The Worth of a Soul [10/13] Boom Dev

[22:27] She's never been a stealthy sort, even when her foot were smaller. And not hooves. The crunch loudly in the snow.

"Lord Ultovex," she greets with a deep incline of her head. Not quite a bow, but close enough for most tastes. The hollow-eyed, pale and bedraggled creature waits.
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:28] The Ultovexian was even less stealthy. There was no attempt to hide now, Sors visible floating above the snow covered mountain as his arms crossed over his chest. Dusk and Aurum were cast ever forwards off the side of the mountain before hearing his name spoken.

"Ardith."

The blue eye of his staff looked behind him towards the woman.
(Despair)
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[22:31] Once the niceties have been observed she shambles the rest of the way forward, plowing through the fresh snow. She looks to him, then past to all the land that lays sprawled out to the south.

"...Gettin' in contact with the others ain' been easy. They gone...

"Quiet. Soft. I'm still wantin' to do what I spoke of. Ain't care 'bout the cluster. But it ain't somethin' I can rightly do alone."
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:34] "A lot o' the world has gone silent. Like it's finally given up." The Ultovexian noted, arms crossed over his chest, eyes cast forwards among the snowy peaks of the mountain as he slowly turned back to face towards the tower's area.

"Do ya hav' a plan ta do wha' ya want ta alone? I think it's something tha'll take mor' then a few helpin' hands, but it'll b mor' difficult ta do if the world is quiet."

"Wha' is ya current desire?"
(Despair)
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[22:40] The Accursed snorts and grunts, shaking her head. The world might have quiet, she might even appear to be quiet. Many know that looks can be deceiving.

"I wanna make 'em pay. Same as before. I wanna make 'em suffer for takin' what they took from me. I got mosta' what I need to set the charge still. Donny's thing was just icin' on the cake. I ain't need that. You wanna' take the cluster instead? Go for it. I ain't care 'bout it.

"I care 'bout makin' 'em suffer. Simple as that."
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:42] "If ya got wha' ya need, sounds real simple at tha' point. Sneak in, plant the charge wit' invisibility potion, an' sneak out 'fore ya noticed. get others ta make a distraction. Tha' sort o' thang."

"If ya were mor' open ta certain types o' trades could even summon ya after it's planted. But ya seemed uninterested in tha' type o' deal."

"which part o' ya plan is currently delayed?"
(Despair)
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[22:45] She had been less interested in the deal before. But that was when her rage hadn't burned quite so hot. Not only that, but when she'd had something to lose.

Homes. Friends. Lovers.

One by one they fell to the way side. Betraying, vanishing, or in some cases? Both.

"...Tell me. Tell me what that'd do again. That deal."
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:47] "There are a variety o' deals I offer. But tha' one is the soul mark deal."

"I become capable o' comandin' an' if ya die, I can summon ya soul to ma. It ensures tha' if one were ta perish I could resserect 'em even without a body. But it also allows ma ta summon the marked from afar, ta ma aid o' location as needed."

"Does a bunch o' thangs." His arms crossed over his chest as he floated in the air.

"Which part o' ya plan is currently delayed?"
(Despair)
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[22:50] And how tempting it all sounds now that so much has changed. She ponders it all only briefly before finally answer his question when he asks it the second time.

"Garr's still gettin' the accelerants. So at that point it'd be...a distraction. Or a way to get in and outta' there quiet. I ain't gonna give 'em the satisfaction of puttin' my head on a stick."
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:51] "Can ya think o' someone who'd make a good distraction? In tha' past, mite hav' been interested in doin' such maself, but as time wears on, I'm reminded tha' the strength o' ma power is not personal. It is a horde."

"A crushin' horde. One tha's stationed elsewhere."
(Despair)
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[22:52] Ardith Illarian says, "Ya couldn't bring that horde here then?..."
[22:53] Ardith Illarian says, "I'd think Garr...ain' know if he'd be up for that. Maybe Mistletoe. Gehenna's still got numbers. Lot of 'em."
[22:53] Ardith Illarian says, "Chance I could...maybe rig it up if I went in invisible. No tellin'. Distraction'd make it more sure."
[22:54] Despair says, "It's mainly undead an' Nethradin. An' it'd b a real big number o' 'em used up if I want ta do a real distraction. I'd want somethang worth tradin'."
[22:54] Ardith Illarian says, "Such as?..."
[22:56] Ardith stares at the Lord intently, tail flicking.
(Ardith Illarian)
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[22:56] Despair says, "Wha' can ya offer."
[22:56] Despair says, "Tha's mor' the question."
[22:57] Ardith Illarian says, "...Jus 'bout anythin' that's mine left to give. "
[22:57] Ardith Illarian says, "My knowledge. Expertise. Possessions. "
[22:57] Despair says, "Tell ma wha' possessions ya mite b able ta trade. Unless ya interested in sellin' ma ya soul."
[22:58] Ardith Illarian asks, "...Ya'd be able to order me. Righ'?"
[22:58] Ardith Illarian says, "I remember that bein' part of it."
[22:59] Despair says, "Rite."
[22:59] Despair says, "Which is why I imagined such a trade would b non-idealic fer ya."
[23:00] Ardith Illarian says, "Never been a fan of takin' orders..."
[23:00] Ardith Illarian says, "'Specially since I 'magine I'd be dead the minute it was convenient for ya. "
[23:00] Ardith Illarian says, "It is your sayin', after all."
[23:01] Despair asks, "Do ya believe I would kill ya a moment it becomes convient?"
[23:01] Ardith Illarian asks, "You've said it yourself to me before. Ain't ya?"
[23:01] Ardith Illarian asks, "Everyone's ultimately out for themselves. Righ'?"
[23:02] Ardith shakes her head, slow and somber.
(Ardith Illarian)
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[23:02] Ardith Illarian says, "...You ain't been wrong yet. "
[23:02] Despair says, "Everyone is. It is the natural state o' people."
[23:03] Despair says, "People live fer their own satisfaction an' avoid pain."
[23:03] Despair says, "Some pain can b satisfaction, so people iwll be willin' ta go through tha' pain, but otherwise they focus on avoidin'."
[23:03] Ardith Illarian says, "Ultimately ain't answer my question. 'Least not directly."
[23:05] Despair says, "I ain't recall sayin' i'd kill ya if it becomes convient. "
[23:06] Ardith Illarian says, "Hfff..."
[23:07] Ardith Illarian asks, "What sorta' commands would ya be liable to give?"
[23:08] Despair says, "Le's see, in the past I've had various people under the mark. Mos' o' the time the order was don't leave Dusk."
[23:09] Ardith Illarian says, "...Righ'."
[23:09] Ardith Illarian says, "...My soul then. Not like I'm fuckin' usin' it."
[23:10] Despair asks, "Ya are certain?"
[23:11] Ardith Illarian says, "Unless ya got use for spare Illyothium or some other doodads I got."
[23:11] Ardith Illarian says, "I can show ya what's even left to my name."
[23:12] Despair says, "Show ma."
[23:12] Ardith Illarian says, "Lemme grab it then...Be back."
[23:14] Ardith returns with what is most of her worldly possessions that are worth more than mundane cost. She sets the out from her rucksack onto the snow, one by one.

A strange stone basin, a twisted branch coated in a vile poison, a strange potion, three pieces of Illyothium and...

...Is that a plushie?
(Ardith Illarian)
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[23:14] {Item} You drop Dread Ebony x1.
[23:14] {Item} You drop Moons Basin.
[23:14] {Item} You drop Nyphadora Plushie x1.
[23:14] {Item} You drop Illyothium x3.
[23:14] {Item} You drop Power Potion.
[23:15] {Item} You drop Valkyrie Armor.
[23:16] Dusk and Aurum would cast their gaze over the possesions that would be displayed to them. His arms cross over his chest, looking over each as they were set in the stone, but the ones that seemed to hold his attention the most seemed to be the basin and the black branch, based upon how long his gaze would linger.

"Is tha' a plushie?"
(Despair)
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[23:17] Ardith Illarian says, "..."
[23:17] Ardith Illarian says, "Yeah."
[23:17] Ardith Illarian says, "Found it on the ground. "
[23:19] Despair says, ". . ."
[23:19] Despair is surrounded by a faint sense of jugement.
(Despair)
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[23:20] Ardith shrugs.
(Ardith Illarian)
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[23:21] Ardith Illarian says, "Some folks go nuts for em."
[23:21] Despair says, "Some folks."
[23:21] Nishant whispers something.
[23:22] Despair says, "How long do ya hav' to complete it."
[23:22] Ardith Illarian asks, "Complete what?"
[23:22] Antara Matsumoto whispers something.
[23:22] Despair says, "This attack o' ya's."
[23:22] Despair says, "A timeframe fer when Gar will return wit' the charges."
[23:23] Ardith Illarian says, "Ain' no strict time table. Hopin' he'll be done with the accelerants soon."
[23:23] Nishant whispers something.
[23:23] Antara Matsumoto whispers something.
[23:23] Despair asks, "How soon?"
[23:23] Ardith Illarian says, "Next few days?..."
[23:24] Ardith Illarian says, "The actual preparin' shouldn't take long."
[23:24] Despair says, "Finish tha' portion then we'll talk 'bout the trade."
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Nyphadora Plushie. Dropped by Nishant. .
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Illyothium x3. Dropped by Ardith Illarian.
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Power Potion. Dropped by Ardith Illarian. .
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Moons Basin. Dropped by Ardith Illarian. .
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Dread Ebony. Dropped by Ardith Illarian. .
[23:25] {Item} You picked up Valkyrie Armor. Dropped by Ardith Illarian. .
[23:25] Ardith Illarian says, "It'll be done, then."
[23:25] Ardith Illarian says, "If a soul's what it takes. A soul it'll be."
[23:26] Despair says, "It very mite take it."
[23:26] Ardith Illarian says, "...Whatever it takes at this point."
[23:26] Ardith Illarian says, "I won't take morea' your time. "
[23:27] Ardith Illarian says, "Feel free to enjoy watchin' me leave."
[23:27] Despair smirks. "Intend ta."
(Despair)
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[23:27] Ardith adds a little sashay to her stroll. Just because she can.
(Ardith Illarian)
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[23:27] Ardith Illarian says, "Good evenin' to ya then."
[23:28] Despair says, "Good evenin'"