LoD Chapter 2 - The Legend of the Forsaken Brother

[Lioness]

Quickly, Ian ducked, and the arrow directed at him fell harmlessly to the ground, though it seemed to drive hard into the earth. Trevor seemed to be a bundle of nerves - his shots didn't have the strength they should have.

Ian took only a moment to decide what to do. He knew he had very little time to take action, but he did not want to upset Renetta too much. "Let's see how he'll handle this!" he thought as he conjured a flock of bats which proceeded to quickly swarm around Trevor's face. Hopefully, he thought, this would keep him busy and surprised long enough for Renetta to realize that capturing him would be very difficult and holding him next to impossible at best - death was the best option.

Trevor, however, looked surprised for less than a moment, but he did stop mid-run. He quickly brushed off the bats, though, so Ian dismissed them.

"Put the axes down," Ian ordered, to no effect. "We all know you don't want to hurt her."

OOC: Sorry, been awhile posting ... these things happen, though, I guess.

[Raiden]

(OOC: I'm going to assume that I'm in the park.)

Samoht had waited while the cattle were cleared, leaving only the stronger fighters. He then stood, and walked into the fray. He looked at the remaining fighters, picked a strong one, and headed towards him.

He was a tall man, with a long sword in each hand. His arms and legs were long, like he was stretched when he was a child. The man looked Samoht up and down.

"A drow, eh? I heard that drow's are fast. The name's Erin Tomar. I'm fast, too. Let's see who's the better man here, eh?"

Samoht's hood was up. Other than his mouth, the rest of his face was in shadow.

"My name's Samoht. That's all you need to know, since you won't be living long enough to worry about my last name."

The man grinned widely.

"So, you're that confident? Well, let's see who's better!"

Right when he finished the sentence, he lunged out with his sword, leaping with incredible speed at Samoht. Samoht stepped to the side, and the sword struck his shoulder, leaving a large gash. Erin stopped, dropped to a knee, and laughed.

"I was right. You drow are quick. But I'm quicker!"

Erin turned, and his twin blades flashed out into the air. Samoht swept his cloak away from his body to increase his movement, and dodged. Erin continued to slice out with incredible speed, not relenting for even a moment. Samoht kept up the pace with him, bobbing and spinning to avoid the whistling blades. At one point, Erin's arms could barely be seen, he was stabbing and thrusting so quickly. Samoht rolled away, and filled his hand with electricity. He blasted out a small ball of sparks, zapping the sword in Erin's left hand. With a cry of pain, Erin dropped the sword, his hand spazming.

"Son of a... Didn't know you could do THAT, too."

Samoht smiled, his hood still managing to stay on during the fight.

"Well, if I knew that there were rules to the whole thing, then I would have told you. Tell you what. We'll start over. And since I've handicapped you, I'll restrict myself. I'll only attack once. If I don't kill you after that, then you may do as you will."

Samoht dug his feet into the ground, and lowered his hood. His dark hair dropped down to his shoulders, and his red eyes glared out. Erin nodded his head.

"Fine, then."

Erin leapt out, his sword swinging through the air. His blade came close. Samoht didn't move. The steel was coming down, aiming from Samoht's head. He didn't blink. The sword was an inch from from his face.

And his hand made a strange figure with his fingers.

Suddenly, Erin froze dead in his tracks. His face was filled with surprise.

"What the hell! Why can't I move?"

Samoht smiled. He stepped forward and close to Erin, slowly pushing the blade away.

"A quick science lesson. The brain controls what each muscle in the body does through a series of electric synapsis. If an electric mage could, say, hijack the synapsis and place in a few series of his own, he can actually control the body of his enemy."

A look of fear crossed Erin's face, until he realized something.

"This is your attack! And since you didn't kill me, I get to kill you. That was the agreement."

Samoht nodded.

"You're right. You're absolutely right. That was the agreement."

Samoht turned, his cloak billowing around him. Erin was ready to grab his blade and cut down the unruly drow the moment he was released. Until he saw Samoht spin around quickly, his jeweled sword in his hand. The tip of the blade pierced Erin's chest, pushed through, and came out the other side. The blood dripped off the steel, and surprise was back on Erin's face.

"You...you promised."

Samoht put his face close to Erin's, and whispered into his ear.

"Promises can be broken."

He jerked his sword from Erin's chest, and watched as the limp body fell to the ground. He wiped the blood from his blade on the clothes of the corpse.

"You should have offered me some money. That's when I keep my promises."

[Mintaro]

When we last left Karnok he was under assailmentt by two sword men, who were being backed up by a chain wielding warrior.

Karnok braced himself as the two men charged him through the water, moving remarkably fast in the knee high water. The two sword men lunged at the Minotaur simultaneously, hoping to pincushion him. Karnok had no plans to stand still however. He hurled his body to the left, creating a wave of water as he hit and rolled. He got back on his feet and ran full speed at the closest of his opponents. The man turned to face him but to late. Karnok's massive horns Peirce straight through his leather armor and then through the mans body. Karnok lifted the man up with his head and then shook him off into the water. The once brown Minotaur now had a head covered in red. The fountains water was slowly becoming a light pink as well. Karnok looked the other swords man in the eye and stamped his mighty hoof. He sheathed his blade and ran. The money wasn't worth dealing with a creature this insane.

Just then a jingle rang out behind Karnok. He turned and threw up his arm just in time to have the chain wrap around it and the spike at the end dig deeply into his arm. Karnok grabbed hold of the chain and again tried to pull the man off his feet. He was again unsuccessful. Frustrated he began to reel himself toward the man instead. Pulling more and more of it into his grasp as he advanced. Then it happened. Three daggers floated up from the mans belt and flew at him. The man was one of the telekinetic that had attacked him in the first place. The Daggers flew straight to him and he dropped the chain to dodge out of the way. The second he let go the chain did as well. When Karnok stood back up he saw that the chain was arched up and facing him like a snake. The daggers flew behind it. He was staring four deadly objects right in the face, and this time there was no body to destroy. Thats when he remembered them. The Boom-bags he had created earlier. Timing was important though. He waited for the daggers to start toward him. He dodged each one. Cartwheeling through the water with an grace not expected from such a large creature. When he stopped moving the chain wrapped itself around his neck and began to strangle him. "Dis be being da only chance." he thought to himself. Pulling out one of the boom-bags, he checked it. Thankfully it was dry. He picked up a fire stick and smiled at the heavy set man.

"What are you going to do? Try and blow me up? you'll never hit me." The man gloated his victory all but assured in his mind. He moved the daggers in front of him, preparing to finish the creature off.

Karnok lit the match against his arm and then put it to the fuse. "Dis one not be needin ta hitcha. Just be goin off." With that Karnok threw it into the air and it exploded. The bright flash filled the area, accompanied by a painful boom. The chain loosened around Karnok's neck and that was all the signal he needed. He ran full tilt toward the mans last location and didn't stop till he felt his head hit something. His head cracked painfully against a heavy metal object and the object flew backward. The chain fell away then, Karnok pulled it all the way off and looked at what he had hit. The man sat there dazed by the flash of light and the hard hit to his gun. Karnok raised a hoof and waited till he saw recognition from the chain wielding man. "Dis fighting be over." Karnok kicked the mans face, driving his nose bone straight up into his brain.

Karnok located his spear and picked it up. Holding it with his uninjured arm he began to focus his mind. Clearing all thoughts he slowly started chanting in his head. He pictured a red flame and began to coax it to grow inside of him. The flame grew brighter and brighter until it filled his whole body with strength. He felt his ancestors presence inside of him and knew his eyes had changed red. Now he was ready to fight. Now he would truly let his brutal nature out.

[Toastburner B]

((OOC: Yeah...I'm in the club of "not posting lately" myself. Sorry))

As the arrow came towards Connor, the quickly moved his staff into position so that the arrow would hit the staff instead of him. The arrow struck the staff hard, but didn't break through it.

Connor watched as Trevor vanished through the newly appeared portal. With a scowl on his face, Connor walked up to the portal in a few long strides. Then he stopped. Anger will get me no where in this. The foe is the brother of a comrade...calm is what is needed. With a deep breath, Connor forced the anger, common for his race, out of his mind, and looked at the woman.

"Do you want us to pursue him?" he asked. "Likely he is ready on the other side. The first person through will have to avoid an arrow, more than likely. I am skilled enough to do so, but he is your brother. The choice is yours."

[Astral Harmony]

"Father!"
Richard had taken one of Trevor's arrows into his torso. Renetta had already forgotten about Trevor and was now kneeling next to Richard, who was propped up against a wall, his teeth grating and his face a mask of pain.
"I'm...sorry...Renetta...Trevor..."
Richard closed his eyes and relaxed.
"Father! Oh, god! Oh, no!"
Renetta frantically searched for a pulse, and finally remembered how to breathe when she found that he had simply passed out from the shock.

[Bosolai]

(OOC: Negatory on the portal appearing. Not supposed to happen quite yet.)

"Renetta, forget him. He was the one who lied to you for six years. Forget these losers, too. They only want to bring you pain. Just... just come away with me. We can go to a place where the world will bring us joy, and we won't need to think about the tragedy that father brought us." Trevor looked at the unconscious Richard, disgusted. "I can't stand to look at that monster's face any more. You should know where to find me, Renetta. If you want to save and old fool, stay here and watch your future slip away. If you want the truth, follow me and you can learn the truth." He dashed off, conjuring steps to run over the wall and disappeared beyond the palace gates.

Fortunately, due to her size, the arrow missed Gwyn completely. She was trying her hardest to keep Richard alive. "He'll be alive for a while, but that arrow was toxic. The palace medics might be able to cure him. Renetta, should we stay with Richard, or go after Trevor?"

[Astral Harmony]

Renetta forced back tears and was only mildly successful, rising to her feet. "Please take care of him for me. I'll be back to help."
With that, Renetta suddenly whirled and broke out into a sprint, taking Trevor's conjured stairs three steps at a time, pumping her arms for extra leap. Trevor's stairs vanished as Renetta ascended them, blindly hurrying to her brother. Apparently, Trevor knew she would chase him, and has slowed down after moving beyond the palace. Now the two stood on a floating bridge a lethal distance from the ground. Trevor could only stare at his step-sister, his gaze colder than the air around them. Renetta's face was streaked with wetness.
"Your eyes are that same beautiful violet that your mother's were," Trevor said simply, but Renetta obviously wasn't listening.
"How could you do this, bro?! Your own father!"
The hurt in her voice wasn't exagerrated. Trevor sighed and took out his axes. He was about to start his pre-battle monologue but Renetta interrupted him.
"If things were different...if father never came...if mother never died and he never took me away from you...things could have been different. You could have been different, bro. I would still be the same, too. I would still be...loving you..."
"As a brother?" Trevor spat.
"No, I..." Renetta began, but from Trevor's expression, the time for talk was over. She wasn't reaching him. Her last attempt to really reach him was gone. Now was the time for combat.
Renetta started on the offensive, using her momentum to lend her attacks power, but Trevor was simply the better fighter. Renetta used her weapon to deflect one attack and had to dodge the other awkwardly. Regardless of her strength and her will, she just wasn't good enough. Suddenly, one step back yielded only air beneath her feet. She had reached the end of her half of the bridge. "Yaaaaaagh!" Renetta screamed, but her fall to her death was suddenly halted. Trevor had her by her left wrist.
"Sister, this is your last chance!" Trevor was saying, with a sincerity that Renetta wanted to believe in but knew better. Trevor learned that it was truely hopeless when Renetta mustered enough courage to slice at his exposed face. Trevor released her wrist, her sword missing his face by mere inches, and she plummeted into the snow below, embracing what she thought would be her demise for trying to do the right thing. Trevor stood up and sighed. Once her friends give chase after him, they would find her soon enough. She wasn't dead, the snow enough to make her fall much less lethal and not even debilitating. "Yes," Trevor said after a momentary hesitation. "Yes, if only things were different."

[Mintaro]

Karnok's form was a blur as he Slammed his trident through the throat of one unsuspecting warrior. He stopped his incredible dash and stood near where the man had been standing, right behind Samoht. "Dis no be bein a game. Be killin dem and gettin it over with." With that Karnok pulled his spear out of the man and Thew himself at the nearest gathering of three men. They weren't prepared for his supernatural speed and strength. One man attempted to defend the thrusting spear with a sword. Karnok caught it between his prongs and pined it to the mans chest as he slammed the trident into it. The man died instantly. The second man swung a ball mace at him. Karnok put up his free hand and caught it, much to the large wielders befuddlement. Karnok then quickly pulled the mace out of his hands and threw it at the third man that was attempting to attack Karnok with a Halberd. The mace collided with the mans head and smashed his face to ruins. The mace wielder backed up a few steps and took a ready position, as though to fight Karnok in hand to hand. The Minotaur pulled out his trident from the dead mans chest and slammed it into the ground. The cold hard ground cracked and gave way under neath his assault. The Trident stayed in place.

Karnok moved toward the man. "You should be runnin now." He says as the man throws a punch at him. Karnok catches it effortlessly. The man throws a kick and nails the Minotaur right in the groin. Karnok doesn't budge. The man kicks him again and again he doesn't react. Karnok slowly forces the mans hand backward. He falls to his knees in pain hammering with his free hand at Karnok's trying to break his vice grip. Karnok then suddenly snaps the mans hand backward breaking it. He follows that up by putting his massive hand over the mans forehead and twisting his neck till it snaps.
just then Karnok hears a slight crunch behind him and throws a kick backward. Catching the man who had been trying to sneak up behind in square in the chest.

[TheBlindMime]

(ooc: A thought occurs, a good artist recreates while a bad artist reproduces, poorly.)

Howl marches steadily towards the remaining mercenaries as another man rushes towards him. He carries a huge greatsword on his shoulder and he points to himself with his thumb as he proudly exclaims, "Since everyone else is having so much fun, I might as well join in, the name is-"

The man is cut off as Howl throws his hands together in a clap summoning the snow around, enveloping the man. "I don't care!" he screams as he forces the snow to harden into ice, freezing the man in mid sentence. "I have more then enough friends waiting for me at the gates of hell." Howl says as he thickens the ice around him, "You will just have to make your way there without me." He pats the man's shoulder as he moves past him, making his way towards the group.

[Raiden]

Samoht pulled his hood up.

"You froze him? You could at least shatter him, or something."