The Prince's Bride (Closed)

[Destrudo]

The day was breezy. Clouds rolled overhead, and even the monks eyed them with some wariness. Two men walked down the steps of The Citadel. They were nearly identical in appearance. Both had the same sharp eagle like nose, both had the same piercing gaze, and both had the same crooked lines around their mouth from way too much smiling. Both had powerful well built arms, and the impressive body to match, and both were excessivly tall with long hair. One might accuse them of being father and son if one were to look at them in passing. The differences though were just as numerous as the similarities. One had the brown robes of a monk, along with a couple rings and few amulets on chains. The other wore only black Leather clothing, and had a dagger tucked in his belt. One had white hair and gray eyes, the other had Red hair, red eyes, and a red glow around him. The monk also seemed peaceful and somewhat friendly, while the red haired one seemed humbled by recent events, namely loosing to his opponents at the citadel that day.
"So I've decided to go home, and investigate my past. I'm taking along a few well armed guards as meat shields. You know, to help muscle my way past Father." Destrudo said.
"A wise idea. You must sail directly west, and when you encounter a mighty thunderstorm, sail directly into it shouting 'Onox sends his regards, we request sanctuary for the night!" Brother Onox said.
"Why?" Destrudo asked.
"Sometimes surprise is the best answer of all." Brother Onox said.
"I guess." Destrudo said.
__________________________________________________ ___________
Later, after threatening a wizard, the following ads popped up all over Radasanth:
"Now hiring, Adventures, Strongmen, Swordsmen, Wizards, Samurai, Pirates, brave people of all sorts! The Prince of Noctum is seeking an escort home and is seeking protection from the brigands that lie between Radasanth and his palace. The prince is offering in return Gold, Jewels, Silver, Magical items, Rare Artifacts, anything for your good services! Apply at The Buccaneer's Den. Passage aboard a trustworthy ship is also needed." The advert read.
__________________________________________________ ___________

At The Buccaneer's Den, Destrudo sighed as he looked over the posters of wanted criminals again. He saw infamous names of known pirates, and some few lowlife scum, probably jumped aboard a ship to live free at sea.

Was he ever going to find someone who looked like they weren't going to faint at the very sight of the insect trees? For that matter, was he going to find a ship that didn't look like it would fall apart the very moment he stepped aboard? He used to be very picky, but not anymore, but he didn't want any old thug or wanna be pirate who found an old shiv or nailed two boards together either.

He stood and faced the scraggly bum before him, some drunk who could barely stand up to a menacing stare, what good was he going to be against Father's mind games?
"I'm telling you, I'm your man!" the bum repeated.
"Your weak, your pitiful. You have no meat on your bones, and you can barely stand. You are not my man. You are nothing. You are a bum, leave my presence." Destrudo snarled.
The bum clsoed his fist, but Destrudo caught the action in time, kneed the bum in his groin, and then punched him so hard he fell over backwards after stumbling out of the door.
"I swear, if I get ONE MORE BUM, I'm going to burn this hellhole of a city to ashes." Destrudo growled.

This version of Destrudo's trip home is considered to be canon, the others are all merely an alternate imagining, no offence to the participants of those threads.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy gave an exasperated sigh from the inside of the tavern. Another drunkard had shown up for that acclaimed prince in hopes of earning his two coppers. Her fingernails drummed on the gritty wooden table while the other kept a protective hand on her mug of ale. She ducked out of the way of the drunkard getting kicked out the door and turned to her first mate, Deilio.

"Can you believe people are buying into this fool?" she called to him across the table, raising her voice over the bar fights and coughing from the smog of the dense, sweaty air.

"I can, actually," Deilio noted. "The tale of Noctum is popular where I grew up. Lumos too. My brother's been there before, or so he said when the town declared him crazy."

Darcy's interest perked as she sipped at her ale. "Really now? Do you believe what he said?"

Deilio sighed, chugging a mug of ale before he sighed. "I guess I do. He gave me that dark crystal dagger that you see on my wall, and told me they gave it to him. I've been all over the world with you, explored enough rarities for a lifetime, but never have I ever found a knife quite like that. Nor the crystal it's made from."

Darcy sighed. "We haven't been in some stretches around Istraloth-"

"That place is full of sand and brimstone," He reminded her sharply. "And the stretches we've seen are the same as the rest! And don't you find it funny that not even one trained geologist we've come across can name the rock?"

The piratess chewed her lip. "I don't see what's in this trip up there for me."

"Nightmares are still occurring, are they not? I've been hearing you play Bat for the past three weeks. You only play that violin when-"

"Yes, yes, when I cannot sleep," Darcy finished for him, obviously trying to avoid the topic. "What of it?"

"It's because of Kephrid, isn-"

"Why are you asking me this?" She snapped again, though this time with more fervor. Her green eyes iced over as thoughts pumped into her head like ale in a drunkard.

"Darce, there's a temple in Noctum where you may speak with the dead," He said bluntly. "That ought to help you."

Her eyes quirked, and turned to the supposed prince. "Really now?" she said casually, her fingers drumming on the ale mug as she churned the thoughts.

"I ask you as your friend, Darce," Deilio continued, reaching over the table to put his hand on her fingers, quieting the drumming. "I know you will not be able to live with yourself unless you somehow apologize to him face to face. This voyage would be good for you."

Darcy shook her head. "I hate it when you're right," she commented, looking back up to the prince. "If you're wrong about this, I'm leaving you to rot on a barrel in the ocean!"

Deilio chuckled at the jape. "Just go play the Fisherman's Daughter card, and once we get out to sea, we'll lay out the rules for him."

Darcy nodded, thankful she didn't wear any obvious weapons at the moment. That, and she chose to wear something other than the black leather cinch and pirate-branded over skirt. Though she did take off the eye patch, wincing as the eye she kept adjusted to darkness for a reason saw light. After it was done twitching, she got up and put a hand on the supposed prince's shoulder.

"Ey," she said casually. "You are looking for a ship and warriors to take you there, no? I got both." She moved the hand from his shoulder to holding it out. "I'm Darcy Lou, captain of the Shadowmast. Call me Darce."

[Destrudo]

Destrudo had been eying the young lady for some time now, in between bums.

Clearly she's a pirate.
After all, The Buccaneer's Den was a known pirate hideout, under such innocent guises as fishermen and ferry women.

Maybe she's hungry for the wild side of life.
It was possible after all, with harshe parenting overly observant of the rules, who wouldn't want to try their hand at something dangerous, and against the rules.

She's running from something that happened between her and an old flame.
Another striking possibility, perhaps she was once involved with one of the pirates on the wall. In the end, Destrudo didn't know. Then she got up and came over to him.

Interesting, I wonder what her game is. No matter, I'll play along.
He took her hand, kissed it, and directed her to the chair before him.
"Indeed, sit, sit. As I'm sure you can tell, I've had many offers today, some interesting, like the elderly fellow over there with the luxury liner and the professional and well-equipped band of mercenaries, and some not so interesting, like the twelve drunk bums over there who nailed two planks together and pretend it's a ship.

So tell me, why should I take your offer over the rich man's over there with the professional band of mercs? Bear in mind, he's proven his mercenaries have strength. See that fellow in all the chainmail with the twelve sharp swords strapped to his back? If you can prove to me you and your fellows are more intimidating that him and his fellows, then by all means, I'll go with you." Destrudo said.

[Mithra Reborn]

"Intimidating?" She asked, arching an eyebrow. "I once saw a man fully decked in spiked armor. Scared the living hell out of the women and children and men too. Yet when Deilio, my first mate, fought him bare of anything but a jerkin, britches and falchion, the fool couldn't block one blow, and ended up dying under the crushing weight of his armor." She looked over to the main with twelve swords. "He can only wield two swords at a time. Having all those extras does nothing but weigh him down. If he throws swords, then he better be damn good because swords are easily dodged since their so big.

"Furthermore, yes, I am a humble daughter of a fisherman, but I also was raised on the sea. I had no cradle, for the ocean did the rocking when I needed it. Nobody knows her better than me, and while the Shadowmast isn't as sturdy as a warship, she's fast as a fish, and fit as a fiddle. My men have worked with me ever since I was little, and are all very well trained in the sword arts. They did not go to a fancy academy to study sword fighting, nor can they slice a tree in half in one fell swoop, but they are good, honest men."

Darcy's eyes glanced to the mercenaries. She recognized them from the last noble she robbed, no doubt they recognized her, so she decided to milk this a little.

"Also, those men," She told him, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Are disloyal savages. I saw them steal from the nobleman they were supposed to protect." She nodded at him with her hazel eyes before leaning back in the chair loftily. "I'm a woman, so you know I won't be a drunk idiot who doesn't understand what a ship is. But lastly, I'm the cheapest. I don't want money, jewels, honors or whatever you offer - though I won't turn it down if you give - I just want some time in the temple that allows you to speak with the dead."

With a sigh, she finished her argument and looked him in the eye. "So, what will it be?" she asked him, the fingers on her right hand drumming steadily on the surface of the table.

[Destrudo]

Destrudo wasn't paying that much attention to her, he was lost in her eyes.
Gods she's beautiful
Suddenly, the man with the twelve swords walked over.

"Hasan recognise you, because of you Hasan and Hasan's men get thirty lashes! Now Hasan will have revenge, HAAASSSAANNN CHOP!" Hasan yelled, pulling out two swords. As he pulled them out, they glowed, and the other ten pulled themselves out, following suit. They glowed as well, making an extra ten arms pop out of Hasan's side.

"HASAN CHOP!" Hasan yelled, bringing all twelve swords down on the table, shattering it.
Destrudo kneed the man in the groin, bringing Hasan down like a house of cards.
"Hitting such a beautiful lady, for shame." Destrudo said.

"Well, you've certainly convinced me. Shall we go? So tell me, what else do you know of Noctum? Did you know it's due west from the port, and a month's journey by sea?" Destrudo asked, curious as to what else she knew about Noctum.

He remembered Brother Onox's words. He wondered what they meant.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy sighed and the brute, and picked up the two swords that made him grow ten more arms through her sleeve, so the effect would not occur to her, and stood with a smile. "I did not. You'll have to talk to Tristane, our navigator. The ship's done stocking by now. Gather what belongings you must, and meet me on the Shadowmast on dock nine. Trust me, you'll know her when you see her."

With that, she smiled to the man and turned to leave before the other mercenaries could catch on. Deilio got up and followed. "Wasn't that that oaf we beat last week?" he asked. Darcy nodded, stuffing the swords in her pack. "You would think if you had twelve swords, you'd know how to use at least -one- of them..."

"Bah," Deilio said. "Not even a skilled swordsman should know how to handle that many, let alone a half-wit like him."

She went up the dock and sighed at the ship she called home. The Shadowmast wasn't big in size, but by the elliptical shape of the body, it could cut through water fast as anything else. It's lean, black figure was made of bog wood with golden scroll work across the side saying the name. At the front, a raven jutted out of the prow, wings spread wide. The sails were black too, though plain. Darcy didn't want people to think she served a certain house, or something. It wasn't perfect. It smelled a little like must and mead on deck, with an earthier scent in her quarters, and it was never quiet, but it was home.

"Alright men," she called. "We're taking a supposed prince somewhere. For now, be courteous. Tomorrow, once he's out at sea, we'll lay down the real rules. Aye?!"

An un-synchronized chorus of "Aye, cap'n" aroused in sleepy crewman that were going about the morning work.

"Alright," she said softly to herself, leaning on the rail. "Show me a prince."

[Destrudo]

Destrudo sighed, as he stood on a rocky point overlooking the sea.

He was going home, back to his father. His thoughts meandered back to the day he left.
His father hated him, his father despised him. Destrudo didn't know what love was.
His father often said, he hated him. Destrudo grew up thinking hate was what was normal. He wanted to be friends with everyone, but all his friends were insulted by Shadowlord, and they all went away, leaving Destrudo alone, so terribly alone.

Often, Shadowlord referenced a woman, saying "She's the only reason your still alive, THE ONLY REASON!"

Destrudo didn't know why his father held no love for him, he couldn't recall ever doing anything to him. The earliest memory he had was of a voice, Soft and and full of what Destrudo thought might be love, whispering three words he longed to hear from his father.
"I love you."

When he left Noctum, he had fought his father, he hit him for the first time, and it felt good to finally get revenge for driving away every single being he ever tried to connect to, and it hurt so much, because Shadowlord was his father, after all. In a final mighty blow, Shadowlord hurled his son out a window. Destrudo didn't know how he got to Corone from Noctum, he only knew that the way was supposedly sealed shut, but if that were true, how did he get here?

Then he thought of Brother Onox, the man seemed to know things about Destrudo no one should. Destrudo couldn't understand how the two looked so much alike. Was there a connection between the two of them as he thought?

With a start he realized several hours had passed, Darcy was probably missing him by now, so he headed towards where he knew the Shadowmast to be docked, having a clear view of it from hill on which he stood. He climbed up on deck, and smiled warmly at the crew, the warmest smile he could manage, which was still frigid enough to freeze water, figuratively speaking of course, Destrudo hated magic.

"So, I hear I'm supposed to find a Tristane to relay the location of Noctum." He said as he boarded.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy sat up from where she was sitting on deck, half asleep. "His highness likes to take his time, it seems," she commented, "TRIS! Get down here, we need to get moving, we're losing daylight!"

A young boy with a mop of blond curls peeked over the edge of the crow's nest and yelled back, "Yeah, yeah, we'll get a heading in no time!" He gripped a hanging rope that was tied to the top and swung down to land on the prow, accidentally kicking one of the crewmen in the head on the way down.

"Sorry Ben!" He called, though the older crewmen shouted a stream of curses at him. Darcy arched an eyebrow. "You know Tris, there's a rope web right there that you could use to get down."

"But that's no fun and too slow!" the younger boy complained.

"Yeah, and its become a rule of thumb for him to kick someone on the way down anyways," teased a crew mate. "One day he'll be captain simply because the rest of us all had our wits kicked to Calypso!" the boy hung his head, blushing a little.

"Now now, stop acting like a pup who pissed his bed and chart our course!" Darcy told him. " That'll shut the geezers on this rig up!" She turned to face the supposed prince. "Your bed is two decks below here, in the far corner. Mess room is the deck just below here. Dinner's in an hour. Stay out of the way of the crewmen working." She smiled and nodded to him before going below deck. "Welcome to the Shadowmast, Highness."

[Destrudo]

Destrudo smiled, watching the young boy swing down to Destrudo's side, chuckling to himself when he kicked the crewman on the way down.
"I tell you, I better not swing, I'm so damn tall, I'd probably do worse than kick someone in the head." Destrudo said smiling.

He nodded, as he was told where his bed was.
"Thank you, kind and honorable captain. As I stated earlier, Noctum is directly west of Corone, and about a month away by sea. I've looked at several known charts of the world, and the Continent of Chronus is either off the map completely, or left as empty ocean. Chronus, that's the continent Noctum is on. History records that Noctum, and our dear cousins in Lumos were once both part of the Empire of Chronus, but twin princes split the empire with their rivalry for the crown. Noctumites swear their prince was born first, and Lumosians swear theirs was born first. Personally I don't give a damn about thousand year old history. But if you've never been to Noctum before, get used to the night, for the light of day does not exist in Noctum. A sailor made his way to our land once, the first outsider we had since the days of Chronus. He was quite amazed by the, interesting, sights of Chronus. He took away a dagger of ours made of Lumite." Destrudo said.

Destrudo turned to Deilio.
"You resemble his pictures. But perhaps it's just a coincidence." He said.

He turned back to Tristane.
"So, anything in particular you're interested in knowing to get us started? I must mention, do not steer away from bad weather. Noctum's protected by the gods themselves, or so it's said, and no coward will ever find our shores alive." Destrudo warned.

[Mithra Reborn]

Tristane arched an eyebrow. "Ya know, I only needed to know that west of Corone part," He said. But whatever. Iggie!" he yelled. "Five knots to port and hold course for the voyage! We're right in line with the place. Don't dodge any storms! Shadow's no warship, but she's sturdy enough to handle it if we can deal the waves alright!"

The woman at the wheel yelled back an "Aye!" and did as he bid.

Meanwhile, Deilio was eying him carefully. He stopped whittling the flute in his hands, the whittling knife pausing in his skilled hands.

The dagger... he thought. "Highness!" he called. "Come with me. There's something you'd like to see, I think."

[Destrudo]

"Don't worry, these are on the gentle side." Destrudo said as he followed Deilio.
He wondered what Deilio had to show him. Destrudo had no reason to mistrust Deilio, or the crew, but if someone felt like it, his skin was awfully flimsy.

Then again, there was the matter of the ship itself. Should he be worried? Were they really pirates? Was he safe? These thoughts and more clouded his mind, clearing them aside, he followed Deilio into the depths of the ship.

[Mithra Reborn]

Deilio opened the door to his room, and paused a moment. Why the hell am I doing this...? He asked himself. He's gonna ask for it back...or prove that my brother was right...oh hell, either way this has to get cleared up.

Collecting himself, he went to the wall, and carefully lifted the Lunite dagger, only gripping the silver handle enough to hold it upright before showing the prince. "A long time ago, my brother was lost at sea," he began, a finger running over a section of blade in sunlight from the portcullis nearby. "We took him for dead when no word of him came after two months. But a month after we gave him his final rite, he came back to the shores, telling us made tales of a land that lived only in night..." He paused a moment, running his finger along the edge of the blade. In the sunlight, he was fine, but when it passed under the part in shadow, blood lined the edge of the sword and his finger. "He stole this dagger and told us that this was from there. It only cuts in night time."

He looked up with heavy eyes, clutching the dagger in the hand that didn't have a cut finger. "Is this it?"

[Destrudo]

"Oh my, father's dagger. See this mark on the hilt of a crescent moon holding a hammer? That's the symbol of Geldivek Nitsco, Noctum's finest Smith. This is his work alright.
Where the blade joins the handle, that is, the pommel, see how it's made of white gold, with those two little black diamonds? That's my father's symbol, as far back as anyone can remember that's been father's personal seal. You can tell this is Lumite, because see how it pales in the light? Lumite is weak in the light of day, and in the depths of night, it gains strength. It's strongest at the midnight hour. This blade, see those minature waves in the edge? That's old Nitsco's personal mark, he made this blade with his own two aged hands, the second to last blade he ever made. His apprentices are a fine bunch, sure. I know someday they'll surpass Nitsco in skill, but that's going to be quite a feat. Lumite is great at holding enchantment. In some rare cases it comes pre-enchanted. The most common kind is an enchantment for everlasting sharpness, quite a popular enchantment in any case. I wouldn't be surprised if this blade held such an enchantment, though it's also possible it does not. Though Father always told me he gave him the blade. I don't know what the truth is, but one thing is quite certain, that's quite a treasure you have there. That particular Dagger doesn't cut in daylight, because it was intended to always be at Father's side, and wherever he goes, the night follows. Other varieties do in fact cut in day, but not as well as a normal iron dagger. Lumite requires a special polish, I'll be sure to have the blacksmiths give you some before you go." Destrudo said, revealing for Deilio at long last the truth of the dagger, and making no attempt to take the dagger. It was clear then, it was Deilio's treasure, and it would remain such.

Destrudo moved towards the door, and stopped.
"Lumite is a very valuable substance. That dagger is worth almost one thousand Gold, with parts and labor figured in together. Just the raw materials alone run about five hundred Gold. Though I admit I am no blacksmith, I'd have to say it's about like Damascus in strength. Like I said, it's quite a treasure." He said, using what knowledge he had of the Noctum markets.

[Mithra Reborn]

Deilio sighed before cleaning up his finger and putting the dagger back. "Its almost enough to make me believe my brother was right..." he muttered. Someone knocked on the door in a brusque fashion. "Come in!" he called. Darcy opened the door and said, "We're far enough from shore, lets get this over with."

Deilio nodded to her, still in a haze over what he learned. "Kay, be right there."

"Ey," she called. "You alright 'Lio?"

He raised his head and gave her a small smile. "Yeah. I'll be there in a second." Darcy huffed and shook her head. "Alright, if you say so..."

Darcy strode up the stairs, Deilio an echo behind her. "Anyone know where his 'highness' is?" she asked, a little mocking tone on the 'highness'.

[Destrudo]

Destrudo had moved up on deck, and was standing at the prow watching the sky intently. His glow contrasted nicely with the wood of the ship. For all appearances, he didn't seem to have a care in the world. In truth he was wondering when the facade of niceness would end.

He hoped he wouldn't have to bash too many skulls in to get to Noctum. Once he got to Noctum, all bets were off, he was still the prince there after all. Hearing approaching steps behind him, he turned, not wanting to have his back to any possible attack.

[Mithra Reborn]

"Welcome sir, to the pirate ship Shadowmast, captained by yours truly, Darcy Ombremer," The pirate woman told him with a mocking bow. "Now before you get all 'oh please spare my life' or 'have mercy' or any whiny, rich boy smart ass comments like you royals seem to have, we aren't going to kill you. I doubt they'd let us in their kingdom if we killed their prince." Darcy kicked over a bucket full of cold, soapy water, a sea sponge floating dozily on the surface as if it were imitating the ship. "You are, however, eating my food, and sleeping in my cabin, so you'll share in the work around the ship since we recently lost our cabin boy, so you assume the duties of swabbing the decks, emptying the chamber pots and winding the ropes, relaying messages, et cetra."

She picked up a mop and put it next to the bucket and sponge. "Don't forget, we could always say screw it and drown you out here and give up on this if you make this adventure too tiresome, so do try to behave. Dinner's still in an hour. Have the deck swabbed in an hour, or you sleep in the crow's nest. Best tie yourself to the mast if that happens, you might fall and either hit the deck forty some feet below, or the ocean which, Highness, is a lot deeper." With a yawn, she said, "Have fun!" in an apathetic tone before barking some orders about controlling the mast.

[Destrudo]

OOC: Permission to bunny Darcy and crew given over IM.

Destrudo wasn't the sort to bow down or cower easily. In fact, he was about to cuss her out and challenge her to a match on the spot, but something in the distance caught his eye.

He turned to the side and looked at it closer.

"HEY!" He shouted at Darcy in a manner that spoke violence. Darcy turned and was about to offer to hang him from the masts, when Destrudo spoke again.
"Who the hell are they?" He asked, and about that time, the cry came down from the crows nest.
"Ship AHOY!" the young and inexperienced but sharp eyed young man cried from way atop the masts.

"Deilio, get all hands to stations! Highness, get below decks and assist with the oars, you look strong enough." Darcy yelled, as she took off for the wheel.

Deilio threw open a door and pointed down a stair well.
"Down there!" He shouted at Destrudo, before he moved off to get things running above decks. Destrudo could hear Darcy shouting other orders, but couldn't quite catch them in the momentary distraction of a loud bang from the other ship.

The bastards had cannons from Alerar, and they were so sure of themselves that they fired a warning shot of their intentions to shoot down The Shadowmast.

Something told Destrudo now was not the time to be troublesome, and so he scurried below decks. He found the middle left oar unmanned at the moment and so grabbed it and struggled to row it all by himself. The other rowers looked at him appreciativly, and the stragglers made it to their places on the oar and assisted Destrudo in his efforts to row the oar, putting it into pace with the others.

As they rowed on, three things crossed Destrudo's mind, first how dark it was down here seemingly as a tomb it was. The second thing was the awful smell of unwashed filth, almost as if men had died down here and simply been left to rot. But those were probably because of the third thing to cross his mind, the fear that The Shadowmast might sink and he would go down with it. He heard the cannons fire occasionally, but didn't feel it shake from impact, so he surmised that Darcy and crew above were keeping them either well out of range of the cannons, or dodging skillfully, as skillfully as one can in a ship.

He didn't remember how long they rowed, it seemed to be for hours, but finally, the orders came down for them to stop rowing. Destrudo was glad, and his arms were sore.
He got up, and walked in an almost dead trance up above decks to survey damage, but he was so tired he didn't notice, and so he turned and went back down to his bed and fell asleep.

The next day he congratulated Darcy on skillfully out maneuvering and out running the other ship, and after a pleasant but short response of "Thanks" was reminded of his chores.

The following fifteen days blurred one into the other. Days of scrubbing decks, emptying pots, and generally being everyone's slave. He manned the oars when neccessary, scrubbed pots in the kitchen and once even helped scrape barnacles off the side of the ship. He didn't do all with a smile and a friendly attitude, but he did do it.

Every once in awhile, he could be seen when he had a free moment, standing at the prow looking over the horizon.

Then one day the skies grew dark as the first storm rolled in. Tristane had remembered Destrudo's words and made no effort to avoid it. When they approached, Destrudo stopped what he was doing, which was scrubbing the floors of Darcy's cabin, and ran towards the prow despite protests from Darcy and the crew shouting.
"ONOX SENDS HIS REGARDS! WE REQUEST SANCTUARY FOR THE NIGHT!"
He repeated himself over and over, and right as Deilio and three other stronger crew members caught him, a mighty voice boomed out of the clouds, which caused the entire crew to reconsider Destrudo's story of being the prince of Noctum as being actually true.

"OOONNOOOOXXXX?"
Destrudo stood up, even as the crew gave him odd looks, and seconds before anyone said anything, the voice spoke again.
"THE MASTER GRANTS YOUR REQUEST"

A great hand of wind, water, and lightning reached down from the clouds, two orbs of fire hovered at the point from which it came from the cloud, almost like eyes. Only then did one realize it wasn't a mighty thunderstorm at all, it was a group of Storm Elementals. It grabbed The Shadowmast gentler than a mother cat grabs her kitten, and picked it up out of the ocean without damaging it. It was raised above the clouds, and set down in a large lake.

The lake was held in by small rocky outcroppings. At it's shore stood wooden docks, at the base of some pleasant green hills.

With a bang similar to that of the cannons used by the ship days ago, but quieter, a man appeared on the deck of the ship.
He looked almost exactly like Destrudo, and Onox, all three sharing the same eagle like nose, the same shape to their eyes, and the same lines around their mouth from way too much smiling. Their heads were shaped similar, and even their hair was similar. Their bodies all had the same height, muscle tone, and definition. The three kept in very good shape. Except like Onox, This man's hair was white, and his eyes were greyed from age.

He wore a blue metal Chest plate over a blue suit, with blue bants and a blue cloak.

"I don't know why, but I so want to beat you down, maybe it's because you look so much like Brother Onox." Destrudo said.
The man chuckled.
"That would make sense, since Onox and I are Identical Twin brothers. My name is Pandemonium, Lord and Master of The Flying Continent of Herusthema. I never thought I would get a visit by the crown prince of Noctum." Pandemonium said.

He turned to the rest of the crew.
"Welcome lowly pirates to Herusthema, I hope you've been working Destrudo hard. I would hate to think he's been lazing about all day. You will of course, stay the night with me, mostly because you don't have a choice in the matter. You may dock, the water is deep enough. Destrudo, you'll come with me while their busy pulling into port." Pandemonium said, sweeping Destrudo into his arms and teleporting them both to the docks ahead.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy narrowed her eyes at the ship tailing them. "Looks like our friend wants his swords back," she muttered to herself and the crew around her. "Tristane, loose the masts to the wind, we're running. Andi, Khos, Ikvehm, under deck and help with the oars no-"

It sounded like a thunder clap, and then a thick metal ball plopped in the water next to them, smoke rising from the ship. "Well call me Lou and rape me silly, the have a cannon?!" she exclaimed. "Alright, now we're really running! Oars to fleeing pace!" Darcy sprinted for the rope net and climbed with experienced speed, reaching for what she knew would save them. Tristane was huddled close to the mast, pale as sea foam, complete with the greenish tinge.

"Did your captain give you an order?" she demanded. Another cannon ball plopped nearby, but closer. They were gaining. The boy did not meet her eyes, so she gripped his face and forced him to look at her with strong, leathery hands. "Did Your captain give you an order?!" she said again, though with more intonation and even more frustrated.

"Y-yes, cap'n," he stuttered out. "My cap'n ordered me to loose the other mast."

She would have keep lecturing him, but they were loading another cannon ball and now was not the time. She loosed the secondary masts, and pulled their rope taut in the fierce wind, bending it to speed the already swift boat along faster. It gained speed just in time, for another cannon nearly grazed them.

"Five knots to port!" Darcy yelled. "Those cannons might as well made of lead! Its slowing them down!" While she held the rope in the wind, she turned to the boy and gave him a hard stare. "We aren't done here. Go down below and find the fake trade goods we have. Dump them!"

The pale-faced boy looked up with brown eyes that betrayed his fear. "Dump...them...?"

"Yes, you fool!" She called. "We're going against current. Not only is it slowing them down, but its calling for capsizing. If those barrels can mix up those oars that keep them stable, they're under!" A stronger gust blew and she strained her arms, thankful they built a rail around the Crow's Nest. "Stand there any longer and I kick you off!" she barked angrily over the wind. This was no time for Tristane's fear of cannons to be kicking in. Slowly, the boy went over the edge, for once going down the rope net instead of wildly swinging down the spare rope like he always does.

Soon, specks of barrels were tumbling away from the Shadowmast like a trail of bread crumbs. They were moving faster to catch up, she knew, having finally rowed their way to see their targets they were letting out that last burst of energy. But the first barrel got caught, and she saw disturbance in the choppy sea. Soon, the boat swayed, ricking and rocking more and more.

"Come on you dirty bastard, sink, sink," she begged. But just before they went under, a cannon shot was heard and she shrieked, and jumped for the rope as the top part of the crow's nest, clinging for dear life. She was gasping for the breath that that moment stole from her, squinting her eyes shut so she wouldn't have to see the metal ball hurling at her face. She heard the spare mast flapping violently without hands to hold it in place. Her hands were shaking, barely holding the rope. She tried to slide herself down calm as she could.

"Jump, Darce!" called the familiar warmth of Deilio's voice. She let herself go and fell to Deilio's arms, listening to him let out a grunt as his arms came in contact with all of her body weight. "You sure you're eating the right amount of rations like the rest of us?" he asked her teasingly. "I think you've put on a few pounds."

She smirked at his comment and left his arms, looking around the horizon. Not a ship was to be seen.

"Well, Deilio, it seems we lost our flag," she noted, looking at the missing piece of mast with a frown.

"I'd rather have lost the flag than you," he commented. "That cannon ball was headed right for you."

Darcy sighed and began to feel her heart rate slow and calm. She smiled and wiped away a tear that formed in her fright. "Men, hold the oars, lower the anchor!" she yelled. "We rest here tonight!"

A collectively enthusiastic shout came from the crew, which came up from the bottom, sweating and weary. The only one that did not come up was....

"Andi, where's Highness?" she asked.

"Him?" he said through a yawn. "He went straight for bed. Has enough blisters on his hands to turn the sea red with blood if he wanted."

"Yeah, yeah, enough poetics, now go get some food," she said. She looked to the horizon, where the ship once was before it cap-sized itself and went under. "We all could use some rest," she finished distantly before joining the others in a bite to eat. Normally you see a cap-sized ship's underbelly and crewmen that got away. She saw none. Darcy shivered, and went below, putting the worries from her mind for now.

[Mithra Reborn]

"Again," Darcy called to Tristane after he spit the blood from his mouth. "You don't eat until you can pin me and prove you're more man than what I saw in the Crow's Nest!"

The boy, bruised in the face and arms from his captain's blows, wiped the blood lining from his lips, streaking his arm like warpaint. The crew was silent in watching. Solemn, some would say, but Darcy knew better than that. Tristane didn't follow an order, so he had to learn. The boy rushed Darcy, landing a punch and kick before he blocked, blocked, blocked and - well, he almost blocked again. Until he messed up and Darcy buried her fist in his gut. Tristane stumbled away, before going again, and again, but the innocence and weakness of his attacks were easily defeated by Darcy. After his fifth try, Darcy, stopped and stared at him. "Little boy," she began. "Why are you beaten and bloody?"

Tristane flinched at the loss of respect she showed by calling him by his diminutive. "Because I did not follow an order when I was needed most," He said carefully, holding his side.

"Why does not following an order get you beaten and bloody, little boy?"

He bit his lip and hung his head. "Because it put the ship and crew at risk."

"So why did you risk all of our lives, little boy?"

Tristane looked up, shame hanging on his face. "I got scared, cap'n. The cannons, they sunk my last two homes. They did, they took Momma and Uncle, and-" He began rambling on incoherently, the paleness returning. A strange dread filled his young eyes and he stopped. "But," he continued after, looking at his surrogate brothers. "That...That's not an excuse, is it? Not when my new home is in danger...right?"

Darcy nodded, and hugged the boy for all the bruises she gave him then. "Sometimes, you need to be brave the most when you are afraid the most. I took you in a stronger lad than this, if I remember. Show me the man I saw when I took you for my crew. Rise, Tristane."

He stood, refusing to lean on anyone, and nodded to the captain. "I could not pin you-"

"-because you must learn much still," she finished for him. "Go to Roxie in the clinic room and have her fix you up. You look like hell."

Tristane nodded and resisting the urge to limp, went outside to go to the cabin room where Roxie waited with poultices to bandage his wounds. The crew went to their small talk, and Darcy sighed, turning away her ration and ale. "Me and Raven will be outside if you need me," she told Deilio.

Within minutes, one could hear a violin playing a fast paced tune that ripped through the silence with an icy edge. Deilio sighed, shaking his head before leaving to go outside. She only played Raven when she was angry, or when something troubled her.

He found her leaning her back against the rail, Raven's bow dancing on the white chords that contrasted so to the black body of the violin. She bridged the bag between high and low notes with ease, a certain fire to her playing that was abnormal. Her face was twisted in some sort of half scowl half frown that meant she was thinking. Deilio waited calmly for her to finish before leaning on the prow beside her. She nodded to him, staring at the missing piece of the ship. "If Tristane would have been up there, he wouldn't have jumped," she noted grimly. "He would be joining Kephrid and-"

"Darce, pull it together!" Deilio snapped. "Tristane wasn't up there, and he's resting in Roxie's right now from the punishment. And why won't you understand that Kephrid's death wasn't. Our. Fault." He saw her put away Raven and caught her before she could walk away. "Darce, look at me," he told her in a strong voice. She huffed and looked at him, obviously irritated.

"Look," she began, tugging her arm from him. "You and I both know why Kephrid is dead, and why we're taking poor Shadow all the way out here on the wild goose chase for this would-be kingdom!" She shook her head and began again, even softer, "If we just kept ourselves in control and went to Kephrid when I ordered him to be there instead of making him wait, he wouldn't be dead today."

"Darce-"

"Shut up Lio!" She snapped. "You know I'm right." Deilio reluctantly nodded, but gripped her hand again, though softer. She needed comfort right now, he saw. "You know I am...say it. Say it 'Lio, give me that much."

He sighed and shook his head. "Alright then. You're right. If we hadn't taken as much time as we did, Kephrid would be with us." He got up and closed the gap between them slowly to give her almost a brotherly embrace. "But we're going to settle things with him, aye?" he asked her. She nodded against him, letting his steady heart beat calm her.

"We have a long road," he said. "Now get some sleep." Darcy nodded, and went off to her quarters.

And so the days passed, long and grueling. Though despite his injuries, Tristane was improving. He could even swing down from the Crow's Nest without kicking anyone. And then, the most peculiar thing happened...

"what sort of yelling fit is this?" She called to Destrudo. Her captive prince was yelling 'ONOX SENDS HIS REGARDS! WE REQUEST SANCTUARY FOR THE NIGHT!' enough times for her to want to tear off her ears. "Deilio, do see about that tongue of his, for the love of gods!"

Though just as he had grabbed the shrieking man, some....elemental thing had come out of the sky and was lifting them. The ship and crew rocked and slid in the giant hand.

"Everyone, grab onto something!" Darcy yelled. "If anyone dies here, they don't get the traditional sending, yah hear?!" The ship rocked to port violently, but Deilio caught her arm before she stumbled to the railing. It was only when they were set down that she could collect herself and look around. A man was on deck that she couldn't recognize, save for striking resemblance to her passenger.

"I don't know why, but I so want to beat you down, maybe it's because you look so much like Brother Onox." Destrudo said.
The man chuckled.
"That would make sense, since Onox and I are Identical Twin brothers. My name is Pandemonium, Lord and Master of The Flying Continent of Herusthema. I never thought I would get a visit by the crown prince of Noctum." Pandemonium said.

But then he turned to her and her crew....he reminded her of the priest back in that town they left from....was he...?

"Welcome lowly pirates to Herusthema, I hope you've been working Destrudo hard. I would hate to think he's been lazing about all day. You will of course, stay the night with me, mostly because you don't have a choice in the matter. You may dock, the water is deep enough. Destrudo, you'll come with me while their busy pulling into port." Pandemonium said, sweeping Destrudo into his arms and teleporting them both to the docks ahead.

Darcy's eye twitched at that. The man would pay later, she said in her mind as she seethed. She couldn't chew him out for that 'lowly pirate' remark quite yet, not when he was all the way over on the docks.

"Alright men, lets bring her in. We've flown on a lot of water to get here!" she called. When the neared the dock, she jumped down on a rope and tied the ship to the peg and watching the two walking ahead of em.

"Deilio, with me," she called up. "The rest of you hang tight until I know more about this place." With a half-glare to Destrudo, she added, "It seems our prince is all he says he is."

[Destrudo]

Destrudo walked beside Lord Pandemonium as they meandered their way to the capital. He was excited, partly because Onox's words were true, but mostly because this place, it seemed to stir something within him. Pandemonium was speaking, and his words were easily heard by Darcy and Deilio.

"So young princling, how did you come to find yourself in the company of such fine people?" Pandemonium asked.
"Oh, so now their fine people? Moments ago they were lowly. Either way, I'm returning home to Noctum, but Onox, your brother appearently, told me to shout at the first great storm I saw that he sent his regards and request sanctuary, and now, here I am." Destrudo said.
"It is good that you care about what I call your traveling companions. It proves you are more qualified to be a ruler than your father, who would've joined in the name calling, and probably would've slaughtered the entire crew and reanimated them as his undead slaves. As for why I called them that, well, even though I'm certain their lady capptain is most upset at my remark, it has it's purpose, which will become clear with time." Pandemonium said.

They had been walking along a cliff face, and had stoppped at a giant boulder. Pandemonium walked over to it, and lifted it up with little appearant effort. It was twice the size of Shadowmast, and four times her current weight. He walked it over to a large empty area, and set it down.

"How in the hell did you do that?" Destrudo asked.
"Every member of the Chronosian Royal Family has great power. Are you not strong?" Pandemonium asked.
"No, I have no power." Destrudo said.
"I see, well, no matter." Pandemonium said.

From there it became a large plain. The grass of Herusthema was green, like normal grass, but as they walked upon it, their footsteps were white. The grass itself was waving about, and as it did so, it rubbed up against itself, creating a melody easily reproduced on a violin. It was soft and calm, very relaxing. Here and there were trees, and upon them grew giant blue fruits the size of a man's heart.

"The grass is called Whistler's Grass, for it seems to whistle in the wind. The trees are called Sailor Blessings, for the fruit they bare keep very well in salty water. One a day keeps the scurvy away. I once tasted a drink called Fruit Punch, and one Sailor Blessing gives off a similar taste." Pandemonium said. He turned onto a dirt walkway.

"That lake by the way is called The Upper Ocean, because it's the largest body of water flying in the air." Pandemonium said referencing the lake they came off of.

In the distance Destrudo saw a monster, and he became frightened, for it had the head and body of a Lion, the head of a goat, and the head of a Dragon. In place of a Lion's tail, was a Serpent. Pandemonium whistled at it, and it came running over.
"Here Henry, Here boy, come here boy!" Pandemonium said in between whistling to the monster. The monster, who was easily three times anyone's heigth, bounded on over and immediatly flopped on it's back demanding a belly rub. Pandemonium reached up and scratched obligingly.
"That's a good little Chimera. Yeah, who's daddy's good boy?" Pandemonium asked.
The Chimera purred in response, and Destrudo bravely reached over and scratched it's belly.
"Want the stick Henry? Want the stick? Go fetch the stick Henry, go fetch it!" Pandemonium said, picking up a fallen sapling nearby and waving it around at the Chimera. It got to it's feet and bounced around like a giant excited dog. Pandemonium threw the sapling high and far, and the Chimera took off after it.
"Just one of my many, pets." Pandemonium said.
"Are they normal?" Destrudo asked.
"For me? Yes, but for ninety percent of the world, no. I have great power of charm. I can bend most living beings to my will if I wanted. I could make you three tap dance for me if I wanted to, but I don't so I won't." Pandemonium said.

He paused and stared in the distance at some mountains, they were on the other side of the continent. They seemed large, but weren't the largest in the world. The layout of the flying continent was a mystery, for aside from their little spot, the island was shrouded in fog. Rather, it was covered in the clouds they were flying through.

Pandemonium lead them up a hill to a marvelous city. Statues of people filled the streets, and here Pandemonim's face grew a little despondent at seeing them.
"Behold, The Innocents. When Prince Shadow and Prince Lumine divided the country, Herusthema was the only part untouched by their divisions. The Thayne decided to spare the innocent Herusthemans by turning them to stone, making them lose all sense of time. Thus they are as you see now, the innocents, the untouched side in the unended war of the princes. To this day your father gets a kick out of knowing he made so many innocents suffer at once. That's right Destrudo, your father is over one thousand years old, and was the original prince born to Emperor Chronus. When I became a man, I volunteered to care for Herusthema, until the day came to return it to The Emperor. It was prophesied that Chronus would be restored in my brother and I's life. Remember that being a prince is even harder than being a Pirate's Cabin Boy. I'm sure you were made to scrub the decks and all that, for I can see signs of such in your clothes, mainly in how they are worn in places. But if you think scrubbing a ship is hard, try cleaning and maintaining an entire city, plus a palace. But I must do it, for it wouldn't do to have the emperor come home to a dirty unrepaired city. Everyone thinkks royalty lives free without a care, but a good ruler knows he or she is the servant of the people, and must work even harder than the lowest servant, or else he or she is not doing his or her job properly, just as a captain must work harder than her crew, to keep them alive, to keep them well cared for, and most importantly, to keep them happy, to keep the entire nation running. But enough, the palace is ahead." Pandemonium said.
The city was quite large. Waterfalls ran here and there, some built into the sides of larger buildings. The buildings themselves were made of Granite, Jade, and a crystal that seemed to reflect all the colors of the rainbow. Statues of odd and unknown things decorated the streets here and there, and some were of people, once important to ancient Chronus. Amidst it all were three concentric rings of an unidentifiable metal that seemed to hover in place without visible means of support.
"The statues are of concepts, such as the statue of Paradox, the statue of Philosophy, and the statue of equality. If you study them long enough, it is said you will understand the concepts they relay. I haven't the faintest clue what the rings are for or what they do. But I know they are a device, and not a statue." Pandemonium said.

But as interesting as the city with it's frozen statue people were, the real highlight of the trip was the imperial palace. It was made entirely of the same unidentifiable metal as the rings, however the palace was a myriad of colors, and the rings were merely brown.

Water cascaded all over the palace, but it seemed to shine with a strange blue glow, and looking into the water, one got the feeling they were staring into the very soul of the ocean. Obelisks of the same crystal the village houses were made of stood erect at what seemed random intervals, but were in fact very precise placements. As one approached the palace closer, one saw strange arcane markings etched into every available surface of of the palace. It didn't take a mage to know that the markings served a purpose, and were probably a very powerful spell of some sort.

A fog radiated from the palace, seeming to enter one's very mind, clouding it, obscuring it, making one see things. The Palace seemed to grow and stretch in size, the stairs swelling into infinity, and for as hard as one tried to stop, one discovered oneself incapable of stopping, one continued to walk, to follow Pandemonium.

As the seemingly massive doors grew closer, the fog seemed to clear one's mind, and make known the meaning behind everything. The Symbols on the door, while being devoted to each of the elements, and each of the gods, also relayed a message.

To each his own way, and to each his own path. To each his own strength, and to each his own wisdom. Beyond these doors lie the truth, make of it what you will, for none are capable of accepting it.

The doors swung open entirely of their own accord, and it was as a child approaching the parent's chair, so large in scale was everything made to appear. Yet at the same time, it was so incredibly small, as to be made for dolls. It was very confusing.

"Welcome to the palace of Herusthema." Pandemonium said.

Destrudo's mind and heart raced, as though he were finally home. His aura, normally an outline, grew and reached out to the walls, even as his hand reached out, aching to touch what he knew in his heart to be his rightful place. He knew he didn't belong anywhere in the world, not even Noctum, but here, and he didn't know why.

The room they were in was the main entry hall. There was a room immediatly to the right, and left, through grand archways. There were also four hallways, all four immediatly ahead, two on the left, and two on the right, two on each floor. In the middle of it all on the first floor set back against the wall was a Grand Father Clock, with thirteen hands. One was the hour, one was the minute, one was the second. One was marked "Enemies" One was marked "Allies" One was marked "Heirs" one was marked "Eternity" One was marked "The Dark Man" One was marked "The Omnisource"
one was marked "The Thayne" One was marked "The Present Universe" one was marked "The local Star" and the last, and second fastest moving was marked "This Hall"

Each hand was pointed at it's own place on the face of the clock, and each marked how much time each hand had left, for as it reached the twelve, that hand's time, and the subject of it's accounting, would end. Most were barely past the one. But the one marked "This hall" was at the 6.
"We were the masters of time and space, and the most dangerous nation in all Althanas. I don't know who Xos Xilanthese is, but he's widely regarded as the founder of Chronus, for it is a known fact that he and his queen, the lady Valanthe Xilanthese placed this clock in this hallway the day Chronus was founded." Pandemonium said.
Destrudo thought of the two he met on Scara Brae, them, his ancestors, but, how? It was impossble. If he killed Xos, would he himself then cease to exist? Destrudo shoved these complicated and frightening thoughts out of his mind, as he stood in the hall.
"So, anyways, how do we get off this rock so we can get to Noctum?" Destrudo asked.
"Oh, I'm flying you there, otherwise your ship would dash itself to pieces against the Reefs surrounding Chronus." Pandemonium said.

[Mithra Reborn]

It was all so much to take in. So many peculiar things that Darcy could not explain, so many things that for some reason, she could.

She stepped on the grass, noticing its effect, She reached out a hand to stop Deilio.

"Darce?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. She could not tell though, she had closed her own, and leaned back her neck, letting her long raven hair dance in the breeze to the song that the grass sang. She took it in. So soft, subtle a tone....She would have to compose something to play on Swallow trying to imitate this.

"It's nothing," she said at last, jogging a little to get back to where they were behind the two talking. Though she did happen to hear that part about the blue fruits, taking note to let her crew know to pick some before leaving. And then...

"Good gods," Deilio swore. "A guard dog like that ought to save you from practically anything..."

"More like scare away practically anything," she corrected, regarding the beast. "His bark looks far worse than his bite. Since when does a chimera wag its snake and beg for a tummy scratch?"

"Since a sorcerer wants it to," Deilio offered. They both gave the man a careful look. "The sooner we're off this rock, the better," Darcy added. "I don't like this place at all..."

It was then that Darcy simply began to zone out from the conversation in front of her, taking in more of the grass's song and the sweet smell to the air and the pureness of the sky...and the dizziness of her head. It felt harder to breath up here, and made her tired, but she yawned after a little and focused on staying alert.

By the time she woke from her haze, Deilio's hand was curled protectively over her arm as they passed by hovering rings and houses carved of stones of different textures, colors, feels.

"How did they...?" Darcy asked in bewilderment. "But that stone...how did they make it so flat and smooth and-"

"-Perfect?" Deilio finished. "I don't know. All I know is this place reeks of strange magic and the sooner we leave, the better."

Darcy nodded to him and moved his protective hand on her arm to swallow her smaller(though equally brawny) hand and edge closer. The statues even looked suspicious here. And the palace...Darcy could feel Deilio shiver at the same time she did, and she tightened her spare hand on the hilt of the sword at her side.

"Highness," she called when she was in the palace, now bewildered and confused beyond anything she's felt before. "What are those and what do they mean?" she nodded her head to the clocks. "After all, what does a -lowly pirate- like myself know about what you land men do to keep time?" she eyed Pandemonium as she said that last part. No doubt, he just added that last part about 'fine captain' to quell her temper. He obviously never met an insulted woman.

[Destrudo]

Pandemonium cleared his throat, and thought about the clock for a few moments.

"It's Quantum Movement, whatever that means. They never explain the old stories, they just repeat them. The hands without marks are normal time telling hands. The remaining ten with names mark the length of time something has to exist. I don't know what half of these arms are, or what their supposed to represent, but I do know that once they reach the twelve, what ever is represented by that arm, dies, with the exception of the one marked, This hall. Everyone sees that arm differently, and is called the ghost arm. Once it marks twelve, you leave the hall. Usually by your own volition. You can't see anyone else's arm. Whatever, they don't explain the old stories, they just repeat them.

But enough on that. I'm sure you probably want to get back to your crew, I can send you back without the walk. If you feel your in need of supplies, I can send you back with the sort of supplies you'll need, I'm due to visit Lumos and resupply anyway." Pandemonium said.

He walked over to Darcy and Deilio.
"Also, I invite you and your crew to dine with Destrudo and I. I promise, my pets won't harm you." Pandemonium said. He used a small measure of his charm, not that Darcy or Deilio could detect it, but it did give him a small five percent chance for a favorable reply.

"I'm gonna go look around." Destrudo said, moving off. as he entered the room on the right, the clock struck thirteen for no apparent reason.
"As I said, once you leave the hall, the hand that says "This hall" hits twelve." Pandemonium said.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy looked at the clock, and inside she shivered. The "Ghost Hand" That would tell her her death was on the nine. Is my life that short...? she pondered, looking away from the clock. Over the years, she learned that when she wears the patch and has to cry, cry in the patch and hide the other eye. But not here...not now. She was Darcy Ombremer, the fiercest piratess to sail in years. She could not forget that now.

"No," she said flatly, hiding the tone of her voice. "This place would scare my men far too much. It scares me enough already." She brusquely walked over and began listing out goods she needed, counting on her fingers. "We need many more barrels of drinking water for a start," she began. "Those blue fruits that protect for scurvy please, as many as we can eat without them going bad, cured meat, oh, and the top of my mast was ripped off by a cannon ball. See to that." She backed away to Deilio again, glancing around, cold sweat beading under her long raven's hair, attempting to swallow her heart again so it would not choke her with where it was in her throat.

[Destrudo]

"I hope you didn't misunderstand my explanation of the thirteenth hand. I sometimes do that. You don't die when it hits thirteen, you simply leave the hall. For instance Destrudo left the hall and the clock chimed for him, yet he isn't dead." Pandemonium said, pointing at Destrudo in the next room, who was looking around with childlike wonder.

"Anyways, onto supplies. Drinking water we can fetch aplenty, I'll use the stone of Aquifer, if you don't have the empty barrels handy, I'll fetch that too. Sailor Blessings, I'll give you an enchanted holding chest. It'll hold one hundred of them. Once it's empty, it's up to you what you do with the chest, add a false bottom and it'd be awful easy to sneak in Contraband with it, but you have to clean the saltwater out your own self later. I'll also throw in a good punch recipe that will stretch the fruits out even longer. If you want the throw in a little grog or something, it'll be really good punch then.
The meat will be no trouble, but that's got to wait for a few hours. The top of your mast will take a few days. I've got to rip up a tree, tear it apart, shape it, sand it, polish it, you know, actually make the replacement mast. I don't just have them laying around." Pandemonium said.

He walked off to another room, leaving them alone for a few moments, then came back with a silver chest. a large stone was in his pocket.
"Let's go. There's too many targets for teleport." Pandemonium said.

He walked down the stairs, and instead of turning right to the city, turned left, and walked down a hidden stairwell that lead right to the docks. Clearly then, earlier he just wanted to show off by going the other way. It was easy to see how the Palace wasn't seen from the docks, the wall was too high, and the palace set back to far.

He paused at the prow, and leaped onto the ship, setting down the trunk.

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy shook her head at her thickness, scratching her head. What kind of captain lets that happen? Angry with herself, and eager to go home, she grabbed Deilio, and tugged him through the passage. Raising a brow, he tugged his arm out and walked beside her instead, though he did take her hand since he knew it helped her.

"Talk about a bad time for fear of magic to kick in," Deilio thought to himself. "She can't act strong all the time I suppose." Though Darcy seemed to be in a mind-reading mood, for when that was thought, she pulled her hand from his and walked taller. It made him laugh a little. Yet after the look Darcy gave him, he curdled his tongue and scratch his head, glancing away.

Darcy groaned at that and climbed aboard, glad to see the supplies she listed already there, the mast already fixed. Other than that absurdly thick fog, all was well, it seemed.

"Oi, magician!" she called. "Are we done here?" Deilio went off to explain the happenings of the food, though he stayed nearby as well. He did not trust that magician, no more than he trusted the city or the magic in it. Or this place entirely, really.

Darcy noticed a similarly frightened look on Tristane's face and patted his shoulder as she moved closer to the sorcerer. "Well?"

[Destrudo]

"For today. You will of course, be spending the night up here, it's much safer than what's below. I'm certain you've heard rumors of a never-ending tempest above a great Maelstrom. It's where the Storm Elementals gather. I employ them to carry Herusthema around in exchange for certain, ehh, benefits. Clearly setting you down would be bad, because your ship would be ripped to shreds by the great winds. I once met a mad Alerarian who swore he could make a ship of unenchanted steel that could survive far more than any wooden ship, and even take a pounding from cannons and catapults and keep on ticking. I regret asking him how such a thing might be accomplished as he said something about pressurizing the hulls. Whatever. In any case, I can only imagine how nice it would be to have a virtually indestructible ship. However unless you can prove otherwise, your forced to spend tonight up here. After that we'll be over the great Chronusian barrier Reefs, and I can't put you down on them, you'll be dashed to pieces. No, your stuck here for the next few days. If only Destrudo had known of the northern Route. But no matter. Have a nice day folks." Pandemonium said, leaving the ship.

The fog cleared away, and it seemed to be a clear fog free day.

Meanwhile, Destrudo had been wandering through the Imperial Palace. It was a gigantic maze filled with blind turns, dead ends, and multiple secret passages. Many times, Destrudo tried to turn back, but it seemed as if he was being led on, towards something. All the rooms were closed, and there were no longer windows.

Finally, he came to a room with no definition, or dimension. The walls were the same shade, texture, and tone of black, as the ceiling and floor was, and the door sealed shut completely, so there was no way to tell the door from the wall.

There was only towards and away from the object that seemed to be suspended in mid-air at the center of the room. It was a crown, and it was at Destrudo's Kneecaps in height. It was more than a gold circlet, it had to be about an inch thick, and over a foot tall. It had twelve points, and each point was encrusted with the same unknown crystal that made the ceilings of the houses, and the obelisks outside. Only this variety was visibly purer, for it was completely transparent. Half an inch below the base of the spikes was a line of Diamonds, Rubies, Emeralds, and Sapphires going around the crown. More Arcane symbols were carved in the crown.

"At last, you've come for me." A ghostly voice whispered from the crown.
"Who, what are you?" Destrudo asked.
"I am your humble obedient servant. Won't you wear me? I promise I won't be heavy." The crown asked.
Destrudo picked up the crown, and discovered it had been sitting on a throne.
It was at that point he completely lost his will and self-control. The crown was so dazzling, and unbelievably light. He could feel the stored power of the ages running through it. It'd be so easy to wear it, for a moment. No one would know, no one would have to know. He set it on his head, and sat on the throne.

The walls began to glow, and the glow brightened, to a great blinding white, and when it subsided, he was sitting on a black throne in the middle of the village. He stood, the power of the Chronusian Emperors running through him. His was no longer an aura outlining his body, but a powerful cloud of red energy extending far from his body.

He touched the statue of a woman, and it collapsed into a live trembling woman.
He walked through the city touching people left and right, and they all collapsed, having no knowledge of the intervening centuries.

Possessed, Destrudo walked to the edge of the wall, and stood there watching it as the last rays of the sun sank over the Horizon. They had entered the outer fringes of Noctum.

"Let the pain and suffering heaped upon me be returned to thee tenfold." Destrudo said.

He pointed at the ship, and a fog rolled down from the palace, crept up over the sides of the continent, and drifted over the plains of Herusthema. It seemed as though a great cloud had rolled over the continent.

"Oh no!" Pandemonium said from where he was at on the great plains playing fetch with Henry. He turned and ran with all his speed, which was quite a lot, towards the palace.

Meanwhile, the fog did more than make everything seem larger, it lured those who breathed it in, into a deep slumber, deeper than any they had ever experienced before. Even trained medical professionals could mistake them for dead at first glance. Yet they were not. And in these dreams, the greatest weaknesses of those who were asleep were brought forth and used against them.

Destrudo surmised Tristane would be having nightmares about cannons, but he wondered what the rest would be dreaming about. Pandemonium knew they were strong enough to survive the The Fog of Ages, but could Destrudo be freed from the crown's grasp?

[Mithra Reborn]

Darcy was sitting on deck with the rest of the crew sleeping once more, the prow her welcome seat. Ebony locks were brushed from ivory skin by clear wind as she watched the fog set in. There was something about this place that she did not trust. Her employer. The magician with him. Even that blue fruit...no, especially that blue fruit. She looked down the raven of the Shadowmast, how its wings unfurled to make a seat, at the water, anything that would keep her from looking to the town. It scared her, that town. She already was uneasy with magic, but with that and the clocks...She sighed and took another sip of rum from the flask she brought with her from below. The fog was closer now. It looked so strange...hell, it felt strange too. It shrouded the ship, obscuring the view of the eerie town. But it didn't feel muggy like normal fog. As it crept along her bare skin, Darcy shivered, for the strange sensation was new to her. She got up to go inside to avoid the mist, but it was funneling into the barracks through cracks of the boards that held the ship together. Darcy felt it wrap her body, entering her being through her mouth, nose, eyes, lips.

"Highness...you jacka..." She managed to say hazily before her body tumbled to hit the floor, her vital signs suspended, moving...leaving. She felt her breath leaving her, but her body wouldn't respond. It was like drowning...only it ended and she wasn't dead.

At least, Darcy thought she wasn't. She was...was in the Drunken Bard?

The last time I was here...oh hell, is this happening again? She thought, though her body would not portray her confusion, nor her fear. She told herself to leave now, but it would only smile and laugh and sip at the fire whiskey. Deilio was beside her laughing with her, smiling beautifully with the fluffy brown curls on his head tousled and messy. It was now that Darcy realized what was happening. I'm reliving Kephrid's night of death, aren't I?

"Darce, what'chu so red for?" Deilio asked her, obviously as drunk as her. "Yoo gettin' angreh, cap'n?" His boyish grin warmed her eyes and face more than a shot of whiskey ever could.

"Yah, boyo, angreh tha' y'haven't poured me 'nother shot!" She said with laughing emerald eyes, their mischievous cat-like glint flirting with his smoke gray ones.

Deilio only laughed and poured her another shot, emptying the bottle. Darcy drained it instantly, feeling the fire pour down her throat.

"Shit!" she cried, something coming through her clouded memory. "I'm shposed t'meet Kephrid wi' his new sword by th'ship soon! He's th'only one keepin' watch on th'ship..."

"Th'boy's sixshteen Darshy, itsh time f'r 'im t'be a man!" Deilio protested. "Ain't like anyone c'n pull outta port anyways. I told Kephrid 'bout th'traps 'head o'time..."

"I shpose," Darcy said. "Well, th'bottles empty, sho how's bout we go back t'the room now...?"

The inner Darcy re-experiencing this bit her lip. Damn my drunken self, STOP. Kephrid is going to be ambushed any second and soon..soon...

Soon, they were in front of the room laughing while Darcy struggled to get the door to their room open.

"Damned...key...wun...go'in!" She muttered. Deilio came around behind her his hands gently taking the keys from hers and sliding it into the door. She smiled. "Thanks, 'Lio..." She turned around to find that the gesture was beginning to mean...more. He sidled closer to the piratess, brushing some hair from her eyes and face.

Stop it me, go now, go! Your surrogate kid's about to get gutted, GO!

Deilio wordlessly brought his lips down to Darcy's, his hands cupping her face and tasting the rum-flavored sweetness of her mouth. Of course now, Darcy knew that her body had hit the point of no return, since that kiss had felt so damn amazing. She felt her body kiss back, felt his hands run from her face, down her neck, brushing her breasts and torso. She felt things becoming intense, so wonderfully intense when he pressed her against the door as things became intimate.

Will I stop for....augh! Th'hell am I sposed to do?! Darcy asked herself. Wait...I'm a spirit. I've been trying to make my body do things, but I don't have a body...does that mean...?

The last thing Darcy felt within her body was the sensual kiss on her neck as the door opened behind her and slammed closed. She looked around, and saw nothing. At her feet, but saw no feet. In the hall mirror, but saw no reflection. A spirit...in the rawest form. She touched the wall...and felt nothing. Well, she thinks she did. Hard to tell when you can't see your hand.

Okay...let's hope spirit legs are faster that real ones! And with that in mind Darcy ran through the walls of the inn and out in the open air. It was strange, how she was. The trees looked interesting from the inside. But she paused a moment to look at a cemetery. She couldn't see herself, but others...she saw souls. Chained to their deathbeds, screaming for release. It made her grimace, but she kept running. Mental note, never let Deilio or the others give me last rites.

And then...the clearing came. Misty as it was. She looked over the horizon of it to find her ship waiting in the small dock in the cove. But what she also saw made her wish she had a stomach so she could vomit like she did last time. The traps went off alright - it impaled the men that tried to take the ship. except two. One, was dear Kephrid - red haired and brown eyed and still not even a man - and another that had a trap pike stuck through his shoulder that she remembered should kill him from bleeding to death.

"Kephrid!" She tried yelling. She heard nothing. Grunting in frustration, she wondered something and passed into Kephrid's body. There was static, and for a split second, pain, but soon she was in, as cramped as it felt. She felt Kephrid's own spirit and consciousness fighting her every move as she tried to parry the blows the burly man threw at the body.

"Dammit Kephrid stop tryin' to fight me, I'm tryin' to save your life!" Darcy yelled at the boy. She didn't know if he could hear her or not, but it made her feel better.

"You can't escape the inevitable, mama Darce!" He yelled back. Finally! Connection! "Now get outta my body, b'fore you get killed too!" The great man slashed at Kephrid's arm and Darcy couldn't move it away in time, feeling a pang of pain...but she didn't see a cut on Kephrid. She felt the pain but...And then another slice interrupted her train of thought and she kept moving.

"I should never have left you waitin' here! If you die again, then-"

"-then nothing will have changed!" he cut her off. "I told yah I wanted t'do the watch alone. It's my fault cap'n. By th'way, we all knew tha' the sibling act you 'n Deilio had was an act. Crissake, have yah seen y'two when y'get drunk? Y'spill nu'in but truth, when y'do! I'm gonna die t'night, accept it an' get back t'yer fun!"

The butt of his sword rammed her chest and she was knocked down. "Darce, I need yah t'let me die," he said firmly. "An' r'member that I chose this. Whatever I choose, I'm r'spons'ble f'r th'consequences. So let. me. go."

Darcy saw it now. That past, dream or fog or not, was past and therefore irrevocable. This Kephrid...it was still her Kephrid. Though sounds like the dream him grew up a little. "A'ight kiddo. Make sure y'stay healthy in the aft'rlife. Y'always were a bean sprout."

"Likewise, straw hair," he said with a mocking tone, before she was pushed out of his body, and the man shoved the pike from his shoulder to Kephrid's heart. The boy coughed a moment, blood spilling from his mouth and eyes looking forward determined, before rolling to the back of his head. It was over.

"Darce..." A voice whispered. "Dammit, she's not out yet. Whatever she's in is leaving nasty bruises and cuts...don't just stand there man, bandages! go, go, go!"

The haze was slowly leaving her, and she awoke. Painfully. She opened her eyes groaning and finding it hard to breathe without pain. Deilio has his head right over her, balancing her own head in his lap.

"shhhh, shh shh," he told her, a finger going to her lips to silence her. "I don't know what you went through, but it left you with a cracked rib or two and a nasty gash on your arm. I can see your bone..." Deilio himself had an array of bruises on him. "You're back now Darce. You're safe."

And then she wept.

[Destrudo]

Destrudo stood on the highest point of the imperial castle. It was strange, how from the top it seemed like a rather large section of an unimaginably huge tower, such a feat of engineering, it had to be impossible. Yet, maybe it wasn't. The power, his power, it was enormous with the crown of Chronus adding to it. He discovered he could teleport with it on, and so choose to stand on top of the castle where he wasn't likely to be bothered for awhile.

He took the crown off, and stared at it closer. The designs within it were so perfect, no man could've made it, each of the lines within each glyph and sigil so perfect that even the greatest of masters would have difficulty perfectly duplicating them. No, these could not have been made by living hands, but what did make it then? Destrudo got the distinct impression that he was standing on the remains of somewhere more advanced than Alerar, and it was his, all his. Yes, his because he wore the crown, his because he had the power, and his because he was the son of Shadowlord, heir to all that was his, and if he believed Shadowlord's version of history, the rightful heir to Chronus. High on power, Destrudo decided to taunt Darcy and her crew.

He teleported again, thanks to the boost in power the crown had given him, and appeared on the prow where Darcy had been the previous night before succumbing to the fog and falling to the deck. The look in Destrudo's eyes was not Destrudo's. He would speak, and it would sound like Destrudo, but it would not be Destrudo speaking. Even those who did not understand magic, such as deilio and the rest of the pirates could clearly see the power flowing down from the crown into Destrudo. It did not take a master wizard to understand that the crown was in control.

"My friends." Destrudo said. The intonation of friends spoke volumes about the violence Destrudo had in mind.
"Before, I wasn't able tp properly introduce myself. I am the crown prince of Noctum, sure, but I am also known as The Red Death. Come, give Death it's due." Destrudo said, standing, and cracking his knuckles and neck simultaneously. He let the full power of his enhanced aura go. Part of that aura was the power of Entropy, which treated Destrudo's Aura as a closed system, with no new energy coming in. Thus, it was only a matter of time before anyone within his aura lost all their energies completely, and his aura extended 60 feet from his person. All matter, organic, or inorganic, was subject to the law of Entropy, all would lose their energy equally. Only Destrudo was safe from Entropy, because he was treated as being outside the closed system, and so would not lose his energy at the accelerated pace all others would inside his aura.

Destrudo clenched his fist to strike the ship itself, to rattle it's body and prove he could make it sink if he really wanted to.

Suddenly he disappeared, as Pandemonium appeared behind Delio and crew.

"Dear Gods, this isn't good. This isn't good, this isn't good this is so incredibly bad!" Pandemonium said, clearly in a state of panic. If someone as powerful as Pandemonium had cause to panic, what then for everyone else.

He saw how hurt Darcy was, and he softened, a little bit, calming down. He fished a salve out of his belt.

"Here, this is the salve of regeneration, it's like having an Aibrone monk on call for healing. But it isn't as effective. You'll need to set that bone back in place, and run the cream over the injuries. You might have a scar or two, but it'll heal you." Pandemonium said, handing the salve over to the nearest crew member.

He took to pacing the deck.

"This isn't good, what are we going to do, how are we going to do it?" He asked, twiddling his fingers nervously.

"Well?" he turned and asked looking at the crew. Then he realized they didn't know the whole story.

"I guess you don't know the whole situation. Yes, Destrudo suddenly got stronger overnight, and yes he's wearing a crown, but that's not the whole story. It's that crown that's the whole problem. That crown is an actual living creature, something called a Computer. At least that's what all our ancestors called it. The last computer, in charge of something called The System. It runs throughout Chronus, and is what gives The Emperor all the information he needs to run his empire via an informant called Big Brother. Not that anyone's ever seen this informant and he may just be a myth. Mind you this is all just historical lore, passed down through the ages. Anyways, the crown has something called an AI, whatever that is, possibly a powerful magical artifact, I mean there are several gems in the crown, it might be one of them, and the AI is built to control the empire whenever the Emperor can't, but it's influenced by the mind of the emperor that wears it. Destrudo's mind is damaged, influenced by his father, so it's bent towards evil, and destructive purposes. Thus the crown will act in that manner. From what I understand, it requires it's user to be at a specific power level to function properly, and if their not, it adds to their power until it can function properly. There's an entire sealed level of the palace where it's power is stored. No one can get in, the magic screens require something called an authorization code. So Destrudo is now very powerful, and under the crown's control. It will act, because it has to. We have to stop this. We can't kill Destrudo, none of us are strong enough. But we can remove the crown. I can't do it alone. I need your help. We're almost to Noctum anyway, look at how dark the sky is, it seems night, but it's actually nine in the morning, and the sun should be up, but it's not. You won't see the sun for as long as we're in Noctum. If Shadowlord feels the crown active again, all hell will break loose, as an old saying goes. It won't be easy, but it needs to be done." Pandemonium said, taking charge of the situation.

Destrudo paced the streets of the city, the people had long since regained their strength, and hovered together. This man was obviously the Emperor, but what happened to the old one? For that matter, what was wrong with him? The crown had to be making him sick, that happened sometimes with some emperors, the crown made them sick, and act in strange ways. The easiest cure was to remove it. The people were loyal to the Emperor, and decided that it was in his own better interests to not wear his crown.

Destrudo meanwhile had decided that since a showdown was inevitable, it might as well be where his power was greatest, and returned to the throne room, to sit on the throne where he had absolute power.