Sanria hated him more than she cared to admit. She hated him for taking her away, for making her feel helpless, for hurting Gilean, for ripping apart the tiny bit of family she was so desperately creating. More than all, she hated him for sinking his claws into her mind, working her body like a marionette, forcing a smile from her when all she wanted to do was see him gone. She could tell he had trouble keeping the tent from flickering away, and she knew this was the only saving grace that kept her from being swept up in the riptide that roiled in her mind. She knew Velentham didn't play fair, and knew from their past long gone that he would not stop until he had whatever it was he wanted. In this case, her mind, her heart, her affections. "Stop looking at me like that!"
She looked down. Part of her pitied him, the wild look that would come over his features reminded her of a cornered animal. When she had first seen him, he had been exactly what any woman wanted - charming, handsome, tall, caring, gentle, and kind. She *had* wanted him. Then she learned of his true nature - arrogant, hard, cruel, punishing, and proud. Now, with his being trapped in this realm, he was beyond even that. Velentham had crossed a line; he was literally insane, or fighting it at least. "I'm sorry..." she heard him say, but she didn't bother lifting her eyes. "It's a lot of effort, you know, keeping this place up." It wouldn't have to be if he'd just let her go home. "I'm talking to you." She looked up at him, focusing on the gaunt face and haunted silver eyes that grew intensely heated as they stared back at her. She lowered her gaze and heard his sigh.
She didn't know where they were. It was a place she'd certainly never been, but to have to expend so much magic, it had to be taxing. She couldn't speak, she couldn't do anything but endure. And endure she did - moments where he could force a smile onto her face, moments where he held her to him and she heard the leaping heart galloping in his chest, moments when he'd kiss her and she could do nothing. Her own heart grew heavy. She knew it would only be a matter of time before he would grow impatient and take her somewhere that he could completely dominate her mind. And when he did that, it wouldn't be long after that he would discover the secret she carried, and when he discovered that, she knew, he would likely destroy her.
Captive
She was so near, yet so far away. Velentham had to keep the magics going that kept them from being burned by the super-heated atmosphere around them. The hills of red sand beat against the edge of the bubble he had created, the bubble that kept him from being able to do much other than hold his prize. Though the look on her face, the damned look on her face, the pain and contempt! "Stop looking at me like that!" he finally barked, and she looked away. Damn Gilean for turning her against him. Damn that beast, Colin, too. Damn them all!
Velentham breathed heavily and clenched his eyes and set his jaw. It was only the bubble that was making him irritable - the expenditure of magicthat he had to keep going every moment. He had come off of a magic fight with the beggar, cast a very powerful silence spell on Sanria, had whisked them both away to a desert, and had to keep them alive until his cousin and any other had finally given up hope of locating them. Or at least slowed down the process.
"I'm sorry..." he said, and used more of his ability to create around them a tent. The sound of the sands died down only minutely. At least with an object he could imbue it with some of the magic in his body. And that done, he could have a precious few minutes with his quarry before he had to recharge the magic. "It's a lot of effort, you know, keeping this place up." He smiled. She kept her face turned away. Velentham's face grew cold. "I'm talking to you," he growled. She looked at him. He sighed.
He would have to use more magic, just to make this bearable. And so in the moments between recharging the magic tent, Velentham attempted to break into the mind of his captive. Most of the time she fought, which angered him, but the rest of the time he could manage to get a smile on her lips - even if her eyes betrayed her true outrage. That would go away in time. All in time.
Velentham sat on the ground and pulled her down to him. He held her head to his chest, breathing in her hair. In the moments he had before the tent needed him, he worked on Sanria's mind, coaxing her, soothing her, all while wearing himself down. It had been years since he had exerted so much effort. He managed to kiss her deeply before the tent flickered and he was forced to put his effort there and watch her pull away in disgust. Disgust. That would not do. All in time, he reminded himself, and again turned his attention to matters of their survival.
Velentham breathed heavily and clenched his eyes and set his jaw. It was only the bubble that was making him irritable - the expenditure of magicthat he had to keep going every moment. He had come off of a magic fight with the beggar, cast a very powerful silence spell on Sanria, had whisked them both away to a desert, and had to keep them alive until his cousin and any other had finally given up hope of locating them. Or at least slowed down the process.
"I'm sorry..." he said, and used more of his ability to create around them a tent. The sound of the sands died down only minutely. At least with an object he could imbue it with some of the magic in his body. And that done, he could have a precious few minutes with his quarry before he had to recharge the magic. "It's a lot of effort, you know, keeping this place up." He smiled. She kept her face turned away. Velentham's face grew cold. "I'm talking to you," he growled. She looked at him. He sighed.
He would have to use more magic, just to make this bearable. And so in the moments between recharging the magic tent, Velentham attempted to break into the mind of his captive. Most of the time she fought, which angered him, but the rest of the time he could manage to get a smile on her lips - even if her eyes betrayed her true outrage. That would go away in time. All in time.
Velentham sat on the ground and pulled her down to him. He held her head to his chest, breathing in her hair. In the moments he had before the tent needed him, he worked on Sanria's mind, coaxing her, soothing her, all while wearing himself down. It had been years since he had exerted so much effort. He managed to kiss her deeply before the tent flickered and he was forced to put his effort there and watch her pull away in disgust. Disgust. That would not do. All in time, he reminded himself, and again turned his attention to matters of their survival.
So it seems (3/3)
"No! It was this woman, she is a lich! She must have casted some sort of spell! I sense the evil in her was similar, look at this tattered cloak on the ground, she killed him"
The guard replied "Him? What was under that cloak? A goblin? A dwarf? A human?"
Stunned by the questions Serth answered "I'm.... not..very.......sure".
All of a sudden his throat was at loss for words. He tried to explain what happened, his memory remembers every bit of it but there is just no words coming out.
The second guard yelled "That woman is a lich! She's casting a spell on him!"
When he turned around and looked at her, eyes were glowing and her fangs grew longer, she began to be hostile and bite Serth in the arm. A sudden pause as Serth was trying to grasp the situation, he tried to stab the lich as she distanced herself from them, retreating towards the wall.
Shocking it may seem, this woman has the ability to hold onto walls as if she was a spider. She laughed and said "It's impossible to catch me, the church is watching your every step, no other god than Sephiroth reigns supreme."
Upon conjuring a dark midst she vanished into thin air with echoes of her evil laughter.
Staring blank in the air, the head guard said "We must report this, we need more men in Westbridge, there have been too many sights of this and we are too short-handed to deal with this matter".
As the guards take their leave, he stopped them "Wait! You are from the Order?"
The guards nodded.
"Please tell me, how is it possible for me to join your ranks?"
All the guards stared at him, whispering among themselves. The head guard said "Look for a man dressed with similar armor with us, he is often at the Temple of Life enjoying the scenary. Beware young one, your determination will be tested to the fullest".
The guard replied "Him? What was under that cloak? A goblin? A dwarf? A human?"
Stunned by the questions Serth answered "I'm.... not..very.......sure".
All of a sudden his throat was at loss for words. He tried to explain what happened, his memory remembers every bit of it but there is just no words coming out.
The second guard yelled "That woman is a lich! She's casting a spell on him!"
When he turned around and looked at her, eyes were glowing and her fangs grew longer, she began to be hostile and bite Serth in the arm. A sudden pause as Serth was trying to grasp the situation, he tried to stab the lich as she distanced herself from them, retreating towards the wall.
Shocking it may seem, this woman has the ability to hold onto walls as if she was a spider. She laughed and said "It's impossible to catch me, the church is watching your every step, no other god than Sephiroth reigns supreme."
Upon conjuring a dark midst she vanished into thin air with echoes of her evil laughter.
Staring blank in the air, the head guard said "We must report this, we need more men in Westbridge, there have been too many sights of this and we are too short-handed to deal with this matter".
As the guards take their leave, he stopped them "Wait! You are from the Order?"
The guards nodded.
"Please tell me, how is it possible for me to join your ranks?"
All the guards stared at him, whispering among themselves. The head guard said "Look for a man dressed with similar armor with us, he is often at the Temple of Life enjoying the scenary. Beware young one, your determination will be tested to the fullest".
Wandering Westbridge (2/3)
"Though observing the guard in armor from Radiant Heart is mumbling something to the evil being,a dagger was drawn and stabbed through the heart of this evil being but it didn't bleed."
The evil being covered in tattered cloak began to burn into ashes, he wondered what is this, a conjured demon of sorcery? It is a spell based on experience to be in possession of high level mages. As he began to think "it's best to back away and observe more" is when he accidentally kicked a bucket while withdrawing and he was spotted. The guard stared at him and said "You saw it?".
"Being stunned by the glowing eyes of the guard, he drawed his sword in his defense".
The guard swung his sword in desperation to behead Serth while he retaliated valiantly. They fought for a good few moments when the sounds of multiple armor and swords approaching. The guard tossed his sword aside and it evaporated, intending to flee the scene. He realized this is another part of sorcery and charged towards the guard, stabbed him in the ribs, the guard screamed and managed to free himself from Serth's attack. Pausing for a moment, the guard's back was facing Serth as he turned around and realized it was a woman with long silver hair......with fangs.
"You are a lich?" shocked as he saw her appreance could tame any wild man. Such beauty, yet such evil within her. The source of the evil he felt from that evil being is overwhelming within this woman.
She said "You will pay for this, I will burn your soul".
The guards approached the scene where Serth has captured the lich. The leader of the guard asked "You man, did you murder that man in the bar?" while prepared to draw his sword.
The evil being covered in tattered cloak began to burn into ashes, he wondered what is this, a conjured demon of sorcery? It is a spell based on experience to be in possession of high level mages. As he began to think "it's best to back away and observe more" is when he accidentally kicked a bucket while withdrawing and he was spotted. The guard stared at him and said "You saw it?".
"Being stunned by the glowing eyes of the guard, he drawed his sword in his defense".
The guard swung his sword in desperation to behead Serth while he retaliated valiantly. They fought for a good few moments when the sounds of multiple armor and swords approaching. The guard tossed his sword aside and it evaporated, intending to flee the scene. He realized this is another part of sorcery and charged towards the guard, stabbed him in the ribs, the guard screamed and managed to free himself from Serth's attack. Pausing for a moment, the guard's back was facing Serth as he turned around and realized it was a woman with long silver hair......with fangs.
"You are a lich?" shocked as he saw her appreance could tame any wild man. Such beauty, yet such evil within her. The source of the evil he felt from that evil being is overwhelming within this woman.
She said "You will pay for this, I will burn your soul".
The guards approached the scene where Serth has captured the lich. The leader of the guard asked "You man, did you murder that man in the bar?" while prepared to draw his sword.
A strider's return (1/3)
A sudden guilt was spreading within him like a disease. As destiny allowed Serth to wander the realm of humanity once again, putting behind the darkness of his past, now he suffers the battle against himself. Struggling in search of his own lost soul.
Upon Westbridge he wanders, as he ventures deeper he saw a bar and walked in for a booze. As he openned the doors, everyone ignored his presense, he walked straight to the bar-counter. He ordered a shot for his favourite Vodka, enjoyed it and noticed a dark presense sitting at the corner of the bar, mysterious as it is he sense great evil in that entity.
"Why is everyone not paying attention to such a presense? Is he the only one who notice?"
He continued to observe this evil being, highly suspicious as ever. After a moment it stood up from its corner and walked towards a drunkard who's figure seemed like the Mayor of Westbridge. The evil being stabbed the drunk without hesitation in the chest, watching the drunk fall to the ground bleeding to death in a crowded bar which none bothered.
"Suspicious.....extremely suspicious"
"This cannot be left unpunished"
He tailed this suspicious evil being throughout the Market Square and into a back alley. Suspicious as it seems, a medium build looking guard standing before this being. Without a second thought that "guard" in view is definately known as a member of the Radiant Heart.
Upon Westbridge he wanders, as he ventures deeper he saw a bar and walked in for a booze. As he openned the doors, everyone ignored his presense, he walked straight to the bar-counter. He ordered a shot for his favourite Vodka, enjoyed it and noticed a dark presense sitting at the corner of the bar, mysterious as it is he sense great evil in that entity.
"Why is everyone not paying attention to such a presense? Is he the only one who notice?"
He continued to observe this evil being, highly suspicious as ever. After a moment it stood up from its corner and walked towards a drunkard who's figure seemed like the Mayor of Westbridge. The evil being stabbed the drunk without hesitation in the chest, watching the drunk fall to the ground bleeding to death in a crowded bar which none bothered.
"Suspicious.....extremely suspicious"
"This cannot be left unpunished"
He tailed this suspicious evil being throughout the Market Square and into a back alley. Suspicious as it seems, a medium build looking guard standing before this being. Without a second thought that "guard" in view is definately known as a member of the Radiant Heart.
And then there was Zazza (Part II)
Khalid took this young drow under his wing. Taught him to harness the mystical ways within. He learned quick, quicker then he had himself learned. Khalid would teach him to bend his mind to preform such tasks. And as quickly has it was taught to the drow, it was mastered. There was something different about this drow. Khalid would bend is mind to focus the energy within him towards the spell. This drow would pull energy from everything around him. With such ease he would pull the most powerful of energies from nature. This amazed Khalid.
His apprentice was slowly becoming more powerful with the mystical ways then himself. He had spent years apon years studing. Trying to master all he could, yet this drow mastered such abilities without the time spent. Khalid ponder what else he could teach this man. What was left to teach him?
One night Khalid called this the drow to the tower. They talked until the moon fell from the sky. Before Khalid left for bed he put his hand apon the drows shoulders.
"Zazza, you have made me proud. You have learned everything I could possibly teach you. Your ways may differ from my own but they are what makes you. The citadel will always be your home. And you will always be part of us. You must step out into the world, use what you have learned here. I will always be here for you."
Zazza smiled and nodded. "You are my brother."
Khalid walked away. A tear dripped from his eye. This man had made him so proud. He was like a son to him.
His apprentice was slowly becoming more powerful with the mystical ways then himself. He had spent years apon years studing. Trying to master all he could, yet this drow mastered such abilities without the time spent. Khalid ponder what else he could teach this man. What was left to teach him?
One night Khalid called this the drow to the tower. They talked until the moon fell from the sky. Before Khalid left for bed he put his hand apon the drows shoulders.
"Zazza, you have made me proud. You have learned everything I could possibly teach you. Your ways may differ from my own but they are what makes you. The citadel will always be your home. And you will always be part of us. You must step out into the world, use what you have learned here. I will always be here for you."
Zazza smiled and nodded. "You are my brother."
Khalid walked away. A tear dripped from his eye. This man had made him so proud. He was like a son to him.
And then there was Zazza (Part I)
Khalid stood atop the tower looking down at the citadel. It had taken many of men and much coin to complete but well worth the investment. It was a long and crazy road to get to this point in life. Many mistakes were made but all leaving a valuable lesson learned.
The citadel was no longer just a house, it was a stronghold that stood high in Graveyards of Zozo City. Many of adventurers have passed through its doors. Some seeking food and shelter, some seeking knowledge but some, a select few came to find a place they could call home. The citadel had many teachers within it walls. And they taught those seeking to better their physical, mental and spiritual state.
Khalid couldnt stop thinking about this young drow who he found left for dead outside of the drow city. He had taken an immediate liking to this young drow. This drow had taken a liking to Khalid as well. Many a nights, the man would come to Khalid in the library. Seeking knowledge of the mystical ways. Khalid was a quiet and reserved man. This drow had awoken something live within him. His determination to learn and master what he learned brought much joy to Khalid.
The citadel was no longer just a house, it was a stronghold that stood high in Graveyards of Zozo City. Many of adventurers have passed through its doors. Some seeking food and shelter, some seeking knowledge but some, a select few came to find a place they could call home. The citadel had many teachers within it walls. And they taught those seeking to better their physical, mental and spiritual state.
Khalid couldnt stop thinking about this young drow who he found left for dead outside of the drow city. He had taken an immediate liking to this young drow. This drow had taken a liking to Khalid as well. Many a nights, the man would come to Khalid in the library. Seeking knowledge of the mystical ways. Khalid was a quiet and reserved man. This drow had awoken something live within him. His determination to learn and master what he learned brought much joy to Khalid.
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