Devlyn hears Allura's voice in the comm crystal.
"I'm not sure how this is gonna end, but I'm pretty sure things are gonna go boom now. LJ and CH just went down there to 'talk'. Apparently talking starts with shooting an arrow at KC."
Swirls of blue and black mix freely into the winds of the storm, as spirits fly amongst the streamers of wind. For now they circle.
LJ uses magic to lift CH down to the ground along with her, setting them both down in front of the line of servants of the board.
She shoots an arrow of positive energy at KC, grazing his cheek painfully.
"That was a warning shot. You dare show your face here after what you've done?"
Kobold Cleaver glares at her. "And what have I done, False Goddess?"
He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.
Swirls of blue and black mix freely into the winds of the storm, as spirits fly amongst the streamers of wind. For now they circle.
:That's new...:
Devlyn hears Allura's voice in the comm crystal.
"I'm not sure how this is gonna end, but I'm pretty sure things are gonna go boom now. LJ and CH just went down there to 'talk'. Apparently talking starts with shooting an arrow at KC."
"I'm on my way. I just hope I can still get through the omniportal."
Swirls of blue and black mix freely into the winds of the storm, as spirits fly amongst the streamers of wind. For now they circle.
:That's new...:
LJ uses magic to lift CH down to the ground along with her, setting them both down in front of the line of servants of the board.
She shoots an arrow of positive energy at KC, grazing his cheek painfully.
"That was a warning shot. You dare show your face here after what you've done?"
Kobold Cleaver glares at her. "And what have I done, False Goddess?"
He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.
"I am not false, and you know it full well. You were the one who sent those who attacked our child. I am not inclined to forgive that easily," she said, lining up another arrow.
"I am not false, and you know it full well. You were the one who sent those who attacked our child. I am not inclined to forgive that easily," she said, lining up another arrow.LJ uses magic to lift CH down to the ground along with her, setting them both down in front of the line of servants of the board.
She shoots an arrow of positive energy at KC, grazing his cheek painfully.
"That was a warning shot. You dare show your face here after what you've done?"
Kobold Cleaver glares at her. "And what have I done, False Goddess?"
He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.
He snorts. "Oh, really? What about the Mask? You harbored him. You ignored the warnings about him you received, how many innocents he has killed and defiled. Given that we tried to destroy the Mask, who has truly endangered your daughter?"
He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.
The spirits fly down to the assembled Servants, unleashing a storm of nightmares as they pass right thru their bodies. Their touch leaves flesh chilled, and wards of magic have no effect.
[i]He snorts. "Oh, really? What about the Mask? You harbored him. You ignored the warnings about him you received, how many innocents he has killed and defiled. Given that we tried to destroy the Mask, who has truly endangered your daughter?"
"Even if you could not harm her, the attempt was made."
Kobold Cleaver screams in rage. "How dare you!" He sends a titanic wave of force energy to harm all undead creatures. He turns back to Lynora, rage in his eyes. "You attack during parley!" Magic swirls around his hands and he directs a blast of flame at Lynora and Jack Hammer.
There is a cry. "We're under attack! Servants to arms!" There is a flurry of spells cast, magic missiles fly everywhere, summoned blink dogs and celestial creatures do battle with the creatures.He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.The spirits fly down to the assembled Servants, unleashing a storm of nightmares as they pass right thru their bodies. Their touch leaves flesh chilled, and wards of magic have no effect.
CH laughs. The summoned forces can't find spirits to do battle with.
"Is it really an attack if you aren't harmed?"
The omniportal flares to life (hopefully) as Devlyn comes racing through. He takes stock of his surroundings to make sure there isn't anything inside the Eyrie again. If all is clear, he will make his way to the nearest landing to see what is going on. He sends a message to Allura as he hears loud roaring voices from outside.
"Okay, I'm here, love. Where do I need to be?"
There is a cry. "We're under attack! Servants to arms!" There is a flurry of spells cast, magic missiles fly everywhere, summoned blink dogs and celestial creatures do battle with the creatures.He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.The spirits fly down to the assembled Servants, unleashing a storm of nightmares as they pass right thru their bodies. Their touch leaves flesh chilled, and wards of magic have no effect.
CH laughs. The summoned forces can't find spirits to do battle with.
"Is it really an attack if you aren't harmed?"
Kobold Cleaver screams in rage. "How dare you!" He sends a titanic wave of force energy to harm all undead creatures. He turns back to Lynora, rage in his eyes. "You attack during parley!" Magic swirls around his hands and he directs a blast of flame at Lynora and Jack Hammer.
CH puffs, as if blowing out a candle, and the flames vanish.
"I learned much of how your power works on my last little trip KC. Shall I demonstrate?"
"Your agents were the ones working with the Mask, KC. Don't try to play the self-righteous card here. It won't wash. I kept him here, yes, where I could keep an eye on him. Because of that my daughter had extra protections on her when the attack happened."
Kobold Cleaver screams in rage. "How dare you!" He sends a titanic wave of force energy to harm all undead creatures. He turns back to Lynora, rage in his eyes. "You attack during parley!" Magic swirls around his hands and he directs a blast of flame at Lynora and Jack Hammer.CH puffs, as if blowing out a candle, and the flames vanish.
"I learned much of how your power works on my last little trip KC. Shall I demonstrate?"
Kobold Cleaver hisses. "Let us see." He releases a torrent of magical energy. When that fails he draws his Cleaver.
"Perhaps you know my power...tell me, do you know this? It is older than the Ch'acks."We have never worked with the Mask, and never will."
He eyes the spirits warily. Despite the fact that he has ceased chanting, Sky and Arielle can still feel his magic opposing theirs.
Sky grits his teeth, and his rings flash brightly.
"If he means to stand against me, so be it.."
He'll have to fight me. With Body.
He takes a step foward, and lightning strikes next to him.
"Mind."
The ring on his left hand shatters as lighning strikes near him again, and his eagle form stands beside him.
"And Soul."
The ring on his right hand shatters as lightning strikes close once again. His hybrid form stands beside him.
All three speak in unison.
The storm above sweels mightily, growing in power until it is stronger than any storm has ever been before. Airelle finds herself cut off from the magic as Sky voice echoes in her mind.
:This is far beyond anything you can handle right now. If something happens to me, the storm will return to normal and you can shape it again. No arguments. Please.:
The omniportal flares to life (hopefully) as Devlyn comes racing through. He takes stock of his surroundings to make sure there isn't anything inside the Eyrie again. If all is clear, he will make his way to the nearest landing to see what is going on. He sends a message to Allura as he hears loud roaring voices from outside.
"Okay, I'm here, love. Where do I need to be?"
"Right now the action seems to be contained out front. We're all pretty much watching to see how this goes down. Just be prepared to fight if this gets much nastier."
Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger. "What is this?"
Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger.
LJ has an arrow of positive energy aimed at him that she will loose if he attacks.
"Right now the action seems to be contained out front. We're all pretty much watching to see how this goes down. Just be prepared to fight if this gets much nastier."
His ears popping with the dramatic drop in air pressure, Devlyn comes outside and finds Allura, keeping his senses peeled for anything that may try to be sneaking around while the cacophany out front is going on.
Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger.LJ has an arrow of positive energy aimed at him that she will loose if he attacks.
Kobold Cleaver notices the arrow. "Ah, like brother like sister." He grins manically, pulsing with energy from the Cleaver. "You are a fair aim, Lynora. But not perfect." A magical shield of negative energy grows between them. "Can you aim through this, Goddess?" A tiny hole opens in the shield, straight across from his forehead.
Kobold Cleaver notices the arrow. "Ah, like brother like sister." He grins manically, pulsing with energy from the Cleaver. "You are a fair aim, Lynora. But not perfect." A magical shield of negative energy grows between them. "Can you aim through this, Goddess?" A tiny hole opens in the shield, straight across from his forehead.Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger.LJ has an arrow of positive energy aimed at him that she will loose if he attacks.
"My brother was a terrible shot," she says flatly. "I'm not."
"My brother was a terrible shot," she says flatly. "I'm not."Kobold Cleaver notices the arrow. "Ah, like brother like sister." He grins manically, pulsing with energy from the Cleaver. "You are a fair aim, Lynora. But not perfect." A magical shield of negative energy grows between them. "Can you aim through this, Goddess?" A tiny hole opens in the shield, straight across from his forehead.Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger.LJ has an arrow of positive energy aimed at him that she will loose if he attacks.
"Hmm. Perhaps, perhaps. But this isn't training anymore. Can you make it?" He is glowing scarlet.
He shrugs, and the glow fades. "No matter. I cannot fight here. My mission is to remove the storm, after which we shall continue sitting here. Thus far, we have not truly opened hostilities yet. it's like Ch'ack Hammer said. Now, goodbye. We'll be seeing you soon." He withdraws into the crowd, and all the mages begin chanting along with him, fighting the storm. However, they do nothing else.
Kobold Cleaver screams in rage. "How dare you!" He sends a titanic wave of force energy to harm all undead creatures. He turns back to Lynora, rage in his eyes. "You attack during parley!" Magic swirls around his hands and he directs a blast of flame at Lynora and Jack Hammer.CH puffs, as if blowing out a candle, and the flames vanish.
"I learned much of how your power works on my last little trip KC. Shall I demonstrate?"
Kobold Cleaver hisses. "Let us see." He releases a torrent of magical energy. When that fails he draws his Cleaver.
"Perhaps you know my power...tell me, do you know this? It is older than the Ch'acks.
"We have never worked with the Mask, and never will."
"This too, is older than the Ch'acks."
He draws the blade of silver and ebony, almost reluctantly.
"I care not whom you have worked with. I only care that you have worked against my family. You of all beings should know how big of a mistake that is."
Kobold Cleaver has the Cleaver poised to strike when Sky speaks. He hisses in anger. "What is this?"
The winds carry three voices speaking in unison to KC.
"This is but only part of my power. Compared to me, you are but a hatchling with a few tricks. I have chosen to act in the defense of my home, my friends, and my family. Go head Kobold Cleaver, test yourself against my lightning, and feel the strength of Ancient Ones used as a response."
She growls with frustration as KC retreats, a Song beginning to emanate from her that sets the caster's teeth on edge, disrupting their spells.
As the blade is drawn, the spirits swirling around the Servants turn pitch black, matching CH's eyes. KC's retreat doesn't seem to register. Their forms strike solidly as they still try to fly thru the enemies' bodies. They grasp at the faces of the living in attempts at loving embraces, whispering invitations to join them in death.
As he watches, each pulse of negative energy batters into him, despite the fact he is nowhere near the casters. In an attempt to get away from the dark energy, he flies to the top of the Eyrie, only to be bombarded by conflicting magic. Aidan begins to see dark images floating around him, surronding him, and his fire does them no harm. Soon he is covered in darkness, and collaspes in a ball of shadows.
A ghostly voice comes from Ch'ack Hammer. "Dral, Tarvek, and Stina. Bring them to me."
The spirits begin to search the minds of the Servants, looking for these three.
The shadows writh and slither around the fallen Champion. Then lights, darker than the shadows, lance outward. The ball raises high into the air, away from the Eyrie's wards, and explode. A figure, covered head-to-toe in black armor with huge bat-like wings, floats above the Eyrie. It spins in the storm, unaffected by the lightning or winds, and a maniacal laugh echoes forth as evil seems to flow from him.
The shadows writh and slither around the fallen Champion. Then lights, darker than the shadows, lance outward. The ball raises high into the air, away from the Eyrie's wards, and explode. A figure, covered head-to-toe in black armor with huge bat-like wings, floats above the Eyrie. It spins in the storm, unaffected by the lightning or winds, and a maniacal laugh echoes forth as evil seems to flow from him.
Assuming Devlyn was anywhere close enough to see or hear any of that, he would have raced over to try and help Aidan, obviously not getting there before he was well out of range in the air.
"Aidan!! Are you alright!!??"
The shadows writh and slither around the fallen Champion. Then lights, darker than the shadows, lance outward. The ball raises high into the air, away from the Eyrie's wards, and explode. A figure, covered head-to-toe in black armor with huge bat-like wings, floats above the Eyrie. It spins in the storm, unaffected by the lightning or winds, and a maniacal laugh echoes forth as evil seems to flow from him.
Assuming Devlyn was anywhere close enough to see or hear any of that, he would have raced over to try and help Aidan, obviously not getting there before he was well out of range in the air.
"Aidan!! Are you alright!!??"
Floating down, covered in black flames that burn through the wards, Aidan laughs.
"You could say that. So much power is flowing through me, burning in my veins. Forest fires, infernos, burnings at the stake, I can feel them all and I love it. Fire can create so much beautiful destruction, don't you agree?"
Floating down, covered in black flames that burn through the wards, Aidan laughs.
"You could say that. So much power is flowing through me, burning in my veins. Forest fires, infernos, burnings at the stake, I can feel them all and I love it. Fire can create so much beautiful destruction, don't you agree?"
"Aidan, no!" Allura calls out. "This isn't you! I know that the time you spent at the Carnival damaged your spirit, but you don't have to let that win! Please, Aidan, fight this!"
"Aidan, no!" Allura calls out. "This isn't you! I know that the time you spent at the Carnival damaged your spirit, but you don't have to let that win! Please, Aidan, fight this!"
For an instant, he flickers back to normal.
"You have no idea what that place was like! Don't you [b]dare say you know what happened to me![/i]
"Aidan, no!" Allura calls out. "This isn't you! I know that the time you spent at the Carnival damaged your spirit, but you don't have to let that win! Please, Aidan, fight this!"For an instant, he flickers back to normal.
"You have no idea what that place was like! Don't you dare say you know what happened to me!
"Aidan, I never said I knew what it was like. Only that I know that it damaged you. Please, Aidan, we care about you. Please don't let that take over who you are. We'll help you however we can. Please, fight this."
"Aidan, I never said I knew what it was like. Only that I know that it damaged you. Please, Aidan, we care about you. Please don't let that take over who you are. We'll help you however we can. Please, fight this.""Aidan, no!" Allura calls out. "This isn't you! I know that the time you spent at the Carnival damaged your spirit, but you don't have to let that win! Please, Aidan, fight this!"For an instant, he flickers back to normal.
"You have no idea what that place was like! Don't you dare say you know what happened to me!
He returns to his darker side.
"You'll help me? Why would I possible need your help? I feel winderfull, and no can hurt me anymore. They would not dare."
He laughs.
"You'll help me? Why would I possible need your help? I feel winderfull, and no can hurt me anymore. They would not dare."
He laughs.
"Everyone needs help sometimes, Aidan," she says sadly. "You may feel wonderful now, but how will you feel later? What about the people you might hurt if you embrace this power? You still have a choice Aidan. You don't have to let this rule you."
Devlyn's voice is steady and strong, even with the winds still whipping around the Eyrie.
"Aidan - just because you can embrace whatever energies are flowing through you right now doesn't mean you need to. You have friends here, you have family now. Whether or not you think you can protect yourself from the harms of the world, you have people around you now that won't let you stand against those alone. You have no need to go down this path. It's a test of your faith, Aidan. Don't throw away everything you've gained for a fleeting promise of power that will destroy everything that you are."
He takes a few steps closer to Aidan.
"You're not alone anymore. That would be the only reason to be tempted by whatever this is."
A ghostly voice comes from Ch'ack Hammer. "Dral, Tarvek, and Stina. Bring them to me."
The spirits begin to search the minds of the Servants, looking for these three.
CH sheathes the blade. His eyes return to green.
"How about some lunch? Our allies will keep searching for those three. Sooner or later they will find them...and bring them to me." He smiles at those last words.
He turns to head back to the Eyrie, pausing at the sight of the black beacon of energy atop it.
"That's not good."
The blue spirit wolf lowers its hackles and sits beside Arielle.
A ghostly voice comes from Ch'ack Hammer. "Dral, Tarvek, and Stina. Bring them to me."
The spirits begin to search the minds of the Servants, looking for these three.
CH sheathes the blade. His eyes return to green.
"How about some lunch? Our allies will keep searching for those three. Sooner or later they will find them...and bring them to me." He smiles at those last words.
He turns to head back to the Eyrie, pausing at the sight of the black beacon of energy atop it.
"That's not good."
"No, it's not."
"With our allies searching, and the Song I've left to keep their casters from causing trouble, we should at least have some breathing room to go and find out what the new trouble is."
She teleports them both to the area where the energy is coming from.
Devlyn's voice is steady and strong, even with the winds still whipping around the Eyrie.
"Aidan - just because you can embrace whatever energies are flowing through you right now doesn't mean you need to. You have friends here, you have family now. Whether or not you think you can protect yourself from the harms of the world, you have people around you now that won't let you stand against those alone. You have no need to go down this path. It's a test of your faith, Aidan. Don't throw away everything you've gained for a fleeting promise of power that will destroy everything that you are."
He takes a few steps closer to Aidan.
"You're not alone anymore. That would be the only reason to be tempted by whatever this is."
"Who I am? Events happened that made me more like the Steel Tsar, the original evil Champion of Fire. I wear the armor forged from it's metal body, you trained me in the use of starknives, and now I don't even need to hold them to attack with them, the spin of their own free will, just like the Tsar's buzzsaws. Destroy who I am? Not at all, since it seems Fate caused me to become what I am now."
"As for family and friends? They can be used against me, and I renounce all ties to them now. I am alone, just like I always was, always will be."
His eyes, seen through the slits in his helm, brighten. But not in the good way. Not even close.
"Do you know how some mountain are formed?"
So close to the black flames, Ch'ack feels their pull. Their hunger.
"No, Aidan" he whispers
"As for family and friends? They can be used against me, and I renounce all ties to them now. I am alone, just like I always was, always will be."
"No, you are not. Nor have you ever been. Though you renounce ties to us we do not renounce our ties to you."
"Though alone, the spirits of your ancestors suffered with you. As they do now. They will help you, as will we. If you let us."
Aidan turns slowly toward the new arrivals.
"Hello. How do you like the new look? I think it really brings out my eyes."
He laughs again.
"I'll ask you the same thing I asked Allura and Devlyn. Do you know how some mountains are formed?"