shadowmire entrance

There is a constant measure of dark lightning around him.

The scent of ozone and brimstone that follows, and the eyesight that does not betray its direction through the intricate design over his head; a contraption that seems rather odd and bizarre, stretching into a pair of horns.

"Curious."

The voice speaks out; it almost seems like he does not have eyes, but he sees. Without turning back at Xian, the voice speaks towards fae.

"Fairy."

"Where are the others?"
(Narrator)

Sitting at the table, nursing some burns, her emerald gaze returns to the man. Fingers tapping against the wooden boards she hums.

"That depends, unknown one. Are you one of the Mire? Or are you an outsider who believes our sacred ground to be their home?"

Her face was cold, analytical. She was judging the horned man, and unsure of where he'd land.

Horns meant one thing. Calling her fairy meant another.
(Xian Antirrhinum)

Inhale.
Exhale.

The potency of this place was palpable, and the surge of dark lightning around him even moreso- with every breath, it seemed as if the air around him becomes devoid of all life; to just about any, an instinct would dictate to stay away...

Yet there is power and strength in it.

There is a low rumble- the sounds most unnatural, and the direction of his gaze briefly turns back at Xian, even if his eyes are not seen behind the veil.

"What I am doesn't matter."

"What matters is what I'll do around here."

He sizes up the rest of those that are around- while he doesn't seem impressed, there's only a silent remark.

"This will have to do..."

Until his head shifts towards Xian once more.

"I'm going to round up Shadowmire denizens and push them to their destiny."

"Academy, much like the rest of the world, had it too good for far too long. We'll be expanding."

How amusing.. does he suddenly assume himself to be the force to be reckoned with, the force that's meant to lead others around here?

Even if he just recently arrived?

"Who do you listen to, Fae?"

"Who here holds authority and respect?"

It's easy to figure that monstrosities, much like himself, would have no leadership.

Instead, it's all about obedience.
(Narrator)

She paused, staring at him. Listening carefully. Her emerald eyes fixated on his words, glowing.

And then she giggled.

And then laughed.

And then straight up cackled, falling back on the table, practically crying. Despite the burns on her body, the injury was completely forgotten in light of how ludicrous this man was. He showed up and presumed himself to be the leader? That he would subvert the current group and they'd just line up behind him.

"H-hold on. Heheheehehe One more time. Just...just...tell me one more snrk time."

She was wiping tears from her eyes, trying to stem how absurdly funny this was to her.

"You're in charge? You sure about that? Cause I'm pretty sure Mother would love to hear that face to face."

Her face turned to Nill slightly, as if waiting to hear his response as well. Could he believe this guy?


(Xian Antirrhinum)

Nill's expression didn't betray much of anything, his gaze passing from the stranger, back on over to Xian.

And then back to the stranger. He winced slightly, propping an arm upon the table next to him, and leanning against it. Staring quietly. While Mother was one he could feel something for...

He had nothing for this occasion.
(Nill)

The feeling of dread follows him.

Upon her reaction, Narrator neither smiles, nor laughs, nor contorts his face... instead, he simply turns towards her- idly floating closer, the ever-growing dark seems to only be growing further. Whatever he is..

He's a powerful one.
A monstrosity not to be trifled with.

With every inch that he comes closer, her vision darkens- it becomes focused upon him, a tunnel-vision that she could not seemingly break away from. The smell of brimstone becomes all too palpable, akin to the ever-present dark thunder that could strike.

Though, it doesn't.
For now.

"Yes."

"I asked you a question."

At this distance, she could feel it- the strangulating feeling in her throat; the weakening of her body followed, much to her disdain. Perhaps, she could realize..

Her magic is fading.
Alarmingly quick.

"Who is the Mother?"

"Where do I find her?"

Strangely enough, his expression did not betray rage or anger- it betrayed nothing aside of a blank face behind the dark veil. Yet, there's a growing feeling she could tell; a gut instinct screaming from within.

Perhaps, being a nuisance isn't a good idea.
(Narrator)

She stopped and stared at him, her own magic billowing out from her. The laughter was gone, anger billowing out from her vision. Xian was done with the game.

"Mother Nyx is deep in the Shadowmire. A goddess. Divinity. You? No matter what you are, no matter what you believe yourself to be?

You are not her. You are pathetic. And no matter what you say? You will not sway us from her course.

Mother Nyx gave us the Mire, gives us her blessings, and shelters us in her comforting dark."

Wind gusted harshly around her. Injured or not, she wouldn't let any other creature of the Mire treat her so cavalier.

"Attack me? And you'll attack the Mire. Any idea you'll have of loyalty will be gone. The Mire doesn't follow this idea that the most powerful being is the one who leads. That you seem to believe threatening me will earn you respect, power, or aid? You'll be rejected.

Everything here worships either Mother Nyx, or the Dark Lord. And you, new one, are worthless in our eyes with such an arrogant view.

Get out. Return only with an apology, or prepare to be removed."

She gestured Nill to her side. Fully ready to force the issue.
(Xian Antirrhinum)

From the cracks of reality slipped in a formless mass of shadows. Coalescing into something before scattering once more. Unable to hold proper form, it could only drift in the darkness of the mire.

The only constant the smile in the dark. Grisly teeth locked in place as two pin pricks of light simply stared outwards. The ensemble always visible, no matter the angle looked.

Curiosity took hold as it looked from the masked stranger to the fae. Waiting.

Watching.
(Smile)

He didn't actually budge, his stare focussed on the two. Considerring his options. Which could perhaps be more -useful-? Useful to what he wanted... A finger drummed upon the table, as he kept learnning against his own hand.

A faint rasp as he'd speak forwards finally, "Am Nill." Not much else. "Plans in motion, perhaps wishes to join along?" Much less aggressive than the fae.

He kicked a leg over the other, shifting his position to get a better view. A better feeling and judgement upon upcoming proceedings.
(Nill)

She doesn't understand, does she?

And Narrator is not pleased with that in the slightest. As far as he's concerned, Shadowmire has long procrastinated into nothingness- occasionally being a nuisance to Academy students, but otherwise, entirely irrelevant in the greater scheme of things.

"I see."

"I desired a meeting with your Mother. Perhaps, she'll be wiser than you." To do as much as to not only decline this gift.. but to insult him in the process.

"This forest... the Shadowmire, as you call it..."

"It could've been a much greater thing in the world. Your Mother? She does not have to leave, or even surrender her power."

"It could've become something better."

"Something to be feared."

She does not understand at all - and for some reason, she believes that existence of Mother protects her at all times.

"Yet, you.."

"For some reason.."

"Believe that Mother existing protects your insolent tongue at all times."

The dark lightning forms- soon enough, and without any hesitation, it stretches towards the Fae. There is but one last remark given to Nill.

"--A moment."

"This one requires a lesson."

And a lesson she'll get.
(Narrator)

Her eyes lingered on Nill, only to narrow, before she returned her gaze back to the Narrator.

His aura was impressive but the Fae would never back down within the Mire.

"I believe no such thing. I believe instead, that an outsider who proclaims himself to be someone important to those within the Mire, to be worthy of respect, with nothing but power? Deserves nothing but disrespect."

The icy storm called to her side once more as she stared to him.

"So let me be clear. Regardless of what you do here? I will oppose you for every inch. You who believe yourself to rule the Mire, to demand, to control.

Are a speck. An eyesore."

And with that, the ice shards flew forward. Alone or otherwise, Xian would never back down.
(Xian Antirrhinum)

Dominating.

Throughout the battle, Xian could find it far more difficult to oppose someone like Narrator... for she could bear witness to the immense strength that this monstrosity possessed. Try as she might to whittle him down with the winds and ice, it fell short against the dark lightning and the bombardment of suffocating air in his arsenal.

Could she not see what she opposes?
Could she not tell the danger she's in?

There is a fine line between bravery and foolishness.. and to cross someone like Narrator has long pushed back into the area of foolishness- such mastery displayed by him was a testament of such, battering and wounding her along the way.

Yet, there seems to be almost naught done to him.

"How low has Shadowmires fallen..."

"Are you lot not supposed to be the threat for entire Esshar? Something to be feared of?" Something dreadful. But even then, it is not her power that he refers to..

It is her words.

"For you to say that power doesn't matter, to make such quick conclusions about me.."

"You have neither strength nor wisdom, Fae." As opposed to him, that she judges as someone who 'only has power'...

"Then what do you have?"

But the time of games is over. At the end, the powerful surge of lightning strikes her down- searing, burning her flesh, and the touch of sapping magic is left upon her. She could feel herself grow weaker by a minute..

A gut-wrenching feeling..
A horrible sensation to bear.

"But.."

When she lies defeated, the darkness of the Narrator dissipates; he stares upon her, his lips uttering more words.

"Contrary to what you believe, I'm not here to take over."

"Am I here to push you all? Yes. But you misunderstood when you thought I'm here to become a ruler.." As such, he isn't even interested in that.

"But you aren't the one to talk about that, nor I want to speak to you anymore. So instead.."

He inches closer- now that she's seen his power firsthand, it may certainly not be a good idea to vex him any further.

"Be a doll and tell your Mother I wanted a chat, hm?"
(Narrator)

Fluttering back from the ground weakly, her body tattered in more ways than one, bleeding, she had no words. Emerald eyes stared back at him, defiantly, wrathfully. Whether he understood it or not, Xian held more than one role within the Mire, roles that scarce others could fill.

In her eyes this was only a foe. She'd give nothing to anyone. Not that she could communicate to Mother Nyx, but the one who could? Perhaps she'd send the message along. If she didn't instead just turn the entire Mire against him. If it wasn't for...

Her gaze flicked to Nill. Only intensifying further. Fury in her vision. The motto of the Mire, and those in charge had been, we only have each other. And the moment someone strong came along, threatening to upend what they had, he decided to do nothing. To stand by and watch her be attacked.

He had betrayed her just like a sniveling conniving mortal.

Another gust of wind and the Fae flew higher, vanishing back into the depths of the Mire. No words, only rage.
(Xian Antirrhinum)

Two pin pricks of light stared at the fight that laid before them. Whoever the masked person was, they stood a class above the fairy they beat. Frayed from the journey beyond the cracks of the spirit realm, the Nethradin remained passive in the face of the combat.

Always smiling.

Always smiling at you.

It knew not the relations of the outside world, nor what had been said to spur this forth. Only that there remained one victor. A mortal in familiar garb, carrying familiar gear.

Cracks in space and time had revealed as much.

The smile floated, watching as the tendrils of dark minds reached out.
(Smile)

Nill knew better, especially with their current states. The fight observed, and yet again he noticed. His arms felt nothing. How unusual. Yet, he'd move forwards at what appears to be the conclusion.

Hands moving for the fae, to scoop her up carefully. She was useful... And he needed her to remain friendly to him yet... But, he looked to her as she ran. A word called, but... "Wait!"

No... She didn't. She was gone, and he saw that look on her face. He wanted to try something for her. Yet with her sudden departure... Perhaps this was all part of their Mother's design. After all, he'd been changed in his own ways... If he could mention that.

He let out a brief sigh, before steadying his gaze upon this stranger.

"You..." His tone held no accusation, amidst that terrible rasp. The same thing that always held the mutant back remainned. Was it just a trial he had to master? Or something to take from another permanently.

The masked stranger. "She not... Reached easy." A certain understatement for sure.
(Nill)

The Fae scurries away.

Yet he does not try to pursue her- his only intent was to come speak with this supposed Mother, or gain attention of the Shadowmire denizens.. and it seems that he's done exactly that. For the time being, his gaze turns towards Nethradin.

A familiar sight, mainly because he's seen plenty of those already; a nod to acknowledge his greeting - and his gaze turns to Nill.

"How quaint."

"Such confidence in this Mother protecting her, yet apparently she's difficult to reach."

"Not very smart to rely on someone for immediate protection if they're usually not around."

That's only common sense. However..

"But I'm not here to debate about her role or lecture anyone."

Instead, he inches closer; there is no particularly hostile intent- if anything, he's here to speak. Something that Fae didn't understand clearly.. and instead, chose to be a nuisance.

"Tell me."

"How do I reach this Mother? Or better yet, is there anyone else of authority?"

A pause.

"I wanted a chat."

"I'm sure your betters would be interested to hear the means they can use to harvest the youthful magi of Esshar.." He refers to the Academy, of course.. this could be a bountiful harvest of the size unseen before.

"Unless I would be unpleasantly surprised to hear that those of Shadowmires have grown soft-bellied."

"Hopefully that's not the case."
(Narrator)

How could he answer those questions succinctly. With as few words... His arms crossed, as his head tilted down. Lost in thought for a few moments. He was calculating multiple things.

In his head.

"Reached, going in deeper." The same thing Xian had said. "Dwells there. If even live to it."

Betters, that cold word again. To knock him down... He wasn't numb enough to take no offense to that much. But he gave little reaction. Eyes drifting elsewhere as he considerred further.

"All here, own authority." The one truth of the place, however, they may well work together to reach common goals.

However, he did see it possible to give a proper name this time. "Nyx. Mother." Even if he wasn't sure if Nyx was his. That seemed to be an answer they sought.
(Nill)

...What in the name of Helheim was the Mother?

Still a newcomer to the area and this plane of existence, the drifting smile seemed unmoved. There was nothing it could do for this human in the Shadowmire. No one it could bring it to for such discussions, or anyone to even point towards.

However...

The shadows swirled and shifted. Figures danced within, a city covered by smog, and a gear ever turning. Tendrils rose to touch upon the heads of the dancers, linking them together in their strange ritual.

A gap in reality opened. A rift torn upon the lifestream.

A smile waiting.

Once more, dark thoughts trembled through unreality. A tremor of being.
(Smile)

No authority.

That would somewhat complicate things.. but at the same time, Narrator didn't care too much about whom he would have to address- if he'll have to address all of the denizens at once, then so be it.

"I see."

"Then I suppose I'll just have to address everyone."

A simple solution, really.. but Nill gave him an idea of what to do. By now, Narrator knows all too well what exactly he'll have to do in order to gather Shadowmire denizens around him and put them to some purpose.

A purpose they'll no doubt enjoy, actually.

"You have my thanks."

It's just as he said - he isn't here to make war or battle someone. The incident with Fae was an entirely different thing. And.. it would seem that he begins to head out.

Only sparing a glance at the Nethradin nearby.
(Narrator)