Reveler - Champion's failure (9/17) (CoI)

[20:32] The news of war hardly reached the ears of the Archon, not yet that was. And ever so ambitious were they to ensure they'd at the very least. Secure their footing before impending doom marched upon them.

Into the city the Archon went, alongside them a small batch of individuals.

Slow, steady and like royality.

The archon took the stepping up towards the throne. "Ah, Great-Lord. Have come now, to speak of the monopoly that has been played among us all thus far, yes? If you were a piece in a game, you'd surely be the hat!"

A wolfish look as they tipped off the commanders hat of the now deceased, sonce. "But if I were one, i'd be a. . . Boot! Ready to kick apart anything and everything. Mhm."

Wrapping both arms around the armor they'd adorned. They came with every intention to lead the city into greater heights. "Have spoken, even done battle with big brother. Yes? All responsibility will fall upon my shoulders from hence forth. Yes? Have no time for /councils/. Much work needs to be done upon this city. And much work, will be had. Yes? Nothing will change. But the progress we make.~"

With all, but an air of confidence the archon patiently awaited the Great-lords response. After-all, they'd yet to oust the archon of progression. And big brother seemed more than willing as the stakes were already as high as they were.
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
[20:38] Reda continued to stand right behind Reveler, not speaking a word as she didn't want to come off as disrespectful.
(Reda)
[20:40] Was it day or night? The demon couldn't tell at the moment. It sat upon its throne lazily with an arm supporting its head up, hand clasped about a furred cheek. Black eyes drifted in and out of reality while a disgusting aura surrounded it. Something.. forbidden and old, perhaps similar to Shiva's own spirits. But surely far different.

It murmured beneath its breath over and over, even as the archon approached.

"Shogg, shogg, shagg, shagg. Shya'h."

The demon's tome floated above its head, the pages open so that its script was easily read. Whether it was telekinesis, occultism, or merely an illusion, it was hard to say. But Lugonqi was certainly rather encompassed by it.

Click, click, click.

Shiva's descent finally came to a halt and Lugonqi looked up. The black grimoire closed and lowered while it looked beyond to study her, listening to each word.

"A translation, Shiva. Who is big brother? And what is your implication on taking all responsibility?" it calmly inquired. For all the pain that the woman had caused, the archon of court didn't seem to currently express any direct hatred.
(Lugonqi Alazauq)
[20:49] "Hrm. . . Big brother, Illaron. Yes? Conceding to my words when we spoke. Yes? Openly stated will not interject upon battle between. Malgannan and I. As well as. Leadership. Over. Gaiar."

There weren't many ways in-which the archon could express it. The air around them simply brimmed with motivation as soon as they spoke the words.

"Gaiar will be returned to one of, industries. Moving forward, despite all claims otherwise. City will serve well. For army that is soon to come. Mhm, /my/ army that is soon to come."

For there were many now, lying in wait. Gathered as individuals and now among the Archon as a whole. "The city will seize life from the lands, from Gehenna. Will march to victory. All the while bringing about a most profitable life for all. Mainly, Demon-kind. Yes?"

Tapping along the scriptures of ancient tongue that ran along the surface of the demonic armor.

(Shiva Vel'Heim)
[20:50] … It had been a long time since his last battle. Back in that time, the colors seemed nearly brighter. His hair wasn't gray. Ardent stood, tall and formidable, and he could recall the smell of smoke where it had burnt to ash.

-but that was years ago.
An aging soldier approaches the temple's steps.

He gazes up on the Archons- … decadent, terrible creatures of grisly pomp and fearsome ceremony. Lugonqi himself was an especially dire sight even for their dark kind. Jericho had much preferred serving the Tempest...

… But though retired, he had sworn an oath. A binding promise to do a duty he'd never turn back on. "Archlord!" He calls out- … almost brazenly, though his hubris is relented in his next gesture-

-he falls to a knee, in the samemanner as war-thralls and battle mages in the Aetherian army had for years now. "I am Jericho. I am a retired soldier; I use earth magic." He calls-out.

Now, to return to arms... "I've come to fight in Aetherius' armies again. Give me a weapon, sire, and I'll fight our enemies to the death." He declares- … his voice aged, raspy.

But he still had some strength left.
And if need be, he'd bleed it all for his home.
(Jericho)
[20:50] Reda asks, "What's going on?"
[20:51] Reveler says, "They are of speaking of the future of Gaiar Aetherius."
[20:55] Reda whispers: Is Gaiar in some kind of trouble? They all trying to gang up on the vampires?
[20:56] Reveler whispers: Is not of vampires who have declared war. Is of Deserti and Gehenna.
[20:57] Very slowly were the mechanisms of the demon's mind being unwound and lubricated from its mental collapse. Its eyes were dilating to focus on the occultic woman that had recently snapped the demon's ego. Voices were entering, all pounding on the hungover archon.

A hand rose.

It shifted in its stone throne to an upright state as fingers curled on the left armrest. "Then you concede, Shiva, to serving Gaiar Aetherius? You recognize my position? You recognize our utter need for unity?" the demon clarified, having trouble with Vel'Heim's manner of speech as always.

The ram canted its head to stare beyond and set an eye lazily on the elder man. A single word repeated in his mind, with a tenderness like a kiss set on his forehead.

"Patience."
(Lugonqi Alazauq)
[21:02] "Oh yes. I. Shiva. Recognize that Gaiar requires one such as I. To take hold of Leadership. Through I... Will the unity you speak of. Great-Lord. Will Occur. For as it stands. There is no unity, beneath your rule. Yes?" Tapping its foot.

There was to some meager semblance of unity. In the mere fact the city still stood because nobody really cared to burn it down.

"Your. Position. Great-Lord. Will remain the same. Yes? However, It will be. I. Who calls the shots."

Raising a single hand, at the very least it figured this much to be the straight-forward answer. Required. Of the conversation.

"Upon my ascension to Leadership of. Gaiar. I shall instill the effortless work into the minds of many as they build the object for my army to march through."
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
[21:11] Fingers rapped against its cheek. Its jaw rolled in its place as black eyes scrutinized the ascended. After several moments of study, the demon exhaled. "How tactless of you, Shiva. How utterly gauche." A hand waved.

"You are correct in that our current state is, mm.. lacking. Yet you do not quite comprehend what it means to sit upon this throne. A leader cannot wander the plains in search of thralls and followers like a lesser can, not one who stands to be the face of all the rancor of a people."

Its tongue clicked.

"If you desire to be a general, fine. I admire your work ethic. But, mm.. if you wish to 'call the shots', as you say, a charisma lacking individual such as yourself would be best off departing. Holding the talents of darkness, leeching off of the power of an otherworldly worm and a capability for breeding like a rabbit does not qualify one for leading Gaiar Aetherius."

Lugonqi fell silent, awaiting a response.
(Lugonqi Alazauq)
[21:15] "Heh. . . Oh Great-Lord. For one such as yourself. You are not very. . . Wise?" Without much bother to it, the archon turned on their heel. Each step take. Carefully.

Their gaze resonating with brilliance, desire. Offered over to, Conall. "Great-Lord. . . I pity your remarks. You fail to realize. There is little merit to what was done prior to Ascending. Yes? You've done nothing of notably. Who can you even claim as a champion?" A stifled laughter through its telepathy.

Its lips merely moved in motion, an act. A farce.

"I need not even defeat myself. I will show you the strength of one whom follows close beside I." A single arm reached out, resting over top of the Dryads shoulder.

"Conall. It would do me much joy. . . If you'd bring me the Great-Lord. Defeated. Yes? How many times have I spoken about this, yes? Was I not, humble? Yet they still oppose a simple rule. . . Please, put them. /In their place./"
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
[21:18] A whimsical cackle breathes from the Dryad, the ends of his mouth curving upwards into a corruptive smile. Jagged teeth are shown as Reveler rises. The power of the woodlands is around him, swelling, as another power punctuates the air sensually at the feeling of Shiva's touch.

"As you desire, Master. I am yours. You need only give me the command." Already the forest begins to rise around him, and Reveler cackles.

"Do you command me to begin now, master?"
(Reveler)
[21:27] "Utter ignorance."

A wave of telepathy rolled downward, the brickwork on the stairs shifting slightly as the demon's own anger was taking manifest. It was a mixture between irritation and the degradation of mind that had slowly been taking place between the usage of its tome and many prior defeats.

The ram rose to a stand.

"I am the spawn of Argoth. I slew alongside Gehenna a Watcher of Illyotha and gained its power, evolving through the very essence of the power of our ancestors. I fought in battle after battle for Gaiar Aetherius. I did battle with the Sin of Mercy and stood victorious. I ascended to the state of Archon and hold the throne of Gaiar Aetherius." the archon's voice of mind roared as flames grew to dance upon its fingertips with the crackls of heat.

"I have had champion after champion, each serving their purpose. Aside from Aetherius itself, my current champion is Lisa'belle Rosethorn. All of your insolent questions have been answered, you rogue who desire power so greatly as to strike at what we survivors of the cataclysm have finally created."

Its tome was gripped tightly. With a flap of its wings, Lugonqi flew forward before gracefully dropping down onto the center of the plaza. "The others back me, Shiva, every archon aside from yourself. You are a fool to believe your power which does not even gulf our greatest can win you this throne."

With a fwoosh, the magic of shadowflame enshrouded the ram's entire figure as the grimoire of N'lok was held forward. "Come, champion. Show your strength."
(Lugonqi Alazauq)
[21:34] The Grand Summoner watched as the great lord took to flight and came descending upon the center square with fury oppression.

Yet to no avail would it hold the Archon of /Adversity/. Any wince or flinch. Rather it watched, ever so inspired. "Yes. . . Speak of, past. Great-lord. Cling to such past and you will /never/ realize the future. For what we gain from the past is not to seek for it, but to expand upon it for the future of our kind." Ever much so the Enchantress could not muster the courage to simply. . .

Be idle, a, subordinate. "Will use your knowledge. Of all you've done thus far as inquisitor of Gaiar. Mhm. . . Strange that much of what you do. Great-lord. I find approval as well. Konaxx. Yes? Came to, I. For help. . . To teach /I/ and allow /I/ gateway back in. The fae of Valmasia? Preparations to return to illoythia!"

There was, but a laundry list of things already igniting beneath the surface. "Great-lord. I could too could go on and on for what i'd done in the past. However. . . Will display not what past has brought, but what future will bring!"

Raising the blade from its back. Insatiable was tossed over in the dryads direction. Such a. . . Weapon in lust for blood.

This would be a true-sight. "There is so much more to do, Great-lord. I do hope you keep up with my, Champion. For there are many more like him. Awaiting their entrance into the city upon my Rule." Though. . . Not many if any were to compare to, Reveler.
(Shiva Vel'Heim)
[21:34] {Item} You drop Amber x1.
[21:34] {Item} You picked up Insatiable.Dropped by Shiva Vel'Heim. .
[21:40] The Dryad cackled as the Archon descended, a cube thrown to release the Daemon that stood under the Reveler's command. His mouth twisted into the most corruptive smile, spires of jagged teeth as Malefic crushing energy filled the air. He listens without speaking until the Archon made all his words clear. And then he frowns.

"Will be of defeating you then seeking out champion to be of claiming. If is of champion of Archon? Is highly desirable." His vine tongue graced his lips.

The blade of Shiva is thrown, and caught in the air by the hatred, soon reaching Reveler's hand. Hatred pours through him as he bobs his head, heart pounding.

"Master, it is of beautiful. Please be keeping your eyes on me. Is of having much to show. Will do as is asking.. Ah~"

He looks back to Lugonqi, blade in hand. "Lord of Aetherius, you claim you have done battle against a sin before. But you are foolish. You know naught what sin is." A corrosive lace fills the air, as if filled with aphrosiac. A sheer desire caresses the minds of all around As Conall let loose a singular moan.

"Archon.

Your ass is mine." The power of indulgence swells, released from within the champion.

"Master.. Gaze at me always."
(Reveler)
[21:49] ** Lugonqi Alazauq has inflicted an injury upon Reveler. ("Permanent Injury", "Permanent Injury", "Permanent", "Severity: MODERATE (-20 Vit)") **
[22:12] Hatred.

It was a flowing hatred that the demon felt at times of its life in uncontrollable bursts. After Shiva's action, Lugonqi seemed to have been consumed by this current cycle, mingling with the Illyothan teachings that infected its brain. The demon was a brazier of flaming wrath, black fire torching the city outskirts to ash.

The trees and tents that dotted the outerlands of the capital were utterly by Lugonqi's mere presence. With both staff and tome, the archon was determined to defeat Shiva's champion. To prove its power, its worth.

A swarm of creatures came out to assault the archon while hexes beat at its mind, Reveler's own body seeming to reject attacks. Lugonqi's mind was being played with as attacks slowly beat down at its frame. The power of sin and nature, practically opposites, wove together seamlessly in an effort to defeat the ram.

And it certainly was good at it. Lugonqi had hardly escaped one fight which it was recovering from only to be assaulted by yet another dryad. Rocks and spores pelted its frame, beating against mithril plate and curly hairs. Purple ichor stained cloth and dripped from its lips.

But for all that Conall could do, even with the arcane to aid him, it seemed that he just couldn't quite best the rage consumed demon. Whisperings of a different age uttered commands and whispered orders into the archon's mind. Strategies. Enlightenments. Advancements.

"GAHAHAH!" it roared. A typhoon of black flame swallowed the ram as it ran through a series of Illyothan magical incantations, each crackle of heat holding with it the enchantment of chaos. The lifestream bent ever so slightly, like the branch of a willow.

With a beat of its wings, Lugonqi flew forward. Even as the ram's own mind reeled, it returned the hex with curses of its own toassail Reveler's mind and lock his movement. Visions of what was to come. The hell it had tormented so many before with.

He entered the flaming tornado to be utterly consumed by darkness and fire. Every possible sensation was overcome by the pain of burning, enhanced by the Argothian's own hatred and desperation, which seemed to be coming so easily to it as of late. Clothes ripped away and dryadic features caught alight.

Eventually did it die out, leaving the swordsman hardly standing. But standing still. Both opponents were covered in blood, both their own and that of the other.

There was one blow left.

The Arch-Lord's maw breathed pure flame, plumes of heat rolling down as a haunting stare piercing through his eyes. "YOU, WORM, CANNOT DEFEAT AN AGARTHAN! AN ILLYOTHAN! WE ARE NOT DETHRONED. I WILL NOT BE USURPED!"

A silent order left as it slammed a hand against the side of its tome. An incantation that held no words. But with it, fate itself wept. Similar to Conall's own, a blast of psionic magic formed of the hatred that had grown wildly within the archon flew outward. From its very cortex power was ushered, a javelin of unseen force.

It pierced into his forehead, sending him tumbling across the field. His forehead was indented physically with the ram's insignia, a pentagram, while the cursed mana within passed on to assault his very mind. The barriers of his ego had been penetrated to allow the infection of eldritch whisperings.

Lugonqi turned to Shiva, eyes alight.

"NOW BEGONE, WHORE, LEST YOU WISH THE IRE OF THE COMING ARMY. THE PIKES HAVE BEEN BRANDISHED, SHIVA."

Footsteps were thumping throughout the disturbed city. Others were coming, and in number.
(Lugonqi Alazauq)
[22:22] Hatred is matched by hatred and desire. Yet for all the Dryad feels, the army of the Demons that flock to Lugonqi's side prove to be stronger then the Dryad's own. The Mandrakes are caught off focused and even the Daemon seemed to be caught up in upon the army of it's breathern.

And without his army? Reveler is just a Dryad. Spores fill the air, and illusionary magic haunt the mind of the Archon, but the fire proves to burn too bright. The vines along REveler's skin wither and die down as Sin attempts to hold him close. But it is fruitless.

The whispers take hold in his mind, the sigil created in Reveler's head. There is cursed pained screeching from the champion, hearing the demands to bow, the whispers of commands. His teeth grit.

"Shut up. Is not of talking to you. Is not of bowing to Lugonqi, shut up, shut up, shut-" A rage as the typhoon of black swallowed the Dryad. And then the cortex of invisible force threw himback, wounded him..

A fire within Conall is borne. Further malice even as the whispers haunt his mind.

"Master.." He murmurs before the Mandrakes are quick to scoop him up. While not having power to move himself, the army is quick to start moving him away.

"Please help me gain the hatred that I need to crush that one.." The visions of massacures and visions steal from his mind. But he can only think of one thing.

"I hate that Archon."
(Reveler)
[22:30] The Archon watched, ever so closely at the ensuing conflict. Yet, even so as it projected a victory most assured. "Hrmph."

The banter, the noise. The sounds of searing might overwhelming the Dryad was a poor sight to witness. The cries of the Great-lord surely rang into the Enchantress's ear as they lay praise to their victory.

"Hrm. . . It seems my champion was simply off their game. As one such as I. Already prove my might over you. I found not need to allow myself to raise blade against you once more. Regrettably so. Though know. . ."

Leaping away as the crowd gathering. It's levitation closely coming beside the weakened Dryad. A wave of it's hand as it removed the blade from their grasp.

"All will be well, yes? Will have recovered quickly as this. Mhm." Rested and assured.

It ran the insatiable down back into its sheath withall, but a smile. Looking back to return its little talk with the Great-lord once more. "Though you say such claims in defense. One wonders on how long or if at all. . . Said defense or allies will arrive? As. It. Stands. Am sure hardly anyone cares, am sure. Rather. They would I. Over you."

A venomous curse of vile as it tugged one hand around the nap of the dryads neck. Taking off elsewhere.

"This what one gets. For letting human do. Archons job."

It mumbles all the way out.
(Shiva Vel'Heim)