Tal'grem: What I Am

Galiard keeps biting on the rabbit fellow. Alas, his teeth couldn't sink into his skin. Perhaps he should sharpen it next time.

He sniffed around for a moment and felt another presence of someone in the air. "Hungry, papa... hungry..." He said, letting go of Yuki's arm to go to where the other one is at, behind the tree and stuff.
(Galiard)

Just nearby, there was another presence just passing through - passing from behind a tree, likely attracted to the light. The movement from the mutant away from the light was noticed, but as they traversed in the dark? Was unknown. Thus, Axieon - an exhausted and heavily wounded man stumbled from the treeline. Their tired eyes found the rabbit-eared individual within their sights.

"Y- You..." He mustered out, resorting to heavy breathing, "Have you anything on you? I need something to cover up these cuts."

He was tired, sore and clearly an escapee of some brutality committed prior.

If only he was aware of what had recently snuck around the tree to end up in his blind spot.
(Axieon Tal'grem)

The lapine with a collar around his neck was a clear indicator that he was someone's prisoner but it wasn't this mutant's child. His ears instantly perked up. The feminine looking, lapine just staring at the injured man. Ignoring the kid nibbling on his dirt covered skin, too tough for the child's fangs to pierce through.

Yuki was slightly crazy with the occult magic that had tampered with his mind, confused to who was the enemy and who was the allies. The young man originally from Moxtli, being held as a prisoner of Achyon for many years.

"Eat soon soon soon."

He replied to the small child before he answered the stranger?

"I make plants grow yes yes yes. Got yourself in a fight figh FIGHT!!!?"

He couldn't help but to repeat some of his words. His mind was a little damaged.

"Don't have anything.. Was getting quests quests!!! What got you hmm hmm hmm? Who are you? Who are you? From from from?"
(Yuki Whims)

Galiard asks, "Eat... hungry... food? Where?"

Axieon Tal'grem exclaims, "!!!"

Axieon Tal'grem exclaims, "Who's there?!"

The broken speech wasn't exactly what the wounded man was hoping for. In fact, it left him a tad bit perplexed - exactly what part of Esshar did he find himself in this time? Where exactly was he?
At least they used words he could understand, so with time afforded he could decipher what they meant.

"I take it you're not from any of the cities." He assumed, "Perhaps a backwater village, education doesn't seem to offer you proper speech. Perhaps a disability - a shame." Harsh judgement, but it was his choice to make.

"I got hurt. Some people passing through are hunting other people." He explained, before taking pause, eyes digressing for the other individual staring at him from the tree. "... I take it you both are hungry then?" Eyes were honed upon the mutant harder than Yuki; scrutiny felt well spent - this breed was known for being risky.

"If you're looking at me as a meal, know you'll be sadly mistaken."

Unanswered questions, but at the same time - one could say he had questions of his own not being answered.
(Axieon Tal'grem)
Shoots the man a rather hard glare. He better not harm the child if he knew what was good for him. Not to mention his rude with his remark. His rabbit ears perking to the sound of rustling behind him. More mutants? Monsters?

Yuki scratched under his collar. Maybe he should just let these monsters eat this man for being so rude to him. The lapine just laughing like a mad man. He was a bit looney after all.

"Injure injured yes? You ask for help and yet yet yet you insult me and look at this child like he's not but a bug a bug a bug."

He looked at the kid that called him Papa.

"You really hungry hungry? You can eat this man man man."

His eyes glaring back at the 'injured man'.

"Rude man man man."


(Yuki Whims)

Yuki Whims assumes the Dancer stance!

A cry of a little girl could be heard from afar...seemingly getting closer and closer...looking towards the three people she emerged...from the shadows. From first glance, she appeared to be a very innocent girl...a child, lost in the woods....

"C-can someone help...I'm lost....I was with my parents but they left me..."

She said rubbing the tears away from her face...hoping someone would aid her.
(.Grindle.)

Galiard nods his head violently. "Hungry hungry… hungry..."

He eyed the injured man that Yuki pointed to... then slowly advanced toward him with his arms extended. His hands bore out claws that were ready to strike.

"Hungry... papa said eat... hungry.."
(Galiard)

Galiard assumes the Conjurer stance!

Axieon waded in place, eyes switching between the lapine whom condemned him to a fate of death by consumption merely their first interaction. Though, it was clear something wasn't right - something didn't click with Axieon even now.
As the mutant closed in on him, he lowered himself into a hunkered boxer-like stance.

His hands drifted forth open palm and fingers lax, with limber stature across his form. "I have plenty of spare pork meat in my pocket." He assured, keeping to his combative stance in preparation.

"Don't try anything we will both regret."
A warning that ultimately felt a bit empty, but one he spoke boldly nonetheless.

Then, there was... A cry? It entirely disarmed him - since it did not come from either of the two. It was a third party, tearing his attention off to the east, finding the image of a young girl? Out here?
Things were slowly coming together with the presence of the other two, leaving him to hypothesize as to where he was, but he wasn't quite sure yet.

"Get behind me, girl." He ordered, "I don't know anything about your parents, but if I can ensure we both get out of here untouched, perhaps I can get to that."
It didn't seem to the Tal'grem that either of the other parties were the best option to allow youth like that.
(Axieon Tal'grem)

Raises a brow. His head starting to throb in pain on the account of Axieon trying to protect someone. His nose dripping with blood. Yuki had thought it was another monster but it 'seemed' that he was wrong.

"Ughnn.. just don't eat the girl girl girl girl."

Yuki was borderline crazy all thanks to some guy who did an experiment on his mind with occult magic. Anyone with such magic could probably sense that occult on the rabbit. Maybe that was the reason he was a little crazy and his speech messed up.

"Hehehe.. Hahahah!!!! Eat him. EAT HIM!!"
(Yuki Whims)

Grindle sensed the occult magic oozing from the man...and this brought her interest...she did not show it just yet however...speaking no more she instantly walked behind the man that had issued her too...clinging close to the shadows, just on the edge of the light so nothing behind her could be seen....she arrived behind him.

"...." A brief silence once she got there....grabbing some of the mans back pants leg for comfort and staying close....A lethal weapon was directly behind the man and he'd had no idea...then speaking quietly.....

"Are you afraid of monsters?...." A chill sent down the spine of the man surely...a looming evil presence was then felt all around the area...dark occult and fel magic...this would cause the stomach of most to turn...close even to the verge of vomitting...shadows emerged from behind her...all of them large and tendril like....all spread out on each side of the man...darting directly towards him...waiting for him to make the wrong move.

"*Giggle* Did you really think you needed to protect me?...That's brave of you...but it looks like someone needs to save you now if anything....what do you say we play a little game...It starts with me taking off alllll your skin, and then wearing it while I drain you in the dark forest..."

A evil grin upon the female figures face...she was heavily prepared to strike the man down....a lethal force.
(.Grindle.)
Maybe everyone else didn't see things from his perspective - at least, he saw himself as the honest truth - cruel, blunt but righteous without deception. To his misfortune, it seemed as though the mutant was not the only threat he had to worry about.

He stood guard for what he thought was a defenseless girl, only to find his very back crawling at the volition of an insidious force. Something so unearthly to the soul sung to the flesh, and cooed to the soul in sickly fashion. It budded goosebumps and summoned forth awareness to a carnal sensation known to even the most primordial instances of man.

'Are you afraid of monsters?'

The essence that radiated the air felt so surreal, as though he was plucked from the world surrounding him for something far more morbid. Yet, it was not something unfamiliar. Something about this, felt like he had experienced it before...

Something recent...

The Tal'grem's eyes widened as it all clicked: The Dreadwoods. The awful miasma that reaped over the turned lands, that radiance... It matched this one verbatim.

Then, the girl's voice spoke to compliment the encompassing tendrils, now betraying the nature that dropped his guard so briefly before. The trend had a habit of repeating itself.
First, with other academy students, and now? With those within the wilderness...
It was turning out that his brashness was well delivered - if only he had kept the same energy with those visibly defenseless.

Fear was something very familiar to Axieon as well... But it was soon afterwards drowned out by something far more volatile -- festering beneath the surface. It was a frustration of circumstance, realizing a reality that had him at the bottom of the food chain, constantly preyed upon.

By Monster.
By Beast.
By Man.

By Vermin...

"No." He muttered under his breath, following Gailard with his eyes as the mutant lunged for an attack. In that very moment, he leaped in an effort to escape the immediate lashing by mutant teen sought to deliver, all whilst turning his head to face the looming monstrosity that hungered for his suffering.

"I, am TIRED! SICK, AND TIRED!" His leap would be met with smashing fists against the soil, body hunkered over to his knees on the ground with muscularity strained. The piercings across his body edged out slightly earning his wince with their movement through his scabbing, but shortly afterwards his butchered person would begin to glow along his exposed leylines.

Sapphire blue gleamed across an intricate circuit revealed through his pierced flesh, unsewn to leave a visible anatomy radiant with his bridling essence.
"TIRED OF IT ALL! I, AM NO MERE MAN. I WON'T BE AFTER I FIX THIS FORSAKEN LAND!" He boastfully proclaimed, "YOU WILL LEARN -WHAT- I AM!"

Furious and driven by his own hate, he stood upright, shivering in it... Their skin transcended for a silver-ish hue, imitating iron, and fighting stance taken anew.
"I. WILL. NOT. DIE."
(Axieon Tal'grem)
Grindle had begin to glow a red color....rage crawled to her as she begin to let out banshee like screams....each one followed by an explosion, and a lake of fire...melting and burning down any trees in her way as well...molten lava rose from the ground, pure destruction before her...not to mention the tendrils that constantly gave chase to the man...

"If you want to show me who you are, and you say you won't die...you'll have to do a lot better than that! Watch your footing...one slip up and your head is mine....fun game right?"

Grindel spoke telepathically to the man....making her seem even more sinister than before...the others who watched on heard no words she gave, only the banshee like screams...

As the man continued to lay on the ground from the vicious attack...the dark tendrils darted towards him once more...

(.Grindle.)

It was hot... Everything...
Willpower could only go so far, and with a circuit entirely driving behind that and seemingly no magic to use? It didn't seem as though it was going to work to his advantage in the slightest.

He was taunted, all whilst his life was being gambled against his will. The lack of control - like a puppet on a string: Like a feral cat's play-thing, it was inconceivable to him. It would be denied until the end of his days.

He was straining on the ground as the world around him burned away, engulfed in flame and magma.
"Shut the hel up. Shut the hel up." He grumbled under his breath, tightening under his anger. So pent up, yet no release... No hope of unveiling magic to his person - to his defense. As his head shot up to the creature uttering banshee screams that culled at the soul, he could not accept the maws of fear any longer.

He was already banished to the freefalling depths of Hate. The alternate realities of a switched role was all he could see. It was almost as though the flames that singed at his flesh didn't matter anymore. The pain? The heated metal still lodged into his flesh? He couldn't feel it...
He couldn't acknowledge it anymore.

No.

All he could know, in a moment where his life was at stake? Was Hate.
Hate for the treatment he was forced through.
Hate for the life he was forced to live.
Hate for those that dared to assail him.

He, was a proclaimed Eternal: Aeternum, and these? These sinners would be deemed as naught more than "Vermin...  SHUT. THE. HEL. UP!" A flare-up of sapphire bombarded his immediate scape with a flash of sapphire to forge a column for the skies above. It was hardly complete, conjuring a halo of dust and debris to harass the Nethradin, but as swiftly as it generated, it was gone, leaving a doggedly pursuing Axieon.
(Axieon Tal'grem)
Grindle washed a field of lava over the man leaving him scorched...she had then noticed two others apparently threatened to fight her...as usual, she attracts a lot of attention seemingly.....leaving him on the ground and ignoring everything the man said...she then looked to aviel who seemingly was trying to attack...

"Huh...You again...haven't you had enough? Pretty sure we even'd the score out last time...don't tell me your just going looking for trouble now...what do you want, aviel my old enemy..."

She said with a face that resembled '-_-' awaiting a answer from the man as she leaped away from his dash...carried by the shadow like tendrils.
(.Grindle.)

A field of magma washing over exposed flesh in any circumstance would leave burns capable of immediate death - if not from combustion? Then, from shock...
Thankfully, he noticed it in time.

"I. WILL. NOT..." The wave of magma encompassed him whole... Leaving him buried under its searing weight. Perhaps, he was considered dead? Buried in the heavy substance? One thing was certain - the position in which he fell? Soon exhibited a bulge in the mass of magma, revealing a silver-ish hued man, standing in its place.

Mana was surged beneath the surface of his skin, giving it extreme levels of toughness and durability. It was hardly enough to win his victory, but enough to support his claim.
He, infact, did not die... Rising up to his feet to allow the magma to drain from his shoulders, refracting light in the atmosphere in reverence of the heat. Slowly, he trudged through the molten rock akin to mud, especially as it cooled at rapid rate. He winced, still burned despite his efforts to fend off the attacks.

Though, at least, he was still in one piece...
In some aspect.

One step, after the other... He departed, thankfully spared by another party intervening.
Where did the mutant go? Did he flee? What of the lapine? Was she going to pursue him?

What were all of these other people doing here?
(Axieon Tal'grem)
Glances at the Man that was trying to run off when he insulted him. The feminine rabbit still pissed off from the words he spoke to him. Yuki pulled out his watering can. The kid might have gone off somewhere but to the lapine the man needed to be taught a lesson.

The collared lapine laughing sadistically. He really should've been back in Achyon by now. Though he was given permission by the Commander herself when he asked he could go outside. He didn't say how long he'd be nor for why but it was usually for quests.

"Get back here here here you!"

Yuki repeated. He wasn't going to let him get away if he could help it. The crazy lapine chasing him down with a banged up watering can.
(Yuki Whims)
A crimson arrow shot through the air towards the girl’s heart, yet it missed, leaving a trail of blood and disaster upon its wake. Trees on its way were uprooted as the grass and flowers alike upturned to only but soil and dirt. However, it curved and avoided the Tal’grem as he made his escape.

Yet, of course, it was nothing more than a deterrent.

Aviel lowered his bow, allowing wind caress his cheeks, remaining silent as he only looked at the girl – no, to Grindle, with silver pupils tainted with naught but cold wrath.

After all, Grindle was too far away and can easily avoid a confrontation if she chooses to. Though, that did not mean the nethradin was afraid. No, he knew her, and she was never afraid.

She sought prey.

Yet, her prey appeared, will she hunt? Or will she come another day?

Truly, Aviel did not believe that nethradin's hold a concept like 'to even the score.' They were of the netherworld and he knew not what they intended to do.

But, he believed she was there to hunt.

"COWER BEFORE ME."

The blood magi taunted with a whispery voice, though his words echoed about the forest. Yet, with a multitude of personas about the area, he would not blame Grindle if she so wishes to leave.
(Aviel)

The lapine was infact… Still there, and very much willing to continue their onslaught. One such assault that a damaged Tal'grem couldn't quite accommodate for the time being.
He was tired, wounded and rather beaten for the time being.

"What is -wrong- with you?" He exclaimed, taking a dive for the trees. Surely, they were fast - faster than him, meaning any hopes of flight were hopeless. Though, at least he could use the foliage to buy himself a bit of time.

Heavy panting and blurring vision plagued him constantly, yet, he stood ready. She was coming...
"Why do you keep at it?"
Just when would they be satisfied? Was he not already beaten? Was such lethal fury warranted here? Perhaps, she wasn't human at all. Perhaps, that was why she still attacked.

Whatever the case... It didn't matter now.
Nothing did.
(Axieon Tal'grem)

The lapine held his watering can in hand. It was all he had on him. The only thing he could use as a weapon. The fast little bugger looking rather weak and frail not to mention thin yet he was pretty okay against this man that insulted him. The enraged rabbit using nature, fire, earth and explosion to beat his opponent down to the ground. He shouldn't insult someone who was apparently mentally injured or ill.

The blood corsing through his viens as he was pretty excited to beat up even an injured man. Yuki was not at all what he used to be when he lived in Moxtli and Osorona. His years in Achyon had changed him. The city and this curse on his mind driving him insane.

Yuki stood there laughing at the man.

"Shouldn't have have have made fun of me. Yuki will will will beat manners into you!"

He lunged at him like some wild animal. Enraged and going into an almost blood frenzy, swinging his metal watering can like a frenzied mad man.
(Yuki Whims)

Vines.
Flames.
Rock.
Combustion.

All of these and a watering can were used to bludgeon into submission, and surely he'd falter, wane and stagger... But never did he succumb. It was as though the more they beat into him, the stronger he retaliated.

He was unapologetic.
Unforgiving...
Without the slightest bit of remorse -- because even as he was victimized to someone else's wrath, he dared to stand again, glare and proclaim.

"Made fun of you? I mere speak what -is-! You are a BROKEN individual, striving to take the role of VERMIN in this world." He screamed out, "--and I will FIX that. Fix -you-... Everything will make sense in time." He growled.
He leaned off to the side, almost stumbling over before re-asserting his footing. He was struggling to keep himself upright.

"Many before you hunted me... Tortured me... Sought out to eat or kill me... But they all failed." He claimed, "Because I am destined for more." He assured, "I am Aeternum, an Eternal before you." He held his arms out, as though inviting the frenzied madman whilst distance permitted him a moment's speech.

"--and I offer to you, the cure to this forsaken land, that has left you broken... Salvation, at last to a land of tyrants, monsters and beasts that would victimize those they consider less to themselves with death." He monologued, completely vulnerable to an attack should she considered attacking him prematurely. It was almost as though he cared more to hear himself speak than his own life...

Or he truly believed himself to be immortal...

"Once I achieve my vision, I will seek to UNDO the concept of death upon this land, and save the sinners from themselves!"

Assuming he was not stricken by now, he would refine his stance, no longer distracting himself with his dream."--and it is my HATE, for acts fitting of VERMIN that drives me to SUBDUE you where you stand."
(Axieon Tal'grem)

Axieon Tal'grem says, "--but I offer to you this... My forgiveness... I am strong enough to forgive, if you repent... Repent now, and perhaps, we can consider something anew."

All he was hearing was jabbering. Yes he was lost. Yuki used to be timid and naïve. He had a lover once too and friends he loved very much but he couldn't be fixed. Not unless someone gets the holder of the remote to his collar and that was a slim chance too. Five years he had been stuck in their walls, under this brainwashing curse that one man put under him, promising that he'd help him escape one day but even he left him just like his lover. Even though he told the one he loved to forget about him. He had watched his friends died even if this brainwashing was telling him they were the enemies.

Yuki cried out with his mind throbbing hard again. That nose dripping with blood. Rushing at him again. Broken goods. Obedient rabbit of Achyon with a anger problem toward those not of Achyonites.

Vines launching towards the man's throat. He was tired of this headache and his jabbering.

"The only Vermin Vermin Vermin is you. Hehehehe Hahahaha! All shall bow bow bow bow to Achyon!!"

He finally said it. The obedient pet or prisoner of the wretched city. Brainwashed to thinking he was one of them. The only one that should repent was him and not Yuki.
(Yuki Whims)

Axieon Tal'grem says, "Foolish."

The lapine's vines coiled around his legs to stop the man long enough to stun him for a follow up with a few good whacks on the head with his water can. Yuki looked like he was having fun for once. His main point was to teach him a lesson not to kill or maim. Deep down he still was good just crazy, but if he was ordered to kill someone he'd probably try it.

Yuki had been ordered to fight another prisoner before and he had. Though he wouldn't have if he was his true self again. That said man was of course dead but not because of that day. The death of that guy happened at a later time.

The lapine stepped back only to stomp down on the ground and kick a rather large boulder towards the man. Those scrawny legs were pretty strong for a little guy. Looks could be deceiving after all. The rock pushing the guy back further than he expected. Yuki just shrugs it off. He had to get back soon anyways or he might get punished for taking too long.
(Yuki Whims)

This was how it often turned out...
Yet, despite all of the odds...
Despite the monsters and beasts that'd have him culled from the land?
Despite the fact that this lupine had condemned him to death at the hand of a mutant just moments prior?

"I... Will never... Die..." Axieon muttered through tired lips, straining as he pushed himself upright with his arms. He felt as something strike him at his side...
Large. Blunt. A boulder carted him meters away, leaving him coiled upon the ground.

He grunted at its blow, but sought to push himself into a roll on to his stomach.

"I. Am. Aeternum." He repeated, caught up in his own chanting, struggling to edge himself upright on his knees. There was no surrender to the peaceful embrace of death, because to him, it could not be allowed to exist. It was a concept that in itself was to be purged -- to be reviled, and to face threats likethe lapine? Felt akin to that.

"--and... Even now, I...." He trembled, finding a tree to slowly pick himself upright. "R- Rise..."
Persistent. Stubborn. Sorely defeated and on the verge of unconsciousness.
To his fortune, Yuki seemed to already be leaving. Perhaps, a desperately aggressive warrior would taunt them behind their back... Axieon, was not one of those people. He was outclassed, incapable of even managing to phase them for very long it seemed.

… And the thought of that? Burned at his soul. It was hotter than any flame. The torment they needed to be subjected to, to offer the Tal'grem any iota's worth of cartharsis.
They all needed to pay penance.

What sin could be greater than antagonizing, or even attempting to slay an Eternal? How much longer did his list need to become...
He leaned against a tree to catch his breath, before he hobbled onward for some form of cover. He couldn't stay here... Not if it risked his livelihood again so soon.
(Axieon Tal'grem)