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View Full Version : Never forgotten. (Solo)



Mutant_Lorenor
01-23-12, 07:21 PM
(Note: This is like my return thread or something. It takes place after the events that took place HERE (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?19839-Legend-of-the-Dark-Hero-2.) these events are all connected and continues my story.)

(Takes place roughly one month after the previously linked thread. For most of this thread I am using level 10 Lorenor. But by about the middle of the thread, it will be current day Level 0 Lorenor, thank you for understanding!)

Downtime.

Lorenor always hated downtime, he was a prodigy of N'Jal and he wanted to always be on the move. Always causing new paradigm shift to the current political universe. A whole month had passed since the events involving Rolund Gomman. Word quickly spread through the streets of Knife's Edge that the Prime Minister of Salvar had fallen. It wasn't clear who had done the deed since there were no witnesses to the events, but a mutilated body had been discovered. It was headless and missing certain items, but they knew who it was. The deed was labelled an assassination publicly by the local authorities in charged of such matters. Then, after that fire had lit the hearts of the masses, things went quiet. Dreadfully quiet, in the affairs of the church, and of Salvar in general. Even guards, well trained, watched their backs as news of their King going into hiding spread like wild fire amongst the masses. Nobody was safe. Anybody connected to Iorlan was a target. The professional Assassins of the Sway were a skilled lot that moved in an out of the shadow with ease. Using cloak and dagger tactics, they got rid of any who stood in the way of the cathedral's deeds.

After coming face to face with Saint Denebriel herself, Lorenor had half expected things to get much more active. They hadn't. Instead, his focus was back on his training, and he did not complain about being pushed to the side once during the event. He was thankful for the resources at hand and used them to the fullest his new rank as a Professional would entitle him to. It was a Thursday when he found himself in the training center once again. Trainers were set up around the chamber and Lorenor was utilizing one of them. None knew he was really an Assassin of the order, but it did not matter. All members of the cathedral were treated equally and allowed to use the centers provided on campus. Ranking members of the church were allowed to access special services in the training center, and Lorenor oft used these services. In fact, he was doing so then when he was training against a higher skill leveled trainer.

As Lorenor trained, he thought of the events of the previous mission. Things had gone dreadfully sour and he'd lost some crucial allies in the war against Iorlan and his comrades. Lorenor moved fluidly, his combat prowess tried and true. He had lived to ripe ol' age and lived to tell about it. He'd seen many dark deeds across history and had his hand in them. He'd ripped a bloody path across the pages of that same history. Lorenor danced against the trainer, the movements were fluid, almost beautiful to look at. Lorenor had developed an intensely brutal combat style that involved risking life and limb for incredible results. Lorenor could regenerate at will by then and because of that, he put his own body in harm's way, turning it into a living weapon. Lorenor raked out with his claws, unarmed, yet armed at the same time. Each of his swipes and slashes were filled with rancor, precise, and quite deadly. The trainer he fought was an equally experienced agent of the cloth, a professional assassin who'd seen many battles in his career. Lorenor trained against such men because he respected them.

Since the beginning, Lorenor had sought the strong in the order to learn from them. Strength was capable of causing fear, and fear was the department of The Grand Primus. As Lorenor trained, he thought of the events of the previous mission. Though he was rewarded for his efforts against their enemy, Lorenor criticized his own performance for the loss of critical members of the assassins. Though the major loss had been the act of a coward working for the enemy, Lorenor still blamed himself and it was a weight that put lead in his heart. As dark as Lorenor's soul was, he was also bound by honour. A long-time presence in The Church of Ethereal Sway, the skilled assassin had grown in talent. Lorenor honoured his friendships and contracts with his superiors, as demon-society was a contract society.

A few hours passed and Lorenor had completed his melee training session for the time being. When he was done, he cleaned himself up, and left the training complex of the church. He no longer received awkward stares from his companions in the fold. As Lorenor walked out of the training complex, The Endless surrounded his form. He could will it to take any material outfit's shape, and often dressed in the clothing of the N'Jallian Spider Magi. Though his practices were generally frowned upon with other members of the fold, his skill was an asset. Lorenor had earned his prestigious status as a professional. Lorenor willed The Endless to take the form of N'Jal High Priest robes. That generated some stares from his companions, but The Grand Primus did not care. He was set in his ways and was no longer concerned with such trivial matters. Lorenor walked to his personal quarters on campus near the cathedral where ranking members received official housing. He sat down on his bed, took a certain set of books and spread them in a certain way in front of his person, and began to chant quietly to his matroness. Lorenor instinctively moved to a lotus position, sitting quietly in the dark and preparing himself for what the hour might bring him. Either finally, a mission, or yet more training, he would be ready.

Mutant_Lorenor
01-24-12, 02:06 PM
Meditating at that point, the words on the empty pages of the books before him began to light up. Several runes, written in ancient Spider Magi, manifested before The Grand Primus. The dark lit up with the glowing symbols, they were blue in colour. Lorenor, whose eyes were energy, could see in the dark. Closing his eyes, or at least the same equivalent of, cast a shadow across the mutant's face. Lorenor looked at the symbols as they appeared and recited the daily incantations to his matroness, N'Jal. Lorenor focused on the dark words that appeared before him, and took care of the daily rituals that was required of him. He was a High Priest and he needed to set an example to his brood. Lorenor kept in constant contact with his allies through connections established from the symbols on the pages before him. There was no need to turn pages, Lorenor had the three works memorized.

Candles in the room lit up with a blue-fire and touched the darkness with their ambiance. The bed that Lorenor sat on was quite an elegant one. It had a canopy and was fashioned after traditional Salvarn manufacturing. Lorenor liked the Salvarns, they were interesting. Their way of life and political situation fascinated the mutant. Though that was not why he was studying the scripture that night. The main reason, was that he needed to contact his own people in Raiaera and get weekly reports from the tasks he had left in their hands. Lorenor waited a moment, and an image appeared before him. The girl bowed before The Grand Primus and sat down atop the bed. She had a purple light that surrounded her form, and wore elegant robes. She one was one of Lorenor's many High Priestesses.

Lorenor looked upon her for a moment, opening his eyes.

"Litha. My trusted comrade. How are affairs back home?"

"My Lord. You have been missed. Even though you check in weekly with us, affairs are not the same without your presence to ensure quality. I understand your skill is needed in Salvar as part of our Lady's decree, but you are also greatly needed here at home. Our workers are efficient and trying very hard to obey the dark lady's command." There was a pause. "That matter you had us start is already underway."

"And Captain Drago?" Lorenor was missing being at home. In the small undead town that was rapidly becoming a city. Lorenor missed Drago most of all and the words that N'Jal whispered to him of his Captain were most disturbing.

"Gone." She said. "It's been more than a month since he has been in our ranks enforcing the word of The Lady. What would you have us do about that?" She asked.

"Nothing. I will handle Drago as soon as I can." Lorenor said. "My tasks here in Salvar are almost complete. It has been a long road, and I have worked hard to establish what must be done. Soon I will embark on a journey that will settle the loose ends I have here. I can feel the hour is rapidly approaching. Insofar as Drago goes, his services to the dark lady will always be remembered. He is a trusted ally and should not be seen as any less than such. Any attempts at retribution from our fold against him for leaving will be dealt with harshly, am I understood?" Lorenor said.

"You are." She responded. "My lord, I have sent parcel to you containing a detailed document. It should arrive in a matter of days. It contains important matters that are being taken care of as we speak. They require your personal approval. Please take care of those matters as soon as you can." She said, speaking as an equal to Lorenor.

"As soon as I receive the parcel, I shall take care of those matters." Lorenor said in response. "In the meantime, that matter takes top priority. Make sure to it that it gets done, see to it personally Lady High Priestess." Lorenor commanded.

"It shall be done, my liege." She responded. Bowing again, a moment later the image was gone and Lorenor was alone.

Lorenor sat in the lotus meditating for the rest of the night and listening to the voice of his matron, N'Jal.

***

The next day...

There was a knocking on his door. At some point, Lorenor had fallen asleep and rested for a few hours well into the morning. Sensitive to stimuli, the mutant awoke, refreshed, after his deep meditation the night before. Sliding out of bed, the mutant remained skyclad keeping The Endless under his skin. He stretched, and the knocking persisted. Walking over towards the door, Lorenor opened it and greeted the courier that seemed surprised to see the mutant's nude form. It was apparently not his regular messenger. Lorenor had never seen the young man before. He was in his late twenties. Lorenor saw that the fellow carried several parcels on his person. There was an awkward moment as the boy stared at Lorenor's nude form, and then he blushed furiously, remembering why he was supposed to visit Lorenor in the first place.

"Herr Lorenor I take it?" The messenger asked.

"Aye lad. How can I help you?" Lorenor responded.

"I have some parcels for you, and word from your superiors. You must sign for the parcels." The messenger said.

The boy handed The Grand Primus a legal form. Lorenor signed his name where he was told to.

Then, the boy handed him several packages. One of them was somewhat heavy, but the mutant barely noticed it due to his center of gravity.

"Thank you boy, here is a little something for your services." Lorenor said and handed the boy some coin.

***

As expected, Lorenor had received the parcel from home. He put that package in a safe location in his personal quarters. Then, he took out the classified documentation from his superiors. It was addressed directly to him. Lorenor opened this up quickly and read the forms that were stored within. Just as he had suspected, he had received his next assignment. Lorenor carefully studied the documentation and what was being asked. When his eyes scanned the name of the target, they went wide. "Absurd!" He called out to nobody in particular. He had just got placed on a hunt of all hunts. Frowning, the mutant carefully placed the parcel with the rest of his things, and willed The Endless. A moment later he was dressed and out the door, fully geared. The mutant was an autonomous member of the church's Assassin's Guild. Once on mission, he did not technically have to report to anybody. But as a favor to his superiors, who he liked working with, he made sure to constantly check in for their advice.

Once he had stepped into the lavishly decorated office, he looked at several men in the office. Apparently he was expected. Lorenor sighed, he hated being late.

"I take it you just got the parcel, Herr Lorenor?" Jake asked. Jake was the current leader of The Assassin's Guild, strangely though, he was not a native Salvarn like most members of the Guild were. He was an Elf from Raiaera. Lorenor nodded.

"Apologies for being late. There were matters to take care of." Lorenor said. "So is the target confirmed?" Lorenor asked.

"It is." Jake responded.

There were two other Assassins in the room who were also there to see Jake. Both of them were native Salvarns.

"I'm not ready for this." Lorenor suddenly said and that caused Jake to raise an eyebrow. "Is there anyway I can request to be put off of this job? I don't want to be a liability considering the disasters of the last mission."

"The disasters you speak of...were all resolved. Though the casualties we had were terrible losses, we have since replaced the members who had fallen. Besides, those losses, according to multiple eye witness reports, were not your fault. You have no blame here." Jake said fairly.

"Regardless, I still feel some responsibility for the loss of our comrades." Lorenor said. He sighed, Jake was not one that you should argue with, ever.

"Gentlemen." Jake said. He looked at the two others in the room. "Kindly leave Herr Lorenor and myself alone for a few moments. I shall summon when I have discussed matters with him." The fellows left without daring to question the elf. "Have a seat Herr Lorenor." He commanded. And Lorenor obeyed, knowing his place amongst the fold. "You raise valid concerns, but your mourning is not a liability." Jake rubbed his angular chin. "It merely means that next time you will work harder to defend your comrades, and they must work harder to stay alive at all times." Jake continued. "We are at war Lorenor. The entirety of The Guild is mobilized for a large operation which hasn't happened in my lifetime." Jake stopped for a moment and spoke again. "Lorenor. I trust you have seen who the target is, and now have an opinion about this matter?" Jake asked.

"I have maestro." Lorenor said. "There are more skilled members in the fold than myself. Why was I chosen for this?" Lorenor had to know. A job that big required a more experienced mind than his own.

"Lorenor." Jake began. "Nobody in our fold has the particular...talents that you have." Jake was suddenly quite serious. "My superiors have acknowledged your talents time and time again. You have become one of our most resourceful Agents that the fold has ever seen. You are too good for the fold's standard trinkets and rewards system. I have been at talks with my superior officers about you for exactly a month. I apologize that you have not been put on anymore missions since the last, but this matter was one that required the hand of an expert. Nay. A master." Jake leaned forward and looked at Lorenor for a long moment. "You were allowed to practice your beliefs no matter what my superiors have said about you." Jake said. "Now it is those very beliefs that are being called upon to service once more." Jake continued. "Your talents will give us an edge in the war Lorenor."

Lorenor sat quietly as Jake spoke. He sighed a moment later.

"What do you say Lorenor? Do you still feel under trained for this?" Jake asked.

"Am I free to use any means necessary?" Lorenor asked. He had been wanting to cut loose.

"You are but there is one request for this." Jake said. "My superiors have asked for his complete head intact, and furthermore, there is the object that was asked of you as well."

"The object must be completely intact?" Lorenor asked.

"It must for you to get full credit." Jake said.

"I am still uncertain, but I know that our superiors have placed this task before me because they trust my talents. I shall perform the duty asked of me to the best of my talents." Lorenor said.

"One more thing." Jake said. "He will not be alone. But neither will you. His guards are not the priority, he is. Do-not get caught up in taking down all of his followers. Only the target is critical. Let your colleagues handle the rabble." Jake ordered.

"When shall I depart for his lair?" Lorenor asked.

"On the morrow."

Mutant_Lorenor
01-24-12, 10:25 PM
A full scale operation.

This matter is much more serious than I could ever have thought. They are mobilizing the fold in it's entirety. It will provide the cover needed for me to slip into the complex unnoticed and assault his main forces. Lorenor shivered with pleasure as he walked the halls of the residential campus. Returning to his personal quarters, Lorenor noticed that he was not alone after a moment or two. He turned towards the presence, it was one of the men that were in the office with Jake earlier in the day. Lorenor nodded with respect to his fellow blade. After the mutual exchange of greetings was taken care of, Lorenor looked at the man carefully, and wore a grim expression on his face. This man, and possibly his companion, would be allies in the day's affairs following the full scale operation. A war on our enemies, we are finally taking proactive steps to be rid ourselves of this filth once and for all!

"Herr Lorenor, may I have a word with you?" The man asked.

"Let's step inside." The mutant said. A moment later they were safely within the walls of his apartment complex. Lorenor pulled up two chairs, one for his guest and one for himself. "What can I do for you, comrade?" Lorenor asked.

"I am part of the platoon that will directly provide you support." The man said. "I am going to be working under Jake Kray's command." The man carefully rubbed his chin in deep thought. "If we are successful it will end the long campaign against our enemies." The man said. "What I mean to say is, the war will be over and Salvar will be at peace at last."

"Is something troubling you?" Lorenor asked.

"Aye, Herr Lorenor." He continued. "I have served the fold for a long time now. Many years as of a matter of fact and I am honour-bound to our leaders. I do not have any loyalty to the crown. But I am just a Salvarn sword. I am doing what I think is right." The man said. "I am afraid that many of us will fall tomorrow because of his arrogance." The Salvarn said. He continued. "Herr Lorenor. My comrades and I speak of your exploits. We speak of the matroness you worship. There are many who are against a practitioner of diablerie within our ranks. But I have come to know that you are a man of many talents, gift, and enormous power. What I mean to say, is will you accept me as a disciple?" The man suddenly asked.

Lorenor paused for a long moment as he considered what the man was asking. "You see the boon?" Lorenor asked and the man nodded. "Understand that there is no going back if this is what you really want." Lorenor was an honest man, a dangerous one, but an honest man none the less. "I can grant you power but there is a price to pay." Lorenor said carefully. "If this is what you really want, there is power to be gained beyond your wildest dreams."

"Herr Lorenor. My comrades have informed me of your status as The Grand Primus. I am here to offer you my services and loyalties." The man stood up from his chair, walked towards Lorenor and knelt before him. "My name is Hathyr." Hathyr said. "I belong to clan Thunderhearts." The man remained knelt for a long moment as Lorenor thought about what was happening.

Lorenor stood up and walked towards Hathyr. He put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Rise. Son of Thunderhearts." He rose as Lorenor commanded. "You have taken your first steps into a larger journey." Lorenor said. "I have met few brave men like you in my life who sought the dark secrets willingly. You will become a tremendous asset when I'm through training you." Lorenor walked over towards where he stored his personal things and conjured the three books of The Necronomicon. He removed one of the volumes and walked back to Hathyr. "Within these pages, are rites I can invoke to make you more powerful. A skilled Agent of N'Jal." Lorenor said. "But you must want the change, willingly." Lorenor placed the book on the table and turned the pages to a certain section of the volume. "This is the rite that will bind you to N'Jal." Lorenor said carefully.

Hathyr looked at the open book and saw nothing but blank pages. "I see nothing."

"Because you have not yet awakened your eyes." Lorenor said. "You must learn to see as The Agents of N'Jal do." Lorenor sat down in his seat again. "I can show you the way to great power." Then, he continued. "You must follow the dark lady's decree after for her word is law." Lorenor could go on and on about N'Jal for hours. Attempting to explain to a mortal the chess-board of The Thayne was like trying to explain the arcane forces of magic to a grasshopper. Lorenor spoke to Hathyr until a few hours passed, and it was late into the night. After the time for speaking was over, it was clear to Lorenor that Hathyr was ready. Lorenor looked at the man for a long moment and said the last of what he needed to say. He'd spent a long time explaining rules of un-life and things of that nature. Most importantly, he had explained the laws of N'Jal to his latest apprentice.

"What must I do?" Hathyr asked.

"Follow me." Lorenor said simply and the ordeal had begun.