Ancestral Wrath -Clashing of Faiths-

[14:28] "Declan, I'm sorry, but. . . There is no path we can walk down. That won't lead to lives lost, on both sides. . ." The fox knew this all too well, he lost two brothers to the conflict between Dawn and Huang.

How many more would he be forced to endure before it all came to an end? And for the most part, the fox wasn't going to trail behind in this race against time. Rather, he reveled at the speeds in-which brought him ahead of most, in such a short time. . .

"It's here, now. We make impact. . . Fight or stand down." He called out to the group of Dawnsmen, drawing Masamune out from its sheath. Sapphire flames licking the surface of the obsidian blade.

Illuminating the cave beneath an array of colors reflect off its surface. "See. . . It's also the fact Dawn exist that people like.Kaumi were killed, even if the man who'd done it is dead. . . Nothing can change the past, nor the future to come.

All we can do is remain stead-fast. This is what it means to press on!" He howled before allowing the mana kept him to swallow him whole. Erupting from his form were the might of Ifrits claw, intense flames hardly finding themselves calmed by the blemish of scolding heats. Peeling away at the foxes back, spreading fourth in the shape of wings. . .

"Ready yourselves!"

A sudden cry that broke apart any chance of resolution being sought by talk.
(Laemor)
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[14:35] "I'm not willing to let them go, Declan.

I don't negotiate with the scum I slaughter. I did not give the hundred or more men I've cleaned off of Dawns streets the chance to debate with me the ethics of their deaths. How can I afford these people that luxury, when they've done so much more? I would be a hypocrite." Taiga had already drawn his blade, and he levels it straight at the enemy.

His gleaming crimson eyes explode with a vibrant, all consuming light - and every source of shadow in the cave all stretches and warps under his command. A complete and utter blackout, save for the raging fires of Laemor and Taiga's own eyes.

"I made a promise to the one I love. I aim to keep it, consequences be damned. They've taken too much to go unpunished!" Taiga roars, and as Laemor charges into battle, Taiga is right behind. They had tried to resolve things peacefully before, but it had never worked - what hope did they have to talk things out now with what he saw a city of lunatic murderers? Every word they spoke could be lies, as far as he knew.

More than that... despite it all... Taiga was absolutely bloodthirsty for any form of revenge. To make his mark, to tear apart the ones that had hurt and corrupted the young children he was sworn to protect. The adrenaline pumping through his veins was only further enhanced by the beast that lay beneath his skin. That beast would feast tonight.
(Taiga Rowan)
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[14:39] Ascalon brought a hand to rub the back of her neck. A bit stressed out clearly. She'd talked quickly to defend the ritual, yet. . . No. You couldn't doubt in front of one's foes.

A good thing at that, as the Levengarders? Began to press their attack. As quick as the wind the young Zanders hand shifted upon her pommel, gripping the hilt of her blade. Hefting it free, the mighty blade of Dark Flames shimmered in the darkness of the cave. Purple gold steel sickeningly twinkling.

As she brought the blade close she'd whisper almost a mantra, a creed. "The Lion rises before the Dawn." It was then she'd start to shift, ready.

As Ascalon made her move the ley-lines across her form started to pulse and glow. Azreal's life-blood boiling to glorious fruition. With the howling reika streaming from her body she'd lean forward. The balls of Ascalon's feet barely touching the ground as she shifted about for better footing.

Blazing emerald hues settled upon her foes, each one just a reminder of the worlds imperfections. Each one ready to kill and maim because of petty differences. She'd glance her eyes to the side. Mertaisyl was standing her ground. Jessi fleeing, with any luck one of the swordsmen would chase her. Kyla was spacing out.

"I'll leave kneeling to those without conviction!" It was a shout empowered by a glimpse of something greater. She knew Azreal's perfect world wouls stop this kind of violence from happening. All she had to do was fight for it to come about.
(Ascalon Zanders)
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[14:39] She sighed, it was unfortunate. She had meant every word she said. Leave it up to the 'good' guys to be against a peaceful resolution. Instead they were the bloodthirsty type it seemed, the two leaders of the group at least.

Vision clouded by anger they find themselves unable to see the truth when it is spoken.

"It is unfortunate.. I was going to keep my word..."

A small cylinder is produced from a sleeve and slammed into the ground aided by gravity magic between her and the Dhampir as thick white smoke billows between them.


(Jessi Ultovex)
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[14:40] this is gonna suck
(Jessi Ultovex)
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[14:40] The talk of punishing, and killing and fighting and all that.. Kyla continues to scratch at the ear of her panda hat for some unknown reason.

First, she addresses Taiga, a man she once knew to be kind hearted, one who protected children. "Taiga, the actions here determine how the children Sors has will be treated. If his puppy" she gestures towards Mertaisyl "is hurt or killed, what do you think will happen to the kids? Do you think he will simply pat them on the head and say 'oh tha's okay ya' ma' friend now'" she pauses as she shakes her head. "No, that'd just be.. weird."

Now she stops scratching that ear. Moving to step in front of Mert. "If you want a fight, fight me. At least if I get hurt then nobody else will. Plus, I've got some rocks you can eat." Kyla draws forth her staff and points it at Taiga. Seems she actually means her word.
(Kyla Vishkar)
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[14:42] not a real flee, just curious.
(Kyla Vishkar)
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[14:42] Declan says, "then*"
[15:06] "I...hate this," Declan said as his hand were shaking, "They're hypocrites...they're wrong." Declan was on the verge of actually crying as he did this. He didn't want to harm a kid, he didn't want to fight a kid, why did he even come in the first place?

This would've all be simple, capturing Sors, killing him, ending the feud between good and evil and live a peaceful life. Yet, those four had to come, those four simply had to make it hard on Declan and force it all. It all had to go so, so wrong. However, that was not the bit that pushed him to question his decision, it was them.

Taiga and Laemor, both of them talked of killing, destroying the land of Dawn and slaying. They, the gun-hos of Levengard that dared to attack them all despite the possible negotations that were there. The kids would've been fine, and eventually safe, but there they were, forcing to attack and assault.

It really made Declan question everything that they thought was true, made them question even if it was worth trying to protect the people that were 'good'. It made them question if good and evil were on the same spectrum, or even if it was real. What was the point of 'good' if the 'good guys' were ready to kill, ready to sacrifice kids for the sake of their selfish pride and ego.

Declan was shaking, breathing was becoming harder to breathe. And all through the battle, the only thing that was captivating his thoughts were his past, where everything was easy and not hard to comprehend. A past where it was just him in Valmasia, going to Azrael's church, praying for the salvation; it was all a fairy tale.

But, it quickly went forth in time, when he left Azrael for the spirits and eventually Kraus. How everything he believed in was the wrong thing and this was the right, that Kraus was the key to peace and prospertity. That the war against Dawn and it's Necromancy were to come and end; yet here he was, facing a child.

The battle waged, each of them giving their all or so it appeared. Declan was simply dashing through his strikes, going 'invisible' at all the right times and utilizing non-lethal force to weaken and break the opponent. Whips lashing and cracking against their clothes and eventually making them kneel.

However, the young Zanders too was something of note. Their Rieka was going in and out of their body and he was truly at the point of sweating. It hurt him to fight, and it hurt him even more to just sit there and attack the kid. The battle of right and wrong, who was truly the victory in all this?

While deep in his thoughts, the young Zanders was able to cut deeply into his skin, causing diluted waterblood to go down his side and fill it with Rieka. It hurt, it all hurt, and in that break of madness that was going into his head, he fought with my vigor.

Whips clashed down, the Earth grabbed him tightly like a glove, and it slammed the child down. And just when Declan was about to finish it, there was something that stopped them. Something that told him to show that mercy and break him out of the notion he was having.

"Leave..." he said, holding a spear of Earth towards them, shaking, "just...leave. I don't want to kill anyone, I don't want to hurt anyone. You're not the enemy, Dawn is a place, not an entity. Sors Ultovex, the one who harms people for fun, a true villan, is the only one who is deserving of death. He cannot change, but there is hope for everyone else.

Live, tell Feth I said hello. Tell him I'm sorry. - infact, I am sorry, child. You probably lost everything once upon a time. You're simply a child, about to be a man, you already know how this world works, how this island works.

It is corrupted, humanity is corrupted. There is no good, there is no evil. A clash of ideals, religion, a clash of pain and who can out-battle who. It needs to end. It all needs to end..."
(Declan)
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[15:26] The young lion cub roared with all they had, not some half-hearted display of violence. No, they went all out every ounce of that maddening reika pumping through their veins. They'd swing the darkened blade about as they could.

Every moment they felt a ping of ever increasing rage, the maddening voices of past Oscuri urging them onwards. The flittering of glorious wings of black and white and bone in their peripherals. How could one falter when their father's watched? While their mothers cheered? While their god smiled?

The answer, they couldn't. Yet, sometimes conviction wasn't enough. Every swing of their blade seemed to swing through mist, or their arm would be caught by stone, even the lashing of plant-wrought whips battering away at them.

Frustration, why was this so hard? It should be easy to hit them. It was in that mindset, the pulsing reika pushing against the back of her eyes that they finally did it. Their muscles bulged for a moment as they swung hard, their blade biting harshly against the southerner's ribs. Blood flowing forth, it was at that moment that victory seemed near.

Ascalon's face alight in a rush, victory it was there! Or so she thought. As soon as the strike landed they felt the lashing of whips, stinging pain erupting through their body as it hit. Next came the earth, crushing them into the ground.

They hit hard, the blazing reika flittering away as they struggled to get back up off the dirt. Dazzed, confused, they looked up towards Declan. Hearing words instead of feeling another strike.

She'd spit upon the dirt at his feet as he spoke, blood mixing with the liquid. Clearly they'd gotten hit harder than it first appeared. "The worlds flawed, Kraus betrayed us you can see it yet you stand with falsities! Murderers and thieves pretending to be divine! It was those same murderes thatdied in Dawn, yet we will grant them eternity of peace."

As she spoke she'd twist the over-sized blade about in her grip. Stabbing it into the earth and hefting themselves up from the dirt. She'd shoot a glare at him, this time though, it seemed she wasn't quite seeing him. "Tell Feth? I don't even know who you are."

She'd lost but it was clear she'd be let go. If for no other reason than her youth. Something about that sickened her deep down. It truly showed that if she'd been but a few winters older. Death would have came for her.
(Ascalon Zanders)
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[15:31] Iral Woodnshire whispers: (Femscalon <3
[15:35] "The worlds flawed, Kraus betrayed us you can see it yet you stand with falsities! Murderers and thieves pretending to be divine! It was those same murderes thatdied in Dawn, yet we will grant them eternity of peace."

Declan remained shook, scared of everything that was said and done. Not only was that the thing that was making him like this, it was the sad fact that they may be right. Kraus did make the world imperfect, making everyone meet the unsatisfactory thing known as death as well as forcing many people to die.

Even though Humanity was born in the angels, humanity itself was ready to sacrifice it all to go to war. To kill others and harm others, to force others to do the worse to people, yet Azrael had a plan to fix it all, and it was a good plan. Even though it did involve the notion of undeath, it was a world that no one had to die, to suffer, or worry if they can come home.

Maybe Ascalon was right, maybe Kraus did abandon them, maybe Declan was standing with falsities and failures who would even kill him if they so showed it. However, Declan didn't know what to do, he was akin to a confuse puppy who didn't know where to go or do: staganant in his thoughts and in his movements. There was no right, and there was no wrong, there was only pain that comes from many people.

"Kraus...made this world, to make us all suffer and die. He abandoned us, and no one has ever made it to Avalon. Maybe...maybe Azrael was right in making us immortal." Declan's open palm turned into a simple fist, and his gaze that was full of life, died that day. Declan wasn't the same.

"I am a friend of Artaghh and Feth. I am there for them when they need me, for they both have good hearts. I am Declan Caleum, a man who is lost and confused...a person who may be returning back to what made sense..."

Declan felt chained, as if something was gripping at his soul and binding it. Karma was right, sometimes you have to do evil to do good, and even the good can be evil, perspective that matters. Declan was a man of change, yet there was something going off, wrong. "I know that your settlements make reports...well, jot this down. They have an ally in the works if things go well.

Tell them, that upon Feth being captured, Declan took them off the hands of the people that were going to be executed, taking them to safety where he was then able to escape without a scratch. And in a patrol made by Taiga Rowan and Laemor, Declan was in the scene trying to end it peacefully before the two attacked. You, Ascalon, went to attack Declan and he fought to defend himself. You later discussed it in length and have determined that Declan has a chance to change to be one of our allies. He also wishes to request a meeting with Artaghh, Feth, and Jessi." Declan looks at them finally. "Can you do that for me?"
(Declan)
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[15:45] To say the young woman's features faltered a bit at the answer was an understatement. They simply hadn't expected their words to be listened to. Even Arlei didn't really listen, she was to obsessed with Ryujin.

That O'so habitual frown settled upon her face. What was she to make of that. Violence had failed and yet, they where listening? That frown deepened as a look of confusion crossed her face. Maybe, the goats had the right idea.

She'd blink refocusing upon the here and now. Looking across at Declan her eyes narrowed. A lot of what he was saying sounded almost to good to be true. Yet, she wasn't dead. So, it was worth listening to for now.

With a hesitant nod of her head she'd go to dash away, seemingly stopped at the last moment by a memory. She'd turn around to Declan. Her voice rolled out smoothly, not as ragged and wrathful as it had been before.

"Do you know if Iral was killed or not?" She knew most of those caught by those of Dawn's enemies didn't live long. Yet, maybe.
(Ascalon Zanders)
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[15:46] "She is fine, and she will always be fine, child. I will protect her with my life..."

Declan soon dashed off, going back home to make his own report. Of course, leaving a trail of blood from that sword piercing against his side.
(Declan)