Breaking Pact & Durohan's Challenge

Tragedy says, "Dylerun. Zaruma."
Durohan moved past the ongoing scene to stare intently at Zaruma.
(Durohan)


Zaruma asks, "What is it?"

Dylerun Grauhimmel says, "Archon."

Tragedy asks, "The pact is not fulfilled. Power, hesitant to be taken. For betrayal to be eliminated, it must be grasped. Do you worry about the cost?"
Saturno lights up some reed.
(Saturno Petramurum)

Dylerun blinks.
(Dylerun Grauhimmel)

Durohan just continues staring at Zaruma.
(Durohan)


Dylerun Grauhimmel says, "Betrayal."

Zaruma says, "Indeed. That power has no place within me- not yet, at least."
Dakashi stares at Tanka in a matter that awas simply absolute.

"The simple point is, You stole from us while we are not the enemy. We live in a location that is neither Ardent nor Gaiar, and thus we are not enemy to Gaiar. You have taken my fishing pole and other goods from my household simply because 'it is not yours'.

Return the objects, plain and simple. We are not enemy and deserve your respect just as much as you desire to be respected."
(Dakashi Hatayama)

Delane Blackwood has exited Bedlam's Farm.

Tragedy pursed her lips as she looked over at Zaruma. "Such a difficult position you put me in. To enforce the pact against your will, or to rescind it and look weak before the people?"
(Tragedy)

Tanka drops Fishing Rod.

Zaruma had no particular expression to portray to such, perhaps other than being cautious- he already knew where it all was going, and was preparing himself for such.

"Decide on your own, Tragedy."

"You made me look weak in the past before, back when Coalition was accepted among us- and yet, there was not a single attempt to ambush you for that."

With a pause, he added.

"You can either give in to your anxiety that my blade will be raised against you one day--"

"Or acknowledge my actual goals and stand aside. But we both know where either road leads- at least I think we both do."

"Take your pick."
(Zaruma)

Tanka would smile as he take his new toy off his back.

"Like I said kid cant give yah back your stuff. Already gave it to someone. But if you want to make my head roll please come try. The moment you raise your blades or staff is the moment my hunger kicks in. Do I feel bad I roobed you? No. I didn't know who you were and your chest were just sitting there in the open along with your door. Your house isn't near the settlement. Mostly I assumed oooo a free Jiang stuff."

He would look to the boy. A smile given. "I like you kid. but next time your girlfriend threatens me. I break her bones."

"Zamara your so sweet defending me and all. Makes me blush."

He would look to the two. "I give the fishing pole your other stuff. Welllllll that is gone."
(Tanka)

Dakashi Hatayama picks up Fishing Rod.

Tizoc covers his mouth as he yawns, he leans back until he lays against the fence and closes his eyes for what should be a one month nap.
(Tizoc)

You have 1 hour, 39 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.


Tharith Hatayama says, "One dos not contribute to cause poverty for another..."
Dylerun looks at each Archon for a long moment, before pulling out a small metal tin and lighting another cigarette and putting it to his lips. Stressed.
(Dylerun Grauhimmel)


Durohan says, "..."

Dakashi Hatayama says, "This woman is my wife."

Zamara says, "Stop your blushing, you're a member of the dreadguard, we stand together, we fight together."

Laureline says, "Man, he sure seems pussywhipped."

Laureline says, "That guy."
Laureline shrugs.
(Laureline)


Tanka says, "Oh she wanted to fight so badly."
Durohan briefly turned to give Laureline a look like, 'what', before turning back to the Archons' conversation.
(Durohan)


Tanka says, "Im disappointed."
Tempest briefly glances to the crowd behind.

Both with his voice, and overwhelming telepathic presence, the command is given.

"Silence. Everyone."
(Zaruma)

Zamara nods her head.
(Zamara)

Tanka whispers something.

Saturno rubs his forehead. Too many voices. "Ow!"
(Saturno Petramurum)

Delane blinked before just shrugging and nodding slowly.
(Delane Blackwood)

Her expression curled in irritation... Zaruma was no stupid human, he knew how to speak and how to argue. The Archon looked over for a few seconds before shaking her head.

"Perhaps your foresight is better than I, for the roads of the Archons are endlessly winding. After what I have seen in Illyotha, I have no desire to return to squabbling demon kingdoms. Live and let live... I suppose, is the best policy."

To let go of her anxiety, her control? It wasn't something easy. The truth was that the mistake was hers in the first place- she was unfamiliar with the conditions of her own pact, as every other member had accepted it immediately.

It seemed that resistance was possible- the ability to decline the gift. Something to remember in the future.

Her hand stretched out... the dismissal of the pact was infinitely less dramatic than the casting itself. Most other than Zaruma would not see or feel anything, but the demon would sense some sort of presence fading away. A mark disappearing.

The Archon took in a deep breath, as if gasping for air after minutes underwater, before closing her eyes for a second. When they re-opened, she smiled thinly.

"It is dismissed. I suppose in terms of humiliation, we are even now."

A fickle thing to worry about- it was not like anybody here would dare mock an Archon for conceding to another Archon. If they valued their life.
(Tragedy)

Dylerun quietly raises a hand.
(Dylerun Grauhimmel)


Dylerun Grauhimmel says, "I'll still take it. If its on the table."
Zamara tilts her head to the side.
(Zamara)

Durohan side-eyes Zaruma throughout all this.
(Durohan)

Nyphadora giggles.
(Nyphadora)

Even though Zaruma remained patient and calm on the surface, in his mind, the thoughts were constantly racing- a belief that she would give in to her anxiety and suddenly decide to challenge him, perhaps to battle to death. For all he knew, she was amongst the few that could actually best him, and yet--

Surprisingly, she took another route. Has the rise of a new Agarthan civilization been a new experience to her, something to reflect on, especially when compared to Illyotha?

But nonetheless, it was pleasant to know that at least they won't have internal conflict in Aetherius, especially while they're at war with Ardent. After all, one cannot afford to fight wars on two fronts, especially this much of a scale.

"Very well."

Feeling the mark disappear, and the unaccepted gift fading away, he knew that this was the end to such topic, unless it would be somehow brought up again in the future.

"--I suppose we are indeed even, then."
(Zaruma)

Common to Zaruma's fight style, the Fell Wind surrounded him, much like a threatening hurricane that could potentially cut anything that nears to it; on top of that, his form became almost transparent, submerging himself into wind element.

For all the mastery that he had, it certainly didn't take long for Zaruma to prepare himself to combat. His crimson hues were pointed at Durohan, and with a single exclamation, the scythe was drawn.

"You were powerful before."

"Let's see how far you have grown this time."
(Zaruma)

Durohan followed Zaruma out to the field just north of the latter Archon's home. ...The Kaor had initially wanted to do this right where the two had stood prior, right in front of everyone to showcase the true extent of her powers now, but whatever it's too late for that.

"I feel it. It's so, so very... THERE. But... I have deduced that that power is being hidden from me.

On purpose."

On that ominous note, the venomous Umbral raised her sword of Darkness as her outline took on a cel-shaded silhouette. The Shadows brimmed and swirled across the field. Heiroglyphic walls began to rise all around the two in a circle only to present some Agarthan-like lettering over her head:

<font align=center face=Courier>DARK LORD

DEMISE



...

Is that really her chosen Archon name whenever that eventually happens? Just gonna rip off Tragedy and Calamity, Duro? Zero imagination on her part aside, the Kaor ripped across the field to try and clash with her superior's scythe right off the bat.
(Durohan)

The battle between Umbral and Ventus was rather intense.

But Zaruma had adapted to trickery and tactics that Durohan employed, and they were becoming all less effective- the boiling rage beneath the skin of the Tempest, the annoyance of dark magics prodding and flaying at his flesh... it all was there, only further prompting him to deal the devastating final blow as soon as possible.

And by taking the advantage from the superior movement speed that Zaruma used, he could bob and weave with ease, instantly dodging anything that Durohan was sending their way, save for the corruption of dark magics that corroded and ate away at Zaruma's flesh without any pause.

Although, that was not enough to defeat the Archon.

Focusing his passion, his intent, his wrath even in a single final blow to deliver it precisely, it was sent to Durohan's abdomen- a slice so vicious that it would be able to even cause damage to their circuitry, forcing it to become less effective in the future.

A scar that would no doubt take years to heal, and yet, would not even heal completely.

There was a faint glow of crimson in his eyes as he stared at his doing, upon defeated Kaor too- there was satisfied, wry smirk upon his face, a proof of his constant progress and labour being rewarded handsomely.

"I suppose your tactic is not so effective anymore, Durohan."

"You're defeated."
(Zaruma)

Durohan had always specialized in area-denial as an Umbral; Forcing people to either dive down into precise traps of Mana or, in more recent years with her runes, people had a habit of jumping into the heiroglyphic barriers and shocking themselves on them.

An overwhelming sense of bravery from out of nowhere took over Duro's senses, leaping out to try and smash Zaruma - Or more accurately his inevitable Shadows - Repeatedly.

Unfortunately...

While it certainly felt like Durohan had her own kind of upper hand in dedicated Occult output, Zaruma's overwhelming speed and overall throughput of damage kept improving with every encounter.

Hell, it seemed like her superior had actually widened the performance gap since last time, seeing how often her blade was deflected. What's even worse is how Zaruma's scythe had cleaved her physically, but it wasn't an external kind of pain.

It's in the Mana Circuits. That'll take years to work out.

A brief burst of telepathy rang out from her after the initial pain of the strike subsided, not caring whose mind it passed by.

'Archon WILL be mine... No matter...'

Durohan shot Zaruma a more wary look, trying to re-estimate their general power level in comparison to everyone else. So, that was how Malgannan felt when Durohan had thrown him on the sand.

Huh.

What a strange feeling.
(Durohan)

Randy kind of looked like a little kid that'd been invited to the ball-park by his grandfather. It was hard to hide the shrill excitement! Even if it was only the end of the battle that he'd catch. He remained quiet however- after his first fumbling over his own words. Until the two had finished.

Shifting his weight heavily back against his sandals, he'd turn his head towards Zaruma. There was a momentary 'i'm unworthy' stare before her begins slowly approaching. His head bowed somewhat before he spoke up.

"Mi lord Founder, got a message from a commoner, a Kitsune requestin' an uh, audience with ya."
(Randy)


Randy says, ".. Not the one behind me."
Yi Xun rubs his neck, before actually moving behind Randy. He'd rather not be noticed.
(Yi Xun)

Zaruma's gaze shifted towards Randy once the remark has been said, the glow in the crimson optics slowly disappearing; it was the moment of Arcane surging in his body, perhaps pushing the Archon to new greatness- but with the battle ended, it was no more.

Although... in his mind, he'd certainly take the note of such.

"A message? What sort of message is it, then?"

His attention was directed upon Randy entirely- in boy's interests, it'd be the best if the message was actually something worthwhile.
(Zaruma)