Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Cier's ears twitched as Jered raised an arm. Sensing the magic crawling up his arm, the wolf demon made a quick sidestep to the left as the tiger man loosed an electric bolt, which skirted past his fur and collided with a spot of gold filigree on the wall backing him, causing it to crackle as it was nearly melted by the heat. Growling, the wolf looked up to Jered as he made a sudden (though to him, hardly unexpected, given the odds weighed against him) leap for the walls.
He's trying to get away! he relayed the obvious to Viv, although he was hesitant to follow after. He skipped forward a number of steps, but Jered was already making large leaps for the walls and the young demon seemed reluctant to pursue such a dangerous man. He growled loudly again, stiff with confusion as he watched the tiger man bound away.
While exhausting for him, Jered's escape plan would flow along quite well as he leapt from wall to wall, his electrified silhouette tailed by the unerring aim of the SVN which he rapidly closed in upon. His keen hearing and eyesight would note that their fingers were primed on the trigger, but they did not make any gesture to strike. At this distance, their shots could have been fatal, which despite his efforts had him almost at the mercy of their restraint until--
Faster than Vivienne, Jered or even Cier could detect, a blurred figure whished into existence from down the hall, skirting past the SVN that Jered approached (nearly bowling them over with surprise) and with an unholy speed, lunged into the air to meet the tiger man head on as he made another leap, the figure's body seeming alight with the black mist of shadow magic. His maroon eyes beamed red, and a sleek rapier was buckled at his hip...
A swift, black-gloved palm slammed into Jered's chest like a lightning bolt, shattering pain through it (200 damage) and sending the tiger man crashing toward the marble floor below, where he'd collide rather painfully with the neat floor designs (150 damage), nearly sending him into unconsciousness as the floor below cracked under the impact. Then, with an almost ironic grace, the red-eyed figure would levitate almost like a feather down to the floor, settling noiselessly on it.
"So, we finally meet."
Xierante tilted his head down to Jered, adjusting his black gloves. A mild frown played on his face, but also intrigue. Cier froze, stunned. With a timid growl, his form shifted into blackness again and he emerged on his feet in his human form, not even looking blankly to Viv as he looked upon the Margrave and Jered. With their shoes drumming down the hall, the four SVN troops settled in a ring around the downed Jered, their rifles aimed. The Margrave waved a hand dismissively.
"Do not. There is too much at play here to warrant a bullet." he spoke rather calmly, extending an open hand to Jered. It pulsed with shadow magic, and Jered's weapon levitated into the Margrave's hand, where he passed it off to an awaiting SVN. He snapped his fingers, a black bolt of shadow lightning leapt from it to Jered's head, zapping him with no real pain, but certainly awakening him from his daze so that he might listen. Xierante hummed thoughtfully.
W-whuh, h-he... Cier stumbled out to Vivienne.
"You have stolen from me an object of great value, trespassed on my castle and... nearly killed my stepson," Xierante looked up to Cier, who stiffened further, "I should dispatch you, but..." the Margrave suddenly pulsed with that same black mist.
His hand shot out like a lightning bolt, a nearly invisible surge of black exploding into Jered and sending him flying down the hallway like a missile, just barely brushing Cier and nearly impacting Vivienne as he flew for at least 100 feet before---
BAM!
Jered crashed through a door at the far bottom end of the corridor, nearly knocking it off his hinges before he... collided with a wall, back first, leaving a rather sizable crater it. But the fatal intent of the impacts were muted by some kind of magic, and so he lived, only to slide in a daze to the floor...
...where he found himself looking up at none other than Razajin Krilleth.
---
Xierante gave a 'hmph', proceeding forward with slow steps to Vivienne and Cier, more and more SVN taking rank and file behind him. He looked to Vivienne sidelong as the last of his shadow magic faded from him, leaving him looking all but normal.
"My apologies for the disturbances." he spoke all but calmly, and then looked to Razajin and Jered far down the hall. Cier turned away, rubbing his neck.
Jered HP - 100/450 (stunned)
Vivienne HP - 200/200
Cier HP - 650/650
Razajin HP - 400/400
Margrave Xierante HP - 20000/20000
Cier's ears twitched as Jered raised an arm. Sensing the magic crawling up his arm, the wolf demon made a quick sidestep to the left as the tiger man loosed an electric bolt, which skirted past his fur and collided with a spot of gold filigree on the wall backing him, causing it to crackle as it was nearly melted by the heat. Growling, the wolf looked up to Jered as he made a sudden (though to him, hardly unexpected, given the odds weighed against him) leap for the walls.
He's trying to get away! he relayed the obvious to Viv, although he was hesitant to follow after. He skipped forward a number of steps, but Jered was already making large leaps for the walls and the young demon seemed reluctant to pursue such a dangerous man. He growled loudly again, stiff with confusion as he watched the tiger man bound away.
While exhausting for him, Jered's escape plan would flow along quite well as he leapt from wall to wall, his electrified silhouette tailed by the unerring aim of the SVN which he rapidly closed in upon. His keen hearing and eyesight would note that their fingers were primed on the trigger, but they did not make any gesture to strike. At this distance, their shots could have been fatal, which despite his efforts had him almost at the mercy of their restraint until--
Faster than Vivienne, Jered or even Cier could detect, a blurred figure whished into existence from down the hall, skirting past the SVN that Jered approached (nearly bowling them over with surprise) and with an unholy speed, lunged into the air to meet the tiger man head on as he made another leap, the figure's body seeming alight with the black mist of shadow magic. His maroon eyes beamed red, and a sleek rapier was buckled at his hip...
A swift, black-gloved palm slammed into Jered's chest like a lightning bolt, shattering pain through it (200 damage) and sending the tiger man crashing toward the marble floor below, where he'd collide rather painfully with the neat floor designs (150 damage), nearly sending him into unconsciousness as the floor below cracked under the impact. Then, with an almost ironic grace, the red-eyed figure would levitate almost like a feather down to the floor, settling noiselessly on it.
"So, we finally meet."
Xierante tilted his head down to Jered, adjusting his black gloves. A mild frown played on his face, but also intrigue. Cier froze, stunned. With a timid growl, his form shifted into blackness again and he emerged on his feet in his human form, not even looking blankly to Viv as he looked upon the Margrave and Jered. With their shoes drumming down the hall, the four SVN troops settled in a ring around the downed Jered, their rifles aimed. The Margrave waved a hand dismissively.
"Do not. There is too much at play here to warrant a bullet." he spoke rather calmly, extending an open hand to Jered. It pulsed with shadow magic, and Jered's weapon levitated into the Margrave's hand, where he passed it off to an awaiting SVN. He snapped his fingers, a black bolt of shadow lightning leapt from it to Jered's head, zapping him with no real pain, but certainly awakening him from his daze so that he might listen. Xierante hummed thoughtfully.
W-whuh, h-he... Cier stumbled out to Vivienne.
"You have stolen from me an object of great value, trespassed on my castle and... nearly killed my stepson," Xierante looked up to Cier, who stiffened further, "I should dispatch you, but..." the Margrave suddenly pulsed with that same black mist.
His hand shot out like a lightning bolt, a nearly invisible surge of black exploding into Jered and sending him flying down the hallway like a missile, just barely brushing Cier and nearly impacting Vivienne as he flew for at least 100 feet before---
BAM!
Jered crashed through a door at the far bottom end of the corridor, nearly knocking it off his hinges before he... collided with a wall, back first, leaving a rather sizable crater it. But the fatal intent of the impacts were muted by some kind of magic, and so he lived, only to slide in a daze to the floor...
...where he found himself looking up at none other than Razajin Krilleth.
---
Xierante gave a 'hmph', proceeding forward with slow steps to Vivienne and Cier, more and more SVN taking rank and file behind him. He looked to Vivienne sidelong as the last of his shadow magic faded from him, leaving him looking all but normal.
"My apologies for the disturbances." he spoke all but calmly, and then looked to Razajin and Jered far down the hall. Cier turned away, rubbing his neck.
Jered HP - 100/450 (stunned)
Vivienne HP - 200/200
Cier HP - 650/650
Razajin HP - 400/400
Margrave Xierante HP - 20000/20000
Razajin -
Spoiler (click to show/hide):
The duo of SVN seem just about ready to dismiss your claim, until a small buzzing can be heard. Mouthing a breathless sigh, the leftmost of the SVN would press two fingers to his ear, turning his head to reveal what Razajin might see as some kind of earpiece of dull copper. It was a minuscule device of confusing architecture that appeared to clip onto one's body. Faint hissing could be heard, to which the SVN nodded his head to. Next to you, the hunched and wiry cloaked figure drummed its bony fingers together with apparent nervousness. A number of clicks could be heard from under its hood -- the person itself gave off a rather nervous, but shadowy vibe to Razajin that the SVN seemed to ignore.
The SVN with the odd earpiece looked to you.
"It seems you've been promoted with special privilege. Go on through." he spoke clearly. Without so much as a glance at each other, the two pulled the door back, allowing you to proceed through into the southernwestern Great Halls. Next to you, the wiry person clacked with obvious delight.
You stepped through, but immediately found yourself being tailed by the creature, who shuffled along with a curious speed.
"My identification is Meesa, yes. I come with this human one. No worries, no worries!" the odd person -- Meesa -- spoke in a sibilant, nervous voice punctuated with the odd clack. Before anyone could argue, the SVN simply slammed the doors shut behind you, apparently not caring enough to debate the truth of this. Meesa tapped its bony fingers again and then turned to you, its face completely cloaked by shadow.
"Meesa thanks you for assisting him. Meesa will return the favor later, yes, no worries, no worries. Meesa must go, however. Farewell!" hissed out Meesa jubilantly, before with unnatural speed shuffling off to the north, where he vanished. Confused, but dismissing Meesa as harmless for now, you decided to make off to the corridor to your left...
The Great Halls were enormous, but between the distant roars and firecracker pops of gunfire to the north and the near orchestra of noises to the northwest, it was not much of a chore to decide on where to go. Heading west, you proceeded along the corridor for a while before turning north, then west, then north... the Great Halls almost seemed to stretch for an eternity, each new corridor lending view to doors of all shapes and sizes leading into the main complex's many rooms and subsections.
About ten minutes later, you would find yourself at a corner with a door leading north. Beyond it, the glorious sounds of battle could be heard, topping off at last with a loud series of slams and other chaotic noises before--
BAM!
You were nearly knocked from your feet as the doors exploded open, a blurry figure rocketing through only to impact a thick wall but a split second later, drawing a strong vibration out of the floor. Looking through the now wrecked door, you spied a trio of distinct figures: the sharply-dressed Margrave, a dainty, pink-haired girl and a red eyed, wolf-eared boy you knew was Cier, the Margrave's stepson. Backing them was a small army of SVN, who stood waiting behind the Margrave.
When the proverbial dust settled, you looked down on the dazed figure. He was bruised and weak, but not injured.
It was Jered.
The duo of SVN seem just about ready to dismiss your claim, until a small buzzing can be heard. Mouthing a breathless sigh, the leftmost of the SVN would press two fingers to his ear, turning his head to reveal what Razajin might see as some kind of earpiece of dull copper. It was a minuscule device of confusing architecture that appeared to clip onto one's body. Faint hissing could be heard, to which the SVN nodded his head to. Next to you, the hunched and wiry cloaked figure drummed its bony fingers together with apparent nervousness. A number of clicks could be heard from under its hood -- the person itself gave off a rather nervous, but shadowy vibe to Razajin that the SVN seemed to ignore.
The SVN with the odd earpiece looked to you.
"It seems you've been promoted with special privilege. Go on through." he spoke clearly. Without so much as a glance at each other, the two pulled the door back, allowing you to proceed through into the southernwestern Great Halls. Next to you, the wiry person clacked with obvious delight.
You stepped through, but immediately found yourself being tailed by the creature, who shuffled along with a curious speed.
"My identification is Meesa, yes. I come with this human one. No worries, no worries!" the odd person -- Meesa -- spoke in a sibilant, nervous voice punctuated with the odd clack. Before anyone could argue, the SVN simply slammed the doors shut behind you, apparently not caring enough to debate the truth of this. Meesa tapped its bony fingers again and then turned to you, its face completely cloaked by shadow.
"Meesa thanks you for assisting him. Meesa will return the favor later, yes, no worries, no worries. Meesa must go, however. Farewell!" hissed out Meesa jubilantly, before with unnatural speed shuffling off to the north, where he vanished. Confused, but dismissing Meesa as harmless for now, you decided to make off to the corridor to your left...
The Great Halls were enormous, but between the distant roars and firecracker pops of gunfire to the north and the near orchestra of noises to the northwest, it was not much of a chore to decide on where to go. Heading west, you proceeded along the corridor for a while before turning north, then west, then north... the Great Halls almost seemed to stretch for an eternity, each new corridor lending view to doors of all shapes and sizes leading into the main complex's many rooms and subsections.
About ten minutes later, you would find yourself at a corner with a door leading north. Beyond it, the glorious sounds of battle could be heard, topping off at last with a loud series of slams and other chaotic noises before--
BAM!
You were nearly knocked from your feet as the doors exploded open, a blurry figure rocketing through only to impact a thick wall but a split second later, drawing a strong vibration out of the floor. Looking through the now wrecked door, you spied a trio of distinct figures: the sharply-dressed Margrave, a dainty, pink-haired girl and a red eyed, wolf-eared boy you knew was Cier, the Margrave's stepson. Backing them was a small army of SVN, who stood waiting behind the Margrave.
When the proverbial dust settled, you looked down on the dazed figure. He was bruised and weak, but not injured.
It was Jered.
Sortaix -
Spoiler (click to show/hide):
Marquette hummed, her lips curling into a cute smirk. Placing her hands on her hips, she cocked an eyebrow further at your "warning". With somewhat of a look of amusement, she reached a hand out and gently pushed the arrow in your hand toward the floor. Then, dismissively, she would stride up to you, placing silky hands on your shoulders.
"You plan on hurting me? Don't worry, I'm harmless. Look..." she spoke musingly, raising a hand in front of her, and with a blue swirl of deadly soul magic, a lethal silver dagger materialized into existence, gleaming with deadly intent as it levitated above Marquette's palm. It paused there for a moment, and Marquette looked to you so that you might verify it was real. Then, with a slow flick of her wrist, the silver dagger twirled out of her invisible grasp, whistling through the air to seek out the table far behind you two and plant itself there harmlessly. She let her hands slide off of you, tracing down your chest but faintly and giving a hum at your sudden compliment.
"As for me, I do some work for some selfish people. In other words, likely the same thing as you. Sorry for the skeletons, though. I view my safety in a serious light." she spoke softly, biting her lip.
"So, Sir Sortaix, with that in mind, can I ask if you're here to kill me?" she questioned charmingly, taking a step closer to you as if to stop you from evading her question. She turned her head up, her nose just about touching yours as she looked upon you with wandering eyes.
Marquette hummed, her lips curling into a cute smirk. Placing her hands on her hips, she cocked an eyebrow further at your "warning". With somewhat of a look of amusement, she reached a hand out and gently pushed the arrow in your hand toward the floor. Then, dismissively, she would stride up to you, placing silky hands on your shoulders.
"You plan on hurting me? Don't worry, I'm harmless. Look..." she spoke musingly, raising a hand in front of her, and with a blue swirl of deadly soul magic, a lethal silver dagger materialized into existence, gleaming with deadly intent as it levitated above Marquette's palm. It paused there for a moment, and Marquette looked to you so that you might verify it was real. Then, with a slow flick of her wrist, the silver dagger twirled out of her invisible grasp, whistling through the air to seek out the table far behind you two and plant itself there harmlessly. She let her hands slide off of you, tracing down your chest but faintly and giving a hum at your sudden compliment.
"As for me, I do some work for some selfish people. In other words, likely the same thing as you. Sorry for the skeletons, though. I view my safety in a serious light." she spoke softly, biting her lip.
"So, Sir Sortaix, with that in mind, can I ask if you're here to kill me?" she questioned charmingly, taking a step closer to you as if to stop you from evading her question. She turned her head up, her nose just about touching yours as she looked upon you with wandering eyes.
