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--- ayenee:character:median_darkthorne [2017/08/09 21:51] – amorceas
+++ ayenee:character:median_darkthorne [2017/08/14 19:56] (current) – amorceas
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 ====== Median Darkthorne ======
-~~NOTOC~~
 ^ Median Darkthorne ^^
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-=====The March of Destiny=====
+====The March of Destiny====
 "What happened here?!" Carver pondered as the group of hunters emerged from the forest to what was left of their town. "The whole town has been burned or trampled down like dead grass." The night air was heavy with the smell of nature, smoke, and death. It was quiet except for the mutterings of a few of the hunters looking for loved ones. The only other sound was the crickets and cicadas and the dying embers of fires. The hunters became shadows moving in the moonlight, sometimes crying out as they touched a still hot piece of debris or stumbled into a depression.
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 Morgan: "He has to be completely mad to be climbing so calmly in this nightmare. How does he make it look so easy?"
-Roman: " He has embraced his destiny and it guides him.  I have seen him perform feats I only wish I could accomplish. If he isn't destined to be a god-king, he sure is destined to make a mark in this world. I'm sure there will be many swords in his path. Even though he may be able to simply bat them aside or turn them against themselves, I just hope to get to test my own skills against a few of them. I defeated the man that killed my father, but it was honorless. Now my sword shall guide me like Median's dream guides him."
+Roman: " He has embraced his destiny and it guides him.  I have seen him perform feats I only wish I could accomplish. If he isn't destined to be a god-king, he sure is destined to make a mark in this world. I'm sure there will be many swords in his path. Even though he may be able to simply bat them aside or turn them against themselves, I just hope to get to test my own skills against a few of them. I defeated the man that killed my father, but it lacked honor. Now my sword shall guide me like Median's dream guides him."
 Morgan: " You are just as crazy as he is. Enough of this!" She began to weave her hands about her and shouted out words of power. The rain was disturbed by the invisible power she summoned. The invisible power twirled about them and the group was slowly lifted off the ledge. Morgan's hair flew up as she held her hands out at her sides, her face contorted in an almost anger filled expression. The night seemed to coalesce about them and lifted them up. Roman was very unsure about the sudden change. He looked down over the cliff at the jagged rocky spines and the mountain side as it disappeared below. The rain shot down past him and he focused on a drop watching it disappear beneath them.
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 She didn't like it. Median strode ahead of them never slipping, never reaching to brace himself, he simply walked and the cave seemed to accommodate him. The others had to move at a snail's pace, stepping in just the right place, bracing themselves against walls. Morgan began to see Median in a different light. He seemed like a force of nature, the world seemed to just bow to his power. The cave began to open up. The lanterns drifted up to the ceiling of the cave and began to shine brighter. Before the group was mountains of coins, artifacts, jewelry, weapons, and chests. At the center of this large horde was a black pool that at first Morgan assumed was water. After approaching it closer she could tell it had the look of crude oil. Morgan picked up a coin and looked it over. It was minted from a kingdom she did not recognize. She tossed the coin into the black pool and watched it lay on the surface for seconds before it slowly sank into the black surface.
-Bubbles began to come up where the coin had been. Something stirred beneath the dark liquid. A form arose wearing a tattered red hood, gold gleaming armor, beneath the armor and tattered red clothing was revealed the skeletal remains of a humanoid. A shadowy smoke clung to the figure's bones and from its back drifted a cloak made of the same smokey shadows interspersed with a fire that resembled the dying embers of burning parchment or leaves. It wore a scabbard at its bony hip which held a sword. The figure sat on the neck of a skeletal dragon that also rose from the black depths. The figure dismounted and the skeletal dragon moved a pile of treasure and laid down.
+Bubbles began to come up where the coin had been. Something stirred beneath the dark liquid. A form arose wearing a tattered red hood, gold gleaming armor, beneath the armor and tattered red clothing was revealed the skeletal remains of a humanoid. A shadowy smoke clung to the figure's bones and from its back drifted a cloak made of the same smoky shadows interspersed with a fire that resembled the dying embers of burning parchment or leaves. It wore a scabbard at its bony hip which held a sword. The figure sat on the neck of a skeletal dragon that also rose from the black depths. The figure dismounted and the skeletal dragon moved a pile of treasure and laid down.
 Figure: "Who walks in death's realm?"
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 All it took was the vision of Carver's death to awaken her enough to pull herself free. Roman was surprised at how skilled she was with the dagger. He swung his sword and she somersaulted back and then came slashing at him again. His sword was heavier than her blades and it made him move just slightly slower than her. She was adept at moving in and out with her attacks. She never looked at where she attacked, she instead simply watched his weapon. Every time he moved to attack she responded and then attacked at a different angle.
-The others lay dead their throats cut from Demi's daggers. As she came at him this time Roman moved aside and kicked her in the abdomen. She fell back her head hitting a jagged rock. Roman fell to his knees bleeding from a hundred different cuts.
+The others lay dead their throats cut from Demi's daggers. As she came at him this time Roman moved aside and kicked her in the abdomen. She fell back her head hitting a jagged rock. Roman fell to his knees bleeding from a hundred different cuts. Demi lay there unconscious, blood pooling behind her head.
 Roman: " Shit! I've never seen someone so fast with whittling blades. Had she been using swords I'd be in pieces. As it is I might die from bleeding out."
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 He was light headed and the cavern seemed to slightly spin. Median turned and knelt down lifting Roman up.
-Median: " Don't die on me yet. If we can somehow control this specter the people will follow me to the ends of the earth. Just hang in there a little bit longer."
+Median: " Only the weak die, the strong survive."
 Median was suddenly grasped by a large skeletal hand and thrown to the cavern wall. He fell landing in the black pool where he slowly sank like some prehistoric beast in a tar pit. The more he fought the quicker he began to sink. Roman barely able to walk stumbled forward trying to get to him. The skeletal dragon gave a wave of its taloned paw and bashed Roman. He slid across the stone floor and lay on his side against a wall.
-Figure: " You shall all die here this day! Into the maw of the netherworld you have plunged, its teeth shall chew, its throat shall swallow, and your souls shall be devoured!"
+Figure: " You shall all die here this day! All empires fade to dust. Kings and Queens even bow their noble heads to death. The netherworld welcomes you!"
 Morgan was alone in a world of darkness. The dead danced all around her, shadowy spirits, translucent images in a world so cold.
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 He came rising up out of the black pool like a phoenix from the flames. He was different. The weakness was now a fading memory within his mind. The dragon didn't see Median emerge from the pool. He stepped in front of Morgan and threw himself into the Draco-lich's mouth. His hands and feet prying them apart and causing the dragon to no longer focus on Morgan.
-Morgan drew the energy tighter about the figure as she began to sow it together. The spell held and the figure screamed in agony as it fought against the chains that now bound it. It appeared at Morgan's feet and she commanded it to tell its pet to put Median down. The dragon skeleton did so. Morgan then went over and began to use her magic on Roman.
+Morgan drew the energy tighter about the figure as she began to sow it together. The spell held and the figure screamed in agony as it fought against the chains that now bound it. It appeared at Morgan's feet and she commanded it to tell its pet to put Median down. The dragon skeleton did so. Morgan then went over and began to use her magic on Roman. She pulled the iron residue from his blood and then did her best to mend his wounds with her magic. She drew her power from her patron, the dark goddess Tilatalia. Her magic was not known for its healing properties, but if one knew how to make wounds, one could mend them as best as possible.
+Roman still lay unconscious, but he would pull through.
+Median stood before the figure and demanded from it.
+Median: " Show me what was so special. That death itself would guard it all these years."
+The figure waved its hands about before it and an ornate wooden chest appeared. It opened and within were numerous pieces of jewelry. Median took out a ring that looked as though it had been carved from ivory.
+Median: " What is this?"
+Figure: " It is the ring of heaven. Carved from the bone of a dead god. It was granted to the general of the light pantheon's armies, an archangel. The ring was stolen in the battle between the angels and demons that destroyed the veil around Ayenee. It bestowed an invisible shield to its wearer that protects them from all manner of harm.
+Median put the ring on and selected another ring. This one was black and resembled some sort of stone.
+Figure: "That was once a piece of the dark titan himself, Scion. It can give you an edge against gods that no mortal should ever have. It can also enhance whatever abilities you already have.
+Median put it on and felt a surge of strength. It was addicting and consuming. Median jumped and threw his fist into the cave ceiling. The mountain cracked and shattered. He let out a shout and the pieces vibrated and shattered into dust. The raging storm fell upon the crater of the mountain peak. Now he felt like a true god.
+He walked out and stood on the jagged cliff of the peak. Rain pelted his chiseled form as he stared down at the earth below.
+Median: " A taste of what my destiny. It is only a taste of the greatness that awaits me!"
+He stepped off the cliff and began to slowly float down to the earth below. The United barbarian tribes looked up at the stormy sky and between strikes of lightning, they could see the outline of Median slowly floating down from the heavens. He landed before them the epitome of a god.
+The wind howled like a banshee as Median's feet touched the earth. He stood there with outstretched arms basking in the adoration of the barbarians. The deathly figure that once ruled the mountain came down on the back of his skeletal dragon frightening the tribes. As the dragon landed with a thud the figure dismounted. It walked towards Median and took a knee before him to the astonishment of all. Morgan, Roman, and the unconscious Demi came floating down in an orb of shadowy energy.
+Median: " I have conquered death and have been bestowed the armament of heaven. You all have witnessed the birth of the god-king Median. Follow me and bear witness to my unfolding destiny, my greatness! The West shall be mine and then so shall the world. Those who stand against me, the infidels, they shall be the dust my feet kick up as I ascend to the realm of heaven, a god-king!"
+The barbarians had been worked up into a fervor, they shouted and roared.
+Median turned to his companions and smiled.
+Median: "We have an army now let us put it to use."
-The ring encased Median in powerful enchantments that made him near invulnerable. He found a number of other magical amulets, bracelets, rings, earrings, septum jewelry, and belts. He claimed them all and they increased his powers.
 ====The Blood Thirst====
-They found the hidden tombs of an ancient clan of vampires called "sete di sangue". The leader of this clan fought with Median, but was defeated when Median ripped the vampire lord's head from his body and then reached down the neck hole and pulled out the vampire's heart.
+They sailed down the river on a make shift barge.
+Roman: "The barbarian guides seem to think this is a bad idea."
+Median: " It is the quickest way back to the bivouac and the fjord. I don't care what superstitions they hold. Whatever holds such a grip on this river has never met me."
+As Median looked out at the mountains and the jagged spines he thought about how beautiful the landscape was, despite the constant gray clouds and the superstitious natives. The vivid green grass, snow covered peaks, cold clear water, and the rocky hills. They almost reminded him of his home in Sharlazan on the edges of the Stryga kingdom.
+He stood up, the lapping river thudded against the bottom of the barge. He could feel it beneath his feet. The water ahead rippled as though something moved beneath its surface. A fish perhaps or a river otter? Median turned around and looked at the barbarians that used long sticks to push the barge down the river. They seemed to have not noticed. The water's calm and steady flowing surface reflected the gray sky, but whatever had disturbed it was no longer there.
+Roman: "We should probably fish while we are waiting. I am starving."
+The barge rocked, Median thought nothing of, then it rocked again. Something thudded on the deck of the barge. It was a large slimy twisting tentacle. It snatched up one of the guides lifting him off the barge and twirling him about in the air as it wrapped itself around him. He screamed and was suddenly plunged into the water with a large splash. Roman drew his sword.
+One of the other barbarian guides started yammering something that Morgan began to translate.
+Morgan: "River Kraken?"
+Roman: "I thought those were just myths."
+Four more tentacles landed on the deck of the barge gripping it and pushing it up in the water.
+Roman: "Alright I believe"
+The barge creaked and the binding that kept it together began to snap in the creature's grasp. Roman chopped off some of a tentacle with his blade before being grabbed up by another tentacle. He felt himself lift up off the deck and then the cold water surrounded him. He looked down into the darkness of the river, a large beak snapped eagerly down there. He managed to bring his sword down on the tentacle and started to saw through it. It released him.
+The creature screeched in pain and renewed its attack on the barge. Roman could see its large yellow eye now. The Kraken was massive, much larger than the barge, It had a brownish black hue to it that helped it blend into the river itself. Its lower half disturbed the silty bottom of the river sending up clouds of murk that obscured the rest of Roman's view. He broke the surface of the river and was quickly plucked up by Median.
+As Roman caught his breath he watched Median dive over the side of the barge. The water behind the barge suddenly exploded outward. Bits of gore and Kraken rained down on the barge.  Median emerged from the water and pulled himself back up onto the barge. The water was now black with blood and ink.
+Median: "You said you were hungry." He tossed a squirming tentacle at Roman's feet.
+Morgan spoke with one of the guides and turned back to Median.
+Morgan: " They say there are giant eels and giant leeches in these waters as well."
+Median: " Is that what they were so scared of? Seems a trivial thing to dread."
+Morgan turned back to the guide and began to question them once more. There was a loud snap as the timbers that had been bound to make up the barge began to separate. The bindings had snapped and now the barge began to take on a v shape. They guided it to the side of the river and disembarked.
+Morgan: " They said they can repair it, but with it getting dark we might as well set up camp. Oh, and the river is not what they feared. They talk of the "pale ones". It seems there are other humanoids in these mountains and the valley this river goes through it home.
+They made camp. Median lay there looking at the flashes of lightning in the night sky. The night was quiet. He looked to the camp fire where Roman, Morgan, Demi, and their three guides sat. Morgan had sent the deathly figure that they had defeated back to their base camp. He sat alone just outside the light of the fire.
+Morgan: "Are you contemplating the next epic feat that you intend to accomplish or just enjoying the quiet?"
+Median: " A bit of both I guess. Sometimes I like to just enjoy the silence, the scenery. It helps me think."
+Morgan: "Roman and Demi have been sparring since we landed. I think silence is a very rare commodity these days."
+A strange sound drew Median's attention away from their conversation. One of the guides suddenly shrieked as blood spurted from their neck. A metal object jutted from the guide's neck. It was a throwing knife. The air was rife with tension as Median glanced askance trying to peer into the darkness. He could hear the slightest movement, but he was unable to sense the minds of any lifeforms. Roman and Demi disappeared into the night.
+Median could sense them a few feet from where he stood. Together with Morgan and the remaining guides they took up torches and delved into the night. The ground about the reed thick river was bulbous, it has once been a flowing river of lava many years ago. The solidified rock was now covered in thick green grass. The river from the melting snow and rain had carved its way through this valley over time. A huge section of stone rose up from the sloping mountain side. Its face was striated in an odd pattern. The many satraps of the Darkthorne lands used to mark where their lands began and ended with images of their family crests.
+He wondered if this pattern were something similar. To him it resembled a snake eating its own tail. Words beneath the carving said "sete di sangue". He had no idea what language that was or what it meant. Ahead there was an opening in the mountain, a set of stairs plunged into the ebon maw. He sensed Roman and Demi descending here.
+Median: "They pursued something down these stairs."
+The guides began to shake their heads and began to back away from the cave. Median urged them to enter, but they continue to babble in their language and refuse. He hit them with a wave of force sending them back into the river. Flashes of electricity pulsed with light as slimy black bodies slide against one another. A massive snake like form rose from the river and snapped its jaws onto the guide silencing his screams and taking him beneath the surface. There must have been at least fifty of the giant eels forming a ball in the river. The guides vanished just as quickly as they had hit the water's surface.
+Morgan: "You need to work on your anger issues. How are we going to find our base camp now? The river diverges ahead of us."
+Median scowled.
+Median: "Fear made them useless. They would have died here alone either way. We have to enter the cave."
+He treated the death of the guides as a piddling thing. The walls here were etched with numerous carvings of snakes and strange serpentine letters. As they proceeded the air became warmer and Median could hear footsteps ahead of them. The staircase exited into a large opening, a cathedral. Pale, hoary haired figures sat in pews. A path cut straight through the pews to an altar. Behind the altar two giant snake heads jutted from the wall, lava poured from their open mouths into a trench where it moved like a flaming serpent weaving a path till it descended into a crevice. A man stood behind the altar, his pale skin and hoary hair made him look like one of the dead, his face was gaunt. His eyes resembled a snake's and in place of his canine teeth were curved retractable fangs dripping with venom.
+Barnabas Pope: "Behold my children! Here comes our salvation!"
+Median felt a bit of unease as the hundreds of faces gathered in the cathedral suddenly turned and looked on him. Their eyes were like the man behind the altar. The snow white color of their skin and hair was strange.
+Median: "I am no savior. I am a conqueror. The destined god-king of the West."
+Roman and Demi stood to the side of the staircase and quickly joined Median.
+Barnabas: "So you say. I say that you are the one that will change our own cursed fate."
+Median: "Who are you and what is it that you want? Get to the point because my umbrage is at its limits."
+Barnabas: "How rude of me. I am Barnabas Pope, former mercenary Lord, then wealthy baron. Those days were a mere spark in the flame that is my long life though, they happened four millennia ago. I sought the secrets of the West and found them. The secret to eternal life became mine along with its curse. The garden of the gods had a tree with fruit that could grant immortality. It gave a bitter sting with that reward. I found that I could make others like me. I gave the great ruler known as the Impaler my gift and the Countess of blood as well. I have made many others like myself. Usually out of boredom, or because I saw in them the same longing that once existed in me."
+He waved his hands about towards his followers.
+Barnabas: "They all had the same void within themselves as I did. They were not meant to be among the vermin. They were meant to ascend to a higher state of being."
+Median realized how crazy the stranger sounded and looked to his companions who seemed to agree there was something off.
+Median: "Interesting story, now we shall take our leave, good day sir."
+Median turned to leave when the man appeared in front of him.
+Barnabas: "Leaving so soon? You haven't even heard the best part."
+Median threw a punch meant to destroy the man. He was surprised when the fellow simply became mist and then reappeared nearby.
+Barnabas: "Oh come now, violence will get us nowhere. Can't we all just get along?"
+Roman performed a monant with his sword cleaving a gash from the man's head down to his waist. The wound quickly began to reknit itself and seal.
+Barnabas: "I like you, cleave first and ask questions later. See I knew we would get along famously."
+Morgan threw a bolt of necrotic energy at the pale man. He simply caught it in his hand and looked it over like a child inspecting a toy. He found it dissatisfactory and tossed it aside and wiped his hand on his breeches.
+Barnabas: "So I was going to propose that we march with you to the West. My children and I would lend our strength, indulge in a bit of blood letting and drinking. I mean you are going to leave lakes of the stuff in your wake, someone might as well put it to some use. Besides if you intend to enter the West you will have to go through Pacifika. I have a debt to repay them in kind."
+Median found the stranger's abilities to be interesting. He could use such talent among his ranks.
+Median: "Hmm fine, might you be able to lead us to the River's end?"
+Barnabas: "That we can do. See my children, I told you it would all work out. I have waited twenty years for your arrival."
+Median: "Awaited me? How did you know I would arrive?"
+Barnabas: "How did you know you would become a god-king?"
+Median: " A dream..."
+Barnabas: " Exactly!"
+The pale faced Barnabas held up a hand and a red orb dislodged from the wall behind the altar. It flew to his hand and he held the bloodstone in his hand and closed it about it. When he opened his hand the orb was gone. He snapped his fingers and a blade appeared in his hand. It was a dagger with a blade that curved like a flame. The pommel lengthened in his hand turning the dagger into a spear.
+Barnabas: "All packed."
+Morgan whispered to Median: "Can we trust this man?"
+Barnabas: "No you can't trust me, but then again would you trust someone who lured you into a cave? Actually, can you trust anyone? We have goals that are aligned and so an alliance shall work for now. The rest falls upon if you can take the West or not."
+Median: "It shall be my empire and mine alone."
+Barnabas: "You can have it. I have grown tired of these lands. I seek greener pastures on the other side of the great wall."
+Median: "You and your vampires can have the rest of the world for all I care. The West is mine!"
+Barnabas: "You have made your point. My brood and I are the last of our kind. The West is not a place where we can thrive. I have no concessions about it being all yours."
+Barnabas revealed his army of stone to Median who delighted in such an army. He also revealed a faster route for Median to take to leave the mountains. As Median rejoined with his soldiers Barnabas placed a magical miniature ship on the waves. It was drawn out to the water where it began to grow in size. It was big enough to hold his children and the army he had crafted and then some.
+Aboard his ship, he looked out at Median with disgust. Mortals were full of greed, it devoured them from within and made them into monsters. He wanted to survive, he wanted his kind to survive, but perhaps it was just another form of greed? The world was changing. It was becoming the realm of man. The elder races were slowly dying off while humans bred like vermin. Even his vampiric race was down to a few hundred. Not just anyone could survive the transformation.
+To Barnabas, Median was a well-crafted tool that would aid him in his millennia old plan.
-Median explained to the vampires that they would now serve him. He then plunged the vampire lord's heart into his own chest. His body adapted and assimilated the heart into his being. Median now had an army that would claim him the destiny he was chosen to hold.
+Barnabas: "I am older than even the name of this back water realm. I have been cast out from former home. They say the Walls of the West keep out invaders. They do not know that the walls keep me in. This is a prison and soon I shall be free at last."
 ====At the Heart of the Storm====
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 __//**Ring of Scion:**//__
-__//**Earring of Divine Might:**//__

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