IC: For Love

[Thorlan]

Thorlan looked at the man and simply shook his head, "The rooms on the main floor will be perfectly fine for me." His head turned towards the tower at the sound of the scream, though he simply shrugged it off, knowing the voice as none of the ones that he was traveling with and that it did not seem to involve any of them to any way of his thinking. Slowly he followed the man into the building, looking around as he did so and feeling slightly sick to his stomach from the powers that assaulted him from all sides.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir listened to Silver as she spoke about the act he asked of her being horrific and embarassing. He nodded understandingly, more to himself that her, for she was blind. He had not realized she could find out so much about a person, and how far she would penetrate into their personal lives. At this point he heard a distant scream in the tower, a man. Silver became alert and asked him if he heard it. He did, and he also felt a strong pressence. It was power that seemed to be all things at once, both holy and hellish. Silver had realized the same thing, for she spoke of it.

"Both evil and good. Male scream." She said as Validrir stood and came around the desk to take her hand. Together they hurried out of the office and down the corridor to the entry hall and the stairs. Validrir saw Pensworth and on of the strange travelers looking up the stairs to where the screams were coming from. Pensworth turned as Validrir and Silver approached the stairs and looked to his lord for some directive.

"Pensworth, come with us. I apologise sir, we will get you settled as soon as we solve this latest occurance, you may follow if you like." At that point, the screaming suddenly stopped, the evil and good power with it. Looking to one another in question, Validrir, Silver and Pensworth set off up the stairs at a hurried pace. Soon they turned onto a landing, Validrir seeming to know exactly Where the screaming had come from, and headed down a long corridor. They stopped at a door about half way down the hall and threw the door open. There he found the traveler, that had showed up at the tower after the others, lying in his bed. Validrir imediatly came forward to check the man, leading Silver to his bed side. "Are you alright? What was that screaming?" He asked.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir listened to Silver as she spoke about the act he asked of her being horrific and embarassing. He nodded understandingly, more to himself that her, for she was blind. He had not realized she could find out so much about a person, and how far she would penetrate into their personal lives. At this point he heard a distant scream in the tower, a man. Silver became alert and asked him if he heard it. He did, and he also felt a strong pressence. It was power that seemed to be all things at once, both holy and hellish. Silver had realized the same thing, for she spoke of it.

"Both evil and good. Male scream." She said as Validrir stood and came around the desk to take her hand. Together they hurried out of the office and down the corridor to the entry hall and the stairs. Validrir saw Pensworth and on of the strange travelers looking up the stairs to where the screams were coming from. Pensworth turned as Validrir and Silver approached the stairs and looked to his lord for some directive.

"Pensworth, come with us. I apologise sir, we will get you settled as soon as we solve this latest occurance, you may follow if you like." At that point, the screaming suddenly stopped, the evil and good power with it. Looking to one another in question, Validrir, Silver and Pensworth set off up the stairs at a hurried pace. Soon they turned onto a landing, Validrir seeming to know exactly Where the screaming had come from, and headed down a long corridor. They stopped at a door about half way down the hall and threw the door open. There he found the traveler, that had showed up at the tower after the others, lying in his bed. Validrir imediatly came forward to check the man, leading Silver to his bed side. "Are you alright? What was that screaming?" He asked.

[Anderen]

His bed, and everything else in the room but Anderen and his belongings, had all been burnt to ash the moment the flames erupted from within him. He now laid in a pile of ashes in the center of a room painted black by the smoke from all the furniture as it burned. He was lost in his dreams again, though they were peaceful now, but he was still lucid and aware of what must be providing this peace. Anigav must have taken the devil within her again. he thought to himself as he continued on to wherever his dream was taking him, lost in thought but at the same time observing his dreams for any signs from Anigav, or any signs that the devil had regained control. He found neither, or at least he couldn’t really tell one thing from the other.

His dreams were peaceful, so that was good enough for him. He continued forward, down an untraveled path into a place he had never been before. As he walked ever forward towards this new place, he saw many faces that had never been in his dreams before, but they didn’t seem like manifestations of his dreams either. It seemed as if they were all the faces of real people to him, but he didn’t know any of them, just like he didn’t know the lands he was in. Perhaps this is a vision of things to come…? he wondered to himself. Just then, his dreams were cut short as he heard a voice nearby, back in the real world, and Anderen opened his eyes to see the Lord himself, accompanied by a woman and another. He had barely woken up before he heard questions,  asking of how he felt and what happened. “I don’t know…” he lied, “ I’m fine. I just need something to eat and drink…” he added, falling silent after that, hoping they would grant his request.

[MirrorTornBeauty]

She held Validrir's hand as he led her down the flight of stairs, it was as she was being pulled. Mirror was losing her footing, stumbling down the steps. He caught her with strong arms though, or she would catch herself and pull her body to a standing position once more. The Lord spoke to Pensworth. They stopped long enough for her to catch her breath before she was dragged down marble hallways once again.

They came to a room finally. The floor was scattered with ashes, she could feel they crush beneath her weight. Mirror took a breath and gagged on the burnt smell. She lifted her skirt and covered her mouth, milky coloured leg showing through. A male voice spoke, wavers in his voice so she knew he wasn't telling the full truth. But she could also tell his hunger and exhaustion. He was human, that was easy to tell. There was something more though. An object (sword) gave off an incredible celestial power, enxhanted weapon at least. Silver took a closer step to Validrir, breathing through her skirt. She wouldn't say a word to the newcomer, just beautiful statue with blindfold looking at him.

[Lord Validrir]

OOC: sorry, I had frgotten that every thig had been burned to ash.

IC: Validrir could also tell the man was lying, but now was not the time to confront him. He let nothng show on his face to betray that he knew of the man's untruthfulness as he glanced about the room. "Well," he finally said, "in any case we must get you a new room. But would you like somthing to eat first?" Validrir said this as he pulled a white handkerchief that was lightly doused in a perfume of some kind and handed it to Silver for her to breath through, instead of her dress.

[Anderen]

As he lay there, he watched the two of them with unconcerned eyes, though he couldn't help but notice the woman's physical beauty, except for the blindfold that hid who knows what from view. Even if they were enemies, which they didn't seem to be, he couldn't do anything to defend himself if he wanted to because he was already far too weak from dehydration and going without eating for so long. His mouth was dry, and it was hard for him to talk, but after hearing Validrir ask if he wanted food, he smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes...I'm starving.." he said, forgetting about the dreams and occurances from early as he looked forward to filling his stomach with whatever they laid out before him. He had training to do, and it had been some time since he had done any training at all, since he had been lost for so long and had bigger things to worry about, like survival. " Who are the two of you, by the way? My name is Anderen Marcellus, Knight of the God of War." he said, before adding, "And also, unless you bring food to me, I fear I am too weak to get to wherever the food is without help." After that, he fell silent one more, actuallly feeling as if he he tired from speaking so much.

[Zoycite]

((OOC: Hey sorry guys. Life has hit me in the face, so I will be gone for another day or two. That doesn't hurt your story line, fortunatly. *hugs all* I will see you guys around. Just leave Star wandering around the trophey hall. ^_^ Thanks!))

[MirrorTornBeauty]

Validrir handed Silver a cloth. “Thank you, Lord.”   She took it eagerly and dropped her dress and placed that over her mouth and nose. The perfume was relieving to her, the smell of ash and soot being masked by it. She listened to Validrir then the newcomer. Anderen  Marcellus was his name,  his name basically meant his occupation.  She nodded  to herself. He had asked their names. Muffled behind the cloth she tried to speak as clear as she could, no cloth could mask her clearly enchanting voice though,  â€œYou may call me Silver. I am just a traveler, as much as a blind woman can be, that is. And I would retrieve the food for you, Sir, but I am afraid that it would take me longer then you could stand.”

That is all he would be able to tell of her: beautiful and blind. She turned her head up towards Validrir. She could tell that he was uncertain of this newcomer, after all he did come here and in a matter of minutes has seemed to burn the room down. She would make no mention of it though. This man was exhausted and needed his rest, and perhaps some medical aid if he was burnt in anyway… or perhaps a bath? She breathed in perfume again. Waver in the air once more, she turned towards the sword. She was staring it down almost, but to the others in the room it would look as if she was staring into nothing.  She broke her thoughts, the celestial power was overwhelming! “I am actually hungry as well… I would ask you both to join me, but I believe Lord that you will want to converse with Anderen. And Sir,” she turned to Anderen, “I am sure you can not make the walk.” Stepping to Pensworth’s side she took his arm, waiting to be led to the dining room. She needed out of this room, not only was the smell making her sick but the power in here was causing her head to spin.

[Lord Validrir]

Pensworth led Silver to the door and looked disaprovingly at the ash covering the room. "I will lead the young lady to the dining room, and deal with this mess later. i trust that is alright m'lord?" Validrir nodded that it was and Pensworth turned to lead Silver out of the room. "Come m'lady, I believe the cook has prepared omlets this morning." He said as the dissapeared into the hall.

Validrir turned his attention back to the man before him. "Well, Anderen Marcellus, Knight of the God of War. I have met the god of war on a couple of different occasions, though I must say that I found him a bit bull headed. Ah, but that is a conversation for another time." Validrir waved his hand quickly as if to banish the thought. "Well I suppose you would like to get down stairs as quickly as possible and eat. Would you like to take the time to wash up and get a fresh set of clothes, or are you too famished?"

[Kalamos]

Star sat in the dark protected room with Kal; her wolf keeping him warm. Nall had taken from standing next to Kalamos to on the bed, his upper body across Kal's chest, blanketing him. She, on the other hand was getting over the drunken dizzy spell that had came over her, but was left with anxious power coarsing through her veins. She stood from the bed "Take care of him. When he awakens, follow him and protect him." Nall understood, and if Kal kept contact with him, his barrier spell would protect Kal from the over abundence of the Holy power flowing through the tower.

She walked to the door and slowly opened it. The power from this god came at her like a shockwave. The armor she wore melted and exploded from her body, turning into a single black ball and rolled back into the room. Closing the door quickly to grab her enchanted hooded cloak, placed around her body then left the room again, door shutting behind her. As soon as naked feet hit the ground, she fell to her knees in pain. Flesh tremorred with horror, it was as if she was being torn apart. The demon blood in her, bubbling with firey fury. Eyes closed, concentration took place. Mystic glow came from her, barrier around her soul, hiding the demon and showing the mystic side more [mystic grace]. As she did so, her skin turned honey in colour, hair turning a true green. Now she was the image of a messenger of the Gods. Star headed down the hall and up the many stairs.

She would come to the main floor, every servant and angel eye upon her. No one would have expected to see such a holy image walking through the halls, although none would find it weird either, knowing who their lord was. Star would wander off in no direction in particular. Dining room, kitchen, main hall, foyer, and many rooms full of beautiful things. But she stopped in front of a long hall. It called to her, caused her heart to stop. Did she dare to enter? Of course...

Carefully she entered. The screams in her head turned from the innocents she slaugtered to deep growling screams of anger and hate, but there was sorrow and pleading. She had entered a war hall, a trophey hall. She walked, voices talking to her. Emerald eyes scanned over paintings, looked at bloody scenes. And she stopped, heart pounding in her chest. In the scenes there stood this Lord Validrir murdering demons. He triumphed over the lot of them, dark armor and demon heirlooms displayed for all to admire. Star was shocked, she couldn't move. Purple fell from her eyes and stained her cheeks. Hand reached to the painting, not to touch Validrir's image but to the demons. It would look to people as if she was mourning over them, and in reality, she was. Why would Kalamos bring her to a place that hated her kind? Her head was swirling, confused, drunk... she tried to control her anger, to mask it with tears. This was horrible, this is what her father lived everyday. Even after he changed his ways he was slaughtered in cold blood...

She looked up at the picture of their honored knight, Validrir, their merciful God and loving Lord. Had he been the one to murder her father? Was he the messenger to the killers that murdered him and her mother, for simply loving a demon? Was this to become her own fate? She needed to research this Lord Validrir... but for now she was frozen in time.

Here Star stood in a trophey hall surrounded by blood and triumph, honor and hate... yes, here stood a mystic created in the Gods' eyes of perfection... and this magnificent creature was mourning silently for the fallen demons. Her kin.

(Just picking up where I was left off. The qoutes are for reference as to what this post entails.)

 He felt the light feather-drifting sensation dreams brought. A gentle warmth rolled over him, bringing the tingle feeling that a warm summer's light could conjure. Memories surfaced, he felt the sting in his neck. The deep piercing of his flesh and the drain of his power. Gasping for breath, his body rushed upward; with astonishing might. Nall was hurled from his chest, although it was nothing he couldn't rebound to. His hand instantly reached for his neck; his hand drew a partially coagulated mass of blood from his neck that was still drying. He stopped as his mind caught up with his body, memories of the encounter in his mind swirled to his vision. Followed by another realization, he felt heavy; Heavy with a sensation he'd not felt since he tore down an anti-magic field in the saluthi wars. A sense of power.

 It was her power, her magic that filled the gaps in his, it was like a mortar to help hold together the body that Star had herself fashioned from that which made up Kalamos. It did far more than that though, it was catalyzing his natural energy flow. The power was immolating from him in wisps of honey tinted silver. Star's power, and his own were still meshing within him and leaking outward from the lack of control. He was too fascinated by this awkward sensation to realize he had tossed Nall from the bed he slept in. His eyes narrowed at his blood soaked hand as he concentrated this mixing power. He was attempting to get a feel and control for it. The blood that caked his bare hand melted into his flesh. The streams of leaked blood from his neck broke down into liquid power that seeped into his flesh. [Inner Light: Altered] "So... Strange." His brow furrowed and his eyes snapped open as he felt his inner energy re-align within him. Instantly, the air became crisp to his will. His eyes turned to Nall as his attention was brought to what he had just done to the wolf, "Sorry about that. You and I, we've things to talk about." He was addressing her father within the wolf. His eyes glanced around, "First things first, Was it enough? And where is she?" As long as she was fine, he would be content to remain here. Being in the holy tower unprotected, would more than likely force his otherside to protectively bury him again, and after all that's happened; he didn't want to experience another episode of that. His body was raging with energy, but unlike Star; He didn't get jumpy or energetic. He wasn't of the same consistancy as she. He calmly was breathing and slowing down his body's release of the power. He was working to lock it up within himself. Eventually, he would return to a normal state, all the coiled might within crushed into submission under his powerful mind. He was prepared for a possibly bitter arguement with Star's father over what was said to him in their first conftrontation with Validrir. A discussion he would begin as soon as it was his turn to speak again.

[Thorlan]

ooc: Sorry the lack of posting, I'm not gonna make any excuses but yeah...sorry anyway.

IC: Thorlan didn't bother to follow the group as they rushed off to go see what was happening in the other guest's room, not that he didn't care but he wasn't worried about it figuring everything would be fine up there anyway. Instead the drow watched as they all made their way up before turning and wandering the main floor of the building, both wondering where all of his companions had dissappeared to and where this whole thing was taking him.

[Zoycite]

-Nall-

He was thrown off Kal's body. He landed on his feet, growl escaping his throat as he turned, teeth bearing to the one Star loves. He shook his head, cleared his mind of hated thoughts. Kal was confused and having a wolf on top of you probably wasn't the best wake up call. Kal spoke to him. Nall jumped next to the man, sat and stared at him. Nall was a statue. He was only a wolf, head tilted to the side, confused by Kal's words.

His eyes took on another colour, red, flaming red. The color formed markings across his face, deep growl escaping his throat. His white fur began to glow even more brightly then before. There was an obvious change in the air around them, the wolf gave off an incredible heat. The air became heavy, almost suffocating the only thing cutting through the air was Kal's energy dancing with Star's own. That hated voice, dripping with acid cut through and invaded Kal's mind. "So she has told you? I suppose in your mind, no? She is just like her mother from time to time. Zoycite is my little girl, my everything. And I have you thank for evolving her time and time again, and for giving her life for the fourth time." He was referring to the first time she fed, and for when Kalamos had professed love to her, and for sacrificing himself for her safety, and as well as this time for allowing her to feed on his life. "She is complicated, and ever so difficult. But you.. she loves you. Heh, things are most strange in our lives." He took a deep breath in, "You and I have never spoken before, although through the years I have aided her in rough times, and have helped you in small ways. You left us, and she died... that is why I am in the wolf now. I must apologize for our first words together. Angels and Gods... you must understand, are not good for hers and mine kind. Demons are hated creatures, you must know that..." He was feeling very awkward speaking to Kalamos without Star, actually he felt strange speaking to anyone in general. He was a hidden secret that only Star knew of. "Kalamos... If you ever tell me to not protect my daughter again, due to some ridiculous thing such as honor I will not be happy. Honor is absurd! Innocents, slaughtered because of this thing..." he bowed his head, "My little girl has seen so much pain because of this, and has felt pain because of it, has died because of it..."

[Kalamos]

His brow furrowed with disdain, "To the very least, you have a kind." He paused and continued, "I am as alienated from this place and these ways as you or her." He heard out the rest of what her father had to share with him, before returning the remainder of his thoughts, "You do not need to apologize for the way you were. I don't expect us to get along well, given I am of  habits and customs that oppose your own in principle. And I would never tell you not to defend Star. It was me you were coming to the defense of; And I've no doubts your skills in battle are considerable at worst, I'm glad neither of us had to fight Validrir." He lowered his head slowly, "I observed very quickly, that although my skills with a blade might be comparable to his; His power and status far surpasses anything you or myself could've managed. The same way I can see the darkness of your own nature within Nall, I could see the depths of the burning light that came from him. I could feel that his power was more deeply rooted than even my vision could reach." Memories came to surface. It was like when he thrust his hand into the supression field of the Saluthi Wars; An incredible and fearsome pull tore at his body in the presence of the paladin god. One that he managed to hide from even Star, Nall, Thorlan, and apparently; her father. "If ever the event arises where I'm incapable of defending Star or resolvinig the conflict... You are her final shield. In that last battle, if fighting broke out; I would've been forced to buy time for the escape of all 3 of you... I would've had to... Die once more." He looked at Star's demonic father, very closely; "The means change, but the ends... That's what we both care about. Zoycite is the only thing that Anchors me to this world. She is what I find myself dreaming of when naught the nightmares of war. I seem to be the only thing that anchors her sanity and apparently, her wish to avoid feeding on the living. So... Make no mistake, Above all else; she is what I hold closest to my heart. It is for that reason, that I will take no actions that promise to jepordize her life or permit such to be done. Remember, I was only ever a knight during the wars. I do not live by any code. I am a Vagabond Cartographer before I am a warrior; and I'm her love before that." He had explained it thusly to the Star's demon father.Once he had realized a battle would be folly.  He merely employed what he knew about the rules of engagement as his tool to find a means to end the brewing conflict before a lost battle could begin. So there the demon had it... The way Kalamos saw it, after he took the time to size up his opponent; he realized it was a fight none of them were likely to win, and at least two of his party were too exhausted to make a run for it; Thus, he opted for negotiation and relied solely on his mage-like wisdom and intellect to find a peaceful end to the situation.

[Zoycite]

He listened to Kal, nodding wolf head at words that were seeping with sentiment. "You know she adores your every move. And if you hurt her like Macewind did... it will be your end..." but that first sentence burned through his hated features. "My son..." he said it honestly and almost lovingly, "You may not have a kind, but a family you will always have." He remembered the being he created: Baltzegaurd; he was neither demon nor angelic and was known as a 'Wanderer of the Worlds.'

His thoughts trailed off to his little girl, how she adored this man and how he in turn loved her, regardless of nature. This man gave her the needs to evolve into a killing machine and yet she bent to his will, his good intentions. There was a long pause, almost an uncomfortable pause. Through the silence came a gentle chuckle, "Regardless of how you feel... I would have enjoyed to see a fight between you and this God, Lord Validrir. You must forgive me for the thought, but you were an amazing fighter.... and to scar her beyond her own repair is amazing power." He wasn't trying to enter his mind, that was Star's territory to invade, he was sitting with someone he cared for, but also hated. "She has a dark hidden past, my little Darkstar. She is afraid for you to find out, but in a God's house... if there are any books around... legends told, it will be of a shock. She is special, Kalamos Trison. You need to watch her, she doesn't know who she is or what she is. She is a Princess... she has 30 legions at her command if needed be. But they come for her and try to drag her down... You must protect her, for no matter how strong she seems, she is a delicate flower." A deep breath in, "Now I am sure you have questions for me, about me, about her..."