May 15, 2012 - 5:16am — Zergarikiaka
The fog was to be expected. He had heard of what Osias's lands looked like from the spirits around the ruins, and occasionally seen for himself the first few feet of the entrance through the flies near Laghodessa's resting place. It bugged the old demon a little, knowing that portal had been so close all this time, and that he never bothered to try entering until now. He always had a good reason to try entering... Yet he never left his beloved's side to enter.
At least until now.
To most that enter, the fog would be considered blinding. The moisture of the heavy fog seemed enough to soak the fur of any living trespasser. The only thing aside from the dense mist would be the multi-colored souls floating yards over the ground. Those floating close to the ground or close to the trees would be the only indicator that anything but fog even existed here.
The old demon was not exactly ‘most deer’.
Walking with a heavy step, he keeps his head low to avoid unnecessary collisions with souls too slow to float out of his path. He kept his backmost set of eyes closed, them being useless in the current conditions. However, the middle and front rows gave him a more than ideal view of everything going on. He could spot the souls, the auras of anything alive, changes in temperature, and the infrared lighting outlining the environment. This would be more than enough to navigate here.
Having trudged along in the realm for some time, he finally stops short in what could only be dubbed as a clearing in the dark forest.
”Hnn… Where is… he…”
(My muse up and died on me
(Lol, happens to everyone.
[just gonna sit here with
(Oh you, Kaokao. XD)
((-shoves hand in Kimi's
THANKS DEAR.))
"Right before your many
The voice was accompanied by the deep rumbling hum of what resembled subdued laughter. It quietly bubbled out of him, barely escaping the closing clitter-clatter of teeth upon teeth. He was amused, smiling even, or perhaps simply unfazed by the string of unwelcome visitors that had been intruding upon his own personal hell as of late. Nothing was sacred anymore.
"I somehow feel that introductions are unnecessary. However, a reason for your intrusion would be very much appreciated."
The old demon's long ears
Finally, he could pinpoint the lord of flies in the fog. With a heavy thump, he sits in the clearing and wraps his long tail around his legs. The decay holding his mask together pulls into his form of a grin.
"I am he...re.. because I ha...ve heard of... your re...cent... enough blue... rat issue." he feels the need to keep his statements short, though soon finds the heavy fog sufficient enough to keep his exposed vocals relaxed enough to free his speech. A set of cruel crimson eyes narrow and his head tilts slightly to one side, his grin remaining. "I believe... you would be... interested if... I said... I could do you a... favor."
Upon seeing his guest seated,
Eyes narrowed, a sidelong glance, words unfurling thick and slow like smoke. "I am... a self-sufficient creature. I do not accept charity nor favors from others." But there was a glimmer on the dark onyx of his eyes. "However, I do live to serve and if you so insist..."
"How may I help you, Gravekeeper?"
"Hnn... Yes... though I
A soft rasping laugh, sounding more like a cough than anything escapes the old grave keeper. "I did not... think you were... one for favors. A pro...position... however... is more like... what I have.. to offer." he closes his second set of eyes, now watching the lord of flies with only the front most set. For now, it is only the aura of Osias and the presence of his spirit wards that he needed to see clearly. All else would be nothing but noise, now that he's no longer needing to track anything.
"There is one thing... I seek. Nothing... unexpected for... what I am willing... to do. I request the... return to flesh for... my departed mate... and two of... my children."
He knew well of Osias' capabilities. After all the centuries past, and after observing for so long, he knows the lord of flies would be the only one capable of filling such a desire.
(Blue rat asdf /stops
/stops spamming)
(Thou spammer. There better
"Did you now? Well, I suppose
There was a pause as Osias listened to the other's demand. It was in some ways predictable, but promising. "That is quite the request, Gravekeeper. My services, however, do not come without a cost. Unfortunately so, yes, but what did you have in mind?"
(A short post to get back into the swing of things. I apologize for the delay, Zergalerg.)
(No appologies necessary.
The demon had to do his best not to chuckle. The worth of what he felt he could offer as a payment, seemed sufficient enough in his mind to make such a steep request. In fact, he is certain it'd be something rather mutually worth the while.
"Hnn... What I can of...fer is the souls... of the blue rat's... family. Perhaps hers... and her mate's... as well." his eyes seem to flicker in the fog. It was a sweet deal, perhaps too much of one at that. That'd be his highest offer, presented to pipe Osias' interest. He opens his second set of eyes again, one eye locking on a soul floating a little too close to his head.
"You see... lord of the... flies... I am well ca...pable... of tearing souls... from flesh. As are... my sons. I make... no false of...fer in... this regard." he adds. Feeling the need to move the soul away from his face, the gravekeeper snaps his demonic teeth around it. With a brief turn of neck and head, he tosses it away from them. A bit of blood seems to seep out of it onto the old gravekeeper's teeth while it's captured, though it seems unharmed enough as it floats away once released. "Unless of... course you... would rather... deal with that... family your own... way. Who is a... gravekeeper to de...ny the joy of... one insti...gating by... their own means."
The collector cringed as the
He paused once more before transferring the negative energy to his legs to stand. It was then that he began to circle his company, not as a means of intimidation, but simply in order to take a seat beside him.
"Oh, come now, Darkweaver. Surely you jest. I can see it in your eyes, that desire for revenge. You can even taste it, can't you?"
And now, an illusion appeared before them. It swirled from the ash peeling off of Osias' pelt and stemmed from one of Darkweaver's most cherished memories. There he was, a bull in his prime, and there she was, a feather-crowned beauty. The blue of her eyes was so very blue and there was a smile along the length of her muzzle. Osias allowed the Gravekeeper a moment to take it all in.
"And let us not kid ourselves. You have walked alone for so long. So very long. You wish to have her by your side again, like... like the good old days. Don't you? To feel her, body and soul. Healthy and whole." Osias' Laghodessa peered up to look at Darkweaver just one more time before fizzling into fire-lit ash, and then nothing.
The Lord of the Flies forced himself upwards, creaking and speaking all the while. "Now, I do not force deals upon others. Oh heavens, no, but I do so hate to see someone so very alone as you are, especially when options are available to them. It is up to you, my friend. There still remains the issue of proper payment, but do you want your family back? Or do you wish to continue to walk alongside ghosts? It is your choice more so than mine."
Darkweaver follows Osias’
It was true. He did have an unsaturated lust for revenge, ever boiling in his old veins. How desperately those crimson eyes wished to see the shedding of his nemesis’ blood, and the end of his bloodline. It tormented him to wonder how long his enemy would prance about with his massive family and cluttering of friends while he himself walks with the ghosts and monsters of the forest.
Even more so, he wished to end the bloodlines of those who killed Lagho in the first place… as impossible a task as it would be in present day.
”Hnn.”
As the dust became an illusion, it took effort to maintain his collected composure. That bottled up hatred wanted to shift into heartbreak. In truth, there had still been a part of him that wished he stayed dead when Spill had taken his life months ago… just so he could stay on the same plane of reality as the feathered beauty.
The time he walked alone, in Osias’ words were no exaggeration. While he may not make the upfront offer, there was little he’d sacrifice to change things.
“Yes. Hnn… So, what sort… of payment… do you have… in mind then?” he rasps evenly.
(I'm such a dork. So in this character's head that that last post teared me up. XDDDD)
Osias' eyes narrowed,
"Three souls, preferably from my little blue doe and her family. How does this sound?"
(I know how that is at times. Also, Dark is more than welcome to negotiate here. Nothing is set in stone just yet, obviously. XD)
(Hehe, I did intend for some
A subtle chuckle escapes Darkweaver's decaying throat.
"Hnn... That does sound... doable. Though why... just the...hnn... rat's... family? Are there... any others... whom mi..ght... be of... value to your... collection?"
For now, he felt no need to negotiate numbers. Three certainly sounded like a fair trade.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth
"Hnnhnn... indeed. That
It would be a task he'd certainly enjoy, if not savor the every bloody moment of.
There was an inclination of
(Short post is short, but just to keep it moving again. XD)
The old demon appeared
"I would... not ex..pect... a granted... desire in... that happen...stance." he rasps. He had no doubt the lord of flies would want his pay before performing any miracle. If that wasn't the case however, he's sure there are other possibilites.
There was one offer he could make in place of souls, if nulled deals were not the option. He wouldn't put it on the table just yet however.
"As long as we understand one
Dark dips his head slowly in
"Very good..." The Lord of
He began to head in the direction of the ruins of his realm when he glanced over his shoulder once more. "Let us keep in touch, hm?"
(They can keep talking, if you'd like. It's up to you. I'm enjoying it. XD)
(Haha, I'm sure they'll find
The ancient demon slowly raises to his feet. Tiny droplets of fresh blood find their way past his shackles as the tight bonds dig into eternally tormented flesh upon the return of the pressure of Dark's weight. He joins the lord of flies on route to the ruins, such place naturally being his own immediate destination.
He has every intention to make his hunt a thing of perfection; not just success.
"Naturally." he rasps, almost in a sort of purr. They most certainly would be keeeping contact.
It had been a while, but not
Now was the perfect time to seal a deal.
With three souls collected, it was time to return to Osias' hell at last to complete a trade. This time, the old demon did not come alone. Instead, his sons came along, taking the souls they each captured along with them.
Once the portal to enter at the ruins flung open, the three were swiftly caught up to enter the residence of Osias.
Hooves no longer planted in the ground, but in an endless swirling mist masking a secret forest, Dark snorts softly. He could only hope they didn't have to wander far this time, to find their miracle worker. Almost as soon as Archelius could find footing in the odd terrain, the necromancer ejects the dark, inky and corrupted soul of Spill from his body. Using his death-related magic, he holds the spirit in a metaphysical grasp before himself. It was more than a little relief to expel the madness incarnate's soul from himself - it was driving him up the trees, after all.
(Replying to this tonight or
Okee. |D *Totally made that
*Totally made that last post better, too. B| <3*
Loki allowed his father and
"Greetings, Gravekeeper," came the familiar, age old voice of the Soul Dealer. Osias had an uncanny way of appearing to others just as they needed him. The grin on his mask had seemingly crept up at the corners as the dark of his eyes inspected his company. Upon taking notice of the soul of Spill, well, he looked particularly pleased.
"I see that you brought company this time," he continued, a slow nod to each of Darkweaver's sons. "Archelius. Loki. I do hope that my... home is to your liking?"
"Not exactly," Loki mumbled as if he were asked some personal question. Hopefully his words would be overlooked for his father's.
"Hn.. hello... Osias." the
Arch certainly couldn't say it was completely terrible being here. As creepy as it comes across, the hell has almost a homey sense to the necromancer. Of course, being able to see the soul orbs floating about everywhere gave almost a sense of security. He also felt a little more, if not much more, powerful while here. "The souls do make it feel just like home." he responds.
Thankfully, Dark doesn't seem to focus in on the brothers' responses too much. That or he didn't disagree with Loki as far as not exactly enjoying Osias' home went. It was just the place to meet the lord of flies, not a place to dwell and socialize too long.
(Urrrrgh this bad post is badly done. XD;)
Loki rolled his eyes, all six
"Ah, good," Osias rumbled, only after hearing from each of the three bulls. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, the air trickling out near the chin of his mask like smoke. "Good, good, good..."
"So." he cut himself short and physically snapped back to attention. "I see that you have not only come with company, but also payment, yes. Shall we... get this show on the road? Is that how the phrase plays out nowadays?" Another sound resembling laughter rolled around in the inside of his throat.
(Bah, no. *bops*)
(Pftlol, for a second I read
Arch could vaguely feel the spirits hidden within his massive antlers shiver, though certainly not with fear. Perhaps it was more along the lines of... anticipation? True, they did know what was to take place tonight, and sure enough they were looking forward to this day as strongly as the rest of them. For a vague moment, the necromancer partially finds himself tempting the idea of collecting a few new souls once out of the hell for his power's continued use.
As far as payment went, the sooner he was done with this corrupt soul, the better.
"Yes, I belie...ve that is... how it goes."
At that, Dark slowly lifts a bloody hoof up out of the mist. Just below his hoof, the soul of Cydae also makes it's appearance. It floats up onto his fetlock before being lightly bounced to chest-level.
Loki lowered his chin and
"Yes..." Disregarding the hybrid's threat, Osias reveled in his three new treasures. Three souls. His. With his eyes shut, he swallowed each one of them down. They rattled around like loose change. "Hnn..." Loki could only watch in some sort of determined disbelief.
"Where were we..." the Soul Dealer finally questioned the air once more, straightening his neck with a cracking sound. "Ah, yes. Take me to them. Take me to where they were buried."
Dark turns his head slightly,
Archelius nods his head once. "Very well." he looks to his younger half-brother, flicking his long tails thoughtfully. "I don't believe I've shown you where they were buried, either." he states. Of course, to anyone who knew Arch well enough, such a line was an open invite to come with him.
"Only Mother..." Loki
Osias' eyes narrowed. Useful, but impudent, that one. "But of course."
Indeed, Darkweaver would meet
Archelius leads the way out of the hell. Though it had been centuries since his siblings' demise, he still remembered exactly where they had fallen and where he buried them after the attack of the devout zealots. It was just on the border between the birch forest and the world beyond forest borders. Such was a spot just barely missed by the twin god's boundry magic, where they were able to escape and enter through. Once outside of the foggy lands, he serves to guide the way there.