Decent into Madness

Knowing the pride of the dragon within Kayne, it was safe to assume he did not want -ANY- intervention of any kind while he dealt with the enemy. That meant he could watch but that was about it. Kayne wanted to do this solo, no wingman and no help. This seemed very important to him. Soujiro would only intervene if Kayne got jumped or something of that kind, otherwise he crosses his arms and watches attentively.
(Soujiro)

The Champion of Blood would arrive at the Jianghu prairies, intent of finding someone and sending a message to this corrupt leadership. If they refused to give him back all of the defilers of his land, then he wouldn't hesitate to slaughter each and every single person that dared get in his way. Be it Valmasia or Jianghu. He had a point to prove.

The Chieftain would eye down Kayne, his face void of any emotion. Color would finally fade from the land as the Champion invoked his sacred familial art, keen on showing the easterners the might of the Atl. He wouldn't pay much mind to Cho and the other, concentrated fully on this battle.

"Don't take this personally. I'm not siding with Valmasia, but I will ensure that your people suffer a great sadness after I'm done killing each and every single one of you."

He'd point his staff forwards, ready to capitalize on his opponent's first mistake.
(Ezton Xizoh)

It's this very reason he never dabbled or bothered to weave much a political standing for himself. Rather, the dragon was content with enforcing those to fear the Empirical Dragoon that resides on the land claimed by Jianghu.

Wandering back home in hopes of removing the clothing now adorned in hopes of having it remade with a more. . . Sturdier design. However It would seem so as he spotted a familiar face in the distance.

"Hm. . ."

The two standing before each other now, staring him down. His words may have been true. But the dragon could hardly care for his reasons. "Is that so?" Kayne would come to speak. Reaching for the spear on his back, pointing it off towards the magi.

"Know that I have nothing against you either. Even if your people wanted me killed." Flexing his neck from side to side. He had demons, pain and enemies inside his DNA. And it forged him into the weapon today.

Could this man withstandthe brutality this drakanite would unleash?
(Kayne)


Cho says, "< *Her eyes seem to widen slightly at the lack of color. . .What is this? * >"
Ezton Xizoh has emerged victorious!

The Champion would fight ferociously against Kayne. Defeating him in the first round, losing in the second, then finally finishing the battle with a deadly sear to his face, sending him flying back into a rocky pillar. The Drakan's journey came to an end here.

Bloody and bruised, the Atl Chieftain would approach the downed man, casting a shadow over his disfigured body. Ezton's expression was unnervingly neutral, almost as if he was nothing more but an mere entity forged to kill.

Crossing his arms, he'd give the man the courtesy of some final words.

"Speak Kayne. Tell your loved ones your goodbyes. I have more to slaughter, not enough time."

The land was still grayscale, black and white. This ambiance caused for a generally very sad atmosphere, one that the others would feel.

A great despair overwhelmed everyone in the area.
(Ezton Xizoh)

Soujiro loks about for a moment. "I s it me or did the world become in shades of white and black?" He rubs his eyes trying to figure if it was him, maybe it was exhaustion or something of that kind. But he could not se any colorsl For all intents and purposes he felt like he had gone color blind. So he asks Cho, or was going to until Ezton spoke of killing Kaybe. "Hold on. Hold on. I am NOT going to watch while you kill him. Lop off a limb or something. But you are not going to kill him." Sirenians were a bit more stronger against negative emotions seeing as they were less emotionally invested. The only reason he was seaking in favor of Kaybe was because he really didn't want to look bad. But he probably would have been okay with his death because that meant food for him Cruel as it sounds that's how Sirenians are.
(Soujiro)

The intensity of the fight how somehow managed to become unfavorable to such points that his body had felt the deathly intensity that came from the mans magical might. Blowing him over, past the brute scales that covered his flesh.

The fatal victim being his face forcing him to kneel. His arm draped over his face and his body could hardly move. Each breathe pain stackingly made in an attempt to stay alive for just a bit longer.

"H-heh. . ."

He'd cough in the midst of his talk. Glancing up at the man, his eyes retained their fierce nature, even through the unrecognizability his face had now held.

"Lady Cho knows how I feel already. . ."

The dragon would explain, lowing his arm only slightly to reveal his eyes in her direction. A somber glance made before finding resolution in his death. If it were to be, then what else he to do, but accept it. . .

"You should fear what comes after my end, Ezton. As much as your people pray, it will not save them." His grip over the spear had finally released and on both knees the man was slouched over. Blood falling from his lips.

His gaze fell to the floor as both hands came to grip tight. He was scared. . . He feared this moment as much as his bravado might say otherwise.

"From the start of my life. . . I was nothing, nothing, but a boy." He'd speak as the tears fell from his face without a means to stop. The ability to do so, it felt inescapable. His consciousness was slowly beginning to waver, but he begrudgingly spoke on regardless.

"It was thanks to lady cho I could become what I am today. Thanks to her, I could die like this. Instead of the streets of Shen." Closing his eyes, his lower lip was bit bringing about only more pain.

But before he might perish, he'd scream. . . He'd shot. His last war cry before falling to the mans magic."AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Kayne)

Dammit! This is some good food that is going to go to waste, And with Lady Cho here I can't just go ahead and eat him. Ugh... Such a waste...




(Soujiro)

Kayne drops Lightning Crystal x3.

You pick up Lightning Crystal x3.

There was a reason as to why the color had faded from her sight. A strange mysticism that breathed both awe and imminent death upon the field. She had always figured that many of these things were key hints as to what was to come. After all- she could see within the distance as her warrior battled against the corrupted flames of the atl leader. ". . ." There is a mild silence, of course, a moment when her hands would grip infront of her heart- a strange amount of hope that comes from the things that she is feeling.

"Get up.."

 It wasn't a joke, it was a demand. From afar, she trembles in both partial fear and realization that he wasn't going to be able to. She could see within the moment that the ending was near-- but still, she knew. She could tell that everything that was happening was quickly going south. And she was uncertain if it were her legs or her heart that was going to give outunderneath her.

"Get up.."

 It was no longer a demand, but the woman pleading. She was uncertain of when she started crying, but she could feel the sensation of cool tears dripping down her features. There was fright- there were moments, memories, all too many were quick to flood the mind of the Kitsune. Her apparent weakness...Makes the moment all too much for her to handle, but still, she finds the ability to scream his name once more.

 "Kayne!"

 If there was one thing that she knew, it was that the male infront of her was more than just her bodyguard. He was her lifeline, her past, present, and future. And her history. "P-please....Please, please.." Upon both hands and knees does she find herself beginning to get down. He might not be able to hear her...But it's not common for such a being to do so.

"Please.."

 But she could tell that it was his final breath. With the war cry- he gets a simple, animalistic approach. From her lips, within the final moment, is a hellish scream- both hysterical and bestial. One that many would possibly claim to be a vixen's scream filled with agony, grief, fear, and extreme hate.
(Cho)

As the man spoke his final words, Ezton surrounded his hand with the pure occultic power, hollow electricity cackling as he delivered the death blow. A beam of grayscale rings shot into the sky, as the unholy might of the Champion would strike down to live up to his title. The Champion of Blood was glorious. He honored Atl traditions, single-handedly lifting the boot that Jianghu rested on Gehenna.

He'd bring down his hand into the man's chest, grabbing his beating heart and ripping it out of his ribcage. He'd bring the organ to his mouth, eating it as the fresh blood dripped down his lips and stained his teeth. Kayne would be screaming in agony, but he was very soon dead.

His malefic gaze shifted to the two now.

"Tell your insolent leaders that I will slaughter every single one of you, if my property isn't returned. Yes?"

He'd finish the heart at a surprisingrate, tainting the grass with the blood of the fallen.

As he'd walk away, he'd push his shoulder into Cho's intimidating her.

"And you, lying Kitsune. You better deliver my message. The Atl is done playing your sick games."

Nonchalantly, as he continued to speak with zero emotions, the man would walk away. Sated...

For now.
(Ezton Xizoh)



He was mine.

 There is a brief chill that occurs within the depths of her heart. A strange- sinking feeling with the body of her lover so close and yet, so terribly far away. When the vixen's call is not replied to, when the woman's scream becomes matched-- she already suspects that things are over. And that the worst has come. A weakness. She swears that she can feel her heart freeze over...And she can only feel nothing but contempt not just for the atl tribe, but for those who did not listen to her when she warned them...

But she does not move immediately.

 The shoulder that bumps into her is not met with resistance. She is pushed aside. . .And soon, within her choked breathes, she would begin to respond to the Atl War Chief. "I did not lie..." If there was one thing that Cho was, it is.."I came because I was told to...And when I returned, Dai Tseng changed his mind. He...He brought them in after I left. He did this without me knowing and you..you took him from me?" A breathless gasp, choked within her own tears.

 There were no threats that left her lips, but if one could see the animalistic gaze- it spoke measures. With Kachina in the distance, perhaps, she could even feel the steam beginning to arise from her form. She would no longer be the weak one, she would no longer stand aside while others battled. Instead- they were going to see why it was that many of the Kitsune should be feared..

 And she was going to start with the Atl tribe and everyone that she knew that Ezton loved. But before then, she would steadily stumble towards her lover- her hands resting upon his face, her arms, although terribly weak- struggle in an attempt to take him away. "I won't forget...I won't forget..I won't forget.." A hysterical repetition, a promise, to not forget what Kayne stood for and to always remember what he was to her while within this place. If only...If only she had listened to her instinct and left when she had the chance, then she could atleast be happy. But all she knows- all she feels is instability.
(Cho)

Well this was unexpected. The man ripped the heart and ate it. This brought Soujiro to lick his lips and then he turns around. Not becaue it was disgusting but because it was making him very hungry. He let out a sigh as the Champion of Blood made his way out. But this sigh had nothing to do with Kayne being killed, It had to do with not him the one feasting on Kayne's flesh.

He glanced at the man with a clear degree of respect but also some envy that he had eaten that juicy heart. And now he was officially hungry. Maybe here was a way for him to get away with eating Kayne.

"What do you want to do Lady Cho? Will you carry his corpse back? Or maybe I should? Depends on who is stronger. It's quote far and he must be heavy,,,"


he had to make it sound very normal, very non-chalant. Not a hint of what he really wanted to do. He lets the Kitsune grieve. That was inevitable. Soujiro however, being a Sirenian, was not emotionally invested to do the same thing. As Cho passed quickly to her lover, he silently stands there. No longer looking at the Champion of Blood but rather at the corpse laid out there for him to eat. Which he obviously COULD NOT DO. He sighs again for all the diferent reasons and making it look like it was about Kayne's death.
(Soujiro)

Colour wouldn't return to the somber scene until Ezton was far, far away...
(Ezton Xizoh)


The full effect doesn't come in until the color slowly bleeds back into reality. She moved without thinking, spoke without understanding, and all she knew was what she had wanted. As the color returns to the stark red blood upon her lithe being, her mind nearly breaks underneath the pressure. To see her lover, both marred and unrecognizable. To see him broken and beaten- to feel the warmth of his blood and the cold of his touch was more than enough.

 Within the moments, she finds herself at a silence. When Soujiro comes near, he would hear her scream once more, "No..! No! Don't- don't touch him!" She didn't want anyone to grasp him, she didn't want anyone to do anything to him- especially when he was the most valuable thing that she had ever possessed. And although it was not to be rude, it was something that she had wished to do on her own..

 It was something that she had to do. And now, she understands-- she understands completely. And she is faced with two things. Does she go to Valmasia and have them resurrect her lover? Or....Does she respect him and not do such a thing, even though she wants so much more. The thought of defecting comes through her mind, but the rage that Kayne would feel...

 She simply knew.

 As selfish as she knows that necromancy is...Turning to it out of desperation is something that cannot be helped. But either way, she continues her slow movement- her struggle. "I have to be the one to do it...I have to carry him...I gotta do it." Empty and trembling, stained within his blood. She brings him back to the people that caused this...

 She brings him to the source.
(Cho)

You pick up Master Staff.

Yep, he knew he wouldn't get away with eating him. Oh well. Not that it mattered. He silently nods and just shuts his mouth and walks with Cho.
(Soujiro)




Jianghu - Autumn's Vigil [SETTLEMENT]

Seized control of in the year 1433 AC, the Outpost, Gao Deryu, was established in order to secure and control the caves leading to the first Jianghu settlement, Ardent Cliff.



You have entered a Protection Ritual: +15 darkness def!

Chi plays the sad violin.
(Chi She)

You have 5 hours, 58 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.


She told them the consequences of bringing the Lost Children in. She told them of what would occur if they had not listened to her and yet again, they decided to go against her will and wishes. And once more, has it shafted everything that she has set in stone. If there was one thing that clashes against the frozen chill of her demeanor, it was the warmth of Kayne's blood over her garb. It was clear that she treads a thin line between mild insanity and hysterics- the words that spill past her lips becoming rather simple as she stands infront of the gates of Dao Geryu.

 With her chest rising and falling, even if no one were listening in particular, the woman's voice would scream. "Do you see what happens when you go against my word?" Weak-willed, broken, she keeps her lover close within her arms. "Do you see what happens when you do not listen to what I say? She begged Dai Tseng to turn them away, she begged him to let them go elsewhere- anywhere but Jianghu and because of that. . .

"We fight. We bleed. We die-- but for what purpose? For what reason when it all could have been avoided?" A woman drunk within her own stupor, a woman lost within her own heart ache. "You all would rather save SAVAGES than watch for your own, wouldn't you?" Her form sinks to the crown, her arms tightening around the heartless body of Kayne...

"You got what you wanted..." Yang, Miel, Nakano...They wanted to kill her at some point, did they not? "You all gave me what I so 'deserved'." A heart ache, a lost soul. The anger is bitter within her mouth, but she needed this....Because she was uncertain of what to do next.

 All she could do is only yell. And scream. And cry. "But I didn't deserve it...And neither did Kayne." She clutches him close to her chest, her mana bubbling around her silently- causing the sands and mineral around Gao Deryu to shift uneasily.

"If only...If only you all had listened. Now the Atl tribe is attacking us. Now we have war on two fronts...That we cannot handle." Doom. "We are all damned."
(Cho)

You have left private mode, your last white-text and RP will be visible to other players for 30 minutes after posting.

Dull a stare, into low a glower, as she approaches with another comrade dead in her arms. Eager as Kanye always was to charge into fray again and again despite herself, this does not entirely surprise Huifang. But neither does that soften the blow of another life lost.

And to Atl. Fucking Atl.

There is little to react to, leaned on this wall, magics missing, air soft, but her eyes lay heavily upon Cho, her bodyguard, whatever else the two of them were, together, one lost of life and the other clearly lost of a piece of herself with that missing presence.

There is no right word to begin with, no. Not with the bitter taste in her mouth by the time Cho finishes.

" ... It was a mistake. And we will pay for it, a dozen times over before this is all through. But so will Atl. A fledgling remnant tribe driven by baser fucking bloodlust is all they are. The worst, the very concept of the Gehennans that San thinks they all are. Purging is too good for them. "

Cold, plain. Lack of emotion. Only weight and heaviness in her voice, as she rests unmoving but for the words spoken.
(Huifang Meihui)

Surprised and shocked none the least by Lady Cho's heart aching words, Doko was unaware of the situation. He gazed upon them to see Sir Kayne, completely beaten up, as his blood was covering most of Cho's body. He was unsure if getting close to them was even a good idea, judging by the sudden vibrations in the earth. He could tell she was clearly upset because of what happened to Kayne. He told everyone that he worked with and everyone else many times. He felt compassionate for Cho and Kayne, even if her emotions were getting the best of her, he still wanted to help.

Making his way over to the injured man, he offers them a hand, to help lift Kayne's slowly dying body. Still uncertain what exactly went on.

"Lady Cho, what happened? What do you mean by the words that you said?"

The man was completely clueless of the politics and the decisions of the higher up. He only simply obeyed the rules and the task that he was given to guard Gao Deryu. Even still, he doubts a simple apology would come close to healing the sorrows that she was feeling.
(Doko Monski)

Back to Gao Deryu, one of the least monotone places to be these days. If Chi wanted to avoid stress, this wasn't exactly a hotspot. Anyway, as surveillance was maintained by himself and is compatriots, there would be quite the unexpected, and most certainly undesired externality to apply itself on their otherwise uneventful day.

Cho, with a lifeless Kayne approached them, in tears and wailing in grief. Chi couldn't must up any will to actually pry, and would immediately focus on the seemingly dead Drakan. He was the doctor here, and his first job was to insure the wellbeing of the wounded.

The doctor rushed toward the Kitsune, and attempted to tend to the pronounced dead. There hadn't been professional input yet, as such, he would do what was probably deemed pointless by the bunch behind him. With Cho's permission, he'd perform a quick inspection.

Whether he could touch Kayne or not would not matter, in the end. His abilities in electrical therapy and the likes would allow our four eyes friend to grasp just how bad his fellow shenlong was.

He shook his head, as he peered at the direction of Huifang. The doctor finally confirmed it, Kayne was no more.

Chi remained silent until more was to be brought up. The fact that he had to confirm a death already rattled him enough as it was, added to the heart wrenching cries from Cho. This truly was a humbling, gut twisting experience.
(Chi She)


 The silent, but blossoming rage within the depths of her heart only makes matters worse. The woman wasn't thinking straight anymore- all reason steadily being placed aside the longer that she grips onto the fallen form of Kayne. With both hands wrapped around his form, tightening, witht he warmth of his blood still upon her chest- she could do nothing more than scream yet again. Out of both anguish and peril. "It was a -mistake- that I warned him over again! And again! And again!" She swore to it- told him to get rid of him, and damn near believed it all to be fine- to be okay within the end.

 She promised him that nothing good would come of it- told him that they would have her head and nothing was fixed. He did not even comply with giving them back fully, but instead, planned on handing only a single body- as if that would sate Zahhual's fury. The woman does not move when Chi She comes. . .

Instead, she allows him to- keeping her grip tight upon Kayne once more. "I don't care about how many times you all pay for it.." Her breathing becomes hitched, her gaze flashing- her lithe frame trembling. "I want it to be fixed. I want to fix it." With the blood of her lover within her hands, her chin lifts.

"When you see Dai Tseng...Tell him to come to me. I want him and Nakano...Alone, please.." A breathless gasp, a shuddering heart. She struggles to come to a stand- and if assisted 'or not', she would be seen pulling Kayne's lithe being away from the rest of the group.
(Cho)

Sighed that things had came this far, he stills tries his best to assist Cho, grabbing one side of Kayne's body.
(Doko Monski)

"If I may ..."

He set his hands behind his back, inspection over and now keeping a certain amount of distance from Cho and her fallen lover.

"I'm very sorry for what happened, Cho. I truly am. This is most certainly something we'll have to handle immediately."

His green eyes remained on the lifeless cadaver left behind by his fellow drakan. As much as he seemed misguided in the eyes of Chi, Kayne most certainly didn't deserve this, especially in a time where they would rely on each other for survival.

"The Atl were not part of the assessed issue. Zahhual was, and as far as I know, she is not an Atl. This is a new, unforeseen threat. One that we shall cull immediately. Right, Officer?"

Body now oriented toward Huifang, he'd solemnly glance at her own, Kitsune eyes in search of validation.

"We will inform everyone of this, and I recommend we act immediately against these threats. Haboring the Lost Children doesn't matter anymore, an act of war has been made."
(Chi She)


Cho says, "Kayne was patrolling the border in Huli Maou and he was attacked by the Atl Warchief. He said he was going to have great pleasure in killing many Jiangheans due to our involvement with the Lost Children."
She had been inactive for so long.
Spending her money in the taverns, biding her time until she could run between the borders again. Waiting for the war to end, so that she could do what she did best.

But that time was over, wasn't it? It was clear what was going to happen if she simply stood by - even if she didn't know what she could do to help.

She would be fine after the war. She was good at doing what she did, no matter where the borders stood. But at the end of the day, it was best that she knew why they stood where they did - and that she shifted the odds where she could.

A more favorable future, hopefully. One where her ambitions could continue.
(Naomi Sato)


Chénshì Shengyin says, "9If Cruxati"
You have 5 hours, 12 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.


Huifang Meihui says, "I will prod Dai /immediately/ for a raid. He will be made aware of. All that has come to pass."

Huifang Meihui says, "I will not wait to allow them more time to pick us off on the border. We'll go to them."

It is sobering, to say the least. Not that she was one to ever be high siddity, but there was often a certain pride about her that many people would often misconstrue. She had pride within her people, within her country, and her abilities. She loved each being of Jianghu as if they were family despite all that had happened. And now, with Kayne within her arms- she feels as if her foundation slipped from underneath her. The feelings that she had once again, the brokenness. . .The fright.

 The woman finds herself beginning to grow silent once more, her breathing shallow- hand tracing to her heart steadily. It pained her slightly, underneath the stress- and although she had things installed to assist her, it never truly cured the odd arrhythmia. It would only get worse- when half of her was missing.

 She kept her relationship with Kayne a secret in fear that people might strike him in attempts to attack her. And although she knew that love in Spires was a dramatic thing that should never happen, she had attempted to give it a shot...And it broke her, just as she said that she would.

 "..."

 Now, the woman is at her wits end..Her lithe form raising, allowing the others to assist her with bringing the body of Kayne back into the chambers. "Deal with one thing and then other.." She didn't mean for them to raid. She didn't mean for them to fight a battle because of her...But...

 It cannot be helped.

 "If we spread too thin, we die...And all that we have fought for will be pointless. One thing at a time, please." She was visibly exhausted, mentally fatigued. For now, she just needs to rest.
(Cho)