. It doesn't matter where, because nowhere will be close to our final destination, If the marshland really moves about."
He produced a scroll from his bag and held it aloft, and then moved out of the circle of scholars and their single Hexblade. He spun and clicked his heels together until he and Ixis were face to face.
"I know you are bound to duty, but you are your own person. This will be dangerous, I guarantee you that. You are not loyal to the Mother of Night and have no reason to join me. Such a pretty face, I wouldn't want the horrors lurking in the swamp to mangle it. Even a skilled warrior can tarnish his reputation in the haunted wasteland. Make your choice now."
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Post by The Imperial Wizardry on Apr 4, 2015 14:15:03 GMT
A spark of interest in the Baron's sudden audacity caused Lucian to move, skulking forward with purpose as it worked to turn and meet the man's gaze. Folding its frayed, wiry hands beneath its elegant robes, the Kolyarut considered the Grand Mage's string of questions carefully. Lucian then remained quiet for several long minutes, a telltale sign it was actually being genuinely thoughtful. Finally the porcelain gaze separated in half, horizontally, revealing the true metal face of the Kolyarut, with portions of flesh from his disguise either still pinned down tightly, or in other parts melted into the silver.
"You are asking if I am still the Grand Mage even you once looked up to?" The Kolyarut said, tilting its head. "If I still hold the integrity i preached on a daily basis to both my peers and pupils? In that case, yes. I was never discovered, and therefore never taken back to Mechanus for reprogramming. Originally I imbedded myself among the Rainbow Tower for my own goals. I had several targets among your wizards. However, I was there when the first Zaestria called the Circle together.
"We're you aware the very first Arch Mage had absolutely no magical talent whatsoever? She was the most charismatic of any mortal I'd ever seen, and it was through sheer diplomacy the Rainbow Tower was united. It wasn't until her daughter was born the Head Arcanis actually wielded anything great...but I'm rambling.
"I came to enjoy teaching Zaestria, and it was by my will the second Zaestria you and your associates knew had any power at all. For a time I did get enveloped in my new personality, centuries believing I truly was a human being called to the Towers to aid the world. It was a pleasant life, really.
"It wasn't until the orphan came to me, however, that I recognized what I truly was, what even he was...and how truly doomed we all were. The boy didn't always bear his curse, but it was always lurking nearby. His curiosity simply allowed them to take hold more fluidly then. Originally I wanted to protect him from my associates here, to cultivate him under my directives, rather than let them wantonly do as they pleased. He was to be groomed as the next Archmage...I successfully rid us of that knightly Zaestria once I saw the error of my ways...and he was next in line. At least until his curious nature got the better of him.
"I returned here after the blast, but it is hazy. This was my last destination, and now I am in recovery. You want to know why? How? There is no logical answer, even from a Kolyarut. But know when I took Zaestria's life I yearned to shed a tear. If that means anything to you. This is my role now, however. We are all pieces on a grand chess board."
Lucian steered a familiar gaze to the Baron alone, and quirked its two bars serving as eyebrows.
"You and Lothar were excellent opponents. I taught you many strategies. Surely you remember some of them?"
The Kolyarut chuckled and turned slowly, beginning its slow skulk back to the seat of power, waving a hand to dismiss them. If Mordock understood what the creature was saying, then they would speak again one day. But until then, Lucian had its role to play.
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Post by Baron Mordock on Apr 6, 2015 4:20:42 GMT
Mordock listened closely to everything the kolyarut had to say... and strangely found himself fearing the creature far less than he had originally. Before, he was under the impression that the being he saw before him was there to do what judgemasters do - that "Lucian" was nothing more than a farce, a false face that it used to get close and potentially slaughter its prey. Hell, after hearing that it was in fact HE who caused the death of their Arch Mage, it might have even been she that was the target without the man's knowing. The voice he heard now, however, was not that of a machine but that of a man - a man with truly real human emotion.
It was fitting that its true face still had traces of the man he knew. The machine was more than just gears and programs now.
When he spoke of the first Zaestra, Mordock was somewhat encouraged. Though it was shocking to learn that the Rainbow Tower itself was built on a foundation of lies, the evoker saw some glimmer of hope in that it was started by a mere mortal woman, with no magic whatsoever. After all, had he not used his own charismatic force of personality to scrape and claw his way into a position of power? Had he not lied and cheated to achieve wonders that others his own age could never dream in a million lifetimes? He had already ascended so high in life... but she had done far greater and with so much less. If that could be true of a mere, ORDINARY woman... what might be said of him in the legends spoken in days to come? How will they remember the mighty Baron Mordock Baal Asmodan and his amazing deeds?
Further, when the half-man, half-machine thing before him actually pointed out that he was rambling... well... Mordock was reminded once more of the boy. It was a bad habit of the Fallen to go off on long rants regarding whatever topic he happened to be on at the time. The Grand Evoker never thought much of it, having spent as LITTLE time with the orphan as absolutely necessary. Whenever the thought did occur to him, he just wrote it off as being a by-product of being a little cave-dwelling, loner weirdo with no friends. It was only just now, hearing a similar speech pattern from a man he once looked up to, that the connection actually felt real.
However, the details regarding Atticus' supposed potential seemed a little bloated. Mordock openly scoffed when he heard that the child was being groomed for THAT level of greatness, even above his own station, prior to curiosity getting the better of him of course. Now, he was just another broken toy for the others to distract themselves with, though he would not say as much to Lucian.
But the final shred of evidence in this grand trial of tragedies was that look that Lucian gave him. It was the same, if twisted by metal and the explosive force of a collapsing tower, as it was years ago. Mordock would never forget that gaze, nor the man it belonged to.
"Strategies..." he repeated, watching Lucian turn and walk to his seat. "Yes, I do remember a few..." he said, considering the strangeness of this man. He understood what he was getting at, but couldn't quite piece together his end-game. For now, he had to play the role of the dastardly, villainous master of the Imperial Wizards, but to what purpose? If the Rainbow Tower was nothing more than a lie, then what role did it have yet to play? So many questions and so few answers. Mordock knew only that he had to play his role as well, to the best of his abilities, if he was to get what he wanted out of this insanity... There was, however, a small message he wanted to impart before he left.
"It means much," he admitted, speaking just loud enough that the former grand mage of transmutation could hear him. "And for what it's worth... he's a lot like you. You did well with him... curiosity aside. You should be proud of that much at least."
With that, Mordock offered a polite bow, and unlike all the thousands of times he had offered one to his fellow grand mage, this time it was genuine and held nothing of that old, begrudging contempt. The evoker slowly backed away and began walking back toward Eleisia, many things now occupying his thoughts. He took her side and nodded to her briskly, indicating that he had no further business here and was in fact resolved to take on whatever task was expected. He seemed as though his mind was set and he was prepared, come what may.
However... there was one question still nagging at the back of his mind. If they were ALL just players upon a grand chessboard... then who were the ones TRULY manipulating the pieces...?
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