Chaos Dev #3

Kuhn knocks on the door a few times in a complicated, non-nethradin way.
(Kuhn)


(From behind the door:)

Malentine the door is unlocked and opened on its own, inviting the sirenian and whoever he brings with him inside.
(Malentine Invidia)




Tomorrow's Venture

Once an Azraelite church named after the long dead monarch who built this kingdom, the cathedral has been repurposed to house a new kind of horrid worship; the worship of science. While necromancy was once revered in this place, two pale, cloaked figures with red eyes are often seen shifting in and out of the door and hiking down the winding pathways that lead up to it.

For those who stick around they notice the two men seem to never age, and are sometimes spotted dragging the hopeless prisoners of the kingdom into the lab, never to be seen again.

Inside, the purpose of this place becomes clear; a laboratory and research facility. On the north end is a small meeting space, perhaps a place where dignitaries and other visitors meet with the owners.

To the east side lies an particularly arranged area, one that seems to always have a thick, alchemical smog about it, even with the windows open. A cheap looking bed is pushed off to one side, its sheets somewhat stained with blood. While it is gross, it is the only piece that seems unkempt and disorderly, as the rest of this space is kept neat and tidy. The desks are arranged in a particular pattern, their contents sprawled out but not exactly messy. A far more luxurious bed sits off in the corner, its sheets, while sharing that medical scent, seem clean at least. For some reason there's even tea out, as if the alchemist at work here is expecting visitors at any time.



Malentine Invidia says, "Evening."

Kuhn says, ".. Evening."

Malentine Invidia says, "Feel free to take a some seats."

Kuhn says, "Right."
Malentine has some tea laid out, one cup in his hand and three others still steaming upon the table. They smell of mint and are strangely calming, a direct opposition to the aura usually around him. Of course this doesn't do anything to negate the general air of Sin and Envy about him as a vampire who has descended into an above average level of corruption. He sips his tea patiently as they sit down.

The chairs are cold, but cushy.
(Malentine Invidia)

The cold never bothered him, anyway..

 As the door creaked open, thick mist escapes from Hatsu's mouth as he had dared to make a return after a scathing review of his morality. He had spent a month within the confines of forbidden knowledge and material, as well as cutting out the 'vulnerabilities' that had left him the impression of being pitied.

 Taking a seat at the table with presented tea, he would offer a nod of thanks as he slips the chair back. His eyes had slight bags under them, likely from impossibly long nights of studies and trying to find 'himself'. The air still stung with the corruptive prowess that Malentine exuded, admittedly leaving a queasy sensation in his stomach. But there was no way around this experience, and he did his best to keep his wits about him as he examines the tea.

 Inhaling the wavering fumes, he appeared to settle to a degree, yet he does not partake of it just yet. The seats are frigid, and yet the frost that clung to his body appeared to be mana-based. The cold suited him nicely.

 Expectantly, he awaits for someone to break the metaphorical ice.

 Siiiiiip.
(Hatsu Wvelven)

Kuhn leads the group's approach, taking a seat at the far end of the table for no apparent reason. He opts out of the mint-scented tea, choosing instead to pull a sip from the oddly flavored water in his canteen. Two sips later, his mouth goes a bit numb.

Leave it to Mital to overdo it.

"First time I've been inside since before the war. Ah.. thank you for havin' us. Hatsu and Tona' have both changed a lot since we last met." He glances to both of them, eyes studying the dryad for that venomous gaze she had earlier.
(Kuhn)

Tonantzin too, sits down on the cold, but comfy chair. She didn't seem to be in the best moods in the slightest.
(Tonantzin)

Emerald eyes studied the trio as they sat and made themselves comfortable. Or not. He didn't seem to mind either way. With only nethradin as real company, any could guess that even a monster like Malentine enjoyed company, no matter how sparse it was. He sipped somewhat audibly and then held his cup in both hands near his chest.

"Changed... changed how?" He asked. The question wasn't necessarily directed at Kuhn, which would give the other two a chance to answer for themselves. Unless, of course, they wanted the sirenian to speak for them.
(Malentine Invidia)

No, he would speak for himself. Only he was capable of doing such, and it becomes apparent as he places the tea down. It's drained for the most part, likely parched from his travels through the harsh wasteland that laid outside. He would certainly struggle to be lax in the face of an individual that was renown for tearing down the strongest of opponents, but it strikes him.

 If he was going to wind up being targeted, he'd fight back with every ounce of strength he had. Resolve made itself apparent as he shits back in his chair, and what laid in his eyes was not fear, but concentration.

"Not changed, so much as opening my eyes. I thought about what you said for several days, and it made me furious. One thing I can not stand more than anything is being pitied..to be looked down upon as if I'm a tragedy of sorts. I realized the issues did not lay in others, but myself. I cared about their problems to the point where ithampered -my- dreams. I burdened myself with their issues, to the point where I lost my way. Where I lost my footing on the path I wished to go down.

 I severed the tethers that held me down, parting ways with those that failed to maintain a like-mind as my own. Those that slowed me down are no longer in the picture, even if it left me heart-broken for some time. Even so...my ambitions outshine that aching. I'll take what I want from this world, it is my right. Anyone or anything that gets in the way of that will be carved through."

 He remained sitting back as he stares hard at the table, only for his gaze to linger upon Malentine. The man - if one could even call him such, was an enigma to him. Trying to understand him was a wasted effort, but he would do his best to learn.

"This tea is delicious, by the way."
(Hatsu Wvelven)

After Hatsu's response, Tonantzin follows in suit. She shifts her body a little bit while sitting; perhaps the cushion's temperature made her uncomfortable, or maybe it was the general atmosphere. As she was coming down off of her little fit of anger, she eventually recognized that she was in the presence of a vampire.

"I don't have anything to hide anymore."

She also doesn't drink any tea.
(Tonantzin)

"And by that, she means that her father was our previous Chieftain. No more secrets, remember?"

He adds on to Tonantzin's testimony, pulling his lips to one side.
(Kuhn)

Malentine's eyebrows raise at Kuhn's statement and revelation of Tonantzin's past. "The Chieftain Lelhua? You're a bit... old for one of his children. So I suppose that would make you...

Sibri's." The vampire smiled and looked down into his cup as he thought back to the handful of times he has spoken with or been near the elder dryad. A formidable force of nature in his own right, Sibri had been one of the few warriors of Gehenna Malentine knew he'd have to be wary about during both his times disguised as a member of the tribe. Just as Leland was punished for accepting the Cainanite gift, so too would Malentine have been shown little mercy by the once Chieftain.

It made Tonantzin's presence here all the more curious.

"Your father... sacrifices himself to rid your tribe of vampires. He awakens the wraith and sends it rampagingtoward all those who defend the man he named his successor. He does all this in the great name of fighting against undead, fighting against my kind...

And you follow your friend here into the nest of greatest vampire upon this continent?" He asked the question half genuinely and half as if he was telling a joke, as if he was allowing Tonantzin to deliver the punchline even. The edges of his smile curled up and he studied her for a moment, now picking out the signs of Sibri's genetic influence on the dryad.

"You say you have nothing left to hide, but you're clearly uncomfortable. Angry, even. You have a weight that still rests upon your shoulders as you sit here with us.

Mm... unburden yourself, little Sibri. Your father mastered the arcane, I witnessed his power with my own eyes. So it's obvious that sort of mastery flows through your own veins. But even with an advantage, you will only find obstacles blocking your way so long as you expect me to give my knowledge freely while you despise every moment you're here."

His gaze turned to Hatsu. "I am glad to hear that you've cast aside your ties. It takes some strength to do that... and will take even more to push forth into the future in order to attain the knowledge and power you're here seeking.

It is one of the first steps in utilizing the arcane; Understanding that selfishness and greed are not only beneficial, but necessary for your survival as well as your success."
(Malentine Invidia)

"I understand, to a degree. I've read what I could about the foundations of the arcane, and it consists of not being constrained by the natural boundaries of society. It is...A lonely road, at times, is it not?" His gaze continues to linger upon Malentine, as if to hear his personal stake on the subject. Surely, one would grow lonely on their own up here for extended periods of time. Hatsu was brimming with questions, no amount of change would dissipate that morbid curiosity that inspired him to dive into the unknown and wrench out its secrets.

 But he does not tread that dangerous slope, as he's more than aware that Malentine was not human. He had it stolen away from him, and what sat before them was something..different.
(Hatsu Wvelven)

Kuhn shifts a bit in the seat as the other members of his unit state their case and go deeper into it all. Most the conversation (bar the parts about Sibri) seemed to interest him a ton, but he would pretend as though they did for the sake of being a good guest.

Student of chaos or not, he felt a need to carry himself with some sort of civilized demeanor in the presence of the Vampire.

.. Even if the Opioid water was a bit stronger than he intended for it to be.

The Prince looks on to Tona with a partial smirk, knowing that she would still be upset with him. It was something they could work out later.
(Kuhn)

The resemblances were subtle, but they were still visible. Her large eyes were colored a distinct pink; while her hair wasn't necessarily purple in any major degree, some of the flowers that grew on her head always managed to find themselves with that similar, purple tone. Granted, the leaves that made up her hair changed in hue slightly; they were starting to look more red in some parts.

Malentine's analysis only causes her to grow more angered.

She knew some of her father's history well, as well as Gehenna's history and disposition to Malentine and his kind; it was even apparent that the mere presence of an undead was unnerving. It was strange and unnatural and it made her angry, so why was she even here? Why would she venture out to the snowy mountains to speak with a creature that her people despised so much?

"He didn't... sacrifice himself just to kill Leland. If it wasn't for all the fake Gehennans, my... father would still be alive and here today. I could be happy and I wouldn't have to be here at all, but I am here." That's right, she was here despite what her father died for. "You're wrong when you say I have burdens. My only burden was being unsure of how to deal with my heritage, but now? It's just convincing you to teach me what you know, along with everyone else here.

I want to be here- asked to be here. Teach me more about how to be free, Malentine, because I believe I'm already on the path to doing so... I just need more knowledge."

The fire in her tone started to wear off, but she wasn't any less convicted.

"I just need a mentor."
(Tonantzin)

His grin grew more as Tonantzin went on about her father and her reasonings. In truth the vampire cared little even if they hated him. He knew his kind would never be looked upon favorably by the majority of this continent, and the few who did accept them would undoubtedly come to regret it later on. That was just the nature of vampires. It had been that way ever since the very first, when Cain himself slew his own brother.

Much like how Malentine had shattered his sister's frozen corpse to send the nethradin swarm upon Agartha.

"Yes, a mentor. And I'd like to believe I am... a better option that the Adjudicator of Dawn. I'd like to believe I am more... amicable than he is."

Malentine set his cup down gently and answered Hatsu. "I've gotten used to working alone. It is one of the unfortunate results that stems from venturing down the paths I have. I wouldn't necessarily say it is a mandatory part of understanding the Arcane but...

It definitely makes it easier. I have never been more free than I am now; unbound by family. Friends. Duty. I have no chains of obligation that force me to fight and defend something I have no interest in keeping around... But right now the world blossoms into a new age, one where the zealots of Huangzhou bolster their ranks and pride themselves on military victories. It's only a matter of time before they strike at Dawn in full..." he trailed off. His hand met the table and the vampire let his fingers drum upon its surface a few times as he thought to himself.

They were not the first to come to the mountain seeking guidance in freedom and power, nor did he expect them to be the last. But sowing the seeds of Chaos was important. It was similar to how his kind kept their population growing; a steady stream of thralls turned ghoul turned vampire. But this was easier. And far less messy. A teacher in full. So far he had only given advice, quick lectures that had been given to Kuhn and another, certain pupil who was now out in the world enacting his own aims and goals.

And though the unnamed student had been successful in achieving a power to manipulate the Lifestream, Malentine knew there was something there that was not present within at least two of the three who sat before him; a fire that only they could ignite themselves.

"You both want to learn more. You want to wield the arcane as the magi of myth and legend have. And you have a basic understanding of it, just as Kuhn does. I'm certain he's given you the brief versions of all I've passed on to him, so we'll start someplace... new."

He leaned back in his seat once more. "The power of Order stems from protecting the connectivity and flow of all living things. It is a weak and foolhardy path. Chaos is far more productive. You do not do this for anyone but yourself, as we've said. And though you both speak as if you are now capable of standing within some sort of isolation, you are lacking in proof." Malentine glanced between the three of them. "Even you, Kuhn." The emerald eyes finally settled on the sirenian. "You've yet to prove yourself, you've yet to utilize the fire within you.

You all have someone out there. Someone who is either your love or your despised rival. You have someone weighing you back, in terms of either being your weakness or your focus. There must be at least a singular person upon this continent who you know, deep down, you'd be better off if they were dead. SO." Malentine clapped his hands together. "Name them.

Unless I'm wrong..."
(Malentine Invidia)



Did he have a rival? A loved one that was holding him back?

The Siren tilts his head some, pondering on the question.

There were plenty of people that annoyed him. That got on his nerve. And there were plenty of women that he wanted to bed-- but none of them were truly holding him back, as far as he could tell.

"I'll find someone."

His answer probably is not one that is expected. Going out to look for a lover or a rival, only to cut them off and potentially kill them for power? It was borderline sociopathic. Psychopathic. But it was also freedom, no?

Just the prospect of it alone causes a toothy grin to appear on the siren's face.

"I'm.. excited. Can I go look for one now..?"

He rises up from his chair, taking a few steps to arrive at the side of Tonantzin. He was already rearing to go.
(Kuhn)


Kuhn says, "Keheh.. hahah."
"If I had to name them, only two people come to mind to me. I'd consider them both rivals, though despising them would be a stretch. I haven't gotten close to anyone to the point where I'd be passionate enough to feel that strongly toward. Meiyo, from Huangzhou was the one to deliver this chest injury to me. Even so, he had left me the materials to fix myself after our battle. The other would be Ariah Rowan, who I've continually battled over the course of time. Even so, she is not someone relevant enough for me to focus on, when I've defeated her."

 It was difficult for him to admit this, that he did not have a dark desire to see someone wiped off the face of the earth, in which he felt that passionate about. His apathy toward the general populace was great, and his enemies were all but unknown entities lurking in hiding. There were no names or faces he could directly point in, at this point of time.

 His brows furrow, but an answer would not arrive, even as the initial surprise of the question had faded. No one truly stood in his way, he had followed the writings of Naberius and had essentially surrounded himself with people whom only shared a likened mind to his.

 He had taken a long while to think on it, but that was his answer. Perhaps anti-climatic for Malentine, but it was genuine all the same. He cared little for the people of this world.
(Hatsu Wvelven)


The dryad looks to the table.

Did she genuinely hate anyone? Maybe, probably not. She knew of some annoyances, but it wasn't something she could overcome with time.

"I can't think of anyone; I've only kept my head low all this time, making sure no one really... looked too closely at me, but now I won't do that anymore."

Pink eyes drift up to find Malentine's eyes.

Was her answer truthful? Most likely, though the way she stared at Malentine wasn't in a particularly friendly manner.
(Tonantzin)

"Mm... disappointing. I guess I overestimated you all but--" Malentine stretched and leaned forward in his seat. "There is still time.

If none of you have real, solid names then your task is simple; find someone. Someone who doesn't belong in your world. You can all work together on finding a singular person or you can each find your own, I don't particularly care.

But you will find them. You will hunt them. You will kill or maim them and return with proof of your exploits. Should you come back to me with evidence that you succeeded? I will teach you more."

The Black Curtain let out a terrible song as it rose off of Malentine's back and into the air. The gem upon its hilt, a solidified piece of the Lifestream's own power itself, cried out for a savior while the vampire ordered his sword to tear the space within the laboratory. He flicked his wrist and through a rift they could once again see the darkened trees of the Dreadwoods.

"The path to Chaos is lined with the bodies of the weak. It is a journey for power that proves you earned your place within this war torn world and that you are willing to do what it takes to achieve greatness."

He was still sitting in his seat but he smiled and nodded to all three of the individuals who had now made the climb up to the mountain more than once to hear his words. It was a wonder that he could maintain some sort of sane air within their presence, though it was always only a façade, and they all knew better than to trust it was anything true. A vampire brimming with Sin and Chaos was not someone who bid good tidings for much of the world, even if he offered them tea and lessons in power.

"I look forwardto see you all again. Very, very soon... Don't make me wait long, alright?"
(Malentine Invidia)