To unlock the greatest power (First of the seven journeys) (closed)

[Knave]

A life bred, born to die, it seemed fitting that it was a bastard, among all the other things wrong with it’s situation. Still, Lawrence nodded, his curiosity gone. He had revealed nothing. If anything at all the story of the child, and its father’s demise, emphasized the danger Lawrence was in. There was no love among them, nothing he could use, and he doubted camaraderie would ever afford him anything among the damned of Castus Malum.

Standing up, once again reaching his tremendous height, Lawrence redoubled his guard, eyes shifting, his pointed ears pricked. This was simply not his depth, he existed as a monster who walked the earth, the planar level of evil simply did not take to him as it did with the others. Still, he was daring enough to stay, when reason told him to go. Though certainly not daring enough to assume a more comfortable shape than his own. With each step his bones and joints tightened together, a numb sensation spreading through his back. Lawrence rolled his head, feeling the numerous vertebrae crack, bones shifting back into their places.

Proceeding into the court yard they passed through a temple, sparsely furnished, the only sign of worship was the statue of a demon made god, its form that of a spider rendered in gold. From its make, and the size of its mandibles, they knew respect for it. From the state of its surroundings, it showed that the damned did pray.

Following at a respectful distance, Lawrence watched his surroundings, examining the peripheral rather than turning his head this way and that while appearing to look straight forward. The heat that suffused Castus Mallum worked its way through Lawrence’s clothes, seeping under his skin. His lungs burned, his blood would often for a second pump violently, while he was less than pleased, his flesh was overjoyed. A drop of murky sweat leaked out onto the surface of Lawrence’s ebony cheek. It was swallowed instantly, and every pour closed, he would not lose control. Instead he focused on his surroundings.

He soon found himself interested in seeing how a demon god would rule, and determining if it was comparable to the divine and mighty. It was not. Where perfection would exist slaves toiled, and where there should be silence there were children. What did that say about their lord? Lawrence had once been told a Kebirarian Vhul-Ah who had removed the tongues of all his servants. And castrated them, both the men and women. So far, the discipline of Castus Mallum failed to impress. Interesting that humans should have more of the wicked amongst their ranks.

When the twin doors came into view along their tour of the infernal domain Lawrence witnessed them as proof that he was neither expected, nor directly welcome. Each bore the name of his new found associates, the letters cast into relief above them. By Pride’s exposition, they were fit for kings, and even angels would envy their splendor. A newcomer, Lawrence looked up at those high rising, and locked doors with the sense that he was no one in their presence. Perfect.

As Pride rifled through the pages of her book, and Calbrena wandered off to trifle with guards, Lawrence took a special interest in the statue. The great spider rose up supporting itself on its six legs, the first two poised to strike along side its massive fangs. On closer inspection there were golden filaments, needle thin hair along its legs. Its mouth hung open, and a wet fluid dribbled down it chin. Venom. Venom like Lawrence’s own.

So this was N’Jal, or at least how she saw herself. He stood before the statue, dwarfed by it, and blinded by the light reflected from it. It was ugly, but it was impressive nonetheless. If Lawrence would ever meet it what would he say? What would he do? Would he bow to another god?

Seeing the other moving on, missing all knowledge of the gray orb, Lawrence moved to rejoin them. He arrived in time to hear the description of their first venture out into the darkness. When Pride spoke of what lay behind those doors, she spoke of all the things a realm of planar evil was expected to be. These creatures wanted to consume. They wanted to destroy. They wanted to inflict, bind, shatter, and utterly annihilate anything that carried the breath of life. In truth, however, Lawrence could see little difference between the monsters outside the palace, and the monsters within.

“Open it.” Lawrence said, ready to do away with the haze of civility and wade into the beasts. He was a creature that hid in plain sight, but to be among his own kind was a disturbing experience. What monster cared for such sinister company?

With the rush of win the raw power of plane blasted through the doorway, whipping Lawrence’s hair, stealing the hat from his head and carrying it three inches before he could recover it. More annoyed than anything, Lawrence drew a fine come from his pocket and ran it through his hair, to set its slicked back, streamlined shape.

Catching one of Pride’s feathers he stuck it through the white band. “For luck,” he said, sparing the demoness a dry smile. Then, for the first time, he stepped through the breach. After Calbrena, his hunger for treasure demanding that he at least try to keep her alive. Or at least appear like it was one of his goals.

This was written between 10PM and 2AM and should not be used as an example of the authors abilities to understand how sentences are put together.

[Aiko]

permission to bunny MetalDrago given over PM

As MetalDrago stepped through the door, the last of the group to enter, the door shut behind them of its own accord with a single ominous clang. This place was dark, and had no light, but one didn't need Lorenor's heightened senses to know that there were things moving about in the darkness. There was sound, a sort of fleshy gurgling, as though something was feeding on something else, and it was awful close. Wind moved about them, bringing with it a sort of deep hollow moan, as though something ancient was in pain.

Light flared into being, white in color, born on the palm of Pride. Touching each member of the group, she gifted them with a temporary ability, empowering their sight to see in the blackest night as though it were the height of noon. With sight brought horror, as Calbrena yelped in fear and clung to her sister.

Creatures of a most horrid and monstrous form lurked everywhere. The nearest was a thing with the scales of a dragon, and the form of a dog, except instead of claws, it had tentacles, and its fangs dripped an acid most potent that scarred the floor wherever it touched. It had no eyes, but an extra large snout. By some small degree of luck, the wind did not carry their scents towards the creature. It was feeding on a pile of green meat on the ground, another more unfortunate victim of this place.

On the walls scurried bugs, billions of them, some small, one four times larger than an elephant. They were a variety of colors, and had spots on their back, but none no more than nine, save for the giant bug which had a hundred spots on its back. They looked like stag beetles. They all stopped, and the spots opened up to reveal themselves as eyes, green with red pupils, slitted like a cat's. Pride slapped a hand onto Calbrena's mouth, sensing a scream about to erupt. Fifty bugs seemed to center on the group, or the strange big nosed creature, it was hard for any to tell which, and the army of bugs began to crawl towards them.

Danger was present, but as the bugs approached, they became more clear to sight, and appeared to be like humans, except with the hard shelled back of a beetle. The pincers were on their forehead, and were accompanied by a smaller pair just around the mouth. They stood up on four legs upon reaching the floor, and bypassed the group in favor of the strange scaled monster.

The monster sniffed the air, and leaped to attack, but its victim turned its back, affording the creature no purchase for its fangs. Another bug gripped it from behind, and the fifty bug people gathered around, tearing it to pieces and eating it.

Lorenor, whose senses were the best, would sense a great horde of a variety of monsters inhabiting this place. He could also sense a variety of paths, but no treasure. The caverns were like one giant cave. At the edge of his senses to his left were giant perfectly formed tunnels, like what a worm might make, but these were bored through solid rock. At the edge of his senses to his right was the image of Draconus, spears jabbed into his belly. Around it were small spider Magi, but instead of Drow torsos, they had Draconian torsos. Not one of these creatures were over a foot high. They seemed to guard the image, as though it were important.

Pride noticed writing on the wall and pointed it out.

“How do you stop creatures that neither live, nor die? Not undeath, but something else entirely.”

“Behold the nightmares of Gods.”

Pride cleared her throat.

“Unsettling things to find carved into rock. I know not which way to go, only that the treasure lies where the eyes peer down upon the faithful. I have learned from my father that there is a place in here where the rock reflects the images of the gods of Althanas in various states of nightmarish torment. He mentioned that one slab in particular is known as the stone of relief, that it has the power to end one's nightmares, forever, but he never said where it was. So, any suggestions?” she asked.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Seeing the gift that Pride attempted to give them, the mutant politely refused her gift. "I need not sensory enhancements. I deal with my own problems you see..." Lorenor said casually to the girl. He liked her, he really did, but he just was not comfortable around light-sources. Arcane or otherwise. Lorenor's eyes narrowed as he studied the environment around him. The insectoids were feeding on another creature that was previously eating something else. In the first few moments of his journey within Castus Malum, Lorenor learned a great deal. An energy flowed in the very air of that realm, it was tangible and quite potent. The air itself crackled with the saturation that only N'Jal herself could provide.

Lorenor extended a hand to touch the wind for a moment or two. As he suspected the very energy of Castus Malum was a fell aura. Able to taste the energy in his mouth, the substance felt like a living organism. Craving the bosom of the creature, Lorenor listened intently to everything that Pride revealed. It was apparent that she was as clueless as the rest of them were. Clenching the handle of the weapon tightly, the mutant knew they would have to be well armed. He walked over to Calbrena. Removing his prized Prevalida dagger, the mutant handed the legendary weapon in her general direction. He loaned her the scabbard as well.

"Take it. Consider it a loan." Lorenor said. "I expect that back when we find your key."

Lorenor turned to analyze Lawrence Spade. The man also wore basic-level equipment. The mutant walked over towards the fellow.

"When the shit starts, I want you to stay close to me. I will be guarding you and Calbrena. I figure that is our best chance, if we all work together." Lorenor said. Then he turned to Pride. "I suggest we make our way towards that statue of Draconus. There might be a clue somewhere around that thing. If we have to defeat those creatures, I shall see to it that it is done." Looking at Pride, the mutant decided that it was time to take control of an otherwise dangerous situation. Lorenor was used to having a leadership position anyway.

The mutant took a position flanking Calbrena and Lawrence. He would protect his newly discovered companions with his life. Somehow, the mutant knew that Calbrena and Pride, and their Father, were connected to N'Jal intimately. After this quest there would be a great deal to learn about N'Jal from them that would no longer be guess-work. Lorenor kept his sword positioned in a low center of gravity. He was ready to swing it at a moment's notice. Muscles knotted, intent clear, Lorenor would only move when Pride and Calbrena gave they word to.

"I suggest we try to discover all of these statues. It is my hunch that there will be clues to our objectives there." He pointed in the general direction of the statue of Draconus. "As your word Calbrena and Pride." Lorenor said. Though he was used to dealing with leadership situations, the mutant was also used to following orders. He did not kid himself, he knew Calbrena and Pride were in charged of their little squad...

[Knave]

On the other side, Lawrence saw nothing.

An empty expanse that operated in shades of darkness rather than light, a landscape devoid of color or apparent definition. Ears pricked, Lawrence heard the breath of his comrades. Senses sharp, he felt the humid wind, wet and warm against his face. The air was alive. The air alone could swallow them. Moaning bellows, the flutter of wings, any sense of safety laughable. Lawrence remained... unmoved, which he managed with ease.

Taking a deep breath, Lawrence put his feet shoulder's length apart, and folded his hands behind his back, an image of readiness to conceal the utter loss he felt as to what he should do. React. It was the only option of the blind, and while he remained still every wiry muscle across his tall frame bunched for a vicious, brutal retaliation. When the hand touched his face, its size too small to be anything less than female, and too warm to be anything less than infernal, the shape shifter knew who it was, and still knew no peace of mind. Thin lips drew back over his teeth, he smiled, even when he was about to bite.

As the hand drew down his cheek, light blossomed into vision, and the world was made clear to him in grim silhouettes, dim colors, and the very inhabitants themselves. A Fallian parable came to mind.

Two philosophers went out into the wild; one, then another. The first returned, and after seeing the heart of nature, he cried, “They eat each other!” and called it evil. The second, upon his return, and after seeing just the same, cried, “They feed each other!” and called it good. Against the gravity of this situation, against the raw brutality of one beast ripping a broken limb from another's socket, Lawrence was sure the second philosopher was insane.

Mister Spades maintained his military position on the matter. At ease, both guarded, and ready, his sword near and completely unseen. Golden eyes wandered this new vista, and he saw all that was set before him. Those eyes widened. Besuited, he loosened his tie, a land mark event for(if) anyone knew him at all. What had he seen? Why, the walls were moving with insects, and nothing in this world craved anything more or less than meat for their hunger. At the sights, Calbrena screamed in a shamefully girlish fashion for a demon princess.

They flowed past, eager for a meal that was either more hapless or more worthy than the group that had entered into their lair. Streaming, they swept over the wretched animal. They crippled it, snipping away at bones and tendons. They fed on it, pealing back its scales, ripping away its meat to crawl inside. Evil creature that it was, the greater beast died a pathetic death, screaming even as it was cut to pieces, watching as its limbs were now carried by others.

Focused on, bewildered by, the sight, Lawrence was brought back to his group by his compatriot, the ghoul. When the thing wandered near, Lawrence watched it, and when it spoke, Lawrence listened, smiled, nodded. “If you want to protect us, by all means, I'll stay close.” And behind, if Lorenor wanted to be his shield, then Lawrence would be glad to use him.

Their guide, the woman who had put the light back into his eyes, spoke up, asking a question Mister Spades visibly bristled at. She asked for suggestions on which way they should proceed. Pride as their guide had brought them here without knowing where to go. Lawrence withheld his words, the irritation he felt would strike the moment he opened his mouth. When he looked at her, it was with a deep and narrowed irritation. Just short of- just shy of raw anger at this stupidity.

Finally, he dropped two careful cents of his own. “Of all of us, you should know.”

Thankfully, Lorenor, provided some answer, one which Lawrence was not too sure of, but was more willing to accept than nothing. “Statues with clues to our destination, traps, and monsters surround them no doubt.” Lawrence said, looking off into the direction Lorenor indicated. “I'll live regardless, show us the way, Lorenor.”

[MetalDrago]

The area was dangerous, that much was certain. However, it was nothing the Dragonian hadn’t come up against before. His orchid colored eyes beheld the realm within with little sympathy. He smiled slightly and kept his hand on his Dragon’s Betrayal. He could smell the stench of broken and decaying bodies, but also that of something much more. A sigh escaped his lips as he looked around. This was not going to be one of the easier things he’d ever done. His hand flew to the Nocturne of Madness at his side, the weapon of last resort. He did not use that particular weapon very often, considering the fact that it brought forth the strongest part of his psychopathic side, his bloodlust.

Quickly, his right hand unsheathed the Dragon’s Betrayal, his signature weapon. The black and red serrated blade seemed to glow in the preternatural darkness. The Paladin smiled to himself, his orchid eyes glowing slightly as he surveyed the area. He served N’Jal, and nothing in this place of evil would be able to harm him or any other that passed the gate under Her divine protection. The attacking creatures around him held little interests, and the stone carving on Draconus held even less. However, if these carvings held some clues as to where they should continue their search, he would not begrudge them that.

MetalDrago smirked slightly. “If I had to hazard a guess, this place changes all the time.” His scholarly side was taking over as he continued to walk slowly after Lorenor. “The embodiment of living discord and chaos, the Lady N’Jal, made this place. She is not only the one true incarnation of the living dark. She embodies change and an ever growing turmoil. If this wilderness is anything like Her, it changes with the passage of time. It might rearrange itself once a day, every other day, every week, or every year.” His grin grew even wider as he thought about it.

The Dark Dragonian was a living embodiment of N’Jal’s power on Althanas, much the same as the Mutant Ghoul Lorenor. He had yet to gain any mastery of the myriad powers the Dark Thayne commanded, but he was trying to learn. The more he learned about her through the lore of Althanas and of Castus Malum, the more he felt connected to her. He could feel her laughter in the back of his mind as this thought. He had to smile, himself. The more he understood about the dark forces, the more he began to understand how little he actually knew about the world of shadow, intrigue, and madness. He had much to learn, and an eternity to learn it.

“Pride…” he said, his voice dropping to a mid-low whisper, “Is my guess right or wrong?” He wasn’t expecting to get it exactly right, but he knew that his guess was at least partly right, or else she would know exactly where they were and how to get there. His eyes searched through the darkness for her face as he waited for his answer. The woman had proven herself most knowledgeable about Castus Malum, and he hoped to learn so much more from her as time passed. She might have been the Deadly Sin of Pride, but more than her sinful form, she could prove to be a great asset to his learning of the Realm of Darkness.

[Aiko]

“MetalDrago is correct, Lawrence. The changes are random as to when they happen, and when they do, the types of changes are completely unpredictable. For instance, this giant thirty foot image of N'jal in her Spider-Magi form wasn't on the walls five minutes ago.” Pride said, gesturing at an image that had faded into being on the walls next to them.

Almost as if speaking about the subject of change caused it to happen, the plane began to shift. Walls broke apart with a roll of thunder, revealing what all had heard earlier when the doors first opened. Rocks moved and rolled about them as the ground shifted and trembled beneath them. Creatures of a variety of descriptions from small and cute to large and terrifyingly ugly ran about in a panic, trying to avoid being trapped. Pride simply snapped her wings and put up a shield about them. Finally, everything stopped shifting. They were surrounded by debris in every direction, save for one direction. Pride shot a ball of green and gold fire down it, and shortly, it returned. Blood began running down the walls from those who could not escape the changes.

"To confirm what Lore can sense, this path leads to the statue. Please, let us not take the chance that speaking of change causes it to happen."


“Well, to change the subject, and put that sudden change behind us, also so that everyone's prepared, what exactly will I go through while I'm pregnant?” Calbrena asked.

As they moved towards the statue of Draconus down the narrow tunnel, Pride threw an arm and Calbrena. Looking towards the ceiling, she appeared to be lost in thought for a minute or two. Finally, she cleared her throat and looked back ahead.

“Well, you'll suffer nauseating cramps on a daily basis, and as you progress, discover it more and more impossible to find any sort of comfort, making you extremely grouchy and unpleasant to be around. Within a day or two, you'll begin to experience violent mood swings, and on multiple occasions, you'll attack us with little to no provocation at all in an effort to defend your baby. Demonesses are extremely protective of their young, even when their not born. You won't get sick, thankfully, but you will be excessively bitchy, in addition to the whole part about you being extremely grouchy and unpleasant. Out of all races, Demons are one of the worst to be around when their pregnant. That's why most tend to isolate themselves. You however, are lucky. As the sin of Corruption, your powers will naturally protect your baby from two substances that will make you far more pleasant than you ordinarily would be. Cigarettes, and alcohol. This of course means, you can continue to drink and smoke regularly to master the basic corrupting power of addiction without your baby being hurt.” Pride said.

“WHAT! I've been craving a smoke for three days, THREE DAYS, and you didn't tell me until now? I didn't even bring any with me thinking I had to quite for the entire period of my pregnancy. What kind of a sister are you, to let your baby sister suffer?. You cruel uncaring bitch of a whore monger!” Calbrena shouted at Pride.

“I see the bitchiness has started early. Here, your favorite brand, Brimstone.” Pride said.

Calbrena snatched the pack from her sister's hand, and eagerly took one out as they exited the tunnel of debris into the main cavern once more. Striking a finger against a rock, her finger lit on fire. Lighting her cigarette, she shook her hand, putting out the flames, and leaned against something soft and squishy as she took her first drag in three days. She visibly relaxed as relief flooded her body. Slowly, she became aware of what she was leaning on, and quickly stood up and turned around to find a draconian spider-magi glaring at her angrily.

It chittered at her angrily, while jumping up and down, unable to communicate effectively. It wasn't the only one, there were hundreds of them, all chittering angrily, many of them jumping up and down, they had reached the statue. One of them grew extraordinarily still. It was blue, unlike all the green ones around it. Slowly, it began to grow larger, the spear it was holding growing with it. Despite only being half the size of a normal spider-magi, it attack, and continued to grow. Calbrena caught the incoming spear, and threw the abomination towards MetalDrago and Lawence Spades, so that they could deal with the monster. They were better equipped after all.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

When the fight started, Lorenor moved slightly to the side. He was aware of how Spider Magi operated from previous encounters with them. Furthermore, he was a Spider Magi himself. Lorenor kept his sword in hand, holding the hilt of the weapon tightly. He quickly moved his second hand to the hilt holding the weapon with both arms. Shifting his body weight to a more defensive stance, he prepared his best speed to get towards Lawrence Spades and MetalDrago Scorpio. However, something else happened. Lorenor pondered striking the growing Spider Magi, but another thought hit him. The little ones were not attacking. Only the large one had charged. A trap? Lorenor turned towards MetalDrago Scorpio quickly and issued a command.

"MetalDrago, take care of the big one, I'll get the swarm! Keep Calbrena alive!"

Then, Lorenor threw himself to the swarm. Used to pain after lifetimes of training in The Citadel, Lorenor began to savagely slash at the smaller Spider Magi. At the calling of N'Jal herself, Lorenor knew it was meant to be that he struck against his ken. These individuals, were Spider Magi that were not educated by N'Jal, and thus, a thread to the order. Slashing powerfully in the general direction of the smaller Spider Magi, Lorenor waited until he felt the familiar vibration of power flowing through his arm. A moment later, energy coursed up and down his arm, from scapula, to fingertips.

When the device was prepared, Lorenor willed the activation of his Plasma Discharge Gun, which raised of its own accord from the special container unit in the Aegis Bracer. Capable of launching a powerful bolt of discharged kinetic energy, the mutant aimed it at the group of waiting Spider Magi. After a moment or two, he took advanced and launched the powerful blast of kinetic energy. Equivalent to a plynt sword strike, the energy was launched at its full rain, in a bolt-form towards the opposition forces. With the energy crackling through the air, Lorenor launched the blast so it would travel the full 12 yard, 36-foot distance towards the last possible target.

As he launched the kinetic blast, the mutant moved forward. An ominous sound as of a thousand war drums, filled the air from where the kinetic bolt was discharged. Lorenor yelled out a war-cry even as he saw several Spider-Magi fly off into the distance from the rest of the horde. Lorenor had injured many, but many remained. Rushing at full speed, seventy-miles-per-hour, Lorenor burned blood pool to access a greater movement capacity. He suddenly became a blur, accessing his Celerity at level one. With that movement capacity, Lorenor rushed towards the swarm of Spider Magi. He figured he had the best chance to defeat them all, to the last man.

As Lorenor ran, he swung his prevalida sword in powerful arching movements.
One side, to the next, sometimes in circular movements, in attempts to hack at everything around him. Lornor ran towards the statue the entire time that he was slicing things to pieces. When he cut through the group of the younger Spider-Magi, he found himself in front of the statue of Lord Draconus. Lorenor slid himself to a halt, he could feel his body slow-down significantly. However, in the long-run, that slow-down would not make much of a difference. Preparing his weapon, the mutant was harnessing the power of his Obsidian Ring. He turned to see the amount of carnage he had caused in his mad dash...

With any luck, MetalDrago and Pride could protect Lawrence Spades and Calbrena from the larger Spider Magi. Lorenor was preparing more power for the next round of attacks...

[Knave]

Elemental divinity etched itself into walls, arachnophobia was justified in those who stood before the fanged edifice of this goddess.

Lawrence, however, had seen worse, been swallowed by worse, digested in the stomach of worse, and been remade by worse, than the surface of what he now saw. Seeing horror from the inside allowed for all new vistas, each special in its own horrible nature. Through experiences never thought of, and memories naturally suppressed, he understand just how many strange and terrible things the universe had to offer. He had lost a good deal of sensitivity to the matter. Trauma of the existential variety could do that.

From his arrival, he had felt something familiar and alien, and now with the stink of death in the air, soaring beast in the sky, and monstrous insects on the ground, he had ceased to be impressed. Now, even as the image of evil pressed its way between the second and third dimensions, he simply grimaced at the sight.

Once coexisting, the image and the stone it was mounted upon fought for their space. The image of godhood violently forcing the earth aside. Stone, now evicted from its place in the universe, fell in showers of dust, rock, and boulder. Prehensile wings extended to shield Lawrence and his company, and crushing earth fell around them, shunted to the side in a fog of grit and filth.

Impacts rocked this hells floor. All lights failed. The chattering of fauna and the rustle of unseen flora continued through out. Lawrence stood with his arms folded, disturbed, spooked, struggling for precious control. He could not stop his surroundings from seeking his destruction, and so he was afraid, as all sane people would be. The air soon emptied of debris.

Senses running wild, Lawrence's golden eyes visibly dilated, his ears picked up the sounds of hearts beating, hundreds of them. Green light burned in the corner of his widened vision. Pride lit the way with an extended hand, her powers over the infernal providing precious light. Of all the places the mind could wander, sometimes reality was the strangest of them all.

“Interesting. Was there any point to that?” Lawrence said, constantly reevaluating his situation, needing to talk, and hear reason in the air. “Or does your goddess normally wander about in that fashion?” He asked. Why can't deities stay in man's imagination? He wondered. That was where they could do the most good, but no, they had to meddle and cause tro- something clicked, the thought died as Mr. Spades realized someone forcefully dear was listening.

Of all the roads that had been, only one way lay open, and the demoness sent her illuminating flames down it. The path was made clear, like a falling match in an empty well. There was just the way, infinity and blood leaking from new walls. Trapped life obviously still struggling within them.

Not that the girls seemed to care about that goddess they praised raining death from above.

Back and forth. Lawrence watched the exchange between demons and realized that they were little more than children, playfully bickering. He had met teenage girls, been teenage girls, and knew the subtle and explicit cliches well enough to recognize their character. Had he liked them when he had seen them? As sure as he was male and for that exact same reason, but all he could think of was his situation, and his future.

As a learning experience, quite a lot, actually. Notes were made stone in memory of just what a demon would go through as a mother to be. Who knew, perhaps Lawrence would be a father. Or perhaps he would have to acquire a child. Still the importance of the topic was questionable at the moment, at least until the sisters began to argue a bit more than they had continuously been doing so far. This is likely how Calbrena found out about her period. Questionable intelligence aside, he gained a better understanding of who he was dealing with by Calbrena's antics.

If he were anyone else at the moment, he might have laughed at the absurdity of the situation. Instead he listened to the hissing of tongues, and watched spittle fly from furred mandibles.

It appeared Lorenor had family, though of the more stunted and arguably hideous variety. “I don't suppose you could talk us out of this?” Lawrence asked Lorenor, his unwillingness to assume battle position easily credited to his wish not to antagonize the semi-naked spider people who in what appeared to be great numbers made their nest in a realm of natural malevolence. He'd have negotiated himself, if he only understood what these runt spider thugs were saying.

However, it seemed that Pride either didn't care, or was simply unaware of just who, or what, she used for a post to lean on while she smoked. It looked just as shocked as Law felt, and just as annoyed by these strange antics as Law was too.

In the darkness, a lit cigarette failed to cover the stench of the unwashed and unclean, and when Pride realized just what she had set herself against, she gave it little consideration. Apparently, the spider runts were not her problem.

A singular blue one of the pack heaved and raged. Babbling, frothing, it got bigger, rendering its tunic a tight shirt. It grew from tiny to tall, and the spear once too large to be anything but a walking stick was now quite appropriate for a rotisserie barbecue spit.

Now face to crotch, and eye to eye with the monster on scale, Pride did what no one in the canyon of rubble expected. When the creature lunged to spear her through, she in turn sent it flying toward Lawrence and Drago. Bitch.

Thankfully, with keen senses, and a good judgment of character, Lawrence was able to react and back away as the creature was lifted from the ground. Turned from monster to missile, it came flying.

It wailed frightfully, itself afraid as the ground blurred, and the air whipped passed it. Now clearly out of the way, Lawrence watched the creatures approach, threw out a groping hand, and paid little attention to its departure as it exited what light there was, possibly more interested in his finger nails. The dark man stared at his palm, and the glistening faceted red eye he held there. In the darkness the creature screamed.

Uuuaaaarrrr-aaaaahhhaageruahhaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!

Gazing into the spider magi's eye, Lawrence wore a tight expression. At last something he knew, some act he could perform without listening to religious dogma, or feminine chatter. Sadly it was nothing simple, and nothing civil.

There will be no rehearsals, the best I can do is prepare.

No time to be picky about how he did it, Lawrence tipped his palm to his lips. The eye slipped past teeth, riding his tongue out of sight, optic nerves bundled in ripped cords trailed behind it. The organ made a strange bulge in the shape-shifter's throat, one that sank back in a second later. Drawing a handkerchief from his pockets, he wiped his lips, clearly the act did not appeal, and the taste was sub-par.

“I suppose this why I am hear.” Lawrence turned away from his comrades, and walked after the larger spider magi who would no doubt soon be looking for him to the best of its now impaired abilities. His shape dissolved, and in the darkness he was little more than a clear silhouette. “Drago, watch the girls. I need a break.”

================================================== ==================

A warrior, it's blue fists had never released its spear, yet it was weeping.

Blood ran down its cheeks, the blue spider-demon's nostrils flared, the scent of its enemies everywhere, and the pain radiating from its empty left socket blinding it. A sound to its left. Feet! A barbarian, it acted instantly swinging its spear. A great wind was kicked up by the strength of its attack. Rocks lifted from the ground in the wake of the shafts swing, but the blow hit nothing, but empty air.

A rock came from nowhere to thud against the blue spider-magi's temple, and even as it reached to defend itself, the sound of clattering rocks hit the ground. Head clearing, the sound was familiar. What was unfamiliar was the laughter. A dull, “O-ho! O-hoho!” echoed from one direction straight ahead. More rocks followed, small, irritating, aimed for its gaping socket. Its flinching decreased, its jaws opened, and it screamed a challenge, barking its courage, its skill, its victories, and its foes horrible death! It would hack off its extremities!Those it could not wear, it would eat!

It exploded from its knees forward into the air, both hands on its spear. In darkness, half-blind it fought half-blind. Doubtless its opponent could see no better, it obviously not being plain born. The Champion's Spear thrust through laughter, and crushed ghosts. Phantoms danced around its senses. Wherever the signs it could track were, they were never enough to pin the thing down. They were close, though. Its spear nicked floating hair. Hands brushed its arms. Critical, mocking words were left handing in the air to its left and right.

In a duel to the death, it was a dance of tantalizing chances, and seemingly utter futility.

Frustration mounted, its jaws opened and luminous caustic fog lit the darkness in a grey jet. The light flared for an instant, it gnashed its teeth, sparks flew, and the luminescent gas turned to fire. A wave of flames scorching the earth, but soon fading with nothing around to burn.

Beyond the glare, it watched for movement and found it. Waving lines, wisps of darkness retreating. The giant magi pursued, another insult to be had at being shown its opponents back. Again it breathed and the air burned, but when the corona vanished, so too did all traces. A sudden weight settled against its shoulders, back to back they were. A piece of silver bit into the magi's left leg, thrusting to the bone.

This time retribution was swift. It lashed out fast enough to strike the invisible, lift it off its feet, and send it tumbling, bouncing over rocks. The sword glinted in the light of it's traitorous kins canon blast, a quivering eggshell white that vanished with a blink and was replaced by a gush of blood. It patted its quickly healing wound, aware of magic, but unsure of what kind, or how to stop it.

Rubble shifted, dirt fell from outlined shoulders. The laughter was done, and a sensation hit the magi that made silent promises. Without seeing each other, at a distance, they looked into each others eyes. No hatred, just murder, a will to kill and a similar sense of hurt pride.

Hope for honorable combat ended when the magi rushed forward only to find that the unseen creature had not changed tactics for the better, now a blade whistled through the air. In an instant, a combination would occur, and neither one knew the outcome.

The blue magi thrust, shattering stalagmites and columns of stone when they grew close. Its strength was still growing, and its size by nature gave it courage. It swept its spear to the side, and met with resistance, steel on tempered wood and the vibrations of the sword running the length of the magi's spear to sheer away its fingers.

Instinct took hold, the magi's hands drew back, it stepped to the side, surprised that in size they were similar, and could fight on par when one of them was not hiding. The parry incomplete, the magi finished it by bringing the shaft of the spear over, entire body twisting to smash this creature aside through its very guard. Blood and sweat flew from the magi's face.

Offering no resistance, the dark man's weapon went limp. The blade folded under the spear, and with it, the shade slipped underneath, hastily dodging the weight of the blow and the brain addling strike itself. The magi fully wound, its ears picking up the sound of small labored breaths, it thrust with the fist of its martial style, and connected for a brief instant. The image of its foe flickered, unamused, its palm intercepting the t blow. The nerves of the magi's arm exploded, and the weight alone instantly became the fist's force, and was subsequently deflected outward.

The dark man vanished into his invisibility an instant later, retreating with the blue magi in pursuit. Clouds were raised by their feet, again the magi was certain it saw its opponents back, and this time it struck to kill, the reach of its spear more than enough to run it through and later roast it. Grinning, triumphant... it missed.

The dust had risen too high to tell where the dark man had gone, and spider magi was winded. No critical blow had been struck beyond the loss of its eye, and that too would grow back in time. Spear ready, defense up, it waited at its ease for its heart to stop its incessant pounding.

Pain exploded in its leg, and the back of its thigh. Tendons and all were snatched away along with what may have been bone. Screaming, again it was dropped to the ground. The dark man had circled under his own camouflage, and through the magi's guard had been able carve off a bit of the abominations inner thigh and groin.

“Even cooked, I doubt you'd taste any better.” The thing said, its language incomprehensible, but the sound of teeth and ripping flesh was unmistakable. For some reason it imagined dainty bites.

Afraid, finally afraid, it grunted and cried for help. No attack finished it before seven more little spider-magi could arrive, a flying column summoned from the masses at war with their powerful cousin. Concern for him was evident, they clustered around their champion, he was strong, feeder, protector. Their concern for themselves was soon made apparent when a body to the left collapsed, and a head fell. The head's jaws moved, it screamed silently, its glowing eyes going dim.

It was among them, chaos was among them, creeping. It was a blade in empty space that sheered tiny limbs from tiny bodies. Shots in the dark that struck them down, and pounded them until they were still. They were dispatched, and cast aside, none ever seeing what hit them. At times, one of them would clasp its throat and shake violently until its neck broke and was still. There was no courage or romance to the slaughter. Just the method.

The larger of them bled freely, and struggling to contain its lifeblood, attempted to crawl away, to climb into the rubble and hide. Honor was for the honorable, and this thing had none in it. The sooner it healed, the sooner it could return. Crawling, it left its comrades bodies.

A foot found the small of the blue magi's back. Resting there, its weight pushed the semi-naked mutant to the ground. Crippled, wounded in flesh and pride, it lashed out again. Turning its torso, it swung its fist back, powerful muscles still filled with life. A hand, a claw, settled on its shoulder, its muscles spasmed, out of control, their strength lost and all sensation gone. Its screams now endless continued, the champion bent its neck to see if its arm was still there, only for a sword to pin its other shoulder to the dirt.

This close, it could be seen clearlly. In shape they were not so different, even as it lowered itself to the warriors back, and hot breath passed over its neck. The ululations of confusion ended, and Lawrence settled in for a meal.

Some minutes since its swift beating, one of the ordinary tribesmen awoke, and fearing for its life grabbed a slab of rock to hide behind and defend itself. It made the sound of terrified mice and confused men.

When no blow came it peaked into the darkness, and heard the sounds of heavy breathing and strangled cries. It approached, and heard, and slowly it saw what had hit it, what had killed its family, and was gorging itself on its brother. It wore a strange, obviously formal garb, but there was a wild disarray to its hair and state of dress. What was also wild was the ape-like way it acted.

It sat on it's champion rump, and bending the Champion's leg back was biting. The invisible now apparent, and back to the magi, our little spider magi saw the illusion of a chance, and then saw that illusion die.

In that scraggly mess of hair, a faceted red eye stared from the back of its head. It never blinked, but the light was on within it, and from the leg the creature turned its sizzling lips. “I am eating.” Tone conveyed severity, and all creatures in nature knew that meal time was sacred.

The magi screamed its challenge, reason lost to hatred and fear. It lept forward, its arc high, its strength brought to bear. It would have revenge and glory.

A swift blow turned its jaws to mush, and left it hanging in the air. Both it and the world were spinning as it crashed back down.

Lawrence returned to his meal, his shape bulging as his legs visibly thinned in the legs of his pants and a great weight rose through his torso into his arms. The shape shifters hands expanded, in the darkness he was a thing wildy tearing and eating. What blood that fell on him was sucked through his clothes, his skin feeding by osmosis. A grim silhoute of flailing and destructive limbs twisting, and ripping meat from bones.

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Standing, Law let the leg fall, and walked back to the battle Lorenor had engaged himself in with the majority of their assailants. First he would find where his hat had fallen between here and there, and then he would see to the needs of the others.

Behind him, the warrior groaned, holes opened in its back, and teeth marks where its meatier parts had once been. New poisons coursed its burning veins, the cuts lined with toxins.

Undefeated, it stared after that thing. Bubbles of blue blood flecked its lips, and its lone mandible flexed to give its words the proper pronunciation. It began to chant, and continued to grow. The wounds failed to heal, scars and deformities remained to tell tales of its mauling. Just a few minutes, an hour at most, and it would be on its feet again.

When Lawrence returned, he was once again in order, clothes arranged, hat in hand, and a comb running through his hair. He was heavier though. He carried himself with greater weight, and the gravity of his situation he now took with levity. He entered into hellish lights clearing, champion's spear in hand, the blue taint of blood spattering the corner of his left pocket's kerchief.

Sometimes, he simply couldn't bare being above it all, and exercising some control did wonders to restore the safety of sanity.

Was that control? Well, he had emasculated and evicerated something that clearly deserved it, and had made it very, very clear it didn't want it.

'Yes, that was control.'

[MetalDrago]

Protection detail… How boring… The Dragonian’s thoughts were tinged with a bit of resentment at being left out of fighting the largest of the Spider Magi. Lorenor was taking care of most of the swarm, but it was inevitable that some of them would make it through in order to get after Calbrena and Pride. He tensed his muscles slightly and drew the Dragon’s Betrayal. The black serrated edge of the blade glistened slightly in the darkness. He could feel his bloodlust, an insatiable hunger for battle, filling his veins, but he couldn’t let himself be overcome by it. He still had people to protect, much to his annoyance.

He looked around and saw the Spider Magi crawling over the stone floor. He relaxed his grip on his sword and his entire body began to feel loose and free. He glanced around and smiled. These small ones would be no problem for him at all. He was sure of it. He swung his sword one time and cleaved through a good five of the little creatures. He was about to start laughing when he felt that this wasn’t going to be quite as easy as he thought. N’Jal was telling him to be careful, to hold back until something happened. He acquiesced to her orders and held back and he slowly and methodically killed all of the creatures that came near Calbrena and Pride. Blood from the blue giant spider splashed out and landed on his armor as Lawrence killed it, on his right leg. He certainly is a violent one… I find myself in very good company today.

Then, he realized why he had been told to hold back. Within the shadows from which the smaller Spider Magi were swarming, he saw a small glimmer of red. The smaller Magi parted, their legs making excited clicking noises on the ground and they did. It sounded almost as though they were doing some ceremonious song, signaling that something really bad was coming. A red Spider Magi slowly crawled out of the shadows and stood before MetalDrago. His eyes never left those of the beast before him as it walked up to him. It stopped less than a foot away from the Paladin, causing him to pull back visually. He smirked and stepped back a few paces. The stench of the creature was overpowering.

The Dragon’s Betrayal hummed in his hands, crying out for the flesh of his enemy, and the Paladin was more than happy to oblige. His eyes darkened to a blue-violet as he lashed out with his blade, biting into the flesh of the Spider Magi standing before him. It screamed in agony as the blade cut into its flesh. It clacked its mandibles and reached forward with a clawed hand, attempting to cut into the flesh of the Paladin. However, it found little purchase against the Endless Armor that covered his flesh. He withdrew his blade and leapt backward, a sadistic smile on his face. A small chuckle escaped his lips as the dark power of his bloodlust began to overtake his soul.

The Spider Magi seemed to sense that there was more to the being before it than it had first thought. The dark power radiating from within his soul was far too familiar to it. However, he had attacked it, and thus he must pay. The creature screamed in reckless abandon and launched itself at him, raking its claws across his armor, trying desperately to find some weakness in the armor. The creature’s claws, while strong, could find no gainful purchase on the armor. Without a weapon, this contest would be over quickly.

The Paladin looked on as the Magi drew a wicked looking, curved scimitar from seemingly nowhere. It was then that he knew the truth. This was only the beginning.

[Aiko]

As the onslaught began after throwing the blue one, Calbrena flicked her lit cigarette at the one she had leaned against, but it skittered out of the way. No longer encumbered, she laid into the swarm of creatures with her claws, discovering that the small ones were shredded as easily as dried parchment. Clearly their strength was in numbers. She never noticed new ones forming from the spilled blood of the old ones.

Yet, Pride just stood there, putting her hands together as though in prayer. Her head bowed and fires burned into being around her, one fire for each color of the spectrum. Calbrena wondered what her sister was up to, but couldn't spare much thought to it, as her attention was taken from the subject by a group of attackers from behind.

Pride's strategy became somewhat clearer after the ghostly image of The Deadly Sin of Wrath appeared before Pride, and shot into her in a bolt of light, taking the fires with it. The Sigil of Wrath, which was also known as The Seal of Death appeared on Pride's forehead, as her muscles rippled and bulged, both increasing her strength and making her skin as hard as granite. Her wings merged together and transformed into a tattered shredded cloak.

“Now then, take me now, for my Demonic Emulation is complete, and I have taken on the primary aspects of Wrath.” Pride growled in a typical deep and gravely male demonic voice.

In answer, a yellow spider Magi as big as the red and blue dropped from the ceiling. This one was different in more than just color, insanity burned in its eyes, as its teeth clenched in a blood thirst none of its fellows could match. Its growls brought the swarm to a halt, as they looked at the yellow, then at Lorenor and the others, then back at the yellow one. Ducking their heads, they crawled away towards Lorenor and Lawrence like dogs who had just been chastised by their master, preferring uncertain victory over certain death from their yellow cousin.

Pride struck first, wasting little time and going straight for the kill, intending to rip the beast's heart straight out of its chest. Yellow blocked with his right arm and grabbed Pride's hands with his left. Pride displayed her flexibility, and from her standing position, kicked Yellow in the jaw with her right foot. The blow caused Yellow to let go as he stumbled backwards.

Calbrena, who was watching, decided that this battle was too much for her sister alone, even emulating Wrath's primary aspects with her magic. She leaped upon the creature's back and started biting him with her teeth, but his skin would not give easily beneath her furious attack. Yellow reached around and grabbed her, throwing her at Pride who caught her and then dropped her on her backside unceremoniously.

Yellow came charging back and leaped into the air. Calbrena scrambled out of the way, but Pride merely backed up a step and did another high kick, sending Yellow onto his back. But Yellow wasn't about to be defeated, with a kick of his eight spider legs, he threw himself back onto his feet, bringing a powerhouse of a right handed punch straight at Pride. This one caught her and sent her flying back into a pack of greens, squishing them to death with the force of her landing.

Calbrena, now back on her feet, held her sore back as she charged back in, determined to give her sister time to recover. Instead of going up, she went down, attacking his legs, trying to hamper his movement. It was Calbrena who scored first blood, as she raked through one of his legs. Yellow screamed in agony, a sound which sent a collective shudder down the spines of the swarm of green ones, even Red seemed nervous about Yellow. Yellow reached down, and grabbed Calbrena's tail. He swung her around his head once and released sending her flying into a wall with enough force to crack it with the impact. Calbrena slid down the wall and slumped over unconscious.

“NO ONE HARMS MY DAUGHTER AND LIVES!” Pride bellowed in a fury that echoed across the caverns.

In response, Yellow moved over to a pair of outlying greens, and killed them for their spears. Energy shot down his arms into the spears, joining them into a single spear made entirely of Delyn. The blood from the dead greens flowed into Yellow, visibly hardening his entire body. If what Pride said was true, then this battle was already decided, for few creatures fought as hard as a mother protecting her young, regardless of species.

Green fire flowed up Pride's arm, the fires of Althanas, and all the planet contained within. A titanium warhammer formed from it, finding her grasp. She flew at Yellow, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground at the speed she moved. She swung her hammer straight for the midsection, cracking every scale on his chest, and breaking several bones with the impact. Yellow keened in pain and grabbed a green, stuffing it in his mouth and eating it, restoring his bodily health. Not yet finished, before Pride could start another swing, he stabbed for her chest, but she dropped the hammer to move aside.

Pride spun as she moved sending a wave of purple fire containing the powers of the sky at Yellow, from this fire came a storm of lightning bolts. Yellow used his own powers and reflected them back at Pride. Pride in turn absorbed her magic back into her body, and sent it back out again as a magnetic impulse to grab her hammer and send it flying at Yellow. Yellow took the hit in his left shoulder, with his right he hurled his spear at Pride.

Pride caught the spear in her right shoulder as she tried to dodge it. She ripped it out of her shoulder, too far gone into rage to care about the pain. She hurled it back, Red fire, containing all the powers of every normal fire, circled the weapon, super-heating it white hot. Yellow tried to dodge, but it not only hit the right shoulder, due to the intense heat, it went straight through, suturing the wound closed behind it. Yellow began to run from Pride as she chased him down snorting fire at him with each step. What terrified him most was that she was running on all fours snarling like a dog, she was even foaming at the mouth.

Luck was on his side, he crawled up the wall, and she could not follow. There was one thing he could do to win, and sate his bloodthirst. He could awaken, IT. IT was apart of him, no, he was apart of IT, they all were. IT slept now, the mind divided among the many. But was victory worth the price? Of course, what a silly question to think of, Victory was worth any price, even individuality.

Yellow let out a bellowing roar that was echoed and repeated by every living creature in the cavern, save for the adventurers. Then, everything stopped momentarily, pausing as the eyes of everything that had eyes began to glow, understanding filtered across a mind that had not existed as a single thing for centuries.

All the greens attacked as a single entity, obviously sharing a hive-mind that could direct all of them at once. Pride, who had been working up a powerful spell to heal Calbrena instead had to divert the energies into her favorite attack spell, sending Ice Shards at the swarm of greens surrounding her. To her surprise, the blood slithered away into cracks in the floor.

Yellow jumped down, and the spider body exploded into a shower of blood, revealing the lower half of a Draconian. This blood also shot towards cracks in the walls, floor and ceiling and disappeared. All monster blood would, save for stains on clothing. Yellow cracked his neck, and then charged Pride, who was still in shock at seeing the transformation. Luckily, Wrath's instincts were with her in this emulation, and these protected her, grabbing Yellow's right foot and twisting it. Yellow went with the twist, bringing his left around kicking Pride in the head making her let go. Blood seeped out of the floor after he landing nearby, healing Yellow's shoulders.

Pride shook herself back to attention, and saw Yellow getting healed. She was tired of this dance, and it was time to end it. She charged Yellow, bringing a knee to the head, but Yellow rolled out of the way and quickly got to his feet. He spun quickly, using his tail as an attack to trip Pride. She hit the floor with a grunt, but swung her legs around to trip Yellow.

Both stood up, and faced each other. Green fire mixed with Purple fire in Pride's hands. Her hammer levitated behind Yellow's back, and began shaping itself into a spear. Meanwhile, Pride traded blows with Yellow, dodging and weaving using the small portion of Wrath's complete knowledge of the Martial Arts that she had access to. The spear flew at Yellow's backside, and Pride, who knew it was coming, let Yellow hit her in the chest and fell with the blow. She smiled in satisfaction as the spear punched through Yellow's heart. Yellow's eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled in satisfaction.

He fell to his knees, then backwards with the weight of the spear. He melted into a pool of blood which drained away into the floor. Pride heaved a sigh of relief and ended the emulation, banishing her hammer. She was simply Pride once more. She touched Calbrena, and closed her eyes.

“Oh thank goodness. She's just broken every bone in her body, yet mother and child live. I give you the last of my power natural power.” She said to herself and anyone listening.

She leaned in close, and kissed Calbrena's forehead, energy flooding the pregnant woman's body. With a groan, she awoke to find Pride asleep with her head in her lap. She looked around trying to focus and gather her wits enough to figure out what happened.