Part 5

[06:29:45] Beaten by children. His very bones were crushed to little more than nothingness, the ancient armor he had found smashed to cover his body like a film. It was an odd state of affairs. He was still a skeleton, yet now looked like something of a mash-up between bone and metal, a monstrosity as far as undead went. A step upon his never-ending quest bestowed upon him by the Gods.

With such injuries, the only solution would be to seek out the petty robed man who had already gotten him into so much trouble. Previously, he had sprinted off the moment he was risen to begin his quest, yet the journey now had brought him to seek out the necromancer. The only bones left to him were those of his skull and arms, the rest of his body terrible broken and weighed down by metal.

Days.. weeks.. months of crawling across the earth with bony hands. Flesh-ridden digits dug into the soil to take hold before pulling the rest of his body forward. There was no pain or exhaustion, but the burden upon his mind was enormous. Such a ridiculously tedious task of travelling across half the continent without the use of his legs. But a task fit for a skeleton.

The Sarab was, without a doubt, the most difficult stepping stone, little firm ground to grip. But Cortez had all the time in the world. After all, this was simply another obstacle for him to overcome. Sand gave way to earth, and the broken skeleton crawled until his eyeless sockets came upon the robed necromancer. The man who, as an Omen of the Gods, performed Their will to raise him.

No name had been given at the time of his necromancing, but the undead had changed significantly. He grovelled towards Saulot, his entire lower half crushed bone and metal until he came to a halt. The skeleton's skull tilted upward to reveal an devilish grin and a pointed chin. From around him, a pale yellow light took form, surrounding him in a prideful aura as he, despite his currently crippled status, put on a haughty act.

"I, Cortez, Chosen of Heaven and Earth, ripped from the stars to act as the Avatar of the Gods, have returned to you, omen of Their will. My never-ending quest has brought me to your feet, or rather, you have been delivered to mine. Bring back to me my legs, and with it, deliver to me the lessons which the Gods have tasked you with giving me."
(Cortez)
[06:45:07] The area of Wychwood forest was a rather nice place to stick around, besides Saulot knew the area very well; specific guidelines he was provided by Hauk were meaning that the hideout of a famous Lich King Dominic Falco would be somewhere nearby, more specifically around Sarab Desert, and it wasn't far from here if you began walking. If anything, Saulot also knew Riftmancy, and could even traverse back and forth without any issue.

Though, it had seems that the quiet day was interrupted by appearance of a skeleton. Oh, wait, he actually recognizes this one? Yeah, his creation. In fact, he had to get to other matters as soon as he were raised, so unfortunately he could not introduce himself properly right away.

"Well, hello there. It seems you've found me, after all... you might as well be worth much more than initially thought."
_____________________________

It didn't take long for Saulot to gaze upon his legs, considering the fact that he was crawling on the ground. Luckily for the skeleton, Saulot was also a practicioner of medicine, and could certainly help out with the problem in his legs.

Without further await, he approached closer, lowering himself down to the area of legs of a skeleton; any armor was stripped away with ease, revealing the damaged bone pattern. Clear as a day, his legs were crushed and joints in quite a mess... what did this skeleton get himself into anyway?

Saulot had to get the splints from the bag that was hanging by his shoulder, which also contained other necessary tools for a travel like this. At least there was one clear merit in treating a skeleton - you could get an immediate access to the bone itself and there was no need for anesthetic of any sort. Securing the splint in place, he was hoping to fix the position of a bone in a way that it'd be hardened, and over months (perhaps years) merge again.

If he was having trouble to walk still, that'd call for bigger measures. Securing his bone in place with metal encasement, perhaps?

"Try standing up."
(Saulot Vykos)
[06:52:48] Richter was once again in Wychood, he had studied about Necromancy... everything he need was killing some animals to test, and maybe find someone more experienced, a skeleton maybe?

He was supporting himself by his staff, near the region Sly usually call unexperienced magi to kill some lessers for him as a form of training, he saw an weird Skeleton, destroyed, he was talking to an other man, the skeleton seemed to be very beaten.

Richter, as always, wouldn't even be smart enough to stare everything from far away, he was too stupid and had no sense of danger for thoose things, he just wanted to analyze the Skeleton, his thrist for knowledge and his will to raise the dead were taking control over the situation for him.


-Hm...? a Skeleton...? i've never seen things like that before...

He noticed the other man trying to "help" that creature, at that point, Richter's interest just grew more, not only for the skeleton, but for the other man also, he wanted to see if he could get some interesting stuff at that point.

-Are you a Necromancer, the name is Richter tho.
(Richter)
[07:00:28] This strange robed man was swift to aid him. The mass of metal, previously armor, which covered his legs was broke away to reveal the snapped bones, although more metal seemed to have splintered alongside bone and join the mass in a strange, broken yet oddly natural way. For a skeleton, it simply meant a stronger support, so Cortez paid it no mind. Indeed, it was most likely a blessing from the Gods.

Splints were placed upon his shattered bones, allowing him some more support. Slowly, the skeleton rose to a stand, and truly Saulot could see the nature of this being now. Incredibly prideful, his posture tall and straight with his pointed chin help up ever so slightly.

"I thank you, omen. I shall formally introduce myself, then. From the masses of uncountable stars, my soul was chosen to inhabit this vessel as the Chosen of the Gods, the avatar of Heaven and Earth. You, Saulot, have acted as the modicum of their will in my revival. For that, you hold importance in my divine quest. Tell me, omen. What is your own quest? Your task, for it shall undoubtedly lead to the fulfillment of my own," the skeleton says haughtily, seeming to completely ignore the fact that he was a slave to this necromancer's will.

But at the same time, his self-confidence was oddly reassuring, despite how skewed it may seem.
(Cortez)
[07:09:00] It seemed that this sort of aid was enough, at least for now. That's good. It'd be troublesome to go through lengthy medical process to help him rise on his feet once more, so Saulot was glad that they could get it over with here and now.

Of course, he could tell the skeleton what were the necromancer's goals here and now, and actually there was a lot to tell - after recent meetup with the host of a rather... odd entity that held a lot of knowledge, and was known around Nostvale, Saulot was provided with invaluable knowledge about projects of Lich King from the past. The projects that Saulot could take on himself and continue that legacy, perhaps becoming greater than those before him.
_________________________

But their dialogue was interrupted by Richter's appearance. Saulot grew silent, unwilling to express his plans next to a complete stranger whom he couldn't trust for obvious reasons. The fact that Cortez would simply ignore Saulot's instructions to call him another name had prompted the necromancer to hush him through subtle manipulations - after all, he was in his control. He spoke to him, however:

"The name is Alan. Remember that." - he pointed out the fact to Cortez once more due to fact that he ignored it.

Though, Saulot's attention was soon turned to Richter instead. Such blatant question, straight up asking whether he's a Necromancer or not? Hooo boy... he was in for a good time, it seems.

"No. I'm a road bandit and I'm so greedy that I stripped this man off his flesh, can't you see?" - the sass was directed at Richter.
(Saulot Vykos)
[07:15:50] Stratches his head with his staff's tip, looking to the Undead, he didn't even care about him since he probabbly is a slave or something like that, he liked the man's joke, it was different from the last time he was in that lands.

-Welp, i see i can join you, i like stripping.

He was kidding of course, or maybe not, actually Richter never did thoose things to actually like it or not, he wasn't taking that speech serious, so he doesn't saw any problem at joking too.

-I mean, dude, i've been searching for theese dudes for a long time, aaand a dude that i can't remember now told me about a Necromancer called Alan, i see it's you, came here to... welp, see if you can recomend me some books or even help me at that, i mean, i could just start killing some animals and trying to give them life back but i'm too dumb to learn that in a short time.

He was talking serious, yet, the sarcastic voice tone would never abandon that man's talk, even that it could be easily noticed his serious voice tone, it could still be taken as a joke.
(Richter)
[07:23:31] There was an odd attack upon his nonexistent heart as Saulot muted him from saying his name. Of course he had forgotten, since the Necromancer hadn't explained which robes to not refer to him when wearing! Why would anyone hide their identity, anyway? Cortez certainly would never do such a disgraceful thing.

An eyeless gaze fell upon the newly arrived Richter. For now, the skeleton simply remained silent, although the slight crushed sword he bore upon his back was drawn. The tip of its blade was sent into the soil between his legs, two skeletal hands resting upon its pommel as he scrutizined this man.

An omen, perhaps? Or simply a passerby?
(Cortez)
[07:29:29] Cortez could have everything explained to him later; the sudden appearance of a stranger prompted Saulot to silence him as soon as possible, least he wished for his concealment to become obsolete. Now, he didn't need any witnesses of either his art or his appearance, did he?

But Richter's words were not taken fine by Saulot, unfortunately for the youngster... if he could see Saulot's face through the mask, a frown came up on his face, unamused by the distasteful remarks and his manner of speech. If Saulot pretended to be a simple thug in his garments, Richter actually made an impression of being one.

"You do not take hints, do you?"

A sigh escaped Saulot's lips. He hoped that the clear sass previously would make Richter realize that Saulot is neither in the mood for some random chatter, nor he has time for this, and that he'd be better off going elsewhere.

Besides, the idea that the magi had behind his words was ridiculous. Already asking him of Necromantic Arts just like that, and trying to fish out knowledge from him? Not only that was rude, but it was clearly rushed, with no relevance as to whether Saulot is willing to be teaching anything to anybody at all.

"Get lost. I have neither years nor wish to indulge you." - the voice of a Necromancer sounded as irritated as ever.
(Saulot Vykos)
[07:38:52] Ricther yawns, that was a predictible reaction, actually he was just too slothy to search for the knowledge himself, and he knew that finding someone that'd like to teach him and introduce him to that arts, he knew the job that he had to do to learn thoose shit, he didn't want to kill some weak things, read stupid books and try to reanimate them again, and again.

-Welp, that's a no...? hmmm, i guess i'll go do it myself later, but for that Undead...

He says pointing his staff's tip to the creature he considered to be a "thing", just a slave for that Necromancer's will, maybe he'll have thoose for them in the future, actually, he was wanting to learn that just to have slaves to his will.

-You revived him, am i right? he searched for you to fix him, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to, i just acepted that i'll have to do that shit alone, looks like that girl in Cinderfall was wrong, i see. Well, how you did that, is there any special thing i need to know or...?
(Richter)
[07:44:00] 'That Undead'. Those words prompted the skeleton's grip upon the pommel of his sword to tighten as teeth ground together. He was not some 'Undead', he was the very Chosen of the gods. It was an incredibly insulting thing to hear over and over. And, without a doubt, this man was not an omen.

At least, not one to be respected. As the staff was pointed at him, Cortez's hands slid down to the handle of his cleaver before throwing it from the dirt to point towards Richter, its tip shining with holy magic. "Do not belittle me, speck, for I am the Chosen!" he declares.

Of course, Saulot could stop his undead if he wished, but if he didn't, this skeleton would certainly engage Richter if the man didn't offer an apology.
(Cortez)
[07:49:58] Clearly Richter was not listening... the fact that Saulot told him to get lost, and yet he stayed here, was rather unfortunate, and not for the Necromancer that's for sure.

"Step out."

The very rift itself was opened from the tip of Saulot's staff as three additional skeletons emerged from the pocket dimension. Obviously, for any of those that knew not about Riftmancy, this act would be utmost impressive. Those skeletons appeared quite literally from thin air.

"If you fancy the undead so much, I'll give you a closer demonstration."

Those skeletons that emerged began unsheathing their weapons and glaring towards Richter, their stares suggesting absolutely nothing good for him.

"Cortez and the others, attack him."
(Saulot Vykos)
[07:58:30] Would simply step back as he sees the Skeletons coming, he was smilling behind of his hood, holding his staff stronger, the water from some of his flasks would come, he was prepared that time, slowly, the water flows with the air going to his back, as they would take the shape of black tentacules at his back.

-Welp, i wanted that, to know more about the undeads... you have to give me a shorter look right?

Even in danger, Richter was smilling and he was excited to see thoose creatures power, for him, they were just slaves for their Will, since for him Death is always the end of every river this life holds.

Pointing his staff to the "leader" the Skeleton who was beaten and searched for the Nercomancer's help, he was happy about that, actually, because of that, he wanted to see that one's power specifically, he'd just ignore the others...

-Welp, if it ends up with me getting beaten or not, i will analyze this dude and take this as a good font for me to study, thank you "Alan" one, i'll remember that!
(Richter)
[08:02:46] Cortez turned his gaze to his 'necromancer'. "I fight with honor, not with petty tricks!" he declares, the flat of his holy blade slashing through the air to slam against the conjured skeletons. Them being much weaker than the prideful warrior, they were simply brushed aside. "And I fight not of your will, but my own!"

The Chosen One took a few steps back, his entire body becoming enveloped with a pale yellow light which shone off his bones. With both hands clenching about the handle of his cleaver, the old blade was thrust into the air, his buttocks clenched as legs spread and his chin tilted up. "I, Cortez, beseech you for your powers, Gods! Allow me, your Chosen, your strength! By the power of Heaven and Earth, I shall fight valiantly with honor against he who smears the name of your chosen!" he shouts to the sky.

With the blessing of his creators requested, the sword slide down through the air to point at Richter. "Prepare yourself, knave!"
(Cortez)
[08:08:44] The skeleton's holy blade was raised to the air before being slammed down to the earth, holy energies combining with the wind to bring down a terrible squall of magic which battered against Richter. Just a moment later, Cortez was hit directly by a beam of occultic water which bat him away.

But he was the Chosen. The Chosen's wrath was not to be trifled with when he fought one which insulted his pride! With winds slamming against Cortez, the skeletal warrior pressed his ankles against the earth before launching himself forward, the cleaver held at his side launched upwards to in an attempt to quite literally cleave this man in half. This was no spar to Cortez; this was a fight of life and death.

Of course, no fight of magi was so easy. Blow after blow grazed Richter while the flat of his cleaver was slammed into the man's chest to daze him until he was thown away. "You behold the strength of my will!" he declares, preparing for another bout.
(Cortez)
[08:09:36] Saulot Vykos: <*Pulls snacks from pocket dimension to enjoy the show.*>
[08:09:36] Cortez: <*Will kill or maim this dude if he wins, unless Saulot stops him.*>
[08:10:27] Cortez: <*not kill sorry don't first encounter.*>
[08:13:52] Would simply get up hardly, he was bleeding, yet, his mastery over blood magic wouldn't be enough to allow him to use that for his good, Richter, kneeing, would slowly touch the blood with his hands, with his two finger, he'd approach that from his face, liking it.

It was delicious, the fight, and the way he analyzes that Undead's power, surelly, it's a power that he would love to have, a power that he needs, something that Richter would, love in acheaving, not just the fact that he is immortal, one of his biggest dreams, he knows that raisins so powerfull undeads with such a power is something that he would want to, an army of undeads, like the Necromancer managed to show, he couldn't refuse thoose things, never.

-Hehe... you've shown to be powerfull, but acept one fact dude, there is no "chosen one", you are just an undead, a slave to someone's will, you live to satisfy your master, for nothing more...

He'd say that grabbing his staff, using it's support to get up and stand once again, ready to continue the show.
(Richter)
[08:19:50] He was an idiot. An idiot! Cortez launched himself forward just as before, ignoring an initial beam only to fall to ridiculous traps, just as he had when facing that six year old omen. He was ignoring the lesson of an omen! Occultic water bashed against his skeletal frame over and over, while upfront attacks halted him from his own.

Over and over, the warrior attempted to slam the flat of his blade into Richter, but over and over he failed. It was so incredibly frustrating to the skeleton who had just declared this to be the strength of his will. With Cortez fall to a knee, a hand lifted off his blade's handle to form into a fist which punched angrily at his skull.

"By the Gods!" he curses, his hand returning to his sword. He was angry.
(Cortez)
[08:21:32] Was lauging madly, the pain, the blood, the only thing that made him to go sad, was the fact that his opponent couldn't bleed, but at that point, Richter was so drowned in adrenaline and extasis that the ecstasy made him to forget about the pain, he forgot why he was fighting that dude anyway...

His water tentacules were turned on, his clothes were full of blood and he wouldn't wash that, he loved that feeling, the feeling of being slashed and almost defeated, but he managed to ignore that feelings due to his madness and love for battle.

The skeleton was too focused on beating him jumping onto him, he was lauging as he sees that he fails over and over and falls onto his water traps, he couldn't even think to do that, he was just throwing random water beams agains his foe to see him falling...
(Richter)
[08:30:04] Would simply keep doing what he did, this time he wasn't hitten many times, he knew what to do now, he analyzed his opponent even drowned in ecstasys and in madness, he was crazy not dumb, getting closer, the evil sorcerer would stand at the defeated skeleton.

-You are no chosen one, you are just a creature slave to your master's will, nothing but a thing made to satisfy him, you are nothing... your holy powers are weak, i have to admit, you're strong at your Melee arts, but abandon darkness for the light... just proves how weak you are.

He was talking close to the creature, and just to him, he could still feel the taste of his blood, now he understand why Vampires drain that and use it as a font of power, he was smilling as he was talking that, the Skeleton's bone were cracked and drowned in water.

Standing up, Richter would make a ball of dark water, he wanted to see if Skeletons can be drowned, he wasn't going to kill that thing, he wanted to study more in the future, the infos he got were usefull for him, atleast for now.

He was about to throw that, and full the thing's body with water, he was wondering if thoose things needed to breath or something, that's why he was about to test it by throwing and manipulating the water at that thing, no word would be spelled, nothing, he just ignored that the thing's maker was still close to them...
(Richter)
08:35:12] No.

The bolt of powerful, crimson lightning flashed across the battlefield, striking away any of the currents of water. Saulot's sheer magical strength was WAY bigger than Richter's, and if he dared to oppose him, well... that'd be a poor choice to do, really.

Nonetheless, the stream of water was stopped. Part of Saulot was satisfied as it is; he didn't expect skeleton to put up against another magi at all, but here he is, he had upperhand at some point actually. There was certainly potential to Cortez, and Saulot wouldn't let his creation just die like that - or be tortured at will of some magi.

"That's enough."

Saulot stepped up after observing their fight, approaching closer. He cast a glance at Cortez - they were certainly going to have a talk about this, and an advice would be given on how to deal with such magi. As for now? He had to make this one go.

"Step away. Take your leave or next you'll know is that you'll be fried with lightning."

The necromancer wasn't going to repeat himself. Either Richter leaves now, or sticks around to face the full might of his magics.

(Saulot Vykos)
[08:39:28] It happened against. Just as before, but even worse. The skeleton was battered by constant whips and beams of purple tainted water whenever he neared for an attack, as if there was a wall blocking Richter from any of his attacks. 'Why, why?' Cortez thought over and over, searching for answers within his brainless skull as to why he kept losing.

A final lash of umbretarn smacked against his chest and sent the skeleton sprawling to the ground after another failed charge. But there was no sadness visible upon his face, as his skull was eternally shaped in the way to hint at a devilish smile. In this case, it matched perfectly as a maniacal laugh escaped from a now open maw.

Cortez lay defeated and at the mercy of Richter. Well, he was, until Saulot approached. But none of that mattered, only the lesson learned from this combat. Rather than go with the flow of the stream, he had fought against it. An appropriate lesson gained for fighting a water magi.

"I thank you, omen," he says.
(Cortez)
[08:45:26] Would simply throw the dark water at the floor, he wanted to test that thing more, his interest for undeads just grow, yet, he knew how thoose things will act like, actleast this one, Richter did know something about how to bring thoose things back, yet, he didn't even know how to starth with, he looked upon his shoulder to the Wychood forest, he was some little rabbits, he smiles, for now, he thinks that starting with small animals would be good.

But before going, he had one last thing to do, looking to the Necromancer, he would laugh, not because he wanted to fight again, actually, he knows that he haves no chance against him for now, but that would change in the future...

-I thank you, necromancer, thank to you i could see how it works, i saw how an Undead acts... i shall remember your name and take you as an example during my tests, and if someday i manage to get at your level, i'll revive someone such powerfull as him...

Once again, he'd look to Cortez, defeated and fallen in the floor after being beaten by the dark water magi.

-This is so magnific... i can't wait for my tests...

After his speech, he'd just turn his back and walk away... without even looking back to see the other's reaction, that was enough for him, rabbits and maybe some yokai would be his first victims...
(Richter)