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- [13:03] {Lost Restrained RPB against Kusho}
- [13:09] Xander Byron says, "Hey."
- [13:10] Zoraia asks, "Hmmm?"
- [13:10] Xander Byron asks, "You got time to go a couple of rounds?"
- [13:10] Zoraia says, "Well..."
- [13:10] Zoraia asks, "I'm no good, but sure, I guess?"
- [13:10] Xander Byron says, "I doubt that."
- [13:10] Xander Byron says, "Everyone says that."
- [13:12] Hush says in telepathy, Ooo~~ A battle to be had!~~ Yes... Shed blood for Mother's grounds, mhm!~
- [13:12] Xander blinks.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:12] Zoraia says, "Yeah, I... I don't know much magic."
- [13:12] Xander Byron asks, ".... Did you hear something?"
- [13:12] Zoraia says, "I-- did, yes."
- [13:12] Xander Byron asks, "What was it?"
- [13:12] Zoraia asks, "Something about... bloodshed?"
- [13:12] Zoraia says, "I-- I don't feel comfortable. Let's stop."
- [13:12] {Won Restrained RPB against Zoraia}
- [13:12] Xander becomes deathly quiet as he begins to search the surrounding area.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:12] Xander Byron says, "Yeah..."
- [13:12] Hush says in telepathy, Are you scared~~? Hmm?
- [13:12] Xander Byron says, "I'm going to figure out what that is."
- [13:12] Zoraia says, "Let's just head back, this doesn't feel right..."
- [13:12] Xander Byron says, "You can go head back.."
- [13:12] Zoraia asks, "--What's your name?"
- [13:13] Xander Byron says, "Xander. Xander Byron."
- [13:13] Xander Byron asks, "Yours?"
- [13:13] Zoraia says, "I'm Zoraia. I'll tell people where you are."
- [13:13] Xander Byron says, "Appreciated."
- [13:13] Zoraia says, "Just in case something, um, happens."
- [13:13] Zoraia runs off.
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:13] Xander Byron asks, "Be safe alright?"
- [13:13] Zoraia exclaims, "Okay!"
- [13:13] Hush says in telepathy, Brave little warrior...Step into the dark. Let me see you....
- [13:14] Xander smiles wide as the two are now alone.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:14] Xander Byron says, "Come now, let's head a little bit farther south."
- [13:14] Xander Byron asks, "Don't want anyone else to ruin on our party do we?"
- [13:14] Hush says in telepathy, *An echo of an evil snicker is heard within your head*
- [13:15] Xander Byron says, "Are you going to show yourself? "
- [13:17] Ranym says, "Xander... you two shouldn't be this deep into the mires. It's not safe, and against the rules."
- [13:17] Zoraia says, "We weren't this close, it was-- near the northern part."
- [13:17] Zoraia says, "I didn't realise..."
- [13:17] Ranym says, "-"
- [13:17] Xander blinks as the sudden rush of help came quicker than expected.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:17] Xander Byron says, "Oh hey."
- [13:18] Ranym stiffened. The jawbreaker was dropped, and his eyes began to search the forest closely. A quick hand motioned both the students behind him. And for a moment his smile had vanished into a very stern, serious look, searching, feeling out his surroundings. He even removed his hat, a rare action, expanding his empathetic abilities to search for a source.
- "Both of you. Behind me. Now."
- "Who's there? Show yourself, please." His tone polite, not unkind, but wary. Protective of the students present, and with a rare note of seriousness.
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:20] Ranym says, "I always fear for the safety of those I care for. But it's rude to hide away and scare students by invading their minds."
- [13:21] Zoraia hurries behind Ranym, shuddering. The oppressive nature of this forest, this 'mire', was bearing down on her. And then there's that voice again. That cursed, terrifying voice, that voice that bore into her skull and echoed into her mind. The inner spark within her seems to be weakened with every single second she spends here.
- "Let's just-- get back. Please."
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:23] "Ranym. It's not that serious, I promise you. I can handle it." Raising his hands defensively, he kept his eyes trained on a specific spot within the forest. Watching it inventively as he took a bold guess to where the invasion was coming from.
- He was used to telepaths after all.
- "I was just..." Xander's words fell silent as he pulled out his rifle, holding it's side close to his cheek as he began to observe his surroundings. Looking for the individual in question as he felt it's powers grow with each passing second.
- "Having some fun." He finished.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:25] The echo of a giggle, the sound of a young girl.. overlapping with many other voices foreign seemed to waft throught he trees as a breeze passed by. The air grew heavier and heavier, and again that giggle came, followed by a single sentence:
- From Darkness we came... To darkness we return~
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:29] A stiffer motion was given to Xander.
- "This forest isn't safe for students. I'm not saying everything that comes from it is awful, there are exceptions, but rules have been set by the headmaster that no student is to be in here."
- He didn't seem angry, or even aggressive. The fae was always calm and polite, even to creatures of an unholy nature despite his own magical inclination. But the safety of the students took priority, and so despite not making any motion to assault what came, he would stand close to both of them.
- "Besides... I don't think the intentions of the ones here feel like they have your safety in mind."
- Though he would calmly state his friendship with all manner of creatures, even some Ogre's, he was still a preserver of life. And right now, there was a prime example of where some lines had to be drawn.
- The aura around him flickered, and brightened. A golden-white light drew to life around him, as the lifestream itself came to form, chasing back the darkness with the repelling power of the fairy's natural magical attunement.
- "I'm sorry if this is uncomfortable," he spoke, surprisingly kind even as the darkness began to press in around them. "But I'm afraid these students must return to school grounds now. If you don't mind..."
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:35] Zoraia follows Xander's gaze into the western forest, wondering if he's spotted their mysterious assailant. She's just about to send out a beam of bright, wild magic to illuminate the area when the chanting starts to echo all around her, disrupting her already-fragile concentration. Her grasp over her magic is tenuous at the best of times, but here? Where it feels like her life or soul are genuinely in danger? It's like she's completely lost control.
- Instinctively, she moves closer to the burning-bright fairy, her own magical aura alighting and flickering weakly in comparison to the powerful teacher's. She should have just stayed home, or went to the house meeting, instead of taking *this* any further. She tries to block the chanting out, tries to make the noise stop so that she can harness her energy better, but it's just not working. It's just *not* stopping.
- "Ranym… What do we do?"
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:37] Xander remained motionless as he listened to the words of Ranym, in the mean time, he was searching the forest with his magic. Attacking every area within his vicinity with a small gravitational pull to help extend his awareness.
- He was blind after all, the motion of looking around prior was just his innate instincts kicking in.
- "I don't think It's going to let us get away without a hug." If anything, he knew that the situation could turn for the worse if they decided to just up and leave. Creatures of the Occult didn't care for numbers right? They just wanted to destroy.
- Something he could get behind.
- "If anything Teach, we can turn this into a team building exercise don't you think?" Humoring the idea that the two of them could work side by side to defeat this threat. "Or ask it some questions, who knows. I'm sure they could give us some insight on some things."
- Like what made them tick.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:37] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
- [13:40] As the strength of light and life grew around the fae, so did the licking of shadows from the area outside where their light touched. The contrast, increasing.
- "Hush... hush~~ Hide your little ones...!~"
- The fiend snickered, an echo of voices trailing behind as if gasping.
- "See how the light casts only greater shadow, mhm~~? That's the true shape of the sun.. Sunshits, and their lies- LIES!"
- The giggling whispers suddenly crackled and glitched through the air, assaulting their ears. There was a static that lingered, even after.. before a whispering 'Hush' swiped the static away.
- Only silent remained... Then a quiet, sweet, almost warm and loving voice came forth.
- "Don't you love Mother? She loves you, mhm! Her embrace is all around~ And in it; the truth... Don't you want to know? Hmm?~"
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [13:47] Zoraia's fears were met with a gentle glance. The fairy had to resist the urge to all but settle on her shoulder and hug her face, but he settled for simply staying close and aware.
- "It's alright," he promised. Battling away the invasion of fears and darkness on her mind, he would extend his aura a fraction, weakening it from around himself to help sooth the girls fears. "You're safe with me, I promise."
- His gaze darted to Xander. His inclination and interest towards the occult was likely worrying for some, though he poked at the fae's weaknesses with his words. The desire to learn and be open minded was a soft spot he couldn't help but encourage in others.
- "The mother I pray to is a very different mother than yours, I'm afraid," he addressed the growing shadows. A pause lingered as he weighed the dangers and the invitation, and his own moral compass. "If you wish to share these... ideals of yours... Please don't do so within their minds. Mm..."
- His eyes lingered on Xander. A sigh escaped. "If all you want to do is share knowledge, or ask questions... You know this topic of knowledge is forbidden though, Xander…" He weighed it a little heavier, then finally closed his eyes with a thin sigh. "But I have no personal grudge with the Occult. I've met plenty who practice it with decent intentions. "But you're going to miss a class if you do so now."
- He drummed his fingers, looking around at the shadows. "If you wish to share some knowledge, please do so courteously. And Xander…" He moved his gaze to the boy. "If you're caught involved with this kind of thing, you'll face far harsher judgement than mine today. Be careful what you get involved with..."
- "To your class. And-" Back to the darkness he looked. "If any of these students come to harm while you seek to 'teach' them, or there is any lesson given that they don't want to receive, I'll be coming for you myself. Is that clear?"
- The holy fairy, consenting to such lessons. How strange.
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:08] Zoraia moves a little closer. The aura is calming, of course, and that's helping her cope with the surge of darkness at least a little bit. It feels like the girl- no, the creature- whispering into her ear is trying to wear her down with its psychic assault, but she knows that she can't give in. Even if she is an academic, even if she does hungrily seek knowledge, she's not stupid enough to listen to the ravings of some mad monster and its perspective of the 'truth'.
- But, if she focuses on the static, focuses on where it's coming from, she might be able to help the three of them out of this utter mess. So, wincing, she begins to attempt to scan through the darkness and through what little she can see of the treeline via Ranym's light. As she turns, that awful giggling seems to get louder and quieter depending on where she looks.
- So, it clearly does have a physical source despite being psychic and magical in nature. Once she's pinpointed its general direction, she takes a series of small, deep breaths, trying to calm herself down and focus her flowing, erratic, wild mana into her hands (in lieu of a weapon). It takes all of her effort, but she manages to pool it up. That's step one. Step two is attempting to release it in a way that will *help* her in this situation.
- She's already somewhat trained in Light magic- indeed, while she's by no means *good* at it, it was the first type of magic to naturally come to her after a bit of practice and study. The light of her radiant, determined soul shines through in her magic, it seems. After focusing just that little bit more, she releases her magical energy in the direction she'd pinpointed.
- A beam of light bursts from her palm, bursting through the magical darkness to illuminate the entire area. Concentrating, she channels the beam in a wide sweep, hopefully lighting up the location of whoever their horrific oppressor might be. The brilliance of her wild magic's power seems to brighten the area for a time, dispelling the foul, conjured darkness.
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:10] The issue with Occult and Holy always bothered him, over the time Xander's heard of tales how holy magi slept with witches, betrothing the enemy, and several of more atrocious acts.
- The acts of occultist wasn't a pretty picture, but it was the knowledge of both is what he lusted for. The greed to consume everything is what drove him out of bed every morning. To consume what was unknown, and find what was hidden. The very acts of being frightened of the unknown seemed as nothing but a foolish emotion. Rather than establishing the 'flight or fight' stimulation. He preferred to find out for what it was, rather than attack blindly or not find a mutual understanding.
- "Zoraia, you heard the Professor. Nothing wrong is going to happen, trust me. Everything will work out okay..." Hopefully, it wasn't like anything was certain after all.
- "Professor Ranym, that class is about the cosmos. Something that I dohave questions on, but this is something different than a quick lecture." he told as he directed his rifle towards the creature in question. "This is a real life experience, meeting a creature of magic that brings nothing but destruction. An art that drives any entity insane if not wielded properly, even the most trained minds of the magic can't withstand it's fatal effects on their sanity."
- His words fell hush as he finally dropped his rifle to his side, holding it tightly within his grasp in case the creature ever decided to attack. "Don't you think it's worth learning from it? To understand it and find out what it wants? What it believes in?" he pleaded. "I'm not interested to have a Professor half assedly answer my questions and go into the basics. When they reach the advanced stuff, that's when I'll be interested. But as of now."
- He could only smile at the opportunity that presented itself. As the vivid images of night terrors flooded his mind as his pupils enriched with darkness. "Teaching and doing is two separate things. All I wish is to learn, as knowledge is power. To know how to reverse engineer things could save a life, or prevent a curse that's been placed on someone. To dissect the depraved efforts and bring about salvation towards those mistreated."
- Finally, his head cocked to the side as his visage turned towards Ranym in an unnatural way. "Don't you agree?" He couldn't hold it back anymore, the flare of occultic energy pulsated from his frame. Enticed from the powers from the very creature that remained in the dark. Consuming him momentarily as he felt influenced to follow their every word for that specific moment.
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:28] A weighted silence followed as the fae spoke promises. Promises of safety, promises of 'alrightness'. No sound came, but the shadows seemed to almost reach in towards the trio, swirling, licking upon the light. Feeding upon the fear that the purple hair was exuding.
- A voice licked within their mind, whispers upon whispers, then abruptly the sound of shriek of many voices shot through the woods as the flash temporary blinded Hush.
- Waves upon waves of the same voice echoed within the purple haired ones mind, assaulting.
- But to the rest, almost simultaneously a calm even though rather errattic, curious voice echoed.
- "The light blinds- It blinds! But darkness binds, mhm! It does!~ Knowledge to carry forever~~ truth to those that listen!~~ Mhm! And that one... Listens!"
- Stepping out from the shadows, a creature unlike neth, unlike human materialized... It seemed to zap from left of them, to the right. From the place of origin upon which Zoraia had unleashed a light beam. A giggling echo would pierce all of their minds, as well as the soundscape around them mixed with the sickening crackle of static, and in a flash, they reached to grip the neck of the youth.
- Tentacles of shadow wrapping around... Or attempting to.
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:31] A wide, sharp-toothed grin, and yellow wide eyes peering down at them all.. Their towering yet slender height causing a loooong shadow to crawl into the dark behind her upon said approach. Occultic veins of yellow and red pulsing in their limbs and their body seemingly... there, yet.. not in the present.
- "Now.. That wasn't so kind, hmm?~ Mother doesn't like that, nope! Nope she doesn't!"
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:33] The blast behind cut through shadows, and for a moment he was impressed. She was grasping at the beginnings of her magic, and it was certainly something he would have encouraged her on. But this situation was a bit different.
- He had weighed Xanders words at first. Lingered a gaze, and taken not just his words into account, but the emotions behind the, The driving force to understand, and how could he ever fault someone for feeling such a way? Xander's habits were concerning, he was a prime candidate for twisting that might lead him down further destruction.
- But destruction and creation went hand in hand, and he was one who accepted both sides as part of a greater balance. His sigh was relenting, even when he knew he shouldn't.
- "Understanding and learning about every side of this world is important. Albeit done safely and not through waltzing headfirst into the shadowmires without supervision."
- He shot a glance to Xander. His arms crossed. "You know Sage and the Headmaster won't agree with this." His tone was gentle though. "But... I can't disagree that everything should be learned from." He could get in very big trouble for this. But if he pushed Xander away, he knew the boy would only be drawn deeper into it.
- No-one could deny their attunement, the things that were part of who they were. The aura that danced around the boy was every bit the opposition of his own. It left him dizzy and a little ill, but he didn't forsake it. Rather, his aura dimmed, and retracted from Xander. He seemed to not only embrace the boys choice, but be conscious about how it might clash with his own aura.
- "The school may not be liable for your safety if you wander off into situations like these off school grounds, but I still care about it."
- "I've said before, I believe strongly that just as Holy magic can find its way in the hearts of some who may be considered evil, so too can Occult be placed in the hands of those who would use it for good. But I would advice you, Xander, to be very careful. You've started on a path many will frown on and scorn you for. I ask only that you don't let such things twist your heart."
- Perhaps, if Hush hadn't moved, if Zoraia hadn't fired, even Ranym might have found a reason to hesitate.
- But the assault on these students was intolerable.
- The aura that had dimmed to compensate flared up, and as the creature revealed itself, Ranym would move in an instant. His hat fell away as the helm was tugged on, and in a split second he moved to intercept, to create an exit for his students.
- "ZORAIA! Take Xander and run back to the school, NOW!"
- If this creature wished to lay a hand on these children, it would have to go through the child Fairy first.
- "It's not polite to touch someone without asking FIRST!"
- ...Most uncool hero line ever.
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:34] NO TOUCHY!
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:48] Hush Sweats
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:50] Zoraia's glorious beam eventually fades out as the last of the mana she'd desperately summoned up and poured into it fades away. The rest of it seems to be shining through into her aura, enhancing it and making it far, far more brilliant than it ever could have been before. Stressful situations increase magical power. Who knew? If she makes it out of here alive, she'll definitely have to note that down.
- Since the awful, echoing chattering gets worse as her beam fades, she figures that she's managed to hurt the monster (or at least its eyes). That, to her, was worth the heightened pain that she's feeling! Zoraia shakes a little as the creature finally reveals itself, cutting through the partially-dispelled darkness and showing its hideous, Demonic form.
- "I-- I won't listen..." It's set upon her like a flash, but thankfully Zoraia is faster- the young magi's hand is raised up, and a shield of shining light emanates from her body. It barely deflects the monster's grasping shadows, but only just- she would surely have been laid low instantly if it had managed to seize her in that way.
- The fairy's instructions shine through- get Xander, and get out. But Xander… the look in his eyes, the way he was staring, the way he was *speaking*, something wasn't right at all. She could practically sense the rotten, decaying feeling of Occult mana flowing through him. It's enough to make her feel sick, but she weathers it. How does one deal with someone who's falling for an Occultist's tricks?
- The Champion's words echo through Zoraia's keen mind. Occult magic is focused on destruction- destroying everything and anything in your path. It's so potent that it will eventually tear your mind asunder through prolonged use. If she can somehow manipulate him- twist his destructive needs towards this monster rather than her or Ranym- shemight just get out of this alive.
- "--Xander! All this thing wants is to use you! Once it's done with you, it'll just throw you away! Don't let it! We need to either get out of here or break this demon, together!" Her gaze fearfully flits between the demonic entity and Xander, hoping he'll be able to see 'reason'.
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [14:59] Weathering through the psionic, occultic assault on her senses and mind- the constant, unrelenting, nonsensical screaming- is definitely difficult. Her focus nearly breaks at one point, and if it breaks, she knows that she's dead for sure, since her inner light will fade away. No, she has to press on. She has to stay determined.
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [15:01] Hush says in telepathy, Come, come~~ Fight! Fight them. mother watches~~ Don't you want to make her proud, hmm~ Make her proud. Make me proud! Proud!!!! Find, feed.. Feed on the darkness within and let it nurish you! Guide! GUIDE!~
- [15:02] Hush says in telepathy, We will tell you all, mhm~~ That we will! Won't we?
- [15:11] The light blinds- It blinds! But darkness binds, mhm! It does!~ Knowledge to carry forever~~ truth to those that listen!~~ Mhm! And that one... Listens!
- Hush words, eccentric cackles, loud echo's continued to penetrate his mind, bringing him to the belief that that was all there is, that the light was nothing but a an illusion. An entity that hid him from the truth.
- Ranym's words never reached him, they were hidden, blurred away as if far cries attempting to reach him as the creatures grasp held him firmly. He was lost, as if falling down a never ending spiral. Feel
- The light blinds- It blinds! But darkness binds, mhm! It does!~ Knowledge to carry forever~~ truth to those that listen!~~ Mhm! And that one... Listens!
- All of his life, he attempted to use his knowledge for his needs. To climb up the ladder of betterment and reach it's top. But it's call was to toxic. The false promises allured him, pulling him deeper and deeper within their grasp until they finally captured his attention. Droning out all other attempts of appeal as their voice was the only thing that he heard.
- Depraved magic began to spill from his form, corrupting the very ground that he stood on.
- "The light blinds." he muttered as he raised his rifle, his iron sights taking aim towards Zoraia and Ranym. "Darkness will nurish me.. It will give me what you cannot."
- Xander felt as if he was falling, consumed by an everlasting darkness. Enveloped by it's madness as it continued to spiral his mind out of control, only bringing him to one thing, one thought. A place of action. A chance to achieve what he long sought after.
- BANG!
- (Xander Byron)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [15:18] "The defense, the defence! Denial of her~" Hush sing-sang, their toothy grin growing wider and wider, a surreal appearance. Static grew around them and their body seemed to shift with the shadows around!
- Then a flash of miasmic fire split the night. The fight was ON!
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [15:22] {Won Aggressive RPB against Zoraia}
- [15:22] ** Xander Byron has inflicted an injury upon Ranym. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "") **
- [15:49] The cacling laughter from the growing maw grew louder and louder until- Sudden silence.
- The corrupted flames licked the ground, enveloping the fae and foe alike, but a path was given for the one with the darkness inside. Strides across the field as shadows trailed her steps before she fell forward and disappeared.
- Dissonant images flashed before Ranym's eye - where was the foe? Behind? Left? Right? An image appeared before the purple-haired one in a foul trick to get Ranym to attack their own; and with a flash of static Hush now was behind Ranym.
- Their shadowy hand reached forth, tendrils within gripping at the small shape as they blasted a holy bean up front- A beam which for the moment spared them the crushing grip of death.
- Hush's fingers were singed, a low growl escaped and they had to fade once more as the purple haired one came in to attack.
- Their power ripped at hushe's eyes, blinding them, and apulse of force pushed them back, before the miasmic shadow reached out from beneath, crushing at their limbs. Subduing them, while Hush herself, went in for anothere grab.
- This time, the entity was quicker, faster, and from the palm of their hand a sharp tendril shot forth, piercing at the fae's tiny body, before janking them back to their multi-fingered hand where the sickening form would completely envelop them. Subdued, a price now claimed.
- (Hush)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [15:54] The shot rang out, and Ranym only avoided it by a sheer grace of size and the flux of magical power around him. They were both after him? His heart sank. He had to get the students out, no matter what.
- "Zoraia-!" Shadows leapt up in his face, and he couldn't keep his attention on both. He had to move, no time to think, as he did what he could to keep the creature of darkness off of Zoraia, while at the same time avoiding catching those bullets.
- It was a battle that would've have been close otherwise, but there was too much happening. His attention was diverged, and though Zoraia did everything she could it wouldn't be enough. They were losing. He was failing them. His vision swam, and where was it? Where was the creature?
- "Zoraia! Run! Just go!" He could feel his energy sapping as the occult loomed in closer, leaving a cold that reached deeper than flesh. It was so cold, so dark, and it dug past his aura, clashed and battled with it until his body gave in. He'd failed... he wasn't enough. He was never enough.
- The cold... The cold dark walls pressing in. The stench of mildew and dust and rot all reaching him. Alone. He would always be alone. There wasn't anyone left now. He'd been born in this world alone, and he would return to his mother alone...
- Through the middle of the fae, a tendril of shadow pierced. Wide eyes, his face formed into a picture of shock. A moment of pause. A realization. He choked out one single word as he felt his power leave him:
- "...r...un..."
- The aura of the lifestream flickered, and then went out. His tiny form was ripped from the air and engulfed, and the fairy vanished from sight as the creature of darkness claimed its prize.
- (Ranym)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [15:56] Even with the fairy's help, Zoraia's inner light just isn't enough to overcome the encroaching, oppressive darkness that crawls in around her. She fires off blast after blast and dazzling ray after ray, but her foes are just too strong for her. Alone, she might have been able to take one of them, or at least put up a better fight. However, the traitor Xander AND the demon fighting side by side? There was nothing she could do. Every attack was blocked, every bit of light snuffed out, enveloped by darkness.
- She watches her fey companion- her tutor and friend- fall to the barrage of fell, occult energy. And there is absolutely nothing she can do about it but feebly try to repel the attacks. It was her fault. She led Ranym here, and she had played right into the monster's claws. Now he's going to die- or worse is going to happen- because of her. Smashed against a corrupted tree by one of Xander's energy blasts, she watches helplessly from afar as the two descend upon the little, pink fey. Zoraia desperately holds in an agonised scream as she stares down at her wounds- particularly the shadowy tendril that had embedded itself into her leg.
- It hurts to move. It feels like she's going to die if she exerts herself any more. Deep down, though, she knows she needs to leave. If she doesn't, she's going to die too. But how? Her body is beaten and bloodied, and with the injury to her leg she most certainly can't outrun the two. They'd run her down and slaughter her without even a second thought. She quietly shuffles over to Ranym's hat, scorched and burnt from the occultic energies that tarnished the ground after the battle, and clutches it tight within her palm. She knows she needed proof, at the very least.
- Then, she focuses. Focuses on getting out. Focuses all her willpower on escaping, getting out of these cursed, darkened woods. Concentrating like this is by far the most difficult thing she's done in her life. It'll also be the last thing she does if the spell fails.
- The light envelops her, and she teleports away just after the fey is subsumed by darkness. His final word echoes hauntingly in her mind. Exerting her Light magic to travel that quickly causes her to end up... far away from here, just as she had willed. Far enough away that she might be able to limp back to the Academy, limp to safety, limp to help.
- (Zoraia)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- [16:12] Cynical laughter grew within' the depths of his mind, playing over and over as the intoxicating voice continued to fuel his drive. Pushing him to make actions that he'd otherwise be against. Taking aim and firing at those he'd rather protect. Corrupting his soul with twisted amalgamations that pushed him closer and closer to the point of no return.
- The Stellus had warned him earlier, yet. He didn't listen.
- Reloading his chamber, three, no four shots rang forward once more. His attacks driving home as each bullet made it's way to attack their defenses, as a gravitational pull denied any chance at escaping.
- The two were cornered, backs against the wall as the two continued to pursue them. As if a predator had finally found it's prey, eliminating any chance of fleeing and forcing them to fight for their lives.
- "The light lies, it does nothing but hold us back."
- His words crept out silently as twisted illusions found their eyes. Blindsided by the blinding like that was Ranym, he targeted the only one left in the area. Zoraia.
- Time after time, the two sides clashed. The powers of good versus evil and everything in between. Battling in a constant struggle as he fired into Zoraia's frame.
- Slowly, he broke through her defenses before inevitably blasting her into a tree. Leaving her out of the count.
- Crunch.
- With patience, he paced towards their down figure. Lowering his rifle to the ground before grasping her helm within his hands. A coursing rush of dark energies flooded into her mental. Assautling them with metaphysical blows as reality itself faded before her very eyes. Distorting her field of vision with a greyscaled view. From him to her own, he corrupted her frame. Endowing a sense of plague that'd fill them with a deprivation.
- "The light lies..."
- He repeated once more before a blinding light appeared, giving Zoraia the chance to finally away from his grasp.
- (Xander Byron)
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- [16:37] Hush says, "And i hope you think it will be epic too"
- [16:37] The toothy maw was turned from the fleeing youth and towards the one who remained, while the cackling snicker of many voices was heard echoing through the dark in hushed whispers. One might even question if the sound was real or just something imagined out of fear.
- But the entity was real. The teeth bared before the youth, fae in hand, and she peered down.
- "Brave one, brave one~~ A birthed from the dark~~ The seed it grows and with it truth, mhm!" She giggled. "Knowledge a plenty for this one deserved... This one saw through the veil of light and I, king of nowhere.... am proud, oh so very very VERY proud~ Now come!"
- A humming tune which didn't seem to have a point of origin followed the trio as Hush led them deep... deep within the shadows of the mire. Wihtin the depths calmly familiar as if she'd wandered there before, until she reached the erected image of a fae.
- "Oh~~ How fitting!" she exclaimed then tossed the unconscious fae from her hand.. or rather, almost spat them out.
- Strands of shadow still clung to their small body when hush turned for a moment and told them to wait. Both of them.
- Out she went again, making sure they hadn't been followed before returning in an floating, almost skipping manner.
- "Now now, our price is ours~~ Or mine mine mine! The king's price. King of here, there, nowhere.. Yes..."
- Eyes landed upom Xander.
- "But you still have work to do... A must, for mother's wishes are yet true, nope!"
- A whisper would pierce their mind.. An order, in a way, and that toothy maw grinned.
- "Now go~~ GO"
- (Hush)
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- [16:38] Hush says in telepathy, You are to return to the school, where they are~~ That purple head will tell! Tell everyone! But they cant hear.. Convince them. Tell them a lie that they so often told you; It isn't real. Its not important... IT~~ hehehe.. It didn't happen!!
- [16:57] Panicked breaths, hurried footsteps, Xander's mind ran thousands of miles each second. Slowly he was coming to figure out the situation, as to what happened and what he did. How he injured his peer, how his determination to find what wasn't taught, how his curiosity tempted him to act out of the ordinary.
- Every day he sworn to himself, promised that he'd never be tempted by any other power. That he'd use it to his own benefit, to counteract them and play them like a fiddle.
- Yet the reality that played out before him proved different.
- He couldn't tell where he was going, only that he needed to get far away from the Academy. That he wasn't safe there, no. There needed to be a plan, he'd got caught and most likely killed. The Stellus had warned him right? He'd be a fool to run back without a plan. Yes, a plan is what he needed.
- Twisting throughout several corridors, breaking corners and rushing deeper into the unknown, Xander finally found himself at a stop. Panting heavily as sweat fell from his brow. The situation itself was unorthodox, he didn't have his friends to rely on no his parents. He was all alone.
- No. He had the Nethradin. Just as the Prince of Hel, Vandeurth had protected him during their escapade to Hel. They'd do the same. Right?
- Coming to a full stand, obsidian hues searched their face. His mouth left agape, trying to formulate words but nothing left. For the first time in his life. He was scared. Finally coming to terms that he bite more than he could chew. Not listening to parental advice, he was in to deep. How would he get out? What was the plan of attack?
- Brave one,..
- Yes. They were the answer.
- As he finally came to a halt, trying his best to calm down from the recent battle. He listened to each word, every direct order given. Even as their words entered his mind, he picked each word carefully to understand how he'd come out of this situation safe.
- "I see. But I can't return without the fae… If I return with the fae- No wait.. I also need to.. I need to!" He was desperate, looking for answers that no one was giving him. "We need to fight, make it seem like I fought you. That way I could return with them and ease any concerns. That we three fought against you. You won but were weakened. I chased and saved them. Yes." His words rushed out in panic, wondering if anything he said had made sense at all.
- "how does that sound?"
- (Xander Byron)
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- [16:58] Laurence sips tea
- (Laurence)
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- [17:04] {Item} You drop Demon Horn x1.
- [17:08] The toothy grin which always seemed to face Xander, no matter the perspective seemed to shift. A voice echoed, yet the mouth didn't open, and Hush spoke with enthusiasm and eagerness while poking the fae awake.
- "Yes, yes! To aid the illusion! To add tot he whispers of truth~ Yes.. yes!~"
- A snickering giggle followed, and with no sense of hesitation did Hush in rapid pace rake across the boys chest. Not doo deep! But corruptive, and the compulsion to follow Hush's words would flow through their veins and mind.
- "Now now~.. The real fun begins, for Mother's signs to play!"
- Licking her claws from the blood drawn, she then dug one claw into the ground next to the Fae, and leaned in.
- "Wakie wakie~~ WAKE!"
- (Hush)
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- [17:14] Aquila Yakim says, "You don't have to tell me. I know."
- [17:16] They just wanted to sleep...
- So tired...
- The nightmares came flush to their mind, even stronger than ever. The world that could be, the land that might become, the people that would be no more. The images that stole his sleep remained, and he just wanted to dive deeper, past them.
- He could almost taste actual nightmares again. Simple images of the imagination rather than these cursed thruths.
- Poke. Poke poke.
- WAKE!
- The Fae jolted in place. His mind was dragged from warnings and memories of past and future, and back into the horrible present. The first thing his mind caught up with was how god awfully cold he was. A hand groped for his blanket. He was back there again, wasn't he? Had it all been a blissful dream? He cracked open his eyes, half expecting to see rotted pages and dust covered shelves...
- A horrible visage made him flinch back. Everything was dim, draped in desaturated grays. He felt feverish and sick to his stomach, and he recoiled from... well, everything. A faint groan escaped as he tried to push himself up, the memories slowly trickling back in.
- Zoraia. Xander. This... thing. He saw two of them. That had to mean one escaped, right? Oh Mother Tree how he hoped so... but Xander was here still... he'd still failed one of them, and his heart sank. But he was awake. Maybe there was still hope.
- (Ranym)
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- [17:24] Suddenly a jolt to the creature. A shreik of rage almost, momentairy flash!
- "No No no no no!~~! This is wrong wrong, you have to TELL Them you didn't chase me. Nope!~~ Another. Another away. away from here... for this never happened, mhm?"
- A look of pure corruptive energy pierced their skull. A command that couldn't be unfollowed. Her words was true.
- "But wait until I finish this one."
- The tendrils pressed down on the fae, and Hush leaned in. THe face close to theirs, before drawing back with a shadowy breath. Then they kneeled.
- "Fae of the school..."
- Their head tilted to the side. Images, or illusions of their form glitched behind them and then began to draw in the dirt around them, as their shadow hand became sharp as claws. A song began in multiple tunes, dissonant. Distorted. Backwards and forwards at the same time.
- "An eye for the closed, the stupid and blind~ But closing ittrue snuffs the light that leads lies! Now you will see beyond veils of the bright, come home, back to mother, be one with our night.~~"
- A sigil was drawn on one side of the fae. THe sigil of Sleeping. An eye, closed within a circle. But as the song continued, lines were added, and the eye was drawn open, with lines beneath symbolizing the crying of blood. Ripped from their truth, of everything bright, the eye was now open to Mother.
- On the other side, a sun was drawn. Half of it, for that was the Sigil of Darkness, for that was where they all would return.
- With a small giddy clap, Hush then continued to connect it all through rippling circles, the fae's body as the origin point. It rippled over the sigils, the Sigil of Silence, preventing them to speak of the truth.
- "But hush, hush, they cant hear, they cant see or know.. They aren't all ready for the great tell and show... One by one, send me your small~ Protect them in daylight, but in darkness, bring all~"
- A pulse of occultic energies, a breath of the nethradin and the nightmother herself entering the fae's body where corrosive energeis ate at their mind... permanently altering their outlook on Mothers Embrace...
- (Hush)
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- [17:27] Once the ritual was cast, she handed the fae to Xander, but not before her hand easily reached for his gun....
- "Bye bye~~ Now...All for the show, right?"
- She ripped it from his holster, and shot his shoulder, before another voice added to the prior command...
- (Hush)
- [17:28] {Item} You picked up Runihura's Letter To Xander Byron, 1882. Dropped by Hush..
- [17:40] A single terrible claw bore down on him, but he was too hurt to move, too exhausted.
- Flesh and cloth were carved through like butter. Ranym screamed.
- His voice echoed off the cavernous walls, yet too deep within the darkened lands that housed them. Blood dripped, tainting a small shred of beauty that was set within the shadowmires. Pain laced every ounce of his being, but he had no strength to shrug it off.
- The very truth he held so close to his heart was corrupted. Portions of his mind were dripped in the darkness he'd fled from, so many years ago. The twisted trunks he'd raced from as but a mere speck of life, now gripped tighter.
- Musky walls, mildewed halls, come home, Ranym, come home.
- The screaming turned into sobbing, until his voice finally broke. He went limp by the time the sigil was placed, and his eyes began to shut, tears staining his cheeks where they dripped and mixed with crimson. A half shut gaze, his eyes dulled, his glimmer barely catching any presence in this darkness.
- Home... come home...
- How far he'd run, only to wind up so close to where he'd started.
- Breathing turned shallow, and the mark set. The song dancing in his mind faded into the background, and like a stain of wine on a pure white shirt, the mark spread tendrils through his magic, leaving him sickened to his very core.
- Mother...
- Blue leaves dripped into crimson. A white trunk gnarled black.
- Yggdrasil... had it always been this color?
- (Ranym)
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- [17:43] Crippling fear corrupted his mind, truth from fiction continued to plague his existence as he couldn't handle the situation at hand. The strong magi who stood amongst the top of his House, how he continued to move through the ranks and earn his title as was one the strongest was shattered.
- How did this all happen? For him to be bewitched, turned against his own very morals, how he should've fought against the temptation and help his peer and professor. Only to be the leading cause to how Ranym was captured and tormented.
- But they would save them right? They would help him out of this situation, leading the two to salvation.
- As his mind clouded with rushing thoughts, one spoke out to him, invading his brain as it gave him instructions, no. Directions how to return home where everything would be fine.
- "Yes... I- I chased the creature all across Esshar. Ending up in the Dreadwoods as I finally caught up to them." he thought outloud. "Then- Then- We fought.. And I.. And I saved them- Bringing them home... Yes. Ranym.." he called out as he felt their presence nearby. Unable to see the ritual placed on the fairy's form. "You didn't fail me.. No, your a perfect Professor. You helped me with my ideals, helping me save you from the creature that kidnapped you!" However, his vision twisted.
- His mouth opened once more, ready as he began to ramble more. Only for his words to get sucked out as his rifle was stolen for a temporary malice. BANG!
- A well placed shot tore open his armor, leaving a wicked injury on his now naked shoulder. Causing the Rhoynish to fall to stumble backwards but strangely, not in pain as adrenaline coursed though his veins. His eyes shot wide as he looked on in horror, only to hear more instructions as to how this was apart of the plan.
- "Yes.. A Mutant took you.. One with a rifle.. The onethat shot my shoulder.. Yes..." Without another word, he nodded. Taking Ranym's injured form as he turned away to carry the both of them home.
- "I saved you Professor.. We fought together and beat the evil that tried to tempt me.. And tried to kill you.. We won.."
- (Xander Byron)
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- [17:47] "Now go, go~~ Go QUICKLY GO!" Hush would cackle, and shove ethe teen away, with their little fae in their hands, pleased with the work they'd done..
- And once they were in silence, alone.. They'd look up to the darkened caves and the comfort within.
- "Mother.. I have brought another to you~~ They will learn and learn again~~ More will come.. I will bring them home again, to your embrace, I will! From darkness.. I came.. To darkness I will return again.."
- (Hush)
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