RPG Mythic Life (Rated: R)

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]The female nephiliam pushed back her thick black hair and secured it with a leather thong. This day hadn't even begun and she was starting to hate it. With a swift movement, she slipped on her lengire and tunic, then belted it with a double hitch. Next she swirled on her blood stained sheepskin cloak and fastened the skull clasp.

Her sword handle hung onto her belt and her wings were easily folded behind her. Nepenthe Sevenstar, Nephil and sometimes a tiger....was ready to go.

With a quick movement, she opened the door leading from the grotto of her cave to the normal rock cavern of her waterfall home. Hunting season. For deer and other four legged herbivores.[/i]

Nepenthe: .....Mmmmm, breakfast time.

Jenica: Going so soon?

Nepenthe: I'll bring you back a head of fsomething....and a fresh hide to tan. Hold down the fort for me.

[i]The small female werewolf grinned and quietly contined with her weaving. This day would begin like any other day....badly....then progress into something better. Hopefully. The Dreaming mountains had been unusually quiet, the Mages silent, and the Firewitch king was still. For now.

Jenica sighed to herself. It wasn't that she liked complete calm, but it felt wrong. Like something was going to happen. She brushed aside her fears and threaded a new pattern onto the blanket she was making. It would be wonderful when she was done.

Deep in the heart of the Atenae forests, Nepenthe was stalking her prey....sword out and body tensed.[/i][/COLOR]

[RicoTranzrig]

[COLOR=darkblue][i]In an area not too far away from where Nepenthe and Jenica were situated, Kato awoke to the birds chirping around him. He awoke deep in the forest with an odd set of fresh clothes. He had been galloping around for quite sometime now but he didn't know what happened the night before...

The last thing that came to his mind was the local tavern, not so local anymore from what he could tell from his whereabouts. Kato had no idea how long or far he had been travelling or how he survived with such poor judgement.

Though his surroundings were serene and the forest ambience was soothing and started to pull him away from civilization.[/i]


Kato: ...........I need to stop drinking.


[i]He got up and looked around for anything that could tell his way back. The sun rose from the east, that was a start, his home was north. He began to walk barefoot on the soft grass. It wouldn't hurt him to give this a try...[/i]


"Hello!?!"


[i]His soft voice echoed through the woods, but no response. Little did he know that quite some time had passed since he ate a strange piece of food as he stumbled about, drunk as a drunk ***. It was crunchy, not too sweet and not too salty, given to him by a passing traveler. In an array of bright lights, this man left the foot prints of a horse, leaving Kato to collapse and undergo the same process as the stranger.

He was far from his home, but closer to the dwellings of two indigenous beings. As he continued making his way across the forest, he began to let go of his former life and starting fresh, like the forest he woke up in...[/i][/COLOR]

[liamc2]

Orc ambled along in the forest, towards no particular destination. His ancient armour clanked in the gloom with every step he took. His body seemed to be on autopilot while his brain thought over his predicament.

[i]No orders...nothing trying to eat me for failing orders...where am I? What is this place? Smells of man thing...Why did I have to leave the caves?[/i]

Orc bumped into a large tree and fell on his backside. Feeling dazed, he righted his ornate helmet and glanced around in the dark, night eyes glowing crimson.

An owl hooted. Orc took another big sniff. The air here was pure...apart from the odd stench hanging on it. It was slightly overpowering, a heady smell...must be all the pollen. An odd feeling rippled over his body...as though being torn apart but being sewed together at the same time.

An orcish screech escaped his throat, it cracked and fell into man-thing heavy breathing.

He groaned.

It had happened again.

Although...it wasn't so bad up here...he could think much more clearly now...must be because of the adapted nasal passages.

He blinked stupidly.

What a novel thought...that had never happened in the mines...

Orc grinned to himself and rose to his feet, stumbling around in the dark, eyes not yet adjusted to the gloom.

[Raquel]

Siren leaped lightly from tree to tree, concious that she was being stalked... Again... She paused and turned annoyed... Clearing her throat, Siren began the long lecture that she had given time after time...

Siren: I did not eat your child, nor did I steal your husband... I diden't shove your uncle from a cliff, and I didn't maul your wife in a jealous rage... Your aunt's drowning wasn't my doing... Although it was ingenious... And for your infor-... Nepenthe?

Siren dropped to the ground and waited for the nephiliam to show herself...

OOC: Sorry for the short post... Damn dishwasher broke again...

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]The female Nephiliam burst into the clearing, leaned on her spear, and promply broke down into fits of hysterical laughter. She slumped down and continued chuckling madly, hair breaking free from its restraining thong....she smiled and looked up.[/i]

Nepenthe: Is that your current, "Don't kill me please." line?

Siren: Yup. Ain't it great?

Nepenthe: ....you're terrible.

Siren: No, I'm a sphynx. There's a difference.

Nepenthe: Oh well, sorry about that. I'm hunting. We're hungry at home.

Siren: Oh yeah....how's Jenica?

Nepenthe: As sweet as ever. Comeon, I'll save you the entrails.

[i]The two women continued through the forest while Siren muttered something under her breath about entrails. And no courtesy these days.....[/i][/COLOR]

[Juu]

[color=deeppink] [size=1]Laitina caressed her fingers lightly across the rough face of the stone wall. It was still dawn, small ripples of gentle water glistening apon the morning dew. The land itself was awakening. A new day had started. Laitina looked down at the flowers, kissing the sky as their petals florished, reaching out to the sun.

She smiled gently, the rock pool seeming silent, serene... [i]peaceful.[/i] Hearing footsteps nearby, Laitina turned quickly and faced it. If they were mortals, she could easily avoid being seen easily.

"But why would someone come here?" She wondered, sinking back behind the tall walls of stone.

The footsteps grew nearer. A few voices could be heard.

"This place is enchanted." One of the voices said, voice stifled as a whisper echoed silently through the canopy of trees in the distance. "I don't like it here."[/color] [/size]

[Raiha]

[COLOr=royalblue][i]The deer moved silently through the forest, ears twitching silently....something was there, but he couldn't quite ---

Nepenthe rose to her feet and smiled. The sphynx's aim was perfect....the buck never knew what hit him. With a quick flap of her wings, Nepenthe brought herself over to the deer's fallen form. She drew her blade and quietly began to skin it.....slowly, methodically....

Hours later, she drew off the entire skin and wrapped up the meat. Then the two of them went back the way they came, heading home to where the fire was burning brightly. Jenica greeted them and immediatly began to steep the hide in the tanic acid barrel.[/i]

Nepenthe: Dark meat or white?

Siren: ....white. And NO entrails.

Jenica: Dark!

Nepenthe: Me too......

[i]She hoisted the venison over her shoulder and set it out on the spit to cook.....soon, drips of tallow and blood sizzled on the hearth, sending up a delicious scent of roasting meat.[/i][/COLOr]

[ColourDeaf]

A doah and a group of men tromped through the forest, the man nervously looking around him.
[I]The humans grate on my nerves again[/I]
"This place is enchanted." a man said quietly, huddling inside his cloak a bit more. The doah turned and gave him a look that, had the man not known any better, could have been something akin to contempt.
"I don't like it here." another said, stopping "I'm going back."
[I]Watch me care.[/I] the doah thought viscously, increasing his pace away from the human.
"Come on. Let's go." a human said, whining as he saw the doah leave, but decided not to press it any futher and simple turned and marched back the way they came. He the human went out of sight, the doah made a short, gruff growl akin to a chuckle, and changed into his more...comfortable form. His muscles bulged, his very bones changing to suit the new form, and a great arching, chitinous tail curled over his head. he was glad to be rid of the hunting humans, glad to be able to become what he felt he truly was. A rock pool glistened as he approached it. Tohas decided to celebrate his loss of the humans and walked over to it, gently lapping from the cool, clear water. He breathed deeply, catching the scent of another on the air.He stepped back from the rock pool, a tiny drop of venom appearing on the sting of his tail.
"Who be there?" he half-said, half-growled, his voice thick like a good iron sword being sharpened.

[liamc2]

Orc continued stumbling around in the odd forest. His orcish armour hung quite loose on him when he was in his man thing form. Already he had flung his helmet in anger from it's insistant ability to slide down and cover his eyes.

It didn't matter really...he ran along and picked it up again...the air seemed so cold on his crown without it...

He continued onward, pausing to investigate some tasty looking mushrooms on the wayside. He crouched down and plucked them from the earth, sniffing them to see if they were poisonous, before nibbling them hesitantly.

He glanced around.

No angry commander demanding the mushrooms as his bounty.

Good so far.

Orc finished the mushroom in his hand and stooped down for another when the smell of hot fat and meat wafted to his nose. More importantly, blood bubbling...

He crept forward, climbing through the trees in a very orcis manner.

He perched himself at one of the tallest tree's and peered down through the window just below. What he thought were manthings were cricled around a roasting creature. One got up and looked around suspiciously before walking away. Orc didn't heed it and continued his fixated stare on the roasting meat. It didn't occur to him in the least that he could be easily seen, even out of the corner of the eye and through a closed window.

Orc changed his seating position and found something very sharp and painful pressing against his throat.

'Care to join us Orc?' A harsh voice whispered in his ear.

[RicoTranzrig]

[COLOR=darkblue][i]The forest seemed to go on forever as he neared the mountains. Colder and colder the weather got as the sun passed above him and to his left. Sunset began and he could see the wall of icy granite past the trees. He shook inisde.[/i]

Kato: Yes! Made it!

[i]But where was he going to go now? He slowed his pace and listened quietly to the new sounds of the night creeping in. Birds were still calling, but he was getting annoyed by it a little. The wind was not so harsh on this side of the mountain, which was impossible to climb in his condition.

Something came over him. A powerful force that made him terribly drowsy, pushing him to sleep. He reflected on the past few hours in his unconscious mind. He didn't know that he shifted again into his animal form, walking about, bringing serenity to his surroundings.

Kato did not know how muchc time had passed by, nor did he realize that his thoughts were carried on by the wind to early dawn. "Place...enchanted......like...here..." His mind drifted away as silent whispers. He had thought that the cause of his abrupt fatigue was the forest's doing.

When he awoke, he felt completely refreshed, but his surroundings were very different than the one he had remembered. He believed that someone had taken him, that someone was playing a horrible joke on him by putting him to sleep and placing him in another place of the forest. Little did he know that his unicorn half galloped around, looking for a drink.

He mumbled to himself again.[/i]


Kato: Damn, not again...

[i]At least soft grass was under him again. He got up and took note of his surroundings once more. A stream lay beside him and the rock wall was still near. He saw that the stream originated from a natural pool a few meters ahead.

A slight breeze brushed the area, Kato's thoughts from the night caught up with him. Gentle whispers of his own voice, aged and calmed through the slowness of time. He hardly recognized himself saying,[/i]

???: "This place is enchanted...I don't like it here."

[i]He suspected someone nearby. So he called out.[/i]

Kato: Hello!?

[i]His call echoed through the small indentation on the mountainside around the rock pool. Curiously, he explored the innards of the small cavern. He talked again, keeping a nominal voice.[/i]

Kato: If anyone's there, I need to know right now...

[i]He felt stupid. First he got himself lost somehow, blaming on his past drinking problem, now he thought he was sleepwalking and putting himself in serious danger.

This time, he shouted out...[/i]

Kato: Where the hell am I!!??

[i]He focused his attention on a bright piece of the rock wall and charged for it. He punched it, expecting pain. His knuckles struck the hard surface and his hand started to bleed.

But what he didn't expect was to hear someone else's voice right next to him, loud and clear.[/i]

??: Ouch!

[i]A voice of a girl. Kato was confused, but that thought was put on hold after a split-second when the pain rushed through him, forcing to hold his hand in the water to wash away the blood and numb the pain.

Moments later, Kato looked back at the rock where his dead skin and blood were etched. He was sure the sound came from there. Just to humor himself, he spoke to the light piece of rock. He seemed to be going crazy anyway.[/i]

Kato: Hey, sorry if I hurt you...

??: !

Kato: I'm not crazy, you know...
[/COLOR]

[Juu]

[color=deeppink] [size=1]Laitina turned back into her normal form, and began to walk lightly onto the grass. She stared uneasily at the man, and sat down beside him. Gently keeping a close eye on him as she sat.

"There are penalties for entering the great forests." She said, raising her head slightly higher. "You know this?"

The man rubbed his hand as he glanced at her bewilderingly, shaking his head.

[i]I am going crazy...[/i]

Laitina put her hand on his, as a light glowed from her fingers. She pulled her hand away, and smiled as the wounds began to heal instantly.

"What brings you here?" She asked simply, standing up and walking back towards the spring.

"I..." He stopped, shook his head and cleared his throat. "I was lost."

She turned and stared at him once more.

"Lost? It's impossible to get through these forests without-"

Just then, she heard a neigh in the distance, and a horse-like trot amongst the trees. Laitina's breath stopped as her eyes snapped open.

"You are a unicorn?"[/color] [/size]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]She smiled and the orc screeched to himself and jerked away. Nepenthe smiled and backed up, arms held out peacefully. Her sword was still visible, but she didn't appear to be threatening him.

Orc looked arround warrily. A spnyhx was currently stuffing her face and a female werewolf was sitting down weaving at a large loom. He looked back at the woman who had scared him so easily. She smelled like stone and starlight.[/i]

Orc: ....got fresh meat?

Nepenthe: Help yourself.

Orc: Thanks...

[i]He sat down by the fire and ate quickly, ripping the red meat off the bone and swallowing it down with very little chewing. Nepenthe raised one eyebrow and flicked her wings to herself. Table manners were obviously not a part of an orcs training. If they even had any.[/i]

Siren: Eew.

Nepenthe: Could be worse.

Orc: Huh?

Nepenthe: Nothing....carry on with your ravishing.[/COLOR]

[RicoTranzrig]

[COLOR=darkblue][i]...both his eyebrows raised up.[/i]

Kato: What are you talking about?

[i]Laitina eased her hostitlity towards this new person and patted him on the shoulder.[/i]

Laitina: Let's walk out of here. I'll explain, try to anyways.

Kato: Okay.

[i]It was hard for him to believe that this had happened to him. He thought of it as a curse and he beat himself up inside for taking up drinking at his preserved age of youth. He could turn into a horse the same way she could turn into a rock, from what he witnessed.[/i]

Kato: Hey, thanks for healing my hand.

Laitina: You know of magic, correct?

Kato: Yeah, I've seen it a couple times, never done on me though.

Laitina: You're lucky though. It could've been worse.

Kato: :therock: Who does this to people.

Laitina: I'm not sure. My mentor taught me.

Kato: Didn't you just heal my hand with a spell?

Laitina: No, I'm afraid not. I am Laitina, a shapeshifter. I sacrifice some of my..."blood" to you. It will return to me later.

Kato: I'm Kato, a stupid horse.

Laitina: Don't say that! You're...well...I have to see your form for myself, but I know you're not a dumb horse, you're still alive, aren't you?

Kato: Then my animal form must be smarter than I was back then.

Laitina: You don't know much time has passed since then. You heard your own voice in the wind...then the voice of your animal form.

Kato: I wish I could remember at least.

Laitina: Hey, you're thinking the same as me. When I was a rock back there, I couldn't really think straight.

Kato: How did you find out you were like that?

Laitina: Eventually I mastered it...until then, many centures passed...

Kato: You still look -

Laitina: Youthful? Yes...you do too, once it happens, we never age. Where did you wake?

Kato: In the middle of the forest, or somewhere around there.

[i]Laitina thought for a moment. That entire area had been depraved, nothing left but rotting trees from an unknown plauge.[/i]

Laitina: What was it like?

Kato: Not bad...kind of like a hangover. But at least my clothes were clean and I slept on some soft grass, next to some warm trees.

Laitina: Strange that you describe life there. However, I've seen many like you and I. And this is the first I've seen one change back into human form. You have quite a mystery to solve...

Kato: Great.

Laitina: I'm also curious as to where this might lead you. Care to join me?

Kato: In what?

Laitina: Travelling. I haven't ventured past the woods much and my teacher passed a long time ago due to her capture and execution so we won't find answers there.

[i]They followed the stream. Kato looked her in the eye and caught a glimpse of the color. Nothing like he ever saw before. He didn't want to end up being loneley. He felt glad meeting someone else who he could talk to with a tounge.[/i]

[/COLOR]

[liamc2]

The Orc finished what he was eating. Everything seemed much better on a full stomach. He rubbed his face clean on a rag from his pocket, once again accidentally knocking his helmet. Annoyed, Orc removed it, muttering curses with a serpentine tongue, and dropped it next to him.

Eyebrows were raised.

'Hey,' Siren started, 'You're not an Orc at all! But...what are you wearing Orc armour for?'

Orc look affronted.

'I am Orc.' He exclaimed, but his tone was one of someone that was slightly confused.

Jenica looked up from her work, taking a long sniff in the air.

'He is an Orc.' She stated. 'Must be a human form. Explains why he's not in a pack. Must've been chucked out as an outcast.'

Orc rubbed his chin nervously.

Siren's nose wrinkled, 'Sure could do with a bath though...'

Orc didn't understand the word 'bath' but he understood the tone of voice. He recoiled slightly at the distaste that was lacing the sentance.

He wrung his hands. This wasn't good. Soon one of them would be wanting to eat his skin while he was still in it. Just like in the mines. Not good...not good at all...

Very carefully he picked up his helmet and placed it back on his head. At the same time that old feeling returned, and after ten seconds of pain, the Orcish side of him filled out the armour and sat before them.

Nephente raised an eyebrow and Siren whistled.

'That looked painful.' She said.

Jenica looked back from her work.

'I told you so.' She said. 'My nose is never wrong'

[Raquel]

Siren sniffed...

Siren: Well... Neither is mine...

She hopped down from where she had been perched, and beckoned to Orc...

Siren: Now he looks like an orc and smells vile... I'm takinbg him to the bathing pool... It is still where it was the last time right?

Nepenthe: Yes... Although that stone you like dissapeared...

Siren snorted...

Siren: Yes... I noticed... It reappered near my eerie in the cliffs...

She shook her head... She really truly hated the tendency that this forest had to move things around at will...

Siren: Right then... C'mon Orc... If you'll be staying near us I won't have you stinking like a three month old carcass...

She stalks off with Orc in tow... As they fade into the trees Siren's loud complaining could still be heard...

Siren: PFT!! Man do you STINK!

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Soon after that, loud shrieks of horror and splashing noises came from the general area. They were followed by Siren cursing in ancient Egyptian and Orc howling with agony. Jenica looked up from her weaving, then calmly threaded another strand onto the blanket. Nepenthe smiled and began to preen her feathers with her feral teeth.[/i]

Jenica: It seems to be going well.

[i]She quietly continued whipping the shuttle in her hands back and forth. The fabric she was using was as thin as spider webs, but stronger than silk. She swiftly moved forward and backwards....

Nepenthe pulled out a stray feather and added it to a jar on the wall. They would either fill a matress Jenica was building or be used as quills for the spellbook writing Siren and Nepenthe did sometimes.[/i]

Nepenthe: ....hmmm.

Siren: WE'RE FINISHED!!!

[i]The two came crashing back through the trees, dry, clean, and smelling of verbena soap. The sphynx triumphantly pushed the orc in front of her and smiled.[/i]

Siren: He has a new name!

Jenica: Hmm, Gorbag the Strangler?

Siren: ....no. Rinalphion!

Rinalph: ....oh brother.

Siren: ...and when he's human, he's not all that bad looking.

Nepenthe: Got a good look everywhere then?[/COLOR]

[liamc2]

Orc, well [i]Rinalph[/i], ran his new name over and over in his mind. It was original, but he had the odd feeling that it would take a long while for him to learn how to pronounce it. He smiled to himself, it was somewhat pleasing to not have a collective generic name. He seated himself directly in front of the fire and gazed at the flames within. The fire here was different...pleasantly warm...not like the while hot green tinged magical flames that were there for only two purposes. To keep the air circulating through the mines and to smelt the crude iron ore. He rubbed his hands and sat with his back to the window.

He glanced at Siren and Nepenthe. From the way they were looking at him they must have said something that he was supposed to respond to...but didn't...

Grinning sheepishly he said, 'Sorry...wasn't paying attention...'

Nepenthe shook her head and said, 'Never mind. I doubt I would have got a decent response anyway...'

Rinalph gave a small smile and nodded, leaning forward in his seat and trying to remain out of the focus of attention.

Which was really hard in any case. In his current human form, his armour sat oddly on his wiry frame and left him resembling a turtle with it's head to far out of it's shell. In his orcish form, like all orcs, he stuck out like a sore thumb in the open. Besides, any self respecting adventurer can't help but note the presence of an orc outside of their mines...you'd have to be stupid to not notice...

[Juu]

[color=deeppink] [size=1]Laitina stopped at a bridge as her eyes narrowed. A bushel of thick trees darkened that area of the forest. Evil was stirring across that bridge. She felt it. Laitina turned around, and saw Kato stop as well. He felt it too. She knew it.

"What's over there?" He asked, glaring at the southern bank. "Something doesn't feel right."

Laitina's eyebrows rose. So he did feel it... most amazing. She knew unicorns could sense danger, but how could he still sense it so easily in human form?

"There are many things." She replied simply.

"Like what? I feel all sorts of things. Things that don't feel... right." Kato replied, hands clenching as he peered into the bushes.

Laitina stepped between him and the bank, her eyes piercing his.

"Don't look into the bushes too long. Don't ever cross the bridge. the things across it, I will not utter within these forests."

Kato nodded, glancing once again at the bridge. It looked ordinary enough. It could fool a mortal easily... but there was something there. Something cold... anger, hate, fury... it was all there. within that darkness he felt it. But then, there was something about the trees that was luring. Pulling his mind to it. But what was it?

"Many have walked across that bridge and never returned. Only the ravens fly there during the autumns. It looks calm, yet the most horrible things are in there. Never go there." Laitina said under her breath. "Never."[/color] [/size]

[RicoTranzrig]

[COLOR=darkblue]Kato: So this forest is like a safe haven.

Laitina: Yes. I would love to leave this place someday. But...well...after you came, I don't think I want to anymore.

[i]Worry came over him.[/i]

Kato: But...what happened?

[i]Laitina turned around and walked back towards the middle of the forset. Kato paused and looked at her gown as it flowed along with her hair. She seemed to blend into the backdrop seamlessly, in his eyes. He snapped out of it when she had distance from him and ran to catch up.

She looked behind her, hearing footsteps.[/i]

Laitina: What took you so long?

Kato: ...

[i]She slowed down for him, giving him a funny look.[/i]

Laitina: Why, you ask...well. Before you got here, this place was dying slowly. I've watched it as I moved around the forest in stealth. I never saw it coming. The plants just started...to rot especially at the heart of this place. I tried desperately looking for the source, but found none.

[i]She looked to the water.[/i]

Laitina: If you can believe it, I weeped for months as my only home was being destroyed. The natural pool, from which you drank from, were my tears.

Kato: My animal form drank, not me.

Laitina: You had your hand in when you punched me.

Kato: I'm thankful that you didn't hurt me. Sorry about that...

Laitina: No need to apoligize.

[i]He extended his arms and looked around the grassy patch where no trees grew.[/i]

Kato: So...do you think I have something to do with this?

Laitina: This place wasn't like this the day before...I suppose I have to be grateful for that. Then you appeared and you're the only other visitor I've seen for the past few years.

[i]She seemed to look around for something.[/i]

Kato: Few?

Laitina: A few hundred years...perhaps others might have noticed this place from afar and ventured here to investigate. From where we are, it's impossible for them to find their way to us. Come on, let's walk around.

[i]She had a happy smile and waited for him to agree.

He was just glad that he had someone else to talk to, even if she did seem to draw things out and exaggerate. But from what he experienced this morning, he didn't know what to believe.

Without having any other preferable choice, he nodded his head and stood by Laitina's side.[/i][/COLOR]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]With a nod of satisfaction, Jenica threaded the last strand in, then tied it off. She whisked it off the loom and swirled the creation around her shoulders. Nepenthe smiled and clapped her hands.[/i]

Nepenthe: You've done it again!

Siren: It's lovely!

[i]The small female smiled and nodded. They were right of course. The threads were so fine, each caught the light and held it for a long time....before switching to another color. It was obviously magical, but it didn't shout it out. She smiled again and quietly folded it away. It would keep them warm during the winter yet to come, and it would reflect away angry eyes.[/i]

Rinalph: It's pretty.

Nepenthe: That's Jenica's job.

Jenica: Yeah, I guess so.

Siren: You're always making something....so what's next?

Jenica: Well, it's harvest time tomorrow, and the skin is done steeping....so I'll prepare that and make another tunic. Nepenthe runs through hers really fast.

[i]The named nephil blushed slightly and hid her face in her wings.[/i][/COLOR]

[Mitch]

[color=red] The world had died in his heart, it had died in his palm. He had crushed it into a salvaged shape. A salvaged shape which meant not a thing to him. It was such a petty excuse for a life, such a petty excuse. But he was going on, he was leaving civilization, he was going to go where he belonged, and where he'd always kept. The forest. He did not care the location of the forest, for such details unnerved him. All he cared about was the simple unmeticulous things that life held. The simple pleasure of knowing life, breathing in and out the wonderful life-bringing air, feeling the sun dry and course around, just the simple things.

That's what he'd forgotten. The simple things. Society had brung him into conformity, and with it, he had lost all and more of himself. He had lost it all. But now, now he was leaving it, seeing that he had been so blind, seeing that his eyes had decieved. And here he sat, on the long and lonely bus drive to his reclaim. Here he sat, and passed the time. But that long time meant nothing to him, and so did the unfashionable bus. He was purely loathing of such machines, for they robbed of the simple things of life, and only fell into complexion and disdain. Ah, how time became his once again.

How he felt so alive to be leaving his old life as a petty lawyer, how he felt. How much he felt. How wonderous. How purely pure.[/color]

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Greetings all. Know ye that he who speaks thus unto you was contacted by one Raiha, to be thine shack-nasty Witch King. The one who speaks thus unto you, of course, did accept. So, basically, here's Johhny. I'm your bad guy.

IC: [I]In a dense, humid jungle, there lies a castle. So out of place, yet concealed so well. The castle is wrought granite, and ironstone, the remains of what was once a mountain. It is tall, and circular, with five spires. Graceful, fluted connecting bridges, marvels of ingenuity, connect the spires, giving it the appearance from above of being a giant pentagram. The castle, though wrought in black stone, is strangely beautiful. It is however, a chilling beauty, the hard, distant lovliness of something far removed from mortal concerns.

The castle lies in the centre of the jungle. The jungle is tropical, filled with strange beasts and trees. Stalkers lurk in every shadow. Not all of those stalkers are animals. Many of the living things in this forest are unique to that place, and the mortal world has been spared much destruction due to their isolation.

In the castle there is a single living being. There is no need for other life. Automatons of every kind fill out his every need, and his mental prowess is capable of providing anything and everything he may need.

This creature, a fell being of darkness, is the Fire Witch King of the South. Ruling vast stretches of land, and turning it to his will. Already, much of his domain is blighted, the very earth dying, and the sky is under permanent shadow. For he draws the life out of it, to feed his own rapacious need for power.

This being's name is Lacroix s'Xalerian.

As a human, he appears frail, though young. Someone who has simply missed too many meals out of a lack of concern for eating. Certainly, he is not undernourished. Merely overly slender, though tall.

Death, he seems, dressed in robes the colour of that fell force, with hair and eyes to match. The voice the echoes out of his blackened lips carries a spectral echo, a reminder of long dead dreams. And his power quite often glorifies the Final Embrace. Indeed, it is the only force he respects, though he eludes it well.

However, he has another form. Another physical aspect. The drider.

Abominations to every religion, every sect, every caste, every other form of life. A creature created by arcanus vitrus, the esoteric life magic that can heal, kill, or twist. An arachnid, larger than any dire spider. Eight legs tipped in sets of four talons, covered in chitinous armour, and comparitively stronger than any other arachnid could match. Aware of the weakness in such frail limbs, the creation was augmented, enhanced.

The abdomen is black, smooth, hairless. A white design, appearing like knotwork, lies upon it's upper abdomen, where its legs meet its body.

Yet where a head would, comes the torso of a man. The skin lightens to a sickly white, though still mottled with blue-black patches. The torso is upright, the face set in a hideous visage of evil delight. The being is immensely strong, though it seems gracefully slight. Standing seven feet tall at the shoulder, it is an imposing sight.

This being too, is The Witch King. And a being of last resort. As yet, nothing has daunted the Witch King's magical prowess enough to warrant its use. Still, Lacroix occasionally uses it for ...entertainment.


Which was exactly what was happening now. The virgin awoke, instinctively straining at her bonds. She looked around, and screamed.

The spider/centaur scuttled towards her. From that horrible face, low words came forth.[/I]

Lacroix: Worry not. Your end shall be swift.

[I]She screamed, suddenly aware of who had taken her. She remembered nothing of her capture, only fear. Intense fear. Fear that eclipsed all other memories.

The spider beast scuttled away for a moment, then returned. In one gauntleted hand it held a strand of wire. Cruelly barbed, and twisting in a molten state like the throes of a dying man. The virgin screamed again, and somehow found voice to speak.[/I]

Virgin: I will not be dishonoured!

[I]Lacroix paused, looking at her in detached curiousity.[/I]

Lacroix: Dishonoured, young thing? Is that what you fear? Be thankful then, that I do not choose that path, for I could rape your spirit far worse than any ruffian could rape your body. My current form prohibits such a base rutting, as I'm sure you could easily imagine. As I'm sure you are imagining. Yet you find the idea intoxicating. You like it. The dishonour, the pain, the captivity.

Virgin: Gods you're sick...

Lacroix: True. But so are you.

[I]The young girl struggled, and Lacroix stepped back, 32 sharp talons clinking on the hard floor. Looking at her, he took in her appearance.

Dead white skin, raven black hair. A body and features to stop the heart. Blackened lips and eyes. A coldly defiant look on her face, despite the fear. But there was something in those glacial blue eyes. Something dark. That darkness was in her soul. It was in Lacroix's soul. She knew him, intuitively. Unbidden, she gave her name.[/I]

Kattarin von Drachenfels

Lacroix: Daughter of the Great Enchanter. Constant Drachenfels.

Kattarin: And your latest victim.

Lacroix: Sadly true.

Kattarin: A force previously unmatched in the realms in either magic or evil, yet swept away on both counts like chaff.

Lacroix: Also true.

Kattarin: Tell me, what do you really intend to do with that?

[I]Lacroix turned, and cast the wirse away. He spun with frightening speed, clawed hands ripping the bonds away, before his being shimmered, slowly shrinking into a tall, slender human. A male version of Kattarin it seemed.[/I]

Lacroix: You will take advantage?

Kattarin: Of course.

[I]The young woman got up, walking past Lacroix, into a huge, vaulted throne room. Ignoring the floating suits of armour, the great golems of steel and stone, she went to the ornate throne, and sat down. Lacroix, who had followed her, stood beside her.[/I]

Lacroix: You wish this? This dark embrace.

Kattarin: You knew my father. You understood him. Understand me the same way. I am this darkness. All of our ilk are.

Lacroix: Then your intentions?

Kattarin: I will stay. There is nothing for me in the outside world, and this life beckons me. Besides....

Lacroix: What?

[I]What she whispered in his ear brough a gastly smile to both their faces, and she lead him off, beckoning him back into the torture chamber, lying back down on the stone bier, and refastening her own bonds.... Darkness was a sweet embrace.[/I]

OOC: The virgin stuff was originally Raiha's idea. No, really, it was.[/font][/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue]Liar! You said you wanted to include the Sadist Masochist Bondadge thingy. So don't try to pin it on me. All I was suggesting was a virgin sacrifice. :p
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And now for some plot exposition. Introducing: The Blue Mage.
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[i]His arm was long, his power was great, and now he has fallen into recluse and a long night. There is one who could arouse him from slumber, but even then....why would she? He would not thank her, and he would not fight the dark King if she begged on bended knees.

Jenica awoke from her dreams, of the Blue Mage, terrified, and whimpering. She crawled from her corner and onto Nepenthe's bed, begging to be cuddled and consoled. The female nephil awoke and quickly hugged the shaggy werewolf to her chest, stroking the baby fur softly....whispering sweetness into her ears.

The fear subsided, and Jenica snuggled close to Nepenthe's chest.[/i]

Nepenthe: Was it a Sight dream?

Jenica: The Blue Mage is in a long night. Should you awake him?

Siren: What's going on?

[i]The female sphynx padded in quietly, rubbing her eyes with her tail. She leapt onto the bed as well, and the three women sat back.[/i]

Nepenthe: Jenica dreamed of the Blue Mage. He is in cold sleep. Should I awake him?

Siren: Heh, why bother? I've lived long enough to know that he's a heartless, cold, ruthless jerk. He won't help us.

Nepenthe: ....I dreamed of King Lacroix today. He is rising.

Siren: Wake the Blue Mage today.

Jenica: Can I come?

Nepenthe: Stay here, I'll go by myself. Help make ink....and live. The Blue Mage might turn on me.[/COLOR]

[Raquel]

Siren looked at Nepenthe...

Siren: You know I'm not going to let you go on your own...

She sighed...

Siren: If you won't let me come with you all the way, at least let me come as far as my eyrie... You can decide if it's worth it there... Though powerful Lacroix may be... The Blue Mage will have no second thoughts about killing us as swiftly as Lacroix...

She paced a moment

Siren: And I can supply you with food for the trip... I might have somthing he'd want if he proves difficult...

She burps then cracks her neck and stalks out of the room

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Nepenthe rolled up her sheets and pushed the futon into the corner. Then she pulled on the new deerskint tunic provided by Jenica's swift needlework. She fastened her braided leather belt, and twisted on the drawstrings...and pushed down the sleeves. Then she combed out her thick black hair, braided it, tied it back, and secured it with leather thongs. She turned and pulled on her boots, then fasted her earings...and strapped her gauntlets on securely. They walked into the kitchen, to find Siren dragging in a dead grouse. Jenica laughed and began to pluck the feathers.

The female nephil went to the corner and pulled out her pack, then she loaded it with the food, tools, and tinder box she needed. She swung it on, lower than normal, adjusted the straps, and turned towards the door.[/i]

Siren: ....fine. Go get killed.

Nepenthe: I'll be fine. Anyone who tries to mess with me will taste iron or blood.

Jenica: Jah will guide your footsteps.

Nepenthe: Keep out of trouble, and guard the beasts as best you can. I've got to split.

[i]She waved goodbye and leapt out the window, wings ready. She twisted her way upwards, then took her way north....moving fast enough to avoid trouble. Beneath her, she could see the orc standing in the fields, a unicorn talking to a woman, and the herd of deer racing below.

Nepenthe sucked in a gulp of clear air and clapped her wings together once more. Her aim was near perfect, and the flock of Rasper's hawks around her whispered the news of life. She took it all in, then adjusted her course.[/i][/COLOR]