Face off with Noxim

Zaruma wasn't quite interested in this sort of conflict, viewing it both irrelevant and petty.

"If you wish to remain and argue, Malgannan, then so be it."

"If Kaduis was bested by a young magi like this, I have no hope for that Kaor left. More of a nuisance than worth..."

The Archon's stance was clear; driven by ambition and appropriate goals, he viewed such displays of disagreement absolutely unnecessary, something that played little to no role in the bigger picture.

Yet, exaggerated by some.

His gaze was turned as the posture of the Archon was about to face south, and his gaze has fallen upon the two.

Noxim and Ravan.

Immediately, his expression had turned far more... irritated, almost annoyed. A duo of traitors - one that had willingly left Aetherius, another that sided with the Ardent.

"How unsightly..."
(Zaruma)


Malgannan says, "You are right, this is pointl-"

Noxim Florus says, "...Oh. The Archon."
Malgannan notices Askiladd.
(Malgannan)

Jack merely observes for now, he made sure to keep particular car in the movements of some. " Hmm. "
(Jack)


Noxim Florus asks, "It has been some time, hasn't it, Zaruma?"
Ravan waves, staying silent for the moment.
(Ravan)


Zaruma says, "Yes. It has."

Noxim Florus asks, "Tragedy has been treating you well?...Keeping you on a short leash?"

Noxim Florus asks, "Making sure to water and feed you?"
It was as if the children were never there. Malgannan's attention shifted completely to the Vanirhallan. His attacker. His enemy. Moving swiftly towards him, the Demon draws his halberd.

"You. You will fight me one on one now, unlike previously where you had to cower behind your allies."
(Malgannan)


Lucan says, "Oooh."

Lucan says, "See..."

Lucan says, "We can't allow that, Zaruma."
Adara narrows her gaze at Noxim
(Adara Fiamma)


Arielle says, "Lucan."
Arielle whispers something.


Zaruma says, "Hm? The conflict between Vanirhallan and Malgannan is their own. Let them at it."

Aysel says, "Askiladd can make his own decisions, Lucan."

Zaruma says, "As for you, Noxim--"

Zaruma says, "Do not dare speak of leashing when Ardent used you as their puppet."

Lucan says, "Hmm..."

Lucan says, "Fiiine."
Ravan giving a light sigh, the fae finally decided to speak up.
(Ravan)

Aysel whispers something.


Ravan says, "Good to see you...Mr. Zaruma."

Zaruma says, "I have no words for you, Ravan. Do not speak to me."
Lucan whispers something.


Tsing Tao says, "Ah."
Lucan whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.


Solace Huitzilopochtli says, "Uhhh..."
Arielle whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.

Aysel whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Lucan whispers something.

Arielle clasps at the Dreamcatcher around her neck, grimacing.
(Arielle)

Lucan whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.


Ravan says, "Really now? I don't have much to say to you either, but...As Tragedy once said, Faes are fickle, so you can just take my turning away from Gaiar as the fickle mind of a Fae."
Lucan whispers something.

Tsing Tao whispers something.

Tsing Tao whispers something.

Lapis Valerius whispers something.


Zaruma says, "You disappeared in grief, when I needed my people most. You disappeared, without acknowledging the situation as a whole."

Zaruma says, "If you do not understand that--"

Zaruma says, "This conversation will be pointless."

Ravan says, "I acknowledged the entire situation, I left because of that."
Tsing Tao whispers something.


Zaruma says, "--Turns it more sour than I expected, then."
Askiladd takes a step forward, raising a hand in a manner only similar to as if asking for the people present to stand down.

And surely, he would expect them to follow it.

"Mm, Archon Zaruma." He stared straight at the Archon, giving him but a brief look before switching his eyes over to the Kaor; The Garjlinite's eyes immediately narrowing into a pair filled with scorn.

"As Archon Zaruma heeded our toll and our ways, I will respect his decision. If he allows and wishes for me to answer this petty challenge of you, I will. What you, cretin, think - is not important."

Hand rose up to grip at the hilt of his blade, nose wrinkling into a frown.

"What'll it be, Archon?"
(Askiladd Sea-Snake)

Arielle whispers something.

Arielle whispers something.


Ravan says, "I realised that all the deaths of my friends, comrades, ones dear to me...Was caused by Tragedy."

Ravan says, "And I was 'not' about to live underneath the Coalition."

Malgannan says, "Zaruma will not stop me from fighting you... Like he said, this conflict is between you and me."
The beast's mask split open at the jaw, splinters of carved wood showered his surroundings, covering the verdant greenery of the prairie with a scatter of rotted wood and blackened bile. A row of jagged teeth flicker into view, a mixture of yellowed fangs intermingled with a new ivory spikes of sharpened bones, all curled into a macabre smile.

"It's a symbiotic relationship, Archon. I kill a nuisance for them? I get fed. I require something for me? They get a favor."

He stopped, the usual verbal tics he oft carried disappeared, an increasingly frequent habit the demon had begun displaying as of late.

"...In any case, I'm not here to trade words or blows with you. The young Soybeans are not at war with Aetherius, and I am at their side. However- I do have one question for you."

"Do you know anything of Tragedy's chain?"
(Noxim Florus)

The Archon briefly shifted his gaze towards Askiladd.

"Go on. This challenge is your own, and it has nothing to do with either Aetherius or Vanirhallans as a whole-- whatever your numbers are."

"You may proceed. I have something else-- at hand."
(Zaruma)


Malgannan asks, "Will you cower behind your allies now, or accept my challenge?"

Malgannan asks, "A one on one, instead of a four on one this time?"

Askiladd Sea-Snake says, "Mm. As you wish."

Arielle says, "Askil-."

Malgannan says, "Good."
Arielle bites her lip. She seems to shrink into herself, swallowing.
(Arielle)

Adara has never met Tragedy, and it confused herwhenever someone mentioned her...
(Adara Fiamma)

Arielle whispers something.


Malgannan says, "Perhaps I misjudged you after all then."

Askiladd Sea-Snake says, "Then come."

Askiladd Sea-Snake says, "We are not to interrupt the Archon's business."
Aysel whispers something.

Adara looks around at all the fucking people.. to many people to count..
(Adara Fiamma)

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Nyphadora whispers something.

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Nyphadora whispers something.

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Nyphadora whispers something.

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Iris Gwyn whispers something.

Nyphadora whispers something.

His gaze was full of distaste and displeasure alike, and the world seemed to not exist once he had truly invested himself in conversation with Noxim.

There was a certain- disturbance, putrid hatred in the air. Kaor could even take pride in it - not many manage to truly get on Zaruma's nerves, and yet out of all people and beasts, he had caused the Archon to feel this way.

"An opportunist..."

"I'm not surprised to hear that about you."

By extension, all Demons were opportunists in their nature, and both Zaruma and Noxim probably knew that very well. What Archon meant was something even lower than a typical opportunist- an implication of scum, evidently.

Besides, Zaruma's voice suggested as much.

"No. Not like you need to know anything about it."
(Zaruma)

You have 1 hour, 29 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.

Noxim quietly scratched his chin, his expression was one of apathy, indifference to the thrumming irritation that slowly built up behind the Archon's physique, the rage that threatened to push the demon turned man to draw the treant's blood.

"I've spoken with Yagg."

A single sentence was all the demon spoke, a phrase that meant absolutely nothing to the uninformed, yet plenty enough to those whom had shared the experience. He stood still, calm and collected, whilst waiting for any signs of recognition.
(Noxim Florus)

Taking full notice that Zaruma was focusing fully on Noxim, Ravan was not bothered and simply their arms. Dirt splashed off their body while beady eyes calmly looked onwards. They had been waiting for the day to meet people from Gaiar, to see old friends and...Hopefully not kill one another.

It was the latter for the reason they went back to being silent, knowing how some people snapped, especially Archons...Though Zaruma was the acception so far. Ravan just sighed, watching, waiting, listening, hoping to understand what exactly was going down and what might fully happen soon with this precarious meeting.
(Ravan)


Noxim Florus says, "..."
Tsing Tao whispers something.

Tsing Tao whispers something.

The Archon squinted at that name.

He could recall the bits of such information, and his expression seemed surprised, if only for a moment- but instead of allowing his expression to betray that, he promptly exclaimed.

"That name tells nothing to me."

Whether that route would be best to take or not, remains to be seen. Yet, the Archon decides to play the ignorance over anything.
(Zaruma)


Noxim Florus says, "..."

Noxim Florus says, "I will say now, Archon."
Tsing Tao whispers something.

Tsing Tao whispers something.


Noxim Florus says, "I will not be born of desperation. I will answer the riddles, and I will seek more."

Zaruma says, "Mm... certainly. Suit yourself."

Noxim Florus says, "...If you understand what I mean, then I will hope you too intend to do the same."

Zaruma says, "What I intend to do is none of your concern. You proved yourself to be an enemy to my attempts to raise our civilization of old."

Zaruma says, "That has not changed, nor I have any faith that it will."

Nyphadora says, "Mm..."

Nyphadora exclaims, "Oh!"

Nyphadora says, "Aha."
JaDrako Kumo whispers something.

Zariel whispers something.


Noxim Florus says, "Things change, Archon. People mature...gain new desires...new goals."
JaDrako Kumo whispers something.


Zaruma says, "I do not think you matured yet. Even if you do--"
Zariel whispers something.


Zaruma says, "You shed the blood that you should not have."

Zaruma says, "The blood does not sleep, Noxim."
Zariel whispers something.


Noxim Florus says, "I know. It thrives within me."

Noxim Florus says, "Festering."

Noxim Florus says, "Asking to be let loose."

Noxim Florus says, "But it remains at bay.,"

Zaruma says, "Oh? You can always come find me. I could let it loose for you."
Adara has a grin quickly appear on her face.
(Adara Fiamma)

You have 1 hour, 17 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.


Noxim Florus says, "Aetherius is not my concern anymore, Archon. I have all I need from my kin, and now I wish to ascend properly."

Noxim Florus says, "Unlike those before me, I don't intend to be comfortable with only taking the position of 'Second Best'."

Zaruma says, "We'll inevitably clash, then."

Noxim Florus says, "And when that day comes, pray I have not achieved my goals."
Adara begins humming a strange song about someone wanting to be the very best.. like noone ever was.. very quietly.
(Adara Fiamma)


Noxim Florus says, "Else you will find my blood very hard to spill, if it can at all."

Zaruma says, "Pray? I do not believe in any gods. I have me."

Noxim Florus says, "Speaks the one who was beaten into an inch of his life by the arrogance of those three."

Zaruma says, "Those Umbral Lords will face retribution for their arrogance, in time. You, however, should keep in mind that you're well in flesh right before me."

Zaruma says, "And I have beaten you barehanded."

Zaruma says, "Do not push your luck, Noxim. It tends to run out."
Solace glances up toward the sky, squinting her eyes after a moment.
(Solace Huitzilopochtli)


Noxim Florus says, "Mmm...We shall see."
Tsing Tao whispers something.