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Post by Lady Kara on Feb 6, 2007 1:42:05 GMT -5
Long ago, the Elves and their allies once waged a great war against a most vile and sadistic fiend - the king of the Shinzohzoku demons. His name was "Kurayami" (which means "absence of light"), and his mastery of the dark arts and illusionary power was almost unfathomable. But the Elves had one last hope of defeating him, and that was to bring forth the "Divine Oracles". These chosen few had the ability to summon the 5 sacred protectors of the Elves, who aid them whenever there's great evil in the world, and are known as the "Divine Dragons". And in addition to summoning the dragons, the oracles also could 'borrow' some of their dragon's power and wear mystical armor that was able to absorb whatever magic is the same as the dragon's. So, these noble beings were brought into the battle, and working together, they all succeeded in binding Kurayami and sealing him within an enchanted prison deep within the heart of a nearby mountain.
Over time, the world changed, and the dragons soon saw that it might be an excellent idea to let other races have a chance at being oracles. But their leader, Raiju the Divine Dragon of Light, chose to remain having close ties to the Elves through the Davarin family. Battles came and went, yet the aid of the 5 dragons was never needed for them. They enjoyed the fact that there never was an evil force great enough to require 'divine intervention', but it was rather boring to do nothing. And so they focused on improving the lives of their oracles, and giving them a purpose in life aside from being able to wield their powers. Time marched onwards, and soon the terrible war of old and the fiend who caused it were beginning to fade from memory. Mount Akushin, where the Shinzohzoku king had been sealed away, had quickly begun to lose the fear that it installed in all who looked upon its jagged peaks. Soon, a city was built not far from the mountain's base, and the Elves and other races who came to live there knew nothing of the dark history of that dreadful place. The only reminder of the war that remained in the world was an arcane tome simply called the "Heart-thief Epic", and which was housed within a museum that bore artifacts found in the area. One fateful night, someone snuck inside and stole that eerie old book, and it was never seen again. No one knew why anyone would want it, nor did anyone truly care - for they didn't understand what it contained. But the one who stole it cared, and desired to use it for great evil...
The night was most dark and ominous, and wreaths of mist had entwined themselves all around the many pathways that scarred Mount Akushin. Those who lived nearby in the town of Glenrym had the sense to stay inside their homes this night, for it was far too chilly to be out besides how mysterious all this mist appeared to them. However, on this eerie misty eve, one daring soul braved the shadowy road that led to the mountain and soon traveled up its inky black paths. The light of a single lantern to guide him, this stranger made his way inside a cave that seemed at first that it'd go on without end. But after a while, he found where the tunnel had been leading him - straight to a massive and otherworldy door that appeared to be as old as the mountain itself. The stranger smirked as he gazed upon this ancient structure, and soon set about dealing with the odd things he'd been carrying. All this time, he was dragging behind him a young woman who was in an enchanted slumber, and he hurriedly brought her towards the door. Lying in front of the door there was a peculiar bed made of stone and covered with red runes, and upon this he soon lay down the woman. Casting off his hood, the stranger revealed himself to be a young Elven man, and he immediately began to remove the woman's clothes. Once she was naked, the Elf then placed a hand on her chest and began chanting a weird incantation. In a few moments, he was able to put his hand inside the woman, and soon brought forth her heart - magically still beating in his hand. He saw what he had done and looked pleased, then proceeded to hold the heart before the center of the door. Uttering more mystical words, the runes on the door began to glow eerily, and soon the ground in the cave began to tremble slightly. Delighted to see this, the Elf called out aloud:
"Lord Kurayami, slumber no more! I summon thee out from this prison and offer unto you the beating heart of an Elven maiden, that you may sink thy fangs into it and drink of her mystic blood until it beats no more. And I offer unto you my loyalty as thy servant and slave, the one who has released you from this wretched mountain's dark heart. I RELEASE YOU!!!"
In the language of the Elves did he utter those final words, and at once the ground beneath him began to quake as the mighty doors opened wide. From within the dark depths of the room beyond, Kurayami slowly came. He stretched all of his 4 black birdlike wings as he breathed deeply, and curiously twitched his long wolflike ears. Then he looked upon the young Elf who had freed him from imprisonment - and bore a hungry gleam in his eyes as he saw the heart that pumped in the Elf's hand.
"The heart of a maiden, to renew my strength. The heart of an Elf, to curse those who brought about my imprisonment here in this cavern, and whose blood can restore me to full power once more. For one so young to be willing to be my servant and so clever to know how to set me free, I must say that I'm impressed. If you desire it, I could transform you into one of my kind that you may join me in dining upon the hearts of our enemies. My power is great enough to do such a thing, but only if that is what you desire. However, I must first regain that power."
Kneeling down to where the Elven woman lay sleeping, he bore a fiendish grin as he clasped a hand over her mouth and nose. As she struggled to try and breathe, her heart palpitated mightily in the demon's hand. Once he felt that he'd done it long enough, he let her breathe again - her heart now gaining a swift, irregular beat from receiving damage. The demon smiled as he saw the distressed look on the maiden's face, knowing that her pain was giving her nightmares. Then, with lightning speed, Kurayami plunged his vampiric fangs into the woman's heart. He delighted in how she moaned and the heart freaked out as it struggled to stay alive as he began drinking blood from it. As the Elf looked on in anticipation of what they'd do next, he watched as the woman's heart rapidly quivered and then stopped. Once it died, the demon ate it with much relish and gave forth a blissful sigh afterwards. He smiled as he could feel his dark power flowing through him, and with a flap of his great wings, Kurayami shouted out in glee over his freedom.
Meanwhile, at the moment the woman's heart had stopped, something odd happened around the world. The Divine Oracles suddenly felt a sharp pain strike them inside their heart as though it were a small knife, leaving them breathless and exhausted afterwards. And the skies began to be streaked by gathering stormclouds as the very heavens seemed to grieve in agony that the Shinzohzoku king had been restored to power.....
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Post by prime on Feb 6, 2007 17:50:27 GMT -5
"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!" Prime yelled in anguish, falling to his knee's. A sharp pain had punctured through his heart a mind, and he could feel it tying itself to his spirit. It felt like dying, and being born again, and he knew in the depths of his soul that the unbearable pain had killed him in a moment, and some meddling being had brought him back. It felt like the smoldering ashes of his old self, as all his old, unknowable power was put aside, and he was allowed to live as a person again, his power seperate from himself. His eye's shone red, and once again changed to those of a dragon, his ears lengthening, greatly resembling those of an elf. Prime exhaled breath harshly, grinding his teeth. "It seems as though my life is eternally drawn to dragon fire." Prime said tightly, reaching out with his mind.
<Hello.> He said, to the unknown creature which had bound itself to his very soul. A dragon powerful beyond the compare of any Prime had encountered before. <Hello!> Hinoko said, in a somewhat surprised voice. <I guess I shouldn't be surprised that your able to reach out to me so soon, you have a powerful mind.> Hinoko said, Prime looked directly at her, though her mind was as fire. <You seem similar to myself.> Prime said, and felt a mental grin from Hinoko. <You seem to have lost that aspect of yourself, let us...rediscover it.> She said.
The air and ground around Prime was suddenly writhed in flame, as a power within himself was called up, and enhanced by Hinoko. The stone below him began to melt into magma, and he walked through it as though it was mud. The flame, this power, was far more than he'd ever felt as he used to be, even when he opened portals to call up the fires of hell. And yet, he felt at home, as though sitting before the hearth curled up with a lover. He grinned, and the aura snapped off.
<I believe I've missed you without even knowing it.> Prime said. <I've missed you, and always known it. Welcome home.> She said, and Prime grinned. It was almost as though he had family again. But then a grim thought was wedge between them. <Yes, I did have to kill you to make you mine.> She said, sensing his confusion and simmering resentment. <But only for a reason that you can easily understand. A great, dangerous presence aproaches. I recognise it, as though a figure from a long forgotten dream, and I struggle to see what it is, but it is hidden from me. And... it terrifies me.> She said. Prime knew a brief moment of shock, then slowly expanded his senses. He could feel something, a great, terrifying presense. <It's strong.> Prime said, frowning. <And at this time when all things are coming to a head, we can't afford to have such a strong enemy.> Something stirred within Prime, making him uneasy. <Worry not, my brothers and sisters awaken, doing as I have. Though I'm sure some of the chosen will not be happy about it. Oracles tend to resent they're fates, being chosen by something greater than themselves.> She said, and Prime smiled at her. <Is that why you chose me?> He asked, sending a little mental poke at her side. He heard growling laughter from her mind. <Yes, I knew you'd understand.>
Prime shrugged, uneasy, yet happy, and walked in a direction indicated by Hinoko, traveling towards the only sure oracle. That of Raiju, who stood with an ancient elven family line.
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Post by Lady Kara on Feb 12, 2007 21:37:10 GMT -5
OOC: And thus it begins - the oracles acknowledging Kurayami.
BIC: Nagisa Davarin had been meditating alone this night in the mountains near her home, when all of a sudden a terrible shock of pain struck her in the chest. She was rather breathless, and for a sickening moment thought something might be wrong with her heart. Then she sensed it: An aura of sinister darkness snuffing out an aura of light. After a bit of letting her heart calm down, she queried Raiju.
"What's going on, Raiju-sama? This feeling's so... horrible."
[[Little one, it is something far worse than you can imagine. Someone has foolishly set free the vile Kurayami, King of the Shinzohzoku demons. He has devoured the heart of a young Elf maiden and thus has gained his great powers once again.]]
"Shinzohzoku demons? Aren't they those 4-winged, wolf-eared fiends who only eat the hearts of mortals? This is dreadful. What must I do, Raiju-sama? I'm scared..."
[[You must seek out the other oracles, and summon the dragons. Only we have the power to deal with this wretched being. Fortunately for you, I sense one of them approaching, so remain here to greet him and tell him what I've told you.]]
"I understand, Raiju-sama. May victory be on our side."
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Post by Damien on Feb 15, 2007 12:52:06 GMT -5
"Ok, Todd have you checked those fuses?" Damien asked looking up.
"Yes sir, they're all working fine."
"Ok good, ready for a more important job?" Damien said with a serious look on his face.
"Wow, yeah of course!"
"Ok two cups of coffee when you're ready." He chuckled patting the young apprentice on the back.
"Right away." Todd laughed giving a mocking salute to his captain before leaving the room. When he returned he was clutching two steaming hot cups of black coffee. He handed one to Damien before taking a sip of his own.
"So, are we ready to try and get this old ship in the air again?" Todd asked taking another sip from his cup.
"Yeah I think so, it's looking good so far anyway, we just need..." Damien suddenly stopped and clutched at his chest, gasping for breath. His coffee spilled all over the ships main control panel infront of him as he dropped to his knees unable to speak. His heart felt like it been ripped from his chest and jumped on several times before being put back. The incredible pain subsided after a couple of minutes though it seemed like an eternity to Damien.
As the pain passed a soothing, emerald coloured, light entered the engineers mind. The light took over his vision untill it was all that he could see. When it seemed like the light couldn't get any brighter a beautiful, almost angelic, voice entered Damiens head. At this point the light grew so bright it was like peering in to the very heart of the sun.
"Damien you have been chosen to take on the role of one of the legendary Oracles. You must fight alongside your fellow Oracles to defend our world against a great evil that has arisen." The voice boomed in his mind sending a warmth through Damien's entire body. "I am Tsuyosa, the Divine Dragon of Earth and Wind, you must travel to meet with our leader Raiju and his Oracle, Nagisa Davarin. They should be able to explain everything to you"
The light and the voice both died away and Damien's vision was returned to him. Todd was kneeling by his side with a very worried look on his face.
"Damien are you ok? I tried to talk to you but it was like you weren't even there." The young apprentice said helping Damien to his feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine but I have to leave something very important needs my attention. The ship is yours until I return." He said quickly shaking the teenagers hand, not wanting to waste another second, he raced outside. Once he had left the ship he headed straight for a smaller ship that was stored in a large hanger near-by.
Damien took the adamantium baseball bat from his back and pounded the padlock on the hanger doors until it broke off. He then heaved the huge doors open and headed inside. Once he had spotted the ship he was looking for he sprinted over and jumped in. The small craft burst in to life with the push of a button and blasted out through the hanger roof sending chunks of it high in to the air. Following a kind of mental map imprinted on his mind by Tsuyosa, Damien headed at full speed for Nagisa's home.
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Post by prime on Feb 25, 2007 23:08:11 GMT -5
Prime rolled the japanese style door to the side, took off his shoes, and stepped into the house. A young elven woman looked at him curiously, and he could sense a deep connection within her, filled with light and life. Her eye's were quite deep, but that didn't bother Prime at all. His were the same, absorbing everything. "Hello." He said cautiously. "My name is Prime, chosen of Hinoko. You are Raiju, or more properly, his oracle, though I know not your name." He sat down in the japanese style, and folded his hands in his lap. "Please, explain. As always, I hunger for knowledge."
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Post by Lady Kara on Mar 1, 2007 1:28:19 GMT -5
Nagisa smiled at this stranger who'd come, and wondered why Hinoko had chosen someone like him. She still felt rather weary from her sensing the revival of Kurayami, and hoped that her guest didn't notice anything odd about her appearance or her health.
"A hunger for knowledge can often lead to trouble, you know. But, I'll tell you the reason for which you were led here. *sigh* A powerful and wretched fiend has been set free from imprisonment this night, and it may mean great tragedy shall befall this world if he were to remain free. Only the Divine Dragons have the power and ability to fight this being, and were in fact the ones who'd imprisoned him long before. As for who and what he is, that is most unpleasant to tell. He is Kurayami, ruler of the Shinzohzoku demons. His are a peculiar breed of demon. They have ears like that of a wolf, eyes of a cat, clawlike nails, 4 black bird wings that bear a single dragonic claw on each one, a big red catseye-shaped jewel on their forehead (which can turn into a horn), vampiric fangs, and black veinlike tattoos on their arms and chests. These beings are masters of illusion and dark magic, and take on the form of any humanoid being they desire in order to travel in public. And as some may easily guess from their name ('heart-thief'), they eat the hearts of mortals for nourishment. Now... what we must do. In order for the dragons to deal with this vile creature, the oracles must gather together in a sacred place I know of and summon the dragons from their celestial domain into our world. It may be a little difficult, but I'm sure that if we work as one, the task shall be done in good time."
It felt good for her to relay all that information to Prime, and she wondered if she'd have to do it again for all the other oracles. Thankfully, Raiju was letting her borrow a bit of his life-energy to help her out., so she might have the strength to overcome her poor health in lieu of all this.
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Post by mewmassicre on Mar 12, 2007 4:29:43 GMT -5
OOC: Correcting last post...
BIC: The door slammed, Colin stumbled into the house, his forehead bleeding from where it had hit the pavement. "Shesa!" He yelled, out of breath, his face and black stringy hair dripping sweat.
"What is it, Colin!?" Cried Shesa, the blood draining from her face at the sight of her husband in such a state. Her beautiful golden hair flowing down her shoulders, but not hiding her pointed elven ears. He tried not to look into her stunning blue-white eyes as he told her what happened.
"I screwed up. We were suppose to hit this merchant's house and bring back a certain statue. I got the statue but set off some kind of alarm. These guards came out of nowhere and chased us out of the house. I fell and the statue came out of my satchel... and... rolled into a sewer drain. Even if I found it... it'd be worthless now." He said quickly. "Shesa, we have to get of here, now! By now Boss knows I screwed up and will be after my hide, get what you need as fast as you can!" He yelled, pushing her away from him and running up to his room to get whatever he had time to grab. Fine way to spend their anniversary, he thought.
He woke up chained to a post. They had come in through a window on the second floor and took him down before he could warn Shesa. He lifted his head to see his wife being held against a wall by her hair, her eyes streaming tears of pain. "Let her go!" He screamed, his heart clenching tight in fear of what they were going to do to her. "I'm the one that screwed up, she had nothing to do with it!" He yelled.
Boss just sneered at him and drew a knife from his belt. "You were in a hurry because of her. It's your anniversary today isn't it? She's a distraction. One I think we all could do without."
"NO! NOOOO!" Colin screamed, straining on the chains with all his strength. He could feel a linking beginning to stretch, but it was no use. Boss slammed the blade into his wife's chest, right through the heart. He saw her eyes widen in shock, her mouth drop open and then the light in her faded. Just as the chain gave way she was gone. Colin collapsed on the ground as Boss and his henchmen left the room in a chorus of laughter. He could have grabbed the blade in Shesa's chest and attacked them, but he was afraid, he was broken, beaten.
"Why." Colin whispered to the darkness of his house, holding Shesa's cold hand gently. "It was my fault. It should have been me!" He growled to himself, suddenly reaching out and pulling the blade from her chest and holding the tip against his chest, wanting to plunge it through himself and join her in whatever came after. But he couldn't. He was too afraid. All he could do was drop the knife and rest his forehead against Shesa's hand, sobbing uncontrollably. His shame stung his heart and made him nauseous. He didn't even have enough courage to take his own life. Just like he didn't have enough to save his wife. If he had broken those chains just a few seconds earlier... but he couldn't. It was his fault she died.
"AH!" He gasped as another shock of pain struck his heart. Doubling his emotional pain. He couldn't hold it in anymore and vomited on the floor. But he embraced it, thinking this is what it felt like for his wife when she died, hoping that the powers that be were letting me died just like she did. The pain subsided and he breathed again.
"Colin." A voice spoke. It was quiet and unearthly, and made his hair stand up on end.
Colin spun around, standing before Shesa's body, but his knees weakened and his voice disappeared. There was a man standing before him, wrapped in darkness with eyes that shown white out of the shadows.
"W..wh..who are you?" Colin stuttered.
"I am Reikage. The Divine Dragon of Shadow." He spoke, his voice silky smooth with an unfamiliar accent.
"What do you want?" Colin asked, his hand going to his wife's and holding it. It gave him strength.
"Justice..." Reikage said, stepping forward. "Vengence..." He stepped closer. "Retribution."
Colin lowered his head, thinking Reikage had been sent to punish him for his wife's death. "Then take it."
"Colin?" Colin lifted his head and stepped back into the table. A shifting misty shape floated beside Reikage. The voice of Shesa came from it.
"Shesa?" He whispered, covering his face and tears rushing down his cheeks. He began coughing on his sobs.
"I'm alright, Colin." She said. Colin dropped to his knees, stilling holding on to her hand.
"STOP IT!" He cried out, looking up and pointing a finger at Reikage. "Kill me, torture me, rip me limb from limb, but DON'T DO THIS TO ME!" He billowed.
"Colin, it's me!" She pleaded, her dead hand squeezing Colin's slightly.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, my love." He whimpered.
"I cannot linger much longer, Colin. You have to stop them. Not because of what they did to me, but because of what they will do to others. Know that I forgive you and will wait for you in what comes after." She said. Reikage, straining to keep her in this world, stumbled and her spirit disappeared.
Colin wept for several minutes. Going from pain to joy to acceptance. Still on his knees, looking down at the floor. His voice steady now. "Why have you come to me?" Asked Colin.
"A great evil has been freed; Kurayami, the king of the Shinzohzoku demons walks the earth once more." Said Reikage.
"What does this have to do with me?" Asked Colin.
"My true form resides in a different realm. I need you, as my oracle, to summon me into this realm." Said Reikage.
"I'm done being someone's puppet." Said Colin, standing up and letting go of his wife's hand. "All I care about right now is killing Boss and his gang. Can you help me do that?" Asked Colin.
"If you summon me we can..." Began Reikage.
"Yeah, IF I summon you. Once again, I have to do everything. If you can't help me maybe this Kurayami can." Said Colin.
"You don't know what you're saying." Replied Reikage.
"What's new? I haven't known what the hell to do for as long as I remember... except for Shesa. I knew I had to take care of her. I failed. I have to correct that. You can't help me do it. So leave me alone." Said Colin.
"Very well. But when you realize your mistake, I will be waiting." Answered Reikage and stepped back into the shadows, blending into them and disappearing.
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Post by Lady Kara on Mar 13, 2007 23:04:53 GMT -5
OOC: Awesome job, MM. I love it. But I'm not sure Reikage would have a fiendish kind of voice - more like otherworldly-mystical. And I apologize to ya, Prime; I'd stupidly forgotten who was in charge of Reikage.
While Nagisa sat in her home with Prime, she received an odd sort of message from her dragon. Apparently, getting all of the oracles to come together would be harder than they thought.
[[Forgive me to intrude, little one. At least your visitor won't hear me. But my brother, Reikage, is having terrible trouble in getting an oracle. It seems the man whom he's chosen has been through painful times, and is reluctant to become an oracle. Why my brother took so long in finding a new oracle, I don't quite get really. But nonetheless, we must hope that he can peer into this man's soul and aid him in healing - to be able to awaken as an oracle as everyone else must. Indeed, one must come to know empathy if they'll ever be a great oracle...]]
Nagisa (in her mind): "I understand. May luck be with him on this."
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Post by mewmassicre on Mar 14, 2007 4:40:24 GMT -5
Colin searched for days, asking the locals, going down every dark alley and into every shady establishment looking for this Kurayami or at least someone who knew of him. He wasn't even sure what he was looking for. Eventually his patience grew thin and he called Reikage in his mind.
"Dragon. You want me to trust you, then help me. Where is this Kurayami?" He demanded. Reikage's only response was to change the direction the beacon in Colin's gut was pointing. "That's better." He said, feeling for the first time like he had control over something. It felt good until he felt Reikage's silent sigh of frustration in his mind. Colin simply ignored it and followed the beacon.
The internal compass in Colin lead him, strangely enough, to a theater. He entered, climbed the steps up to one of the balconies and look down at the crowd below. It was an elvish play full of beautiful words he didn't understand, music he could never play and people who made him look trollish. It all reminded him painful of his poor wife Shesa. He loved listening to her sing in elvish, he loved how she looked when she slept. He had loved everything about her.
Brushing away his tears, Colin looked down and spotted one not like the rest. There was an elf leaning against the wall in the left corner of the theater. He had a smirk on his face as he watched the performance. Colin quickly climbed back down the stairs and approached the elf, who spotted him long before he reached him.
"What?" The elf said.
"Where is Kurayami?" Colin asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Is that a place or a person?" The elf said, turning his eyes back to the stage and looking thoroughly annoyed.
Colin walked over between the stage and the elf, looking him in the eyes to show how serious he was. "Neither." Colin said. The elf frowned.
"I suggest you tell me something significant before I end your insignificant life." The elf said.
"I need Kurayami's help. What do I have to do to get it?" Colin asked simply.
"First off, don't dare call my Lord by that simpering little elf name they gave him. Secondly, what is it you want?" The elf said, looking through Colin back to the stage.
"My elven wife was murdered by thugs. I want his help killing them." Colin had hoped mentioning she was an elf would garner more simpathy from the elf.
"An elf maiden? Married to you? How disgusting!" He spat, looking at Colin with such disdain he couldn't help but look somewhere other than at the elf. "However, I think I can help. Follow me." Said the elf, his face taking on a sarcastic friendly smile.
Colin followed the elf far beyond the city walls and up into the mountains. Though Colin was in fairly good shape, he had trouble keeping up with the nimble elf. By the time they had gotten to a cave Colin was tired and sore.
"What is this?" Colin asked.
"My Lord's home... for now." The elf said with a smile, leading on into the endless tunnel.
As Colin saw the cave opening up he felt a steadily increasing sense of dread and hopelessness and was considering trying to go back, but by now he was too afraid this demon king would come after him if he tried to escape. When he finally entered the Chamber and saw the table he suddenly clutched at his mouth to stifle a shreek. There was an elf woman on the table and for a moment Colin had a flashback of his wife. Trying to control himself, he jogged to catch up with the elf as he approached a titanic stone door.
"My Lord, we have a guest." He said with a sinister tone in his voice. The door opened to reveal the most unholy creature Colin had ever seen. He found himself rooted to the floor in fear as he stared up at the beasts cold gray eyes, void of emotion, void of conscience. The beast looked from Colin back to the elf.
"How dare you bring this maggot before me. He is useless to me!" He bellowed with such anger that the air pressure in Colin's ears made them ring for a moment.
"He claims his elven wife was murdered by thugs." The elf said, his voice no longer mirthful, but humbled and uncertain.
"Is that so?" The demon replied. "And you want revenge on them for it?" Kurayami asked. "I can do you one better. I'll even bring her back to life for you. All I need is the heart of an elf." The demon said with convincing concern in his rumbling voice.
"One of the thugs was an elf. Take HIS heart!" Yelled Colin, the possibility of bringing back his wife making him blind and reckless.
"Show me a mental picture of this elf and I will capture him." The demon said, looking Colin in the eyes and entering his mind. It made Colin vomit. It felt like millions of tiny worms swarming into skull and throat. He coughed and tried to focus on Shesa, where she was, and Boss, the elf who had killed his wife. With a gasp of sweet air he felt the worms withdraw, secretly feeling glad the demon hadn't gone deep enough to know he was one of the Oracles. "Very well." Growled the demon, drawing his lips back in a snarl. The floor before him opened up into a void and the demon lifted his taloned hand, ripping Boss out of the vortex and from where ever he had been when the demon found him.
Before Boss could even realize he wasn't having a nightmare the elf leaped on him, muttering magic words in quick succession and reached into his chest, pulling the heart out and holding it up to Kurayami. Boss's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his mouth hung open in an expression of purest agony. Colin grinned in a way that was very much unlike him.
The demon king turned to the table and held out his bloody palm to it towards the dead elf now laying on it. Her body began to glow red, it twitched and then exploded in a splash of blood and entrails, only to reveal the body of Shesa lying in her place. Colin rushed to her side and took hold of her cold hand, looking back at the demon with tears of anticipation in his eyes. "Please, I'll do anything. Please just bring her back to me." He begged.
Kurayami smiled. "Of course. I'm sure you will give me what I want. Whether you want to or not." Spoke the demon with such a mockery of kindness that Colin's joy quickly turn into dread. The demon then drew the life force of Boss out of his heart and put in into Shesa. Her body quickly regained it's elvish glow and her eyes opened. She turned her head towards Colin and blinked in confusion.
"Colin?" She asked, looking into his reddened eyes. "Where am I?" Then she looked down at Kurayami and screamed, sat up and crawled off the table to hide behind it. She looked at Colin with such disappointment and fear it made his chest hurt.
"It's alright, my love, your alive now! I've saved you!" He said, holding out his hand to her. She backed away from him.
"What have you done?" She whispered, holding her hand over her mouth.
"He's done as he was meant to do!" Chuckled Kurayami, thrusting his palm at Colin and sending him careening into the wall of the cave and far away from Shesa. Like a cat, the elf pounced over the table, threw Shesa into the center of the Chamber and, before Colin could possibly recover from such a blow, muttered his magic words.
Shesa barely manage to scream "What have you done!?" at Colin before her heart leaped from her chest and into the elf's hand. As Colin lay stunned, his face trapped in his most honest expression of horror as he watched the elf hand the heart to Kurayami, who laughed with amusement as he took it.
"The heart of a pure elf maiden is far more powerful than that of a common thug. That's the only reason why I 'helped' you." The demon chuckled before lustfully sinking his teeth into the heart, gorging himself on it, moaning with the sweet taste of Shesa's precious blood. Colin watched his wife's face, watched her life being sucked out of her. Knowing he had caused this pain because of his own selfishness, cowardice, weakness. With one last twitch when the demon began chewing up her heart, Shesa was gone again and Colin knew he would never have her forgiveness now.
His mind now cleared of everything else, Colin knew he wouldn't be allowed to leave this place alive. He stood up, finding a strength he didn't know he had and called on Reikage in his mind.
"I understand now." Colin said. "This is far more important than me or anything I want. This demon must be stopped."
"The shadow of the table, run to it." Reikage replied with urgency in his voice.
While the elf and the Demon King were still laughing in amusement over the pain they had just caused Colin he jumped up and bolted towards the table. At first the elf just sneered at Colin thinking his attempts at self preservation were futile until he saw the shadow open up like a door. Kurayami suddenly bellowed out in a towering rage when he saw it. "AN ORACLE!" As Colin dived into the opening he saw Kurayami turn towards the elf and strike him with the back of his hand, sending him sprawling into the edge of the door with a sickening thud. "YOU FOOL!"
Colin came to his senses lying on the shadowy floor in his house. There he laid, letting everything sink in, letting his resolve harden. Letting the images of his wife's suffering become an eternal reminder of what fear, foolishness and weakness of heart will bring him and those around him.
"This, perhaps, was not entirely a bad thing." Said Reikage, placing a hand on Colin's shoulder. It wasn't real, but in his mind Colin could feel it.
Colin did not get mad. He knew now to listen to Reikage. "How is that?" He asked, his face still buried in the carpet.
"You are now better prepared than the other Oracles." Said Reikage.
"Why?" Sobbed Colin, still trying to get control of his racked emotions, but every time he saw his wife's face it was like a mule kicking him in the chest.
"Because you are the only one who has seen Kurayami and more importantly what he can do."
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Post by Damien on Mar 14, 2007 13:13:19 GMT -5
OOC: Sorry for not posting, I wrote half of one then my mouse starting jerking around the screen and I ended up closing the window which kind of put a damper on my willingness to write. On top of that I've also been away for the past little while to prepare for and attend a wedding. Rest assured I will post as soon as I can, this looks like it's shaping up nicely. ^^
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Post by prime on Mar 15, 2007 23:57:41 GMT -5
Tenser dropped a dish, shattering it over the floor. He followed it quickly down, followed by a welcoming blackness that swallowed up his pain. He came to shortly there-after, wondering what had happened, the pain in his chest receded, but still present. He looked at his right hand, and the artifact enclosed there-in. It glowed blue now, instead of its customary white. "Odd." He said shortly, thoughts and idea's chasing each other through his mind. The artifact was a lot less draining now, as though some other presence fed it. He flexed his hand slowly, then manifested the bow. It was no longer composed of energy, but instead it was like a blue, frozen gem, the string a line of glassy looking water. He pulled back the string experamentally, and a wicked looking arrow of ice materialised. "Interesting." He said, then looked himself over, noticing for the first time that all his previously white equipment had turned blue and icy, though they didn't seem cold to the touch at all.
I see you're rapidly becoming familiar with your new power Tenser. My name is Mizuki, and you are my Oracle. Tenser looked around, hardly surprised. This like this always came with a catch, the only question was, what was at then end of the fisher-mans line? "Who, or what, are you?" Tenser asked aloud. My name is Mizuki, one of the Divine Dragon's. I've awakened you, and made you my oracle for the purpose of putting down a threat that could destroy the very planet you reside on, perhaps even the plane itself. She said. Tenser had a short battle with himself, wondering what to do. The fact that vampires and demons chased he everywhere was bad enough without putting his life on the line or others, who never seemed to have enough time to stop and let him in when he needed to slip away. But in the end, self preservation won. "Alright." Tenser said aloud, "What do I have to do?" He asked. Follow the bouncing blue kitty! Mizuki said, and suddenly a blue, etherial cat appeared before Tenser, and then suddenly bounded off in a seemingly random direction. Tenser sighed.
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Post by Lady Kara on Mar 17, 2007 13:02:45 GMT -5
OOC: *sigh* I hate quarrels over simple things. It sure would be nice to have everything cleared up so we can focus on the story and making it be awesome...
BIC: Kurayami was enraged at his elven servant for having brought the 'tool' of one of his detested enemies into his cave. Coughing from the force of his flight into the door (and possibly some bruised ribs), the elf tried his best to apologize to his master for the unfortunate mistake.
"Lord, I didn't know - honest! He approached me in a theater and asked if I knew of you. Then he told me that he sought your help. That is the only reason why I brought him here. *cough* I plead for forgiveness. I didn't know what he wa..... aaaaagh!"
Kurayami, not at all happy about what'd happened and that his servant had been so easily fooled, ghosted his hand inside the elf's chest and gently grasped his fingers around the boy's heart. Drawing close into his face, he frowned at him and darkly exclaimed:
"I see that you were innocently deceived. However, it still pisses me off greatly that he now knows I've been set free of my imprisonment. Give me a good reason that I shouldn't crush your panicking heart."
Elf: "As... as you asked me before, when I'd set you free. May I... become one of your kind? I hate my race, perhaps as much as you do. I want to be a powerful Shinzohzoku. It doesn't bother me that your people devour others' hearts, and seeing them suffer brings me joy."
At that moment, the elf began to cough harshly, and Kurayami could feel his heart palpitate fiercely with each cough. Peering into his chest, he could see that he was beginning to bleed internally from his ribs being so badly injured. If nothing was done about it, the elf will die. Then an idea formed in his vile mind, and he grinned fiendishly.
"Maybe I should grant your desire, elf. But I'll make this more interesting. Since I need a servant who'll be able to handle the oracles, then I've got a very clever plan. You will become a Shinzohzoku, but... your heart shall belong to me - and thus make you slightly immortal. BEHOLD."
Taking his hand from the elf's chest, Kurayami framed his hands in front of himself like a big circle, and in the midst of it appeared an orb made of crystal on a dragonclaw pedastal. At that moment, the elf cried out in pain and saw his own heart, pumping strongly, float out of his chest and enter the orb. Kurayami smiled at the beating heart inside, and placed it aside on the ground before coming near the elf. Shoving his hand inside the boy's chest once more, he injected into him a strange black serum - not at all like the paralyzing venom most Shinzohzoku use to subdue their prey. The serum flowed through his blood, and it felt like his blood was made of fire. Crying in pain, the elf wondered if this was worth such torture, and what he might look like in the end. Blacking out, he awoke sometime later to see Kurayami sitting on his table like it was a throne (Shesa's body tossed elsewhere with Boss). The demon king was happily gazing at the heart within the crystal orb, and the boy now noticed that the heart looked very dark in color. As he tried to move, he discovered to his amazement that he had four black wings. Upon bringing his hands to his face, he saw that he now had the same clawlike nails as his master. Rising up from the floor, he no longer felt any pain and just stood there in wonder. Kurayami smirked at his actions, and set down the 'heart-globe' for a moment to speak.
"A true Shinzohzoku you've become, complete with the veinlike black tattoos that adorn your chest and arms. You bear the same wolflike ears that I do, and now can use them to listen to the heartbeat of whatever prey that you wish to hunt. Dragonic eyes you now have, and with them you can peer within the chest of your prey and see beyond the flesh and bone that hides the beautiful heart pumping inside. And now that your heart is protected within this crystal sphere, an enemy can stab you in the chest and you shall not die. You can lose blood, however, so be wise in how you battle. Luckily, we Shinzohzoku can regenerate any damage we receive , so losing blood isn't as fatal. Since an elf you are no more, whatever name you had before isn't of any use to you. I hereby proclaim that your new name is... "Higure". You are my demonknight, and you shall ensure that the damn oracles will NEVER succeed in summoning their dragons into this world..."
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Post by mewmassicre on Mar 18, 2007 8:38:21 GMT -5
Colin woke with a short scream. The same dream every night. His wife, the elf, the demon. He knew until he had found justice for her (justice, not revenge) against the demon his soul would remind him every night of what his stubbornness had reaped.
Colin looked out the window into the cold blue morning and ran his fingers through his hair, dripping with cold sweat. His side was still marked with a silky yellow bruse from where Kurayami had struck him with his power. Such power. Colin sat up in his bed remembering what it felt like. He felt like a mouse that Kurayami had simply kicked out of the way.
"I can teach you to avoid such things." Hissed Reikage in his mind.
"How?" Asked Colin, turning to stand from his bed and wincing as he stood.
"As the absence of light creates a shadow, in your absence you can create a shadow of yourself. It is a mere illusion and cannot effect its surroundings but is useful when approaching a dangerous situation." Explained Reikage.
"Teach me." Groaned Colin as he stumbled over to his mirror and washed the sweat and tears of pain from his face.
"First, understand and find confidence in the fact that you are now the Oracle of Shadows. It is your right and duty to master them. What evil hides in the shadows will be your prey. What secrets they lock away in the dark will be yours to exploit." Spoke Reikage.
"Does that make us evil, Reikage?" Asked Colin, slowly stepping towards the pantry, trying to keep the weight off his side.
"No, but if you are irresponsible with your power, you will be. We must become something evil fears. We must give them no where left to hide." Said Reikage, with such righteous conviction it made Colin smile ruefully. He was beginning to understand what he had been entrusted with.
"So how do I make the shadow?" Asked Colin as he sat down with a hunk of cheese, some dried meet and a loaf of bread. He stopped and had to get control of himself again. He remembered when he and Shesa had gone out shopping for this food. So common place then. Even annoying at times. Now Colin wished he could go shopping with his wife forever.
"Since I do not exist on this plane I cannot give you the full benefit of my power, so you will have to start small. The first level shadow can only be summoned, sustained, and controlled if you remain completely still. You have to concentrate on your shape, your image. It would be a good idea to practice in front of a mirror or a pool of still water. Then on its movement. It will look a bit unnatural at first, like a puppet, but as you practice you'll learn to make it more convincing." Said Reikage.
Colin spent the rest of the day practicing the first level shadow. It took a few frustrating hours just to make one appear and it indeed did move like a puppet. It made Colin laugh. It seemed like forever since he had last laughed.
"Don't concentrate so much on the where, but the how. Think about how it moves, not where it moves." Suggested Reikage. Colin followed his suggestion and found it made a huge improvement. "Excellent." Said Reikage. "It's a good start and will help keep you alive until you can summon me. But you will need the help of the other Oracle."
"Why?" Asked Colin, not liking the sound of having to depend on others, or was it having others that might come to depend on him that bothered him?
"It's an old rule that was put into effect ages ago. It's to prevent one Oracle from summoning his Dragon and going rogue, or being tortured into doing it so something unholy can get into our realm. It became required that all the Oracles are present to open the Gate to our plane." Explained Reikage.
Colin sighed. "Show me the way, Dragon." The familiar pulling sensation in his stomach appeared again to guide him as he gathered his things and left his house.
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Post by mewmassicre on Mar 22, 2007 22:35:53 GMT -5
OOC: Well, I guess this one's dead already. What a waste.
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Post by prime on Mar 25, 2007 13:32:49 GMT -5
OCC: Well, lets me optimistic. Maybe I'll go repeatedly beat pikachu over the head with a heavy stick. Any takers? I could always post and get Tenser moving I suppose, eeeeh, rather beat pikachu over the head with a club.
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Post by Lady Kara on Mar 29, 2007 10:59:17 GMT -5
OOC: LOL... I'm kind of liking that idea right now. But you should have Prime do something since Nagisa just went and told him all about what's going on with Kurayami and stuff (or do you wish to rename him and transform him into an interesting new character, to fit being the oracle of Hinoko - Divine Dragon of Fire?).
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Post by Damien on Mar 30, 2007 8:04:54 GMT -5
OOC: Blegh I know I need a kick up the ass, I should have posted weeks ago. It just seems that whenever I sit down to type the post something goes wrong or I have to go do something. If you want one of you can auto Damien for me and have him arrive at Nagisa's home then I'll continue from there. Either that or wait for me to actually sit my ass down and write something. =P
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