The New RPG! - Page 117 - Writers Forum

Renos Babe · 10-02-2007, 07:06 PM

Alexx nodded and stood up, and headed back into the centre of the town, she sat down, her mind racing over the dream. Memories she had long forgotten.
"Why did they come back now?" she muttered aloud.

slayerofangels · 10-05-2007, 07:45 AM

How? How could she be alive? She was dead. He saw her die, dug the grave himself. Part of him said to relax, that it was just the tomb playing with his mind, but a smaller part of him asn't so sure, and that part remembered Gethbrect's wisdom. Choose, he had said, choose. What had he meant?

Even to his hearing, the house was quiet, no sounds filtered through the walls, though he thought he heard a bird twitter beyond the window. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he tested the mattress with one hand before standing up properly. So great was his puzzlement that he was half-way to the door before he realised he was naked.

You're getting a little ahead of yourself, Vahn, he thought to himself, might as well enjoy this vision while it lasts.

Striding purposefully over to the wardrobe, he opened the doors and found himself face to face with a wider selection of clothes than he'd ever seen. Surely they couldn't all be his, they looked far too rich. Though he had to admit, they were functional, not gaudy like merchant garb. He sighed, flicking through the shirts and coats absently. What life was this if he could afford such luxury?

What life indeed?

His head flicked around as though on a spring. The room was empty save for him, but he knew that voice too well. What was he meant to see here? What was he meant to choose? Turning around fully to better scan the room, he paused as he caught sight of himself in a mirror.

"How," he said, bringing a hand to his face, "what magic is this?"

His scars were gone, not just the battle scars on his face but the ritual scars from his induction to the order. The tear of Islen was nowhere to be seen either. Was...was this a vision of what might have been? What might have been if he'd...left the order? Or never joined? His mind stumbled over the words and for a moment he stood there, empty, then he shook his head and turned back to the wardrobe. It was just a vision.

Is it, chaplain?

What?

He would have turned again but something pressed itself against his naked form, rooting him to the spot. Slender hands whiter than clean snow held his in a grip stronger than any he had felt, and someting breathed softly into his ear.

You seem surprised chaplain. I have marked you as my own, and I can find you whenever I choose, in this life, and the next.

My lady?

They linger, chaplain, lost and in need of guidance. Already they stumble, beset by but a few of their enemies. But who is there to give them guidance? The moment of choice is almost upon them.

And what of my choice?

That is yet to come. What of this place? Is it something you desired? Something you regret?

Perhaps it was once, long ago.

He felt himself being turned around and the angelic form filled his vision with light, burning his eyes. She was all there was, all that mattered. A stern lavender gaze met his and Her voice echoed through his head once more.

Be warned, chaplain, unresolved issues from the past can be the greatest obstacles in the present.

I will not fail you.

Do not fail yourself. Dress for battle, chaplain, they will have need of you before the end.

Before he could reply, lips softer than mortal flesh could be met his, and he was alone once more.

Foxee · 10-05-2007, 09:11 AM

"Y-yes," she nodded, slightly disorientated. "Just a headache ... I think I need to rest."

Pavl nodded, unsurprised, and cupped a hand under Laurel’s elbow, helping her up. She was easy to underestimate, this pretty blonde, but Pavl knew the origins of the headache. Inside Laurel was as tough as the business end of a hammer.

They stood in a maze of hoof prints and divots. No horses. Pavl had only intended to set a few loose. A set of chewed reins still attached to a branch attested to one of the remaining horses that wouldn’t be left behind.

“The horses are gone.” Pavl sounded despairing. “Let me get you to the fire and I’ll go look for them.”

As they began to walk Pavl was hungry…so hungry. She had gorged herself on lives during the battle but sometimes that just made the craving worse. She fought it down, controlled it as she’d learned. Her appetites would NOT get in the way of the job.

She distracted herself assessing the heroes she’d met so far. Laurel and Alexx seemed like two most dangerous. Laurel had a strong mind and Alexx was a hunter by nature not to mention suspicious and stubborn. Rufus was too weak to worry about and Karin was the busy sort who could be easily distracted.

Pavl looked carefully away from Laurel and swallowed hard as a black sheen swirled over her blue eyes like oil over a creek and receded, leaving them crystal blue again. Hungry. Control it. She clenched her teeth then relaxed.

She had yet to meet Mano and VaPoor. This should be interesting. As for the elf...she smiled. It looked like she wouldn't have to deal with him at all.

***
Skye climbed. She had left fragrant forest loam behind when she found enormous knuckles of rock jutting from the steep forest floor. She kept to the far side of these formations from the direction she’d come.

The cold bit through skin and muscle to her bones. Lichen and grit had packed under her fingernails. Her toes and fingertips felt raw and her heart pounded when the footing became sparse, the ground dropping away steeply below her.

If she fell now she’d free fall into the loam, tumble down the steep slope, and, unless she crashed into a tree or a boulder, launch off into space. Distant roaring water assured her that landing would be wet and very final.

She tried not to think about it.

Skye climbed, hoping to reach a comparatively safe and preferably flat area soon, practically hallucinating about the warm sacristy of the chapel in Dalamites, the candle flames glowing in memory. She shivered and wished at the very least for a fire, a hot drink, or a toasty blanket. Preferably all three.

And to be left alone. Yes, that would be good, too. Well, there were exceptions to that.

Skye carefully considered her next step and found a new handhold, the fine hairs on her arms kissed with rime.

One special exception that she could think of. And it made no sense. She shook the thought off and clenched her teeth against chattering.

She wouldn’t think about it.

***
"That should slow her down," Vivian concluded. "We should hurry."

Vivian hanging down from the tree like that reminded Berul of the time he’d called her an old bat. He winced and decided that he wouldn’t repeat the mistake.

Actually, she looked really good…So Berul kissed her, holding her face, then released her abruptly.

“Well come on, then,” he growled, “are you just going to hang around there all day?”

And he turned and stomped off, following Skye’s trail.

Renos Babe · 10-05-2007, 10:15 PM

Alexx glanced over at Skye, "if your going looking for the horses, i'll come with you, Wolf should be able to sniff them out easily. "

She paused grinning
"Would you object?"

Blossom · 10-07-2007, 12:20 PM

“We’ve got trouble.”

Saehenine sighed, turning her head on the pillow and opening her crystalline eyes to see Tris stood gravely in the doorway, dark shadows of tiredness encircling his own coal black eyes like purple bruising.

“Does no one want to see me just to enquire after my health?” the head of the Mage Council asked dryly, but her expression was one of stone. Tris’s face did not flicker either, and after a moment Saehenine sighed and pushed herself up into a sitting position and asked, “What is it?”

Tris glided into the room and perched, as Zillar and Anjala, had done before him, on the edge of the large, white bed.

“The heroes reached Ellone … or the ruins of it.”

“I know. They’re progressing.”

“They were intercepted.”

“What?” the question came out sharper than intended.

“Another force. As far as we’re aware, Black Traders and daemons. We don’t know what happened afterwards.”

Saehenine hissed furiously, the inky pupils of her eyes threatening to blot out the pale irises. Control … control … “Damn it! It’s her.”

“Who?”

“Has Anjala made any progress at the light house?” She evaded the question smoothly, and Tris was surprised into answering.

“I don’t think so.”

Damn.

They were running out of time.

***

Laurel sat crossed legged in front of the fire, beside the sleeping Rufus. As she stared into the heart of the bright orange flame she slowly massaged her temples with the tips of her fingers.

Why was she suddenly getting these sharp headaches? Possibly it was simply tiredness, and the stress of the battle catching up with her. But remembering the small, dark Vivian who had claimed to be sent by the Mistress made her wonder … if it was something more.

But she couldn’t afford to be worrying about something else now. They had not made as good progress as she had hoped; they had stumbled over organisation and argued amongst themselves and were now beset by Black Traders, the Mistress and daemons, who apparently were tracking their movements. At least two of their number were dead, possibly more.

Things were not looking good.

***

Vivian took Berul’s kiss passively, clamping down hard on the part of her that responded and enjoyed it. He may have been an annoyed, self important bastard but he had always been able to excite her - and he certainly knew how to kiss.

When he released her he growled, “Well come on, then. Are you just going to hang around there all day?”

And then he was gone, tramping through the undergrowth after the elusive Skye. A wry, catlike smile flickered briefly across Vivian’s face before she swung back up into the trees and started after Berul. He never changed. And neither would she.

slayerofangels · 10-11-2007, 12:05 PM

Letting out a breath as though to tell himself that he was indeed still there, he turned back to the mirror. The look his reflection gave him was not one he had seen for a while. It looked haunted...and worried. He sighed again, rubbing his eyes with one hand and opening drawers with the other.

Throwing on some small clothes and snug breeches, he continued searching through the wardrobe until his eyes settled on a sturdy, brass-bound travel chest tucked into the back. Pulling it out, he trailed his hands over the lid for a moment. It was unlocked, but something about it unsettled him.

You won't learn a thing by looking at it Vahn, he said to himself, tapping the lid absently.

Opening it slowly, he whistled quietly at what greeted his gaze. Within lay armor of crimson plate over gleaming black mail and boiled black leather, and a sword with a wicked edged blade of dark, unblemished steel, both inlaid with runes and litanies of jet, and of a craftsmanship that was rare and beautiful to see. But it was not these that bothered him. Lifting the other items out carefully, he put them to one side and scanned the chest anew. All that remained was a slender mahogany case that drew his eye like a moth to a flame.

It was plain, unadorned wood, slightly worn from use, but it radiated a sense of…he wasn’t sure what it was. If he had to judge though, it felt evil. Backing away from the case, he left it closed and dressed quickly, strapping on the armor and belting on the sword. But he did not leave. Pacing back and forth a moment, he gazed down at the box in frustration. There was no telling what was in it, but could he really walk away from it, given what he had felt?

Make your choice.

He wasn’t going to open it, that much was certain. If he had time he would have buried it, but he couldn’t believe he’d ‘slept’ in the same room as it, and he wasn’t about to leave it here for some hallucination to find. Grabbing a coat, he tore off two sleeves and wrapped the case up, tearing off more fabric to tie it up, and stuffed the box into a slingbag. Tossing this over his back with not inconsiderable discomfort, he pulled open the door to the room and walked out onto a landing, overlooking a set of stairs. Down below, Rose smiled up at him from the doorway.

“Don’t take too long, love,” she said, “Sagor is waiting outside with the children.”

Children?

Descending carefully, he crossed the hall with a nagging feeling at the back of his mind, and stepped out into the sun. The small garden he found himself in was empty, but he could hear laughter nearby, and Rose soon appeared, waving and calling to him. He was about to take a step forwards when a white figure flashed past to his right, beckoning. He froze, turning on his step to follow but Rose called out to him.

“Vahn? Where are you going?”

Don’t look back.

He sped up, catching sight of the flash again as it rounded a corner.

“Vahn?!”

Islen’s mercy, don’t look back.

The next thing he heard was a blood curdling scream from behind him, and for the briefest moment he saw her again, blood soaking into the snow, then he was round the corner and stumbled into a dark room, boots ringing off stone.

Aurasheild · 10-11-2007, 01:58 PM

Wandering around the town of Ellone, Karin collected numerous herbs among various tools and other items found on the many corpses that now inhabitated Ellone. The abandonned town old and grey but untouched by life, now touched by death lay still again awaiting it's next encouter with life.

Karin searched her mind, looking for a pigment of truth in her memories that would lead her to believe, that she had enouh experience to dealk with what lay further into the future, but she didn't know what to expect down south except danger that is, not many people travelled south and live to tell the tale.

Sighing Karin returned to Tom and Sonny, removing her necklace and placing down around the base of the tree as a short of ornament to mark the place of their death, then with her sword sketched into the trunk of the tree, both names of her fallen companions.

Karin carried out the Rite of the Saint prayer smoothly, stopping now and again to glance around at the other souls lost in this blood shed. With a heavy sigh she watched her breath rise in front of her eyes, realising how cold it was, Karin took an item off Sonny and one off Iro too.

Then stuffing them into the fur coat pocket, she quickly turned and headed back to the camp.

*****

The fire crackled away continuously, it's bright flame rising into the dark sky, the pillar or grey smoke rising higher and higher. Karin smiled to herself as she tried to fix her hair as it curled near the ends, this really annoyed her ever since she was little, somehow her curly ends never pleased her.

"Are you alright?"

Startled by the question, Karin turned round to see Va-Poor standing behind her, scratching his head and smiling to himself. His deep blue eyes showing kindness.

"Yeah, yeah I just got bored sorry," she replied giggling to herself at her own embaressment.

"Hey we never got to finish our chat earlier, could we start over now?" She added after a short lull of silence.

"Er sure, alright then." He said with another kind smile.

Va-Poor was a handsome guy, generous and kind too, Karin was lucky to stumble apon him and all the other kind folk dragged into the quest.

"Erm... How about we prepare that meal we were so set on earlier, I'm sure Skye and Alexx will be hungry after their horse hunt, and we can talk while we put or hands to good use." She answered smiling, without waiting for a reply she pulled at his hand and started to walk towards the bags.

Renos Babe · 10-11-2007, 09:18 PM

Alexx looked at Skye expectanly, her eye's cold and dark.
"Well, skye???"

Aurasheild · 10-13-2007, 03:44 PM

Felt bored so just decieded to post, consider yourselves feed

"Oh my gods, you and Mano must have gone through so much."
Karin spoke with amazement in her voice.

Then without waiting for an answer went back to preparing the meal, trying to avoid the soft blue eyes of her companion.

"Mano is like a father to me, I owe him so much, but enough about me, what about you from your previous attaire, I assumed your part of some order ?" Va-Poor answered as he threw in some more ingredients into their stew.

Va-Poor was elegant and sweet, his innoncent charm and playful tone made Karin forget about the dangerous town of Eloone, the corpses and the fact that two people were missing.

Slowly Karin lookede up from the boiling liquid, Va-Poor stepped foreward, filling his nostrils up with the warm smell of cooked meat and veg. karin too was relieved to smell freshly cooked food. They hadn't had time to cook a proper meal since they left dalamites.

Smiling Karin watched Va-Poor turn and retrieve with some containers to distribute to everyone including Alexx and Skye.

Elegantly and carefully Karin poured the smae amount of stew into each one, careful not to let any drop, it would be a shame to waste such food.

After Va-Poor had given everyone a meal, he sat down beside Karin, hading her a meal and then reaching for his, he turned to her

"So your in some sort of order then?" he said with a smile.

Karin smiled and blushed as he smelt lovely for someone that had faught in a battle.

"Persistant aren't you?," replying with a giggle, then continuing on with her tale, "Yes my order is The Martyred Lady, I have travelled with them after my study as an alchemist."

"An alchemist?" Va-Poor said raising his eyebrow.

"I know, I know, but even though it wasn't a very long session, I still learnt a great deal under my teacher."

Foxee · 10-14-2007, 02:46 PM

“Would you object?” Alexx asked Pavl as they stood discussing the missing horses.

“Of course not,” Pavl replied smoothly, looking Alexx straight in the eye, “what an odd question to ask.”

Pavl motioned for Alexx to lead the way, “Lead on.”

There was always a suspicious one. A person who wasn’t suspicious because there was a reason but because that was how they lived their life. Pavl had learned not to let it rattle her.

Her hand closed over the stone in her pocket, her thumb rubbing the surface gently. There were always options.

***
The horses, once loosed, had bolted after Sneak, who wasn’t going to stick around to be stung again. They had slowed to an uneasy canter barely a mile away when Pavl rubbed her thumb over the stone.

A sound went out that to humans was inaudible. To animals it sounded much the same as a cross between a wet finger on a crystal goblet, fingernails down a chalkboard, and a dog whistle.

Animals within a two-mile radius of Pavl suddenly shrieked, howled, neighed, or bellowed. And in the case of the horses, because they were free to do so, ran as fast as they could.

Pavl, following Alexx and Wolf, wondered what Wolf’s reaction would be.

***

Skye was sick to death of numb fingers, cold feet, and endless rock. Several times she stopped and listened. The roar of the water was fainter now. There were no sounds of pursuit.

Of course, she told herself sourly, if they’re climbing the rocks they would make very little sound.

Such thoughts really didn’t do her much good but her mind seemed to be as numb as the rest of her. Climb. Just climb. It seemed like that would be her eternity.

Her hand, reaching overhead, landed in grass. She paused, patting the dirt and vegetation.

Finding the last few tricky footholds she came up over the top and thankfully rolled onto level ground, a few leaves sticking in her hair. Acorns poked her in the back but she lay still for a moment and let her breathing steady.

The morning was considerably lighter now and she could see the trees towering above her.

Sitting up, she brushed at the stupid shift and wished again for a cloak. A nice furry one with a hood. If her ears had ever been this cold before she didn’t want to remember. Her mind went to Vahn, sewing the wolf pelt to the collar of his cloak.

She shook off the image, a sound interrupting her thoughts.

Racing hoofbeats. She looked wildly for a place to hide, settling for the pathetic cover of a tree.

It sounded like a small army was headed straight for her. How did they find me? She wondered.

She had her first glimpse of the ghostly hurtling figures. All horseback, damn…

No. Just horses. Riderless.

Skye’s forehead furrowed with puzzlement. Most of them had tack and even a few packs on their backs. They ran with bloody-minded earnestness, heads stretched desperately out in front of them, ears plastered to their skulls.

She stepped out from behind the tree but they were already racing away, leaving a trail of broken branches in their wake. Something had frightened them beyond enduring.

It was too dark to be sure, but Skye thought some of the animals had looked familiar.

Renos Babe · 10-15-2007, 06:38 AM

Wolf howled angrily and spun around searching for the Sorce of the noise, pinpointing it quickly it was coming from the one called Skye, she turned and ran.

Alexx was quick, grabbing onto Wolfs fur and hoisting herself on his back, she lent over,
"what's the matter boy?" He just shook his head and continued running getting as far away from the noise as possible.

Foxee · 10-15-2007, 01:06 PM

((Did you mean Skye ran? A little controlling someone else's character??))

Edit: MermaidITB, your question has been moved to the RPG Affairs thread.

Renos Babe · 10-17-2007, 03:24 AM

(no, i ment he as in Wolf Ran Sorry

)

Blossom · 10-17-2007, 02:46 PM

With nothing else to occupy her, other than watching the two unconscious “Heroes” snore, Fleur found herself conjuring more fire faeries and squeezing the life from them, enjoying their high-pitched mewls of pain. It was a way of working out her suppressed rage and assuaging her bruised ego, but it afforded her no lasting satisfaction.

Sighing, she pinched the last of the flickering faeries out leaving only a small wisp of smoke and an echoing shriek. Before boredom could overtake her once again she rolled onto her stomach, cupped her pointed chin her hands and considered the profile of Kinareth, which was turned towards her.

He was handsome, she couldn’t deny it, with thick dark hair falling over his forehead, and high, defined cheekbones. His eyes were closed, but she would bet they were bright and beautiful. But his pallor was pale and sickly, tinged almost with blue. It really let him down.

Why couldn’t you be awake? Fleur pouted at him slightly as if she had asked the question aloud. Why did everyone have to go and leave her alone and bored?

Turning her head the other way, she also considered Aia. A brilliantly purple bruise was blossoming on her temple where she had fallen when Maxie had been knocked over, and at least one of the scratches on her face looked set to form a long scar across her cheek. It would, Fleur judged, give her a kind of wild, feral beauty, where before she looked to have been somewhat plain - though the set of her mouth did suggest a kind of lively energy.

But nowhere near as beautiful as me, Fleur thought decidedly.

A cough from behind her made her turn, but it wasn’t Kinareth. It was one of the soldiers stood forming her ‘bodyguard’. She scowled, and snapped,
“What?”

“Pardon me,” the soldier said tonelessly, “But I don’t think you’re meant to let him bleed to death.”

Fleur looked down at Kinareth to see what the man meant, and noticed for the first time the slowly expanding red stain on his side. She wrinkled her nose up in disgust - any sort of injury meant weakness to her - the sighed and pushed herself to her knees.

With equal parts annoyance and pleasure, she stripped Kinareth of his armour and exposed the torn, festering wound at his side. Blood and pus was seeping over the edge and broken black thread stuck out where the stitches had torn. This would just be an irritation to fix. Unless …

“I think this might need cauterising again,” Fleur smirked. And opened her palm to reveal a slowly burning fireball.

***

Finally, after much inner debating over the best course of action, worry, and indecision, Laurel’s mind finally gave into exhaustion and decided that a night’s sleep would make everything clearer. Sighing, she ran one gloved hand through her hair, grimacing at the mass of tangles and knots.

Then a bump made her frown. It wasn’t on her head - though there were numerous, both from the battle and being knocked out cold by that Vivian person - but on her thumb. She brought her hand in front of her fact and with her other hand felt round her thumb.

No … it wasn’t a bump. It was a jewel, a stone protruding from her ring. But … she hadn’t had a stone before, had she? Just a plain gold band. So how …? Slipping the glove from her hand to get a better look, she saw a bright red ruby, glowing as though with some inner fire.

What …? Suspicion began to grow in her, but as realisation started to dawn a voice whispered at the back of her mind, You’re worrying over a stone? Don’t be so silly. It’s a jewel, an ornament, nothing more.

But I never had a jewel. And it looks like -

- It’s nothing! The voice was suddenly harsh, grating, and a mirroring sharp pain stabbed through her forehead again. Laurel was on her knees again, hands pressed to her temples. Blackness ate away her vision, blurring the campsite and the fire.

***

It’s nothing, just a jewel.

Vivian crouched on a branch, still as stone as she calmed Laurel’s mind. She had immediately regretting her outburst, and was making a concerted effort to be sweet and seductive with her words now. But damn it, why did the healer have to be so observant?

Just a jewel, just a jewel, just a jewel. Nothing important. Nothing to worry about.

Nothing … to worry … about …

That’s it. Nothing to worry about.

Satisfied that Laurel was accepting, Vivian withdrew her mind and opened her eyes. She could see Berul below and could hear Skye further ahead. She could also hear the stamping of … horses?

***

When Laurel was fully aware again she drew closer to the fire and brought her knees up to her chin, huddling into herself to ward off the sudden chill that had raised goosebumps on her flesh. The glint of the fire off the jewel caught her eye and she looked again and the brilliant red ruby.

Just a jewel.

But she was still unsettled as she slipped the white glove back over her hand.

Aurasheild · 10-17-2007, 07:00 PM

"Listen Va-Poor, I'm going to clear my mind, I'll be back soon."

With that Karin got up and left the group, heading towards the town square.

Black clouds roiled in the midnight sky. Below, in the dim streets of the Ellone, the air shimmered with evil. Moans, growls and whimpers echoed about the streets as dark, dark things came into existence, ripping through the very fabric of time. Their talons dripping with gore, they stalked through the shadows, silent and deadly.

The dark silhouettes of the trees trembled and rustled. Their limbs shuddered and snapped into pieces, showering bark and crimson leaves into the air. The demons shrank back from the cloaked shadows, each one moved like a shift punch here and there. They slithered through the darkness, flexing their claws, searching for his tainted flesh. The creatures surrounded him in a wary circle, claws clicking, mouths muttering in Dark Tongues.

She stumbled through the twisting streets, trembling with fear as the shrieks and growls neared. Clasping a hand to the locket around her neck, she prayed to the Goddess for consolation, but the Divine Mother was silent tonight. The young woman stared at the sky in horror and bewilderment, searching for the Divine Mother’s constellation.

Yet only the fires atop the city wall floated in the darkness, silhouetted against the lightless sky, where one by one, the stars spluttered and died. And only the blood-splattered moon hung above the forsaken city, brushing trees and rooftops with its silvery glow.
And all around Karin, monstrous things appeared. Dark beings slithered through the shadows.It has begun, she realised and her legs buckled from under her. Eyes wild with fear, her raven hair dancing in the wind, the creatures of the dark moved past her, their cold essence left lingering behind.

Staring into their demented eyes, she searched their faces for even a spark of mercy. But all she saw was hate and a lust for killing. It was only then that the woman realised that these were the angels she had warned others about.

All was lost, and only the futile agony of death remained. Froze still, she tried to moved, her body ressited, she was stuck watching on in horror.

But then the brewing clouds above her broke, and as the blessed drops of rain caressed her dark skin, she too broke and wept. She wept for herself, for her Sonny, for her doomed companions, and the danger that threatened them all.
She raised her head and tear-rimmed eyes watched them raise into the sky towards the heavens. But the rain still fell, now even heavier, plastering her skin.
“Thank you, Goddess,” she whispered to her beloved Erinima. Eyes closed, lips parted, she turned her face towards the sky, towards the beating flood that washed all misery and pain from her failing body.

“Do not be deceived Karin. You shall burn yet,” a voice interrupted her moment of bliss. The very voice that had haunted her so long ago.

And the form before the pyre leaned close, his eyes red in the darkness of the hood. Only now she saw who her true captor was and a wail of dismay escaped her lips. All thoughts of hope fled her mind.

“Ra,” she rasped over the wailing wind. “Why do you return? Why do you torment me so?”
The sorcerer moved closer, until all Karin could see was the glint of his fiery eyes.

“I came to watch you die,” he answered. “You should have never run from me, Karin,” he continued after a pause. “You knew I would find you wherever you were, be it Ellone or the world’s edge. Do you wish to see the Afterworld, beloved?”

“My Goddess awaits me there,” was all that she said in reply, her face impassive. But her eyes blazed with fury.

“You shall never see your precious Erinima, for where you shall go there is only pain and eternal fire.”

“You lie. There is no such place.”

Ra laughed, a harsh sound filled with greed and malice. True, there is no such place now, but this Netherealm will come into being once you die. And it will be called Hell, and you will be its Queen. And what a Queen you shall be, the Queen of the Netherealm.”

“Never!” she answered, “Never will I be ruler of your ghastly hell-world!”

"We shall see, we shall see." And with that he turned from the stake. Touching the amulet around his neck, he raised mighty arms towards the sky. Heedless of the falling torrent of rain, he called out words of Uma Sarconu. For a long moment nothing happened, but then a bolt of lightning jagged through the air above him, and all was still. The moon re-emerged, a foreboding orb the colour of fresh blood.

"I forsake you Karin, to Darkness, to hell"

"Why do you seek to punish these mere mortals, sorcerer, because they are alive?” enraged, she screamed.

The burnt, devastated creature that remained of Ra howled with grief, "We shall see."

A single bolt of lightening flashed through the dark hull of the sky, leaving patches of Darkness in its wake. where the mists of Evil struggled through these rips in the fabric of reality. Karin stared at the sky, at these abominations. These were ghastly creatures- many-limbed, taloned horrors this world had never seen before.Open-mouthed, she stared at these windows into other worlds. Dark, evil-filled worlds where Darkness crept through the very strands of existence.

"We shall see."

And with that, the clouds faded, the windows closed and Ra wore a sick sneer, "We shall see." Then he too faded from her sight.

Breathing heavily, Karin took a few minutes to take in all that had happened, would all those abominations could to be if he was to succeed ?