Kudana -- Desert Fury

[21:21:55] It had hardly been a week since the events within the keep, and she had grown restless. Her wings carried her upwards and otuwards from Nostvale proper, baring her out over the walls in to the grassy plains surrounding it. Her goal was- nothing. Nothing in particularr ruled her mind as she droned with her lessers, scanning the ground below for anything that might be able to fill that gap. To catch her interest enough to get involved... And surely enough, she found it. The figure of two individuals with whom she was vaguely familiar- one moreso than the other.

Her path was redirected- and her speed undiminished.

As Amir made to dash away from the new 'Prophet', the kaor yokai alighted gently before him asd one might expect from a meteorite at maximum velocity. needless to say, it wasn't all that light. Coupled with the sudden feeling of suffocation that washed outwards from her figure... Depravity in droves the likes of which most humans had to go to great lengths to achieve. Her posture righted itself, as the flames she had conjured around herself faded in wisps and plumes... Her lessers cackled as they fluttered around her, while her gaze fixed upon the body Amir carried.

"You have eluded me for long enough, fleshling. Her words came through her usual telepathic means, with dread... And ill intent lacing each syllable.

"You were Feithan's son's 'favorite'. Weren't you."

Oh boy.
(Kudana)
[21:32:09] Before he could make his own escape, the Sarradian finds that a giant fucking bug had landed before him -- causing him to almost drop the body, only to steady himself seconds before dropping it -- It was that giant bug that'd.. Uh, you know -- scared the crap out of him. Yokai were one of the few things that made Amir feel more terrified than ever.

Especially this one; using pyromancy.. Something he was barely managing to overcome for the friend who's corpse he now carried with him. However, he's simply glaring up at the Kaor Yokai for a few more moments as she'd have spoken to him.

He attempts to continue on; perhaps he could try and escape the Yokai.

"... No."
(Amir)
[21:38:08] He denied it. But it mattered not... She knew who he was, and that was all that mattered. She held few memories regarding the short exchange that they had within the prot city, nor did she care to recall it. She had no idea what he was capable of... Neither did she know why he continued to cling to a cadaver as though it was the last thing he possessed that gave him life. Her crimson gaze glared dangterously at the last pass between the boy's visage- and the marred face of the corpse.

"I will tolerate this game of yours no longer. Leave the corpse... Should you not, then you will remain here with it.

Her words left little room for argument. She cared not for the corpse herself... But she recalled the words of Marciel in the throne room. It would be useful to possess, if nothing else! It was then that her attention was momentarily diverted from him- to Abram and his companion to the north. Though she did not acknowledge them with words, her gaze lingered for long enough to convey the same intent.

The pressure was immense.

"Why do you run? There is no need, fleshling."

Amir was spoken to once more.
(Kudana)
[21:38:59] The travel makes her weary. Evident in her gait, which is softer in response and a lot less enthusiastic in its movement, the Avharain child hangs behind for a distance. Her gaze rolls over the entirety of the scene, the sight of yokai too close towards one of the scarlet-cloaked witches that she'd hear of making her nerve-wrecked. Nothing negative could happen to her, not when they needed her so strongly in this point.

Abram appeared to have picked up this need, coming forth to announce their intentions. Softly nodding in acceptance to his words, being so close to their origins of Nostvale made her feel a tad-bit safe. They wouldn't be persecuted here at the heart of the Belial worship. They were in a safe place, especially with the scarlet-cloaked, familiar witch nearby. She holds her hands together, squeezing.

Waiting.

"Please, help us. We're looking for the me ... Me ... " She leans into her cloak, seeking to remove a piece of paper that held the extremely long name that held their discovery site.

"This coven." The paper is held up for people, if they were focused, to see. Malleus Maleficarum.
(Eve S. Avharain)
[21:42:24] He'd have slowly begun to step away -- though it was likely he would be stopped if he was not careful.. Amir wanted to leave and bury it himself -- the woman under the blankets was going to be buried by him. Perhaps he wouldn't evne go down with a fight -- the Sarradian isn't sure of how he wants to leave.

But he knows he wants to leave with the corpse. It had been chilled and preserved so carefully as he could, attempts to make sure that it did not decompose as fast.. Though it would soon end. He knew this.

"I -- no home.. In Nostvale...", he states; a soft -- yet broken voice.

"Going somewhere else.", he begins -- another step taken. "To bury her."
(Amir)
[21:52:38] There was truly little regard for the corpse... As far as she was concerned, he could take it with him to his grave. No, her focus here was soemthing far different than that. The fact that it was something so dear to him, meant merely that it was something to be abused. She held little in the way of connection to Ariadne- save for the things they had discussed amongst themselves that had been made irrelevant with her demise. Her presence remained undiminished... And her words bit as deeply as words could.

"You take the Prophet's body... Away from her own home. Such selfishness you exhibit, fleshling. Belial would be proud!"

Mockery.

"You know as well as I that you will be going nowhere else... Where will you go, if that 'thing' is wrested from your hands?" The intensity behind her speech grew deeper and deeper. She had already decided her intent, the instant that she had laid eyes upon them. There was something of an inclination towards this type of negotiation...

Breaking things only got one so far. There were many other ways, in which to break a human.

"I 'do' wonder."
(Kudana)
[21:55:12] Kudana: (Medea froze btw)
[21:55:12] Kudana: (Her internet's being a filthy weeb)
[21:56:03] Abram Falco: i am just that good)
[21:56:54] Medea Scarlet: ( WOW
[21:56:54] Medea Scarlet: (( That was the longest Ive froze in a while
[21:56:54] Medea Scarlet: ( and a filthy weeb indeed.
[21:57:45] Medea Scarlet: (( IS THAT ASTER?
[21:57:45] Kalerion, The Harvester: (Yes.)
[22:01:10] There appeared to be two, different scenerios going on at the same time, enough to make her freeze and watch what was happening in between the two. On one hand, the yokai were giving trouble and issue to what appeared to be Ninurta's ex best friend, and on the other? The witch was acknowledging the two and delivering her attention to them. She couldn't very well ignore such an opportunity. Abram was doing all of the talking for her.

"Uhm... please, leave him alone." She says to the creature, her head tilting. There is sympathy within Evelynn's eyes, if only for the creature being horrific and disfigured. Yokai were akin to the scum of the earth, but they were no different from the plethora of rot that had been under her control. In their own way, their ugliness was beauty towards the Avharain. It made her want to treat them nice.

The monsters were her friend. In a way.

"We've got to speak to the witches. We've lost our home with Lord Belial in Nostvale and Tilandre. We have no, other place to go. My brother is dead. My father is missing. My uncle has died. No one can find the High Priestess, and the Prophet is dead. We're so lonely and lost, now ... Please, help us."

Her attention returns back to the witch now, a softened gaze of emotion bearing deep inside of her countenance. "We want to find the Apostles. To get them to help us again, to find our enemies and kill them for what they've done. We don't want to worship Lord Belial in the quiet, hidden places. We should be open, but ... but its dangerous."
(Eve S. Avharain)
[22:02:01] Aster Deftera: ( no
[22:02:01] Aster Deftera: ( this is charlie sheen
[22:02:01] Aster Deftera: ( i'm the best
[22:02:52] Abram Falco: i think it's on you kalerion)
[22:02:52] Abram Falco: or mayb medea)
[22:03:44] Medea Scarlet: (( If possible, I'd like to leave Kudana and Amir alone and go discuss this privately.
[22:03:44] Medea Scarlet: (( That is, if none of y'all are gonna contest our leaving?
[22:03:44] Kalerion, The Harvester: (Welp, I'd prob follow because Abram threatened me.)
[22:03:44] Kalerion, The Harvester: (Tbh.)
[22:04:35] Medea Scarlet: (( Kalerion is more than welcome to follow.
[22:04:35] Kalerion, The Harvester: (Whose turn is it though)
[22:04:35] Medea Scarlet: (( Yours, I assume.
[22:04:35] Kalerion, The Harvester: (Oh, alrighty)
[22:04:35] Medea Scarlet: (( I just took a heavy dose of sleep medication
[22:04:35] Kalerion, The Harvester: Hard to believe I'm actually aklert at 3 AM atm rn to..lol)
[22:04:35] Medea Scarlet: (( in two hours, i'll be in a coma ok
[22:05:26] Medea Scarlet: (( By 5am, im done rping and need sleeps
[22:05:26] Amir is frustrated; the water balloon that he is.. That this giant bug was trying to mess with him. He had gone through the efforts to steal it, there were no reasons that the bug should be stealing it back -- He wants to take another step, but, he knows that it'd probably make things more dangerous. But.. He wants to escape.

Hands are kept upon the corpse; wrapped up within his own cloaks. He doesn't want to hand over the body like this; it would take heavy amounts of convincing to make Amir let go of it, that was for sure.

His only friend -- wrapped up within blankets, dead in his arms. He had ben changed for.. One could not tell if it was for the worst -- or the better.

"I.. Will.. Be free.", he states; words were getting more confused; he compares his speaking to of when he was Evelynn's age -- barely capable of sentences without a pause nor a break.
(Amir)
[22:14:49] Free?

There was silence. The looming creature was stricken with some manner of affliction... She could not think of a way to respond in the method she was attempting. To coax him into doing as she requested of his own free will? That was not going to work. In the end, it would accomplish nothing but causing them to talk in circles... Over the course of her life, talking was among the things that she hated doing the most.

Especially when it was utterly pointless.

"What a child you are..." The biting tone returned as she took a step forward, matching the distance that he had retreated with little more than a fraction of the effort. She hated this. Hated those that defied her, when all she deisred was but a simple thing. Her patience had reached its limit at an alarmingly fast rate, and her anger was beginning to peak.

Her wounds were still fresh, though they had healed splendidly.

"You are misunderstanding the situation you find yourself in, boy. You tread in 'my' territory. You have come here of your own volition, and you simply expect... To leave?" The city was set for 'grand' things. She, was set for 'grand' things.

"You will bury her here, and 'remain' here."
(Kudana)
[22:23:21] A heavy breath is taken. Amir feels stressed; the bug was commanding him around; something that had never happened before. He didn't like the idea of it -- nothing of it, in truth. It wasn't truly okay with him; he refused to be bossed around, especially in a state like this. There's a heavy exhale, and another -- the man stares up.

"I am going to leave.", he states, glancing towards that of the prairies; he had no intents to let Kudana control him. He refused, he refused to let the Yokai have control over him.

"... I will leave body. But I will not stay.", he states; a compromise. It was as far as he was willing to go in a peaceful manner -- he would surely escape at any possible moment if there was one..
(Amir)
[22:25:55] The Samhain of the Malleus Maleficarum was interested in their resolve.. They sought freedom of persecution, and a safe haven.. Nostvale would serve as that for now, until the time came to free the Cult from the horrors that would befall it.. The boy spoke of a betrayal, but seeking redemption in the Sealed God's eyes... Such dreams of redemption would be answered, as Medea stepped closer to the pair, tending to ignore the Giga Yokai that was there.. It didn't speak to her, so she heard none of it's telepathic communication. It just stood menacingly taunting the children that had sought her out..

Medea, though, seemed to take on quite the position. The Cult was in ruins, essentially, creating a vacuum of leadership that only those who truly took initiative were able to fill.. Medea asked a simple question now. "Abram Falco, Eve Avharain.. Have you taken your Oath under the Moon's Light?" she asked them, sticking out her tongue to reveal the Eye of Belial rune upon it, showing that she remained ever so loyal to the Sealed God..

If they had, and had betrayed that oath, only Belial could redeem them, not her. If they hadn't, she'd go about any other conversion or new initiate.. "Follow me, Acolytes.. We venture to the church." she smiled, stepping away from the massive crator as she headed towards Nostvale's gate.. Once inside, she'd take the children to the Church of Belial! Prayer would do them good..
(Medea Scarlet)
[22:33:36] It was here that Amir would be able to catch on to her intent.

She didn't care about the body.

"You have missed your opportunity, boy." Her voice was stern as she took another step forwards... She took note of his cursory glance to the distance, and for one who was very noticeably shaken by her attention as he was, that was not a good thing for her to have noticed! The lesser creatures around her ceased their chittering. Instead, they alighted upon the ground behind them.

"I could give you revenge against those that claimed his life... And you deny me."

She was unsure of his actions. Why would a human cart around a corpse that was burnt and shriveled? Why would a human care enough about someone such as this, yet remain unwilling to aid those that they themselves had chosen to aid? To her, it made little sense... But she was struggling to 'understand.' Or at least, had been.

"I have given my decree. You, 'and' the body will stay. You were given the opportunity to decide of your own free will, and you have chosen. Her posture widened... And the impenetrable guard was presented.

"What will you do, fleshling brat?"
(Kudana)
[22:40:25] Amir didn't know that she had no care for the body; that only that of Marciel Melym wanted it, for whatever reasons; apparently to make sure that it was... Uh, well, they could discover who had damaged the body. Amir takes a step or two back, however. He knows there's quite obvious danger. The four-arymed beast kind of gave off that vibe, you know..

"I.. Do not -- care.. About Ninurta.", he states; a fact that he knew was a clear lie -- he had to close his eyes as hard as he could as he says that; he had to pretend that Ninurta meant nothing to him.

He meant a lot. Even if dead, the boy found love within that red-haired bastard. The Enlil-Avharain was everything that the Sarradian wanted at one point, but...

"I am not staying. Why want me.", he asks -- attempting to seem bold and.. Not-weak.
(Amir)
[22:47:15] He claimed he would not stay, and yet he did not attempt to run.

She would have smiled, had she possessed the capability to do so. Her arms lowered, allowing the tips of her blades to point towards the ground. While the gesture was certainly one to be seen as one that 'meant no harm', the auras of ferocity... The intense scrutiny that bespoke she was ready for anything, did not relent. It was wholly separate from her depraved nature. More, a natural- primal one.

It was like predator and prey.

"I 'need' you. You fought for the Cult when it was in its prime, did you not..? You fought for that which you 'didn't care about'. And you expect me to believe..." Another step, and the evidence that she was getting closer and closer to the limits of her restraint were becoming prevalent.

"That you possess no desire for vengeance..? You are a fool to think that I know so little of you lesser creatures. Be truthful with yourself, 'boy'."

The click of the hilt of her blades... Her grip had tightened.

"You 'want' what I can offer."
(Kudana)
[22:52:22] Need. . ?

A word never spoken around the Sarradian; something that he had never known; Ninurta broke his heart, but wanted him to stay -- the Avharain was willing to let him leave, if he wanted.. But Kudana needed him; even if it was a simple lie.. One should never trust a Yokai. Within the mind of the Sarradian, there was a very clear air of conflict.

"Did not fight for cult. Do not believe in Belial.", he states, turning away; though turning back -- his guard could not be let down..

"Don't -- Don't want vengeance. No...", he states, a simple shake of his head. He didn't need to avenge his friends; he did not need to die so unnecessarily.

He needed to escape this life -- he needed to start anew.

"I want to leave."
(Amir)
[23:00:54] "Belial? I said nothing of 'Belial' desiring you."

This was not about the sealed god. It was not about his 'duty to him'. The mere idea caused the creature to balk, and the frustration had finally reached a fever pitch. She had been waiting for the time in which she could finalize what Ariadne had taught her. The intent behind what she had been told, and the manner in which she would achieve it. She needed to exert control... She needed to exert dominance. Just as she had in the throne room, and just as she had done to earn the podium on which she now stood.

She was no queen. But she had no desire to be. Her desire, was something wholly different... And if that meant trapping people in her clutches until their use ran dry, she had absolutely no qualms in doing so. The calm air around her rapidly grew to the same feverish high as her manner. Her new ways rarely worked... Talking only got one so far, and the legnths to which it could go were hardly capable of being called 'worthwhile'.

She had the means to make something of this. And by the end of the encounter, his mind was certain to be changed.

The lessers that had alighted lifted into the air, their cackling filling the area with a dissonant chorus mingling with the droning of their wings as they surrounded their mistress.

"You made this choice, fleshling."

One last chance.

Salvation, won through combat.
(Kudana)
[23:07:44] Amir refuse dto fight for Kudana; anything she needed.. He refused. Yokai ewre vile -- evil -- even if the place he intended to go was a place filled with them.. He could only hope hte people there were somewhat bearable. However, as the Yokai makes attempts to prepare for battle -- or anything fo that sort.. A shroud of water magic lifts almost immediately around him -- he knew that he would have to fight.

He knew that he could even die here.. If he could beg for forgiveness. He knew that.. He could try and save himself if he could win. He could try and save himself if he lost; he didn't know if he was seen as an asset.

He hoped he was, because part of him screamed that this would not go well. Either way, water magic -- earth magic - wind magic; and ice magic begin to come into play. All four working in perfect unison; tandem..

If they did not, he would die. He had to fight for his life.

"If win -- . . . Will join you......", he declares; if she could even be reasoned with.

Amir feared death.
(Amir)
[23:12:51] This was the type of art that she admired.

The look of fear on the face of an adversary who acknowledged what she was. Acknowledged what she was capable of. The magic that they employed... or the muscles that they relied on flaring into action. It was a strange mixture of hope, and despair all in one fleeting moment. Time and time again she had seen it. Just as often as she had seen it, had she crushed it. Wholly. Utterly. Absolutely. She was no longer the complacent creature that she was before... No longer brought to heel by the crownbearers whom she had strived to appease.

There was never a point in that ruse. Ariadne had showed her that.

She said nothing. THere was nothing to be said... His words fell on irascible ears. What he had spoken. Did it really even need to be said? Her own intent had been declared. Her own intent had been put forward with fervor, and voracity. She had said that he would be hers. And as things within the city had been going..?

What she says, goes.

Her legs bent at the knees... Wings lifted upwards. And with the terrifying roar of fire and flame, launched herself towards the smaller figure.

With no remorse.
(Kudana)
[23:13:42] {combat} Amir has been defeated by Kudana! They're unable to continue fighting.
[23:21:23] He was not a new brand of opponent to her. Not in the least.

Her movements were absolutely ferocious. Her gargantuan figure flowed like a master swordsman of a height twice her dwarf, compact and lethal with every single movement that was made. The earth gave way, ripped asunder by the jagged edges of her weapons as they hungrily sought to claim victory. Bit by bit, piece by piece. Her blades and her flames burned into the sarradian's body like a tatoo. Searing. Biting. The chill of steel mixed with the immeasurable inferno at the creature's beck and call.

She was putting him through a nightmare. Unrelenting pressure attempting to push him even closer to the brink. By the end of this?

She would make him beg.

Her form was flawless. As she had intentioned, there was no opening to be exploited. No weakness to be claimed. And in the end, she was the one who dealt the final blow... A blade edged in flame, thrust into the ground before her opponent and lifted upwards to cause a great gout of the inferno to surge upwards- scalding his flesh and sending him a considerable distance away from the one who enacted it.

The distance had only just been made... But relentlessly, she began to stalk towards him.

One. Step. At a time.
(Kudana)
[23:27:21] He couldn't win.

The underdog he was -- the underdog he stayed. He would never win a fight that truly mattered, would he? Even marching against Danarium; he had been put against a weak enemy until he fought Melavai.. Even against Nostvale -- he was put against a Falco, and a Yokai -- and a non-magi, apparently. Amir could never truly win.

He knew this, but, he continues to fight; earth magic begins to surround his body and create a powerful shell. If Kudana could not touch him -- he would be ultimately safe; he wouldn't be able to be burnt.

But the burns under the shell; they seared and they scarred; he didn't know how he could heal them if he was not careful.. But he had to fight for his life. There's obvious fear in his eyes -- but at the same time -- determination.

No, this is not undertale memes -- this is the boy being determined to try and escape. Sand begins to mix in with his magic; perhaps the destructive properties of sand would help. Unbeknownst to him was he using the power of Desert's fury; sandstorms howl around him in ferocity...

"I -- Stop -- Leave me.. Alone.", he attempts to reason -- trying to get the bug to leave him alone!

Goddamnit, he was shaking.
(Amir)
[23:29:04] {combat} Amir has been defeated by Kudana! They're unable to continue fighting.
[23:35:53] Her intent had been achieved.

Her might had broken him before the final blow had even been struck. Her fury had crushed him, wholly and utterly. Her prowess, left him without a method by which to counter it... That is, until she came within distance to strike. When she grew close and drew her blade back to strike, even the mightiest swing she could muster had not been enough to strike the sarradian's form. She had learned how to deal with him- being the nuisance that he was... If she couldsimply circumvent that agitating protection, then he would fall.

It was simple... And conveniently, it didn't seem able to resist the strikes of her blades. Perhaps 'not' as convenient? She was fidning it exceedingly difficult to keep pace. He was a coward. A complete and utter coward. She had realized this, and though she had taken the mental precautions necessary to deal with someone who liked to run as much as this?

It was all that she could do to get close enough to bathe him in her fires, much less strike him with her weapons. Her titanic strength... Was practically useless when the target was too far out of reach to even consider using it. By the end, she had managed to catch up! And all that it took was once... Fire spewed forth in a manner reminiscent to the plumes of a hellscape, encapsulating him- and his protective barrier along with it. The kaor's body burst through the rolling flames, unarmed save for the single weapon that she helf within her lower right hand...

She had discarded her weapons.

Her upper left arm shot outwards, carrying with it her momentum. She grabbed Amir, dragging him down to the ground in such a way that his head would be the first thing to make contact. The momentum continued to carry, dragging him up and around towards the cliff face flanking the Crimson gate... His back was slammed against it, her grip switched to the front of his collar as she held him aloft, the tip of her kaor blade pointed at his chest.

"Did you tell me... To stop, fleshling?"

The question oozed with malice.
(Kudana)
[23:44:25] Amir could run across this prairie as fast as he could; dodging gigantic blasts of fire with his ability to zoom away on a twister, though, she managed to stick on him like a fly to something that smells really good I guess -- the Sarradian is somewhat hopeless; his own barriers of magic are not enough to stop her fire magic; everything she had was overpowering him.

Of course, with everything going on; he can barely find room to breathe as he's slammed against the cliff face; the Sarradian had been defeated and he knew that he would likely die.

He was weak -- he knew it.. Nothing he could try ever worked. If only it could; perhaps he could defend friends.

But, at the same time. . . He's going to die -- isn't he? The body had been left at the gates; he was facing his own death.

"S-. . . Stop...", he cries -- he begs. He could not go on further..
(Amir)
[23:52:06] Death would not come. That which the sarradian feared most, was not what the kaor had in mind... Her grip tightened upon his clothing, while the point of her weapon bridged the distance between where it was held- and where it was meant to be. It took only a marginal amount of the focus that she had experienced before when branding the others... It took only the will that she exerted over her kin, and manifesting it in a physical form along with her occultism along her weapon. Her very soul.

A thick ichor began to form along the edge. Trailing up from the point at which her fingertips curled around the weapon, the concentrated essence began to seep upwards... Coalescing to such a density that it blotted out the lovely silver that the weapon otherwise entailed. All manner of elegance that it may have held at one point, was now entirely gone. It was a vaunted tool... A brand by which she intended to take what she desired.

He had shown fear. He had made his choice... And if he would not join by his own will, then she would bequeathe unto him a 'gift' of her very own make.

The ichor began to move. As water might drip from a pipe, it 'dripped' horizontally towards where he was suspended. The undiluted occultism seemingly passed straight through the cloth, staining the flesh beneath... At first, there would be nothing. Nothing but the pressed of her grip, and the slight chill reminiscent of a cold drop of water on a hot summer's day.

But it grew. It grew and grew, until the chill became a white hot spark. A white hot spark that grew into a wildfire as it sought to claim his circuits. His mana.

Him.
(Kudana)