A Calling

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Sole calmly looked around, and observed everyone, it was then Lim-Dul appeared. "About time.." he said coldly. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming.." Sole nodded at Prince, his eyes analyzing this little creature as his cloak turned it's attention to him. No Longer had Sole acknowledged Syn and Colvin, nor he cared to. Saar, requested audience, his request would be met on Lim's behalf, and Sole, whether Chaos joined would be seen.

"Agreed." Sole said as he stepped behind Lim. "Let us go speak elsewhere". Sole knew armies would meet here, and here is where he would return.
 
Several Leagues Outside ACC. . .

An organic grinding sound acted as a faint counter-point to the rhythmic creaking of a corpse hanging from a tree. The noose was aged a bitter yellow and dug deep into the body’s neck. Perched at the knot around the branch were three ravens, eyes reflecting nil as their beaks ravaged the hemp. When the corpse dropped, they jerked as one and began preening themselves with the sort of twitchy attentiveness that made distinguishing one from another difficult.

The evening had sweat heavily, and as such the grass below this tree was heavy with dew. The leathery flesh of the cadaver was soon drenched. While the sun was barely peaking over the horizon as of yet, two more ravens settled among the branches of this unlucky tree. A single black pinion drifted down to lay in the hollow of the body’s back, rippling like wet onyx.

The old man tottered up at that point, leaning heavily on a well worn walking stave. While his grip was sure, his step was tentative. Cataracts milked over his eyes, which may have been either a bright gray or light blue. Lifting the hem of his robe with a gnarled hand, he slowly forced his aged body into a crouch near the corpse. A rueful smile pulled deep lines from the corners of his eyes and lips, and for a moment they almost looked like the rending claws of his avian audience above.

He caresses the dead man’s sunken cheek, the barest brush of ivory yellow nail. The pad of his palm cups the body’s chin while his thumb slowly begins to draw slow circles over its lips. With a final pat, the old man straightens and checks the small of his back with a stretch. Upon the cadaver's forehead, as if etched in charcoal, now exists a shape that looks like an inverted teardrop. The fang.

All the while, ravens have gathered in the fated tree. They brush shoulder to shoulder and croak at each other. Beaks snap and more feathers fall about the old man as he seems to be lost in a memory. That same distracted smile barely orchestrates his lips as the cacophony above grows louder and louder. Indeed, hundreds of the scavengers have gathered and still more flock from various directions. Soon enough, their bickering causes a veritable snowfall of black feathers.

He looks up then, balding head catching the morning’s daily offering of light and reflecting it dully. His grandfatherly eyes pale then, looking like dried semen pooling within those sockets. His flesh, too, dries and begins to flake away. Still, that smile betrays itself. He raises a withering hand, curling one finger out and at once a pale silence governs the tree. Each raven stares down at him in rapt attention. Hundreds of ghost reflections barely register in their emotionless eyes, and each reflection is different. Subtle changes in posture, coloration.

Jerking his hand into a fist, he snaps it down to his side. As one, each raven screams and dives to the corpse and old man alike, swiftly obliterating them in a deadly cloud of snagging claws, rending beaks, and bloody feathers. Without any signal, they depart as swiftly as they descended and scatter in all direction. The old man is gone, any trace of his existence removed, and next to the ravaged corpse a small boy stands in the feather strewn shade of the hanging tree.

He looks to the city line distant on the horizon, a familiar smile touching the corners of his lips. He begins walking towards it, milk filmed eyes unblinking.
 
Garogch could hear four voices booming in his mind. On occasion his masters had deemed it necessary to speak directly into his mind, but never before had each of them done so at once. Things must be truly epic in nature for this to occur.

"Ried Shas will not be coming. You are needed Elsewhere." Bralgyrr's voice announced and was Garogch the man who's body he occupied, his brain would be dribbling out of his ears.

"This newcomer changes everything. The rules have been broken." Marwev added.

"We must act quickly, or else all we have done will be for naught." Nux spoke next.

"The forces of law and good have not acted, they would have done if they could. Now is the time for the Champion to be freed."
Yillyth spoke last, and then his mind was silent once again.

Everything was changed.

"Deluded fools, you know not what your actions have done. The second Godswar approaches." Then he gripped the shin bone wand in his left hand and cast a simple dimension door spell. The spell on its own might have carried him a mile at most. He was powerful enough for that. With the wand in his possession, it could take him anywhere upon the material plane. A moment after he spoke, he was gone, returned to the desert temple of The Four.
 
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The aged Inquisitor smiled at the Architect's comparison of his most holy postition to that of an ancient Paladin. It seemed somehow apt in this current situation that he should fulfill the role of one of those near-mythical men. This Jason Yakuvna made a great many assumptions, but they all seemed accurate to a degree. Further evidence, if any were needed, that this 'man' was much more than he portrayed himself to be. A Wolf in Sheeps clothing, or a mirage of power over some lesser Daemon? The time to decide was now, if it had not already passed.

"Again you make assumptions, Architect, but you fall close to the mark, and time is growing short. If this summoning can be stopped, then it must be. And if any of these beings of dark power can be brought low, then they will be." the name of Gargauth was one of a multitude Decais had encountered here on Ayenee, but he had little real knowledge of the beast. The Inquisitors mouth twisted, as if at a sour taste, and he continued in a grave tone "Summoning Daemons is not my purpose Architect. Doing so is anathema to my very existence. But the being which you surmise I can summon is still subject to my will. His power can be mine"

His tired eyes fix Jason with a hard, piercing stare, as if he were trying to read words carved on the man's soul. In the ether, Decais' thoughts and Will reach out, trying once more to gain some definite understanding of the beast behind the man before him. Again, little is gleaned. Power, definitely, but not from the Warp. Emperor forgive me, for what I do, I do in your glorious name...

"Very well, if we share a common goal, then we shall act as one, and Emperor willing, we will see this fiends torn from our universe" He extends and armoured hand towards the suited man.

All the while, though his physical body shows no signs, his mind is racing. Primarily at the arrival of this 'Lady of Light'. He could feel her now, out there in the city, the Warp coalescing about her, as a great shadow, darker even than the shadow blanketing the sky above, closes with her. She is undoubtedly a Psyker, or some... Daemon? But no, impossible! He felt her light upon him, upon his very soul. No evil could touch him so, even were it not for the myriad wards and blessing placed upon and even beneath his flesh. But he could feel her manipulation of the Warp, like a beacon, even besides the others here.

Whatever she is, he feels he has little to fear from her. And no an uneasy alliance against the greatest gathering of dark powers this world has ever seen.

"The emperor protects, Architect. The Emperor protects"
 
He expected his body to plummet into nothingness, almost indifferent Ashe had been thrown aloft into a high arc against his will. His fiendish elementals of the air had him, boosting him higher still, spinning him like a top until his limbs formed a cross, then buffeting him at dizzy speeds, north south, east, and west above the energy cast below: the elf had created a portal.

The great elf suddenly sprang erect on solid ground. With the eyes of a wolf, yellow and gleaming, the elf stood near Treiya while he collected his shaken nerves. The young elf had felt her fears and the young empath had grown solemn during his travel to aid her and be by her side. They had once been constant companions and over time; they had created a firm friendship. Men lined and armed startled the nerves of the elf, but he controlled his state of uneasiness.

The air sucked violently behind him and another visible layer of energy emerged from the once empty space. The portal was like another sentient to the elf. He could feel the energies crawl against his veins and the pulsing effect created another stir in his blood: he had to protect Treiya. The miles that he had traveled to find her were quickly eaten up beneath them, and as he greeted her, he spoke of distant colleagues and old days. There had been a time when they had all once felt an imminent threat. He noted the degree of tension his voice became a tautness about him, “I couldn’t just leave a lady in distress.” Perhaps a familiar voice would calm the tension he continued to receive from Treiya.
 
Treiya was startled at the sudden appearance of the elf. Sojiana forgotten for the moment, she wondered at the various events that were suddenly unfurling around her. An old friend from the past and apparently an aimless wanderer had made their way into this little farce that was created by none other than Sole.

She ignored Aldrag, allowing Das to deal with him as he saw fit as she turned her attention to Ashe instead. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes narrowed, her expressionless mien suddenly contorting into ugly anger. Ashe had left her. She had allowed him to betray her, to cause her to show some fleeting emotion and Treiya hated emotional conflict more than any other being, alive or dead, that had ever inhabited Ayenee and beyond.

The anger turned inward as she regained control of herself, forcing her heart rate to slow to normal, her body to relax from the sudden tension that had inhabited it. Her spine, however, remained straight, as she had abandoned her relaxed pose at the arrival of Ashe, straightening away from the barn door and dropping her arms to her side in suprise. She lifted her arms again, crossing them once more across her chest, this time in a manner that could be described as defensive, and regarded Ashe waiting for his response and watching as Das took a step forward as he addressed Aldrag, "Who are you and what do you want?"
 
Narrowed eyes focused upon the man that dared put himself within her presence. "Even in death you do not allow these people rest. Animating their bodies to do what I commanded you to do. I remember telling Scorn DarkTide to fall on hand and knee, not the innocents he slaughtered." The illumination around her fingertips continued to flicker, and grow. It had already begun to devour her forearms, but there it would remain. The anger dwelling inside was unbearable- never before had she felt hatred as she had done now.. Such was not her way. She bore no ill will toward any- yet those cries for mercy and aid.. she could not ignore this time.

Disgust crawled o'er her angelic features, while listening to him preach about not having freedom. "Gods created you in their image. And above all else they gave you the power to choose. Free will is something you are all given, so do not tell me you hadn't the choice to become what you became. You chose to be what you are. No matter how weak-willed you may be, no manner of magic or maniplation can mislead the conscience. Even if some all-powerful being warps your mind, the conscience will always know what you are doing may be wrong. Did not the screams of the innocent move you any?"

And then he spoke of the Abyss. "Even demons and the undead and the damned can turn from their paths and walk toward the light. I've seen the damned and the vampires serve Gods of holy nature and wear their insignia's... And they chose to be that way."

A soft chuckle escaped those lips, "Guidance? You seek guida---" Those eyes shifted toward something in the distance. Her top lip began to curl- she could hear that voice echoing across the distance. "Excuse me." She began to walk forward, making her way to the voice of the man that stood before her. Apparently they were two, now- perhaps more. The other, that spoke of chaos and death, would soon see the brilliance of her aura to the west.
 
The darkness of his voice began to consume the light that shone from a being so pure.

"Sune..."

It spanned the heavens, the lower planes and the existance of life itself. Gargauth had called for her, his wife, Sune. could she or would she answer? There would be no mistake, she and everyone that heard that voice knew it, whether they were versed with his existence or not. It was Gargauth.
 
One by one the fingers popped, knuckle clutched under it's brethren finger. He walked with Sune, not to far behind yet just far enough to avoid that aura.

"Perhapse your right...Maybe it's not guidance I seek but the alternative, perhapse that's why...I chose not to bend my knee to you. But..if you shun me here today I fear I will have no choice but to persue such a path. A path in which I can already hear the screams and feel the terror. A path that I can make a reality or an after thought..Know this, my consumtion will be such that no degree of light or love from you will bring salvation nor' refuge. I am the darker, or the lighter of two evils."

"Gargauth..." A thought with in his head, an imagination in the turmoil that was his mind. The chaos and law were at their degree. The DarkTide and The Hidden Lord existed...on the same plane of existance. A war of gods and darkness, of chaotic evil and lawful evil. He heard that voice and he heard her name...And now he had his trump, Gargauth..wanted to reclaim his wife...or so he assumed.

Novelly remained in the cold embrace of those well enticed arms, forcing this woman against his chest yet beant in such a fashion that a loosened grip threatened deposting her at his feet, on her ass. "He's dead you know, Vaticus..And his father's back...I fear for you...Or maybe it's something else...excitement perhapse. Maybe I'm thrilling over the idea of using you...to get to him..Like a carrot for that rabbit..Or maybe...I really do fear for you..and know I am the only thing that can protect you..."

How ever a new storm had begun to brew, The DarkTide was plotting, the first true scheme since his return to Ayenee, destruction driven chaos was his forte, but Sune, Gargauth and Novelly required something more, they would each play out in his mind, in a plan that was already beginning to form. Scorn DarkTide and Gargauth, their war was legendary, and Ayenee would be their next battleground.


"Gargauth is nothing but an ache in my ass, much like you...But he is here, he will come, he will fight, and I will destroy him and anyone that is not at my side. Including every last one of you..."

With the contention of those words the scimitars were leveled against the general direction of this destroyed monuments congregation, yet Scorn looked towards the heavens, he saw the flash of light, he felt the presence of other forces, he knew they were not alone. He felt the awsome assumption of power hiding in the pocket dimensions of the prime, he felt the captive darkness and the technology of extraterrestials and the chaotic following of other deities and he heard the words of those in hiding.
 
The elf shook his head in bewilderment, unable to accept the evidence of his own eyes.

He knew his cast had been a good one. It had seemed as if some unseen hand had struck him aside in midair. It had been a violent invisible force that had whirled him aloft and it still rattled his nerves even as he looked upon her familiar contorted face. (Ashe didn’t need to feed into her energy to figure out that she was angry with him.)

“After all of these years…I have only thought of your safety. I could not reach you, until now. Your energy became so violent-it was unreadable before. Forgive me...” Treiya’s sudden force of anger cowed him recklessly. Ashe unwillingly guessed the outcome of the aftermath and carefully climbed back to his feet. While it had not been immediately apparent, his hurtling voyage through the portal had been both physically and mentally strenuous.
 
"My safety? MY safety? Elf, you had better concern yourself with your own safety at this point. You abandoned me. Left me. And now you return, step back into the void that you have created and hope to be welcome." She turned from Ashe abruptly, still angry that he was creating such conflict within her heart. She, Treiya Darklor, who cared for none and no one, was now wrapped up in angry emotion that hid a deep hurt, all because of one little elf who had waltzed into her life and out again, only to return.

Spine stiffening in anger at her unwary thoughts, arms dropping to her sides once more, she narrowed her green eyes at Soji. She would no longer pretend kindness to the girl. Soji would do as she was told or she would suffer for it, "I've asked once for you to create a portal. Now I'm commanding it. Open the portal so that we can move the army, or discover what we do with mutinous fools."

She didn't wait for a response from the other woman. She turned away from Soji again to reflect upon her inner turmoil in hopes of dispelling it. She wondered what to do about the elf. She knew and admitted only in her heart of hearts that she feared being hurt by him again, but giving Ashe such a weapon to use against her would be foolish. He had caused her enough pain without her cooperation.
 
The merest tinge of carmine flecked his green eyes. He cautioned the energies to their play, clenching his fists about the medallion where he wore it, searching in its sensitive alloys for those dread vibrations which were ever the precursory of dangers coming.

And again…nothing. He was finally safe. Exhaustion took over his body.

Treiya had not opened her mind to him. He had detected a hidden interest in the mind of the woman, but she soon opened up her barriers with no regret. “I greet you with—with my entire self, great fool! I am being treated as some traitor! I had become separated from you unwillingly..I have been searching every vibration, void, space available to me!” Oh, Treiya, where have you been? What have you been doing, and why has your mind been closed to me for so long?

Ashe sent a host of mental questions surging out to her, demanding to know everything. And then, before she could put her own thoughts in order, he continued with yet more questions. What is the plan? Who are all of these people….I only recognize your face! It must have been great strain-even on the elf-to carry on the prolonged attempt at Treiya’s mental seduction. The elf tirelessly questioned the young woman with a barrage of troubled questions.

Growing weary, he made the gesture of becoming impatient and hurt. Taking the beloved medallion-a gift given to him by Treiya-he flung it from his neck recklessly having felt defeated. Kneeling, he felt the failure and pitiful fool. She must be laughing at him-her uncaring face. Treiya spurned him. He watched the other woman who received the harsh tongue from Treiya. What was so difficult about opening a portal? Why hadn't Treiya asked him for assistance?
 
-Treiya felt the mental nudge that Ashe sent her, and for reasons unknown even to herself, guilt washed over her. Soji still refused to respond to her command and she grew more weary by the moment, the emotional turmoil of seeing the elf again taking it's toll on her, mind, body and spirit.

She watched as Ashe tore the amulet from his neck, throwing it to lie in the dirt at her feet. With a soft sigh, Treiya turned her head to the right, offering Ashe her cheek. She looked to the ground momentarily, and then, without words, answered him simply.

We go to war. Sole has ordered his troops to move into the Capital City of Ayenee. As a Darklor, it is your duty to accompany us. Personal matters are best left for later. If you are not exhausted, I would ask you to make us a portal to take us where we belong. Sojiana appears to prefer the consequences of ignoring a direct order.

Treiya would not apologize. Her simple answer, the question of opening the portal, all of that would serve as her apology, or would be as close as she would ever come. Their minds now linked, Treiya turned her head once more to face Ashe, allowing a slight smile to play about her lips. Perhaps Treiya would never be an emotional woman, but she did offer what she could on occassion.-
 
Apparently, this woman was a fool. Sojiana proved to be a worthless companion and he felt it was his time to assist Treiya during their darkest hour. He dreaded leaving her, but he blocked off the emotional vibrations that were once linked directly to her. Treiya would not feel his plight any further.

It was based upon circumstance that the portal closed roughly behind him. He felt the air suck around him violently while the void locked into nothingness once more. Did he really have the energy to create another?

Mental prowess devoured his other senses and he strained to produce a common ground with the energies that racked his body and mind. The energies spoke to him in an ageless sense-giving him the feeling of power onc emore. Upon being commanded, he roughly climbed to his feet and overlooked the emotional display that the two presently shared.

Bowing, he awaited for her to notice his concentration. His leather and metal outfit glistened with moisture, the mist seemed to form a film of white substance over everything around them--his body was slick with it.

The white energy collapsed into something solid and tangible, his mind growing more arrogant at the possibility of creating another portal--the very likeness of which he had entered upon. The air hissed at his mental command and something sizzled right before them--he was unlocking the energies and creating a solid formation of endless possibilities--a portal had been created with slight exhaustion.

As if waking fro a daydream, the elf had started nervously speaking. Now he shook himself and nodded his approval at his own work. "Good, he grunted. "I only wish I felt as comfortable and confident." A lazy afterthought, he gathered the medallion in a leather and metal bundle and placed it around his neck in a messy knot. He looked rather pleased at such a simple task. "Do you approve? We don't have much time to waste."

The elf ignored the woman who failed to create such an easy task.

"As a Darklor, I am perfectly aware of my duties. You need not remind me. Have you forgotten that we are forever tied? I know my place well."
 
"May your will and weapon arm be steel, Inquisitor, for they're both about to be tested." The man-fiend Yakuvna readily accepts Decais' hand, sealing their momentary alliance. Nothing in his face or his grip betrays any more than the Inquisitor had already guessed, whatever hides behind that mask he calls a face is not a man.

But it hardly matters who or what Jason Yakuvna really is, he's an ally, intimately familiar with the city, and the foes they're up against. "The Fiend you see in the distance, courting the light is called Scorn Darktide. He is singularly the strongest assembled here barring the fiend-god the rest threaten to summon, and must be the first to fall if we, or this city, will have any hope to emerge victorious."

Finally, he nods his associates forwards, mentally instructing them both, King, Bishop, aid the Inquisitor in whatever he asks of you. Keep yourselves fresh, and keep Darktide alive until I'm finished preparing. Bishop, you're authorized the CS rounds.

Simultaniously, in a minor miracle of mental dexterity, he's speaking audibly to Decais', "These are Alexander King and Mark Bishop, my most trusted associates, who will stand with you in battle. For my part, I planned for times like this when I built this city, but its resources will take some time to unlock."
 
Skyler Bloodtide

Skyler appeared outside the Capital City. He allowed himself a moment to regain his bearings before focusing on his task. He wasn't sure exactly how to achieve the goals he had been set with but he was confident he would find a way.

He needed information first. He would start by looking for a diviner or some sort of magic user with the ability to scry. Skyler headed into the city to begin his search.
 
The aged holy warrior nods, assimilating the information relayed to him by this man-shaped being currently allied with him. Scorn Darktide. A rather unimpressive name for a creature so swathed in the dark energies of the Warp. But what was in a name? Decais himself had worn many, many names throughout his centuries of service to the Golden throne. A name meant little in circumstances such as these. But it did serve wonderfully as a focus.

A grimace crawled across the worn face of the inquisitor at the mention of this fiend-god. He felt his ire rising at the thought of what this dark little cabal planned. It mattered not to Decais whether all the dark powers gathered here actually wanted the fruition of this summoning - to him they were all steeped in darkness, and would all feel his wrath and be sent screaming into the depths of whatever hells had spawned them.

He graces the two named named with a hard-eyed glance each, before returning his gaze to the man-shape Yakuvna, a greying brow arching. "You built this city?" a small smile unfolds on his lips "And here I was thinking Architect was some form of honorific. You will unlock these powers then I assume? How long will take, and what will you do once these powers are prepared?"

His gaze spiders away from Yakuvna, gazing out into the city again, as his third eye watches the one named Darktide with the Lady of Light. "Would you have us dance with these Daemons whilst you prepare, Architect?"


 
"And that is why, Scorn DarkTide, you will always be the follower... Never the leader you make-believe yourself to be. You base your decisions, your choices on what others think or believe.. Never your own. And if you so choose to walk this path of destruction you threaten me with, know this.. You will never know peace from me, for I will always walk in your shadow. My light and love will pain you far worse than it does now... because I will not supress it like I do. I will haunt you for the rest of your days, following into the good graces of eternity. I will never allow you to let your guard down, even if you truly believe you are free of my wrath." Those lips released venom unknown even by herself. The pain of others birthed a cycle of hatred within the Lady of Light. Most were incapable of handling their emotions- she mastered them, as everything else she harbored. "For every cry of pain I hear that is caused by you, I will do so unto you tenfold of what they suffered. Death will be only a legend to you, unattainable yet thoroughly desired." She spoke without emotion.

Narrowed eyes fell upon the crazed individual attached to this creature that followed not far behind. Golden pools fixated upon that form, and that form only- however, she was paying attention to everything around her. Within those eyes, everything had an aura- every creature displayed a different color and that was what kept her attention focused. Any disruption in those hues would immediately cause her to change focus. The light that danced upon those fingertips swelled and with a swift thrust forward, they shot from her palm, rocketing forth to that creature that promised pain and torment. For every poor creature caught within the aftermath of that radiant missile, would surely dissolve into nothingness.. 'less they were paying enough attention to take cover before she gave the first attack. The crazed one, Scorn's other half, wouldn't be fully scathed. This one was only meant to redirect his attention to the woman that would now be nothing than a blur of white and silver- her form barely made out behind the radiance of her aura. He wasn't protected by her will.

.. Deep within her mind, the resonating darkness that spoke her voice was noted, but nothing would be said in return. She heard her name, but chose to ignore the one that called to her in such an unfit manner. She knew who called to her, beckoned her with just her name.. and it showed with the crease forming along her brow.


White serpents began to form at her heels- her aura manifested into slithering aids and began to fan out, extending not but 30 feet from her. They were forming, readying themselves for the onslaught that was about to ensue.

"And you did not bend knee to me because your pride is your weakness. You sought guidance, or whatever it was that you wished, yet you would not yield. Not a very good start." The hand that released the bolt of Warp mixed in with her own light fell down toward the sword that rested at her side. Scorn would see it then, as its beautiful craftmanship was revealed with the twitch of her cloak. It was Legendary amongst these greater deities. Darknessbane
 
Jason Yakuvna Nods, "If left to their own devices, the darkness assembled in this city would turn it to dust before I finished, that is why I need you to keep them busy."

Already, he turned around, looking out in the distance, to the Lady of Light and Scorn Darktide, to the rest of the city that waited to explode, "I must ask you to trust me, Inquisitor. The powers assembled are evesdropping, they already know too much about what will come, be assured that I will be finished in time, and we will see victory today."
 
{OOC: I haven't been following this thread too closely. Could someone please give me a brief description of people's location? Specifically, who's still at the Kellindil monument or in other public places?}
 
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