A sword...

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Lorenor found himself walking into the Bazaar region of Radasanth. There were many stalls and stands. He found a weapon shop that tickled his fancy along an avenue called Silver Coin Avenue. He walked into the shop and noticed a small crowd gathered inside as they were being tended by various individuals. Lorenor was here for one thing and one thing only. Clenching his fists, he eyed the customers pondering killing them in the name of N'Jal for a brief moment. Knowing that he was wanted by the Knights of Dawn and a battle could break out at any moment, the mutant wanted to pick up something that would even the playing field against weaker opponents. He had a code of honor that he was trying to uphold despite his dark and twisted nature.

Lorenor wore a fine Salvarn outfit that was made of Vlince. It was colored black. The Salvarn lord was far away from home in Corone, but he needed to take care of this business transaction. He wore black gloves that completely covered both hands. The man stood at a height of about five feet all together. He was one of the shortest customers in the store. But obviously one of the wealthiest. His boots moved without a sound and he had a regal air about his person. His cloak swished like a coiled snake. Lecherous eyes stared at the new arrival as he walked up to the front desk. There were a lot of window shoppers, but very few actual customers. Those who were paying for things were already being taken care of.

The Salvarn Lord wore a hood that completely covered his face and he had a dark aura about him. His outfit was purple and black. A moment passed an he gathered himself. "Excuse me. I am looking to purchase fine Coronian Steel. For a sword I would like to have made."

[Viola Conda]

A larger man looked at the approaching man, and he looked to the hood with suspicious eyes. "A sword huh? You just want the components or do you need us to craft it as well?" He looked upon the customer with a loathing, feeling the wrongness of the character before him, but knowing he needed the coin badly. With expectant eyes he waited for his answer.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

((That's absolutely fine))

Lorenor paused as the question was posed. Several customers eyed the transaction with interest. The mutant could feel their greedy eyes latching upon his person. Lorenor looked behind him for a moment and then looked back at the tall man making sure that he was in relatively safe quarters. Hearing the question the small Salvarn lord carefully thought of his response. He was a dignitary and an industrialist first and foremost.

Visualizing what he wanted the mutant nodded after he had a solid image in his head. "What I am looking for is a steel broadsword. Native Coronian in design and aesthetic quality, masterwork in nature. I want it imbued with something that makes it rust proof." Lorenor paused for a moment and then continued. "On the blade I would like symbols of the deity known as N'Jal. The Cult of N'Jal is popular these days and I wouldst like to accommodate that popularity by making this purchase." The mutant heard whispers in the crowd from all of the eavesdroppers.

They heard the name N'Jal being spoken out loud and a few of the customers began to leave the shoppe. Lorenor noticed the sudden emptiness and sighed audibly. Why do I have to defend my religious beliefs? He thought to himself as he waited to hear what the well built man had to say. "I am interested in purchasing the sword. I wouldst like ye to build it for me. Include a scabbard and we shalt have a fine deal in the making. Do a good job, and I shalt treat thee to a drink on me when thy shift is off." Lorenor offered, wondering how the worker would react.

[Viola Conda]

He listened to the words being spoken, but his mind was already made up.

"Look bud, I don't do N'Jal here. Let's just say...he and I don't get along." He patted his hip, where a long dagger was kept neatly inside a sheath. "However, I won't turn you down based on just that. It's that type of ignorance that makes people like N'Jal so feared. I'll get you the components, two days time for travel, and I'll do my best, but as for the hilt guard in the symbol of N'Jal, well now I can't honestly say I have ever encountered that symbol."

"I do however, know a guy who can get the job finished for you. All in al, the labor, the parts, the materials, and the design. Most likely going to be a hefty wage for this. We're looking roughly at a cost of 722 gold pieces for all those materials, labor, and enchantments. We can talk about Warranty later.

Is this good enough for you?" He said handing over the specs on the design and the quote sheet folding his arms across his chest.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Lorenor listened carefully to what was being said. Perhaps the sword he was seeking was far more trouble than it was really worth, but the mutant needed something he could use against weaker opponents on more even grounds. Something seemed wrong about using a prevalida sword against someone armed with a steel sword. After making some calculations of his own, the mutant nodded in agreement. "Most excellent. I am quite pleased with the bargain." After thinking for a moment, the mutant was prepared to ask for something else.

"Anything extra I could get for 800 Gold Pieces?" The mutant asked cautiously wanting to push this purchase as much as he could. He knew that this was not N'Jal country, but he wanted the specific aesthetics he'd asked for. The smith was willing to go out of his way to make Lorenor's weapon as requested. Lorenor realized that. With that knowledge, he wanted to pay the man as much for his service as he could and get a pristine weapon in the bargain. "Let me know what other augmentations I could get around the 800 to 1,000 Gold Piece range. And we can start the labor process after the deal is sealed." Lorenor switched from classic common tongue to modern common tongue.

[Viola Conda]

"Sure," The older man said. "For that kind of money you can enchant the thing to burn with the forge upon impact, and for each second the blade remains in contact it can can weaken and eventually melt the metal or wood its touching." he looked down about his paper, and studied it a bit more looking at the mechanics involved in such a deal.

"Well, that is," he scratched his head. "After you bring me a metal strong enough to stand the forge, or some material that can withstand the heat. You'd have to upgrade your metal on the sword first to a higher tier." He scratched his head thinking. "How about a cleaving property, or a poison property. Those are popular these days..." he mumbled.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Hearing the suggestions on the man's list, the mutant got creative. After all, he was asking for a basic weapon that could hack it against people who weren't as powerful as he was. It was a principle of honour. Lorenor thought for a few moments. Poison no. Durability no. Then, an idea hit him like a fist across the face. Lorenor smiled upon the man, and it was a grotesque thing to see at best. His hand went to his chin thoughtfully. "Such properties are interesting to say the least, but what I am looking to create is a weapon suitable for use against the rookies that are everywhere. I have a reputation to maintain after all." The mutant closed his eyes for a moment and then continued onward.

"How about instead of those wonderful ideas, I can get some sort of gemstone embedded into my weapon that will allow me to harness basic shadow-energy. I am looking to build this weapon up as I go. But for now, basic level enchantments will suffice. I am looking for an edge, but not a rocket launcher here." Lorenor nodded once more. "I'd also like for this shadow gem to be able to launch elemental blasts of darkness, if of course, Coronian Steel can handle such a task." The mutant had a sly grin on his face. "But alas, my friend. 'Tis up to you. I have money to burn and the sky's the limit here."

"Let me know how much such a shadow gem would cost to add to the sword's properties."

[Viola Conda]

The man shook his head as he mumbled about gems and sighed looking at his vast collection. Parting with a gem was always a harsh token of the business, and he never let one go without good reason. "I guess I can part with it for 800 gold, but the enchantment is going to need to be created by a hag that comes around in the full moon during the black hours of the night. You want to get this done, fine, but she will be the one you go to for the enchantment." He said placing the order sheet over to the mutant so he could sign it.

"Sign on the dotted line and we got a deal."

[Mutant_Lorenor]

((Let me know what we have to do next my friend. Feel free to IM me))

Seeing the document, the mutant felt a hesitation for a moment. Paranoid, he wasn't the type to so willingly put his name on a document. However, the man had the shadow-gem he needed. This was a dual-layered gamble. On the one hand, the signature was a document that could be used against him down the road. On the other hand, it was needed as a business procedure. Lorenor wasn't going to let his own personal feelings get in the way. He nodded, took the pen and signed the document with his name. Lorenor V'Halkulus. The mutant handed the man the document.

"What next?"

[Viola Conda]

"I'll get to work crafting the blade, and you wait a few days for midnight to come so the Bizzar Bazaar can take place. Find the old hag, and do what she tells you. Until then I got work to do." He breathed picking up the paper and placing it in a security vault. "Good luck," he said tossing the mutant the gem. "You'll need it."

((Okay, so all you have to do is another post after this looking for the woman. I will give you something random to do to earn her reward, and it won't be difficult for you.))

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Are you fucking kidding me? Hearing what the man had instructed, Lorenor sighed audibly. "All right let's do this then." Lorenor had clenched his fists, and decided to go to plan the next phase. He had to see this hag...if she existed. The thought dawned on him that this could all be a set up of some sort, but the mutant quickly disregarded that thought. "I'll return in a few days time." He said calmly and prepared to go to the positions where the hag was supposed to be. He trusted in the N'Jal Protocol's ability to guide him to where he was supposed to go. So, using the Protocol's voices, Lorenor walked to a spot outside of the Bazaar and in a swampy, bog-like area of Concordia Forest. It was a bit of a journey to get there, and it took a day of traveling on horse-back. Thinking solely on the N'Jal Protocol, the mutant arrived on the position where the dark lady promised his hag would be. On an outcropping of minor land masses, the mutant made his way to a rocky outcrop and sat down upon it. The land mass was surrounded by a swampy area. He'd never seen it before in his life, and it was like a glade of sorts.

Concordia was known for its many secrets. One could take a completely different path down Concordia and find a hidden passageway that could lead to more hidden passageways. As a monster himself, Lorenor knew that Concordia was both a physical place -and- a mystical. Nobody alive could have full knowledge of every inch of Concordia Forest. It was just an conundrum, and it was filled with Lady Y'Edda's mystery. So now, the mutant had to earn his precious shadow-gem. He would ask for everything he could get out of this deal. He was certain that the N'Jal Protocol would provide him. With the glade reflecting light all around him, Lorenor senses many creatures around him. It was night, Lorenor operated at night. There would be one or two more nights before the next full moon started, and so, the mutant had to set up camp in this region. He did so. The Hag would probably make the mutant go on a fool's errand, but Lorenor was willing to try everything to succeed in his mission. N'Jal had ordered him to craft a weapon in all of her glory to signal the second age of darkness, and the mutant would do just that.

Lorenor sat down, and prepared a basic campfire on the exact land mass he was told to go to. The N'Jal Protocol offered the mutant an extra set of senses that worked directly with the mutant's own, and enhanced his capacity for sensing supernatural phenomenon. He could see various spirits and espers traveling in between the Firmanent and Anti-Firmanent. This swamp region seemed to contain its own eco-system of creatures. Various birds and flying beasts danced through the air capturing prey that lurked beneath the surface of the water. Beasts hunted in the water, and along the water's edge as they captured deer that traveled too close. Lorenor admired this place. It had a natural darkness that flowed from it. It was a dark land, for a dark creature's heart. Feeling the warmth of the fire as he created his fire-pit, a few sparks from a flint-rock created the flames he would need to study. Opening his traveling packs, the mutant created a conjuration circle for himself, and sat down at its center. As a High Priest of N'Jal, the mutant was privy to the knowledge stored within the workings of the Necronomicon.

A machine of darkness, the three-book volume was capable of strange funeral incantations and rituals. It was never meant for the land of the living. Lorenor turned to various pages within each of the three books, read for a short while, and then entered a self-induced trance. Whilst Lorenor meditated, creatures all around him performed the natural dance of life, death, reincarnation. Ruild. The true nature of Concordia as a living entity was revealed to the mutant. Sitting down in the self-induced trance, the mutant would meditate in this place of darkness. There, he would await the old hag, and whatever other old hags were needed to appease his dark lady. He was a pilgrim on a journey. A dark journey. On his dark quest, the villain of Althanas prepared himself mentally to meet whatever apparition would come. He was well aware that this whole side-job could be a trick and a set up, but he'd not given up a single gold piece. Not yet at least. He would pay for his sword when everything was complete. And so, with dark thoughts in his heart and schemes of evil things in his head, Lorenor patiently waited.

There was no rest for the wicked.

[Viola Conda]

The older woman sensed the coming of something from the north, and she cackled with amusement. The stench of N'Jal filled her nostrils, and she looked to her cane gazing into the clear crystal ball adorning the top. She saw a future of the mutant, with the need for the gem not yet realized by his feeble brain, and she smiled to herself as she grabbed the instruments of the ritual she knew the mutant would want.

She grabbed her cloak and walked out to the place where the fire was made, and she took careful not to study the things she saw on her walk. Fifteen spiders, all the size of her hand, had crossed her path. An intriguing omen for one so blessed by the queen, she mused. She gathered up her bearings and continued down the road until she gathered at the edge and looked to the mutant for the first time.

"Well, well, well..." she cackled. "I see a young man who wants to grow, but I feel a darkness that keeps her filthy hands gripped tightly around his soul..." she let out another cackle of laughter before she took her place before the mutant. "Great, great is your power young ling, but if the taint of N'Jal is inside you be warned that I may have you ask of things you do not wish to reveal. I also should warn you my power far exceeds your own. So tell me, little one. Did the power you seek feel worth it now? Do you not feel the webbing of the spider trap against your skin as I come crawling closer. HA HA!" She coughed in laughter, and her hands sagged to the side before she lifted up both arms, a wooden throne standing before her. She took her seat and watched the mutant's unease grow before her, and she cackled again.

"You seek to make the shadow gem...a fine offer. I'll tell you what you need to do. Start a fire within this very pit using the husk of four spider's who shed their bones. Than, you must bring me the body of two live spiders as well. All the other ingredients I have at my disposal. At last, when all these conditions are met, you must reveal a secret into the fire's eyes. Confront your fear and reveal your soul to the flames, for it knows when you lie. Than, the gem will be infused with the magic you seek."

She laughed again with wild amusement as she kicked her feet up and pointed to the forest. "Go child of N'Jal!" she commanded. "You have until midnight!"

((Hey, just a general FYI. The more you put in, the better this gem will be, and the rewards will be worth it.))

[Mutant_Lorenor]

((Hey this is pretty neat, well worth the wait. All right can you IM me stats of these creatures so I know what to work with?))

As one of the dual-paladins of N'Jal, the mutant could not refuse. Blind to the ways of the Spider-Magi and the future that lay before him, the mutant merely sensed an intoxicating darkness from the woman before him. Though his senses were at their peak condition and a pregnant moon swelled in the sky before him, the land of Ruild was theirs to explore. Lorenor called the lands of Althanas by their ancient names, the names written in the Codex of the Thaynehood. The mutant knew his place as a servant of N'Jal but he also knew he had his own destiny to fulfill. Standing up to his full, unimpressive height of five feet tall, Lorenor listened to the handsome crone's command. To his advanced senses, he saw something greater than an old hag. A power radiated from deep in the woman's vessel. He saw the power affected everything around it. Lorenor understood that in her youth, she was probably a creature of tremendous beauty. But to the mutant, what stood before him was not just a creature of power.

She was an Elemental being. A being of pure darkness that was a part of Ruild itself. Once, long ago, the mutant might have trembled before such a power. But now, he stood tall before this creature who would be a master to the mutant. Lorenor listened as the commands were given. The markings on the ground had a purpose now and they began to glow with an eerie red power at the exposure to the woman's presence. Lorenor nodded and bowed deeply to her, understanding his place in the scheme of things. She as a Master, he the Servant. Once commanded, the mutant understood what he had to do. He had to go slay ken. Not only that, she was asking him to slay multiple ken. For spiders-kind were the cousins of the Spider-Magi and lurked within the depths of Ruild. The legendary Spider-Magi were the creatures that killed Ithermoss, who was once the leader of Lorenor's faction in the Red Hand. Ithermoss had once lead the Red Hand to peaks of such glory, that the Red Hand rivaled the power of the Bazaar itself. Currently, the Red Hand sought to regain such power and influence and Lorenor, as one of its counsel members, sought to assist his Power Group in gaining that power.

A thought occurred to the mutant. She hadn't specified a location where the Spiderlings might dwell. Lorenor felt right that any student should ask questions of a teacher. "Where in this area of Ruild, might I find the creatures that I am to slay? And what are the natures of the beast? Might you show me an image of these creatures so I know not to slay the wrong ones?" Lorenor asked. The night was long, longer still in the places of the dark. Sunlight never touched this place of darkness as it was deep within the land of Ruild. Close to Radasanth, and yet far away at the same time. Only a skilled traveler could find this particular glade within the land of Ruild. As Lorenor paused, he saw the old hag for the beauty that she possessed. In her very stance there was grace and elegance. As one who was ugly himself, he saw the old hag as a creature that had true grace. Her power even affected Lorenor's power. He wasn't entirely certain why he had gone on this particular quest, but he would accomplish his journey even if it meant certain death. He would fight to command the dark itself.

There was one on Althanas, one that Lorenor needed to stop. This individual usurped the influence away from the lady N'Jal. Not many on Althanas even knew that the dark lady had returned to its Overworld. Lorenor knew this to be true. He focused his very existence on building N'Jal a worthy cone of power. A central bastion which would one day become a kingdom of the darkness. Lorenor waited for the old crone to give him some answers, even if they came in the form riddles. Lorenor could ask N'Jal for help unless that was forbidden in this test. Closing his eyes, he felt the presence of the N'Jal Protocol, but her voice was not the usually loud symphony. It seemed that the crone could even influence the Thaynehood themselves. Interesting. The mutant stepped towards the outer edge whilst he waited for her answers to his questions. He knew that it was a waste of time to engage in such matters, but the mutant wanted to be certain. If he screwed up, it was his ass. So he needed to be certain that this first task of N'Jal would be done correctly.

There could be no mistake.

And so, he waited for the crone to speak anew.

[Viola Conda]

"The creatures are just the small spiders that inhabit this forest. You need to find the discarded bones they leave when they shed their skins." Her voice spoke in a sage like wisdom, and she felt her ire rise as she watched moon rising over the cliff.

"There are no great guardians to fight, or mythical creatures, for this is something of a far more darker nature. I need you to hunt down and kill your kin. They hide in the tallest trees, in the deepest caverns. One bite and your head will not be able to comprehend the torment your body will feel. Tread caustiosuly, for the spiders are not dull witted insects in this forest..." her warning was well hidden with her neutral tone, and she cackled again with laughter as she watched the mutant study her.

"You would be right to respect the power I possess. I was braiding N'Jal's hair when she was but a tiny girl, with the hunger for power in her veins. Do not trifle with me, boy. My power far exceeds your own. Now go!"

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Once she told him to go, he was off at full speed. It was a lame sort of task, but it had to be done. He'd made sure to clean up after himself and take the Necronomicon with him. He could not afford to leave his most valuable possession in the hands of some crone claiming to be superior to N'Jal. He did not doubt her power, but he knew her claims were false. With the desire to be especially careful in this mission, he made sure his sensory array was at his fullest potential. Once he was well within the trees, running at fifty miles per hour on foot, he made it to a particularly thick section of trees. There were tall trees in this portion of Ruild that the mutant could climb. He listened to The Endless for a moment, and then prepared to climb the tree. He heeded the warning very clearly in his mind. These spiders are very poisonous indeed, probably some sort of a neural-toxin. I will have to be very careful indeed. Grabbing one of the low-hanging vines of the tree, Lorenor extended his claws to their full length. He stepped up to the tree and began to climb carefully but quickly.

He didn't want to loose his footing. There was no need to rush when all he had to do was be careful once. Grabbing the vine tightly, he climbed quickly but skillfully. His muscles were bulging from the effort. His legs especially were burning at the thighs. Climbing pace by pace and inch by inch, the mutant made it to a position where he was atop a particularly sturdy looking set of branches. Lorenor judged the fact that the branch was thick enough to support his weight. Stepping out on the branch, the mutant tested his footing for a moment. Once he was certain, he walked out carefully to the middle of the branch. There was a slight pull of a particular presence crawling underneath the large leaves. It seemed like his spider that he was looking for. Lorenor searched around the area for some husks he could find, and in the process he found an embedding in the tree. He sensed that there was a graveyard of some sort in that area. He opened up the tree for a moment, and looked inside. It was a darkened area of the bark with several spider skins as well as dead spiders. Lorenor could sense the dead things in the area. Collecting his bags, the mutant began to collect several spider husks, gathering all that he felt he needed. It was a gory task, and the mutant felt like he was disrespecting the grave of a fellow brother. Despite that, he did what he could.

Once he had gathered at least ten of the husks, the mutant turned away from the graveyard and said a small prayer to N'Jal. Turning his attention back to the general direction where the old crone awaited, Lorenor started the process of climbing down the tree. So far everything was going his way. Taking his time once more, the mutant was as careful as he could possibly be. Knowing he was deep in Ruild now, Lorenor didn't want to take any chances. He didn't want to stay any longer than necessary. Spider-Magi were known to dwell deeper within Ruild. These were an unforgiving lot, and were known to mercilessly slay intruders to feast upon them. Lorenor had to tread as carefully as he could. There was no room for mistakes. Once on the ground again, the mutant plotted his course back to the glade. He took a different path this time, just to be on the safe side. He wanted to protect the position of the crone, and keep certain secrets as secrets. Lorenor knew he'd earned this particular job and so he was going to do this thing correctly.

Having collected the husks now, he moved to a different location of Ruild, some roughly ten feet away from the previous one. It was a particular clearing that he stumbled upon that possessed the presence in the air he was looking for. Spiders. These were giant spiders, roughly about the same species as the spiders he was looking for. Lorenor looked upon them with great respect, for he was going down the path of the Spider Magi. Lorenor approached the nearest of the spiders. He wasn't exactly sure how to go about this, but he decided to simply do the dead. The spider was simply minding its own business, and Lorenor was taking advantage of a situation for his own gain. He didn't notice the spider silk all over the ground, which would signal to the creatures that he was approaching. Drawing a prevalida sword, the mutant decided that only a few more of these spiders should be enough for the task at hand. A name was whispered to the mutant's mind as he began his attack. Klaetritaria Aranaemorphae. They were creatures of Ruild, and were to be respected. As Lorenor moved in with his sword in hand, he began the attack.

Suddenly, the large spider, began to react quickly. With supernatural reflexes and speed the spider reacted with all the deviousness of a monster. Lorenor saw this happen and the battle began. The mutant reacted by bringing his weapon to bear. Immediately, several more spiders began to engage the mutant making their numbers four all together. Lorenor saw this happening. Slicing upward with his weapon, the spider creature was locked in its movement. Lorenor got a chunk of its head, killing the first of the spiders. The second, third, and fourth unit began to prepare their attacks and lunged at Lorenor. What the spiders couldn't count on was the mutant's connection to The Endless. A split second later, the mutant's skin was surrounded by a living epidermis. A glorious armor surrounded the mutant and hardened quickly. Once the armor solidified its defensive properties came to light. The creatures all lunged at the mutant, attempting to take care of him quickly. Reacting to the spiders' attacks, Lorenor felt a pulse in his arm that signified his gun was ready for use.

Lorenor raised his arm just at the impact point, and launched a bubble of kinetic energy around his position. The spiders, all went flying. Lorenor collected the husk of the first of the spiders. Moving quickly against the other spiders, the mutant reacted quickly and stabbed downward into the thorax of the mutated creature. The other three spiders recovered even as their comrade hissed in the air, dying suddenly. Lorenor removed his weapon and sliced in a circular motion at the closest of the two spiders. He sliced the incoming spider in two clean halves. Lorenor didn't have any more time to waste. He moved quickly to intercept the last of the incoming spiders and prepared his own counter. Moving with forward momentum, the spider attacked Lorenor and the mutant reacted. Their general reflexes were about on the same playing field with the spider being somewhat faster than the mutant. Both creatures locked in movement, Lorenor felt the bite even as its tusks bit The Endless. The Endless took the damage for the mutant, and he reacted by severing the spiders' head. Collecting the remainder of the husks, Lorenor was satisfied that he had enough of them for the ritual to commence. He returned to the position of the old crone. The trip back was an uneventful one as he kept to areas where he sensed only primitive life forms at best. Monsters were everywhere, but the mutants' senses were sharp enough that he could avoid them all together. When he had returned to the campfire, Lorenor unloaded the twelve husks he had gathered. Including the four fresh ones. "Will this be enough?" Lorenor asked of the crone and waited.

[Viola Conda]

The woman regarded the husks with a scrutinizing eye, and after a moment she felt the power of N'Jal scream in the remains and she smiled. "Aye," she cackled. "Just enough." She lifted her walking cane and pointed to the fire pit, spitting a word of power and raising her free arm up in a fierce uppercut. The flames exploded into life and rose life a raging inferno, and tips licked the faces of the mutant before settling down upon the pit. Using her cane again she used sorcery to lift the bodies of the dead and place them in the fire, and a wailing scream pierced the darkness and flocks of bats and other wildlife fled the area in terror.

"Blood of a chosen kin, the bodies of a willing servant," she spoke in a chant. "The deception's veil drops as the truth is spoken. May the darkness hear his words and penetrate deeply past the fog, and imbue yourself within the gem!" She lifted the gem upwards to the moon in an offering before tossing into the hungry fire, the blaze growing to a heights unimaginable.

"Now worm!" She hissed. "Tell the flames your secret, and I pray to you that it is the deepest one you have! For if the fire finds you fleeting, your gem will crack and turn to ash, and your soul will burn in its place!" She cackled as she gestured for the mutant to speak.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Licking at his face, the burst of fire produced a psychological pain more than a physical one. Recoiling, the mutant attempted to cover himself but it was already too late, the flames had darkened his skin some turning his gray flesh tone into a darker shade of black. Lorenor's very soul was changed by the Wizard's Fire. As his flesh darkened, so too, did his appearance. The scar on his face, once a prevalent feature, was burnt off replaced by a new mask. Lorenor had several angular slits where a nose should have been. His eye sockets settled into his skull slightly further to the front revealing a new creature indeed. The burning eyes of energy were burnt asunder and replaced with a deep amethyst glow. Signifying the transforming touch of the hag's soul fire. Lorenor screamed in agony as his face was transformed to resemble that of the Spider Magi. No other visible changes occurred. Lorenor knelt on the ground, barely hearing the woman's voice above the sound of his own horrible screams. Fire. The mark of light everlasting, the destroyer of trees.

Feeling intense pain, Lorenor never completely recovered from that agony. However, he found that he was able to handle the intense pain with a much greater threshold. Charred, his skin settled down as well revealing an almost black flesh tone. Lorenor looked at his older self burnt into the image of the flames as the incantation was recited. Reveal your secrets. N'Jal commanded and so, Lorenor did as he was told. A simple puppet, the mutant was simply trying to build his envisioned cathedral in the name of N'Jal. But what is the price? Lorenor couldn't help but wonder as he clutched at his face and stared at the flames. Heat flowed from the fire that made his very soul hot. His skin felt like it was getting burnt alive, but the mutant persevered. Knowing that a lesser man would have been burnt alive by the old woman's Wizard's Fire, the mutant was able to handle pain. He knew how to take hits, with style. Though he'd been caught off guard, the mutant quickly adapted. Staring at the flames, with visions of The Pyre in his head, Lorenor went into a trance of his own.

Powerful memories began to float in his head. Flashes, images. First, recent memories began to surface. His battle against Veatrix Bane (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=18907), his battle against the female Monk named Ailnea (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=19066), and many other memories. An image flowed forward of an adventure he recently had with a girl named Krista (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=16632) and his fellows, the Golems of Dressed of Town. More memories still. Flashes. Each of the memories brought up powerful feelings. His most recent escapades, dogged eternally by those bastards known as the Knights of Dawn. Every single step he took was shadowed by one of their malevolent captains or commanders. He knew his life would always be like that. But without such a challenge the glory would not be quite as satisfying. Lorenor knew that to be true. Where once he was but a whelp, he'd become something legendary.

One day, his name would inspire a generation of chaos. There would be those who would tremble at the mere mention of the mutant. Lorenor knew that was true. It was coming. The Second Age of Darkness. Nay, it was already upon him. For within Lorenor's vessel, rested a secret. An ugly secret, a deep dark secret. And the mutant began to discover the true nature of his existence. He was meant for more than just being a goon-servant. Carrying the N'Jal Protocol within was only a small part of the prophecy. Lorenor had been active throughout all of the great ages of Althanas and now a new age was beginning. Finding something that would be a worthy sacrifice, Lorenor spoke in perfect Spider-Magi. At the screaming of the N'Jal Protocol, Lorenor whispered a powerful secret. An ancient secret. A secret that would change the very foundation of Althanas to its core. No longer, could the mutant live as a slave. No longer could he simply follow orders blinding. He was something above, beyond.

He was a weapon created by the gods. And so, he began to speak. (Translated from Spider-Magi) "<Secrets? We have them all. But there is one with the greatest secret of all. Your Wizard's Fire has already read my soul and I have survived. Instead of speaking my secrets, I shall do one better.>" Already embracing the legacy of the Spider-Magi, the mutant took out his ceremonial dagger earned from the Church of Ethereal Sway. Once, he lived the life of a freelance Assassin. That life was no longer for the Church and all institutes like it had become his enemy. Slicing his left wrist open, the mutant splattered his blood across the flames so that the fires could consume his secret. "<I am a Demi-Thayne.>" Lorenor suddenly said, looking up at the crone. "<I am a child of N'Jal. But I have my own destiny.>" Reading his secrets, the flames read the unique D.N.A. pattern lurking with the mutant. It was a pattern known as the Ambrosia Strain. A techno-organic virus produces as a weapon by the Thayne known as N'Jal. Lorenor hoped it would be enough. None other possessed the secret that he possessed.

A secret that would change Althanas forever.

Switching back to the common-tongue, Lorenor looked up at the old crone as the wound in his wrist regenerated. "Shall this be enough, mi'lady? Or do I require more?" Lorenor awaited the results of the ritual.

[Viola Conda]

The hag looked at the newly formed mutant, and her lips parted into a sly smile. "N'Jal must have crush on you, boy!" she laughed looking him in the eyes. She tapped her cane into the flames and the gem popped out, the clear see through crystal now had smoke flying around the gem, and she smiled to the mutant.

"Your gem has the essence of the darkness inside it. All that you wished of it is at your finger tips now." She hid a trace line of amusement in her tone as she looked oddly at the crystal and then turned her back to the mutant.

"One last thing, N'Jal pawn." she turned her head to give him a half fleeting look. "That smoke inside is swirling around, but it's not for special effects. It's hiding something, something deep within that crystal that ate your secret and spilled out a premonition. Heed these words carefully. One true fact about your future is hidden, and when you break that gem it show itself to you. But this truth cannot be altered, and I know for a fact it will be about your doom. Once you break the gem, fate's noose will tighten around your neck and hang you from the tree of destiny, just as others like you before it. And any magical properties the gem had will obviously fade as well." She added walking away.

"Good by, Pawn of N'Jal." the crone said, her cackles easily heard for miles on end.

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Walking back to Radasanth was a slow process that seemed to take a lifetime. At least two days passed since his encounter with that mysterious old hag. Her words weighing heavily on his heart. His foot falls were heavy, and he felt the awesome weight of destiny bearing down on his shoulders. He'd learned something about himself that night, but he'd also learned something about the future...his future. Her chilling words coursed through his mind over and over. He looked at the shadow-gem in his hand. Staring back at him was his new face, an eternal grin upon it.

It seemed to be laughing at him as he'd fashioned for himself a new identity. He wondered if the others before him had suffered the same fate as he. Or far worse. All I want was a shadow gem for my sword... Lorenor thought to himself. He'd wondered if the capacity to control the living darkness was well worth the price he would have to pay. He'd have to protect that shadow-gem with all his capacity. Lorenor found himself walking on that same street in the bazaar.

He passed several groups of tourists on the way and mass consumers of the many exports and imports found in Radasanth's Bazaar district. Once, The Red Hand had gained control of The Bazaar. The power group would pretend to be gods to the people if they could and Lorenor was now inexorably a part of that legacy. Lorenor's face had a shadow across it as he walked. His heart building up a dark that he had never known up until his encounter with the old hag. Having sensed a tremendous power within that old crone, the mutant wondered if he was choosing the right side in the war against the Thayne. He wondered if he would ever see the crone again.

Lorenor entered the shop. People immediately reacted by moving away from the mutant as he entered for his own inner darkness had awakened. As a creature of the dark, Lorenor was now bound to those same rules. He sighed as he saw the reaction of the people all around. It was always the same reaction, people now trembled in fear when the mutant walked amongst them. No. He was no longer a mutant. Now he was a full-fledged Spider-Magi. Lorenor walked up to the counter. "I trust that my weapon is ready? I have obtained the gem I seek." Lorenor waited for the blacksmith to show up so he could finish the transaction and be on his way.

[Viola Conda]

Whatever trace of the former mutant was left, now was gone. He had changed and it was no longer in a subtle way. The shop keepers first impulse was that this creature killed the other man, but in fact it was the mutant. He wanted to take the new blade, and crush the thing before him with it, but in the end he had a civic duty to serve whoever entered his shop. With a heavy sigh the man stood up grabbing the wrapped parcel and bowed low, not out of respect, but to avoid gazing upon this filth in his shop.

"Take it, then leave." He said firmly, hearing the golden coins drop to the table, the weight of sword leaving him. "Do this world a favor will you?" He said summoning up the courage to look at the newly changed man.

"Take that sword and die on it!"

[Mutant_Lorenor]

Quick question, what does the shadow-gem actually DO?

Picking up the weapon, Lorenor placed the exact gold needed for the purchase on the table. He looked calmly at the man as he took his sword and placed it within a scabbard. He put the whole thing on his person. Lorenor felt the weight of his weapon as he looked upon the blacksmith before him. He shook his head for a moment and then simply left the shop. He heard the man's words but the mutant simply let them slide.

He had bigger fish to fry now.

He walked into the new night and prepared to grasp his destiny without fear, as he did all the things in his life.

[Taskmienster]

400 exp approved and added. Gp removed.