[Closed] A Darkening Deep

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Posting Order: Itin, Huntsman, Amari, Nightspoison, Vixen, Venex

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The chill of a winter’s night, pervading the room even on this mild island. The sounds of a breeze knocking branches against the walls of the hall dismissed the thoughts of Ben Adelphar as he sat at a table by the fire contemplating the chain of events he was about to start. Hell, it wasn’t every day that you went about trying to pick a fight with a force that regularly took hostage the minds of gods and mortals alike. Yet, it was time to confront that little shard of his past. The man stood, old bones cracking, joints complaining with dull bursts of pain as he rose from his chair. The room, lit from above by a multitude of lamps, was momentarily taken up by the click of shoes on a wooden floor before silence once more reigned.

“With some luck, some willing soul will show their face soon, else I fight a pointless battle” Ben muttered, looking down at the stack of papers he’d prepared while he absently scratched his beard. The old cleric raised his eyes to the door, examining the whorls and waves of the grain and scrutinizing every knot and imperfection. The paint on it had long since become chipped and worn. The door itself was probably even more ancient than him. He chuckled at the thought, a weary smile showing itself on his face as he did so.

Ben began pacing, walking the length of the room and back, stopping occasionally to stretch a leg or crack his knee. The pace soon became a march, the old man falling back into the habits of his youths’ years spent in the armies of several different rulers. One, two. One, two. Click. Click. Turn on heel. Repeat. The motion had calmed him many times throughout the years, on those stressful nights when it seemed that not even the gods themselves could save a dying man.

The old man’s reverie was interrupted by the whoosh of the heavy doors swinging open and the winter winds dancing through his facial hair. A group of people, wrapped tight in their jackets and feet adorned in sturdy boots walked into the room, taking seats on the chairs scattered in a circle around the middle of the chamber. “Welcome! Welcome” Ben said cheerfully as he gestured to the ring of seats. “Come in and sit, and make sure to close the door!” He returned to his table by the fire, picking up his sheaf of papers and setting them down on a stool in the center of the room.

“We await any more who wish to attend this meeting. I beg your patience good sirs and madams.”

I pulled my hat down low over my eyes and drew in a deep breath. Scarlet had left earlier this week, claiming that she had business that she had to take care of that could not wait. She'd given me an odd look in the process - but I presumed that had more to do with me not protesting her departure than anything else. Still, my… at this point, right now, I had no idea what to call the redhead. She wasn’t my lover - we’d not laid together like that since just after we killed the manticore. She wasn’t my girlfriend either - she was still too emotionless for me to call her that. My.. companion? Whatever she was to me, my not resisting her leaving had probably struck the woman as a bit odd. Or, it hadn’t, because maybe she thought I just presumed she had reached her ‘good’ condition and was heading back to the Hand. I didn’t think that was the case though.

On my part, I had not protested her departure, because I myself had business. A flier I had seen while making a trip to the local tavern had caught my eye. A priest, asking for aid as he went to fight an abnormal entity, a monstrosity that dwelled within dreams. He apparently had some kind of connection to it - and sought help in finally laying the abomination to rest. It had taken me some time to travel here, to where the flier announced the meeting place was. I had left not long after Scarlet had, actually, and she must have remained on my mind because several times I thought I had seen her as I traveled. Still, I had to put the redhead out of my mind for now, and focus my thoughts upon the coming foe.

A beast that preyed upon the slumbering minds of man and deity alike? What Huntsman worth his salt wouldn't feel the urge to take up arms against such a beast? I certainly was drawn to the call of battle against such a thing. I wondered who else might have seen and been answering the call. I gripped my Saw-Spear tighter. A foe within the mind. Would such a battle draw upon our sense of self, more than upon our physical forms? It was an interesting puzzle. If it did draw upon our sense of self, what we saw ourselves as - just what, would I appear as? A drow, a man? Or .. something else, as a result of knowing that I was not normal, touched by the moon and the genetic serum that altered me more with every day.I knew what I was, before all else. A hound of the Hunt. But… what did that mean? Bah, these ramblings would likely not matter. What would, would be the sharp edge of a blade, biting into flesh and dragging it down to our level.

I tilted my head back as I came to a door, marked with the sign that the flier had said to look for. Good, this was the place. I pushed open the door, and an older man greeted me rather energetically, as a small group of people shifted back and forth in chairs. So, a few others had already assembled to help hunt down this living nightmare. Good, more blades for the hunt. Aside from the old man, none of them looked particularly noteworthy, but appearances can be deceiving. I slipped into the shadows near the edge of the room and remained quiet, observing from the darkness until someone tried to get my attention or asked something of me.

Scarlet may not be immune to the cold like she once was, but it still didn't bother her as much as most. Her entire life revolved around the desolate wastes of Salvar; she had been subject to cold and harsh nights without comfort or warmth. It became the norm for her, so the bitter winds that bit at her reddened cheeks barely registered. Hell, it was one of the reasons she had accepted this ridiculous quest. Because it wasn't in Salvar. It had nothing to do with Hunter or the Crimson Hand or an obsessive succubus. There was nothing familiar about this place and that was what she needed.

To be away from everything and everyone and to sink her fingers into something that would provide a challenge. Hell, with any luck it may just break her psyche and destroy that which magic nor modern science could. Her blasted memories.

Scarlet shoved her hand into the coat pocket of the leather jacket she wore and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. It was near dark and virtually impossible to see. She thought she was in the right place. The address matched, at least she thought so. Scarlet lifted her black gloved hand and drew back thick crimson locks away from her face. "This should be it." She muttered as she crumpled the paper and shoved it back in her pocket.

Before her was a door with a strange sigil; the same that matched the paper. Scarlet pushed open the door and was met with the heat of a roaring fire and many bodies. The door slammed shut behind her as she stepped into the room. Wearing thick leather boots and a red dress that matched the fire of her hair Scarlet stood out. The rest of the men and women here shuffled around in chairs, wearing leathers of black and brown. Furs and skins covering their forms. Fodder. That's how she saw them. Nothing more than cavalry that would be marching to their death. Not a single one of them looked like they could tackle the task at hand.

There was an older man who paced absently back and forth in a meticulous rhythm. His wrinkled face bore a smile as his eyes rested upon the woman. He turned to face her and gave her a small nod before gesturing to one of the many seats before him. Scarlet lifted her chin. The way he walked and held himself. Straight posture and confidence. No doubt he was the ringleader, former military if she were to guess right.

"I'm fine standing." Scarlet said as she shut her black and red eyes and shifted a few feet away from the door. She folded her arms over her chest and rolled her shoulders back. She was already tempted to leave. The room was musty and stank of unwashed men. The casual chatter amongst them signalled they were either unprepared or overconfident for the upcoming task at hand.

Scarlet wasn't sure what to make of it all. Part of her was thankful that the drugs that kept her emotions at bay were holding, else she'd be very annoyed right now. She prayed nothing would test that. For her sanity at the very least, and for the most - for the lives of those around her.

"Why did you drag me out in this cold Ayami?" Rianna whined loudly, her blue luminous eyes scanning the snowy cobblestone street she was walking on. She could see shops filled to the brim with customers trying to stay warm from the cold. Taverns were filled up almost completely, the one the pair had just been in had been too full to seat them. The lithe assassin had noticed a flyer about a meeting for adventurers to handle a mysterious incident. One that was wrought with danger. Being the whiny Mizami heiress she was. She was more then willing to avoid the foray into danger. She had turned to leave the warmth of the busy tavern, to look for one less empty and full of noisy human cattle.

However, much to the vampiress dismay, her companion from her adventure into the caverns of luck was still with her. The bunny girl's fiery pink eyes was glaring dully at her as she said succinctly "Still a brat Rianna? Even after overcoming a zombie dragon? My dear how do you expect to defeat your dear half-sister? If you continue to cower in fear? This" The little ghost bunny pulled the flyer off the wall and slapped the piece of paper into the crimson haired vixen's slim hand saying sternly "You still have much to learn about strength! This! Will be good for you! You'll be a good girl and go Ri, or I'll just drag you there in a fire bubble!"

A pout was on the vixen's full lips as she hissed softly "Your the brat Ayami! Dragging me out into the cold like this! You know I hate I hate being dragged!" her orbs then studied the paper which expressed that an old man was looking for able bodied warriors to defeat a mysterious powerful magic. Pursing her lips Ri thought I wish Ayami would just disappear! She's been nothing but a pain since she came into my life! as her booted feet crunched over the slushy cobblestone streets, her steps soon halted as she saw a glowing sigil, the same that was on the piece of paper Ayami had thrust into her hands. Groaning audibly the vampiress assassin pushed the door open loudly and she and Ayami stepped in.

Ayami grinned as her pink hues saw the group of warriors huddled around a warm fire, chatter was hushed in the room as an older man caught sight of the pale skinned woman and her bunny ghost girl companion, his head nodded towards one of the many empty chairs. Pursing her lips Ri silently trotted over to an empty table and sat heavily onto the sturdy wooden chair. Her hands moved crossly over her chest as she hissed softly at Ayami "You better have not gotten me in over my head Ayami! I'm still sore after that fucking zombie dragon!"

Ayami grins knowingly as she says sagely "Just wait to see what we have to do Miss Mizami! That is best considering your nature! Otherwise, your fears will consume you!"

Ri snorts in annoyance before she grouses "Fine...lets see what this damn human has to say......"

My life had utterly altered. Finally I had found some of the truth of what had happened to my beloved race who I was guardian of, the kenkus, when we had come, a little over three thousand years ago, to this chaos of a planet. I had met he, Avin, the undead kenku, and met a half-brother of mine, Vindrexis, who had both captured me and created abomination that was Avin. I had only escaped him on the good will of a brave demon made of metal, and now my other half - Unicorn - and I were trying to find new meaning, new life. New adventure.

Cautiously, with the hood of my newest aquisition - a wollen cloak, designed to shield me from prying eyes - drawn up, I slipped into the back of the room. It was broad and wooden, a town hall by any other name, with flickering lamps highlighting the ceiling. The advertisement had offered adventure in exchange for possible rewards and money. I was intrigued by the prospect, eager for any diversion aside from the thousand pervasive thoughts that spoilt my mind. My life until now had mostly been spent away from sunlight, a thing for others to amuse themselves with, and this time, I was determined, that if death came for me - or Unicorn - it would be at our choice.

Just like when we had with Fil'ayn, that soul of brave souls.

Quickly I cast my eyes around the group but saw nothing but the back of heads and shadows. I pulled the cloak further around me before I made my own way over to one, trying to not seem the outcast with my snow white skin and vivid pink eyes. An 'albino' was what they called the look, a person who had no pigment in their skin, and should look another way. But every time I had tried to communicate the fact to the people in this barbarous planet that in fact was not an oddity, but rather my whole species, the Uniano, looked like me.

As a man who was clearly the leader looked at the crowd, his eyes proudly surveying the moderately sized group I moved to find a place to stand. Strange smells came to my nose, but ones of sweat and lust that I was no stranger too. Alcohol, too, pervased the area, and I found myself rolling my eyes somewhat, imagining just what they might do if I did in fact turn into Unicorn right here, and right now for them. Perhaps it would teach some of them never to over imbibe again.

As my eyes wandered, however, I paused, blinking with surprise as I finally recognised someone in the darkness of the far back of the room. Indeed, like me, he had his features hidden, but so few in this world wore a tricorn like that and the strip of fabric for a face mask. Between them silver eyes glinted like gems. I blinked slowly, my heart skipping a single beat, before it sank again, remembering again what I had learnt in the past two weeks. About my siblings here, on this planet. About a war about to begin. About Mikhail, brave warrior who I had needed to persuade to find food as I embarked on this adventure to bring some form of joy back into my life. He was leaning against the wall like he was some form of casual observer, even though I knew for sure he could kill most of the people here in a single thrust of his weapon.

Fil'ayn. Huntsman. The Hunter.

With a small sigh I looked away, and drew back, properly pulling my clothes around me. A single strand of my white hair slipped out of my cloak and I tugged it back, cautious and unsure.

Unsure about everything.

Venex Apara, the white haired half-elf of curious nature, was on of the last people to arrive. In the pocket of his blue coat was a poster, requesting the aid of anyone willing to help get rid of a monster of frightening power. It was this poster that lead him to his current location, and a quick look around told him he was in the right place. Around him were several individuals with various expressions on their faces. Some were nervous, some worried, and some carrying an air of apathy. The most noteworthy were the ones that carried confidence with them. The question remained, did their confidence lie in their skill or their naivety?

Does it even matter? Everyone was here for one reason or another.

And why was he here? Simple. He did not care about glory, he did not care about a reward, he was not here to prove himself, and he was not here for some morally right reason. He was here because he wanted to see this monster first hand. He wanted to observe it for all that it was.

Excitement radiated off of Ven. Was this a bad idea? Probably. Most certainly. Did he care? No. Despite the threat of death, this opportunity called to him. Maybe this would help him find what he was looking for. He couldn’t wait.
Besides, what even was a monster? Everyone is a monster in their own way after all.

Ben glanced over the accumulated men and women, from a brooding man in an oversized hat to the pair that looked curiously as if they didn’t quite belong. He grimaced. He’d hoped for less of a motley crew, perhaps a group of clerics not unlike himself. Alas, this would have to do.

“Welcome, everybody. Let’s get down to our business. I am Benjamin Adelphar, cleric and veteran. I come to you seeking your aid in a task relating to a being disturbed in my youth who has recently resurfaced. It is not a being to be trifled with in the least. The threat I wish to tell you all of is incredibly real and I ask those who balk in the face of danger make themselves scarce.” Ben began, pausing for a brief moment to allow a good quarter of the crowd to shuffle out the door. “Cowards, all of them,” Ben muttered.

“With that out of the way, I wish to begin in earnest. Being a cleric, I have had my brushes with the darker parts of the cosmos. Beings that are not necessarily within the scope of Althanian fauna. One of these beings is an assistant to a local alchemist, a piece of sentient darkness who exists in a metal automaton. Those sort of beings are harmless, easily contained and usually more curious than threatening. However, the threat I speak of is one named Calathor. He hails from a world beyond ours, perhaps even a different plane of reality.” Ben stopped, taking a breath. The crowd before him was littered with people who were visibly interested and those who still looked as if being stabbed in the face wouldn’t surprise them.

“Calathor was called into our little world by a mage. Not some mage trying to take over the world mind you, but an apprentice who thought it might be fun to watch his master banish a greater threat. Suffice to say, he didn’t enjoy being disturbed. We had to scrub apprentice and master alike from the floorboards. After that, Calathor vanished. Typical for a being of this sort. But he has recently reared his ugly, incomprehensibly shaped head and that has caused some concern in my clerical circles. They have tasked me with permanently banishing him from these lands.” Ben continued, watching as some people quietly stood up and left. Another rather audibly retched from the thought of blood.

The elderly cleric stood up from his stool in the middle of the circle of chairs. “I seek four or five of you willing folk to aid me in this journey. There’s no direct physical harm that will be involved, however, no such promises can be made for your sanity.”

Knees cracking, he made his way around the circle, pointedly looking into the eyes of each potential candidate. His deep brown orbs drilled their faces into his memory. Should this fail. This blood will be on my hands.

“So I ask,” Ben began “Who’s willing?”

The first person of note to follow me in, had nearly made me shoot bolt upright from my position against the wall and move to her side. Only one person I knew of had hair that red, scars like that littering her skin. A woman who was very highly placed in my affections, even if they were a bit torn up recently by my visit home. I would never have thought she'd come out here, that I would see her in a place like this.

I watched as her eyes scanned the room, flashing over the assembled people with an emotion I recognized, but was muted. Contempt. I couldn't fault her for it, most of the people who had gathered here looked like they'd be little better than fodder on a battlefield. There were a few, but none that would be particularly noteworthy. And with my position in the shadows, and my naturally dark complexion, her black eyes slid right across me without noticing me. There was no spark of recognition in them - and while she was emotionally dampened, she would still acknowledge me. Hmm, it seemed my habit of sticking to the shadows could be a double edged sword at times.

I was starting to make my way along the edge of the room towards her when two loudly chattering women came in, immediately setting my teeth on edge. Rude, whiny, racist - and apparently a non-human - the more vocal of the two new arrivals had me ready to walk over to her and slap her. It was like listening to a spoilt child who not properly been taken to task to learn her manners. I resolved then and there to stay as far away from the vocal brat as I could. While Scarlet could be rude, she also tended to keep her words to herself, a lesson this new girl would do well to learn.

And then it seemed like something was out to get me. Because the next significant arrival was a pale, slender, pink eyed woman whom I also recognized - and who, as far as I knew, should have been in the Tular Plains. Vixen did seem to notice me through the gloom that I had wrapped myself in, nodding to me as she adjusted her clothes. That was - odd. She looked almost hesitant about something. Well, I couldn't blame her, I'd been unsure of a few things myself recently.

As I was still slowly working my way around the edge, drawing closer to where Scarlet had placed herself near the door, another white haired, pointy eared individual entered. And while I generally had never considered myself a racist individual, for a moment I felt a brief surge of anger and irritation - an Elf. Not a drow,like myself, but one of the proper, true magic slinging elves that my people had separated from. He came in nonchalantly, energetically even, and seemed not to have a care in the world. But - but he was not a proper Elf, only a half Elf. His features were a bit too soft, his ears a bit too round, to be a full blooded Elf. My distaste for him based on his race eased, faded. Right. A motley crew indeed.

Then the man spoke, the human who had apparently summoned us here. Damn it, I had not gotten a chance to speak to Scarlet, or even let her know I was here. It would probably surprise the woman. Still, I focused my attention on the ramblings of the old man as he explained that people were meddling with things they didn't fully understand, and some student summoned a monstrosity to prank his teacher and died for it. He looked out across us, asking for volunteers to hunt a monster that was apparently unreal, and I narrowed my eyes. Was that not why we were here in the first place, to fight this thing? I snorted and stepped forward, the shadows leaving my form.

“How then, Cleric, shall we take up arms against this beast? I am no stranger to hunting, and I will go with you - but how shall we fight that which is non-physical? Must we be magic wielders, or is there another aspect to this endeavor?” He was being cagey about the details. How would we fight something that posed no threat to us physically, but did attack our very psyche? I had no qualms with hunting, but how would we face this beast? Or were we merely to be attendants to this cleric while he did the fighting? I moved against the wall again - this time, near Scarlet.

Scarlet groaned at the two very loud, very obnoxious, and very poorly dressed girls who had walked in. They looked completely ill suited for battle and would have drove Scarlet to walk right out here under normal circumstances. Luckily her emotions were still metaphorically under lock and key. They were restrained, subdued and as such - she could put up with the chattering rabbit ghost and the other. For now at least. They seemed completely out of place. Then again, so did everyone else here. It seemed she was not the only one bothered by their appearance, others didn't so much as voice their distaste but gave unsatisfied looks. The two girls, in their defense at least stayed. A myriad of others had left. Too scared to continue on. "Shame..." Scarlet muttered. The men would have served as good fodder. She doubted a ghostly anthropomorphic rabbit would serve as a distraction. Then again... that shrill voice...

Another entered, slim and silent. Covered in a shroud. Scarlet gave the figure no mind. She slipped in and silently placed herself in the room. Drawing no attention to herself. That's how the other two should have entered. Silent. This was a mission not a damn pub party.

Finally, there was a half elf, he was...oddly excited by the whole ordeal his naive and joyful approach was almost like a breath of fresh air. It helped alleviate the tension in the room. Even if he was foolish. The Cleric asked for just a few people. Scarlet went to take a step forward but another already did.

One she was not expecting to see, hoping not to see.

Hunter.

The redheaded woman drew in a sharp breath. She wanted to avoid him. Yet here he was in his dark flesh. Silver eyes glinting softly in the pale light. They flittered over to her and Scarlet tensed. She was trying to distance herself from him, not have him saunter back on into her life. Fil'ayn had offered his services. This was perfect for him. A grand hunt. Scarlet furrowed her brows to avoid the slightest of smirks from gracing her features. There was no time for any sort of sentimentality. Not now. Not ever. He had asked how they would fight such a thing. As normal weapons would not work against the beast.

He had a point.

Against her better judgement she cleared her throat and spoke up.

"So it's an ethereal being?" Scarlet asked. She didn't wait for a reply, replies meant small talk and she hated small talk. Instead she continued, her dark black eyes staring at the strange floating rabbit girl. "Generally that means you'd need magic, or another ethereal being... and I don't have high hopes for miss hops over there." Scarlets eyes turned back to the old man. "I can manifest my soul into snake-like weapons. That should do." Surely an etheral weapon made of her soul, of concentrated corruption would suit. If not, then she was at a loss, and they'd have to put their trust in an old coot. Still... it beat hanging around the Seventh Sanctum waiting for her Master to return.

The woman was painfully aware of Hunter and how he had chosen to move closer to her. Scarlet quickly glanced to the half elf in the room then back to the dark skinned drow. Did the spritely fellow unnerve the stout man? Was he just trying to be closer to her? Scarlet shook her head. No. No this was not what she needed to think about.

"The mental attack?" Scarlet mused then scoffed as she pushed her hair back and away from her face. Everyone else here was content with shielding their faces like this was some sort of secret society. Fuck that. Scarlet didn't care who saw her nor what they thought. "Can't break whats already broken. Are we going to move on or stay here and chit chat?"


(Sorry rushed post. Work called me in: EDIT: Fixed up post now I had more time, won't affect anything)

The red haired woman spoke and I felt a pang of something bitter when she did. My eyes spun beneath the darkness of the hood to stare at her. There was a certain elegance to her step, coupled by a light arrogance. Slowly I breathed, watching as she pronouced herself powerful and immediately I drew in my breath, tugging my clothes tighter around me. Oh look she could manifest her soul. Take care of the beast herself. Fantastic. Fan-bloody-tastic. Oh yes, my trip to find out that I had siblings here had made me sour. It was too close to arrogance. Too much like that reminded me too much of the sick bastard (who hd imprisoned and killed me for a week) who lived away down in the Tular plains for my own personal wants right now. A knot twisted into my stomach as she pronounced herself the most powerful amongst us. Alright, she might actually be powerful. And she was not actually that dick Vindrexis. He was far worse. Perhaps his loss of life would ultimately be left to this apparent 'full blood' clone son of our collective father that Ventrua Heysan had told me about - another one of my half siblings.

For now it had been wise for Mikhail and I to try to set up at least a temporary home. Whilst the iron demon was out finding a shelter that he could actually live in without breaking it, I had snuck here. The purpose of all of this was to see if I could do it again. To have adventure. To spark a new life into my bones. To see if I was actually able enough to build up my slow strength to once more the goddess that I had been. And be faced with this bitch who could turn her soul into snakes.

Well f*ck you. I can turn into a unicorn.

Taking a slow step forwards I lifted my hands up to the lining of my hood and slowly pulled it down. Fixing my eyes right forwards, and ignoring the strong, passionate, handsome man that I had had very good sex with, I pronounced myself into the company. My eyes focused on the gentleman who was leading this meeting, his intense brown eyes moving to settle on me as I did. Behind me the giggling rabbit girl and her vampire friend were making noise, but I blocked it out. Breathing in slowly I pulled my hands around to cup them before me and said in a low voice.

"I may be able to help in some way."

For a moment the man was silent, but then he seemed to agree, his eyes moving across the rest of the room. It was then I felt satisfied, that I had completed my task. I had set myself, fully and properly now, the task of committing to an adventure which I might die in. Great. Endure more death, well I was not really a stranger to that. Sighing a little I took a step back again, my fingers folding and gripping together tighter as I tilted my head slightly and caught the sight of Fil'ayn into my periphery. For a moment I did nothing but just stare at him, trying not to make it obvious, but likely it still was. Slowly I blinked, a heavy lump forming into my throat as I moved my eyes away once more.

For what would he think of me now? Now that I felt like a whole new person.

Quietly I sat down slowly onto a bench and waited for the final few people to make their statements.

Ven frowned, frowning as something the cleric said caught his attention. The dark elf raised a good question about how they would fight this dark entity, and a woman whose face was obscured by their red hair, responded not long after, speculating that this was an ethereal being. Very possible it could be, and what was brought up so far were good points, but Ven didn't feel it was that simple. This Calathor, whatever this entity was, was presumably twisted and foul. From what he had read about, such beings almost always left a trail of bodies in their wake. To face this being should put their lives on the line, but three words spoken made him curious.

"No physical harm..." he whispered to himself. This right here, this was the clue to the questions asked. It was as if-

Ven paused his thought process. Was it possible? He had to confirm.

He then raised his voice. "I too wonder on how we will fight it! You said we would face no physical harm good cleric, and that is odd. To face a creature such as you described, it is a creature of nightmares, and the common man would almost certainly die. Yet you, you say there is no threat of physical harm, but warn of mental, which suggests a new kind of battle. One unconventional and strange, and one that we may not have expected when we walked in here today."

Ven then chuckled, becoming more and more convinced as he explained his line of thought. "Making it a creature of nightmares indeed."

Ben looked around at the small group that'd gathered about, all of them stepping forward, willing though skeptical. A shallow smile rose on his lips. "Thank you for your willingness, my compatriots. I shall endeavor to answer your questions in the simplest manners possible." Ben stepped forward, reaching into a pouch tied to his belt. From the pouch emerged a twisted chain of inky black metal attached to a glass sphere that pulsed with some sort of minor enchantment. "This icon was taken from a fellow cleric, a votary of Narsan, a minor deity of dreams. This is what shall convey us to the realm of our temporarily shared enemy." Ben continued. "You see, I offer no guarantees of sanity, but I am a man of my word. Not a scratch will reach your bodies in this realm."

Ben returned to the stool he'd been sitting on earlier. He shuffled through papers, pulling out a small envelope that was marked in plain script: "Benjamin." He ripped it open, taking a set of small cards inscribed with appropriate incantations to activate the icon of Narsan. He distributed them in turn to each member of the party, from the brooding man in the hat to the soul-snake woman. "Speak these words after I activate the talisman. I advise you sit on the floor as well, for you tend to spasm a bit as your mind fights the process. At least the first few times that is."

Ben ushered the group into a small circle and sat in the middle of it, having moved his stool out of the way. He hung the chain and orb from a small metal stand and muttered a prayer to whatever god was listening. More for comfort these days than for an actual blessing.

"And so, we begin. I warn you again, it can be deeply unpleasant the first time." Finishing his words, Ben drew forth a needle and pricked his thumb, pressing it to the glass orb. A sacrifice of self for the betterment of others, the priest had said. He winced as he felt blood rush out of his thumb, spidery lines of darkness tracing themselves through his veins as Narsan's power was channeled through him. The light in the room dimmed, the fire seemingly growing farther away by the second. A dull roaring would fill the ears of those gathered, each in turn experiencing a sense of nausea and odd detachment as their consciousness was ripped from their bodies and flung out into the void between real and unreal.

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The roaring subsided, and Ben's vision cleared. He stood up, reaching out for anything to stabilize his aching joints. His hands met a wall, one far too wet and malleable to be stone. He looked up, eyes fixing themselves on a solid barrier of what looked like congealed oil, though it was far from black, closer to a sickly tan. He snorted. "Ah, which one of our twisted minds dreamt this into existence?" He asked himself. Looking down, he sighed. The floor was seemingly solid, but was pitch black and glassy, reflecting the light, which shone from lanterns suspended overhead. Ben resolved to sit about and wait, hoping the crew had not abandoned this cause.

I took the talisman from the man, my eyes narrowed. I didn't quite trust this Benjamin - whether on purpose or not, he had not answered our questions. Even if we were in the realm where our target was lurking, who was to say that physical weapons would be able to hurt this thing? Or - had he just not bothered to tell us, that in the process of being brought to the realm, we'd be changed to be able to fight it? But if that was the case why not tell us that? Or was he afraid that the thought of being changed in some way would scare people off? I snorted as I spun the talisman on my fingers, and exhaled deeply. Well, no choice for it. I shot dawn girl a slight grin and a shake of my head. "See you on the other side." The incantation fell from my lips afterwards, and I felt my body twisting and slumping as the room darkened - well, it was certainly effective, whatever this incantation was. It...hurt, like a deep throbbing in the back of my head that beat out a crescendo that drowned out my thoughts, and with each thrum of power, my vision darkened, and darkened, until the room around me was gone.



__________________________________________________ __________


I felt - off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it as I forced myself to my feet, swaying slightly. I could see the old man ahead of me, he smelled of aged meat and worn out clothing - and he looked tired. He was staring around the place we had appeared, the landing place. He didn't seem changed, but then he probably hadn't needed to be altered. He'd fought against something like this godling before, so he probably already had weapons that could handle it. Oddly enough, the place seemed a bit washed out to me - colors weren't quite as sharp and clear as they were before, but the shapes around us, or of Benjamin himself, were as clear as ever. I reached up and scratched the side of my head, working out a nagging itch that had settled under my ear. As my hand dropped, I froze, holding it in front of my eyes.

Well. That was... different. My hand was elongated, fingers longer than before and with cruel, blood-stained claws emerging from the tips. Wiry black fur was coating my hand - what could be seen from underneath blood-soaked leather gauntlets. I looked down along my arm, seeing more clothing that matched the red hued leather gloves: black leather sleeves that led to thick pauldrons, and from what I could feel being pressed tight against my flesh by the clothing, more of that wiry fur was trapped underneath. I looked for my Saw-Spear - and there it was, safely strapped to my back, but my normal cloak that kept it covered up was gone. Instead I was wearing a tight, form fitting leather tunic, studded with what I recognized as trophies of things that I had slain. My legs weren't normal - farm from it, they were jointed differently, and felt different as well. I tested my weight on them as I looked down - they were canid in appearance, and I didn't have boots on, though I was wearing metal greaves over my legs. The thick furred paws that my feet had become showed why I had no boots though - claws, shorter and stouter than the ones on my hands, were emerging from my feet, and I knew I could use them in a fight. I exhaled in an exasperated sigh, and I felt my face distort as I frowned at the plume of silver-tinted smoke that emerged from my mouth.

This was why he probably hadn't explained anything. I was far from my old self here, I was more... bestial. Closer to the things that I hunted, than to a drow. But at the same time, I didn't think my mentality had changed at all. I drummed my claws against the hilt of the Saw-Spear as I waited for the others to arrive. Fantastic. I didn't even have my hat here. Wonder what my face and head looked like.

" I warn you again, it can be deeply unpleasant the first time."

Well, that was the understatement of the fucking century. Wave after wave of nausea hit Amari. It felt as though she were on a boat that had sailed too far North and happened upon a whirlpool that was pulling it into a dimension filled with tentacled beasts, dark monsters and putrid air smelling of rotted flesh...

Oh...

No wait. That was where she was

The dizzying feeling of vertigo had yet to leave the redheaded woman so as she stepped forward she paused in an attempt to recalculate her balance. Her nose wrinkled and her lips pursed as the smell engulfed her. It smelt like the swill that sloshed around in the boar pen within the Seventh Sanctum. It smelt not only of death but of putrid rotted flesh. The air was thick and humid and perspiration clung to her form. "Fuck me..." She muttered between clenched teeth as she drew her hand away. The smell of the dead was something she was used to, just not in this intensity.

Amari liked to consider herself astute, but she was not always the most observant when it came to her own form. She did not notice her skin was no longer the fleshy pink tone of the living. It was charcoal. Her blackened skin looked as though she were a delicate porcelain vase that had been broken and glued back together; angry red cracks pulsated and glowed beneath skin that flaked off and disintegrated. Crimson hair flowed in an unseen current around her, fueled by the pulsating energy of her very soul. Her eyes were difficult to differentiate from her blackened body and would be all but invisible if not for the faint red glow of her iris.

Her eyes glanced around the area, it was dark but she could make out the others. Or at least... those who had arrived. Nearest to her was Hunter. Although it was not the form she had known. He was..bestial.

"I know you call yourself a hound of the hunt, but I never expected to see that in the literal sense." She mused as her eyes danced over the rest of his form. Blood stained claws, tattered red clothes...in all honesty he looked more like a warewolf or bipedal dog than a drow. Scarlet pursed her lips as Hunter tilted his mastiff-like head to the side, silvery eyes glinting at her softly in the pale light. They widened considerably. "What?" Scarlet snapped. He said nothing and instead grunted and turned his head to Ben. He was...sitting on the ground. That irked Scarlet.

Weren't they here on some sort of mission? Some steadfast quest? The leader of the troupe had decided now was the perfect time to take a fuckin' seat? Scarlet bit down on her tongue. A number of insults, of short and venomous sentences crossed her mind but she held herself. She chose not to start some verbal spat. It was best is she just kept quiet for the most part.

The place looked empty.

"The others?"

She asked.

Yes.

That was better. No insults, no foolhardy or big-shot remarks. Just a simple question.

Distinct nausea rose in my throat; a feeling like I had been without fresh blood for a week at the least. Such it was being half an uniano - similar to a vampire - and the life that I lived. A feeling of vomit came first, followed by a weariness and lack of energy, and then light headedness. Eventually, I would fall unconscious and not awaken again until my half divinity surged through my body and woke it up, though in a very weak and feeble form.

Deeply, hummed out the last few words of the strange spell, willing away my safety for the duration of this adventure. I had recited them standing, ignoring the suggestion by Benjamin to be drafted, and felt myself shoved forwards, with a ghostly blow thrusting into my solar plexus from harshly behind. As I doubled over, however, I felt my form twist painfully. Muscles began to suddenly, without warning, expand, and organs swelled. Throwing my head back I felt extreme discomfort thrum through my system, stressing and reshaping my body.

It was not something I was not alien to. However, changing my form was something I always had power of - the flow from my pale, pink eyed humanoid to the glorious, fast spirited Unicorn - I had always controlled that myself. This time, though, there had been neither thought nor will. As I felt myself change I tried to focus my mind upon uniano, wishing myself into human form. But there was no response. Instead, I was forced to endure the steady burning as my heart at least doubled in size, and my bones broke and then reformed. As I fell forward my arms became forelegs, my fingers and toes rescinding to become one single point, ending with a hoof. My neck stretched, my face enlonged and I found myself closing my eyes as I found I could not fight it. As long eyelashes brushed against my lids I furiously tried to tell my mind with more force but there was nothing I could do. I had no choice.

I was becoming ...

Unicorn. She sighed, out before her time, before we had agreed she would ride. Tilting her head up to the sky she hummed out, a force of power and extended her neck fully to -

She paused. I, in the back of her mind, paused. There was something very wrong. We caught her breath together, as we found her neck to suddenly be far further than she or I had ever remembered. And the mane - she could feel it stroking against her neck, shorter though at least by three inches. Had someone cut her mane when she had not realised? Her tail also was cropped, so that when she swished it it barely tickled her back knees. Holy ...

She blinked her eyes open and together we stared out.

And found that she was in a dark, horrid cavern, the rocky walls thick with salty residue. Before her was a man sitting cross-legged on the ground, and then to the side two ugly creatures. One was a twist of a clawed, wolf-like beast, and the other a walking, black corpse whose veins were a hot red and eyes a dim fire. Unicorn immediately began to retreat, hissing at that and their backdrop - an eerie sludge of a curtained wall. All horror, all disgusting, she shrieked out a horse's scream as she swung her head down to point horn forwards and -

Stopped. Still. Her hooves, her legs ... They were not white tinged with that pale pink. Nay instead, they were black, jet black with an accent of shivering silver-grey. Quickly she gasped, whipping up her head and I swam to sieze to hold onto the earring that allowed me ability to contact those around us whilst Unicorn was in form.

But as I did, as my thoughts formed words, I found Unicorn's lips move. Our lips. With jagged fangs for teeth that I could feel with the long, rough tongue. As we spoke.

"What the hell have you done to us?!" we screeched.

Ben stood from his spot, rising slowly, hand clenching a carved cane. A grimace was plastered on his face, an expression that regarded each member of the party in turn.

“What the hell have you done to us!” A beast screamed, a figure that resembled a horrible cross between a vampire and a unicorn. Ben chuckled, the situation oddly entertaining considering the circumstances. Fangs, sharp and jagged, filled the mouth of the creature, and coarse fur formed a shining mane. What hid beneath this facade, what soul, or souls, occupied her mortal shell? Ben nodded to her, his gaze somber.

“I’ve done nothing. This is all a creation of your mind. As you shift from the waking world, where your will is enacted through your actions, you become more… fluid. You become what you would be, if your will had its way. I’ve had my practice, I can shape myself as I enter, though at one point I appeared as a man with molten steel for blood. My senior clerics called it the touch of a god, I call it two decades too long with solid steel in my hands.” Ben replied, turning to the beast of a “man,” if you could call him that, who was obviously the brooding hunter. The smell of a beast’s blood hung heavy in the air around him, stale and pungent. “Ah, a dog of a man, why am I not surprised. You brood like a hound on the hunt.”

“And the demon of a woman. Dust sloughing off, as if a volcano lives beneath your skin. You choke the air around you with ashen detritus.” Ben smiled again, his eyes turning down to his own body. Normal, for the most part. He held up his hand, left replaced with a golden gauntlet, the mark of a cleric. A holy symbol of self sacrifice, for clerics of his order.

Click. Click.

Ben turned, tapping the cane on the ground. The carved ivory glowed briefly, and Ben nodded. “The gods are with us, at least. Perhaps this will end well. ” He looked out over the hallway, the floor’s depthless void and the sickly brown walls. He curled his lips, eyes nearly watering at the stench of half-rotten flesh. The oils on the wall dripped as he passed, splattering onto the floor briefly, before smoky tendrils of magic returned the drops back to their starting position. He began walking down the passage, accompanied only by the noise of his footfalls. “Mind the walls. It seems touching them would be supremely unpleasant.”

Ven was the last appear in the room, looking much like he did in the material plane. At least, at first glance.

Those who would wish to stare would have trouble doing so, unable to keep focus on any one feature of his form. Staring at him would be akin to staring at a mirage; Blurry and unfocused, yet still recognizable. This could only be attributed to his ever shifting nature. He was a free spirit, one of curiosity and chaos, so it is only natural that he would hold no true shape here. In this realm of the mind, he was a polymorphic being, bound only by the limits of thought.

He was also much like a ghost. The price to pay of only having half a soul. Not that he regretted that, he would not, could not ever regret that. He would...

He would have time to walk the paths of memory lane later. Now was a time of action, a time of adventure.

Thus, Venex Apara, half-elf, free spirit, wildcard, joins the group into the darkening deep.

Title of Thread: A Darkening Deep
Type: Basic


Itinerant receives:

415 EXP
55 GP

The Huntsman receives:

340 EXP
40 GP

Amari receives:

550 EXP
40 GP

Vixen Crowsfoot receives:

290 EXP
40 GP

Venex Apara receives:

315 EXP
40 GP


Nightspoison- I haven't been able to find an approved character registration for Nightspoison/Rianna Azure Mizani. If I've overlooked something, please contact me as soon as possible so I can rectify rewards.

Rewards to be added soon.

Rewards Added